bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on underwater robot ranging technology based on semantic segmentation and binocular vision
Authors: Hu Qing , Wang Kekuan , Ren Fushen , Wang Zhongyang
Published: December 2023

Based on the principle of light refraction and binocular ranging, the underwater imaging model is obtained. It provides a theoretical basis for underwater camera calibration. In order to meet the requirement of underwater vehicle to identify and distance underwater target, a new underwater vehicle distance measurement system based on semantic segmentation and binocular vision is proposed. The system uses Deeplabv3 + to identify the underwater target captured by the binocular camera and generate the target map, which is then used for binocular ranging. Compared with the binocular ranging using the original drawing, the measurement accuracy of the proposed method has not changed, the measurement speed is increased by 30%, and the error rate is controlled within 5%, which meets the needs of underwater robot operations.
Impact of smokeless tobacco on cardiovascular disease risk in a Nigerian metropolitan city
Authors: Oguanobi Nelson . I. , Chijioke Chioli . P. , Ghasi Samuel . I. , Nubila Nkoyo I. , Okolo Caleb . C.
Published: December 2023

Background:
The use of smokeless tobacco products (STP) as a substitute for tobacco smoking is driving increasing consumption of these products especially in developing countries.
Objective:
The study sought to make comparison of cardiovascular risk profile between chronic STP users and suitable matched tobacco-naïve controls.
Method:
This is a preliminary report from the cross sectional part of a two-arm prospective study of Smokeless Tobacco Products Composition and Exposure Exposure Outcome in Enugu metropolis. Consecutively recruited current Smokeless tobacco users aged 18 years and above, residing in selected communities in Enugu metropolis were recruited for the study. Age and sex matched non tobacco users from same localities as the study subjects served as controls. Written informed consent to participate in the study was obtained from all study participants. All participants were screened to obtain data on medical history, demographic, clinical, laboratory, and electrocardiographic evaluation.
Result:
Data from 54 STP-users and 54 non-STP-users (mean age 56.58 ± 8.15 years) were analyzed. Anthropometric parameters were similar in both groups. The STP-users had higher erect and supine blood pressure indices as well greater postural drop in systolic blood pressure. The occurrence of diabetes mellitus (20.37% versus 5.56%) and hypertension (25.93%; 11.11%) were significantly more in the STP-users than in the non-user population, (p = 0.02192 and 0.04751 respectively). Electrocardiographic evaluation showed significantly increased QTc and dispersions of P-wave, QRS and QT intervals as well as reduced PR interval in STP users. Electrocardiographic abnormalities observed in STP users include left ventricular hypertrophy, left atrial enlargement, ST-segment elevation, short PR interval and long QTc.
Conclusion:
Use of smokeless tobacco products is associated with increased risk and burden of diabetes mellitus and hypertensive heart disease. Electrocardiographic findings linked to STP-use in this study are features consistent with arrhythmia, ventricular repolarization abnormality, myocardial hypertrophy and ischaemia, suggesting that smokeless tobacco products are not safe substitutes for tobacco smoking.
Dense video super-resolution time-differential network with feature enrichment module
Authors: Wu Lijun , Ma Yong , Chen Zhicong
Published: December 2023

Video super-resolution is capable of recovering high-resolution images from multiple low-resolution images, where loop structures are a common frame choice for video super-resolution tasks. BasicVSR employs bidirectional propagation and feature alignment to efficiently utilize information from the entire input video. In this work, we improved the performance of the network by revisiting the role of the various modules in BasicVSR and redesigning the network. Firstly, we will maintain centralized communication with the reference frame through the reference-based feature enrichment module after optical flow distortion, which is helpful for handling complex motion, and at the same time, for the selected keyframe, according to the degree of motion deviation of the adjacent frame relative to the keyframe, it is divided into two different regions, and the model with different receptive fields is adopted for feature extraction to further alleviate the accumulation of alignment errors. In the feature correction module, we modify the simple residual block stack to RIR structure, and fuse different levels of features with each other, which can make the final feature information more comprehensive and abundant. In addition, dense connection are introduced in the reconstruction module to promote the full use of hierarchical feature information for better reconstruction. Experimental verification is carried out on two public datasets: Vid4 and REDS4, and the comparative results show that compared with BasicVSR, the PSNR quantitative indexes of the proposed improved model on the two datasets are improved by 0.20dB and 0.33dB, respectively. In addition, from the point of view of visual perception, the model can effectively improve the clarity of the image and reduce artifacts.
Understanding Consumers’ acceptance of organic food in Nagaland, India
Authors: Savi Seyievono , Barua Rashmita
Published: December 2023

There has been an increasing trend in the demand for organic food over the years, owing to its various health benefits and delectable taste. Furthermore, its positive impact on the environment makes it a prevalent choice among consumers. It is important to note that consumer behaviour is critical in the marketing and supply of organic food. Therefore, this study was conducted to look into the many aspects which impact consumers' acceptance of organic food and the values that are associated with it. The factors which influence consumers’ acceptance of organic food, identified from secondary sources, are that organic food is considered healthy, prevents and treats certain diseases, is free from chemical pesticides and synthetic additives, has higher nutritional values, sustains the environment and supports small and local businesses. Data was collected from 214 respondents across five districts of Nagaland using a structured questionnaire. A descriptive research design was employed to collect information and a factor analysis test was performed to determine the factors that contribute to customers' decision to purchase organic food. The study found that among the various factors, that impact consumers' desire to purchase organic food, the health aspect was considered the most important factor. The research is restricted to the state of Nagaland, and the analysis is predicated on the response of the participants.
Case Report: A rare case of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the right coronary artery accompanied by left ventricular dysfunction in a young man
Authors: Tu Kexiang , Zhang Yongxu , Wang Yuesong , Pan Jianyuan , Wang Xuezhong
Published: December 2023

