bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Blind Image Deblurring: When Patch-wise Minimal Pixels Prior Meets Fractional-Order Method
Authors: Wu Tingting , Wan Shaojie , Feng Chenchen , Zhang Hao , Zeng Tieyong
Published: June 2024

Blind image deblurring is a challenging issue in image processing. In blind image deblurring, the typical approach involves iteratively estimating both the blur kernel and latent image until convergence to the blur kernel of the observed image is achieved. Recently, several approaches have been attempted to develop a sophisticated regularization to obtain the clean image. However, existing methods often struggle to effectively handle ringing artifacts and local blur. To overcome these limitations, we introduce a fractional-order variational model. This model alleviates the ringing artifacts through the selection of an optimal derivative. Subsequently, to refine the latent image further, we leverage the local prior, namely Patch-wise Minimal Pixels (PMP) prior. Since the PMP prior of clean image blocks is much sparser than that of blurred ones, it is capable of discriminating between clean and blurred image blocks. We illustrate the effective integration of the fractional-order operations and the PMP prior within our proposed approach. Moreover, the convergence of our algorithm has been proven as the values of the objective function monotonically decrease. Extensive experiments on different datasets demonstrate the superiority of the proposed method compared with other methods in terms of reconstruction quality for blind deblurring.
Decoupled peak property learning for efficient and interpretable ECD spectra prediction
Authors: Li Hao , Long Da , Yuan Li , Wang Yu , Tian Yonghong , Wang Xinchang , Mo Fanyang
Published: June 2024

Electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra contain key information about molecular chirality by discriminating the absolute configurations of chiral molecules, which is crucial in asymmetric organic synthesis and the drug industry. However, existing predictive approaches lack the consideration of ECD spectra due to the data scarcity, and the interpretability to achieve trust-worthy prediction. Here, we establish a large-scale dataset for Chiral Molecular ECD spectra~(CMCDS) and propose the ECDFormer for accurate and interpretable ECD spectra prediction. ECDFormer decomposes ECD spectra into peak entities, employs the QFormer architecture to learn peak properties, and renders peaks into spectra. Compared to spectra sequence prediction methods, our decoupled peak prediction approach significantly enhances both accuracy and efficiency, improving the peak symbol accuracy from 37.3\% to 72.7\% and dramatically decreasing the time cost from 2-10 CPU hours to 1.5 seconds. More significantly, ECDFormer demonstrated its ability to capture molecular orbital information directly from spectral data using the explainable peak-decoupling approach, showcasing its potential to uncover hidden correlations between molecular substructures and spectral features. Furthermore, ECDFormer proved to be equally proficient at predicting various types of spectra of complex natural products, highlighting its substantial generalization capabilities.
Human Organoids for Rapid Validation of Gene Variants Linked to Cochlear Malformations
Authors: Zafeer Mohammad Faraz , Ramzan Memoona , Duman Duygu , Mutlu Ahmet , Seyhan Serhat , Kalcioglu Tayyar , Fitoz Suat , DeRosa Brooke A. , Guo Shengru , Dykxhoorn Derek M. , Tekin Mustafa
Published: June 2024

Developmental anomalies of the hearing organ, the cochlea, are diagnosed in approximately one-fourth of individuals with congenital deafness. Most patients with cochlear malformations remain etiologically undiagnosed due to insufficient knowledge about underlying genes or the inability to make conclusive interpretations of identified genetic variants. We used exome sequencing for genetic evaluation of hearing loss associated with cochlear malformations in three probands from unrelated families. We subsequently generated monoclonal induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines, bearing patient-specific knockins and knockouts using CRISPR/Cas9 to assess pathogenicity of candidate variants. We detected FGF3 (p.Arg165Gly) and GREB1L (p.Cys186Arg), variants of uncertain significance in two recognized genes for deafness, and PBXIP1(p.Trp574*) in a candidate gene. Upon differentiation of iPSCs towards inner ear organoids, we observed significant developmental aberrations in knockout lines compared to their isogenic controls. Patient-specific single nucleotide variants (SNVs) showed similar abnormalities as the knockout lines, functionally supporting their causality in the observed phenotype. Therefore, we present human inner ear organoids as a tool to rapidly validate the pathogenicity of DNA variants associated with cochlear malformations.
Effect of MPP2 and its methylation levels on prognosis of colorectal cancer patients
Authors: Yang Zhizhao , Liu Zhendong , Deng Dongfeng , Fu Zhihao , Chen Jiaxing , Cui Yongqiang , Zhao Zhilei , Zhang Xiao
Published: June 2024

