bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
AKTUALISASI EKONOMI ISLAM DALAM MENURUNKAN TINGKAT KETIMPANGAN DI INDONESIA
Authors: Muheramtohadi Singgih
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACT Actualization of Islamic Economics in solving the problematic of the nation is very important to be learned and practiced. Generally, the practice of islamic economic has been put into practice, especially in the financial and philanthropy sector. In addition, there is a universal ethic that derived from the holy verses that can be used as a guide for the government to make policies, mainly, in policy of reduction of economic inequality. This paper will discuss about the ethics are contained in al Qur’an that can be used as a basis to make the policy of reducing economic inequality. The verse can be used as basis of government to make a decision is verse about the importacnce of distributing wealth equally (Al Hasyr : 7). A verse about the openiong of jobs for the poor (Az Zukhruf: 32), and the hadith about prohibition of ownership of public assets in private (Hadith Ibn Majah) In the field of Islamic economic practice, it is important to increase the acceptance of zakat and waqf, and to use them efectively especially for productively purposes, rather than consumptive purpose.Keyword : Actualization, Islamic Economic, InequalityABSTRAKS Aktualisasi Ekonomi Islam dalam menyelesaikan problematika bangsa sangat penting untuk dipelajari dan dipraktekkan. Praktek Ekonomi Islam pada umumnya telah dilakukan, terutama di sektor perbankan dan sektor filantropi. Selain praktek ekonomi Islam, terdapat etika universal yang bersumber dari al Qur’an yang bisa dijadikan pedoman bagi pemerintah untuk menetapkan kebijakan, terutama kebijakan di bidang pengurangan angka ketimpangan ekonomi. Tulisan ini akan membahas tentang etika apa yang terkandung dalam al Qur’an yang bisa dipakai sebagai dasar menentukan kebijakan pengurangan ketimpangan ekonomi. Dan apa saja potensi dari praktek ekonomi islam, terutama zakat dan wakaf, dalam upaya menurunkan angka ketimpangan. Ayat yang digunakan sebagai dasar pemerintah untuk mengambil kebijakan adalah ayat tentang pentingnya mendistribusikan kekayaan secara merata (Al Hasyr ayat 7), ayat yang berisi pembukaan lapangan pekerjaan bagi golongan yang tidak mampu (Az Zukhruf : 32), dan mencegah jatuhnya aset publik ke tangan pribadi (Hadits Ibn Majah). Di bidang praktek ekonomi islam secara kelembagaan, maka penting untuk meningkatkan penerimaan zakat dan wakaf, dan menggunakan secara lebih efektif terutama untuk keperluan produktif, daripada konsumtif.Kata Kunci : Aktualisasi, Ekonomi Islam, Ketimpangan
Analisis Prosedur dan Biaya Pelaksanaan Audit Halal di Lembaga Pemeriksa Halal
Authors: Ma’wa Putri Nadhila Jannatul , Alim Mohammad Nizarul
Published: September 2024

Indonesia dengan statusnya sebagai negara dengan populasi muslim terbesar di dunia (87,18%) memiliki kepentingan yang kuat dalam memastikan bahwa makanan dan minuman yang dikonsumsi oleh masyarakat muslim terjamin kehalalanya. Sertifikasi halal merupakan suatu prosedur yang dilakukan untuk mendapatkan sertifikat halal yang mencakup beberapa tahapan untuk membuktikan bahwa proses produksi, bahan, dan SJH (Sistem Jaminan Halal) memenuhi standar LPPOM MUI. Sejak berlakunya undang-undang tentang Jaminan Produk Halal, seluruh produk yang ada di Indonesia diwajibkan untuk mendapatkan sertifikat halal. Namun dari hasil rapat evaluasi capaian KNEKS sertifikasi halal ini masih menjadi kendala dalam pengembangan industri halal di Indonesia. Hal ini disebabkan dengan panjangnya proses sertifikasi halal serta biaya sertifikasi halal yang besar. Tujuan penelitian ini dilakukan untuk menganalisis terhadap pelaksanaan audit halal di LPH serta biaya yang digunakan audit halal. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan jika prosedur pelaksanaan audit halal dilakukan auditor dengan melaksanakan pemeriksaan berdasarkan tugas dan tanggungjawab yang telah ditentukan pada pasal 15 UU JPH. Biaya audit halal yang harus dikeluarkan pelaku usaha yaitu terdiri dari biaya pendaftaran dan biaya akomodasi.
Analisa Resiko Pembiayaan Murabahah Bermasalah Pada Bank Syariah di Indonesia
Authors: Widyaningsih Bekti , Amarudin Amin Awal , Laksono Slamet Tri
Published: September 2024

Pembiayaan Murabahah merupakan salah satu instrument keuangan Syariah yang menawarkan instrument pembiayaan bank yang sesuai dengan kaidah ajaran agama Islam. Serupa dengan bisnis lainnya yang memiliki resiko, penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis berbagai faktor yang dapat menyebabkan mitra bank mengalami gagal bayar dan memberikan beberapa alternatif penyelesaiannya. Penelitian ini mengguanakn pendekatan kualitatif dengan metode narasi deskriptif. Hasil dari penelitian ini menunjukkan variabel, melipudi identifikasi, pengukuran, pengendalian resiko serta beberapa karakteristik yang menunjukkan implikasi pembiayaan bermasalah. Implikasi ini akan membantu mitra maupun pihak bank untuk mengurangi resiko pembiayaan yang gagal.
Pengaruh Financial Literacy dan Financial Inclusion Dalam Mempengaruhi Peningkatan Kesejahteraan UKM dengan Pemberdayaan Masyarakat sebagai Variabel Moderasi (Studi Kasus. Pembiayaan Refinancing Syariah PT. Bank Mega Syariah Medan)
Authors: Ari Lanni
Published: September 2024

