bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chicken feather dissolution to obtain keratin
Authors:   Vahidesadat Zebhi-Ashkezari1, Fazaelipoor Mohammad Hassan
Published: December 2024

The dissolution of chicken feathers was investigated for the purpose of reducing solid waste and obtaining keratin. For the first part, the effects of sodium sulfite (0.05–0.3 M), urea (0–4 M), temperature (50–85 °C), and incubation time (2–4 h) on feather dissolution were investigated via a factorial design. Another factorial design was applied to investigate the effects of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) (0–0.02 M), and lower ranges of urea (0.5–2 M), and incubation time (0.5–2 h) on feather dissolution. Keratin was precipitated from the solutions by ammonium sulfate and characterized via FTIR and SDS‒PAGE methods. The results of the first part demonstrated the feasibility of feather dissolution in the presence of sodium sulfite, and the effectiveness of urea and temperature on feather dissolution. For this part, a maximum feather dissolution of 45.35% was obtained with sodium sulfite and urea concentrations of 0.05 M and 4 M, respectively, at 85 °C for 4 hours. The results of the second part revealed a positive effect of SDS on feather dissolution. A maximum feather dissolution of 57.63% was obtained with sodium sulfite, urea, and SDS concentrations of 0.05 M, 2 M, and 0.02 M, respectively, at 85 °C for 2 hours. FTIR analysis confirmed the keratinous nature of the precipitated protein, and SDS‒PAGE revealed that the mass of the protein molecules was less than 15 kDa. This work confirms the feasibility of chemical dissolution of chicken feathers to obtain keratin as a useful product.
Co-occurrence of Witnessing Intimate Partner Violence against Women and Experiencing Violence in Childhood in Refugee Settlements in Uganda
Authors: Odwe George , Onyango Francis , Muthuri Stella , Kisaakye Peter , Habteyesus Dagim , Seruwagi Gloria , Wado Yohannes Dibaba , Bacha Yadeta , Wandera Bonnie , Kabiru Caroline W. , Undie Chi-Chi
Published: December 2024

Background: Intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) and violence against children (VAC) frequently co-occur within the same households. However, little is known about the co-occurrence of witnessing IPVAW and experiencing VAC in humanitarian settings. We examined the prevalence of witnessing IPVAW, and its association with a) experiencing physical and emotional VAC perpetrated by a caregiver; b) experiencing sexual violence by any perpetrator; and c) the endorsement of norms justifying IPVAW among children and young people aged 13-24 years in Uganda refugee settlements.
Methods: We analyzed data from the first-ever Ugandan Humanitarian Violence against Children and Youth Survey (HVACS) conducted from March to April 2022, involving 1,338 females and 927 males aged 13-24 years. Analyses used cross-tabulation with a chi-square test and estimation of a multivariate logistic regression model.
Results: The prevalence of witnessing IPVAW was higher among males (30.5%) than females (19.0%). For both females and males, witnessing IPVAW was associated with an increased likelihood of reporting experiencing physical (Females: adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 4.1; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.6-6.2 vs Males: AOR 4.1, 95% CI: 1.9-8.2), and emotional VAC perpetrated by a caregiver (Females: AOR 2.8, 95% CI: 1.8-4.4 vs Males: AOR 2.6, 95% CI: 1.3-5.2) compared to those who did not witness IPVAW. Unlike females, witnessing IPVAW among males significantly increased the odds of experiencing sexual violence by any perpetrator for males (AOR= 3.1; 95% CI=2.1-4.7), and endorsing norms justify IPVAW (AOR= 2.9; 95% CI=1.4-5.9) compared to those who never witnessed IPVAW.
Conclusion: Coupled with the endorsement of IPVAW, the co-occurrence of IPVAW and caregiver-perpetrated VAC is common among children and young people in refugee settlements in Uganda. These findings underscore the need to synergize gender-based violence and child protection sectors and develop prevention and response programming around intersecting IPVAW and VAC risk factors within homes in refugee settlements and similar settings.
Examining Knowledge, Attitudes, And Implementation of Evidence-Based Practice Among Nursing Students: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Alruwaili Abeer N. , ABUADAS Fuad H. , Alruwaili Majed M. , ALSADAAN Nourah A. , BAGHDADI Nadiah A.
Published: December 2024

Background: Integrating evidence-based practice (EBP) into nursing professionals' everyday routines can enhance both the practice environment and patient outcomes. It was suggested that an effective implementation of EBP would be improved by organizational support and an EBP culture.
Objectives: This study aimed to assess the self-perceived evidence-based practice competencies and organizational readiness for evidence-based practice adoption among nursing students in Saudi Arabia.
Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional descriptive correlational design. A convenience sample of 183 undergraduate nursing students were selected from three governmental Saudi universities from June to August 2023. A self-reported, three-part online survey was utilized and included: demographic questionnaire, the Student Evidence-Based Practice Questionnaire (S-EBPQ), and Organizational Culture and Readiness for School-wide Integration of Evidence-based Practice (OCRSIEP-E). Participants were encouraged to share survey invitations with their peers in other nursing departments within the university, utilizing various social media platforms to maximize response rates.
Findings: The findings revealed that a majority of participants demonstrated satisfactory EBP knowledge (54.6%) and maintained positive attitudes toward EBP (64.5%). However, notable deficiencies were identified, with a percentage of students reporting inadequate knowledge (13.7%), skills (19.7-23%), and harboring negative attitudes (35.5%). Noteworthy trends emerged, indicating that female students and those actively engaged in research activities exhibited superior EBP knowledge and skills. Furthermore, nursing students exhibit varying levels of agreement on organizational support for EBP, with mean scores of 3.49, 3.59, and 3.47 for culture-supporting EBP teaching, resource availability, and provision of EBP mentors, respectively.
Conclusion: The findings reveal a reasonably positive EBP outlook among students but also some persisting gaps in knowledge, critical appraisal skills, and organizational support requiring addressable. While students generally have satisfactory foundations, targeted interventions are warranted to further strengthen competencies and actualize the strategic paradigm shift toward evidence-based nursing.
Synthesis of isomers of Brussonol, Przewalskine E and Euolutchuol E
Authors: Zong Wenjing , Zhang Jing
Published: December 2024