Colorectal cancer is one of the common malignant tumors with poor prognosis, which is partly due to the lack of an effective biomarker. The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of membrane palmitoylated protein (MPP2) on the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients. We obtained transcriptome data and DNA methylation data of 380 colorectal cancer patients from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Then we used a series of bioinformatics analysis methods to reveal the relationship between MPP2 expression, DNA methylation, prognosis, immune checkpoint and clinical characteristics of patients. Finally, in vitro experiment and the meta-analysis of thousands of patients further confirmed the impact of MPP2 on the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients and cell migration and proliferation. The expression level of MPP2 is negatively regulated by MPP2 methylation, which leads to its low expression in colorectal cancer. High expression of MPP2 is an independent prognostic risk factor, which may be a biomarker for colorectal cancer. Moreover, the expression of MPP2 shows a close relationship with immune checkpoint or immune cells infiltration, especially CD4 + T cells. In addition, meta-analysis involving 1584 patients from four different data further confirmed that MPP2 was a risk factor for colorectal cancer. Finally, knockdown of MPP2 could significantly inhibit the proliferation of SW480 cells via mTOR signaling pathway. This study was the first to suggest that MPP2 may become a promising biomarker, and has an important role in immune checkpoint or immune cell infiltration in colorectal cancer.
Graphene oxide functionalized with phosphoramide as an effective and reliable electrode for supercapacitors with high-performance
Authors: Gholivand khodayar , Barzegari Azam , Poursalehi Fatemeh , Hodaie Elyar
Published: June 2024

Chlorine-doped graphene oxide (Cl-GO) was synthesized and then functionalized with phosphoramide bis (5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl) phenylphosphonotrithioate (L). To functionalize Cl-GO with L (L-GO), the mixture of L in chloroform and triethylamine was introduced gradually to dispersed Cl-GO and refluxed. GO, Cl-GO, and L-GO were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX) characterization techniques. The cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge/discharge (GCD), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used to identify the electrochemical characteristics of Cl-GO and L-GO in a 3.0 M KOH solution. The specific capacitance of L-GO (206.8 Fg -1) is more than that of Cl-GO (166.3 Fg -1) at a current density of 1 A g -1, according to the galvanostatic charge/discharge analysis. The L-GO with 1.5 mg cm−2 mass loading presents an elevated capacitance of 225.1 mF cm -2 at 50 mA cm -2, retaining 72.6% of its capacitance from 1 to 50 mA cm -2. The incorporation of massive L ligand into Cl-GO prevents graphene sheet aggregation and enhances electrolyte–electrode accessibility. Besides, incorporating ligand L into the graphene oxide structure increases the surface area that is accessible to ions and electron mobility ensuring impressive capacitive performance. Compared to Cl-GO, the L-GO electrode exhibits lower Rct amounts and less resistance to ion diffusion which effectively shows decreased internal resistance because of high electrical conductivity originating from π-donor groups of phosphoramide in L-GO, signifying a superior capacitive process.
Recent change in ENSO’s impacts on the summertime circumglobal teleconnection and mid-latitude extremes
Authors: Qiao Shaobo , Tang Shankai , Wang Bin , Liu Fei , Zhu Xian , Feng Taichen , Feng Guolin , Dong Wenjie
Published: June 2024

The boreal summer circumglobal teleconnection (CGT) provides valuable predictability sources for mid-latitude Northern Hemisphere climate anomalies and extreme events. Here, we show that the CGT’s circulation structure has displaced westward by a half-wavelength since the late 1970s, more severely impacting heatwaves and droughts over East Europe, East Asia and southwestern America. We present convergent empirical and modelling evidence to reveal the essential role of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in shaping this change. Before the late 1970s, ENSO indirectly promoted CGT by modulating the Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR). Recently, the ENSO–ISMR linkage was weakened, but the westward-displaced ENSO forcing was able to directly trigger a Rossby wave response at the exit of the East Asian westerly jet due to the easterly vertical shear of the zonal basic flow over the tropical western North Pacific, thus shifting the previous CGT’s North Pacific and downstream centers westward along the subtropical jet waveguide. Moreover, the state-of-the-art models with prescribed anthropogenic forcing cannot simulate such changes, indicating their origin from natural variability. The knowledge gained from this work highlights the importance of studying the impacts of changing ENSO to improve seasonal prediction of mid-latitude extreme events.
Association of Serum Copper, Zinc, and Zinc/Copper Ratio with Epilepsy: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Su Yu , Wang Lei , Yi Hongjie , Ren Qiang , Qin Yuelong
Published: June 2024

Using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in the United States, this study examines the association between serum copper, zinc, and zinc/copper ratio with epilepsy. This study utilized data from American adults obtained from the NHANES cycles of 2013–2014 and 2015–2016. To assess the relationship between serum copper, zinc, and zinc/copper ratio with epilepsy, a weighted logistic regression model was employed. Age and gender were analyzed as subgroups. Based on a logistic regression analysis, serum zinc, and zinc/copper ratio were found to be negatively correlated with epilepsy. In the fully adjusted model, the OR (95% CI) for intermediate levels of serum zinc was 0.37(0.17–0.80), and for high levels of zinc/copper ratio, the OR (95% CI) was 0.18(0.08–0.43). Serum copper was positively correlated with epilepsy in individuals over 40 years old. For the 40–59 age group, the OR (95% CI) for intermediate and high levels of serum copper were 4.22(1.16–15.36) and 3.85(1.21–12.27), respectively. The study concludes that serum zinc and zinc/copper ratio are inversely related to epilepsy among American adults, while serum copper exhibits a positive association with epilepsy in individuals aged over 40, particularly within the 40–59 age group.
Resource Supply and Demand Model of MilitarySettlements in the Cold Weapon Era: Case of ZhenbaoTown, Ming Great Wall
Authors: Bai Jinni , Bian Junjie , Wang Zhao , Yuan Sinan , Mu Nanshuo , Xiao Tiankai
Published: June 2024

