bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kesepakatan Penyelesaian Kepemilikan Pulau Sipadan dan Ligitan Prespektif Mahkamah Internasional
Authors: Safitri Aulia Arifany , Sheila Adinda Pra Septia , Tasya Ruth Anastasya Sandy Simanjuntak
Published: June 2024

A sovereign state is one that should know its territorial boundaries with certainty. Where as a result of the lack of the absence of certainty of territorial boundaries based on legal aspects, Indonesia and Malaysia were forced to accept the case of case, namely the case of Sipadan and Ligitan Islands. The settlement of cases that could not be resolved through negotiations, led the two countries to agree to settle the case through the International Court of Justice. The verdict on the settlement of the case declared Malaysia as the country that has the right to control the island. However, Indonesia's agreement to to settle the case through the International Court of Justice is not wrong, which is in accordance with the principles of world peace. Likewise, the decision of the International Court of Justice which is in accordance with legal procedures and has been supported by the knowledge/experience possessed by/of the judges. So it can be said that the agreement between the two countries that created the transfer of the islands of Sipadan and Ligitan was not a gift to Malaysia. Discussion the author's goal, because according to the author this study is an important study and needs to be discussed as a material is an important study and needs to be discussed as a new analytical study that is different from other authors' studies.  So that in writing, the author uses a normative juridical method, which uses an analytical approach, legal concepts and regulation laws.
Usaha Perkuatan Pondasi Rumah Untuk Tanah Rawa di Banjarmasin
Authors: Agusniansyah Nursyarif , Sarbini Gusti Novi
Published: June 2024

Konstruksi rumah panggung digunakan untuk kondisi bangunan diatas tanah rawa Banjarmasin. Bangunan rumah dengan menggunakan deretan tiang kayu berada diatas kondisi tanah yang berair. Deretan tiang kayu inilah sebagai penopang beban bangunan diatasnya dan disalurkan melalui pondasi. Sementara digunakan pancangan galam untuk perbaikan daya dukung tanah. Pondasi tiang kayu ini memiliki kemampuan menopang beban yang terbatas sehingga diperlukan inovasi perkuatan pondasi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk merumuskan cara perkuatan pondasi tiang kayu sebagai inovasi desain pondasi di tanah rawa. Selain tiang kayu, digunakan material baru berupa tiang dan pondasi plat beton. Penemuan pengembangan pondasi lapangan adalah dengan memadukan penggunaan tiang kayu dengan tiang beton. Hasil perkuatan pondasi tiang kayu dilakukan berdasarkan tipe kondisi lahan/kavling yang menyebabkan beberapa langkah pelaksanaannya.  Usaha perkuatan pondasi dilakukan dengan membuat sistem kombinasi tiang kayu dan tiang beton dengan tetap menggunakan pancangan galam. Dengan penambahan tiang beton di titik yang terdapat beban berat akan memperkuat pondasi.
IMPLEMENTATION OF BOARDING-BASED FORMAL SCHOOL LEARNING AT SYUBBANUL WATHON HIGH SCHOOL TEGALREJO MAGELANG
Authors: Shifa Tafrihatush , Zafi Ashif Az , Ambarwati Susi , Romadhona Muhammad Arsyada , Nada Fina Qothrun
Published: June 2024

Modern developments have made changes in the world of education, one of which is combining the formal school education system which uses the national curriculum and the Islamic boarding school education system which uses the local curriculum. This research aims to increase knowledge about the Islamic boarding school-based high school learning system which is currently rarely implemented in the Indonesian education system. This research uses qualitative methods, namely data collection methods through interviews and observations as well as through library sources, scientific journal articles and books. This research discusses the integration of the formal school education system and the Islamic boarding school education system at Syubbanul Wathon High School.  The process of accepting new students requires applicants to take general knowledge tests such as English, Indonesian and Mathematics, as well as a reading and writing test of the Al-Qur'an. The implementation of learning is divided into 2, namely male students study from morning to afternoon and afternoon to evening reciting the Koran at the boarding school, while female students do the opposite. Then in the evening the santri and female students continue to recite the Koran at the Islamic boarding school. Learning evaluation is carried out by combining all assessments at school and at the Islamic boarding school.  A learning system like this can balance students' religious knowledge and general knowledge, so that there will be no gaps in one of them.
Development of Ternary Layered Double Hydroxide Oxygen Evolution Reaction Electrocatalyst for Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis
Authors: Myeong Shin-Woo , Jin Song , Kim Chiho , Lee Jooyoung , Kim Yangdo , Choi Sung Mook
Published: June 2024

To achieve net zero emissions, green hydrogen should be produced via water electrolysis with renewable energy. To develop efficient anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWE), the development of efficient and stable non-precious metal electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is essential. In this study, a high-performance ternary NiFeCo-layer double hydroxide (LDH) electrocatalyst for AEMWE was easily developed by the co-precipitation method. The introduction of Co has been shown to have an effect on the electronic structure of Ni and Fe, improving their intrinsic OER properties. In addition, the three-dimensional flower-like nanosheet morphology improved mass transfer and achieved excellent current density at high voltages. The ternary NiFeCo-LDH electrocatalyst requires low overpotentials (253 mV at 10 mA cm-2) and Tafel slope (45 mV dec-1) in 1 M KOH. AEMWE using the ternary NiFeCo-LDH electrocatalyst showed excellent electrolysis performance with a high current density of 2.27 A cm-2 at 1.8 V cell. Moreover, an energy conversion efficiency of 86.73 % was achieved during the durability test for 100 hours at a current density of 0.5 A cm-2. The performance of the AEMWE electrolyzer utilizing the ternary NiFeCo-LDH electrocatalyst surpassed that of previously reported AEMWE electrolyzers. This work reports a highly active OER electrocatalyst that could open numerous opportunities for the development of ternary LDH electrocatalysts in AEMWE.
Representations of Africa in Muriel Spark’s writings
Authors: He Kaiyue
Published: June 2024

