bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Economía digital y acoso laboral. Nuevos retos y oportunidades
Authors: Cuervo Aparicio Mónica María , Mejía Miranda Karen Liliana
Published: February 2025

Así las cosas, en el presente capítulo se pretende realizar un estudio de cómo el contexto actual del mercado del trabajo, en el cual la inmediatez y los resultados medibles, son fundamentales las nuevas tecnologías y las tecnologías de la información, no sólo pueden incidir en la ocurrencia de actos de acoso laboral, sino también podrían ser vistas en otra dimensión, como una oportunidad de fortalecimiento de las medidas tendientes a evitarlos y controlarlos.
The Emergence of Diaspora Serbian Dialect Formation in the USA: Evidence from the Early 1900s Serbian American Newspapers
Authors: Vujić Jelena
Published: February 2025

Abstract: As a part of the research project Written Cultural Heritage of the Serbian Diaspora in the USA: Serbian-American Periodicals (1900–1960) conducted in cooperation between the University of Belgrade and Wayne State University, the aim of the paper is to (re)construct the foundations of what is today a distinctive Serbian American culture and to shed more light on how contemporary dialect of Serbian, Diaspora Serbian spoken in the USA, has evolved from direct contact(s) with American English. Our research leans on the language corpus compiled of more than 100 issues of Serbian newspapers printed in Chicago and circulated among the Serbian diaspora in the Midwestern states from 1917–1920. The corpus which echoes the socio-linguistic diversity of the Serbian community in the USA at the time presents the unique evidence of the earliest stages of Diaspora Serbian dialect formation. In this paper, we try to outline the socio-lingustic properties of the Serbian language spoken by Serbian immigrants in this early stage of the new variety formation focusing on the explicit early Serbian-English language contact and the instances of modiication and accommodation of features in this language mix through speech behavior that involved a great deal of inconsistent code-switching, code-mixing(and code-blending).
Information transmission in a cell monolayer: A numerical study
Authors: Nałęcz-Jawecki Paweł , Szyc Przemysław , Grabowski Frederic , Kochańczyk Marek , Lipniacki Tomasz
Published: February 2025

Motivated by the spatiotemporal waves of MAPK/ERK activity, crucial for long-range communication in regenerating tissues, we investigated stochastic homoclinic fronts propagating through channels formed by directly interacting cells. We evaluated the efficiency of long-range communication in these channels by examining the rate of information transmission. Our study identified the stochastic phenomena that reduce this rate: front propagation failure, new front spawning, and variability in the front velocity. We found that a trade-off between the frequencies of propagation failures and new front spawning determines the optimal channel width (which geometrically determines the front length). The optimal frequency of initiating new waves is determined by a trade-off between the input information rate (higher with more frequent initiation) and the fidelity of information transmission (lower with more frequent initiation). Our analysis provides insight into the relative timescales of intra- and intercellular processes necessary for successful wave propagation.
Colombian centenarians: A Geohealth approach to longevity study
Authors: Pérez-Molina Clímaco de Jesús , Chavarro-Bermeo Flor Elena , Gutiérrez-Fernández Luis-Fernando , Galvis-Villamizar Santiago , Arias Ortiz Wanderley Augusto , Cabezas-Pinzón Laura , Escobar-Roa Carlos-Felipe
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Population longevity is a global phenomenon influenced by various factors including social, economic transitions, and medical advancements. The study focused on the population over 95 years old, adopting an approach that integrates data from the 2018 Census and geospatial analysis techniques.

Methods

An ecological study was conducted using anonymized microdata from the 2018 National Population and Housing Census (CNPV). Geographic analysis, choropleth maps, and Kernel density estimation were employed to identify clusters of individuals aged over 95 years.

Results

The study identified 43,427 individuals aged 95 years or older in Colombia, with concentrations observed in departments such as Antioquia and Bogotá. Analysis by department and municipality revealed variations in rates and sex distribution. Kernel density analysis highlighted clusters in the Valle de Tenza area and other regions.

Conclusion

This study sheds light on the geographical distribution of centenarians in Colombia, emphasizing clusters in certain regions. More research is needed to understand the individual and contextual factors underlying successful aging in Colombia and to inform policies to improve the quality of life of older populations.
Fingerprinting conflict: A comparative model with applications to archaeological and historical data
Authors: Wichmann Søren , Loy Anna K. , Andersen Anna-Theres , Bleile Ralf , Jonjić Darja , Kneisel Jutta , Nübler Norbert , Santamaria Andrea , Schneeweiß Jens , Schwedler Gerald , Zerzeropulos Katharina , Kienle Lorenz , Nakoinz Oliver
Published: February 2025

