bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reduction of endocytosis and EGFR signaling is associated with the switch from isolated to clustered apoptosis during epithelial tissue remodeling in Drosophila
Authors: Yuswan Kevin , Sun Xiaofei , Kuranaga Erina , Umetsu Daiki
Published: October 2024

Epithelial tissues undergo cell turnover both during development and for homeostatic maintenance. Removal of cells is coordinated with the increase in number of newly dividing cells to maintain barrier function of the tissue. In Drosophila metamorphosis, larval epidermal cells (LECs) are replaced by adult precursor cells called histoblasts. Removal of LECs must counterbalance the exponentially increasing adult histoblasts. Previous work showed that the LEC removal accelerates as endocytic activity decreases throughout all LECs. Here, we show that the acceleration is accompanied by a mode switching from isolated single-cell apoptosis to clustered ones induced by the endocytic activity reduction. We identify the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway via extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) activity as the main components downstream of endocytic activity in LECs. The reduced ERK activity, caused by the decrease in endocytic activity, is responsible for the apoptotic mode switching. Initially, ERK is transiently activated in normal LECs surrounding a single apoptotic LEC in a ligand-dependent manner, preventing clustered cell death. Following the reduction of endocytic activity, LEC apoptosis events do not provoke these transient ERK up-regulations, resulting in the acceleration of the cell elimination rate by frequent clustered apoptosis. These findings contrasted with the common perspective that clustered apoptosis is disadvantageous. Instead, switching to clustered apoptosis is required to accommodate the growth of neighboring tissues.
Functional networks of inhibitory neurons orchestrate synchrony in the hippocampus
Authors: Bocchio Marco , Vorobyev Artem , Sadeh Sadra , Brustlein Sophie , Dard Robin , Reichinnek Susanne , Emiliani Valentina , Baude Agnes , Clopath Claudia , Cossart Rosa
Published: October 2024

Inhibitory interneurons are pivotal components of cortical circuits. Beyond providing inhibition, they have been proposed to coordinate the firing of excitatory neurons within cell assemblies. While the roles of specific interneuron subtypes have been extensively studied, their influence on pyramidal cell synchrony in vivo remains elusive. Employing an all-optical approach in mice, we simultaneously recorded hippocampal interneurons and pyramidal cells and probed the network influence of individual interneurons using optogenetics. We demonstrate that CA1 interneurons form a functionally interconnected network that promotes synchrony through disinhibition during awake immobility, while preserving endogenous cell assemblies. Our network model underscores the importance of both cell assemblies and dense, unspecific interneuron connectivity in explaining our experimental findings, suggesting that interneurons may operate not only via division of labor but also through concerted activity.
The human olfactory bulb communicates perceived odor valence to the piriform cortex in the gamma band and receives a refined representation back in the beta band
Authors: Nordén Frans , Iravani Behzad , Schaefer Martin , Winter Anja L. , Lundqvist Mikael , Arshamian Artin , Lundström Johan N.
Published: October 2024

A core function of the olfactory system is to determine the valence of odors. In humans, central processing of odor valence perception has been shown to take form already within the olfactory bulb (OB), but the neural mechanisms by which this important information is communicated to, and from, the olfactory cortex (piriform cortex, PC) are not known. To assess communication between the 2 nodes, we simultaneously measured odor-dependent neural activity in the OB and PC from human participants while obtaining trial-by-trial valence ratings. By doing so, we could determine when subjective valence information was communicated, what kind of information was transferred, and how the information was transferred (i.e., in which frequency band). Support vector machine (SVM) learning was used on the coherence spectrum and frequency-resolved Granger causality to identify valence-dependent differences in functional and effective connectivity between the OB and PC. We found that the OB communicates subjective odor valence to the PC in the gamma band shortly after odor onset, while the PC subsequently feeds broader valence-related information back to the OB in the beta band. Decoding accuracy was better for negative than positive valence, suggesting a focus on negative valence. Critically, we replicated these findings in an independent data set using additional odors across a larger perceived valence range. Combined, these results demonstrate that the OB and PC communicate levels of subjective odor pleasantness across multiple frequencies, at specific time points, in a direction-dependent pattern in accordance with a two-stage model of odor processing.
Earliest evidence of granivory from China (Shanxi Formation) points to seeds as a food source and nursing habitat for insects in the earliest Permian humid tropical forests of Cathaysia
Authors: Santos Artai A. , Wappler Torsten , McLoughlin Stephen
Published: October 2024