Muriel Spark (1918–2006) travelled from Scotland to Africa and stayed there from 1937 to 1944. Africa is a recurrent presence in her work. Critics focus mainly on her African-themed poems and stories. They pay less attention to depictions of that continent in her other work and tend to gloss over her problematic use of language. This article addresses Spark's representation of the African landscape and her different portrayals of Africans, white settlers, and missionaries. It also explores her deployment of the familiar colonial tropes of cannibalism and ‘witch doctors’. It argues that Spark's representations of Africa in her works are at once ironic, comedic, satirical, and wittily arch, yet remain open to charges of being stereotypical and problematic, particularly at a time of public scrutiny and media concern with discriminatory language. These representations reveal that Spark mainly speaks for white missionaries rather than the downtrodden Africans in her writings. This article aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of Scottish involvement in colonialism in the modern period by untangling the connections between race, religion, and literary culture in Spark's writings.
Yahudilerin Üstünlük İddialarının Yahudi Kutsal Metinlerindeki Dayanakları
Authors: Yıldırım Ramazan
Published: June 2024

Tarih boyunca kendini, aile, kabile, aşiret veya ırkını diğer insanlardan üstün gören ve onlara karşı, üstün olma duygusuyla hareket edip davranış geliştiren kişiler olmuştur. Kendini üstün görmenin ilk örneği, şeytanın Âdem’e karşı üstün olduğunu iddia ederek isyan etmesi ve neticede yüksek konumunu kaybetmesidir. Takip eden dönemde Âdem’in iki çocuğu arasındaki üstünlük iddiasının, birinin ölümü ile neticelendiğini görüyoruz. İnsan tabiatında bulunan üstün olma arzusu, Rönesans ve Reform hareketlerinden sonra -özellikle batı toplumlarında- daha geniş bir alana yayılarak ulus temelinde devletlerin kurulmasına sebep olmuştur. Günümüz dünyasında da bir kısım insanların diğerlerinden üstün olduğunu iddia eden yaklaşımlar mevcuttur. Hatta mensuplarını kast sistemi ile ayıran, sadece bir millete özel olup onun mutluluğunu sağlamayı hedefleyen dinler dahi vardır. Ancak Yahudilikten başka, bir ırkın üstünlüğünü ve diğerleri üzerindeki egemenliğini bariz bir şekilde ifade eden bir din yoktur. İsrâiloğullarını Tanrı’nın seçilmiş halkı olarak gören Yahudiler bu kanaatlerine Hz. Nûh döneminde meydana geldiği iddia edilen ve Tevrat metninde bulunan bazı olayları gerekçe gösterirler. Bu çalışma Tevrat metnini merkeze alarak söz konusu üstünlük iddiasının sebeplerini ortaya koymaktadır. Çalışmada Yahudi kutsal kitabı Tanah esas alınmış ayrıca konu hakkında yazılan eski ve yeni çalışmalardan da istifade edilmiştir.
Zekâtın Sarf Yerlerinden Biri Olan Gârimîn Payından Karz-ı Hasen
Authors: Şahin Nurten Zeliha
Published: June 2024

İnsanlar ihtiyaçlarını karşılayabilmek için en yakınından başlayarak borç talep ederler. Bu nedenle borçlar hukuku insanlık tarihi kadar eski bir geçmişe sahiptir. Fakat insanlık tarihi kadar eski olan bir gerçeklikte insanların bu ihtiyaç halini kazanç haline dönüştüren tefeciliktir. Bugün için ise Müslümanlar ihtiyacı için mislini ödemek üzere borç bulamayınca daha çok banka kurumlarına başvurarak faiz ile borç alabilmektedir. Muasır fakihler Müslümanın faizsiz borç alarak ihtiyacını karşılayabilmesi için özellikle zekât ve karz sandıklarını öne çıkartmışlardır. Borç talebinin ihtiyaçtan kaynaklandığı düşünülürse ve zekâtın amacının ihtiyaç sahibinin ihtiyacını gidermek olduğu göz önünde tutulursa her ikisinin de maksadının aynı olduğu görülür. Maksat birliğinden hareketle insanlara zekât malından borç verilerek faizsiz ihtiyacını karşılayabilmede kolaylık sağlanabilir mi sorusunu özellikle zekât üzerinde uzun mesaisi olan bazı fakihler cevaz vererek cevaplamıştır. Bu görüşe göre zekât sandıklarından tekrar sandığa bedeli dönmek üzere borç verilebilir. Kişi borç aldıktan sonra zekâtın sarf yerleri arasında yer alan gârimîn sınıfına dâhil olacağından dolayı zekât malı borç talep edenlerin ihtiyaçlarını giderecek şekilde ayrılabilir. Bu çalışma zekâtın gârime kıyasla karz olarak verilebileceği konusunu karz ve zekâtın sarf yerlerinden birisi olan gârim ile karşılaştırarak ortaya koymayı amaçlamaktadır.
Quantum dark energy in a seven-dimensional universe
Authors: Kesanasetty Sasidhar
Published: June 2024

