bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
(Pos)verdad y política en la democracia liberal
Authors: Arias Maldonado Manuel
Published: November 2023

(Post)Truth and Politics in Liberal Democracy
Resumen: Se ha identificado la denominada “posverdad” como una de las causas mayores de la crisis de la democracia liberal, amenazada por la emergencia de populismos y movimientos extremistas. Sin embargo, no existe acuerdo en la literatura sobre la naturaleza o la seriedad de la amenaza que la posverdad supone. La razón es que no sabemos cuál es la relación que la política y la democracia mantienen con la verdad; tampoco cuál deba ser esa relación en un marco de pluralismo valorativo. Este artículo trata de responder a esas preguntas y ofrece un diagnóstico propio acerca de la posverdad. 
Abstract: So-called “post-truth” has been signalled as one major reason to explain the crisis of liberal-democracy, which is currently threatened by the emergence of populism and extremist movements. However, there is no agreement about the nature or seriousness of that particular threat. The reason is that we do not know how politics and democracy relate to truth, nor how should they relate to each other in a pluralistic framework. This paper attempts to answer these questions and offers an account of post-truth.
Hasta el pitido final: El miedo a la muerte, el buen vivir y los juegos en la obra de Bernard Suits
Authors: Lopez Frias Francisco Javier
Published: November 2023

Until the final whistle. Fear of dying, good living, and game-playing in Bernard Suits’ oeuvre
Resumen: En este artículo, se ofrece un recorrido por la obra de Bernard Suits, un filósofo estadounidense apenas conocido en ámbitos filosóficos castellanoparlantes. Se analizan sus posiciones relativas a los dos temas centrales que le ocuparon durante su carrera filosófica: la búsqueda de definiciones y la pregunta por la vida buena. No obstante, se defenderá que todo su trabajo, desde su tesis de maestría defendida en 1950 hasta sus obras publicadas póstumamente, Suits dio preferencia a la segunda cuestión. Esta interpretación contrasta con la recepción de su obra en círculos académicos angloamericanos, dónde se ha priorizado su propuesta definicional sobre la relativa al buen vivir. 
Abstract: In this article, I provide an overview of the work of Bernard Suits, a United States-born philosopher hardly known in Spanish-speaking philosophical circles. I analyze his views on the two central themes that occupied him during his philosophical career: the search for definitions and the question concerning the good life. However, I argue that throughout his work, from his master’s thesis defended in 1950 to his posthumously published works, Suits gave preference to the second theme. This interpretation contrasts with the reception of his work in Anglo-American academic circles, where his definitional proposal has been prioritized over his musings on the good life.
The idea of "occurence" in Russian and Chinese Languages and Cultures
Authors: Golovanivskaya Mariya Konstantinovna , Efimenko Nikolai Aleksandrovich
Published: November 2023

The author examines the idea of "occurrence" in two linguistic pictures of the world - Russian and Chinese. The study is comparative. The description of each idea is made according to a clear algorithm: the etymology of the word, the mythological roots of the concept, its compatibility, a comparison of dictionary definitions is made. The aim of the study is to identify the peculiarities of the idea of "occurrence" in the Russian and Chinese languages. The purpose of the comparison is to see the similarities and differences in the worldview of different nations. Scientific methods of research are: comparative-historical method, method of generalization, method of semantic analysis. This topic is understudied, no linguocultural studies analyzing this idea in Russian and Chinese culture have been observed earlier, which constitutes the scientific novelty of the work. The results will contribute to mutual understanding between peoples, forming a kind of conceptual bridge, and will also be used in courses on regional studies, comparative studies of cultures, and in the teaching of the respective languages.
Formation of a professional linguistic personality (based on texts in the specialty «Earth Sciences»)
Authors: Paderina Tat'yana Sergeevna
Published: November 2023

In the conditions of intensive growth of scientific and scientific-technical information, rapid changeability and updating of the system of scientific knowledge there is a need to study issues related to professional communication. Users of scientific language master its culture gradually; acquire life experience, their own knowledge, general and professional erudition of the speaker. The aim of the article is to carry out a comprehensive analysis of linguistic means and identify the features of the implementation of professional linguistic personality of a scientist, author of scientific articles on the speciality «Earth Sciences». Special attention is devoted to a brief review of theoretical provisions of domestic researchers engaged in the study of professional linguistic personality and idiostyle. Scientific novelty lies in the analysis of linguistic means characteristic of the individual style of a scientist on a new linguistic material (scientific texts on the specialty «Earth Sciences»). This approach allowed us to consider the influence of a person's professional status on the texts produced by him/her. The material for the analysis is the articles selected by the method of continuous sampling on the scientific specialty «Earth Sciences». In addition, the method used in this article was continuous sampling method, content analysis, comparative analysis. The obtained results showed that in order to build a model of professional linguistic personality of a scientist, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive psychological and linguistic analysis of the scientist's texts at the verbal-semantic, linguistic-cognitive and pragmatic levels, highlighting the correlation and influence of ethno-cultural, socio-group and individual aspects of personality content. Despite the fact that the author of scientific articles is limited by the norms of scientific style, there are certain linguistic means that allow reflecting the author's uniqueness under the existing norms of text formation.
Archaeological DNA data of the XII century from ancient Klyazma settlements. Part 2
Authors: Semenov Alexander Sergueevich , Kabaev Danil Andreevich , Chernyaeva Larisa Leonidovna , Chernov Serguey Zaremovich , Goncharova Natalia Nikolaevna
Published: November 2023

