bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical and Histopathological Risk Factors for Radioactive Iodine–Refractory Follicular and Oncocytic Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Stegenga Merel T , van Velsen Evert F S , Oudijk Lindsey , Verburg Frederik A , van Ginhoven Tessa M , Peeters Robin P , Medici Marco , Visser W Edward , van Kemenade Folkert J
Published: February 2024

Context

Risk factors for radioactive iodine (RAI)-refractory disease in follicular (FTC) and oncocytic thyroid carcinoma (OTC) are unknown.

Objective

The aim of this study is to identify clinical and histopathological risk factors for RAI-refractory disease in FTC and OTC patients, facilitated by an extensive histopathological revision.

Methods

All adult FTC and OTC patients treated at Erasmus MC (the Netherlands) between 2000 and 2016 were retrospectively included. The 2015 American Thyroid Association guidelines were used to define RAI-refractory disease. An extensive histopathological revision was performed applying the 2022 World Health Organization Classification using PALGA, the Dutch Pathology Databank. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for RAI-refractory disease, stratified by histological subtype.

Results

Ninety FTC and 52 OTC patients were included, of whom 14 FTC (15.6%) and 22 OTC (42.3%) patients developed RAI-refractory disease over a follow-up time of 8.5 years. RAI-refractory disease occurred in OTC after fewer cycles than in FTC (2.0 [interquartile range (IQR): 1.0-2.0] vs 2.5 [IQR: 2.0-3.75]), and it substantially decreased 10-year disease-specific survival, especially in OTC (46.4%; FTC 85.7%). In FTC, risk factors were higher age at diagnosis, pT3/pT4 stage, N1 stage, widely invasive tumors, and extrathyroidal extension. N1 stage and M1 stage were the strongest risk factors in OTC, rather than histopathological characteristics of the primary tumor.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is the first study that correlates clinical and histopathological risk factors with RAI-refractory disease in FTC and OTC, facilitated by a histopathological revision. In FTC, risk factors for RAI-refractory disease were foremost histopathological characteristics of the primary tumor, whereas in OTC presentation with lymph node and distant metastasis was associated with RAI-refractory disease. Our data can help clinical decision-making, particularly in patients at risk for RAI-refractory disease.
Pharmacological treatment of obesity: an overview of different groups of anti-obesity drugs available in Poland
Authors: Woch Barbara , Bereza Dawid , Sokołowska Katarzyna , Kulak Maria , Moreau Igor , Polańska Paulina , Lang Miriam
Published: February 2024

Introduction and Objective: Obesity, as one of the diseases of civilization, has become a significant problem in our time. Although the first ways of treating it appeared many years ago, pharmacotherapy of obesity has been developing significantly in recent years.
The purpose of this article is to introduce the obesity drugs that have been registered for the treatment of obesity in Poland and to describe a new substance called tirzepatide, which, although it does not have such registration yet, is one of the most promising medications of the near future.
 
State of Knowledge: Obesity is an urgent and growing problem. In Poland, about 25% of adults are obese, and this number is increasing over the years.
In Europe, four drugs belonging to three different groups are registered for the treatment of obesity: orlistat, a combined drug that includes naltrexone hydrochloride and bupropion hydrochloride, liraglutide, and semaglutide. Although the last drug achieves the best results in studies and is the substance most favored by doctors and patients, there is still much research on new substances and formulations, which would bring even better results and health benefits. One of these substances is tirzepatide, a drug registered in 2022 for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
 
Summary: Nowadays in Poland, there are four drugs registered for obesity. Two of them are representatives of the group of GLP-1 analogues. 
Pharmacological treatment of obesity has good results and is a relatively safe process that should be implemented in conjunction with lifestyle changes. The fifth substance described in this article is tirzepatide, a drug that, although not registered for the treatment of obesity yet,  is for now one of the most promising substances among the new drugs.
Polskie studia wywiadowcze: Stan i perspektywy badań
Authors: Gruszczak Artur , Lewandowski Arkadiusz , Nyzio Arkadiusz
Published: February 2024

This book aims at conducting a comprehensive diagnosis and evaluation of the achievements, challenges and prospects of Polish intelligence studies (IS). Against the background of global intelligence studies, the popularity of this research field has been growing in Poland for two decades. However, research activities and their outcomes have been highly dispersed and unstructured, most often carried out by single researchers or small teams. The lack of a vehicle integrating the scattered research foci and entities in the IS area – in the form of a website, a flagship journal or a cyclical conference – furthers an identity crisis and organizational dispersion. We propose an in-depth systematization of how intelligence services and their activities are investigated in Poland. We carry out an intellectual inventory of this area, analysing key themes, threads and products. We consider Polish IS as a whole, looking at dominant research trends, identifying degrees of insights into specific aspects of IS, highlighting topics which have not yet been sufficiently investigated, and suggesting issues that deserve a detailed examination. We present the centres where Polish IS have been developing, treating them as equally important, with each of them having its own vital role to play, “spécialité de la maison” and achievements. Concurrently, we argue that a significant atomization of the IS epistemic community is one of its core weaknesses. The conclusions drawn from the research presented in this study are far from optimistic. However, they should not be treated as “sounding the alarm”; rather, this book is meant as a kind of “call to arms”.
Interpreting economic evaluations of healthcare interventions: A simple guide
Authors: Paterson Luke
Published: February 2024

