bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation and Modelling of the Coastal Geomorphological Changes of Deception Island Since 1970 Eruption and Its Involvement in Research Activity
Authors: Torrecillas Cristina , Zarzuelo Carmen , Fuente Jorge de la , Jigena-Antelo Bismarck , Prates Gonçalo
Published: November 2023

Deception Island is an active volcano with a submerged caldera open to the sea, giving it a horseshoe-shaped structure. Several post-caldera-collapsed volcanic events, as well as hydrodynamics within this natural bay, have modified its inner coastline, shaping new tephra deposits and altering the landscape. A hydrodynamic model is presented to predict accretion and erosion trends on the coast, which impact the mobility of researchers and tourists, whether on foot or by boat. Historical orthophoto images and spatiotemporal differences in digital elevation and bathymetric models have been used for validation purposes. The model reveals that the south-facing coast is more susceptible to erosion, while the east-west-facing coast experiences sedimentation. However, a visual study of the coastline has indicated erosion ratios in cliff areas in sedimentary zones. This is likely due to the erosive effect caused by ice floe fragments accumulating in these areas due to wave action. Only a portion of the significant total loss of surface material is received within the bay, including its own erosion, and accumulates on the bay's floor. This is partially due to the volume being composed of snow, and there is also a transfer of material to the exterior to balance the figures.
An Algorithm for Coloring of Picture Fuzzy Graphs Based on Strong and Weak Adjacencies and its Application
Authors: Rosyida Isnaini , Indrati Ch Rini
Published: November 2023

The idea of strong and weak adjacencies between vertices has been generalized into fuzzy graphs and intuitionistic fuzzy graphs (IFGs) and it is an important part of making decisions. However, one or two membership degrees are not always sufficient for making decisions on real-world problems that need an answer of types “yes, neutral, and no". Consequently, in previous work, we generalized the concept into picture fuzzy graphs (PFGs) where each element in the PFG has membership, neutral, and non-membership degrees. Moreover, we constructed the notion of the coloring of PFGs based on strong and weak adjacencies between vertices. In this paper, we investigate some properties of the chromatic number of PFGs based on the concept of strong and weak adjacencies between vertices. According to the properties, we construct an algorithm to find the chromatic number of PFGs. The algorithm is usefull when we work with large PFGs. Further, we improve the method to implement the PFG’s coloring for determining traffic signal phasing at an intersection. A case study has also been done to evaluate the method.
Length-weight relationship and condition factor of Sphyraena putnamae Jordan and Seale, 1905 and Sphyraena obtusata Cuvier, 1829 from Pamban Island waters, Gulf of Mannar, south-east coast of India
Authors: Vinothkumar R. , Srinivasan A. , Jawahar P. , Neethiselvan N. , Padmavathy P. , Abdussamad E. M. , Rohit Prathiba
Published: November 2023

Length-weight relationships (LWRs), Fultonâ€™s condition factor (K) and relative condition factor (Kn) of two barracuda species, Sphyraena putnamae Jordan & Seale, 1905 and Sphyraena obtusata Cuvier, 1829 were studied from the Gulf of Mannar. The length and weight range for S. putnamae was 23.6 to 55.3 cm and 70.89 to 702.50 g, respectively, whereas for S. obtusata it was 17.7 to 40.9 cm and 34.68 to 299.01 g, respectively. The estimated â€˜bâ€™ value for S. putnamae ranged from 2.632 to 2.743, whereas for S. obtusata it ranged from 2.621 to 2.722. The results indicated a negative allometric growth pattern (b<3) both the species. For S. putnamae, the coefficient of determination (r2) was from 0.928 to 0.969, whereas for S. obtusata, it was 0.904 to 0.930. The regression slopes (b) of both sexes of S. putnamae and S. obtusata showed no significant difference (p>0.05) in the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Condition factor (K) was estimated to be higher for S. obtusata (0.70Â±0.10; MeanÂ±SE) than S. putnamae (0.49Â±0.04) for the total population. The relative condition factor (Kn) was estimated as 1.05Â±0.07 for S. putnamae and 1.00Â±0.12 for S. obtusata populations.Keywords: Allometric growth, Biomass, Fishery management, Morphology, Sphyraenidae
Role of species associations and environmental variables in structuring the coastal fish community: A case study in Leizhou Bay, northern South China Sea
Authors: Lin Kun , Lyu Shaoliang , Ding Kexin , Zeng Jiawei , Pan Shiyuan , Wang Xuefeng , Yang Zi
Published: November 2023

