bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A testis-specific lncRNA functions as a post-transcriptional regulator of MDM2 and stimulates apoptosis of testicular germ cell tumor cells
Authors: Ito Saya , Ueno Akihisa , Ueda Takashi , Ogura Ryota , Sako Satoshi , Gabata Yusuke , Ukimura Osamu
Published: May 2024

Germ cells preferentially induce apoptosis in response to DNA damage to avoid genomic mutations. Apoptosis of germ cells is closely related to cancer development and chemotherapy resistance; however, its regulatory mechanism is unclear. Here, we suggest that testis-specific lncRNA LINC03074 is involved in male germ cell apoptosis by regulating the expression of the proto-oncogene MDM2. LINC03074 is highly expressed in the sperm of healthy adult testes and cancer cells of testes with testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs). LINC03074 binds to MDM2 mRNA via an Alu element, thereby reducing MDM2 protein levels. LINC03074 stimulates STAU1-mediated nuclear export of MDM2 mRNA by increasing STAU1 binding to MDM2 mRNA in the cell nucleus, thereby promoting PKR-mediated translational repression in the cytoplasm. The induction of apoptosis in TGCT cells and their responsiveness to the anticancer drug cisplatin is enhanced by LINC03074. Notably, LINC03074 increased E2F1 expression without increasing p53, the primary target of MDM2, and upregulated the apoptotic gene p73, the target gene of E2F1. LINC03074-mediated regulation of apoptosis contributes to the responsiveness of TGCTs to anticancer drug-induced DNA damage.
Thermal Integration of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell with Ethanol Reformer through a Heat Exchanger Network
Authors: Siqueira Igor S F , Oechsler Bruno F , Catapan Rafael
Published: May 2024

The integration of a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) with an ethanol reformer through a heat exchanger network was investigated aiming at improving the system's energy efficiency. This study employs lumped models and 1D modeling techniques, which, despite their simplifications, provide a good balance between computational speed and accuracy. A parametric analysis was performed focusing on the impact of temperature variations (600 oC to 900 oC) and O2:C2H5OH molar ratios (0 to 1) on the system's performance, particularly regarding efficiency, electrical power output, and heat exchange schemes. A heat exchanger network was proposed to recovery heat wasted by the SOFC exhasted gases. Results indicated that higher temperatures enhanced hydrogen production in the reformer, thereby increasing both SOFC electrical power and system efficiency. Without heat integration, the system's overall efficiency was 44.4% under specific operational conditions. Implementing a heat exchanger network, designed via pinch analysis to recuperate 842 W of heat exhasted by the SOFC, elevated the system's efficiency to 61.2%, marking a significant improvement over the non-integrated setup. This efficiency gain was achieved with minimal external heating, highlighting the potential of thermal integration in optimizing SOFC systems.
Heterozygous knockout of Synaptotagmin13 phenocopies ALS features and TP53 activation in human motor neurons
Authors: Catanese Alberto , Lehmann Johannes , Aly Amr , Fabbio Luca , Mayer Valentin , Dikwella Natalie , roselli francesco , Seiffert Simone , Boeckers Tobias , Brenner David , Mulaw Medhanie , Ho Ritchie
Published: May 2024

Spinal motor neurons (MNs) represent a highly vulnerable cellular population, which is affected in fatal neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). In this study, we show that the heterozygous loss of SYT13 is sufficient to trigger a neurodegenerative phenotype resembling those observed in ALS and SMA. SYT13+/- hiPSC-derived MNs displayed a progressive manifestation of typical neurodegenerative hallmarks such as loss of synaptic contacts and accumulation of aberrant aggregates. Moreover, analysis of the SYT13+/- transcriptome revealed a significant impairment in biological mechanisms involved in motoneuron specification and spinal cord differentiation. This transcriptional portrait also strikingly correlated with ALS signatures, displaying a significant convergence toward expression of pro-apoptotic and pro-inflammatory genes, which are controlled by the transcription factor TP53. Our data show for the first time that the heterozygous loss of a single member of the synaptotagmin family, SYT13, is sufficient to trigger a series of abnormal alterations leading to MN sufferance, thus revealing novel insights into the selective vulnerability of this cell population.
Riverine fluxes of dissolved inorganic nitrogen may be underestimated, especially in the gated estuaries: Influence of suspended sediments
Authors: Han chenglong , Pu Lichun , Wang Shiyu , Vogt Rolf D. , Lu Xueqiang
Published: May 2024

The flux of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), predominantly nitrate (NO3−) and ammonium (NH4+), from land to coastal waters via rivers is commonly estimated by a simple calculation multiplying water flux by nitrogen concentration. Often, the subsequent interactions involving NO3− and NH4+ adsorption or desorption on suspended sediments are overlooked. To better understand the impact of these interactions on the overall NO3− and NH4+ sorption or desorption and, consequently, the mobility and transport to the coastal zone, a series of NO3− and NH4+ adsorption and desorption experiments were conducted. These experiments involved varying suspended sediment concentrations (1 to 40 g·L− 1), particle sizes, and salinities (0 to 30) to assess their potential effects. Furthermore, we investigated how different sea-salt ions influenced these processes by comparing the effect of NaCl solution and real seawater solutions. In the estuarine environment, it was observed that the desorption of NO3− and NH4+ from suspended sediments is more pronounced than adsorption. Notably, when suspended particle concentrations were low and salinity levels were high, the release of NO3− and NH4+ from sediments was significantly intensified. Moreover, under polyhaline conditions, there was a further increase in the desorption of NO3− and NH4+. This enhanced release from suspended sediments facilitates the transport of DIN to nearshore waters, especially significant in gated estuaries with sediment resuspension. Ignoring these dynamics could lead to underestimations of DIN transport in river-estuary systems.
Land subsidence risk assessment along metro lines in Shanghai using InSAR monitoring data and optical images
Authors: Zhang Jinhua , Zhang Huan , Liu Tuanrong , Peng Wenxiang
Published: May 2024

