bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deployment of Security Management Technologies in the Hospitality Industry in Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria
Authors:   African Institute for Science Policy and Innovation, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Medugu Munakur , Binuyo Gbonjubola , Efunwole Sanjo , Oyebisi Timothy
Published: June 2024

This study examined the technologies being deployed for security management in selected hotels in the Lagos metropolis and investigated factors influencing the deployment of the technologies. It also assessed the effectiveness of the security technologies in the hospitality industry with a view to improving the standard of hotel security management in the metropolis. A multistage sampling technique was adopted to select fifty (50) hotels in Lagos state that were registered with the National Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Abuja. Three classes of hotels namely; 3-, 4-, and 5-Star were purposively selected. Data were collected through the administration of fifty (50) copies of questionnaire to the security managers, general managers, personnel managers, and other staff of the hotels. The questionnaire elicited information on the types of security technologies used, factors influencing the deployment of the devices and effectiveness of the technologies on quality of service. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that Close Circuit Television (CCTV) (100%), access pass for cars (92.9%), badges (81.0%) and lightings (97.6%) were the most used security technologies in the hotels. The study also showed that across the three classes of hotels considered, (3-, 4- and 5-Star hotels), most of the respondents considered training (4, 4.0 and 4.2), level of knowledge and expertise (4.3,4.7 and 4.0), user acceptance (4.0, 3.7 and 4) benefit consideration (4.1, 3.7 and 4.0) and location of the hotel (3.7, 3.5 and 4.6) respectively as factors that influenced deployment of security technologies on a five-point Likert scale. In addition, the result showed positive and significant relationships between quality of service and size of hotel (r=0.385, p<0.05), and among variables such as cost benefit consideration (r=0.330, p<0.05), coverage area (r=0.420, p<0.05), cost of maintenance (r= 0.335, p<0.05), user acceptance (r=0.317, p<0.05) and customers’ attitude toward the device (r=-0.437, p<0.05). Finally, the result showed that quality of service achieved through the deployment of security technology had significant effect by increasing efficiency (β=0.947), reliability (β=1.359) and improved security (β=1.058) The study concluded that security technologies deployed by the hotels were effective as it increased efficiency, improved security, and reliability.
Design and Implementation of English to Yorùbá Verb Phrase Machine Translation System
Authors:   Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Eludiora Safiriyu , Ayoade Benjamin
Published: June 2024

The Yorùbá ethnic group has diverse language speakers across the world, and translating the language to other widely spoken languages must be emphasized. This study aims to develop an English to Yorùbá machine translation system which can translate the English verb phrase text to its Yorùbá equivalent. Words from both languages (Source Language and Target Language) were collected for the verb phrase group in the home domain. Lexical translation was done by assigning values of the matching word in the dictionary. The syntax of the two languages was realized using Context Free Grammar, the rewrite rules were validated with finite state automata. Human evaluation method was used and expert opinion scored. The evaluation shows the system performed better than that of sampled Google translation with over 70% of the responses matching that of the system’s output.
Factors Influencing Engineering Assets Management Decisions in Food Manufacturing Companies in Nigeria
Authors:   Japaul Gold and Ventures Plc. Lagos, Ilori Olatunji , Akanbi Charles
Published: June 2024

This paper assessed the factors influencing Engineering Assets Management decisions in small and medium-scale food manufacturing companies in Southwestern Nigeria. Data were collected from 30 selected food manufacturing companies registered with National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control in the study area. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results reveal that food manufacturing companies practice some elements of Engineering Assets Management. There were no explicit guidelines and policy statements that guide their decisions and actions. However, a) how maintenance was to be carried out; and b) the amount and intensity of service that maintenance was expected to provide in order to satisfy the need of production, were the major factors that guided ways of making Engineering Asset Management decisions.
INOVASI PEMBELAJARAN BAHASA ARAB UNTUK ANAK-ANAK
Authors: Armin Muhammad
Published: June 2024

Abstrak: Keberadaan bahasa Arab saat ini semakin diperhitungkan dalam kancah dunia. Bahasa Arab yang dulunya dianggap sebagai bahasa agama atau bahasa etnis, kini sudah menjadi bahasa Internasional yang resmi digunakan banyak negara di dunia. Maka dari itu, masyarakat Indonesia harus menyesuaikan dengan mempelajari bahasa Arab sebagai salahsatu cabang bahasa di dunia. Namun pada kenyataannya belajar bahasa terdapat banyak permasalahan mengenai metode pembelajarannya yang terkesan menjenuhkan. Selanjutnya perlu adanya metode pembelajaran yang efektif untuk mempelajari bahasa Arab, utamanya untuk kalangan anak-anak yang dapat dengan mudah menyerap pembelajaran. Metode-metode tersebut diantaranya yaitu permainan dalam pembelajaran, latihan ketajaman ingatan dan pendengaran, melantunkan kosakata dengan lagu, pembelajaran dengan teman sebaya, dan latihan menghafal surat pendek dalam al-Quran beserta maknanya. Diharapkan dengan metode tersebut dapat dengan cepat memahamkan pembelajaran bahasa dengan efektif dan efisien serta tidak membosankan.
Kata Kunci: Inovasi, Pembelajaran, Bahasa Arab.
Exploring the Application of Evidence in Court in Islamic Justice
Authors: Muhlisina Muhlisina
Published: June 2024

