bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Navigating the Ethical Landscape of the Artificial Placenta: A Systematic Review
Authors: Cavolo Alice , Boer Angret , Proost Lien , Verweij E. J. , Gastmans Chris
Published: September 2023

Objective: To present the ethical debate on the artificial placenta (AP) by identifying, distinguishing, and organising the different ethical arguments described in the literature.
Method: We conducted a systematic review of the ethical literature. We selected articles based on the following predefined inclusion criteria: presenting fully elaborated ethical arguments, on artificial placenta/partial ectogenesis, English-language. We followed the QUAGOL methodology for the analysis.
Results: Forty articles were included. We identified three main themes. First, foundational-ethical issues. There is substantial disagreement on whether the subject is an infant or a new moral entity because it has the physiology of a foetus, but it sits outside the womb. Second, clinical-ethical issues. Few authors believed that the AP would increase reproductive choices. However, the majority warned that the AP could limit reproductive choices by creating pressure to use it in healthy pregnancies or as an alternative to abortion. Third, research ethics issues. Publications mostly focused on selection of the first in-human trial participants, e.g., only parents who have been adequately counselled and for whom a caesarean is medically indicated.
Conclusions: The focus of the existing AP ethical literature AP is mostly its potential use as an alternative to abortion or healthy pregnancies rather than on treatment of preterm infants, who will bear the risks of the first AP trial and implementation. Furthermore, all but one article originated from high-income western countries, and no articles discuss the global health perspective. We conclude, therefore, that the current ethical literature on AP is imbalanced: it leans more towards science fiction scenarios than actual clinical and technological reality and it lacks a global ethics perspective.
The impact of historical culture on city tourism: Evidence from Chinese classical literature
Authors: Gao Yanyan
Published: September 2023

This paper uses the spatial distribution of Chinese classical literature during the Tang and Song Dynasties (618-1279 A.D.) to estimate the long-run effect of historical culture on city tourism today. To identify the causal effect, we use famous academies at the same periods as an instrumental variable of place-based literature. Empirical results reveal that the classical literature contributes to promoting the tourism economies in the past two decades, with an estimated elasticity of around 0.2 under the instrumental variables method. The effect is more pronounced for the literature and poems in the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.) and highly persistent over time. We further document that the positive tourism impact is quite robust, and the classical literature contributes to city tourism by facilitating the later accumulation of local cultural resources, enabling tourism development based on it, and promoting local schooling education.
JEL Code: Z11; Z32; R12; L83
Neuropsychological effects of the lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic on patients with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers
Authors: Margiotta Roberta , Trebbastoni Alessandro , Barbetti Sonia , Canevelli Marco , D'Antonio Fabrizia , Diana Sofia , Vita Antonella Di , Imbriano Letizia , Lisi Stefania , Monti Micaela Sepe , Talarico Giuseppina , Guariglia Cecilia , Bruno Giuseppe
Published: September 2023

The profound changes in daily life caused by Covid-19 and the impact of these changes on emotional well-being have been particularly severe in elderly subjects, especially those suffering from neurodegenerative diseases and their caregiver. Indeed, the risk of contracting the virus has led to greater prudence, with social isolation, decreased contact with relatives, and the interruption of numerous daily activities and hobbies useful for stimulating cognitive functions.
Considering these changes, the present study aimed to investigate the cognitive, psychological, and behavioral effects of the Covid-19 lockdown in a population of elderly patients with a cognitive impairment through a semi-structured telephone interview with caregivers. We also evaluated the emotional experience and stress load perceived by caregivers. We found that patients had a worsened neuropsychological profile, mainly involving memory and language, and increased behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, such as agitation, depression, apathy, and anxiety, further reducing their autonomies. In addition, caregivers reported an increased perceived stress load. Nevertheless,some positive aspects were also identified, such as discovering unexpected coping abilities and improving the relationship between patient and caregiver.
Optimizing Handwritten Arabic Character Recognition: Feature Extraction, Concatenation, and PSO-Based Feature Selection.
Authors: Rouabhi Sarra , Belbachir Khadidja El-Kobra , Tlemsani Redouane
Published: September 2023

Recognizing and writing Arabic characters correctly is a difficult task, especially for non-native speakers. With the growing trend toward digital teaching and distance learning, there is a need for efficient and accurate automatic recognition of Arabic characters. The work investigates three distinct approaches to address this challenge. Firstly, features are extracted from handwritten Arabic character images using two pre-trained models: EfficientNet B2 and DenseNet 201. These extracted features are then employed for classification utilizing various classifiers. Secondly, the features obtained from both models are concatenated to enhance classification performance by leveraging the unique representations learned by each model. Lastly, the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm is integrated into the feature selection process, identifying the most relevant features that contribute to improved classification accuracy. The best test accuracies obtained were 85.94% in the first experiment, 88.73% in the second, and 90.20% in the third.
Identifying Biomarkers for Prognostic Treatment in Breast Cancer through Bioinformatics Analysis
Authors: Shi Yue , Yan Shaozhang
Published: September 2023

