bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of the targeted effect of Sijunzi decoction on the colorectal cancer microenvironment via the ESTIMATE algorithm
Authors: Du Jiaxin , Tao Quyuan , Liu Ying , Huang Zhanming , Jin He , Lin Wenjia , Huang Xinying , Zeng Jingyan , Zhao Yongchang , Liu Lingyu , Xu Qian , Han Xue , Chen Lixia , Chen Xin-lin , Wen Yi
Published: March 2022

Objective

Sijunzi decoction (SJZD) was used to treat patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) as an adjuvant method. The aim of the study was to investigate the therapeutic targets and pathways of SJZD towards the tumor microenvironment of CRC via network pharmacology and the ESTIMATE algorithm.

Methods

The ESTIMATE algorithm was used to calculate immune and stromal scores to predict the level of infiltrating immune and stromal cells. The active targets of SJZD were searched in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) and UniProt database. The core targets were obtained by matching the differentially expressed genes in CRC tissues and the targets of SJZD. Then, GO, KEGG and validation in TCGA were carried out.

Results

According to the ESTIMATE algorithm and survival analysis, the median survival time of the low stromal score group was significantly higher than that of the high stromal score group (P= 0.018), while the patients showed no significant difference of OS between different immune groups (P= 0.19). A total of 929 genes were upregulated and 115 genes were downregulated between the stromal score groups (|logFC| > 2, adjustedP< 0.05); 357 genes were upregulated and 472 genes were downregulated between the immune score groups. The component-target network included 139 active components and 52 related targets. The core targets wereHSPB1,SPP1,IGFBP3, andTGFB1, which were significantly associated with poor prognosis in TCGA validation. GO terms included the response to hypoxia, the extracellular space, protein binding and the TNF signaling pathway. Immunoreaction was the main enriched pathway identified by KEGG analysis.

Conclusion

The core genes (HSPB1,SPP1,IGFBP3andTGFB1) affected CRC development and prognosis by regulating hypoxia, protein binding and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in the extracellular matrix.
Using nominal group technique among resident physicians to identify key attributes of a burnout prevention program
Authors: Nelson Vicki , Dubov Alex , Morton Kelly , Fraenkel Liana
Published: March 2022

Purpose

To identify preferred burnout interventions within a resident physician population, utilizing the Nominal Group Technique. The results will be used to design a discrete choice experiment study to inform the development of resident burnout prevention programs.

Methods

Three resident focus groups met (10–14 participants/group) to prioritize a list of 23 factors for burnout prevention programs. The Nominal Group Technique consisted of three steps: an individual, confidential ranking of the 23 factors by importance from 1 to 23, a group discussion of each attribute, including a group review of the rankings, and an opportunity to alter the original ranking across participants.

Results

The total number of residents (36) were a representative sample of specialty, year of residency, and sex. There was strong agreement about the most highly rated attributes which grouped naturally into themes of autonomy, meaning, competency and relatedness. There was also disagreement on several of the attributes that is likely due to the differences in residency specialty and subsequently rotation requirements.

Conclusion

This study identified the need to address multiple organizational factors that may lead to physician burnout. There is a clear need for complex interventions that target systemic and program level factors rather than focus on individual interventions. These results may help residency program directors understand the specific attributes of a burnout prevention program valued by residents. Aligning burnout interventions with resident preferences could improve the efficacy of burnout prevention programs by improving adoption of, and satisfaction with, these programs. Physician burnout is a work-related syndrome characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a sense of reduced personal accomplishment [1]. Burnout is present in epidemic proportions and was estimated to occur in over 50 percent of practicing physicians and in up to 89 percent of resident physicians pre-COVID 19. The burnout epidemic is growing; a recent national survey of US physicians reported an 8.9 percent increase in burnout between 2011 and 2014 [2]. Rates of physician burnout have also increased [3] during the COVID-19 pandemic with a new classification of “pandemic burnout” experienced by over 52 percent of healthcare workers as early as June of 2020 [4]. Physician burnout can lead to depression, suicidal ideation, and relationship problems that may progress to substance abuse, increased interpersonal conflicts, broken relationships, low quality of life, major depression, and suicide [5–7]. The estimated rate of physician suicide is 300–400 annually [8–10].
Is large-scale rapid CoV-2 testing a substitute for lockdowns?
Authors: Diederichs Marc , Glawion René , Kremsner Peter G. , Mitze Timo , Müller Gernot J. , Papies Dominik , Schulz Felix , Wälde Klaus
Published: March 2022

Background

Various forms of contact restrictions have been adopted in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Around February 2021, rapid testing appeared as a new policy instrument. Some claim it may serve as a substitute for contact restrictions. We study the strength of this argument by evaluating the effects of a unique policy experiment: In March and April 2021, the city of Tübingen set up a testing scheme while relaxing contact restrictions.

Methods

We compare case rates in Tübingen county to an appropriately identified control unit. We employ the synthetic control method. We base interpretations of our findings on an extended SEIR model.

Findings

The experiment led to an increase in the reported case rate. This increase is robust across alternative statistical specifications. This is also due to more testing leading initially to more reported cases. An epidemiological model that corrects for ‘more cases due to more testing’ and ‘reduced testing and reporting during the Easter holiday’ confirms that the overall effect of the experiment led to more infections.