Penelitian ini bermaksud untuk mengetahui seberapa besar pengaruh financial literacy dan financial inclusion terhadap kesejahteraan UKM di PT. Bank Mega Syariah dengan pemberdayaan masyarakat sebagai variabel moderasi. Sampel penelitian ini berjumlah 35 pelaku UKM. Penelitian ini menggunakan teknik analisisModerated Regression Anlyisis (MRA). Penelitian ini menjelaskan bahwa secara simultan setiap variabel bersama-sama mempengaruhi variabel dependent yaitu kesejahteraan UKM dengan taraf signifikan sekitar 0,000 < 0,05 dan F hitung > F tabel yaitu 43,379 > 2,545. Namun, secara parsial variabel Financial Literacy bahwa berpengaruh positif dan signifikan, sedangkan Financial Inclusion dan Pemberdayaan Masyarakat tidak memiliki pengaruh, serta pemberdayaan masyarakat memoderasi dengan memperlemah hubungan variabel financial literacy terhadap variabel kesejahteraan UKM, sementara itu, pemberdayaan masyarakat juga memoderasi dengan memperkuat hubungan variabel financial inclusion terhadap variabel kesejahteraan UKM. Maka, financial literacy dan financial inclusion merupakan solusi yang tepat bagi para pelaku UKM
Overcoming the AI Black Box in Political Analysis: A Hybrid Approach
Authors: Benitez Baleato Jesus Manuel , Marino Erik , Ribeiro Ana Sofia
Published: September 2024

NLP techniques are increasingly valuable for Political Science, especially in computational text analysis, due to the growing volume of digital text data. Machine learning, particularly neural networks, has boosted NLP's capacity, often surpassing human abilities. However, neural networks' "black box" nature poses challenges for Political Science, limiting causal insights, leading to inconsistent results, and introducing bias from external datasets. To address these issues, a "hybrid" approach combines neural networks with human oversight and structured knowledge. This paper applies such a method to analyze the "Great Replacement" conspiracy theory, which has fueled societal polarization and violence. Using computational and political discourse analysis, we build an annotated corpus and apply transformer-based AI to assess polarity in related discourse. The corpus serves as a gold standard to evaluate AI performance.
Genetic correlation between chronic sinusitis and autoimmune diseases
Authors: Wang Enze , Sun Yingxuan , Zhao He , Wang Meng , Cao Zhiwei
Published: September 2024

Objective

The association between autoimmune diseases and chronic rhinosinusitis in observational studies remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the genetic correlation between chronic rhinosinusitis and autoimmune diseases.

Methods

We employed Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis and linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) to investigate causal relationships and genetic correlations between autoimmune phenotypes and chronic rhinosinusitis. Additionally, transcriptome-wide association (TWAS) analysis was conducted to identify the shared genes between the two conditions to demonstrate their relationship. The CRS GWAS (genome-wide association study) data and other autoimmune diseases were retrieved from ieuOpenGWAS (https://gwas.mrcieu.ac.uk/), the FinnGen alliance (https://r8.finngen.fi/), the UK Biobank (https://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/), and the EBI database (https://www.ebi.ac.uk/).

Results

Utilizing a bivariate two-sample Mendelian randomization approach, our findings suggest a significant association of chronic rhinosinusitis with various autoimmune diseases, including allergic rhinitis (p = 9.55E-10, Odds Ratio [OR] = 2,711.019, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 261.83391–28,069.8), asthma (p = 1.81E-23, OR = 33.99643, 95%CI = 17.52439–65.95137), rheumatoid arthritis (p = 9.55E-10, OR = 1.115526, 95%CI = 1.0799484–1.1522758), hypothyroidism (p = 2.08828E-2, OR = 4.849254, 95%CI = 1.7154455–13.707962), and type 1 diabetes (p = 2.08828E-2, OR = 01.04849, 95%CI = 1.0162932–1.0817062). LDSC analysis revealed a genetic correlation between the positive autoimmune phenotypes mentioned above and chronic rhinosinusitis: AR (rg = 0.344724754, p = 3.94E-8), asthma (rg = 0.43703672, p = 1.86E-10), rheumatoid arthritis (rg = 0.27834931, p = 3.5376E-2), and hypothyroidism (rg = −0.213201473, p = 3.83093E-4). Utilizing the Transcriptome-Wide Association Studies (TWAS) approach, we identified several genes commonly associated with both chronic rhinosinusitis and autoimmune diseases. Genes such as TSLP/WDR36 (Chromosome 5, top SNP: rs1837253), ORMDL3 (Chromosome 13, top SNP: rs11557467), and IL1RL1/IL18R1 (Chromosome 2, top SNP: rs12905) exhibited a higher degree of consistency in their shared involvement across atopic dermatitis (AT), allergic rhinitis (AR), and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).

