bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Population and Biochemical Characteristics of Halotolerant N2 Fixing Rhizobacteria Isolated from Saline Soil Ecosystem
Authors: Khumairah Fiqriah Hanum , Ulfah Triana , Setiawati Mieke Rochimi , Fitriatin Betty Natalie , Simarmata Tualar
Published: October 2022

Utilization of halotolerant N2 fixing rhizobacteria (HNFR) in saline soil ecosystem has the potential to reduce the negative impact of soil salinity. The aim of this study was to obtain isolates of HNFR in saline soil ecosystem and identify their biochemical characteristics. The research was conducted at Sukajaya Village (Cilamaya Kulon District, Karawang Regency) and Biology Laboratory (Department of Soil and Land Resources, Faculty of Agriculture, Padjadjaran University) from September 2019 to November 2020. Soil samples were obtained from rhizosphere of rice, mangrove, and grass vegetations located around the shoreline affected by sea water intrusion. Isolation and characterization activities were done by using salinized Asbhy selective media. The population of HNFR in saline soil ecosystem was analyzed by using total plate count method. Biochemical characteristics were determined by analyzing the IAA hormone production using spectrophotometer, nitrogenase activity using gas chromatography, and DNA analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequence. The results showed that the number of HNFR obtained was 15 isolates with the highest population shown by Ab-P4, Ab-P5, and Ab-R5 isolates. Ab-P5 and Ab-R5 isolates which were obtained from rhizosphere of rice and grass, respectively, were able to produce IAA phytohormones reaching 0.89 and 0.61 μg/l and nitrogenase activity reaching 1.982 and 0.331 μM C2H4/ml/h, respectively. DNA analysis showed that the Ab-P5 and Ab-R5 isolates were Bacillus cereus and Delftia tsuruhatensis, respectively, and these isolates potentially can be used as active ingredients for biofertilizers that could be applied in saline soil ecosystem.
Construction and Introduction of CRISPR/Cas9-gRNA-Vinv for Editing A Gene Controlling Cold-Induced Sweetening [CIS] Character on Potato
Authors: Nurkhasanah Hidayati , Suharsono Suharsono , Santoso Tri Joko
Published: October 2022

Cold-induced sweetening (CIS) causes the processed potato to have dark (browning) texture and induces high acrylamid formation. This phenomenon involves the activity of the Vacuolar invertase (Vinv) gene in accumulating sugar reducer in tubers under cold conditions. Inhibition of Vinv gene activity plays an important role in developing potato lines tolerance to CIS. The objectives of this study were to (1) construct a CRISPR/Cas9 cassette module carrying the gRNA from the Vinv gene, (2) obtain transgenic Atlantic potato cultivars containing CRISPR/Cas9-gRNA-Vinv cassette through genetic transformation by Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and (3) analyze the transgenic putative potato plant molecularly. The recombinant plasmid containing CRISPR/Cas9-gRNA-Vinv genes was successfully constructed and introduced into the potato genome by A. tumefaciens. Genetic transformation of Atlantic potato with CRISPR/Cas9-gRNA-Vinv cassette was more efficient using leaf explants compared to that using stem segment explants. Transformation of leaf explants resulted in transformation and regeneration efficiency values of 8.8% and 53.6%, respectively, compared to 1.3% and 0% transformation and regeneration efficiencies using stem segment explants. From 12 transformant lines obtained, three lines were found to contain the Cas9 gene. Sequence analysis of the Vinv gene derived from T0 transgenic plant, however, found no mutations occurred in the Vinv gene sequence. Further research is needed to obtain the Vinv gene mutants.
Genomic DNA Extraction: The Critical Stage in Plant Molecular Analysis Activities
Authors: Nugroho Kristianto , Satyawan Dani , Tasma I Made , Lestari Puji
Published: October 2022

DNA extraction is a crucial stage in plant molecular analysis activities that determine the success of further downstream analysis stages. Molecular analysis activities, including Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), restriction digestion, DNA hybridisation, genomic library construction, and DNA sequencing, mostly require DNA with high quality and enough quantity. Some plants contain high levels of polysaccharides, proteins, and secondary metabolites, such as polyphenols, tannins, and alkaloids, which can affect the purity of the isolated DNA. The presence of these contaminants can inhibit the activity of several enzymes, such as DNA polymerase and restriction enzymes, so that DNA could not be amplified or digested. Various DNA extraction methods have been developed, ranging from manual method, manual commercial kits, and robotic techniques. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages since the selection of the right method needs to be determined carefully in order to obtain the best results. Some modifications at certain stages in DNA extraction process need to be conducted to minimize the number of DNA contaminants. Several rapid DNA extraction methods nowadays have also been developed to save times, labors, and costs. In addition, the rapid DNA extraction method could also reduce the use of some hazardous chemical compounds, so that the method is not only giving economic benefits, but also good for human health.
(CRISPR/Cas9 Cassette Construction for OsARF2 Gene Editing and Development of Transgenic Rice Nipponbare Containing CRISPR/Cas9-OsARF2
Authors: Mubarok Muhamad Husni , Sisharmini Atmitri , Apriana Aniversari , Santoso Tri Joko , Suharsono Suharsono
Published: October 2022

