bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Targeted Agents in Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma on Dialysis: Myths and Reality
Authors: Guida Annalisa , Cosmai Laura , Gelsomino Fabio , Masini Cristina , Sabbatini Roberto , Porta Camillo
Published: February 2023

Agents targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/VEGF receptor (VEGFR) pathway, as well as mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors have revolutionised the therapeutic landscape of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) in the past decade, greatly improving the survival rates of these patients. However, translating results of registrative Phase III trials into everyday clinical practice is often troublesome, since real-world patients are completely different from those enrolled in randomised controlled Phase III trials. Prospective data on active oncological treatments in mRCC patients on dialysis are dramatically lacking. This literature review summarises and critically comments on available data relative to mRCC patients on dialysis receiving either VEGF/VEGFR-targeting agents, or mTOR inhibitors. Although prospective studies would definitely be warranted in these specific patient populations, all the available data suggest that mRCC patients on dialysis have the same outcome, both in terms of efficacy and safety, as mRCC patients with normal or marginally impaired kidney function, when treated with VEGF/VEGFR-targeting agents and/or mTOR inhibitors.
Complement Involvement in Renal Transplantation
Authors: Salvadori Maurizio , Rosso Giuseppina , Bertoni Elisabetta
Published: February 2023

The complement system is involved in several renal diseases and in renal transplantation (RTx). The authors review the complement cascade and its involvement in innate and adaptive immunity in the field of RTx. The complement cascade is involved in several steps of RTx: ischaemia—reperfusion injury (IRI), T cell-mediated acute rejection (TMR), antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR), and progressive kidney injury and fibrosis. The high frequency of complement involvement in RTx is the subject of several studies because complement could be a relevant target in treating the aforementioned conditions. There is an increasing number of ongoing clinical trials aimed at verifying the efficacy and safety of many drug candidates. The anti-C5 monoclonal antibody is already approved to prevent and treat ABMR and is the subject of trials investigating the treatment of other conditions such as IRI, TMR, and progressive fibrosis. Other molecular targets, such as C1, C3, C5a, and C5a receptor, are the subject of international trials and could prove to be effective in the near future.
Automated Quantification of Stroke Damage on Brain Computed Tomography Scans: e-ASPECTS
Authors: Hampton-Till James , Harrison Michael , Kühn Anna Luisa , Anderson Oliver , Sinha Devesh , Tysoe Sharon , Greveson Eric , Papadakis Michalis , Grunwald Iris Q.
Published: February 2023

Emergency radiological diagnosis of acute ischaemic stroke requires the accurate detection and appropriate interpretation of relevant imaging findings. Non-contrast computed tomography (CT) provides fast and low-cost assessment of the early signs of ischaemia and is the most widely used diagnostic modality for acute stroke. The Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) is a quantitative and clinically validated method to measure the extent of ischaemic signs on brain CT scans. The CE-marked electronic-ASPECTS (e-ASPECTS) software automates the ASPECTS score. Anglia Ruskin Clinical Trials Unit (ARCTU) independently carried out a clinical investigation of the e-ASPECTS software, an automated scoring system which can be integrated into the diagnostic pathway of an acute ischaemic stroke patient, thereby assisting the physician with expert interpretation of the brain CT scan. Here we describe a literature review of the clinical importance of reliable assessment of early ischaemic signs on plain CT scans, and of technologies automating these processed scoring systems in ischaemic stroke on CT scans focusing on the e-ASPECTS software. To be suitable for critical appraisal in this evaluation, the published studies needed a sample size of a minimum of 10 cases. All randomised studies were screened and data deemed relevant to demonstration of performance of ASPECTS were appraised. The literature review focused on three domains: i) interpretation of brain CT scans of stroke patients, ii) the application of the ASPECTS score in ischaemic stroke, and iii) automation of brain CT analysis. Finally, the appraised references are discussed in the context of the clinical impact of e-ASPECTS and the expected performance, which will be independently evaluated by a non-inferiority study conducted by the ARCTU.
Land Cover Classification Improvements by Remote Sensing Data Fusion
Authors: Karimov B. , Karimova G. , Amankulova N.
Published: February 2023

Computer processing and analysis of satellite data is an urgent task of the science of remote sensing of the earth. Such processing can range from adjusting the contrast and brightness of the images of an amateur photographer to a group of scientists using neural network classification to determine the types of minerals in a hyperspectral satellite image. This article implements a method of satellite data fusion, which improves the digital image interpretation and image quality for further analysis. For fusion, a multispectral image with a resolution of 30 m Landsat 5 with 6 channels was taken, with three more significant and informative in their composition were used, as well as a panchromatic (monochrome) image with a resolution of 15 m. To evaluate the resolution of the images and the resulting images before and after the image fusion algorithm, image slices along a straight line and intersecting buildings, green mass, roads and industrial areas presented. For testing, test territories taken from Google Earth and the field work results.
Pisum Sustainability System to Na2SO4
Authors: Asadova B.
Published: February 2023