The paper describes the results of determining the haplogroups of two ancient burials of the 12th century from the middle reaches of the Klyazma. The data obtained make it possible to determine the Y-haplogroup and mitohaplogroup using the markers identified in the study. The article describes the using of bioinformatics methods and the result obtained. The result with a high probability determines the Y-haplogroup I1-Z58 of burial No. 26 and the mitochondrial haplogroup H1-146C (highly probable, H1m1) of burial No. 25. This work summarizes the initial stage of research undertaken in 2019-2020, and continued in other works by the team of authors. Some of the results have been published; mitoDNA from burial No. 25 is published for the first time and completes the series of DNA data from the described group of burials from ancient Klyazma settlements, published by the authors earlier. Modern technologies make it possible to extract DNA and test it using various methods, including determination of the Y-chromosome haplogroup and mitochondrial DNA. The article presents the results of the study conducted in 2019-2020 years. The first evidence of the presence of mitochondrial haplogroup H1-146C (burial No. 25) and Y-haplogroup I1-Z58 (burial No. 26) among the Klyazma population of North-Eastern Russia in the 12th century not only confirms the presence of Y-haplogroup H1 in medieval Russian lands (inhabited descendants of the Eastern Slavs), but also indicates that some genetic unity with the western parts of the Slavic area might exist that time.
Intracranial stenting compared to medical treatment alone for intracranial atherosclerosis patients: An updated meta-analysis
Authors: Dmytriw Adam A. , Ku Jerry , Azzam Ahmed Y. , Elamin Osman , Cancelliere Nicole , Kapadia Anish , Rabinov James D. , Stapleton Christopher J. , Regenhardt Robert W. , Pereira Vitor Mendes , Patel Aman B. , Yang Victor X.D.
Published: November 2023

Objective: Stroke is the second-leading cause of death globally. Intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) represents 10-15% of ischemic strokes in Western countries and up to 47% in Asian countries. Patients with ICAS have an especially high risk of stroke recurrence. The aim of this meta-analysis is to reassess recurrent stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), and other outcomes with stenting versus best medical management for symptomatic ICAS.Methods: The search protocol was developed a priori according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The OVID Medline, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from inception to August 14th, 2022.Results: This Meta-analysis Included Four Randomized Controlled Trials (Rcts), With A Total Number Of 991 Patients. The Mean Age Of Participants Was 57 Years. The Total Number Of Intracranial Stenting Patients Was 495, And The Number Of Medical Treatment Patients Was 496. The Included Studies Were Published Between 2011 And 2022. Two Studies Were Conducted In The Usa, And The Other Two In China. All Included Studies Compared Intracranial Stenting To Medical Treatment For Icas.Conclusions: In patients with ischemic stroke due to symptomatic severe intracranial atherosclerosis, the rate of 30-day ischemic stroke, 30-day intracerebral hemorrhage, one-year stroke in territory or mortality favored the medical treatment alone without intracranial stenting. The risk of same-territory stroke at last follow-up, disabling stroke at last follow-up, and mortality did not significantly favor either group. Intracranial stenting for atherosclerosis did not result in significant benefit over medical treatment.
Multiphysics modeling and simulations of laser-sustained plasmas
Authors: Zhang Dong-He-Yu , Liu Jin-Bao , Fu Yang-Yang ,   Department of Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Published: November 2023

Laser-sustained plasma (LSP), which can be utilized for a novel radiation light source, has advantages such as high irradiance, broad spectral range, and stable emission, demonstrating significant applications in wafer inspection in the field of the semiconductor industry. This paper revisits the historical development of LSP research and introduces fundamental physical processes in LSP. The mathematical description equations for LSP and methods of calculating plasma parameters are provided, thereby a time-dependent two-dimensional fluid model is established by taking into consideration a laser-thermal-hydrodynamic coupling effect. The propagation of the laser in plasma is investigated based on the established model, and the fundamental processes in LSP, including the initial evolution process, laser energy deposition, steady-state characteristics, and instability, are explored. The effectiveness of the simulation model is confirmed through comparing with the experimental results of high-pressure Xe LSP. The findings indicate that the mode, power, F-number of incident lasers, as well as parameters including components, pressure, and flow velocity of gas, can all affect the steady-state properties of LSPs. Under the identical power and F-number conditions, Gaussian mode laser and annular mode laser both produce LSPs with different shapes and positions. Notably, under the conditions of high-power annular laser incidence, large laser F-number, and high flow velocity, the simulation results reveal temporal and spatial instability in LSP. These simulation results contribute significantly to a more in-depth understanding of the underlying physical mechanisms of the LSP. Furthermore, they provide a theoretical basis for designing the light source system and optimizing the multiple parameters. The influence of laser parameters on LSP properties elucidated in this study not only advances the fundamental understanding of LSP but also offers crucial insights for designing and optimizing the light source systems in various applications, particularly in the field of optical detection for semiconductor wafer inspection.
Atlas of Plasmodium falciparum intraerythrocytic development using expansion microscopy
Authors: Liffner Benjamin , Cepeda Diaz Ana Karla , Blauwkamp James , Anaguano David , Frölich Sonja , Muralidharan Vasant , Wilson Danny W. , Dvorin Jeffrey , Absalon Sabrina
Published: November 2023

