bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thyroid Nodules and Sleep Disorders
Authors: Zhang YuRen , Ni Qing , Li Jie
Published: July 2024

The aim of this study was to explore the association between thyroid nodules and sleep disorders among adult patients diagnosed with thyroid nodules. Demographic data were obtained, and baseline thyroid nodule characteristics were evaluated using thyroid ultrasonography. The Symptoms Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Scale were used to measure the sleep status of the patients. Overall, 180 participants with a mean age of 50 ± 12.7 years were included in this study. The majority of patients had TI-RADS grade 3 (80.14%), TI-RADS grade 4 (18.82%), and multiple nodules (70%). Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score (PSQI) revealed that 88.89% of the participants had PSQI scores > 5, indicating sleep disorders, with a mean PSQI score of 10.7 ± 3.6. Analysis of PSQI scores based on nodule length and TI-RADS grades showed no significant differences. In conclusion, patients with thyroid nodules experienced sleep disorders greatly, with difficulty falling asleep, poor subjective sleep quality, daytime fatigue, and short sleep time having a more significant impact on thyroid nodules, especially high-risk and small thyroid nodules. Our findings emphasize the importance of addressing sleep disturbances in patients with thyroid nodules to improve their quality of life and potentially mitigate the impact of thyroid diseases.
Lévy-induced Stochastic Differential Equation Models in Rainfall-Runoff Systems for Assessing Extreme Hydrological Event Risks
Authors: Houénafa Sianou Ezéckiel , Ronoh Erick K. Erick K. , Johnson Olatunji , Moore Stephen E.
Published: July 2024

Stochastic Differential Equations (SDEs) driven by Gaussian noise have proven effective for studying the dynamics of river basin discharges, while accounting for uncertainties inherent in rainfall-runoff systems. However, these uncertainties clearly exhibit many non-Gaussian characteristics, necessitating the use of more complex noises to model various levels of variability and anomalies in river basin discharges, ultimately enhancing the assessment of extreme hydrological risks. This paper considers uncertainties in rainfall-runoff systems by developing a Langevin-type SDE driven by non-Gaussian α-stable Lévy noises. The different methods’ applicability is demonstrated on the Ouémé at Bonou river basin, Benin. The SDE model parameters were estimated through a developed heuristic method based on a Monte Carlo simulation approach. To access extreme hydrological event risks, the equivalent Fractional Fokker-Planck Equation (FFPE) was derived and solved numerically using an adaptive finite difference method. The results showed that Lévy stable noises better capture uncertainties in rainfall-runoff systems, highlighting anomalous diffusion in daily river basin discharges. The SDE and FFPE model solutions were consistent, aligning with actual observations, and the risks of extreme events were evaluated in terms of daily and cumulative probabilities.
Forensic discrimination of blue fountain pen inks based on dielectric constant property
Authors: SIMSEK Ozlem , SEKER S. Selim
Published: July 2024

The present work aims to show that dielectric constant measurement is a new and deep method for discriminating fountain pen inks. To achieve this goal the dielectric constant for the identification of fountain pen ink has been studied. The data was obtained by designing and setting up an alternative current (AC), Function Generator, and Oscilloscope for measuring the resistance of each fountain pen ink sample. The measurements were performed in the frequency range between 1 Hz and 3 MHz at room temperature. Then, resistance measurements were used to the calculate dielectric constant. To support the result, as a conventional method, TLC-IA (image analysis) was applied to the same samples to discriminate these samples based on the intensity profile of red, green, and blue (RGB) by using the software PyCharm Community 2024.1.1. The results from each method supported each other. This new method allowed us to identify the different fountain pen inks with the obtained results.
Human Recreational Activity Does Not Influence Open Cup Avian Nest Survival in Urban Greenspaces
Authors: Cull Chloe A. , Guest Mackenzie J. , Frei Barbara , Ziter Carly D.
Published: July 2024

The breeding period of birds is a critical and sensitive period. Understanding how human use of urban greenspaces affects nest survival can improve our understanding of conserving breeding bird populations in cities and support science-based management of urban greenspaces that benefit both people and nature. We conducted a nest survival field study between April and August of 2023 in multiple greenspaces in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the country’s second-largest city. We asked whether human presence (distance to trails and amount of human activity) influences the nest survival of four common open-cup nesting bird species. We also asked if variables traditionally associated with nest survival, vegetation concealment and seasonality, would influence nest survival. Our analyses surprisingly revealed no significant influence of human activity, vegetation concealment, and seasonality on nest survival for our target species. We found for nests that did fail, nests established during the earlier part of the nesting period failed faster. Within the limitations of our study system, our findings suggest that human presence is not negatively impacting the nesting success for our target bird species using urban greenspaces. Our study provides integrated science advice to land managers so they can support opportunities for people to connect with nature without causing trade-offs with biodiversity conservation.
Genome-wide analysis of TFIIB’s role in termination of transcription
Authors: Ansari Athar , O'Brien Michael , Schrader Jared
Published: July 2024