Proof is an effort by the parties to the case to convince the judge of the truth of the events or occurrences presented by the parties to the dispute with the evidence that has been determined. This research is intended to examine and investigate evidence in court in Islamic justice. This research is library research, namely action by utilizing library sources that are relevant to the object of research, namely evidence. Library study is a series of activities related to library data collection methods, by reading, recording and processing data obtained from books, journals, documents and other supporting data. The results of the research show that whoever has a right or aims to dispute another person's right or point to an event, he or she is obliged to prove the existence of that right or the existence of that event. The purpose of evidence is to try to protect innocent people so that the judge can decide a case fairly and correctly. The evidence based on the history of Islamic justice consists of Iqrar (confession), Shahadah (testimony), Yamin (oath), Qarinah (allegation), Letter and Expert Statement.
"Jeg gemmer kun det, jeg ikke kan huske"
Authors: Lawaetz Anna
Published: June 2024

The digital turn has influenced art practices and forms of expression, and has created among artists an increased awareness of the archive. The digital turn changes how archives are created, and new strategies for collecting need to be established to ensure that the cultural heritage is preserved.
The study understands the performing arts archive as a living archive that is part of an artistic circuit. Through interviews with ten Danish-based performing artists who do not use the play text as a score for their work, the article examines what the artists themselves preserve and what kinds of record they need from the archive when re-staging or reinterpreting other artists’ work.
In order to get an overview of the nature of the artists’ archives, two axes are used: one that measures the volume and one that measures the nature of the content. Through an investigation of what the performing artists preserve, particular emphasis is ascribed to documentation of the work, documentation of the process and documentation of the experience. In addition, a new axis that deals with the time-sensitivity of archives is proposed.
It is not ideology that causes the performing arts not to be preserved by the individual artist in the study but a matter of chance, of economy in relation to recording and storage room. There is a tendency to save materials that make one’s own works appear as they were intended. Several of the artists have digital online archives, socalled ‘frontstage archives’, which differ from the digital archives they keep backstage, privately. A new trend can be seen among some of the artists, where the performance is documented by the audience at the performance, which calls into question the expressive potential of the material: is it part of the work itself or is it a perception of the work that can be equated with a review?
In the case of the need for archival materials for re-staging or reinterpretation, there is not necessarily a need for the same things that the artists themselves have preserved: here the raw video documentation, work notes, the intention on the part of the artist in his/her own words, in some cases recordings from rehearsals and contact with the bodies that performed the work are requested, in order to gain insight into the method. It is very clear that for the interviewees there is a need for an interaction between certain types of archive fragments.
Surprisingly enough, there was no correlation between artistic form of expression (durational, relational, wordless) and what was requested in relation to documentation.
Finally, the study maps the artists’ thoughts on different reporting formats, where both economics and transparency about purpose come into play as important motivational factors.
Comparison of Dosimetry Results Before 90Y Microembolization Treatment with 99mTc MAA and After 90Y PET/CT Treatment
Authors: Taşlıyurt Öznur , Yeyin Nami , Demir Mustafa
Published: June 2024

Radioembolization with Yttrium-90 (90Y) microspheres stands as an effective treatment option for liver tumors. The suitability of a patient for this treatment is routinely determined through dosimetry based on Technetium-99m Macro Aggregated Albumin (99mTc MAA) SPECT/CT images. This study aims to compare pre-treatment (pre) dosimetry results with 99mTc MAA and post-treatment (post) dosimetry results after 90Y microsphere therapy in patients seeking liver tumor treatment. Eleven patients undergoing liver tumor treatment were randomly included in the study. In 99mTc-MAA dosimetry, the calculated treatment activity was 1.3-6.2 GBq (mean 3.2±1.4), tumor dose was 125.1-527.5 Gy (mean 264.7±139.4), and liver dose was 19.4-38.8 Gy (mean 31.9±5.8). Post-dosimetry using PET/CT images after 90Y microsphere therapy revealed a tumor dose of 156.2-480.4 Gy (mean 266.5±102.9) and a liver dose of 20.6-37.4 Gy (mean 29.1±5.2). The doses exhibited good conformity for both tumor and normal liver tissue (p=0.85716 and p=0.53526). In conclusion, PET/CT-based post-dosimetry with 90Y microspheres proved to be an effective method in determining liver parenchymal tissue and tumor doses.
Transmission of climate shocks to livestock prices in regulated and unregulated markets: Evidence for raw milk in Colombian tropical livestock
Authors: Vargas Pérez Andres Mauricio , Ramos Ruiz José Luis , De la Cruz Almanza Sadan Alexander
Published: June 2024

This research investigates the impact of climate variability on the price trend of raw milk in Colombia, which is traded in regulated and unregulated markets. The findings indicate that climate variations do not affect the regulated price, whereas the unregulated market shows an asymmetric price response. The price increase is more significant than a favorable event in an adverse shock, such as a drought. This may clarify why small-scale producers tend to favor this market despite receiving lower prices on average for their raw milk.
Using recurrent neural network to estimate irreducible stochasticity in human choice-behavior
Authors: Ger Yoav , Shahar Moni , Shahar Nitzan
Published: June 2024