Single coronary artery (SCA) is a rare congenital malformation. In this case report, we present the admission of a young man to our department for the establishment of an antihypertensive program. The physical examination and lab tests did not reveal any obvious abnormalities. However, we found an absent left coronary ostium and a normal right coronary artery (RCA), which branched off the left coronary artery to supply the left heart. Further investigations including coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and coronary angiography ruled out coronary heart disease. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed severe left ventricular dysfunction. Through the implementation of effective drug therapy, the blood pressure met the recommended standard and the young man remained in good clinical condition during follow-up.
LRRC8A contributes to neuroinflammation after acute ischemic stroke by interacting with S1PR1 regulating MAPK signal pathway
Authors: Cao Guihua , Guo Jianbin , Yang Kaikai , Xu Rong , Jin Xin , Hou Liming , Bian Peiyu , Fu Wei , Yang Shanru , Li Jinke , Wang Xiaoming
Published: December 2023

Objective and design:
Neuroinflammation exerts important roles in the progression of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). LRRC8A, an essential component of volume-regulated anion channel (VRAC) is expressed predominantly in central nervous system. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of LRRC8A in microglia-mediated neuroinflammation after AIS and the underlying mechanism.
Materials and methods
TTC assay, HE and Nissl staining, RT-PCR, ELISA assay, flow cytometry, Western blot (WB) and immunofluorescence were used to detect the effect of DCPIB on brain injury, neuroinflammation after AIS. Concomitantly, immunofluorescence, FLIM-FRET, and co-immunoprecipitation were used to examine the interplays between LRRC8A and S1P receptor-1(S1PR1).
Results
In mice tMCAO/R model, the administration of LRRC8A-dependent VRAC blocker DCPIB remarkably increased the survival rate and effectively reduced neuronal injury. In addition, DCPIB markedly reversed microglia polarization toward the M1 phenotype and enhanced M2 phenotype. More importantly, LRRC8A physically interacted with S1PR1 via C-terminal leucine-rich repeat domain (LRRD) and DCPIB weakened their interaction. Meanwhile, DCPIB also eliminated the activation MAPK pathway mediated by S1PR1.
Conclusions
The present study revealed a novel regulatory role of LRRC8A in regulating microglia-mediated neuroinflammation through interacting with S1PR1 by LRRD and elucidated a molecular mechanism for the effects of DCPIB on microglia polarization.
TGFBI promotes proliferation and epithelial–mesenchymal transition in renal cell carcinoma through PI3K/AKT/mTOR/HIF-1α pathway
Authors: Zhan Shanzhi , Bai Xiaojie , Zhao Yiqiao , Tuoheti Kuerban , Yisha Zuhaer , Zuo Yingtong , Lu Peixiang , Liu Tongzu
Published: December 2023

Background
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is presently recognized as the most prevalent kidney tumor. However, the role and underlying mechanism of action of the conversion factor-inducible protein (TGFBI), an extracellular matrix protein, in RCC remain poorly understood.
Methods
In this study, we employed Western blot, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and immunohistochemistry techniques to assess the expression of TGFBI in RCC tissues or cells. Furthermore, we analyzed the proliferation and migration of RCC cells using CCK8, cloning, scratching, and migration assays. Additionally, we examined apoptosis and cell cycle progression through flow cytometry, analysis. Lastly, we employed gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) to investigate the biological processes associated with TGFBI, which were subsequently validated.
Results
The findings indicate that TGFBI exhibits significantly elevated expression levels in both renal cell carcinoma (RCC) tissues and cells. Furthermore, the knockdown of TGFBI in SiRNA transfected cells resulted in the inhibition of RCC cell proliferation, migration, invasiveness, apoptosis, and alteration of the cell cycle. Additionally, TGFBI was found to impede the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in RCC cells. Bioinformatics analysis suggests that TGFBI may exert its influence on various biological processes in RCC through the tumor immune microenvironment. Moreover, our study demonstrates that TGFBI promotes RCC progression by activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR/HIF-1α
Conclusions
Our research indicates that TGFBI exhibits high expression in RCC and facilitate RCC progression and metastasis through various molecular mechanisms. Hence, TGFBI has the potential to be a novel therapeutic target for the diagnosis and treatment of RCC in the future.
Exosomes Originating from Neural Stem Cells Undergoing Necroptosis Participate in Cellular Communication Following Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Li Shiming , Li Jianfeng , Chen Guoliang , Zhang Penghui , Tong Kuileung , Chen Ningning , Liu Shaoyu
Published: December 2023