This study provides evidence that the role of TFIIB extends beyond initiation to include the termination step of transcription. Using GRO-seq analyses, we compared terminator readthrough phenotype in sua7-1 mutant (TFIIBsua7-1) and the isogenic wild type (TFIIBWT) strains. Approximately 74% of genes analyzed exhibited a 2-3-fold increase in readthrough of the poly(A)-termination signal in the TFIIBsua7-1 mutant compared to TFIIBWT cells. Mass spectrometry of affinity purified TFIIB from chromatin fraction found TFIIB exhibiting interaction with CF1A and Rat1 termination complexes in TFIIBWT cells. There was, however, a drastic decrease in TFIIB interaction with CF1A and Rat1 termination complexes in the TFIIBsua7-1 mutant. ChIP assays revealed about 90% decline in recruitment of termination factors in TFIIBsua7-1 mutant compared to wild type cells. The overall conclusion of these results is that TFIIB affects termination of transcription on a genome-wide scale, and TFIIB-termination factor interaction may play a crucial role in the process.
BMP7 attenuates propofol induced neuron apoptosis via modulating JNK and AKT signaling
Authors: Sun Qi , Song Rong , Yang Lin , Wan Qiaoqian , Shuai Yichun , Wang Xin , Xu Junmei
Published: July 2024

Background
The aim of this study is to elucidate the protective role of bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7) in mitigating the propofol-induced apoptosis on the HT-22 cells.
Method
Firstly, mouse hippocampal HT22 cells were treated with propofol at the concentrations of 0, 10, 50, 100uM for 12- and 24-hours to detect the propofol induced cell viability change and apoptotic effect. Secondly, BMP7 at the concentrations of 0, 20, 40, 60 ng/ml was co-incubated for 12-hrs to test whether BMP7 application could mitigate the propofol induced pro-apoptotic effect on the H22 cells. Finally, a specific BMP7 antagonist (TWSG-1) and an AKT inhibitor Akti-1/2 were applied to further investigate the downstream signals responsible for the BMP7’s protective property. In all sections, CCK-8 and LDH assay were employed to determine the cell viability and cytotoxicity; TUNEL staining was performed to investigate the apoptotic effect, and western blotting was conducted to examine the changes of the ratios of p-AKT/AKT and p-JNK/JNK.
Results
Firstly, propofol at the concentrations of 10, 50 and 100uM robustly induced cell viability decline, LDH release and morphological changes after 12- and 24-hours incubation. Secondly, BMP7 treatment at the concentration of 40 ng/ml statistically relieved propofol-induced cell cytotoxicity and apoptosis after 12-hours co-incubation. Thirdly, western blotting results showed that BMP7 initiated the upregulations of both p-AKT/AKT and p-JNK/JNK signals, which was antagonized by the treatment of TWSG-1 at 1ug/ml; In the meantime, Akti-1/2 prominently downregulated the ratio of p-AKT/AKT while upregulated the ratio of p-JNK/JNK. Finally, applications of both TWSG-1 and Akti-1/2 abolished BMP7 induced neuroprotective and anti-apoptotic effect.
Conclusion
BMP7 plays a protective role in reversing the propofol-induced apoptotic effect on HT22 cells possibly through the modulation of the downstream signals including JNK and AKT.
A Systematic Review of Toxicity in Large Language Models: Definitions, Datasets, Detectors, Detoxification Methods and Challenges
Authors: Villate-Castillo Guillermo , Ser Javier Del , Urquijo Borja Sanz
Published: July 2024

The emergence of the transformer architecture has ushered in a new era of possibilities, showcasing remarkable capabilities in generative tasks exemplified by models like GPT4o, Claude 3, and Llama 3. However, these advancements come with a caveat: predominantly trained on data gleaned from social media platforms, these systems inadvertently perpetuate societal biases and toxicity. Recognizing the paramount importance of AI Safety and Alignment, our study embarks on a thorough exploration through a comprehensive literature review focused on toxic language. Delving into various definitions, detection methodologies, and mitigation strategies, we aim to shed light on the complexities of this issue. While our focus primarily centres on transformer-based architectures, we also acknowledge and incorporate existing research within the realm of deep learning. Through our investigation, we uncover a multitude of challenges inherent in toxicity mitigation and detection models. These challenges range from inherent biases and generalization issues to the necessity for standardized definitions of toxic language and the quality assurance of dataset annotations. Furthermore, we emphasize the significance of transparent annotation processes, resolution of annotation disagreements, and the enhancement of Large Language Models (LLMs) robustness. Additionally, we advocate for the creation of standardized benchmarks to gauge the effectiveness of toxicity mitigation and detection methods. Addressing these challenges is not just imperative, but pivotal in advancing the development of safer and more ethically aligned AI systems.
Molecular Basis for the Calcium-Dependent Activation
of the Ribonuclease EndoU
Authors: Malard Florian , Dias Kristen , Baudy Margaux , Thore Stéphane , Vialet Brune , Barthélémy Philippe , Fribourg Sébastien , Karginov Fedor , Campagne Sebastien
Published: July 2024