Objective
This study aims to identify biomarkers linked to breast cancer for potential treatment.
Methods
Three breast cancer gene microarrays were selected from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, meeting specific criteria. Paired data analysis revealed shared Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) among them. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed. A Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network was constructed using String databases and Cytoscape software to identify hub genes. These hub genes underwent analysis for differential expression, survival, and pathological presentation in various databases (UALCAN, Kaplan-Meier Plotter, and HPA(The Human Protein Atlas)).
Results
Integrated analysis yielded 202 shared DEGs, with 164 downregulated and 38 upregulated genes.Highlighted 10 hub genes associated with breast cancer: KIF20A, CCVB1, KIF2C, TTK, CCNA2, RRM2, TOP2A, CDK1, KIF4A and CACA8.
Conclusion
The study uncovers the roles of these hub genes in cancer growth and proliferation, particularly TTK's link to basal-like and triple-positive breast cancer.RRM2 exhibited significance in HER2-positive cases, while others were prominent in triple-negative breast cancer. Exploring these hub genes provides potential biomarkers and insights for breast cancer prognosis and treatment decisions.
Preference Overwinter of Eurygaster integriceps Puton (Heteroptera: Scutelleridae) in Relation to Altitude, Direction, and Plant Species at Overwintering Period
Authors: İslamoğlu Mahmut
Published: September 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
The effect of geographic location and physiochemical characteristics on the cryoconite prokaryotic communities from the Arctic, Antarctic, and Central Caucasus regions
Authors: Gladkov Grigory V. , Kimeklis Anastasiia K. , Tembotov Rustam H. , Ivanov Mikhail N. , Andronov Evgeny E. , Abakumov Evgeny V.
Published: September 2023

Cryoconites are the deposits on the surface of glaciers that create specific ecological niches for the development of microorganism communities. The sediment material can vary in origin, structure, and nutrient content, creating local variations in the growth conditions. An additional factor of variability is the location of the glaciers, as they are found in different climatic zones in the high mountain regions and closer to the poles. Here we studied the common and specific features of the microbial communities from five glaciers representing different parts of the world, including the Arctic (Mushketova in Severnaya Zemlya, IGAN in Polar Ural), Antarctic (Pimpirev on Livingstone Island) and Caucasus (Skhelda und Garabashi in Central Caucasus), with the latter being presented for the first time. According to the chemical parameters of the cryoconites, each region had specific properties: Arctic cryoconites had higher nitrates values and microelements content, Antarctic - organic carbon, ammonium, and potassium, Caucasus - alkaline pH and high phosphorus content. Analysis of data from high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene showed that although cryoconite microbiomes are composed of similar bacterial phyla (Pseudomonadota, Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidota, Acidobacteriota, and Actinobacteriota), at a low taxonomic level they are highly diverse: only several common phylotypes were identified for all glaciers. The WGSNA analysis revealed three groups of microorganisms, that significantly change their abundance corresponding with three geographical locations and chemical parameters of cryoconites. Our work demonstrates that cryoconite creates a specific ecological niche that facilitates the growth of predominantly autotrophic microorganisms, but local factors and physical isolation create specific patterns for each of such diversity hotspots.
Small artifacts among the hunter-gatherers of the southern La Plata Basin
Authors: Acosta Alejandro , Buc Natacha , Rombolá Lucía T. , Loponte Daniel
Published: September 2023

Small artifacts and miniatures are reduced objects that can be connected to rituals, children’s activities and small game. Material correlates can be established for these different hypotheses. In the southern end of the La Plata basin, small artifacts were recovered from different late Holocene hunter-gatherer archaeological sites, but the functional explanation is not clear. The aim of this paper is to discuss the presence of small artifacts in the regional record from the regular morphological groups of harpoon heads, atlatl hooks, lithic spheroids, and labrets. Firstly, we statistically evaluate the metrical structure of the complete sample to identify small size outliers. Secondly, we analyze the physical, morphological, and functional structure of the small artefacts to discuss if they segregate from the regular sample in other properties rather than only the size. The results show that a reduced number of artifacts are segregated from the regular sample, although variability among morphological groups is noticed in the raw material and use-wear patterns. In the case of harpoons and atlatl hooks, variable behaviors are recorded where children’s use is a possibility, but raw material mediated strategies and recycling of tools cannot be discarded. Labrets were intended for small people; and a lithic spheroid could have been made by a novice. Although no conclusive statement can be done because of the multiple nature of the archaeological record, our interpretations constitute a first approximation to the presence of children in the hunter-gatherer societies under study, which must be confronted through new studies and samples.
Observational study of behavioral disturbance in children with developmental disorder under general anesthesia
Authors: Tsukamoto Masanori , Nishimura Rei , Goto Maho , Matsuo Kazuya , Yokoyama Takeshi
Published: September 2023