The isomers of Brussonol, Przewalskine E, and Euolutchuol E were successfully synthesized through a synthetic route that involved tandem [5+2]/[4+2] cycloadditions to construct the full-carbon skeleton of icetexane diterpenes in a single step. Additionally, the Barton-McCombie reaction was utilized to eliminate the oxygen at the C 20 position, followed by the oxidation and aromatization of the C ring induced by SeO 2. This efficient and straightforward synthetic route paved the way for further activity research on these three natural product isomers.
Supervision of Experimental Autonomous PV System Performance at the Mediterranean site
Authors: saheb djohra , Azibi lilia , Aichoun fateh , Hatem djedjiga , mehareb fateh , koussa assia , belhaouas nasreddine
Published: December 2024

The Mediterranean region, known for its abundant solar resources, presents a prime opportunity for optimizing photovoltaic (PV) systems. This study centers on monitoring the performance of an experimental autonomous PV system at a Mediterranean site. It involves monitoring environmental factors such as solar radiation, temperature, and humidity, as well as electrical parameters including battery characteristics, PV current, and voltage and load consumption. By analyzing these factors and their impact on PV performance, this research identifies key parameters crucial for enhancing energy production efficiency. The insights gained contribute to the advancement of PV technology and offer valuable guidance for deploying efficient solar energy solutions in the Mediterranean and similar climates.
Balancing Exploration and Exploitation in Genetic Algorithm Optimization: A Novel Selection Operator
Authors: Dalkılıç Şahin Burak , Özgür Atilla , Erdem Hamit
Published: December 2024

The effectiveness of genetic algorithms (GA) is dependent on the selection of operators utilized. A multitude of researchers have proposed a variety of operators with the aim of improving the performance of GA. The results demonstrate that achieving optimal outcomes necessitates a balance between exploration and exploitation. In this paper, we put forward a novel selection operator with the objective of improving the equilibrium between exploration and exploitation. Moreover, a comparative analysis is conducted with the existing operator in the literature in terms of convergence rate on a total of 30 distinct travelling salesman problems, 11 of which are symmetric and 19 of which are asymmetric. Finally, the statistical merit of the proposed operator is demonstrated through the use of a critical difference diagram (CD). The results obtained demonstrate that the proposed method is more effective than those presented in the existing literature.
Adsorption of organic solvent vapours on pristine and doped few-layer graphene nanoflakes
Authors: Kupreenko Stepan , Stolbov Dmitry , Chernyak Sergei , Maslakov Konstantin , Strokova Natalia , Levin Mikhail , Arkhipova Ekaterina , Ivanov Anton , Savilov Serguei
Published: December 2024

Heterosubstitution is widely used to control the surface properties of graphene materials. The knowledge of the mechanism of organic solvent vapour sorption on doped graphene materials is necessary for development of air purification technologies, volatile organic compounds sensors, metal-free catalysis and for many other applications. The effect of N, S and Si doping and oxidative functionalization of few-layer graphene nanoflakes on the adsorption of organic solvent vapours was measured. The nanoflakes were also analyzed by TEM, XPS, Raman spectroscopy and low-temperature nitrogen physisorption. Special attention was paid to the dependence of the isosteric heat of adsorption on the surface coverage for various adsorbate-adsorbent pairs, which carry information about the energy inhomogeneity of the surface, the hierarchy of adsorbate-adsorbate, adsorbate-basal plane and adsorbate-functional groups interactions, and the mechanism of adsorption. This dependence for the hexane sorption can be used to detect hydrophilic groups on the surface, and to compare the degree of curvature of graphene layers in different heterosubstituted graphene materials.
Thermally activated static friction explains earthquakes interactions
Authors: weiss Jerome , Marsan David
Published: December 2024

Unlike e.g. meteorological hazards, tectonic earthquakes remain hardly predictable, reinforcing their deadly character. This is related to a strong time asymmetry, with few and nonsystematic foreshocks sometimes preceding large earthquakes, while aftershocks are ubiquitous and have been known for a long time. However, 130 years after Omori, the physical origin of this time asymmetry and of aftershocks remains highly debated. Slider-blocks models have been proposed to explain earthquakes physics and statistics. If these models can reproduce a Gutenberg-Richer distribution of slip magnitudes, they are unable to simulate aftershocks and time asymmetry except if introducing viscous relaxation in a deterministic way. Here, we model earthquake interactions and natural seismicity from a minimal number of fundamental mechanisms, namely elastic stress transfer and reaction rate theory applied to the simplest form of static friction. This allows introducing temperature in a physically meaningful way, and to strikingly reproduce many aspects of seismicity and earthquake interactions, including time asymmetry.
Early blight infection and the influence of biocontrol agents on wild potato relatives: Implications for integrated pest management (IPM) in potato
Authors: Lankinen Åsa , Andersen Christian B. , Mostafanezhad Hadis , De Pasqual Chiara , Hederström Veronica , Stridh Linnea J. , Liljeroth Erland , Grenville-Briggs Laura
Published: December 2024

