bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Establishment of a prognostic signature for lung adenocarcinoma using cuproptosis-related lncRNAs
Authors: Yalimaimaiti Saiyidan , LIANG Xiaoqiao , ZHAO Haili , DOU Hong , LIU Wei , Yang Ying , NING Li
Published: December 2022

Objective To establish a prognostic signature for lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) based on cuproptosis-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and to study the immune-related functions of LUAD.
MethodsFirst, transcriptome data and clinical data related to LUAD were downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and cuproptosis-related genes were analyzed to identify cuproptosis-related lncRNAs. Univariate COX analysis, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis, and multivariate COX analysis were performed to analyze the cuproptosis-related lncRNAs, and a prognostic signature was established. Second, univariate COX analysis and multivariate COX analysis were performed for independent prognostic analyses. ROC curves, C index, survival curves, a nomogram, and principal component analysis (PCA) were performed to evaluate the results of the independent prognostic analyses. Finally, gene enrichment analyses and immune-related function analyses were also carried out.
Results (1) A total of 1,297 cuproptosis-related lncRNAs were screened. (2) A LUAD prognostic signature containing 13 cuproptosis-related lncRNAs was constructed (NIFK-AS1, AC026355.2, SEPSECS-AS1, AL360270.1, AC010999.2, ABCA9-AS1, AC032011.1, AL162632.3, LINC02518, LINC0059, AL031600.2, AP000346.1, AC012409.4). (3) The area under the multi-indicator ROC curves at 1, 3, and 5 years were AUC1 = 0.742, AUC2 = 0.708, and AUC3 = 0.762, respectively. The riskscore of the prognostic signature could be used as an independent prognostic factor that was independent of other clinical indicators. (4) The results of gene enrichment analyses showed that 13 biomarkers were primarily related to amoebiasis, the wnt signaling pathway, hematopoietic cell lineage. The ssGSEA volcano map showed significant differences between high- and low-risk groups in immune-related functions, such as human leukocyte antigen (HLA), Type_II_IFN_Reponse, MHC_class_I, and Parainflammation (P < 0.001).
Conclusions Thirteen cuproptosis-related lncRNAs may be clinical molecular markers for the prognosis of LUAD.
Country-of-Origin Bias towards COVID-19 Vaccination: Evidence from Turkey
Authors: Elgin Ceyhun , Kamilcelebi Hatime
Published: December 2022

Rapid vaccination against COVID-19 is viewed to be the only way to exit the current pandemic. In addition to the difficulties in the production and global distribution of the vaccines, one major barrier behind this is the vaccine hesitancy, particularly biases toward vaccines of different countries of origin among the public. We conducted a cross-sectional vignette study and designed five online surveys, where the participants were given some information about the efficacy of vaccines from different countries of origin. We then used standard mean comparison tests and (ordered) logistic regressions to provide evidence for the country-of-origin bias of the COVID-19 vaccines. 1615 participants answered our five surveys. Even though the two vaccines are reported to have the same efficacy, participants' subjective evaluation of the vaccine's efficacy and their willingness to get vaccinated is significantly higher when the vaccine is from Germany rather than from China.
Jute-integrated copper nanoparticle-embedded PSf membrane as highly efficient dye removal material
Authors: Prajapati Harsh , Busupalli Balanagulu
Published: December 2022

Membranes are actively used in a broad range of industries, including the water, energy, and biological sectors. Through pore functionalization of membranes of the ultrafiltration (UF), microfiltration (MF), and nanofiltration (NF) types with responsive behaviour, membranes that supply flux, metal sorption, dye sorption, and catalysis have been created. Through the manufacturing of polymers and surface modification, this technology offers a chance to enhance the performance of synthetic membranes. Discharge of hazardous containments, especially dyes and heavy metal ions, to freshwater streams has become a global concern due to many industries overlooking the environmental protocols in wastewater management. In the present study, polysulfone (PSf) membrane composites with high porosity and large internal pore volume were produced on a lab scale by adjusting the polymer coagulation conditions during phase inversion manufacturing and embedding copper nanoparticles for anti-fouling activity and pre-treated natural jute fibers, and the composites' adsorption capacities were measured. The composites were characterized thoroughly via FTIR, SEM, XRD, DLS. Finally, PSf-based membrane composites performances were investigated in terms of rejection (%) using methylene blue (MB) in water solution to assess their potential application in separation and purification processes.
A spatial-based approach presenting the “Within-plot Checks Design” applied to early selection stages in a forage breeding program
Authors: Ragalzi Celina Medeiros , de Oliveira Renato Gonçalves , Ribeiro Alessandra Gonçalves , Pereira Carlos Henrique , Jank Liana , Santos Mateus , Resende Rafael Tassinari
Published: December 2022