Salinity is a major abiotic stress limiting growth and productivity of plants in many areas of the world due to increasing use of poor quality of water for irrigation and soil salinization. Plant adaptation or sustainability to salinity stress involves complex physiological traits, metabolic pathways, and molecular or gene networks. A comprehensive understanding on how plants respond to salinity stress at different levels and an integrated approach of combining molecular tools with physiological and biochemical techniques are imperative for the development of salt-stable varieties of plants in salt-affected areas. Recent research has identified various adaptive responses to salinity stress at molecular, cellular, metabolic, and physiological levels, although mechanisms underlying salinity tolerance are far from being completely understood. This paper provides a comprehensive review of major research advances on biochemical, physiological, and molecular mechanisms regulating plant adaptation and sustainability to salinity stress.
Effectiveness of Applying Fertilizers Under Watermelon on the Meadow-Grey Soils in Mugan-Salyan Zone
Authors: Jafarov V. , Mustafaev Z.
Published: February 2023

The meadow-gray soils are one of the most widespread species in Azerbaijan territory, mainly in the Kur-Araz lowland, in Nakhchivan plain regions, in the Samur-Davachi valley. The meadow-gray soils irrigated in the Mugan-Salyan zone are most commonly used in the agricultural lands of the region. Agrochemical characterization of soils plays an important role in defining a number of its features, including fertility, degree of provision of certain nutrients, determination of soil condition reaction, timing, norms, methods and proportions of fertilizers under separate plantings. In this context, the soil under watermelons has been researched, and the agrochemical properties of meadow-gray soils have been studied. Apart from the nutritional properties of plants, it has a great impact on the efficient use of fertilizers in the soil. Soil is the main source of plant nutrients. Different soils contain different amounts of nutrients. The soil contains more nutrients than it needs to produce high yields. Fertilized soil with less moisture increases the yield of agricultural crops. This is explained by the fact that only some of the nutrients in the soil are used by plants. Many of them remain unused. The nutrients contained in the soil go into the form used by plants from time to time as a result of the biological and chemical processes involved. In this regard, it is necessary to determine the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and other elements found in the soil and which plants can easily use to ensure proper nutrition. The main reason why plants do not meet their nutrients is the use of fertilizers. Given the biology of watermelon, soil-climatic conditions and agrotechnical methods in Azerbaijan, the optimal dose and timing of fertilizers can be enhanced and improved.
Sustainable Agriculture
Authors: Shtebner S. , Erlygina E.
Published: February 2023

Industrial farming methods are driven by the need to provide products to a growing population around the world. However, high yields of industrial agriculture cause significant damage to the health of animals, humans and the environment and have many negative consequences. The paper considers the negative consequences of industrial food production and substantiates the need for sustainable agriculture.
Alzheimer's Disease: Biophysics, Genetics, Epigenetics, Neuroimaging, Bioelementology, Nutriciology, Treatment, Prevention and Neurotrenching
Authors: Romanchuk N. , Bulgakova S. , Volobuev A. , Krasnov S. , Seredina G. , Ziganshina V. , Sivakova E. , Maslova O. , Pyatin V.
Published: February 2023

The complex more than Alzheimer’s disease 115-year-old problem paradigm is an author’s multidisciplinary response through the prism of fundamental applied algorithms/tools/technologies to the pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of this neurodegeneration. Homo sapiens brains are biological, biophysical, neurophysiological and medico-social information exchange paradigms. The achievement of research N. P. Romanchuk is the establishment of many genetic and epigenetic factors of cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases. The introduction of copyright developments in the last 15 years has made it possible to form a system of algorithms and tools for managing neuroplasticity. Modified combined EEG/PET and PET/fMRI methods and hybrid PET/CT/MRI technologies are combined functional and structural neuroimaging. Modern communications are multilevel, multiparadigmal, and interdisciplinary models of information exchange. Neurogenetics is a center for multidisciplinary and interagency research using best practices, involving 5P Medicine and 5G technology. In studies, N.P. Romanchuk showed that for the new neurogenesis and neuroplasticity, for the management of human neuroplasticity and biological age, for the modern neurophysiology and neurorehabilitation of cognitive disorders and cognitive disorders, sufficient functional and energy nutrition of the brain is necessary using modern neurotechnologies of nuclear medicine. Modern artificial intelligence technologies are capable of many things, including predicting cognitive impairment and cognitive disorders, using combined and hybrid neuroimaging, sequencing of a new generation, etc., in order to begin timely and effective rehabilitation of the H. sapiens brain. The brain of H. sapiens is the next frontier for healthcare. The merger of combined and hybrid neuroimaging methods with artificial intelligence technologies allows us to understand and diagnose neurological disorders and find new methods of rehabilitation and medical and social support that will lead to improved mental health. The severity of cognitive impairment largely depends on the time of early prevention, the severity of depressive disorder, the age of the patient, neuroendocrine, cerebral and cerebrovascular pathology.
Acoustic Performance Analysis of Diesel Engine Silencer
Authors: Liu F.
Published: February 2023