Apicomplexan parasites exhibit tremendous diversity in much of their fundamental cell biology, but study of these organisms using light microscopy is often hindered by their small size. Ultrastructural expansion microscopy (U-ExM) is a microscopy preparation method that physically expands the sample ∼4.5x. Here, we apply U-ExM to the human malaria parasite
Plasmodium falciparum
during the asexual blood stage of its lifecycle to understand how this parasite is organized in three-dimensions. Using a combination of dye-conjugated reagents and immunostaining, we have catalogued 13 different
P. falciparum
structures or organelles across the intraerythrocytic development of this parasite and made multiple observations about fundamental parasite cell biology. We describe that the outer centriolar plaque and its associated proteins anchor the nucleus to the parasite plasma membrane during mitosis. Furthermore, the rhoptries, Golgi, basal complex, and inner membrane complex, which form around this anchoring site while nuclei are still dividing, are concurrently segregated and maintain an association to the outer centriolar plaque until the start of segmentation. We also show that the mitochondrion and apicoplast undergo sequential fission events while maintaining an association with the outer centriolar plaque during cytokinesis. Collectively, this study represents the most detailed ultrastructural analysis of
P. falciparum
during its intraerythrocytic development to date, and sheds light on multiple poorly understood aspects of its organelle biogenesis and fundamental cell biology.Using ultrastructure-expansion microscopy we explore the fundamental cell biology of malaria parasites, providing new insights into processes including establishment of cell polarity and organelle fission.
The exchange dynamics of biomolecular condensates
Authors: Zhang Yaojun , Pyo Andrew GT , Kliegman Ross , Jiang Yoyo , Brangwynne Clifford P , Stone Howard A , Wingreen Ned S
Published: November 2023

A hallmark of biomolecular condensates formed via liquid-liquid phase separation is that they dynamically exchange material with their surroundings, and this process can be crucial to condensate function. Intuitively, the rate of exchange can be limited by the flux from the dilute phase or by the mixing speed in the dense phase. Surprisingly, a recent experiment suggests that exchange can also be limited by the dynamics at the droplet interface, implying the existence of an ‘interface resistance’. Here, we first derive an analytical expression for the timescale of condensate material exchange, which clearly conveys the physical factors controlling exchange dynamics. We then utilize sticker-spacer polymer models to show that interface resistance can arise when incident molecules transiently touch the interface without entering the dense phase, i.e., the molecules ‘bounce’ from the interface. Our work provides insight into condensate exchange dynamics, with implications for both natural and synthetic systems.
Sequentially activated discrete modules appear as traveling waves in neuronal measurements with limited spatiotemporal sampling
Authors: Orsher Yuval , Rom Ariel , Perel Rotem , Lahini Yoav , Blinder Pablo , Shein-Idelson Mark
Published: November 2023

Numerous studies have identified traveling waves in the cortex and suggested they play important roles in brain processing. These waves are most often measured using macroscopic methods that are unable to assess the local spiking activity underlying wave dynamics. Here, we investigated the possibility that waves may not be traveling at the single neuron scale. We first show that sequentially activating two discrete brain areas can appear as traveling waves in EEG simulations. We next reproduce these results using an analytical model of two sequentially activated regions. Using this model, we were able to generate wave-like activity with variable directions, velocities, and spatial patterns, and to map the discriminability limits between traveling waves and modular sequential activations. Finally, we investigated the link between field potentials and single neuron excitability using large-scale measurements from turtle cortex ex vivo. We found that while field potentials exhibit wave-like dynamics, the underlying spiking activity was better described by consecutively activated spatially adjacent groups of neurons. Taken together, this study suggests caution when interpreting phase delay measurements as continuously propagating wavefronts in two different spatial scales. A careful distinction between modular and wave excitability profiles across scales will be critical for understanding the nature of cortical computations.
Another benefit of regular sleep
Authors: Huang Tianyi
Published: November 2023

A large observational study has found that irregular sleep-wake patterns are associated with a higher risk of overall mortality, and also mortality from cancers and cardiovascular disease.
Factors related to undiagnosed diabetes in Korean adults: a secondary data analysis
Authors: Kim Bohyun
Published: November 2023