Integrated pest management (IPM) is an important tool for sustainable crop production. IPM includes a diversity of methods, e.g. the use of biological control agents (BCAs) for disease control or growth promotion. While there is an increasing interest in the use of BCAs, less is known about their environmental costs and benefits on wild species, such as wild crop relatives. For example, a BCA may have the positive effect of controlling disease in wild relatives, but could also have the negative effect of growth promotion on wild relatives that act as weeds. In this study we investigated if three wild potato relatives – the perennial climber Solanum dulcamara, and the annual weeds S. nigrum and S. physalifolium – could be infected by Alternaria solani, the causal agent of early potato blight in Sweden, and studied how two BCAs, Pythium oligandrum (a lab strain) and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (Serenade®), affected the disease and growth promotion in a series of greenhouse and field experiments. Our studies confirmed the semantic knowledge that A. solani can infect all three wild species, in particular the two annual species often growing as weeds in potato fields. We also found a disease controlling effect of B. amyloliquefaciens, but not P. oligandrum, in the greenhouse. Some growth effects were found for both BCAs, but whether these were positive or negative varied with trait, plant species and genotypes. In conclusion, BCAs can confer both environmental costs and benefits on wild plants, which should be taken into consideration for development of sustainable agriculture.
Automated Data Processing for Efficient Development
of multimodal Machine Learning Models in Tool Wear
Detection
Authors: ValizadehSotubadi Saleh , Mahjourian Nazanin , Nguyen Vinh
Published: December 2024

This study aims to develop an Automated Data Processing (ADP) framework that automatically processes multimodal data for machine learning (ML) diagnostics of manufacturing processes. The objective is to contribute to the state-of-the-art Automated ML (AutoML) domain by developing a novel all-in-one ML development framework that automatically processes data, trains ML models, and conducts evaluation based on prior process-based knowledge. For this purpose, the ADP framework was designed based on a higher level decision making unit and a lower level machine learning unit to select the best set of data processing methods, ML models, and training strategies, defined as policies, for the machine tool monitoring. The ADP framework was tested with data collected from orthogonal tube turning experiments for cutting tool wear classification. The data were gathered using acceleration, acoustics, and temperature sensors mounted on a Computer Numerical Controller (CNC) lathe machine. The results demonstrate that the solutions selected by the ADP framework consistently exhibited similar performance as the global optimal policy with improved computational efficiency. Consequently, the proposed ADP framework was demonstrated to automatically conduct multiple steps within the ML development process without manual intervention for tool condition monitoring to facilitate democratization of ML development for manufacturers.
PFDB: Polyphenol Family Database
Authors: Li Xuzhen , Wang Chunping , Ning Ya , Zhu Yifan , Peng Xiaochang , Wang Weibin , Hao Tingting , Chen Baozheng , Yang Ling , Wang Lei , Cheng Jia , Li Dawei , Sheng Jun
Published: December 2024

Polyphenols and their derivatives are pivotal bioactive compounds in the plant kingdom and are known for their diverse physiological effects and significant contributions to human health. Understanding their biosynthetic pathways is crucial for exploring their roles in plant defense, environmental adaptation, and human nutrition. This study introduces the Polyphenol Family Database (PFDB, url: http://pfdb.ynau.edu.cn), a comprehensive and user-friendly resource designed to facilitate the exploration and analysis of these compounds. PFDB consolidates information on 64 enzymes across 284 species, offering a comprehensive view of their biosynthetic pathways and evolutionary relationships. The database features an intuitive structure with six main sections, including detailed pathway maps and a species-enzyme detail page that provides in-depth information on specific enzymes and their genetic and phylogenetic context. This integration of biochemical and genetic data makes PFDB a valuable tool for researchers in plant biology, biochemistry, and nutrition, facilitating advanced research and comparative analyses in the field. URL: http://pfdb.ynau.edu.cn
Polymerase chain reactions on nucleic acids isolated from in situ collected small intestinal mucosal swabs may represent alternative tests to diagnose Echinococcus multilocularis infection in its definitive hosts
Authors: Kunisch Alrik-Markis , Wassermann Josefine , Peters Martin , Feldmann Kim , Prinzenberg Eva , Klink Jana C. , Bergmann Hannes , Wernike Kerstin , Maksimov Pavlo , Schares Gereon
Published: December 2024

