bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Maturity Level Analysis of FT ULM Service System Using The Cobit 2019 Framework
Authors: Asriannoor Muhammad
Published: October 2024

Effective use of Information Technology (IT) is a key factor in improving the quality of educational services offered by the Faculty of Engineering, Lambung Mangkurat University (FT ULM). To achieve this goal, FT ULM is committed to continuously improving its performance and services in IT governance. This research focuses on measuring the maturity level of IT governance in FT ULM's service system, particularly in the service aspect. The objective is to analyze the maturity level of FT ULM's service system using the COBIT 2019 framework. The evaluation is conducted to identify the gap between the current and desired conditions, and provide recommendations for improving IT governance. The methods employed include literature review, data collection through questionnaires and interviews, and data analysis using the COBIT 2019 framework. Data collection is focused on relevant domains, such as Build, Acquire, and Implement (BAI), Align, Plan, and Organize (APO), Deliver, Service, and Support (DSS), and Evaluate, Direct, and Monitor (EDM). The research results indicate that the average maturity level is at Level 3 (Established Process). There is a significant gap between the current and desired conditions, highlighting the need for improvement and enhancement in several aspects of IT governance. The recommendations provided include strengthening risk management, improving service system integration, and enhancing infrastructure and policies related to IT governance.
Expectation Gap: the Story of the Auditor`s Necessary and Impossible Mission
Authors:   Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, France, BURLAUD Alain , NICULESCU Maria ,   Director of the Centre for Advanced Sustainability Studies, Romania, PREDESCU Lorena ,   External Public Auditor, Court of Accounts, Romania
Published: October 2024

The expectation gap, the gap between what the public expects from auditors and what auditors can deliver, is a key issue. This gap can call into question the trust necessary for contemporary societies to function. After providing a historical overview to help understand the issues and the development of the "expectation gap" concept, the article shows the mechanisms by which auditors are subjected to contradictory or incompatible pressures and paradoxical injunctions that can lead to such gaps. It then describes the ways and means of reducing the expectation gap: essentially, guaranteeing the independence of auditors and extending the tasks entrusted to them so that they can better contribute to defending the public interest. In this second area, the case of sustainability auditing is special, given its great complexity, the great diversity of stakeholders and their expectations, and the ability of a new profession, "sustainability auditor", to respond, which is "bubbling up". These reflections are based on historical and documentary research, dealing with international standards, European law and its impact on French and Romanian accounting law, as well as secondary analysis of various reports and official documents.
Professional Judgment and Skepticism Amidst the Interaction of Artificial Intelligence and Human Intelligence
Authors:   West University of Timisoara, Romania, financial auditor, DELIU Delia
Published: October 2024

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionized various industries by learning from data, mimicking human behavior, and making autonomous decisions. However, despite AI's advancements in data processing and decision-making, it cannot fully replicate human attributes such as emotional understanding and ethical judgment. This paper explores the intersection of AI and Human Intelligence (HI) within the audit profession, focusing on the implications for the auditor’s professional judgment and skepticism. The integration of AI in auditing promises enhanced efficiency, precision, and data processing capabilities beyond human limits. However, it also raises ethical concerns regarding data privacy, algorithmic bias, and accountability. These concerns highlight the importance of maintaining human oversight and ethical standards in audit practices. Through a comprehensive literature review, this study compares the cognitive abilities, functional capabilities, and ethical implications of AI and human auditors. Key findings underscore AI's potential to complement human auditors by improving accuracy and uncovering anomalies, while recognizing the irreplaceable role of human judgment in complex decision-making processes. The study provides insights into the transformative impact of AI on the audit profession, advocating for a balanced approach that harnesses AI's capabilities while preserving the integrity and critical thinking of human auditors. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of AI's integration into auditing, informing best practices and guiding future research in maintaining the profession's standards amidst technological advancements.
ERP Systems - Reliable Tools in Corporate Reporting of Organizations
Authors:   Bucharest University of Economic Studies, Romania, BARNA Laura Eugenia Lavinia
Published: October 2024

n the digital age, integrated ERP solutions are the best way to efficiently manage an organization's business and resources, as they contain a number of specific modules for accounting, human resources, production, sales and purchasing. This system is designed to provide efficiency and transparency to all operations performed by organizations. The aim of this paper is to explore how ERP systems are a reliable solution in the context of corporate reporting. The modules of this system facilitate the collection, storage, and analysis of an organization's financial and operational data, building a solid foundation for accurate and correct reporting of results, especially its performance. The case study in this paper is summarized as a quantitative analysis based on a questionnaire, which aims to highlight the advantages and challenges of using an ERP system in the context of financial and operational reporting of organizations. The conclusion of the paper emphasizes the importance of using ERP systems in the corporate reporting of organizations, highlighting the main benefits they bring in terms of operational efficiency, data transparency and correct decision making.
Economic Policy Uncertainty, Financial Reporting Quality, and Audit Fees: Examining the Role of Industry Characteristics and International Accounting Standards
Authors:   Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, MOS Catalin
Published: October 2024