This guide aims to help healthcare professionals of all backgrounds make sense of economic evaluations to determine whether interventions represent value for money
Factors Affecting Tourists’ Satisfactions in Night Markets: A Study of Ton Tann Green Market in Khon Kaen, Thailand
Authors:   Faculty of Business Administration, Vongchavalitkul University, Thailand, Chaisaengpratheep Nattapong
Published: February 2024

This article utilizes confirmatory factor analysis through the JASP Program, as indicated by loading factors exceeding 0.5, to uncover key factors playing a significant role in the success of an esteemed night market, the Ton Tann Green Market, Khon Kaen, Thailand, including product, pricing, place, people, and facilities. Managing Cronbach’s alpha values at 0.7 ensures the reliability of collected data by assessing internal consistency and convergence. A variety of fit indices were also used to quantify the model’s suitability and ability to represent relationships between observed variables. An appropriate sample size of 305 respondents was determined and the collected data was statistically sound and capable of accurately validating the research findings. Respondents in this survey rated their satisfaction on a five-point Likert scale, revealing valuable information about tourist behavior. The findings are crucial for improving the night market. Tourists can benefit from harnessing these factors, especially younger demographics and tourists satisfied with place, people, price, and facilities. These findings provide crucial recommendations to both policymakers and entrepreneurs, ensuring that the market retains its relevance as a pillar of the Khon Kaen community while simultaneously upholding local traditions. Keywords: Factor analysis, satisfaction, night market, tourism, Khon Kaen.
Deflating invariant subspaces for rank structured pencils
Authors: Mastronardi Nicola , Van Barel Marc , Vandebril Raf , Van Dooren Paul
Published: February 2024

It is known that executing a perfect shifted $QR$ step via the implicit $QR$ algorithm may not result in a deflation of the perfect shift. Typically, several steps are required before deflation actually takes place. This deficiency can be remedied by determining the similarity transformation via the associated eigenvector. Similar techniques have been deduced for the $QZ$ algorithm and for the rational $QZ$ algorithm. In this paper, we present a similar approach for executing a perfect shifted $QZ$ step on a general rank structured pencil instead of a specific rank structured one, e.g., a Hessenberg-Hessenberg pencil. For this, we rely on the rank structures present in the transformed matrices. A theoretical framework is presented for dealing with general rank structured pencils and deflating subspaces. We present the corresponding algorithm allowing to deflate simultaneously a block of eigenvalues rather than a single one. We define the level-$\rho$ poles and show that these poles are maintained executing the deflating algorithm. Numerical experiments illustrate the robustness of the presented approach showing the importance of using the improved scaled residual approach.
High-sensitivity dual U-shaped PCF-SPR refractive index sensor for the detection of gas and liquid analytes
Authors: Luo Xingdi , Liu Wei , Lv Jingwei , Yang Lin , Wang Jianxin , Chu Paul K. , Liu Chao
Published: February 2024

A dual U-shaped photonic crystal fiber (PCF) biochemical sensor based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is designed for the simultaneous detection of gas and liquid analytes, and the properties are analyzed by the full vector finite element method (FEM). SPR is excited by placing gold nanowires on the inner surface of the U-shaped device. In this technique, the traditional metal deposition process can be replaced, subsequently reducing the difficulty and complexity of actual production and improving the phase matching between the basic mode and plasmonic modes. To improve the detection properties, the structural parameters of the sensor including the air hole diameter, spacing, gold nanowire diameter, and polishing depth are optimized, and to better evaluate and analyze the sensing properties, the wavelength and amplitude modulation inquiry method is adopted. The results show that the maximum wavelength sensitivity (WS), amplitude sensitivity (AS), minimum resolution (R), and optimal FOM are 35,000 nm/RIU, 438.08RIU−1, 2.86×10−6RIU, and 165.16RIU−1, respectively. In addition, the sensor can detect analyte RIs between 1.00 and 1.36 for gas and liquid analytes simultaneously. Owing to the simple structure, low cost, and ambient-condition monitoring, the sensor has large potential in a myriad of applications including sewage treatment, food safety, humoral regulation, environmental and biological monitoring, and medical diagnosis.
Downregulation of the CD151 protects the cardiac function by the crosstalk between the endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes via exosomes
Authors: Jiang Luying , Liu Jingbo , Yang Zhenjia , Wang Jianyu , Ke Wenkai , Zhang Kaiyue , Zhang Chunran , Zuo Houjuan
Published: February 2024

Background

Heart failure (HF) is the last stage in the progression of various cardiovascular diseases. Although it is documented that CD151 contributes to regulate the myocardial infarction, the function of CD151 on HF and involved mechanisms are still unclear.

