bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Health problems among elite Dutch youth long track speed skaters: a one-season prospective study
Authors: Hendricks Matthias , van de Water Alexander T M , Verhagen Evert
Published: May 2024

Objectives

To describe the frequency, type, and severity of health problems in long-track speed skating to inform injury prevention strategies.

Methods

We prospectively collected weekly health and sport exposure data on 84 highly trained Dutch athletes aged 15–21 years during the 2019/2020 season using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre questionnaire on Health Problems and the trainers’ documentation. We categorised health problems into acute or repetitive mechanisms of injury or illness and calculated incidences (per 1000 sports exposure hours), weekly prevalence and burden (days of time loss per 1000 sports exposure hours) related to the affected body region.

Results

We registered 283 health problems (187 injuries, 96 illnesses), yielding an average weekly prevalence of health problems of 30.5% (95% CI 28.7% to 32.2%). Incidence rates were 2.0/1000 hours for acute mechanism injuries (95% CI 1.5 to 2.5) and 3.2/1000 hours for illnesses (95% CI 2.6 to 3.9). For acute mechanism injuries the head, shoulder and lumbosacral region had the highest injury burden of 5.6 (95% CI 4.8 to 6.5), 2.9 (95% CI 2.3 to 3.5) and 2.2 (95% CI 1.7 to 2.8) days of time loss/1000 hours, respectively. For repetitive mechanism injuries, the knee, thoracic spine, lower leg and lumbosacral region had the highest injury burden, with 11.0 (95% CI 9.8 to 12.2), 6.8 (95% CI 5.9 to 7.7), 3.9 (95% CI 3.2 to 4.6) and 2.5 (95% CI 1.9 to 3.1) days of time loss/1000 hours, respectively.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated a high prevalence of acute and repetitive mechanism injuries in speed skating. These results can guide future research and priorities for injury prevention.
Effectiveness and safety of bridging therapy and endovascular therapy in patients with large cerebral infarctions: from ANGEL-ASPECT
Authors: Yuan Guangxiong , Zhang Jun , Ye Zekang , Sun Jingping , Huo Xiaochuan , Pan Yuesong , Wang Mengxing , Peng Xiao , Zheng Chanjuan , Lei Xueyao , Miao Zhongrong , Cai Xueli
Published: May 2024

Background and purpose

The benefits of thrombolytic therapy before endovascular thrombectomy in cases of acute ischaemic stroke, with a large infarction volume, remain unclear. This analysis aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of bridging therapy and endovascular therapy among patients with large cerebral infarctions.

Methods

In this post-hoc analysis of the multicentre prospective study of ANGEL-ASPECT (Acute Anterior Circulation Large Vessel Occlusive Patients with a Large Infarct Core), participants were divided into two groups: an endovascular therapy group and a bridging therapy group. The primary outcome was the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 90 days. The primary safety outcome was symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage. Ordinal logistic regression was performed to compare the primary endpoint between the two groups. Subgroup analyses were conducted to further explore potential risk factors associated with the outcomes.

Results

122 patients were included, of whom 77 (63%) underwent endovascular therapy and 45 (37%) underwent bridging therapy. The median scores on mRS at 90 days of the bridging therapy group and the endovascular therapy group were 3 (2–5) and 4 (2–6), with no significant differences (common OR 1.36; 95% CI 0.71 to 2.61). Symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage was reported in three patients who were in the endovascular and bridging therapy groups (relative risk (RR) 1.71; 95% CI 0.36 to 8.12). The mortality between two groups did not differ (RR 0.75; 95% CI 0.37 to 1.54).

Conclusions

Our study indicated that endovascular therapy alone might be a viable option for patients with large cerebral infarctions, displaying no noticeable disparity in outcomes compared with bridging therapy.
Performances of a large-scale deep excavation with multi-support types and zoned excavation technique in Shanghai soft soil
Authors: Jing Yingjie , Li Lin , Li Jingpei , Chen Haohua
Published: May 2024

This paper presents a comprehensive field investigation on a large-scale deep basement excavation in Shanghai soft soil propped by a multi-support system. Because of its large size, irregular shape, and different excavation depths, the excavation site was divided into Zone A and Zone B to optimize the construction process and improve the construction efficiency. The excavation was constructed using the “bottom-up” method following the principles of stratification and zone excavation. A notable innovation in this project is the implementation of three different support subsystems as a multi-support system to accommodate different deformation requirements in different areas. The excavation was densely instrumented to monitor the behaviors of retaining walls, columns, axial forces of struts, and surrounding ground throughout the whole construction process. The wall deformation and ground surface settlement of the three support subsystems are comprehensively compared to investigate the performances of the three support subsystems. The comparison of the corner-effect envelope summarized from nine reported cases indicates that the multi-support system can effectively alleviate the spatial corner effects of the excavation. The zoned construction technique in conjunction with the multi-support system presented in this case study provides an efficient and economic approach for large-scale deep excavation in soft soils.
Chloramphenicol alleviates 5-fluorouracil-induced cellular senescence through activation of autophagy
Authors: Bai Shi-rui , Zhao Qi , Jia Hui-jie , He Fei , Wang Xiao-bo
Published: May 2024