Objective
Anxiety and fear due to the unknown, and separation from parents are common emotions that children experience when faced with the need for dental treatment. In children with developmental disorders (DD), we hypothesized that a more anxious state, resulting in poor cooperation, might be associated with negative behavioral changes after general anesthesia. In this study, we assessed the perioperative behaviors of children with and without DD.
Methods
Patients (1–6 yrs) undergoing elective dental treatment were divided into two groups: children with DD and those without DD using inhalational anesthetics such as sevoflurane or isoflurane. The following data were collected prospectively: the modified Yale Preoperative Anxiety Scale (m-YPAS) 1 at the preoperative consultation, m-YPAS 2 at induction of anesthesia, the occurrence of emergence agitation (EA), and the Pediatric Anesthesia Emergence Delirium (PAED).
Results
The m-YPAS 1 and 2 scores of children with DD were significantly higher than those of children without DD (p<0.05). The occurrence of EA after isoflurane anesthesia in children with and without DD was significantly lower than that after sevoflurane anesthesia (P<0.01). However, after sevoflurane anesthesia, children with DD showed no significant difference in EA compared with children without DD (p=0.13). After isoflurane anesthesia, children with and without DD showed no significant differences (p= 1.00). For both inhalational anesthetics, PAED also showed no significant difference between children with and without DD after sevoflurane anesthesia (p=0.50) and isoflurane anesthesia (p=0.47).
Conclusion
Isoflurane suppressed EA more effectively than sevoflurane in children. After general anesthesia, however, no significant differences were observed between children, although children with DD showed significant behavioral disturbances.
Clinical relevance
We provided it was important to pay special attention to children with DD during preoperative and induction of anesthesia. Isoflurane suppressed emergence agitation more effectively.
Trial registration
This prospective observational study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Kyushu University Hospital (#24034) and registered with the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000034094).
Fragility curves for stone arch bridges by incremental dynamic analysis method and using DEM
Authors: Mehrbod Amirhossein , Behnamfar Farhad , Aziminejad Armin , Hashemol-hosseini Hamid
Published: September 2023

One of the most important tools for determining the vulnerability of structures to earthquakes is use of fragility curves. Considering the importance of existing masonry arch bridges in transportation networks, in this research, the process of determining the fragility curve by the analytical method through using the discrete element method (DEM) is discussed. The seismic behavior of two railway bridges is investigated using the incremental dynamic analysis method (IDA). Bridge A is smaller and is totally 66.7 m long and has four similar arches spanning 12 m each. Bridge B is the larger bridge, with a length of 160 m. It has a large central arch span of 48.6 meters and a height of 22.8 meters. By introducing an appropriate number of control points in the bridge body, the seismic response of the bridges are obtained. By examining the IDA curves and status of damage in the bridges, the performance criteria for immediate occupancy (IO), life safety (LS), and collapse prevention (CP) limit states have been determined. The fragility curves of the bridges are calculated for the above three limit states. The results show that both bridges require seismic strengthening for the IO performance level with a probability greater than 90%. Also In the event of design earthquake, larger bridge will not be safe with a probability of more than 50% for the LS limit state, and the probability of exceedance the CP limit state for bridge A is 12% and bridge B is 32%.
BrainNet: A Unified Neural Network Architecture for Brain Image Classification
Authors: Ghosh Sudip , _ Deepti , Gupta Shivam
Published: September 2023

Accurate and timely diagnosis is critical for effective medical intervention in brain-related diseases, including Brain Tumors and Alzheimer's. Most current state-of-the-art (SOTA) approaches in medical imaging focus on diagnosing a single brain disease at a time. However, recent research has unveiled the intricate connections between various brain diseases, with the realization that treating one condition may lead to the development of others. Consequently, there is a growing need for accurate diagnostic systems that address multiple brain-related diseases. However, training separate models for different diseases can impose substantial computational overhead. To address this challenge, our paper introduces BrainNet, an innovative neural network architecture explicitly tailored for classifying brain images. Our primary objective is to propose a single, robust framework capable of diagnosing a spectrum of brain-related diseases. We present a comprehensive validation of BrainNet's efficacy, specifically in diagnosing Brain Tumors and Alzheimer's disease. Remarkably, our proposed model workflow surpasses the current state-of-the-art (SOTA) methods, demonstrating a substantial enhancement in accuracy and precision. Furthermore, it maintains a balanced performance across different classes in the Brain Tumor and Alzheimer's dataset, emphasizing the versatility of our architecture for precise disease diagnosis. Thus, this paper marks a significant stride toward a unified solution for diagnosing diverse brain-related diseases
Construction and validation of a novel disulfidptosis-related lncRNA signature for prognostic prediction in lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Xu Jiayi , Lu Wenzhang , Yang Zheng , Zhou Juan , Cheng Jiaqi , Xu Zikai , Feng Shuya , Tang Zhiyuan , Zhou Xiaoyu
Published: September 2023

Disulfidptosis is a novel type of cell death caused by disulfide stress and is distinct from other known forms of cell death, including cuproptosis, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, necroptosis, and apoptosis. Transcriptome data and clinical information of 503 LUAD patients was extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. A nomogram was constructed with the risk score based on the expression levels of the 4 disulfidptosis-associated lncRNAs and the clinical characteristics and was according to the results from the univariate and multivariate Cox regression, minimal absolute contraction, and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analyses.Differences in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), tumor mutation burden (TMB), and chemotherapeutic treatment sensitivity were compared between the high- and low-risk LUAD patients. LncRNA ARRDC1-AS1 was highly expressed in the LUAD cell lines (A549 and H1299) compared to the BEAS2B cell line (normal lung epithelial cells). Knockdown of ARRDC1-AS1 significantly reduced in vitro proliferation, migration, and invasiveness of A549 cells. LncRNA ARRDC1-AS1 is a promising prognosis prediction biomarker and a therapeutic target in LUAD.
The Lifesaving Impact of Transcatheter Interventions in the Early Post-Fontan Palliation Period
Authors: Demir Ibrahim Halil , Ozdemir Dursun Muhammed , Yucel Ilker Kemal , Yılmaz Emine Hekim , Bulut Mustafa Orhan , Surucu Murat , Korun Oktay , Aydemir Numan Ali , Celebi Ahmet
Published: September 2023