Three types of plant-insect interactions are identified on seeds from the lower Permian (Asselian) Shanxi and lower Shihhotse formations of the Taiyuan district, North China. This enhances the relatively meagre fossil record of seed predation in global late Paleozoic floras, adding the earliest record of granivory from Cathaysia. The dispersed seeds cannot be attributed with confidence to any particular plant group, but associated fossil leaves belong to a broad spectrum of plants, including Medullosales, Cycadales, Noeggerathiales, Gigantopteridales, Cordaitales, and Voltziales. Among 85 analysed seeds, six showed evidence of predation, referable to three damage types: DT074 and two new damage types that will be added to the forthcoming version of the fossil damage guide (DT274, DT430). These damage features indicate novel strategies of seed exploitation in the earliest Permian of China. The causal agents of the seed herbivory are difficult to resolve with certainty, but possible culprits include representatives of Palaeodictyopteroidea, although we cannot exclude other groups, such as Dictyoptera, Odonatoptera, Archaeorthoptera, Hemipteroidea or early holometabolan insects. The presence of damage features, together with a range of probable defensive structures (hairs, spines, apical horns, and thick integuments), suggests that an active arms race involving insects and plant reproductive structures was already well established by the early Permian.
Depot-specific mRNA expression programs in human adipocytes suggest physiological specialization via distinct developmental programs
Authors: Clemons Heather J. , Hogan Daniel J. , Brown Patrick O.
Published: October 2024

Adipose tissue is distributed in diverse locations throughout the human body. Not much is known about the extent to which anatomically distinct adipose depots are functionally distinct, specialized organs, nor whether depot-specific characteristics result from intrinsic developmental programs, as opposed to reversible physiological responses to differences in tissue microenvironment. We used DNA microarrays to compare mRNA expression patterns of isolated human adipocytes and cultured adipose stem cells, before and after ex vivo adipocyte differentiation, from seven anatomically diverse adipose tissue depots. Adipocytes from different depots display distinct gene expression programs, which are most closely shared with anatomically related depots. mRNAs whose expression differs between anatomically diverse groups of depots (e.g., subcutaneous vs. internal) suggest important functional specializations. These depot-specific differences in gene expression were recapitulated when adipocyte progenitor cells from each site were differentiated ex vivo, suggesting that progenitor cells from specific anatomic sites are deterministically programmed to differentiate into depot-specific adipocytes. Many developmental transcription factors show striking depot-specific patterns of expression, suggesting that adipocytes in each anatomic depot are programmed during early development in concert with anatomically related tissues and organs. Our results support the hypothesis that adipocytes from different depots are functionally distinct and that their depot-specific specialization reflects distinct developmental programs.
Tropical forest cover, oil palm plantations, and precipitation drive flooding events in Aceh, Indonesia, and hit the poorest people hardest
Authors: Lubis Muhammad Irfansyah , Linkie Matthew , Lee Janice Ser Huay
Published: October 2024

Tropical forest loss and degradation in watersheds disrupt essential ecosystem services that regulate water flow, often causing devastating floods that impact agricultural productivity and impoverish downstream communities. Despite its importance, evaluations of the interconnectedness between the depletion of hydrological services and flooding lack an evidence-base in the Global South and, therefore, have little influence on policy dialogue. In this study, we focus on the forest-rich province of Aceh, Indonesia, using local and national newspaper articles to compile information on flood events between 2011 and 2018. We explored spatio-temporal flood patterns with a combination of climatic, topographic, and environmental factors. We compiled 2,029 reported flood events in mainland Aceh located in 20 of the 21 districts/cities, with a disproportionately high occurrence (71%) in four districts. The trend of flood events exhibited an increasing pattern between 2011 and 2018. Over this period, floods displaced ~158,000 people and damaged ~24,500 houses and ~11,500 ha of agricultural land. Our generalized linear mixed-effect model found that reported flood events were more likely to occur in areas with lower tree cover, more oil palm plantations, and higher precipitation. Areas with a lower human population density and higher poverty rates were found to be most susceptible to flooding events. Our findings highlight the critical link between forest preservation and flood prevention, and the irreplaceable role that forests play in ensuring the well-being of local communities, especially those affected by poverty. Our study underscores the importance of considering these interconnected factors in future land use and economic development plans and policies.
Reduction in the incidence of cognitive impairment and related costs through an innovative health awareness programme in rural Japan
Authors: Shoji Ayako , Kudo Kenichi , Murashita Koichi , Nakaji Shigeyuki , Igarashi Ataru
Published: October 2024

Objectives

This study examined the impact of the Center of Healthy Aging Program (CHAP) on the cognitive function and economic burden associated with dementia.

Methods

This observational study utilised Iwaki cohort data. We included participants with mini-mental state examination (MMSE) scores and categorised them into pre- and post-CHAP groups based on their year of entry into the cohort (before 2013 or after) (index year). We defined participants with suspected severe cognitive impairment and suspected mild cognitive impairment using their MMSE scores, with their incidence being the first observation meeting these definitions during the follow-up period. We compared the incidence rates between the pre- and post-CHAP groups using Cox proportional hazard analysis. Medical and caregiving costs were estimated based on the projected number of residents in Iwaki area with suspected mild cognitive impairment and sSCI during hypothetical 10 years of the CHAP implemented or not and compared.

Results

Of the 2,569 participants, 1716 and 853 were included in the pre- and post-CHAP groups, respectively. The incidence rate of suspected mild cognitive impairment was significantly lower in the post-CHAP group even after adjusted known factors associated with cognitive disorders. No cases of suspected severe cognitive impairment occurred in the post-CHAP group during the follow-up period. Estimated costs of JPY 1,628,450 (USD 11562.00 or EUR 10259.24, JPY 100  =  USD 0.71 or EUR 0.63) and JPY 789,560 (USD 5605.88 or EUR 4974.23) per person per year were projected after 10 years with and without the CHAP, respectively.