Theoretical computational models are widely used to describe latent cognitive processes. However, these models do not equally explain data across participants, with some individuals showing a bigger predictive gap than others. In the current study, we examined the use of theory-independent models, specifically recurrent neural networks (RNN), to classify the source of a predictive gap in the observed data of a single individual. This approach aims to identify whether the low predictability of behavioral data is mainly due to noisy decision-making or miss-specification of the theoretical model. First, we used computer simulation in the context of reinforcement learning to demonstrate that RNNs can be used to identify model miss-specification in simulated agents with varying degrees of behavioral noise. Specifically, both prediction performance and the number of RNN training epochs (i.e., the point of early stopping) can be used to estimate the amount of stochasticity in the data. Second, we applied our approach to an empirical dataset where the actions of low IQ participants, compared with high IQ participants, showed lower predictability by a well-known theoretical model (i.e., Daw’s hybrid model for the two-step task). Both the predictive gap and the point of early stopping of the RNN suggested that model miss-specification is similar across individuals. This led us to a provisional conclusion that low IQ subjects are mostly noisier compared to their high IQ peers, rather than being more miss-specified by the theoretical model. We discuss the implications and limitations of this approach, considering the growing literature in both theoretical and data-driven computational modeling in decision-making science.
Novel Mechanism for Tubular Injury in Nephropathic Cystinosis
Authors: Sur Swastika , Kerwin Maggie , Pineda Silvia , Sansanwal Poonam , Sigdel Tara K. , Sirota Marina , Sarwal Minnie M.
Published: June 2024

Understanding the unique susceptibility of the human kidney to pH dysfunction and injury in cystinosis is paramount to developing new therapies to preserve renal function. Renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (RPTECs) and fibroblasts isolated from patients with cystinosis were transcriptionally profiled. Lysosomal fractionation, immunoblotting, confocal microscopy, intracellular pH, TEM, mitochondrial stress test, and membrane integrity assays were performed for validation. CRISPR,
CTNS
-/-
RPTECs were generated. Alterations in cell stress, pH, autophagic turnover, and mitochondrial energetics highlighted key changes in the vacuolar (V)-ATPases in patient-derived and
CTNS
-/-
RPTECs. ATP6V0A1 was significantly downregulated in cystinosis and highly co-regulated with loss of
CTNS
. Correction of ATP6V0A1 rescued cell stress and mitochondrial function. Treatment of
CTNS
-/-
RPTECs with antioxidants astaxanthin (ATX) induced ATP6V0A1 expression and improved autophagosome turnover and mitochondrial integrity.In conclusion, our exploratory transcriptional and in vitro cellular and functional studies confirm that loss of cystinosin in RPTECs, results in a reduction in ATP6V0A1 expression, with changes in intracellular pH, mitochondrial integrity, mitochondrial function, and autophagosome-lysosome clearance. The novel findings are ATP6V0A1’s role in cystinosis-associated renal pathology and among other antioxidants, ATX specifically upregulated ATP6V0A1, improved autophagosome turnover or reduced autophagy and mitochondrial integrity. This is a pilot study highlighting a novel mechanism of tubular injury in cystinosis and requires further study in animal models to clarify its utility in clinical settings.
Dynamic Gamma Modulation of Hippocampal Place Cells Predominates Development of Theta Sequences
Authors: Wang Ning , Wang Yimeng , Guo Mingkun , Wang Ling , Wang Xueling , Zhu Nan , Yang Jiajia , Wang Lei , Zheng Chenguang , Ming Dong
Published: June 2024

The experience-dependent spatial cognitive process requires sequential organization of hippocampal neural activities by theta rhythm, which develops to represent highly compressed information for rapid learning. However, how the theta sequences were developed in a finer time scale within theta cycles remains unclear. In this study, we found that sweep-ahead structure of theta sequences developing with exploration was predominantly dependent on a relatively large proportion of FG-cells, i.e. a subset of place cells dominantly phase-locked to fast gamma rhythms. These ensembles integrated compressed spatial information entrained in a theta sequence by cells consistently firing at precessing slow gamma phases within the theta cycle. Accordingly, the sweep-ahead structure of FG-cell sequences was positively correlated with the intensity of slow gamma phase precession, in particular during early sequence development. These findings highlight the dynamic network-modulation by fast and slow gamma in the development of theta sequences which may further facilitate memory encoding and retrieval.
Partitioning changes in ecosystem productivity by effects of species interactions in biodiversity experiments
Authors: Tao Jing , Nock Charles A , Searle Eric B , Huang Shongming , Man Rongzhou , Yang Hua , Freschet Grégoire T , Violle Cyrille , Zheng Ji
Published: June 2024