Conclusion

Current evidence suggests a genetic correlation between chronic rhinosinusitis and autoimmune diseases like allergic rhinitis, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, and type 1 diabetes. Further research is required to elucidate the mechanisms underlying these associations.
Imaging and proteomics toolkits for studying organelle contact sites
Authors: Gamuyao Rico , Chang Chi-Lun
Published: September 2024

Organelle contact sites are regions where two heterologous membranes are juxtaposed by molecular tethering complexes. These contact sites are important in inter-organelle communication and cellular functional integration. However, visualizing these minute foci and identifying contact site proteomes have been challenging. In recent years, fluorescence-based methods have been developed to visualize the dynamic physical interaction of organelles while proximity labeling approaches facilitate the profiling of proteomes at contact sites. In this review, we explain the design principle for these contact site reporters: a dual-organelle interaction mechanism based on how endogenous tethers and/or tethering complexes localize to contact sites. We classify the contact site reporters into three categories: (i) single-protein systems, (ii) two-component systems with activated reporter signal upon organelle proximity, and (iii) reporters for contact site proteomes. We also highlight advanced imaging analysis with high temporal-spatial resolution and the use of machine-learning algorithms for detecting contact sites.
Reflooding the coupled human and natural system of the Waza-Logone Floodplain, Cameroon
Authors: Moritz Mark , Hunter Chelsea E. , Scholte Paul
Published: September 2024

The rewilding framework is used to guide the restoration of ecological processes in natural systems, but the framework can also be used in the restoration of social and ecological processes in coupled human and natural systems. We use the case of the large-scale reflooding of the Waza-Logone Floodplain in Cameroon three decades ago as an example of rewilding a coupled human and natural system. Drawing on studies that have been conducted of the Logone Floodplain and Waza National Park over the last five decades, we discuss the reflooding efforts, review the long-term impact of the reflooding, and reflect on the assumptions of the reflooding effort. Our review shows that restoring the hydrological and ecological processes benefitted human populations but was not sufficient for supporting wildlife; and, political dynamics impact ecological processes and must be considered for rewilding to succeed.
Causal relationship between novel antidiabetic drugs and ischemic stroke: a drug-targeted Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Yu Zongliang , Liu Xinyi , Feng Xue , Zhang Xiaonan , Gao Rui
Published: September 2024

Background

The escalating global economic burden of ischemic stroke poses a significant public health challenge amid global aging trends. The broad therapeutic efficacy of new antidiabetic drugs may offer new options in the prevention and treatment of ischemic stroke. Consistent conclusions regarding the relationship between novel antidiabetic agents and the risk of ischemic stroke remain elusive, and the causal relationship deserves further investigation.

Materials and methods

Three novel antidiabetic drug targets were selected, and cis-expression quantitative trait loci (cis-eQTL) were screened as instrumental variables. Genetic association data for ischemic stroke were obtained from the Genome-wide Association Study (GWAS) database. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, facilitated by R software, calculated MR estimates for each single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), and meta-analysis was performed using five methods. To ensure robustness, sensitivity analyses, heterogeneity analyses, horizontal pleiotropy analyses, and co-localization analyses were conducted for significant MR associations.

Results

Three eQTLs for antidiabetic drug genes served as instrumental variables, utilizing a GWAS dataset comprising 34,217 cases and 406,111 controls for ischemic stroke. Genetic variants in glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) targets exhibited a positive correlation with ischemic stroke risk (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.04–1.08, P = 0.000), while genetic variation in dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) targets showed a negative association with ischemic stroke risk (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.89–0.97, P = 0.003). Sensitivity analyses supported robust conclusions, revealing no heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy.

Conclusion

This study found that GLP-1 RA and DPP-4i were associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke by MR analysis. Although sensitivity analyses provide support for this result, it contradicts previous knowledge. Therefore, the results of this study still need to treated with caution. Updated and more in-depth GWAS data and high-quality real-world data are expected to validate the results.
Assessing benefits of computer-based video training and tools on learning outcomes and motivation in mechanical engineering education: digitalized intervention and approach
Authors: Resendiz-Calderón César D. , Farfan-Cabrera Leonardo I. , Cazares-Ramírez Irving O. , Nájera-García Pedro , Okoye Kingsley
Published: September 2024

Traditionally, laboratory work has been a common approach to facilitate the acquisition of practical skills and familiarize the undergraduate students, particularly engineering students, with specialized tools and equipment. However, the conventional in-person labs often experience challenges such as limited resources and space, instructor availability, and inflexible schedules. The emergence of digital tools and the recent COVID-19 pandemic have prompted educators to reconsider their teaching methods. To this effect, this paper introduces an innovative approach and teaching methodology to address the challenges in traditional engineering education within the laboratory. It presents a methodology that combines cost-effective instructional videos and portable kits to promote autonomous development of practical skills in undergraduate engineering students. The proposed teaching methodology was grounded on the Descriptive Decision theory and Learning-Oriented Assessment (LOA), which are theoretical framework and type of students’ learning outcome (SLO) model that studies the rationality behind the decisions that the users are disposed to make, as well as level of outcome of the students’ learning process or performance. Motivation among the students was assessed using the Model of Academic Motivation Inventory (MUSIC Inventory) to evaluate the impact of the proposed teaching method and learning intervention on the interest of the students. The method was implemented in four independent courses at two different campuses of Tecnologico de Monterrey. The results show that the proposed learning approach was effective in helping students develop hard skills with reduced instructor intervention. Moreover, high levels of motivation was reported through the MUSIC methodology and test administered to the participating students at the end of the courses. The outcome of this study can be used to inform and support the curriculum design by the educators, promote effective policy and decision making by the university leaders, and encourage wide adoption of the digitalized-education.
Evaluation of content knowledge and instructor impacts in a middle school outreach program: lessons from Brain Explorers
Authors: Vollbrecht Peter J. , Cooper Carolyn E. A. , Magoline Joseph A. , Chan Thomas M. , Porter-Stransky Kirsten A.
Published: September 2024