Mortality following Fontan surgery has significantly decreased; however, postoperative morbidity rates remain high and can lead to unfavorable outcomes. Early post-Fontan pathway obstructions can result in persistent pleural effusion, cyanosis, and low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS). Transcatheter interventions can be employed as an alternative to early re-surgery for their treatment. Over a 13-year study period, early (<30 days) transcatheter interventions were performed on 37 (10.4%) of 344 patients who underwent Fontan surgery. Case notes and procedure records were retrospectively reviewed. Among them, 33 patients were treated solely with transcatheter procedures, while 3 were lost during early ICU follow-up. 30 patients were successfully treated with purely transcatheter methods and were discharged. After left pulmonary artery (LPA) balloon angioplasty, one patient required emergency surgery. In another case, LPA stent implantation resulted in thrombosis followed by localized tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) administration and subsequent middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke. In four cases, transcatheter interventions were inadequate, necessitating early re-surgery, of which two patients died. The median age at Fontan operation was 4.8 (IQR:4-9.4) year, with a median weight of 16.5 (IQR:15-25.2) kg. Among the 23 patients with persistent pleural effusion/ascites, transcatheter procedures; fenestration dilatation in 14 patients, LPA stent placement in 7 patients, right pulmonary artery (RPA) stent placement in 4 patients, occlusion of aortopulmonary (AP) collaterals in 5 patients. All 8 patients diagnosed with LCOS underwent fenestration dilation. Procedural mortality was not observed. Early post-Fontan transcatheter interventions appear safe and effective.
HNRNPA2B1 regulates hypoxia-related tumor angiogenesis in hilar cholangiocarcinoma through exosomal miR-155-5p
Authors: Ma Lixing , Li Xiaojing , Zhao Haiyu , Han Zuo , Wang Yidi , Zang Jinfeng
Published: September 2023

Cancer-cell-secreted miRNAs (miRs) can be packaged into exosomes and are implicated in different aspects of tumor angiogenesis. HNRNPA2B1, as a RNA binding protein, participates in exosomal genesis and cargo sorting. However, little is known about whether HNRNPA2B1 is involved in the exosomal miR sorting process and tumor angiogenesis in hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA) cells under hypoxia. Bioinformatics analysis of miRs in the exosomes secreted by hypoxic HCCA cells demonstrated that miR-155-5p was the miR associated with angiogenesis and bound most effectively to HNRNPA2B1. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) revealed that the amount of miR-155-5p bound to HNRNPA2B1 in HCCA cells under hypoxia was 1.43 times higher than that under normoxia. qRT-PCR showed that exosomal miR-155-5p expression was reduced by 66.4% in the HNRNPA2B1 knockdown group (KD) compared with the negative control (NC) group; however, cellular miR-155-5p expression did not differ significantly between the groups. Tube formation assays were used for studying the effect of HNRNPA2B1 and exosomal miR-155-5p on angiogenesis in the hypoxic HCCA cells. Western blotting showed that expression of VEGF-A in HUVECs was consistent with fluctuation in the tube formation assays. In conclusion, HNRNPA2B1 is involved in exosomal miR-155-5p sorting in HCCA cells under hypoxia and can promote tumor angiogenesis via the exosomal miR-155-5p.
SQSTM1/p62 as a prognostic marker promotes the progression of gastric cancer through epithelial-mesenchymal transition
Authors: Xu Yan , Zhu Chenglou , Ji Dandan , Wu Qiong , Peng Lingzhi , Bai Pengwei , Bai Zhaozhao , Da Mingxu
Published: September 2023

Background
SQSTM1/p62 is an autophagy-related receptor protein that participates in regulating tumorigenesis and multiple signaling pathways. Gastric cancer is a common tumor in the digestive tract and continues to pose a significant threat to human health. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the impact of p62 on gastric cancer.
Methods
Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were employed to assess the expression level of the p62 protein in gastric cancer tissues and its correlation with prognosis. Subsequently, in vitro cell experiments were conducted to determine the role of p62 in gastric cancer cell proliferation, migration, and metastasis.
Result
The expression of p62 in gastric cancer tissues was significantly higher than in normal tissues. The expression of p62 was positively correlated with poor prognosis in gastric cancer patients. In vitro cell experiments indicated that p62 promotes gastric cancer cell proliferation and migration. Mechanistically, elevated p62 expression induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), leading to upregulation of E-cadherin and downregulation of N-cadherin and vimentin.
Conclusion
This study provides novel and robust evidence for the mechanism by which elevated p62 expression promotes the progression of gastric cancer. It offers promising therapeutic targets for anti-tumor treatment strategies in gastric cancer patients.
Unifying Optimization Forces: Harnessing the Fine-Structure Constant in an Electromagnetic-Gravity Optimization Framework
Authors: Akhtar Md. Amir Khusru , Kumar Mohit , Verma Sahil , Cengiz Korhan , Verma Pawan Kumar , Khurma Ruba Abu , Castillo Pedro A.
Published: September 2023

