bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Respiratory pathology in the mdx/utrn

-/-
mouse: A murine model for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)
Authors: Hernández Rodríguez Marán Y. , Biswas Debolina D. , Slyne Aoife D. , Lee Jane , Scarrow Evelyn , Abdelbarr Sarra M. , Daniels Heather , O’Halloran Ken D. , Ferreira Leonardo F. , Gersbach Charles A. , ElMallah Mai K.
Published: February 2025

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked devastating disease caused by a lack of dystrophin which results in progressive muscle weakness. As muscle weakness progresses, respiratory insufficiency and hypoventilation result in significant morbidity and mortality. The most studied DMD mouse model- the mdx mouse- has a milder respiratory phenotype compared to humans, likely due to compensatory overexpression of utrophin. mdx/utrn-/- mice lack both dystrophin and utrophin proteins. These mice have an early onset of muscular dystrophy, severe muscle weakness, and premature death, but the respiratory pathophysiology is unclear. The objective of this study is to characterize the respiratory pathophysiology and histopathology using whole body plethysmography to measure breathing and metabolism, diaphragm muscle functional analysis, histology, and immunohistochemistry. The mdx/utrn-/- mice have significant respiratory and metabolic deficits with respiratory insufficiency and hypoventilation when exposed to hypoxia and hypercarbia as early as 6 weeks of age. They also have significant diaphragmatic weakness and disrupted diaphragmatic structural pathology. The mdx/utrn-/- mice display respiratory dysfunction that mimics the DMD phenotype and therefore can provide a useful model to study the impact of novel therapies on respiratory function for DMD.
Direct detection and identification of viruses in saliva using a SpecID ionization modified mass spectrometer
Authors: Alusta Pierre , Paredes Angel , Azevedo Marli , Mullis Lisa , Buzatu Dan
Published: February 2025

The COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has led to a significant mortality globally and persistent health challenges in many survivors. Early accurate diagnosis, surveillance, identification of cohorts, and prophylaxis are considered essential measures to reduce the spread of infectious viral pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2. A reliable, fast, high-throughput screening method that can detect viral particles and identify the pathogenic virus in infected individuals could help to reduce the spread of the next viral threat through quick knowledge and implementation of appropriate prevention strategies. Since respiratory viruses are typically present in nasal and oral secretions, saliva is a good target for testing for viral infections. Saliva testing has slowly gained popularity in the diagnostics based on biomarkers and other constituents ranging from organic compounds (e.g., food additives), peptides, and even microorganisms. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) remains the gold standard for sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection in biological samples. However, while PCR testing for COVID is sensitive and widely used by hospitals, the method has a false-negative rate of 15–20% and is kit-based necessitating the development of alternative methods of detection that provide higher accuracy. This paper describes the use of a SpecID Mass Spectrometer that can detect the presence of viral particles in saliva at very low levels (<500 virions/0.5 ml). The main goal of this study was to demonstrate that our previously developed, portable, mass spectrometry based method, SpecID, could also be sued for detecting viruses in saliva, including but not limited to SARS-CoV-2; the SpecID method has the potential to provide a reliable solution that overcomes some of the challenges with molecular testing like PCR.
The association between maternal tobacco smoking during pregnancy and the risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in offspring: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Mohammadian Mahdi , Khachatryan Lusine G. , Vadiyan Filipp V. , Maleki Mostafa , Fatahian Fatemeh , Mohammadian-Hafshejani Abdollah
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Maternal tobacco smoking during pregnancy is a significant public health concern with potential long-lasting effects on child development. ADHD, a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, may be influenced by prenatal nicotine exposure. This systematic review and meta-analysis examine the association between maternal tobacco smoking during pregnancy and the risk of ADHD in offspring.

Methods

Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Central, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, LILACS, SciELO, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database (AMED), ERIC, CNKI, HTA Database, Dialnet, EBSCO, LENS, and Google Scholar for studies up to November 1, 2024. We included peer-reviewed studies reporting quantitative effect size estimates for the association between maternal tobacco smoking and ADHD. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS).

Results

We identified 2,981 articles and included 55 studies (4,016,522 participants) in the analysis. The meta-analysis showed a significant association between maternal tobacco smoking during pregnancy and increased risk of ADHD in offspring (pooled Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.55-1.88; P < 0.001). Egger’s test indicated no publication bias (p = 0.204), but Begg’s test did (p = 0.042). By employing the trim and fill method, the revised OR was estimated to be 1.54 (95% CI: 1.40–1.70; P < 0.001). The OR were 2.37 (95% CI: 1.72–3.28; P < 0.001) in cross-sectional studies, 1.72 (95% CI: 1.49–2.00; P < 0.001) in case-control studies, and 1.53 (95% CI: 1.34–1.74; P < 0.001) in cohort studies. Meta-regression showed study design and study region significantly influenced heterogeneity (P < 0.10). Sensitivity and subgroup analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings.