Interpretation

The number of rapid tests were not sufficiently high in this experiment to compensate for more contacts and thereby infections caused by relaxing contact restrictions.
Protective potential of royal jelly against hydroxyurea -induced hepatic injury in rats via antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptosis properties
Authors: Tohamy Hossam G. , El-Neweshy Mahmoud S. , Soliman Mohamed Mohamed , Sayed Samy , Shukry Mustafa , Ghamry Heba I. , Abd-Ellatieff Hoda
Published: March 2022

Hydroxyurea (HDU) is a widely used medication for various malignancies, thalassemia, and sickle cell anemia with reported side effects. The current study investigated HDU- induced hepatic injury and the protective potential of the royal jelly (RJ) against this hepatotoxic effect in the light of hepatic oxidative/ antioxidative status, pro-inflammatory cytokine, apoptosis signaling pathway, and histopathology. Sixty albino rats were used (n = 10/group) for 60 days: control, RJ (100 mg/kg body weight, orally), HDU (225 mg/kg body weight, orally), 2HDU (450 mg/kg body weight, orally), and HDU + RJ groups. HDU-treated rats showed significant elevation of liver function tests as aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase, as well as malondialdehyde and nitric oxide (oxidative biomarkers) and significant decreased hepatic antioxidant molecules (reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase), compared to a control group, that more pronounced in the high dose of HDU. In addition, HDU induced significant upregulation of TNF-α and the Caspase-3 apoptotic pathway. Moreover, the liver of HDU treated groups showed various hepatic lesions from mild to severe necrotic changes related to the HDU dose. However, administration of RJ with HDU improved liver function tests, liver histology, and hepatic oxidative/antioxidative status concerning HDU groups. Furthermore, oral RJ administration with HDU significantly lessens the immune-expression area % of TNF-α and Caspase-3. Thus, the royal jelly has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties against HDU- induced hepatic injury and could be, therefore, used as adjuvant therapy in patients with long-term HDU medication.
Field screening of diverse wheat germplasm for determining their adaptability to semi-arid climatic conditions
Authors: Mahpara Shahzadi , Bashir Muhammad Shafqat , Ullah Rehmat , Bilal Muhammad , Kausar Salma , Latif Muhammad Imran , Arif Muhammad , Akhtar Imran , Brestic Marian , Zuan Ali Tan Kee , Salama Ehab A. A. , Al-Hashimi Abdulrahman , Alfagham Alanoud
Published: March 2022

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is an important staple food crop for one third of global population and important crop for securing future food security. Rapid changes in the climate on global scale could be a threat for future food security. This situation urges plant breeders to explore the genetic potential of existing wheat germplasm. This study screened forty diverse wheat genotypes for their yield under two different agroclimatic conditions, i.e., Layyah and Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan. Data relating to plant height, peduncle length, flag leaf area, spike length, number of spikelets, number of grains per spike, thousand grain weight, chlorophyll content and grain yield were recorded. The tested wheat genotypes significantly differed for grain yield and related traits. Grain yield was positively correlated with plant height, spike length, spike number, flag leaf length, number of grains per spike, and 1000-grain weight. Biplot obtained from the cluster analysis by Euclidean method grouped the studied genotypes in 3 different groups. The genotypes exhibited 10.77% variability within quadrants, whereas 72.36% variability was recorded between quadrants according to clustering. Dendrogram grouped the tested genotypes into two main clusters. The main cluster “I” comprised of 2 genotypes, i.e., ‘Seher-2006’ and ‘AS-2002’. The cluster “II” contained 38 genotypes based on Euclidian values. Genotypes within same cluster had smaller D2 values compared to those belonging to other clusters. The genetic relationships of genotypes provide useful information for breeding programs. Overall, the results revealed that genotypes ‘Line 9733’, ‘Bhakar-2002’, ‘Line A9’ and ‘SYN-46’ had better yield and yield stability under climatic conditions of southern Punjab. Therefore, these genotypes could be recommended for general cultivation in the study region.
Action-driven contrastive representation for reinforcement learning
Authors: Kim Minbeom , Rho Kyeongha , Kim Yong-duk , Jung Kyomin
Published: March 2022

In reinforcement learning, reward-driven feature learning directly from high-dimensional images faces two challenges:sample-efficiencyfor solving control tasks andgeneralizationto unseen observations. In prior works, these issues have been addressed through learning representation from pixel inputs. However, their representation faced the limitations of being vulnerable to the high diversity inherent in environments or not taking the characteristics for solving control tasks. To attenuate these phenomena, we propose the novel contrastive representation method,Action-Driven Auxiliary Task (ADAT), which forces a representation to concentrate on essential features for deciding actions and ignore control-irrelevant details. In the augmented state-action dictionary of ADAT, the agent learns representation to maximize agreement between observations sharing the same actions. The proposed method significantly outperforms model-free and model-based algorithms in the Atari and OpenAI ProcGen, widely used benchmarks for sample-efficiency and generalization.
‘You’re on the waiting list’: An interpretive phenomenological analysis of young adults’ experiences of waiting lists within mental health services in the UK
Authors: Punton Georgia , Dodd Alyson L. , McNeill Andrew
Published: March 2022