Using a large international sample, the author investigated the effects of economic policy uncertainty (EPU) on financial reporting quality (FRQ) and audit (AF). For this analysis, he used the Baker et al. (2016) EPU index and find a negative association between EPU and FRQ. Furthermore, that this impact was found to be more pronounced for firms operating in sensitive industries and less pronounced for firms that report under the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). However, for firms operating in sensitive industries, reporting under IFRS does not weaken the impact of EPU on FRQ. The results also showed that the EPU is negatively associated with audit fees. Furthermore, the interaction term between IFRS and the EPU is positively associated with AF while the interaction term between the EPU and firms operating in sensitive industries is negative. The present study has important implications for policymakers, investors, auditors, and capital markets, as it provides strong evidence of the impact of the EPU on FRQ and AF. In addition, it enriches the literature by examining the influence of IFRS and industry characteristics on the interaction between EPU, FRQ, and AF.
Divine Kenotic Creativity – The Divine Agency behind Natural Processes
Authors: Blokhin Nikolay
Published: October 2024

Understanding creation as divine kenosis, which has become rather widespread since the last century, may emphasize the strong connection between the theology of creation and the key Christian doctrine of the Incarnation while contributing to the dialogue between theology and science. At the same time, this theological project requires a thorough rethinking of divine action in order to avoid representing divine agency and natural causality as competitive factors and to affirm divine kenosis as the definitive trait of God without compromising divine freedom. To this end, the concept of “divine kenotic creativity” is suggested and discussed in this paper.
Exploring the Interplay of Bud Load and Pruning Type in Shaping 'Xinomavro' (V. vinifera L.) Vine Growth, Yield, and Berry Composition
Authors: Theocharis Serafeim , Gkrimpizis Theodoros , Karadimou Christina , Nikolaou Kleopatra-Eleni , Taskos Dimitrios , Koundouras Stefanos
Published: October 2024

'Xinomavro' (V. vinifera L.) is an important native red wine grape variety in Northern Greece, particularly in PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) regions. Despite its significance, there is limited research on the effects of pruning type and severity on 'Xinomavro' vine physiology, yield, and berry quality across diverse environmental conditions. This study aimed to address this knowledge gap and provide growers with crucial information for optimizing vineyard management practices. The study was conducted over two consecutive years (2016 and 2017) in a vineyard in Thessaloniki, Northern Greece. Four treatments ( B12:12 buds on 6 spurs; B24:24 buds on 12 spurs; M12:12 buds on 2 canes; M24:24 buds on 4 canes) combining two bud load levels (12 or 24 count nodes) and two pruning types (short spurs or long canes) were applied to 'Xinomavro' vines in complete block randomized design. The vine water status, gas exchange, canopy characteristics, yield components, and berry composition were measured. Bud load and pruning type significantly influenced vine canopy development, microclimate, and yield components. Short pruning with high bud load (B24) resulted in denser canopies and higher yields, whereas cane pruning (M12 and M24) led to more open canopies and improved berry quality indicators. Treatment effects on berry composition were inconsistent across years, but showed a tendency for higher anthocyanin and total phenol content in cane-pruned vines. This study demonstrated that pruning type (short or long fruiting units) may have a greater impact on vine growth, yield, and berry composition than bud load alone in 'Xinomavro' vines. Cane pruning appears to be a more effective strategy for achieving vine balance and potentially improving grape quality under given experimental conditions.
DNA as a Double-Coding Device for Information Conversion and Organization of Self-Referential Unity
Authors: Muskhelishvili Georgi , Nasser William Henry , Reverchon Sylvie , Travers Andrew
Published: October 2024

Living systems are capable on the one hand, of eliciting a coordinated response to changing environment (aka adaptation) and on the other hand, they are capable of reproducing themselves. Notably, adaptation to environmental change requires the monitoring of the surroundings, while reproduction requires monitoring oneself. These two tasks appear separate and making use of different sources of information. Yet both the process of adaptation as well as that of reproduction are inextricably coupled to alterations of genomic DNA expression, while a cell behaves as an indivisible unity in which apparently independent processes and mechanisms are both integrated and coordinated. We argue that at the most basic level, this integration is enabled by the unique property of the DNA to act as a double coding device harboring two logically distinct types of information. We review biological systems of different complexity and infer that inter-conversion of these two distinct types of DNA information represents a fundamental self-referential device underlying both systemic integration and coordinated adaptive response.
Comparative Analysis of Audio Features for Unsupervised Speaker Change Detection
Authors: Toleu Alymzhan , Tolegen Gulmira , Mussabayev Rustam , Krassovitskiy Alexander , Zhumazhanov Bagashar
Published: October 2024