Conclusion

This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrate a significant association between maternal tobacco smoking during pregnancy and increased odds of ADHD in offspring. These findings highlight the need for prenatal care guidelines and tobacco smoking cessation programs for pregnant women to reduce ADHD risk and promote optimal neurodevelopmental outcomes. Future research should explore underlying mechanisms and potential confounders further.
Force analysis of slope reinforced by Frame-Anchor-Support-Structure based on improved horizontal slice method
Authors: Fang Guang-Wen , Guo Fei , Huang An-Ping
Published: February 2025

As a flexible support structure commonly used in slope stabilization and management, the Frame-Anchor-Support-Structure (FASS) is of great significance in studying the actual stress situation to ensure the safety of slopes. In this paper, based on the traditional horizontal slice method, utilizing the principle that the vertical slice method and the horizontal slice method share the same sliding surface, the inter-strip force between soil slices, the effect of the FASS, the effect of the slope-top uniform load, and the relationship between the vertical slice method and the horizontal slice method of the force conversion is considered at the same time. The improved horizontal slice method for the slope reinforced by the FASS is also proposed, and the force calculation formula for the slope reinforced by FASS is derived. By comparing and analyzing with the overall sliding wedge method, the reasonableness and accuracy of the calculation method of this paper are verified, and the variety rule of force on the slope reinforced by FASS under different loads is obtained. The results show that the combined force of lateral earth pressures on slopes calculated in this paper is smaller than that of the overall sliding wedge method, but the difference between the two is not significant (within 9% difference). The earth pressure strength of the slope, the shear stress of FASS on the sliding soil, and the vertical force strength and the shear stress of the stabilized soil on the sliding soil all show a distribution trend of small at both ends and large in the middle (about 1/3 of the position from the bottom of the slope). Moreover, the trend of the above forces does not vary with the slope-top uniform loads. The study results are informative for calculating and analyzing the forces on the slope reinforced by FASS.
From tradition to progressiveness: Analyzing Thailand’s image on youtube amid post-cannabis legalization
Authors: Mazahir Ibtesam , Boonchutima Smith , Yaseen Safeena
Published: February 2025

This research examines the depiction of Thailand on YouTube subsequent to the nation’s decision to legalize recreational marijuana in June 2022. By analyzing 57 video clips recorded between March and September 2022, we investigate the evolution of Thailand’s digital image after the legalization of cannabis in the country. The outcomes of our study demonstrate a predominantly favorable account, highlighting the incorporation of marijuana into Thai society, its therapeutic capabilities, and its potential as a lucrative economic commodity. In intimate connection to elements of the social, physical, and cultural components, the emotional dimension developed as a prevailing theme. Thai residents and government officials were the main influencers in shaping the discussion, representing the prevailing public opinion in support of the choice to legalize marijuana. The prevailing media narratives, which included tourism, celebration, and policy, further emphasized the positive perspective on the advantages of legalizing marijuana. This research emphasizes the profound impact of substantial policy changes on a nation’s international reputation, with Thailand depicted as providing a distinctive combination of cultural heritage and contemporary elements.
Factors affecting heat resilience of drone honey bees (Apis mellifera) and their sperm
Authors: McAfee Alison , Metz Bradley N. , Connor Patrick , Du Keana , Allen Christopher W. , Frausto Luis A. , Swenson Mark P. , Phillips Kylah S. , Julien Madison , Rempel Zoe , Currie Robert W. , Baer Boris , Tarpy David R. , Foster Leonard J.
Published: February 2025

Extreme temperatures associated with climate change are expected to impact the physiology and fertility of a variety of insects, including honey bees. Most previous work on this topic has focused on female honey bees (workers and queens), and comparatively little research has investigated how heat exposure affects males (drones). To address this gap, we tested body mass, viral infections, and population origin as predictors of drone survival and sperm viability in a series of heat challenge assays. We found that individual body mass was highly influential, with heavier drones being more likely to survive a heat challenge (4 h at 42°C) than smaller drones. In a separate experiment, we compared the survival of Northern California and Southern California drones in response to the same heat challenge (4 h at 42°C), and found that Southern Californian drones ― which are enriched for African ancestry ― were more likely to survive a heat challenge than drones originating from Northern California. To avoid survivor bias, we conducted sperm heat challenges using in vitro assays and found remarkable variation in sperm heat resilience among drones sourced from different commercial beekeeping operations, with some exhibiting no reduction in sperm viability after heat challenge and others exhibiting a 75% reduction in sperm viability. Further investigating potential causal factors for such variation, we found no association between drone mass and viability of sperm in in vitro sperm heat challenge assays, but virus inoculation (with Israeli acute paralysis virus) exacerbated the negative effect of heat on sperm viability. These experiments establish a vital framework for understanding the importance of population origin and comorbidities for drone heat sensitivity.
Analyzing and forecasting under-5 mortality trends in Bangladesh using machine learning techniques
Authors: Naznin Shayla , Uddin Md Jamal , Ahmad Ishmam , Kabir Ahmad
Published: February 2025

Background

Under-5 mortality remains a critical social indicator of a country’s development and economic sustainability, particularly in developing nations like Bangladesh. This study employs machine learning models, including Linear Regression, Ridge Regression, Lasso Regression, Bayesian Ridge, Decision Tree, Gradient Boosting, XGBoost, and CatBoost, to forecast future trends in under-5 mortality. By leveraging these models, the study aims to provide actionable insights for policymakers and health professionals to address persistent challenges.

