bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Beatriz Gutiérrez Mueller (ed.). «México es cosa mía». Antología. Gabriela Mistral en la memoria de México
Authors: López Forjas Manuel
Published: June 2024

Review of Gutiérrez Mueller, B. (ed.) (2022). «México es cosa mía». Antología. Gabriela Mistral en la memoria de México. Selección de notas y presentación por B. Gutiérrez Mueller. 1a ed. México: Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores. Dirección General del Archivo Histórico Diplomático, 351 pp.
Gabriel Ferrater. Donar nous als nens | Marina Porras. Al mig de la vida, jo
Authors: Bou Enric
Published: June 2024

Review of Ferrater, G. (2022). Donar nous als nens. Antologia. Selecció i pròleg de M. Porras. Barcelona: Editorial Comanegra, 398 pp. | Porras, M. (2023). Al mig de la vida, jo. Biografia de Mercè Rodoreda. Barcelona: Bruguera, 158 pp.
Investigation of flexural properties of hexagonal boron nitride added thermoplastic composites
Authors: Demircan Özgür , Kalaycı Adnan
Published: June 2024

In this study, weight percentages (wps) of 0%, 0.5%, 2% hexagonal boron nitrides (hBN) were added to 30 wt.% short glass fiber reinforced Polyamide (PA) 66 matrix (GF30) to fabricate the thermoplastic composite materials. The hBN additives were applied by coating of granules of 30 wt.% short glass fiber reinforced PA 66 (GF30) materials. The hBN coated thermoplastic materials were produced by plastic injection method. The effect of different wps of hBNs on the flexural properties of thermoplastic composites were examined in the produced samples.
The produced samples were subjected to three-point bending tests. When looking at the results of the three-point bending tests, the highest increase of flexural properties was obtained in the sample of PA66/GF30/2% hBN added thermoplastic composite. The samples with 2 wt% hBN showed the best flexural properties with an improvement of 85 and 52% flexural modulus and strength, respectively, compared to the samples without hBN (PA66/GF30). According to the obtained results of this study, as the percentage of the hBN weight contents increased, the flexural strengths and flexural modulus increased significantly. It was concluded that hBN coated thermoplastic composite samples demonstrated high improvements of flexural properties at optimum rates of hBN.
Review of properties, synthesis, and energy applications of borophene, a novel boron-based 2D material
Authors: Bilgiç Gülbahar
Published: June 2024

At least 16 bulk polymorphs of linked icosahedrons exist in boron that are not found in other materials, due to the low covalent radius and sp2 hybridization capacity of boron atoms. One of these is borophene, an exciting new nanomaterial with a wide range of possible energy uses. The existence of borophene, a two-dimensional (2D) material, has been proven by both theoretical and experimental studies. Borophene's high theoretical specific capacities, magnetic conductivity, and ion transport properties make it a promising candidate in energy applications. In this study, firstly, the structure, chemical, and physical properties of borophene were mentioned. Then, in terms of synthesis approaches, both top-down and bottom-up techniques (such as atomic layer deposition (ALD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), exfoliation by sonochemistry, molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), and multi-step thermal decomposition (MTD) for ultrahigh-vacuum borophene deposition technologies) were discussed. Finally, its use as a catalyst in high-metal-ion batteries, hydrogen storage (HS), Nanoelectronics applications hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) was mentioned.
Pengharuh Pembelajaran Kontekstual Berbasis Pratikum Dalam Menunjang Motivasi Belajar Siswa Kelas IV SD Inpres 18 Kabupaten Sorong
Authors: Sasior Pilipina , Asrul Asrul , Rabia Supriyati Fatma
Published: June 2024

Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui sejauh mana pengaruh pembelajaran kontekstual yang berbasis Praktikum dalam Menunjang Motivasi belajar siswa di kelas IV A SD Inpres 18 Kabupaten Sorong. Jenis penelitian ini adalah penelitian kuantitatif. Metode penelitian dengan eksperimen. Desain penelitian yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah one-group pretest-posttest design. Penelitian ini akan dilaksanakan di SD Inpres. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah SD Inpres 18 Kabupaten Sorong . Sampel yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah siswa kelas IV A dengan jumlah 20 siswa, teknik pengumpulan data dalam penelitian ini berupa observasi,angket dan dokumentasi. Berdasarkan hasil analisis uji t (paired sample t-test) maka dapat diperolah hasil bahwa thitung lebih besar dari ttabel yaitu 15.340 > 1.729 dan Sig.(2 tailed) = 0.000 < 0.6, maka Ha diterima dan HO di tolak. Jadi dapat disimpulkan pembelajaran kontekstual berbasis pratikum terbukti memiliki pengharuh yang signifikan terhadap motivasi belajar siswa di kelas IV SD Inpres 18 Kabupaten Sorong
ФОНДОВИЙ РИНОК В УМОВАХ ЦИФРОВОЇ ЕКОНОМІКИ
Authors: Шевченко Ірина О. , Птащенко Олена В.
Published: June 2024