Method and results

In the present study, we found that the recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV)-mediated endothelial cell-specific knockdown of CD151-transfected mice improved transverse aortic constriction (TAC)-induced cardiac function, attenuated myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis, and increased coronary perfusion, whereas overexpression of the CD151 protein aggravated cardiac dysfunction and showed the opposite effects. In vitro, the cardiomyocytes hypertrophy induced by PE were significantly improved, while the proliferation and migration of cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) were significantly reduced, when co-cultured with the CD151-silenced endothelial cells (ECs). To further explore the mechanisms, the exosomes from the CD151-silenced ECs were taken by cardiomyocyte (CMs) and CFs, verified the intercellular communication. And the protective effects of CD151-silenced ECs were inhibited when exosome inhibitor (GW4869) was added. Additionally, a quantitative proteomics method was used to identify potential proteins in CD151-silenced EC exosomes. We found that the suppression of CD151 could regulate the PPAR signaling pathway via exosomes.

Conclusion

Our observations suggest that the downregulation of CD151 is an important positive regulator of cardiac function of heart failure, which can regulate exosome-stored proteins to play a role in the cellular interaction on the CMs and CFs. Modulating the exosome levels of ECs by reducing CD151 expression may offer novel therapeutic strategies and targets for HF treatment.
Landscape use by large grazers in a grassland is restructured by wildfire
Authors: Subramanian Aishwarya , Germain Rachel M.
Published: February 2024

Animals navigate landscapes based on perceived risks vs. rewards, as inferred from features of the landscape. In the wild, knowing how strongly animal movement is directed by landscape features is difficult to ascertain but widespread disturbances such as wildfires can serve as natural experiments. We tested the hypothesis that wildfires homogenize the risk/reward landscape, causing movement to become less directed, given that fires reduce landscape complexity as habitat structures (e.g., tree cover, dense brush) are burned. We used satellite imagery of a research reserve in Northern California to count and categorize paths made primarily by mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in grasslands. Specifically, we compared pre-wildfire (August 2014) and post-wildfire (September 2018) image history layers among locations that were or were not impacted by wildfire (i.e., a Before/After Control/Impact design). Wildfire significantly altered spatial patterns of deer movement: more new paths were gained and more old paths were lost in areas of the reserve that were impacted by wildfire; movement patterns became less directed in response to fire, suggesting that the risk/reward landscape became more homogenous, as hypothesized. We found evidence to suggest that wildfire affects deer populations at spatial scales beyond their scale of direct impact and raises the interesting possibility that deer perceive risks and rewards at different spatial scales. In conclusion, our study provides an example of how animals integrate spatial information from the environment to make movement decisions, setting the stage for future work on the broader ecological implications for populations, communities, and ecosystems, an emerging interest in ecology.
Caffeinated beverages intake and risk of deep vein thrombosis: A Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Lin Tong , Mao Haiyan , Jin Yuhong
Published: February 2024

This study aimed to explore the potential link between coffee and tea consumption and the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) through Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Employing the MR, we identified 33 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as instrumental variables (IVs) for coffee intake and 38 SNPs for tea intake. The investigation employed the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method to evaluate the causal impact of beverage consumption on DVT risk. Additionally, MR-Egger and MR-PRESSO tests were conducted to assess pleiotropy, while Cochran’s Q test gauged heterogeneity. Robustness analysis was performed through a leave-one-out approach. The MR analysis uncovered a significant association between coffee intake and an increased risk of DVT (odds ratio [OR] 1.008, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.001–1.015, P = 0.025). Conversely, no substantial causal effect of tea consumption on DVT was observed (OR 1.001, 95% CI = 0.995–1.007, P = 0.735). Importantly, no significant levels of heterogeneity, pleiotropy, or bias were detected in the instrumental variables used. In summary, our findings suggest a modestly heightened risk of DVT associated with coffee intake, while tea consumption did not exhibit a significant impact on DVT risk.
Use of irradiated chitosan as a matrix for slow-release urea and in vitro fermentation characteristics of slow-release urea supplementation in ruminant rations
Authors: Sasongko Wahidin Teguh , Wahyono Teguh , Astuti Dewi Apri , Syahputra Akhmad Rasyid , Widodo Slamet , Jayanegara Anuraga
Published: February 2024

Background and Aim: Irradiated chitosan can be used as a matrix for slow-release urea (SRU) production. This study aimed to (1) determine the optimal formulation of irradiated chitosan matrix for controlling nitrogen release and (2) evaluate the characteristics of SRU in vitro fermentation based on irradiated chitosan as a feed supplement.

Materials and Methods: In the first phase of the investigation, four chitosan-based SRU formulations with varying amounts of acrylamide (3 and 5 g) and gamma irradiation (5 and 10 kGy) were evaluated. Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform mid-infrared spectroscopy, and ammonia release characteristics were used to observe morphological, functional group, and ammonia release characteristics. In the second phase of research, the most effective SRU formulation was utilized as a supplement to ruminant rations based on rice straw, sorghum straw, and alfalfa. Gas production, rumen fermentation characteristics, and methane gas production were observed in vitro.

Results: On the basis of surface image analysis, the four SRU formulas generate a similar appearance. Compared with untreated urea, the SRU3 formula reduced the percentage of ammonia emission by 12.85%–27.64% after 24 h of incubation (p = 0.05), as determined by the first phase study. SRU3 became the basis for the second testing phase. The addition of SRU3 did not affect the optimal gas production in vitro. SRU3 treatment produced less gas than Optigen® treatment (p = 0.05). With regard to rumen fermentation and digestibility, Optigen® yielded better results than SRU3 (p = 0.05). However, the treatment with SRU3 resulted in reduced methane production compared to that in the control (p = 0.05).