As an important military defense project in Chinese history, the Ming Dynasty Great Wall and its military settlements play a crucial role in maintaining border security. The systematic analysis of how military settlements can make integrated resource allocation according to external threats and geostrategic needs is an important part of the settlements' defense system; however, this aspect is relatively lacking in existing research. Therefore, this study establishes a resource allocation assessment model for the Great Wall military settlements from the Cold War era, aiming to enhance scientific analysis and quantitative assessment of Military Defense Capabilities and Military Requirement. This study employs ordinary least squares (OLS) linear regression to link various factors influencing Military Requirement and Military Defense Capability, assesses the relationship between settlement locations and historical war sites, and identifies areas of over-allocation or under-allocation of resources through residual analysis. This study enhances our understanding of historical military strategies from the perspective of historical geography and offers innovative perspectives for analyzing the Great Wall settlement heritage, moving beyond mere sensory intuition and historical experience.
The study on the high cycle fatigue performance and life prediction of Ti-6Al- 4V alloy fabricated by laser engineered net shaping
Authors: Zhang Jiwang , Hu Liukui , Ji Dongdong , Su Kaixin , Chen Xingyu
Published: June 2024

Three-dimensional characterization of internal defects in Ti-6Al-4V alloy fabricated by Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENS) was conducted by utilizing synchrotron X-ray imaging technology. Subsequently, the statistical analysis of defect size, quantity, and morphology characteristics was performed. Additionally, high cycle fatigue tests were conducted to analyze the high cycle fatigue performance of LENS Ti-6Al-4V alloy and elucidate the causes of its anisotropic behavior. Furthermore, based on the multi-stage crack growth model, the high cycle fatigue life of LENS Ti-6Al-4V alloy was predicted. The results showed that the quantity and size of internal defects were small, with defects predominantly spherical pores and no lack of fusion defects detected. Longitudinal specimens exhibited significantly higher fatigue life at high stress levels compared to transverse specimens. The anisotropic behavior of high cycle fatigue performance of LENS Ti-6Al-4V alloy at high stress levels was mainly attributed to the anisotropic distribution of its microstructure. As stress levels decreased, the fatigue life of both types of specimens approached each other, with fatigue strengths of 650 MPa and 656 MPa at 2×106 cycles for longitudinal and transverse specimens respectively, showing minimal difference. In addition, the predictions from the multi-stage crack growth model aligned well with experimental results, effectively predicting the high cycle fatigue life of LENS Ti-6Al-4V alloy.
Investigating the stability of aromatic carboxylic acids in hydrated magnesium sulfate under UV irradiation to assist detection of organics on Mars
Authors: Alberini Andrew , Fornaro Teresa , Florentino Cristina García , Biczysko Malgorzata , Poblacion Iratxe , Aramendia Julene , Madariaga Juan Manuel , Poggiali Giovanni , Vicente-Retortillo Álvaro , Benison Kathleen C. , Siljeström Sandra , Biancalani Sole , Lorenz Christian , Cloutis Edward A. , Applin Dan M. , Gómez Felipe , Steele Andrew , Wiens Roger C. , Hand Kevin P. , Brucato John R.
Published: June 2024

The Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman and Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals (SHERLOC) instrument onboard the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover detected so far some of the most intense fluorescence signals in association with sulfates analyzing abraded patches of rocks at Jezero crater, Mars. To assess the plausibility of an organic origin of these signals, it is key to understand if organics can survive exposure to ambient Martian UV after exposure by the Perseverance abrasion tool and prior to analysis by SHERLOC. In this work, we investigated the stability of organo-sulfate assemblages under Martian-like UV irradiation and we observed that the spectroscopic features of phthalic and mellitic acid embedded into hydrated magnesium sulfate do not change for UV exposures corresponding to at least 48 Martian sols and, thus, should still be detectable in fluorescence when the SHERLOC analysis takes place, thanks to the photoprotective properties of magnesium sulfate. In addition, different photoproduct bands diagnostic of the parent carboxylic acid molecules could be observed. The photoprotective behavior of hydrated magnesium sulfate corroborates the hypothesis that sulfates might have played a key role in the preservation of organics on Mars, and that the fluorescence signals detected by SHERLOC in association with sulfates could potentially arise from organic compounds.
Augmenting Chemotherapy Response In Ovarian Cancer: Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Target TOP2A
Authors: Gurav Pradnya , Hajare Shubham , Swamy Venkateswara , R.N. Kedar
Published: June 2024

Background/Objectives: Ovarian cancer presents significant challenges in treatment efficacy, necessitating exploration of alternative therapeutic approaches. This study aimed to investigate the effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), particularly in conjunction with chemotherapy, on ovarian teratocarcinoma cells.
Subject/Methods: The study conducted rigorous cell viability assays to assess the impact of n-3 PUFAs on doxorubicin (DOXO)-induced cytotoxicity. Clonogenic assays, hanging drop assays, and apoptosis assays were employed to validate the observed effects. Network pharmacological analyses and molecular docking simulations were conducted to elucidate potential molecular mechanisms underlying the observed synergistic effects.
Results: Cell viability assays demonstrated a significant augmentation of DOXO-induced cytotoxicity by n-3 PUFAs, resulting in decreased cellular viability and migratory capacity. Clonogenic assays confirmed a reduction in colony formation in the combined treatment group, supported by additional experimental assays. Network pharmacological analyses identified topoisomerase II A (TOP2A) gene as a key target, while molecular docking simulations revealed structural analogies between n-3 PUFAs and DOXO, suggesting shared mechanisms of action.
Conclusion: The integration of computational and experimental approaches uncovered the synergistic effects of n-3 PUFAs and DOXO in ovarian cancer treatment. This study bridges the gap between theoretical understanding and practical application, offering promising prospects for enhanced therapeutic outcomes in ovarian cancer management.
Polyploidy involves the activation of mTORC1 and induces tolerance to glucose starvation
Authors: Choudhury Debopriya , Singha Didhiti , Mondal Meghna , Malakar Pushkar
Published: June 2024