High Affinity K+ transporter 5 (HAK5) is one of the K + channel that involves in K + uptake. HAK5 gene expression is repressed under K + sufficient condition by the Auxin Response Factor 2 (ARF2) transcription factor. K + absorption can be increased by inactivation of ARF2 gene, e.g. by directed mutation using CRISPR/Cas9 method. The aims of this study were to create CRISPR/Cas9 construct carrying gRNA of OsARF2 gene and obtain transgenic rice Nipponbare containing CRISPR/Cas9- gRNAOsARF2. Two different sites in OsARF2 gene were succesfully designed as gRNA of the gene. Both oligo duplex RNA guides, gRNAOsARF2-A and gRNAOsARF2-B, were ligated into pDIRECT_21A plasmid using Golden Gate method. CRISPR/Cas9-gRNAOsARF2-A and CRISPR/Cas9-gRNAOsARF2-B cassettes were succesfully introduced separately into japonica rice cv. Nipponbare genome via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, resulting putative transgenic lines. Analysis of Cas9 gene integration by PCR showed that 11 of 28 N-ARF-2-A putative transgenic lines contained Cas9 transgene. The sequencing analysis of the two selected lines showed that the OsARF2 gene of the CRISPR/Cas9-gRNAOsARF2 construct had not been mutated. Further studies are needed to determine the presence of mutations in the OsARF2 gene from other T0 transgenic lines obtained in this study together with that of the T1 transgenic lines.
Development Sharia Investment During Covid-19 Pandemic
Authors: Mustamin Asyraf , Trimulato Trimulato
Published: October 2022

The development Islamic finance industry continues increase, with presence various Islamic financial products are increasingly varied. Islamic financial products are not only depositing funds in sharia banking but also developing investment products sharia financial institutions. Sharia investment can contribute economic recovery during Covid-19 pandemic. Determine development several sharia investment products and sharia financial institutions and to describe development sharia investment during Covid-19 pandemic. Orientation forms investment are intended for economic recovery affected pandemic. Type research used is library research qualitative method. Data source used is secondary data. Data obtained from has been presented institution, including data from Financial Services Authority (OJK), and from Directorate General Financing and Risk Management (DJPPR) Ministry Finance. Data obtained were then processed by researchers and then described. Data analysis technique used research is descriptive qualitative. Study show developments in Sharia investment products, Retail Sukuk, in 2019 experienced growth 13.15 percent, and savings Sukuk reached 8,436,570,000. For PeerToPeer (P2P) Sharia fintech institutions, assets in the April 2021 period grew 85.54 percent, and assets Islamic microfinance institutions grew 2.24 percent. Development sharia investment during Covid-19 pandemic through increased investment through digital technology. Sharia investment focuses economic recovery supports government activities. Sharia investment development Retail Sukuk (SR) and Savings Sukuk (ST), was transferred economic recovery. Maximum development sharia investment through sharia fintech for recovery sectors affected during Covid-19 pandemic. Development sharia investment through sharia financial institutions, increasing productive financing of SMEs. As well as development sharia investment based on investor profits and social needs sectors impacting Covid-19 pandemic.
Advantages of Dinar and Dirham and Profit Sharing System In Monetary Policy
Authors: Ahmad Zakiyyah Ilma , Mustofa Mustofa
Published: October 2022

The research gap as well as the novelty of this research in comparison to previous research is that it discusses the advantages of the profit-sharing system as a better monetary policy that may overcome the monetary crisis caused by the interest rates. This study analyzed the advantages of the dinar and dirham as well as the profit-sharing on monetary policy. This study proved that the dinar and dirham and the profit-sharing are solutions to the economic crisis.Under the qualitative approach, library research was carried out by collecting information related to the monetary crisis in 1998 and 2008 caused by currencies and interest rates. The advantages of the dinar and dirham, as well as profit-sharing, were analyzed. This study revealed that the monetary crisis greatly impacted the economy from 1997 to 1998 and in 2008, one of which was caused by the instability of exchange rates and interest rates. This study suggests that monetary policy should be reconsidered, as it was during the Prophet's time, by using dinar and dirham as fixed and stable mediums of exchange, as well as a profit-sharing system that avoids interest-rate speculation and takes advantage of dinar and dirham and the profit-sharing system.
Post-operative Delayed Elevation of ALT and TB > 57.1 umol/L of Postoperative Day 5 Predict Posthepatectomy Liver Failure of Patients with HBV-related Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
Authors: Yu Liang-He , Yang Yuan , Zhu Bin , Shen Ning-Jia , Shi Yan , Zhao Jie , Yu Wen-Long , Fu Xiao-Hui , Zhou Wei-Ping , Zhang Yong-Jie
Published: October 2022

