bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unveiling Diversity for Quality Traits in the Indian Landraces of Horsegram [Macrotyloma uniflorum (Lam.) Verdc.]
Authors: Kumari Manju , Padhi Siddhant Ranjan , Chourey Sushil Kumar , Kondal Vishal , Thakare Swapnil S. , Negi Ankita , Gupta Veena , Arya Mamta , Yasin Jeshima Khan , Singh Rakesh , Bharadwaj Chellapilla , Kumar Atul , Bhatt Kailash Chandra , Bhardwaj Rakesh , Rana Jai Chand , Joshi Tanay , Riar Amritbir
Published: November 2023

Horsegram (Macrotyloma uniflorum [Lam.] Verdc.) is an underutilized pulse crop primarily cultivated in South Asian countries like India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. It offers various nutraceutical properties and demonstrates remarkable resilience to both biotic and abiotic stresses. As a result, it has emerged as a promising crop for ensuring future food and nutritional security. The purpose of this study was to assess the nutritional profile of 139 horsegram germplasm lines obtained from 16 Indian states that were conserved at the National Gene Bank of India. Standard analytical methods, including those provided by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC), were used for this investigation. The study revealed substantial variability in essential nutrients, such as protein (ranging from 21.8 to 26.7 g/100 g), starch (ranging from 26.2 to 33.0 g/100 g), total soluble sugars (TSSs) (ranging from 0.86 to 12.1 g/100 g), phenolics (ranging from 3.38 to 11.3 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAEs)/g), and phytic acid content (ranging from 1.07 to 21.2 mg/g). Noteworthy correlations were observed, including a strong positive correlation between sugars and phenols (r = 0.70) and a moderate negative correlation between protein and starch (r = −0.61) among the studied germplasm lines. Principal component analysis (PCA) highlighted that the first three principal components contributed to 88.32% of the total variability, with TSSs, phytates, and phenols emerging as the most significant contributors. The cluster analysis grouped the accessions into five clusters, with cluster III containing the accessions with the most desirable traits. The differential distribution of the accessions from north India into clusters I and III suggested a potential geographical influence on the adaptation and selection of genes. This study identified a panel of promising accessions exhibiting multiple desirable traits. These specific accessions could significantly aid quality breeding programs or be directly released as cultivars if they perform well agronomically.
Disruption of the Contents of Endogenous Hormones Cause Pollen Development Obstruction and Abortion in Male-Sterile Hybrid Lily Populations
Authors: Jia Wenjie , Li Xiang , Wang Rui , Duan Qing , He Junna , Gao Junping , Wang Jihua
Published: November 2023

Lilies are well−known flowers with large anthers and a high quantity of pollen that easily contaminates clothing and tepals. The anthers need to be artificially removed, leading to production problems. Cultivating male−sterile or pollen−free lilies could solve these problems. The key period of male sterility in a specific male−sterile hybrid lily population was determined through cytological observation. The contents of hormones, soluble sugar, soluble protein, and proline were determined by high−performance liquid chromatography, tandem mass spectrometry and colorimetry. Transcriptome sequencing was used to identify the genes with altered expression. The key period of male sterility was determined to be the microspore mother and tetrad stages. The hormone contents were abnormal in the sterile line compared with the fertile line. The indole−3−acetic acid (IAA) content was higher in the sterile line than in the fertile line at all stages, while the gibberellic acid 4 (GA4) content showed the opposite result. Abscisic acid (ABA) accumulated in the sterile line in both the microspore mother and tetrad stages, and the zeatin riboside (ZR) content in the sterile line increased at the microspore mother stage but decreased at the tetrad stage. The contents of soluble sugar, soluble protein and proline were higher in the fertile line than in the sterile line. Genes involved in auxin and ABA synthesis and signalling pathways were highly expressed in the male−sterile line. Our data suggested that abnormal contents of hormones in the microspore mother and tetrad stages resulted in pollen abortion in a male−sterile hybrid lily population, which indicated that the hormone balance in specific stages plays critical functions in pollen development in lilies.
Increasing Bending Strength of Polycarbonate Reinforced by Carbon Fiber Irradiated by Electron Beam
Authors: Nishi Yoshitake , Tsuyuki Naruya , Uchida Helmut Takahiro , Faudree Michael C. , Sagawa Kouhei , Kanda Masae , Matsumura Yoshihito , Salvia Michelle , Kimura Hideki
Published: November 2023

In an interlayered carbon fiber-reinforced polycarbonate polymer (CFRPC) composite composed of three sized of CF plies, alternating between four PC sheets, designated [PC]4[CF]3, and a new process of activating CF cross-weave cloth plies directly on both sides with homogeneous low-energy electron beam irradiation (HLEBI) before lamination assembly and hot pressing at 6.0 MPa and 537 K for 8 min was produced. Experimental results show that a dose of 215 kGy of HLEBI raised the bending strength, σb, at each experimental accumulative probability, Pa, with the σb at a median Pa of 0.50, increasing by 25% over that of the untreated sample. Three-parameter Weibull analysis showed that when quality can be controlled, a dose of 215 kGy of HLEBI can raise the statistically lowest bending strength, σs, at Pa = 0 (94.3 Mpa), with a high correlation coefficient. This is because, although it had a higher bending strength than that in the other experimental conditions, the weakest sample of the 215 kGy data set had a much lower σb value than that of the others. Electron spin resonance (ESR) of the CF showed that naturally occurring dangling bonds in CF were increased at 215 kGy. Charge transfer to the PC occurs, apparently generating stronger bonds, which are possibly covalent, resulting in enhanced adhesion at the CF–PC interface.
Reinforcement Learning and Stochastic Optimization with Deep Learning-Based Forecasting on Power Grid Scheduling
Authors: Yang Cheng , Zhang Jihai , Jiang Wei , Wang Li , Zhang Hanwei , Yi Zhongkai , Lin Fangquan
Published: November 2023