The Electromagnetic-Gravity Optimization (EMGO) framework is a novel optimization technique that integrates the Fine-Structure Constant and leverages electromagnetism and gravity principles to achieve efficient and robust optimization solutions. Through comprehensive performance evaluation and comparative analyses against state-of-the-art optimization techniques, EMGO demonstrates superior convergence speed and solution quality. Its unique balance between exploration and exploitation, enabled by the interplay of electromagnetic and gravity forces, makes it a powerful tool for finding optimal or near-optimal solutions in complex problem landscapes. The research contributes by introducing EMGO as a promising optimization approach with diverse applications in engineering, decision support systems, machine learning, data mining, and financial optimization. EMGO's potential to revolutionize optimization methodologies, handle real-world problems effectively, and balance global exploration and local exploitation establishes its significance. Future research opportunities include exploring adaptive mechanisms, hybrid approaches, handling high-dimensional problems, and integrating with machine learning techniques to further enhance its capabilities. EMGO gives a novel approach to optimization, and its efficacy, advantages, and potential for extensive adoption open new paths for advancing optimization in many scientific, engineering, and real-world domains.
Genome-Wide Association Study for Leaf Photosynthesis Using High-Throughput Gas Exchange System in Rice
Authors: Honda Sotaro , Imamura Ayumu , Seki Yoshiaki , Chigira Koki , Iwasa Marina , Hayami Kentaro , Nomura Tomohiro , Ohkubo Satoshi , Ookawa Taiichiro , Nagano Atsushi J. , Matsuoka Makoto , Tanaka Yu , Adachi Shunsuke
Published: September 2023

Enhancing leaf photosynthetic capacity is essential for improving yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.). The exploitation of natural genetic variation is a promising approach to enhance photosynthetic capacity, as well as molecular engineering approaches. However, genetic resources have yet to be efficiently used in breeding programs, partially due to the low-throughput of photosynthetic measurements. Here we examined the diversity of photosynthetic rates among 168 temperate japonica rice varieties at the vegetative stage for three years with the newly developed rapid closed-gas exchange system, MIC-100. The data showed a large genetic variation in net CO2 assimilation rate (A) between the varieties. The modern varieties exhibited higher A relative to the landraces, while there was no significant relationship between the released year and A among the modern varieties. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) revealed two major peaks located on chromosomes 4 and 8 which were repeatedly detected in different experiments and in the generalized linear modeling approach. We suggest that the high-throughput gas exchange measurement combined with GWAS is a reliable approach for understanding genetic mechanisms in photosynthetic diversities in crop species.
Arginine promotes angio-osteogenesis by attenuating oxidative stress-induced bone loss and ameliorating mitophagy
Authors: Shen Yang , Wang Haoming , Xie Hongwei , Ma Qingliang , Wang Shiyu , Yuan Putao , Xue Hong , Hong Huaxing , Fan Shunwu , Xu Wenbin , Xie Ziang
Published: September 2023

Osteoporosis is one of the most common bone diseases in middle-aged and elderly populations worldwide. Development of new drugs to treat the disease is a key focus of research. Current treatments for osteoporosis mainly directed at promoting osteoblasts and inhibiting osteoclasts. However, there is currently no ideal approach for osteoporosis treatment. Arginine is a semi-essential amino acid that is involved in numerous biological processes. Several studies have demonstrated its effects on NO production, protein biosynthesis, and immune responses. In this study, the specific effect of arginine on osteoporosis was explored. We found that arginine attenuates bone loss in aged mice. Indeed, arginine was found to promote osteogenesis and angiogenesis in these animals. Moreover, we showed that arginine can increase the activity of vascular endothelial cells and promote osteogenesis, whereas it inhibited adipogenesis in vitro. In addition, we found an effect of arginine on mitochondria in osteoblast-lineage and endothelial cells. Specifically, arginine altered the expression of PINK1/Parkin or Bnip3 in mitochondria of these cells, thereby promoting mitophagy, and protecting cells from ROS. Similarly, arginine treatment effectively ameliorated osteoporosis in an ovariectomized mouse model. In conclusion, arginine supplementation might be an effective therapy in the treatment of osteoporosis.
Enhancing Option Pricing Accuracy in theIndian Market: A CNN-BiLSTM Approach
Authors: Sharma Akanksha , Verma Chandan Kumar , Singh Priya
Published: September 2023

Due to overly optimistic economic and statistical assumptions, the classical option pricing model frequently falls short of ideal predictions. Rapid progress in Artificial Intelligence, the availability of massive datasets, and the rise in computational power in machines have all created an environment conducive to the development of complex methods for predicting financial derivatives prices. This study proposes a hybrid deep learning (DL) based predictive model for accurate and prompt prediction of option prices by fusing a one-dimensional Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and a Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM). A set of 15 predictive factors is carefully built under the umbrella of fundamental market data and technical indicators. Our proposed model is compared with other DL-based models using six evaluation metrics–Root Mean SquareError (RMSE), Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), Mean Percentage Error (MAE), Determination Coefficient ($R^2$), Maximum Error and Median Absolute Error(MedAE). Further, statistical analysis of models is also done using one-way ANOVA and posthoc analysis using the Tukey HSD test to demonstrate that the CNN-BiLSTM model outperforms competing models in terms of fit and prediction accuracy.
From infection to autoimmunity: ZnT8-mediated molecular mimicry in the triggering of post-COVID 19 type 1 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Andrade Luis Jesuino de Oliveira , de Oliveira Luisa Correia Matos , de Oliveira Gabriela Correia Matos , Silva Catharina Peixoto , de Oliveira Luís Matos
Published: September 2023