Background
Posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) remains a life-threatening complication after partial hepatectomy (PH). Nowadays several PHLF criteria have been published, but criteria concerning postoperative delayed elevation of ALT (PDE-ALT) PHLF and fatal PHLF are scant. The aim of study was to evaluate PDE-ALT combined with postoperative serum TBil to predict PHLF patients with HBV-related Hepatocellular Carcinomas in postoperative day (POD) 30.
Patients and methods:
A cohort study of patients with HBV-related HCC and who developed PHLF in National database of liver cancer samples of Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital was classified into two groups (A: Death, B: Survival). Liver function tests were dynamical compared between the two groups using with pearson’s chi-squared test at postoperative days (POD) 1, 3, 5, and 7, ROC-AUC was used to definite the cut-off value of TBil.
Results
Of the 2620 patients, 156 (6. 0%) developed PHLF in POD 30. The overall incidence of fatal PHL was 0.57% (15/ 2620) in POD 30. The dynamic changes of ALT in and between the two groups in the postoperative 1 week of POD 30 was found statistically significance (P = 0.001, P < 0.001; respectively); PDE-ALT + TBil > 57.1 umol/L predicted the fatal PHLF in Pod 30. (POD 5 AUC = 0.689, P = 0.030). The sensitivity and specificity of “PDE-ALT + TBil > 57.1 umol/L” predicted the fatal PHLF in Pod 30 was 76.9%, 58.0%; respectively;
Conclusion
“Post-operative Delayed Elevation of ALT and POD 5 TBil > 57.1 umol/L” in patients with HBV-related HCC may predicted the fatal PHLF. Therefore, it is important to monitor them closely for these patients, then initiate early and continue intensive treatment if necessary.
Teak Seedlings' Physiological and Gene Expression Responses to Salt and Osmotic Stress
Authors: Maisuria Hemanshukumar , Dhaduk Haresh , Kumar Sushil , Sakure Amar , Thounaojam Amarjeet
Published: October 2022

Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research Station and Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Anand Agricultural University, Gujarat, conducted the experiment in May 2019 to determine the physiological and differential gene expression analysis of teak seedlings under various abiotic stress conditions (control, 150 mM NaCl and 15% PEG). The physiological data [chlorophyll content, membrane stability index and relative water content] were recorded at 0, 2, 7, and 12 DAT with four repetitions. These parameters were all lowered quantitatively at first, and then considerably during longer treatment. The application of 150 mM NaCl has disastrous effects on plant physiology in terms of PEG. The findings revealed that diverse stresses have a substantial impact on seedling physiology due to chlorophyll degradation, cell and chloroplast membrane damage, ROS formation, and decreased water absorption in response to physiological or physical shortage of accessible soil moisture. At 12 DAT, the gene expression profile of treated seedlings was compared to that of control seedlings. RT-PCR was used to examine the expression of one endogenous and ten stress-related genes. MYB-3, HSP-1, BI-1, and CS-2 genes were up-regulated in leaves of stress-treated seedlings. The genes' up-regulation supported their protective role in plants under abiotic stress. Treatments, stress duration, and plant species all altered the expression profile of genes. According to the findings of this study, these physiological indicators could be used as marker indices to measure tree's stress tolerance capacity during the seedling stage. The up-regulated genes will be further investigated and used to confirm stress resistance and susceptible teak seedlings.
Prediction of diabetes mellitus development after kidney transplantation using patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Lim Sun Woo , Shin Yoo Jin , Cui Sheng , Ko Eun Jeong , Chung Byung Ha , Yang Chul Woo
Published: October 2022

Background:Multiple risk factors are involved in new-onset diabetes mellitus after transplantation; however, their prediction of clinical prognosis remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated whether patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) could help predict diabetes mellitus (DM) development before performing kidney transplantation (KT).Methods:We first examined whole transcriptome and functional enrichment analyses of KT patient-derived iPSCs and revealed that insulin resistance, type 2 DM, and transforming growth factor-beta signaling pathways are associated between the group of DM and non-DM. We next determined whether the different genetic background was associated with development from iPSC into pancreatic progenitor (PP) cells.Results:We found that the level of differentiation-related key markers of PP cells was significantly lower in the DM group than in the non-DM group. Moreover, the results of tacrolimus toxicity screening showed significant decrease in the number of PP cells of DM group compared with the non-DM group, suggesting that these cells are more susceptible to tacrolimus toxicity.Conclusions:Taken together, the PP cells of the DM group showed low developmental potency, which was accompanied by a significantly different genetic background compared with the non-DM group. Thus, genetic analysis can be used to predict the risk of developing DM before performing KT.
Spatial prediction of soil micronutrients using machine learning algorithms integrated with multiple digital covariates
Authors: Keshavarzi Ali , KAYA Fuat , Başayiğit Levent , Gyasi-Agyei Yeboah , Rodrigo-Comino Jesús , Caballero-Calvo Andrés
Published: October 2022