The emission of greenhouse gases is a major contributor to global warming. Carbon emissions from the electricity industry account for over 40% of the total carbon emissions. Researchers in the field of electric power are making efforts to mitigate this situation. Operating and maintaining the power grid in an economic, low-carbon, and stable environment is challenging. To address the issue, we propose a grid dispatching technique that combines deep learning-based forecasting technology, reinforcement learning, and optimization technology. Deep learning-based forecasting can forecast future power demand and solar power generation, while reinforcement learning and optimization technology can make charging and discharging decisions for energy storage devices based on current and future grid conditions. In the optimization method, we simplify the complex electricity environment to speed up the solution. The combination of proposed deep learning-based forecasting and stochastic optimization with online data augmentation is used to address the uncertainty of the dispatch system. A multi-agent reinforcement learning method is proposed to utilize team reward among energy storage devices. At last, we achieved the best results by combining reinforcement and optimization strategies. Comprehensive experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed framework.
TD3-Based Optimization Framework for RSMA-Enhanced UAV-Aided Downlink Communications in Remote Areas
Authors: Nguyen Tri-Hai , Nguyen Luong Vuong , Dang L. Minh , Hoang Vinh Truong , Park Laihyuk
Published: November 2023

The need for reliable wireless communication in remote areas has led to the adoption of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as flying base stations (FlyBSs). FlyBSs hover over a designated area to ensure continuous communication coverage for mobile users on the ground. Moreover, rate-splitting multiple access (RSMA) has emerged as a promising interference management scheme in multi-user communication systems. In this paper, we investigate an RSMA-enhanced FlyBS downlink communication system and formulate an optimization problem to maximize the sum-rate of users, taking into account the three-dimensional FlyBS trajectory and RSMA parameters. To address this continuous non-convex optimization problem, we propose a TD3-RFBS optimization framework based on the twin-delayed deep deterministic policy gradient (TD3). This framework overcomes the limitations associated with the overestimation issue encountered in the deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG), a well-known deep reinforcement learning method. Our simulation results demonstrate that TD3-RFBS outperforms existing solutions for FlyBS downlink communication systems, indicating its potential as a solution for future wireless networks.
Quantitative Retrieval of Chlorophyll-a Concentrations in the Bohai–Yellow Sea Using GOCI Surface Reflectance Products
Authors: Wang Jiru , Tang Jiakui , Wang Wuhua , Wang Yanjiao , Wang Zhao
Published: November 2023

As an environmental parameter, the chlorophyll-a concentration (Chl-a) is essential for monitoring water quality and managing the marine ecosystem. However, current mainstream Chl-a inversion algorithms have limited accuracy and poor spatial and temporal generalization in Case II waters. In this study, we constructed a quantitative model for retrieving the spatial and temporal distribution of Chl-a in the Bohai–Yellow Sea area using Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI) spectral remote sensing reflectance (Rrsλ) products. Firstly, the GOCI Rrsλ correction model based on measured spectral data was proposed and evaluated. Then, the feature variables of the band combinations with the highest correlation with Chl-a were selected. Subsequently, Chl-a inversion models were developed using three empirical ocean color algorithms (OC4, OC5, and YOC) and four machine learning methods: BP neural network (BPNN), random forest (RF), AdaBoost, and support vector regression (SVR). The retrieval results showed that the machine learning methods were much more accurate than the empirical algorithms and that the RF model retrieved Chl-a with the best performance and the highest prediction accuracy, with a determination coefficient R2 of 0.916, a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.212 mg·m−3, and a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 14.27%. Finally, the Chl-a distribution in the Bohai–Yellow Sea using the selected RF model was derived and analyzed. Spatially, Chl-a was high in the Bohai Sea, including in Laizhou Bay, Bohai Bay, and Liaodong Bay, with a value higher than 4 mg·m−3. Chl-a in the Bohai Strait and northern Yellow Sea was relatively low, with a value of less than 3 mg·m−3. Temporally, the inversion results showed that Chl-a was considerably higher in winter and spring compared to autumn and summer. Diurnal variation retrieval effectively demonstrated GOCI’s potential as a capable tool for monitoring intraday changes in chlorophyll-a concentrations.
siRNA Targeting PDE5A Partially Restores Vascular Damage Due to Type 1 Diabetes in a Streptozotocin-Induced Rat Model
Authors: Garcia-Rubio Vanessa Giselle , Cabrera-Becerra Sandra Edith , Ocampo-Ortega Sergio Adrian , Blancas-Napoles Citlali Margarita , Sierra-Sánchez Vivany Maydel , Romero-Nava Rodrigo , Gutiérrez-Rojas Rocío Alejandra , Huang Fengyang , Hong Enrique , Villafaña Santiago
Published: November 2023