The objective of this study was to understand how the biological and environmental factors affect fish community structures. Using the data of fish communities in Leizhou Bay waters, northern South China Sea, this study built an ecological network based on the model niche overlap between species. The effects of biological and environmental factors on the fish community structure complexity were analysed using principal component analysis (PCA) and generalised linear model (GLM), of which the complexity was represented with a global weighted clustering coefficient (mCw) of the network. Results showed that the fish community structure was highly complex with significant seasonal variations (mCw = 0.821Â±0.081, p<0.01) and it was dominated by the strong interspecific associations (mCw>C). A large quantity of species associations decreased the chances of the cascading species extinction in terms of the magnitude of direct (ki ) and indirect (tris) species associations. The direct species associations (ki : Estimate = -4.23, p<0.01) and the indirect species associations (tris: Estimate =3.12, p<0.01) were the primary factors, accounting for 89.92% of the variations of the first principal components and then the three factors (the number of species, water depth and the positions of sampling sites) contributed to 83.1% variations of the second principal components. In all, the species associations directly affected the fish community in Leizhou Bay, which were influenced by the species abundance under the driving of environmental factors.Keywords: Ecological network, Fish community, Leizhou Bay, Species associations, Structure complexity
Trawl fishery of penaeid shrimps along Mandapam coast of Palk Bay, Tamil Nadu, southern Ind
Authors: Rajkumar M. , Vinothkumar R. , Thirumalaiselvan S. , Remya L.
Published: November 2023

The shrimp fishery of Palk Bay is unique, being mostly supported by a single species Penaeus semisulcatus throughout the year. The estimated total landing of penaeid shrimps by trawls at Mandapam coast of Palk Bay Tamil Nadu during 2016 was 1652 t. The shrimp landings at Mandapam comprised twelve species viz, Penaeus semisulcatus, P. latisulcatus, P. indicus, P. merguiensis, P. japonicus, P. canaliculatus, P. monodon, Kishinouyepenaeopsis maxillipedo, Metapenaeus moyebi, M. stridulans, M. tolensis and Megokris granulosus. Along this coast, shrimps are landed round the year with a peak landing in June. P. semisulcatus dominated the catch (1077.2 t) followed by P. latisulcatus (161.06 t), M. moyebi (109.61 t), M. stridulans (91.19 t) and P. maxillipedo (89.83 t). The peak season for the shrimp fishery usually starts from June and continues up to August, contributing 75-80% of the total annual shrimp landings. The annual average catch per hour (CPH) for shrimps was estimated at 10.7 kg and maximum CPH (21.9 kg) was observed in February. Mean length, size range and sex ratio as well as gut contents of penaeid shrimps landed during the study period were also analysed. The findings of the present study provide information for framing management measures for sustaining the shrimp fishery in future.Keywords: Catch per hour, Fishery, Management, Palk Bay, Penaeid shrimps
Effect of vitamin C and mineral enriched diet on growth and survival of Labeo rohita fry
Authors: Sarma Kamal , Chand Subhash , Kumar Ujjwal , Dey A. , Nayak S. K.
Published: November 2023

The present study was conducted to understand the effect of vitamin C and mineral enriched diet on growth, survival and mineral accumulation in Labeo rohita fry. The study was conducted for a period of 60 days and it was found that the growth and survival rate increased when local ingredients were fortified with commercially available and commonly used vitamin-mineral mixture, vitamin C and selected mineral elements (Zn, Cu and Mn). The best survival rate (76%) was recorded when feed was supplemented with all the three components (vitamin-mineral mixture, vitamin C and mineral supplement), followed by vitamin-mineral mixture + vitamin C (75.3%) and vitamin-mineral mixture. The Zn, Cu and Mn fortification in the diet also reflected higher deposition of these three minerals in the whole body as well as 38.4% reduction in the cost of production and 152.6% higher revenue generation compared to commercial feed (control).
Keywords: Copper, Labeo rohita, Manganese, Vitamin C, Zinc
Pyrroloquinoline quinone supplemented diet enhances metabolism, feed intake and growth in common carp (Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758) reared at low temperature
Authors: Radhakrishnan Gopika , Deo Ashutosh D , N. Shamna  , Mondal Anakhy , MD Aklakur , Varghese Eldo , Narottam Prasad Sahu
Published: November 2023

A pilot study was conducted to delineate the potential of dietary pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) on Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758, at water temperature of 12-14oC using a recirculatory system with water flow rate of 1.8 l min-1. Six isonitrogenous (32% CP) and iso-caloric (16.7 MJ kg-1) diets were prepared with varying levels of PQQ viz. control (0 mg kg-1), T1 (0.2 mg kg-1), T2 (0.4 mg kg-1), T3 (0.6 mg kg-1), T4 (0.8 mg kg-1) and T5 (1.0 mg kg-1). Two hundred and sixteen common carp juveniles were distributed randomly into control and five treatment groups in triplicates with 12 fish per tub and fed twice daily at satiation level for 30 days. Results indicated that dietary quinone at 0.8 mg kg-1 significantly increased the feed intake and weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR) as well as protein efficiency ratio (PER) were significantly higher (p<0.05) than non-quinone fed group. The thyroid hormone levels as well as digestive and metabolic enzyme activities were significantly higher (p<0.05) in treatments than in control. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in liver was significantly higher (p<0.05) in T1, T2 and T5. Catalase activity in gill was significantly higher (p<0.05) in control and lowest in T3 and T4. Therefore, quinone can be used as a feed additive for enhancing feed intake, enzymatic activities and growth during winter.
Keywords: Feed additive, Feed intake, Metabolism, Pyrroloquinoline quinone, Winter feeding
Recurrent dinoflagellate blooms in the South-eastern Arabian Sea - A preliminary assessment with focus on Ornithocercus magnificus blooms along the nearshore waters off Dakshina Kannada, South-west coast of India
Authors: Ratheesh Lavanya , Rohit Prathibha , Sulochanan Bindu , P. Pranav
Published: November 2023