Conclusion: Irradiated chitosan as an SRU matrix may control the release of ammonia in the rumen medium. The SRU3 formulation is the most effective. The addition of SRU to rice straw-based rations reduces methane production without affecting in vitro digestibility.

Keywords: fermentation characteristics, irradiated chitosan, ruminant, slow-release urea.
Past and future freshwater availability scenarios and their impact on the Indian Sundarbans ecosystem and fisheries
Authors: Das Lalu , Bhowmick Sayani , Goswami Purba , Choudhury Ratul Roy , Akhter Javed
Published: February 2024

The Indian Sundarbans is considered one of the zones of highest vulnerability in the world in terms of climate change. About 4.43 million people living in the Indian Sundarbans face a lack of freshwater availability due to the erratic behaviour of monsoon rains, frequent cyclonic storms, intrusion of saline water, and other factors, all of which affect the fisheries and agriculture activities of this area. In this study, estimates of freshwater availability through past and predicted future rainfall and evapotranspiration change scenarios in the Sundarbans are presented. Due to the lack of high-quality in-situ data, various sources of gridded rainfall and evapotranspiration data were used. Between 1948 and 2010, half of the 19 administrative blocks showed a decreasing trend of monsoonal rainfall while the rest showed an increasing trend. Freshwater availability showed a decreasing trend during the monsoon season over different blocks of the Sundarbans, which is a matter of great concern for fisheries and agricultural activities. Statistical downscaling was used to generate future rainfall and evapotranspiration scenarios, using coarse resolution Global Climate Models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase five for a smaller area like the Sundarbans. Downscaled Global Climate Models project an increasing trend in future monsoon rainfall in both RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5 emission scenarios. The increasing rainfall can trigger excessive run-off and flooding, which would in turn affect aquaculture infrastructure and damage lentic aquaculture productions across the Sundarbans. However, increased rainfall may expand the flood plain area and extend the feeding grounds of fish. Hence, the impact of rainfall change is quite unpredictable. Proper adaptation techniques may be required to harness the positive impacts while preventing negative effects.
The Case of Herdade do Freixo do Meio in the Emergence of a Scientific Broadcasting Documentary Supported by Agricultural Reengineering
Authors: Lopes Albino Anjos , Romana Fernando Acabado , Sendim Alfredo Cunhal
Published: February 2024

In the text, we identify what we call stages of a project that aims to be “innovative” of “scientific broadcasting documentary” organized in steps of a unique experience. The conditions of the case study are of a quasi-laboratory nature. The context is presented as that of an “agroforestry eco-archaeo-history” of the Mediterranean-peninsular settlement pattern. Instead of choosing a rationalist approach to reflect on the facts under discussion, we follow a Gabriel Garcia Marques approach to make common people experience the essence of what is at stake. But instead of a romance, we opt for choosing the strength of a space to explore, as can only be done on a tourist tour, placing the space (in the image of a character) at the centre of the narrative. The HFM space effectively tells a story that is radically different from the dominant narrative, and which makes sedentarization dependent on the so-called “cereal revolution”. In fact, this text seeks to describe a “conceptual journey”, in nine stages, deduced from our direct observation on the ground, complemented by several interviews with the actors mentioned in the text, covering around 6,000 years of settlement, in space of Herdade do Freixo do Meio (HFM), in Foros de Vale Figueira – municipality of Montemor o Novo, a property that allows to demonstrate the possibility of full sustainability (and viability) from all points of view, that is, from values based on the point of view of social, economic, demographic or ecological justice. The idealized tourist itinerary project (as a possible salable product) aims to amplify the remarkable work carried out at HFM, on the side of stimulating demand. This project aims to “help” publicize the collective action of actors in the agroforestry experience, and in this way, to consolidate itself, in turn, on the side of stimulating supply. Furthermore, in this consolidation of demand, a particular interest can be conceived from the study now proposed, as we think, analysing it from a third angle, that of its effectively “easy” repeatability across the interior territories of our country and not only.
Style and Function of Humor in the Animation Series 'Tekotok' as a Form of Social Criticism
Authors: Rokhmah Akhirul Insan Nur , Suwandi Sarwiji , Setiawan Budhi
Published: February 2024

Our lives cannot be separated from the existence of humor. Humor developed into several theories. This research aims to describe and classify Tekotok animated humor based on Aaker and Bagdonas' theory. There are 4 styles of humor in Tekotok animation, namely the standup, sweetheart, the magnet, and the sniper humor styles. The dominant humor style still uses the Stand-Up humor style. The function of humor is to relieve tension, as a ritual, as social control, and as a social bond. This research used descriptive-qualitative methods. The rest is additional data such as documents and others. The theory used is content analysis theory. Data collection was carried out using random purposive sampling. Sampling was carried out in accordance with the requirements, that the research object must contain the phenomenon of social issues.
An Overview of Studies on the Influence of Domestic Verbal Violence on Children Personality Development
Authors: Meng Qingliang
Published: February 2024