This study analyzes how various audio features influence speaker change detection in different unsupervised approaches. Ten different audio features, including MFCC, mel-spectrogram, spectral centroid, and pitch, etc. were chosen for analysis. Two distinct unsupervised methods were selected for comparing the effectiveness of these feature: the Bayesian information criterion with Gaussian mixture model (BIC-GMM), a model-based approach, and the Kullback-Leibler divergence with Gaussian (KL-GMM), a metric-based approach. In order to gain a prior insight into which features have a significant impact on the SCD problem, we calculate statistic for two probabilities: the probability of speaker change given there is a feature change, and vice versa. To experimentally check the prior insights, a set of experiments carried out to analyze the influence of various audio feature for SCD. The results showed that in both methods, MFCC demonstrates a robust performance, and ranks at the top. Zero crossing rate, chroma and spectral contrast gives a higher performance in BIC-GMM. Mel-spectrogram consistently ranks at the bottom, suggesting it has the least impact on performance across both methods.
Preparation and Characteristics of Ball-Milled Blueberry Peel Particles and Their Application in Ice Cream
Authors: Pan Lihua , Lin Jiahui , Li Meijia , Liu Xiaoyu , Deng Yuanyuan , Luo Shuizhong , Zheng Zhi
Published: October 2024

Ice cream is popular but contains high amounts of saturated fats and few health-promoting ingredients. In the presence of xanthan gum (0.25%), the blueberry peel particles prepared through ball-milling treatment (BMP) were used to prepare ice cream containing camellia oil as a fat replacer. BMP possessed smaller particle sizes, larger contact angles, and higher contents of anthocyanin aglycone, as compared with commonly-milled blueberry peel particles. BMP with the smallest D[4,3] value (about 10 μm) and the largest contact angle (66.30°) were obtained by ball-milling the blueberry peel at 15 Hz for 6 h (BMP15 Hz 6 h). The ice cream mixes were depicted as linear viscoelastic gel-like solids, and their apparent viscosity, G′ and G′ increased with the increase in BMP15 Hz 6 h concentrations. Ice cream with strong antioxidant activity and good freeze-thaw stability was acceptable and desirable in the presence of less than 0.5% BMP15 Hz 6 h.
The Untapped Potential of Hairy Root Cultures and Their Multiple Applications
Authors: Mirmazloum Iman , Slavov Aleksandar K. , Marchev Andrey S.
Published: October 2024

Plants are rich source of specialized metabolites, such as alkaloids, terpenes, phenolic acids, flavonoids, coumarins, and volatile oils, which provide various health benefits including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiaging, skin-altering and anti-diabetic properties. However, challenges such as low and inconsistent yields, environment and geographic factors, and species-specific production of some specialized metabolites limit the supply of raw plant material for the food, cosmetic or pharmaceutical industries. Therefore, biotechnological approaches using plant in vitro systems offer an appealing alternative for the production of biologically active metabolites. Among these, hairy root cultures induced by the Rhizobium rhizogenes have firmed up their position as “green cell factories” due to their genotypic and biosynthetic stability. Hairy roots are valuable platforms for producing high-value phytomolecules at low cost, are amenable to pathway engineering and can be scaled up in bioreactors making them attractive for commercialization. This review explores the potential of hairy roots for specialized metabolites biosynthesis focusing on biotechnology tools to enhance their production. Aspects of morphological peculiarities of hairy roots, the diversity of bioreactors design, and process intensification technologies for maximizing biosynthetic capacity, as well as examples of patented plant-derived (green-labeled) products produced through hairy root cultivation at lab and industrial scales are addressed and discussed.
Artificial Intelligence in Wound Care: A Narrative Review of the Currently Available Mobile Apps for Automatic Ulcer Segmentation
Authors: Griffa Davide , Natale Alessio , Merli Yuri , Starace Michela , Curti Nico , Mussi Martina , Castellani Gastone , Melandri Davide , Piraccini Bianca Maria , Zengarini Corrado
Published: October 2024

Introduction: Chronic ulcers significantly burden healthcare systems, requiring precise measurement and assessment for effective treatment. Traditional methods, such as manual segmentation, are time-consuming and error-prone. This review evaluates the potential of artificial intelligence (AI)--powered mobile apps for automated ulcer segmentation and their application in clinical settings. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane and Google Scholas databases. The review focused on mobile apps that use fully automatic AI algorithms for wound segmentation. Apps requiring additional hardware or needing more technical documentation were excluded. Vital technological features, clinical validation, and usability were analysed. Results: Ten mobile apps were identified, showing varying levels of segmentation accuracy and clinical validation. However, many apps did not publish sufficient information on the segmentation methods or algorithms used, and most lacked details on the databases employed for training their AI models. Additionally, several apps were unavailable in public repositories, limiting their accessibility and independent evaluation. These factors challenge their integration into clinical practice despite promising preliminary results. Discussion: AI-powered mobile apps offer significant potential for improving wound care by enhancing diagnostic accuracy and reducing the burden on healthcare professionals. Nonetheless, the lack of transparency regarding segmentation techniques, unpublished databases, and limited availability of many apps in public repositories remain substantial barriers to widespread clinical adoption. Conclusion: AI-driven mobile apps for ulcer segmentation could revolutionise chronic wound management. However, overcoming limitations related to transparency, data availability, and accessibility is essential for their successful integration into healthcare systems.
Burden of Wasting and Stunting in Colombia and Its Economic Impact: A Society’s Perspective Analysis, 2021
Authors: Londoño Trujillo Darío , Taborda Restrepo Paula Andrea , De la Hoz María Camila , Burgos Castro Juan Carlos , Arbelaez Vargas Joan Sebastian , Pineda Ruiz Diana María
Published: October 2024