В представленій роботі розглянуто основні особливості впливу цифрової економіки на фондовий ринок. Цифрові технології роблять фондові ринки більш доступними для широкого кола інвесторів через електронні торговельні платформи та мобільні додатки. Електронізація та автоматизація процесів сприяють швидкому та ефективному укладанню угод. Розвиток цифрових технологій відкриває шлях до нових фінансових інструментів, таких як цифрові активи, токенізація та смарт-контракти на блокчейні. Поява фінтех-компаній та стартапів у сфері фінансів стимулює конкуренцію та прискорює інноваційний розвиток на фондовому ринку. Цифрові технології зменшують географічні бар'єри та дозволяють інвесторам з усього світу легко участь у торгівлі на різних фондових ринках. Доступ до розширеної аналітики та інформації в реальному часі робить ринок більш прозорим та інформованим для інвесторів. Разом з перевагами приходять і виклики, такі як кібербезпека та нестабільність, пов'язана з високочастотним трейдингом. Забезпечення безпеки та врегулювання є важливими аспектами цього процесу. Використання штучного інтелекту та аналізу великих даних в управлінні активами дозволяє створювати більш точні стратегії та прогнозувати ринкові тенденції. Використання технології блокчейн дозволяє створювати децентралізовані системи розподілу активів та здійснення транзакцій без посередників. Аналітика великих даних і штучний інтелект сприяють розвитку нових підходів до обробки та аналізу даних, що дозволяє краще розуміти ринкові тенденції та приймати більш обґрунтовані рішення. Фінтех-інновації та цифрові технології створюють нову екосистему, де фінансові установи, технологічні компанії та стартапи співпрацюють для створення та впровадження новаторських рішень. Зростає увага до етичних питань, пов'язаних із зберіганням та використанням особистих фінансових даних, а також відповідального впровадження технологій на ринку. Загалом, вплив цифрової економіки на фондовий ринок є суттєвим і призводить до змін в структурі та функціонуванні фінансових ринків, створюючи нові можливості та висуваючи нові виклики для інвесторів та учасників ринку. Висновки вказують на те, що цифрова економіка не тільки змінює спосіб функціонування фондових ринків, а й створює унікальні можливості та завдання для учасників цього середовища. Інновації в технологіях та підходах до фінансового управління визначають нові стандарти для ефективності та конкурентоспроможності на фондовому ринку.
МАРКЕТИНГОВА РІВНОВАГА: ЗБАЛАНСОВАНИЙ БЮДЖЕТ ДЛЯ УСПІШНОЇ ЕКСПАНСІЇ НА НОВІ РИНКИ ЗБУТУ
Authors: Грищенко Іван М. , Городецький Юрій Д.
Published: June 2024

У статті проведено детальний аналіз стратегій розподілу маркетингового бюджету у контексті запровадження нового продукту ринку. Стаття виділяє необхідність збалансованого підходу до витрат з огляду на різноманітність офлайн та онлайн каналів маркетингу. У статті наведено сценарії розподілу рекламного бюджету для різних цільових аудиторій, що стає ключовою умовою успішного входження на нові ринки в умовах цифрової трансформації. Досліджено відмінності у стратегіях офлайн та онлайн маркетингу, представлені методики та типи рекламних кампаній. Особлива увага приділяється практичним аспектам вибору оптимального співвідношення онлайн та офлайн витрат, включаючи важливість визначення цільових аудиторій за поколіннями X, Y, Z, з урахуванням їх особливостей та переваг. Наголошено, що успішна кампанія вимагає не тільки правильного вибору маркетингових каналів, а й адаптації стратегії до особливостей цільової аудиторії. Також наголошено на необхідності системного дослідження факторів, що впливають на успішне впровадження нового продукту, серед яких визначення оптимального співвідношення витрат на офлайн та онлайн маркетинг виділяється важливим аспектом. Докладно розглянуто стратегії адаптації залежно від цінової категорії товару та особливостей аудиторії. Надано рекомендації щодо оптимізації стратегій для максимізації ефективності кампаній. Додатково стаття надає читачам погляд на еволюцію трендів у розподілі маркетингових бюджетів у контексті цифрової революції. Пояснюється, як зі збільшенням впливу онлайн-платформ та цифрових технологій змінюються підходи до реклами та взаємодії з аудиторією. Наголошується на важливості моніторингу та аналізу результатів маркетингових кампаній після їх запуску. Цей етап стає ключовим для корекції стратегії та адаптації до динаміки ринку, що своєю чергою може визначити успішність продукту на новому ринку. Загалом стаття надає всеосяжний огляд стратегій, методів та факторів, які слід враховувати при балансуванні маркетингового бюджету для успішної експансії на нові ринки збуту в умовах сучасного бізнес-простору. Отримані під час дослідження знання можуть стати важливим ресурсом для маркетологів і управлінців розробки стратегій запровадження нового продукту ринку і масштабуванні маркетингових кампаній у нових географічних областях.
Optimal Kamu Harcaması Oranı: Türkiye İçin Bir Uygulama
Authors: Toptaş Sibel
Published: June 2024

Birçok ülkeye ait veriler incelendiğinde, genel olarak ekonomi içerisinde kamu sektörü payının zaman içerisinde arttığı görülmektedir. Literatürde bu artışın nedenleri ile konu bir açıdan ele alınırken; kamu harcamalarının büyüme üzerindeki etkisini açıklamak da başka bir açıdan ele almaktadır. Kamu harcaması ve büyüme arasında doğrusal olmayan bir ilişkinin olduğunun tespit edilmesi beraberinde, ilişkinin yön değiştirdiği oranın ne olduğu sorusunu da gündeme getirmektedir. Zira bu orana ulaşıncaya kadar yapılan harcamalar büyüme oranını artırırken, bu oranın üzerine çıkılması halinde büyüme oranı azalacaktır. Bu çalışma kapsamında 1991 ile 2021 yılları arasındaki verilerle kamu harcaması ve büyüme arasında doğrusal olmayan bir ilişkinin olduğunu savunan Armey eğrisinin geçerliliği sınanmış ve optimal kamu harcaması oranının ne olduğu araştırılmıştır. Sonuç olarak Armey eğrisinin geçerli olduğu ve büyümeyi azamileştiren kamu harcaması oranının yaklaşık olarak %12 olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Bu nedenle dönem içerisinde optimal oranın üzerinde olan kamu harcamalarını azaltmanın büyüme oranı üzerinde olumlu bir etki yaratacağı söylenebilir.
Kripto Varlıkların Dijital Miras Boyutu ve Veraset İntikal Vergisi Açısından Değerlendirilmesi
Authors: Bozdoğanoğlu Burçin
Published: June 2024