Despite general agreement that science outreach is important, the effectiveness of science outreach programs on participants' learning often is not assessed. Brain Explorers is a neuroscience outreach program that allows medical students to partner with Biomedical Sciences faculty to develop lesson plans with learning objectives, interactive experiments for middle schoolers, and assessments of learning. These lessons are then implemented through a community-level intervention in which medical students teach their lesson plans to middle schoolers and assist them in performing activities to reinforce the concepts. Importantly, the efficacy of these active learning interventions is assessed. Throughout the program's evolution, a variety of different forms of assessment have been utilized to examine student understanding. While the goals of outreach programs are varied, here we have focused on the evaluation of content knowledge gains laying out three unique evaluation methods including post-event, immediate pre- and post-event, and spaced pre- and post-event evaluation. Specifically, using Brain Explorers lessons as examples we explore the practicality and feasibility of various learning assessments in outreach programs, begin to examine the impacts of participation in these programs on the medical school instructors and encourage others in the field to implement assessment of their programs.
Conditional associations of sex steroid hormones with C-reactive protein levels in American children and adolescents: evidence from NHANES 2015-2016
Authors: Zhu Zhisheng , Lin Xingong , Wang Chaoyang , Zhu Shize , Zhou Xianying
Published: September 2024

Background

The relationship between sex steroid hormones and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP) levels in American children and adolescents is understudied. This research will examine this association.

Methods

The study conducted a data analysis from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2015-2016, adjusting multiple linear regression models with R 4.2.2 and EmpowerStats. A total of 1,768 children and adolescents were surveyed. Data collection involved measurements of serum levels of testosterone, estradiol, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and hs-CRP.

Results

With the increase in testosterone, a brief rise (β=0.082, P=0.047) followed by an overall decline (β=-0.028, P=0.023) in hs-CRP was observed in the Male Prepubertal population, while a continuous decline (β=-0.002, P<0.05) was seen in the Male Pubertal group. A positive correlation (β=0.047, P<0.05) was found between testosterone and hs-CRP in the Female Prepubertal population, whereas no significant association (β=0.002, P>0.05) was detected in the Female Pubertal group. A significant inverse correlation was observed between estradiol and hs-CRP solely in the Female Pubertal group (β=-0.002, P<0.05), while no association was found in other populations. An inverse relationship between SHBG and hs-CRP was consistently noted across all groups: Male Prepubertal, Male Pubertal, Female Prepubertal, and Female Pubertal.

Conclusions

The association between sex steroid hormones and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels among American children and adolescents is conditional and influenced by multiple factors.
The relationship between remnant cholesterol and the risk of testosterone deficiency in US adults: a cross-sectional study based on the NHANES database
Authors: Mei Yangyang , Chen Yiming , Wang Xiaogang , Xu Renfang , Feng Xingliang
Published: September 2024

Background

Testosterone deficiency (TD) is an urgent health issue that requires attention, associated with various adverse health outcomes including cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and metabolic syndrome. Remnant cholesterol (RC) has emerged as a potential biomarker for cardiovascular risk, but its relationship with testosterone levels and TD has not been thoroughly investigated. This study aims to explore the association between RC and TD in adult American males using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Methods

This cross-sectional study utilized data from three NHANES cycles (2011-2016), including 2,848 adult male participants. RC was calculated as total cholesterol minus high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL). TD was defined as total testosterone levels below 300 ng/dL. Multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses, as well as smooth curve fitting and generalized additive models, were performed to assess the associations between RC and total testosterone levels and TD, adjusting for potential confounders. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on age, BMI, smoking status, diabetes, hypertension, CVD, and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Results

Higher RC levels were significantly associated with lower total testosterone levels (β = -53.87, 95% CI: -77.69 to -30.06, p<0.001) and an increased risk of TD (OR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.29 to 2.66, p=0.002) in fully adjusted models. When RC was analyzed as quartiles, participants in the highest quartile (Q4) had significantly lower total testosterone levels (β = -62.19, 95% CI: -93.62 to -30.76, p<0.001) and higher odds of TD (OR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.21 to 3.84, p=0.01) compared to those in the lowest quartile (Q1). Subgroup analyses revealed consistent associations across different age groups, particularly strong in participants over 60 years, and in never smokers. The associations remained significant in both hypertensive and non-hypertensive groups, as well as in those with and without CKD. No significant interactions were found across subgroups.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates a significant inverse association between RC levels and total testosterone levels, along with a positive association with the risk of TD. These findings suggest that RC could serve as a valuable biomarker for early identification of individuals at risk for TD. Future longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms.
Closed-loop supply chain decision making and coordination considering channel power structure and information symmetry
Authors: Huo Hong , Chen Yuqiu , Wu Rong
Published: September 2024

