bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Penerapan Media Pembelajaran Tiga Dimensi untuk Meningkatkan Hasil Belajar Kognitif Peserta Didik pada Materi Sistem Tata Surya
Authors: Ela Erwin Umbu Dangu , Makaborang Yohana
Published: March 2023

This study aims to: 1) describe the application of three-dimensional learning media to students' cognitive learning outcomes; and 2) describing the increase in cognitive learning outcomes of Class VII students of SMP Negeri 4 Umbu Ratu Nggay, Pahomba Village, Umbu Ratu Nggay District, Central Sumba Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province after using three-dimensional learning media on solar system material. This type of research is Classroom Action Research (CAR), which is conducted in two cycles. Each cycle consists of planning, implementation, action, evaluation, and reflection stages. The subjects of this study were class VII students of SMP Negeri 4 Umbu Ratu Nggay for the 2021/2022 academic year, which consisted of 12 students. The data obtained in this study are in the form of students' cognitive learning outcomes taken from the application of the three-dimensional media learning method. The instruments used are interview sheets, tests, and documentation. The results of the research and data analysis in cycle I and cycle II revealed that there was an increase in the cognitive learning outcomes of class VII students of SMP Negeri 4 Umbu Ratu Nggay. This is indicated by an increase in the percentage of students' cognitive learning outcomes in science lessons on the solar system material. The percentage of the pre-test score in the first cycle category was 25% complete and 75% incomplete, and the post-test value in cycle I increased, namely the complete category was 41% and 59% incomplete. In cycle II there was an increase where the percentage of the pre-test score with the complete category was 66.6% and 33.4% incomplete, and the post-test value in the second cycle category was 91.3 complete and 8.3% incomplete.
Keragaman Jenis Herpetofauna di Kawasan Hutan Kota Ranggawulung Kota Subang
Authors: Hasibuan Mhd Muhajir , Dwiputro Aristyo , Fajri Siti Rabiatul , Tohir Rizki Kurnia
Published: March 2023

Ranggawulung City Forest is a Green Open Space (RTH) located in Subang City. As one of the remaining forests in the middle of an urban area, this urban forest has great potential as a location for biodiversity management. This research was conducted to determine the value of biodiversity, especially herpetofauna in Ranggawulung City Forest, Subang City as an indicator for evaluating the success of environmental management in the future. This study uses the Visual Encounter Survey (VES) method modified with Time Search. The herpetofauna diversity (H') in general observed in the Ranggawulung City Forest was 2.59 in the HKR block, and 2.34 in the Buper block. The value of species richness (Dmg) in each block is 4.41 and 3.40. The two areas are relatively evenly distributed with an evenness value of more than 80%. There were no nationally protected species of herpetofauna, two of which were species whose trade was restricted internationally and were included in the CITES Appendix II category.
Castrum Lubenov. Tragiczne dzieje średniowiecznej wieży w Lubrzy / Castrum Lubenov. The tragic history of the medieval tower in Lubrza
Authors: Michalak Arkadiusz
Published: March 2023

In 2016, the immediate surroundings of a valuable historical site - a knight's tower (motte-and-bailey castle) in Lubrza, Lubuskie Voivodeship, W Poland - were destroyed. Rescue works undertaken immediately after this unfortunate event led to the documentation of the tower's state of preservation and the acquisition of numerous late medieval artefacts, displaced from their original context. The book provides a full description and reconstruction of the history of the tower structure and the material culture associated with its functioning. From the outset, the intention of the editor of this study was to show the tragic history of the castle through the prism of the daily activities of its former inhabitants - as the Braudelian structures of everyday life. As a result the reader is presented with a multiplot story about the material and spiritual sphere, status and contacts, and eventually the mundane everyday functioning of the building over the centuries. The historical context (J. Karczewska), architectural context (A. Legendziewicz), geo-informational context (G. Kiarszys), various aspects of individual categories of finds (H. Augustyniak, S. Kałagate, A. Michalak, A. Janowski, T. Szczurek, D. Makowiecki, M. Makowiecka, P. Stachowiak), as well as the theme of the technology of blacksmith craftsmanship (M. Biborski et al., J. Hošek) are taken into account. No less important is the analysis of the legal context of destroying a monument and its impunity (M. Kosowicz). As a result, we are presented with an extremely fascinating picture of everyday life of the upper classes in the Middle Ages on the borders of Silesia, Greater Poland and Brandenburg, provoked by the rape on heritage, but nevertheless proving the great potential of contemporary archaeology in "reading the past" from the scraps it has at its disposal.
Średniowieczna Lubrza w świetle źródeł pisanych / Medieval Lubrza in light of written sources
Authors: Karczewska Joanna
Published: March 2023