This paper is envisioned as a primarily methodological contribution towards a more sophisticated and systematic approach to conflict research in archaeology and history. Studies of conflicts in these fields have often focused on violence and war. Instead, we offer a more holistic approach to conflict research, taking into account different levels of both escalation and de-escalation that embrace all the possible aspects of a conflict from a mere undeveloped potential over complete annihilation to various countermeasures and stages of resolution. A model taking into account different levels of escalation and de-escalation is presented which embodies our multi-faceted view of conflicts and which also allows for a systematic, comparative analysis of conflict situations anywhere and any time in (pre)history. Through ten relatively detailed European case studies spanning the Bronze Age to the 20th century we demonstrate the comparative potential of our model and suggest ways in which it may help to identify typical patterns in conflict situations.
Preparation and properties of isocyanate self-healing microcapsule cement-based material
Authors: Xian Yanqing
Published: February 2025

Self-healing microcapsule cement-based materials autonomously repair microcracks within the matrix. This study utilized the interfacial polymerization method to prepare isocyanate microcapsules, incorporating montmorillonite to enhance the wall material. The optimized synthesis conditions were established as follows: a reaction time of 2 hours at 50°C, using 3g of wall material, 13.5g of core material, and 1% montmorillonite, achieving a core material content of 61.5%. Both micro and macro analyses confirm the microcapsules’ excellent alkaline resistance and compatibility with cement-based materials. The ideal microcapsule concentration was determined to be 4%, which increased the compressive strength recovery rate of the self-healing mortar to 117.38%.
Drug target affinity prediction based on multi-scale gated power graph and multi-head linear attention mechanism
Authors: Hu Shuo , Hu Jing , Zhang Xiaolong , Jin Shuting , Xu Xin
Published: February 2025

For the purpose of developing new drugs and repositioning existing ones, accurate drug-target affinity (DTA) prediction is essential. While graph neural networks are frequently utilized for DTA prediction, it is difficult for existing single-scale graph neural networks to access the global structure of compounds. We propose a novel DTA prediction model in this study, MAPGraphDTA, which uses an approach based on a multi-head linear attention mechanism that aggregates global features based on the attention weights and a multi-scale gated power graph that captures multi-hop connectivity relationships of graph nodes. In order to accurately extract drug target features, we provide a gated skip-connection approach in multiscale graph neural networks, which is used to fuse multiscale features to produce a rich representation of feature information. We experimented on the Davis, Kiba, Metz, and DTC datasets, and we evaluated the proposed method against other relevant models. Based on all evaluation metrics, MAPGraphDTA outperforms the other models, according to the results of the experiment. We also performed cold-start experiments on the Davis dataset, which showed that our model has good prediction ability for unseen drugs, unseen proteins, and cases where neither drugs nor proteins has been seen.
Thermodynamics, economy and environment analyses and optimization of series, parallel, dual-loop Kalina cycles for double-source heat recovery in cement industry
Authors: Wang Yali , Xu Yongjun , Qiu Yongliang , Ning Shengwang
Published: February 2025

This research aims to investigate the heat recovery of both suspension preheater flue gas and clinker cooler hot air in cement industry. Three thermodynamic cycles
including series Kalina Cycle (S-KC)、parallel Kalina Cycle (P-KC) and dual-loop Kalina Cycle (DL-KC) are introduced for converting dual-source heat resources into power to enhance the system efficiency for cement production process. Firstly, the multi-layer comprehensive evaluation models are established for the three thermodynamic cycles. Then, the parametric studies are implemented to estimate the influences of six key parameters on the system’s thermodynamic-economic-environmental performances. Meanwhile, optimization investigations consisting of thermodynamic optimal design (TOD), thermodynamic and economic optimal design (TEOD), and thermodynamic, economic and environmental optimal design (TEEOD) are considered, and the performances of systems and components are compared under three optimal design scenarios. The results
prove that, for S-KC, P-KC and DL-KC, the higher net power output (Wnet) can be gained with decreasing condenser outlet temperature and regenerator temperature difference, and increasing evaporator temperature difference and superheat degree, the lower electricity production cost (EPC) can be acquired with decreasing condenser outlet temperature, evaporator temperature difference and regenerator temperature difference, while the less environment impact load (EIL) can be attained with decreasing condenser outlet temperature, regenerator temperature difference and basic ammonia concentration, and increasing superheat degree. In addition, under TOD, TEOD and TEEOD scenarios, DL-KC is the best selection from the thermodynamic, economic and environmental perspectives, with the corresponding Wnet of 7166 kW, 6904 kW and 6838 kW, the EPC of 0.00476 $/kWh, 0.00369 $/kWh and 0.00362$/kWh, the EIL of 0.0597 mPEChina,90/kWh, 0.0599 mPEChina,90/kW and 0.0593 mPEChina,90/kW. It also identifies that the evaporator unit is the key component contributing to exergy destruction and investment cost for three systems, while the pump has the maximum influence on environmental performance.
Epidemiology, literacy, risk factors, and clinical status of oral cancer in East Africa: A scoping review
Authors: Aminu Kafayat , Aladelusi Timothy Olukunle , Adisa Akinyele Olumuyiwa , Ezeagu Chiamaka Norah , Salami Afeez Abolarinwa , Nwafor Jacob Njideka , Uwambaye Peace , Amzat Jimoh , Murererehe Julienne , Omoleke Semeeh Akinwale , Abdulaziz Mohammed , Jayasinghe Ruwan Duminda , Kanmodi Kehinde Kazeem
Published: February 2025

Background

Oral cancer (OC) is a topical public health issue in East Africa due to increasing incidence of the disease. Public health efforts to address the oral cancer burden depends largely on the available empirical evidence. Hence, this scoping review aims to map the existing empirical evidence on oral cancer in East African countries.