The design and application of multiple tools to spatially assess soil properties are key to efficient land management plans. While soil micronutrients are paramount soil properties for multiple purposes, collecting a representative number of samples is time-consuming and expensive. The main aim of this research was to evaluate different scenarios involving 41 environmental variables with two machine learning (ML) algorithms for predicting the spatial distribution of soil micronutrients within the piedmont plain in north-eastern Iran. Sixty-eight locations with different land uses were soil sampled to determine the contents of the micronutrients of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu). The environmental variables were derived from a digital elevation model, open-source Landsat 8 OLI, Sentinel 2A MSI images, WorldClim climate variables and raster maps of key soil properties. Normalised Root Mean Square Error (NRMSE) and Taylor diagrams were used to evaluate the ML models. Based on the validation results and soil scientists evaluation of the produced maps, the Random Forest (RF) algorithm emerged as the most effective method for predicting the spatial distribution of the soil micronutrients. For the validation set, 91%, 94%, 91% and 108% NRMSE values for Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu, respectively, were given by the RF algorithm. However, one parsimonious scenario involving only the climate covariates also showed promising results. These digital maps produced at 30 m spatial resolution could be used as valuable reconnaissance base information to effectively identify micronutrient deficiencies and excess hotspots for large areas.
Military Knowledge and Practices in Relation to Preventing and Combating COVID-19
Authors: Chirindza Nivaldo Antonio Tomo , Mangona Lucilia Bernardino Marrinze
Published: October 2022

Coronavirus disease 2019 was first reported in the city of Wuhan in the Chinese province of Hubei in December 2019 and is caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2. According to the Ministry of Health Mozambique registered the first case of coronavirus on March 22, 2020 and, up to the date of production of this research, had about 230 thousand cases. The modus vivendi of the military, poses a high risk for COVID-19 infection. Hence, there is a need to increase knowledge and improve practices regard to the prevention. However, no study that addresses this issue in the Armed Forces of Defense of Mozambique was found. This study aims to analyze the knowledge and practices of the military in relation of preventing and combating COVID-19. It was carried out at the Army Command, with a sample of 162 subjects selected for convenience. The subjects were submitted to a questionnaire about knowledge and good practices of prevention of COVID-19. Most participants had a high level of knowledge about COVID-19. A little over half of the participants tend to practices conducive to disease prevention. A considerable number demonstrated to have deviant practices in relation to prevention measures recommended by health entities, suggesting health education interventions aimed at this population segment, in particular, especially with regard to daily practices.
An Empirical study on the class imbalance handling techniques for different diseases
Authors: Rhmann Wasiur
Published: October 2022

Machine learning and deep learning-based techniques are now widely used to identify and diagnose various diseases. However, getting a sufficient data for these machine learning models is difficult, and usually collected data is unbalanced i.e. less number of instances with disease class and a large number of classes without the disease. These imbalanced data cause poor performance of the classifier in the detection of minority or disease classes. To address this class imbalance problem for medical data we have applied 17 different class imbalance handling techniques on four publically available datasets with Random forest as a base classifier. Performances of different class imbalance handling techniques are statistically evaluated and impact of different disease datasets on the prediction performance is also statistically assessed. Two novel techniques Genetic Algorithm-Cost sensitive-Deep neural network(GA-CS-DNN) and Class imbalance handling technique-Genetic Algorithm-Deep neural Network(CIH-GA-DNN)are proposed for handling class imbalance problems. Performances of proposed techniques are compared with other state of art class imbalance handling techniques and obtained results showed that OnesidedSelection outperformed all other techniques. A statistical test further demonstrated that OnesidedSelection performs differently than SMOTENN. Significant statistical differences in illness prediction can be seen between the kidney and diabetes, prostate and kidney, and kidney and heart datasets when compared pair-wise.
Spatial, temporal, and inter-subject variation of the metabolome along the human upper intestinal tract
Authors: Folz Jacob , Culver Rebecca , Morales Juan , Grembi Jessica , Triadafilopoulos George , Relman David , Huang KC , Shalon Dari , Fiehn Oliver
Published: October 2022

Most utilization of human diets occurs in the small intestine, which remains largely unstudied. Here, we used a novel non-invasive, ingestible sampling device to probe the spatiotemporal variation of upper intestinal luminal contents during routine daily digestion in 15 healthy subjects. We analyzed 274 intestinal samples and 60 corresponding stool homogenates by combining five metabolomics assays and 16S rRNA sequencing. We identified 1,909 metabolites, including sulfonolipids and novel bile acids. Stool and intestinal metabolomes differed dramatically. Food metabolites displayed known differences and trends in dietary biomarkers, unexpected increases in dicarboxylic acids along the intestinal tract, and a positive association between luminal keto acids and fruit intake. Diet-derived and microbially linked metabolites accounted for the largest inter-subject differences. Interestingly, subjects exhibited large variation in levels of bioactive fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids (FAHFAs) and sulfonolipids. Two subjects who had taken antibiotics within 6 months prior to sampling showed markedly different patterns in these and other microbially related metabolites; from this variation, we identified Blautia species as most likely to be involved in FAHFA metabolism. Thus, in vivo sampling of the human small intestine under physiologic conditions can reveal links between diet, host and microbial metabolism.
The effect of permissive high SVV on postoperative delirium in elderly patients in laparoscopic hepatectomy
Authors: Guo Yunfei , Wang Yazhu , Niu Yanyan , Xue Jianming , Sun Shuo , Li Jianling
Published: October 2022