Ribonucleases (RNases) are ubiquitous enzymes that process or degrade RNA, essential for cellular functions and immune responses. The EndoU-like superfamily includes endoribonucleases conserved across bacteria, eukaryotes, and certain viruses, with an ancient evolutionary link to the ribonuclease A-like superfamily. Both bacterial EndoU and animal RNase A share a similar fold and function independently of cofactors. In contrast, the eukaryotic EndoU catalytic domain requires divalent metal ions for catalysis, possibly due to an N-terminal extension near the catalytic
core. In this study, we used biophysical and computational techniques along with in vitro assays to
investigate the calcium-dependent activation of human EndoU. We determined the crystal structure
of EndoU bound to calcium and found that calcium binding remote from the catalytic triad triggers
water-mediated intramolecular signaling and structural changes, activating the enzyme through allostery. Calcium-binding involves residues from both the catalytic core and the N-terminal extension, indicating that the N-terminal extension interacts with the catalytic core to modulate activity in response to calcium. Our findings suggest that similar mechanisms may be present across all eukaryotic EndoUs, highlighting a unique evolutionary adaptation that connects endoribonuclease
activity to cellular signaling in eukaryotes.
Persistent alveolar bronchiolization, interstitial fibrosis and impaired lung function post-exercise are features of long-COVID in SARS-CoV-2-Delta variant infected aged hamsters
Authors: Baumgärtner Wolfgang , Heydemann Laura , Ciurkiewicz Małgorzata , Störk Theresa , Zdora Isabel , Hülskötter kirsten , Gregor Katharina , Michaely Lukas , Reineking Wencke , Schreiner Tom , Beythien Georg , Volz Asisa , von Koeckritz-Blickwede Maren , Tuchel Tamara , zu natrup Christian meyer , Schünemann Lisa-Marie , Clever Sabrina , Schaudien Dirk , Rohn Karl , Schughart Klaus , Geffers Robert , Kaneko Mika , Kato Yukinari , Armando Federico
Published: July 2024

Long-term consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection affect the life quality of millions of people and pose a heavy burden on the public health sector. The underlying causes, pathomechanisms and morphological correlates are still largely unknown and further research in appropriate animal models is needed. The goal of the study was to characterize the trajectory of lung regeneration over a period of 112 days in the hamster model by combining morphological, transcriptome analysis and functional readouts. We demonstrate that in the acute phase, SARS-CoV-2 Delta-infected, male, aged hamsters show a severe impairment of lung function in a resting state. In the chronic phase of the disease, similar impairments are appreciable until 7 weeks post infection only after exercise on a rodent treadmill. The hamster model recapitulates chronic pulmonary fibrotic changes observed in many patients with respiratory long COVID, but does not show extra-pulmonary long term lesions. We show that sub-pleural and interstitial pulmonary fibrosis as well as alveolar bronchiolization persist until 112 dpi. Interestingly, CK8+ alveolar differentiation intermediate (ADI) cells are becoming less prominent in the alveolar proliferation areas from 28 dpi on. Instead, CK14+ airway basal cells and SCGB1A1+ club cells, expressing cell proliferation markers, mainly populate alveolar bronchiolization areas at later time-points. We postulate that pulmonary fibrosis and SCGB1A1+ club cell rich areas of alveolar bronchiolization represent potential risk factors for other diseases in long-COVID survivors.
Flexible robot skin actuator using multilayer 3D pneumatic networks
Authors: Shin Hyung Gon , Chung Wan Kyun , Kim Keehoon
Published: July 2024

Actuators are an essential part of a robot, creating movement between the robot and its environment. Actuators with flexible shapes allow them to operate in a wider variety of environments, and actuators with multiple degrees of freedom allow them to generate more complex motions. Here we propose a soft pneumatic actuator in the form of a thin, flexible sheet that can generate different motion vector fields on a surface. The proposed actuator is made by a novel multilayer additive process, which allows dozens of thin pneumatic chambers and multi-channel pneumatic circuits connecting them to be precisely formed in a thin soft body. A soft body containing such a complex pneumatic network can have a high degree of freedom and act like a transducer, with its surface dynamically responding to the input pressures. Depending on the input sequence, the proposed actuator can generate surface movements in six different directions, at different speeds, and over different distances, which we demonstrate through analytical models and experiments. We show that our proposed actuator can be used in a variety of environments where conventional rigid and thick actuators are difficult to use, including inspection and obstacle removal in narrow pipes, in-hand manipulation between conventional robotic grippers, and object transportation.
«I FEEL UKRAINIAN...»: GENRE-THEMATIC MARKERS OF THE CREATIVE WORK OF VASYL VYSHYVANYI
Authors: Zhylenko Iryna
Published: July 2024

The present article focuses on creative work of Wilhelm von Habsburg (Vasyl Vyshyvanyi), who perceived Ukraine and the Ukrainian and mentality so deepty that he became a patriot of the country. Vasyl Vyshyvanyi is the author of the poem collection «Mynayut Dni...» (1921) and miniature fragmentary prose published in the magazine «Volya» (1920). The relevance of his work is outlined, as in a difficult time for Ukraine, attention should be paid to little-known figures who shaped Ukrainian history day by day and remained faithful to their cause till the end. The goal of the present work lies in elucidating the genre-thematic markers of Vasyl Vyshyvany's creative work. The article clarifies leading motives of the collection of his poems: the heroic struggle accompanied by the hope for victory, the transience of life and mourning for fallen soldiers, existencialism and the search for homeland, the beauty of Ukrainian song and the nature of Ukraine. Considering Vasyl Vyshyvany's works as representative of the creative work of Sich Riflemen writers, it is suggested to view his poems as songwriting, highlighting some types of literary-origin songs: the call song, lyrical march, elegy song, humorous song, anthem march. The main marker of Vasyl Vyshyvanyi's work is emphasized as a “tragic optimist” (D. Dontsov). This is traced both in poetry and in prose poems. Ukrainian symbols (willow, rocks, mountain song, nightingale, charms of the night), as well as toponyms (Karpathians, Tscheremosch, Chervonohor, Hutsul Region, Pokuttia) abound on the pages of his sparse but so sincere creative heritage, the main marker of which is Ukrainianness.
İklim Değişikliğinin ve Kentleşmenin Etkilerini Akarsu Kıyısı Yerleşim Alanlarında Sel Felaketi Üzerinden Tartışmak
Authors: Özdemir Zeynep , Özkaynak Yolcu Merve
Published: July 2024