Species interactions affect ecosystem productivity. Positive interactions (resource partitioning and facilitation) increase productivity while negative interactions (species interference) decrease productivity relative to the null expectations defined by monoculture yields. Effects of competitive interactions (resource competition) can be either positive or negative. Distinguishing effects of species interactions is therefore difficult, if not impossible, with current biodiversity experiments involving mixtures and full density monocultures.To partition changes in ecosystem productivity by effects of species interactions, we modify null expectations with competitive growth responses, i.e., proportional changes in individual size (biomass or volume) expected in mixture based on species differences in growth and competitive ability. We use partial density (species density in mixture) monocultures and the competitive exclusion principle to determine maximum competitive growth responses and full density monoculture yields to measure species ability to achieve maximum competitive growth responses in mixture. Deviations of observed yields from competitive expectations represent the effects of positive/negative species interactions, while the differences between competitive and null expectations reflect the effects of competitive interactions.We demonstrate the effectiveness of our competitive partitioning model in distinguishing effects of species interactions using both simulated and experimental species mixtures. Our competitive partitioning model enables meaningful assessments of species interactions at both species and community levels and helps disentangle underlying mechanisms of species interactions responsible for changes in ecosystem productivity and identify species mixtures that maximize positive effects.
A deep learning framework for automated and generalized synaptic event analysis
Authors: O’Neill Philipp S , Baccino-Calace Martín , Rupprecht Peter , Lee Sungmoo , Hao Yukun A , Lin Michael Z , Friedrich Rainer W , Müller Martin , Delvendahl Igor
Published: June 2024

Quantitative information about synaptic transmission is key to our understanding of neural function. Spontaneously occurring synaptic events carry fundamental information about synaptic function and plasticity. However, their stochastic nature and low signal-to-noise ratio present major challenges for the reliable and consistent analysis. Here, we introduce miniML, a supervised deep learning- based method for accurate classification and automated detection of spontaneous synaptic events. Comparative analysis using simulated ground-truth data shows that miniML outperforms existing event analysis methods in terms of both precision and recall. miniML enables precise detection and quantification of synaptic events in electrophysiological recordings. We demonstrate that the deep learning approach generalizes easily to diverse synaptic preparations, different electrophysiological and optical recording techniques, and across animal species. miniML provides not only a comprehensive and robust framework for automated, reliable, and standardized analysis of synaptic events, but also opens new avenues for high-throughput investigations of neural function and dysfunction.
A deep learning framework for automated and generalized synaptic event analysis
Authors: O’Neill Philipp S. , Baccino-Calace Martín , Rupprecht Peter , Friedrich Rainer W. , Müller Martin , Delvendahl Igor
Published: June 2024

Quantitative information about synaptic transmission is key to our understanding of neural function. Spontaneously occurring synaptic events carry fundamental information about synaptic function and plasticity. However, their stochastic nature and low signal-to-noise ratio present major challenges for the reliable and consistent analysis. Here, we introduce miniML, a supervised deep learning-based method for accurate classification and automated detection of spontaneous synaptic events. Comparative analysis using simulated ground-truth data shows that miniML outperforms existing event analysis methods in terms of both precision and recall. miniML enables precise detection and quantification of synaptic events in electrophysiological recordings. We demonstrate that the deep learning approach generalizes easily to diverse synaptic preparations, different electrophysiological and optical recording techniques, and across animal species. miniML provides not only a comprehensive and robust framework for automated, reliable, and standardized analysis of synaptic events, but also opens new avenues for high-throughput investigations of neural function and dysfunction.
Sub-cone visual resolution by active, adaptive sampling in the human foveola
Authors: Witten Jenny L. , Lukyanova Veronika , Harmening Wolf M.
Published: June 2024

The foveated architecture of the human retina and the eye’s mobility enable prime spatial vision, yet the interplay between photoreceptor cell topography and the constant motion of the eye during fixation remains unexplored. With
in vivo
foveal cone-resolved imaging and simultaneous microscopic photo stimulation, we examined visual acuity in both eyes of 16 participants while precisely recording the stimulus path on the retina. We find that resolution thresholds were correlated with the individual retina’s sampling capacity, and exceeded what static sampling limits would predict by 18 %, on average. The amplitude and direction of fixational drift motion, previously thought to be primarily random, played a key role in achieving this sub-cone diameter resolution. The oculomotor system finely adjusts drift behavior towards retinal areas with higher cone densities within only a few hundred milliseconds to enhance retinal sampling.
Föreställningsförmåga som kommunikativ resurs
Authors: Jagell Elisabet , Homlong Siri
Published: June 2024

Multimodal kommunikation kring estetiska aspekter i ett slöjduppdrags idéutvecklingsfas är fokus i den här artikeln. Kommunikativa aspekter vid undervisning i slöjd har tidigare undersökts ur olika perspektiv: hur läraren förmedlar hantverkskunskaper och att elever lär av varandra. Även materialets roll i skapande processer har varit av intresse: hur materialet inspirerar, samarbetar eller ger motstånd i hantverks­processer. Empirin som ligger till grund för artikeln kommer från en videodokumenterad forskningslektion i slöjd med 8 ̶ 9 år gamla elever. Intresset riktas mot hur lärarens inledande undervisning, materialet, rummet och elevernas estetiska erfarenheter bidrar i idéutvecklingen. I analysen används begreppet collaborative imagining, att före­ställ­nings­förmåga är en gemensam resurs för kommunikation vid utveckling av idéer. Vi kunde se att föreställningsförmåga gav eleverna både imagi­nära och konkreta kommunikativa resurser i idéut­veck­lingen. Resultatet visar att eleverna använde föreställningsförmåga kollabo­rativt när de i samarbete utvecklade idéer i handling genom samspel med materialet och med inspiration från egna och gemensamma estetiska erfarenheter.
Keywords: slöjd, idéutveckling, embodied learning, kollaborativ föreställningsförmåga, estetiska erfarenheter, multimodal transkription
Efficient security level in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) using four-factors authentication over the Internet of Things (IoT)
Authors: Alsumayt Albandari , Alshammari Majid , Alfawaer Zeyad M. , Al-Wesabi Fahd N. , El-Haggar Nahla , Aljameel Sumayh S. , Albassam Sarah , AlGhareeb Shahad , Alghamdi Nouf Mohammed , Aldossary Nawir
Published: June 2024