Backgrounds
The effect of goal-directed fluid therapy (GDFT) on postoperative cognitive function in elderly patients is unknown. Therefore, we designed the present study to evaluate the effect of permissive high stroke volume variability (SVV)-mediated GDFT on postoperative delirium in elderly laparoscopic hepatectomy patients.
Methods
In this study, patients were randomly divided into two groups: a pilot group (group S) with SVV-guided rehydration and a control group (group C) with Central venous pressure (CVP)-guided rehydration. Group S: fluid therapy according to the target SVV value; Group C: fluid therapy according to the CVP value intraoperative parameters and postoperative outcomes were recorded for all patients. The primary outcome variables were cerebral metabolic and injury indicators, volume of access, stress and inflammatory indicators.
Results
Brain metabolic indexes: During operation, rSO2%max in group S was significantly lower than that in group C (7.5% vs 12.3%), and O2ER in group S was lower than that in group C at T2-4, P < 0.05. Brain injury index: S100β protein of group C at 1 day and 3 days after surgery and NSE was significantly higher than group S, P < 0.05. The incidence of POD in group S was significantly lower than that in group C (10% VS 20%), P < 0.05. The length of hospital stay was significantly less than group C (9.3 ± 1.8 VS 12.4 ± 1.9), P < 0.05.
Conclusions
In laparoscopic hepatectomy in the elderly, the use of permissive high SVV during hepatectomy can ensure blood perfusion of vital organs, but also ensure less tissue bleeding, reduce cerebral oxygen metabolism, reduce the inflammatory response, and reduce the occurrence of postoperative delirium, with certain safety and feasibility.
Improved natural melanin production by Aspergillus nidulans after optimization of factors involved in the pigment biosynthesis pathway
Authors: Medeiros William Bartolomeu , Medina Kelly Johana Dussán , Sponchiado Sandra Regina Pombeiro
Published: October 2022

Background
Melanin is a natural pigment that can be applied in different fields such as medicine, environment, pharmaceutical, and nanotechnology. Studies carried out previously showed that the melanin produced by the MEL1 mutant from Aspergillus nidulans exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities, without any cytotoxic or mutagenic effect. These results taken together suggest the potential application of melanin from A. nidulans in the pharmaceutical industry. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of factors L-tyrosine, glucose, glutamic acid, L-DOPA, and copper on melanin production by the MEL1 mutant and to establish the optimal concentration of these factors to maximize melanin production.
Results
The results showed that L-DOPA, glucose, and copper sulfate significantly affected melanin production, where L-DOPA was the only factor that exerted a positive effect on melanin yield. Besides, the tyrosinase activity was higher in the presence of L-DOPA, considered a substrate required for enzyme activation, this would explain the increased production of melanin in this condition. After establishing the optimal concentrations of the analyzed factors, the melanin synthesis was increased by 640% compared to the previous studies.
Conclusions
This study contributed to elucidating the mechanisms involved in melanin synthesis in A. nidulans as well as to determining the optimal composition of the culture medium for greater melanin production that will make it possible to scale the process for a future biotechnological application.
Navigating through adversity: An assessment of Mauritius Commercial Bank’s performance during the covid era
Authors: Gujadhur Parikshit
Published: October 2022

Several financial shocks, including the COVID-19 pandemic, have rendered the global banking industry unstable. Banks' profitability, resilience, and market value have been affected because of the ripple effects of these events (KPMG, 2020). The pandemic's negative economic impacts have also hit banks in Mauritius. MCB has established itself as the most stable, solid, and prominent financial institution in the country. This report is organised into three chapters in compliance with the university and project guidelines. The first chapter establishes the premise for the rest of the report. The second chapter examines the methodology for data collection and adopted analytical approaches. The third chapter interprets the different findings and makes some recommendations. From 2019 to 2021, MCB's overall performance and banking stability deteriorated due to the impacts of COVID-19, Moody's downgrading, adverse changes in DTAA with India, socio-economic consequences of the pandemic, highly-indebted economic sectors and the blacklisting of Mauritius by FATF and EU Commission. From the performance analysis, it was noted that the profitability of MCB has been decreasing significantly. The cost-to-income ratio shows that MCB's financial control efficiency has deteriorated from 2019 to 2021. Shareholder returns at MCB have also fallen, according to investor ratios. There has been a rise in MCB's cost of risk, impairment charges, and projected credit losses since 2019. From 2019 to 2021, MCB's liquidity have fluctuated while its solvency has decreased, even if they are over the minimum requirements. Despite this, a rise in CAR from 2019 to 2021 helped to keep MCB's financial footing solid. In addition, the NPL ratios of MCB improved somewhat from 2019 to 2021. A prudent strategy focused on keeping clear from high-risk speculative deals and supporting businesses engaged in productive activities, which will generate a continued rise in income may boost ROA and ROE. MCB to leverage on its prominence in the banking sector, to develop and market innovative and user-friendly products and services, in particular, e-banking solutions in order to attract new customers.
Non-linear optical response as a food authentication: Investigation of non- linear optical properties of edible oils by Spatial Self-Phase Modulation (SSPM) method
Authors: Hassan Amir Namiq , Haddad Mohammad Ali , Golestanifar Moein , Behjat Abbas
Published: October 2022