The aim of this study was to propose the “Within-plot Checks” design in the evaluation of hybrids from initial phases of the Guineagrass breeding program. The design uses common checks in each experimental plot to assess the quality of the microenvironmental in the experiment using plant-based indices associated with row and column arrangements. The design was tested at Embrapa Beef Cattle, Campo Grande, Brazil, where 2,100 hybrids were evaluated in the initial selection phase. Each plot consisted of 32 plants, with two checks and thirty hybrids. Evaluations were carried out on each plant individually and at different times of the year for the traits: Canopy Height; Regrowth Density; and Regrowth Speed. The plant-based index for each plot corresponds to the check mean for each trait. The mixed model methodology was used to test different random and fixed effects. The plant-based index used as a fixed effect was the factor with the greatest influence on the model fitness. Regardless of the trait considered, the association of the plant-based index with the row and column random effects was the one that showed the best performance between the models. Estimating the spatial variance helps to improve the accuracy of the variance components. The narrow and broad sense heritability coefficients were high (> 0.68) for all traits, indicating high prediction accuracy. The “Within-plot Checks” design, uses a plant-based index to characterize plot environmental quality potentially improving prediction accuracy and selection efficiency in the early stages of forage breeding programs.
An Improved Parameterization Procedure for NDDO-Descendant Semiempirical Methods
Authors: Ong Adrian Wee Wen , Cao Steve Yueran , Kwek Leong Chuan
Published: December 2022

MNDO-based semiempirical methods in quantum chemistry have found widespread application in the modelling of large and complex systems. A method for the analytic evaluation of first and second derivatives of molecular properties against semiempirical parameters in MNDO-based NDDO-descendant models is presented, and the resultant parameter Hessian is compared against the approximant currently used in parameterization for the PMx models. As a proof of concept, the exact parameter Hessian is employed in a limited reparameterization of MNDO for the elements C, H, N, O and F using 1206 molecules for reference data.
Identifying inhibitors of β-haematin formation with activity against chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites via virtual screening approaches
Authors: Amod Leah , Mohunlal Roxanne , Teixeira Nicole , Egan Timothy J. , Wicht Kathryn J.
Published: December 2022

The biomineral haemozoin, or its synthetic analogue β-haematin (βH), has been the focus of several target-based screens for activity against Plasmodium falciparum parasites. Together with the known βH crystal structure, the availability of this screening data makes the target amenable to both structure-based and ligand-based virtual screening. In this study, molecular docking and machine learning techniques, including Bayesian and support vector machine classifiers, were used in sequence to screen the in silico ChemDiv 300k Representative Compounds library for inhibitors of βH with retained activity against P. falciparum. We commercially obtained and tested a prioritised set of inhibitors and identified the coumarin and iminodipyridinopyrimidine chemotypes as potent in vitro inhibitors of βH and whole cell parasite growth.
Evaluation the effect of Iron oxide nanoparticles functionalized by glucose and conjugated with Coumarin (Fe3O4@Glu-coumarin NPs) on expression of CASP8, CASP9, p53, mTOR1, and MAPK1 genes in liver cancer cell line
Authors: Shokrollahi Faezeh , Salehzadeh Ali , Kafilzadeh Farshid , Zaefizadeh Mohammad
Published: December 2022

Background: Due to the high morbidity and mortality of liver cancer, many researchers are seeking novel anticancer formulations. Complex iron oxide containing compounds could be used for site directed drug delivery using a magnetic force. Due to the anticancer property of coumarin, this study aimed to study the effect of iron oxide nanoparticles functionalized by glucose and conjugated with Coumarin (Fe3O4@Glu-coumarin NPs) on the expression of cell cycle and apoptosis regulating genes in a liver cancer cell line.
Methods: Fe3O4@Glu-coumarin NPs were synthesized and their physicochemical properties were evaluated by FT-IR, EDS mapping, and electron microscope imaging. Anti-proliferative activity of the NPs on HepG2 cells was studied by MTT assay. The effect of Fe3O4@Glu-coumarin NPs on the expression of CASP8, CASP9, p53, mTOR1, and MAPK1 genes was investigated by quantitative PCR.
Results: The synthesized NPs were spherical, with a moderate level of aggregation and in a size range of 26-46 nm. FT-IR and EDS mapping confirmed the proper synthesis and purity of the synthesized NPs. According to the MTT assay, Fe3O4@Glu-coumarin NPs showed a considerable anti-proliferative effect on liver cancer cells, and the 50% inhibitory concentration was determined 120µg/mL. Quantitative PCR assay showed that the NPs significantly increased the expression of CASP8, p53, and MAPK1 genes by 1.94, 4.87, and 3.87 folds, respectively, while the mTOR1 gene was reduced by -6.33 folds. The expression of the CASP9 had an insignificant reduction by 0.06 folds.
Conclusions: Our results showed that Fe3O4@Glu-coumarin NPs could induce cell apoptosis by interfering with the expression of the cell regulatory genes.
The essential roles of FXR in diet and age influenced metabolic changes and liver disease development: a multi-omics study
Authors: Yang Guiyan , Jena Prasant K. , Hu Ying , Sheng Lili , Chen Shin-Yu , Slupsky Carolyn M. , Davis Ryan , Tepper Clifford G. , Wan Yu-Jui Yvonne
Published: December 2022