Frequent bloom incidences of the dinoflagellate Ornithocercus magnificus Stein, 1883 along the surface waters off South-eastern Arabian Seas (SEAS) have been reported since 2015 and specifically during the years 2015, 2019 and 2020. All these blooming incidences coincided with the strong El Nino phases in the Indian Ocean. The present study addressed the bloom (1.65 x 106 cells l-1) of this species in the nearshore waters (7 m depth) off Dakshina Kannada (Surathkal and Chitrapur) on 11.02.2016 which occurred during pre-monsoon period and corresponding to the super El Nino year 2015/2016. A detailed evaluation of the physico-chemical characteristics and phytoplankton abundance as well as community structure was made, concurrent to the three phases viz., pre-bloom, bloom and post-bloom periods in this region. The study revealed that the bloom occurred in high saline (35.0±0.91 PSU), well oxygenated (7.414±0.823 mg l-1) and nitrogen limited waters (oligotrophic conditions) and had a positive correlation with oceanic nino index (ONI; rs= 0.790, p<0.001). Some of the O. magnificus (3%) harboured ectosymbionts probably cyanobacteria in their cingulum in response to the beginning of a stratified oligotrophic condition in this region. The water quality was fair during the bloom period with no conspicuous discolouration of the surface waters. The present study also attempted to evaluate the influence of the increasing frequency of the O. magnificus blooms on the oilsardine fishery along the SEAS.
Keywords: Cyanobacteria, Dinoflagellate, Ectosymbionts, Nitrogen limited waters, Pre-monsoon season, SEAS, Sea surface temperature (SST), Oilsardine
Optimisation of sperm cryopreservation protocol for Asian stinging catfish Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch, 1794), to support hatchery seed production
Authors: Lal Kuldeep K , Barman Anindya S. , Puniya Peyush , Khare Praveen , Mohindra Vindhya , Singh Rajiv K. , Sah Rama S. , Majhi Sullip K. , Lal Bechan
Published: November 2023

The present study experimentally evaluated different parameters such as extender composition, storage duration and egg to sperm ratio to optimise parameters for sperm cryopreservation in Asian stinging catfish Heteropneustes fossilis. Four extender compositions viz. Hanks Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS), Modified HBSS (M-HBSS), Modified HBSS with hen’s egg yolk (M-HBSS with EY) and European catfish extender were evaluated for sperm cryopreservation with dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) as cryoprotectant (10% v/v). The hatching rate was used as standard to evaluate the fertility of thawed sperm at different periods of storage (2, 270 and 668 days).  After 2 days, extender M-HBSS exhibited highest hatching rate (49.06±2.67%) which was comparable to the control value (51.00±7.23%), followed by HBSS (42.76±32.0%), M-HBSS with EY (37.46±24.34%) and European catfish extender (29.47±25.61%), respectively. After 270 days with M-HBSS, hatching rate was 64.34±8.84% similar to the control; however, cryopreserved sperm with other extenders exhibited lower hatching rate as compared to control and M-HBSS. After 668 days, sperm cryopreserved in the extender M-HBSS, only yielded successful hatching. Results indicated that presence of egg yolk in the extender M-HBSS did not improve the performance of cryopreserved sperm. The successful hatching using cryopreserved sperm after 270 and 668 days of storage indicates M-HBSS as a useful extender for sperm cryobanking and seed production of H. fossilis.
Keywords: Aquaculture, Cryopreservation, Cryoprotectant, Dimethyl sulphoxide, Extender, Hanks Balanced Salt Solution, Hatching rate
Scientometric profiling of reservoir fisheries research in India during 1998 – 2019, in comparison to the global scenario
Authors: Kanchi Bhargavi , Krishnan P. , Agarwal Surekha , G Kantharajan , D Bhoomaiah , B.B. Nayak
Published: November 2023

Reservoirs are major inland water resources benefitting society through multiple ecosystem services, including fish production. However, the scope of the reservoirs in India is yet to be explored for its full fisheries potential and the scientific/management personnel are engaged in bridging the yield gap. This paper reviews the research progress made in Indian reservoir fisheries from 1998 to 2019 as a case and compares with global studies using bibliometric indicators extracted from the Web of Science (WoS) database. A total of 7607 papers published globally, mainly by the USA (2662 papers), Brazil (874 papers), and People’s Republic China (678 papers) were considered. India produced 162 publications (2.13% of total papers) during the period mainly authored by research institutes of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). The predominant research subjects both globally and in India were ‘Environmental Sciences, Ecology, Marine and Freshwater Biology, and Fisheries’, though the composition varies. The trend in the reservoir research output indicated a shift towards applied research such as spatial planning and cage culture which offers scope for the international scientific fraternity to collaborate with Indian counterparts to solve common researchable issues. Indian authors have collaborated with 29 countries on various researchable issues, and preferred Indian journals for publications. The reservoir research in India is mainly funded by public sources and the extent of work carried out on a particular geographical area depends on the nearness to laboratories and availability of the infrastructure. This study advocates that creation of research network at pan-India level in collaboration with international partners would benefit the reservoir fisheries research in the future. This analysis including the trend and dynamics of Indian reservoir fisheries portrayed as a case study would aid in prioritising research efforts for the development of the sector in India and elsewhere.
Keywords: Bibliometric indicators, Collaboration, Reservoir fisheries, Scientometrics, Web of Science
Increasing the degrees of freedom on a robot arm
Authors: Christie Benjamin , Alred Cameron , Paquette Michael , Glaspell Garry
Published: November 2023