With the increasing demand for the use of technology in all matters of daily life and business, the demand has increased dramatically to transform business electronically especially regards COVID-19. The Internet of Things (IoT) has greatly helped in accomplishing tasks. For example, at a high temperature, it would be possible to switch on the air conditioner using a personal mobile device while the person is in the car. The Internet of Things (IoT) eases lots of tasks. A wireless sensor network is an example of IoT. Wireless sensor network (WSN) is an infrastructure less self-configured that can monitor environmental conditions such as vibration, temperature, wind speed, sound, pressure, and vital signs. Thus, WSNs can occur in many fields. Smart homes give a good example of that. The security concern is important, and it is an essential requirement to ensure secure data. Different attacks and privacy concerns can affect the data. Authentication is the first defence line against threats and attacks. This study proposed a new protocol based on using four factors of authentication to improve the security level in WSN to secure communications. The simulation results prove the strength of the proposed method which reflects the importance of the usage of such protocol in authentication areas.
FLMatchQA: a recursive neural network-based question answering with customized federated learning model
Authors: M Saranya , B Amutha
Published: June 2024

More sophisticated data access is possible with artificial intelligence (AI) techniques such as question answering (QA), but regulations and privacy concerns have limited their use. Federated learning (FL) deals with these problems, and QA is a viable substitute for AI. The utilization of hierarchical FL systems is examined in this research, along with an ideal method for developing client-specific adapters. The User Modified Hierarchical Federated Learning Model (UMHFLM) selects local models for users’ tasks. The article suggests employing recurrent neural network (RNN) as a neural network (NN) technique for learning automatically and categorizing questions based on natural language into the appropriate templates. Together, local and global models are developed, with the worldwide model influencing local models, which are, in turn, combined for personalization. The method is applied in natural language processing pipelines for phrase matching employing template exact match, segmentation, and answer type detection. The (SQuAD-2.0), a DL-based QA method for acquiring knowledge of complicated SPARQL test questions and their accompanying SPARQL queries across the DBpedia dataset, was used to train and assess the model. The SQuAD2.0 datasets evaluate the model, which identifies 38 distinct templates. Considering the top two most likely templates, the RNN model achieves template classification accuracy of 92.8% and 61.8% on the SQuAD2.0 and QALD-7 datasets. A study on data scarcity among participants found that FL Match outperformed BERT significantly. A MAP margin of 2.60% exists between BERT and FL Match at a 100% data ratio and an MRR margin of 7.23% at a 20% data ratio.
Research on intelligent forecasts of flight actions based on the implemented bi-LSTM
Authors: Hua Xin , Yang Xuejie
Published: June 2024

Rapid identification of flight actions by utilizing flight data is more realistic so the quality of flight training can be objectively assessed. The bidirectional long short-term memory (bi-LSTM) algorithm is implemented to forecast the flight actions of aircraft. The dataset containing the flight actions is structured by collecting tagged flight data when real flight training is exercised. However, the dataset needs to be preprocessed and annotated with expert rules. One of the deep learning (DL) methods, called the bi-LSTM algorithm, is implemented to train and test, and the pivotal parameters of the algorithm are optimized. Finally, the constructed model is applied to forecast the flight actions of aircraft. The training’s accuracy and loss rates are computed. The duration is kept between 1 through 3 h per session. Thus, the development of training the model is continued until an accuracy rate above 85% is achieved. The word-run inference time is kept under 2 s. Finally, the proposed algorithm’s specific characteristics, which are short training time and high recognition accuracy, are achieved when complex rules and large sample sizes exist.
Restoring South African subtropical succulent thicket using Portulacaria afra: root growth of cuttings differs depending on the harvest site during a drought
Authors: Potts Alastair J. , Duker Robbert , Hunt Kristen L. , Tempel Anize , Galuszynski Nicholas C.
Published: June 2024