Polyploidy is the state of a cell or organism having more than two paired sets of chromosomes. Polyploidy is associated with cancers, diabetes and ageing. Extensive research over several decades have established a central role for mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) in regulating many fundamental cell processes from protein synthesis to autophagy. Deregulated mTOR signaling is implicated in the progression of cancer, diabetes and ageing process. Even though separately polyploidy and mTOR signaling is associated with cancers, diabetes and ageing, the molecular connection between the two is unknown. The role and implications of mTOR signaling in polyploidy is not studied. Common signaling pathway associated with polyploidy is unspecified. To answer the questions above, we induced polyploidy through several means like treatment with Cytochalasin-B, Colcemid, High Glucose, Nocodazole and Aurora Kinase Inhibitor. Polyploidy was assessed through FACS profile (DNA content >4N), Infrequent cell cycle, multinucleated state and cellular size. All the methods described, resulted in induction of polyploidy and activation of mTORC1 measured by the phosphorylation status of S6K1 (a bonafide marker of mTORC1). Furthermore, polyploidy induced by Cytochalasin-B and 10X Glucose was greatly reduced upon Torin1(mTORC1 inhibitor) treatment. Activation of mTORC1 pathway in polyploid cells, help them to withstand stress condition (10X Glucose) and proliferate when provided with suitable environment (10X Glucose to Normal media). mTORC1 pathway have been shown to play an important role in controlling autophagy upon glucose starvation. We looked at the fate of normal and polyploid cells upon glucose starvation. Glucose starvation induced severe cell death in normal cells while polyploid cells were tolerant to glucose starvation. Our results reveal a mechanism by which mTORC1 signaling helps polyploid cells. Activation of mTORC1 signaling can serve as a biomarker for polyploid cells. These results suggest that downregulation of mTORC1 in polyploid cells, where mTORC1 is upregulated, should be considered as a new strategy for cancer therapy. Overall, this study will help in the better understanding of polyploidy along with the potential application of treatment in polyploidy related diseases.
Storytelling and creative writing for enhancement of empathy and well-being in health professionals: the “Verba Curant” study, a randomized trial.
Authors: Bertolotti Marinella , Cassinari Antonella , Dacquino Mariateresa , AMaconi  , Grossi Enzo
Published: June 2024

Storytelling and creative writing can improve empathy and well-being. Few randomized controlled trials have been carried out so far in health care settings, generally with small sample sizes. In this study 175 health professionals working in a large general Hospital were randomized into two groups: group 1 received theoretical narrative medicine education with 4 hours of distance education, while Group 2 received the same theoretical narrative medicine education and a practice course of storytelling and creative writing with 8 hours of distance education in small groups. The empathic ability and psychological well-being were measured immediately before the start and at the end of the education program with the Jefferson scale and Psychological General Well-being-short form test (PGWB-S). Participants in Group 2 showed a significant improvement of the mean PGWB-S index at variance with Group 1. Two-way ANOVA showed a between-groups time per treatment difference with P = 0.039. Empathy improved in both groups with a statistically significant change. No significant difference was found in between-groups comparison in the degree of improvement (P = 0.25). In conclusion Storytelling and creative writing education that combines theory with practice is an effective strategy for improving health professionals' psychological well-being and empathic ability.
Root Shock at Twenty: Reflections from Pittsburgh
Authors: Holland Dan , Baltimore Terri , Hallen Phil
Published: June 2024

The publication of Mindy Fullilove's Root Shock in 2004 turned the oftcited narrative of top-down progress on its head. For the first time, the words of ordinary neighbourhood folk emerged as counter points to urban renewal and rapid community change. Now, twenty years later,
the process Fullilove established still resonates among the people with whom she interacted. One city she profiled, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, suffered through several rounds of emotional and physical trauma in the form of African American displacement from urban renewal in the 1950s and 1960s,
then the demolition of public housing units in the 1990s and early-2000s. This article synthesizes the responses of Terri Baltimore, a neighbourhood activist from Pittsburgh's Hill District; Phil Hallen, the former President of the Maurice Falk Medical Fund which funded Mindy's research in
Pittsburgh; and Duquesne University history professor Dan Holland as they recount their reactions to Root Shock in 1994 and the inspiration Mindy Fullilove continues to provide today. But as a new round of root shock unfolds – the exodus of African Americans from traditional inner-city
neighbourhoods as a result of gentrification – Fullilove's lessons provide a cautionary tale for how cities respond to the latest housing crisis.
Root Shock and Postcolonial Trauma in Ireland
Authors: Kearns Gerry
Published: June 2024