The finite element model of diesel engine muffler is established, the noise reduction function of the muffler is studied and tested, the distribution cloud diagram of sound pressure level inside the muffler is calculated, the sound fields at various frequencies are plotted. The change of sound pressure level inside the muffler is tested. After processing, the line spectrum and octave band results of the transmission loss of the muffler are obtained. The acoustic performance of the muffler can be quantitatively determined by synthesizing the results of the sound field distribution and the transmission loss inside the muffler.
Some Applications of Financial Mathematics in Solving Economic Problems
Authors: Yakubova U. , Parpieva N. , Mirkhodjaeva N.
Published: February 2023

The paper presents a formula for increasing by simple percentages, considered the definition of the period of accrual of simple interest, the definition of the annual period for a given number of days. And also, the concepts of ordinary simple percentage, exact prime percentage, approximate time are considered. In addition, examples of accrual of simple interest were solved, the accrual period was calculated, simple variable rates, reinvestment on simple interest were considered. The formula of increment on compound interest and the formulas for doubling the amount are used.
Soft Skills Development Issues in Young IT Specialists
Authors: Kamaldinova Z. , Lipatova A.
Published: February 2023

The development of information technologies and mass computerization have largely contributed to the transition of society from an industrial to a post-industrial society, in which employers seek to hire employees who are not only professionally developed, but also personally capable of thinking outside the box and creatively approaching tasks. However, the transition to post-industrialism that has not fully ended and the education system that has not had time to adapt are not yet able to fully educate graduates that employers need. Today there is an urgent need for promising young specialists with higher education, but this need is not being met at the proper level, since the education system does not have enough resources necessary for the development of soft skills among students and graduates. Employers are looking for employees who have not only applied knowledge, but also know how to negotiate, communicate with customers, members of the production team, employees who are able to analyze the situation and take risks in cases that justify it. All these qualities are an integral part of soft skills. The essence of the term reflects the personality qualities that greatly contribute to the improvement of a person's career growth. The modern education system is adapted to produce employees whose advantages are highly developed hard skills, which are more in demand in an industrial society. However, modern society is a post—industrial society, which is characterized mainly by other aspects of economic life. In this regard, the education system is in urgent need of transformation, which could provide employers with qualified specialists, which would ultimately have a positive impact on the level of economic development and society as a whole.
Integration of the Pedagogical Culture of Parents With the Pedagogical Culture of the Teacher
Authors: Khalilova T.
Published: February 2023

This article speaks about the pedagogical culture of parents and teachers, which is passed on to future generations who are currently being educated. It is well known that all phenomena occurring in society that cannot be understood by a human being come from our own inability to guide and guide us in the right direction. To prevent such incidents, the parent and the school, the child must maintain close contact with three of them, and he offers open, free communication with three of them. Only when there is open, free communication between them, the child begins to open up and share his content with his parents or teacher. Everyone should train the child to solve their problems from an early age, without quarreling and talking freely.
On Individual Style of Pedagogical Activity of a Lecturer of Social and Humanitarian Disciplines of a University
Authors: Ezri G.
Published: February 2023

In this article, on an interdisciplinary (at the intersection of philosophy, psychology, pedagogy) basis, the individual style of pedagogical activity of a teacher of social and humanitarian subjects in higher education is studied. It is substantiated that the essence of the individual style of pedagogical activity of a teacher of social and humanitarian disciplines is subjectively perceived anthropology, reflexivity and interpretability. These qualities, logically, should have unconscious (Jungian Self) and existential (in the logic of M. Heidegger refers to DaSein) roots, and does not refer to the Jungian person. A person may include professional competencies that are not used in other activities. It is shown that the personal nature of social and humanitarian knowledge is as follows: firstly, since the anthropological turn, the human personality has been put in the basis of this field of knowledge, and secondly, even if these sciences are engaged in the study of the facts of reality, but their specificity lies in the interpretation, which is personal, subjective, and thirdly, the individual nature of human perception of culture and spirituality. It is concluded that, contrary to the conclusion that can be drawn from the scientific literature, the teacher's personality is not identical to the profession - professional interest arises in connection with its essence (Self, existence, DaSein), which is reflected in the individual style of pedagogical activity, while essence is not equivalent to professional pedagogical competence. It is also necessary to clarify that the article does not mean every empirical teacher of social and humanitarian disciplines, but one who, firstly, is a fairly competent specialist in this field of knowledge, and secondly, perceived the values of social and humanitarian knowledge as his own. personal, thirdly, has a personal predisposition (introvert) to the social sciences and humanities.
Imaginary Verbs in the Epic of Manas
Authors: Nasiridinova U.
Published: February 2023