The restoration of succulent thicket (the semi-arid components of the Albany Subtropical Thicket biome endemic to South Africa) has largely focused on the reintroduction of Portulacaria afra L. Jacq—a leaf- and stem-succulent shrub—through the planting of unrooted cuttings directly into field sites. However, there has been inconsistent establishment and survival rates, with low rates potentially due to a range of factors (e.g., post-planting drought, frost or herbivory), including the poor condition of source material used. Here we test the effect of parent-plant and harvesting site on the root development of P. afra cuttings in a common garden experiment. Ten sites were selected along a ∼110 km transect, with cuttings harvested from five parent-plants per site. Leaf moisture content was determined for each parent-plant at the time of harvesting as a proxy for plant condition. Root development—percentage of rooted cuttings and mean root dry weight—was recorded for a subset of cuttings from each parent-plant after 35, 42, 48, 56, and 103 days after planting in a common garden setting. We found evidence for cutting root development (rooting percentage and root dry mass) to be strongly associated with harvesting site across all sampling days (p < 0.005 for all tests). These differences are likely a consequence of underlying physiological factors; this was supported by the significant but weak correlation (r2 = 0.10–0.26) between the leaf moisture content of the parent-plant (at the time of harvesting) and dry root mass of the cuttings (at each of the sampling days). Our findings demonstrate that varying plant condition across sites can significantly influence root development during dry phases (i.e., intra- and inter-annual droughts) and that this may be a critical component that needs to be understood as part of any restoration programme. Further work is required to identify the environmental conditions that promote or impede root development in P. afra cuttings.
Impact of white blood cell count on the development of contrast-induced acute kidney injury in patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Fu Chengxiao , Ouyang Chenxi , Yang Guoping , Li Jingle , Chen Guiyang , Cao Yu , Gong Liying
Published: June 2024

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a pre-procedural white blood cell (WBC) count in the prediction of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) risk in coronary artery disease patients receiving a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This observational study comprises a sample of 1,013 coronary artery disease patients (including ACS and stable angina) receiving PCI, gathered from September 2015 to July 2017. CI-AKI incidence in the study population was 4.8% (49/1013). Patients in the CI-AKI group had significantly higher WBC counts than those in the non-CI-AKI group (10.41 ± 5.37 vs. 8.09 ± 3.10, p = 0.004). Logistic analysis showed that WBC count (odds ratio [OR]: 1.12, 95% CI [1.03–1.21], P = 0.006) was a significant and independent predictor of CI-AKI risk in patients receiving PCI, Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis found that pre-procedural WBC count ≥11.03*109/L was the optimal cut-off value in the prediction of CI-AKI risk with a sensitivity of 41.0% and a specificity of 86.5%. Patients with CI-AKI had a significantly worse 1-year survival rate than patients without CI-AKI (91.8% vs. 97.6%, P = 0.012). In summary, increased pre-procedural WBC count is associated with an increased risk of developing CI-AKI in patients receiving PCI.
Andrographolide induces protective autophagy and targeting DJ-1 triggers reactive oxygen species-induced cell death in pancreatic cancer
Authors: Wang Zhaohong , Chen Hui , Cai Xufan , Bu Heqi , Lin Shengzhang
Published: June 2024

Background

Andrographolide (Andro), an extract of Andrographis paniculate (Burm.f.) Wall. ex Nees (Acanthaceae), possesses diverse biologically active properties. However, the precise mechanisms and effects of Andro on pancreatic cancer (PC) remain unclear.

Methods

The cytotoxic potential of Andro and underlying mechanism towards PC cells was investigated through in vitro experiments and a xenograft mouse model. PC cells were first subjected to varying concentrations of Andro. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) was assessed using flow cytometry and DCFH-DA staining. The apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry. Additionally, western blot was applied to evaluate the expression levels of cleaved-caspase-3, DJ-1, LC3-I, LC3-II, and p62. To further elucidate the involvement of ROS accumulation and autophagy, we employed N-acetylcysteine as a scavenger of ROS and 3-Methyladenine as an inhibitor of autophagy.

Results

Andro demonstrated potent anti-proliferative effects on PC cells and induced apoptosis, both in vitro and in vivo. The cytotoxicity of Andro on PC cells was counteracted by DJ-1 overexpression. The reduction in DJ-1 expression caused by Andro led to ROS accumulation, subsequently inhibiting the growth of PC cells. Furthermore, Andro stimulated cytoprotective autophagy, thus weakening the antitumor effect. Pharmacological blockade of autophagy further enhanced the antitumor efficacy of Andro.

Conclusion

Our study indicated that ROS accumulation induced by the DJ-1 reduction played a key role in Andro-mediated PC cell inhibition. Furthermore, the protective autophagy induced by the Andro in PC cells is a mechanism that needs to be addressed in future studies.
Dragon boat exercise reshapes the temporal-spatial dynamics of the brain
Authors: Jiang Hongke , Zhao Shanguang , Wu Qianqian , Cao Yingying , Zhou Wu , Gong Youwu , Shao Changzhuan , Chi Aiping
Published: June 2024

Although exercise training has been shown to enhance neurological function, there is a shortage of research on how exercise training affects the temporal-spatial synchronization properties of functional networks, which are crucial to the neurological system. This study recruited 23 professional and 24 amateur dragon boat racers to perform simulated paddling on ergometers while recording EEG. The spatiotemporal dynamics of the brain were analyzed using microstates and omega complexity. Temporal dynamics results showed that microstate D, which is associated with attentional networks, appeared significantly altered, with significantly higher duration, occurrence, and coverage in the professional group than in the amateur group. The transition probabilities of microstate D exhibited a similar pattern. The spatial dynamics results showed the professional group had lower brain complexity than the amateur group, with a significant decrease in omega complexity in the α (8–12 Hz) and β (13–30 Hz) bands. Dragon boat training may strengthen the attentive network and reduce the complexity of the brain. This study provides evidence that dragon boat exercise improves the efficiency of the cerebral functional networks on a spatiotemporal scale.
Prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension in patient’s visiting the conservative dentistry and endodontics department: a cross-sectional study in Surabaya City
Authors: Manihar Meet , Wahjuningrum Dian Agustin , Manihar Shreya , Pawar Ajinkya M. , Atram Jatin , Banga Kulvinder , Luke Alexander Maniangat , Elmsmari Firas
Published: June 2024