Methods

Data from the 1993–94 to 2017–18 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS) was analyzed using advanced machine learning algorithms. Key metrics, including Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), R-squared, and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), were employed to evaluate model performance. Additionally, k-fold cross-validation was conducted to ensure robust model evaluation.

Results

This study confirms a significant decline in under-5 mortality in Bangladesh over the study period, with machine learning models providing accurate predictions of future trends. Among the models, Linear Regression emerged as the most accurate, achieving the lowest MAE (4.05), RMSE (4.56), and MAPE (6.64%), along with the highest R-squared value (0.98). Projections indicate further reductions in under-5 mortality to 29.87 per 1,000 live births by 2030 and 26.21 by 2035.

Conclusions

From 1994 to 2018, under-5 mortality in Bangladesh decreased by 76.72%. While the Linear Regression model demonstrated exceptional accuracy in forecasting trends, long-term predictions should be interpreted cautiously due to inherent uncertainties in socio-economic conditions. The forecasted rates fall short of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of 25 deaths per 1,000 live births by 2030, underscoring the need for intensified interventions in healthcare access and maternal health to achieve this target.
Trajectory tracking sliding mode control for vertical take-off and landing aircraft based on double loop and global Lipschitz stability
Authors: Du Liang
Published: February 2025

Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) aircraft excel in their ability to maneuver in limited spaces, making them ideal for a variety of uses including urban air mobility, emergency response, and disaster surveillance. Their agility and quick deployment features are especially valuable for executing complex missions in challenging environments. This paper addresses this issue by proposing a dual-loop sliding mode control (SMC) strategy optimized for VTOL models. However, tracking errors in the inner loop can impact the performance of the outer loop, complicating the assessment of the inner loop’s convergence speed to meet the outer loop’s criteria, and thus hindering the achievement of absolute stability in both control loops. To tackle this issue, the paper leverages the global asymptotic stability theorem for dynamic systems and develops a closed-loop system with global Lipschitz continuity, guaranteeing robust stability across both loops. This method not only bolsters the system’s dependability but also enhances its flexibility to operate effectively under complex dynamic conditions, thereby increasing the overall resilience and performance of the VTOL control systems. The implementation of the sliding mode control strategy in VTOL models significantly enhances operational stability and reduces tracking errors in complex environments. Numerical simulations demonstrate that our approach reliably improves both performance and adaptability of the system under varying dynamic conditions.
A classification scheme of active faults in engineering
Authors: Zhou Qingyun , He Suge , Zou Zhenyu
Published: February 2025

Fault displacement hazard, along with ground shaking hazard and earthquake-induced geohazard, are the primary forms of disaster in major earthquakes. Buildings located on areas of strong seismic surface displacement are likely to be damaged if anti-displacement design is not carried out. Therefore, a reasonable and targeted active fault classification scheme is helpful for avoidance and anti-displacement hazard of active fault in engineering construction. However, the existing classification schemes are rough, and some have no quantitative classification basis, which makes it difficult to apply these classification schemes in actual work. Also, they did not specify whether all active faults should be avoided. In this paper, considering the physical mechanism of earthquakes, using two activity parameters of active faults, “strong earthquake recurrence period” (TRP) and “strong earthquake elapsed time ratio” (Ret), and referring to the probabilistic seismic hazard analysis method (PSHA), the maximum magnitude of potential earthquake on the fault under different exceedance probabilities (EP) is calculated, and was divided into six levels. The fault displacement hazard level under different exceedance probabilities may be different. For buildings with different importance levels, we recommend six hazard classification schemes with different exceedance probabilities. Standard buildings should avoid active faults with a fault displacement hazard level of Ⅰ ~ Ⅲ (faults that can generate earthquakes of magnitude m0 and above under a 4% exceedance probability over 100 years). Special buildings and key buildings should avoid active faults with a fault displacement hazard level of Ⅰ ~ Ⅳ (faults that can generate earthquakes of magnitude m0-0.5and above under a 1% exceedance probability over 100 years). The fault displacement hazard classification scheme given in this paper takes into account the physical mechanism of earthquake occurrence and the importance of buildings, which makes this classification scheme both scientific and practical, helps provide technical support for the design and construction of buildings. This study is still quite preliminary, and there are many issues that need further study.
Customer segmentation in the digital marketing using a Q-learning based differential evolution algorithm integrated with K-means clustering
Authors: Wang Guanqun
Published: February 2025