Waiting lists in mental health services are currently considered too long. Lengthy waits of up to 18 weeks are commonly reported in the UK. Waiting lists have long been associated with a variety of negative psychological responses, however there is little understanding behind young adults’ personal experiences of such delays within mental health services. The current study aimed to explore young adults’ experiences of waiting lists in mental healthcare in the UK. Seven young adults were interviewed in the current study (aged 19–22). Interpretive phenomenological analysis was utilised to explore participant accounts. Three super-ordinate themes were generated: Reliance on Alternative Methods of Support; Inability to Function Sufficiently; and Emergence of Negative Beliefs, Emotions and Thoughts. Participants primarily reported a variety of negative psychological and behavioural consequences associated with waiting lists in mental health services, as well as exacerbated existing physical and psychological health issues. In accordance with the limited number of previous studies, waiting lists are considered by patients to be barriers to mental health support and intervention. Future direction is advised.
A secure multi-party computation protocol without CRS supporting multi-bit encryption
Authors: Zhu Zong-Wu , Huang Ru-Wei
Published: March 2022

To solve the problems in the existing fully homomorphic encryption (FHE)-based secure multi-party computation (SMC) protocols such as low efficiency, the FHE scheme that supports multi-bit encryption was modified during the generation of the public key so that the users could generate their public keys independently without the common random string (CRS) matrix. Further, a multi-bit Gentry-Sahai-Waters scheme (MGSW) scheme without CRS was constructed. The modified LinkAlgo algorithm was adopted to expand the single-key ciphertext into the multi-key ciphertext and simplify the way of generating the expanded ciphertext. In this way, a multi-key FHE (MFHE) scheme was achieved based on the MGSW scheme. Finally, a three-round SMC protocol without CRS was constructed using the MFHE scheme and the decisional learning with errors (DLWE) assumption, which was secure in the semi-malicious model. Compared to the existing protocols, the protocol proposed herein can support multi-bit encryption and is found with smaller ciphertext size and lower storage overhead and generate the expanded ciphertext in a simpler way. Overall performance is better than existing protocols.
Externalizing personality characteristics define clinically relevant subgroups of alcohol use disorder
Authors: Kovács Ildikó , Gál Bernadett I. , Horváth Zsolt , Demeter Ildikó , Rózsa Sándor , Janka Zoltán , Urbán Róbert , Demetrovics Zsolt , Andó Bálint
Published: March 2022

Aims

Higher levels of externalizing characteristics, i.e. impulsivity, novelty seeking and aggression, could contribute to the development, progression and severity of alcohol use disorder (AUD). The present study aims to explore whether these externalizing characteristics together have a potential group-forming role in AUD using latent profile analysis (LPA).

Methods

Externalizing characteristics of 102 AUD patients were analyzed using LPA to explore the group-forming role of externalizing symptoms; groups were compared in terms of demographic and alcohol-related variables, indices of psychopathological, depressive and anxiety symptom severity.

Results

LPA revealed and supported a two-group model based on externalizing symptoms. The group with higher levels of externalizing symptoms showed significantly elevated levels of alcohol-related and anxio-depressive symptoms.

Conclusions

Externalizing characteristics converge and have a group-forming role in chronic AUD, and are associated with a more severe form of AUD. By making the diagnostic category less heterogeneous, these different subtypes within AUD may provide aid in tailoring treatments to patients’ specific needs.
CRISPR-Cas9 approach confirms Calcineurin-responsive zinc finger 1 (Crz1) transcription factor as a promising therapeutic target in echinocandin-resistant Candida glabrata
Authors: Ceballos-Garzon Andres , Roman Elvira , Pla Jesús , Pagniez Fabrice , Amado Daniela , Alméciga-Díaz Carlos J. , Le Pape Patrice , Parra-Giraldo Claudia M.
Published: March 2022

Invasive fungal infections, which kill more than 1.6 million patients each year worldwide, are difficult to treat due to the limited number of antifungal drugs (azoles, echinocandins, and polyenes) and the emergence of antifungal resistance. The transcription factor Crz1, a key regulator of cellular stress responses and virulence, is an attractive therapeutic target because this protein is absent in human cells. Here, we used a CRISPR-Cas9 approach to generate isogeniccrz1Δ strains in two clinical isolates of caspofungin-resistantC.glabratato analyze the role of this transcription factor in susceptibility to echinocandins, stress tolerance, biofilm formation, and pathogenicity in both non-vertebrate (Galleria mellonella) and vertebrate (mice) models of candidiasis. In these clinical isolates,CRZ1disruption restores the susceptibility to echinocandins in bothin vitroandin vivomodels, and affects their oxidative stress response, biofilm formation, cell size, and pathogenicity. These results strongly suggest that Crz1 inhibitors may play an important role in the development of novel therapeutic agents against fungal infections considering the emergence of antifungal resistance and the low number of available antifungal drugs.
The Watchdogs Network: A model for continuous monitoring of AVMSD rules
Authors: Fuchsloch Stefanie , von Nordheim Gerret
Published: March 2022

The Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) overhaul in 2018 includes video sharing platform services (VSPs), which provide content in an automated way, including user-generated content (UGC). This change is tantamount to a paradigm shift, as these multi-sided platforms differ starkly from the actors that had previously been regulated under the AVMSD. The AVMSD seems to have answered the question, what kind of rules we need. However, problems of implementation and application will not become apparent until later, and only then will it become clear which of the VSPs’ measures are truly expedient and appropriate. To know which rules are precise enough to provide legal certainty while also dynamic enough to adapt to technological developments, we need permanent monitoring processes – as described in our governance cycle. The prerequisite for permanent monitoring processes is fair and transparent data accesses, the design of which is also a fundamental challenge, as we will explain by the house of data access. Continuous monitoring processes are complex procedures involving many layers of competence. But they are also opportunities to timely catch and quickly correct misdevelopments. By implementing the two-step watchdog model in a bigger network, undesirable developments can be recognized at an earlier stage, because watchdogs are strengthened as information purveyors.
Los índices de relatividad, densidad y eficiencia informativa en las lenguas: estudio de las correlaciones matemáticas entre palabras y fonemas
Authors: Vercher García Enrique Javier , Bullejos Lorenzo Manuel
Published: March 2022

El presente artículo recoge y analiza en 459 lenguas del mundo el número de palabras (tokens) y el número de sonidos y fonemas (unidades fónicas convencionales de token o UFCT) que emplean dichas lenguas para expresar una misma información (en el análisis central de nuestro estudio el texto fuente empleado, en concreto, son los 10 primeros artículos de la Declaración Universal de los Derechos Humanos). Asimismo, estudia las correlaciones matemáticas existentes entre tokens, unidades fónicas convencionales de token y contenido informativo; correlaciones que dan lugar a los denominados índice de relatividad informativa (coeficiente resultante de dividir el número de tokens entre el número de UFCT), índice de densidad informativa (coeficiente resultante de dividir el número de UFCT entre el número de tokens), índice de eficiencia informativa léxica (coeficiente resultante de dividir 100 entre el número de tokens) e índice de eficiencia informativa fónica (coeficiente resultante de dividir 100 entre el número de UFCT). El objetivo del análisis es aportar algo más de luz a los principios matemáticos del lenguaje, a la denominada economía del lenguaje y al conocimiento sobre las características de las distintas lenguas según su tipología morfológica. La investigación se centra en analizar la relación existente entre estos índices y la tipología morfológica predominante de cada lengua. El resultado es una gran cantidad de datos y estadísticas de las que extraemos una serie de conclusiones referidas al uso de recursos léxicos y fónicos en las lenguas: 1) los índices de relatividad informativa y de densidad informativa tienen una relación directa con el tipo morfológico; 2) el número total de UFCT empleadas para expresar un mismo contenido de información no depende del tipo morfológico; 3) la diferencia entre el número total de UFCT empleadas por distintas lenguas puede ser muy elevada; 4) la correlación entre número de tokens y valor medio de UFCT por token muestra una relación lineal negativa (es decir, a mayor número de palabras, las longitudes de las palabras disminuyen); 5) a mayor número de tokens totales empleado para expresar una misma información corresponde por regla general un mayor número de UFCT totales (a mayor número de palabras totales, mayor número de fonemas totales); 6) la denominada economía del lenguaje no parece funcionar de igual manera en todas las lenguas, al menos en lo que a uso de recursos (fonemas) se refiere. El presente trabajo introduce como nuevos factores de estudio y descripción de las lenguas los citados índices, así como una serie de herramientas de estudio que podrían ser aplicadas en el futuro a otras investigaciones lingüísticas.
Emotivitat a través dels demostratius valencians
Authors: Martín Miñana Pau
Published: March 2022

Més que una proximitat metafòrica cap al referent, la dixi emotiva, afectiva o empàtica produeix proximitat cap a l’oient arran de l’atenció conjunta i/o l’avaluació del referent. Aquest treball estudia els usos del demostratiu (com ara, la funció nominal o adverbial, el grau, el mode referencial, el caràcter humà, etc.) i de les seues construccions (anteposades al nom, posposades al nom o sense nucli nominal) per a comprovar quin tipus de demostratius tendeixen a tindre referents que són valorats de manera positiva o negativa. Per a realitzar aquesta exploració, hem recollit 383 formes demostratives d’un corpus propi (CoValC) format per converses col·loquials entre valencianoparlants de diverses zones. L’anàlisi mostra que en aquest corpus el grau dels demostratius no és rellevant per a proporcionar una implicació emocional, mentre que la majoria de determinants posposats (80%) i de referents humans (quasi 90%) revelen un caràcter afectiu o sobretot pejoratiu cap al referent. Per tant, d’acord amb aquests resultats, apuntar i, especialment, avaluar un referent faria que l’oient esdevinga una mena de còmplice, la qual cosa crea solidaritat i acostament cap a l’oient, no cap al referent.
La indeterminación del concepto de colocación en la lexicografía bilingüe
Authors: Rascón Caballero Alfonso
Published: March 2022