Child malnutrition is a critical public health concern that significantly hampers children's physical and mental development and has serious economic repercussions. The World Health Organization (WHO) attributes half of all deaths among children under five to malnutrition, with long-term consequences such as lower educational achievement, decreased productivity, and deepened poverty. The economic impact of child malnutrition extends beyond public health, imposing substantial costs on health systems, households, and the broader economy.
This study estimated the burden of child malnutrition in Colombia among children up to four years old using a Markov chain model from a societal perspective. The model simulated six health states, integrating direct and indirect costs, with epidemiological data and international literature guiding the transition probabilities. Surveys were conducted with caregivers to assess indirect costs. Results indicated that malnutrition accounted for 419.84 Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) per 1,000 inhabitants. The total cost of malnutrition over four years was approximately USD 243.58 million, with an annual average cost of USD 60.89 million, with 65% of the burden falling on households.
The findings emphasize the significant economic and health burden of child malnutrition, underscoring the importance of early and comprehensive interventions. Investing in child nutrition can improve health outcomes, reduce economic strain, and enhance productivity, making it a crucial priority in health and economic development agendas.
Design and Simulation of Automatic Generation Control for Multi-Area Power System Using Flc
Authors: Omer Abdulkerim Ali , Worku Getachew Biru , Bante Belachew Banteyrga
Published: October 2024

This paper studies the modeling designs and experimental analysis of artificial intelligence fuzzy logic-based automatic generation control (AGC) for three-area interconnected power systems. Due to varying structures, random load fluctuations, nonlinearities, constraint vagueness and sophistication of a power system that cause change in frequency and tie line power. Equipment malfunctions, potentially even collapses and cascading occurrences, will result from system instability. Soft computing-based intelligent controllers are required for real-time operation in order to handle this. FL-PID can provide a high level of adaptation to changing conditions, have the ability to make a decision quickly by processing imprecise information, and perform effectively even with nonlinearities. The integrated time square error (ITSE) and integrated time absolute error (ITAE) are the objective function for building the controller. Also, the modeling and design of the control were done in Matlab/Simulink to evaluate the dynamic performance index improvements of the controllers in terms of steady-state error, rise time, settling time, and overshoot. The test findings in this research demonstrate how well the suggested controller works with erratic step load variations. The outcomes display that FL-PID was used to improve performance and intelligently control the selection of parameters to achieve effective power control compared to FL only and FL-PI control of the AGC.
Embodied Agency and Resilience: A Framework for Examining Disabled Refugees’ Experiences in the Post-Migration Context
Authors: Kirakosyan Lyusyena , Stephenson Jr. Max
Published: October 2024

Disabled people have been all but invisible in refugee research. The same can be said of refugees in disability studies. We propose an analytical framework that integrates critical and trauma approaches to inform studies of the experiences of disabled refugees as they express their agency and engage in their communities. Critical disability theory questions the assumptions undergirding the social model that have led to “fixed” conceptions of disabled people and ignored their innate agency. By equating disability with oppression, social model proponents have argued that the emancipation of disabled people may only be achieved through shifts in oppressive structures. On the other hand, understanding how trauma affects disabled refugees helps avoid defining them simply as dependent victims and omitting or overlooking their resilience. We contend that a sociocultural understanding of trauma allows for a dynamic and contextual perspective on agency and resilience; one that challenges the “traumatized refugee” narrative. The principal claim underpinning the framework is that disabled refugees should be regarded as capable agents of change confronting contexts of continuing trauma, displacement and vulnerability. This article offers an integrative and interpretive understanding of the lived experiences of disabled refugees that highlights the possibilities inherent in their human agency.
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi as a Salt Bioaccumulation Mechanism in a Neotropical Halophytic Fern to Establish in Saline Soils
Authors: Lugo Mónica A. , Negritto María A. , Crespo Esteban M. , Iriarte Hebe J. , Samuel Núñez Samuel Núñez , Espinosa Luisa F , Pagano Marcela C.
Published: October 2024