Conclusions

We demonstrated a reduction in the incidence rate of suspected mild cognitive impairment among residents who participated in the CHAP and a decrease in the medical and caregiving costs associated with suspected severe cognitive impairment.
Civil intent: Rethinking ‘the political’ in art and photography education
Authors: Hill Alan
Published: October 2024

Recent scholarship bringing together photography, visual culture and political theory is unsettling established approaches to understanding photography beyond art-historical frameworks. This article examines the implications and potentials for education practices of this emerging new paradigm by exploring how the civil potential of photography and creative practice might be activated in learning environments. The article reflects on the collective learning arising from a series of educational experiments developed by the Doing Visual Politics network which have sought to connect cultures of socially motivated creative practice in Naarm/Melbourne, Australia; Kathmandu, Nepal and Dhaka, Bangladesh by interrogating and expanding disciplinary understandings at the intersection of photography, visual activism, social practice and public pedagogy. These learning spaces – where the expression of concern for shared world/s is prioritized – have provided useful insights into approaches capable of exceeding the limits of the conventional politics of representation.
Complicating the connections between curriculum, sustainable development and socially engaged design
Authors: Mills Emma , Moline Katherine
Published: October 2024

The relationship between design education and sustainable development has come a long way since the Stockholm Conference in 1972. Today, universities worldwide acknowledge the critical role of education in progressing the United Nations’s (UN) 2030 Agenda for sustainable development launched in 2019. This article argues that art and design educators must refocus on addressing and problematizing the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs) in post-pandemic curricula. To substantiate this call for action, we provide an overview of key shifts in both Australian design education and design for sustainable development (ESD). We report on the contradictions in our audit of references to SDGs in course descriptions for the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Bachelor of Design (Integrated) and student’s project descriptions in the Design Honours programme. Contextualized within the frameworks of social reconstruction and the pluriverse, we outline plans for further initiatives to turn the rhetoric of SDGs into action and develop design education that contributes to just and equitable societies for all people and the planet.
Towards co-creating the praxis of teaching design from decolonial, intersectional and pluriversal approaches1
Authors: Rezende Livia , St John Nicola , Suhendra Fanny , Albarran Gonzalez Diana
Published: October 2024

Across Oceania, design courses within the tertiary education sector remain entrenched in Eurocentric narratives and pedagogical approaches, which omit place-specific contexts, cultural histories, knowledges and diverse ways of designing, including those of First Nations. This concern drove the four authors to create the InterDesigning Network, a supra-institutional network that aims at connecting like-minded educators, practitioners and students. This article reflects on the results of the InterDesigning Network’s first symposium, titled Co-Creating the Praxis of Teaching Decolonial, Intersectional and Pluriversal Design and Histories. As the core team behind the network, we listened and learned from a panel formed by First Nations people that discussed Indigenous design practice, local protocols, connection to place and land, common struggles and ways of integrating Indigenous knowledges into contemporary design education. We also listened and were inspired by the insights shared by another panel made of diverse design educators who discussed how their positionalities and experiences inform their teaching practices. By reflecting on these insights as well as on the rationale behind the formation of a design educators’ network, this article offers actionable suggestions on how to disrupt the status quo for a more diverse and inclusive design education future.
µC: Using LLM completions to get to know the common customer
Authors: DiMauro Mark
Published: October 2024

This article explores the transformative potential of large language models (LLMs) in understanding and engaging with the typical customer, referred to as µ
C (mean by customer). Utilizing OpenAI’s ChatGPT, specifically the GPT-3.5 Turbo model, this research demonstrates how LLM completions can capture and reflect linguistic trends, reflected by utilization of established distant reading practices, providing valuable insights into consumer behaviour. Through linguistic vectorization and detailed analysis, the study validates the LLM’s capacity to encapsulate central tendencies in customer data embodied within the corresponding training data set of the LLM. The derived µ
C profile reveals a socially conscious, self-aware millennial audience prioritizing individuality and ethically sourced products. The article concludes that integrating LLMs into business strategies enhances marketing effectiveness, product development and customer engagement, offering a comprehensive understanding of consumer trends and driving improved business outcomes.
Las relaciones afectivo-sexuales de las personas con discapacidad intelectual: apoyos y barreras desde la perspectiva de personas con discapacidad intelectual
Authors: Beltrán Arreche Maialen , Fullana Noell Judit , Pallisera Díaz María , Rey Freire Ana , Blay Bisbal Clara , Vinatea Elorrieta Alicia
Published: October 2024

Introducción:
Esta investigación se centra en las barreras y los apoyos que inciden en el desarrollo de las relaciones afectivo-sexuales percibidos por un grupo de personas con discapacidad intelectual.

Método:
Participaron en el estudio 14 adultos con discapacidad intelectual y se realizaron grupos de discusión en cuatro sesiones. Estas fueron grabadas y transcritas. Los resultados se agruparon en 7 temas: política, profesionales y servicios, familias, amistades, pareja, la propia persona con discapacidad y sociedad.