The article presents the history of the Lubrza motte-and-bailey type castle against the background of medieval records pertaining to this borderland village. Lubrza was originally the property of the Greater Poland castellan Bodzęta from the Jeleńczyk family, who sold it to the Cistercian abbey in Gościkowo-Paradyż. Over time Lubrza was absorbed by the nearby town and later functioned under the name of Lubieniów, which was the property of the Dryja family and their primary residence. Lubieniów had already gained town status in 1276, whereas Lubrza motte-and-bailey castle (tower) was mentioned as a knight’s dwelling for the first time in 1304. Both properties were administratively located in the Duchy of Głogów. When Lubieniów, along with its tower, became the property of the Paradyż Cistercians, they settled the local ownership disputes in 1322. Ultimately, the Lubieniów-Lubrza motte-and-bailey castle, as the property of the monastery, lost its original function as a stronghold in the 14th century and was gradually brought to ruin.
Późnośredniowieczny gródek rycerski w Lubrzy w świetle archiwalnych źródeł teledetekcyjnych i kartograficznych / Late medieval motte at Lubrza in the light of remote sensing techniques and historical cartography
Authors: Kiarszys Grzegorz
Published: March 2023

This article presents an analysis of remote sensing and cartographic data concerning the remnants of the Late Medieval motte-and-bailey type castle in Lubrza (site 39, AZP 54-13/16, Świebodzin District, Lubuskie Voivodeship). The site was seriously damaged during illegal earthworks in 2016. Most of the embankment and other adjacent landscape remnants were leveled and lost the original form of the terrain. The material from the motte was used to level the surrounding area; however, part of the ground floor of the stone tower has survived in situ. Until these events, Lubrza motte-and-bailey castle had not been archaeologically researched. No detailed inventory was performed, and no mapping was done. As a result of the damage mentioned above, both many valuable artefacts and information on the topography of the site were lost. The objective of this article is to attempt to obtain basic information about the topography of the Lubrza site in the period preceding destruction. From an archaeological point of view, the most important value of remote sensing and archival cartographic resources comes from the possibility of a comprehensive analysis of past and ongoing landscape transformations. It is also often the last available source of information on archaeological monuments that no longer exist. Despite irreversible and extensive damage, the available archival remote sensing data indicate that the object has retained a significant potential to gather valuable data and should be subjected to archaeological rescue investigations.
Elementy stroju / Dress accessories
Authors: Janowski Andrzej , Michalak Arkadiusz
Published: March 2023

Since antiquity, the belt has served not only its primary function, as an element connecting or supporting the outfit, but also played an important role in interpersonal communication, as a determinant of social and material status or a religious attribute. The article presents a collection of items related to belt accessories, consisting of 25 buckles and 8 mounts. All buckles, except for one, are made of iron and represent common types of the 13th–15th centuries. The collection includes specimens with a single-section frame in the shape of the letter D, quadrilateral forms of various constructions, as well as with oval and profiled frames. Particularly noteworthy is one of the profiled buckles cast from a type of brass. Belt mounts made of copper alloys constitute a less numerous group. They include metal tape applications in a variety of shapes (rectangular, heart-, six-leaf-, and hat-shaped), and one tongue-shaped strap end. Like buckles, they represent the forms commonly found in the 13th–15th centuries. The Lubrza collection is the first larger and relatively homogeneous collection of clothing elements from the Brandenburg-Silesia-Greater Poland borderland. It is testimony to the fashion tastes of the local population and a contribution to the discussion on the function of particular types of late-medieval buckles and fittings.
Badania technologiczno-chemiczne oraz metaloznawcze wybranych zabytków metalowych / Technological, chemical, and metallurgical examination of selected metal artefacts
Authors: Biborski Marcin , Biborski Mateusz , Stępiński Janusz
Published: March 2023

The article discusses the metallurgical analysis of 15 artefacts from the destroyed motte-and-bailey castle in Lubrza, including five copper alloy objects and ten iron items. The objective of this study was the determination of the chemical composition of the alloys and the identification of the technology for their forming. In terms of material, the analyzed copper alloy items are mostly made of brass (4). Three of them are made of multicomponent alloys (Cu-Zn-Sn), one of two components (Cu-Zn), and one of copper with a small deliberate addition of lead (Cu-Pb). The iron objects from Lubrza were made of metal obtained during the smelting process, from bog ores containing a substantial admixture of phosphorus, as evidenced by the high content of this element in the iron and steel items found at the site. In the composition of the metal, this is manifested by the presence of ghost structure, etching recesses, deformation twins, and a considerable hardness of ferrite. Three of the examined items show the high artistry of blacksmithing, both in terms of material selection and techniques of production. Based on the metallurgical research carried out, it can be generally stated that the products from Lubrza were most likely made locally, in a fairly specialized workshop, as for those times, which demonstrates considerable knowledge and good skills of local blacksmiths.
From CoNFLict to Confidence: Solving a Diagnostic Dilemma Using Neurofilament Light – A Case Report
Authors: Loveland P.M. , Eratne D. , Holper S. , Yassi N. , Watson R.
Published: March 2023