Methods

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) was used as a guideline for reporting this scoping review. Additionally, we ensured quality assessment of the methodology and reporting process of this study using the AMSTAR 2 checklist. We conducted a systematic search of nine research databases on 17th November 2023, and reviewed studies published in English from year 2000 to 17th November 2023. The team developed data extraction form and data extraction was done by two reviewers. Thematic analyses were conducted manually and presented in texts, tables and flow chart.

Results

Only 30 full manuscripts were included in this review. Twenty-nine out of 30 studies were either hospital- or clinic-based while two were community-based. Only four studies showed gaps and obvious disparities in awareness and knowledge levels across East Africa, however, higher levels of awareness were reported among dentists and dental patients relative to the general population. Most neoplasms were presented and diagnosed late. The review finding also highlighted the significant impact of Toombak use on the oral microbiome composition, potentially contributing to oral cancer risks. Further, this review elucidated the prognostic relevance of PD-L1 expression at the invasive tumor front and microbial composition, with Candida correlating with adverse prognosis and Malassezia showing associations with improved survival rates. Also, Toombak usage, tumor staging, and mucosal field alterations emerged as predictors of local recurrence, while lymph node involvement and extranodal extension were associated with regional recurrence among Sudanese cohorts. Finally, a few studies undertook an evaluation of instrument validity for OC detection, revealing promising outcomes concerning diagnostic accuracy and instrument reliability.

Conclusions

There is a dire need for targeted interventions and early detection strategies tailored to the unique epidemiological and clinical profiles of oral and maxillofacial tumors in East Africa. Public health interventions aimed at curbing the prevalence of Toombak use and promoting healthier lifestyle choices to reduce the oral diseases incidence in Sudan and other regions where these behaviors are prevalent remain germane.
Behind the mask: Random and selective masking in transformer models applied to specialized social science texts
Authors: Timoneda Joan C , Vera Sebastián Vallejo
Published: February 2025

Transformer models such as BERT and RoBERTa are increasingly popular in the social sciences to generate data through supervised text classification. These models can be further trained through Masked Language Modeling (MLM) to increase performance in specialized applications. MLM uses a default masking rate of 15 percent, and few works have investigated how different masking rates may affect performance. Importantly, there are no systematic tests on whether selectively masking certain words improves classifier accuracy. In this article, we further train a set of models to classify fake news around the coronavirus pandemic using 15, 25, 40, 60 and 80 percent random and selective masking. We find that a masking rate of 40 percent, both random and selective, improves within-category performance but has little impact on overall performance. This finding has important implications for scholars looking to build BERT and RoBERTa classifiers, especially those where one specific category is more relevant to their research.
Differences in bacterial community structure and metabolites between the root zone soil of the new high – Fragrance tea variety Jinlong No. 4 and its grandparent Huangdan
Authors: Sun Jun , Lin Zhikun , Zhu Liugang , Zhang Wenjin
Published: February 2025

With the development of the tea industry, understanding the differences in root zone microecology among different tea varieties is of great significance for improving tea quality and yield. To investigate the microbial and metabolite foundation underlying the disparities in root zone physicochemical properties between the high-aroma new tea variety JL4 (Jinlong No.4) and its grandparent HD (Huangdan), the bacterial diversity, community structure and metabolite distinctions of HD and JL4 root zone soils were analyzed using NovaSeq 6000 high-throughput sequencing and GC-MS-derived metabolomics technologies. The analysis of soil physical and chemical properties showed that, compared with HD, the available phosphorus (AP) in JL4 was significantly decreased (28.91 ±  9.78 mg · kg−1, P < 0.05), and so was the available potassium (AK) at 57.67 ±  4.04 mg · kg−1. The results from 16S rDNA sequencing indicated that, compared with HD, JL4 had a lower Shannon index and a higher abundance of Gram-negative and aerobic-related bacteria. These results indicated that there was a decrease in bacterial diversity in the root zone soil of JL4. The dominant bacterial phyla included Proteobacteria, Acidobacteriota, and Chloroflexi among others. Biomarkers in HD included Firmicutes, Rhizobiales, and Caulobacterales, and biomarkers for JL4 comprised Sphingomonadaceae bacterium URHD0088 and Halomonadaceae. GC-MS derivatization metabolomics highlighted sugars as having the most differential metabolites (8). In JL4, D-manitol 2 and scylo-inositol decreased while (-)-epicatechin, catechin, and D-pinitol increased. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed substantial enrichment in metabolic pathways related to flavonoid biosynthesis. The changes in these metabolites may have a significant impact on the growth and quality of tea plants. Redundancy Analysis (RDA) along with correlation analyses indicated significant impacts on root zone bacterial community structure by factors such as AK, Soil Organic Matter (SOM), NO3−-N (nitrate nitrogen), and pH levels. A significant positive correlation was observed between AK and both Firmicutes and Kapabacteria individually; furthermore, AP exhibited a highly significant positive correlation with Kapabacteria but a significant negative correlation with unidentified Archaea. Catechin and (-)-Epicatechin were significantly negatively correlated with Actinobacteria phylum while showing a significant positive correlation with Verrucomicrobia and Kryptonia phyla. This study systematically compared the microbial and metabolite characteristics of the root zone soil of JL4 and HD for the first time, providing new ideas and methods for tea variety improvement and precision cultivation management, which is expected to promote the high-quality development of the tea industry in the future.
Serum insulin-like growth factor 1 and the prognosis of patients with advanced liver diseases: a meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Yihan , Xue Haojie , Liu Yang , Li Han , Liang Qian , Ma Longhui , Zhao Ming , Liu Junying
Published: February 2025