Background

This descriptive cross-sectional study focuses on the prevalence of hypertension (HTN) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) amongst patients who visited the Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics department. Recognizing these incidence statistics is critical for improving endodontic therapy delivery and assuring high-quality dental care with positive treatment outcomes.

Methods

In advance of getting dental care, all patients visiting the department were advised to get their blood sugar and blood pressure levels checked at random. Measurements were taken with digital equipment, and individuals with high levels were encouraged to seek medical advice before undergoing dental procedures. The obtained data was imported into Excel and analyzed with IBM SPSS software (version 21).

Results

The investigation had 1,100 participants (55.8% female and 44.2% male), with an average age of 44.58 ± 12.77 years. Of the individuals, 40.6% were referred for type 2 diabetes, 12.6% for hypertension, and 24.0% for both diseases. There was a significant correlation (p < 0.05) between referral status and gender. The average blood pressure and random blood sugar readings were 141.02 mmHg ± 56.28 mmHg (systolic), 79.83 mmHg ± 10.68 mmHg (diastolic), and 126.68 mg/dL ± 15.36 mg/dL, respectively. There was a substantial (p < 0.05) difference in mean systolic blood pressure between men and women. Furthermore, age was strongly connected with random blood sugar levels (p < 0.05) and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.05). There were significant (p < 0.05) variations in mean blood pressure and blood sugar levels between referred and non-referred individuals.

Conclusion

Age had a relationship with higher random blood sugar levels, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. Dentists should consider patient age while planning treatment, as type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension require unique techniques to emphasize patient safety and produce excellent outcomes.
Creatine kinase mitochondrial 2 promotes the growth and progression of colorectal cancer via enhancing Warburg effect through lactate dehydrogenase B
Authors: Cai Shasha , Xia Qingqing , Duan Darong , Fu Junhui , Wu Zhenxing , Yang Zaixing , Yu Changfa
Published: June 2024

Background

Mitochondrial creatine kinase (MtCK) plays a pivotal role in cellular energy metabolism, exhibiting enhanced expression in various tumors, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Creatine kinase mitochondrial 2 (CKMT2) is a subtype of MtCK; however, its clinical significance, biological functions, and underlying molecular mechanisms in CRC remain elusive.

Methods

We employed immunohistochemical staining to discern the expression of CKMT2 in CRC and adjacent nontumor tissues of patients. The correlation between CKMT2 levels and clinical pathological factors was assessed. Additionally, we evaluated the association between CKMT2 and the prognosis of CRC patients using Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression analysis. Meanwhile, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to detect the expression levels of CKMT2 in different CRC cell lines. Finally, we explored the biological functions and potential molecular mechanisms of CKMT2 in CRC cells through various techniques, including qRT-PCR, cell culture, cell transfection, western blot, Transwell chamber assays, flow cytometry, and co-immunoprecipitation.

Results

We found that CKMT2 was significantly overexpressed in CRC tissues compared with adjacent nontumor tissues. The expression of CKMT2 is correlated with pathological types, tumor size, distant metastasis, and survival in CRC patients. Importantly, CKMT2 emerged as an independent prognostic factor through Cox regression analysis. Experimental downregulation of CKMT2 expression in CRC cell lines inhibited the migration and promoted apoptosis of these cells. Furthermore, we identified a novel role for CKMT2 in promoting aerobic glycolysis in CRC cells through interaction with lactate dehydrogenase B (LDHB).

Conclusion

In this study, we found the elevated expression of CKMT2 in CRC, and it was a robust prognostic indicator in CRC patients. CKMT2 regulates glucose metabolism via amplifying the Warburg effect through interaction with LDHB, which promotes the growth and progression of CRC. These insights unveil a novel regulatory mechanism by which CKMT2 influences CRC and provide promising targets for future CRC therapeutic interventions.
Effect of Site Specific N Management and Different Crop Establishment Methods on Tillering Ability and Dry Matter Accumulation in Rice
Authors: Naik Sugali Nanu Abhilash , Chandrasekhar K. , Tuti Mangal Deep , Surekha K. , Latha P.C.
Published: June 2024