Resultados:
Los participantes critican el desconocimiento de la política hacia la discapacidad; resaltan que no reciben suficiente apoyo de los profesionales y tachan de limitadoras las normas de los servicios de apoyo; las familias son percibidas como condicionantes de la sexualidad; destacan la dificultad para establecer amistades y denuncian los prejuicios de la sociedad, entre otras.

Discusión:
En los últimos años se ha producido un cambio en el paradigma que reconoce el derecho de las personas con discapacidad intelectual a tener relaciones íntimas, pero estas siguen enfrentándose a la negación de su “ciudadanía íntima”. Se propone el análisis y cambios en diferentes ámbitos de la vida de las personas, en favor de un mayor respeto de los derechos de la Convención por los Derechos de las Personas con Discapacidad (CDPD), especialmente de la sexualidad.
Addressing challenges in LEED green building ratings in Türkiye
Authors: Pekdogan Tugce
Published: October 2024

This study examined the effectiveness of the LEED green building rating system and identified performance gaps in developing countries using Türkiye as a case study. The analysis of 134 LEED Platinum V4-certified buildings in Turkiye revealed discrepancies in high-priority sites, site evaluation, building product definition and optimisation, and low-emission material credits compared with other countries. Variations in energy, atmosphere, and indoor environmental quality criteria were also noted within LEED Platinum-certified buildings in Turkiye. The study concludes that while LEED is widely embraced, local standards and contextual factors must be considered when implementing these programs.
A toxikus vezetés ismérveinek exploratív vizsgálata magyarországi vezetői mintán
Authors: Czifra Julianna , Csukonyi Csilla
Published: October 2024

Míg a „jó” vezetés évtizedek óta a vezetéselméleti kutatások tárgyát képezi, addig a „rossz” vezetés kutatása hiánypótló. A vezetés árnyoldalait sokan tapasztalják meg a munka világában, ennek ellenére kevés az ezzel kapcsolatos kutatás Magyarországon. A szerzők célja a „toxikus”-nak észlelt vezetés megértésének elősegítése, feltárva annak alapvető jellemzőit és hatásait, valamint a lehetséges szervezeti intervenciókat és megküzdési módokat. Ehhez egyrészt megvizsgálták a nemzetközi szakirodalmat, másrészt egy magyarországi mintán kísérletet tettek annak feltárására, hogy összhangban állnak-e a magyar tapasztalatok a nemzetközi kutatások eredményeivel. A kvalitatív szakaszban vezetők és szakértők (N=15), valamint munkavállalók (N=76) megkérdezése révén megvizsgálták a toxikus vezetés ismérveit, 658 mondatrész tartalomelemzése révén, a kvantitatív szakaszban pedig egy online kérdőíves kutatás (N=198) keretében a toxikus vezetés dimenzióit elemezték (nárcizmus, önfényezés, kiszámíthatatlanság, abuzív bánásmód és tekintélyelvűség), amihez a Schmidt-féle toxikus vezetés skála tételeit használták fel.
Bulbs to blooms: advancements in sustainable lilium farming
Authors: D. Sarvessh  , C. Ravindran  , J. Rajangam  , K.R.Rajadurai  , K.Venkatesan  , K. Kalpana  , T. L. Preethi  , S. Kumar  , R. Manivannan
Published: October 2024

The commercial cultivation and marketing of cut flowers presents significant opportunities. The market for exotic cut flowers is expanding day to day. Lilium holds a significant position in cut flower industry and is recognized as one of the top ten major varieties in the global floriculture sector. Its cultivation in non-traditional areas needs to be explored to meet the increasing demand. Hence, different research work has been undertaken in different places in order to standardize the cultivation of Lilium in open conditions. However, its cultivation is now being done under protected structures for better quality and yield. Furthermore, the practice of protected cultivation makes it possible to grow Lilium in non-traditional areas. An effort has been made to compile the production techniques developed for the commercial production of Lilium, such as higher yielding cultivars, suitable propagation techniques, intercultural operations, insect-pest disease management and post-harvest technology. These techniques will be replicated in non-traditional areas after proper validation.
Delivering a pilot Institution Wide Language Programme (IWLP) at an Irish University: teachers’ perspectives
Authors: Bruen Jennifer , López Cuenca Elena
Published: October 2024

This paper analyses the language educator’s experience of delivering an Institution-Wide Language Programme (IWLP) in an Irish University. It uses a focus group to explore the experiences of six International Language Tutors who delivered modules on a pilot IWLP between 2021 and 2024. The findings indicate that designing and delivering the programme was a predominantly rewarding experience for the tutors involved. Positive aspects included engagement levels among students who completed the programme, the freedom to design, deliver and assess modules in a flexible and innovative manner, and the supportive nature of the tutor team. Negative aspects relate to policy issues concerning student eligibility for the programme, operational issues such as (de-)registration, attendance and attrition rates, and misalignment between student and module proficiency levels. Recommendations relate to IWLP design and administration as well as to supports for IWLP language educators. They include the use of hybrid teaching as standard, the opening of IWLPs to all staff and students (using caps on numbers and waiting lists), clear communication to potential participants in relation to the relationship between IWLP language modules and main degrees reflected in simplified registration, deregistration and certification processes, the provision of training in hybrid design and delivery of language modules as well as of appropriate teaching infrastructure, and full integration of the IWLP teaching team into institutional support structures.
Structural and anatomical analysis of rattan (Calamus balansaeanus Becc.)
Authors: Yu Linpeng , Zhang Kangjian , Dai Fukuan , Chen Yuxuan , Jiang Zehui , Tian Genlin , Wang Youhong
Published: October 2024