An increasing number of adolescents are experiencing psychological problems in China, which has affected their personality development. An overview of studies on the influence of domestic verbal violence on children personality development was made, followed by a comparison between the status-quo of the existing studies of the U.S.A. and China. Results indicate that one cause for children personality development problems may lie in parents’ ignorance of the effect of verbal violence. The paper also reveals scarce studies have been done to explore the effect of domestic verbal violence on child personality development, thus calling for more attention from both researchers and parents.
Radically Embodied Compassion Training: Cultivating Psychotherapist Courage, Distress Tolerance and Compassionate Responsiveness via Traditional Martial Arts
Authors: Clapton Neil , Hiskey Syd
Published: February 2024

Psychotherapeutic encounters inevitably entail moments and episodes of disaffiliation, ruptures and conflict. These events can pose significant challenges and threats to both client and therapist. Resolving and repairing such ruptures requires therapists to tolerate not only their clients' but also their own distress, to better afford the courage and wisdom to respond compassionately. Whilst there is plenty of excellent research and guidance on how to respond to and repair alliance ruptures, few approaches explicitly focus on the development of the underlying (neuro)physiological capacities, embodied motivational switching abilities and somatic resources to be able to do so in situations of high relational threat. Traditional martial arts provide a powerful and fruitful means to entrain these competencies and processes, which can feasibly be transferred to psychotherapeutic encounters. This paper outlines the development of training workshops for therapists/clinicians based on traditional martial arts principles and practices, embodied neuroscience and interpersonal neurobiology. This overview will thus help illuminate how such training may afford therapists/clinicians greater distress tolerance and compassionate responsiveness, otherwise termed Radically Embodied Compassion (Clapton & Hiskey, 2020), in difficult therapeutic encounters such as alliance ruptures.
Pay as You Throw Threshold Tariff: Evidence on the Incentive to Recycle
Authors: Rizzo Leonzio , Secomandi Riccardo
Published: February 2024

We study the impact of the introduction of a pay as you throw tariff in Ferrara which presented a low status-quo level of waste recycling. We find that it increased the waste recycling share by 40 % points and decreased the total waste per capita by 30 % points. Our dataset allows the split of the overall effect on waste recycling, finding that 63 % of recycling is due to organic material and 37 % to multimaterial (paper, glass, and plastic). This result suggests that packaging does not constitute the major waste recycling collection. Moreover, we find both an increase in waste recycling and a decrease in total waste, contrary to other case studies with a higher starting level of waste recycling. This leads to the important conclusion that pricing waste is effective in reducing pollution if the waste recycling level is sufficiently low.
Sonochemical synthesis of gold nanoparticles mediated by potato starch: Its performance in the treatment of esophageal cancer
Authors: Liu Mingwei , Xue Xiaolei , Karmakar Bikash , Eltantawy Waleed , El-kott Attalla F. , El. Nashar Emam M. , Abd-Ella Eman M.
Published: February 2024

Economically viable and eco-friendly potato starch (PS) was employed to synthesize Au NPs under ultrasound irradiation. PS phytochemicals have the function of a green reductant as well as an efficient stabilizer template to cap and synthesize gold nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were applied to investigate the structure of the synthesized PS-Au NPs nanocomposite. FESEM results showed that the obtained Au NPs were spherical and ∼30 nm in diameter; their crystalline nature was detected by XRD and TEM data. PS-Au NP nanocomposite shows high antioxidant effects against DPPH. The colorimetric MTT investigation was followed in the determination of anti-esophageal cancer properties of the PS-Au NP nanocomposite against KYSE-30 and FLO-1 cell lines. The findings indicate that in 3 days, the cancer cell survival percentage in various dilations reduced as much as the PS-Au NP nanocomposite concentration increased. The best anti-cancer effect of the PS-Au NP nanocomposite was reported at 1,000 μg/mL dilation. Through MTT cytotoxicity analysis the half-maximal inhibitory concentration of PS-Au nanocomposite or IC50 values against the KYSE-30 and FLO-1 esophageal carcinoma cells were found as 125 and 176 μg/mL, respectively. The data indicated that these PS-Au NP nanocomposites inhibited esophageal cancer cells more strongly than normal cells.
Invariance properties of limiting point processes and applications to clusters of extremes
Authors: Janßen Anja , Segers Johan
Published: February 2024

Motivated by examples from extreme value theory, but without using the theory of regularly varying time series or any assumptions about the marginal distribution, we introduce the general notion of a cluster process as a limiting point process of returns of a certain event in a time series. We explore general invariance properties of cluster processes that are implied by stationarity of the underlying time series. Of particular interest in applications are the cluster size distributions, and we derive general properties and interconnections between the size of an inspected and a typical cluster. While the extremal index commonly used in extreme value theory is often interpreted as the inverse of a “mean cluster size”, we point out that this only holds true for the expected value of the typical cluster size, caused by an effect very similar to the inspection paradox in renewal theory.
Finite normal subgroups of strongly verbally closed groups
Authors: Denissov Filipp D.
Published: February 2024