Introduction:

Serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), a hepatocyte-derived cytokine, has been suggested to reflect hepatic function reserve. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the association between serum IGF-1 levels upon the admission and prognosis of patients with advanced liver diseases.

Methods:

A thorough examination of the literature was conducted across various databases, namely PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Wanfang, and CNKI, with the aim of identifying relevant cohort studies. The data were synthesized using the random-effects model, taking into account the potential impact of heterogeneity.

Results:

A total of nine cohorts were included. Patients with a low serum level of IGF-1, as compared to those with a high IGF-1 at baseline, exhibited a significantly poorer transplant-free survival (risk ratio [RR]: 3.03, 95% confidence interval: 2.17 to 4.22, p < 0.001), with no significant heterogeneity observed (p for Cochrane Q test = 0.92, I2 = 0%). A sensitivity analysis, which was conducted by excluding one study at a time, yielded consistent results (RR: 2.94 to 3.24, p all < 0.05). Additionally, consistent results were observed in further subgroup analyses based on various factors, including cutoffs of IGF-1, country of the study, patient diagnosis, methods for measuring serum IGF-1, follow-up duration, analytic model, and quality scores (p for subgroup difference all > 0.05).

Conclusions:

A diminished serum IGF-1 level upon admission could potentially serve as an indicator for an unfavorable prognosis among patients afflicted with advanced liver disease, such as severe hepatitis and cirrhosis.
The Significance of Oxidized Low-Density Lipoproteins and Receptors LOX-1 in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Fetlam D. L. , Chumachenko A. G. , Pisarev V. M.
Published: February 2025

INTRODUCTION. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) occurs in 8.5% of the adult population with a tendency to increase. A characteristic feature of T2DM is dyslipidemia. One of its manifestations includes accumulation of increased concentration of oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDL) in circulation. Ox-LDL molecules act on cells through LOX-1 receptors.

THE PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW is to demonstrate results of studies presented in publications of 2010–2024 (PubMed, RSCI) indicating the pathogenetic role of ox-LDL and its LOX-1 receptors in T2DM development and course.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. In the analysis of more than 2800 literature sources (PubMed), in which together with term “­diabetes mellitus” keywords are found: ox-LDL (1150 sources) or LOX-1 (159 sources), as well as OLR1 (106 sources), 50 sources were identified that are directly related to T2DM and the studied functionally related markers — the LOX-1 receptor and its ligand ox-LDL.

RESULTS. LOX-1 is scavenger receptor that uses ox-LDL as its proper ligand. Gene OLR1 encodes ox-LDL receptor, LOX-1. The linking of T2DM and circulating levels of ox-LDL is bidirectional. The emerging insulin resistance directly correlates with oxidation of low-density lipoproteins, which is observed in more than 80% of patients and depends on the duration of T2DM. High plasma ligand levels are associated with increased type 2 diabetes risk. The mechanism of this association is thought to be related to functionally significant expression of LOX-1 on pancreatic cells. It was shown that pancreatic β-cells in the presence of ox-LDL increased production of the inducible early repressor of the cAMP signaling pathway, ICER. As result of ICER action, insulin production and secretion ceased. Increased ox-LDL concentrations are a pathogenetically significant factor in the development of atherosclerotic vascular lesions, as they stimulate the generation of foam cells. Ox-LDL-LOX-1-mediated interactions on the vascular surface led to endothelial dysfunction with subsequent development of tissue hypoperfusion and organ dysfunction.

CONCLUSION. Circulating ox-LDL, in interaction with its receptor LOX-1, makes a significant contribution to the development of T2DM, promoting its progression. Increased concentration of ox-LDL in blood increases the risk of severe T2DM, leading to endothelial dysfunction and promoting the development of atherosclerotic vascular lesions.
Overweight and obesity in patients with type 1 diabetes: associations with vascular complications and biomarkers of vascular remodeling
Authors: Klimontov V. V. , Yushin A. Yu. , Semenova Yu. F. , Korbut A. I. , Romanov V. V.
Published: February 2025

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is increasing, which raises the issue of their impact on the development of complications.