China is currently undergoing a phase of high-quality development, with increasing emphasis on the circular economy, energy conservation, and environmental protection by both the government and enterprises. This paper examines a secondary supply chain comprising manufacturers and retailers, focusing on three supply chain decision-making models: one where the manufacturer is the channel leader, one where the retailer is the channel leader, and one where both parties have equal power. The study investigates the impact of manufacturers misrepresenting their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) information and the challenges associated with recycling efforts on the optimal performance of the supply chain. The findings reveal that when manufacturers lead the supply chain, they do not misrepresent their private information. However, when retailers dominate, manufacturers tend to underreport their CSR levels and the difficulty of recycling efforts. In scenarios where manufacturers and retailers have equal power, manufacturers do not misreport the difficulty of recycling but do underreport their CSR levels. This misreporting benefits the manufacturers at the expense of retailers and overall supply chain profitability, while also discouraging the recycling of used products. Across all three power structures, the study shows that retailers’ marketing efforts decrease as the misrepresentation of recycling difficulty increases, and increase as the misrepresentation of CSR levels increases. To mitigate the effects of manufacturers’ misreporting under information asymmetry, the paper proposes revenue-sharing contracts and two-part pricing contracts to coordinate the closed-loop supply chain under different power structures. Both contracts are shown to achieve Pareto improvements within the supply chain. This research provides valuable insights for enterprises operating within closed-loop supply chains, highlighting the importance of enhancing communication and cooperation to bridge information gaps and ensuring the coordina.
Contemporary insights and prospects on ferroptosis in rheumatoid arthritis management
Authors: Zhao Hongyu , Dong Qiumei , Hua Hao , Wu Hao , Ao Limei
Published: September 2024

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common autoimmune disease characterized primarily by persistent synovial inflammation and joint destruction. In recent years, ferroptosis, as a novel form of cell death, has garnered widespread attention due to its critical role in various diseases. This review explores the potential mechanisms of ferroptosis in RA and its relationship with the pathogenesis of RA, systematically analyzing the regulatory role of ferroptosis in synovial cells, chondrocytes, and immune cells. We emphasize the evaluation of ferroptosis-related pathways and their potential as therapeutic targets, including the development and application of inhibitors and activators. Although ferroptosis shows some promise in RA treatment, its dual role and safety issues in clinical application still require in-depth study. Future research should focus on elucidating the specific mechanisms of ferroptosis in RA pathology and developing more effective and safer therapeutic strategies to provide new treatment options for RA patients.
The role of islet autoantigen-specific T cells in the onset and treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Yue Mengmeng , He Xianzhen , Min Xinwen , Yang Handong , Xu Hao , Wu Wenwen , Zhong Jixin , Mei Aihua , Chen Jun
Published: September 2024

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), a complex chronic disease with an intricate etiology and pathogenesis, involves the recognition of self-antigens by pancreatic islet autoantigen-specific T cells and plays crucial roles in both early- and late-stage destruction of beta cells, thus impacting disease progression. Antigen-specific T cells regulate and execute immune responses by recognizing particular antigens, playing broad roles in the treatment of various diseases. Immunotherapy targeting antigen-specific T cells holds promising potential as a targeted treatment approach. This review outlines the pathogenesis of diabetes, emphasizing the pivotal role of pancreatic islet autoantigen-specific T cells in the progression and treatment of T1DM. Exploring this avenue in research holds promise for identifying novel therapeutic targets for effectively managing diabetes.
Machine learning-based discovery of UPP1 as a key oncogene in tumorigenesis and immune escape in gliomas
Authors: Chen Zigui , Liu Chao , Zhang Chunyuan , Xia Ying , Peng Jun , Miao Changfeng , Luo Qisheng
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Gliomas are the most common and aggressive type of primary brain tumor, with a poor prognosis despite current treatment approaches. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying glioma development and progression is critical for improving therapies and patient outcomes.

Methods

The current study comprehensively analyzed large-scale single-cell RNA sequencing and bulk RNA sequencing of glioma samples. By utilizing a series of advanced computational methods, this integrative approach identified the gene UPP1 (Uridine Phosphorylase 1) as a novel driver of glioma tumorigenesis and immune evasion.

Results

High levels of UPP1 were linked to poor survival rates in patients. Functional experiments demonstrated that UPP1 promotes tumor cell proliferation and invasion and suppresses anti-tumor immune responses. Moreover, UPP1 was found to be an effective predictor of mutation patterns, drug response, immunotherapy effectiveness, and immune characteristics.

Conclusions

These findings highlight the power of combining diverse machine learning methods to identify valuable clinical markers involved in glioma pathogenesis. Identifying UPP1 as a tumor growth and immune escape driver may be a promising therapeutic target for this devastating disease.
Signal peptide exchange alters HIV-1 envelope antigenicity and immunogenicity
Authors: Upadhyay Chitra , Rao Priyanka , Behzadi Mohammad Amin , Feyznezhad Roya , Lambert Gregory S. , Kumar Rajnish , Kumar Madhu , Yang Weiming , Jiang Xunqing , Luo Christina C. , Nadas Arthur , Arthos James , Kong Xiang-Peng , Zhang Hui , Hioe Catarina E. , Duty J. Andrew
Published: September 2024

Introduction

HIV-1 envelope (Env) is the key target for antibodies (Abs) against the virus and thus an important HIV-1 vaccine component. Env is synthesized from a gp160 precursor with a signal peptide (SP) at its N-terminus. This study investigated the influence of the SP on Env antigenicity and immunogenicity.