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a first-line treatment for colorectal cancer, but side effects such as severe diarrhea are common in clinical use and have been linked to its induction of normal cell senescence. Chloramphenicol (CAP) is an antibiotic commonly used to treat typhoid or anaerobic infections, but its senescence-related aspects have not been thoroughly investigated. Here, we used 5-FU to induce senescence in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and investigated the relationship between CAP and cellular senescence at the cellular level. In a model of cellular senescence induced by 5-FU treatment, we discovered that CAP treatment reversed the rise in the percentage of senescence-associated galactosidase (SA-β-gal)-positive cells and decreased the expression of senescence-associated proteins (p16), senescence-associated genes (p21), and senescence-associated secretory phenotypes (SASPs: IL-6, TNF-α). In addition, CAP subsequently restored the autophagic process inhibited by 5-FU and upregulated the levels of autophagy-related proteins. Mechanistically, we found that CAP restored autophagic flux by inhibiting the mTOR pathway, which in turn alleviated FU-induced cellular senescence. Our findings suggest that CAP may help prevent cellular senescence and restore autophagy, opening up new possibilities and approaches for the clinical management of colorectal cancer.
Different secure semi-quantum summation models without measurement
Authors: Tian Yuan , Zhang Nanyijia , Ye Chongqiang , Bian Genqing , Li Jian
Published: May 2024

Secure semi-quantum summation entails the collective computation of the sum of private secrets by multi-untrustworthy and resource-limited participants, facilitated by a quantum third-party. This paper introduces three semi-quantum summation protocols based on single photons, where eliminating the need for classical users to possess measurement capabilities. Two-party protocol 1 and protocol 2 are structured upon different models: star and ring, respectively. The security analysis extensively evaluates the protocols’ resilience against outside and inside attacks, demonstrating protocols are asymptotically secure. Protocol 3 extends two-party protocol 1 to multi-party scenarios, broadening its applicability. Comparison reveals a reduction in the workload for classical users compared to previous similar protocols, and the protocols’ correctness are visually validated through simulation by Qiskit.
The progressive co-evolutionary development of the Pan-Tibetan Highlands, the Asian monsoon system and Asian biodiversity
Authors: Spicer Robert A. , Farnsworth Alex , Su Tao , Ding Lin , Witkowski Caitlyn R. , Li Shu-Feng , Xiong Zhongyu , Zhou Zhekun , Li Shihu , Hughes Alice C. , Valdes Paul J. , Widdowson Mike , Zhang Xinwen , He Songlin , Liu Jia , Huang Jian , Herman Alexei B. , Xu Qiang , Liu Xiaoyan , Jin Jianhua , Pancost Richard D. , Lunt Daniel J. , Zhang Shitao
Published: May 2024

Within the ongoing controversy regarding the orogeny of the Tibetan Plateau region, two directly conflicting endmember frameworks have emerged in which either: (1) a high central ‘proto-plateau’ existed before the onset of India–Asia continental collision; or (2) the early Paleogene central Tibet comprised a wide east–west-oriented lowland
c.
1–2 km above sea-level, bounded by high (>4.5 km) mountain systems. Reconstructing the development of the plateau correctly is fundamental to running realistic Earth system models that explore monsoon and biodiversity evolution in the region, and understanding the interplay between monsoon dynamics, landscape and biodiversity is critical for future resource management. We explore the strengths and weaknesses of different palaeoaltimetric methodologies as applied across the Tibetan region. Combining methodologies, appreciating the vulnerabilities arising from their underlying assumptions and testing them using numerical climate models produces consilience (agreement), allowing further refinement of both models and proxies. We argue that an east–west-oriented Paleogene Central Tibetan Valley was a cradle and conduit for thermophilic biota, seeding the modern regional biodiversity. The rise of eastern Tibet intensified regional rainfall and erosion, which increased topographic relief and biodiversification. Gradual monsoon development reflected the evolving topography, but modern-like Asian monsoons developed only after a plateau formed in the Miocene.
Large Roles of Small Proteins
Authors: Burton Aisha T. , Zeinert Rilee , Storz Gisela
Published: May 2024

Bacterial proteins of ≤50 amino acids, denoted small proteins or microproteins, have been traditionally understudied and overlooked, as standard computational, biochemical, and genetic approaches often do not detect proteins of this size. However, with the realization that small proteins are stably expressed and have important cellular roles, there has been increased identification of small proteins in bacteria and eukaryotes. Gradually, the functions of a few of these small proteins are being elucidated. Many interact with larger protein products to modulate their subcellular localization, stabilities, or activities. Here, we provide an overview of these diverse functions in bacteria, highlighting generalities among bacterial small proteins and similarly sized proteins in eukaryotic organisms and discussing questions for future research.
Mathematical Modelling of Tuberculosis and Hepatitis C Coinfection Dynamics with No Intervention
Authors: Kizito Mohammed , Nampala Hasifa , Ariho Pius
Published: May 2024

In this study, a deterministic tuberculosis (TB)-hepatitis C (HCV) coinfection mathematical model with no intervention is analysed purposely to examine the dynamics of TB-HCV coinfection so as to find conditions for reducing the transmission of both TB and HCV. A unique solution to the model exists; it is positive and is bounded. The analytical and numerical analysis show that for basic reproduction number, R0=maxRT,RH<1, the TB and HCV disease-free equilibrium points are stable. Further analysis shows that when the TB-HCV coinfection basic reproduction number is greater than 1, the endemic equilibrium point is stable. Sensitivity analysis reveals that interventions to reduce TB or HCV infection need to aim and concentrate on minimizing the numbers of the effective contact rate with TB- or HCV-infected humans and the rate of progress from latent TB or acute HCV to infectious TB or chronic HCV stage. Numerical simulations reveal that over time, the number of TB latent humans, acute HCV humans, and the number of dually infected humans have a linear relationship with the effective contact and the progression rates for both TB- and HCV-infected humans. We recommend that health education campaigns to communities aimed at reducing the transmission rates of TB and HCV be conducted. These could include screening and isolation, wearing of face masks for TB cases and screening, sterilization of surgical instruments, and use of condoms for HCV-infected humans.
Anime Audio Retrieval Based on Audio Separation and Feature Recognition
Authors: Li De , Xu Wenying , Jin Xun
Published: May 2024