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease that can produce different alterations such as endothelial dysfunction, which is defined as a decrease in the vasodilator responses of the mechanisms involved such as the nitric oxide (NO) pathway. The overexpression of PDE5A has been reported in diabetes, which causes an increase in the hydrolysis of cGMP and a decrease in the NO pathway. For this reason, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether siRNAs targeting PDE5A can reduce the endothelial dysfunction associated with diabetes. We used male Wistar rats (200–250 g) that were administered streptozotocin (STZ) (60 mg/kg i.p) to induce diabetes. Two weeks after STZ administration, the siRNAs or vehicle were administered and then, at 4 weeks, dose–response curves to acetylcholine were performed and PDE5A mRNA levels were measured by RT-PCR. siRNAs were designed by the bioinformatic analysis of human–rat FASTA sequences and synthesised in the Mermade-8 equipment. Our results showed that 4 weeks of diabetes produces a decrease in the vasodilator responses to acetylcholine and an increase in the expression of PDE5A mRNA, while the administration of siRNAs partially restores the vasodilator response and decreases PDE5A expression. We conclude that the administration of siRNAs targeting PDE5A partially reverts the endothelial impairment associated with diabetes.
Impact of Excess Magnesium Salt Supply on Rice Yield, Physiological Response, and Grain Mineral Content
Authors: Lamichhane Suman , Tarpley Lee , Dou Fugen
Published: November 2023

Magnesium nutrition in plants has remained largely unexplored compared to other essential elements. Although the impact of magnesium deficiency on plants has been reported from numerous studies, the responses of plants to excess magnesium salt levels have received less attention. Using five different magnesium levels (0, 500, 1000, 1500, and 2000 ppm) and two magnesium sources (MgSO4 and MgCl2), this study evaluated the effect of excess magnesium salts on rice production and associated physiological processes on a hybrid rice cultivar ‘XP 753’. Rice morphological and physiological parameters, including plant growth, biomass, root morphological features, tissue and grain mineral concentrations, membrane injury (MI), chlorophyll, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations, proline concentrations, as well as gas exchange parameters, were evaluated. A dose-dependent reduction in above- and below-ground shoot and root morphological features was observed under the application of magnesium salts on the soil substrate. Analysis of physiological parameters demonstrated that an inhibition in plant growth, biomass, and yield was due to the decrease in total chlorophyll content, net photosynthesis rate, and membrane stability in rice. Furthermore, this study showed that the application of magnesium salts to soil interfered with the uptake and translocation of minerals and significantly increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and proline levels, indicating the toxic effects of excess magnesium salts on rice plants.
Application of the Q-Slope Empirical Approach for Slope Stability Assessment of Spanish Mountain Roads in Winter—Combining Remote Techniques with Virtual Reality
Authors: Bernal Cesar Patricio Borja , Jordá Bordehore Luis
Published: November 2023

The Q-slope (2015) geomechanical classification is the only empirical methodology for slope stability analysis that considers the effect of ice. This article shows the results of its application for icy slopes in Spain. Despite its sunny image, Spain is a mountainous country with cold winters. Slopes alongside a mountain road and a ski resort carpark have been studied in Puerto de Navacerrada (Madrid region) and Benasque (Pyrenees). This work combines the manual collection of geomechanical data on slope characteristics with an empirical analysis of slope stability and remote data acquisition techniques (Structure from Motion, SfM). The results of the field data collection are shown in a metaverse with two approaches: a 360° image virtual tour and a 3D image repository. One of the novelties of this work is that researchers who wish to replicate these analyses can access a table of input parameters and make a virtual field trip to see the parameters included in this study. The results show that the Q-slope methodology is useful for stability analysis and is conservative in terms of recommendations: All the slopes that are seen as unstable appear as such, but some slopes that do not present problems are shown as “transitional” slopes. The data and observations taken are useful for increasing the methodology database and for completing existing graphs of stable vertical slopes with good quality, as well as slopes with little slope and low quality.
Q-Multi Cubic Pythagorean Fuzzy Sets and Their Correlation Coefficients for Multi-Criteria Group Decision Making
Authors: Almasabi Safa Hussain , Alsager Kholood Mohammad
Published: November 2023