Purpose: This study compared health behaviors and health-related clinical characteristics between individuals with normal glucose levels without diabetes and those with undiagnosed diabetes. Factors that were associated with undiagnosed diabetes were identified by sex. Methods: This was an observational study with a cross-sectional design based on data from the eighth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which used a stratified, multi-stage, cluster-sampling design to obtain a nationally representative sample. Multiple logistic regression analysis was employed to compute the odds ratios of health behaviors and clinical characteristics to identify risk factors for undiagnosed diabetes. Results: The overall prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes was 5.2% (weighted %, n = 700, p < .001). Among individuals with undiagnosed diabetes, 58.3% were men. Univariate logistic regression for undiagnosed diabetes identified sex, age, house income, educational level, and triglycerides as influencing factors. In multiple logistic regression by sex, the factors associated with undiagnosed diabetes in men were age, perceived health status, a diagnosis of angina, and triglycerides. Conclusion: Strategies should be targeted to improve health behaviors and clinical characteristics for those in specific age groups, men in bad perceived health status, women with high systolic blood pressure, and high triglycerides. Moreover, healthcare providers should understand the barriers to health behaviors and health-related quality of life to effectively deliver healthcare services.
Lightweight and compact smart walking cane
Authors: Neves Gonçalo , Sequeira João S. , Santos Cristina P.
Published: November 2023

Devices such as canes and wheelchairs, used to assist locomotion, have remained mostly unchanged for centuries. Recent advances in robotics have the potential to develop smart versions of these devices that can offer better support and living conditions to their users. This is the underlying objective of this project. The existing devices, used during recovery and rehabilitation phases where gait stability is key, are often bulky and cannot be easily migrated from hospital to domestic environments, where maneuvering space tends to be restricted. This article discusses a compact, lightweight and minimally invasive, robotic cane to assist locomotion. The device can assist users with mild locomotion disabilities, e.g., in the final stages of rehabilitation, to maintain and recover their balance in standing and walking situations. This extends previous experiments with alternative control strategies, merged with indicators (based on the Gini index) able to recognize differences between users. Several experiments, with a range of users possessing different mobility impairments, confirm the viability of the robotic cane, with users comfortably using the cane after three minutes, on average, proving its ease of use and low intrusiveness, and with constant support offered during the whole movement. Furthermore, the real-time tuning of the controller gains, via the Gini inequality index, enables adjustment to the user’s movement.
Blockchain technology and application: an overview
Authors: Dong Shi , Abbas Khushnood , Li Meixi , Kamruzzaman Joarder
Published: November 2023

In recent years, with the rise of digital currency, its underlying technology, blockchain, has become increasingly well-known. This technology has several key characteristics, including decentralization, time-stamped data, consensus mechanism, traceability, programmability, security, and credibility, and block data is essentially tamper-proof. Due to these characteristics, blockchain can address the shortcomings of traditional financial institutions. As a result, this emerging technology has garnered significant attention from financial intermediaries, technology-based companies, and government agencies. This article offers an overview of the fundamentals of blockchain technology and its various applications. The introduction defines blockchain and explains its fundamental working principles, emphasizing features such as decentralization, immutability, and transparency. The article then traces the evolution of blockchain, from its inception in cryptocurrency to its development as a versatile tool with diverse potential applications. The main body of the article explores fundamentals of block chain systems, its limitations, various applications, applicability etc. Finally, the study concludes by discussing the present state of blockchain technology and its future potential, as well as the challenges that must be surmounted to unlock its full potential.
Amlodipine and lufenuron as repurposing drugs against Sporothrix brasiliensis
Authors: Poester Vanice Rodrigues , Hidalgo Jéssica Estefania Dávila , Jardim Lara Severo , Trápaga Mariana Rodrigues , Rabello Vanessa Brito de Souza , Almeida-Paes Rodrigo , Zancope-Oliveira Rosely Maria , Xavier Melissa Orzechowski
Published: November 2023

Background

Sporotrichosis caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis is a globally emerging infectious disease with limited therapeutic options. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the in vitro activity of amlodipine (AML) and lufenuron (LUF) alone and their interaction with itraconazole (ITZ), the first-choice drug against S. brasiliensis.

Methods

Twenty clinical isolates of S. brasiliensis from two hyperendemic regions were tested through a microdilution assay to evaluate the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC) of AML and LUF. Checkerboard assay was performed with 10 isolates for both drug interactions with ITZ.

Results

AML showed inhibitory and fungicidal activity against all isolates included, with MIC values ranging from 32 to 256 µg/mL, and MFC from 64 to 256 µg/mL. However, none of the S. brasiliensis isolates were inhibited by the highest soluble concentration of LUF (MIC >64 µg/mL for all strains). Synergic interaction of AML and LUF with ITZ occurred in 50% and 40% of the isolates tested, without any antagonistic effects.

Conclusion

Both repurposing drugs evaluated in our study showed a promising in vitro activity, especially in synergy with ITZ against S. brasiliensis, warranting future in vivo investigations regarding its activity.
Buried treasure in a public repository: Mining mitochondrial genes of 32 annelid species from sequence reads deposited in the Sequence Read Archive (SRA)
Authors: Kobayashi Genki
Published: November 2023

Background

The mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) of metazoans generally include the same set of protein-coding genes, which ensures the homology of mitochondrial genes between species. The mitochondrial genes are often used as reference data for species identification based on genetic data (DNA barcoding). The need for such reference data has been increasing due to the application of environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis for environmental assessments. Recently, the number of publicly available sequence reads obtained with next-generation sequencing (NGS) has been increasing in the public database (the NCBI Sequence Read Archive, SRA). Such freely available NGS reads would be promising sources for assembling mitochondrial protein-coding genes (mPCGs) of organisms whose mitochondrial genes are not available in GenBank. The present study aimed to assemble annelid mPCGs from raw data deposited in the SRA.