AIM: to study the associations of overweight and obesity with vascular complications, cardiovascular risk factors and serum levels of vascular remodeling biomarkers in patients with T1D.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 547 patients, including 309 with body mass index (BMI) <25 kg/m2, 155 with BMI 25–29.9 kg/m2, and 83 with BMI ≥30 kg/m2. Insulin sensitivity was assessed by the estimated glucose disposal rate. In the serum of 130 patients and 30 individuals with normal weight and normal glucose tolerance, concentrations of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), endothelin-1, endothelial NO synthase (NOS3), adrenomedullin (ADM), endothelial cell-specific molecule-1 (ESM1), cell adhesion molecules (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1), integrin-associated protein-1 (IAP-1), integrin receptor subunit (ITGB1), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), GAS6, decorin, and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) were determined by ELISA.

RESULTS: Obesity in patients with T1D was independently associated with coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, and chronic heart failure. Overweight was an independent predictor of chronic heart failure only. Patients with BMI ≥25 kg/m2, when compared with those with BMI <25 kg/m2, were older, had a reduced insulin sensitivity and increased levels of triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, uric acid, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein. Patients with T1D, as compared with controls, showed a significant increase in serum AGEs, endothelin-1, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, IAP-1, ESM1, HO-1, GAS6, and TGF-β1. Overweight patients, when compared with those with BMI <25 kg/m2, demonstrated higher levels of ICAM-1, IAP-1, ITGB1 and TGF-β1, while obese individuals had increased concentrations of AGEs, IAP-1 and HO-1.

CONCLUSION: In patients with T1D, overweight and obesity are associated with vascular complications, their risk factors and biomarkers of vascular remodeling.
La metafísica platónico-rosminiana de Giuseppe Buroni
Authors: Buganza Jacob
Published: February 2025

En este trabajo, el autor busca demostrar que la metafísica de Giuseppe Buroni, a la que puede tildarse de platónico-rosminiana, es una expresión de la filosofía cristiana perenne. Para ello, se recuperan las Nozioni di ontologia de las que se extraen sus planteamientos centrales. Ahí se encuentra la distinción ontológica prolijamente desarrollada, el tema de la unidad y la multiplicidad, la producción o creación desde el punto de vista de la teosofía y la demostración de la existencia de Dios.
Development of a probiotic fermented dairy product with antioxidant orientation
Authors:   Federal State Autonomous Scientific Institution “All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Dairy Industry”, Korovina Natalia
Published: February 2025

Against the background of rapidly developing food markets and the growing de-mand of the population for new types of products, there is a need to expand the range of new types and improve quality indicators. The main means of achieving these goals is to improve the efficiency and quality of scientific research, as well as the integration of scientific achievements in industry. The latter will make adjustments to accelerate the development of effective technologies of fermented dairy products. Dairy products, in particular fermented dairy products, contain substances (vitamins B and C, enzymes, etc.) and “live” microflora, which are easily digested by the gastrointestinal tract of the human body. The above are the reasons for the dietary properties of fermented dairy products. Information about the importance of including antioxidants in the diet to prevent the development of diseases associated with the cardiovascular system of the human body, as well as for the prevention of oxidative stress, lead to the expediency of enrichment of fermented dairy products with them. The main source of antioxidants for humans and animals are plants, in which they can make up to 10% of the dry weight. The use of antioxidant additives or preparations can contribute to the elimination of existing free radicals and the formation of new ones. Antioxidant additives include grape products, in particular grape seed extracts of Vitis Vinifera species. The paper presents the results of the study of the influence of antioxidant component (dry extract of grape seeds of Vitis Vinifera) on the relative biological value (RBV) of probiotic fermented dairy product on the biological model of T. pyriformis. Mathematical processing of the data was carried out according to the results of the research.
Optimal potassium fertilization mitigates drought stress effects on sugarcane growth and physiology
Authors: Le Anh Tuan , Chuong Nguyen Nguyen , Vu Ngoc Thang , Dinh Thai-Hoang , Bui The Khuynh
Published: February 2025

Sugarcane is a key global crop, providing up to 60 % of raw sugar material. However, abiotic stress factors, especially water scarcity, significantly limit its productivity by reducing nutrient uptake and transport within the plant. Ensuring proper nutrition is essential to improve stress tolerance and maintain sugarcane yield. This study conducted a two-factor experiment following a completely randomized design in a greenhouse to evaluate the effects of potassium application (in soil) on the growth and physiology of a sugarcane cultivar named ROC27 (ROC27 cv.) under a drought condition. The first factor was potassium application (in the form of potassium oxide) with 4 different rates, including K1 (0 kg/ha), K2 (100 kg/ha), K3 (150 kg/ha) and K4 (200 kg/ha), while the second factor was irrigation with 2 treatments: control (normal irrigation daily); drought (no irrigation from 100-120 days after planting). Here, we revealed that drought significantly affected sugarcanes' growth and physiological characteristics as it decreased plant height, stem diameter, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic efficiency, total plant dry weight and stem fresh weight. Different rates of potassium oxide application in the soil also showed different influences on the growth and development of sugarcane. Applying 100 kg/ha potassium oxide resulted in the highest growth and physiological performance under drought conditions. Furthermore, plants from this treatment also recorded the highest stem fresh weight of ROC27 at the end of the recovery period (20 days of re-watering after drought treatments). Taken together, these results indicate that an appropriate amount of potassium oxide application significantly enhanced sugarcane physiological traits and mitigated the adverse effects of drought on plant growth and development.
Analysis of yield and its components in black gram through generation mean analysis
Authors: Palanisamy D , Narayana M , Nalliappan G K , Ponnusamy J , Sankarasubramanian H , Venugopal B R P
Published: February 2025