Q-multi cubic Pythagorean fuzzy sets (Q-mCPFSs) are influential, effective and symmetrical for representing uncertain and imprecise information in decision making processes. Q-mCPFSs extend the concept of Q-multi fuzzy sets by introducing the notion of cubic Pythagorean membership functions, which provide a more flexible and accurate representation of uncertainty. First, we will introduce the concepts of Q-mPFSs and Q-mIVPFSs. With the combination of Q-mPFSs and Q-mIVPFSs, we will present the concept of Q-mCPFSs. Then, we propose two correlation coefficients for Q-mCPFSs. Furthermore, multi-criteria GDM methods using Q-mCPFSs will be discussed, highlighting their advantages in handling uncertain and imprecise information. Finally, we will provide an illustrative example, to demonstrate the effectiveness of Q-mCPFSs in decision making processes.The main contributions of the Q-mCPFS information expression, correlation coefficients and GDM methods in the Q-mCPFS setting of both uncertainty and certainty are thus highlighted in this study. These contributions provide valuable insights into the application of Q-mCPFSs in decision making processes, allowing decision makers to make more informed and effective choices. Additionally, the illustrative example serves as a practical demonstration of how these methods can be applied in real-world scenarios, further emphasizing their effectiveness and relevance.
Automatic Classification of Spectra with IEF-SCNN
Authors: Wu Jingjing , Zhang Yanxia , Qu Meixia , Jiang Bin , Wang Wenyu
Published: November 2023

Telescopes such as the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Spectroscopic Telescope and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey have produced an extensive collection of spectra, challenging the feasibility of manual classification in terms of accuracy and efficiency. To overcome these limitations, machine learning techniques are increasingly being utilized for automated spectral classification. However, these approaches primarily treat spectra as frequency domain signals, and lack robustness in low signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) scenarios and for small datasets of rare celestial objects. Moreover, they frequently neglect nuanced expert astronomical understanding. In this study, we draw inspiration from the human spectral discrimination process and propose a new model called the Image-EFficientNetV2-Spectrum Convolutional Neural Network (IEF-SCNN). IEF-SCNN combines spectral images using EfficientNetV2 with one-dimensional (1D) spectra through a 1DCNN. This integration effectively incorporates astronomical expertise into the classification process. Specifically, we plot the spectrum as an image and then classify it in a way that incorporates an attention mechanism. This attention mechanism mimics human observation of images for classification, selectively emphasizing relevant information while ignoring irrelevant details. Experimental data demonstrate that IEF-SCNN outperforms existing models in terms of the F1-score and accuracy metrics, particularly for low S/N (<6) data. Using progressive learning and an attention mechanism, the model trained on 12,000 M-class stars with an S/N below 6 achieved an accuracy of 87.38% on a 4000-sample test set. This surpasses traditional models (support vector machine with 83.15% accuracy, random forest with 65.40%, and artificial neural network with 84.40%) and the 1D stellar spectral CNN (85.65% accuracy). This research offers a foundation for the development of innovative methods for the automated identification of specific celestial objects, and can promote the creation of user-friendly software for astronomers who may not have computational expertise.
Investigating the Role of Anti-TPO Antibodies in HIV-Associated Thrombocytopenia before and after Initiation of HAART: A Case-Control Longitudinal Study
Authors: Tsiakalos Aristotelis , Routsias John G. , Schinas Georgios , Georgiadou Sarah , Sipsas Nikolaos V. , Akinosoglou Karolina
Published: November 2023

This longitudinal, case-control study aimed to investigate the role of thrombopoietin (TPO) and anti-TPO antibodies in HIV-associated thrombocytopenia, focusing on the changes seen before and after the initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Patients were assessed before and at least six months after the initiation of HAART. In total, 75 PLWHIV (age/sex-matched and randomized at 2:1, according to thrombocytopenia status) were included in this study. The baseline assessment revealed significantly higher TPO levels in thrombocytopenic patients (140.45 vs. 106.8 mg/mL, p = 0.008). Furthermore, anti-TPO-positive patients displayed lower platelet counts (109,000 vs. 139,000/L, p = 0.002) and TPO levels (114.7 vs. 142.7 mg/mL, p = 0.047). Longitudinally, HAART initiation reduced the frequency of thrombocytopenia from 75.47% to 33.96% (p < 0.001) and elevated the median platelet counts from 131,000 to 199,000 (p < 0.001). No significant difference in median platelet counts was found post-HAART among the anti-TPO subgroups (p = 0.338), a result contrasting with pre-HAART findings (p = 0.043). Changes in anti-TPO status corresponded with significant platelet count alterations (p = 0.036). Notably, patients who became anti-TPO negative showed a median increase of 95,000 platelets (IQR: 43,750–199,500). These marked differences between subgroups underscore the potential role of anti-TPO antibodies in modulating the hematological response to HAART. Further research is needed to elucidate the complex interplay between HIV infection, HAART, and thrombocytopenia.
Intradermal Vaccination against Influenza with a STING-Targeted Nanoparticle Combination Adjuvant Induces Superior Cross-Protective Humoral Immunity in Swine Compared with Intranasal and Intramuscular Immunization
Authors: Hernandez-Franco Juan F. , Yadagiri Ganesh , Patil Veerupaxagouda , Bugybayeva Dina , Dolatyabi Sara , Dumkliang Ekachai , Singh Mithilesh , Suresh Raksha , Akter Fatema , Schrock Jennifer , Renukaradhya Gourapura J. , HogenEsch Harm
Published: November 2023