Imitation is a word that imitates the sound of an animate or inanimate object and shows the state of their movement. The article talks about illusory imitated words, which represent the third group of imitated words, and how this is done, because imaginary words and imaginary verbs are close to each other in morphological structure in terms of meaning. This article mainly discusses the use of imaginary verbs in the Kyrgyz language. I also inverted to several types that are included in the groups forming imaginary verbs they are as follows: 1. To imaginary verbs ending in -й; 2. To imaginary words ending in sounds -т, - к, - п; 3. Imaginary words consisting of nouns and verb (living) origins; 4. Imaginary words formed from unknown (dead) etymology origins; 5. The roots of the find are imitated words that are related to imaginary words. The article mentioned the widespread use of imaginary verbs in fiction, folk tales, epics. It examined the example of imaginary verbs of the Epic of Manas, explanations to them were written, and it was also emphasized that imaginary verbs consist of different roots and imaginary verbs with imitative roots are formed from them.
‘Churchill abandoned the fighting Scots’: The Mythology and Reality of the Surrender of the 51st Highland Division at St Valery-en-Caux, 12 June 1940
Authors: Barclay Gordon J. , Brown Adam
Published: February 2023

The 51st (Highland) Division surrendered to the Germans on 12 June 1940. The force lost at St Valery was made up not only of Scots, but also English, Welsh, French and French Colonial troops. But in recent decades the division’s loss has been recast as a story of solely Scottish loss, deployed in narratives of grievance and victimhood. We contrast the mythology with the historical reality, in the context of the distribution of ‘fake history’ in the service of nationalist politics ( English 2021 ).

This paper considers three aspects of the events of 1940: 1. The creation, development and use of the mythology. 2. The nature of the 51st Highland Division – how ‘Highland’, how ‘Scottish’ was the force lost at St Valery? 3. The actual events of May-June 1940. We do this by drawing together existing and new scholarship, including more from French perspectives than is common, to summarise knowledge in an accessible form for a wider audience.
The Sustainability of The Netflix's Business Processes With Knowledge Risk Management Approach
Authors: Putra Gustian Rama
Published: February 2023

The Squid Game film is a film that is very familiar among the public because the story, storyline, and also the quality provided gives a very good impression that can be accessed by the public through an application called Netflix. Not surprisingly, many people remember their childhood in these stories. However, on the side of its very global fame, there are several issues that must be faced by Netflix in showing the Squid Game film that can threaten the sustainability of Netflix's business process itself. Through this research, we will analyze the factors that cause Netflix to face the worst scenario in showing the Squid Game film through Factor and Regression analysis on a predetermined model. The results stated that there were 9 factors that caused Netflix to have to deal with this problem.
Application of Naive Bayes Algorithm to Analysis of Free Fatty Acid (FFA) Production Based on Fruit Freshness Level
Authors: Supriyatin Wahyu
Published: February 2023

Cooking oil is a basic need for everyone who is used to process food ingredients. The use of cooking oil repeatedly and continuously by heating at high temperatures can increase the free fatty acid levels in the oil. The more the oil is reused, the higher the free fatty acid content. Testing the levels of FFA in oil can be done using the FFA test, because FFA can affect the selling price of CPO when it is marketed. In addition, FFA affects the levels of free fatty acids of CPO. This study aims to determine the analysis of FFA production in palm oil products based on the level of freshness of the fruit. The research was conducted by classifying data mining using the NaÃ¯ve Bayes Algorithm. The NaÃ¯ve Bayes algorithm was used to determine whether FFA production had an effect on fruit freshness, fruit quality and fruit soiling. The research was conducted using RapidMiner Studio 9.10 tools. The results of the research from the distribution table show that the value of the FFA attribute obtained 2 conditions, namely super conditions and normal conditions. Where each of these attributes is influenced by the variables of fruit freshness and fruit quality. Probability accuracy results from 60 training data and 40 testing data used are 92.50% for super FFA conditions.
A Comparative Study of Beliefs in Islam and Zoroastrianism
Authors: Sadaaf Alizah
Published: February 2023

Zoroastrianism is one of the oldest religions in the world. Islam is a major religion of the world. Both Islam and Zoroastrianism are monotheistic religions. However, both of them are different. Both the religions have different beliefs, set of values, customs, holy book and holy prophet. Even their concept of God is quite far apart. We look around us and some questions pop in our mind. Who created this world, the sky, space, sun, trees, clouds, seas, oceans, and mountains. Who created humans and other living creatures? All these questions lead us to believe that there is an entity a power behind all this, who has created everything. This entity became known as God. Scholars all over the world study and carry research on these two religions. Islam teaches us to believe in one and only God “Allah” whereas in Zoroastrianism in the guise of God a dualistic belief is there. This dualistic belief has been studied very thoroughly by experts and religious scholars. The major beliefs and thoughts and developments in Islam and Zoroastrianism would be discussed here in the light of evidence from various articles. How both the religions influence each other and what are both their perspectives on each other and their ideologies? All these factors would be discussed in this article.
Comparative analysis of methods for the similarity assessment of geofields
Authors:   Moscow State University of Geodesy and Cartography, Gvozdev O. G. , Materukhin A. V. ,   Moscow State University of Geodesy and Cartography, Maiorov A. A. ,   Moscow State University of Geodesy and Cartography
Published: February 2023