Background
The cestode Echinococcus multilocularis parasitizes the small intestines of carnivores such as foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) as definitive hosts and represents an important zoonotic threat. This study aimed to determine whether E. multilocularis DNA detection methods involving easy-to-collect sample types, such as swabs could represent alternatives to traditional parasitological techniques.
Methods
Three analytes from foxes and raccoon dogs were tested. i. Swabs taken immediately during necropsy (in-situ) from the small intestinal mucosa (FastMucSwab), ii. swabs from scraped-off small intestinal mucosa (IsolMucSwab), also used for the sedimentation-counting-technique (SCT) and for comparative reasons iii. feces from the Ampulla recti. Initial analyses on the suitability of two real-time PCRs (Em‒qPCR1 and Em-qPCR2) for the detection of E. multilocularis DNA isolated from swabs from SCT-positive animals (n = 15) suggested Em-qPCR1 as superior in terms of sensitivity. Another subset of SCT-positive and -negative animals was used to test FastMucSwabs taken separately from four segments of the small intestine (n = 81). For the comparisons of FastMucSwab Em-qPCR1 vs IsolMucSwab Em-qPCR1 and FastMucSwab Em-qPCR1 vs SCT, samples from 408 or 508 animals, respectively, were used. The comparison of Em-qPCR1 results on fecal samples and FastMucSwab relative to SCT, involved samples from 105 animals.
Results
Only minor differences in E. multilocularis DNA detection, independent of sample type, were observed. High levels of concordance between Em-qPCR1 results were noted in the comparison of results on FastMucSwabs, IsolMucSwabs or feces. The agreement between FastMucSwab and IsolMucSwab was excellent (Kappa 0.86 [95% CI: 0.79–0.92]). If inconclusive PCR results were excluded, FastMucSwab Em-qPCR1 had a diagnostic sensitivity of 92.7% (95% CI: 83.0–97.3%) and a specificity of 91.5% (95% CI: 88.4–93.9%) relative to SCT. Compared with SCT, Feces Em-qPCR1 had a diagnostic sensitivity of 82.8% (95% CI: 63.5–93.5%) and a specificity of 90.9% (95% CI: 81.4–95.9%). Segmental swabbing had no diagnostic advantages. Overall, there was evidence that the DNA detection methods used here had a higher diagnostic sensitivity than SCT did.
Conclusion
The present study provides evidence that simple alternative methods, such as the Em-qPCR1 on FastMucSwabs represent an efficient tool for performing larger-scale epidemiological studies.
Crystallization kinetics of poly(ε-caprolactone) and chlorinated polyethylene binary blends
Authors: Mamun Al
Published: December 2024

The crystallization kinetics of poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) and chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) binary blends were investigated, focusing on the effects of varying CPE content and chlorine concentration. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized optical microscopy were used to study the non-isothermal and isothermal crystallization kinetics. The results show that addition of CPE significantly influenced the crystallization behavior of PCL, and the extent of this effect was strongly dependent on the chlorine content of the CPE. Blends with a higher chlorine content (48%) in CPE exhibited enhanced interactions and higher miscibility with PCL, whereas the lower chlorine content (25%) indicated the immiscible nature of the blends. The interaction energy density calculations supported the presence of stronger PCL-CPE interactions at higher chlorine concentrations. Owing to the higher miscibility, increasing the CPE content in the PCL/CPE blend decreased the relative crystallinity, lowered the melting peak, reduced the crystal growth rate, and slowed the overall crystallization process. These effects were more pronounced at higher chlorine levels, whereas lower chlorine levels were not significantly affected by the immiscible nature of the blend. The blend composition and crystallization temperature influenced the crystallization kinetics and melting behavior. Higher CPE concentrations resulted in less perfect and heterogeneous crystalline structures. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the crystallization kinetics of PCL/CPE blends and provide valuable insights for specific applications.
Climate-driven variation in the phenology of juvenile Ixodes pacificus on lizard hosts
Authors: Sambado Samantha , Sparkman Amanda , Swei Andrea , MacDonald Andrew J , Young Hillary S , Salomon Jordan , Crews Arielle , Ring Kacie , Copeland Stephanie , Briggs Cheryl J
Published: December 2024

Background
Ectothermic arthropods, like ticks, are sensitive indicators of environmental changes, and their seasonality plays a critical role in tick-borne disease dynamics in a warming world. Juvenile tick phenology, which influences pathogen transmission, may vary across climates, with longer tick seasons in cooler climates potentially amplifying transmission. However, assessing juvenile tick phenology is challenging in climates where desiccation pressures reduce the time ticks spend seeking blood meals. To improve our understanding of juvenile tick seasonality across a latitudinal gradient, we examine Ixodes pacificus phenology on lizards, the primary juvenile tick host in California, and explore how climate factors influence phenological patterns.
Methods
Between 2013 and 2022, ticks were removed from 1,527 lizards at 45 locations during peak tick season (March-June). Tick counts were categorized by life stage (larvae and nymphs) and linked with remotely sensed climate data. Juvenile phenology metrics, including abundance, date of peak abundance, and temporal overlap between larval and nymphal populations, were analyzed along a latitudinal gradient, including tick abundances on lizards, Julian date of peak mean abundance. Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) were applied to assess climate-associated variation in juvenile abundance on lizards.
Results
Mean tick abundance per lizard ranged from 0.17 to 47.21 across locations, with the highest in the San Francisco Bay Area and lowest in Los Angeles, where more lizards had zero ticks attached. In the San Francisco Bay Area, peak nymphal abundance occurred 25 days earlier than peak larval abundance. Temporal overlap between larval and nymphal stages at a given location varied regionally, with northern areas showing higher overlap. We found that locations with higher temperatures and increased drought stress were linked to lower tick abundances, though the magnitude of these effects depended on regional location.
Conclusion
Our study, which compiled 10 years of data, reveals significant regional variation in juvenile I. pacificus phenology across California, including differences in the abundance, peak timing, and temporal overlap. These findings highlight the influence of local climate on tick seasonality, with implications for tick-borne disease dynamics in a changing climate.
Volume of North Pacific Eastern Subtropical Mode Water as a Precursor to ENSO Events
Authors: Liu LingLing , Yu Jin-Yi , Wang Fan , Wang Jianing , Lin YongFu
Published: December 2024