This paper proposes an anime audio retrieval method based on audio separation and feature recognition techniques, aiming to help users conveniently locate their desired audio segments and enhance the overall user experience. Additionally, by establishing an audio fingerprint database and a corresponding copyright information management system, it becomes possible to track and manage the audio content within anime, effectively preventing piracy and unauthorized use, thereby improving the management and protection of audio resources. Traditional methods for anime audio feature recognition suffer from issues like low efficiency and subjective factors. In contrast, the proposed approach overcomes these limitations by automatically separating and extracting audio fingerprints from different audio sources within anime and creating an anime audio fingerprint database for fast retrieval. The paper utilizes an improved audio separation model based on the efficient channel attention mechanism to separate the anime audio. Subsequently, feature recognition is performed on the separated anime audio, employing a contrastive learning-based audio fingerprint retrieval method for anime audio fingerprinting. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm effectively alleviates the issue of poor audio separation performance in anime audio, while also improving retrieval efficiency and accuracy, meeting the demands for anime audio content retrieval.
Multiplicity of Solutions for a Class of Kirchhoff–Poisson Type Problem
Authors: Deng Ziqi , Dou Xilin
Published: May 2024

In this paper, we use the fountain theorems to investigate a class of nonlinear Kirchhoff–Poisson type problem. When the nonlinearity f satisfies the Ambrosetti–Rabinowitz’s 4‐superlinearity condition, or under some weaker superlinearity condition, we establish two theorems concerning with the existence of infinitely many solutions.
Compliance Status of Smoke-Free Public Places Law in Nepal
Authors: Shakya Aditya , KC Bhakta Bahadur , Shrestha Rasmita
Published: May 2024

Background. The tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced, killing around 8 million people a year. The tobacco control program has been one of the priority programs in Nepal but still satisfactory results have not been achieved yet. The main objective of this study was to assess the tobacco smoke-free law compliance in public places of the provincial headquarters of Nepal. Materials and Methods. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted in 2019 in 560 public places of seven provincial headquarters of Nepal. Convinent samples were collected from at least three different clusters (wards) of each city. Indoor and outdoor locations of public places were observed. Observation tool was adopted from the Guide for Conducting Compliance Studies (John Hopkins School of Public Health). Data were entered in Epi Datav3.1, and analysis was done using IBM SPSS 26. Results. This study showed less use of no-tobacco signage which was 32% in the indoor areas and 13% in the outdoor areas in public places but they were placed in visible areas. Tobacco use in public places is still prevalent and it was higher (40%) in outdoor of public places. Three-fourths (76%) of public places was observed for buying and selling tobacco products within their 100 m premises. Tourist hotels, public toilets, and bus stops/ticket counters had low tobacco law compliance both in indoor and outdoor areas. Though public vehicles and cinema halls had high tobacco law compliance in indoor areas, law compliance in outdoor areas was low. Province-wise comparison showed that there was a similar pattern of tobacco law compliance in the indoor areas but outdoor law compliance was low in Madesh, Bagmati, and Karnali province. Conclusion. It is evident that while progress has been made in certain aspects of tobacco law compliance, there remains a compelling need for comprehensive and targeted interventions to ensure adherence to laws in public places across the country.
Table S2 from Novel Spirocyclic Dimer, SpiD3, Targets Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Survival Pathways with Potent Preclinical Effects
Authors: Eiken Alexandria P. , Smith Audrey L. , Skupa Sydney A. , Schmitz Elizabeth , Rana Sandeep , Singh Sarbjit , Kumar Siddhartha , Mallareddy Jayapal Reddy , de Cubas Aguirre A , Krishna Akshay , Kalluchi Achyuth , Rowley M. Jordan , D'Angelo Christopher R. , Lunning Matthew A. , Bociek R. Gregory , Vose Julie M. , Natarajan Amarnath , El-Gamal Dalia
Published: May 2024

Table S2 is the list of primary antibodies used for immunoblotting assays in the study.
Table S1 from Novel Spirocyclic Dimer, SpiD3, Targets Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Survival Pathways with Potent Preclinical Effects
Authors: Eiken Alexandria P. , Smith Audrey L. , Skupa Sydney A. , Schmitz Elizabeth , Rana Sandeep , Singh Sarbjit , Kumar Siddhartha , Mallareddy Jayapal Reddy , de Cubas Aguirre A , Krishna Akshay , Kalluchi Achyuth , Rowley M. Jordan , D'Angelo Christopher R. , Lunning Matthew A. , Bociek R. Gregory , Vose Julie M. , Natarajan Amarnath , El-Gamal Dalia
Published: May 2024

Table S1 shows the characteristics of the patient-derived CLL samples used in the study.
Supplementary Methods from Novel Spirocyclic Dimer, SpiD3, Targets Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Survival Pathways with Potent Preclinical Effects
Authors: Eiken Alexandria P. , Smith Audrey L. , Skupa Sydney A. , Schmitz Elizabeth , Rana Sandeep , Singh Sarbjit , Kumar Siddhartha , Mallareddy Jayapal Reddy , de Cubas Aguirre A , Krishna Akshay , Kalluchi Achyuth , Rowley M. Jordan , D'Angelo Christopher R. , Lunning Matthew A. , Bociek R. Gregory , Vose Julie M. , Natarajan Amarnath , El-Gamal Dalia
Published: May 2024