İklim değişikliği kaynaklı sel ve taşkın felaketleri, küresel ölçekte birçok yerleşim alanı için ciddi bir tehdit oluşturmaktadır. Bu felaketler, insan hayatına ve ekonomik faaliyetlere büyük zarar vermenin yanı sıra, aynı zamanda yapılaşmış çevreyi olumsuz etkilemektedir. Sel felaketlerinin ortaya çıkmasında; iklim değişikliğine bağlı olarak artan yağış miktarları, tarım alanlarının ve ormanlık bölgelerin tahrip olması, altyapı eksiklikleri, yerleşmelerin doğal afetlere hazırlıksız olması, yanlış konumlandırma ve plansız yapılaşma gibi faktörler etkili olmaktadır. Bu nedenle, sel felaketlerini önlemek için özellikle akarsu kıyısındaki yerleşim alanlarının sel direncini artırmak ve olası felaketlerin etkilerini azaltmak amacıyla bütünlük arz eden afet yönetimi yaklaşımını benimsemek, etkili ve sürdürülebilir çözümler geliştirmek gereklidir. Bu çalışma kapsamında ilk olarak 2021 yılında Bozkurt, Ayancık ve İnebolu-Özlüce örnekleminde meydana gelen seller incelenmiştir. Bu bulgulardan yola çıkılarak alan araştırması bölümünde 2022 ve 2023 yılında İnebolu'da meydana gelen sel felaketlerinin sebepleri araştırılmıştır. Çalışmada yöntem olarak nitel veri analizi yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Ayrıca örneklem alanlarının incelenmesinde hasarlar fotoğraflar yardımıyla gözlem aracılığı ile incelenmiştir. Çalışma kapsamında belirlenen örneklem alanlarındaki taşkın yönetim planları doğrultusunda taşkın tehlike riskleri incelenmiştir ve elde edilen bulgular sonucunda problemler tespit edilmiştir. Belirlenen problemler planlama, tasarım ilkeleri ve yasal ve yönetsel çerçeve kapsamında değerlendirilmiştir. Sonuç olarak akarsu kıyı yerleşme alanlarının sel afetlerine dirençli hale getirilmesine yönelik öneriler sunulmuştur.
Anlık Maksimum Debilerin 2025-2055 Dönemindeki Yağış ve Sıcaklık Farklılıklarına Göre Değişimi, Doğu Karadeniz Havzası İncelemesi
Authors: Babacan Hasan Törehan
Published: July 2024

Bu çalışma geçmiş yıllarda şiddetli yağışlara bağlı, büyük can ve maddi kayıpların yaşandığı Doğu Karadeniz Havzası’nda gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışmanın temel amacı iklim değişikliğinin anlık maksimum debilere etki düzeyinin araştırılmasıdır. Bu araştırma için havzanın orta ve doğu kesimlerinde farklı rakımlarda bulunan dört Akım Gözlem İstasyonu (AGİ) seçilmiştir Seçilen istasyonlarda en uzun süre kesintisiz kaydedilmiş verilerin bulunduğu yıllar göz önüne alınarak belirlenen referans dönemler için Debi Süreklilik Eğrileri (DSE) elde edilmiştir. DSE’lerden %95, %50 ve %5 aşılma olasılığına karşılık gelen debi değerleri elde edilmiş ve yıllık ortalama debi, yıllık toplam yağış ve yıllık ortalama sıcaklık verileriyle birlikte anlık maksimum debi (Qmaks) tahmini için tahminleyici parametre olarak kullanılmıştır. Çalışmada tahminleme kalibrasyon ve gelecek tahmini olmak üzere iki aşamadan oluşmuştur. Kalibrasyon kısmında istasyonların referans dönemi içerisinde gözlenmiş veriler kullanılarak önceki yıl verileriyle bir sonraki yıl Qmaks değerini tahmin eden fonksiyonlar belirlenmiştir (Ortalama R=0,975). İkinci kısımda bölge için iklim değişikliğinin en olumsuz etkilerinin gözleneceği bildirilen RCP8.5 emisyon senaryosu etkisi altında MPI-ESM-MR yağış ve sıcaklık verileri kullanılarak 2025-2055 yılları aralığında Qmaks tahmini yapılmıştır. Çalışmadan elde edilen bulgular, havzada yağış ve sıcaklık değişimlerinin Qmaks üzerinde istatistiksel olarak anlamlı etkilerinin olduğunu, üst havzalardaki değişim düzeyinin sınırlı olduğunu ve alt havzalarda gelecekte taşkın oluşturabilecek yüksek debilerin gözlenebileceğini göstermiştir.
Quantum circuit simulation of linear optics using fermion to qubit encoding
Authors: Chin Seungbeom , Kim Jaehee , Huh Joonsuk
Published: July 2024

This work proposes a digital quantum simulation protocol for the linear scattering process of bosons, which provides a simple extension to partially distinguishable boson cases. Our protocol is achieved by combining the boson-fermion correspondence relation and fermion to qubit encoding protocols. As a proof of concept, we designed quantum circuits for generating the Hong-Ou-Mandel dip by varying particle distinguishability. The circuits were verified with the classical and quantum simulations using the IBM Quantum and IonQ cloud services.
Improvement and generalization of ABCD method with Bayesian inference
Authors: Alvarez Ezequiel , Da Rold Leandro , Szewc Manuel , Szynkman Alejandro , A. Tanco Santiago , Tarutina Tatiana
Published: July 2024