Distinguishing neurodegenerative from primary psychiatric conditions is often challenging for clinicians, particularly when assessing older people presenting with neuropsychiatric symptoms. Measurement of fluid biomarkers of neurodegeneration is an emerging approach offering improved diagnostic accuracy. This report explores the use of emerging fluid biomarkers to address diagnostic challenges, framed around a case where the diagnosis of delirium with dementia was revised based on biomarker analysis, enabling treatment of a primary mood disorder with disabling psychiatric symptoms.
Aspects of the examination of patents relating to medical inventions
Authors: Zhykharev Oleksandr
Published: March 2023

Keywords: selection invention; medical inventions; examination; patentability criteria

The article contains an analysis of approaches to the examination of selectioninventions for medicines. Selection inventions are inventions created in theprocess of selecting an optimal compound from a group of known compounds or in theprocess of selecting parameters from an interval of known parameters related to thecompounds. Selection inventions must demonstrate an unexpected result that is unknownin the prior art. Selection inventions can potentially be a means of obtaining amonopoly on an already known compound or a medicinal product containing thatcompound, or a method of producing the compound, etc. Therefore, the examination of criteria of patentability for selection inventions is important for maintaining the balanceof interests between the patent holder and the society. The article contains informationabout the difference between the examination of inventions in the patent officeand the forensic examination. The analysis of approaches to examination includesthe law of Ukraine for invention, which provides for the means of combating evergreen(secondary) patents, as well as the opinion of experts of the Patent Office abouta patentability of selection inventions. The article contains the approaches to examinationaccording to the regulations of the European Patent Office and other nationaljurisdictions, as well as the opinion of forensic scientists practising in this field. Apractice example of examination of a selection invention is given. The summary includesrecommendations on approaches to the examination of selection inventions:the subject of the selection invention should not have been specifically disclosed earlier;the subject should exhibit previously unknown and unexpected advantages; thedescription of the selection invention should contain reasonable evidence of non-obviousnessof the selection; the selection invention should meet the condition of inventivestep according to the general requirements as for all the inventions. If unexpected advantagesof existing products were deemed patentable under the applicable law, thepatentability of a selection could be considered when an inventive step is present.
Some aspects of judicial protection of civil legal relations in Estonia
Authors: Shabalin Andrii
Published: March 2023

Keywords: intellectual property law, codification, EU, civil procedure, civil law,CPC of Estonia

The scientific article examines the peculiarities of the civil proceduralorder for the protection of law in Estonia. Attention is paid to the genesis of modernEstonian civil justice, the peculiarities of some civil legal procedures for considerationand resolution of civil cases are established. It is concluded that all civillegal disputes are resolved according to the rules of civil proceedings, includingdisputes about the protection of intellectual property rights and the protection ofownership rights to immovable property. Instead, there are exceptions — these aredisputes related to European patents, which are resolved in accordance with theAgreement on the Unified European Patent Court. This approach is fully in linewith the pan-European digitalization strategy. Attention is also paid to the implementationof European legal standards in civil justice in Estonia. Thus, it is indicatedthat Estonian courts must follow the relevant practice of the European Courtof Human Rights when deciding civil cases. In Estonia, the Supreme Court canturn to the European Court of Human Rights for an advisory decision on the application,interpretation, and interpretation of the law guaranteed by the Conventionon the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Moreover, theparticipants in the legal process, in case of disagreement with the decision of theEstonian courts, including the Supreme Court of Estonia, have the right to appealto the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the EU. It is stated that in the Estonian civil process there is a special procedure for the collectionof evidence in accordance with the requests of the EU member states to Estonia.Based on the research, theoretical conclusions and recommendations of relativelyeffective ways of updating (unification, codification) Ukrainian legislationwere formulated, in particular in the aspect of its adaptation to EU legislation.
Ensuring access to treatment for victims of sexual violence as part of the state biosecurity
Authors: Ponomarova Olena
Published: March 2023

Keywords: intellectual property rights, access to treatment, medicines, sexual violence,humanitarian disaster, war, biosafety

  The article focuses on solving the problems of accessto medicines, medical devices in the realities of wartime by the mechanisms of intellectualproperty rights to ensure the biosecurity of the state. As of today, part of the south andeast of Ukraine is under temporary occupation, where war crimes, in particular (sexualviolence/rape) are committed. A victim of sexual violence may need emergency medicalcare for fractures, soft tissue injuries and other injuries, but also needs means of preventingsexually transmitted infections. Committed war crimes: sexual violence, poses agreat danger to the biological security of the country. The provision of medical care andaccess to prevention methods for sexually transmitted infections, hepatitis B and HIV,pregnancy prevention, are all threats to biosecurity, which will lead to the spread of infectiousdiseases and HIV.   Ukraine, as a member of the TRIPS Agreement, aiming to treat or provide preventionto a larger number of victims of sexual violence, in accordance with Article 39(3) of theTRIPS Agreement, has legal opportunities to ensure the right to life and health of victims,and therefore to provide access to treatment for post-exposure prophylaxis of HIV,prevention of pregnancy, prevention of sexually transmitted diseases through the mechanismof intellectual property rights, namely to increase the availability of generic antiretroviraldrugs in accordance with the requirements of the TRIPS Agreement.   Intellectual property rights play an important role in times of war in expanding accessto medicines and medical devices. It is significant to emphasize the importance andtimeliness of applying the mechanisms of limitation of intellectual property rights tosave people's health, as war is one of the factors that allows a TRIPS Agreement Memberto use Article 73. Article 73 of the TRIPS Agreement provides for security exceptions thatMember States may invoke to defend their non-compliance with the TRIPS Agreement.This provision is unique in the context of international intellectual property law. The applicationof such mechanisms will allow the state to treat more people who need immediateprevention and treatment. In our opinion, the application of this provision means theapplication of the security exception to suspend the rights of patent holders to facilitateeither the import or local production of essential medicines and medical devices.
THOUGHT OF KH. M. HASYIM ASY’ARI ABOUT RIGHT AND OBLIGATION OF HUSBAND AND WIFE
Authors: Masrokhin  , M. Rizki Syahrul Ramadhan
Published: March 2023