Methods

The recent progress in the classification of Annelida was briefly introduced. In the present study, the mPCGs of 32 annelid species of 19 families in clitellates and allies in Sedentaria (echiurans and polychaetes) were newly assembled from the reads deposited in the SRA. Assembly was performed with a recently published pipeline mitoRNA, which includes cycles of Bowtie2 mapping and Trinity assembly. Assembled mPCGs were deposited in GenBank as Third Party Data (TPA) data. A phylogenetic tree was reconstructed with maximum likelihood (ML) analysis, together with other mPCGs deposited in GenBank.

Results and Discussion

mPCG assembly was largely successful except for Travisia forbesii; only four genes were detected from the assembled contigs of the species probably due to the reads targeting its parasite. Most genes were largely successfully obtained, whereas atp8, nad2, and nad4l were only successful in 22–24 species. The high nucleotide substitution rates of these genes might be relevant to the failure in the assembly although nad6, which showed a similarly high substitution rate, was successfully assembled. Although the phylogenetic positions of several lineages were not resolved in the present study, the phylogenetic relationships of some polychaetes and leeches that were not inferred by transcriptomes were well resolved probably due to a more dense taxon sampling than previous phylogenetic analyses based on transcriptomes. Although NGS data are generally better sources for resolving phylogenetic relationships of both higher and lower classifications, there are ensuring needs for specific loci of the mitochondrial genes for analyses that do not require high resolutions, such as DNA barcoding, eDNA, and phylogenetic analysis among lower taxa. Assembly from publicly available NGS reads would help design specific primers for the mitochondrial gene sequences of species, whose mitochondrial genes are hard to amplify by Sanger sequencing using universal primers.
First specific detection and validation of tomato wilt caused by Fusarium brachygibbosum using a PCR assay
Authors: Deng Siyi , Liu Quanke , Chang Wei , Liu Jun , Wang Hua
Published: November 2023

Tomato wilt is a widespread soilborne disease of tomato that has caused significant yield losses in many tomato growing regions of the world. Previously, it was reported that tomato wilt can be caused by many pathogens, such as Fusarium oxysporum, Ralstonia solanacearum, Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum, Fusarium acuminatum, and Plectosphaerella cucumerina. In addition, we have already reported that Fusarium brachygibbosum caused symptomatic disease of tomato wilt for the first time in China. The symptoms of tomato wilt caused by these pathogens are similar, making it difficult to distinguish them in the field. However, F. brachygibbosum specific identification method has not been reported. Therefore, it is of great importance to develop a rapid and reliable diagnostic method for Fusarium brachygibbosum to establish a more effective plan to control the disease. In this study, we designed F. brachygibbosum-specific forward primers and reverse primers with a fragment size of 283bp located in the gene encoding carbamoyl phosphate synthase arginine-specific large chain by whole genome sequence comparison analysis of the genomes of eight Fusarium spp.. We then tested different dNTP, Mg2+ concentrations, and annealing temperatures to determine the optimal parameters for the PCR system. We evaluated the specificity, sensitivity and stability of the PCR system based on the optimized reaction system and conditions. The PCR system can specifically identify the target pathogens from different fungal pathogens, and the lower detection limit of the target pathogens is at concentrations of 10 pg/uL. In addition, we can accurately identify F. brachygibbosum in tomato samples using the optimized PCR method. These results prove that the PCR method developed in this study can accurately identify and diagnose F. brachygibbosum.
Chemical-Induced Dormancy Breaking of Freshly Harvested Potato Minitubers and Its Effect on Subsequent Growth and Yield
Authors: Gul Zishan , Iqbal Nayyar
Published: November 2023

Tuber dormancy is an important phenomenon in potato seed production cycle and its duration can positively affect the number of crops and crop performance during the seed production. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different factors which include potato genotypes (Roko and SM kaghan varieties), chemical treatments i.e GA3, thiourea, Thiourea+GA3 and sugar under light and dark storage conditions. It was found that between varieties, Roko responded better than SM kaghan to various chemical treatments regarding number of days to dormancy breaking. It was found that the growth hormone GA3 (gibberellic acid) in combination with thiourea can significantly increase sprouting percentage to 100%  under dark conditions after 31 days of application. However, it was observed that after planting of the treated tubers the emergence percentage, and minituber yield did not show any significant effect of the three experimental treatments in comparison with control. It is therefore concluded that tuber treatment with thiourea+GA3 and store in dark can decrease the dormancy duration without having any negative effect on plant physiological growth and tuber yield.
The Role of Affiliate Marketing on Purchase Decision Moderated Purchase Interest on Tiktok
Authors: Asadiyah Elia , Ilma Maya Aulia , Rozi M. Fatkhur , Putri Kartika Anggraeni Sudiono
Published: November 2023

Aims: This research was conducted to review the effect of affiliate marketing in the form of content created by affiliators on purchasing decisions moderated by the purchase intention.