To find New Physics or to refine our knowledge of the Standard Model at the LHC is an enterprise that involves many factors, such as the capabilities and the performance of the accelerator and detectors, the use and exploitation of the available information, the design of search strategies and observables, as well as the proposal of new models. We focus on the use of the information and pour our effort in re-thinking the usual data-driven ABCD method to improve it and to generalize it using Bayesian Machine Learning techniques and tools. We propose that a dataset consisting of a signal and many backgrounds is well described through a mixture model. Signal, backgrounds and their relative fractions in the sample can be well extracted by exploiting the prior knowledge and the dependence between the different observables at the event-by-event level with Bayesian tools. We show how, in contrast to the ABCD method, one can take advantage of understanding some properties of the different backgrounds and of having more than two independent observables to measure in each event. In addition, instead of regions defined through hard cuts, the Bayesian framework uses the information of continuous distribution to obtain soft-assignments of the events which are statistically more robust. To compare both methods we use a toy problem inspired by pp\to hh\to b\bar b b \bar bpp→hh→bb‾bb‾, selecting a reduced and simplified number of processes and analysing the flavor of the four jets and the invariant mass of the jet-pairs, modeled with simplified distributions. Taking advantage of all this information, and starting from a combination of biased and agnostic priors, leads us to a very good posterior once we use the Bayesian framework to exploit the data and the mutual information of the observables at the event-by-event level. We show how, in this simplified model, the Bayesian framework outperforms the ABCD method sensitivity in obtaining the signal fraction in scenarios with 1% and 0.5% true signal fractions in the dataset. We also show that the method is robust against the absence of signal. We discuss potential prospects for taking this Bayesian data-driven paradigm into more realistic scenarios.
Contextual determinants of employee motivation
Authors: M. Anwarul Islam K. , Islam Farhana , Yasmin Sabina
Published: July 2024

The aim of this study is to identify the elements that motivate employees in small and medium-sized enterprises operating in Bangladesh. The data were obtained using a survey methodology targeting employees who work in small and medium-sized enterprises located in the northern geographic region of Bangladesh. The sample included 284 employees surveyed from May 2023 to June 2023. The paper utilized a five-point Likert scale to evaluate the responses. Regression techniques were used to test the hypotheses. Moreover, to evaluate the hypotheses, a significance level of 5% was utilized, and the data pertaining to the subject matter and purpose of this study were examined using the SPSS program. The results of the paper indicate that employee motivation at SMEs is significantly influenced by employee empowerment, job security, and job training opportunities. Employee empowerment (β = 0.583) has the highest effect on motivation compared to the other two factors. Additionally, a substantial correlation coefficient (r = 0.498) is found between employee motivation and employee empowerment. This study contributes to the literature by investigating the external determinants of employee motivation within small and medium-sized enterprises.
UZMANLIK ÇALIŞMALARINDA YENİ BİR ALAN: ELEKTRONİK SPOR UZMANLIĞI
Authors: Şahin Kırık Fatma Adalet , Alıcı Tevfik
Published: July 2024

Tarihin farklı dönemlerinde bazı kişiler sergiledikleri performans bakımından diğerlerinden daha çok ilgi görmüştür. Bu performansları diğer performanslardan daha başarılı kılanın ne olduğuna dair merak uzmanlık biliminin doğmasına neden olmuştur. Farklı alanlarda üstün performans gösteren bireylerin beceri gelişiminin altında yatan mekanizmalar araştırmacıların merak noktası olmuştur. Elektronik sporlar, son zamanlarda uzmanlık bilimi kapsamında ele alınan konulardan biri hâline gelmiştir. E-spor 2017’den bu yana birçok e-spor organizasyonunun kanıtladığı gibi yıllık 380 milyon kişi tarafından izlenen yeni bir spor alanıdır. E-spor alanında üstün performans sergileyen bireylerin bu performanslarının altında yatan mekanizmaları anlamaya yönelik araştırmalar henüz olgunlaşmamış durumdadır. Mevcut e-spor çalışmaları e-sporun geleneksel sporların yanındaki yerini belirginleştirmeye yöneliktir. Yapılan bu derlemede, e-sporun tanımı ve uzmanlık alanında yeşermeye başlayan çalışmalar değerlendirilmiştir. Literatürdeki çalışmalar incelendiğinde profesyonel e-spor oyuncuları ile amatör e-spor oyuncuları arasında dikkat, çalışma belleği gibi birçok bilişsel işlev bakımından farklılıklar olduğu görülmektedir. Mevcut çalışmada e-spor uzmanlarının bilişsel işlevlerinin araştırıldığı çalışmalar derlenmiştir.
Effects of tributary inflows on unsteady flow hysteresis and hydrodynamics in the mainstream
Authors: Tang Hongwu , Chen Kang , Yuan Saiyu , Xu Lei , Qiu Jiajian , Lin Qingwei , Gualtieri Carlo
Published: July 2024