‘Ulamā has different opinions about the varians and the technicals the rights and obligations for husband and his wife. In Indonesia, that differences could be find in the literature-work of Indonesian’s ‘ulamā such as Ḍaw’ al-Miṣbāḥ fī Bayān Aḥkām al-Nikāḥ, the work of KH. M. Hasyim Asy’ari. Consider to the established of istinbāṭ theory in uṣūl al-fiqh, this research asking question about “How the method of istinbāṭ al-aḥkām of KH. M. Hasyim Asy’ari in deciding the rights and obligations for husband and his wife?”
PROBLEMS OF WAQF CERTIFICATION IN KEPUNG SUB-DISTRICT, KEDIRI DISTRICT, EAST JAVA
Authors: Hasanah Furotul , Sukardi Imam
Published: March 2023

This paper explores the problematic process of waqf land certification in Kepung Sub-district, Kediri Regency. The research started with the significant number of waqf lands in Kepung Subdistrict that do not yet have legal ownership of the waqf, in the form of certificates. Educational institutions and religious institutions whose waqf has no certificate have the opportunity to become disputed land in the future. This study concludes: first, the implementation of land waqf in Kepung Sub-District, Kediri District, East Java, there are still many who hand over their waqf to the nadzir without receiving strong proof of receipt. Second, the dominant reason why people in Kepung Subdistrict do not register waqf property is that the waqf property is not registered because the heirs want to pay the waqf land tax themselves with the intention of sodaqoh and the waqf property is not registered because the cost of registering waqf property is expensive. Third, according to the review of Law Number 41 of 2004 concerning Waqf, the reasons why residents of Kepung District, Kediri Regency, East Java do not register waqf assets are not in accordance with Law Number 41 of 2004
Bio-inspired aptamers decorated gold nanoparticles enable visualized detection of malathion
Authors: Li Peng , Zhan Haonan , Tao Sijian , Xie Zhuohao , Huang Jiahao
Published: March 2023

Biosensors always respond to the targets of interest in a specific manner, employing biological or bio-mimic recognition elements such as antibodies and aptamers. Inspired by target recognition in nature, an aptamer-mediated, gold nanoparticle-based sensing approach is developed in this work for effective determination of malathion. The sensing system consists of negatively charged aptamer probes, and polycationic proteins, protamine, as well as exceptional colorimetric nanoprobes, barely gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Protamine molecules bound to aptamer probes hinder the aggregation of AuNPs, while no such inhibition is maintained when aptamer-specific malathion is introduced into the solution, thus leading to the solution colour change from red to blue observable by the naked eye. The assay is accomplished via a mix-and-measure step within 40 min with a detection limit as low as 1.48 μg/L (3σ/s rule). The assay method also exhibits high selectivity and good applicability for the quantification of malathion in tap water with recovery rates of 98.9%–109.4%. Additionally, the good detection accuracy is also confirmed by the high-performance liquid chromatography method. Therefore, the non-enzymatic, label- and device-free characteristics make it a robust tool for malathion assay in agricultural, environmental, and medical fields.
Application of spatial transcriptome technologies to neurological diseases
Authors: Ya Dongshan , Zhang Yingmei , Cui Qi , Jiang Yanlin , Yang Jiaxin , Tian Ning , Xiang Wenjing , Lin Xiaohui , Li Qinghua , Liao Rujia
Published: March 2023

Spatial transcriptome technology acquires gene expression profiles while retaining spatial location information, it displays the gene expression properties of cells in situ. Through the investigation of cell heterogeneity, microenvironment, function, and cellular interactions, spatial transcriptome technology can deeply explore the pathogenic mechanisms of cell-type-specific responses and spatial localization in neurological diseases. The present article overviews spatial transcriptome technologies based on microdissection, in situ hybridization, in situ sequencing, in situ capture, and live cell labeling. Each technology is described along with its methods, detection throughput, spatial resolution, benefits, and drawbacks. Furthermore, their applications in neurodegenerative disease, neuropsychiatric illness, stroke and epilepsy are outlined. This information can be used to understand disease mechanisms, pick therapeutic targets, and establish biomarkers.
Correlation of the gut microbiome and immune-related adverse events in gastrointestinal cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors
Authors: Zhang Yifan , Cheng Siyuan , Zou Hua , Han Zihan , Xie Tong , Zhang Bohan , Dai Die , Yin Xiaochen , Liang Yong , Kou Yan , Tan Yan , Shen Lin , Peng Zhi
Published: March 2023

Introduction

The wide application of immune checkpoint inhibitors has significantly improved the survival expectation of cancer patients. While immunotherapy brings benefits to patients, it also results in a series of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Increasing evidence suggests that the gut microbiome is critical for immunotherapy response and the development of irAEs.