Uno de los indicios claros de competencia lingüística en una lengua es el dominio de las combinaciones léxicas. El término habitual que se maneja es el de colocación, pero es imposible que haya un consenso total en el tipo o tipos de combinación que corresponden a ese concepto. Un usuario habitual de diccionarios bilingües no se plantea qué es colocación, sin embargo el análisis de la naturaleza de las combinaciones léxicas es muy útil para los lexicógrafos, porque deben adoptar soluciones a la hora de mostrar en el diccionario bilingüe los distintos tipos de combinación. En este trabajo dedicamos un primer apartado a exponer, de un modo resumido, las tres concepciones más importantes de este término (1. la anglosajona, que se apoya en la frecuencia; 2. la de los lingüistas y fraseólogos Mel´čuk y afines, que enfatizan la restricción léxica sobre la semántica; 3. la de Bosque, para quien la mayoría de las combinaciones se rigen por la restricción) para destacar los distintos tipos de combinaciones léxicas (libres, restringidas; estándar, no estándar; de restricción léxica, de restricción semántica). Después se expone la indefinición del concepto de colocación y su difícil distinción de la combinación libre en el ámbito de la lexicografía, especialmente en lo referente a los diccionarios bilingües. Este análisis pone de manifiesto que hay combinaciones léxicas más o menos previsibles, más o menos sistemáticas o generalizables, más o menos restrictivas. A partir de estas consideraciones teóricas se especifican los componentes lexicográficos que pueden mostrar el fenómeno colocacional en sus diferentes manifestaciones: la indicación de contexto para las combinaciones más previsibles y sistemáticas, menos restrictivas, el ejemplo para las colocaciones más restrictivas y las que plantean más dificultades desde una perspectiva bilingüe, y el infralema (subentrada) para combinaciones estables que tienen por lo general un equivalente canónico en otras lenguas.
Marcadores del discurso en contextos de emoción
Authors: Domínguez García María Noemí
Published: March 2022

En este trabajo analizaremos los marcadores del discurso que se sitúan en las reacciones emotivas de una conversación coloquial, con el fin de comprobar si a sus funciones habituales de argumentación, reformulación, etc. y a sus funciones metadiscursivas de control del discurso puede añadírsele también la función metadiscursiva de anuncio de reacción emotiva. Las unidades conversacionales seleccionadas están, pues, marcadas por algún tipo de fuerza ilocutiva expresiva o emotiva. Nos situamos, así, en la línea de las investigaciones que está llevando a cabo el Grupo Fonoemoción en el seno del Proyecto EHSEE (Padilla et alii, 2017) y que suponen una nueva aportación a los estudios del llamado “discurso emotivo”. A él se acercan disciplinas lingüísticas como la fonopragmática (Rittaud-Hutinet 1995; Acuña 2011; Carbajal et alii 2014) o la fonocortesía (Hidalgo 2007; Hidalgo et alii 2010; Estellés 2013), interesadas en la relación entre el valor contextual de los enunciados y su reflejo fónico en el habla. La observación y el análisis de la conversación coloquial espontánea nos muestran que el habla se presenta continuamente como un reflejo de las emociones, de las actitudes y de los sentimientos de los usuarios (Cowie y Cornelius 2003; Padilla 2004; 2017; 2020; 2021). Para llevar a cabo esta investigación, y partiendo de la división de seis emociones básicas de Ekman (1970; 1999), se ha analizado un corpus de ochenta y nueve intervenciones emotivas procedentes de dos conversaciones coloquiales reales. Se han tomado como unidades de análisis conversacional la intervención, el acto y el subacto (Briz y Grupo Val.Es.Co. 2003; Grupo Val.Es.Co. 2014) y se han localizado quince marcadores discursivos diferentes. Aunque, dada la extensión de la muestra, aún no pueden extraerse conclusiones definitivas, sí se apuntan algunas tendencias, como la preferencia de aparición de los marcadores en las reacciones emotivas de sorpresa y enfado o la aparición del valor metadiscursivo de “anuncio de reacción emotiva” común a todos ellos.
Propuesta taxonómica para el análisis contrastivo de los gestos emblemáticos
Authors: Belío-Apaolaza Helena Sofía
Published: March 2022

En este trabajo se desarrolla una taxonomía para la comparación inter- e intracultural de los gestos emblemáticos o emblemas, signos pertenecientes al sistema de comunicación no verbal kinésico, autónomos del lenguaje verbal y cuyo uso no es ambiguo dentro de una misma comunidad de habla (por ejemplo, el gesto donde las yemas de los índice y corazón rozan con un movimiento rápido y repetido la yema del pulgar, con significado ‘dinero’, es un emblema). Esta clasificación está compuesta por 11 categorías donde se tienen en cuenta los dos elementos principales de estos gestos: la forma y el significado. Para denominar la forma, se utilizan los términos equimorfos (gestos con la misma forma), cuasiequimorfos (con una forma similar o muy similar) y dimorfos (con una forma diferente). En la denominación del significado, se emplean los términos sinónimos (gestos con el mismo significado), dimónimos (con un significado diferente) y antónimos (con un significado opuesto). También se incluyen sinónimos con uso parcial para la comparación de emblemas que poseen el mismo significado, pero donde se encuentran diferencias sociolingüísticas (diafásicas o diastráticas), semánticas (donde uno de los gestos emblemáticos no incluye todos los significados posibles del otro) o semióticas (donde el referente del emblema cambia). Para la elaboración de esta taxonomía, se parte de categorizaciones y estudios contrastivos previos, así como se recogen diferentes ejemplos ilustrativos para cada categoría propuesta. Esta taxonomía contribuye a la creación de una metodología común para la clasificación y la sistematización de los gestos emblemáticos en diferentes lenguas y culturas, facilitando así la elaboración de futuros inventarios gestuales contrastivos. Además, podrá emplearse en la elaboración de investigaciones empíricas que estudien el aprendizaje de los emblemas en las clases de segundas lenguas y lenguas extranjeras, donde se comparen los gestos de la lengua meta y la lengua materna de los estudiantes.
Sizing Of Unit operations in process engineering using Apen Plus
Authors: Labidi Aymen
Published: March 2022

This project deals with the sizing of unit operations in process engineering. Process engineering is the understanding and application of the fundamental principles and laws of nature that allow us to transform raw material and energy into products that are useful to society, at an industrial level. By taking advantage of the driving forces of nature such as pressure, temperature and concentration gradients, as well as the law of conservation of mass, process engineers can develop methods to synthesize and purify large quantities of desired chemical products. In this project we will focus in the design, operation, control, optimization and intensification of chemical processes by designing pipelines in each case study. For Numerical Resolution, will use the chemical process simulator Aspen HYSYS, used to mathematically model chemical processes. We have a multitude of problems to deal with during this project.