This paper explains the dark energy and acceleration of the universe by quantizing the space in hidden dimensions, which provides the basis and background for the gravitational force. Space-time is considered to be made of a four-dimensional elastic grid in a seven-dimensional universe in which matter also expands along with the universe. Each cube of the grid is considered a quantum of hidden three-dimensional space of Planck volume containing Planck charge, which makes the universe seven dimensional. The dark energy is explained by the electrostatic repulsion between Planck charges in each quantum of the hidden space. Mathematically, this electrostatic repulsion is related to the Hubble parameter H(z) to explain the accelerated expansion of the universe, and the increase in the relative cosmological potential energy/inertial mass of matter. Expansion of space-time is considered not due to the creation of the new space but due to the stretching of the existing space-time itself like an elastic ruler where the proper length and volume remain constant. The relative values of the Planck constant, gravitational constant, permittivity of free space, and Boltzmann constant are shown to vary owing to the expansion or contraction of space but are compensated for by the proportional change in the relative inertial mass. This theory also builds a preliminary framework for the relativistic Newtonian theory of gravity and relativistic MONDian (Modified Newtonian dynamics) gravity, identifies a valid reason for the transition of Newtonian gravity to MOND at a0, and explains the dynamics of galaxy clusters without dark matter.
Structural brain differences in individuals with insomnia compared to good sleepers for volume, thickness, and shape
Authors: Kay Daniel , Cobia Derin , Graul Benjamin , Karim Helmet , Jarvis Sierra , Conrwell Julia , Junge Chase , Madrid Kennedy , Winiarski Holly , Jones Jolynn , Buysse Daniel
Published: June 2024

At its core, insomnia is the inability to sleep when expecting to do so. The behavioral and cognitive factors associated with insomnia have been extensively studied but the pathophysiology of insomnia remains unclear. This study investigated structural brain differences in a well-characterized sample of individuals who met DSM-IV-TR criteria for insomnia disorder (n = 58) and controls (n = 67) using high-dimensional surface-based mapping procedures. MRI scans were collected at the University of Pittsburgh at either 1.5 or 3 Tesla. We harmonized these scans using neuroComBat procedures. Image processing included the FreeSurfer toolkit and large-deformation diffeo-morphic metric mapping (LDDMM). We hypothesized that the insomnia group would demonstrate altered volume, cortical thickness, and shape relative to a control group in regions predicted by prior genetic analyses and MRI studies: orbitofrontal cortex, prefrontal cortex, temporal cortex, precuneus, hippocampus, thalamus, cingulate, caudate nucleus, and cerebellum. Repeated measures general linear models were conducted for extracted values of all regions, with group status as the between-subjects effect and hemisphere as the within-subjects effect. We found that compared to controls, individuals with insomnia had significantly greater cerebellar gray matter volume than controls with a rightward volumetric asymmetry, thinner anterior cingulate cortices, inward deformations in the head of the right caudate, and outward deformation in the right CA1 region of the hippocampus. Structural differences may represent individual differences that confer vulnerability to insomnia. Alternatively, insomnia may result in brain alterations through regional sleep disruption or chronic daytime use differences.
Global research trends in regulating gut microbiome to improve type 2 diabetes mellitus: bibliometrics and visual analysis
Authors: Jiang Rongsheng , Cong Zhengri , Zheng Likun , Zhang Long , Guan Qifan , Wang Sixian , Fang Jinxu , Chen Jiahao , Liu Mingjun
Published: June 2024

Background

Gut microbiome (GM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have two-way effects. Improving T2DM by modulating GM in various ways, such as diet, exercise, and medication, is gradually becoming popular, and related studies have yielded positive results. However, there is still a lack of high-quality bibliometric analyses of research in this area. This study aims to systematize and comprehensively summarize the knowledge structure, research tropics, and research trends of GM and T2DM through bibliometric analysis.

Methods

Publications related to GM and T2DM before January 9, 2024, in the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) were searched in this study. Microsoft Excel 2019 was used to analyze publishing trends and CiteSpace (v.6.1.R6 Advanced) was used to analyze institutions, cited journals, references, and keywords.SCImago Graphica (v.1.0.39) was used to analyze countries/regions, institutions’ collaborations, cited authors, and published journals.

Results

We finally included 1004 articles published from 2008 to 2023. The number of published articles showed an upward trend and reached its peak in 2022. China is the country with the largest number of articles, Univ Copenhagen is the institution with the largest number of articles, Fukui, Michiaki, Hamaguchi, Masahide are the scholars with the largest number of articles, and Cani and Patrice D. are the scholars with the largest number of citations. NUTRIENTS(Q1/5.9) published the most publications, while Nature (Q1/64.8; Cited 804 times) is the most frequently cited journal. Gut microbiota, Obesity, and insulin resistance are the most frequently used keywords. This study found that current researches focus on the effects of diet, exercise, and pharmacological modification of GM to improve T2DM and explores specific mechanisms. Future researches will focus on three areas: complications of T2DM and specific physiological processes, methods and measures to regulate GM, and new experimental techniques and assays.