Study Design:  This study uses quantitative methods. The data in this study are in the form of numbers that are processed with statistical devices and explanations in the form of descriptions so that they are easily understandable.

Place and Duration of Study: Between February 2023 and August 2023, the research site will be in the city of Malang for Gen Z using the Tiktok platform.

Methodology: Sampling in this study was done using the purposive sampling technique. as for the minimum sample size that needs to be obtained is 110 respondents based on the number of indicators used in this study. The data obtained in this study through the distribution of online questionnaires with a 5-point Likert scale measurement were processed using SPPS 25 and through hypothesis testing and Moderated Regression Analysis (MRA).

Results: An r-square value of 0.795 is obtained for affiliate marketing on purchasing decisions. This means that there is an effect of 79.5%, while the remaining 20.5% is influenced by other variables that are outside of this study. In addition, the significant value obtained is 0.020, which is less than 0.050. This means that the variable of intention to purchase in this study is able to positively moderate the effect of affiliate marketing on purchasing decisions.

Conclusion: Affiliate marketing is able to have a positive and significant impact on the purchase intention of Gen Z in the city of Malang who are using the Tiktok platform. In addition, the purchase intention of Gen Z in Malang City can have a significant impact on the purchase decision. Furthermore, the effect of affiliate marketing on purchase intention can be moderated by purchase intention.
Status of Soil Quality in the Vicinity of Artisanal Refining Sites in Rivers State, Nigeria
Authors: Solomon M. P. , Agbagwa I. O. , Osuji L. C.
Published: November 2023

The environmental quality and sustainability in the Niger Delta region are severely undermined by the increasing practice of artisanal crude oil refining. This study aimed to assess the impact artisanal crude oil refining on soil nutrients stability vis-à-vis plant/vegetal resources of farmlands. Farmlands in Elele-Alimini and Ibaa in Emohua Local Government Area (LGA), Ogbodo in Ikwerre LGA and Umuanyagu (control) in Etche LGA, Rivers State (Nigeria) were sampled in this study. A total of fifty (50) sampling points in both test and control locations, were randomly selected using a standard spatial (grid-based) sampling technique. Soil and plant samples within the farmlands were collected to determine the physicochemical parameters and macronutrient contents. During the dry and wet seasons, mean values of pH, EC and moisture content in test soil were in the ranges 4.60-4.85 and 4.55-4.79; 66.67-130.0 µS/cm and 31.3-33 µS/cm, and 7.21-11.49 % and 11.71-66 %, respectively. The values of pH, EC and moisture content in the control soil ranged from 4.78-4.84 and 4.81-5.14; 130-152 µS/cm and 31.5-33.0 µS/cm, 11.86-11.88% and 63-66% respectively. Electrical conductivity and pH of soil showed almost a similar trend (Control > Ogbodo > Ibaa > Elele Alimini) for both top and sub-soils and in both seasons. During the dry and wet seasons, mean values of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and Soil Organic Matter (SOM) in test soils were in the ranges 0.11-0.17% and 0.11-0.18 %; 0.13-0.23 mg/kg and 0.04-0.06 mg/kg; 22.82-51.87 mg/kg and 14.23-35.60 mg/kg; 1.30-2.00% and 1.36-2.0%, and 2.22-3.45% and 2.24-3.16, respectively. Mean values of N, P, K, TOC and SOM in control soils during the dry and wet seasons were in the ranges 0.12-0.19% and 0.14%; 0.29-0.33 mg/kg and 0.08-0.09 mg/kg; 50.33-52.18 mg/kg and 42.75-50.24 mg/kg; 1.35-2.14 and 1.83-2.08%, and 2.53-3.70% and 2.12-2.85%, respectively. The levels of N, P, K, TOC and SOM in the farmlands were low, and could result in poor crop growth yield.
Orthogonal Polynomials and Fourier Series for Functions of Vector Variable: Multidimensional-Matrix Approach
Authors: Mukha V. S.
Published: November 2023

In the article, the theory of the Fourier series on the orthogonal multidimensional-matrix polynomials is developed. The known results from the theory of the orthogonal polynomials of the vector variable and the Fourier series are given and the new results are presented. In particular, the known results of the Fourier series are extended to the case of the multidimensional-matrix functions, what allows us to solve more general approximation problems. The general case of the approximation of the multidimensional-matrix function of the vector argument by the Fourier series on the orthogonal multidimensional-matrix polynomials is realized programmatically as the program function and its efficiency is confirmed. The analytical expressions for the coefficients of the second degree orthogonal polynomials and Fourier series for the potential studies are obtained.
Influence of Chemicals and Plant Bioregulators Application during the Time of Fruit Developmental Phenophase on Fruit Weight, Quality and Shelf-life of Mango (Mangifera indica. L)
Authors: Gangadhar B.  , Krishna G. Vijay , Kumar T. Suresh , Harshitha D. Naga , Bhasker K.
Published: November 2023