This paper illustrates the place of root shock in the colonial and postcolonial history of Ireland and situates this series of Irish papers inspired by Mindy Fullilove's seminal book. It explains why the practice of eviction has such a traumatic resonance within Irish society. This
trauma was laid bare in the responses to a 2023 artwork by Spicebag that connected modern eviction with its historical precedents. In this paper the elements of Spicebag's work are given their historical context with an account of dispossession and plantation, famine and exile, urban poverty,
and neoliberal privatization of land and housing. In each case, a new form of root shock was added to the earlier legacies producing chronic place-based trauma.
Displacement in Place: Root Shock in the Pearse Street Community, Dublin
Authors: Broe Mary
Published: June 2024

This paper examines an established working-class community in Dublin's southeast inner city. It describes the experience of root shock in a community that has experienced 'displacement in place' following urban renewal and gentrification in the surrounding area. The article highlights
the shrinking of 'third places' for public mixing: older men have lost their pubs, younger people have lost their playgrounds, and young adults express a profound sense of displacement in place. As the class composition of the area changes, there are few places where classes can mingle.
Resisting Root Shock in the Collapsed City: Constructing Community and the Fight to Stay Put through Tenant Organizing in Dublin
Authors: Gavin Tommy , O'Callaghan Cian
Published: June 2024

Mindy Thompson Fullilove's concept of 'Root Shock' captures the trauma caused by the mass displacement and dispossession associated with urban renewal. In the twenty years since it was published, such policies have set in motion waves of trauma and 'dispossessive praxis' (Lancione, 2024, p. 841), producing what Fullilove (2004, p. 99) calls 'a downward spiral of collapse'. Reflecting on the book's twentieth anniversary, in this paper we draw on root shock and ancillary concepts to reflect on what happens when the forms of community, reciprocity, and solidarity presupposed in analyses of residents' experience of displacement have already been hollowed out? We do so by examining how housing movements have had to simultaneously resist displacement and engage in active processes to create community, focusing on the experience of the Community Action Tenants Union (CATU) in Ireland. We show that the denial of roots requires the praxis of cultivating and nurturing their potential through tenant organizing.
Systematic effects and mitigation strategies in observations of cosmic re-ionisation with the Hydrogen Epoch of Reionization Array
Authors:   , Charles Ntsikelelo
Published: June 2024

The 21 cm transition from neutral Hydrogen promises to be the best observational probe of the Epoch of Reionisation (EoR). It has driven the construction of the new generation of lowfrequency radio interferometric arrays, including the Hydrogen Epoch of Reionization Array (HERA). The main difficulty in measuring the 21 cm signal is the presence of bright foregrounds that require very accurate interferometric calibration. However, the non-smooth instrumental response of the antenna as a result of mutual coupling complicates the calibration process by introducing non-smooth calibration errors. Additionally, incomplete sky models are typically used in calibration due to the limited depth and resolution of current source catalogues. Combined with the instrumental response, the use of incomplete sky models during calibration can result in non-smooth calibration errors. These, overall, impart spectral structure on smooth foregrounds, leading to foreground power leakage into the EoR window. In this thesis we explored the use of fringe rate filters (Parsons et al., 2016) as a mean to mitigate calibration errors resulting from the effects of mutual coupling and the use of an incomplete sky model during calibration. We found that the use of a simple notch filter mitigates calibration errors reducing the foreground power leakage into the EoR window by a factor of ∼ 102. Thyagarajan et al. (2018) proposed the use of closure phase quantities as a means to detect the 21 cm signal, which has the advantage of being independent (to first order) from calibration errors and, therefore, bypasses the need for accurate calibration. In this thesis, we explore the impact of primary beam patterns affected by mutual coupling on the closure phase. We found that primary beams affected by mutual coupling lead to a leakage of foreground power into the EoR window, which can be up to ∼ 104 times and is mainly caused by the unsmooth spectral structure primary of primary beam sidelobes affected by mutual coupling. This power leakage was confined to k < 0.3 pseudo h Mpc−1. Lastly, we also proposed and demonstrated an analysis technique that can be used to derive a flux scale correction in post-calibrated HERA data. We found that after applying flux scale correction to calibrated HERA data, the bandpass error reduces significantly, with an improvement of 6%. The derived flux scale correction was antenna-independent, and it can be applied to fix the overall visibility spectrum scale of H4C data post-calibration in a fashion similar to Jacobs et al. (2013).
Augmentation of Aphytis melinus DeBach (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) for the control of California red scale Aonidiella aurantii Maskell (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) on citrus
Authors:   , De Beer Ernst Friedrich Ludwig
Published: June 2024