Calamus balasaeanus Becc., a climbing palm species, has potential commercial value. Detailed anatomical and chemical analyses of rattan stems at different ages are crucial for their utilization in various industrial applications, particularly eco-friendly products. In this study, rattan stems of different ages were examined using light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results showed that the anatomical structure of rattan stems at different ages are very similar, with vascular bundle sizes ranging from 0.26 to 0.37 mm and a frequency of 8.4 to 13.7 bundles/mm2. The vessel lengths and diameters were 1.87–2.35 mm and 0.10–0.16 mm, respectively. Fiber lengths and diameters were 0.84–1.15 mm and 8.65–11.55 μm, respectively. As C. balasaeanus matured, the secondary wall of fiber cells thickened into the cell lumen, changing from 2 layers to 4 layers, the amount of crystallinity in cellulose increased while the mean microfibril angle decreased. The crystallinity of cellulose was higher in the periphery of the stem compared to the center. Unimodal imaging effectively visualized the distribution of various polysaccharides in C. balasaeanus tissues, with the highest concentrations of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin found in the base of the rattan stems.
How We Communicate Forgiveness to Our Partners Matters: Forgiveness-Granting Strategies, Forgiveness Tendency, Commitment, and Relationship Satisfaction in Dating and Married Couples
Authors: Dršťáková Žofia , Záhorcová Lucia , Teličák Peter
Published: October 2024

Individuals in dating and marital relationships experience various transgressions that require forgiveness (e.g., hurtful communication, mistrust, lies, or infidelity). This study examines forgiveness-granting strategies in the context of forgiveness tendency, relationship length, commitment, satisfaction, and relational consequences to better understand relationship dynamics. 649 individuals (532 dating, 117 married), aged 18–65 (M = 26.00, SD = 8.82) participated. The sample included 517 women (79.7 %) and 132 men (20.3 %). Participants described a forgiven transgression and completed questionnaires, including the Multidimensional Forgiveness-Granting Scale (MFGS), Transgression-Related Interpersonal Motivations Inventory (TRIM-18), Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS), and the commitment subscale from the Investment Model Scale. One open-ended question (types of forgiven transgressions) was analyzed consensually. Quantitative data were analyzed using correlational analysis, regression analysis, and t-tests. The most common transgression was infidelity. A linear regression analysis showed that the strongest positive predictor of relationship satisfaction was the tendency to forgive one’s partner. Nonverbal displays positively predicted relationship strengthening, while the discussion strategy predicted relationship deterioration negatively. These findings emphasize the importance of how forgiveness is communicated and may inform interventions to enhance romantic relationships.
The Minimum Wage in Greece: A Review of Institutional Features, Developments and Effects Between 1975 and 2023
Authors: Nicolitsas Daphne
Published: October 2024

This paper takes a historical perspective and assesses the evolution of the institutional features in setting the minimum wage in Greece between 1975 and 2023. It also evaluates developments regarding the minimum wage level, its bite and alignment with productivity. The paper reviews the limited available empirical literature on the association of the minimum wage with labour market outcomes (average wages, employment, inequality). It presents new estimates of the elasticity of average wages to the minimum wage. One of the paper’s key points is that the minimum wage setting mechanism has changed over time as the economic environment has changed. Reviewing the evolution of the minimum wage over time to evaluate whether the minimum wage follows productivity developments and whether the minimum wage bites leads to the second and third takeaways of the paper. The minimum wage follows productivity developments over the longer term but not always in the short term. The bite of the minimum wage is high and appears to be higher when government intervention in setting the minimum wage is stronger. As for the impact of the minimum wage on average wages, the new estimates of the elasticity of the average to the minimum wage the paper provides, use more precisely measured wage rates, which show a high elasticity of average to minimum wages. Finally, the review of the existing literature on the employment effects of the minimum wage shows that, as in other countries, the results are mixed with modest negative or no effects.
Hsa_circ_0002473 inhibits GH3 cell proliferation and GH secretion as a competitive endogenous RNA for has-miR-4645-3p
Authors: Pan Kaiyu , Jiang Xiaoguang , Hu Xiaohong , Zhan Jianhua , Zhang Chengyue
Published: October 2024

Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) diagnosis still lacks a gold standard or ideal diagnostic marker. Unlike other epigenetic mechanisms, non-coding RNAs regulate post-transcriptional levels. The information on non-coding RNAs in the field of GHD is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the role of hsa_circ_0002473 as a competitive endogenous RNA for has-miR-4645-3p in attenuating the inhibitory effect of has-miR-4645-3p on SSTR2. In this study, we screened three significantly expressed circular RNAs (circRNAs) in five children with GHD, and selected the highest expressed hsa_circ_0002473 as the study object, and screened has-miR-4645-3p, which is the most likely to bind to hsa_circ_0002473, according to the microRNA (miRNA)-circRNA regulatory network, to study the role and mechanism of has-miR-4645-3p as a competitive endogenous RNA of has-miR-4645-3p on GH3 cells. Somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) inhibits GH3 cell proliferation, and miRNA binding to SSTR2 inhibits the latter expression. Both bioinformatics and dual-luciferase reporter analyses showed targeting relationships between hsa_circ_0002473 and has-miR-4645-3p and between has-miR-4645-3p and SSTR2. We constructed the hsa_circ_0002473/has-miR-4645-3p axis and transfected it into GH3 cells and found that overexpression of hsa_circ_0002473 inhibited the proliferation and growth hormone (GH) secretion of GH3 cells, and that hsa-miR-4645-3p promoted the proliferation and GH secretion of GH3 cells by targeting SSTR2. Co-culture revealed that the inhibitory effect of hsa_circ_0002473 was reversed by has-miR-4645-3p. In conclusion, our findings suggest that hsa_circ_0002473 can act as a competitive endogenous RNA for has-miR-4645-3p to regulate GH3 cell proliferation and secretion by targeting SSTR2.
Characterization of bauxite residue filled sisal/glass fiber reinforced hybrid composites for structural applications
Authors: Rasu Karthick , Veerabathiran Anbumalar
Published: October 2024

Composite materials with high compressive, flexural, and shear strength are essential for constructing various structural elements in automotive, aerospace, marine, and construction sectors. The present research aims to create bauxite residue filled sisal/glass fiber reinforced polyester composites. The different weight percentages of sisal fiber (35 %, 30 %, 25 %, and 20 %), red mud (0 %, 5 %, 10 %, and 15 %), glass fiber (5 %), and polyester matrix (60 %) were used to fabricate composites. The combined use of compression molding and hand layup technique was employed in the creation of composite materials due to its frequent utilization in the manufacturing of large-scale components found in various sectors, including automotive, aerospace, marine, and construction. In this work, investigated the physical, compressive, flexural and v notch rail shear strength of the fabricated composites. Results revealed that the composites with 30 % of sisal fiber and 5 % of red mud has the highest compressive, flexural, and v notch rail shear strength of 83.45 MPa, 182.74 MPa, and 10 MPa, respectively. Further, this composite showed high density, less void content, and less thickness swelling than other composites. According to the outcomes, this composite material demonstrates suitability for various structural applications across automotive, aerospace, marine, and construction sectors.
Development of zeolite 5A-incorporated polyvinyl alcohol membrane for desalination by pervaporation
Authors: Tirnakci Berk , Salt Yavuz
Published: October 2024

With the rapid depletion of potable and useable water resources globally due to population growth and the effects of global warming, the desalination of seawater – the world’s largest source of water – to acceptable quality levels is critical to meeting future water needs. This study investigates the use of zeolite 5A-incorporated polyvinyl alcohol membranes to produce fresh water from seawater for industrial and domestic use and evaluates the application of the pervaporation process on the separation performance. Polyvinyl alcohol and polyvinyl alcohol/zeolite 5A mixed matrix membranes were prepared by solution-casting technique, and their morphological, structural, and mechanical properties were analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and tensile strength tests. The swelling behavior and pervaporation performance of the membranes were investigated at different temperatures (30, 45, and 60 °C) using synthetic seawater containing 35 g L−1 NaCl, and membrane–solvent interactions were determined using data from sorption experiments. The membrane produced water flux and salt rejection values at 60 °C of 5.82 kg m−2 h−1 and >99.9 %, respectively.
Molecularly imprinted polymer for the selective removal of direct violet 51 from wastewater: synthesis, characterization, and environmental applications
Authors: Khan Maaz , Ahmad Ilyas , Khan Shahab , Zeb Alam , Elsadek Mohamed F. , Patel Sanjaykumar , Al-Numair Khalid S. , Kulshreshta Ankur , Rahman Hameed U.
Published: October 2024

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are a diverse class of materials designed for selective molecular recognition. These polymers are synthesized with particular binding sites that are suited to a target molecule or a collection of structurally similar molecules through the use of a process called molecular imprinting. MIPs were synthesized in this work to specifically remove direct violet 51 from occupational leachates and aqueous solutions. Methacrylic acid functioned as the functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the cross-linker, 2,2-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the initiator, and alcohol as a porogenic solvent. To improve the dye removal effectiveness, a number of factors were optimized, including time, pH, analyte concentrations, and MIP/NIP dosages. The findings showed that MIPs had a much greater capacity for direct violet 51 adsorption than nonimprinted polymers (NIPs), with MIP adsorption capacity reaching 42.553 mg g−1 and NIP adsorption capacity reaching 7 mg g−1. The pseudo 2nd-order model described the adsorption kinetics, and the rate constant (K
2) for MIPs was found to be 0.00251 mg g−1 min. Furthermore, a high rebinding efficiency of 94 % was observed when the selectivity of MIPs for direct violet 51 was assessed against structurally similar templates.
Assessing the quality of citizen science in archaeological remote sensing: results from the Heritage Quest project in the Netherlands
Authors: Bourgeois Quentin , Kaptijn Eva , Verschoof-van der Vaart Wouter , Lambers Karsten
Published: October 2024