The present study was conducted to know the influence of chemicals and plant bioregulators application during the time of fruit developmental phenophase on fruit weight, quality and shelf-life of Mango (Mangifera indica. L) at the fruit research station, Aswaraopet, Telangana, India during the 2022- 23. Among chemicals and plant bioregulators maximum fruit retention percentage (16.851 %), TSS (14.901 °Brix), total sugars (12.999 %) and shelf life (15.034 days) were recorded with pre-harvest application of CPPU. Maximum ascorbic acid content (49.838 mg. 100 g-1), reducing sugars (4.277 %) and firmness (5.866 kg.cm-2) were recorded with pre-harvest application of Ca(NO3)2 whereas, minimum physiological loss in weight was recorded with the application of CPPU on 12th day (16.244 %). Among different time of chemicals and plant bio regulator application, maximum fruit retention percentage were recorded with chemicals and plant bio regulator applied at 703 phenophase, maximum shelf-life was recorded with the application of CPPU at 709 phenophase, minimum physiological loss in weight was recorded with the application of CPPU at 709 phenophase.
Phytotherapy in the Family and Community Medicine Residency Program in Paraná, Brazil: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Costa Luiz Antonio Batista da , Marques Camila Aparecida Moraes , Soares Rodrigo Silva Quintela , Junior Helvo Slomp , Sanches Leide da Conceição , Mello Rosiane Guetter
Published: November 2023

Introduction: Phytotherapy, as a therapeutic method, uses medicinal plants and their derivatives for the treatment of diseases. The aim of this study is to know how Phytotherapy is conceived as a medical practice among Family and Community Medicine residents in training.

Materials and Methods: This research is exploratory and descriptive. The study was conducted in quantitative and qualitative phases, starting with a cross-sectional research design based on an online questionnaire, followed by a qualitative phase, based on Social Representations, using Free Lexical Evocation. This study sample consisted of 46 Family and Community Medicine residents. They were invited to participate in the research through groups in message applications.

Results and Discussion: The gap between acceptance and knowledge can be reduced with the insertion of phytotherapy in the current medical curriculum, so that future physicians can better communicate with their patients about this therapeutic modality. Educational interventions, through continuing education programs, are also indicated to give physicians the opportunity to update their knowledge in this area. Equipping public health institutions with products from the Brazilian Pharmacopoeia, as well as the availability of electronic databases to answer questions that may arise in the course of clinical practice, may be steps towards access to information.

Conclusion: Phytotherapy can and should be used as a transformative tool, allowing university-community interaction. However, more studies should be carried out to discuss the use of phytotherapy drugs as treatment and to demystify the use of these compounds to treat various diseases.
Cardiometabolic Effects of Omnivorous vs Vegan Diets in Identical Twins
Authors: Landry Matthew J. , Ward Catherine P. , Cunanan Kristen M. , Durand Lindsay R. , Perelman Dalia , Robinson Jennifer L. , Hennings Tayler , Koh Linda , Dant Christopher , Zeitlin Amanda , Ebel Emily R. , Sonnenburg Erica D. , Sonnenburg Justin L. , Gardner Christopher D.
Published: November 2023

Importance

Increasing evidence suggests that, compared with an omnivorous diet, a vegan diet confers potential cardiovascular benefits from improved diet quality (ie, higher consumption of vegetables, legumes, fruits, whole grains, nuts, and seeds).

Objective

To compare the effects of a healthy vegan vs healthy omnivorous diet on cardiometabolic measures during an 8-week intervention.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This single-center, population-based randomized clinical trial of 22 pairs of twins (N = 44) randomized participants to a vegan or omnivorous diet (1 twin per diet). Participant enrollment began March 28, 2022, and continued through May 5, 2022. The date of final follow-up data collection was July 20, 2022. This 8-week, open-label, parallel, dietary randomized clinical trial compared the health impact of a vegan diet vs an omnivorous diet in identical twins. Primary analysis included all available data.

Intervention

Twin pairs were randomized to follow a healthy vegan diet or a healthy omnivorous diet for 8 weeks. Diet-specific meals were provided via a meal delivery service from baseline through week 4, and from weeks 5 to 8 participants prepared their own diet-appropriate meals and snacks.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was difference in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration from baseline to end point (week 8). Secondary outcome measures were changes in cardiometabolic factors (plasma lipids, glucose, and insulin levels and serum trimethylamine N-oxide level), plasma vitamin B12 level, and body weight. Exploratory measures were adherence to study diets, ease or difficulty in following the diets, participant energy levels, and sense of well-being.

Results

A total of 22 pairs (N = 44) of twins (34 [77.3%] female; mean [SD] age, 39.6 [12.7] years; mean [SD] body mass index, 25.9 [4.7]) were enrolled in the study. After 8 weeks, compared with twins randomized to an omnivorous diet, the twins randomized to the vegan diet experienced significant mean (SD) decreases in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration (−13.9 [5.8] mg/dL; 95% CI, −25.3 to −2.4 mg/dL), fasting insulin level (−2.9 [1.3] μIU/mL; 95% CI, −5.3 to −0.4 μIU/mL), and body weight (−1.9 [0.7] kg; 95% CI, −3.3 to −0.6 kg).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this randomized clinical trial of the cardiometabolic effects of omnivorous vs vegan diets in identical twins, the healthy vegan diet led to improved cardiometabolic outcomes compared with a healthy omnivorous diet. Clinicians can consider this dietary approach as a healthy alternative for their patients.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05297825
Engineering Ternary PdMop Nanoenzyme for Enzyodynamic Effect‐Enhanced Ferroptosis and Sonocatalysis‐Enabled Tumor Immunotherapy
Authors: Song Xinran , Liu Jiefu , Wang Wenrong , Ding Li , Feng Wei , Zhang Tingting , Chen Yu , Ni Xuejun
Published: November 2023