Flooding propagation is a crucial aspect of hydrological monitoring and forecasting. Previous studies have focused on hysteresis in the rating curve, caused by energy loss during flood propagation. However, the impact of tributary inflow on hysteresis downstream remains unclear, leading to inconsistent field observations on whether it strengthens or weakens hysteresis. In this study, we conducted flume experiments to identify the relationship between hysteresis in unsteady flow and the discharge magnitude of the tributary and the unsteady flow period in the mainstream. It was found that the discharge variations in the tributary had a larger influence on hysteresis compared to the periodical variations in the mainstream unsteady flow. Interestingly, the hysteresis of the unsteady flow had an initial strengthening followed by weakening as the tributary discharge increased. When the tributary inflow was low, the widening of the downstream cross-section sharpened the flood wave, increasing the hysteresis. However, as the tributary discharge increased to generate a backwater effect on the mainstream, the pressure gradient flattened flood waves, thereby weakening the hysteresis. This study improves our understanding of how tributary inflow affects flood propagation in the mainstream, offering new insights for flood prediction and control.
Toward smart wastewater treatment plants: a novel data-driven sludge blanket model based on stochastic differential equations
Authors: Vetter Phillip Brinck , Stentoft Peter Alexander , Munk-Nielsen Thomas , Madsen Henrik , Møller Jan Kloppenborg
Published: July 2024

A novel data-driven stochastic state space system for modeling and forecasting the sludge blanket height in secondary clarifiers is presented. The model is trained on sensor measurements of the sludge blanket height and uses as inputs (1) the clarifier sludge mass inflow rate, and (2) the clarifier recycle flow rate. The model's prediction accuracy is evaluated on data from two Danish wastewater treatment plants, for a summer and a winter month, by means of root-mean-square errors and compared with a persistence model. The model consistently outperforms the persistence model in the summer, but only one plant performs well in the winter month. The worst performing plant is challenging to model due to data quality issues and problematic (uneven and time-varying) flow distributions to the clarifiers. This led us to conclude that the best performance and stability is seen to require high data quality and well-controlled flow distribution. In summary the model achieves, in almost all cases, prediction error reductions in the order of 30–50% and 0.1–0.4 m in relative and absolute terms when compared with the predictions from a persistence model.
Temporal and spatial variation in atmospheric wet deposition of nutrients and organic matter at the southern and northern foothills of the Qinling Mountains
Authors: Si Fan , Li Kai , Huang Tinglin , Li Nan , Wen Gang , Huang Daojun
Published: July 2024

Wet deposition significantly impacts the basin ecosystem and water quality of the Qinling Mountains (QMs). However, few research focused on the difference in wet deposition between the northern (QN) and southern (QS) foothills due to the barrier effect of the QMs. This two-year investigation studied nutrient and organic matter deposition in QN and QS during summer and autumn. Results showed higher concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and permanganate index (CODMn) in QN's rainwater, particularly in autumn. The CODMn in QN ranged 0.59–7.67 mg/L, and DOC ranged 0.64–4.45 mg/L. For QS, the CODMn ranged 0.71–3.25 mg/L, and DOC ranged 0.28–2.62 mg/L. Backward trajectory analysis revealed the accumulation of pollutants in QN originating from Northern China, intensified by autumn heating and straw burning. Tyrosine-like and humic-like components in rainwater DOM suggested that they primarily originated from autochthonous sources. Rainwater N:P mass ratios range from 39:1 to 145:1, highlighting a higher N input than P in QMs' wet deposition. The findings underscore the importance of atmospheric wet deposition in nutrient and organic matter input to the QMs and establish a foundation for exploring the ecological effects of wet deposition.
Environmental Facility of Food Products as a Factor of Market Positioning
Authors: Kozak Liudmyla , Kostetska Iryna , Bereziak Ivanna
Published: July 2024

The purpose of the article is to analyze the reactions of consumers to the quality characteristics of food products, in particular related to the level of their environmental friendliness, in order to develop proposals for improving the communication programs of manufacturers of these products in Ukraine. The authors describe the reactions of consumers to the qualitative characteristics of food products based on the results of a sociological study. 1269 people participated in the study, including 539 (42.5%) men and 730 (57.5%) women. The distribution of respondents by age is as follows: from 18 to 20 years old - 68 people or 5.4%; from 21 to 30 years old - 367 people or 28.9%; from 31 to 40 years old - 705 people or 55.5%; over 40 years old – 129 people or 10.2%. The age structure of respondents shows that about 90% of respondents belong to generations Y and Z, according to the well-known American classification.  The intensifying competition among food manufacturers in Ukraine requires them to improve their own communication programs and positioning strategies by identifying significant emotional and functional attributes of the specified products. The conducted sociological study of the purchasing behavior of consumers on the food market in Ukraine contributes to the solution of this problem. The authors identified a number of factors influencing the formation of stereotypes of food quality perception. Indicators of environmental friendliness and safety for human health turned out to be the most important attributes in market positioning. The results of the study serve as a methodological basis for improving the communication programs of food manufacturers, contribute to the development of healthy competition among them. The findings of this study can be considered important as a guide for future research.
Advancements in Iron Oxide Nanoparticles for Multimodal Imaging and Tumor Theranostics
Authors: Liu He , Zhen Zhiming , Chen Fengxi , Chen Jiafei , Chen Wei
Published: July 2024