Introduction
The potential etiology of post-COVID-19 type 1 diabetes (DM1) being linked to the development of anti-Zinc Transporter 8 antibodies (ZnT8A) through molecular mimicry presents a compelling avenue for investigation, yet there remains a notable gap in our understanding of this field. While studies have revealed the presence of these autoantibodies in individuals with post-COVID-19 diabetes, the precise mechanisms by which the viral infection triggers the production of anti-ZnT8A antibodies are not yet fully comprehended.
Objective
To assess the molecular mimicry between the ZnT8 protein and proteins of the COVID-19 virus, as well as its potential impact on the initiation of DM1.
Methods
For this study, amino acid sequences of ZnT8 and COVID-19 proteins were obtained from UniProt databases. Protein structure data for ZnT8 and COVID-19 proteins were acquired from Swiss-Model. Multiple sequence alignment using VectorBuilder was performed to analyze similarities and conserved regions between the proteins. Pairwise Structure Alignment was used to assess the three-dimensional alignment of ZnT8 and COVID-19 proteins.
Results
The similarity results between ZnT8 and COVID-19 proteins are as follows: 1. ZnT8_HUMAN and SPIKE_SARS2: similarity of 16.67%; 2. ZnT8_HUMAN and VME1_SARS2: similarity of 26.37%; 3. ZnT8 protein and VEMP_SARS2 Envelope small membrane protein: similarity of 11.26%; and 4. ZnT8 protein and A0A883GPN5_SARS2 Nucleoprotein: similarity of 32.94%.
Conclusion
Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that there is a level important of molecular mimicry between the ZnT8 protein and certain proteins of the COVID-19 virus. These findings provide insights into the potential impact of this molecular mimicry on the trigger of DM1.
A comparative analysis of polyomaviruses Large Tumor Antigens reveals evolution of different importin α-dependent nuclear localization signals
Authors: Alvisi Gualtiero , Cross Emily , Akbari Nasim , Ghassabian Hanieh , Hoad Mikayla , Pavan Silvia , Ariawan Daryl , Donnelly Camilla , Lavezzo Enrico , Petersen Gayle , Forwood Jade
Published: September 2023

Nucleocytoplasmic transport is a fundamental eukaryotic process that regulates the passage of proteins between the nucleus and cytoplasm, crucial for maintaining cellular homeostasis, gene expression, and signal transduction. In the best characterized pathway, importin (IMP) α bridges cargoes bearing basic, classical nuclear localization signals (cNLSs) to IMPβ1, which mediates transport through the nuclear pore complex. IMPα recognizes three types of cNLSs via two binding sites: the major binding site accommodates monopartite cNLSs, the minor binding site recognizes atypical cNLSs, whilst bipartite cNLSs simultaneously interact with both major and minor sites. Despite the growing knowledge regarding IMPα-cNLS interactions, our understanding of the evolution of cNLSs is limited. We combined bioinformatic, biochemical, functional, and structural approaches to study this phenomenon, using polyomaviruses (PyVs) large tumor antigens (LTAs) as a model. We characterized functional cNLSs from all human (H)PyV LTAs, located between the LXCXE motif and origin binding domain. Surprisingly, the prototypical SV40 monopartite NLS is not well conserved: HPyV NLSs are extremely heterogenous in terms of structural organization, IMPα isoform binding, and nuclear targeting abilities, thus influencing the nuclear accumulation properties of full-length proteins. While several LTAs possess bipartite cNLSs, Merkel cell (MC) PyV contains a hybrid bipartite cNLS whose upstream stretch of basic amino acids can function as an atypical cNLS, specifically binding to the IMPα minor site upon deletion of the downstream amino acids after viral integration in the host genome. We suggest that duplication of a monopartite cNLS and subsequent accumulation of point mutations, optimizing interaction with distinct IMPα binding sites, led to the evolution of bipartite and atypical NLSs binding at the minor site.
Analysis of the ammunition explosion seismic wave propagation law
Authors: Shang Fei , Wang Liangquan
Published: September 2023

The seismic wave generated in the ammunition explosion process is one of the important technical indicators to evaluate the ammunition damage power. It is of great significance to evaluate the ammunition damage power and study the targets damage characteristics. In this study, experimental studies were carried out with TNT explosive mass of 1.25 kg, 5.25 kg, 10.5 kg and 30.75 kg, and the ground vibration velocity time-history curves at different measuring points were obtained. The functional relationship between ground particle vibration acceleration and TNT explosive mass was established by dimensional analysis method, and the functional relationship calculation accuracy was verified by the measured test data. The results show that the particle vibration acceleration peak value is positively correlated with the TNT explosive mass, and negatively correlated with the measuring point distance; The particle vibration acceleration calculation function established by the dimensional analysis method has high fitting accuracy for the existing test data, and can be used to calculate the ammunition explosion ground vibration acceleration peak value. The research results provide a high-precision calculation method for the peak value of explosion seismic wave ground vibration acceleration.
Evaluation of the e-health literacy levels and related factors in vocational school of health services students
Authors: GENÇ Ezgi , GENÇ Tuncay , GÜNEŞ Gülsen
Published: September 2023

Aim: This study evaluated the e-health literacy levels and related factors in Vocational School of Health Services students.