Effective and well-structured customer segmentation enables organizations to accurately identify and comprehend the distinct characteristics and needs of various customer groups, thereby facilitating the development of more targeted marketing strategies. Contemporary artificial intelligence technologies have emerged as the predominant tools for customer segmentation, owing to their robust capabilities in analyzing complex datasets and extracting profound customer insights. This paper proposes a customer segmentation framework within the realm of digital marketing, which integrates a reinforcement learning-based differential evolution algorithm with K-means clustering using dimensionality reduction techniques to address challenges in the customer segmentation process. Initially, a correlation matrix is used to identify redundant noise and multicollinear features within customer feature groups, and Principal Component Analysis is applied for denoising and dimensionality reduction to enhance the ability of the model to identify potential features. Subsequently, a parameter adaptive adjustment method based on Q-learning is proposed, which significantly augments the clustering performance of K-means. Ultimately, the effectiveness of the proposed method is validated using a Kaggle dataset, and the elbow method is employed to ascertain the optimal number of clusters. Based on the cluster category centers, the typical characteristics of different customer types are analyzed. Furthermore, four widely recognized machine learning methods are employed to classify the clustering results, achieving over 95% classification accuracy on the test set. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model exhibits a high degree of customer characteristic identification and segmentation, which not only enhances marketing efficiency and customer satisfaction but also fosters corporate profit growth through the strategic formulation of various marketing initiatives.
Broadening the spectrum of conflict and coexistence: A case study example of human-wolf interactions in British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Doney Ethan D. , Frank Beatrice , Clark Douglas A.
Published: February 2025

Coexistence has seen an explosive rise within conservation social science scholarship. While this represents an exciting shift in the field, many academics are still skeptical. Some scholars have expressed concerns around the omission of “conflict”, naïveté, and impracticality associated with coexistence literature. In this paper, we aim to demonstrate that critiques of coexistence often stem from reductionism and decontextualization, process inefficiencies and/or inequities, failure to address and prioritize human well-being as a goal, and a lack of tools to foster open, collaborative dialogue. We draw on a case study of human-wolf interactions in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve Region, British Columbia, Canada, to illustrate how coexistence efforts can, and should, prioritize “conflict”, be attentive to the real challenges of sharing spaces with wildlife, and encourage collaborative, inclusive processes that work toward tangible, actionable outcomes. We conducted 32 semi-structured interviews with residents from diverse backgrounds and levels of experience with wolves in the region. From these interviews, we articulated novel, co-developed, contextual definitions of human-wolf conflict and coexistence in the region. We then developed a collaborative tool for visualizing behavioral and cognitive elements of human-wildlife interactions through open and inclusive dialogue, using real examples from these research interviews. The research findings highlight three main principles: (1) that conflict and coexistence are contextual and should be understood as such, (2) that coexistence requires collaborative processes that pay attention to equity and inclusivity, and (3) that there are frameworks or tools that can help facilitate discussions toward practical outcomes of coexistence projects. We believe that this paper helps to disambiguate coexistence and reinforce that coexistence requires focused attention to the well-being of people as much as wildlife.
Interval combined prediction of mine tunnel’s air volume considering multiple influencing factors
Authors: Wang Zhen , Topal Erkan , Shao Liangshan , Yang Chen
Published: February 2025

Continuous monitoring and accurate measurement of required air volume in mine tunnels are crucial phenomena for mine safety However, air volume fluctuates and can become unstable which can lead to biased measurement in underground environment. In this paper, to accurately measure the mine tunnel air volume, the tunnel air volume, and related ventilation parameters are consistently monitored, and the real monitoring data is converted to interval numbers for representation. These interval numbers are then preprocessed using an Interval-type Complete Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition with Adaptive Noise(In-CEEMDAN) to extract the essential features of the data. Then, the monitored data is processed using the phase space reconstruction technique to identify the most relevant influencing factors related to the air volume. The tunnel air volume and influencing factors are then input into different neural networks for air volume prediction. To further improve prediction accuracy, the predicted values of wind volume intervals from the single prediction method are transformed into triangular fuzzy numbers, and the generalized induced ordered weighted average operator is introduced for the combination of prediction results. The grey correlation method is selected as the optimization criterion, and the preference coefficients are used to transform the multi-objective optimization problem into a single-objective optimization problem. In order to reduce the prediction error, the L2 paradigm is combined with the gray correlation to construct a complete interval combination type air volume prediction model which considers multiple influencing factors. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was carried out to analyze the values of the preference coefficients in the model, and the final range of values was given. Experimental analysis using data from a coal mine in Inner Mongolia showed that the method could reduce Combined Weighted Mean Absolute Error(CWMAE) to a maximum of 5.0384, Combined Weighted Root of Mean Squares Error(CWRMSE) to 6.8889, and Combined Weighted Mean Absolute Percentage Error(CWMAPE) to 1.4756, which indicates that the method proposed in this study can effectively improve the prediction accuracy of the mine tunnel air volume.
Efficacy and safety of antifibrotic drugs for interstitial lung diseases other than IPF: A systematic review, meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis
Authors: Yang Mei , Tan Yuying , Yang Ting , Xu Dan , Chen Mei , Chen Lei
Published: February 2025

Background

The therapeutic role of antifibrotic therapy has been well-established in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, its efficacy and safety for interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) other than IPF are not fully understood.

Methods

We updated a systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis (TSA) of randomized controlled trials and prospective studies on antifibrotic drug (nintedanib or pirfenidone) vs other intervention (placebo, no intervention or conventional treatment) in non-IPF ILDs. The primary outcomes were absolute change in forced vital capacity (FVC), all-cause mortality and serious adverse events (SAEs). The risk of bias was rated with the RoB2 tool and certainty of evidence was assessed by the GRADE approach.