Additional Methods
Figure S7 from Novel Spirocyclic Dimer, SpiD3, Targets Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Survival Pathways with Potent Preclinical Effects
Authors: Eiken Alexandria P. , Smith Audrey L. , Skupa Sydney A. , Schmitz Elizabeth , Rana Sandeep , Singh Sarbjit , Kumar Siddhartha , Mallareddy Jayapal Reddy , de Cubas Aguirre A , Krishna Akshay , Kalluchi Achyuth , Rowley M. Jordan , D'Angelo Christopher R. , Lunning Matthew A. , Bociek R. Gregory , Vose Julie M. , Natarajan Amarnath , El-Gamal Dalia
Published: May 2024

Figure S7 shows SpiD3 spares healthy stromal and lymphoid cells.
Figure S6 from Novel Spirocyclic Dimer, SpiD3, Targets Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Survival Pathways with Potent Preclinical Effects
Authors: Eiken Alexandria P. , Smith Audrey L. , Skupa Sydney A. , Schmitz Elizabeth , Rana Sandeep , Singh Sarbjit , Kumar Siddhartha , Mallareddy Jayapal Reddy , de Cubas Aguirre A , Krishna Akshay , Kalluchi Achyuth , Rowley M. Jordan , D'Angelo Christopher R. , Lunning Matthew A. , Bociek R. Gregory , Vose Julie M. , Natarajan Amarnath , El-Gamal Dalia
Published: May 2024

Figure S6 shows SpiD3 inhibits NF-κB activity and diminishes CD40L-induced survival signaling in CLL.
Figure S2 from Novel Spirocyclic Dimer, SpiD3, Targets Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Survival Pathways with Potent Preclinical Effects
Authors: Eiken Alexandria P. , Smith Audrey L. , Skupa Sydney A. , Schmitz Elizabeth , Rana Sandeep , Singh Sarbjit , Kumar Siddhartha , Mallareddy Jayapal Reddy , de Cubas Aguirre A , Krishna Akshay , Kalluchi Achyuth , Rowley M. Jordan , D'Angelo Christopher R. , Lunning Matthew A. , Bociek R. Gregory , Vose Julie M. , Natarajan Amarnath , El-Gamal Dalia
Published: May 2024

Figure S2 shows the RNA-sequencing analysis of SpiD3-treated OSU-CLL cells.
Figure S1 from Novel Spirocyclic Dimer, SpiD3, Targets Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Survival Pathways with Potent Preclinical Effects
Authors: Eiken Alexandria P. , Smith Audrey L. , Skupa Sydney A. , Schmitz Elizabeth , Rana Sandeep , Singh Sarbjit , Kumar Siddhartha , Mallareddy Jayapal Reddy , de Cubas Aguirre A , Krishna Akshay , Kalluchi Achyuth , Rowley M. Jordan , D'Angelo Christopher R. , Lunning Matthew A. , Bociek R. Gregory , Vose Julie M. , Natarajan Amarnath , El-Gamal Dalia
Published: May 2024

Figure S1 shows the WGCNA-identified modules in SpiD3-treated OSU-CLL cells.
FIGURE 4 from Novel Spirocyclic Dimer, SpiD3, Targets Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Survival Pathways with Potent Preclinical Effects
Authors: Eiken Alexandria P. , Smith Audrey L. , Skupa Sydney A. , Schmitz Elizabeth , Rana Sandeep , Singh Sarbjit , Kumar Siddhartha , Mallareddy Jayapal Reddy , de Cubas Aguirre A , Krishna Akshay , Kalluchi Achyuth , Rowley M. Jordan , D'Angelo Christopher R. , Lunning Matthew A. , Bociek R. Gregory , Vose Julie M. , Natarajan Amarnath , El-Gamal Dalia
Published: May 2024

Antitumor effects of SpiD3 in patient-derived CLL samples. A, Viability of patient-derived CLL samples (n = 11–15) cocultured ex vivo with 9-15c mouse stroma cells for 48 hours was determined by Annexin-V/PI staining. Ibrutinib (IBR; 1 µmol/L) serves as a control antileukemic drug. Results are normalized to the unstimulated control (dashed line). B, Following ex vivo treatment with SpiD3 (0.125–2 µmol/L), the relative proliferation of patient-derived CLL samples (n = 16–18) under cocurrent CpG ODN 2006 stimulation (3.2 µmol/L) was assessed via MTS assay (48 hours). IBR (1 µmol/L) was used as control antileukemic drug. Results are normalized to the unstimulated control (dashed line). C, UPR induction in patient-derived CLL samples (n = 8) was evaluated following 24 hours ex vivo treatment with SpiD3 or thapsigargin (Thaps; 1 µmol/L) under cocurrent CpG stimulation (3.2 µmol/L) via incubation with TPE-NMI dye. Data are represented as fold change in TPE-NMI MFI compared with the unstimulated control (dashed line). D, Protein synthesis in patient-derived CLL samples (n = 8) was assessed via OPP incorporation following a 24 hours ex vivo treatment with SpiD3, cycloheximide (CHX; 50 µg/mL), or IBR (1 µmol/L) under cocurrent CpG stimulation (3.2 µmol/L). Data are represented as fold change in OPP-Alexa Fluor MFI compared with the unstimulated control (dashed line). E, Representative immunoblot analyses of p65, RELB, p-PRAS (Thr246), total PRAS, p-4E-BP1 (Ser65), total 4E-BP1, and MYC protein in patient-derived CLL samples (n = 6) following a 24-hour treatment with SpiD3 in the presence of CpG (3.2 µmol/L). Black arrows indicate the three isoforms of 4E-BP1. GAPDH served as the loading control. Patient characteristics are tabulated in Supplementary Data S1: Supplementary Table S1. Asterisks denote significance versus stimulated VEH: *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001.
FIGURE 2 from Novel Spirocyclic Dimer, SpiD3, Targets Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Survival Pathways with Potent Preclinical Effects
Authors: Eiken Alexandria P. , Smith Audrey L. , Skupa Sydney A. , Schmitz Elizabeth , Rana Sandeep , Singh Sarbjit , Kumar Siddhartha , Mallareddy Jayapal Reddy , de Cubas Aguirre A , Krishna Akshay , Kalluchi Achyuth , Rowley M. Jordan , D'Angelo Christopher R. , Lunning Matthew A. , Bociek R. Gregory , Vose Julie M. , Natarajan Amarnath , El-Gamal Dalia
Published: May 2024