This report provides an implementation of the moveit-commander Python module to generate trajectories for custom six– and seven–degrees of freedom (DoF) arms. The moveit_setup_assistant package was used to modify an existing five-DoF OpenManipulator-X model to increase its range of motion. Specifically, additional joints were fabricated and mounted to the physical arm. Also, the Unified Robot Description Format files were modified to account for the additional joints. In order to optimize the solvers, many changes to the MOVEit configuration files were made. The changes documented in this report lay the groundwork for leveraging MOVEit to expand the capabilities of low-DoF arms.
Lava planets interior dynamics govern the
long-term evolution of their magma oceans
Authors:   Charles-Edouard Boukaré, Lemasquerier Daphné , Cowan Nicolas , Samuel Henri , Badro James
Published: November 2023

Lava planets are rocky exoplanets that orbit so close to their host star that their day-side is hot enough to melt silicate rock. Their short orbital periods ensure that lava planets are tidally locked into synchronous rotation, with permanent day and night hemispheres. Such asymmetric magma oceans have no analogs in the Solar System and will exhibit novel fluid dynamics. Here we report numerical simulations of lava planet interiors showing that solid-liquid fractionation in the planetary interior has a major impact on the compositional structure and evolution of the planet. We explored two styles of dynamics that depend primarily on the interior thermal state : 1) a hot fully molten interior, and 2) a mostly solid interior with a shallow day-side magma ocean. In the hot interior scenario, the atmosphere reflects the planet's bulk silicate composition and the night-side crust is gravitationally unstable and constantly replenished. In the cool interior scenario, the distilled atmosphere will lack Na, K and FeO, and the night-side mantle is entirely solid, with a cold surface. These two end-member cases can be distinguished with observations from the James Webb Space Telescope, offering an avenue to probe the diversity of terrestrial exoplanet evolutions.
Auroral Ultraviolet Images for Prediction of the Auroral Electrojet Index
Authors: Li Jun , Tian Xinqin , Song LiuXing , Sheng Qinghong , Wang Bo , Cheng Wei
Published: November 2023

Solar wind parameters can effectively predict the component of the auroral current system directly driven by the solar wind, but cannot explain the dense westward electrojet formed through the unloading process of the magnetotail. However, auroral ultraviolet images (UVIs) can spatially map the entire variation process of auroral electrojets (AEs). In this paper, auroral UVIs are used for the prediction of AE index for the first time, and a grid feature extraction method based on correlation coefficient selection is proposed for the spatial mapping relationship between the latitude and longitude distribution characteristics of auroral power (AP) and the AE index. In terms of the prediction algorithm, we use the extreme learning machine (ELM) network, which has strong generalization ability, and compare it with the generalized regression neural network (GRNN) and fully convolutional network (FCN). The experimental results show that the method of predicting AE index by auroral UVI image is feasible, and the root mean square error of the prediction results exceeds the expected accuracy, reaching 8.97%. The study also shows that the grid feature extraction method greatly improves the accuracy of ELM network in predicting AE index, and it is also applicable to other prediction networks. The OS_ELM strategy can further reduce the prediction error by about 1.5%, and it tends to saturate with the increase of input data volume.
Association of lung immune prognostic index with survival outcomes in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with nivolumab plus ipilimumab
Authors: Yamashita Shimpei , Hamamoto Shuzo , Furukawa Junya , Fujita Kazutoshi , Takahashi Masayuki , Miyake Makito , Ito Noriyuki , Iwamoto Hideto , Kohjimoto Yasuo , Hara Isao
Published: November 2023

Background
Lung immune prognostic index (LIPI) is based on derived neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and lactate dehydrogenase level. LIPI has reported association with survival outcomes in patients with various malignancies undergoing treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, the prognostic impact of pre-treatment LIPI in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma receiving nivolumab plus ipilimumab treatment remains unclear. This study examines the association between LIPI and outcomes in this setting.
Methods
We retrospectively evaluated 156 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with nivolumab plus ipilimumab at eight institutions. We assessed the associations between pre-treatment LIPI and survival outcomes including progression-free survival (PFS), second progression-free survival (PFS2), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival.
Results
Patients were classified into good (n = 84, 54%), intermediate (n = 52, 33%) and poor (n = 20, 13%) LIPI groups. PFS did not significantly differ between LIPI groups, but there was significant difference in PFS2, CSS and overall survival. In multivariable Cox proportional hazard analyses, high pre-treatment LIPI was a significant predictor of poor PFS2 (vs. good group, intermediate group: P = 0.01 and poor group: P = 0.04) and poor overall survival (vs. good group, intermediate group: P = 0.01 and poor group: P < 0.01). Moreover, the patients with poor LIPI had significantly poorer CSS than those with good LIPI (P < 0.01).
Conclusions
High pre-treatment LIPI is suggested by our results to be a significant independent predictor of poor prognosis in patients receiving nivolumab plus ipilimumab for metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
Ageism and ageing anxiety in Egypt: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Abdelkadera Alaa S.E. , Elbayar Rana , Ashour Aya , Alwerdani Mariam M. , Ansary Abdallah , Hashish Sara , Ashour Ayat
Published: November 2023