Aphytis lingnanensis was reared and tested in South Africa in the early 2000s for augmentation against red scale on citrus and was found to be ineffective. Aphytis melinus is now commercially available and it is important that the efficacy of augmentation thereof on red scale is determined locally. Field trials, fitness assessments and molecular identification on A. melinus from two insectaries were done. Field trials was done in seven, five and six pairs of comparable release and control orchards across the Eastern and Western Cape during the seasons of 2019/2020, 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 respectively. Red scale infestation was monitored and a sample of 20 infested fruit from each orchard was randomly collected every four weeks. Aphytis spp. responsible for parasitism were identified and the percentage parasitism recorded. Results of this study of field trials suggest that the augmentation of A. melinus did not significantly increase the level of parasitism above that of the untreated control. Five repetitions with six replicates of flight and longevity tests were performed with wasps from each insectary. Wasps in the longevity test from two insectaries were kept at 23 °C and 65% RH with honey. Flight tests were performed in tubes of 16 by 30 cm, with a light above a clear, sticky ceiling at 23 °C and 65% RH. On average in five replicates, 65%, 33% and 17% A. melinus wasps were alive on day one, five and 10 respectively. The overall sex ratio was 1.58 for females to males, but 1.05, 2.19 and 2.66 for non-flyers, non-crawlers, crawlers, and flyers respectively. In flight tests for both insectaries combined, only 36.97% of wasps could initiate flight in 24 h while 56.96% remained on the tube floor, and 6.05% attempted to crawl upwards. No significant differences in flight performance were recorded between the two insectaries. Wasps from the local insectary lived significantly longer during the longevity tests but were shorter in transit than wasps from the overseas insectary. COI genes were sequenced and compared against Genbank sequences using BLAST. Molecular identifications did not confirm morphological identifications for all species, indicating unexpected genetic complexity.
Ecological impacts of photoautotrophic Euendoliths on South African mussel beds
Authors:   , Dievart Alexia Madeleine Angèle
Published: June 2024

Aphytis lingnanensis was reared and tested in South Africa in the early 2000s for augmentation against red scale on citrus and was found to be ineffective. Aphytis melinus is now commercially available and it is important that the efficacy of augmentation thereof on red scale is determined locally. Field trials, fitness assessments and molecular identification on A. melinus from two insectaries were done. Field trials was done in seven, five and six pairs of comparable release and control orchards across the Eastern and Western Cape during the seasons of 2019/2020, 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 respectively. Red scale infestation was monitored and a sample of 20 infested fruit from each orchard was randomly collected every four weeks. Aphytis spp. responsible for parasitism were identified and the percentage parasitism recorded. Results of this study of field trials suggest that the augmentation of A. melinus did not significantly increase the level of parasitism above that of the untreated control. Five repetitions with six replicates of flight and longevity tests were performed with wasps from each insectary. Wasps in the longevity test from two insectaries were kept at 23 °C and 65% RH with honey. Flight tests were performed in tubes of 16 by 30 cm, with a light above a clear, sticky ceiling at 23 °C and 65% RH. On average in five replicates, 65%, 33% and 17% A. melinus wasps were alive on day one, five and 10 respectively. The overall sex ratio was 1.58 for females to males, but 1.05, 2.19 and 2.66 for non-flyers, non-crawlers, crawlers, and flyers respectively. In flight tests for both insectaries combined, only 36.97% of wasps could initiate flight in 24 h while 56.96% remained on the tube floor, and 6.05% attempted to crawl upwards. No significant differences in flight performance were recorded between the two insectaries. Wasps from the local insectary lived significantly longer during the longevity tests but were shorter in transit than wasps from the overseas insectary. COI genes were sequenced and compared against Genbank sequences using BLAST. Molecular identifications did not confirm morphological identifications for all species, indicating unexpected genetic complexity.
A REVIEW OF THE CAPE GELIDONYA AND ULUBURUN SHIPWRECKS SHED LIGHT ON CYPRUS MARITIME ACTIVITIES
Authors: Günel İlknur
Published: June 2024

Cyprus had an important place in the ancient Mediterranean trade thanks to its geostrategic location. The island, drew attention with its copper resources and ceramic products in the Bronze Age. Archaeological remains unearthed in Uluburun and Cape Gelidonya shipwrecks support this situation. The cargo of shipwrecks and the route they followed show both the extent of maritime trade during this period and Cyprus’ position in these commercial activities. The high ratio of Cypriot copper and ceramics to the total amount of goods in the shipwrecks is instructive in terms of understanding the role of Cyprus in the maritime activities. The hypothesis of their potential Cypriot origin is supported by the higher quantity of Cypriot-origin products found on these wrecks compared to others. The fact that Cyprus is an important port on the route followed by merchantships and even the view that it could be the initial departure point of them, makes it worth to consider. Accordingly, in this study, the Cape Gelidonya and Uluburun shipwrecks, and the Cypriot goods they contain are examined, and the active role of Cyprus in the maritime trade of the period is investigated.
Rönesans’tan Empresyonizme Sanat Dönem ve Akımlarının Karşılaştırmalı Analizi Üzerine Bir Araştırma
Authors: Ülger Kani
Published: June 2024