Methods

In this prospective study, we recruited 95 patients with advanced/unresectable gastrointestinal cancers treated with immunotherapy and report a comprehensive analysis of the association of the gut microbiome with irAEs. Metagenome sequencing was used to analyze the differences in bacterial composition and metabolic pathways of baseline fecal samples.

Results

In summary, we identified bacterial species and metabolic pathways that might be associated with the occurrence of irAEs in gastric, esophageal, and colon cancers. Ruminococcus callidus and Bacteroides xylanisolvens were enriched in patients without severe irAEs. Several microbial metabolic pathways involved in the urea cycle, including citrulline and arginine biosynthesis, were associated with irAEs. We also found that irAEs in different cancer types and toxicity in specific organs and the endocrine system were associated with different gut microbiota profiles. These findings provide the basis for future mechanistic exploration.
Inhibition of signal peptidase complex expression affects the development and survival of Schistosoma japonicum
Authors: Yang Wen-Bin , Luo Fang , Zhang Wei , Sun Cheng-Song , Tan Cong , Zhou An , Hu Wei
Published: March 2023

Background

Schistosomiasis, the second most neglected tropical disease defined by the WHO, is a significant zoonotic parasitic disease infecting approximately 250 million people globally. This debilitating disease has seriously threatened public health, while only one drug, praziquantel, is used to control it. Because of this, it highlights the significance of identifying more satisfactory target genes for drug development. Protein translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is vital to the subsequent localization of secretory and transmembrane proteins. The signal peptidase complex (SPC) is an essential component of the translocation machinery and functions to cleave the signal peptide sequence (SP) of secretory and membrane proteins entering the ER. Inhibiting the expression of SPC can lead to the abolishment or weaker cleavage of the signal peptide, and the accumulation of uncleaved protein in the ER would affect the survival of organisms. Despite the evident importance of SPC, in vivo studies exploring its function have yet to be reported in S. japonicum.

Methods

The S. japonicum SPC consists of four proteins: SPC12, SPC18, SPC22 and SPC25. RNA interference was used to investigate the impact of SPC components on schistosome growth and development in vivo. qPCR and in situ hybridization were applied to localize the SPC25 expression. Mayer’s carmalum and Fast Blue B staining were used to observe morphological changes in the reproductive organs of dsRNA-treated worms. The effect of inhibitor treatment on the worm’s viability and pairing was also examined in vitro.

Results

Our results showed that RNAi-SPC delayed the worm's normal development and was even lethal for schistosomula in vivo. Among them, the expression of SPC25 was significantly higher in the developmental stages of the reproductive organs in schistosomes. Moreover, SPC25 possessed high expression in the worm tegument, testes of male worms and the ovaries and vitellarium of female worms. The SPC25 knockdown led to the degeneration of reproductive organs, such as the ovaries and vitellarium of female worms. The SPC25 exhaustion also reduced egg production while reducing the pathological damage of the eggs to the host. Additionally, the SPC-related inhibitor AEBSF or suppressing the expression of SPC25 also impacted cultured worms’ pairing and viability in vitro.

Conclusions

These data demonstrate that SPC is necessary to maintain the development and reproduction of S. japonicum. This research provides a promising anti-schistosomiasis drug target and discovers a new perspective on preventing worm fecundity and maturation.
Association between thyroid cancer and cardiovascular disease: A meta-analysis
Authors: Tsai Wen-Hsuan , Zeng Yi-Hong , Lee Chun-Chuan , Chien Ming-Nan , Liu Sung-Chen , Chien Kuo-Liong , Cheng Shih-Ping , Tseng Po-Jung , Tsai Ming-Chieh
Published: March 2023

Objective

To determine the association between thyroid cancer and coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, cerebrovascular disease, and cardiovascular disease mortality.

Methods

The PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for eligible studies from inception to September 22, 2022. Keywords included “thyroid cancer”, “atrial fibrillation”, “coronary artery disease”, “cerebrovascular disease”, and “mortality”. Primary outcomes included the incidence of coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, atrial fibrillation, and cardiovascular disease mortality among patients with thyroid cancer. Secondary outcomes included cardiovascular disease events among those with thyroid cancer that received or did not receive radioactive iodine or lenvatinib. Estimates were pooled using fixed- and random-effects meta-analysis.