Mode waters play a crucial role in ocean heat and carbon storage, as well as in climate variability. Here we reveal a strong relationship between the North Pacific Eastern Subtropical Mode Water (NPESTMW) and El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events. NPESTMW volume anomalies exhibit significant correlations with Ocean Niño Index up to nine months in advance. This relationship is driven by two distinct mechanisms. First, NPESTMW acts as a footprint of another ENSO precursor — the Pacific Meridional Mode — thereby indirectly linking to ENSO occurrence. Second, NPESTMW influences tropical Pacific sea surface temperature through the Subtropical Cell, creating a direct link to ENSO. Moreover, we find that stronger NPESTMW volume anomalies are more closely tied to multi-year ENSO events than to single-year occurrences, especially for the La Niña phase. These findings offer new insights into the roles of subtropical mode water in shaping both ENSO occurrence and its multi-year behavior.
An ancient and still ongoing genetic conflict between transposable elements and their repressors
Authors: Cagliani Rachele , Forni Diego , Mozzi Alessandra , Sarama Roudin , Pozzoli Uberto , Fumagalli Matteo , Sironi Manuela
Published: December 2024

Background. Transposable element (TE) mobilization poses a significant fitness challenge to host genomes. Consequently, a variety of systems have emerged to silence TE activity. Just like TEs, such systems are widespread across the tree of life and their evolution is expected to be shaped by intra-genomic conflicts. To test this hypothesis, we performed an evolutionary analysis of TE control systems across different timescales. Results. We show that a substantial fraction of TE control genes were targets of positive selection during primate evolution, as well as during the more recent history of human populations, with abundant signatures in proteins of the piRNA pathway. In these proteins, selection was strongest in intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs), particularly those with low conformational entropy, and contributed to modulate ensemble features and sequence patterning. In primates, positive selection in a larger number of genes that silence TEs also resulted in reduced accumulation of new mobile elements, as assessed by genomic analysis or recent TE occurrences. Across longer evolutionary time frames, we uncover wide variability in the genomic content of PIWI-containing proteins and an unprecedented diversity of domain architectures for such proteins in eukaryotes. Finally, we identify a bacterial Argonaute as the closest prokaryotic relative of human Argonaute proteins, and we show unusual conservation of IDR sequence and ensemble features across huge evolutionary distances. Conclusions. Our data provide insight into the evolution and diversity of TE control systems in eukaryotes and, through analyses over deep evolutionary distances, contribute information to the rapidly growing evo-immuno discipline.
HNRNPC stabilizes m6A-modified AC145207.5 to accelerate tumorigenesis in colorectal cancer by impeding the Nrf2/GPX4 axis-mediated ferroptosis
Authors: Liu Dan , Lin Shanshan , Hu Yueben , Xiong Jianyong , Wan Hongtao , Chen Yanglin , Ding Taohui , Zhao Hu , Jiang Renjie , Huang Zhijiang , Yao Dengke , Li Ming , Zhu Xiaojian , Yi Bo
Published: December 2024

Ferroptosis, an apoptosis-independent cell death pathway characterized by heightened lipid peroxidation, which holds promise for tumor suppression. Despite extensive research on long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) in ferroptosis, their role in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains underexplored. We investigated the upregulation of AC145207.5 and HNRNPC expression in CRC tissues through public dataset analysis and in-house validation, identifying them as having significant diagnostic potential. In vitro experiments including MTS assay, transwell, and colony formation, alongside in vivo studies using xenograft models, elucidated the synergistic carcinogenic role of the HNRNPC/AC145207.5 axis in promoting malignant characteristics of CRC. Mechanistically, the m6A reader HNRNPC stabilized m6A-modified AC145207.5, contributing to its stabilization and upregulation. Consequently, AC145207.5 activated the Nrf2/GPX4 axis, resulting in increased GPX4 expression, inhibition of GPX4-mediated ferroptosis, and facilitation of CRC progression. Our findings underscore the clinical relevance of the HNRNPC/AC145207.5 axis in CRC and illuminate its regulatory role in ferroptosis, suggesting implications for targeted precision medicine in CRC.
A Two direction transmission system by using DQPSK-based WDM Technique Concerning various Launch power values.
Authors: bdulwahid Maan M.
Published: December 2024