The development of cross-protective vaccines against the zoonotic swine influenza A virus (swIAV), a potential pandemic-causing agent, continues to be an urgent global health concern. Commercially available vaccines provide suboptimal cross-protection against circulating subtypes of swIAV, which can lead to worldwide economic losses and poor zoonosis deterrence. The limited efficacy of current swIAV vaccines demands innovative strategies for the development of next-generation vaccines. Considering that intramuscular injection is the standard route of vaccine administration in both human and veterinary medicine, the exploration of alternative strategies, such as intradermal vaccination, presents a promising avenue for vaccinology. This investigation demonstrates the first evaluation of a direct comparison between a commercially available multivalent swIAV vaccine and monovalent whole inactivated H1N2 swine influenza vaccine, delivered by intradermal, intranasal, and intramuscular routes. The monovalent vaccines were adjuvanted with NanoST, a cationic phytoglycogen-based nanoparticle that is combined with the STING agonist ADU-S100. Upon heterologous challenge, intradermal vaccination generated a stronger cross-reactive nasal and serum antibody response in pigs compared with intranasal and intramuscular vaccination. Antibodies induced by intradermal immunization also had higher avidity compared with the other routes of vaccination. Bone marrow from intradermally and intramuscularly immunized pigs had both IgG and IgA virus-specific antibody-secreting cells. These studies reveal that NanoST is a promising adjuvant system for the intradermal administration of STING-targeted influenza vaccines.
A Vaccine against Cancer: Can There Be a Possible Strategy to Face the Challenge? Possible Targets and Paradoxical Effects
Authors: Zefferino Roberto , Conese Massimo
Published: November 2023

Is it possible to have an available vaccine that eradicates cancer? Starting from this question, this article tries to verify the state of the art, proposing a different approach to the issue. The variety of cancers and different and often unknown causes of cancer impede, except in some cited cases, the creation of a classical vaccine directed at the causative agent. The efforts of the scientific community are oriented toward stimulating the immune systems of patients, thereby preventing immune evasion, and heightening chemotherapeutic agents effects against cancer. However, the results are not decisive, because without any warning signs, metastasis often occurs. The purpose of this paper is to elaborate on a vaccine that must be administered to a patient in order to prevent metastasis; metastasis is an event that leads to death, and thus, preventing it could transform cancer into a chronic disease. We underline the fact that the field has not been studied in depth, and that the complexity of metastatic processes should not be underestimated. Then, with the aim of identifying the target of a cancer vaccine, we draw attention to the presence of the paradoxical actions of different mechanisms, pathways, molecules, and immune and non-immune cells characteristic of the tumor microenvironment at the primary site and pre-metastatic niche in order to exclude possible vaccine candidates that have opposite effects/behaviors; after a meticulous evaluation, we propose possible targets to develop a metastasis-targeting vaccine. We conclude that a change in the current concept of a cancer vaccine is needed, and the efforts of the scientific community should be redirected toward a metastasis-targeting vaccine, with the increasing hope of eradicating cancer.
WRF-Hydro for Streamflow Simulation in the MATOPIBA Region within the Tocantins/Araguaia River Basin—Brazil: Implications for Water Resource Management
Authors: Silva Daniel Guimarães , Silva Junior José Roberto Dantas da , Souza Filipe Milani de , Ramos Diogo Nunes da Silva , Silva Allan Rodrigues , Santos Thalyta Soares dos , Moreira Davidson Martins
Published: November 2023

The effective management of water resources in regions with a high potential for water resources, such as the Tocantins/Araguaia Basin in Brazil, is crucial in the face of current climate change and urban and agricultural expansion. In this context, this study evaluates the WRF-Hydro hydrological model to simulate the flow of the Manuel Alves Pequeno, Vermelho, and Manuel Alves Grande rivers in the MATOPIBA region (encompassing areas from the states of Maranhão, Tocantins, Piauí, and Bahia), an agricultural frontier and the most key area in terms of grain production in Brazil. The aim is to analyze the hydrological parameters of soil infiltration, surface retention depth, land surface roughness, and Manning’s channel roughness. The simulations are conducted at a spatial resolution of 3 km with a channel network of 100 m, covering a period of heavy rainfall from 13 March to 1 June 2018. For model validation, observational data from three river gauge stations of the National Water and Sanitation Agency are used, with assessments based on the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency index, standard deviation of observations, root mean square error, percentage bias, and correlation coefficient, resulting in values of 0.69, 0.56, 4.99, and 0.83, respectively. In particular, the adjustment of the infiltration factor and surface roughness parameter has a greater contribution to improving the statistical results than the adjustment of the other two hydrological parameters. Additionally, the quality of discharge simulation at each river gauge station is correlated with the temporal distribution of simulated precipitation compared to observed data in the drainage network. Highlighting WRF-Hydro’s potential as a fine-scale model easily coupled with numerical weather prediction, this study significantly advances regional river dynamics evaluation, crucial for strategic water resource management.
The Digital Authoritarian: On the Evolution and Spread of Toxic Leadership
Authors: Ott Brian L. , Hoelscher Carrisa S.
Published: November 2023