Background
Ageism, and ageing anxiety are obstacles to health equity in the community. This study aims to assess ageism and ageing anxiety in Egypt and to elaborate on the related individual factors. Additionally, it explores the relationship between ageism and ageing anxiety.
Method
We conducted a cross-sectional online survey on 359 adult Egyptians using a predesigned questionnaire to assess socio-demographic factors, the Fabroni Scale on Ageism (FSA), the Ageing Anxiety Scale (AAS), and one question about contact with older adults.
Results
The mean total score of ageism was 72.79 (± 6.3 SD) while the mean total score of anxiety of ageing was 54.33 (± 8.83 SD). A significant positive correlation was found between ageism and ageing anxiety (r = 0.248, p = 0.000). Lower income is associated with higher ageism and ageing anxiety scores (p = 0.006 & 0.036 respectively) while frequent contact with older adults was associated with lower ageism and ageing anxiety scores (p = 0.000 for both). Participants who were single, not working, and reported poor religiosity had higher ageing anxiety scores (p = 0.009, 0.001, & 0.001 respectively).
Conclusion
Individual factors related to ageism and ageing anxiety in the Egyptian population were explored. Those who interact more with older adults exhibit a more favorable attitude toward old age and less anxiety. Ageism correlates positively with ageing anxiety. Additionally, individuals with lower income, single, not working, and reported poor religiosity tend to experience heightened ageing anxiety. Education about the ageing process could help reduce anxiety and stereotypes against ageing.
Regulation of apoptotic pathways by expression of AtBAG4 gene in Rasthali (AAB) banana induces effective containment of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp cubense (FOC)
Authors: Umesha M - , Sunisha C , Chandrashekar N , R Usharani T , - Sowmya H. D , S Sriram
Published: November 2023

Fusarium oxysporum f sp cubense (FOC) is fatal disease in banana limiting banana growers from attaining its potential yields across the globe. In the present study Rasthali (AAB), banana cultivar was transformed with Arabidopsis thaliana BAG4 gene (Bcl-2 associated athanogene) to modulate cell death pathways for probable induction of resistance against this deadly fungal pathogen. Stable transgenic plants were derived from transforming the embryogenic cells derived from immature male floral buds. Southern blotting and real time PCR confirmed integration and expression of the gene cassette respectively. Stable transgenic banana lines were selected from a number of transformation events based on the copy number and vigorous growth. Root challenge bioassay was performed with FOC mycelial extracts to derive disease severity index. Tolerant lines were micropropagated and analyzed for enzyme assays of super oxide dismutase and peroxidase. DNA fragmentation was not observed in stable transformants after FOC infection as confirmed by TUNEL assay. Transgenic AtBAG4 Rasthali plants effectively contained the infection processes and exhibited tolerance to FOC (Race 1). AtBAG4 mediated induction of resistance against FOC serves as a sustainable option for integrated Fusarium wilt management.
Investigation on the microstructural and mechanical properties of electron beam welded 2507 duplex stainless steel joint
Authors: Tóth Tamás , Hesse Ann-Christin , Kárpáti Viktor , Mertinger Valéria , Dilger Klaus
Published: November 2023

This study provides an insight into the microstructural and mechanical properties of an electron beam welded 2507 super duplex stainless steel joint. To compensate the detrimental effect of the nitrogen loss and the cooling conditions on the austenite formation, nickel-based filler wire was fed to the weld pool to increase the amount of austenite stabilizers. A high-frequency beam oscillation combined with a multi-beam technique was applied to realize a good dilution between the base metal and the filler wire even at a large depth-to-width ratio. As a result, a good austenite-ferrite-ratio was achieved in the weld metal, leading to an impact energy of 200–230 J. The heat-affected zone exhibited a balanced microstructure and a narrow width due to the high nitrogen content of the base metal.
Implications of TRAP1 modulate cell invasion and epithelial–mesenchymal transition in liver cancer: evidence from in vitro HepG2 study
Authors: Zou hongling , Yang liu , Zhao Yingqi , Yi Peipei , Lu Liu , Du Yao , lv yuanming
Published: November 2023