Methods: It is a cross-sectional study conducted between January and February 2019 on 778 students studying at the Vocational School of Health Services in Elazig. The research data were collected using the “Personal Data Form”, and “e-Health Literacy Scale (eHEALS)”. The data were evaluated in the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 22.0 program, with p
Изучение Эго-состояний по Э. Берну: вербальные и невербальные проявления в процессе взаимодействия
Authors: Ребенок Валерия В.
Published: September 2023

Данное исследование посвящено изучению взаимодействия с точки зрения структурного и транзакционного анализа Э. Берна, а также анализу и выявлению вербальных и невербальных проявлений каждого Эго-состояния в процессе взаимодействия. Во «Введении» автором приводится актуальность и значимость данной работы. Выявляется степень разработанности исследуемого вопроса и необходимость изучения избранной автором проблемы. Также поставлены цель и гипотезы, предлагаются возможности практического применения результатов проведённого исследования. Новизна исследования заключается в том, что впервые применены методы «наблюдение» и «эксперимент» с целью выявления вербальных и невербальных признаков, указывающих на определённое Эго-состояние. В «Методах» автор приводит методики, применённые в данной работе, описание выборки, а также ход проведения сбора данных респондентов. В разделе «Результаты» отображены итоги, полученные в ходе анализа проведённого исследования. Наиболее преобладающими у студентов-психологов являются Эго-состояния «Взрослый», «Ребёнок Свободный» и «Родитель Заботливый». Выявлена обратная корреляция между доминирующим Эго-состоянием «Взрослый» и высоким уровнем инфантилизма личности. Выявлены особенности вербального и невербального поведения респондентов, находящихся в различных Эго-состояниях, а также реакции респондентов на неожиданную ситуацию, предполагающую вхождение в определённое Эго-состояние. В «Обсуждении результатов» автором приводится объяснение итогов проведённого исследования, производится сравнение результатов исследования других авторов, изучающих Эго-состояния в контексте структурного и транзакционного анализа Э. Берна. В разделе «Заключение» обозначены основные выводы, полученные в результате проведения данной работы, возможности и пути дальнейшего изучения актуальной в статье проблемы.
Barriers to Targeted Drug Delivery Strategies in Brain
Authors: Kesharwani Payal , Kumari Kajal , Jain Smita , Sharma Swapnil
Published: September 2023

Brain tumor is considered to be the most detrimental disease found in
humans. Amongst the various brain tumors, glioblastoma has emerged as a highly
invasive malignant disease that has contributed to significant mortality worldwide.
Despite surgical and drug innovations, most of the patients suffering from brain
tumours have shown poor prognosis, with a median life span. The presence of the
blood-brain barrier (BBB) acts as a protective layer outside the brain for most of the
conventional, diagnostic and therapeutic agents, which in turn leads to poor diagnosis
and less efficacy in most clinical subjects. In recent years, multifunctional
nanotechnology systems have been employed to deliver theranostic agents to the brain,
showing promising outcomes in the treatment of various forms of cancer. The present
chapter provides comprehensive information on the most recent developments in BBB crossing nanotechnology, with a slight focus on the thoughtful design of
multifunctional nanoplatforms for effective BBB penetration, accurate tumor imaging,
and substantial brain tumor inhibition. Besides, various physiological barriers and
transportation mechanisms, different drug delivery systems for brain tumors are also
highlighted. Furthermore, major advancements in brain tumor theranostics pertaining to
employing different nanosystems such as liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, bio-nano
particles, and inorganic-nanoparticles for effective nano-drug delivery for theranostics
in brain tumors have also been discussed.
Theranostics Nanoemulsion for Brain Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment
Authors: Prashar Deepak , Sahu Ram Kumar , Khan Jiyauddin , Iyanuoluwa Adebayo Oluwadunsin , Fumilayo Adigun Grace
Published: September 2023

Cancer or malignancy is the most widely occurring ailment in the recent
scenario. Brain tumor is considered to be one of the most fatal among all types of
tumors. The brain-related tumors are numerous and need to be treated and diagnosed
in different ways. The diagnosis of brain tumor is done by various methods like MRI,
CT scan and neurological testing. In the recent past, a number of nanoemulsion
formulations have been formulated and developed to treat and diagnose brain cancer.
The present work presents the present status of anti-cancer drugs, the parameters
related to their working and the advancement in technology.
Theranostics Micelles for Brain Tumor Diagnosis and Treatment
Authors: Maraie Nidhal Khazaal , Mahdi Zainab H. , Al-Juboori Zahraa Amer
Published: September 2023