Employing a critical approach typical of humanities-based research, this article investigates the changing nature of toxic leadership in our digital world. Drawing on the perspective of media ecology, which asserts that the prevailing communication technologies at a given moment create the social conditions that, in turn, condition us, the authors illustrate how the digital logics of publicity, intransigence, impertinence, and impulsivity remake the contours of leadership. Based on a critical case study of Elon Musk’s public management of Twitter, which has subsequently been rebranded as “X”, it is argued that the four digital logics transform toxic leadership into digital authoritarianism, an unabashed form of authoritarian rule. A concluding section of the essay explores the implications of this evolution for traditional categories of leadership; the importance of attending to communication technologies in leadership research; and the individual, institutional, and social harms of digital authoritarianism.
Models based on chronological data correctly predict the spread of freshwater aliens, and reveal a strong influence of river access, anthropogenic activities and climate regimes
Authors: Rodríguez-Rey Marta , Consuegra Sofia , Garcia de Leaniz Carlos
Published: November 2023

Alien species constitute one of the main threats to freshwater ecosystems, negatively impacting biodiversity, economy, biosecurity and ecosystem services. Predicting the arrival and spread of alien species is of paramount importance to prevent new introductions and control the expansion and establishment of already introduced species. We modelled the distribution of four freshwater invaders in Great Britain, using environmental and anthropogenic predictors, to help focus management actions. The species grouped different taxa including signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus), the marsh frog (Pelophylax ridibundus), the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta) and the pike-perch (Sander lucioperca). The modelling approach accounted for methodological limitations and implemented two evaluations, a temporal evaluation using data corresponding to 70% of the oldest records to calibrate models and the remaining 30% for evaluation using various performance metrics (the common AUC, TSS and also null models) and an independent evaluation using the most recent range expansion of the species in the last six years. The distribution of the species was facilitated by multiple environmental and anthropogenic predictors. Road density was the second most important predictor of the occurrence of signal crayfish and red-eared slider preceded by the distance to ports and isothermality for each species respectively. Human population density was the most important predictor of marsh frog presence whereas pike-perch was mostly related to the proximity of boat ramps and precipitation regimes. Our distribution models were accurate and predicted the most recent range expansion of all of the species, highlighting their usefulness for preventing alien species spread and the value of using historical projections, usually available for non-native species, to calibrate and evaluate Species Distribution Models.
Thermal tolerance for three ornamental tankbuster catfishes
Authors: Tuckett Quenton M. , Lyons Timothy J. , Hill Jeffrey E.
Published: November 2023

Pet abandonment is an important introduction vector for freshwater aquarium fishes, as unwanted pets become too large for tank dimensions and are released into the environment. Concerns over pet abandonment may be particularly important for the U.S. state of Florida, which exhibits abundant access to freshwater habitats and a climate more favorable to tropical aquarium fishes than other continental U.S. states. Numerous studies have examined the factors affecting establishment for non-native species, including the importance of propagule pressure and climate suitability. For freshwater aquarium species, maximum body size can increase pet abandonment because they grow too large for the tank dimensions (i.e., “tankbusters”). Thus, large maximum body size may increase propagule pressure due to intentional release. In addition to being introduced in sufficient numbers, a match between the thermal tolerance of a species and the thermal habitat is necessary for establishment. Several large-bodied catfishes are found in the aquarium trade, including the goonch Bagarius spp., redtail catfish Phractocephalus hemioliopterus, and tiger sorubim Pseudoplatystoma tigrinum. Here, we experimentally determined the chronic lethal minimum temperature (CLmin) for the three catfishes. CLMin estimates for these three species were higher than many other ornamental species, highest for the redtail catfish (14.3 °C), lower for the tiger sorubim (11.0 °C), and lowest (9.9 °C) for the goonch. Given these lethal temperatures, the distribution of redtail catfish would be limited to South Florida while the tiger sorubim and goonch could live, provided other habitat characteristics are suitable, up to ~28°N Latitude in Florida.
Sarcopenia and osteoarthritis of the hip joint
Authors:   FSBEI HE Bashkir State Medical Universit y of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Yakupova E. R. , Minasov T. B. ,   FSBEI HE Bashkir State Medical Universit y of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Saubanov R. A. ,   FSBEI HE Bashkir State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Akhmeldinova A. A. ,   FSBEI HE Bashkir State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Khairutdinov R. F. ,   Chelyabinsk Regional Clinical Hospital, Ginoyan A. O. ,   FSBEI HE Bashkir State Medical University of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Published: November 2023

Sarcopenia is a pathology characterized by a decrease in the mass and strength of muscle tissue in most cases in older people. Osteoarthritis is also a common disease in elderly patients and is characterized by irreversible destructive and dystrophic damage to the joints. Decompensated stages of osteoarthritis of the hip joint often require surgical treatment. It has been noted that the majority of patients requiring total hip replacement for osteoarthritis also suffer from sarcopenia. Considering the clinical and biomechanical role of the muscular system together with the musculoskeletal system, sarcopenia can affect the recovery process of patients after surgery and the success of the operation itself. However, scientific research on the influence of sarcopenia on the results of total hip arthroplasty is insufficient. This article presents the results of a study of the negative impact of sarcopenia in patients who underwent total hip replacement. The study identified sarcopenia as an important risk factor that orthopedic traumatologists should consider when surgically treating patients with stages 3–4 osteoar thritis.
Soft dosage forms in the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the oral cavity
Authors:   Pyatigorsk Medical and Pharmaceutical Institute — Branch of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education «Volgograd State Medical University» of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Rytchenkova V. Yu. , Stepanova E. F. ,   Pyatigorsk Medical and Pharmaceutical Institute — Branch of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education «Volgograd State Medical University» of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Poroyskiy S. V. ,   Federal State Budgetary Institution of Higher Education «Volgograd State Medical University» of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation
Published: November 2023