Methods

Env proteins from two HIV-1 isolates, AA05 and AC02, were analyzed as gp120 and gp160 in their native wild-type (WT) forms and as chimeras with swapped SPs (AA05-02 and AC02-05). The WT and chimeric Env were assessed for antigenicity and glycosylation using monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and glycan probes. Immunogenicity was tested in mice using three vaccine types: gp120 protein, gp120 DNA+gp120 protein, and gp120 DNA+gp160 DNA.

Results

The recombinant AC02 gp120 protein was antigenically superior to AA05 as indicated by higher reactivity with most mAbs tested. When SPs were swapped, the antigenicity of the chimeric gp120s (AA05-02 and AC02-05) resembled that of the gp120s from which the SPs were derived; AA05-02 was similar to AC02 and vice versa. Glycan probe reactivity followed a similar pattern: AA05-02 and AC02 showed similar affinity to high-mannose specific mAbs and lectins. Interestingly, the antigenicity of gp160s showed an opposite pattern; membrane-bound gp160 expressed with the AA05 SP (AA05 and AC02-05) showed greater mAb binding than gp160 with the AC02 SP (AC02 and AA05-02). Mice immunized with gp120 protein showed that AA05-02 induced stronger cross-reactive binding Ab responses than AA05 WT, and AC02 elicited stronger responses than AC02-05, indicating AC02 SP enhanced gp120 immunogenicity. However, when DNA vaccines were included (gp120 DNA+gp120 protein and gp120 DNA+gp160 DNA), the use of heterologous SPs diminished the immunogenicity of the WT immunogens. Among the three vaccine regimens tested, only gp120 DNA+gp160 DNA immunization elicited low-level Tier 2 neutralizing Abs, with AA05 WT inducing Abs with greater neutralization capabilities than AA05-02.

Conclusion

These data demonstrate that the SP can significantly impact the antigenicity and immunogenicity of HIV-1 Env proteins. Hence, while SP swapping is a common practice in constructing Env immunogens, this study highlights the importance of careful consideration of the effects of replacing native SPs on the immunogenicity of Env vaccines.
Quantitative real-time PCR assays for species-specific detection and quantification of Baltic Sea spring bloom dinoflagellates
Authors: Brink Annica Marie , Kremp Anke , Gorokhova Elena
Published: September 2024

In the Baltic Sea, the dinoflagellates Apocalathium malmogiense, Biecheleria baltica, and Gymnodinium corollarium are important contributors to the spring bloom. However, their relative contribution to the bloom community cannot be unambiguously determined by conventional light microscopy due to a lack of resolution of distinctive morphological features of the three species. Here, we describe a molecular approach based on a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) primer and probe system, targeting the ITS1 and ITS2 regions of the rRNA gene for all three species and enabling their quantification. The specificity of the method was demonstrated using monocultures of A. malmogiense, B. baltica, G. corollarium as well as three other dinoflagellate species co-occurring in the Baltic Sea during spring and validated using field-collected phytoplankton samples.
Biosurfactant-assisted bio-electrokinetic enhanced remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil
Authors: Narenkumar Jayaraman , Das Bhaskar , Abilaji Subramani , Sathishkumar Kuppusamy , AlSalhi Mohamad S. , Devanesan Sandhanasamy , Rajasekar Aruliah , Malik Tabarak
Published: September 2024

Background

Environmental soil contamination is a serious problem for humans worldwide, as it causes many diseases.

Methods

The present study focuses on utilizing biosurfactants produced by Pseudomonas stutzeri (P. stutzeri) NA3 and Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) EN6, as an electrolyte for removing chromium (Cr) from contaminated soil using the electrokinetic (EK) process.

Results

As a result, biosurfactants produced by P. stutzeri NA3 and B. cereus EN6, being lipopeptides, increase heavy metal mobility in the EK process. The Cr removal efficiency of a novel electrolyte (biosurfactants) in the EK process was compared with that of NA3 and EN6 biosurfactants. The EK results revealed a maximum Cr removal of 75 and 70% by NA3 and EN6, respectively, at the end of 7 days.

Discussion

The biosurfactant aids in the breaking down of the heavy metals that are present deeper into the soil matrix. From the metagenomics analysis, it was identified that biosurfactant changes the microbial community with an enhanced ability to remove heavy metals. The phytotoxicity assay confirms that NA3 biosurfactant solution showed 95% seed germination and can lower hazardous pollutants in the soil.