SpiD3 modifies transcriptional profiles and subverts oncogenic pathways in CLL cells. A–D, RNA sequencing of OSU-CLL cells treated with SpiD3 (1, 2 µmol/L; 4 hours) or equivalent DMSO vehicle (VEH; n = 3 independent experiments). A, Hierarchical clustering of the top 500 differentially expressed genes (DEG) in SpiD3-treated cells (FDR < 0.05). Red indicates increased gene expression (0 < z-score < 2), and blue indicates decreased expression (−2 < z-score < 0). B, GSEA of the top 500 DEGs in 2 µmol/L SpiD3-treated cells. C, Heat map of correlation between WGCNA module and the indicated treatment conditions. Each heat map cell displays the correlation coefficient (top) and corresponding P value (bottom). D, Volcano plot of SpiD3-treated cells (2 µmol/L) with select CLL-relevant genes labeled. Genes meeting both the statistical significance (FDR < 0.05) and fold-change (|log2 FC| > 1) were used for downstream analysis (red). Genes meeting only statistical significance (blue), only fold-change (green), or neither threshold (gray) are shown for comparison. E, Representative immunoblots (n = 3 independent experiments) of the indicated proteins in SpiD3-treated OSU-CLL cells (4 hours). F, Cell cycle analysis of OSU-CLL cells treated with increasing amounts of SpiD3 (48 hours). BET inhibitor, JQ-1 (1 µmol/L), served as a positive control for cell cycle arrest (n = 5 independent experiments). Insert depicts a representative immunoblot for p21 expression following SpiD3 treatment (24 hours; n = 3 independent experiments). β-ACTIN served as the loading control. G, OSU-CLL cells were pretreated with 5 mmol/L N-acetylcysteine (NAC, 1 hour) followed by SpiD3 or VEH (24 hours). Pyocyanin (PYO, 1 mmol/L) served as a control ROS inducer (n = 3 independent experiments). Percent viability per condition is denoted below. Data are represented as mean ± SEM. Asterisks denote significance versus VEH: *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001.
FIGURE 1 from Novel Spirocyclic Dimer, SpiD3, Targets Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Survival Pathways with Potent Preclinical Effects
Authors: Eiken Alexandria P. , Smith Audrey L. , Skupa Sydney A. , Schmitz Elizabeth , Rana Sandeep , Singh Sarbjit , Kumar Siddhartha , Mallareddy Jayapal Reddy , de Cubas Aguirre A , Krishna Akshay , Kalluchi Achyuth , Rowley M. Jordan , D'Angelo Christopher R. , Lunning Matthew A. , Bociek R. Gregory , Vose Julie M. , Natarajan Amarnath , El-Gamal Dalia
Published: May 2024

SpiD3 inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in malignant B cells. A, Chemical structures of analog 19 (monomer), SpiD3 and SpiD7 (dimers of analog 19). Full synthesis details reported elsewhere. B, Mitochondrial activity of CLL cell lines, HG-3 and OSU-CLL, was determined by MTS assay following treatment with increasing concentrations of analog 19, SpiD3, and SpiD7 for 72 hours (n = 3–4 independent experiments/cell line). C, The IC50 values (mean ± SEM) of a panel of B-cell malignancy cell lines following SpiD3 treatment (72 hours) was determined by MTS assay (n = 3–5 independent experiments/cell line). CLL: chronic lymphocytic leukemia, ABC-DLBCL: activated B-cell-like diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, GC-DLBCL: germinal-center-like diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, MCL: mantle cell lymphoma. #Indicates a DH lymphoma or a TH lymphoma. On the right is a table of the IC50 values (mean ± SEM). D, Percent apoptosis of HG-3 and OSU-CLL cell lines was determined by Annexin V/PI viability assay following 24 hours treatment with SpiD3 (n = 4 independent experiments/cell line). E, Representative immunoblot analyses of total and cleaved PARP in OSU-CLL and HG-3 cells following 4 hours treatment with SpiD3 or DMSO vehicle (VEH). GAPDH serves as the loading control (n = 6 independent experiments/cell line). F, MTS assay of OSU-CLL cells (n = 3 independent experiments) treated for 24 hours with increasing concentrations of SpiD3 (blue) with or without cocurrent z-VAD-FMK treatment (50 µmol/L, tan). G, Representative immunoblot analyses of total and cleaved PARP in OSU-CLL cells treated with SpiD3 for 4 hours in the presence or absence of z-VAD-FMK pretreatment (1 hour, 50 µmol/L). GAPDH served as the loading control (n = 4 independent experiments). Error bars and IC50 values are shown as mean ± SEM. Asterisks denote significance versus VEH: *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01.
PROVIT-CLOCK: A Potential Influence of Probiotics and Vitamin B7 Add-On Treatment and Metabolites on Clock Gene Expression in Major Depression
Authors: Kreuzer Kathrin , Birkl-Toeglhofer Anna Maria , Haybaeck Johannes , Reiter Alexandra , Dalkner Nina , Fellendorf Frederike T. , Maget Alexander , Platzer Martina , Seidl Matthias , Mendel Lilli-Marie , Lenger Melanie , Birner Armin , Queissner Robert , Mairinger Marco , Obermayer Anna , Kohlhammer-Dohr Alexandra , Stross Tatjana Maria , Häussl Alfred , Hamm Carlo , Schöggl Helmut , Amberger-Otti Daniela , Painold Annamaria , Lahousen-Luxenberger Theresa , Leitner-Afschar Birgitta , Färber Tanja , Mörkl Sabrina , Wagner-Skacel Jolana , Meier-Allard Nathalie , Lackner Sonja , Holasek Sandra , Habisch Hansjörg , Madl Tobias , Reininghaus Eva , Bengesser Susanne Astrid
Published: May 2024