Conclusion

The current researches confirmed the effects and specific mechanisms of modulating GM to improve T2DM. Further exploration of the effects of modulating GM on T2DM complications and specific physiologic processes is a future trend of research. Exploring specific methods for regulating GM and developing new experimental techniques and assays are important for future research.
Fuzzy sliding mode control with adaptive exponential reaching law for inverters in the photovoltaic microgrid
Authors: Pei Xiugao , Zhao Xinhua , Jia Huiyong , Wang Hao , Liu Junpeng
Published: June 2024

Photovoltaic inverters are widely utilized in microgrid systems working as the key equipment for converting solar energy into usable electricity. This paper presents a fuzzy sliding mode control (FSMC) method for the photovoltaic inverter in a microgrid. The inverter module uses voltage control to achieve stable AC output voltage. Moreover, to deal with system uncertainty and non-linearity in the photovoltaic inverter, a fuzzy controller was designed to realize real-time adaptation of the gains of the constant term and the reaching term in the sliding mode control law, which serves as a compensating controller for traditional sliding mode control. The gains of the exponential reaching law can be adjusted according to the system state instead of fixed gains, which can effectively reduce the chattering phenomenon and improve the robustness of the photovoltaic microgrid. Finally, the Lyapunov stability theory was used to ensure the stability of the entire control system, achieving a high-performance independent power supply for loads in a microgrid. Simulation results show that the designed control system is more robust to load disturbances and has superior dynamic performance.
Transcriptional and functional remodeling of lung-resident T cells and macrophages by Simian varicella virus infection
Authors: Doratt Brianna M. , Malherbe Delphine C. , Messaoudi Ilhem
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) causes varicella and can reactivate as herpes zoster, and both diseases present a significant burden worldwide. However, the mechanisms by which VZV establishes latency in the sensory ganglia and disseminates to these sites remain unclear.

Methods

We combined a single-cell sequencing approach and a well-established rhesus macaque experimental model using Simian varicella virus (SVV), which recapitulates the VZV infection in humans, to define the acute immune response to SVV in the lung as well as compare the transcriptome of infected and bystander lung-resident T cells and macrophages.

Results and discussion

Our analysis showed a decrease in the frequency of alveolar macrophages concomitant with an increase in that of infiltrating macrophages expressing antiviral genes as well as proliferating T cells, effector CD8 T cells, and T cells expressing granzyme A (GZMA) shortly after infection. Moreover, infected T cells harbored higher numbers of viral transcripts compared to infected macrophages. Furthermore, genes associated with cellular metabolism (glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation) showed differential expression in infected cells, suggesting adaptations to support viral replication. Overall, these data suggest that SVV infection remodels the transcriptome of bystander and infected lung-resident T cells and macrophages.
MPX3 van der Waals magnets under pressure (M = Mn, Ni, V, Fe, Co, Cd; X = S, Se)
Authors: Matsuoka Takahiro , Kim Heung-Sik , Samanta Subhasis , Musfeldt Janice L. , Mandrus David G.
Published: June 2024

van der Waals antiferromagnets with chemical formula MPX3 (M = V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cd; X = S, Se) are superb platforms for exploring the fundamental properties of complex chalcogenides, revealing their structure-property relations and unraveling the physics of confinement. Pressure is extremely effective as an external stimulus, able to tune properties and drive new states of matter. In this review, we summarize experimental and theoretical progress to date with special emphasis on the structural, magnetic, and optical properties of the MPX3 family of materials. Under compression, these compounds host inter-layer sliding and insulator-to-metal transitions accompanied by dramatic volume reduction and spin state collapse, piezochromism, possible polar metal and orbital Mott phases, as well as superconductivity. Some responses are already providing the basis for spintronic, magneto-optic, and thermoelectric devices. We propose that strain may drive similar functionality in these materials.
Quality of life and mental health status of glaucoma patients
Authors: Kopilaš Vanja , Kopilaš Mirko
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, poses significant challenges to patients’ quality of life (QOL) and mental well-being.

Methods

This study aimed to investigate the complex interplay between clinical, demographic, and psychological factors and their impact on QOL among patients diagnosed with glaucoma. A cohort of 201 glaucoma patients, with a mean age of 70 years, participated in the study.

Results

Descriptive analyses revealed that participants reported living with a glaucoma diagnosis for an average of 13.38 years, highlighting the chronic nature of the disease in the cohort. Comorbidity was shown to be in close relationship with QOL, where with additional health problems have lower QOL scores (M = 34.86, SD = 18.25), as well as higher levels of anxiety (M = 10.64, SD = 5.38) and depression (M = 13.42, SD = 7.37). Correlation analyses further unveiled robust associations between clinical characteristics and psychological outcomes, with lower visual acuity strongly correlated with reduced QOL (rR = −0.74, pR < 0.001; rL = −0.78, pL < 0.001) and higher levels of anxiety and depression. Additionally, longer duration of glaucoma diagnosis was moderately associated with poorer QOL (r = 0.56, p < 0.001) and increased psychological distress, highlighting the cumulative burden of living with the disease over time. Mediation analyses indicated that duration of diagnosis partially mediated the relationship between depression and QOL, as well as anxiety and QOL, suggesting that the prolonged experience of living with glaucoma may exacerbate the impact of psychological distress on QOL.