This paper investigates the design and performance analysis of optical transmission systems based on differential phase shift keying (DPSK). The OptiSystem software created a comprehensive framework for maximizing transmission performance over long distances. In this work, a Non-Return-To-Zero (NRZ) coded High Data Rate (HDR) system with Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifiers (EDFAs) and Dispersion Compensating Fibers (DCFs) is transmitted at 40 Gbps for long-distance transmission. Since DPSK modulators are more resilient to noise, fiber degradation, and chromatic Dispersion, they are typically utilized by high-speed optical networks for long-distance transmission. Bit Error Rate (BER) and Q-factor (QF) metrics were used to evaluate the transmission's performance and quality against a range of input power levels (1 mW, two mW, four mW, and six mW) for transmission lengths ranging from 60 km to 360 km. System performance and input power are related outcomes where signal strength loss and performance are compromised. However, signal quality deteriorates beyond the 180 km transmission distance due to nonlinear effects (self-phase modulation, seen here) that heavily rely on the transmission power level. Therefore, input power and distance transmission are two key factors that we should balance to ensure the quality of signal information. The optimal input power for distances below 180 km is four mW; beyond this distance, the performance degrades sharply. This study offers valuable perspectives on the power-distance vs signal quality trade-off in a DPSK-based optical system. Additionally, it addresses the issue of signal integrity over long-distance optical links and provides implementation guidance for reliable optical networks.
Impaired Cerebrospinal Fluid Lipoprotein-Mediated Cholesterol Delivery to Neurons in Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Borràs Carla , Canyelles Marina , Santos David , Rotllan Noemí , Núñez Estefanía , Vázquez Jesús , Maspoch Daniel , Cano-Sarabia Mary , Carmona-Iragui Maria , Sirisi Sònia , Lleó Alberto , Fortea Juan , Alcolea Daniel , Blanco-Vaca Francisco , Escolà-Gil Joan Carles , Tondo Mireia
Published: December 2024

In the central nervous system, apolipoprotein (APO) E-containing high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-like particles mediate the transport of glial-derived cholesterol to neurons, which is essential for neuronal membrane remodeling and maintenance of the myelin sheath. Despite this, the role of HDL-like cholesterol trafficking on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis remains poorly understood. We aimed to examine cholesterol transport via HDL-like particles in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of AD patients compared to control individuals. Additionally, we explored the ability of reconstituted HDL containing different APOE isoforms to regulate cholesterol transport. We evaluated the capacity of CSF HDL-like particles to facilitate radiolabeled unesterified cholesterol efflux from A172 human glioblastoma astrocytes and to deliver cholesterol to SH-SY5Y human neuronal cells. The HDL-like proteome in the AD and control groups was analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Reconstituted HDL nanoparticles were prepared by combining phospholipids and cholesterol with human APOE3 or APOE4, followed by radiolabeling with unesterified cholesterol. Our results showed that cholesterol efflux from astrocytes to CSF were similar between AD patients and controls, both under baseline conditions and after activation of ATP-binding cassette transporters A1 and G1. However, CSF HDL-like particle-mediated neuronal cholesterol uptake was significantly reduced in the AD group. LC-MS/MS analysis identified 775 proteins associated with HDL-like particles in both groups, with no major alterations in proteins linked to cholesterol metabolism. However, 27 proteins involved in non-cholesterol-related processes were differentially expressed. Notably, synthetic reconstituted HDL particles containing APOE4 exhibited reduced capacity to deliver cholesterol to neurons compared to those with APOE3. These findings indicate that CSF HDL-like particles from patients with AD demonstrate impaired cholesterol delivery to neurons. Our study highlights APOE4 as a critical contributor to abnormal neuronal cholesterol uptake in AD pathophysiology.
Belastungserleben von Lehramtsstudierenden im Schuldienst. Befunde vor dem Hintergrund des Job Demands-Resources Model
Authors: Helm Christoph , Hagenauer Gerda
Published: December 2024

Der vorliegende Beitrag stellt eine Studie vor, die explorativ untersucht, wie Studierende mit einer Anstellung an der Schule ihre Doppelrolle als Lehrkraft und Student:in erleben. Es werden deskriptive Befunde vor dem Hintergrund des Job Demands-Resources Model vorgestellt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Doppelrolle als sehr belastend wahrgenommen wird. Gleichzeitig werden die Anforderungen im Studium als deutlich belastender bewertet als jene des Schuldienstes. Als bedeutsame soziale Ressourcen für den konstruktiven Umgang mit Belastungen werden das Lehrer:innenkollegium, die Familie sowie die Wahrnehmung der schulischen Arbeit als sinnstiftend und wertgeschätzt berichtet. Die Studienergebnisse legen nahe, gezielte Unterstützungsmaßnahmen zu implementieren, um die Ressourcen der Studierenden zu stärken und ihre Belastungen zu reduzieren.
Development of agricultural insurance in Ukraine
Authors: Prokopchuk Olena , Nepochatenko Olena , Malyovanyi Mykhaylo , Sokoliuk Serhii , Rolinskyi Oleksandr , Ponomarenko Olga
Published: December 2024