In a recent paper by A. A. Klyachko, V. Y. Miroshnichenko, and A. Y. Olshanskii, it is proven that the center of any finite strongly verbally closed group is a direct factor.
In this paper, we extend this result to the case of finite normal subgroups of any strongly verbally closed group.
It follows that finitely generated nilpotent groups with nonabelian torsion subgroups are not strongly verbally closed.
Stochastic perturbations in the semi-Lagrangian advection algorithm of the SL-AV global atmosphere model
Authors: Alipova Kseniya A. , Mizyak Vasiliy G. , Tolstykh Mikhail A. , Goyman Gordey S.
Published: February 2024

An algorithm for stochastic perturbation of the semi-Lagrangian trajectories is implemented in the ensemble weather prediction system based on the global atmosphere model SL-AV20 with a horizontal resolution of approximately 20 km, 51 vertical levels, and Local Ensemble Transform Kalman Filter (LETKF). The combined use of methods for stochastic perturbation of trajectories and the parameters and tendencies of subgrid-scale processes parameterizations allows to generate ensembles with a larger spread compared to ensembles without stochastic perturbations of trajectories. An improvement in probabilistic estimates of the ensemble forecasts for various variables is shown. The comparison of two versions of ensemble prediction system is presented.
Simulating the propagation of boundary-layer disturbances by solving boundary-value and initial-value problems
Authors: Zasko Grigory V. , Boiko Andrey V. , Demyanko Kirill V. , Nechepurenko Yuri M.
Published: February 2024

The article deals with the downstream propagation of small–amplitude disturbances of viscous incompressible laminar boundary layers, using the linearized equations for disturbance amplitudes. Two different methods are proposed. The first one solves a two-dimensional boundary-value problem, using a buffer-domain technique to mimic the outflow boundary condition. The second one solves a streamwise initial-value problem, using a spectral parabolization at each integration step. Both methods show good performance in simulating the propagation of the Tollmien–Schlichting waves and the Görtler vortices and can be applied to compute the spatial optimal disturbances.
Synthesis, anti-HIV and cytotoxicity evaluation of chiral 2,5-disubstituted 1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives bearing the sulfonamide scaffold
Authors: Israr Anum , Hameed Shahid , Al-Masoudi Najim A.
Published: February 2024

In the present study, chiral 2-(4-substiuted phenyl)amino-5-[1-(4-substituted benzenesulphonamido)alkyl]-1,3,4-thiazdiazoles 5a–x were synthesized from enantiopure l-amino acids in a multistep sequence. The starting acids were reacted with arylsulphonyl chlorides to produce N-arylsulfonyl amino acids 1a–h, followed by esterification to obtain the corresponding esters 2a–h. Treatment of esters with hydrazine hydrate afforded the corresponding hydrazides 3a–h. The coupling of hydrazides with aryl isothiocyanates followed by cyclization gave the target thiadiazoles 5a–x in good yields. The new synthesized compounds were assayed against HIV-1 and HIV-2 in MT-4 cells using MTT assay. Compounds 5s, 5v and 5w showed IC50 values of > 1.58, >1.98 and > 2.04 μm with SI > 1, respectively, indicating that these compounds were cytotoxic at concentrations values of 1.58, 1.98 and 2.04 μm, respectively.
Greedy Heirs: Luke 12,13–15.16–21 between Hereditary Disputes and πλεονεξία
Authors: Marcello Fabrizio
Published: February 2024

The brief account of an inheritance dispute between brothers in Luke 12,13–15 marks a turning point in the broader discourse of Luke 12,1–34 and also serves as an introduction to the subsequent parable of the rich fool (12,16–21). The purpose of this study is threefold. First, a careful analysis of the scene shows how Luke employs the legal institution of the arbitratum to shape the episode. Second, nine petitions from Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt concerning inheritance disputes between siblings are selected in order to help imagine a similar social context in which familial greed could often degenerate into physical violence or other forms of abuse. Finally, the often neglected consequences of the problem of inheritance are explored in relation to the following parable, which curiously centers on a question from God about the future destination of goods (12,20b).
Philologische Überlegungen zu Röm 2,28–29 und zu Röm 2,17–20
Authors: Förster Hans
Published: February 2024

In der neueren Diskussion um Röm 2,28–29 wird eine unveröffentlichte philologische Studie zitiert, die zu weitreichenden Schlussfolgerungen Anlass gibt. Das dadurch aufgezeigte Desiderat einer detaillierten philologischen Untersuchung dieser Passage unter Anführung möglicher syntaktischer Vergleichsstrukturen wird durch die vorliegende Untersuchung erfüllt. In diesem Zusammenhang legt es sich nahe, die grammatikalische Möglichkeit aufzuzeigen, dass gegen die herrschende Meinung in Röm 2,17–20 kein Anakoluth vorliegt. Hierdurch eröffnen sich bisher wenig beachtete Perspektiven für das Verständnis dieser Passage im Kontext der paulinischen Verkündigung.
WIELKOŚĆ GOSPODARSTWA DOMOWEGO I DZIEŃ TYGODNIA A POZIOM ZMARNOWANEJ ŻYWNOŚCI
Authors: TOMASZEWSKA MARZENA , BILSKA BEATA , KOŁOŻYN-KRAJEWSKA DANUTA
Published: February 2024