Discussion

These findings underscore the importance of holistic patient care approaches that address both the physical and psychological aspects of glaucoma to improve patient outcomes and enhance overall well-being.
The role of HOTAIR in the modulation of resistance to anticancer therapy
Authors: Cantile Monica , Belli Valentina , Scognamiglio Giosuè , Martorana Anna , De Pietro Giovanna , Tracey Maura , Budillon Alfredo
Published: June 2024

Leading anti-tumour therapeutic strategies typically involve surgery and radiotherapy for locally advanced (non-metastatic) cancers, while hormone therapy, chemotherapy, and molecular targeted therapy are the current treatment options for metastatic cancer. Despite the initially high sensitivity rate to anticancer therapies, a large number of patients develop resistance, leading to a poor prognosis. The mechanisms related to drug resistance are highly complex, and long non-coding RNAs appear to play a crucial role in these processes. Among these, the lncRNA homeobox transcript antisense intergenic RNA (HOTAIR), widely implicated in cancer initiation and progression, likewise plays a significant role in anticancer drug resistance. It can modulate cell activities such as proliferation, apoptosis, hypoxia, autophagy, as well as epithelial-mesenchymal transition, thereby contributing to the development of resistant tumour cells. In this manuscript, we describe different mechanisms of antitumor drug resistance in which HOTAIR is involved and suggest its potential as a therapeutic predictive biomarker for the management of cancer patients.
A scoping review of the effects of mushroom and fungus extracts in rodent models of depression and tests of antidepressant activity
Authors: Wang Catherine K. , Kim Gio , Aleksandrova Lily R. , Panenka William J. , Barr Alasdair M.
Published: June 2024

One of the most important developments in psychopharmacology in the past decade has been the emergence of novel treatments for mood disorders, such as psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression. Psilocybin is most commonly found in different species of mushroom; however, the literature on mushroom and fungus extracts with potential antidepressant activity extends well beyond just psilocybin-containing mushrooms, and includes both psychedelic and non-psychedelic species. In the current review, we systematically review the preclinical literature on mushroom and fungus extracts, and their effects of animal models of depression and tests of antidepressant activity. The PICO structure, PRISMA checklist and the Cochrane Handbook for systematic reviews of intervention were used to guide the search strategy. A scoping search was conducted in electronic databases PubMed, CINAHL, Embase and Web of Science. The literature search identified 50 relevant and suitable published studies. These included 19 different species of mushrooms, as well as seven different species of other fungi. Nearly all studies reported antidepressant-like effects of treatment with extracts. Treatments were most commonly delivered orally, in both acute and chronically administered studies to predominantly male rodents. Multiple animal models of depression were used, the most common being unpredictable chronic mild stress, while the tail suspension test and forced swim test were most frequently used as standalone antidepressant screens. Details on each experiment with mushroom and fungus species are discussed in detail, while an evaluation is provided of the strengths and weaknesses of these studies.
The impact of abstinence from chronic alcohol consumption on the mouse striatal proteome: sex and subregion-specific differences
Authors: Duffus Brittnie-lee M. , Haggerty David L. , Doud Emma H. , Mosley Amber L. , Yamamoto Bryan K. , Atwood Brady K.
Published: June 2024

Alcohol misuse is the third leading preventable cause of death in the world. The World Health Organization currently estimates that 1 in 20 deaths are directly alcohol related. One of the ways in which consuming excessive levels of alcohol can both directly and indirectly affect human mortality and morbidity, is through chronic inflammation. Recently, studies have suggested a link between increased alcohol use and the incidence of neuroinflammatory-related diseases. However, the mechanism in which alcohol potentially influences neuroinflammatory processes is still being uncovered. We implemented an unbiased proteomics exploration of alcohol-induced changes in the striatum, with a specific emphasis on proteins related to inflammation. The striatum is a brain region that is critically involved with the progression of alcohol use disorder. Using mass spectrometry following voluntary alcohol self-administration in mice, we show that distinct protein abundances and signaling pathways in different subregions of the striatum are disrupted by chronic exposure to alcohol compared to water drinking control mice. Further, in mice that were allowed to experience abstinence from alcohol compared to mice that were non-abstinent, the overall proteome and signaling pathways showed additional differences, suggesting that the responses evoked by chronic alcohol exposure are dependent on alcohol use history. To our surprise we did not find that chronic alcohol drinking or abstinence altered protein abundance or pathways associated with inflammation, but rather affected proteins and pathways associated with neurodegeneration and metabolic, cellular organization, protein translation, and molecular transport processes. These outcomes suggest that in this drinking model, alcohol-induced neuroinflammation in the striatum is not a primary outcome controlling altered neurobehavioral function, but these changes are rather mediated by altered striatal neuronal structure and cellular health.
Current and future distribution of Forsythia suspensa in China under climate change adopting the MaxEnt model
Authors: Wang En , Lu Zongran , Rohani Emelda Rosseleena , Ou Jinmei , Tong Xiaohui , Han Rongchun
Published: June 2024