In the aftermath of spinal cord injury (SCI), neural stem cells (NSCs) undergo programmed necroptosis, yet the alterations in exosomes and their associated functions remain unexplored. In this study, our data analysis briefly demonstrated that NSCs originate from ependymal cells and experience necroptosis through the classical pathway. Subsequently, NSCs were extracted from embryonic 16-17 mice. We established an in vitro necroptosis model and conducted exosomes extraction. Our findings revealed that necroptosis did not exert a significant impact on the fundamental properties and yield of exosomes. Subsequent to transcriptome sequencing, differentially expressed 108 mRNAs, 104 lncRNAs, 720 circRNAs, and 14 miRNAs were identified, with the first three significantly enriched for the ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis and autophagy signaling pathways. The construction of the competing endogenous RNA network was continued to screen for hubb genes including Tuberous sclerosis 2(Tcs2), Solute carrier family 16 member 3(Slc16a3) and Forkhead box protein P1(Foxp1). Further analysis of cellular communication after SCI revealed that Tsc2 was involved in ependymal cellular communication at 1 and 3 days after SCI through the EGF and MDK signaling pathways, while Slc16a3 participated in cellular communication in the control group and in ependymal cells at 7 days after SCI through the VEGF and MIF signaling pathways. This study introduces novel perspectives on the impacts of necroptosis in SCI.
Analysing the Outbreaks of Leptospirosis After Floods in Kerala, India
Authors: Ifejube Oluwafemi John , Kuriakose Sekhar Lukose , Anish T S , Westen Cees van , Blanford Justine I.
Published: December 2023

A growing number of studies have linked the incidence of leptospirosis with the occurrence of flood events. Nevertheless, the interaction between flood and leptospirosis has not been extensively studied. This study reviews leptospirosis case in relation to different flood occurrences in Kerala, India. Leptospirosis data were obtained for three years: 2017 (non-flood year) and two years with flooding - 2018 (heavy flooding) and 2019 (moderate flooding). The distribution of cases regarding flooding events was assessed through cluster and trend analyses. A statistical comparison was made for cases of each year to ascertain the differences among the cases over flood phases and years. The cases of leptospirosis can be associated with flood events in space and time. The total cases in both 2018 and 2019 increased in the post-flood phase, with the increase in 2018 being more evident. Unlike the 2019 flood, the flood of 2018 is a significant spatial indicator for post flood cases. This study shows that flooding leads to an increase in leptospirosis cases, and there is stronger evidence for increased leptospirosis cases after a heavy flood event than a moderate flooding event. Flood duration may be the most important factor in determining the increase in leptospirosis infections.
Study on the Changes of Cultural and Educational Facilities in Dali City during the Ming and Qing Dynasties
Authors: BAI 小河
Published: December 2023

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the central government implemented a policy of Bureau-cratization of Native Officers, in order to develop and consolidate the integration of Yunnan with the mainland. And the official facilities, as a key point in the exercise of power by the central government, were closely related to the policy. Taking the construction of cultural and education-al facilities as a starting point, this article attempts to illustrate the impact of this policy in terms of the number of facilities, the spatial distribution, the comprehensive structure and the spread of Confucianism. Shows that: (1) Bureaucratization of Native Officers was implemented in the Dali city, Dali became a representative of the legitimacy of the ruling class in establishing power, and its form and construction gradually converged with that of the Central Plains. (2) The number of facilities gradually increased, the spatial distribution gradually clustered, the integrated struc-ture gradually formed, and Confucianism gradually spread. (3) Through the evolution of these by Circulating Officials, the role of the state functions is reflected, indicating the presence of govern-ment governance and reinforcing the idea of cultural identity.
Cognitive asymmetry in rats in response to emergent vs. disappearing affordances
Authors: Pisula Wojciech , Modlinska Klaudia , Chrzanowska Anna , Goncikowska Katarzyna
Published: December 2023

This study examines the effects of novel environmental changes on the behavior of rats in an experimental chamber. In the first experiment, rats were habituated to a chamber in which all four tunnels were open, and then two tunnels were closed. The rats responded by spending more time near the open tunnels and less time in the central zone. This suggests that the rats are more triggered by the available affordances (open tunnels) than by the environmental change (closed tunnels). In the second experiment, rats were habituated to a chamber with all four tunnels closed, and then two tunnels were opened. The rats responded by spending more time near the newly opened tunnels and less time near the closed tunnels, the central zone, and the transporter. This suggests that rats are more motivated to investigate the environmental change combined with the emergent affordance (opening of the tunnels) than the environmental change alone. In the third experiment, rats were habituated to a chamber with two open tunnels on one side, and two closed tunnels on the other. Then, the arrangement of open and closed tunnels was changed. The rats responded by spending more time near the newly opened tunnels and less time near the central zone. However, they did not spend less time near the newly closed tunnels. This suggests that rats process both the novelty itself and the emergence/disappearance of available affordances. The results are discussed regarding the cognitive asymmetry in the perception of emergent vs. disappearing affordances. It is proposed that the rat's cognitive system is specialized for detecting newly emergent environmental opportunities/affordances.
ARTS and small-molecule ARTS mimetics upregulate p53 levels by promoting the degradation of XIAP
Authors: abbas ruqaia , Hartmann Oliver , Asiss Dorin Theodora , Abbas Rabab , Kagan Julia , Kim Hyoung-Tae , Oren Moshe , Diefenbacher Markus , Orian Amir , Larisch Sarit
Published: December 2023