Introduction: An increasing body of evidence suggests a strong relationship between gut health and mental state. Lately, a connection between butyrate-producing bacteria and sleep quality has been discussed. The PROVIT study, as a randomized, double-blind, 4-week, multispecies probiotic intervention study, aims at elucidating the potential interconnection between the gut’s metabolome and the molecular clock in individuals with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods: The aim of the PROVIT-CLOCK study was to analyze changes in core clock gene expression during treatment with probiotic intervention versus placebo in fasting blood and the connection with the serum- and stool-metabolome in patients with MDD (n = 53). In addition to clinical assessments in the PROVIT study, metabolomics analyses with 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (stool and serum) and gene expression (RT-qPCR) analysis of the core clock genes ARNTL, PER3, CLOCK, TIMELESS, NR1D1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of fasting blood were performed. Results: The gene expression levels of the clock gene CLOCK were significantly altered only in individuals receiving probiotic add-on treatment. TIMELESS and ARNTL gene expression changed significantly over the 4-week intervention period in both groups. Various positive and negative correlations between metabolites in serum/stool and core clock gene expression levels were observed. Conclusion: Changing the gut microbiome by probiotic treatment potentially influences CLOCK gene expression. The preliminary results of the PROVIT-CLOCK study indicate a possible interconnection between the gut microbiome and circadian rhythm potentially orchestrated by metabolites.
Justice of the Peace Courts in the Adjudication of Property Disputes in the Ottoman Countryside (1839–1914)
Authors: Kaya Alp Yücel
Published: May 2024

This article examines the institutionalization of justice of the peace courts in the 19th-century Ottoman Empire on the one hand, and on the other investigates the adjudication of property disputes in the lowest administrative units (villages and communes), within the context of establishing a regime of individual and exclusive property rights. Such an analysis historicizes the transformation that justice of the peace courts underwent in the 19th century. It therefore seeks to free these courts from being regarded as an ahistorical extrajudicial and/or judicial dispute settlement mechanism (sulh).
Insect meal as feed: discrimination of particles issued from authorised and unauthorised species using Near Infrared Microscopy (NIRM)
Authors: Anselmo A. , Veys P. , Stevens F. , Fernández Pierna J.A. , Michez D. , Baeten V.
Published: May 2024

Since 2017, insect meals have been authorised for animal feed in the European Union, but only eight insect species can be used to produce these meals. This legislation brings with it new analytical challenges, such as the need to identify the insect species processed in the meal. This paper investigated the ability of Near Infrared Microscopy (NIRM) to discriminate meal particles from authorised insect species and differentiate them from unauthorised species. The spectral data was analysed using chemometrics, enabling the assessment of classification specificity and sensitivity for each species to be discriminated. Using Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA), insect species could be efficiently discriminated with specificity and sensitivity values generally above 0.90. However, the discrimination between particular species appeared more difficult. Most of the observed confusion is probably due to the chemical composition of the insects, which can be very similar between closely related species. These results were encouraging, but also indicated that the use of the NIRM technique alone in case of fraud or natural contamination should be complemented by other techniques such as RT-PCR or mass spectrometry.
Multi-locus phylogeny and morphology of Curvularia isolates associated with leaf spots of corn in northern Algeria unveiled two new species, C. algeriensis sp. nov. and C. boudouaouensis sp. nov., with a new record for C. spicifera
Authors: ZIBANI ABDENOUR , SICORA OANA , MARIAN MONICA , BENSLIMANE HAMIDA
Published: May 2024

In this study, we investigated fungi associated with leaf spots of corn in northern Algeria. Fungal isolates were recovered from sampled leaves and were subjected to morphological and molecular identification. Morphology and multi-locus phylogeny, including the internal transcribed spacers 1 and 2 with 5.8S (ITS) along with partial glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1) genes, supported the proposal of two new species, Curvularia algeriensis and Curvularia boudouaouensis, as well as a new record for Curvularia spicifera. These two new species are closely related and clustered sisters to Curvularia sporobolicola in the phylogenetic analysis. Morphologically, they can be distinguished by the shape and size of their conidia and conidiophores. The conidia of C. algeriensis are asymmetrically ellipsoidal, with the basal side larger than the apical side. In contrast, those of C. boudouaouensis are ellipsoidal to subcylindrical, and in C. sporobolicola, they are hemi-ellipsoidal. Additionally, the conidia of C. algeriensis are distinctly longer and larger than those of C. boudouaouensis and tend to be slightly longer and narrower than those of C. sporobolicola. C. algeriensis can also be distinguished by its longer conidiophores compared to its closest relatives. Inoculation of corn seedlings supported the pathogenicity of the two new species, as well as the new record.
New species and new Chinese record of Hypocreaceae from China
Authors: ZENG ZHAO-QING , WANG XIANG-HUA , ZHUANG WEN-YING
Published: May 2024