Agricultural insurance in Ukraine remains underdeveloped, characterized by fragmented progress and significant reliance on state support, necessitating a systematic, research-based approach for its advancement. The study evaluates the sector’s development from 2014 to 2023, employing general scientific methods of cognition. Abstract and logical methods were applied to summarize results and formulate conclusions, while comparative analysis facilitated the assessment of key trends. Graphical techniques were employed to enhance the visualization of data obtained. A monographic approach was adopted to conduct an in-depth analysis of parametric insurance, complemented by a critical review of the legal framework to evaluate its influence on the sector’s development.The study reveals the limited scale of agricultural insurance relative to the agro-industrial sector’s growth, with only 3% of agricultural areas insured and agricultural insurance comprising 2% of insurers’ portfolios. The average claims payout rate is 50%, with reinsurance levels at 60%. The sector’s insurance products are categorized into two main types: classical and parametric. Parametric, index-based insurance demonstrates superior efficiency, achieving a claims ratio of 35% compared to 14% for classical models.External challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, regulatory changes, and Russia’s military aggression, have further impeded the sector’s progress. Despite these obstacles, the study identifies promising pathways for development. These include fostering social responsibility among stakeholders, integrating digital technologies, and implementing innovative approaches to insurance practices.The study underscores the necessity to address systemic inefficiencies, adopt tailored strategies, and align insurance practices with Ukraine’s agro-industrial sector’s unique needs to enhance resilience and promote sustainable development.
Torsiyonel Rijit Fan Kaplinlerinin Tasarlanması ve Optimizasyonu
Authors: Yaşar Abdulkadir , Aygül Yasin , Çelebi Kerimcan
Published: December 2024

Kapasite bakımından yüksek debi ihtiyacı gerektiren fanlarda, yüksek motor gücünü fan mekanizmasına iletmek için emniyetli aktarma organlarına ihtiyaç duyulmaktadır. Torsiyonel Rijit Fan Kaplinler çevre koşulları, sınır şartları ve servis ihtiyaçları açısından gerekli özellikleri sağlayan aktarma organlarıdır. Bu çalışmada, bir kaplin üzerinde analiz ve optimizasyon çalışmaları yapılmıştır. Taguchi parametre tasarım yöntemine göre; İki farklı konik ölçüsü, hammadde kalitesi, keskin köşe radyüsü ve iç çap ölçüleri parametre olarak belirlenmiştir. Montaj sırasında yağlama işlemi, iyi ve kötü duruma etki eden sürtünme katsayısını etkilemektedir. Sekiz farklı geçme toleransında flanş elemanı için sonlu elemanlar analizi yapılarak en büyük, en iyi yaklaşımına göre optimum emniyet katsayısı belirlenmiştir. Aktarma organının nominal tork değerini iletmesi için mekanik hesaplanan hassas alıştırma ölçüleri ile optimum daralma sonucu doğrulanmıştır. Optimize edilen flanş tasarımı, maksimum motor torkunda sonlu elemanlar analizi ile uygun emniyet katsayısında olduğu hesaplanmıştır. Elde edilen veriler çalışmanın sonuç kısmında yorumlanmıştır.
Comparison of Feature Extraction Methods in High Dimensional Time Series
Authors: Kılınç Emre
Published: December 2024

Working with high-dimensional datasets increases the workload on machine learning models. Therefore, before making predictions, the most meaningful data points in the entire data set must be determined. It is highly important to improve model performance, especially in the field of machine learning. For this reason, five feature selection methods—Mutual Information, Principal Component Analysis, Chi-square, Information Gain, and Variance Thresholding—commonly used in the literature, were tested on the 14400 feature data set obtained with a system previously proposed to determine the sand, silt and clay ratios in the soil. The success of these five methods is presented comparatively using R-square (R²) and Mean Absolute Error (MAE) metrics. The best results were obtained with the Information Gain method for sand (R2 = 0.44), with Chi-square for silt (R2 = 0.17), and with Variance Thresholding for clay (R2 = 0.61).
The Utilization of Single-Counter Systems Featuring Final Terminals with Non-Zero Counter Values
Authors: Kurucan Mehmet , Wojtczak Dominik
Published: December 2024

Hidden probabilistic one counter models (HPOCA) that are a specific model where spotting between hidden Markov models (HMMs) and probabilistic context-free grammars (PCFGs) which is a subclass of probabilistic pushdown automata contains only one stack symbol In this study, we propose a new model in which the final terminal counter value is different from zero. With this proposed model, we enhance the existing HPOCA, making it more complex. Consequently, as there will be a greater number of paths to reach the final terminal, we also evaluate the probability of reaching the target through alternative routes based on the given observation sequence. It makes the model more expressive than default HPOCA due to providing alternative final terminals. However, the inference of the final counter value could easily go to an infinite number without any threshold. A boundary is applied to prevent the occurrence of this unexpected condition. By applying this threshold value, we ensured that the computational complexity of the model is quadratic rather than cubic.
İzmit Körfezindeki Limanlarda Deprem Yakın Saha Etkilerinin Araştırılması
Authors: Mert Aydin
Published: December 2024

Arz ve talep açısından bir kesişme noktası olan Kocaeli ili, körfeze inşa edilmiş onlarca limanı ile bir liman şehridir. Kocaeli aynı zamanda sismik olarak aktif bir bölgede yer almaktadır ve körfezi çevreleyen fayların körfezin iki yakasına inşa edilmiş liman tesislerine mesafesi yaklaşık 1-5 km arasında değişmektedir. Dolayısı ile körfezdeki liman tesislerinin deprem yakın saha etkileri altında kalması kaçınılmaz görünmektedir. Çalışmanın amacı, Kıyı ve Liman Yapıları Tasarımı için Esaslar (KLYTE) yönetmeliğinde yakın saha deprem yer hareketi etkilerinin dikkate alınmadığı göz önünde tutularak İzmit körfezindeki liman tesislerinin maruz kalabilecekleri deprem yakın saha etkilerinin araştırılması ve yaratabileceği yıkıcı etkilerin ortaya konmasıdır. Bu amaçla, Derince Vapur İskelesi için Olasılıksal Sismik Tehlike Analizi (OSTA) yapılmış ve farklı deprem seviyeleri için Spektrumlar elde edilmiştir. Literatürde mevcut Deprem Yakın saha etkileri ile ilgili çalışmalar gözden geçirilmiş, Ortalama spektral ivmelerin fay yırtılma yönelimine bağlı olarak değişimi ortaya konmuştur.
A Study on Busan Dialects and Busan Culture Education
Authors:   Dong Nam Eo-Mun-Hak-Hoi, Lee GeunYeol
Published: December 2024