Background. Food waste occurs in the entire food chain, but to the greatest degree in households. For this reason, it is important to know both the causes of this unfavourable phenomenon and its scale in the area of consumption. The aim of the study was to determine the volume of wasted food in 500 households and per household, taking into account five product groups, and to examine the relationship between the ousehold size and consecutive days of the week on the mass of wasted food. The study was carried out in 2019 on a representative, nationwide random quota sample of 500 households, at respondents' homes, for seven consecutive days. It consisted of two modules: an interview conducted by an interviewer (the Computer-Assisted Personal Interviews method) and a paper diary in which a person designated in a given household recorded the amount of food wasted on each subsequent day. Results and conclusions. Based on the study, it was found that in one week, an average of 3.9 kg of food was wasted in each household, of which over one-third of the average mass included inedible parts generated during food preparation. In an average household, fruit and vegetables were food products that were wasted during the week in the highest quantities, followed by bread and dairy products. It was found that in Polish households most food products and semifinished products were thrown away from a refrigerator and/or kitchen cupboards on Saturday. The dishes prepared at home and wasted to the highest degree were soups, which were disposed of mainly on Wednesday. More food was wasted in households with more than three people, compared to households with one and two people.
EFFECTS OF COMPOSITION OF GLUTEN-FREE BINARY GELS ON THE RETENTION AND RELEASE OF AROMA COMPOUNDS
Authors: BORTNOWSKA GRAŻYNA
Published: February 2024

Background. Gluten-free binary gels (BGs) composed of polysaccharides and animal proteins appear to be food products of great practical importance due to the constantly increasing risk of coeliac disease. Moreover, understanding the factors influencing the stability of aroma compounds (ACs) is very important because consumer acceptance of food is mainly dependent on aroma. The objective of this research was to determine the thermodynamic and kinetic behavior of ACs in BGs prepared with starches varying in amylose content depending on the concentration of myofibrillar proteins (MPs). BGs were prepared with 8 % of waxy rice starch (WRS) or tapioca starch (TS) and MPs ranged from 2 to 12 %. BGs were aromatized with: 1-heptanol, nonanal, 2-butanone, ethyl acetate, s-(+)-carvone. The studies included measurements of: rheological properties of BGs, non-covalent interactions between myosin and ACs, retention and release of ACs and enthalpy of ACs vaporization (ΔHvap). Results and conclusions. The main non-covalent interactions between myosin and ACs were hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. Retention and release parameters, determined during refrigerated storage (12 days) were statistically significantly (p ≤ 0.05) dependent on: starch type, MPs concentration and physicochemical properties of ACs. The ACs release rate constants were statistically significantly (p ≤ 0.05) correlated with those of rheological parameters derived from first order kinetic equation. ΔHvap values found in TS-based BGs were generally lower (p ≤ 0.05) than in counterparts prepared using WRS. BGs with a relatively high protein content can be intended for direct consumption and as subsystems for other food products to increase ACs stability.
Clinical Features and Etiology of Recurrent Hypertension after Adrenalectomy
Authors: Dong Xilan , Ling Qianhui , Bian Jin , Li Yuehua , Chen Mengjia , Hao Sufang , Ma Wenjun , Zhang Huimin , Cai Jun , Lou Ying
Published: February 2024

Patients who undergo adrenalectomy for unilateral primary aldosteronism (PA) may still develop post-surgery hypertension; however, the clinical characteristics and etiology of patients developing recurrent hypertension after adrenalectomy are unclear. We analyzed the records of 43 patients with recurrent elevated blood pressure after adrenalectomy, who were treated at our center. Standard routine clinical screening workup was used to identify the cause of recurrent hypertension. Causes of recurrent hypertension after adrenalectomy included essential hypertension, primary aldosteronism, obstructive sleep apnea, renal artery stenosis, and Takayasu arteritis. Before adrenalectomy, 39.5% of patients were diagnosed with confirmed or suspected PA, primarily through CT imaging. Adrenal venous sampling (AVS) tests were not conducted on any patients, and 72.1% patients underwent partial adrenalectomy. Among all patients, elevated blood pressure was observed in 44.2% immediately post-operation, 18.6% within 1 month, 16.3% in 1–6 months, and 20.9% >6 months after operation. Most patients had hypertension of grade 2 and above. Standard endocrine functional assessment and AVS tests should be performed before adrenalectomy to ensure more accurate diagnosis and favorable post-operative outcomes. Additionally, individuals often develop essential hypertension regardless of past adrenal disease.
Maintenance of Procedural Motor Memory across Brief Rest Periods Requires the Hippocampus
Authors: Mylonas Dimitrios , Schapiro Anna C. , Verfaellie Mieke , Baxter Bryan , Vangel Mark , Stickgold Robert , Manoach Dara S.
Published: February 2024