Tarihte sanat açısından birçok dönem, akım ortaya çıkmış ve bunları izleyen sanatçılar çok önemli sanat eserleri üretmiştir. Dolayısıyla, Rönesans’tan Empresyonizme tarihsel süreçte, dönem ve sanat akımlarının ortaya çıkma nedenleri üzerine inceleme, bu araştırmanın konusunu oluşturmuştur. Bu araştırmanın amacı; Rönesans ve Barok dönemleri dâhil, Neoklasisizm, Romantizm, Realizm ile Empresyonizm sanat akımlarının resim sanatında biçim, içerik, konu, estetik ve teknik unsurlar açısından benzerlik ve farklılıklarını incelemek ve bu yolla, sözü edilen dönem ve akımların oluşma nedenlerini ortaya koymaktır. Bu amaçla, alan yazın taramasıyla toplanan veriler, doküman analiziyle tasnif edilmiş ve karşılaştırmalı analiz tekniğiyle incelenerek elde edilen bulgular yorumlanmıştır. İlgili dönemler ve sanat akımları arasında tarihsel kronolojiye dayalı olarak yapılan ikili karşılaştırmalar sonucunda, resim sanatı açısından biçim, içerik, konu, estetik ve teknik unsurlarda farklılıklar olduğu bulgusuna ulaşılmıştır. Bu sonuca temel neden olarak, resim sanatında biçim unsurundaki değişim gösterilmiştir. Buna göre, bir sanat hareketinin dönem ya da akım olarak değerlendirebilmesi için, resimde alışılagelen biçim unsurunun farklı ele alınması gerektiği ileri sürülebilir.
Forecasting daily rainfall in a humid subtropical area: an innovative machine learning approach
Authors: Mohammed Miran Hikmat , Latif Sarmad Dashti
Published: June 2024

Hydrological modeling is one of the most complicated tasks in sustainable water resources management, particularly in terms of predicting rainfall. Predicting rainfall is critical to build a sustainable society in terms of hydropower operations, agricultural planning, and flood control. In this study, a hybrid model based on the integration of k-nearest neighbor (KNN), XGBoost (XGB), decision tree (DCT), and Random Forest (RF) has been developed and implemented for forecasting daily rainfall for the first time at Sydney airport, Australia. Daily rainfall, temperature, evaporation, and humidity have been selected as input parameters. Three statistical measurements, namely, root mean square error (RMSE), coefficient of determination (R2), mean absolute error (MAE), and Normalized Root Mean Square Error (NRMSE) have been utilized in order to check the accuracy of the proposed model. A sensitivity analysis was conducted, and the results indicated that for the purpose of prediction, the temperature, humidity, and evaporation were highly sensitive to the rainfall data. According to the results, the developed hybrid model was capable of predicting daily rainfall with high performance for both training and testing parts with RMSE = 0.124, R2 = 0.999, MAE = 0.007, NRMSE = 0.04 and RMSE = 1.246, R2 = 0.991, MAE = 0.109, NRMSE = 0.339, respectively.
Quantitative assessment of irrigation water and organic/inorganic amendment on biometric growth profiles ofAbelmoschus esculentusandSolanum lycopersicumand their varieties
Authors: Mahajan Monika , Singh Rajeev Pratap , Gupta Pankaj Kumar , Chelliapan Shreeshivadasan
Published: June 2024

In recent decades, the use of chemical fertilizers has been recklessly provoked to meet the increased food needs of the rapidly growing population. However, there is some disagreement about the use of chemical fertilizers in agriculture. Hence, the appropriate nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium ratios must be determined before their application in agricultural practices. This study explored three distinct sources of nutrients to support healthy seed germination and reduce nutrient loss: chemical fertilizers, vermicompost, and nutrient-laden irrigation water supply. A sustainable, affordable, and green petri plate seed germination experiment was used to analyze the biometric growth patterns of two plant species (Abelmoschus esculentus and Solanum lycopersicum). To quantify the effects of different irrigation water sources (groundwater, river water), their combinations with chemical fertilizers and vermicompost (3 ton/ha), multivariate statistical methods such as correlation, principal component analysis, and deep neural networks were used. The purpose of this research was to find the optimal nutrient delivery technique for encouraging healthy plant growth while minimizing the environmental stress of excessive nutrient application.
Exploring the Dipteryx alata fruit endocarp as a novel source for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles: antibacterial and photocatalytic insights for water purification
Authors: Morais Eduardo Beraldo de , Nascimento Marielle Xavier , Vasconcelos Leonardo Gomes de , Golin Rossean , Lopes Paulo Renato Matos , Ambrosio Jéssica Aparecida Ribeiro , Simioni Andreza Ribeiro
Published: June 2024

A simple, rapid, and non-toxic method was developed to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using an aqueous extract from the endocarp of Dipteryx alata fruit (DAE), a tree species native to the Brazilian Cerrado. The synthesis involved mixing DAE with a solution of AgNO3 (2 mM) at room temperature. AgNPs synthesis was confirmed through detection of the surface plasmon resonance band at 421 nm. Characterization revealed spherical AgNPs with an average diameter of 137.5 ± 59.3 nm. FTIR analysis confirmed phytochemical involvement in AgNPs reduction and capping, while XRD analysis indicated their crystalline nature with a face-centered cubic structure. AgNPs exhibited antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis, with zones of inhibition ranging from 10–4 mm for E. coli and 9–13 mm for E. faecalis, indicating sensitivity to AgNPs. Photocatalytic activity against rhodamine B (RhB) resulted in 99.3% removal in 180 min, with a degradation rate constant of 0.034 L mg−1 min−1 based on pseudo second-order kinetics. Phytotoxicity studies confirmed the non-toxic nature of degraded RhB products on Cucumis sativus. These findings highlight the potential of AgNPs from DAE extract in antibacterial and dye remediation applications.
Medicinal Chemistry of Antisense Oligonucleotides for Therapeutic Use in SARS-CoV-2: Design Strategies and Challenges for Targeted Delivery
Authors: Nedaeinia Reza , Ranjbar Maryam , Goli Mohammad , Etebari Mahmoud , Safabakhsh Saied , Bayram Hasan , Ferns Gordon A. , Tehrani Helena Moradiyan , Salehi Rasoul
Published: June 2024