Volunteers are a key part of the archaeological labour force and, with the growth of digital datasets, these citizen scientists represent a vast pool of interpretive potential; yet, concerns remain about the quality and reliability of crowd-sourced data. This article evaluates the classification of prehistoric barrows on lidar images of the central Netherlands by thousands of volunteers on the Heritage Quest project. In analysing inter-user agreement and assessing results against fieldwork at 380 locations, the authors show that the probability of an accurate barrow identification is related to volunteer consensus in image classifications. Even messy data can lead to the discovery of many previously undetected prehistoric burial mounds.
Abuela Alma
Authors: Álvarez San Román Mercedes , Gil Vázquez Asier
Published: October 2024

Disney digital animated films seem to be increasingly open to a multicultural strategy in which the life experiences of different ethnic and racial communities are addressed. One of the biggest hits with Latinx protagonists is Disney’s Encanto (2021), codirected by Byron Howard, Jared Bush, and Charise Castro Smith. Based on a story about the crisis of a Colombian family with magical powers, the film can be read from the perspective of postmemory, as an allegory about the inheritance of cultural traumas. This video essay analyzes the figure of Alma, the grandmother and matriarch. This representation of the aging woman is halfway between the tradition of Disney’s villainesses and godmothers. Its complexity lies in the embodiment of power dynamics within the family and the generational struggle between the importance of a legacy and the need to overcome the painful past.
Black Feminist Activism in Times of Digital Technology Immersion and Surveillance Capitalism
Authors: Barros Zelinda
Published: October 2024

This article delves into the possibilities and challenges of digital media for the Black feminist movement in Brazil in an era of data colonialism and the rise of the far right. Barros asks: how does communicating through social media and the web alter how we relate to each other, the way we organize and perform political acts, and defend our rights, including the right to communicate and to inform? In response, Barros shares a vision and explores the conditions of possibility for a diverse and nonextractive digital sphere to emerge.
Thinking Musically
Authors: Heinle Samantha Kim
Published: October 2024

Despite abundant scholarship on Theodor W. Adorno’s theoretical writings, his musical compositions have been largely overlooked. This article uses the example of his 1944 song cycle Vier Lieder nach Gedichten von Stefan George to argue that Adorno’s music stands in dialectical relation to his philosophy. The German symbolist poet Stefan George is given pride of place not only in Adorno’s compositions but also in his writings: he returned to George as a subject four times over the course of three decades. It is argued here that Adorno brought two seminal aspects of his work together musically decades before he rendered them in prose, placing George at their intersection: his theory of the relationship between music and language, and his theory of the lyric. Answering Adorno’s call for the listener to become a “compositional partner” in making sense of his music, I use his own methods of interpretation to examine how music serves as an alternative means of cognition to philosophical. I begin with an immanent analysis, examining the structure of each song and its relationship to the cycle as a whole without recourse to Adorno’s philosophy. I then outline his theoretical explanation of both music and lyric before reinterpreting the cycle in light of the dialectic between subject and object that he discusses. Finally, I propose that the sociological critique that Adorno did not fix in prose arises from the interplay between music and language within the 1944 cycle, giving voice to the social context from which it arose.
Fair Games—Curating New Music
Authors: Moore Thomas R. , Gielen Pascal , Diependaele Rebecca
Published: October 2024

The authors of “Defragmentation: Curating Contemporary Music,” a special issue of the Darmstädter Beiträge zur Neuen Musik published in 2019, considered all aspects of any given artistic event as fair game for curation. They suggested that not only could the choice of pieces, soloists, conductors, and ensembles be (re)tooled (including even site-specific aspects), but the roles of the musicians and audience and even value regimes could be instrumentalized to accord with the artistic demands of the curator. In her introduction to the special issue, Dorothee Richter argued that curation should be a “practice that is deeply involved in the politics of display, politics of site, politics of transfer and translation, and regimes of visibility.” If we understand politics with Jacques Rancière as “giving form to the social,” then Richter suggests that every thinkable manner in which people relate can, and should, be weighed when programming a concert. Curators need to reflect and act upon the way relationships in our world are displayed, the interplay involved on site, the participation or lack thereof of an audience, the participants’ ability to understand, enjoy, and be entertained, and even the audience’s and presenter’s perceived positions in society and how they play out in concert.