Background
Aging and diet are risks for metabolic diseases. Bile acid receptor farnesoid X receptor (FXR) knockout (KO) mice develop metabolic liver diseases that progress into cancer as they age, which is accelerated by Western diet (WD) intake. The current study uncovers the molecular signatures for diet and age-linked metabolic liver disease development in an FXR-dependent manner.
Methods
Wild-type (WT) and FXR KO male mice, either on a healthy control diet (CD) or a WD, were euthanized at the ages of 5-, 10-, or 15-months. Hepatic transcriptomics, liver, serum, and urine metabolomics as well as microbiota were profiled.
Results
WD intake facilitated hepatic aging in WT mice. In an FXR-dependent manner, increased inflammation and reduced oxidative phosphorylation were the primary pathways affected by WD and aging. FXR has a role in modulating inflammation and B cell-mediated humoral immunity which was enhanced by aging. Moreover, FXR dictated neuron differentiation, muscle contraction, and cytoskeleton organization in addition to metabolism. There were 654 transcripts commonly altered by diets, ages, and FXR KO, and 76 of them were differentially expressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and healthy livers. Urine metabolites differentiated dietary effects in both genotypes, and serum metabolites clearly separated ages irrespective of diets. Aging and FXR KO commonly affected amino acid metabolism and TCA cycle. Moreover, FXR is essential for colonization of age-related gut microbes. Integrated analyses uncovered metabolites and bacteria linked with hepatic transcripts affected by WD intake, aging, and FXR KO as well as related to HCC patient survival.
Conclusion
FXR is target to prevent diet or age-associated metabolic disease. The uncovered metabolites and microbes can be diagnostic markers for metabolic disease.
Effectiveness of a Biofeedback Intervention Targeting Mental and Physical Health among College Students through Speech and Physiology as Biomarkers using Machine Learning: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Wang Lifei , Liu Rongxun , Wang Yang , Xu Xiao , Zhang Ran , Wei Yange , Zhu Rongxin , Zhang Xizhe , Wang Fei
Published: December 2022

Background

Biofeedback therapy is mainly based on the analysis of physiological features to improve an individual’s affective state. There are insufficient objective indicators to assess symptom improvement after biofeedback. In addition to psychological and physiological features, speech features can precisely convey information about emotions. The use of speech features can improve the objectivity of psychiatric assessments. Therefore, biofeedback based on subjective symptom scales, objective speech, and physiological features to evaluate efficacy provides a new approach for early screening and treatment of emotional problems in college students.

Methods

A four-week, randomized, controlled, parallel biofeedback therapy study was conducted with college students with symptoms of anxiety or depression. Speech samples, physiological samples, and clinical symptoms were collected at baseline and at the end of treatment, and the extracted speech features and physiological features were used for between-group comparisons and correlation analyses between the biofeedback and wait-list groups. Based on the speech features with differences between the biofeedback intervention and wait-list groups, an artificial neural network was used to predict the therapeutic effect and response after biofeedback therapy.

Results

Through biofeedback therapy, improvements in depression (p = 0.001), anxiety (P = 0.001), insomnia(P = 0.013), and stress(P = 0.004) severity were observed in college-going students (n = 52). The speech and physiological features in the biofeedback group also changed significantly compared to the waitlist group (n = 52) and were related to the change in symptoms. The energy parameters and Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC) of speech features can predict whether biofeedback intervention effectively improves anxiety and insomnia symptoms and treatment response. The accuracy of the classification model built using the artificial neural network (ANN) for treatment response and non-response was approximately 60%.

Conclusions

The results of this study provide valuable information about biofeedback in improving the mental health of college-going students. The study identified speech features, such as the energy parameters, and MFCC as more accurate and objective indicators for tracking biofeedback therapy response and predicting efficacy.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov ChiCTR2100045542
An optimal AOWC based on XGM in dual WTWSOAs with co- and counter-propagation schemes for NRZ, RZ, CSRZ and Duobinary signals
Authors: name Parashuram no family , Kumar Chakresh
Published: December 2022

In this article, we propose and demonstrate an optimal approach of all-optical wavelength conversion (AOWC) based on cross gain modulation (XGM) exploiting dual wideband travelling wave semiconductor optical amplifier (WTWSOA) for both counter- and co-propagating schemes. In counter propagating scheme, dual SOAs are in feedback loop whereas in co-propagating scheme dual SOAs are cascaded employing amplified synchronous emission (ASE) noise source. Input data signal of 193.4 THz is optically modulated employing different transmitters such as NRZ, RZ, CSRZ and Duobinary, for conversion at 128 Gbps. Good performance is achieved for ultrawideband wavelength conversion using both propagating schemes. The system performance is analyzed using carrier density curve as a function of distance in WTWSOA, bit error rate (BER), quality factor (Q) and extinction ratio (ER) of the eye diagram. Maximum Q factor of 14.06 at minimum BER of 2.38 × 10−45 is obtained for counter-propagating scheme using NRZ optical transmitter at -5 dBm input signal power. Maximum Q factor of 17.84 at minimum BER of 1 × 10−71 is obtained for co-propagating scheme using CSRZ optical transmitter at 0 dBm input signal power. Power penalty free wavelength conversion is realized due to high ER (> 15 dB) at optimized input conditions.
Influence of holmium doping and oxygen nonstoichiometry on the transport properties of perovskite-type Ca0.6−x Sr0.4HoxMnO3−δ
Authors: Konstantinova Ekaterina I. , Ryzhkov Maxim A. , Leonidova Olga N. , Litvinov Vladimir A. , Leonidov Ilia A.
Published: December 2022