In the general case, the problem of spatial modeling can be formulated as the problem of obtaining estimates of the values of the studied parameters in those locations where no measurements were made. An important class of spatial models are geofields, and the most common representation of geofields are two- and three-dimensional arrays, equipped with metadata, including georeferencing parameters. To solve the problem of determining the similarity of geofields (for example, true and obtained by interpolation of the initial data), in practice, methods are often used that were originally developed for assessing the similarity of images, such as photographs or 3D visualization results. Since these methods were developed to analyze images that differ significantly from geofields, their application to geofields is more of a heuristic than a theory-based ap-proach. In the course of the computational experiments described in the article, the applicability of known methods for quantifying the similarity of geofields was investigated, in particular, for the problem of identifying geofields, which are "snapshots" of a geofield changing over time. For the experiments, 7 sets of geofields were generated, each con-taining five thousand geofields. The results of the computational experiments have shown that the MAE, MSE, QSE, NMI, PSNR, RMSE methods make it possible to quite clearly separate the pairs of geofields that are not related to each other, and the pairs of geofields that are consecutive "snapshots" of a geofield that changes in time.
Study of the soil cover of the Chingirlau rural district of the West Kazakhstan region of the Republic of Kazakhstan based on the use of GIS technologies
Authors:   Central Siberian Botanical Garden SD RAS, Baikov K. S. , Salikhov T. K. ,   L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University; Abay Myrzakhmetov Kokshetau University, Yelyubayev S. Z. ,   Abay Myrzakhmetov Kokshetau University, Salikhova T. S. ,   L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University; Abay Myrzakhmetov Kokshetau University
Published: February 2023

Rational use and protection of soils in market conditions requires adequate application of new scientific and methodological approaches. One of such systems-analytical methods of organizing a soil cadastre is the combination of traditional ground-based methods with geographic information systems (GIS) technologies based on the widespread use of aerospace images of high resolutions. The totality of information necessary for mapping soil cover structures and their quantitative assessment is described in GIS databases. Data integration is implemented through a spatial and attributive component in the form of: the results of topographic and thematic maps. At the same time, the creation of attributive GIS databases involves the digitization of thematic maps linked in a single cartographic projection (which was a topographic map at a scale of 1:50,000). As results of the research, digital soil maps for the Chingirlau district of the West Kazakhstan region were created on the basis of GIS technologies, using the ArcGIS software products. It was established that within the limits of the Chingirlau district of the West Kazakhstan region, dark chestnut soils in combination with various soil combinations pre-dominate in the structure of the soil cover. They are formed on loess-like loams in the conditions of the dry steppe zone with a non-leaching type of water regime under fescue-grass, forb-grass-wormwood, meadowsweet-grass with wormwood plant communities. To improve the quality of generalized maps (district, regional, etc.), it is necessary to create objective automated methods for generalizing maps in a digital environment. A method for compiling a digital soil map using the ArcGIS soft-ware product, accessible to a wide range of GIS users, has been developed. To compile soil maps, it is possible to use any scanned cartographic bases, photoplans, and other raster materials. Based on the developed methodology, a large-scale soil map of the Chingirlau district of the West Kazakhstan region was created on the basis of soil maps of rural districts made using GIS technologies.
Popular education in an association – expert by experience and work in tandem
Authors: Cavaco Carmen , Paulos Catarina , Domingos Rita , Alves Emília
Published: February 2023

The aim of this paper is to analyse the dynamics of popular education in the Associação Cultural Moinho da Juventude focusing on the expert by experience and the work in tandem. The expert by experience is someone who has personal life experience of poverty and social exclusion and who has also undergone specific training in these areas. The work in tandem is a work methodology involving two individuals and grounded on the complementarity of knowledge. The empirical data was collected using participatory action research. In conceptual terms, the paper is framed by critical theory and popular education.. The research findings point to diversified and continuing popular education dynamics in the initiatives of this association, managed by residents in several interdependent areas (social, cultural, urbanistic, educational, etc) across a long time period. Its practices are geared towards emancipation and the construction of a more just world, with less inequality. Popular education has contributed both to the qualification and the promotion of the power to act of the experts by experience who take action in the neighbourhood, in tandem, in various areas of intervention.
Recurrencia de vértigo y discapacidad autopercibida en pacientes con hipovitaminosis D
Authors: Lino González Ana Luisa , Mariana Castañón León , Ishiwara Niembro Julia Kioko , Arch Tirado Emilio
Published: February 2023