Results

17 studies with 1908 patients were included. For the primary outcomes, pooled analyses of four trials with low risk of bias showed that antifibrotic drugs significantly ameliorated FVC decline (mean difference 86.21; 95% CI 49.38 to 123.03; I2 = 64%; TSA-adjusted CI 40.86 to 131.56). Based on five trials with low risk of bias, no difference was observed in all-cause mortality (RR 0.87; 95% CI 0.53 to 1.43; I2 = 0%; TSA-adjusted CI 0.12 to 6.53) and SAEs (RR 0.97; 95% CI 0.83 to 1.13; I2 = 0%; TSA-adjusted CI 0.74 to 1.28) between groups. However, based on two studies with 324 patients, benefit of antifibrotic drugs in FVC was not shown in the subgroup taking mycophenolate (mean difference 17.08; 95% CI -56.22 to 90.37), which also had higher risk of SAEs (RR 1.71; 95% CI 1.09 to 2.70), although both were contested by TSA.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that antifibrotic drugs are beneficial for patients with non-IPF ILDs in slowing disease progression, whereas may not correlate to all-cause mortality and SAEs. However, for patients taking mycophenolate, antifibrotic drugs may do more harm than good. More investigations are warranted to validate current findings.
Health-related quality of life and its predictors among chronic kidney disease patients: A hospital-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Tasnim Tasmia , Karim Kazi Muhammad Rezaul , Rahman Tanjina , Rashid Harun-Ur
Published: February 2025

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has a significant impact on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of affected individuals due to its progressive and disabling nature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the HRQoL and its predictors among CKD patients. A cross-sectional study was carried out at kidney foundation Hospital and research Institute at Dhaka, Bangladesh. Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQoL™ -36) questionnaire were used to measure the HRQoL of CKD patients. The study also used kidney-targeted KDQoL-36 Summary Score (KSS). Socio-demographic and medical records were also collected. Descriptive statistics, and multiple linear regression were performed. Out of 430 patients, 77.9% were in moderate to advanced stage of CKD. Patients aged, occupation, income, co-morbidities such as diabetes or hypertension, medication used, and serum hemoglobin were found significantly (p <0.05) associated at different stages of CKD. The mean domain scores of physical component summary (PCS), mental component summary (MCS), burden of kidney disease (BKD), effect of kidney disease (EKD), symptoms and problems of kidney disease (SPKD) subscales were 37.19, 45.94, 31.49, 63.95, and 73.35, respectively. The KSS was 63.24. The stage of CKD has been documented as an important predictor of HRQoL of all subscales of KDQoL-36 as well as KSS. The older age group also showed a clear link with a lower HRQoL in all subscales of KDQoL-36, except SPKD. In multiple linear regression analysis, stage of CKD, patients age, employment status and use of medication were found significant predictors of KSS. Further, higher levels of education, being married, absence of diabetes and heart disease were all independent predictors of a higher MCS. Whereas retirement, low duration of CKD and the use of three or more drugs strongly linked to worse scores of PCS. By addressing the determinants of poor HRQoL, healthcare providers can tailor treatment plans to better meet the needs of these individuals and ultimately enhance their overall well-being.
E6AP is essential for the proliferation of HPV-positive cancer cells by preventing senescence
Authors: Avenhaus Alicia , Velimirović Milica , Bulkescher Julia , Scheffner Martin , Hoppe-Seyler Felix , Hoppe-Seyler Karin
Published: February 2025

Oncogenic types of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are major human carcinogens. The formation of a trimeric complex between the HPV E6 oncoprotein, the cellular ubiquitin ligase E6AP and the p53 tumor suppressor protein leads to proteolytic p53 degradation and plays a central role for HPV-induced cell transformation. We here uncover that E6AP silencing in HPV-positive cancer cells ultimately leads to efficient induction of cellular senescence, revealing that E6AP acts as a potent anti-senescent factor in these cells. Thus, although the downregulation of either E6 or E6AP expression also acts partially pro-apoptotic, HPV-positive cancer cells surviving E6 repression proliferate further, whereas they become irreversibly growth-arrested upon E6AP repression. We moreover show that the senescence induction following E6AP downregulation is mechanistically highly dependent on induction of the p53/p21 axis, other than the known pro-senescent response of HPV-positive cancer cells following combined downregulation of the viral E6 and E7 oncoproteins. Of further note, repression of E6AP allows senescence induction in the presence of the anti-senescent HPV E7 protein. Yet, despite these mechanistic differences, the pathways underlying the pro-senescent effects of E6AP or E6/E7 repression ultimately converge by being both dependent on the cellular pocket proteins pRb and p130. Taken together, our results uncover a hitherto unrecognized and potent anti-senescent function of the E6AP protein in HPV-positive cancer cells, which is essential for their sustained proliferation. Our results further indicate that interfering with E6AP expression or function could result in therapeutically desired effects in HPV-positive cancer cells by efficiently inducing an irreversible growth arrest. Since the critical role of the E6/E6AP/p53 complex for viral transformation is conserved between different oncogenic HPV types, this approach could provide a therapeutic strategy, which is not HPV type-specific.
Asymptomatic neonatal herpes simplex virus infection in mice leads to persistent CNS infection and long-term cognitive impairment
Authors: Dutton Abigail J. , Turnbaugh Evelyn M. , Patel Chaya D. , Garland Callaghan R. , Taylor Sean A. , Alers-Velazquez Roberto , Knipe David M. , Nautiyal Katherine M. , Leib David A.
Published: February 2025