Understanding the gene action governing yield and its component traits is crucial for developing an effective breeding strategy. In the present study, generation mean analysis was employed to unravel the genetic architecture of yield and its component traits in three crosses of black gram. The crosses, namely ADT 3 × VBG 17007 (cross 1: C1), ADT 3 × VBG 19010 (cross 2: C2) and VBG 13003 × VBG 17007 (Cross 3: C3), were developed using four parents contrasting in salt tolerance. The analysis of variance revealed significant differences among the five generations-P1, P2, F1, F2 and F3-for most of the traits. All studied traits showed significance in either one or both the C and D scales, indicating the inadequacy of the additivedominance model in explaining the genetic variation. Most traits, except for clusters per plant in Cross 1 (ADT 3 × VBG 17007) and seeds per pod across all crosses, exhibited significant additive genetic components. Furthermore, non-additive components, including dominance, additive × additive and dominance × dominance interactions, were significant for all traits across the three crosses. Thissuggests the presence of epistasis, emphasizing the need to delay selection to later generations in these crosses for effective genetic improvement.
Access to court interpreting as social inclusion for migrants in Australia: an analysis of courtroom examination questions and answers
Authors: Yi Ran
Published: February 2025

With nearly half of its population born overseas, Australia is one of the most prominent societies built and shaped by migrants worldwide. In Australian courts, access to court interpreting is crucial for social inclusion. However, translating the language of law in court is never an easy job. Therefore, court interpreters serve as indispensable gatekeepers for procedural justice and linguistic equity. But how accurately did court interpreters reproduce lawyer questioning and defendant testimony in court? Drawing on triangulated survey and interpreting performance data, our initial findings suggest a mismatch between what the interpreters said they would do and what the interpreters actually did when translating the manner in which lawyers crafted their questions and defendant responded to their questions in court. Our contributions are three-fold: (1) increasing the linguistic ‘manner awareness’, (2) promoting interprofessional understanding, and (3) compassing future pedagogies in court interpreter education.
Framing AI in higher education: a critical discourse analysis of inclusivity and power in university AI guidance documents
Authors: Simpson Nicholas Hugh
Published: February 2025

The language of artificial intelligence (AI) guidance documents in higher education (HE) institutions reflects broader societal dynamics and raises important questions about inclusivity and accessibility. This study investigates how selective (Russell Group) and less selective UK universities craft their student-facing AI guidance documentation, focusing on the language and discourses embedded within these documents. Using critical discourse analysis (CDA), documents from six UK universities (three less selective institutions from the top of the intergenerational mobility rankings and three highly selective universities from the bottom) are analysed to explore differences in language, style, content, and framing of agency and responsibility. Findings reveal that selective universities often adopt hierarchical, authoritarian language that emphasises individual student accountability for the proper use of AI tools. Such an approach reflects selective universities’ institutional approaches to power and hierarchy and aligns with broader societal worries about the influence of AI. In contrast, less selective institutions adopt a relatively more inclusive and explanatory rhetoric more consistent with the expectations and needs of students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
Age and performance in masters swimming and running
Authors: De Veaux Richard , Plantinga Anna , Upton Elizabeth
Published: February 2025

The masters movement in swimming and running has exploded, resulting in an abundance of data to study the impact of age on performance. Analyzing data from masters events in running and swimming for athletes aged 35 to 80, we model the percentage increase in event time (or decrease in performance) by age and sex via stacked models that combine polynomial models, neural networks, and natural splines. To answer fundamental questions on the nature of performance decline for competitive athletes, we bootstrap the procedure to obtain confidence intervals. Cross-sectional masters data from the past decade are used to construct models, and the model predictions are compared to the trajectory of current world records by age and to estimates of decline using longitudinal data. Furthermore, the study explores the impact of constituent year, birth cohort, and participation effects, emphasizing the challenges in distinguishing age-related decline from factors like evolving training practices and varied participation rates. Our results give evidence that men generally decline more slowly than women, performance declines more rapidly for endurance events, athletes who participate more frequently decline more slowly than others, and masters level runners decline at rates roughly equivalent to world record holders.
Legal Aspect of Digital Transformation of Coffee and Tobacco Products in Batursari Village, Kledung Temanggung Indonesia
Authors: Maskur Muhammad Azil , Fikri Wildan Azkal , Indraswara Dede
Published: February 2025