Background: Although the list of biomarkers is still growing, the molecular mechanisms associated with liver cancer development and progress are still uncertain. We recently confirmed the high expression of molecular chaperone TRAP1 in HepG2 cells. In this context, the aim of this study is to investigate the effects of gain or loss function of TRAP1 on cell invasion in HepG2 cells, and to evaluate whether TRAP1 regulate cell invasion by controlling EMT related gene expression.
Methods: The TRAP1 overexpression and knockdown HepG2 cells were constructed by lentivirus method. To investigate the effects of TRAP1 on cell function, cell proliferation was measured by MTT method. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The migration and invasion ability were measured by wound healing assay and transwell migration assay. mRNA and protein expression of TRAP1 and EMT related genes were performed by qRT-PCR and western blot, respectively.
Results: TRAP1 overexpression and knockdown cells were successfully established in two recombined cell lines, we studied the general effects of TRAP1 and its association to EMT pathway. The results indicated that TRAP1 promoted cell malignant phenotypes, which including cell proliferation, apoptosis and migration. Besides, TRAP1 inhibited the epithelial markers expression and increased mesenchymal markers expression in both mRNA and protein levels.
Conclusions: These results may provide novel approaches in liver cancer with increasing TRAP1 expression, which could be associated with EMT pathway, with potential future intervention in liver cancer invasion and metastasis.
Levetiracetam ameliorated amyloidosis and tauopathy in mice with dexamethasone-induced Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Zheng Xiang-yu , Zhang Hai-Chen , Wei Zhi-Wei , Lv Yu-Dan , Jin Feng-Yan , Zhu Jie , Ruan Yang
Published: November 2023

Stress induced by glucocorticoids (GC), such as dexamethasone (DEX), has the potential to detrimentally impact the structure and function of the hippocampus and is closely associated with the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, it remains uncertain whether LEV and TPM can effectively alleviate neuropathological and cognitive deficits in patients with DEX-induced AD by preserving or restoring neuronal network activities. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the effect of DEX on AD development and progression and identify the role of NRP1 inflammasome in APP23/MAPTP301S mice. APP23/MAPTP301S mice were treated with DEX in the absence and presence of levetiracetam (LEV). After treatment, the mice were subjected to various cognitive and behavioral tests. DEX accelerated neuronal impairment by promoting the accumulation of β-amyloid protein and phosphorylation of tau in senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in APP23/MAPTP301S mice. Moreover, DEX significantly upregulated BACE1 and promoted the phosphorylation of cyclin-dependent kinase-5 and glycogen synthase kinase 3α/β, resulting in synaptic dystrophy and apoptosis. NLRP3 siRNA transfection showed that NLRP1 inflammasome activation is pivotal to the observed DEX effects. To counteract the adverse effects of DEX, LEV was administered to APP23/MAPTP301S mice, and it ameliorated DEX-induced AD via NLRP1-dependent mechanisms. This study underscores the detrimental impact of chronic glucocorticoid exposure on AD pathogenesis and the potential therapeutic benefits of compounds such as LEV in counteracting these effects by regulating neuroinflammation and key pathological markers.
Personalized identification of Autism-related bacteria in the gut microbiome using eXplainable Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Novielli Pierfrancesco , Romano Donato , Magarelli Michele , Diacono Domenico , Monaco Alfonso , Amoroso Nicola , Vacca Mirco , De Angelis Maria , Bellotti Roberto , Tangaro Sabina
Published: November 2023

Background
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) constitutes a pervasive developmental condition impacting social interaction and communication proficiency. Emerging evidence underscores a plausible association between ASD and alterations within the gut microbiome—an intricate assembly of microorganisms inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract. While machine learning (ML) techniques have emerged as a valuable tool for unraveling the intricate interactions between the gut microbiome and host physiology, their application faces limitations in assessing the individual contributions of microbial species for each subject. Addressing this constraint, explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) emerges as a solution. This paper delves into the potential of the Shapley Method Additive Explanations (SHAP) algorithm for personalized identification of microbiome biomarkers in the context of ASD.
Results
The study demonstrates the efficacy of the SHAP algorithm in overcoming conventional ML limitations. SHAP enables a personalized assessment of microbiome contributions, facilitating the identification of specific bacteria associated with ASD. Moreover, leveraging local explanation embeddings and an unsupervised clustering method successfully clusters ASD subjects into subgroups. Notably, a cluster with lower ASD probability is identified, uncovering false negatives in ASD classification. The recognition of false negatives holds clinical significance, prompting an exploration of contributing factors and insights for refining ASD classification accuracy.
Conclusions
In conclusion, XAI provides personalized insights into ASD-associated microbiome biomarkers. Its ability to address ML limitations enhances understanding of individualized microbial environment in ASD. The identification of ASD subgroups through clustering analysis emphasizes disorder heterogeneity. Additionally, recognizing false negatives within ASD classification introduces complexity to patient care considerations. These findings imply potential for tailored interventions based on individual microbiome profiles, advancing precision in ASD management and classification.
Multi-objective optimization of a metro wheel profile to reduce wheel flange wear and RCF considering the distribution density of wheel−rail contact points
Authors: Gao Ennan , Tao Gongquan , Ren Dexiang , Wen Zefeng
Published: November 2023