Acrostichum aureum is a halophytic pantropical invasive fern growing in mangroves and swamps. Its association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) has been reported in Asia. AMF and their symbiosis (AM) commonly colonise the absorption organs of terrestrial plants worldwide. Fur-thermore, AMF/AM are well known for their capacity to bioaccumulate toxic elements and to alleviate biotic and abiotic stress (e.g. salinity stress) in their hosts. However, how AMF are in-volved in the halophytism of A. aureum, and the structures where NaCl accumulates remains unknown. This study shows that A. aureum forms AM in Neotropical thermal margins of natural ponds, NaCl accumulation occurs inside AMF vesicles, and CaSO4 precipitates in colonised roots. Therefore, AM would be contributing to the halophytic nature of this fern, allowing it to thrive in saline and thermal environments by capturing NaCl from fern tissues, compartmentalizing it inside its vesicles and precipitating CaSO4.
Male and Female Perceptions of Supervision During Strength Training
Authors: Carlson Luke , Hauger Maria , Vaughan-Wenner Grace , Fisher James P
Published: October 2024

A cross-sectional survey was distributed to 1322 members of a 1-on1 personalized strength training studio. 366 respondents (n=134 male and n=232 female), all aged over 20 years reported considerable training experience; 55% of males and 42% of females reporting 5+ years. Data were analyzed and reported descriptively with differences >5% identified based on use of the 5-point likert scale, sample size and nature of the observations. Disparity between males and females were identified; males reported higher perceptions of managing effort, technique, and programming without supervision compared to females. Safety was noted as being more important to females compared to males. Qualitatively, additional themes were raised including analogy of the personal relationship between trainer and trainee being similar to that of medical professionals. This was validated where participants discussed their adaptations from supervised strength training including quality of life in aging, and recovery from medical conditions and injury. Data is discussed in context of a previous body of literature suggesting males falsely report higher confidence in tasks compared to females, particularly in relation to effort, role models, and verbal encouragement. This research proves beneficial for strength training practitioners in enhancing their understanding and expectations of clients, as well as hopefully proving insightful in engaging more people in strength training.
Stable GANs via Fermi-Dirac Statistics and Ruppeiner Geometry
Authors: Garayev Guman , Alili Azar
Published: October 2024

Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) are powerful models for generative tasks but face significant challenges such as instability, mode collapse, and inefficient convergence. This paper introduces a theoretical framework leveraging Fermi-Dirac statistics, Ruppeiner geometry, phase transition dynamics, and graph theory to address these issues. The proposed theorems provide a robust mathematical foundation for enhancing GAN stability, diversity, and convergence. Experimental validation on the MNIST dataset demonstrates that the application of these theorems results in improved Inception Scores, reduced Fréchet Inception Distances, and stable training dynamics, as indicated by Ruppeiner curvature analysis. The findings suggest that these theoretical insights offer a comprehensive solution to the persistent challenges in GAN training, paving the way for more reliable and effective generative models.
Adaptive-Step Perturb-and-Observe Algorithm for Multidimensional Phase Noise Stabilization in Fiber-Based Multi-Arm Mach-Zehnder Interferometers
Authors: Abarzua H. , Melo C. , Restrepo S.E. , Vergara S. , Sbarbaro D. , Cañas G. , Lima G. , Saavedra G. , Cariñe J.
Published: October 2024

Fiber-optic Mach-Zehnder interferometers are widely used in research areas such as telecommunications, spectroscopy, and quantum information. These optical structures are known to be affected by phase fluctuations that are usually modeled as multiparametric noise.This multidimensional noise must be stabilized or compensated for to enable fiber-optic Mach-Zehnder architectures for practical applications. In this work, we study the effectiveness of a modified Perturb-and-Observe (P&O) algorithm to control multidimensional phase noise in fiber-based multi-arm Mach-Zehnder interferometers. We demonstrate the feasibility of stabilizing multidimensional phase noise by numerical simulations using a simple feedback control scheme and analyze the algorithm’s performance for systems up to dimension 8x8. We achieved minimal steady-state errors that guarantee high optical visibility in complex optical systems with N×N matrices (with N=[2,3,4,5,6,7,8]).
FAM50A: A Novel Prognostic Marker That Modulates the Proliferation of Colorectal Cancer Cells
Authors: Li Longhai , Ji Zhaoshuai , Li Guangyun , Gu Hao , Sun Yan
Published: October 2024