Dijitalleşme sürecinin hız kazanması sonrası insan hayatının vazgeçilmez parçası haline gelen internet teknolojisi, alışveriş uygulamaları, sosyal medya hesapları, bulut bilişim ve son olarak blokzincir teknolojisiyle birlikte kripto paralar neredeyse tamamen dijital bir dünyanın kapılarını açmıştır. Bireylerin müzik dinlemek, fotoğraf arşivlemek, film izlemek, işlerini takip etmek üzere e-posta hesapları oluşturmak ve arkadaşlarıyla iletişim kurmak için sosyal medya hesapları oluşturmak üzere kişisel verileriyle giriş yaptıkları bu dijital dünyada oluşturdukları ve biriktirdikleri ayak izleri geleneksel anlamda miras kavramının da değişimi sonucunu da beraberinde getirmiştir. Dijital miras kavramı kaynağını dijital varlıkların oluşturduğunu ve gerek ulusal gerekse uluslararası literatürde yeni sayılabilecek bir kavramdır. Çalışmanın amacı mevcut mevzuatımızda para, emtia ya da gayrimaddi varlık şeklinde bir sınıflandırmaya dahil edilemeyen, hukuki ve vergisel açıdan yeni bir tanım da yapılmayan kripto varlıkların edinilmesi ve miras konu olması halinde veraset intikal vergisi karşısındaki durumunun değerlendirilmesidir.
The Effects of IMF Financial Soundness Indicators of Turkish Commercial Banks on the Financial Development Index
Authors: Saka Ilgın Kübra
Published: June 2024

The financial soundness of banks, which are the building blocks of the financial system, is an important indicator that reflects the effectiveness of the financial system. It can be stated that the financial development of countries with an effective financial system will be positively affected by this situation. The paper aims to evaluate the effects of IMF financial soundness indicators of the Turkish commercial banks which have an important share in the Turkish banks, on the financial development index of Türkiye. In this paper, an evaluation was made based on the IMF Financial development index and IMF financial soundness indicators. Panel data analysis was used and panel least squares model estimation was made within the analysis. In line with the findings, it has been determined that sensitivity to profitability, liquidity, and market risks of commercial banks negatively affect financial development while the capital adequacy and asset quality of commercial banks positively affect financial development.
EFL University Student’s Writing Anxiety in Essay Development
Authors: Sundari Hanna , Febriyanti Rina Husnaini
Published: June 2024

Among the numerous research of writing anxiety in EFL writing instruction, the investigation of writing anxiety during the creation of argumentative essay remains limited. This current research, therefore, was purposed to examine the levels and specific manifestations of writing anxiety for the development of argumentative essay.  Guided by descriptive quantitative research framework, 53 university students in writing course were asked to fill out the Second Language Writing Anxiety Inventory (SLWAI) in a small-scale survey. The results shows that 78% of students experienced moderate levels of anxiety when engaged in the development of argumentative essays, with only a small percentage reporting high or low level of anxiety (11%). An analysis of the anxiety levels across all respondents revealed a prevailing trend of moderate anxiety. Moreover, cognitive anxiety was the predominant category, followed by somatic anxiety and avoidance behavior respectively.
L-Theanine Inhibits Chemoresistance of Lung Cancer Cells to Cisplatin by Regulating STAT3/NOTCH1-BMAL1 Signaling
Authors: Jin Wenjing , Su Ling , You Hong , Dong Zhouyu , Liu Min , Zhou Chao
Published: June 2024

Background: L-Theanine, a nonproteinogenic amino acid derived from green tea, is being recognized as an anti-cancer candidate. However, it’s roles in the development of cancer chemoresistance is still unknown and the molecular mechanism is urgently to be explored. Methods: The effects of L-Theanine on lung cancer chemoresistance were validated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, transwell assay, and in vitro tumor spheroid formation assay; the expression of proteins was detected by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western blotting. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and bioinformatics analysis were used to identify differentially expressed genes induced by L-Theanine. BMAL1 knockdown and overexpression were constructed by using a lentivirus-mediated transfection system. Results: L-Theanine improved the chemoresistance to cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (DDP) and inhibited stemness of DDP-resistant lung cancer cells but not non-resistant lung cancer cells. The results from RNA-seq analysis showed that STAT3/NOTCH1 pathway was a potential dominant signaling involved in L-Theanine improving the chemoresistance in DDP-resistant lung cancer. Mechanistically, L-Theanine impeded migration and stemness activation of DDP-resistant lung cancer cells via regulating the expression of STAT3/NOTCH1/BMAL1 signaling-induced stemness markers as well as inhibiting the expression levels of drug resistance-related genes. In addition, a combination of L-Theanine and Stat3 blockade synergistically improved the chemoresistance in DDP-resistant lung cancer. Conclusion: L-Theanine improves the chemoresistance by regulating STAT3/NOTCH1/BMAL1 signaling, reducing stemness, and inhibiting the migration of DDP-resistant lung cancer cells. The finding might provide some evidence for therapeutic options in overcoming the chemoresistance in cancers, including lung cancer.
A Nude Mouse Model of Xenografted Hypertrophic Scar Cells to Test Therapeutics in the Skin
Authors: Carney Bonnie C. , Simbulan-Rosenthal Cynthia M. , Rosenthal Dean S. , Shupp Jeffrey W.
Published: June 2024