Mutations resulting in decreased activity of p53 tumor suppressor protein promote tumorigenesis. P53 protein levels are tightly regulated through the Ubiquitin Proteasome System (UPS). Several E3 ligases were shown to regulate p53 stability, including MDM2. Here we report that the ubiquitin E3 ligase XIAP (X-linked Inhibitors of Apoptosis) is a direct ligase for p53 and describe a novel approach for modulating the levels of p53 by targeting the XIAP pathway. Using in vivo (live-cell) and in vitro (cell-free reconstituted system) ubiquitylation assays, we show that the XIAP-antagonist ARTS regulates the levels of p53 by promoting the degradation of XIAP. XIAP directly binds and ubiquitylates p53. In apoptotic cells, ARTS inhibits the ubiquitylation of p53 by antagonizing XIAP. XIAP knockout MEFs express higher p53 protein levels compared to wild-type MEFs. Computational screen for small molecules with high affinity to the ARTS-binding site within XIAP identified a small-molecule ARTS-mimetic, B3. This compound stimulates apoptosis in a wide range of cancer cells but not normal PBMC (Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells). Like ARTS, the B3 compound binds to XIAP and promotes its degradation via the UPS. B3 binding to XIAP stabilizes p53 by disrupting its interaction with XIAP. These results reveal a novel mechanism by which ARTS and p53 regulate each other through an amplification loop to promote apoptosis. Finally, these data suggest that targeting the ARTS binding pocket in XIAP can be used to increase p53 levels as a new strategy for developing anti-cancer therapeutics.
WITHDRAWN: Pigmented paravenous retinochoroidal atrophy caused by VPS13B gene mutations: a case report
Authors: Yang Mengyao , Zheng Xiaoxia , Wang Zekun , Wang Mengdi , Bao Ying , Cui Wenxuan , Wang Hong
Published: December 2023

Background
This study utilizes multimodal imaging to detail a case of pigmented paravenous retinochoroidal atrophy (PPRCA) with a unique genetic backdrop: compound heterozygous mutations in the VPS13B gene.
Case presentation
A 17-year-old male patient presented to our clinic with a chief complaint of bilateral blurred vision persisting for a duration of 2 years. Funduscopic findings showed retinochoroidal atrophy along the retinal veins, bone-spicule retinal pigmentations, and waxy optic disc pallor. Asymmetrical fundus appeared in both eyes. The patient's father had a history of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Whole-exome sequencing performed on the patient, complemented by Sanger sequencing of his parents' samples, validated the identified variants. The patient inherited a VPS13B c.10691T>C mutation from his mother and a VPS13Bc.1457T>G mutation from his father. Considering the typical clinical features, ophthalmic examination, and genetic analysis, he was diagnosed with PPRCA.
Conclusions
To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of PPRCA resulting from compound heterozygous mutations in the VPS13B gene. It is necessary to perform genomic sequencing on more PPRCA patients to explore the impact of genetic factors on the onset of PPRCA.
Preoperative somatostatin analogues improve visual function in acromegaly patients
Authors: Chen Jinping , Zhang Shaolin , Yao Shun , Wei Xin , Wang Zongming , Mao Zhigang , Wang Haijun
Published: December 2023

Purpose: Our study was to evaluate the effect of preoperative somatostatin analogues(SSA) on acromegaly patients with visual dysfunction.
Methods: An analysis of 31 eyes of 17 acromegaly patients with visual dysfunction was retrospectively conducted, the best corrected visual acuity and visual field (VF) were mainly evaluated. Pared-samples T test and Wilcoxon signed rank test were used to compare the quantitative analysis of VF standard automated perimetry (SAP) mean deviation (MD) values and pattern standard deviation values (PSD) before and after the treatment of SSA. What’s more, the growth hormone (GH), Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1(IGF1) and tumor size of the 17 patients were also analyzed retrospectively.
Results: In total, sixteen patients (94%) presented with tumors of high Knosp grade, the median preoperative treatment duration of SSA was 3 months. The average MD of visual field parameter in SSA treatment was significantly increased (-7.33 vs. -5.45 dB, P＜0.001), the median PSD of visual field parameter in SSA treatment was significantly decreased (6.50 vs. 2.98 dB; P＝0.003). The median GH fell from 41.43 ng/ml to 17.6 ng/ml (P＝0.015), the IGF1 decreased from an average of 812.2 ng/ml to 647.36 ng/ml (P＝0.010). The tumor size including tumor volumes, maximum diameter, maximum vertical diameter also decreased significantly.
Conclusion: This study has demonstrated beneficial effect of preoperative SSA on visual function in acromegaly patients with high Knosp grade, which provided evidence of the preoperative SSA medication on visual function protection, biochemical control, and tumor size reduction.
Analysis of Bangladesh Earthquake Data Using Data Mining Techniques
Authors: Kais Md. Imrul , Mim Md. Tanvir Islam , Hossain Syed Sabit , Ahamed Md. Sazzadur , Tarif Ejaj , Hossain Md. Sarowar
Published: December 2023

Every year many people perish and abate their living due to earthquakes. In this research, former earthquake data between 1918 and 2018 has been collected for the region, Bangladesh which is at 24°00' N and 90°00' E according to latitude and longitude, respectively. These data have been used as a parameter to determine the relationships among several merits of the data set. Therefore, a linear regression algorithm has been exercised for time series forecasting, and the process gives almost a 75-80% success rate in predicting the earthquake zone along with its magnitude. In addition, a statistical map of earthquake magnitudes has been established from the trained data using Weka Explorer, and the evaluation model depends on the clustered instances. The whole analysis has been implemented to develop a website so that people can be aware of earthquakes before the incident. Finally, the place, Snamganj (25°04' 16'' N and 91°24' 13'' E) has been predicted as the riskiest region in Bangladesh for earthquakes on the Sylhet fault zone.
Development and clinical assessment of new topical cream containing postbiotic in the treatment of pediatric atopic dermatitis
Authors: Moazzen Nasrin , Ahanchian Hamid , Golmohammadzadeh Shiva , Delaram Kiana , Sadeghi Tahereh , Masroor Amir Hosein , Khameneh Bahman
Published: December 2023