Despite the wide range of drugs for topical use and methods of their application, the search for optimal therapy for inflammatory diseases of the oral mucosa and periodontal diseases continues at the present time. Numerous attempts are being made to find pharmacologically active agents capable of influencing various components of the healing process. In domestic medicine, the use of soft dosage forms with anti-inflammatory action and high penetrating activity in relation to medicinal substances is of great interest. Soft dosage forms, such as ointments, gels, and pastes, are optimal for combining components that are different in chemical nature, aggregate states, purposes, and biological activity. The drug Tizol, which appeared on the pharmaceutical market in the early 90s of the last century, currently remains in demand in medicine and pharmacy. As a metal сomplex compound, it has antiinflammatory and antimicrobial effects. Titanium glycerosolvate aquacomplex significantly reduces the degree of swelling and exhibits pronounced antiinflammatory activity. It has been established that Tizol forms stable gels with medicinal substances that are included in it. This property helps to increase the bioavailability of medicinal substances due to transcutaneous action. In modern dentistry, treatment methods that have a pronounced therapeutic effect with a minimum of side effects are of great interest. One of these methods is phytotherapy. Herbal medicines have a mild therapeutic effect and low toxicity, and can be used for a long time. Promising raw materials for the treatment of diseases of the oral cavity are herbs, rhizomes, and roots of the anomalous peony (Paeonia anomala). Medicines based on this plant have a variety of pharmacological effects. Thus, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, and antioxidant activity was established. A promising direction in pharmacy is the development of a dental gel based on a combination of medicinal plant raw materials and a component that promotes the penetration of active substances into tissues.
Edition génomique et OGMs : quelles différences ? Avancées récentes pour le contrôle des maladies infectieuses
Authors: Crispo Martina
Published: November 2023

CRISPR, une santé, transgénèse, animaux d'élevage, PRRSV
Systèmes digestifs artificiels : applications en nutrition et santé canine
Authors: Deschamps Charlotte , Denis Sylvain , Humbert Delphine , Apper Emmanuelle , Blanquet-Diot Stéphanie
Published: November 2023

De nombreuses études ont démontré l'importance de la digestion et du microbiote intestinal dans la nutrition et la santé des chiens. Les systèmes digestifs artificiels représentent une alternative pertinente aux essais in vivo, en accord avec la règlementation européenne des 3Rs. Aujourd’hui, une dizaine de modèles in vitro statiques ou dynamiques reproduisant une ou plusieurs parties du tractus gastro-intestinal du chien ont été développés, en prenant en compte les paramètres physico-chimiques, mécaniques et/ou microbiens de la digestion canine. Ces modèles permettent d’étudier en laboratoire le devenir de produits alimentaires et vétérinaires dans l'environnement digestif du chien, notamment en termes de digestibilité des macronutriments, bioaccessibilité de micronutriments, survie et activité de microorganismes ou pharmacocinétique des médicaments. Afin d’élargir leurs potentiels, ces modèles pourront dans un futur proche être couplés à des modèles cellulaires ou être adaptés pour reproduire des conditions pathologiques comme l’obésité. Mots clés : modèle digestif in vitro, chien, nutrition, santé, microbiote
Functional Variants in MicroRNAs (rs895819, rs11614913 and rs2910164) Are Associated with Susceptibility and Clinicopathological Features in Mexican Patients with Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Trujillo-Fernández Yuri Giovanna Vanessa , Yzabal-Barbedillo Carmen , Saucedo-Sarinaña Anilú Margarita , Tovar-Jácome César de Jesús , Godínez-Rodríguez Miriam Yadira , Barros-Núñez Patricio , Gallegos-Arreola Martha Patricia , Juárez-Vázquez Clara Ibet , Pineda-Razo Tomás Daniel , Marín-Contreras María Eugenia , Rosales-Reynoso Mónica Alejandra
Published: November 2023

Background: miRNAs are non-coding RNAs participating actively in the post-translational regulation of oncogenes, tumor suppressor, and DNA repair genes implicated in colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aims to examine the association of the variants miR-27a (rs895819 A>G), miR-196a2 (rs11614913 T>G) and miR-146a (rs2910164 C>G) in Mexican CRC patients. Methods: DNA samples from 183 patients and 186 healthy Mexican subjects were analyzed. Variants were identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methodology. Association was calculated by the odds ratio (OR) and adjusted by the Bonferroni test. Results: Patients carrying the G/G genotype of the rs895819 variant in the miR-27a gene showed an increased risk of CRC (19% vs 12%, P=0.013). A similar tendency was noticed for patients younger than 50 years carrying A/G (48% vs 41%, P=0.014). The A/G genotype in TNM stages I+II (55.7% vs 40.8%, P=0.011) and tumor location in the colon (69.5 vs 40.8%, P=0.001) were also increased. For the variant rs11614913 of the miR-196a2 gene, carriers of the C/C genotype showed an increased risk of CRC (32% vs 22%, P=0.009). This genotype was more frequent in TNM stage III+IV (36.8% vs 22.5%, P=0.007) and the tumor had a more recurrent location in the rectum (31.6% vs 22.5%, P=0.013). The rs2910164 variant of the miR-146a gene was found to have no significant risk associations. Conclusion: Our results reveal that the rs895819 variant in miR-27a and rs11614913 in miR-196a2 have a substantial impact on the development of CRC.
Comparison of Selenium Serum Levels in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis and Normal Individuals
Authors: Goli Zahra , Mashayekhi Soodabeh , Mazdeh Mehrdokht , Taheri Mohammad , Zafari Saeid , Safari Mohammad Reza
Published: November 2023