The non-linear optical responses of cherry seed oil, avocado seed oil, and sesame oil were studied by observing spatial self-phase modulation (SSPM) in oil samples using a \(405\,nm\) continuous wave laser beam. The non-linear refraction coefficients and third-order non-linear susceptibility\({\chi ^{\left( 3 \right)}}\)of edible oils were estimated to be \({10^{ - 6}}\,c{m^2}/W\)and\({10^{ - 5}}\,esu\), respectively, based on the intensity-dependent number of observed symmetric diffraction rings. Also, we examined the spatial self-phase modulation technique to investigate the authenticity of three adulterated oils based on their non-linear optical properties. For this purpose, five different adulterated samples were prepared by diluting samples with sunflower oil (cheaper commercial oil) in various dilution ratios. The measured non-linear optical parameters of adulterated samples revealed that the non-linear optical parameters of diluted oils correlate strongly with the samples' levels of adulteration. The results suggest that the SSPM technique might be considered for estimating the degree of adulteration of samples based on their non-linear optical responses.
PFKFB3 Knockdown Attenuates Amyloid β-Induced Microglial Activation and Retinal Pigment Epithelium Senescence
Authors: Wang Yusong , Han Siyang , Chen Jieqiong , Sun Junran , Sun Xiaodong
Published: October 2022

Background: Retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) degeneration is a major cause of irreversible blindness in individuals with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). As the main component of drusen deposits between the retina and RPE cells, amyloid β (Aβ) plays a critical role in activating microglia and causing neuroinflammation in AMD pathogenesis. However, the role of activated microglia-mediated neuroinflammation in progressive RPE degeneration remains unclear.
Results: In this study, we mimicked the retinal inflammatory microenvironment of AMD by intravitreal injection of oligomeric Aβ1-40, which resulted in activation of microglia and AMD-like pathology in mice. 6-Phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-biphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3), a crucial enzyme in microglial metabolic reprogramming and proinflammatory activation, was upregulated in Aβ1-40-treated retina. Proinflammatory activation of microglia driven by upregulating PFKFB3 contributed to RPE degeneration, which was verified in PFKFB3+/− mice, Aβ1-40-activated microglial cell line BV2 and co-culture of RPE cell line ARPE19. RNA sequencing revealed that PFKFB3 knockdown alleviated Aβ1-40-induced microglial neuroinflammatory phenotype in mice. PFKFB3 silencing in microglia inhibited RPE senescence and dysfunction, and rescued the retinal morphology and function.
Conclusions: Overall, our findings demonstrated that after Aβ1-40 stimulation, activated microglia-derived neuroinflammatory cytokines may contribute to RPE disorders via PFKFB3. Modulation of PFKFB3-mediated microglial activation might be a promising strategy for AMD treatment.
Xenogeneic transplantation of mitochondria induces muscle regeneration in an in vivo rat model of dexamethasone-induced atrophy
Authors: Kim Mi Jin , Lee Ji Min , Min Kyunghoon , Choi Yong-Soo
Published: October 2022

Muscle atrophy significantly impairs health and quality of life; however, there is still no cure. Recently, the possibility of regeneration in muscle atrophic cells was suggested through mitochondrial transfer. Therefore, we attempted to prove the efficacy of mitochondrial transplantation in animal models. To this end, we prepared intact mitochondria from umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells maintaining their membrane potential. To examine the efficacy of mitochondrial transplantation on muscle regeneration, we measured muscle mass, cross-sectional area of muscle fiber, and changes in muscle-specific genes. In addition, changes in the signaling mechanisms related to muscle atrophy were evaluated. As a result, in mitochondrial transplantation, the muscle mass increased by 1.5-fold and the lactate concentration decreased by 2.5-fold at 1 week in dexamethasone-induced atrophic muscles. In addition, a 2.3-fold increase in the expression of desmin protein, a muscle regeneration marker, showed a significant recovery in MT 5 µg group. Importantly, the muscle-specific ubiquitin E3-ligases MAFbx and MuRF-1 were significantly recovered through AMPK activation by mitochondrial transplantation compared with the saline group, reaching a level similar to that in the control. Taken together, the therapeutic potential of muscle atrophy through mitochondrial transplantation was confirmed.
Quantum Sparse Coding
Authors: Romano Yaniv , Primack Harel , Vaknin Talya , Meirzada Idan , Karpas Ilan , Furman Dov , Tradonsky Chene , Shlomi Ruti Ben
Published: October 2022