Introduction:
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the major common chronic inflammatory dermatologic disorder in children. Postbiotics are bioactive compounds derived from probiotics, inanimate microorganisms, and/or their components. In the current study, we aimed to prepare, characterize, and clinically evaluate postbiotic cream in pediatric patients.
Methods
After preparing different formulations, the formulations were evaluated for stability and physicochemical properties for semi-solids, such as physical properties, viscosity, temperature cycle, and pH. Finally, a formulation that showed better physical properties was chosen for further investigation. The study was performed on patients with AD referred to the outpatient allergy clinic. The primary outcomes were assessed with the SCORAD index and changes in the proportion of children with clinical improvement/no improvement, deterioration, and recurrence rate.
Results
The final formulation's pH was 6.00 ± 0.02. In addition, the centrifugation test showed that this formulation was completely homogeneous after centrifugation. The temperature cycle test indicated no change in the structure of the cream. After a two-month follow-up, the mean SCOARD score was 50 ± 14.5 at baseline and 27.8 ± 10 at the final visit in the postbiotic group. It was also 43 ± 12 at baseline and 28.2 ± 6 at the final visit in the placebo group. After four months, eleven patients had a recurrence in lesions: 2 in the postbiotic group, 6.9% versus 9 in the placebo group, 30%).
Conclusion
This study demonstrated that postbiotic formulation is cutaneously acceptable and showed a clinically significant improvement, especially in long-term follow-up.
The process of rehabilitating reinforced concrete slabs using various materials such as steel bars, steel plates, textiles, and different types of geogrids
Authors: Mabrouk Ibrahim , Mahmoud Mahmoud Hassan , Bushnaq Muhammad Metwally
Published: December 2023

This study involved conducting a comparative experimental investigation to explore various techniques for rehabilitating reinforced concrete slabs. The initial phase of the experimental program consisted of testing seven reinforced concrete slabs with dimensions of 450x50mm and a length of 1000mm under line load. These slabs were divided into three groups. G.1served as the control group, comprising solid slabs without any rehabilitation. G.2 included three slabs that were rehabilitated using different methods, such as reinforcement rebars, steel plates, and textile straps with dimensions of 450x50x1mm in the short direction and 1000x50x1mm in the long direction. G.3 comprised three slabs rehabilitated with various types of geogrids, namely uniaxial, biaxial, and triaxial.To validate the experimental findings, a nonlinear finite element analysis (NFEA) was carried out using the Abaqus program. The test results indicated that the most effective, straightforward, and cost-efficient rehabilitation technique involved using an 8mm diameter reinforced bar mesh, resulting in a 74.10% increase in load capacity and an acceptable level of stiffness. Slabs rehabilitated with steel plates and textile straps demonstrated load capacity increases of 4.32% and 9.35% respectively, compared to the control slab's ultimate capacity, while maintaining an acceptable level of stiffness. However, slabs rehabilitated with geogrids, particularly those using biaxial geogrid, exhibited load capacity increases of up to 15.83% compared to the control slab's ultimate capacity. The slab rehabilitated with triaxial geogrid demonstrated a load capacity increase of 7.91% compared to the control slab's ultimate capacity, along with an acceptable level of stiffness.
Handlungssystem und Symbolsystem
Authors: Boyken Thomas
Published: December 2023

[English title and abstract below]

Handlungssystem und Symbolsystem sind etablierte Konzepte der Kinder- und Jugendliteraturforschung. Üblicherweise werden sie nicht näher bestimmt; sie scheinen sich von selbst zu verstehen. Im Artikel wird rekonstruiert, wie Handlungssystem und Symbolsystem in den Diskurs eingeführt wurden und was sie bezeichnen. Methodisch erfolgt dabei eine Orientierung an aktuellen praxeologischen Forschungen, die wissenschaftliche Routinen in ihrer Entstehung und in ihrem Kontext perspektivieren. Nicht zu unterschätzen ist dabei, dass, wie Stefan Martus ausführt, literaturwissenschaftliche Praxis immer eine geteilte Praxis ist, wobei sich die Erkenntnisse des Fachs zu einem beträchtlichen Teil aus informellen, alltäglichen Interaktionen ergäben. Eine mögliche Erklärung für die Etablierung der Begriffe in der Kinder- und Jugendliteraturforschung könnte die Attraktivität der Systemtheorie in den 1990er-Jahren sein. Ferner ist mit Begriffsgebrauch stets eine ‚forschungsstrategische‘ Dimension verbunden, die sich in diesem Fall auch auf die Konstitution der Kinder- und Jugendliteraturforschung als eigenständiger Disziplin richtet. Ausgehend von der leitenden These, dass sowohl Handlungssystem als auch Symbolsystem – auf unterschiedliche Art und Weise – mehrdeutig sind, werden zum einen die verschiedenen Intensionen beider Begriffe rekonstruiert. Zum anderen wird am Ende des Beitrags zur Diskussion gestellt, ob ein Festhalten an diesen Begriffen sinnvoll ist. 