El propósito de este estudio fue analizar el efecto de la deficiencia de vitamina D sobre la recurrencia de vértigo y la discapacidad autopercibida en pacientes diagnosticados con Vértigo Postural Paroxístico Benigno en un hospital de tercer nivel de la Ciudad de México. Se trata de un estudio retrospectivo y descriptivo. Se revisaron expedientes electrónicos (enero 2017 – diciembre 2019), de pacientes previamente diagnosticados, que presentaran valores deficientes de vitamina D sérica. Se contabilizó la cantidad de episodios de vértigo reportados, así como, la puntuación obtenida en el Dizzines Handicap Inventory para determinar el nivel de discapacidad autopercibida al momento del diagnóstico y a los 6 meses de seguimiento. Los niveles de vitamina D sérica de los pacientes seleccionados (n=30), demostraban hipovitaminosis (media de 17.1 ng/mL) al momento del diagnóstico. Seis meses después y habiendo recibido tratamiento con maniobras de reposicionamiento los pacientes reportaron desde ausencia absoluta de recurrencias (7 pacientes, 23.3%) hasta 8 recurrencias (1 paciente, 3.3%) en el mismo periodo. En cuanto al nivel de discapacidad autopercibida en la evaluación inicial predominó la discapacidad moderada (60%), mientras que, en la evaluación final, la preponderante fue la discapacidad leve (73.3%). No se encontró diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre la deficiencia de vitamina D y la recurrencia de episodios de vértigo. Se concluye que los resultados obtenidos posiblemente se deben a que la insuficiencia de vitamina D es muy común en la población mexicana, incluso en individuos sanos.
On testing exponentiality under Type-I censoring
Authors: Pakyari Reza , Al-Hamed Omama M.
Published: February 2023

Two new goodness-of-fit testing procedures are introduced to test exponentiality when data are subject to Type-I censoring. We proposed four test statistics for this purpose. Under extensive Monte Carlo simulations, we showed that the proposed tests maintain the nominal significance level and show good power for both monotonic and non-monotonic hazard function alternatives even for small samples as n = 10. A real dataset is studied for illustrative purposes.
Filamentous fungi for sustainable remediation of pharmaceutical compounds, heavy metal and oil hydrocarbons
Authors: Ghosh Soumya , Rusyn Iryna , Dmytruk Olena V. , Dmytruk Kostyantyn V. , Onyeaka Helen , Gryzenhout Marieka , Gafforov Yusufjon
Published: February 2023

This review presents a comprehensive summary of the latest research in the field of bioremediation with filamentous fungi. The main focus is on the issue of recent progress in remediation of pharmaceutical compounds, heavy metal treatment and oil hydrocarbons mycoremediation that are usually insufficiently represented in other reviews. It encompasses a variety of cellular mechanisms involved in bioremediation used by filamentous fungi, including bio-adsorption, bio-surfactant production, bio-mineralization, bio-precipitation, as well as extracellular and intracellular enzymatic processes.Processes for wastewater treatment accomplished through physical, biological, and chemical processes are briefly described. The species diversity of filamentous fungi used in pollutant removal, including widely studied species ofAspergillus,Penicillium,Fusarium,Verticillium,Phanerochaeteand other species of Basidiomycota and Zygomycota are summarized. The removal efficiency of filamentous fungi and time of elimination of a wide variety of pollutant compounds and their easy handling make them excellent tools for the bioremediation of emerging contaminants. Various types of beneficial byproducts made by filamentous fungi, such as raw material for feed and food production, chitosan, ethanol, lignocellulolytic enzymes, organic acids, as well as nanoparticles, are discussed. Finally, challenges faced, future prospects, and how innovative technologies can be used to further exploit and enhance the abilities of fungi in wastewater remediation, are mentioned.
Identification of characteristics of foot position and angle during swing phase in fallers using principal component analysis
Authors: Inai Takuma , Kobayashi Yoshiyuki , Huang Chenhui , Fujita Koji , Fujimoto Masahiro , Nihey Fumiyuki , Yamamoto Akiko , Nakajima Kanako , Nakahara Kentaro , Kutsuzawa Gaku , Fukushi Kenichiro , Kudo Shoma
Published: February 2023