The Ca0.6−xSr0.4HoxMnO3−δ (x = 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15) manganites featured an orthorhombic crystal structure (space group Pbnm) have been produced via citrate-nitrate route in air. The electron donor holmium (Ho3+) and oxygen nonstoichiometry strongly affect on electrical conductivity (σ), Seebeck coefficient (S), thermal conductivity (κ) and thermal expansion. The increase in the absolute values of S with temperature and the decline of σ above 500 K are explained by the decrease in the concentration of Mn3+ ions due to their disproportionation into Mn2+ and Mn4+ ions. The equilibrium constant of disproportionation, concentration and mobility of charge carriers as a function of temperature are obtained from the dependencies S(T) and σ(T). The formation of Mn3+ ions as a result of partial removal of oxygen from the manganites has a strong influence their properties above 1000 K. Temperature activated character of mobility and the values of S are consistent with the adiabatic small polaron transport mechanism in Ca0.6−xSr0.4HoxMnO3−δ.
Electrospherization of genistein@DNA core-shell nanospheres as a drug delivery system
Authors: Elsherbeny Aya A. , Motawea Amira , Tawfik Ashraf M. , Gabr Mohamed M. , elmezayyen ayman
Published: December 2022

The practical application of genistein (GEN) as a drug system is hindered by its low aqueous solubility and poor oral bioavailability. Encapsulation of poor water-soluble drug was considered as one of the widely used approaches to overcome such of these obstacles. The primary goal of this research was to in situ encapsulate the hydrophobic GEN during the electrosynthesis of DNA nanospheres as a delivery system (Es GEN@DNA) with appropriate drug release properties. The prepared Es GEN@DNA nanospheres were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), zeta potential and stability test. The results revealed that GEN was successfully encapsulate in situ during the DNA electrospherization (Es GEN@DNA) as core shell like structure (Core: GEN and Shell: DNA) with a wonderful stability against time. Furthermore, the drug encapsulation % was studied. In addition, the drug release efficiency of Es GEN@DNA was recorded and theoretically visualized to understand the mechanism and kinetics of GEN drug release. %Encapsulation of GEN within DNA nanospheres was found to be 89.62%. Es GEN@DNA release profile explored that the well entrapped GEN within the DNA nanospheres could be a promising for sustained drug release. Besides, we overcome the dilemma of using a fractal or fractional kinetics model by introducing a general fractional kinetic equation that involves a time-dependent rate coefficient, which introduced that the solution of the fractional kinetic model is capable of fitting the release data profiles of free GEN and Es GEN@DNA.
Finite Element Analysis of Bulging Effect of Aluminium Solid Cylinder During Cold Upsetting
Authors: Bhumarker Amit , Singh Abhishek
Published: December 2022

Friction plays an important role in metal working and manufacturing processes because of the relative motion and forces that are always present on tools, dies, and work pieces. Friction, however, is not directly measurable, nor is it really an independent parameter. Yet in many metal-forming processes, the effect of friction is as important as that of measurable independent parameters. The presence of friction increases the work load and lost the energy. Several methods were employed for calculate the friction but assumed that there is no barreling (or bulging) effect during forging and the calibration curve are developed based on this but the bulging effect showed significant effect on friction factor develop during deformation.
In this study experimental results on deformation of commercial aluminum are compared with those obtained through FEM modeling. Comparison is made using bulging at different specimen heights, different specimen size, axial deformation, lateral deformation and forging load. Deviation in results obtained through experimental work and FEM modeling are determined.
Systematic Qualitative Proteome-wide Analysis of Lysine Malonylation Profiling in Platycodon grandiflorus
Authors: Yang Qingshan , Xu Shaowei , Jiang Weimin , Meng Fei , Wang Shuting , Sun Zongping , Zha Liangping , Gui Shuangying , Peng Daiyin , Liu Juan , Xing Shihai
Published: December 2022

Background
The modification of lysine malonylation found in recent years can affect biological metabolism and play an important role in life activities. Platycodon grandiflorus, as an economic crop and medicinal plant with a wide range of applications and has broad prospects for development. However, there is no reports on malonylation in the related research of P. grandiflorus. This study qualitatively introduces the malonylation of lysine in P. grandiflorus.
Results
888 lysine malonylation modified proteins in P. grandiflorus were identified, with a total of 1755 modification sites. According to the functional annotation, malonylation proteins were closely related to catalysis, binding and other reactions. Subcellular localization showed that related proteins were enriched in chloroplasts, cytoplasm and nuclei, indicating that this modification could regulate a variety of biological metabolic processes. Motif analysis showed that the enrichment of Alanine (A), Cysteine (C), Glycine (G) and Valine (V) amino acids surrounding malonylated lysine residues. Metabolic pathway and protein-protein interaction network analyses suggested modification is mainly involved in plant photosynthesis. Moreover, malonylated proteins also involved in stress and defense responses.
Conclusion
This study shows that lysine malonylation can affect a variety of biological processes and metabolic pathways, and these contents are reported for the first time in P. grandiflorus, which can provide important information for further research on P. grandiflorus and lysine malonylation.
A pan-cancer analysis of charged ubiquitin-specific protease 14's carcinogenic effects
Authors: Gu Anyun
Published: December 2022