Results

A total of 771,220 patients who underwent thyroidectomy in 15 studies were included. Risk for cerebrovascular disease (risk ratio [RR] 1.15 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10–1.21]) and atrial fibrillation [RR 1.59 (95% CI: 1.45–1.73)] were significantly increased. Risk for coronary artery disease was significantly increased [RR 1.12 (95% CI: 1.08–1.17)] in the common effect model. Cardiovascular disease mortality associated with thyroid cancer was not significant [RR 0.93 (95% CI: 0.59–1.45)]. Radioactive iodine had a neutral effect on cardiovascular disease [RR 1.00 (95% CI: 0.87–1.16)], and there was no beneficial nor harmful effect among different RAI doses.

Conclusions

Thyroid cancer was significantly associated with a higher risk for cerebrovascular disease and atrial fibrillation; however, the hazard risk was not different between patients with and without radioactive iodine treatment. Thyroid cancer treatment should be individualized considering the potential harms and benefits to cardiovascular health.
Use of ablation-season albedo as an indicator of annual mass balance of four glaciers in the Tien Shan
Authors: Yue Xiaoying , Li Zhongqin , Wang Feiteng , Li Huilin
Published: March 2023

Glacier mass balance and its sensitivity to climate change depend to a large degree on the albedo and albedo feedback. Although recent increasing studies reconstruct the annual surface mass balance (SMB) based on the relationships between satellite-derived minimum albedo and annual glaciological mass balance (so-called albedo method), a relationship remains conjectural for Tien Shan glaciers. Accumulation and ablation occur simultaneously in summer, causing different surface processes. We examine this relationship using glaciological mass-balance data and the equilibrium-line altitude (ELA) made on the eastern branch of Urumqi Glacier No. 1 (UG1-E), Tuyuksu, Golubin and Glacier No. 354, and ablation-season (May–September) albedo retrieved from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images from 2000 to 2021. Compared with minimum ablation-season albedo, we find higher coefficients of determination between mean ablation-season albedo and glaciological mass balance at UG1-E and Tuyuksu. In contrast, for Golubin and Glacier No. 354, glaciological mass balance is higher correlated to minimum ablation-season albedo than mean ablation-season albedo. This difference is related to the glaciological mass-balance time period. The relationship between albedo and glaciological mass balance is obtained over a shorter time for Golubin (8 years) and Glacier No. 354 (9 years) than for UG1-E (20 years) and Tuyuksu (20 years). Non-etheless, based on the correlativity between MODIS-derived mean ablation-season albedo and minimum ablation-season albedo and glaciological mass balance of Golubin and Glacier No. 354 over the 2011–2019 period, the annual SMB for these glaciers can be reconstructed using the albedo method over the period 2000–2010. Comparison with previously reconstructed results indicated that the mass balance derived from albedo is robust for Glacier No. 354, while for Golubin, the results derived from the albedo method only captured the relative changes in mass balance. The current study suggested that ablation-season albedo can be regarded as a proxy for annual mass balance, and mean ablation-season albedo may be more reliable than minimum ablation-season albedo for some Tien Shan glaciers.
Molecular regulation of prostate cancer by Galectin-3 and estrogen receptor
Authors: Souza Deborah Simão , Macheroni Carla , Pereira Gustavo José Silva , Vicente Carolina Meloni , Porto Catarina Segreti
Published: March 2023

Prostate cancer remains the most prevalent cancer among men worldwide. This cancer is hormone-dependent; therefore, androgen, estrogen, and their receptors play an important role in development and progression of this disease, and in emergence of the castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Galectins are a family of β-galactoside-binding proteins which are frequently altered (upregulated or downregulated) in a wide range of tumors, participating in different stages of tumor development and progression, but the molecular mechanisms which regulate its expression are still poorly understood. This review provides an overview of the current and emerging knowledge on Galectin-3 in cancer biology with focus on prostate cancer and the interplay with estrogen receptor (ER) signaling pathways, present in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells. We suggest a molecular mechanism where ER, Galectin-3 and β-catenin can modulate nuclear transcriptional events, such as, proliferation, migration, invasion, and anchorage-independent growth of androgen-independent prostate cancer cells. Despite a number of achievements in targeted therapy for prostate cancer, CRPC may eventually develop, therefore new effective drug targets need urgently to be found. Further understanding of the role of Galectin-3 and ER in prostate cancer will enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of prostate cancer development and the future treatment of this disease.
Sustainability and duration of early central places in prehispanic Mesoamerica
Authors: Feinman Gary M. , Carballo David M. , Nicholas Linda M. , Kowalewski Stephen A.
Published: March 2023

During the last millennium BCE, central places were founded across many regions of western (non-Maya) Mesoamerica. These early central places differed in environmental location, size, layout, and the nature of their public spaces and monumental architecture. We compare a subset of these regional centers and find marked differences in their sustainability--defined as the duration of time that they remained central places in their respective regions. Early infrastructural investments, high degrees of economic interdependence and collaboration between domestic units, and collective forms of governance are found to be key factors in such sustainability.
Genome-wide association study for the primary feather color trait in a native Chinese duck
Authors: Sun Yanfa , Wu Qiong , Lin Rulong , Chen Hongping , Zhang Min , Jiang Bingbing , Wang Yaru , Xue Pengfei , Gan Qiuyun , Shen Yue , Chen Feifan , Liu Jiantao , Zhou Chenxin , Lan Shishi , Pan Haozhe , Deng Fan , Yue Wen , Lu Lizhi , Jiang Xiaobing , Li Yan
Published: March 2023

Background: To reveal candidate genes and the molecular genetic mechanism underlying primary feather color trait in ducks, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for the primary feather color trait was performed based on the genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) technology for a native Chinese female duck, Longyan Shan-ma ducks.