The purpose of this study is to identify the language culture that appeared in the Busan dialect and to find a way to use it for cultural education in the Busan dialect.
Until now, the cultural contents that appeared in the Busan dialect were limited to some items such as idioms and kinship words, making it difficult to deal with the overall cultural phenomena that appeared in the Busan dialect. Because of this, it was difficult for local language speakers to accurately recognize their identity in their language due to the lack of awareness of the Busan dialect and culture.
The Busan dialect reflects more of the attributes of the culture of relative consideration, collective harmony, and organic totalitarianism in the Korean language than in other languages. This is because Busan has stronger collective cohesion and connection than other regions, and is also linked to regional conservatism.
Along with this, efficiency based on commerciality, a regional characteristic of Busan, appears as linguistic simplicity. These cultural characteristics can be confirmed throughout the Busan dialect.
From this point of view, it was confirmed that the Busan dialect textbook made by the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education is difficult to understand the identity of the Busan dialect and contains only existing fragmentary knowledge. In particular, a new Busan dialect textbook is urgently requested because various error information can cause misunderstanding among students.
Accordingly, the new Busan dialect education was divided into phonology, grammar, vocabulary, and discourse expressions to present the characteristics and cultural contents of the Busan dialect. These contents can help establish the identity of the Busan dialect by making it recognized as having regional characteristics based on the general cultural contents of the Korean language.
A Study on the Method for Linking Parts of Speech and Sentence Components in School Grammar
Authors:   Dong Nam Eo-Mun-Hak-Hoi, Na ByeoRi
Published: December 2024

In Korean, the grammatical characteristics of words are closely related to the functions of sentence components. However, elementary, middle, and high school students who study school grammar often do not understand the correlation between parts of speech and sentence components. Learners not only fail to understand the difference between parts of speech and sentence components, but also confuse the names of parts of speech with the names of sentence components. This confusion seems to arise because the ‘Korean Language Curriculum’ does not reflect educational content that links parts of speech and sentence components.
In this article, we aim to develop a method to link the educational content of parts of speech and sentence components in school grammar. To this end, first, we review previous studies related to the criteria for classifying parts of speech and sentence components, confirming that parts of speech are categories of words and sentence components are the functions that words perform in relation to other words within a sentence. Second, we review the educational content set in the ‘Korean Language Curriculum’ and the textbook 『Language and Media』(2019). Through this review process, we seek ways to link the education of parts of speech and sentence components in school grammar.
Current Status and Challenges in Building a Dialect Database
Authors:   Dong Nam Eo-Mun-Hak-Hoi, Baek JaePa
Published: December 2024

The purpose of this study is to examine the current state of dialect database (DB) construction and discuss future directions for its development. To this end, the study reviews the dialect DB construction efforts of the Academy of Korean Studies, the National Institute of Korean Language, and the National Information Society Agency. By identifying the issues within each dialect DB, the study discusses the challenges of dialect DB construction from both data collection and data processing perspectives. In terms of data collection, the study emphasizes the need to gather dialect materials in various media formats and suggests a participatory approach to dialect data collection. In terms of data processing, the study discusses challenges related to speech processing, data segmentation, transcription, labeling, and public access to the DB, detailing each stage of the DB construction process.
Evaluation of flocculation performance for Pb2+ and Zn2+ removal from wastewater using the Pseudomonas sp. PR1 flocculant by response surface methodology
Authors: Lu Yanqin , Huang Zilan , Wang Yanwu , Pei Runquan , Xu Liwei , Chen Wenwen , Huang Huanfang , Zeng Honghu
Published: December 2024

To improve the performance of bioflocculant (PR1) in treating lead–zinc wastewater, response surface methodology (RSM), based on central composite design (CCD), was used to optimize the preparation process of bioflocculants for the treatment. The study investigated the impact of different factors, including temperature, pH, and time, on the preparation of PR1, which was further evaluated by a quadratic polynomial equation for the removal efficiency of lead–zinc in wastewater. The removal efficiency of Pb2+ by PR1 was 99.27% at the optimal conditions of temperature (35.53 °C), pH (10), and time (35.13 h). This was consistent with the RSM predictive value of 99.32% with a small deviation (0.05%) by the quadratic model (R2 = 0.9776 and Radj2 = 0.9575). The removal efficiency of Zn2+ by PR1 was 92.98% at optimal conditions of temperature (44.13 °C), pH (8.88), and time (28.27 h). This was in line with the RSM predictive value of 93.19% with a small deviation (0.21%) by the quadratic model (R2 = 0.9773 and Radj2 = 0.9568). The flocculation mechanisms of PR1 are mainly attributed to the electric neutralization and adsorption bridging. Together, PR1, optimized by RSM, was a highly efficient and promising bioflocculant for removing Pb2+ and Zn2+ from industrial wastewater.