This study evaluated the potential impact of climate change on the distribution of Forsythia suspensa, a valuable traditional Chinese medicinal plant, using the MaxEnt model integrated with Geographic Information System (GIS). By analyzing occurrence data from various databases and environmental variables including climate and soil factors, we forecasted the present and future (2050s and 2070s) habitat suitability of F. suspensa under different greenhouse gas emission scenarios (RCP8.5, RCP4.5, RCP2.6). Results indicated that the suitable habitats for F. suspensa were primarily located in North, East, Central, Northwest, and Southwest China, with a significant potential expansion of suitable habitats anticipated by the 2070s, particularly under the high emission scenario. The study identified precipitation and temperature as the primary environmental drivers impacting the distribution of F. suspensa. Furthermore, a northward shift in the centroid of suitable habitats under future climate scenarios suggested a potential migration response to global warming. This work provides crucial insights into the future conservation and cultivation strategies for F. suspensa amidst changing climatic conditions.
2-Heptanol inhibits Botrytis cinerea by accelerating amino acid metabolism and retarding membrane transport
Authors: Wu Fangfang , Wang Haibo , Lin Yankun , Qu Zesheng , Zheng Bin , Feng Shun , Li Xinguo
Published: June 2024

During the postharvest storage of tomatoes, they are susceptible to infection by Botrytis cinerea, leading to significant economic losses. This study evaluated the antifungal potential of 2-heptanol (2-HE), a volatile biogenic compound, against B. cinerea and explored the underlying antifungal mechanism. The results indicated that 2-HE effectively suppressed the growth of B. cinerea mycelia both in vivo and in vitro and stimulated the activities of antioxidative enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) in tomatoes. Furthermore, 2-HE reduced spore viability, compromised membrane integrity, and resulted in increased levels of extracellular nucleic acids, protein content, and membrane lipid peroxidation. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that 2-HE disrupted the membrane transport system and enhanced amino acid metabolism, which led to intracellular nutrient depletion and subsequent B. cinerea cell death. Additionally, the 2-HE treatment did not negatively impact the appearance or quality of the tomatoes. In conclusion, the findings of this study offer insights into the use of 2-HE as a biocontrol agent in food and agricultural applications.
The pan-plastome of Prunus mume: insights into Prunus diversity, phylogeny, and domestication history
Authors: Wang Jie , Kan Junhu , Wang Jie , Yan Xinlin , Li Yi , Soe Thida , Tembrock Luke R. , Xing Guoming , Li Sen , Wu Zhiqiang , Jia Minlong
Published: June 2024

Backgrounds

Prunus mume in the Rosaceae and commonly referred to as mei or Chinese plum is widely used as a traditional ornamental flowering plant and fruit tree in China. Although some population and genetic analyses have been conducted for this species, no extensive comparisons of genetic variation from plastomes have yet been investigated.

Methods

We de novo assembled a total of 322 complete P. mume plastomes in this study and did a series of comparative analyses to better resolve pan-plastomic patterns of P. mume. To determine the phylogeny and domestication history of this species, we reconstructed the phylogenetic tree of Prunus genus, and resolved the population structure of P. mume. We also examined the nucleotide variation of P. mume to find potential DNA barcodes.

Results

The assembled plastomes exhibited a typical quadripartite structure and ranged from 157,871 bp to 158,213 bp in total size with a GC content ranging from 36.73 to 36.75%. A total of 112 unique genes were identified. Single nucleotide variants (SNVs) were the most common variants found among the plastomes, followed by nucleotide insertions/deletions (InDels), and block substitutions with the intergenic spacer (IGS) regions containing the greatest number of variants. From the pan-plastome data six well-supported genetic clusters were resolved using multiple different population structure analyses. The different cultivars were unevenly distributed among multiple clades. We also reconstructed a phylogeny for multiple species of Prunus to better understand genus level diversity and history from which a complex introgressive relationship between mei and other apricots/plums was resolved.

Conclusion

This study constructed the pan-plastome of P. mume, which indicated the domestication of P. mume involved multiple genetic origins and possible matrilineal introgression from other species. The phylogenetic analysis in Prunus and the population structure of P. mume provide an important maternal history for Prunus and the groundwork for future studies on intergenomic sequence transfers, cytonuclear incompatibility, and conservation genetics.
The effects of venlafaxine on depressive-like behaviors and gut microbiome in cuprizone-treated mice
Authors: Du Chunhai , Zhang Tian , Feng Chong , Sun Qian , Chen ZhiGuo , Shen Xin , Liu Ying , Dai Gengwu , Zhang Xuan , Tang Nailong
Published: June 2024

Background

Cuprizone (CPZ)-treated mice show significant demyelination, altered gut microbiome, and depressive-like behaviors. However, the effects of venlafaxine (Ven) on the gut microbiome and depressive-like behavior of CPZ-treated mice are largely unclear.

Methods

Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a chow containing 0.2% cuprizone (w/w) for 5 weeks to induce a model of demyelination. Meanwhile, the gut microbiota and depressive-like behaviors were assessed after the mice were fed with Ven (20 mg/kg/day) or equal volumes of distilled water for 2 weeks by oral gavage from the third week onward during CPZ treatment.

Results

CPZ treatment decreased the sucrose preference rate in the sucrose preference test and increased the immobility time in the tail-suspension test, and it also induced an abnormality in β-diversity and changes in microbial composition. Ven alleviated the depressive-like behavior and regulated the composition of the gut microbiota, such as the increase of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium in CPZ-treated mice.