Identifying the characteristics of fallers is important for preventing falls because such events may reduce quality of life. It has been reported that several variables related to foot positions and angles during gait (e.g., sagittal foot angle and minimum toe clearance) differ between fallers and non-fallers. However, examining such representative discrete variables may not be sufficient to detect crucial information, which may be contained in the large portions of unanalyzed data. Therefore, we aimed to identify the comprehensive characteristics of foot position and angle during the swing phase of gait in non-fallers and fallers using principal component analysis (PCA). Thirty non-fallers and 30 fallers were recruited for this study. We performed PCA to reduce the dimensions of foot positions and angles during the swing phase and obtained principal component scores (PCSs) for each principal component vector (PCV), which were then compared between groups. The results revealed that the PCS of PCV3 in fallers was significantly larger than that in non-fallers (p = 0.003, Cohen’s d = 0.80). We reconstructed waveforms of foot positions and angles during the swing phase using PCV3 and our main findings can be summarized as follows. Compared to non-fallers, fallers have a 1) low average foot position in the z-axis (i.e., height) during the initial swing phase 2) small average foot angle in the x-axis (i.e., rotation in the sagittal plane), during the initial swing phase, and 3) large variability in foot position in the y-axis (i.e., anterior/posterior position) during the initial swing phase. We can conclude that these are characteristics of gait related to fallers. Therefore, our findings may be beneficial for evaluating fall risk during gait using a device such as a shoe- or insole-embedded inertial measurement unit.
Human 3D nucleus pulposus microtissue model to evaluate the potential of pre-conditioned nasal chondrocytes for the repair of degenerated intervertebral disc
Authors: Kasamkattil Jesil , Gryadunova Anna , Schmid Raphael , Gay-Dujak Max Hans Peter , Dasen Boris , Hilpert Morgane , Pelttari Karoliina , Martin Ivan , Schären Stefan , Barbero Andrea , Krupkova Olga , Mehrkens Arne
Published: February 2023

Introduction: An in vitro model that appropriately recapitulates the degenerative disc disease (DDD) microenvironment is needed to explore clinically relevant cell-based therapeutic strategies for early-stage degenerative disc disease. We developed an advanced 3D nucleus pulposus (NP) microtissues (µT) model generated with cells isolated from human degenerating NP tissue (Pfirrmann grade: 2–3), which were exposed to hypoxia, low glucose, acidity and low-grade inflammation. This model was then used to test the performance of nasal chondrocytes (NC) suspension or spheroids (NCS) after pre-conditioning with drugs known to exert anti-inflammatory or anabolic activities.

Methods: NPµTs were formed by i) spheroids generated with NP cells (NPS) alone or in combination with ii) NCS or iii) NC suspension and cultured in healthy or degenerative disc disease condition. Anti-inflammatory and anabolic drugs (amiloride, celecoxib, metformin, IL-1Ra, GDF-5) were used for pre-conditioning of NC/NCS. The effects of pre-conditioning were tested in 2D, 3D, and degenerative NPµT model. Histological, biochemical, and gene expression analysis were performed to assess matrix content (glycosaminoglycans, type I and II collagen), production and release of inflammatory/catabolic factors (IL-6, IL-8, MMP-3, MMP-13) and cell viability (cleaved caspase 3).

Results: The degenerative NPµT contained less glycosaminoglycans, collagens, and released higher levels of IL-8 compared to the healthy NPµT. In the degenerative NPµT, NCS performed superior compared to NC cell suspension but still showed lower viability. Among the different compounds tested, only IL-1Ra pre-conditioning inhibited the expression of inflammatory/catabolic mediators and promoted glycosaminoglycan accumulation in NC/NCS in DDD microenvironment. In degenerative NPµT model, preconditioning of NCS with IL-1Ra also provided superior anti-inflammatory/catabolic activity compared to non-preconditioned NCS.

Conclusion: The degenerative NPµT model is suitable to study the responses of therapeutic cells to microenvironment mimicking early-stage degenerative disc disease. In particular, we showed that NC in spheroidal organization as compared to NC cell suspension exhibited superior regenerative performance and that IL-1Ra pre-conditioning of NCS could further improve their ability to counteract inflammation/catabolism and support new matrix production within harsh degenerative disc disease microenvironment. Studies in an orthotopic in vivo model are necessary to assess the clinical relevance of our findings in the context of IVD repair.
DNA-based customized functional modules for signal transformation
Authors: Zhang Mingzhi , Sun Yang
Published: February 2023

Information on the temporal and spatial scale of cellular molecules in biological systems is crucial for estimating life processes and may be conducive to an improved understanding of disease progression. This intracellular and extracellular information is often difficult to obtain at the same time due to the limitations of accessibility and sensing throughput. DNA is an excellent material for in vivo and in vitro applications, and can be used to build functional modules that can transform bio-information (input) into ATCG sequence information (output). Due to their small volume and highly amenable programming, DNA-based functional modules provide an opportunity to monitor a range of information, from transient molecular events to dynamic biological processes. Over the past two decades, with the advent of customized strategies, a series of functional modules based on DNA networks have been designed to gather different information about molecules, including the identity, concentration, order, duration, location, and potential interactions; the action of these modules are based on the principle of kinetics or thermodynamics. This paper summarizes the available DNA-based functional modules that can be used for biomolecular signal sensing and transformation, reviews the available designs and applications of these modules, and assesses current challenges and prospects.
Persisting Cryptococcus yeast species Vishniacozyma victoriae and Cryptococcus neoformans elicit unique airway inflammation in mice following repeated exposure
Authors: Rush Rachael E. , Blackwood Catherine B. , Lemons Angela R. , Dannemiller Karen C. , Green Brett J. , Croston Tara L.
Published: February 2023

Background

Allergic airway disease (AAD) is a growing concern in industrialized nations and can be influenced by fungal exposures. Basidiomycota yeast species such as Cryptococcus neoformans are known to exacerbate allergic airway disease; however, recent indoor assessments have identified other Basidiomycota yeasts, including Vishniacozyma victoriae (syn. Cryptococcus victoriae), to be prevalent and potentially associated with asthma. Until now, the murine pulmonary immune response to repeated V. victoriae exposure was previously unexplored.