Objective: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent malignant tumor type and the second leading cause of cancer-related death. Sequence similarity family 50 member A (FAM50A) plays a vital role in numerous disease processes, including tumor progression. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of FAM50A in CRC and to explore its role in CRC cell proliferation. Methods: The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was used to assess the mRNA expression levels of FAM50A in CRC. Immunohistochemical staining was used to study the expression of FAM50A in CRC tissues. Patient survival data were used to assess the prognostic significance of FAM50A in CRC using Kaplan–Meier analysis and Cox regression analysis. The Cell Counting Kit-8, 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine, and colony-formation assays were employed to assess the impact of FAM50A knockdown on tumor cell proliferation. Co-expression and correlation heatmaps were used to identify genes whose expression levels were highly correlated with FAM50A, and to further investigate the possible mechanism of action of FAM50A in CRC cell proliferation. Results: Analysis of data from TCGA database revealed a notable upregulation of FAM50A expression levels in CRC tissue compared with adjacent normal tissue. Moreover, FAM50A expression was positively correlated with N, M, and TNM stages in 145 patients with CRC. Cox regression analysis and construction of a nomogram revealed that high FAM50A expression was a prognostic indicator for poor overall survival in patients with CRC. Knockdown of FAM50A decreased cell proliferation ability, the proportion of EdU positive cells, and the number of CRC cell colonies, whereas overexpressing FAM50A promoted proliferative phenotypes. The expression levels of three genes in CRC were significantly negatively correlated, while the expression levels of 18 genes were significantly positively correlated, with the expression level of FAM50A. Conclusion: FAM50A may be a novel prognostic marker for CRC, and may participate in regulating tumor progression by interacting with some highly correlated molecules that drive CRC cell proliferation.
Early Warning System for Toxic Cyanobacteria Blooms
Authors: Grant Lauren , Rehman Attiq , Botelho Diane
Published: October 2024

Harmful cyanobacterial blooms produce cyanotoxins which can adversely affect humans and animals. Without proper monitoring and detection programs, tragedies such as the loss of pets or worse are possible. Multiple factors including rising temperatures and human influence contribute to the increased likelihood of harmful cyanobacteria blooms. Current approaches to cyanobacteria and their toxins monitoring included microscopic methods, immunoassays, liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LCMS), and molecular methods such as qPCR. This review highlights current research into early detection methods for harmful cyanobacterial blooms and the pros and cons of these methods.
Structure of Genes Encoding Oxidosqualene Cyclases – Key Enzymes of Triterpenoid Biosynthesis from Sea Cucumber Eupentacta fraudatrix
Authors: Baldaev Sergey N. , Chausova Viktoria E. , Isaeva Ksenia V. , Boyko Alexey V. , Stonik Valentin A. , Isaeva Marina P.
Published: October 2024

Oxidosqualene cyclases (OSCs), enzymes are responsible for converting linear triterpenes into teracyclic ones, which known as precursors of other important and bioactive metabolites. Two OSCs genes encoding parkeol synthase and lanostadienol synthase have been found in representatives of the genera Apostichopus and Stichopus (family Stichopodidae, order Synallactida). Since the limited number of sea cucumber OSCs were so far studied, OSCs encoding gene(s) of the sea cucumber Eupentacta fraudatrix (family Sclerodactylidae, order Dendrochirotida) were investigated to fill this gap. Here we employed RACEs, molecular cloning and Oxford Nanopore Technologies to identify candidate OSC mRNAs and genes. The assembled cDNAs were 2409 bp (OSC1) and 3263 bp (OSC2) which were shared the same CDS size of 2163 bp encoding a 721-amino-acid protein. The E. fraudatrix OSC1 and OSC2 had higher sequence identity to each other (77.5%) than to other holothurian OSCs (64.7–71.0%). According to the sequence and molecular docking analyses, OSC1 with L436 is predicted as parkeol synthase, while OSC2 with Q439 is predicted as lanostadienol synthase. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, E. fraudatrix OSCs cDNAs clustered with other holothurian OSCs forming the isolated branch. As a result of gene analysis, high polymorphism and larger size of the OSC1 gene suggest that this gene may be an ancestor of the OSC2 gene. These results implied that E. fraudatrix genome contains two OSC genes with different from Stichopodidae OSCs genes evolutionary pathway.
Optical Sensing Volatile Organic Compounds Using Porphyrins
Authors: Ermakova Elizaveta , Bessmertnykh-Lemeune Alla
Published: October 2024

Detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is a rapidly growing research area due to importance of VOCs in environmental pollution, human health assessment, food quality control, and homeland security. Optical sensing materials based on porphyrins are particularly appealing for VOCs detection, owing to availability of porphyrins, their exceptional optical and binding properties, as well as their photo- and chemical stability. As research and technology continue to advance, optical sensors involving these materials are expected to play an increasing role in various applications. This article presents a comprehensive overview of porphyrin-based sensing materials developed for use as optical sensors for VOCs. First, sensing films composed exclusively of porphyrin molecules are discussed followed by materials obtained by grafting or incorporation of porphyrins into organic and inorganic polymer matrices. Considering growing interest to multianalyte analysis with porphyrin-based sensor arrays, special section is devoted to this area.
USING THE METHOD OF WEIGHTED RESIDUALS IN THE FEM FORM FOR THE APPROXIMATION OF TWO-DIMENSIONAL DISTRIBUTIONS
Authors: Breslavsky Dmytro , Brovarnyk Oleksiy
Published: October 2024