Background: Existing animal models for testing therapeutics in the skin are limited. Mouse and rat models lack similarity to human skin in structure and wound healing mechanism. Pigs are regarded as the best model with regards to similarity to human skin; however, these studies are expensive, time-consuming, and only small numbers of biologic replicates can be obtained. In addition, local-regional effects of treating wounds that are closely adjacent to one-another with different treatments make assessment of treatment effectiveness difficult in pig models. Therefore, here, a novel nude mouse model of xenografted porcine hypertrophic scar (HTS) cells was developed. This model system was developed to test if supplying hypo-pigmented cells with exogenous alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) will reverse pigment loss in vivo. Methods: Dyschromic HTSs were created in red Duroc pigs. Epidermal scar cells (keratinocytes and melanocytes) were derived from regions of hyper-, hypo-, or normally pigmented scar or skin and were cryopreserved. Dermal fibroblasts (DFs) were isolated separately. Excisional wounds were created on nude mice and a grafting dome was placed. DFs were seeded on day 0 and formed a dermis. On day 3, epidermal cells were seeded onto the dermis. The grafting dome was removed on day 7 and hypo-pigmented xenografts were treated with synthetic α-MSH delivered with microneedling. On day 10, the xenografts were excised and saved. Sections were stained using hematoxylin and eosin hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) to assess xenograft structure. RNA was isolated and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed for melanogenesis-related genes TYR, TYRP1, and DCT. Results: The seeding of HTSDFs formed a dermis that is similar in structure and cellularity to HTS dermis from the porcine model. When hyper-, hypo-, and normally-pigmented epidermal cells were seeded, a fully stratified epithelium was formed by day 14. H&E staining and measurement of the epidermis showed the average thickness to be 0.11 ± 0.07 µm vs. 0.06 ± 0.03 µm in normal pig skin. Hypo-pigmented xenografts that were treated with synthetic α-MSH showed increases in pigmentation and had increased gene expression of TYR, TYRP1, and DCT compared to untreated controls (TYR: 2.7 ± 1.1 vs. 0.3 ± 1.1; TYRP1: 2.6 ± 0.6 vs. 0.3 ± 0.7; DCT 0.7 ± 0.9 vs. 0.3 ± 1-fold change from control; n = 3). Conclusions: The developed nude mouse skin xenograft model can be used to study treatments for the skin. The cells that can be xenografted can be derived from patient samples or from pig samples and form a robust dual-skin layer containing epidermis and dermis that is responsive to treatment. Specifically, we found that hypo-pigmented regions of scar can be stimulated to make melanin by synthetic α-MSH in vivo.
Tazarotene-induced Gene 1 Induces Melanoma Cell Death by Triggering Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response
Authors: Wang Chun-Hua , Tzeng I-Shiang , Wang Lu-Kai , Wu Chang-Chieh , Chen Mao-Liang , Kuo Chan-Yen , Shyu Rong-Yaun , Tsai Fu-Ming
Published: June 2024

Background: This study investigated the mechanism by which tazarotene-induced gene 1 (TIG1) inhibits melanoma cell growth. The main focus was to analyze downstream genes regulated by TIG1 in melanoma cells and its impact on cell growth. Methods: The effects of TIG1 expression on cell viability and death were assessed using water-soluble tetrazolium 1 (WST-1) mitochondrial staining and lactate dehydrogenase release assays. RNA sequencing and Western blot analysis were employed to investigate the genes regulated by TIG1 in melanoma cells. Additionally, the correlation between TIG1 expression and its downstream genes was analyzed in a melanoma tissue array. Results: TIG1 expression in melanoma cells was associated with decreased cell viability and increased cell death. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq), quantitative reverse transcription PCR (reverse RT-QPCR), and immunoblots revealed that TIG1 expression induced the expression of Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress response-related genes such as Homocysteine-responsive endoplasmic reticulum-resident ubiquitin-like domain member 1 (HERPUD1), Binding immunoglobulin protein (BIP), and DNA damage-inducible transcript 3 (DDIT3). Furthermore, analysis of the melanoma tissue array revealed a positive correlation between TIG1 expression and the expression of HERPUD1, BIP, and DDIT3. Additionally, attenuation of the ER stress response in melanoma cells weakened the impact of TIG1 on cell growth. Conclusions: TIG1 expression effectively hinders the growth of melanoma cells. TIG1 induces the upregulation of ER stress response-related genes, leading to an increase in caspase-3 activity and subsequent cell death. These findings suggest that the ability of retinoic acid to prevent melanoma formation may be associated with the anticancer effect of TIG1.
Human Diseases Associated with Notch Signalling: Lessons from Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Megaly Marvel , Turgambayeva Anel , Hallam Ryan D. , Foran Gregory , Megaly Mark , Necakov Aleksandar
Published: June 2024