Conclusion

The anti-depressant effects of Ven might be related to the regulation of gut microbiota in the CPZ-treated mice.
High-throughput mutational analysis of a methyltransferase ribozyme
Authors: Yamagami Ryota , Kubota Hina , Kohno Emi , Hori Hiroyuki
Published: June 2024

Methyltransferase ribozyme 1 (MTR1) is a catalytic RNA that has been isolated from a random RNA pool by in vitro selection. The ribozyme catalyzes site-specific formation of 1-methyl adenosine (m1A) using 6-methyl guanine (m6G) as a methyl group donor. The ribozyme has been extensively characterized by biochemical and structural analyses. Here, we describe high-throughput screening of single point mutants in the catalytic domain of MTR1 and determine their effect on ribozyme activity. Our mutational profiling method successfully assessed the activity of the 141 MTR1 variants tested in each experiment and revealed that the ribozyme is very sensitive to nucleotide substitutions in the catalytic core domain. Our technique can be applied to methyltransferase ribozymes that catalyze formation of different modifications such as 7-methylguanosine (m7G) or 3-methylcytidine (m3C).
De novo prediction of functional effects of genetic variants from DNA sequences based on context-specific molecular information
Authors: Yang Jiaxin , Das Adhikari Sikta , Wang Hao , Huang Binbin , Qi Wenjie , Cui Yuehua , Wang Jianrong
Published: June 2024

Deciphering the functional effects of noncoding genetic variants stands as a fundamental challenge in human genetics. Traditional approaches, such as Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS), Transcriptome-Wide Association Studies (TWAS), and Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) studies, are constrained by obscured the underlying molecular-level mechanisms, making it challenging to unravel the genetic basis of complex traits. The advent of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies has enabled context-specific genome-wide measurements, encompassing gene expression, chromatin accessibility, epigenetic marks, and transcription factor binding sites, to be obtained across diverse cell types and tissues, paving the way for decoding genetic variation effects directly from DNA sequences only. The de novo predictions of functional effects are pivotal for enhancing our comprehension of transcriptional regulation and its disruptions caused by the plethora of noncoding genetic variants linked to human diseases and traits. This review provides a systematic overview of the state-of-the-art models and algorithms for genetic variant effect predictions, including traditional sequence-based models, Deep Learning models, and the cutting-edge Foundation Models. It delves into the ongoing challenges and prospective directions, presenting an in-depth perspective on contemporary developments in this domain.
Hybrid Machine Learning Algorithms to Evaluate Prostate Cancer
Authors: Morakis Dimitrios , Adamopoulos Adam
Published: June 2024

The adequacy and efficacy of simple and hybrid machine learning and Computational Intelligence algorithms were evaluated for the classification of potential prostate cancer patients in two distinct categories, the high- and the low-risk group for PCa. The evaluation is based on randomly generated surrogate data for the biomarker PSA, considering that reported epidemiological data indicated that PSA values follow a lognormal distribution. In addition, four more biomarkers were considered, namely, PSAD (PSA density), PSAV (PSA velocity), PSA ratio, and Digital Rectal Exam evaluation (DRE), as well as patient age. Seven simple classification algorithms, namely, Decision Trees, Random Forests, Support Vector Machines, K-Nearest Neighbors, Logistic Regression, Naïve Bayes, and Artificial Neural Networks, were evaluated in terms of classification accuracy. In addition, three hybrid algorithms were developed and introduced in the present work, where Genetic Algorithms were utilized as a metaheuristic searching technique in order to optimize the training set, in terms of minimizing its size, to give optimal classification accuracy for the simple algorithms including K-Nearest Neighbors, a K-means clustering algorithm, and a genetic clustering algorithm. Results indicated that prostate cancer cases can be classified with high accuracy, even by the use of small training sets, with sizes that could be even smaller than 30% of the dataset. Numerous computer experiments indicated that the proposed training set minimization does not cause overfitting of the hybrid algorithms. Finally, an easy-to-use Graphical User Interface (GUI) was implemented, incorporating all the evaluated algorithms and the decision-making procedure.
Simple Histogram Equalization Technique Improves Performance of VGG Models on Facial Emotion Recognition Datasets
Authors: Chowdhury Jaher Hassan , Liu Qian , Ramanna Sheela
Published: June 2024

Facial emotion recognition (FER) is crucial across psychology, neuroscience, computer vision, and machine learning due to the diversified and subjective nature of emotions, varying considerably across individuals, cultures, and contexts. This study explored FER through convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and Histogram Equalization techniques. It investigated the impact of histogram equalization, data augmentation, and various model optimization strategies on FER accuracy across different datasets like KDEF, CK+, and FER2013. Using pre-trained VGG architectures, such as VGG19 and VGG16, this study also examined the effectiveness of fine-tuning hyperparameters and implementing different learning rate schedulers. The evaluation encompassed diverse metrics including accuracy, Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUC-ROC), Area Under the Precision–Recall Curve (AUC-PRC), and Weighted F1 score. Notably, the fine-tuned VGG architecture demonstrated a state-of-the-art performance compared to conventional transfer learning models and achieved 100%, 95.92%, and 69.65% on the CK+, KDEF, and FER2013 datasets, respectively.
Feature Extraction Based on Sparse Coding Approach for Hand Grasp Type Classification
Authors: Samkunta Jirayu , Ketthong Patinya , Mai Nghia Thi , Kamal Md Abdus Samad , Murakami Iwanori , Yamada Kou
Published: June 2024