Neonatal herpes simplex virus (nHSV) is a devastating infection impacting approximately 14,000 newborns globally each year. nHSV infection is associated with high neurologic morbidity and mortality, making early intervention critical. Clinical outcomes of symptomatic nHSV infections are well-studied, but little is known about the frequency of, or outcomes following, subclinical or asymptomatic nHSV. Given the ubiquitous nature of HSV infection and frequency of asymptomatic shedding in adults, subclinical infections are underreported and could contribute to long-term neurological damage. To assess potential neurological morbidity associated with subclinical nHSV infection, we developed a low-dose (100 PFU) intranasal HSV infection model in neonatal wild-type C57BL/6 mice. At this dose, HSV DNA was detected in the brain by quantitative PCR (qPCR) but was not associated with acute clinical signs of infection. However, months after neonatal inoculation with this low dose of HSV, we observed impaired mouse performance on a range of cognitive and memory tests. Memory impairment was induced by infection with either HSV-1 or HSV-2 wild-type viruses, indicating that the cognitive impairment associated with neonatal infection was not strain-specific. Maternal immunization reduced neonate central nervous system (CNS) viral burden and prevented offspring from developing neurological sequelae following nHSV infection. Altogether, these results support the idea that subclinical neonatal infections may lead to cognitive decline in adulthood and that maternal vaccination is an effective strategy for reducing neurological sequelae in infected offspring. These findings may have profound implications for understanding and modeling the etiology of human neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease.
Studio pedagogies: Cultivating research through artistic practice
Authors: Salisbury Mackenzie , Robinson Shannon Marie , Norton Christina , Jennings Michele , Hunt Courtney , Evans Siân , Carter Sarah
Published: February 2025

This study explores the methods in which studio instructors present artistic research practices to students in their courses. Despite extensive literature examining librarians’ support for art students’ needs, there is little written on connections between library services and the unique modes of research that take place in the studio classroom. Through qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with studio instructors, this study aims to fill this gap in understanding how research is conceptualized and taught within art studio contexts. The findings uncover themes of relationality, reflection and research as concurrent with and inseparable from making. The authors advocate for increased interdisciplinary collaboration and expanded librarian involvement in supporting and enriching artistic research endeavours.
Leading the crime cinema: Feminist perspectives in King of Boys and 40 Sticks
Authors: Kimani Gabriel Thuku , Mapaya Madimabe Geoff , Wanyama Mellitus Nyongesa
Published: February 2025

Female characters in African crime films play diverse roles, influencing the progression of the stories and diegetic situations. This is particularly significant in African crime films, where male characters have dominated leading roles. Through the analysis of Kemi Adetiba’s King of Boys (2018) and Victor Gatonye’s 40 Sticks (2020), this article discusses the leading female characters’ embodiment of agency of gendered power in the context of crime genre lawlessness as a useful metaphor for representing women leadership and motherhood. The inferences drawn from observation of the films, interspersed with secondary data sourced from books, journals, online articles and behind-the-scenes documentaries, inform the discussions on female characters’ depiction in the sampled films as material to a critique of gendered antagonisms as microcosms of women within African societies.
Genealogy and sketch of Indonesian musical theatre
Authors: Stenberg Josh
Published: February 2025

Indonesia has a wide range of theatres, traditional and modern, that incorporate music. How to identify ‘musical theatre’ in such a rich context is a question of working definitions and genealogy. Commercial theatre histories since the early twentieth century offer rough parallels to the Anglo-American musical. In recent years, direct influence from the United States has brought about anglophone productions of Broadway musicals and new, locally created Indonesian theatre work more overtly inspired by the Broadway musical.
Los auroros jóvenes de la Región de Murcia: Aproximación al proceso de inclusión y formación
Authors: López Núñez Norberto , López Melgarejo Alba María
Published: February 2025

Los auroros jóvenes en la Región de Murcia constituyen una minoría fundamental dentro de las hermandades y campanas para conseguir el relevo generacional y la sostenibilidad de la tradición. El presente estudio tiene por finalidad analizar a modo introductorio el perfil sociodemográfico de los mismos y determinar los factores de inclusión en las hermandades auroras, así como su proceso de aprendizaje. Se ha llevado a cabo una investigación de corte cualitativo con entrevistas realizadas a los miembros jóvenes de seis campanas o hermandades de auroros de la Región Murcia utilizando una entrevista creada ah doc. Los resultados revelan que son jóvenes con una media de edad de 24 años en su mayoría estudiantes o con estudios superiores universitarios y con una base de conocimientos musicales. La inclusión en el grupo se produce a través de la familia o por amistad. Su proceso de aprendizaje pasa por tres fases igual que se viene desarrollando en tiempos atrás, pero con la utilización de los dispositivos móviles como recurso para su aprendizaje.
Exploración interdisciplinaria de la expresión corporal: integrando la Educación Física y la Música en Educación Primaria
Authors: Manzanares Soler Mireya
Published: February 2025