In this study, the problem of severe wheel flange wear and tread rolling contact fatigue (RCF) of metro wheels with two wheel profiles, i.e., the LM-30 profile and the DIN5573-30 profile, is investigated. The contact characteristics of the two profiles are compared to analyze the causes of abnormal wheel flange wear and tread RCF. Based on the two-dimensional Gaussian kernel density estimation method, indices combining the density distribution of contact points are proposed to evaluate the wheel flange wear and tread RCF. The optimization region of the wheel profile is defined by eight arc parameters, which is derived from the tangency of the arcs. A penalty function is used to ensure tangency between the arcs during the optimization process. A back-propagation neural network is constructed as a surrogate model for the optimization parameters and the objective function. Four intelligent optimization algorithms are compared and used to solve the optimization problem. The vehicle‒track dynamic model and the wheel wear prediction model are used to verify the performance of the optimized profile. The results show that the critical speed of the optimized profile is between that of the LM profile and that of the DIN5573 profile, and the curving performance of the optimized profile is significantly improved. At the same time, the optimized wheel profile can reduce wheel flange wear and tread RCF. The loss of wheel flange thickness is reduced by 41.9% compared with that of the DIN5573 profile, and the peak value of wheel tread RCF damage is reduced by 33.6% compared with that of the LM profile.
In Vitro Assessment of 177Lu-labeled Trastuzumab-Targeted Mesoporous Carbon@Silica Nanostructure for the treatment of HER2-Positive Breast Cancer
Authors: Tunçel Ayça , Maschauer Simone , Prante Olaf , Yurt Fatma
Published: November 2023

Background: This study evaluated the in vitro efficacy of 177Lu-labeled mesoporous Carbon@Silica nanostructure targeted with trastuzumab (TRA/PEI-MC@Si). This study aimed to explore the potential of TRA/PEI-MC@Si as a targeted radiotherapeutic for the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer, with a focus on understanding its cellular uptake, internalization, and efflux capacity on various cell lines.
Results: The TRA/PEI-MC@Si nanocomposite was successfully labeled with 177Lu, yielding a radiochemical yield of 93.0±2.4%. In vitro studies revealed a higher uptake of the 177Lu-DOTA@TRA/MC@Si nanocomposite in HER2-positive SK-BR-3 cells (44.0±4.6% within the first 24 hours) compared to MDA-MB-231 cells (21.0±2.3%). The IC50 values for SK-BR-3 and MDA-MB-231 were 0.17 nM and 0.09 M, respectively, indicating a higher affinity towards HER-2 receptor-expressing cells. The lipophilic distribution coefficients of the radiolabeled nanocomposites were determined to be 1.7±0.3 for 177Lu-DOTA@TRA/MC@Si and 1.5±0.2 for 177Lu-DOTA@PEI-MC@Si, suggesting sufficient passive transport through the cell membrane and increased accumulation in target tissues.
Conclusions: The 177Lu-TRA@DOTA/PEI-MC@Si nanocomposite demonstrated significant targeting efficacy towards HER2-positive cell lines, showing promise as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment and nuclear imaging of HER2-positive breast cancer. The findings suggest that the TRA-targeted DOTA@PEI-MC@Si nanocomposite, when labeled with Lu-177, could serve as an effective single-platform agent for the therapy of breast cancer.
Surgical Intervention for Lung Cancer in Patients Aged 75 and Above: Potential Associations with Elevated Mortality Rates - A Single-Center Observational Study
Authors: Kaprin Andrey , Pikin Oleg , Ryabov Andrew , aleksandrov Oleg , Larionov Denis , Garifullin Airat
Published: November 2023

Background. Lung cancer, which is diagnosed two to three times more frequently in patients over the age of 70, is a leading cause of cancer-specific mortality. Given the elevated risk of morbidity and mortality, surgical intervention may not always be the most appropriate primary treatment option. This study aims to assess specific risk factors associated with heightened morbidity and mortality rates in elderly patients, with the objective of optimizing patient selection and enhancing surgical outcomes.
Patients and methods. The study encompassed a cohort of 73 patients aged 75 and above who underwent surgical treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at the Department of Thoracic Surgery of the P. Hertsen Moscow Oncological Research Institute between 2015 and 2021. All patients underwent preoperative evaluation, including PET/CT staging and functional assessment, carried out by a multidisciplinary team comprising thoracic surgeons, anesthesiologists, and other medical specialists.
Results. The investigation revealed a postoperative mortality rate of 5.5% and a postoperative morbidity incidence of 16.4%, with occurrences of atrial fibrillation in 41.6%, persistent air leak in 33.3%, and pneumonia in 25% of complicated cases. At the one-year follow-up, 88% of patients remained free from relapse, whereas at three years, this rate stood at 66%. During the follow-up period, 16 patients (22%) passed away, with a median survival duration of 44 months. Survival rates at one year, three years, and five years were 71%, 66%, and 35%, respectively. Multivariate analysis disclosed several significant factors predicting a complex postoperative period, including stage IIIb (p = 0.023), pN1 (p = 0.049), pN2 (p = 0.030), and central location (p = 0.007). Additionally, overall survival was primarily influenced by a Charlson comorbidity index of 6 (p = 0.044), stage Ia2 (p = 0.033), and the necessity for thoracotomy (p = 0.045).
Conclusion. Each case of lung cancer in patients aged 75 and older necessitates an individualized approach. Given the higher mortality rate relative to younger patients, comprehensive risk assessment and preoperative management of underlying comorbidities are imperative, with the involvement of anesthesiologists, intensive care physicians, cardiologists, and other relevant specialists as needed.
A New Unsupervised/Reinforcement Learning Method In Spiking Pattern Classification Networks
Authors: Nazari Soheila
Published: November 2023