The paper is devoted to the description of the method of two-dimensional approximation of data using algorithms of the method of weighted residuals with piecewise specified basis functions in the implementation of the Finite Elements Method. The mathematical formulation of the problem and the main relations of the method for two-dimensional regions are provided. A triangular finite element is involved in the simulation. Information is given about the program developed according to the algorithms of this method, the result of which is the selection of regions of a two-dimensional figure with the specified values of the analyzed parameters. By use of randomly distributed coordinates, the verification of the results for different data sets was performed and a satisfactory correspondence of the approximated and input data was obtained. Additional software, including programs written in Python and a web application created using the Laravel framework in PHP, has been developed to create a database that is scheduled to be processed by approximation. The PyQt5, OSMnx, requests, aiohttp, BeautifulSoup libraries and the PostgreSQL database management system were used to implement the project tasks. Algorithms of the developed software are described. An example of the reproduction of the locations of cities on the map of Ukraine is provided. The developed program of two-dimensional approximation was applied to the analysis of spatio-temporal dynamics of the emergence of cities on the territory of Ukraine. As an example, data on the founding of cities in the period from 800 to 1200 AD were considered and the main urbanized regions at that time were determined. The results of this Finite Element approximation were obtained for the purpose of preparing data for further modeling of sociodynamic processes in the terrain of Ukraine. The obtained results in the form of coordinates of the borders of regions that had a high level of urbanization can be used in various scientific studies, primarily in historical sciences.
Selçuk Atay ve Şerife Ağarı, [Mehmed Atâ, İktitâf], Ihlamur Akademi, İstanbul, 2024.
Authors: Özdemir Abdullah Tahir
Published: October 2024

Mehmed Atâ Bey’in (1856-1919) İktitâf adlı eseri antoloji gibi görünüyor olsa da esasında bir ders kitabıdır. Sipariş usulü hazırlanmış olan bu eser defalarca baskı yapmış, her baskıda güncellenmiş ve devrin prestijli okullarında ders kitabı olarak okutularak büyük bir boşluğu doldurmuştur. İktitâf, birçok yönüyle bugün Millî Eğitim Bakanlığınca uygulanmakta olan Türk Dili ve Edebiyatı Öğretim Programı ile de uyumlu görünmektedir. Mesela eserde tedricî bir sıralama ile ilk sıralarda her devrin en sade örneklerine yer verilmiş, metinler yaş seviyelerine uygun şekilde seçilmiş ve Atâ Bey dersin maksat ve kazanımlarına olan faydayı gözetmiştir. Ayrıca Atâ Bey yeni olgusunu inkâr etmese de Türk edebiyatına eski ve yeni gibi tanımlamaların ötesinde bir noktainazardan bakmıştır ve bu bakış açısı günümüzdekine ya eştir ya da ondan üstündür. Bu taraflarıyla dört ciltlik İktitâf son derece mühim bir eserdir. Atay ve Ağarı bunun bilincinde olduklarındandır ki dört ciltlik bu eseri neşretmişlerdir. Bu kitap değerlendirme yazısı ise onların bu çalışmasını tanıtma ve hem İktitâf’ın hem de İktitâf’ın bu neşrinin neden önemli olduğunu izah etme maksadındadır.
Exploring winter diet, gut microbiota and parasitism in caribou using multi-marker metabarcoding of fecal DNA
Authors: Nagati Mélissande , Bergeron Marie-Josée , Gagné Patrick , Arsenault André , Droit Arnaud , Wilson Paul , Pittoello Gigi , Manseau Micheline , Martineau Christine
Published: October 2024

In conservation strategies, getting precise and repeatable information on the species’ diet and health without relying on invasive or laborious methods is challenging. Here, we developed an efficient and non-invasive workflow for the sequencing and analysis of four taxonomic markers from fecal DNA to characterize the gut microbiota, parasites, and plants and lichens composing the winter diet of caribou (Rangifer tarandus), Canada's most iconic endangered species. Sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene of eukaryotes from seven locations in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Canada, allowed for the detection of several parasites in caribou feces but provided limited information about plants and lichens - only algal symbionts were detected. An improved sensitivity and higher taxonomic resolution for plants and lichens was achieved through the sequencing of the ITS2 region, which revealed a rich winter diet in caribou as well as differences among sampling locations. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene of prokaryotes highlighted the relationships between the gut microbiota and both the diet and parasites. Overall, our results showed the potential of this multi-marker DNA metabarcoding workflow as an efficient tool to generate relevant information on the diet and health of caribou populations and provide insights into the species biology and ecology.
Pharmacist-led New Medicines Service for cardiovascular patients transitioning to primary care: A real-world study on drug-related problems, satisfaction, and self-efficacy
Authors: Ensing Hendrik T. , Kurt Nelly , Janssen Ruby , Koster Ellen S , Heerdink Eibert Roelof
Published: October 2024