The emergence of nanomedicine offers renewed promise in the diagnosis and
treatment of diseases. Due to their unique physical and chemical properties, iron oxide
nanoparticles (IONPs) exhibit widespread application in the diagnosis and treatment of
various ailments, particularly tumors. IONPs have magnetic resonance (MR) T1/T2 imaging
capabilities due to their different sizes. In addition, IONPs also have biocatalytic activity
(nanozymes) and magnetocaloric effects. They are widely used in chemodynamic
therapy (CDT), magnetic hyperthermia treatment (MHT), photodynamic therapy (PDT),
and drug delivery. This review outlines the synthesis, modification, and biomedical applications
of IONPs, emphasizing their role in enhancing diagnostic imaging (including
single-mode and multimodal imaging) and their potential in cancer therapies (including
chemotherapy, radiotherapy, CDT, and PDT). Furthermore, we briefly explore the challenges
in the clinical application of IONPs, such as surface modification and protein adsorption,
and put forward opinions on the clinical transformation of IONPs.
Diuretic Combination Therapy in Acute Heart Failure: An Updated Review
Authors: Villaschi Alessandro , Pellegrino Marta , Condorelli Gianluigi , Chiarito Mauro
Published: July 2024

:

Loop diuretics are the cornerstone of decongestive therapy in patients presenting with acute heart
failure and have been extensively studied in randomized clinical trials. Therefore, in current guidelines, they
are the only drug with a class I recommendation to treat signs and symptoms of congestion when present. However,
the percentage of patients achieving successful decongestion is suboptimal, and diuretic resistance frequently
develops. Patients with a poor response to loop diuretics and those discharged with residual signs of
congestion are characterized by a worse prognosis over time. Recently, a renovated interest in different diuretic
classes sprouted among heart failure researchers in order to improve decongestion strategies and ameliorate
short- and long-term clinical outcomes. Randomized clinical trials investigating associations among diuretic
classes and loop diuretics have been performed but yielded variable results. Therefore, despite initial evidence
of a possible benefit from some of these compounds, a definite way to approach diuretic resistance via diuretic
combination therapy is still missing. The aim of this review is to summarize current clinical evidence on the
use of diuretic combination therapy in patients with acute heart failure and to suggest a possible approach to
avoid or counteract diuretic resistance.
UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap Study on Rat Urinary Metabolites of 5-Methoxy-Alpha-Methyltryptamine
Authors: Zhutao Guo , Ding Keran , Zheng Shuiqing , Ni Chunfang , Liang Chen , He Siyang , Deng Qianya
Published: July 2024

Objective:

5-Methoxy-α-Methyltryptamine (5-MeO-AMT) is a new psychoactive substance which
is abused due to its hallucinogenic and euphoric effects. This study aimed to study the metabolic characteristics
of 5-MeO-AMT.

Methods:

Five rats were given intraperitoneal injection at a dose of 50 mg/kg of 5-MeO-AMT, and their urine
was subsequently collected at different times within 7 days. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography--
tandem high-resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap) was used to detect the precise molecular
weight and fragment ions of 5-MeO-AMT and its possible metabolites in the urine sample extracted with
benzene-ethyl acetate.

Results:

Three metabolites, including OH-5-MeO-AMT, α-Me-5-HT, and N-Acetyl-5-MeO-AMT were identified
in rats’ urine. The major metabolic pathways involved O-demethylation, hydroxylation of indole ring, and
Acetylation on aliphatic amines.

Conclusion:

The results of this study are an important reference for the identification and screening of toxicants
of 5-MeO-AMT.
Isopsoralen Improves Glucocorticoid-induced Osteoporosis by Regulating Purine Metabolism and Promoting cGMP/PKG Pathway-mediated Osteoblast Differentiation
Authors: Liu Defeng , Ma Lingyun , Zheng Jihui , Zhang Zhenqun , Zhang Nana , Han Zhongqian , Wang Xuejie , Zhao Jianyong , Lv Shuquan , Cui Huantian
Published: July 2024

Background:

The effects of Isopsoralen (ISO) in promoting osteoblast differentiation and inhibiting
osteoclast formation are well-established, but the mechanism underlying ISO's improvement of Glucocorticoid-
Induced Osteoporosis (GIOP) by regulating metabolism remains unclear.

Methods:

This study aims to elucidate the mechanism of ISO treatment for GIOP through non-targeted
metabolomics based on ISO's efficacy in GIOP. Initially, we established a GIOP female mouse model and assessed
ISO's therapeutic effects using micro-CT detection, biomechanical testing, serum calcium (Ca), and
phosphorus (P) level detection, along with histological analyses using hematoxylin and eosin (HE), Masson,
and tartrate-resistant acidic phosphatase (TRAP) staining. Subsequently, non-targeted metabolomics was employed
to investigate ISO's impact on serum metabolites in GIOP mice. RT-qPCR and Western blot analyses
were conducted to measure the levels of enzymes associated with these metabolites. Building on the
metabolomic results, we explored the effects of ISO on the cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate (cGMP)/Protein
Kinase G (PKG) pathway and its role in mediating osteoblast differentiation.

Results:

Our findings demonstrate that ISO intervention effectively enhances the bone microarchitecture and
strength of GIOP mice. It mitigates pathological damage, such as structural damage in bone trabeculae, reduced
collagen fibers, and increased osteoclasts, while improving serum Ca and P levels in GIOP mice. Non--
targeted metabolomics revealed purine metabolism as a common pathway between the Control and GIOP
groups, as well as between the ISO high-dose (ISOH) group and the GIOP group. ISO intervention upregulated
inosine and adenosine levels, downregulated guanosine monophosphate levels, increased Adenosine Deaminase
(ADA) expression, and decreased cGMP-specific 3',5'-cyclic phosphodiesterase (PDE5) expression. Additionally,
ISO intervention elevated serum cGMP levels, upregulated PKGI and PKGII expression in bone tissues,
as well as the expression of Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) and Osterix, and increased serum
Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) activity.