1. Study of an incompressible fluid flow in a pipeline

2. Technology of Heat Exchangers

3. Refrigeration cycle
The exact diagonalization of the extended Hubbard Model: Six Electrons at Half-Filling
Authors: Adesiyan Ayomide Emmanuel , Onaiwu, PhD Kingsley  Nosa
Published: March 2022

This study has used the exact diagonalization technique to examine the Extended Hubbard model.The basis vectors were first generated using binary integers available in matlab,the Hamiltonian matrix were subsequently generated using the basis vectors,after-which the Eigen values of the low and some highest laying states were obtained. The results obtained would serve as a good reference against which other results obtained from other approximation techniques can be compared .
What’s Wrong with this Picture?
Authors: Herndon J. Marvin
Published: March 2022

A recent publication in Nature unintentionally disclosed major problems in the physical science community, existing for more than four decades that pose potential weaknesses as a basis for future technologies. The science of today, the basis for tomorrow’s technology, could benefit in a major way, simply by asking the question “What’s wrong with this picture?”
Detection of serum antibodies to tick-borne and other infections in patients with lymphadenopathy
Authors: Andreichyn M. A. , Huk M. T. , Shkilna M. I. , Shtokailo K. B. , Korda M. M.
Published: March 2022

The aim was to determine the prevalence of serum antibodies to tick-borne pathogens and other infectious agents in patients with lymphadenopathy.
Materials and methods. 68 patients with lymphadenopathy aged 20 to 63 years who received outpatient or inpatient treatment were followed up at Ternopil University Hospital and Ternopil Regional Clinical Dermatological and Venereological Dispensary. There were 41 women (60.3 %) and 27 men (39.7 %).
Two-stage serological detection (ELISA and immunoblot) was used for diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis (LB). Indirect immunofluorescence, including the BIOCHIP multiplex indirect immunofluorescence technique, was used for serological identification of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) and other infectious diseases, which could be associated with lymphadenopathy.
Results. In total, 45.6 % of 68 enrolled patients were positive for the presence of specific antibodies IgM and/or IgG against B. burgdorferi s. l. Further examination demonstrated the presence of specific serum anti-A. phagocytophilum antibodies IgM and/or IgG in 33 patients with lymphadenopathy.
It was found that 24.2 % of involved patients were positive for the presence of at least one type of anti-A. phagocytophilum antibodies; 12.1 % had positive or intermediate results only for B. burgdorferi s. l.; 60.6 % of patients were positive for the presence of antibodies against both pathogens.
46.9 % of patients were seropositive for EBV-CA, 40.6 % – for Parainfluenza virus type 1, 37.5 % – for HHV-6, 34.4 % – for HSV-1, 31.3 % – for EBV-EA and Toxoplasma gondii, 6.3 % – for Coxsackievirus type A9 and HIV-2.
Conclusions. One-third of all involved patients with lymphadenopathy were positive for antibodies to B. burgdorferi s. l., causa tive agent of Lyme borreliosis. Co-infection of Lyme borreliosis and human granulocytic anaplasmosis was established in more than half of the patients. Besides, specific antibodies to 18 causative agents of other infectious diseases were detected with varying rate. Almost half of positive results detected were the antibodies to parainfluenza virus type 1 and Epstein–Barr virus.
Reye’s-like syndrome in 13-year-old child (a case report)
Authors: Shulhai O. M. , Kinash M. I. , Shulhai A.-M. A.
Published: March 2022

The article reviews the literature about classical and atypical Reye’s syndrome, discusses the causes that contribute to its occurrence, provides criteria for diagnosis with the presentation of a Reye’s-like syndrome case in the 13-year-old child. Reye’s syndrome is a dangerous pathological condition characterized by acute encephalopathy and fatty degeneration of internal organs, mainly the liver.
There are different viral and bacterial infections that precede the development of Reye’s syndrome, namely influenza, acute respiratory infections, chickenpox, entero- and rotavirus infections, whooping cough, mycoplasma infection, salmonellosis. For a treatment of these infections in the presence of fever, a number of drugs to lower the temperature, such as acetylsalicylic acid, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, diclofenac sodium is usually used.
Case presentation. We observed the case of a teenage girl with Reye’s-like syndrome associated with coronavirus infection and antipyretic drug intake in the clinic.
Conclusions. Given the changes in the internal organs, namely the development of hepatic steatosis, therapy of such patients should be aimed at preventing fatty degeneration. In addition to classic Reye’s syndrome, there is an atypical Reye’s syndrome or Reye’s-like syndrome, which mainly occurs in children under 5 years old with congenital disorders of fatty acid metabolism. Dosages of prescribing antipyretic drugs should be strictly based on the child’s age and weight.
An assessment of photodynamic therapy efficacy for the treatment of Bowen’s disease of the vulva
Authors: Dunaievska V. V. , Horkavyi Ye. O.
Published: March 2022