Drosophila melanogaster has been used as a model system to identify and characterize genetic contributions to development, homeostasis, and to investigate the molecular determinants of numerous human diseases. While there exist many differences at the genetic, structural, and molecular level, many signalling components and cellular machineries are conserved between Drosophila and humans. For this reason, Drosophila can and has been used extensively to model, and study human pathologies. The extensive genetic resources available make this model system a powerful one. Over the years, the sophisticated and rapidly expanding Drosophila genetic toolkit has provided valuable novel insights into the contribution of genetic components to human diseases. The activity of Notch signalling is crucial during development and conserved across the Metazoa and has been associated with many human diseases. Here we highlight examples of mechanisms involving Notch signalling that have been elucidated from modelling human diseases in Drosophila melanogaster that include neurodegenerative diseases, congenital diseases, several cancers, and cardiac disorders.
The Effects of Apricot Kernels and Pure Amygdalin on the Structural, Oxidative, and Inflammatory Characteristics of Rabbit Testicular Tissue
Authors: Tvrdá Eva , Ďuračka Michal , Halenár Marek , Pivko Juraj , Kolesár Eduard , Chrastinová Ľubica , Ondruška Ľubomír , Jurčík Rastislav , Kolesárová Adriana
Published: June 2024

Background: Apricot kernels containing amygdalin (AMG) as the major cyanogenic glycoside are potentially useful as a complementary therapy for the management of several ailments including cancer. Nevertheless, little is known regarding the toxic and therapeutic doses of AMG, particularly in terms of male reproduction. Hence, this study evaluates selected qualitative characteristics of rabbit testicular tissue following in vivo administration of AMG or apricot kernels for 28 days. Methods: The rabbits were randomly divided into five groups (Control, P1, P2, P3, P4). The Control received no AMG/apricot kernels while the experimental groups P1 and P2 received a daily intramuscular injection of amygdalin at a dose of 0.6 and 3.0 mg/kg of body weight (b.w.) for 28 days, respectively. P3 and P4 received a daily dose of 60 and 300 mg/kg b.w. of crushed apricot kernels mixed with feed for 28 days, respectively. Changes to the testicular structure were quantified morphometrically, while tissue lysates were subjected to the evaluation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, total antioxidant capacity, activities of antioxidant enzymes, and glutathione concentration. The extent of damage to the proteins and lipids was quantified as well. Levels of selected cytokines were determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay while a luminometric approach was used to assess the activity of caspases. Results: Rabbits treated with 3.0 mg/kg b.w. AMG presented a significantly increased protein oxidation (p = 0.0118) accompanied by a depletion of superoxide dismutase (p = 0.0464), catalase (p = 0.0317), and glutathione peroxidase (p = 0.0002). Significantly increased levels of interleukin-1 beta (p = 0.0012), tumor necrosis factors alpha (p = 0.0159), caspase-3/7 (p = 0.0014), and caspase-9 (p = 0.0243) were also recorded in the experimental group P2 when compared to the Control. No effects were observed in the rabbits treated with apricot kernels at the oxidative, inflammatory, and histopathological levels. Conclusions: Apricot kernels did not induce toxicity in the testicular tissues of male rabbits, unlike pure AMG, which had a negative effect on male reproductive structures carried out through oxidative, inflammatory, and pro-apoptotic mechanisms.
CTRP9 Promotes Brown Adipose Tissue Lipolysis in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet
Authors: Guan Hua , Wang Le , Geng Zhanyi , Duan Bowen , Gao Yang , Liang Zheyong , Zheng Xinglong , Shi Tao , Guo Fengwei
Published: June 2024

Background: This study aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism through which C1q/tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related protein 9 (CTRP9) acts in the formation and differentiation of brown adipose tissue (BAT). Methods: Adenovirus particles encoding CTRP9 and green fluorescent protein were inoculated into the scapula of C57BL/6J mice and fed a high-fat diet for 8 weeks; the body weight, lipid droplet morphology, glucose tolerance, insulin tolerance, and protein expression levels were analyzed. In addition, CTRP9 adenovirus was transfected into brown preadipocytes, and differentiation was induced to identify the effect of CTRP9 overexpression on adipocyte differentiation. Results: CTRP9 overexpression significantly increased the weight gain of mice. Additionally, the CTRP9 overexpression group exhibited significantly increased adipose tissue weight and glucose clearance rates and decreased insulin sensitivity and serum triglyceride levels compared to the control group. Furthermore, CTRP9 overexpression significantly upregulated the adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and perilipin 1 protein expression levels in BAT. The cell experiment results confirmed that CTRP9 overexpression significantly inhibited the adipogenesis of brown adipocytes as evidenced by the downregulation of uncoupling protein 1, beta-3 adrenergic receptor, ATGL, and hormone-sensitive lipase mRNA levels and the significant suppression of uncoupling protein 1, ATGL, and perilipin 1 protein levels in brown adipocytes. Conclusions: The finding of this study demonstrated that CTRP9 promotes lipolysis by upregulating ATGL expression in vivo and inhibits the differentiation of brown preadipocytes in vitro.
To Treat or not to Treat? The Fate of Patients with Intermittent Claudication Following Different Therapeutic Options
Authors: Tsolaki Elpiniki , Traina Luca , Savriè Caterina , Guerzoni Franco , Napoli Nicola , Manfredini Roberto , Taddia Maria Cristina , Manfredini Fabio , Lamberti Nicola
Published: June 2024