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the second most important staple food crop of world and prime staple food crop of India. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) and rice-based cropping systems are integral part of agriculture whose spread and extent is predominant across the countries. The productivity and sustainability of rice-based systems are threatened by the inefficient use of inputs (fertilizer), increasing scarcity of especially water, climate variability and availability of labour. Method of establishment and N management practices influences the performance of rice through its effect on growth and development. A field experiment was conducted during kharif 2021-22 and 2022-23 at ICAR-Indian Institute of Rice Research, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad to study the “Effect of site specific N  management and different crop establishment methods on tillering ability and dry matter accumulation in rice”.The experiment was laid out in split plot design with three crop establishment methods [Manual transplanting (M1) mechanical transplanting (M2) and wet direct seeded rice (M3)] in main plots and five nitrogen management practices [S1- Recommended nitrogen dose (RND), S2-Leafcolorchart (LCC), S3-Nutrient Expert (NE), S4-Greenseeker (GS), S5-Soil test crop Response STCR] in sub-plots with three replications. The results revealed that under crop establishment methods, mechanical transplanting recorded higher tiller bearing capacity per m-2 (384,446 and 415 m-2) as well dry matter production (kg ha-1) (13927, 14395 and 14161) while in nitrogen management practices soil test crop response STCR recorded higher tiller production ability per m-2 (414,468 and441m-2) and drymatterproductio (kg ha-1) (13949, 14772 and 14360 kg ha-1). The results suggest that timely transplanting of younger seedlings, appropriate N management practice based on STCR achieved better crop stand with higher tillering ability and dry matter production efficiency.
Antimicrobial Effects of Aloe vera, Psidium guajava and Hibiscus sabdariffa Extracts on Selected Pathogens
Authors: E. I. Okoh , O. M. Immanuel
Published: June 2024

Plant materials are repositories of bioactive compound of medicinal values. Traditional medicines relies on the therapeutic potential of herbal plants. This study aimed to assess the antimicrobial effects of Aloe vera, Psidium guajava and Hibiscus sabdariffa extracts on Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. Plant extracts were obtained by soxhlet extraction, using ethanol as solvent. Extracts were qualitatively screened for the presence of alkaloid, saponins, flavonoid and tannins. Saponins and flavonoids were detected in all plant extracts; alkaloid in P. guajava and H. sabdariffa extracts, and tannins in A. vera and P. guajava extracts. The concentrations of the residual plant extracts was 2.0 mg/ml for A. vera, 2.1 mg/ml for P. Guajava and 1.83 mg/ml for H. sabdariffa. Staphylococcus aureus was only susceptible to A. vera. Salmonella typhi was not sensitive to all extract. Escherichia coli was sensitive to all extracts in the order H. sabdariffa>P. guajava>A. vera. Candida albicans was sensitive to A. vera and P. guajava extracts. The MIC of A. vera was 2.0 mg/ml for S. aureus, E. coli and C. albicans respectively. The MIC of P. guajava was 0.021 mg/ml and 2.1 mg/ml for E. coli and C. albicans respectively. The MIC of H. sabdariffa was 1.83 mg/ml for E. coli. The results show that A. vera, H. sabdariffa and P. guajava extracts contain phytochemicals with inhibitory potencies against S. aureus, E. coli and C. albicans. These plant material may prove useful as natural remedies for managing infections caused by susceptible microorganisms.
Effect of Crop Establishment, Intermittent Submergence and Precision Nitrogen Management on Growth and Yield of Rice
Authors: Mahajan Nihal Chandra , Singh Rajesh Kumar , Upadhyay Anurag , Singh Ram Kumar , Rakshit Amitava , Tripathi V. K.
Published: June 2024

The traditional production practices of rice are water-wasting, expensive, labor-intensive, energy-consuming, and time-consuming, making rice cultivation less profitable. Effective water and nitrogen management practices are essential for better rice growth and yield. Keeping these facts in view, the present investigation was conducted at the Agricultural Research Farm, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi during kharif season of 2019 and 2020. The experimental soil was Gangetic alluvial sandy clay loam. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design during both years with three replications. Crop establishment (as factor A) and Irrigation scheduling (as factor B) were allocated to the main plot, and nitrogen management in subplots. In main plot, two crop establishment methods (Factor A) i.e. CE1: Puddle Transplanted Rice (PTR) and CE2: Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) and three irrigation regime (Factor B), i.e. I1: Continuously submerged (CS) of 5 ± 2 cm depth, I2: Intermittent submergence (IS) of 5 ± 2 cm and irrigation after five days of disappearance of water from the soil surface & I3: Intermittent submergence of 5 ± 2 cm and irrigation after ten days of water disappearance from the soil surface were taken. In sub plot treatments, four nitrogen management practices i.e. N1: recommended dose of nitrogen (RDN), N2: LCC threshold ≤ 4, N3: SPAD 30 & N4: Rice-Wheat Crop Manager recommendation. Results showed that Direct Seeded Rice (DSR) and Intermittent submergence of 5 ± 2 cm and irrigation after 5 days of disappearance of water among the main plot and nitrogen recommendation based on Rice-Wheat Crop Manager (RWCM) recorded higher plant height, number of tillers, chlorophyll content and grain yield of rice over other treatment. DSR recorded a higher grain yield by 9.5 % over Conventional method, whereas I2 recorded 7.5 % more grain yield over I1 and RWCM (N4) recorded 17% more grain yield over Recommended Nitrogen Dose (RDN). It was concluded that Direct-Seeded Rice with intermittent submergence and precision nitrogen management improved the growth and yield of rice under the climatic conditions of Eastern Uttar Pradesh. This approach offers a more profitable and sustainable method for rice cultivation.