El presente artículo de investigación, pretende ensalzar y demostrar la importancia que posee la expresión corporal en el ámbito de la Educación Primaria, utilizando de manera transversal las áreas de Educación Física y Musical. De este modo, se proponen tres actividades directamente relacionadas entre ellas, donde se puede trabajar a lo largo del desarrollo educativo del alumnado, el conocimiento personal acerca de su propio cuerpo y mente, al igual que las habilidades motrices y sociales. Uno de los principales objetivos es otorgar la importancia que posee la expresión y percusión corporal, en este caso, en el desarrollo integral del alumnado de Educación Primaria. Asimismo, interrelacionar el método BAPNE con las actividades propuestas. Una vez revisadas detalladamente dichas actividades, se evidencia que los estudiantes están más motivados y tienen un mayor interés por incorporar este tipo de proyectos con mayor regularidad en el aula. En conclusión, integrar la Educación Física y la Música de manera transversal en relación con la expresión corporal no solo mejora el contenido educativo, sino que también aporta considerablemente al crecimiento integral y al bienestar emocional de los alumnos.
Cytarabine-Induced Hyperbilirubinemia in a Pregnant Patient With Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Rajan Anjana , Ahmed Abdelwahab , Dehghan Yalda , Hsieh Ji-Cheng , Moore Christopher
Published: February 2025

This case study presents the first reported instance of cytarabine-induced hyperbilirubinemia in a pregnant patient undergoing treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. Despite experiencing direct hyperbilirubinemia during induction therapy, the patient exhibited no other signs of liver dysfunction. Lowering the cytarabine dose in subsequent cycles resulted in milder bilirubin elevations without compromising treatment efficacy. The patient gave birth to a healthy baby at term between cycles, underscoring the benign nature of this effect on both maternal and fetal health. This case contributes valuable insight into the management and outcomes of cytarabine-induced hyperbilirubinemia in a rare population: pregnant patients with acute myeloid leukemia.
Diferencias en la sensibilidad al refuerzo entre hombres y mujeres en población colombiana
Authors: Arrubla-Pineda Laura , Gutiérrez-Cardozo Paola Andrea , Rincón-Morales Laura Tatiana , Toro Ronald
Published: February 2025

Esta investigación buscó analizar las diferencias entre las dimensiones de la sensibilidad al refuerzo BIS/BAS (por sus siglas en inglés) entre hombres y mujeres en población colombiana. Se realizó un estudio de enfoque empírico cuantitativo asociativo con una estrategia comparativa, en una muestra de 118 participantes correspondientes a 59 hombres y 59 mujeres de Colombia a quienes les fue aplicada la prueba de Escala BIS/BAS versión IPIP-R. En los resultados, no se tuvo una diferencia entre hombres y mujeres en BAS estadísticamente significativa, mientras en el BIS se encontró una diferencia estadísticamente significativa. Se concluye que los niveles de sensibilidad al refuerzo presentan diferencias en la inhibición conductual, con una mayor frecuencia en el sexo femenino. Estos datos sugieren que es necesario un análisis detallado de la variable de inhibición conductual como vulnerabilidad para problemas internalizantes, a diferencia de las externalizantes que parecen ser similares para hombres y mujeres.
Relación entre duelo patológico y desesperanza durante la pandemia de COVID-19 en Colombia
Authors: Suárez-Hernández Yesica Adriana , Plazas Ávila Yenny Rocío , Sanabria-Sandoval Yennifer Constanza , Robayo-Salgado Iván Ricardo , Muñoz-Díaz Leidy Yohana , García-Mirando Claudia Patricia , Toro Ronald
Published: February 2025

Este estudio descriptivo correlacional se centró en determinar la relación entre duelo patológico y desesperanza durante la pandemia de covid-19 en Colombia a partir del Inventario de Evaluación del Proceso de Duelo Patológico (IDPT) y el Inventario de Desesperanza e Ideación Suicida (IDIS). La muestra estuvo conformada por 89 personas de diferentes ciudades de Colombia, 25 mujeres y 63 hombres, con un rango de edad de 18 años en adelante, quienes durante la pandemia de covid-19 perdieron a un ser querido. Los datos fueron recolectados mediante un aplicativo virtual y analizados mediante el Jeffrey’s Amazing Statistics Program (JASP). Los resultados muestran que se obtuvo un puntaje clínicamente relevante para un duelo patológico; asimismo, en las escalas de desesperanza e ideación suicida, se halló un leve porcentaje que se encuentra por encima de la media con puntuaciones clínicamente relevantes para desesperanza o ideación suicida. Por otro lado, se evidenció una correlación altamente significativa entre desesperanza y duelo patológico.
Normalized solutions to a class of (2, q)-Laplacian equations
Authors: Baldelli Laura , Yang Tao
Published: February 2025