Background
Patients transitioning from hospital to home while starting long-term cardiovascular medicines are likely to experience drug-related problems. The New Medicine Service may support their readmission to primary care.
Aim
To evaluate the implementation of the NMS on drug-related problems, satisfaction with information and self-efficacy in patients who start with cardiovascular medicines. Secondary objectives included identifying risk factors for DRPs and first-fill discontinuation.
Methods
A living-lab study in an outpatient pharmacy and 14 community pharmacies in Almere, the Netherlands, involved patients ≥18 years receiving new cardiovascular prescriptions. Two weeks after dispensing, a telephone counseling session aimed to identify and resolve DRPs. Patient satisfaction and self-efficacy were assessed during a follow-up call. First-fill discontinuation was measured using dispensing data, and logistic regression identified risk factors for DRPs.
Results
Of the 1647 eligible patients, 743 received the NMS. Pharmacist unavailability (33.3%, n=548) led to substantial drop-out. Of all patients, 72.5% experienced ≥1 DRP. NMS improved patients’ satisfaction with information and self-efficacy (p<0.001). Outpatient visits (adj. OR 0.64), cardiovascular medicine in use (adj. OR 0.65), and use of chronic medicines (adj. OR 1.71) influenced DRPs. First-fill discontinuation was the same post-NMS, but patients who experienced a DRP discontinued more often (14.8% vs. 8.6%, p=0.030).
Conclusions
Implementing the NMS in a real-world transitional care setting allowed pharmacists to identify DRPs and provide counseling tailored to patient needs. Patients reported higher satisfaction with information and increased self-efficacy. Priority should be given to at-risk patients for DRPs, and deploy other pharmacy staff to perform the NMS.
Impact of Specialist Pediatric Cardiac Transfer on Unplanned Emergency Operations and Mortality in Neonates with Critical Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: Li Chun-xiang , Gong Xiao-lei , Xu Zhuo-ming , Liu Jin-long , Zhang Hai-bo , Zhu Limin
Published: October 2024

Background Neonates with critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) often require early surgical intervention to survive.This study aimed to evaluate whether specialist pediatric cardiac transfer (SPCT) improves surgical outcomes in neonates with critical congenital heart disease (CCHD).
Methods In this retrospective cohort study, we collected clinical data of neonates diagnosed with CCHD who were treated at the cardiac intensive care unit of Shanghai Children’s Medical Center between January 2019 and December 2022. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance the SPCT and non-SPCT groups. The primary outcome was postoperative survival.
Results This study included 357 neonates with CCHD. After propensity score matching (PSM), the SPCT group had significantly lower rates of inotropic drug use (57.3% vs. 77.5%, p = 0.004), unplanned emergency operations (29.2% vs. 53.9%, p = 0.001), and preoperative mortality (0% vs. 4.5%, p = 0.043) compared to the non-SPCT group. Additionally, overall survival was higher in the SPCT group (92.6% vs. 82.0%, p = 0.044). Postoperative mortality did not significantly differ between the groups (2.25% in the SPCT group vs. 7.87% in the non-SPCT group, p = 0.065). However, long-distance transport showed significantly lower overall mortality in the L-SPCT group compared to the L-N-SPCT group (2.67% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.049).
Multivariate analysis revealed low body weight at surgery (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.444, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.273–0.711, p= 0.001), Non-SPCT long distance transport (HR: 4.608, 95% CI: 1.436–4.982, p =0.017)and unplanned emergency operation (HR: 5.227, 95% CI: 2.521–10.834, p < 0.001) as independent risk factors for surgical mortality in neonates with CCHD.
Conclusions SPCT reduces the rate of unplanned emergency operations and increases overall survival in neonates with CCHD, particularly in long-distance transfers.
Hemoglobin mediates the link between 'weekend warrior' activity pattern and diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Li Baohua , Ning Bobiao , Hou Xinyue , Shi Yipeng , Kang Zefeng
Published: October 2024

Diabetic retinopathy (DR), the leading cause of vision loss in the elderly, coupled with limited treatment options, has prompted efforts to identify modifiable risk factors associated with DR. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between WW physical activity patterns and DR risk in US adults and to examine how Hb levels mediate this relationship. Cross-sectional study data were obtained from nationally representative NHANES data from 2007-2018. PA patterns were categorized according to inactive, insufficiently active, WW, and regularly active (RA). Multivariate logistic regression models adjusting for demographics, behavioral factors, and health conditions were used to explore the association between PA patterns and DR. Finally, mediation analyses verified whether Hb mediated the relationship between PA and DR. The study ultimately included 5092 U.S. adults, including 857 participants with DR and 4235 participants with DM without DR. Multivariate logistic regression modelling indicated that both WW (OR=0.601, 95% CI=0.452-0.798, P<0.001) and RA (OR=0.728, 95% CI=0.554-0.956, P=0.023) were significant protective factors for DR when compared to inactive adults, and the association between RA insufficiently active, WW did not show a significant association with DR. Mediation analysis showed a significant mediation effect of Hb on the association between PA patterns and DR risk, with a mediation ratio of 5.23%. Our study reveals that WW and RA activity patterns are protective factors for DR and that Hb levels mediate this association. This suggests that WW activity patterns are more cost-effective for the prevention of DR.