‘Handlungssystem’ and ‘Symbolsystem’Reflections on the Heuristic Value of the Concepts in Research on Children’s and Young Adult Literature 

The concepts of ‘Handlungssystem’ [agent system] and ‘Symbolsystem’ [system of symbols] are established in German-language children’s literature scholarship. They are not usually defined in more detail but are taken as self-explanatory. This article reconstructs how the concepts of ‘Handlungssystem’ and ‘Symbolsystem’were introduced into the discourse and what they denote. Methodologically, the argumentation is oriented towards current praxeological research, which focuses on the emergence and context of academic practices. The practice of literary studies is, as Steffen Martus reminds us, always a shared one, in which the insights of the discipline are derived to a considerable extent from informal, everyday interactions. The popularity of systems theory in the 1990s might be a reason the terms became established in children’s literature scholarship. In addition, the use of terms is always associated with research strategy, which in this case is directed towards the constitution of children’s literature research as an autonomous discipline. This article begins with the premise that both terms are ambiguous – in different ways. It will reconstruct the different intentions of the terms before finally asking whether it makes sense to adhere to the concepts of ‘Handlungssystem’ and ‘Symbolsystem’.
Reconstructing volatile exsolution in a porphyry ore-forming magma chamber: Perspectives from apatite inclusions
Authors: Huang Wenting , Stock Michael J. , Guyett Paul C. , Xia Xiao-Ping , Liang Huaying , Sun Weidong , Lai Chun-kit
Published: December 2023

Porphyry-type deposits in the shallow crust (3–5 km) are formed from metal-rich fluids exsolved from underlying magma chambers (5–15 km). However, a direct volatile record of the fluid exsolution in the magma chamber is commonly lacking. Here, we analyze the compositions of apatite inclusions (in biotite and plagioclase phenocrysts and fully/partly included in zircon microphenocrysts) and the apatite in groundmass from the largest Cretaceous Luoboling porphyry Cu-Mo deposit in South China. In combination with thermodynamic models, we reconstructed the volatile behavior in the ore-forming magma. The analyzed apatites are magmatic in origin, without hydrothermal overprint, as indicated by their homogeneous cathodoluminescence (CL) and higher Cl and REE contents than typical hydrothermal apatite. Apatite inclusions fully enclosed in zircon show decreasing XClAp/XOHAp (1.5–0.1) with increasing XFAp/XOHAp (0.4–3.3) and XFAp/XClAp (0.5–21), and display a steep drop in XClAp at approximately constant XOHAp in the ternary F-Cl-OH plot. These trends follow the modeled compositional trajectories of isobaric, H2O-saturated crystallization, indicating volatile exsolution during or before zircon crystallization in the magma chamber. Groundmass apatite crystals, phenocryst-hosted apatite inclusions, and apatite inclusions that are partially enclosed by zircon microphenocrysts have comparable volatile compositions, with much higher XFAp/XOHAp (1.7–78.8) and XFAp/XClAp (2.3–37.5) but lower XOHAp and XClAp than those fully enclosed in zircon. Compositional similarities between these crystals in different textural associations indicate that the phenocryst-hosted apatite inclusions do not preserve their original volatile records at the time of entrapment, and the volatile compositions were overprinted by later re-equilibration with the residual melt and the exsolved magmatic fluids. Given the porphyry magma is highly oxidized, and sulfides phases would be unstable in such circumstance, we suggest that volatile exsolution in the magma chamber is essential for Cl and Cu-Mo extraction from the melts and therefore the porphyry mineralization. In this study, only zircon-hosted apatite inclusions appear to best record the magmatic volatile compositions in a porphyry system. Therefore, using apatite hosted in other minerals or groundmass compositions to unravel magma volatile contents in porphyry Cu systems should be conducted with caution.
Machine learning applied to apatite compositions for determining mineralization potential
Authors: Zheng Yu-yu , Xu Bo , Lentz David R. , Yu Xiao-yan , Hou Zeng-qian , Wang Tao
Published: December 2023

Apatite major and trace element chemistry is a widely used tracer of mineralization as it sensitively records the characteristics of the magmatic-hydrothermal system at the time of its crystallization. Previous studies have proposed useful indicators and binary discrimination diagrams to distinguish between apatites from mineralized and unmineralized rocks; however, their efficiency has been found to be somewhat limited in other systems and larger-scale data sets. This work applied a machine learning (ML) method to classify the chemical compositions of apatites from both fertile and barren rocks, aiming to help determine the mineralization potential of an unknown system. Approximately 13 328 apatite compositional analyses were compiled and labeled from 241 locations in 27 countries worldwide, and three apatite geochemical data sets were established for XGBoost ML model training. The classification results suggest that the developed models (accuracy: 0.851–0.992; F1 score: 0.839–0.993) are much more accurate and efficient than conventional methods (accuracy: 0.242–0.553). Feature importance analysis of the models demonstrates that Cl, F, S, V, Sr/Y, V/Y, Eu*, (La/Yb)N, and La/Sm are important variables in apatite that discriminate fertile and barren host rocks and indicates that V/Y and Cl/F ratios and the S content, in particular, are crucial parameters to discriminating metal enrichment and mineralization potential. This study suggests that ML is a robust tool for processing high-dimensional geochemical data and presents a novel approach that can be applied to mineral exploration.
Striking a Balance: Exploring Harmony in Indonesian Criminal Law and Islamic Jurisprudence
Authors: Royani Yayan Muhammad , Park Hee Cheol
Published: December 2023