This paper is concerned with the existence of normalized solutions to a class of (2, q)-Laplacian equations in all the possible cases with respect to the mass critical exponents 2(1 + 2/N), q(1 + 2/N). In the mass subcritical cases, we study a global minimization problem and obtain a ground state solution. While in the mass critical cases, we prove several nonexistence results. At last, we derive a ground state and infinitely many radial solutions in the mass supercritical case. Compared with the classical Schrödinger equation, the (2, q)-Laplacian equation possesses a quasi-linear term, which brings in some new difficulties and requires a more subtle analysis technique. Moreover, the vector field

a

⃗

(

ξ

)

=
|
ξ

|

q
−
2

ξ

$ \overrightarrow {a}\left(\xi \right)=\vert \xi {\vert }^{q-2}\xi $

corresponding to the q-Laplacian is not strictly monotone when q < 2, so we shall consider separately the case q < 2 and the case q > 2.
Recurrent neural network based modelling and temperature control of a bioreactor for ethanol production
Authors: Panneerselvam Sathiya , Pathakamuri Venkatesh , Radhakrishnan Thota K , Ponnusamy Kalaichelvi
Published: February 2025

A bioreactor is a complex, nonlinear, and time-varying system that requires accurate mathematical models and superior control performance. Controlling the temperature has an enormous impact on the overall performance and efficiency of ethanol production. Data-driven modelling and deep learning techniques like recurrent neural networks capture temporal characteristics. Hence, in this study, a gated recurrent unit (GRU), a type of RNN is designed for the control of temperature in the bioreactor system based on a model-based control framework. The generated input-output data from the first principles model of the bioreactor is provided for the training of GRU network model. The GRU model is tuned by adjusting hyperparameters such as number of hidden layers, hidden units, and epochs for the minimization of the prediction error. Similarly, another GRU network is trained for use as a controller. To track the test setpoints and reject disturbances with minimum error, the controller network architecture is tuned. This procedure is repeated and compared with another popular RNN known as long short-term memory (LSTM) network as well as with bi-directional long short-term memory (Bi–LSTM) network also. Bi–LSTM based model shows the minimum root mean squared error (RMSE) i.e., 0.0076 whereas LSTM and GRU models shows 0.0085 and 0.0077 respectively. The servo and regulatory response of these network controllers are evaluated in terms of a standard performance measure such as integral squared error (ISE). The servo and regulatory response of these network controllers are evaluated in terms of a standard performance measure viz., integral squared error (ISE). In the servo control, the GRU based controller provides less ISE i.e., 37.02 whereas in LSTM, Bi–LSTM and IMC–PI based controller provides 39.66, 51.10 and 50.43 respectively. Similarly, in the case of regulatory response, the GRU based controller rejects the disturbance i.e., input flow rate effectively.
Transcription factor A, mitochondrial promotes lymph node metastasis and lymphangiogenesis in epithelial ovarian carcinoma
Authors: Wubuli Reziwanguli , Niyazi Mayinuer , Han Lili , Aierken Mayinuer , Fan Lingling
Published: February 2025

Background

Mitochondria play a central, multifunctional role in cancer progression. However, the mechanism of mitochondrial genes in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) remains unclear. This study aimed to screen candidate mitochondrial genes in EOC and then to investigate their biological functions and potential mechanisms.

Methods

We downloaded Gene Expression Omnibus RNA-seq profiles and identified mitochondrial differentially expressed genes in EOC by bioinformatics analysis. Transcription factor A, mitochondrial (TFAM) expression in EOC tissues was determined by immunohistochemistry. In vitro assays were applied to clarify TFAM function in EOC.

Results

The bioinformatics analysis results showed that the mitochondrial genes TFAM, HSPE1, and CYC1 were significantly upregulated (P < 0.05) in EOC, and their upregulation was associated with a poor prognosis. TFAM was highly expressed in EOC tissues and significantly associated with clinical stage (P = 0.004), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.043), and overall survival (P < 0.05). Silencing TFAM in EOC cells significantly inhibited cell proliferation and migration and induced cell apoptosis (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

TFAM promotes EOC cell secretion of VEGF-A, VEGF-C, VEGF-D, lymphangiogenesis, and EOC lymph node metastasis. Our results may provide new insights into the biological functions and potential mechanisms of TFAM in EOC, which might provide new targets for EOC diagnosis and treatment.
The crystal structure of barium hexahydroxidoiridate(IV) dihydroxide, Ba2[Ir(OH)6](OH)2
Authors: Bruns Jörn , Badea Désirée
Published: February 2025

Ba2[Ir(OH)6](OH)2, orthorhombic, Pbca (no. 61), a = 8.5717(4) Å, b = 8.6814(4) Å, c = 10.3683(5) Å, V = 771.55(6) Å3, Z = 4, R
gt(F) = 0.0154, wR

ref
(F
2) = 0.0304, T = 100(2) K.