Objective

This study aimed to compare the immunological impact of repeated pulmonary exposure to Cryptococcus yeasts.

Methods

Mice were repeatedly exposed to an immunogenic dose of C. neoformans or V. victoriae via oropharyngeal aspiration. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lungs were collected to examine airway remodeling, inflammation, mucous production, cellular influx, and cytokine responses at 1 day and 21 days post final exposure. The responses to C. neoformans and V. victoriae were analyzed and compared.

Results

Following repeated exposure, both C. neoformans and V. victoriae cells were still detectable in the lungs 21 days post final exposure. Repeated C. neoformans exposure initiated myeloid and lymphoid cellular infiltration into the lung that worsened over time, as well as an IL-4 and IL-5 response compared to PBS-exposed controls. In contrast, repeated V. victoriae exposure induced a strong CD4+ T cell-driven lymphoid response that started to resolve by 21 days post final exposure.

Discussion

C. neoformans remained in the lungs and exacerbated the pulmonary immune responses as expected following repeated exposure. The persistence of V. victoriae in the lung and strong lymphoid response following repeated exposure were unexpected given its lack of reported involvement in AAD. Given the abundance in indoor environments and industrial utilization of V. victoriae, these results highlight the importance to investigate the impact of frequently detected fungal organisms on the pulmonary response following inhalational exposure. Moreover, it is important to continue to address the knowledge gap involving Basidiomycota yeasts and their impact on AAD.
The application of mesoporous silica nanoparticles as a drug delivery vehicle in oral disease treatment
Authors: Fang Lixin , Zhou Huoxiang , Cheng Long , Wang Yiyi , Liu Fei , Wang Suping
Published: February 2023

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) hold promise as safer and more effective medication delivery vehicles for treating oral disorders. As the drug’s delivery system, MSNs adapt to effectively combine with a variety of medications to get over systemic toxicity and low solubility issues. MSNs, which operate as a common nanoplatform for the co-delivery of several compounds, increase therapy effectiveness and show promise in the fight against antibiotic resistance. MSNs offer a noninvasive and biocompatible platform for delivery that produces long-acting release by responding to minute stimuli in the cellular environmen. MSN-based drug delivery systems for the treatment of periodontitis, cancer, dentin hypersensitivity, and dental cavities have recently been developed as a result of recent unparalleled advancements. The applications of MSNs to be embellished by oral therapeutic agents in stomatology are discussed in this paper.
Metabolic insights into phosphofructokinase inhibition in bloodstream-form trypanosomes
Authors: Nare Zandile , Moses Tessa , Burgess Karl , Schnaufer Achim , Walkinshaw Malcolm D. , Michels Paul A. M.
Published: February 2023

Previously, we reported the development of novel small molecules that are potent inhibitors of the glycolytic enzyme phosphofructokinase (PFK) of Trypanosoma brucei and related protists responsible for serious diseases in humans and domestic animals. Cultured bloodstream-form trypanosomes, which are fully reliant on glycolysis for their ATP production, are rapidly killed at submicromolar concentrations of these compounds, which have no effect on the activity of human PFKs and human cells. Single-day oral dosing cures stage 1 human trypanosomiasis in an animal model. Here we analyze changes in the metabolome of cultured trypanosomes during the first hour after addition of a selected PFK inhibitor, CTCB405. The ATP level of T. brucei drops quickly followed by a partial increase. Already within the first five minutes after dosing, an increase is observed in the amount of fructose 6-phosphate, the metabolite just upstream of the PFK reaction, while intracellular levels of the downstream glycolytic metabolites phosphoenolpyruvate and pyruvate show an increase and decrease, respectively. Intriguingly, a decrease in the level of O-acetylcarnitine and an increase in the amount of L-carnitine were observed. Likely explanations for these metabolomic changes are provided based on existing knowledge of the trypanosome’s compartmentalized metabolic network and kinetic properties of its enzymes. Other major changes in the metabolome concerned glycerophospholipids, however, there was no consistent pattern of increase or decrease upon treatment. CTCB405 treatment caused less prominent changes in the metabolome of bloodstream-form Trypanosoma congolense, a ruminant parasite. This agrees with the fact that it has a more elaborate glucose catabolic network with a considerably lower glucose consumption rate than bloodstream-form T. brucei.