The ultimate goal of any sparse coding method is to accurately recover from a few noisy linear measurements, an unknown sparse vector. Unfortunately, this estimation problem is NP-hard in general, and it is therefore always approached with an approximation method, such as lasso or orthogonal matching pursuit, thus trading off accuracy for less computational complexity. In this paper, we develop a quantum-inspired algorithm for sparse coding, with the premise that the emergence of quantum computers and Ising machines can potentially lead to more accurate estimations compared to classical approximation methods. To this end, we formulate the most general sparse coding problem as a quadratic unconstrained binary optimization (QUBO) task, which can be efficiently minimized using quantum technology. To derive at a QUBO model that is also efficient in terms of the number of spins (space complexity), we separate our analysis into three different scenarios. These are defined by the number of bits required to express the underlying sparse vector: binary, 2-bit, and a general fixed-point representation. We finally conduct numerical experiments with simulated data on LightSolver's quantum-inspired digital platform to verify the correctness of our QUBO formulation and to demonstrate that we obtain more accurate solutions in regimes where the baseline methods fail.
STUDY OF POSSIBILITY OF VANADIUM AND TITANIUM CHEMICAL EXTRACTION FROM TITANOMAGNETITE ORE IRON CONCENTRATE
Authors:   Magnitogorsk State Technical University named after G. I. Nosov, Magnitogorsk, Medyanik N. , Smirnova A. ,   Magnitogorsk State Technical University named after G. I. Nosov, Magnitogorsk, Kolyada L. ,   Magnitogorsk State Technical University named after G. I. Nosov, Magnitogorsk, Bessonova Yu. ,   Magnitogorsk State Technical University named after G. I. Nosov, Magnitogorsk
Published: October 2022

The metallurgical industry is experiencing certain difficulties in the raw material segment of ferrous metals due to the depletion of highly liquid target iron ores reserves, the alternative of which are titanomagnetites. In addition, the demand for vanadium and titanium is increasing on the world market, the absolute part of the world stock of which also falls on titanomagnetite ore. Complex processing of titanomagnetite ores provides for production of not only iron concentrate, but also vanadium and titanium present in it. In this regard, the relevance of research lies in the need for deep complex processing of titanomagnetites and their enrichment products. The object of the study was iron concentrate of titanomagnetite ore from the Volkovsky deposit. Due to the isomorphism of vanadium with iron and the extremely thin integration of titanium into magnetite grains, the purpose of this investigate was to study the possibility of vanadium and titanium chemical extraction from titanomagnetite ore iron concentrate. The authors have analyzed the features of the chemical and mineralogical composition of iron concentrate. Granulometric, X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence analyses are used in the work. The feasibility of complex processing of iron concentrate in order to extract not only iron from it, but also such valuable components as vanadium and titanium by acid leaching has been proved. It has been experimentally established that it is possible to extract vanadium into solution and concentrate titanium in the cake by acid leaching of iron concentrate. The highest percentage of vanadium extraction (68.31%) is achieved by leaching with 30% hydrochloric acid at a temperature of 92-98 °C. It has been established that titanium is not extracted into the solution, but is concentrated in the cake, however, titanium dioxide is partially dissolved when hot sulfuric acid is used. Thus, it was proved that, it is preferable to use solutions of hydrochloric acid, rather than sulfuric acid for the selective separation of titanium and vanadium, due to the dissolution of titanium dioxide in hot sulfuric acid
Transnational Crime in the Russian Far East and Northeast Asia in the Context of Regional and National Security
Authors:   Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia, Blagoveshchensk, Gamerman E.
Published: October 2022

This article is devoted to the problem of little studied, and at the same time, extremely relevant - the activities of transnational criminal groups in the countries of Northeast Asia and the territory of the Russian Far East. The object of the study is the activities of transnational criminal groups in Northeast Asia and the Russian Far East. The subject of the study is the impact that such activities have on regional security in Northeast Asia, as well as on the national level of individual countries. The author has used the comparative method, which allowed us to compare the situation in different countries of the region, as well as the role and influence of organized criminal groups of different countries on the overall situation and the state of security; the method of logical analysis, which allowed us to analyze ambiguous, contradictory processes, in particular on the territory of Japan; the historical-genetic method, which allowed us to trace the origins of modern processes in this sphere. As well as the impact that this activity has on regional security in Northeast Asia, as well as at the national level of individual countries. The phenomenon of organized crime and transnational crime is not fundamentally new. However, with the onset of modern globalization processes, it has acquired previously unprecedented scales, forms, and consequences. Globalization has led not to only positive developments, open markets and the emergence of a large number of opportunities, but also to a number of negative aspects. Illegal formations received a huge number of opportunities for development and growth. Moreover, this has found a very serious reflection in the state of security of individual countries, as well as with access to the regional and global level.
The Bankruptcy of “Global Britain” strategy and the prospects of Sino-Britain Bilateral Relationship
Authors:   Shanghai University of Political Science and Law, Shanghai, China, Sun Shengnan
Published: October 2022