Background: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is recognized as a significant contributor to the public health burden in the cardiovascular field and has a significant rate of morbidity and mortality. In the intermediate stages, exercise therapy is recommended by the guidelines, although supervised programs are scarcely available. This single-center observational study aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes of patients with PAD and claudication receiving optimal medical care and follow-up or revascularization procedures or structured home-based exercise. Methods: The records of 1590 PAD patients with claudication were assessed at the Vascular Surgery Unit between 2008 and 2017. Based on the findings of the recruitment visit, patients were assigned to one of the three following groups according to the available guidelines: Revascularization (Rev), structured exercise therapy (Ex), or control (Co). The exercise program was prescribed at the hospital and executed at home with two daily 10-minute interval walking sessions at a pain-free speed. The number and date of deaths, all-cause hospitalizations, and peripheral revascularizations for 5 years were collected from the Emilia-Romagna regional database. Results: At entry, 137 patients underwent revascularization; 1087 patients were included in the Ex group, and 366 were included in the Co group. At baseline, patients in the Rev group were significantly younger and had fewer comorbidities (p < 0.001). A propensity score matching analysis was performed, and three balanced subgroups of 119 patients were each created. The mortality rate was significantly (p < 0.001) greater in the Co (45%) group than in the Rev (11%) and Ex (11%) groups, as was the incidence of all-cause hospitalizations (Co: 95%; Rev 56%; Ex 60%; p < 0.001). There were no differences in peripheral revascularizations (Co: 19%; Rev: 17%; Ex 11%). Conclusions: In PAD patients with claudication, both revascularization procedures and structured home-based exercise sessions are associated with better long-term clinical outcomes than walking advice and follow-up only.
Fuzzy AHP Approach for Multi-Criteria Stress Analysis During COVID-19: A Case Study
Authors:   Department of Decision Sciences, Jaipuria Institute of Management, Jaipur, India, Gupta Srikant , Modibbo Umar Muhammad ,   Department of Operations Research, Modibbo Adama University, P.M.B. 2076, Yola, Nigeria, Ali Irfan ,   Department of Statistics & Operations Research, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India
Published: June 2024

The novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic poses a challenging and stressful situation among people from 2019 to date globally. This study analyzes various factors responsible for the stress intensity among India's urban cities to identify the most affected metropolitan city. The study identified six Indian urban cities and three major stress factors: routine, social, and job, with each factor having sub-criteria. A fuzzy analytic hierarchy process is used to model the situation, and a synthetic extent analysis method (EAM) is employed to solve the model. The modified EAM has been also applied and the two results compared. It has been found that the modified method is more robust than EAM. The concept of the minimum degree of possibility is applied to obtain the weight vector for the main criteria. After identifying the main stress criteria and its sub-criteria and six metropolitan cities, the hierarchy of identifying India's most affected metropolitan cities during COVID-19 is structured. The study found that using the EAM, Mumbai is the worst affected city, followed by Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi-NCR, and Hyderabad. While using the modified method, the most affected areas are found to be Pune, followed by Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi-NRC, and Bengaluru. It further discovered that routine stress-related is the most critical factor in identifying the most affected metropolitan city, followed by social and job-related stresses.
Enhancing Financial Performance Evaluation: The MEREC-RBNAR Hybrid Method for Sustainability-Indexed Companies
Authors:   Logistics Program, Artvin Çoruh University, 08300 Artvin, Türkiye, Kara Karahan , Özyürek Hamide ,   Department of Business, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, OSTIM Technical University, 06374 Ankara, Türkiye, Yalçın Galip Cihan ,   Mathematics Program, Kırıkkale University, 71450 Yahşihan/Kırıkkale, Türkiye, Burgaz Neslihan ,   Faculty of Financial Sciences, Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University, 06500 Ankara, Türkiye
Published: June 2024

Todays, companies are evaluated not only based on their financial activities but also in terms of their attitudes towards environmental, social, and governance (ESG) activities. In this context, companies are indexed based on their sustainability levels, striving to improve both their sustainability and financial levels simultaneously. The main objective of this research is to evaluate and compare the financial performance of companies listed in the sustainability index. To determine the financial performance of companies in the sustainability index, this research develops and proposes the MEREC (Method Based on the Removal Effects of Criteria) - RBNAR (Reference-Based Normalization Alternative Ranking) hybrid method. Additionally, financial ratios are used as criteria for evaluating companies' financial performance. The weights of financial ratios are calculated using the MEREC method, while the RBNAR method determines companies' financial performances. The application of the MEREC-RBNAR hybrid method is presented through a case study aiming to identify the financial performance of companies listed in the Istanbul Stock Exchange's sustainability index for the year 2022. Furthermore, in this research, companies' financial performance levels are determined by considering the averages of financial ratios of companies listed in the sustainability index, using reference-based normalization processes. The research concludes that the most critical criterion in determining the financial performance of companies in the sustainability index is Return on Equity (ROE). MAVI Clothing Industry and Trade Inc. is identified as the company with the highest financial performance level.
Cost-Utility Analysis of an Interdisciplinary Home-bAsed Reablement Program (I-HARP) to Improve Functional Independence of People Living With Dementia vs Usual Care in Sydney, Australia.
Authors: Kenny Danelle , Jeon Yun Hee , Keramat Syed Afroz , Fethney Judith , Simpson Judy , Comans Tracy
Published: June 2024