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory and chronic autoimmune disease that manifests as nerve lesions in the central nervous system. This study measured the serum levels of selenium (Se) in MS patients and normal individuals. Methods: Overall, 70 patients with MS and 70 thermally healthy individuals were selected for the purpose of the study. Their blood samples were poured into the buffer, and the serum was separated. Then, the serum levels of Se were measured using an atomic absorption device. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, and a t-test of two independent groups was utilized for comparison. The significance level of the tests was 5%. Results: In this study, by examining the amount of Se in the serum of both normal groups and patients, it was observed that the amount of Se in patients with MS was significantly lower than that of normal people. The findings demonstrated that the Se serum levels in the two groups of MS patients and healthy individuals were 85±40 and 130±30 micrograms/liter, respectively. The observed difference in the amount of serum Se at the level above 5% was significant based on the t-test. Conclusion: The findings of this research showed that the serum levels of Se in MS patients were lower than in healthy individuals. Decreasing serum Se can play a decisive role in causing people to suffer from MS.
Investigating the Compatibility of Lung CT Scan Findings and Molecular Diagnosis Test of Patients With COVID-19 in Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Hamedan
Authors: Khosravi Hossein , Qazi Khanlousani Karim , Khorshidi Lavin , Mohammadi Younes
Published: November 2023

Background: This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of computed tomography (CT) scan based on the results of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) molecular diagnosis test in the diagnosis of COVID-19 diseases. Methods: In this study, 451 files related to hospitalized patients with initial diagnosis of COVID-19 were examined. Demographic information, symptoms, and results of both tests were extracted from the files. After collecting information by sampling method, the data were analyzed by SPSS software. In order to describe the data, mean and standard deviation statistics were used for qualitative data. Moreover, the Kappa test was used to measure the compatibility of the three methods. Results: The concordance rate of PCR and CT scan was calculated at 66%, of which 55.3% were positive, and 10.7% were negative. The results were obtained with an accuracy of 68.9%, a precision of 91.5%, a sensitivity of 69.1%, a specificity of 68%, and an F1-score of 95.10%. In general, based on the statistical criteria, the calculated percentage is an acceptable value. Conclusion: According to the appropriate matching percentage of CT scan and RT-PCR molecular diagnosis test, both techniques can be used as a diagnosis criterion according to the patient’s symptoms.
Non-invasive and probeless rapid in-vitro monitoring and quantification of HUVECs counts based on FFT impedimetery
Authors: Mirzazadeh Jalil , Majidi Mir Reza , Norouzi Parviz , Faridi-Majidi Reza , Asadpour-Zeynali Karim
Published: November 2023

Introduction: The endothelial cells derived from the human vein cord (HUVECs) are used as in-vitro models for studying cellular and molecular pathophysiology, drug and hormones transport mechanisms, or pathways. In these studies, the proliferation and quantity of cells are important features that should be monitored and assessed regularly. So rapid, easy, noninvasive, and inexpensive methods are favorable for this purpose. Methods: In this work, a novel method based on fast Fourier transform square-wave voltammetry (FFTSWV) combined with a 3D printed electrochemical cell including two inserted platinum electrodes was developed for non-invasive and probeless rapid in-vitro monitoring and quantification of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The electrochemical cell configuration, along with inverted microscope images, provided the capability of easy use, online in-vitro monitoring, and quantification of the cells during proliferation. Results: HUVECs were cultured and proliferated at defined experimental conditions, and standard cell counts in the initial range of 12 500 to 175 000 were prepared and calibrated by using a hemocytometer (Neubauer chamber) counting for electrochemical measurements. The optimum condition, for FFTSWV at a frequency of 100 Hz and 5 mV amplitude, were found to be a safe electrochemical measurement in the cell culture medium. In each run, the impedance or admittance measurement was measured in a 5 seconds time window. The total measurements were fulfilled at 5, 24, and 48 hours after the seeding of the cells, respectively. The recorded microscopic images before every electrochemical assay showed the conformity of morphology and objective counts of cells in every plate well. The proposed electrochemical method showed dynamic linearity in the range of 12 500-265 000 HUVECs 48 hours after the seeding of cells. Conclusion: The proposed electrochemical method can be used as a simple, fast, and noninvasive technique for tracing and monitoring of HUVECs population in in-vitro studies. This method is highly cheap in comparison with other traditional tools. The introduced configuration has the versatility to develop electrodes for the study of various cells and the application of other electrochemical designations.