Methods: Blood genomic DNA from 314 female Longyan Shan-ma duck were genotyped using GBS technology. A GWAS for the primary feather color trait with genome variations was performed using an univariate linear mixed model based on all SNPs in autosomes.

Results: Seven genome-wide significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs, Bonferroni-adjusted p-value <8.03 × 10−7) within the introns of the genes STARD9, ZNF106, SLC7A5, and BANP genes were associated with the primary feather color trait. Twenty-two genome-wide suggestive SNPs (Bonferroni-adjusted p-value <1.61 × 10−5) of 17 genes (besides ZNF106 and SLC7A5) were also identified. Seven SNPs were located at one 0.22 Mb region (38.65–38.87 Mb) on chromosome 5, and six SNPs were located at one 0.31 Mb region (19.53–19.84 Mb) on chromosome 11. The functions of STARD9, SLC7A5, BANP, LOC101798015, and IPMK were involved pigmentation and follicle development, especially, STARD9 upregulated expression in black feather (haplotype-CCCC) bulb tissue compared with in pockmarked feather (haplotype-TGTT) bulb tissue, implicating these genes as candidate genes for primary feather color trait.

Conclusion: The preliminarily findings suggested candidate genes and regions, and the genetic basis of primary feather color trait in a female duck.
Case report: Long-read sequencing identified a novel 14.9-kb deletion of the α-globin gene locus in a family with α-thalassemia in China
Authors: Yuan Yan , Zhou Xia , Deng Jing , Zhu Qun , Peng Zanping , Chen Liya , Zou Ya , Mao Aiping , Meng Wanli , Ma Minhui , Wu Hongliang
Published: March 2023

Background: Thalassemia is a hereditary blood disease resulting from globin chain synthesis impairment because of α- and/or β-globin gene variants. α-thalassemia is characterized by non-deletional and deletional variants in the HBA gene locus, of which rare deletional variants are difficult to detect by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods.

Case report: We report the case of a one-month-old boy, who and his mother had abnormal hematological parameters, while his father had normal hematology. Conventional PCR-reverse dot blot (RDB) was performed for all family members to analyze the 23 most common thalassemia variants in China, but did not identify any pathologic variants. Single-molecule real-time (SMRT) long-read sequencing (LRS) technology was then performed and identified an unreported 14.9-kb large deletion (hg38 chr16:168,803-183,737) of the α-globin gene locus, which disrupted both HBA1 and HBA2 genes in the proband and his mother. The exact breakpoints of the deletion were confirmed by gap-PCR and Sanger sequencing.

Conclusion: We have detected a novel large deletion in α-globin gene locus in China, which not only enriches the variant spectrum of thalassemia, but also demonstrates the accuracy and efficiency of LRS in detecting rare and novel deletions.
Mechanismbased role of the intestinal microbiota in gestational diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yan Min , Guo Xiaoying , Ji Guiyuan , Huang Rui , Huang Dongyi , Li Zhifeng , Zhang Dantao , Chen Siyi , Cao Rong , Yang Xingfen , Wu Wei
Published: March 2023

Background

Metabolic disorders caused by intestinal microbial dysregulation are considered to be important causes of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Increasing evidence suggests that the diversity and composition of gut microbes are altered in disease states, yet the critical microbes and mechanisms of disease regulation remain unidentified.

Methods

PubMed® (National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA), Embase® (Elsevier, Amsterdam, the Netherlands), the Web of Science™ (Clarivate™, Philadelphia, PA, USA), and the Cochrane Library databases were searched to identify articles published between 7 July 2012 and 7 July 2022 reporting on case–control and controlled studies that analyzed differences in enterobacteria between patients with GDM and healthy individuals. Information on the relative abundance of enterobacteria was collected for comparative diversity comparison, and enterobacterial differences were analyzed using random effects to calculate standardized mean differences at a p-value of 5%.

Results

A total of 22 studies were included in this review, involving a total of 965 GDM patients and 1,508 healthy control participants. Alpha diversity did not differ between the participant groups, but beta diversity was significantly different. Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Proteobacteria were the dominant bacteria, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. Qualitative analysis showed differences between the groups in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, Blautia, and Collinsella, but these differences were not statistically different.