Writing as a performer-researcher, a cultural-sociologist, and a musicologist, and drawing on previous research in the visual arts, we discuss the impact of the curator within the European new music world. We question the curator’s central role and probe shifts in power relations between festival directors, receptive venues, and performing ensembles. In our view, the rise of the curator in the new music world leads us in at least two distinct directions. First, as in the visual arts world, the individual curator may assume the role of the new protagonist, displacing the performing artists from their throne. When this occurs, curating takes place in a game of mutual competition, distinction, and exploitation, in which illustration of an abstract idea or concept prevails over musical experience. Alternatively, curating may become a collective affair and responsibility along the lines of commoning principles, in which curating returns to its etymological roots as a form of caring for each other and for both the tradition and the future of music.
RECENT ADVANCES IN THE ELECTROPHORETIC DEPOSITION OF CHITOSAN-SILVER NANOCOMPOSITE COATINGS ON METALLIC IMPLANTS WITH ENHANCED BIOCIDAL PROPERTIES
Authors: Łosiewicz Bożena , Osak Patrycja , Nowińska Delfina
Published: October 2024

This review covers the latest issues related to the development of medical technologies based on chitosan coatings. The progress of modern implantology requires medicine to adapt constantly to new opportunities and challenges. Infections may occur at the implantation site or in the body and may require treatment with antibiotics or surgery to resolve them. Due to its unique properties, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity and antibacterial activity, chitosan has been proposed to be co-deposited with biocidal silver nanoparticles in the form of nanocomposite coatings on the surface of metallic implants to extinguish local inflammations. The mechanism of co-deposition of chitosan with metal ions and particles using electrophoretic deposition has not yet been thoroughly explained. This, among others, results from a number of factors that influence the process and their mutual relations. Therefore, the present review aims at a deeper understanding of the mechanism of creating chitosan-silver nanocomposite coatings.
o-PHTHALALDEHYDE CROSS-LINKED CHITOSAN MEMBRANE AS A QUASI-SOLID-STATE ELECTROLYTE FOR SUPERCAPACITORS
Authors: Nowacki Krzysztof , Galiński Maciej
Published: October 2024

This study reports a stepwise formation method of a chitosan membrane cross-linked with o-phthalaldehyde and its use as a polymer matrix in a quasi-solid-state-electrolytebased supercapacitor. The proposed method of cross-linking in chitosan solution and evaporation of the solvent yielded a homogeneous and durable chitosan-o-phthalaldehyde membrane, which, after dipping in an aqueous 2 M lithium sulfate solution, formed a quasi-solid-state-electrolyte (CS/OPAQSSE). The prepared CS/OPA-QSSE was then used in an electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) cell to study its electrochemical properties. The electrochemical performance of the EDLC cell was determined by using the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charging/discharging techniques. The results showed that the EDLC cell with the CS/OPA-QSSE is a fully functional and efficient device. The specific capacitance values calculated for the CS/OPA-QSSE EDLC (up to 115 F g–1) always surpassed the reference cell based on a commercial glass fibre separator Therefore, the proposed chitosan modification can be considered as a future alternative to produce other polysaccharide-based materials for electrochemical use.
pH STABILITY AND KINETICS OF pH DEACTIVATION OF CHITIN DEACETYLASE PRODUCED BY Absidia orchidis
Authors: Stencel Barbara M. , Jaworska Małgorzata M.
Published: October 2024

This paper presents the influence of pH on the activity and stability of an extracellular chitin deacetylase produced by Absidia orchidis. It showed the highest activity at pH 4.0 and was most stable at pH 9.5. In addition, there was pH deactivation that could be described by first-order irreversible kinetics. The pH deactivation rate constant changed linearly with pH in the range from 4.0 to 9.0.
THE USE OF ENZYMES FROM Mucor circinelloides IBT-83 IN THE SYNTHESIS OF CHITOOLIGOSACCHARIDES – PRELIMINARY RESEARCH
Authors: Struszczyk-Świta Katarzyna
Published: October 2024

Chitooligosaccharides (COS) have numerous biological activities, including antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anticancer and antioxidant. Unlike high-molecular-weight chitosan, COS have a number of advantages in large-scale commercial applications due to their water solubility and low viscosity. COS are used in the food, agricultural, medical and pharmaceutical industries. The present study demonstrated that intracellular, partially purified enzymes from Mucor circinelloides IBT-83 can hydrolyse chitosan and effectively catalyse the synthesis of a heterodimer composed of D-glucosamine and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (carried out at a 2.5-fold molar excess of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine relative to D-glucosamine in an acetate buffer [pH 5.5] containing 20% ammonium sulfate). The obtained product was analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography.
POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE (PET) COATED WITH CHITOSAN AND CYCLOSPORINE A LAYERS AS A POTENTIAL STENT MATERIAL AND DRUG-DELIVERY SYSTEM
Authors: Szafran Klaudia , Jurak Małgorzata , Mroczka Robert , Pastuszak Katarzyna , Wiącek Agnieszka Ewa
Published: October 2024

The aim of this paper was to design, prepare and characterise chitosan (Ch) and cyclosporine A (CsA) mixed films deposited on a plasma-activated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymer surface to be used as a cover for implantable blood vessel stents. The PET polymer coated with Ch and CsA layers was immersed in simulated body fluid (SBF) to examine how the obtained layers can behave in the environment of human body fluids. Time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry was employed to determine the chemical composition of the deposited films and to analyse the spatial distribution of molecules on the PET surface. The results showed the controlled release of CsA from the chitosan matrix. It can be concluded that the modification of the PET polymer with layers of chitosan and CsA has great application potential in the tissue engineering as a biocompatible stent of blood vessels with therapeutic properties.