According to earlier research, the IDO1 protein is stabilized by overexpression of the ubiquitin-specific protease 14 (USP14), which increases tryptophan metabolism and T-cell failure. These results emphasize the function of USP14 in suppressing anti-tumor immunity and post-translational regulation in IDO1. USP14, however, does not have a Pan-cancer analysis. Using internet databases and R software, we looked at the possible oncogenic involvement of USP14 in 33 cancers using the TCGA and GEO datasets. We found fibroblast infiltration linked with malignancy in various cancers, including cervical squamous cell carcinoma, colon cancer, glioblastoma multiforme, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The carcinogenic significance of USP14 in many malignancies is rather well understood because of the current pan-cancer investigation that we conducted.
Estrogen receptor alpha mediates 17β-estradiol up-regulates autophagy and alleviates vascular senescence
Authors: Xiang Xiuting , Xie LiangZhen , Lin Jieqi , Pare Rahmawati , Huang Guanshen , Huang Jianming , Wang Yuuan , Song Shicong , Ruan Yunjun
Published: December 2022

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Intrusive Rumination Predicts Depression among Chinese Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic: the Mediation of Sense of Security and the Moderation of Creativity
Authors: Wang Qing , Yuan Yuming , Niu Jia , Xu Yanhua , Liu Di , Luo Jing , Yue Xiaodong , Shi Baoguo
Published: December 2022

Background Until now, the COVID-19 pandemic is still affecting the study and life of Chinese adolescents. Adolescents in high school were likely to experience intrusive rumination to cope with undesirable changes, which could increase the risk of depression. However, few studies have examined the effects of a sense of security and creativity underlying this relationship. This study aims to explore the relationship between intrusive rumination and depression and further examines the mediating role of the sense of security and the moderating role of the creativity in adolescents. This study could provide detailed guidance for government and media to avoid adolescents’ excessive post event reflection on public health incidents. Methods This study investigated 1,269 high school students (748 girls and 521 boys) using the questionnaire method, including revised Event-Related Rumination Inventory (ERRI), Security Questionnaire (SQ), Runco Ideational Behavior Scale (RIBS), and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Results The results showed that intrusive rumination was positively associated with adolescents' depression, and a sense of security could mediate this relationship. Moreover, a possible cut-off of creativity that serves as a breakpoint below and above that can pinpoint where the association between sense of security and depression in adolescents. In particular, compared to less creative adolescents, highly creative adolescents showed higher indirect effects of intrusive rumination on depression. The association between a sense of security and depression is also more robust for highly creative adolescents. Conclusions These results demonstrate that a sense of security may be a protective factor for depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are also differences in adolescents' responses to adverse events with different levels of creativity.
Accounting for the variation in West Benue resultative constructions
Authors: Maché Jakob
Published: December 2022

This paper investigates the variation of resultative serial verb constructions in Benue-Kwa languages. The main claim is that the variation can be explained assuming three versions of general lexicon rules which turn main verbs into complex predicates selecting for a second verb and attracting its arguments. Each language has a language specific version of these lexicon rules, enriched with language specific peculiarities to account for the specific behaviour of verbal inflection. The fact that not all of the lexicon rules do operate in each languages is another source of variation.
Respectively interpretation and Binding Conditions A and B
Authors: Yatabe Shuichi
Published: December 2022

The theory of respectively interpretation proposed in Yatabe and Tam (2021) "In defense of an HPSG-based theory of non-constituent coordination" (Linguistics and Philosophy 44, pp. 1-77) entails that Binding Conditions A and B need to be formulated as constraints on the form of semantic representations. It is possible to formulate the two binding conditions as such constraints if anaphoric relations are encoded in semantic representations in a way analogous to the way they are encoded in Discourse Representation Theory.
Yield Stability of East African Highland Cooking Banana ‘Matooke’ Hybrids
Authors: Madalla Noel A. , Swennen Rony , Brown Allan F. , Massawe Cornel , Shimwela Mpoki , Mbongo Daud , Kindimba Grace , Kubiriba Jerome , Tumuhimbise Robooni , Okurut Asher W. , Carpentier Sebastien , Van den Bergh Inge , Crichton Rhiannon , Machida Lewis , Weltzien Eva , Ortiz Rodomiro
Published: December 2022