Immunotherapy has become one of the most effective therapeutic modalities for achieving long‐term cancer remission, but the available immunotherapeutic strategies suffer from modest response rates owing to the insufficient immunogenicity of tumor cells. In this work, a nanomedicine strategy for maintaining highly immunogenic tumor cells by inducing cascade‐mediated immunogenic tumor‐cell ferroptosis is proposed and developed. A PdMoP nanoplatform is engineered that not only induces initial immunogenic tumor cell ferroptosis through its multienzyme‐mimicking activities but also accelerates Mo(IV)‐to‐Mo(VI) transition, which aggravates glutathione (GSH) depletion for deactivating glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) enzyme and lead to excessive radical production for promoting p53 expression and reducing SLC7A11, thereby resulting in efficient ferroptosis and apoptosis. Additionally, PdMoP nanoparticles induce the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide into oxygen to alleviate tumor hypoxia, working synergistically with GSH depletion to reverse the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Significant ferroptosis (through the classical p53‐SLC7A11‐GPX4 pathway) is monitored in both in vitro cellular level and in vivo tumor models, achieving effective tumor suppression and elimination. The distinct ultrasound‐enhanced enzyodynamic therapy strategy represents a simple and effective paradigm for treating cancer by nanocatalytic medicine and catalytic biomaterials.
B‐Site‐Metal Exsolution on Perovskite Oxides Activates Alkaline Water Oxidation via the Lattice Oxygen Mechanism
Authors: Han Guangtai , Zhuansun Mengjiao , Wang Tongbao , Wang Yuhang
Published: November 2023

Effective electrocatalysts are crucial for facilitating the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), the anodic reaction of water electrolysis for renewable green hydrogen production. Perovskite oxides are a group of potential catalysts featuring the lattice oxygen mechanism (LOM) for OER, where O2 formation commences via a lattice oxygen redox process. The LOM pathway breaks the thermodynamic limitation of the adsorbate evolution mechanism (AEM) and achieves a high intrinsic activity. However, perovskite oxides often suffer high OER overpotentials due to the insufficient activation of the LOM pathway. Typically, the overpotential exceeds 300 mV at 10 mA cm−2. This greatly impedes the practical applications of perovskite oxide based OER catalysts. Here, it is demonstrated that the B‐site‐metal exsolution of a La0.6Sr0.4Fe0.8Ni0.2O3‐δ perovskite increases the activity of LOM by a factor of 3.8 at 400 mV overpotential. The activated LOM pathway leads to a 36‐mV reduction in the overpotential at 10 mA cm−2 (from 310 mV to 274 mV) and a 2× increase in the turnover frequency (TOF) at 450 mV overpotential. A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) water electrolyzer equipped with this LSFN‐based catalyst offers 1 A cm−2 current density at 2.46 V and 24‐h operation stability.
Taurine Inhibits Ferroptosis Mediated by the Crosstalk between Tumor Cells and Tumor‐Associated Macrophages in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Xiao Huixiang , Du Xinxing , Tao Zhenkeke , Jing Nan , Bao Shijia , Gao Wei‐Qiang , Dong Baijun , Fang Yu‐Xiang
Published: November 2023

Tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs) play an essential role in tumor therapeutic resistance. Although the lethal effect of ferroptosis on tumor cells is well reported, how TAMs inhibit the effect of ferroptosis in tumors has not been clearly defined. In this study, it is demonstrated that TAM‐secreted taurine suppresses ferroptosis in prostate cancer (PCa) by activating the Liver X receptor alpha/Stearoyl‐Coenzyme A desaturase 1 (LXRα/SCD1) pathway. Blocking taurine intake via inhibition of taurine transporter TauT restores the sensitivity to ferroptosis in tumors. Furthermore, LXRα activates the transcription of both miR‐181a‐5p and its binding protein FUS to increase the recruitment of miR‐181a‐5p in tumor‐derived extracellular vesicles (EVs). It is observed that macrophages appear to be recipient cells of the miR‐181a‐5p‐enriched EVs. Intake of miR‐181a‐5p in macrophages promotes their M2 polarization and enhances the taurine export by inhibiting expression of its target gene lats1, which in turn inactivates the hippo pathway and results in a Yes‐associated protein (YAP) nuclear translocation for transcriptional activation of both M2 polarization‐related genes such as ARG1 and CD163 and the taurine transport gene TauT. Taken together, the findings indicate a reciprocal interaction between PCa cells and TAMs as a positive feedback‐loop to repress ferroptosis in PCa, mediated by TAM‐secreted taurine and tumor EV‐delivered miR‐181a‐5p.