This study examines the legal aspects of the digital transformation of coffee and tobacco products in Batursari Village, Kledung, Temanggung, Indonesia, with a focus on enhancing the welfare of local entrepreneurs. Batursari Village, rich in natural resources, has significant potential for growth in its coffee and tobacco industries. The research aims to develop strategies for improving the welfare of these entrepreneurs through product digitalization, aligning with the mandate of Article 33 of the 1945 Constitution, which emphasizes the principle of kinship in the economy. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, including surveys and focus group discussions with local entrepreneurs, the study identifies key challenges and opportunities in digital transformation. While the potential for expanding market access and increasing productivity through digital tools is evident, a lack of digital literacy and limited technological access have been significant barriers. The research highlights the importance of addressing legal aspects related to digital marketing, e-commerce regulations, and compliance with product standards. The study concludes that empowering local entrepreneurs with training in digital marketing and e-commerce can significantly improve market access, productivity, and overall welfare. Recommendations include implementing technical guidance sessions and providing ongoing support to facilitate the adoption of digital tools. Additionally, addressing legal and policy challenges is crucial to create a supportive environment for digitalization in rural economies. This research contributes valuable insights into how digital transformation can be harnessed to boost economic growth and welfare in rural agricultural communities, with a specific focus on Batursari Village’s coffee and tobacco industries.
Long-term outcomes of LT4/LT3 combination treatment for persistent hypothyroid symptoms
Authors: Nygaard Birte , Jensen Christian Zinck , Jorsal Mads , Medici Bjarke Røssner , Steffensen Rudi , Carle Allan , la Cour Jeppe Lerche
Published: February 2025

Objective: Patients are increasingly using and requesting LT4/LT3 combination treatment for persistent hypothyroid symptoms, but the efficacy and side effects of long-term therapy remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to describe the patient group experiencing a long-lasting impact of LT4/LT3 and evaluate their Quality of Life (QoL) and hypothyroid symptoms.

Method: We performed a cross-sectional study of 66 hypothyroid patients who had previously initiated LT4/LT3 combination therapy. The patients were grouped by current treatment into patients still receiving LT4/LT3 treatment (T3 responders) and patients who had discontinued LT3 treatment due to lack of effect (T3 non-responders). ThyPRO was used to evaluate QoL, and a validated symptom score was used to assess hypothyroid symptoms. The paper describes a real-life study that depicts unsatisfied patients as they are met in an outpatient clinic.

Results: The participants had a median age of 56 and had initiated LT4/LT3 combination therapy 5.4 years ago. Fifty-four patients still received LT4/LT3 therapy, and 12 patients had discontinued LT3 treatment due to lack of effect. Patients in the T3 responder group experienced a QoL comparable to the background population. Surprisingly, symptom scores in the T3 responder group were at the same levels as seen in Danish females with overt hypothyroidism. TSH in the T3 responder group were less than 0.4 mU/L in 38% of patients, indicating overtreatment.

Conclusion: LT4/LT3 treatment was well tolerated with no side effects and with high QoL, but patients still experienced many symptoms.
Quality of Life Assessed by the Questionnaire MOS SF-36 in Bladder Cancer Patients Depending on the Method of Surgical Treatment
Authors: YAKOVLEV P. , KUTS V. , ZEMSKOV S. , VERESHCHAKO R.
Published: February 2025

Using the Ukrainian version of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form, MOS SF-36 questionnaire for assessment of quality of life (QoL), a prospective analysis of the QoL of patients with bladder cancer who underwent radical surgery in the scope of radical cystectomy (group 1, 15 patients) and organ-preserving surgeries (bladder resection or transurethral resection, group 2, 40 patients) was conducted in the period from 2020 to 2022 at the Center for Urology and Urologic Oncology of the Feofania Clinical Hospital. The survey was conducted 1 week before radical surgery and 6 months after surgery. None of the studied patients had signs of recurrence or progression of bladder cancer during the postoperative survey. With identical QoL indicators before surgery, patients who underwent organ-preserving surgeries demonstrated significantly higher QoL indicators, such as physical, role, social, emotional functioning, and psychological health.
Differential Expression of MRPS18 Family Genes in Brain Tumor Samples
Authors: KOVALEVSKA L. , KALMAN S. , SUCHNOVA A. , MALYSHEVA O. , ROZUMENKO V. , MALYSHEVA T. , KASHUBA E.
Published: February 2025