East African banana (Musa sp.) breeding efforts have focused mainly on enhancing ‘Matooke’ productivity through the development of high-yielding, pathogen-resistant cultivars with adequate stability to contribute to regional food security. Before a breeding program can recommend promising cultivars for release, they must pass the sensory screens; be evaluated in the target population environments; and the data analyzed for yield, adaptability, and stability. Twenty-four primary and secondary triploid hybrids [NARITA (N)] derived from ‘Matooke’ bananas, six triploid local ‘Matooke’ cultivars, and one exotic cultivar were evaluated for their yield, adaptability, and stability across the East African region at three highland sites in Uganda’s western and central regions, as well as at three sites in Tanzania’s northeastern and southern highlands regions, from 2016–19. A randomized complete block design with four replicates was used for multisite trials. The mixed-model restricted maximum likelihood/best linear unbiased prediction approach, along with additive main effect multiplicative interaction model biplots, were used to dissect and visualize genotype-by-environment patterns. Following the likelihood ratio test, both genotype and interaction effects were highly significant, confirming the influence of genotype and site heterogeneity for selecting specific and broadly adapted cultivars. N23 had the greatest yield across all sites associated with adaptability and stability, outperforming the overall mean yield of all genotypes by 34.2%. In Tanzania, N27 (second), N7 (third), N18 (fourth), N4 (fifth), N12 (sixth), and N13 (seventh); and in Uganda, N17 (second), N18 (third), N2 (fourth), N8 (fifth), N13 (sixth), N12 (seventh), N4 (eighth), and N24 (ninth) demonstrated good adaptability and stability, as well as high yield. Furthermore, the fungal pathogen Pseudocercospora fijiensis had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on yield, stability, and adaptability of the hybrids. As a result, they can be introduced into areas where black leaf streak constrains banana production significantly and threatens farmers’ livelihoods. The average site yield potential ranged from 9.7 to 24.3 t⋅ha–1 per year. The best discriminating sites for testing breeding clones were Lyamungo in Tanzania and Sendusu in Uganda. Hence, these testing sites are recommended as ideal examples of locations for selecting superior genotypes.
Twinning in hydrous wadsleyite: Symmetry relations, origin, and consequences
Authors: Miyajima Nobuyoshi , Buchen Johannes , Kawazoe Takaaki
Published: December 2022

Twins in hydrous wadsleyite were detected by polarized-light microscopy and characterized with transmission electron microscopy techniques, including precession selected area electron diffraction and large-angle convergent beam diffraction. By inspecting diffracted intensities for high-order Laue zones, we found the symmetry of our hydrous wadsleyite samples to be reduced to monoclinic with respect to the orthorhombic symmetry of most anhydrous wadsleyite samples. Twinned domains in hydrous wadsleyite share the (122) plane as a composition plane and are related to each other by a twofold rotation around a twin axis parallel to [212] or by reflection on (122). The twin axis and twin plane in wadsleyite correspond to the <101> directions and the {101} planes of ringwoodite, respectively. The twin operations exchange the c* and the [120]* directions of wadsleyite, both of which correspond to the directions of the cubic a axes in ringwoodite. Based on our analysis of symmetry relations and pseudo-symmetry in wadsleyite, we conclude that the twins formed during crystal growth under quasi-hydrostatic conditions in the presence of a hydrous fluid. Twinning in wadsleyite may affect the physical properties and deformation behavior of wadsleyite as well as the phase transition to ringwoodite in the Earth’s mantle transition zone.
Development and empirical evaluation of a new empathy questionnaire for early adolescents
Authors:   Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska, Mikac Una , Buško Vesna ,   Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska, Ivanović Monika ,   Ministarstvo znanosti, Babić Čikeš Ana ,   Filozofski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Published: December 2022

The paper presents the construction and initial validation data on a new instrument intended to measure empathy in early adolescents. Research on adults mostly supports the hypothesis of a cognitive and an affective component of empathy, but the structure of empathy in children is less clear. In designing this instrument, empathy was conceptualized as rather stable disposition composed of the suggested cognitive and affective dimensions. The questionnaire was administered on two samples of elementary school students (n1 = 202; n2 = 133). Average age in both samples was 12 years, with boys and girls equally represented. The analyses, including EFA, CFA, and validity evidence based on relationships with demographic data and some personality traits, suggest a general empathy factor and a reverse coding method factor. The results are interpreted in light of existing theories and previous empirical findings published on empathy measures, with a special emphasis on methodological issues encountered. Keywords: empathy, dimensionality, early adolescents, CFA
ANALYSIS OF INDICATORS THROUGH MICRO DATA IN AN EDUCATIONAL DATABASE
Authors: Silva De Oliveira Marcos , Wagner Alves Da Silva Gustavo , Mark Lobo De Oliveira Jean
Published: December 2022

The present study addressed the analysis of the database of the Option Educational Center, a company that operates in the Educational segment, tied to the application of the Power BI Tool, with the objective of having greater clarity and objectivity of the information belonging to the company and also implementing improvements in the decision-making process of said company based on safe and concrete data. As methodology were used the analysis of Documents and unstructured interview, through these instruments were collected information about the working method, the tools used in the internal processes of analysis and the treatment that the data received to become reliable information, with the use of these instruments it was possible to make a qualitative analysis of this study, making it possible to visualize the problem of the company and propose improvement solutions. The results obtained were satisfactory, since after the analysis of the micro data together with the use of the Power BI tool provided increased productivity in the analysis of indicators, greater speed in obtaining the information, which are determining factors to address the problem of agility in the decision-making process and enable the definitions of strategies to be established by the company, because they help in the recognition of the scenario in which the organization is located.
GAMIFICATION: APPLYING THE PLAYFUL THROUGH DIGITAL GAMES
Authors: Maia Miranda Dennys , Rocha Laurentino Raphael , Mark Lobo De Oliveira Jean
Published: December 2022