Background: A cost-utility analysis to estimate the incremental cost per QALY gained for I-HARP compared to usual care over 12 months. Four of the nine study hypotheses are analysed in this analysis:2. Enhanced health-related quality of life5. improved carer health-related quality of life8. sustained benefits of the intervention9. decreased total health care costs. Methods: We conducted a within-trial cost utility analysis combining multiple-chained imputation, seemingly unrelated regression, and non-parametric bootstrapping to derive ICER estimates for clients and carers participating in the I-HARP trial (n=116 dyads). Sub-group analysis was also conducted to determine increased effect in people presenting with mild dementia. Results: Due to small effect sizes changes in utility and sensitivity of cost calculations to changes in assumed costs, it is not possible to determine cost-effectiveness of I-HARP to usual care. If effect size is assumed equal, then I-HARP is nominally more expensive than usual care, but cost-saving for people with mild dementia. Examining QALY trajectory indicates there may be small improvements in outcomes and utility for both I-HARP recipients and their carers, which may indicate I-HARP potential to improve sustainability of care arrangements, reduce length of hospital stay, and delay transfer to Residential Aged Care. Conclusions: Further research is needed to appropriately evaluate cost-effectiveness of the I-HARP program, including more specific measures of cost and further determination of the significance of utility trajectories over a longer time-horizon.
An interactive computational pipeline to investigate ventricular hemodynamics with real-time three-dimensional echocardiography and computational fluid dynamics
Authors: Thiel Jan-Niklas , Verhülsdonk Daniel , Steinseifer Ulrich , Linden Katharina , Herberg Ulrike , Friehs Ingeborg , Diaz-Gil Daniel , Neidlin Michael
Published: June 2024

Blood flow within the ventricle can provide important information on the performance of the heart. The determined blood flow structures are used to extract flow biomarkers to quantify cardiac function. Patient-specific computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models that import segmented ventricular deformations from non-invasive imaging data for an individualized hemodynamical analysis are often used. However, tedious pre-processing of those geometries is often necessary and decisions on the modeling of the valve and the surrounding vessels have to be made on an individual level. This leads to a lack of reproducibility and usability of the existing computational models. In this work we introduce IP-HEART - an interactive and open-source computational pipeline to perform geometry processing for CFD models of ventricular blood flow. We showcase its use on real-time three-dimensional echocardiography data of three patient datasets from two different clinical centers. We outline how different modeling assumptions of the mitral valve can be easily implemented and quantify their effect on CFD simulations. The results correspond well with clinical data on transvalvular Doppler ultrasound recordings and distinct flow features such as mitral jet and diastolic vortex formation can be observed. The pipeline is accompanied by an extensive video tutorial and freely available code for further use.
Beliefs about Perception Shape Perceptual Inference: An Ideal Observer Model of Detection
Authors: Mazor Matan , Moran Rani , Press Clare
Published: June 2024

According to Bayesian, “inverse optics” accounts of vision, perceiving is inferring the most likely state of the world given noisy sensory data. This inference depends not only on prior beliefs about the world, but also on an internal model specifying how world states translate to visual sensations. Alternative accounts explain perceptual decisions as a rule-based process, with no role for such beliefs about perception. Here, we contrast the two alternatives, focusing on decisions about perceptual absence as a critical test case. We present data from three pre-registered experiments where participants performed a near-threshold detection task under different levels of partial stimulus occlusion, thereby visibly manipulating the measurement function going from external world states to internal perceptual states. We find that decisions about presence and absence are differentially sensitive to sensory evidence and occlusion. Furthermore, we observe reliably opposite individual-level effects of occlusion on decisions about absence. Our model accounts for these findings by postulating robust individual differences in the incorporation of beliefs about visibility into perceptual inferences, independent of population variability in visibility itself. We discuss implications for the varied and inferential nature of visual perception more broadly.
Gendered Sadism: Examining Measurement Invariance of Everyday Sadism Scales Across Genders
Authors: Blötner Christian , Spormann Sandy Sue
Published: June 2024

During the last two decades, interest in aversive personality traits increased. One such trait is everyday sadism, which is said to reflect the most aversive trait among non-forensic personality features. A plethora of studies found males to score higher on average in everyday sadism. However, valid comparisons of test scores require that measurement invariance of the test holds between the groups under scrutiny. Using four samples (ntotal = 2,909 [70% female]), we tested for gender-related measurement invariance of all currently available everyday sadism self-report measures. We found partial scalar invariance for the Varieties of Sadistic Tendencies (regardless of the inclusion of a method factor), scalar invariance for the Assessment of Sadistic Personality (regardless of the inclusion of a method factor) and the Comprehensive Assessment of Sadistic Tendencies, and partial metric invariance for the Short Sadistic Impulse Scale. The everyday sadism subscale from the Short Dark Tetrad did not even exhibit configural invariance; the respective subscale from the Mixed Short Dark Tetrad yielded partial scalar invariance only when a method factor was included. These findings have important implications for gender-specific expressions of everyday sadism that need to be considered in scale development and the interpretations of test scores.
Combating misinformation: A megastudy of nine interventions designed to reduce the sharing of and belief in false and misleading headlines
Authors: Fazio Lisa , Rand David Gertler , Lewandowsky Stephan , Susmann Mark , Berinsky Adam J. , Guess Andrew Markus , Kendeou Panayiota , Lyons Benjamin , Miller Joanne M. , Newman Eryn , Pennycook Gordon , Swire-Thompson Briony
Published: June 2024

Researchers have tested a variety of interventions to combat misinformation on social media (e.g., accuracy nudges, digital literacy tips, inoculation, debunking). These interventions work via different psychological mechanisms, but all share the goals of increasing recipients’ ability to distinguish between true and false information and/or increasing the veracity of news shared on social media. The current megastudy with 33,233 US-based participants tests nine prominent misinformation interventions in an identical setting using true, false, and misleading health and political news headlines. We find that a wide variety of interventions can improve discernment between true versus false or misleading information during accuracy and sharing judgments. Reducing misinformation belief and sharing is a goal that is accomplishable through multiple strategies targeting different psychological mechanisms.
A Review of Xenia A. Cherkaev, Gleaning for Communism: The Soviet Socialist Household in Theory and Practice. Ithaca, NY; London: Cornell University Press, 2023, XV+189 pp.
Authors: Sokolova Anna
Published: June 2024