Trichoderma clavaticapitatum sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on specimen collected from alpine Hengduan Mountains, Yunnan Province, China. The fungus is characterized by simple, clavate stromata with a capitate fertile part, flask-shaped, subglobose to oblong perithecia, and cylindrical asci containing 16 part-ascospores. Morphological characteristics and analyses of combined RPB2 and TEF1 DNA sequences support its placement in Trichoderma. Differences between the novel species and its close relatives are compared in detail. Additionally, Hypocreopsis rhododendri, a rare fungus, is reported for the first time from the country.
A morphological and molecular study of Ligia exotica Roux, 1828 (Crustacea: Isopoda: Ligiidae) from Japan, with descriptions of two new species
Authors: ARIYAMA HIROYUKI , HIKI KYOSHIRO
Published: May 2024

Ligia exotica Roux, 1828 was originally described based on specimens collected on a ship that came from Cayenne in French Guiana, and has been known to be widely distributed in the world. In Japan this species is the most common in Ligia, and two forms of L. exotica inhabit Osaka Bay, central Japan. To reveal the accurate scientific names of the two forms, we examined not only the detailed morphology but also 16S rRNA and NaK nucleotide sequences, together with L. exotica from another Japanese locality and the related species, L. shinjiensis Tsuge, 2008. As a result, three species, Ligia exotica, L. furcata sp. nov. and L. laticarpa sp. nov., are recognized in four localities, and L. shinjiensis is synonymized with L. exotica. Ligia exotica is characterized by the dentate lacinia mobilis on the right mandible and the appendix masculina lacking a projection. Ligia furcata and L. laticarpa are also characterized by the furcate propodus of the male pereopod 1 and the appendix masculina with an angular projection, and the swollen carpus of the male pereopod 1 and the appendix masculina with a rounded projection, respectively. The three species are distinguishable from one another mainly based on the shapes of pereopods 1–3 in both sexes and the appendix masculina of male. The 16S rRNA analysis confirms the results of the morphological study, and reveals that L. exotica and L. laticarpa also inhabit all over the world (e.g., East Asia, Southeast Asia, India, Africa, the Americas and Hawaii), and China and South Korea, respectively.
Development of a New and Mechanically Intelligent Anti-Tremor Utensil
Authors: Dubé Michaël , Laliberté Thierry , Flamand Véronique , Campeau-Lecours Alexandre
Published: May 2024

People living with Parkinson’s disease or with essential tremors face many obstacles in their everyday lives. Being able to eat independently is one of them. Many technologies already exist to help people who have difficulty eating independently. However, following a review of existing devices with a team of occupational therapists, it was found that many commercially available solutions were either unhelpful or too expensive. The need for better adapted solutions was obvious so an iterative design methodology based on the user's needs was followed to create a new anti-tremor utensil. The starting point of the design was to analyze the existing utensils to understand better the pros and cons of the available solutions. During the iterative design methodology, several prototypes emerged and led to the creation of the final spoon prototype presented in this paper. A total of 5 different adaptative spoons were designed and are presented in this paper. A sensor-based frequential analysis combined with an occupational therapist review indicates that the proposed prototype is effective against certain types of tremors and that it could potentially help people living with tremor while they eat. The next step of the development will be to test the new prototype with potential users.
Burnout in Surgeons from a Tertiary Public University Hospital
Authors: Costa Maria , Vicente Walter
Published: May 2024

Surgeon burnout has been attracting worldwide attention. This study aimed to determine the prevalence rate for both Burnout Syndrome (BS) and burnout evidence and to identify burnout risk factors in surgeons from a high-complexity academic medical center, in Brazil. A dichotomized socio-demographic questionnaire and the MBI-HSS questionnaire were employed. Data collection was conducted on a personal computer REDCap program. The MBI-HSS Latent profile analysis (LPA) was used. The BS rate corresponded to the LPA Burnout class rate. The burnout evidence prevalence rate was equivalent to the sum of all five LPA classes, except for the Engagement one. The univariate Fisher's exact test was used for intra and inter class burnout risk factor investigation. A p value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Among the 77 surgeons analyzed, the BS prevalence rate was 6%. The burnout evidence prevalence rate was 31.1%. Almost half (41.6%) of the respondents could not be classed in any of the 5 LPA profiles. There were no significant differences between the surgeons presenting with burnout evidence and the engaged ones. No burnout risk factor could be detected, but less surgical workload (days/wk.) and full-time job regime both accentuated burnout levels in the personal accomplishment LPA dimension.
A Hybrid Intelligent Noise Pollution Prediction Model Based on ANFIS and Nature-Inspired Algorithms
Authors: Baffoe Peter , Boye Cynthia
Published: May 2024