This article has as object of study gamification in education, presenting a discussion about the importance of playful activity for the teaching-learning process through gamification in the construction of learning and points out the challenges of gamification in current education. Due to the intensive use of technologies today, the school needs to adapt to the context of this new era, seeking other strategies to teach and learn it. Gamification in education can be thought of as a possibility of innovation in current teaching and learning techniques, using ludicity and digital games as educational support tools that enable the achievement of learning objectives. An experiment is presented aimed at the construction of digital game proposals by undergraduate students of information systems courses at the Fametro University Center.
VALUE OF EPICARDIAL ADIPOSE TISSUE ASSESSMENT BY CARDIAC COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY IN HEART FAILURE PATIENTS WITH PRESERVED EJECTION FRACTION
Authors:   Department of Cardiology, National Heart Institute, Cairo, Egypt., Fayed Hany , Khairy Hatem ,   Department of Cardiology, National Heart Institute, Cairo, Egypt., Galal A. Fattah Fahmy Ahmed ,   Department of Cardiology, National Heart Institute, Cairo, Egypt.
Published: December 2022

Objectives: A major problem that increases the morbidity and mortality is Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)in comparison toheart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Adipose tissue and the linked inflammation were shown to contribute in HF pathogenesis and constitute a unique phenotype of HF. HFpEF patients tend to be obese. So, we aimed to assess the epicardial adipocytes (EAT) noninvasively by measuring the volume of EATthroughComputerizedtomography (CT) among HFpEFpatients and correlates it with echocardiographic diastolic dysfunction measures. Study design: We enrolled 76 participants divided into two groups: 38 patients with HFpEF with LVEF > 50% on echocardiography and 38 controls at outpatient clinic and a radiology department at National Heart Institute. All included participants had noninvasive assessment of the epicardial adipose tissue volume using cardiac CT. Results: Regarding Baseline Demographic characteristics, mean age (SD) of participants:57.45 (6.0) with high prevalence of risk factors (DM, Dyslipidemia, smoking) among HFpEF patients with no significant difference statistically among groups. Also, asiginificant difference statistically was found amongthe enrolled groups regarding echocardiographic findings (LVEF%, Mean E/e`ratio, est. LVEDP and Tricuspid Regurge V). The epicardial fat Volume was significantly high at HFpEF group (P < 0.001). Conclusions: We found that high grade diastolic dysfunction was associated with epicardial fat that appeared to be greater in HFpEF patients. As a result, we found that epicardial fat could be used as a different marker for both HFpEF and diastolic dysfunction.
A RARE CASE OF MIDDLECEREBRAL ARTERYSTROKERESULTING FROM ADISTANT PENETRATINGCHEST TRAUMA
Authors:   Neurology Department of Mohammed VI Teaching Hospital of Tangier., Ahmar-Rass N. , El Khatib I. ,   Radiology Department of Mohammed VI Teaching Hospital of Tangier., Ferjouchia Z. ,   Neurology Department of Mohammed VI Teaching Hospital of Tangier., Fadel H. ,   Radiology Department of Mohammed VI Teaching Hospital of Tangier., Belfkih R. ,   Radiology Department of Mohammed VI Teaching Hospital of Tangier., Kidari J. El ,   Neurology Department of Mohammed VI Teaching Hospital of Tangier., Bougtoub N. ,   Radiology Department of Mohammed VI Teaching Hospital of Tangier., Rachidialaoui S. ,   Radiology Department of Mohammed VI Teaching Hospital of Tangier.
Published: December 2022

This case report analyses the occurrance of an exceedingly rare and unpredictable complication of remote penetrating chest trauma with arterial injury , which is embolic stroke , leading to a particular combination of hemorrhagic shock hemodynamic profile altering the cerebral autoregulation , with malignant middle cerebral artery stroke in a young patient , causing intracranial hypertension resulting in subfalcine herniation , and compromising the penumbral zone and the chances of survival , and rendering most of the conventional stroke teatments contra indicated or not useful , our purpose is to raise into awareness this type of complication in order to establish efficient salvatory treatments without delay.
Moroccan Stock Exchange market topology in crisis and non-crisis periods
Authors: El Msiyah Cherif , Madkour Jaouad , Berouaga Younes , Kyoud Ayoub , Ait Lahcen Ali
Published: December 2022