Computations adapted from the interactions of neurons in the nervous system may be a capable platform that can create powerful machines in terms of cognitive abilities such as real-time learning, decision-making and generalization. In this regard, here an intelligent machine based on the basic and approved mechanisms of the nervous system has been proposed. Therefore, the input layer of the presented machine is adapted from the retinal model and the middle layer and the output layer is composed of population of pyramidal neurons/ interneurons, AMPA/GABA receptors, and excitatory/inhibitory neurotransmitters. A machine that has a bio-adapted structure requires a learning based on biological evidence. Similarly, a new learning mechanism based on unsupervised (Power-STDP) and reinforcement learning procedure (Actor-Critic algorithm) was proposed which was called PSAC learning algorithm. Three challenging datasets MNIST, EMNIST, and CIFAR10 were used to confirm the performance of the proposed learning algorithm compared to deep and spiking networks, and respectively accuracies of 97.7%, 97.95% (digits) and 93.73% (letters), and 93.6% have been obtained, which shows an improvement in accuracy compared to previous spiking networks. In addition to being more accurate than the previous spike-based learning methods, the proposed learning approach shows a higher convergence speed in the training process. Although the obtained classification accuracies are slightly lower than deep networks, but higher training speed, low power consumption if implemented on neuromorphic platforms, and unsupervised learning are the advantages of the proposed network.
Elevated expression of NXPH4 is associated with poor prognosis and immune infiltration in colorectal cancer patients
Authors: Yu Jinxuan , Cui Qing , Lu Shuai , Xue Lingkai , Liu Hanqing
Published: November 2023

Objective: NXPH4 is involved in the occurrence and development of various tumors, but its role in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unknown. The aim of our study was to elucidate the role of NXPH4 in the progression of CRC.
Methods: The expression levels of NXPH4 in pan-cancer and CRC were evaluated using the Tumor Immune Estimate Resource (TIMER), Human Protein Atlas (HPA), and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The diagnostic and prognostic value of NXPH4 in CRC was analyzed using the TCGA dataset. A prediction model for overall survival (OS) in CRC patients was constructed and validated based on the protein expression level of NXPH4 and multivariate analysis results. The UALCAN database was used to analyze the promoter methylation level of NXPH4 in CRC. Additionally, the functional roles of NXPH4 were examined through GO analysis, KEGG analysis, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), immune infiltration analysis, and immune checkpoint correlation analysis.
Results: NXPH4 was significantly upregulated in CRC compared to adjacent normal colonic tissue. High expression of NXPH4 in colorectal cancer was significantly correlated with T stage, N stage, pathological stage, residual tumor, and lymphatic invasion. Increased expression of NXPH4 was associated with unfavorable overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and progression-free interval (PFI) in CRC. Univariate analysis results indicated that NXPH4 was an independent prognostic factor for OS in CRC. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis suggested that NXPH4 could serve as a potential diagnostic biomarker for CRC patients. The nomogram constructed based on NXPH4 outperformed individual prognostic factors and could establish long-term survival rates in CRC patients. The promoter methylation level of NXPH4 was significantly elevated in CRC tissues. GO and KEGG analysis results indicated that NXPH4 and its co-expressed genes were involved in cell signaling function and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathways. GSEA revealed that NXPH4 may participate in multiple pathways including tumor formation, cell invasion, inflammatory pathways, head and neck cancer, breast cancer, cytokine interactions, and lipid metabolism. Additionally, NXPH4 was significantly correlated with the infiltration levels of various immune cells including NK CD56bright cells, Cytotoxic cells, aDC, Th1 cells, Macrophages, NK cells, iDC, Tcm, Th17 cells, etc. NXPH4 was closely associated with multiple immune checkpoint markers including TNFRSF9, LAG3, PDCD1, CD276, CD274, IDO1, CTLA4, HHLA2, CD40LG, etc.
Conclusion: Our study revealed a strong correlation between elevated NXPH4 expression and poor prognosis and immune cell infiltration in CRC, suggesting it as a promising independent prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for CRC.
Exploring the influence of role modeling on food consumption among the youth in Uganda
Authors: Kiggwe Musa , Ntayi Joseph , Nabatanzi-Muyimba Annet K. , Byarugaba Jotham , Esemu Timothy , Munene John C.
Published: November 2023

Background
Certain diseases are associated with individual eating habits. Eating habits of the youth are at times copied from other people and replicated throughout a lifetime. Despite this, the influence of role modeling on food consumption among the youth seems to have received scant attention in the extant literature. Previous studies appear to largely focus on children and adolescent populations within Europe and the United States of America. This study seeks to fill this gap by exploring the influence role modeling has on food consumption among the youth in Uganda.
Methods
Utilizing an exploratory qualitative methodology, we conducted nine in-depth interviews of University students aged between 20–29 years in central Uganda. Discussions covered a range of issues related to how role modeling influenced the youths’ food consumption.
Results
Using thematic content analysis found that role models influence the youth’s food consumption in three ways; live demonstration, abstract shows, and instructional guidance. This means an individual may influence a youth’s eating habits through physically eating in the same social setting, through digital screen platforms, and through advice that may also include written literature.
Conclusion
Parents should, thus, repeatedly eat healthy foods as a way of training their child’s nutrition habits. In addition, health professionals designing screen media campaigns for the youth should consider using healthy foods in their image-related content. Written literature with healthy eating messages should also be prepared to target the youth.