Background. Brain tumors account for 2%—3% of all malignant neoplasms and 85%—90% of all primary tumors of the central nervous system with the 5-year survival rate of 35%. Additional biomarkers could help refine the molecular profile of brain tumors and prognosis of the disease. Aim. To study differential expression patterns of the MRPS18 family genes in tumor tissue and the peripheral blood of patients with brain tumors of various types. Materials and Methods. The total RNA was isolated from blood and tumor tissue samples of 27 patients with brain tumors. The quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was performed. Also, immunohistochemical (IHC) studies of the MRPS18 family proteins were performed on deparaffinized tissue sections. Results. The MRPS18-1-3 genes were highly expressed at the mRNA level in tumor tissue and the peripheral blood of patients with brain tumors. All 3 genes showed different patterns of expression depending on the tumor type. The highest MRPS18-1 mRNA expression was detected in glioblastoma (GB) samples in both tumor samples and the peripheral blood. In general, MRPS18-1 expression was higher in G4 tumors, compared to G2. MRPS18-3 gene was expressed as higher levels in G2 samples and in embryonic tumors. MRPS18-2 was expressed in all studied samples, with no regard to the tumor grade or type. The MRPS18-2 IHC staining was detected at high levels in most brain tumors. Conclusions. The MRPS18 family genes showed similar patterns of mRNA expression in tissue samples of brain tumors and peripheral blood of patients. The highest levels of MRPS18-1 mRNA were detected in GB samples, while the highest protein signal was detected for MRPS18-2 in almost all brain tumor samples.
Properties of Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells Loaded With Lysates of Cancer Cells Exposed to Cytotoxic Peptides
Authors: KHRANOVSKA N. , SKACHKOVA O. , GORBACH O. , SEMCHUK I. , SHYMON D. , RIPA O. , LUTSII O. , SHVETS Yu. , HORBATOK K. , AFONIN S. , KOMAROV I.
Published: February 2025

Background. This study is based on the idea of using tumor cell membrane lysis induced by diarylethene-containing analog of cytotoxic peptides (CPs) — gramicidin S to create a new approach for obtaining dendritic cells (DCs)-based anticancer vaccine. It is supposed that cancer cells undergoing immunogenic cell death release the damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), and thus enhance immunogenic maturation and activation of DCs. The aim of this study is to analyze the phenotypic and functional characteristics of the generated monocyte-derived DCs loaded with CPs-treated lysates of tumor cells. Materials and Methods. The triple-negative human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 was used in the study. DCs were generated from peripheral blood monocytes using a recombinant human granulocytemacrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-4 (IL-4). Tumor cells were treated with LMB033 CPs containing a diarylethene fragment (photoswitch) in two ring forms — “closed” with low activity and toxicity and “open” with high activity. The obtained lysates of tumor cells were co-incubated with human monocyte-derived DCs. The analysis of the phenotypic characteristics of DCs was performed by a flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies to CD83, CD86, CD11c, HLA-DR, and HLA-ABC. The expression level of mRNA of cytokine genes and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) gene was determined using the quantitative real-time PCR. Results. The highest cytotoxic effect on MDA-MB-231 cells was detected after 6-h incubation with the open form of LMB033 at concentrations of 16 and 32 μM. The studied CPs even at the lower of the tested concentrations caused externalization of phosphatidylserine in almost 100% of apoptotic cells of MB-MDA-231 cells following 6-h incubation. Loading monocyte-derived DCs with lysate of MDA-MB-231 cells treated with LMB033 peptide in open or closed forms caused a different effect on the antigen-presenting properties of cells depending on the form of the peptide. Compared to DCs loaded with untreated lysate, a significant increase in the number of mature activated CD83+ DCs was found after loading with lysates of cells treated with open (16 μM) or closed (32 μM) forms of LMB033. CPs-induced lysates of MDA-MB-231 cells did not cause significant changes in the expression of mRNA of Th1 polarizing cytokines TNF-α, IL-12, neither did these lysates activate the transcription of the genes of immunosuppressive cytokines and IL-10, TGF-β, and the IDO gene. This indicates the absence of the activation of the immunosuppressive properties of the generated DCs. Conclusion. The presented data open the prospects for developing an effective antitumor immunotherapeutic vaccine based on DCs using CPs LMB033.
Expression of miRNAs in the Presence of HPV Infection in Cervical Dysplasia Samples: A Pilot Study
Authors: SVINTSITSKA A. , LYGYRDA N. , Svintsitskyi V. , Borikun T. , Lukianova N.
Published: February 2025

Background. Cervical cancer is a major health concern, with human papillomaviruses (HPV) infection being a key risk factor. However, not all HPV-infected individuals develop cancer, suggesting the additional factors may be involved. This study aims to evaluate the differences in the miR-155 and -205 expression in cervical tissue with dysplasia depending on the presence of HPV and confirmed cancer diagnosis. Materials and Methods. The expression of miR-155 and -205 in 30 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded primary cervical tissue biopsy samples was evaluated using RT-PCR. Results. The expression levels of miRNA-155 and -205 in cervical dysplasia samples without malignant transformation was lower than these in carcinoma in situ tissues (0.74 ± 0.21 and 1.65 ± 0.42 vs. 1.37 ± 0.18 and 2.35 ± 0.32, respectively). In carcinoma in situ cases, we found higher levels of miRNA-155 and -205 (1.6 and 1.38 times, respectively) in CIN-3/ HSIL samples compared to CIN-2/HSIL samples. The expression of both miRNAs tended to increase in HPV-positive cases and in the presence of malignant transformation compared to HPV-negative dysplasia and dysplasia without signs of malignant transformation, respectively. Conclusions. The obtained data indicate a potential relationship between the presence of HPV infection and the expression profile of miRNA-155 and -205.