This paper seeks to investigate the dynamics within the Moroccan Stock Exchange (MSE) market topology in crisis and non-crisis periods using daily historical log returns of sectoral indices covering the period from January 4, 1993 to September 9, 2021. The study applies the Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering (AHC) implemented on the Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) distance matrix over ten sub-periods covering numerous crises, from Subprime mortgage crisis to European debt crisis and finally COVID-19 crisis. The obtained clustering results are gathered into a network to display the cumulated interconnections between the sectoral indices. The findings showed that the Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) market clusters composition is dynamic during the studied period. Indeed, some sectoral indices demonstrated evidence of strong similarities by gathering in the same cluster over numerous sub-periods as the couples Electrical & Electronic Equipment and Transport or as Banks and Construction & Building Materials sectoral indices. Moreover, the interconnections of CSE sectoral indices are trend dependent. According to the obtained network, the Oil and Gas demonstrated its centrality.
Ethical Aspects of Advertising: Perception, Evaluation, and Regulation
Authors: Dmitrieva Natal'ya , Zavyalova Ekaterina
Published: December 2022

The advertising ethics appeared together with advertising itself. The legislative and public regulation of advertising is centuries old, but the ethical issues still remain acute all over the world. In the Russian Federation, these problems are more pronounced than elsewhere because domestic advertising started to develop only after the collapse of the Soviet Union. In thirty years, Russian advertising had to cover the distance which developed countries needed a century to cover. The research featured controversial advertising messages that caused indignation of both Russian citizens and public or commercial organizations. The article introduces a comparative analysis of the ethical assessments of controversial advertising messages made by consumers and experts from self-regulatory organizations in advertising. It also describes the history of the Russian advertising market, various violations of the Advertising Law, the concept of unethical advertising, and the procedures for controversial advertising in the Russian Federation. The authors proposed some self-regulation measures, e.g., public control, education activities, pre-publication expert examination, etc.
IS THERE A DIFFERENCE IN BALANCE FUNCTIONS BETWEEN BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR WOMEN AND HEALTHY WOMEN?
Authors: ZABİT ÖZDEMİR Ferdiye , İYİGÜN Gözde
Published: December 2022

Purpose: Breast cancer survivors have various physical problems and balance disorders after mastectomy surgery (BCS). The study aimed to compare the balance functions in BCS women who had a mastectomy with healthy women.

Methods: Sixty-six individuals, BCS women who had a mastectomy (BCS group, n=33) and healthy women (control group, n=33), were included in the study. In this study, subjective balance problems and falling characteristics, static balance (Tandem Romberg Test - TRT) and dynamic balance (Y Balance Test- (YBT) and computer-based dynamic balance platform - Technobody-PK 200 WL) functions of the study and control groups were compared.

Results: The individuals in the BCS group (48.48%) experienced more balance problems than the control group (6.06%), but there was no difference between the two groups in terms of falling characteristics. Static balance (TRT) eyes-closed results were lower in the BCS group than the control group (t=-2.21, p=0.03), but there was no difference between the groups in TRT eyes-open results. There was no difference in any sub-parameter in dynamic balance measurements between the groups.

Conclusion: Subjective balance problems and static balance functions are affected more in BCS than in healthy individuals. It is recommended that balance functions should be evaluated and followed up with appropriate treatment methods in BCS women who had a mastectomy.
Remunicipalisation of water services in Europe. Comparative study of the Neapolitan and Parisian cases
Authors: Turri Vanessa Mascia
Published: December 2022

After the politicisation of urban water services governance, over a hundred European cities have implemented water services remunicipalisation reforms inspired by the theory of water management as a common. This paper aims to answer questions about the contextual variables that impact the water utility governance processes and the factors that determine the policy-makers' choices. In particular, the work reconstructs the water remunicipalisation reforms of Paris (2009) and Naples (2011) with the Process-Tracing method, compares them, evaluates their outcomes and formulates previsions about their continuance. We base the analysis on qualitative data collected by documentary investigations and 27 in-depth interviews with protagonists of the remunicipalisation processes. Despite implementing the same management model, the water remunicipalisation has produced profoundly different governance processes and outcomes. The Parisian remunicipalisation was quick, efficient, almost conflict-free, and produced a slight implementation gap, whereas the Neapolitan one was long, complex, highly conflictual and generated a substantial implementation gap. Contextual variables and actors’ behaviour are essential in explaining water policy reform outcomes. The protagonists of analysed reforms have taken decisions based on opportunities and limits defined by their local contexts and the relational systems in which they are historically embedded.
A Qualitative Study Inquiring Children's Views on Microbes During the Pandemics
Authors: Güneş Lugen Ceren , Yersel Beyhan Özge , Durualp Ender
Published: December 2022

The study was carried out employing a phenomenological design to examine the views of children aged five to seven years about microbes during the pandemic. The sample of the study consisted of children aged 5-7 and their mothers. The participating mothers and their children were selected through purposeful sampling method. The "General Information Form," "Child Interview Form," and the pictures drawn by the children were used as data collection tools. The data were collected via phone calls due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The data obtained in the research were analyzed with descriptive and content analysis methods. As a result of the relevant analyses, it was found that the majority of children described microbes as small/tiny things. According to them, microbes can only be seen with the help of a microscope/magnifier; microbes are harmful and the harm is to cause disease; mostly found outside and transmit through close contact; they have learned about microbes through the media; they can be protected from microbes by following hygiene rules; and the coronavirus is a virus that makes one sick. The participating children were found to draw pictures about "what the microbe is”, "harms of microbes", "modes of transmission", "ways of protection from microbes".