In developing countries, researches in the areas of epidemiology, urban planning and environmental issues, it is extremely difficult to predict urban noise level in the neighborhoods. The majority of the noise-predicting algorithms in use today have limitations when it comes to prediction of noise level changes during intra-urban development and hence, the resulting noise pollution. Two hybrid noise prediction models, including ANFIS and PSO; and ANFIS and GA, were developed for Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality and their performances were evaluated by applying statistical indicators. These hybrids were created to supplement and improve ANFIS's shortcomings based on their respective strengths and capabilities. To compare the performances of the models, statistical indicators were used; ANFIS-PSO performed better than the ANFIS-GA. The indications show the disparities, with the RMSE of ANFIS-PSO being 0.8789 and that of ANFIS-GA being 1.0529. Moreover, the Standard Deviation and Mean Square Error of ANFIS-PSO are 0.8898 and 0.7725 respectively, then those of ANFIS-GA are 1.0660 and 1.1086 respectively. A map showing the distribution of the predicted noise levels was produced from the outcome of the ANFIS-PSO model. Comparing the predicted noise levels to the EPA standards, it was observed that there is a danger which means people living in that area with noise levels above 65 dB are at high risk of health effects.
Design of High Gain Single Stage Telescopic Cmos Operational Amplifier
Authors: Menberu Tsegaye
Published: May 2024

A need for high gain operational amplifiers (op-amps) exists for certain applications. This requires research in the area of its gain without affecting other parameters drastically. In this paper, high gain single stage Telescopic CMOS operational amplifier has been designed and verified, using PSPICE simulation software. The designed circuit operates at ±5V power supply in the 1µm CMOS technology. The simulation results show that the proposed single stage Telescopic CMOS op-amp has an open loop gain of 77.777dB, unity gain frequency of 7.3054MHz, ICMR of -0.248V to 4.4120V and output voltage swing of 7688.8 times to that of input. A 2pF load capacitor is applied in performing a stable phase margin of 80.669°. As result shows that the designed circuit has high gain, which is used for various applications where very large gain is required to amplify weak signals, such as heart beat in medical instrumentations. The total power consumed by the device is 0.589mW. This shows that the power consumed by the device is too small. Therefore, this device can operate for longer duration of time. The smaller the power dissipation the better the device is. Low power operation is a very important quality factor for batteries that should supply the system for hours or days to power more and more electronic systems.
A Universal Model for General Gross Domestic Product Across Global Economies
Authors: Gao Billy
Published: May 2024

In addressing the need for a robust economic measure, this paper presents a mathematical model to forecast Gross Domestic Product (GDP) across diverse global economies. Our model, constructed from a dataset spanning 39 years from 16 varied economies, deciphers GDP by dissecting its fundamental components of population and productivity. Through meticulous literature review and data analysis, the research develops four predictive models, using linear and exponential trends, to represent the immediate and projected rates of change in both population and productivity. The research reveals a nuanced dynamic between these elements, identifying productivity, especially in infrastructure, healthcare, telecommunications, and innovation, as a pivotal force in driving economic growth. The study not only underlines the significant influence of these sectors but also the critical role of developed economies in aiding less developed ones to counteract the widening poverty gap. A comprehensive sensitivity analysis within the paper evaluates the impact of these factors on GDP, equipping policymakers with essential insights into enhancing economic progress. By combining immediate and long-term growth metrics derived from twenty-four influential variables into a cohesive predictive model, this research illuminates the complex interplay of forces shaping GDP trajectories. It suggests that while boosting population can yield short-term economic gains, enduring prosperity hinges on amplifying productivity. Moreover, the study points to the potential socio-economic divides that necessitate proactive measures for equitable development. Although challenges such as data dependency and growth discrepancies are acknowledged, the model proposes more frequent data analyses for capturing economic fluctuations accurately. Conclusively, the paper bridges a critical gap in economic modeling literature and provides a pragmatic framework for crafting inclusive economic policies and development strategies, thus making a significant contribution to both theoretical and applied economic fields.
Performance Evaluation of Different Sorghum Genotypes (Sorghum bicolour (L.) Moench) Using GGE Bi-plot Stability Analysis
Authors: Bedru Nesrya , Matiwos Temesgen , Birhan Techale , Belete Tegegn
Published: May 2024

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) is an important essential cereal crop in Ethiopia. Conversely, its productivity is low due to numerous biotic and abiotic factors. There are diverse and dynamic environmental conditions which needs detail and continue study on genotypes by environment interaction (GEI) to develop stable genotypes. The objective of this study was to determine the magnitude of GEI for grain yield of forty two sorghum genotypes and to identify stable and high yielding genotypes across locations. The experiments were laid out at three locations for two growing seasons using alpha lattice design with three replications. The plot size 5 m x 0.75 m x 2 rows (7.5 m2) and distance between block, replication, and plot was 1m, 1.5m, and 0.75m, respectively. Phonologic, agronomic, diseases and grain yield data were collected but only grain yield was used for stability analysis. The ANOVA revealed highly significant variation (p <0.01) among sorghum genotypes across locations and seasons. Mean grain yield of genotypes ranged from 1.29 to 3.69 with mean grain yield of 2.36, while environment range from 1.18 to 3.63 t/ha. The genotype G1 showed good performance across all test sites which range 5th at E1,3rd at E3 and E4, 15th and 7th at E5 and E6 and maximum grain yield was harvested from E3. Yield data were also analyzed using the GGE (that is, G, genotype +GEI, genotypes-by- environment interaction) bi-plot method. The first two principal components (PC1 and PC2) were used to create a 2- dimensional GGE bi-plot and explained 59.67 and 13.48 % of GGE sum of squares, respectively. GGE bi- plot identified G16, G4, and G1 high yielders and stable and G34 and G25 was the lowest yielding and least stable across locations. On the other hand, the environment E6, E4 and E1 were the most suitable to select desirable genotypes.