The book Gleaning for Communism: The Soviet Socialist Household in Theory and Practice by Xenia A. Cherkaev analyzes the concept of socialist property and its impact on grassroots economic practices. By analyzing how the “Soviet” appears in the narratives of workers and employees of former Soviet enterprises recorded during fieldwork in St Petersburg in the 2010s, Cherkaev offers us an anthropological view of Soviet everyday life through political economy and ethics. According to Cherkaev, the major periods of Soviet history (War Communism, NEP, Stalinism, the Thaw, and Perestroika) can be viewed through the prism of an ethical understanding of socialist property embedded in changing legislation. To understand how Soviet society emerged and how the Soviet state suddenly vanished into thin air, she examines the evolution of these regimes from 1917 to the early 1990s. At the same time, Cherkaev makes an important contribution to the history of ideas and intellectual history as she consistently traces the emergence, development, transformation, and decline of the concept of “socialist property” (“socialist economy”) from the early post-revolutionary years to the collapse of the Soviet Union. Cherkaev’s work will be an important contribution to scholarship on late-Soviet social and economic history.
Code-Switching and Achieving Understanding in Court Sessions
Authors:   St Petersburg State University, Rudneva Ekaterina ,   Institute for Linguistic Studies, RAS, Troshchenkova Ekaterina V. ,   St Petersburg State University
Published: June 2024

The article analyzes extracts from video recordings of court sessions in Russian, where one of the participants demonstrated misunderstanding. The main method of working with the data is conversion analysis. The focus is on the interaction between specialists (a judge or a lawyer) and non-specialists (a defendant or a victim), namely the functions and mechanisms of code switching from official legal language to everyday colloquial language and vice versa. Such code switches are interpreted as a kind of intralingual translation, which is conceptualized in terms of a) linguistic aspects of simplification of the complex information, b) status-role functions of interaction between participants and conditions of institutional communication, c) differences in the way systems of professional and lay knowledge are organized. Through switching between the official and the colloquial codes during the hearing a specialist can accomplish various actions: find out the true intentions of the interlocutor; monitor the interlocutor’s reaction to his speech, regulating the degree of its formality; check the achieved degree of consistency; encourage the layman interlocutor or reformulate his words using the legal terms. The analysis reveals a number of strategies of varying degrees of complexity and intentionality for restoring understanding, which can be achieved on a technical or on a deeper level.
Critical peruse of novels of the new century in the context of cultural discourse
Authors: Kumar Uday
Published: June 2024

Culture opens the mindset of the society. Change and enrichment in culture is a constant dynamic. Its nature is synergistic. The most authentic basis of knowledge of the culture of any nation or society is its literature. In culture, both consciousness and behavior are in harmony. It becomes important to imbibe a creative form of cultural consciousness. The mental development of human takes place through various dimensions of culture, when culture assumes the form of wide and comprehensiveness, which is expressed only through literature.
Abstract in Hindi Language: 
संस्कृति समाज की मानसिकता का उद्घाटन करती है। संस्कृति में परिवर्तन और संवर्धन निरन्तर गतिशील रहता है। इसका स्वरूप समन्वयात्मक होता है। किसी भी राष्ट्र या समाज की संस्कृति के ज्ञान का सर्वाधिक प्रामाणिक आधार उसका साहित्य होता है। संस्कृति के अन्तर्गत चेतना और व्यवहार दोनों का परस्पर सामंजस्य होता है। सांस्कृतिक चेतना का सृजनात्मक रूप धारण करना महत्त्वपूर्ण हो जाता है। मानव का मानसिक विकास संस्कृति के विविध आयामों द्वारा होता है जब संस्कृति विस्तृत एवं व्यापकता का रूप धारण करती है जिसकी अभिव्यक्ति साहित्य के द्वारा ही होती है।
Keywords: संस्कृति, पुनर्जागरण, अन्धानुकरण, बाजारवाद, भसान।
Aftermath of COVID-19 in India: Impact on Major Sectors of the Economy
Authors: Mahajan Nayia
Published: June 2024

The global economy has undergone a substantial perturbation due to the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. The repercussions of this pandemic on the Indian economy were notably unprecedented. Despite pre-existing economic challenges, the outbreak of COVID-19 exacerbated the situation, leading to a contraction in economic activities and loss of life. Virtually all sectors encountered the adverse effects of reduced domestic demand and diminished exports. The present investigation is a dedicated endeavor aimed at dissecting the multifaceted influence of this pandemic on distinct sectors of the economy. Furthermore, this study also delves into potential ramifications. The study encompasses an assessment of how the pandemic wielded its influence on assorted economic sectors and how governmental interventions played a pivotal role in surmounting the crisis.
Rabindranath Tagore’s Humanism: Exploring the Interplay of Individualism and Universalism in his Literary and Philosophical Works
Authors: Halder Souvik
Published: June 2024

Indian poet, philosopher, and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore is internationally admired for his literary achievements and insightful views on the human condition. Tagore’s humanism, which places a premium on people’s inherent worth, autonomy, and interdependence, underpins his entire worldview. This presentation will explore Tagore’s humanistic philosophy by analyzing the tension between particularism and universalism in his writings. This article will analyze several of Tagore’s works, including “Gitanjali” and “The Home and the World,” to demonstrate how his humanism is universal and provides a fresh take on the value of every individual. In addition, it will analyze how Tagore’s humanism informed his educational initiatives, social reforms, and his ideal of a peaceful society. Our study’s overarching goal is to illuminate Tagore’s humanistic principles’ continued applicability in the modern world and their capacity to motivate constructive social action.