Vulvar cancer occupied the 4th place (3–8 %) in the distribution of the malignant neoplasms of female genital organs, although this disease is considered to be rare. In the United States, about 4,000 new cases of vulvar cancer are diagnosed every year, and 850 women die from this cancer. An estimated 650 new cases of this disease are reported per year in Ukraine. One of the precancerous lesions of the vulva along with Paget’s disease is Bowen’s disease, which can progress to squamous cell carcinoma. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is regarded as an effective method of this disease treatment in the vulva area.
The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of PDT in women with Bowen’s disease of the vulva (BDV).
Materials and methods. A retrospective study of patients with high-grade Bowen’s disease of the vulva, who were treated with a fundamentally new method of PDT using a systemic photosensitizer photolon, was carried out. During and after PDT, perioperative anesthesia and reduction of the inflammatory process were performed for patients with the help of analgesics, local anesthetics and peripheral blockade of the pudendal nerve (pudendal nerve block).
Results. 23 women with a mean age of 38.1 years (range 30–54 years) were included in the study. Based on a number of histological and cytological methods, biopsy and vulvoscopy, the diagnosis of BDV was established, which is currently classified as high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion of the vulva. Treatment was performed with PDT.
The complete response rate of BDV patients with area percentage of the vulvar mucosa lesions of 25 %, 50 % and 100 % was 73.8 % following irradiation after the 1st, 2nd and 3rd series of PDT for 3 months to 1–2 years of follow-up. A partial response was achieved in 13.1 %, while no effect was also reported in 13.1 % of patients. In addition, some patients experienced pain of moderate to severe intensity.
Conclusions. Despite the small sample of BDV patients, PDT using both photolon as photosensitizer and an optimized photoirradiation regimen is a potential therapeutic organ-sparing treatment option for patients with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions of the vulva. However, there is still a need to study the PDT procedure and the anesthesia choice in combination with various analgesics for patients with a high area percentage of vulvar lesions.
Monitoring and assessment of SARS-CoV-2 evolution
Authors: Miasoiedov V. V. , Nartov P. V. , Yurko K. V. , Lesovoy V. M. , Kapustnyk V. A. , Bondarenko A. V. , Cherniak M. Ye. , Yakushchenko V. A. , Kucheriavchenko V. V. , Maslova V. S. , Bondarenko O. V.
Published: March 2022

The aim of the study – systematization and analysis of information on the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 virus variants according to information databases and own cross-sectional studies.
Materials and methods. The analysis was conducted in the period 2020–2021 using information databases and research resources: Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Scirus, Springer, Medline, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science. Our own examination included a total of 80 nasopharyngeal swabs (at least two specimens in each case) collected from ARVI symptomatic or suspected COVID-19 patients, who were treated at the MNE KRC “Regional Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital” from June to October 2021 and tested positive on SARS-CoV-2. The first study was performed in the inter-peak period, and the second one – on the rise of the disease. A real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was used for primary identification with the diagnostic kit “Biocore® SARS-CoV-2” (LLC “Biocor Technology Ltd.”, Ukraine) in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Multiplex analysis SNPsig® VariPLEX™ Covid-19 (Primerdesign™ Ltd., UK) was used in the first cross-sectional study for secondary identification.
Results. Systematization and analysis of the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 variants according to information databases were performed. According to the results of our cross-sectional studies on SARS-CoV2 variants circulating in the Kharkiv region in June – October 2021, the complete replacement of the alpha variant, which was dominant in June – 87.5 %, with the delta variant – 95.0 %. All patients had signs of respiratory failure, community-acquired pneumonia was visualized instrumentally (computed tomography, radiography, ultrasound) at the first study in 90 % of cases, and at the second – in 100 %. The median age of patients was 60.4 years (minimum – 25 years, maximum – 91 years) during the first study, but during the second – 52.6 years (minimum – 18 years, maximum – 84 years). Thus, the more aggressive and contagious delta variant has become dominant requiring thorough public health anti-epidemic measures.
Conclusions. Monitoring and control of the virus evolution using epidemiological studies, viral genetic sequence, as well as laboratory PCR are necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19, to study the effectiveness of test systems and optimize diagnosis and etiotropic therapy as well as vaccine modifications.
Development of industrial technology of plant substance of cultivated parsnip herb thick extract
Authors: Symonenko N. A. , Shpychak O. S.
Published: March 2022