The long-established the Indonesian Criminal Code follows a liberal individual's tradition of Dutch criminal law that has always changed. The old criminal code is based on classical and neo-classical thinking, emphasising systematic criminal law structures and legal certainty. The basis of balance in the new criminal code is a response to a base that does not reflect the nation's values. For example, Pancasila is included as a foundation, including the value of the most exquisite element of divinity in its formulation. With the value of divinity, it is necessary to review from the perspective of religious teachings, including Islam. Islamic criminal law reflects the spirit of balance in the criminal provisions of hudud, qisas, and takzir. This article uses a comparative approach and a type of normative research. The results of the article show that the relevance of the primary balance in the new criminal code and Islamic Criminal Law is seen in several aspects, such as the relevancy of the pillar values of the balance in Pancasila, the relevancy of the fundamental balance of the mono-dualistic; the significance of the idea of a balance between the protection of victims and the individualization of criminals; and the fundamental relevance to the balance between formal and material criteria.Hukum pidana Indonesia yang sudah lama digunakan mengikuti tradisi individu bebas dari hukum pidana Belanda yang selalu berubah. Hukum Pidana lama didasarkan pada pemikiran klasik dan neo-klasik, menekankan struktur hukum pidana yang sistematis dan kepastian hukum. Dasar keseimbangan dalam Hukum Pidana baru adalah respons terhadap basis yang tidak mencerminkan nilai-nilai bangsa. Misalnya, Pancasila dimasukkan sebagai fondasi, termasuk nilai unsur ilahi yang paling indah dalam formulasinya. Dengan nilai ilahi, perlu untuk meninjau dari perspektif ajaran-ajaran agama, termasuk Islam. Hukum pidana Islam mencerminkan semangat keseimbangan dalam ketentuan pidana hudud, qisas, dan takzir. Artikel ini menggunakan pendekatan komparatif dan jenis penelitian normatif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa relevansi keseimbangan primer dalam kode kriminal baru dan hukum pidana Islam terlihat dalam beberapa aspek, seperti relevansi nilai-nilai pilar keseimbangannya di Pancasila, relevansi ekuilibrasi fundamental mono-dualistik; pentingnya gagasan kestabilan antara perlindungan korban dan individualisasi penjahat; dan relevansi fundamental untuk kesequilibrasi kriteria formil dan materiil.
IS THERE ANY DIFFERENCE IN COMPUTERIZED ANALYSIS OF HANDWRITING SKILLS BETWEEN CHILDREN WITH LOW AND TYPICAL VISION?
Authors: Atasavun Uysal Songul , Demircioğlu Karagöz Arzu , Doğan Mert , Yıldız Kabak Vesile , Düger Tülin
Published: December 2023

Purpose: It is of great importance to evaluate children’s writing skills, as this ability affects their academic achievement. Technological analysis methods can now be used to evaluate the writing skills of school-age children with low vision. The aim of this case-control study is to analyse the writing skills of children with low vision using a computerized program and to compare their results with those of their typically developing peers with normal vision.
Methods: Eighteen school-age children with low vision and 24 children with typical visual development (n=42) participated in the present study. Each of the children wrote a 20-word sample standard sentence; the samples were then analysed using the MovAlyzR (Neuroscript LLC, USA) computerized analysis system (version 6.1) to describe the spatial and dynamic characteristics of their writing.
Results: The mean age of the children with low vision were 9.72±2.11 years and the control group were 10±2.02 years. Statistically significant differences were found in the handwriting samples in terms of the average width of the letters, horizontal start, vertical start and length, respectively (p=0.000, p= 0.010, p=0.000, p=0.030). It was found that the results obtained in children with low vision were higher in these variables. This result is in favor of typically developing children with normal vision.
Conclusion: The results indicated that the school-age children with low vision wrote letters of larger dimensions than their peers with typical vision. This may be due to the difficulty of discerning the spatial dimensions of handwritten letters or because of the diminished visual acuity in children with low vision.
A study on the consumption of safe drinking water and its determinants using the weighted multinomial logistic model
Authors: Ali Maher , Shah Said Farooq , Khan Yasir , Asim Syed Muhammad , Ullah Syed Fasih
Published: December 2023

This study introduces a novel approach by incorporating weighted analyses along with unweighted to comprehensively examine the decision-making processes related to drinking water sources and treatment in Pakistani households, utilizing 2018 Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) data for weighted descriptive statistics and weighted multinomial logistic models. This research uncovers distinct preferences between urban and rural regions, with urban areas favoring piped water and rural areas relying on surface water and unprotected wells. The age of the household head, household size, media exposure, education, women's empowerment, and wealth are identified as crucial factors influencing these choices. Furthermore, this study delves into household water treatment (HWT) adoption and finds varying rates among rural and urban areas, with household head age and education level playing pivotal roles. Remarkably, household size and media exposure exhibit no significant impact on HWT adoption. The incorporation of weighted and unweighted analyses enriches the understanding of safe drinking water preferences, highlighting regional disparities and influential factors in water source and treatment method adoption within Pakistani households.
Bibliometric Analysis and Systemic Review of Cantharidin Research
Worldwide
Authors: He Tianmu , Duan Cancan , Feng Wenzhong , Ao Jingwen , Lu Dingyang , Li Xiaofei , Zhang Jianyong
Published: December 2023

Background:

Cantharidin (CTD), a natural toxic compound from blister beetle
Mylabris, has been used for cancer treatment for millenary. CTD and its analogs have become
mainstream adjuvant drugs with radiotherapy and chemotherapy in clinical applications. However,
the detailed pharmacology mechanism of CTD was not fully elucidated.