The kinematics of the human hand exhibit complex and diverse characteristics unique to each individual. Various techniques such as vision-based, ultrasonic-based, and data-glove-based approaches have been employed to analyze human hand movements. However, a critical challenge remains in efficiently analyzing and classifying hand grasp types based on time-series kinematic data. In this paper, we propose a novel sparse coding feature extraction technique based on dictionary learning to address this challenge. Our method enhances model accuracy, reduces training time, and minimizes overfitting risk. We benchmarked our approach against principal component analysis (PCA) and sparse coding based on a Gaussian random dictionary. Our results demonstrate a significant improvement in classification accuracy: achieving 81.78% with our method compared to 31.43% for PCA and 77.27% for the Gaussian random dictionary. Furthermore, our technique outperforms in terms of macro-average F1-score and average area under the curve (AUC) while also significantly reducing the number of features required.
Foliar Application of Strontium for the Identification of Roots from Specific Wheat Plants
Authors: Fu Senlin , Liu Di , Tian Yanjiao , Xu Xiaofeng , Shi Zhaoyong
Published: June 2024

In the field of crop research, the study of roots involves many challenges, particularly the lack of effective methods for identifying crop roots. To deal with this problem, this study proposes a solution strategy: in applying strontium to crop leaves, the roots of different crops are distinguished. In this study, we applied strontium ions to the leaves of hydroponically grown wheat, and these strontium ions were partially absorbed by the leaves and transported to the roots. Therefore, the strontium concentration of roots was significantly increased through the foliar application of strontium. After mixing the treated wheat with the untreated wheat root, the greater the biomass of the wheat root applied with strontium ions, the higher the strontium concentration in the mixed root. Based on this phenomenon, we can establish the relationship between wheat root biomass and strontium concentration in mixed roots through linear fitting. Furthermore, we can also use the relationship between root biomass and root length to establish the correlation between strontium concentration in mixed roots and the root length of wheat with strontium ions. After measuring the strontium concentration of the mixed roots to be distinguished, the root biomass and root length of wheat applied with strontium ions can be calculated according to the equation obtained through linear fitting. The accuracy of this method was verified through a comparison with the actual value and the existing root staining method. The results show that the coefficient of determination (R2) of the root biomass estimation equation obtained through linear fitting reached 0.83, which is statistically significant (p < 0.01). The Pearson correlation coefficient with the measured value was more than 0.9, showing a very high correlation and significance. The root length estimation equation derived from the relationship between the root biomass, strontium concentration and root length was compared with the real root length value and the root length value obtained using the staining method. The Pearson correlation coefficient also exceeded 0.8 and reached a statistically significant level (p < 0.01). This study confirms that strontium ions can be absorbed and transported to roots through wheat leaves and successfully developed a new method for predicting the length of wheat roots, providing an effective new tool for wheat root research.
What’s in a Name? Hellenic Origins of Microbiological Nomenclature
Authors: Vrioni Georgia , Peppas Theodoros A.
Published: June 2024

Our intention was to trace the origins of names that every microbiologist comes to pronounce or write down in her/his daily practice and, particularly, to elucidate the etymological debt of this medical field to the two great languages of classical antiquity, Greek and Latin. According to the system of binomial nomenclature established by Linnaeus in the 1750s to give a unique name to each species, consisting of two terms, the name of the genus and the name of the species, combinations were based on Greek and Latin. The two major cocci consist of a literally classical example. Streptococci, named so by Bilroth from the Greek word “στρεπτόν—strepton” (necklace), and staphylococci, baptised by Ogston from “staphyli—σταφύλι” (grape), were both so named due to their appearance under microscopy. Two well-known species of these genera bear Latin names denoting colour, greenish for S. viridans and golden for S. aureus. Other bacteria display the discovering scientist like, E. coli for Escherich, Brucella from Bruce, or Pasteurella from Louis Pasteur. Similar pathways also exist for viruses, even back to Hippocrates, like Herpesviruses from “έρπης—herpes” (creeping) or Arenaviruses from “arena—sand”, and fungi, as mycology itself originates from “μύκης—myces”, Greek for fungus, and Aspergillus from the verb “aspergo” (to sprinkle).
Electrochemical Determination of Catechol Using a Disposable Printed Electrode with Conductive Ink Based on Graphite and Carbon Black
Authors: de Oliveira Sthephane Pereira , de Oliveira Cândido Thaís Cristina , Pereira Arnaldo César , da Silva Daniela Nunes
Published: June 2024

Catechol (CT) is a phenolic compound widely used in various industrial sectors, but it is toxic; thus, there is a need for methods that aim to identify and quantify the existence of residues of this material in the environment. In this study a disposable printed electrochemical sensor was developed as an effective alternative for determining CT in water samples. The electrode, called SPEC, was manufactured using the screen-printing method using polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as a support, in which a conductive ink based on carbonaceous materials was used to print the working and auxiliary electrodes and a silver/silver chloride of ink on the reference electrode. The optimal ratio for the conductive ink was 6.25% carbon black, 35.42% graphite, and 58.33% nail polish. The ink obtained was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The assessment of the effect of pH on the redox process showed Nernstian behavior (0.057 V pH−1), indicating that the process involves the same number of protons and electrons. Under optimized conditions, with 0.2 mol L−1 acetate buffer at pH 5.0, and by square wave voltammetry, the sensor presented sensitivity values of 0.31 μA L μmol−1, a detection limit of 5.96 μmol L−1, and a quantification limit of 19.87 μmol L−1. The sensor was applied to determine CT in tap water samples, and the results showed recoveries between 97.95 and 100.17%.