Brain cancer is considered one of the most vicious and devastating tumors
owing to its poor prognosis and high mortality rate. Common strategies for
treatment include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Unfortunately, these are
limited due to their invasive nature and the inherent difficulties of brain surgery, given
there is a high possibility of tumor relapse. Further, radiation and chemotherapy have a
non-selective harmful effect on normal tissues, accompanied by limited drug delivery
due to the presence of various barriers, including the blood-brain barrier. For this
reason, the theranostic approach was developed by incorporating one or more
therapeutic and diagnostic agents in a single nanocarrier moiety which could be
modulated at its surface with certain proteins, legend, surface markers, or a stimuli-responsive agent that is capable of selectively targeting the tumor site after passing
through the blood-brain barrier. This new field will permit the early and precise
detection of cancer tissue, facilitate the process of drug delivery and assist in
monitoring treatment outcomes. Micelles are considered one of the most commonly
used nanocarriers due to their high stability and loading capacity, along with efficient
release controlling properties. This chapter will present brief information about brain
anatomy and cancer, and will discuss the main strategies implemented in the diagnosis
and treatment of brain cancers. Furthermore, it will introduce the theranostic micelle
approach by highlighting micelles types and preparation techniques, as well as explain
the different barriers and approaches to targeting.
Chromosome 13
Authors: Raja Aishwarya , Gor Ravi , Panicker Saurav , Ramalingam Satish
Published: September 2023

Chromosome 13 represents around 4 percent of the total cellular DNA with
115 million base pairs. It is home to various tumor suppressors and oncogenes, such as
ADP ribosylation factors like GTPase-11 (ARL11), Retinoblastoma-1 (RB1), Ras-related protein Rap-2a (RAP2A), etc. Most of the somatic mutations in this chromosome lead to cancer development. Further, deletion in this chromosome has been
reported to support the cancer of leukemias, lymphomas, etc. In this chapter, we have
tried to list cancer-causing genes and their possible oncogenesis in cancer development.
Chromosome 14
Authors: Hariharan Harini , Panicker Saurav , Ramalingam Satish
Published: September 2023

Cancer genetics has focused on several mutational events within a tumor cell
for many years. Recently, the study on cancer genetics has been widened by
concentrating on the importance of intercellular communication and epigenetic events
causing tumor progression and development. The translocation of genetic material
betwixt chromosome 14 and other chromosomes may engender the formation of
various types of tumors. Recent studies emphasize that these chief translocations
between two chromosomes may disrupt the genes crucial for controlling cell growth
and cell division. The translocations involving chromosome-14 and other chromosomes
have been found in tumors including acute myeloid Leukemia, acute lymphoblastic
leukemia, acute bilineal leukemia, follicular lymphoma, small cell lung cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma and multiple myeloma. The tumor suppressor
genes, such as ARID4A, ARID4B, BCL11B, BMP4, CCNB1IP1, CEBPE, DICER1,
DLK1, ESR2, FOXN3, HIF1A, MAX, MEG3, NDRG2 and TTF-1/NKX2-1 under
chromosome 14, play a hypercritical role by enhancing cellular differentiation,
migration, proliferation, metastasis, invasion, cellular growth, and development in
several tumors, including breast cancer, pancreatic tumor, osteosarcoma, lung cancer,
endocrine tumor, T-ALL, cystic nephroma, Hodgkin lymphoma, pleuropulmonary
blastomas, Sertoli Leydig ovarian tumors and rhabdomyosarcoma. Chapter 14
meticulously discusses the importance of each predominant gene under chromosome
14 in mediating tumorigenesis. In cancer genetics, these cardinal genes play a crucial
role by acting as an oncogene or a tumor suppressor in several cancers. Thus, targeting
these tumor-causing genes would provide a breakthrough in cancer biology and
oncology when concerned with future perspectives.
Chromosome 18
Authors: Ramadurai Sivasankari , Panicker Saurav , Ramalingam Satish
Published: September 2023

Cancer is an abnormal or unusual growth of cells in the body with invasive
and migrating potential. It leads to loss of function, weakens the immune system, and is
the second leading cause of death worldwide. This makes it important to eliminate the
disease. Genetic predisposition imposes a high relative risk for several kinds of cancer.
Inherited genetic mutations are responsible for causing 5 to 10 percent of all cancers.
Scientists have investigated mutations in specific genes with more than 50 hereditary
cancer syndromes. For this, chromosome 18 was explored for its genes associated with
cancer and this study unveiled 30 genes involved in causing cancer. Of these, the genes
DCC, EPB41L3, MBD1 PHLPP1, and RBBP8 were the potential tumor suppressors.
This chromosome consists of the target genes of the transforming growth factor-beta
(TGF-β) signaling pathway. The SMAD family genes (SMAD4, SMAD7, and SMAD2)
are encoded by this chromosome, of which SMAD4 acts as a tumor suppressor.
SERPINB5 and TCF-4 were the potential oncogenes. The enzyme coded by TYMS was
a potential therapeutic target for chemotherapy. Several fusion genes of this
chromosome (SS18-SSX2B, SS18-SSX2, and SS18-SSX4) have been identified to cause
cancer. Therefore, this chapter provides a summary of the genes in chromosome 18 that
are involved in the initiation and proliferation of cancer and provides an insight into the
potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for clinical application to develop a
cancer-free world.