Conclusion

The application of biosurfactants as a potent electrolyte for the remediation of hazardous pollutants is an integrated process. Overall, the results of this study suggest that biosurfactants can serve as an economic and efficient electrolyte in the EK process to remove Cr from polluted soil.
pH-mediated potentiation of gallium nitrate against Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Liu Chang , Cui Chenxuan , Tan Xiaoxin , Miao Junjie , Wang Wei , Ren Han , Wu Hua , Zheng Cuiying , Ren Huan , Kang Weijun
Published: September 2024

The emergence of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates is a growing concern for public health, necessitating new therapeutic strategies. Gallium nitrate [Ga(NO3)3], a medication for cancer-related hypercalcemia, has attracted great attention due to its ability to inhibit P. aeruginosa growth and biofilm formation by disrupting iron metabolism. However, the antibacterial efficacy of Ga(NO3)3 is not always satisfactory. It is imperative to investigate the factors that affect the bactericidal effects of Ga(NO3)3 and to identify new ways to enhance its efficacy. This study focused on the impact of pH on P. aeruginosa resistance to Ga(NO3)3, along with the underlying mechanism. The results indicate that acidic conditions could increase the effectiveness of Ga(NO3)3 against P. aeruginosa by promoting the production of pyochelin and gallium uptake. Subsequently, using glutamic acid, a clinically compatible acidic amino acid, the pH was significantly lowered and enhanced the bactericidal and inhibitory efficacy of Ga(NO3)3 against biofilm formation by P. aeruginosa, including a reference strain PA14 and several multidrug-resistant clinical isolates. Furthermore, we used an abscess mouse model to evaluate this combination in vivo; the results show that the combination of glutamic acid and Ga(NO3)3 significantly improved P. aeruginosa clearance. Overall, the present study demonstrates that acidic conditions can increase the sensitivity of P. aeruginosa to Ga(NO3)3. Combining glutamic acid and Ga(NO3)3 is a potential strategy for the treatment of P. aeruginosa infections.
Brain activation in older adults with hypertension and normotension during standing balance task: an fNIRS study
Authors: Fan Weichao , Zeng Qing , Zheng Peng , Wen Shuyang , Li Gege , Fan Tao , Huang Guozhi , Zheng Manxu , Luo Qinglu
Published: September 2024

Background

Hypertension (HT) is a common chronic disease in older adults. It not only leads to dizziness and other symptoms affecting balance in older adults with HT but also affects the hemodynamics of the cerebral cortex. At present, potential neural mechanisms of balance control in older adults with HT are still unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the differences in the center of pressure (COP) and cerebral cortex activation between older adults with HT and normotension (NT) during standing balance tasks. This study May provide guidance for the early detection of the risk of falls among older adults with HT and the development of clinical rehabilitation strategies.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 30 older adults with NT (NT group) and 27 older adults with HT (HT group) were subjected to three conditions: task 1, standing with eyes open on a stable surface; task 2, standing with eyes closed on a stable surface; and task 3, standing with eyes open on the surface of the foam pad. Cortical hemodynamic reactions were measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy, and COP parameters were measured using a force plate.

Results

The mean velocity of the COP in the medial–lateral direction in the NT group was significantly higher than that in the HT group (F = 5.955, p = 0.018) during task 3. When proprioception was disturbed, the activation of the left premotor cortex and supplementary motor cortex in the HT group was significantly lower than that in the NT group (F = 14.381, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The standing balance function of older adults with HT does not appear to be worse based on COP parameters than those of older adults with NT. This study revealed that the changes in the central cortex related to standing balance appear to be more indicative of balance control deficits in older adults with HT than changes in peripheral COP parameters, suggesting the importance of the early evaluation of cortical activation in older adults with HT at risk of falls.
Multi-label remote sensing classification with self-supervised gated multi-modal transformers
Authors: Liu Na , Yuan Ye , Wu Guodong , Zhang Sai , Leng Jie , Wan Lihong
Published: September 2024

Introduction

With the great success of Transformers in the field of machine learning, it is also gradually attracting widespread interest in the field of remote sensing (RS). However, the research in the field of remote sensing has been hampered by the lack of large labeled data sets and the inconsistency of data modes caused by the diversity of RS platforms. With the rise of self-supervised learning (SSL) algorithms in recent years, RS researchers began to pay attention to the application of “pre-training and fine-tuning” paradigm in RS. However, there are few researches on multi-modal data fusion in remote sensing field. Most of them choose to use only one of the modal data or simply splice multiple modal data roughly.

Method

In order to study a more efficient multi-modal data fusion scheme, we propose a multi-modal fusion mechanism based on gated unit control (MGSViT). In this paper, we pretrain the ViT model based on BigEarthNet dataset by combining two commonly used SSL algorithms, and propose an intra-modal and inter-modal gated fusion unit for feature learning by combining multispectral (MS) and synthetic aperture radar (SAR). Our method can effectively combine different modal data to extract key feature information.

Results and discussion

After fine-tuning and comparison experiments, we outperform the most advanced algorithms in all downstream classification tasks. The validity of our proposed method is verified.
FunMaps: a method for parcellating functional brain networks using resting-state functional MRI data
Authors: Shao Jiayu , Gotts Stephen J. , Li Taylor L. , Martin Alex , Persichetti Andrew S.
Published: September 2024