The aim of the work is to develop the industrial technology of domestic phyto-substance of cultivated parsnip herb thick extract (CPHTE) with the aim of its further introduction into a tablet dosage form of cardioprotective action.
Materials and methods. As an object of research, the experimental samples of parsnip herb (Pastinacae sativae herba) of the domestic selection of the Petryk variety, harvested on the experimental fields of the Institute of Vegetable and Melon Growing of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine (Kharkiv region) were used to obtain the plant substance CPHTE (Pastinacae sativae herbae extractispissi).
Results. The results of experimental research were used while development of a block scheme of the production technological process of plant substance CPHTE and an apparatus scheme tested in industrial conditions of LLC Pharmaceutical Company “Zdorovye” (Kharkiv, Ukraine) and control technological parameters for each stage of the technological process for manufacturing the developed thick extract have been established.
Conclusions. The technology of the domestic plant substance CPHTE production, as well as the blocking scheme of the technological process, and the apparatus scheme tested in industrial conditions of LLC Pharmaceutical Company “Zdorovye” (Kharkiv) had been theoretically substantiated and experimentally developed. The results of the experiment were used in the development of methods for quality control projects and technological regulations for the developed plant substance.
Validation of Amoxicillin iodometric procedure in quantitative analysis of pure substance and medical preparation
Authors: Serdiukova Yu. Yu. , Kolisnyk O. V. , Tomarovska Т. О. , Poluian S. M. , Shovkova Z. V. , Pohosian O. H.
Published: March 2022

The aim of the work is to validate a simple and rapid iodometric procedure for the quantitative determination of amoxicillin in pure substance and medicinal preparation using potassium caroate as analytical reagent.
Materials and methods. The procedure involves the use of potassium caroate (KHSO5) as an oxidant. The assay is based on the quantitative penicillin oxidation by KHSO5 to the corresponding S-oxide. The interaction between amoxicillin and analytical reagent is stoichiometric. Indirect iodometric method is used for the quantitative determination of amoxicillin main substance. The validation procedure was performed according to the State Pharmacopeia of Ukraine.
Results. The precision, accuracy, limit of detection (LOD), and limit of quantitation (LOQ) are accepted over the concentration range of 80–120 % with a correlation coefficient of 0.999. LOD and LOQ were found to be 4.91 % and 14.73 % for amoxicillin pure substance respectively. The precision calculated as the relative standard deviation (RSD) was less than 0.8 % and accuracy (δ, relative error) was better than 0.4 %. The proposed method was validated statistically and through recovery studies. For Amoxicillin medical preparation RSD ≥1.93 % and δ ≥ 1.62 %.
Conclusions. The obtained data showed acceptable agreement with the certificate results, so the proposed procedure can be used for the assay of amoxicillin in medicinal preparation.
Synthesis of bioactive natural products and their analogs at room temperature – an update
Authors: Majhi Sasadhar
Published: March 2022

Sustainability is a concept that is employed to distinguish methods and procedures that can ensure the long-term productivity of the environment as it includes environmental, social, and economic dimensions. New generations can live on this planet with less hazardous substances and minimum requirement of energy for chemical transformations as green chemistry is related to creativity and the development of innovative research. Among the 12 principles of this clean chemistry, the sixth principle is devoted to the “design of energy efficiency” which discloses that less or the minimum amount of energy is required to conduct a specific reaction with optimum productivity. The most successful way to save energy is to construct strategies/methodologies that are capable enough to carry out the chemical transformations at ambient temperature and standard pressure. Hence, the present review wishes to cover the synthesis of bioactive natural products and their derivatives at room temperature. Bioactive secondary metabolites play a crucial role in the drug discovery together with drug development process; chiefly anticancer along with antibiotic molecules is noticeably enriched with molecules of natural origin. Natural sources, structures, and biological activities of natural products are highlighted in this review and it is also aimed to offer an overview of the design and synthesis of bioactive natural products and their analogs at room temperature for the first time efficiently.
A PPAR-alpha agonist and DPP-4 inhibitor mitigate adipocyte dysfunction in obese mice
Authors: Santana-Oliveira Daiana Araujo , Fernandes-da-Silva Aline , Miranda Carolline Santos , Martins Fabiane Ferreira , Mandarim-de-Lacerda Carlos Alberto , Souza-Mello Vanessa
Published: March 2022

Obesity causes white and brown adipocyte dysfunction, reducing browning and stimulating whitening. Drugs that tackle adipocyte dysfunction through thermogenesis stimulation could be used to treat obesity. This study sought to address whether a combination of the PPAR-alpha agonist (WY14643) and DPP4i (linagliptin) potentiates browning and mitigates adipose tissue dysfunction, emphasizing the pathways related to browning induction and the underlying thermogenesis in high-fat-fed mice. Adult male C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to receive a control diet (C, 10% lipids) or a high-fat diet (HF, 50% lipids) for 12 weeks. Experiment 1 aimed to evaluate whether 5 weeks of combined therapy was able to potentiate browning using a five-group design: C, HF, HFW (monotherapy with WY14643, 2.5 mg/kg body mass), HFL (monotherapy with linagliptin, 15 mg/kg body mass), and HFC (a combination of both drugs). Experiment 2 further addressed the pathways involved in browning maximization using a four-group study design: C, CC (C diet plus the drug combination), HF, and HFC (HF diet plus the drug combination). The HF group showed overweight, oral glucose intolerance, sWAT adipocyte hypertrophy, and reduced numerical density of nuclei per area of BAT confirming whitening. Only the combined treatment normalized these parameters in addition to body temperature increase, browning induction, and whitening rescue. The high expression of thermogenic marker genes parallel to reduced expression of inflammatory and endoplasmic reticulum stress genes mediated the beneficial findings. Hence, the PPAR-alpha agonist and DPP-4i combination is a promising target for obesity control by inducing functional brown adipocytes, browning of sWAT, and enhanced adaptive thermogenesis.