Conclusion:

In summary, ISO was able to enhance the bone microstructure and bone strength of GIOP mice
and improve their Ca, P, and ALP levels, which may be related to ISO's regulation of purine metabolism and
promotion of osteoblast differentiation mediated by the cGMP/PKG pathway. This suggests that ISO is a potential
drug for treating GIOP. However, further research is still needed to explore the specific targets and clinical
applications of ISO.
Orange Juice: A Remarkable Green Catalyst for the Michael Addition Reaction of Indoles
Authors: Mukherjee Ratna , Banik Bimal Krishna
Published: July 2024

Michael addition reaction is widely accepted as the most important reaction for making
carbon-carbon bonds in the synthesis of organic compounds. In this reaction, an enone is attacked by
a nucleophile in a conjugated manner across a carbon-carbon double bond. The present work reported
the Michael reaction of indole with α,β-unsaturated ketones via alkylation to yield 3-(3-oxoalkyl)
indole or β-indolyl ketones. Naturally available orange juice has been demonstrated to be an efficient
green catalyst for the Michael addition reaction of indoles with various cyclic and acyclic unsaturated
ketones. The products were characterised by 1H NMR spectroscopy and compared with literature.
This one-step, simple process has afforded the 3-indolyl carbonyl compounds in short reaction times
and excellent yields at room temperature. The present method developed an inexpensive synthetic
process to prepare substituted indoles in a simple and eco-friendly way.
Docking and Simulation Studies on Novel Analogues of 3,4,5-Trihydroxy Benzoic Acid as HSP90Alpha Inhibitors
Authors: Gupta Tanya , Kataria Ritu , Kumar Asim , Bhutani Rubina , Sardana Satish
Published: July 2024

HSP90 assists as a crucial molecular chaperone that responds to environmental stressors
and helps in the survival of cells in microorganisms. This protein is integral to the stress response,
aiding in the stabilization of various proteins essential for microbial survival. Consequently, the ability
of a number of tissues to adjust to endogenous stress depends critically on appropriate chaperone
activity. Modulators of chaperone activity, however, have emerged as a novel and developing area of
drug discovery due to the association between changed chaperone function and the development of
numerous illnesses. Inhibition of HSP90alpha can disrupt proper protein folding, thus impairing
growth and virulence in fungi. In this work, we selected novel leads of gallic acid derivatives with the
help of OSIRIS Property Explorer and DruLiTo software. Selected leads were subjected to ADME-T
studies for further screening. Docking and molecular simulation studies on selected compounds were
performed using Schrodinger v21 and GROMACS software to predict the bioactivity of novel leads
of 3,4,5 trihydroxy benzoic acid for suppression of the HSP90alpha enzyme. Compounds 4N, 18N,
15N, and 14N showed good docking scores of -6.5, -6.4, -5.91, and -5.98, respectively, which was
comparable to standard ciprofloxacin. Compound 4N and compound 14N demonstrated notable binding
interactions and were selected for further investigation through molecular dynamics studies with
HSP90alpha (PDB ID: 1YC1). RMSD, H BOND, and RMSF analysis confirmed the stable binding of
compounds 4N and 14 N with the HSP90 enzyme. The RMSF plot showed less than 0.35 nm fluctuation
for the HSP90alpha enzyme in complex with different ligands. It can be concluded that ligand
binding can cause stability to the conformation of the protein. Compounds 4N and 14N are considered
to be the best theoretical lead, which can further be studied experimentally as HSP90 alpha inhibitors
for antimicrobial activity.
Effect of Marham-i-Bāsalīqūn on Cervical Erosion (Qurūḥ al-Raḥim): A Randomized Comparative Clinical Study
Authors: Khanum Nadiya , Shameem Ismath , Siddiqui Sumaiya
Published: July 2024

Background and Objective:

Cervical erosion (Qurūḥ al-Raḥim) is one of the most frequent
gynecological conditions seen in clinical practice. Therefore, the objective of the current
study was to assess the impact of the topical application of Marham-i-Bāsalīqūn in Qurūḥ al-
Raḥim.

Material and Method:

A randomized comparative clinical study was carried out at the Institute
Hospital in Bengaluru. Diagnosed cases (n=40) of cervical erosion were randomly assigned to test
(n=20) and control (n=20) groups. A total of 6 g ointment of Marham-i-Bāsalīqūn (test drug) and
tested Unani formulation (control drug) was applied with an applicator per vaginum over the eroded
area of the cervix daily once at bedtime for 14 days. A single dose of the antibiotic regimen
(azithromycin-1g and cefixime-400 mg) was administered orally in both groups. Subjective parameters
like vaginal discharge, pruritus vulvae, low back ache, lower abdominal pain, and postcoital
bleeding were assessed during the trial. The main outcome measure was an improvement in
the cervical erosion grading score. The inference was executed with appropriate statistical analysis.

Result:

Improvement in the cervical erosion grading score was achieved in 50% and 40% of patients
in the control and test groups, respectively, after 2 weeks of treatment with P<0.0001, which
was considered highly significant. A highly significant improvement in subjective parameters was
observed during the trial with P<0.0001.

Conclusion:

Considering the high prevalence of cervical erosion among women of reproductive
age group, effective treatment and safe strategies are highly recommended. Marham-i-Bāsalīqūn is
cost-effective and has several therapeutic actions that can help to promote the healing of erosion
and relieve the associated symptoms. The clinical trial was registered at the Clinical Trial Registry
of India (CTRI) with registration number CTRI/2022/02/040419.