Parcellations of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) data are widely used to create topographical maps of functional networks in the human brain. While such network maps are highly useful for studying brain organization and function, they usually require large sample sizes to make them, thus creating practical limitations for researchers that would like to carry out parcellations on data collected in their labs. Furthermore, it can be difficult to quantitatively evaluate the results of a parcellation since networks are usually identified using a clustering algorithm, like principal components analysis, on the results of a single group-averaged connectivity map. To address these challenges, we developed the FunMaps method: a parcellation routine that intrinsically incorporates stability and replicability of the parcellation by keeping only network distinctions that agree across halves of the data over multiple random iterations. Here, we demonstrate the efficacy and flexibility of FunMaps, while describing step-by-step instructions for running the program. The FunMaps method is publicly available on GitHub (https://github.com/persichetti-lab/FunMaps). It includes source code for running the parcellation and auxiliary code for preparing data, evaluating the parcellation, and displaying the results.
Evaluating cortical excitatory and inhibitory activity through interictal intracranial electroencephalography in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Nagata Keisuke , Kunii Naoto , Fujitani Shigeta , Shimada Seijiro , Saito Nobuhito
Published: September 2024

Gamma oscillation regularity (GOR) indicates the synchronization of inhibitory interneurons, while the reactivity of cortico-cortical evoked potentials (CCEPs) is supposed to reflect local cortical excitability. Under the assumption that the early response of CCEP near the stimulation site also indicates excitatory activity primarily mediated by pyramidal cells, we aimed to visualize the cortical inhibitory and excitatory activities using GOR and CCEP in combination and to use them to predict the epileptogenic zone (EZ) in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). In five patients who underwent intracranial electrode implantation, GOR and CCEP reactivity in the vicinity of the stimulation site was quantified. The interictal GOR was calculated using multiscale entropy (MSE), the decrease of which was related to the enhanced GOR. These parameters were compared on an electrode-and-electrode basis, and spatially visualized on the brain surface. As a result, elevated GOR and CCEP reactivities, indicative of enhanced inhibitory and excitatory activities, were observed in the epileptogenic regions. Elevated CCEP reactivity was found to be localized to a restricted area centered on the seizure onset region, whereas GOR elevation was observed in a broader region surrounding it. Although these parameters independently predicted the EZ with high specificity, we combined the two to introduce a novel parameter, the excitatory and inhibitory (EI) index. The EI index predicted EZ with increased specificity compared with GOR or CCEP reactivity alone. Our results demonstrate that GOR and CCEP reactivity provided a quantitative visualization of the distribution of cortical inhibitory and excitatory activities and highlighted the relationship between the two parameters. The combination of GOR and CCEP reactivities are expected to serve as biomarkers for localizing the epileptogenic zone in MTLE from interictal intracranial electroencephalograms.
Assessment of the effect of tricaine (MS-222)-induced anesthesia on brain-wide neuronal activity of zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae
Authors: Ohnesorge Nils , Wilzopolski Jenny , Steinfath Matthias , Lewejohann Lars , Banneke Stefanie , Heinl Céline
Published: September 2024

Fast and effective anesthesia is the key for refining many invasive procedures in fish and gaining reliable data. For fish as for all vertebrates, it is also required by European law to reduce pain, suffering, and distress to the unavoidable minimum in husbandry and experiments. The most often used substance to induce anesthesia in zebrafish is tricaine (MS-222). When properly prepared and dosed, tricaine causes rapid loss of mobility, balance and reaction to touch. These signs are interpreted as a stage of deep anesthesia although its effects on the central nervous system have not convincingly been shown. Therefore, it might be possible that tricaine first acts only on the periphery, resulting in a paralyzed instead of an anesthetized fish. This has severe implications for animals undergoing procedures. To investigate the effects of tricaine on the central nervous system, we used zebrafish larvae [Tg(elavl3:H2B-GCaMP6s)] at 4 days post fertilization (dpf), expressing a calcium indicator (GCaMP6s) in all neurons, that allows monitoring and quantifying the neuronal activity. After treating larvae with 168 mg/L tricaine, a rapid loss of neuronal activity in the forebrain was observed in confocal microscopy. In contrast, only mild effects were seen in the midbrain and hindbrain. In conclusion, the different larval brain areas showed differences in the sensitivity to tricaine treatment. The effects on the central nervous system are indicative of tricaine’s anesthetic function and are consistent with behavioral observations of inactivity and unresponsiveness to touch.
A case report of colon interposition radical surgery performed via unilateral thoracotomy in a patient with esophageal cancer after billroth II gastrectomy
Authors: Wang Chun-Guang , Zhang Guang-Xin , Zhang Yan , Guo Hang , Zhang Guang-Lei , Kang Zhen-Hua
Published: September 2024

Introduction

When a gastric tube cannot be used as a substitute for the esophagus, the colon offers several advantageous features for esophageal replacement. However, this procedure remains complex and necessitates patients to have a favorable nutritional status. In this study, we investigated the viability of intrathoracic colonic interposition anastomosis through a single thoracic incision, with the goal of mitigating surgical challenges and nutritional requirements.

Case description

We conducted a colectomy and reconstructed the esophageal-colonic-gastric tract via the esophageal bed into the left thoracic cavity for a 68-year-old male patient with compromised nutritional status following 30 years post-Billroth II (BII) gastrectomy. Under normal circumstances, this patient would not have been deemed an appropriate candidate for a conventional colonic interposition procedure. The patient resumed a soft diet through the normal digestive tract two weeks after the surgery and was discharged 20 days later.

Conclusion

Patients who have previously received a Billroth II Gastrectomy and subsequently developed early-stage esophageal cancer, characterized by the absence of lymph node metastasis, are suitable candidates for Colon Interposition Radical Surgery via left thoracotomy.