The "Global Britain" diplomatic strategy is the core concept that guides the development of the UK's diplomacy released by the British government in 2017. This concept attempts to build a global partnership as an important strategy for British diplomacy after Brexit. However, the post-Brexit Britain vigorously provoked European geopolitical contradictions particularly in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and identified China and Russia as the destroyers of the Western- international order. Britain completely reverts to the Cold War ideology by unlimitedly highlighting its special relationship with USA since British traditional diplomatic model fundamentally deviates from the basic concept of the "Global Britain" strategy. In the international context of the increasingly fierce competition between China and the United States, China-UK relations are correspondingly at a historically low level. However, China-UK bilateral cooperation still has huge potential for a promising future due to the complementary benefits for both sides in the fields of economy, trade and cultural exchange
Exogenous Sucrose Supply Regulates the Physiological Index Levels Before the Flower Blooming and Fruit Abscission Stages in the Biodiesel Tree Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn.
Authors: Gao Shilun , Gao Yuan , Yang Ying , Jia Liming , Weng Xuehuang
Published: October 2022

Nutrient deficiency leads to a high fruit abscission rate and low yields of Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn. (Soapberry), which is one of the most widely cultivated biodiesel feedstock forests in China. Exogenous sucrose can provide a solution to nutrient deficiency and fruit abscission leading to low yields; therefore, it was applied to whole trees at two stages, 20 days before blooming (DBB stage) and before fruit abscission [days before fruit abscission (DBFA) stage]. Six sucrose concentrations, 0%, 1%, 1.5%, 3%, 5%, and 7%, were sprayed three times using a completely randomized block design with five replications and six treatments. 13CO2 labeling experiments were performed after the three sprayings. The results indicated that the 3% treatment had the highest yield, reaching 15.9 kg/tree. During the DBB stage, the 3% treatment significantly increased the inflorescence fructose and glucose contents 1- to 1.2-times and resulted in the highest fruit gibberellic acid, leaf indole acetic acid (IAA), fruit IAA, and fruit zeatin contents; however, it decreased the inflorescence abscisic acid (ABA) from 16 μg/g to 4 μg/g. The 1.5% and 3% treatments significantly increased the carbohydrate content and decreased the fruit ABA content to 30% to 50% of the control level during the DBFA stage. High-concentration sugar treatment (>3%) increased the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents, which decreased the calcium and magnesium contents. The 13C-dispatching ability of the inflorescence was three-times greater than that of leaves under the high-concentration sugar treatment during the DBB stage. Supplying 1.5% sucrose nearly doubled the allocation capacity during the DBFA stage. The source-sink nutrient migration pathway showed that leaf and fruit sugars were directly correlated with phosphorus. Fruit fructose and glucose contents affected the leaf mineral element contents.
Influence of Fertigation and Granular Applications of Potassium Fertilizer on Soil pH and Availability of Potassium and Other Nutrients in a Mature Planting of Northern Highbush Blueberry
Authors: Leon-Chang David P. , Bryla David R. , Scagel Carolyn F. , Strik Bernadine C.
Published: October 2022

Although northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) fields are often fertigated using soluble or liquid fertilizers, recommendations for applying most nutrients to the crop, including K, are based on the use of granular fertilizers. The objective of the present study was to compare fertigation to granular application of K in a mature planting of Duke, a popular early season blueberry cultivar that ripens from June through July in Oregon and Washington. The plants were grown on raised beds and irrigated using two lines of drip tubing per row. Treatments were initiated in 2016 and included no K fertilizer, a single application of granular potassium sulfate (K2SO4) in April, and fertigation once a week from April to August with soluble K2SO4 or liquid potassium thiosulfate (K2S2O3). Each treatment was applied for 2 years at a total rate of 70 kg·ha−1 K per year. The plants were also fertigated with 168 and 224 kg·ha−1 N in 2016 and 2017, respectively, and 30 kg·ha−1 P per year. Although extractable soil K was initially low at the site (144 mg·kg−1), the treatments had no effect on plant dry weight, yield, fruit quality, or the concentration of K in recently expanded leaves. However, during the first year of the study, K fertigation with K2SO4 or K2S2O3 reduced soil pH and increased the concentrations of K+, Ca2+, Mn2+, and SO42− in the soil solution under the drip emitters compared with no K or granular K2SO4, whereas granular application of K2SO4 resulted in higher concentrations of K+ between the emitters than any other treatment. Fertigation also affected the concentration of K in the fruit during the first year, although in this case, the concentration was lower with K fertigation than with no K or granular applications of K2SO4. During the second year, fertigation and granular K continued to result in higher concentrations of K+ in soil solution under and between the drip emitters, respectively, but at this point, extractable soil K was higher with each of the K fertilizers than with no K. Consequently, the concentration of K in leaves sampled from entire plants in late September that year was higher with any of the K fertilizers than with no K. Potassium fertilization also altered concentrations of other nutrients in the plants, including Mg, S, B, Cu, and Mn in the leaves; Ca, Mg, and B in the fruit; Mn and Zn in the woody canes; and P, Mg, S, and Mn in the crown. In many cases, concentrations of these nutrients were higher with one or more of the K fertilizers than with no K. Thus, regardless of the application method, K2SO4 and K2S2O3 appear to be good sources for increasing availability of K and other nutrients in the plants and soil. However, the amount of K in the plants was sufficient at the site, and therefore, none of the fertilizers provided a short-term benefit to growth or fruit production in the present study.