Background:

The evolution of novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus
2 (SARS-CoV-2) strains with greater degrees of infectivity, resistance to vaccine-induced acquired
immunity, and more severe morbidity have contributed to the recent spread of COVID-19. In
light of this, novel therapeutic alternatives with improved effectiveness and fewer side effects have become
a necessity. Despite many new or repurposed antiviral agents recommended for Coronavirus disease
(COVID-19) therapy, this objective remains unfulfilled. Under these circumstances, the scientific
community holds the significant responsibility to develop classes of novel therapeutic modalities to combat
SARS-CoV-2 with the least harmful side effects.

Objective:

Antisense Oligonucleotides (ASOs) are short single-stranded oligonucleotides that allow the specific
targeting of RNA, leading to its degradation. They may also prevent cellular factors or machinery from
binding to the target RNA. It is possible to improve the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ASOs by
chemical modification or bioconjugation, which may provide conditions for customization of a particular clinical
target. This study aimed to outline the potential use of ASOs in the treatment of COVID-19 disease, along
with the use of antisense stabilization and transfer methods, as well as future challenges and limitations.

Methods:

We have reviewed the structure and properties of ASOs containing nucleobase, sugar, or backbone
modifications, and provided an overview of the therapeutic potential, delivery challenges, and strategies of
ASOs in the treatment of COVID-19.

Results:

The first-line therapy for COVID-19-infected individuals, as well as the development of oligonucleotide-
based drugs, warrants further investigation. Chemical changes in the oligonucleotide structure can affect
the biological processes. These chemical alterations may lead to enhanced potency, while changing the
pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.

Conclusion:

ASOs can be designed to target both coding and non-coding regions of the viral genome to disrupt
or completely degrade the genomic RNA and thereby eliminate SARS-CoV-2. They may be very effective
in areas, where vaccine distribution is challenging, and they may be helpful for future coronavirus pandemics.
Smart Cancer Nanomedicine for Synergetic Therapy
Authors: Kanungo Anwesha , Mohanty Chandana , Acharya Sarbari
Published: June 2024

Cancer is the second leading cause of death. Notwithstanding endeavors to
comprehend tumor causes and therapeutic modalities, no noteworthy advancements in
cancer therapy have been identified. Nanomedicine has drawn interest for its diagnostic
potential because of its ability to deliver therapeutic agents specifically to tumors with
little adverse effects. Nanomedicines have become prevalent in the treatment of cancer.
Here, we present four strategic suggestions for improvement in the functionality and use
of nanomedicine. (1) Smart drug selection is a prerequisite for both medicinal and commercial
achievement. Allocating resources to the advancement of modular (pro)drugs
and nanocarrier design ought to consider the role of opportunistic decisions depending
on drug availability. (2) Stimuli-responsive nanomedicine for cancer therapy is being designed
to release medications at particular locations precisely. (3) The cornerstone of
clinical cancer treatment is combination therapy. Nanomedicines should be included
more frequently in multimodal combination therapy regimens since they complement
pharmacological and physical co-treatments. (4) Regulation by the immune system is
transforming cancer therapy. Nanomedicines can improve the effectiveness of the immune
system and control the behavior of anticancer immunity. These four approaches,
both separately and particularly in combination, will accelerate and promote the creation
of effective cancer nanomedicine treatments.
Differences in Nutritional Status and Quality of Life in Hemodialysis Patients Compared to CAPD
Authors: Kosasih Angelia , Samsu Nur , Rifa'i Achmad
Published: June 2024

Background: Patients with chronic kidney disease who undergo hemodialysis and CAPD (Continous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis) modalities often experience disturbances in nutritional status and quality of life. The condition is affected by the chosen modalities and duration.
Aim: This study assesses the differences in nutritional status and quality of life in individuals undergoing hemodialysis therapy with a duration of 4-hour, hemodialysis with a duration of 5-hour, and CAPD in order to determine the best modalities for patients with chronic kidney disease.
Methods: Data were collected with cross-sectional from patients with chronic kidney disease at the hemodialysis polyclinic at RSUD dr. Saiful Anwar Malang, Panti Nirmala Hospital Malang, Wava Husada Kepanjen Hospital, and the CAPD polyclinic at RSUD dr. Saiful Anwar Malang. Classified into CAPD group, 4-hour hemodialysis group, and 5-hour hemodialysis group. Assessment with a questionnaire consisting of the patient’s baseline characteristics, subjective global assessment (SGA), and SF-36 are used to assess and analyze differences in nutritional status and quality of life of patients with chronic kidney disease against the selected dialysis modality.
Results: The physical health of the 5-hour hemodialysis group showed significant results compared to the 4-hour hemodialysis and CAPD (p <0.05). Mental health in the 5-hour hemodialysis procedure showed significant results compared to the 4-hour hemodialysis and CAPD (p <0.05). The nutritional status of 5-hour of hemodialysis was better than 4-hour of hemodialysis and CAPD (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Hemodialysis with a duration of 5-hour has a better nutritional status and quality of life compared to a duration of 4-hour or CAPD.