Methods:

Publications of CTD were collected from the Web of Science Core Collection database
from 1991 to 2023 using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Scimago Graphica software.

Results:

A total of 1,611 publications of CTD were mainly published in China and the United
States. The University of Newcastle has published the most researches. Mcclusey, Adam, Sakoff,
Jennette, and Zhang, Yalin had the most CTD publications with higher H. Notably, CTD
researches were mainly published in Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters and the Journal
of Biological Chemistry. Cluster profile results revealed that protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A),
human gallbladder carcinoma, Aidi injection, and cell apoptosis were the hotspots. Concentration
on the pharmacology function of PP2A subunit regulation, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity,
and cardiotoxicity mechanism should be strengthened in the future.

Conclusion:

Bibliometric analysis combined with a systemic review of CTD research first revealed
that PP2A and CTD analogs were the knowledge base of CTD, and PP2A subunit regulation
and toxic mechanism could be the frontiers of CTD.
Alzheimer's Disease and Cancer: Common Targets
Authors: Yang Xueqing , Dai Jinlian , Wu Chenglong , Liu Zongliang
Published: December 2023

There is growing epidemiologic evidence of an inverse association between cancer and
AD. In addition, both cell survival and death are regulated by the same signaling pathways, and
their abnormal regulation may be implicated in the occurrence and development of cancer and
AD. Research shows that there may be a common molecular mechanism between cancer and AD.
This review will discuss the role of GSK3, DAPK1, PP2A, P53 and CB2R in the pathogenesis of
cancer and AD and describe the current research status of drug development based on these targets.
Preparation of Menthyl 3-amino-4-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl) Butyrate and Investigation of its Hypoglycemic Activity
Authors: Kuang Xinmou , Su Minru , Li Hao , Sheng Xiaolan , Cai Huan , Xie Shuilin , Liu Zhonghua
Published: December 2023

Background:

3-Amino-4-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl) butyric acid has potential
pharmacological effects in promoting insulin secretion. Menthol promotes drug
transdermal absorption and hypoglycemic effects.

Objective:

The objective of the study was to combine the 3-amino-4-(2,4,5-
trifluorophenyl) butyric acid and menthol to develop a new candidate drug molecule
that can be used as a hypoglycemic drug in type II diabetes.

Methods:

In this study, the molecular structure of 3-amino-4-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)
butyric acid in sitagliptin was modified by replacing pyrazine imidazole with menthol.
The structure of the target compound was characterized by nuclear magnetic
resonance (NMR). The anti-diabetic activity of BHF in N000180 BKS.Cg-Dock7m+/
+Leprdb/Nju mice with spontaneous diabetes was preliminarily studied.

Results:

A potential multi-target drug molecule, 3-amino-4-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)
butyrate (BHF), was synthesized by combining 3-amino-4-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl) butyric
acid and menthol. BHF is suitable for hyperglycemic mice and has a significant
hypoglycemic effect; the low dose of 10 mg/kg-1 started to be effective, and the high
dose of 40 mg/kg-1 was more effective than the positive drug metformin.

Conclusion:

In this study, BHF has been synthesized and presented significant
antidiabetic activities.
Diagnostic Value of Serum Galectin-3 Binding Protein Level in Patients
with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Li Mingfei , Pan Wenzhi , Tian Dan , Chen Dandan , Zhang Xiaochun , Zhang Yuan , Chen Shasha , Zhou Daxin , Ge Junbo
Published: December 2023

Background::

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) still lacks effective biomarkers to
assist in its diagnosis and prognosis. Galectin-3 binding protein (Gal-3BP) plays a role in immune
and inflammatory diseases.

Objective::

This study aimed to evaluate Gal-3BP as a prognostic and predictive factor in patients with
PAH.

Methods::

From January 2017 to December 2019, we enrolled 167 consecutive PAH patients and 58
healthy controls. Right heart catheterization (RHC) was used to diagnose PAH. Serum Gal-3BP levels
were measured by high-sensitivity human enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results::

Serum Gal-3BP levels in the PAH group were significantly higher compared with the control
group (4.87±2.09 vs 2.22±0.86 μg/mL, p<0.001). Gal-3BP level was correlated with several hemodynamic
parameters obtained from RHC (p<0.001). Multivariate linear regression analysis
showed that Gal-3BP was a risk factor for PAH (odds ratio (OR)=2.947, 95% CI: 1.821-4.767,
p<0.001). The optimal cut-off value of serum Gal-3BP level for predicting PAH was 2.89 μg/mL
(area under the curve (AUC)=0.860, 95 % CI: 0.811-0.910, p<0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed
that Gal-3BP levels above the median (4.87 μg/mL) were associated with an increased risk of death in
patients with PAH (hazard ratio (HR)=8.868, 95 % CI: 3.631-21.65, p<0.0001). Cox multivariate risk
regression analysis showed that Gal-3BP was a risk factor for death in PAH patients (HR=2.779,
95 % CI: 1.823-4.237, p<0.001).

Conclusion::

Serum Gal-3BP levels were increased in patients with PAH, and levels of Gal-3BP were
associated with the severity of PAH. Gal-3BP might have predictive value for the diagnosis and
prognosis of PAH.