Conclusion

Enterobacterial profiles were significantly different between the GDM and non-GDM populations. Alpha diversity in patients with GDM is similar to that in healthy people, but beta diversity is significantly different. Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratios were significantly increased in GDM, and this, as well as changes in the abundance of species of Blautia and Collinsella, may be responsible for changes in microbiota diversity. Although the results of our meta-analysis are encouraging, more well-conducted studies are needed to clarify the role of the gut microbiome in GDM. The systematic review was registered with PROSPERO (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/) as CRD42022357391.
Unique metabolism and protein expression signature in human decidual NK cells
Authors: Wang Ping , Liang Tingting , Zhan Heqin , Zhu Mingming , Wu Mingming , Qian Lili , Zhou Ying , Ni Fang
Published: March 2023

Human decidual natural killer (dNK) cells are a unique type of tissue-resident NK cells at the maternal-fetal interface. dNK cells are likely to have pivotal roles during pregnancy, including in maternal-fetal immune tolerance, trophoblast invasion, and fetal development. However, detailed insights into these cells are still lacking. In this study, we performed metabolomic and proteomic analyses on human NK cells derived from decidua and peripheral blood. We found that 77 metabolites were significantly changed in dNK cells. Notably, compared to peripheral blood NK (pNK) cells, 29 metabolites involved in glycerophospholipid and glutathione metabolism were significantly decreased in dNK cells. Moreover, we found that 394 proteins were differentially expressed in dNK cells. Pathway analyses and network enrichment analyses identified 110 differentially expressed proteins involved in focal adhesion, cytoskeleton remodeling, oxidoreductase activity, and fatty acid metabolism in dNK cells. The integrated proteomic and metabolomic analyses revealed significant downregulation in glutathione metabolism in dNK cells compared to pNK cells. Our data indicate that human dNK cells have unique metabolism and protein-expression features, likely regulating their function in pregnancy and immunity.
Homology modeling, virtual screening, molecular docking, and dynamics studies for discovering Staphylococcus epidermidis FtsZ inhibitors
Authors: Vemula Divya , Maddi Dhanashri Ramesh , Bhandari Vasundhra
Published: March 2023

Staphylococcus epidermidis is the most common cause of medical device-associated infections and is an opportunistic biofilm former. Among hospitalized patients, S. epidermidis infections are the most prevalent, and resistant to most antibiotics. In order to overcome this resistance, it is imperative to treat the infection at a cellular level. The present study aims to identify inhibitors of the prokaryotic cell division protein FtsZ a widely conserved component of bacterial cytokinesis. Two substrate binding sites are present on the FtsZ protein; the nucleotide-binding domain and the inter-domain binding sites. Molecular modeling was used to identify potential inhibitors against the binding sites of the FtsZ protein. One hundred thirty-eight chemical entities were virtually screened for the binding sites and revealed ten molecules, each with good binding affinities (docking score range −9.549 to −4.290 kcal/mol) compared to the reference control drug, i.e., Dacomitinib (−4.450 kcal/mol) and PC190723 (−4.694 kcal/mol) at nucleotide and inter-domain binding sites respectively. These top 10 hits were further analyzed for their ADMET properties and molecular dynamics simulations. The Chloro-derivative of GTP, naphthalene-1,3-diyl bis(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate), Guanosine triphosphate (GTP), morpholine and methylpiperazine derivative of GTP were identified as the lead molecules for nucleotide binding site whereas for inter-domain binding site, 1-(((amino(iminio)methyl)amino)methyl)-3-(3-(tert-butyl)phenyl)-6,7-dimethoxyisoquinolin-2-ium, and Chlorogenic acidwere identified as lead molecules. Molecular dynamics simulation and post MM/GBSA analysis of the complexes revealed good protein-ligand stability predicting them as potential inhibitors of FtsZ (Figure 1). Thus, identified FtsZ inhibitors are a promising lead compounds for S. epidermidis related infections.
Trainable quantization for Speedy Spiking Neural Networks
Authors: Castagnetti Andrea , Pegatoquet Alain , Miramond Benoît
Published: March 2023

Spiking neural networks are considered as the third generation of Artificial Neural Networks. SNNs perform computation using neurons and synapses that communicate using binary and asynchronous signals known as spikes. They have attracted significant research interest over the last years since their computing paradigm allows theoretically sparse and low-power operations. This hypothetical gain, used from the beginning of the neuromorphic research, was however limited by three main factors: the absence of an efficient learning rule competing with the one of classical deep learning, the lack of mature learning framework, and an important data processing latency finally generating energy overhead. While the first two limitations have recently been addressed in the literature, the major problem of latency is not solved yet. Indeed, information is not exchanged instantaneously between spiking neurons but gradually builds up over time as spikes are generated and propagated through the network. This paper focuses on quantization error, one of the main consequence of the SNN discrete representation of information. We argue that the quantization error is the main source of accuracy drop between ANN and SNN. In this article we propose an in-depth characterization of SNN quantization noise. We then propose a end-to-end direct learning approach based on a new trainable spiking neural model. This model allows adapting the threshold of neurons during training and implements efficient quantization strategies. This novel approach better explains the global behavior of SNNs and minimizes the quantization noise during training. The resulting SNN can be trained over a limited amount of timesteps, reducing latency, while beating state of the art accuracy and preserving high sparsity on the main datasets considered in the neuromorphic community.