Research on the role of the hippocampus in memory acquisition has generally focused on active learning. But to understand memory, it is at least as important to understand processes that happen offline, during both wake and sleep. In a study of patients with amnesia, we previously demonstrated that although a functional hippocampus is not necessary for the acquisition of procedural motor memory during training session, it is required for its offline consolidation during sleep. Here, we investigated whether an intact hippocampus is also required for the offline consolidation of procedural motor memory while awake. Patients with amnesia due to hippocampal damage (n = 4, all male) and demographically matched controls (n = 10, 8 males) trained on the finger tapping motor sequence task. Learning was measured as gains in typing speed and was divided into online (during task execution) and offline (during interleaved 30 s breaks) components. Amnesic patients and controls showed comparable total learning, but differed in the pattern of performance improvement. Unlike younger adults, who gain speed across breaks, both groups gained speed only while typing. Only controls retained these gains over the breaks; amnesic patients slowed down and compensated for these losses during subsequent typing. In summary, unlike their peers, whose motor performance remained stable across brief breaks in typing, amnesic patients showed evidence of impaired access to motor procedural memory. We conclude that in addition to being necessary for the offline consolidation of motor memories during sleep, the hippocampus maintains access to motor memory across brief offline periods during wake.
Synthesis of iso-amyl ester rosin and its evaluation as an alternative to paraffin in medium density fiberboard production
Authors:   Karadeniz Technical University, Yılmaz Bilge , Deniz İlhan ,   Karadeniz Technical University, Fazlı Hilal ,   Karadeniz Technical University, Gürsoy Samet ,   Kastamonu Integrated Wood Company, Yarıcı Tugay ,   Kastamonu Integrated Wood Company, Bengü Başak ,   Kastamonu Integrated Wood Company
Published: February 2024

Iso-amyl ester rosin was synthesized and investigated for its potential utilization in medium density fiberboard (MDF) production. The isoamyl alcohol, the main starting material for the synthesis of isoamyl ester rosin, was obtained through the fractional distillation of fusel oil, a byproduct of bioethanol production. The optimum condition for the iso-amyl ester rosin synthesis was determined as: rosin (165 mmol), isoamyl alcohol (413 mmol), P-TSA/rosin 1.5% (w/w), and commercial additive/rosin 0.15% (w/w). The esterification reaction was followed by FT-IR and mass analysis. For MDF production, a water-repellent material, commercial paraffin (1.5% w/w relative to the dry fiber weight), iso-amyl ester rosin (1.5% and 2.0%; w/w), and unmodified rosin (1.5% and 2.0% w/w) were separately used. In addition, fresh wood fibers, 10% w/w urea formaldehyde (UF) adhesive (relative to the total dry fiber weight), and a 25% aqueous solution of ammonium chloride (as the hardening agent for the UF adhesive, at 0.5% w/w based on the solid adhesive content) were used. MDFs underwent various physical and mechanical tests. Isoamyl ester rosin showed promising results based on the analysis. The results showed that the isoamyl ester rosin can be considered as an alternative to paraffin in sustainable and environmentally friendly MDF production.
Head Box Control
Authors:   Development Engineer, Consolidated Papers Incorporated, Wisconsin Rapids, U.S.A., Chao H. H. , Sanborn I. B. ,   Process Control Manager, Consolidated Papers Incorporated, Wisconsin Rapids, U.S.A.
Published: February 2024

Head box control requirements have been reviewed and the equipment required to achieve control has been discussed briefly . In addition, methods that have been used to model the head box successfully are described and discussed from both an analytic and practical point of view. Finally, six head box control schemes varying in complexity from a simple analog level control to a complex decoupled 3 x 3 controller (controlling head box total head, liquid level and flow from the box) are described and fully discussed. The paper is closed by a brief discussion of work that ought to be done in the relatively near future.
Problems of controlling the technical and tactical preparedness of taekwondo players of high qualification
Authors:   Prydniprovska State Academy оf Physical Culture аnd Sports, Pshenichnikov P. , Mitova O. ,   Prydniprovska State Academy оf Physical Culture аnd Sports
Published: February 2024

Purpose: to analyze the current state of the problem of controlling the technical and tactical preparedness of highly qualified taekwondo players on the basis of scientific and methodological literature. Material and Methods. Research methods: analysis of special, scientific and methodical literature and the Internet, analysis of documentary materials. Results: on the basis of the analysis of scientific and methodical literature the modern tendencies of development of taekwondo of the World Taekwondo Federation, features of technical and tactical preparedness of sportsmen who specialize in taekwondo of the World Taekwondo Federation and criteria of its effectiveness are characterized. The consideration of scientific data on control, accumulated in the theory and methodology of sports training of highly qualified taekwondoists, testifies to the insufficient volume of both theoretical and experimental material on organizational and methodical bases of control of technical and tactical fitness, reserves are noted concerning scientific substantiation of means and methods of control which would correspond to the content of load of technical and tactical training and conditions of competitive activity of sportsmen at the stage of maximum realization of individual possibilities and modern Conclusions. It is established that the problem of control of technical and tactical preparedness of highly skilled taekwondo sportsmen is investigated more from the side of an estimation of technical and tactical actions of competitive activity, and in the process of preparation - measures of control of this type of preparedness are carried out more on a subjective estimation by a coach of the level of mastering of technical and tactical techniques that complicates processes of tracking of progress or decrease of quantitative and qualitative indicators and does not clearly define criteria of their effectiveness. Keywords: martial arts, taekwondo, control, technical and tactical preparedness, highly skilled athletes.