Land subsidence, one of the most common geological hazards in urban development, poses a significant threat to the safe operation of urban infrastructure. Conducting risk assessment of land subsidence along metro lines is vital to ensure the safe operation of metro lines and enhance urban safety resilience. Based on monitoring data acquired by Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) from 2013 to 2020 and socio-economic data of Shanghai in 2020, an index system suitable for the risk assessment of land subsidence along metro lines was proposed. This system comprises four hazard evaluation factors: maximum cumulative settlement, maximum differential settlement, average annual settlement rate in the past year, and time of opening to traffic. It also includes four vulnerability evaluation factors: population density, gross domestic product (GDP) per unit area, proportion of construction land, and proportion of building area. The risk zoning map of land subsidence along the metro lines was obtained using analytic hierarchy process (AHP), comprehensive index method (CIM), and spatial analysis based on geographic information system (GIS). The zoning results showed that the metro lines were generally located in moderate-risk zones of land subsidence with effective controllability, while high-risk areas were mainly concentrated in four locations: the section between Xidu Station and Jiangchuan Road Station of Line 5, the section between Zhaojiabang Road Station and Dong’an Road Station of Line 7, the section between Songyuan Road Station and Yili Road Station of Line 10, and the section between Yunjin Road Station and Longyao Road Station of Line 11. Optical images were particularly employed to support the assessment results by detecting changes in relevant regions, thereby strengthening and enriching the basis for formulating effective prevention and control strategies for land subsidence.
Accelerated atherosclerosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): a case–control study
Authors: Niakan Zahrasadat. , Abdolahi Nafiseh. , Mohammadi Mohaddeseh. , Behnampour Naser. , Hosseini Fatemeh.
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease that can lead to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and increased mortality. Identifying accelerated atherosclerosis, preventing risk factor propagation, and intervening during the preclinical stage of atherogenesis is crucial. This study aimed to evaluate accelerated atherosclerosis in SLE patients and explore related factors. Methods: This study included 86 patients and 45 age- and sex–matched individuals in the control group. The intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid arteries (CCA) and internal carotid arteries (ICA) was measured using color Doppler ultrasound. The following laboratory parameters, were evaluated: CBC, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, Cr, ESR, CRP, anti-DNA, and urine. The patients completed a questionnaire that included the Lupus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and demographic information. Results: The average IMT in both the CCA and ICA was significantly greater in patients with lupus (CCA: 0.57 ± 0.09 mm, ICA: 0.49 ± 0.11 mm) than in controls (CCA: 0.37 ± 0.06 mm, ICA: 0.27 ± 0.07 mm); (P < 0.0001). A significant and positive correlation was found between the IMT of the ICA and CCA and age, disease duration, and ESR in the SLE group. Conclusion: The IMT of the CCA and ICA can predict the risk of accelerated atherosclerosis in SLE patients; and is correlated with age, disease duration, and the ESR.
Selection signatures associated with adaptation in South African Drakensberger, Nguni, and Tuli beef breeds
Authors: Gomo Maxman , Marle-Köster Este van , Lashmar Simon Fredrick , Visser Carina
Published: May 2024

Climate change is an important consideration for sustainable beef production systems. Sanga cattle (Bos taurus africanus) are a unique genetic resource known for their adaptability to diverse climates. Genomic technologies have allowed opportunities to investigate indigenous cattle at the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and genome level for insight into variation associated with adaptive traits. 1709 cattle, including 1118 Drakensberger (DRB), 377 Nguni (NGI), and 214 Tuli (TUL), were genotyped using the GeneSeek® Genomic Profiler™ 150K bovine SNP panel. 122632 quality-filtered SNPs was used to assess runs of homozygosity (ROH) and runs of heterozygosity (ROHet) within the three cattle populations using the detectRUNS R package (Biscarini et al., 2018) and PLINK v1.90 (Purcell et al., 2007). The study identified selection signatures associated with adaptation within-and-between three breeds based on ROH, ROHet, and FST-based differentiation of SNPs. The mean number of ROH per animal varied across breeds ranging from 36.09 ± 12.82 (NGI) to 51.82 ± 21.01 (DRB), and the mean ROH length per breed ranged between 2.31Mb (NGI) and 3.90Mb (DRB). The smallest length categories i.e., ROH < 4Mb and ROHet < 0.25Mb were most frequent, indicating predominantly historic inbreeding effects for all breeds. The ROH based inbreeding coefficients (FROH) ranged between 0.033 ± 0.024 (NGI) and 0.081 ± 0.046 (DRB). Genes mapped to candidate regions were associated with immunity (ADAMTS12, CYSTM1, WDPCP) and adaptation (LMAN2, TUBB3) in cattle as well as genes previously only reported for immunity in mice and human (EXOC3L1, MYO1G). This study contributes to the understanding of the mechanisms of adaptation, providing information for functional genomic studies and application in genetic evaluation and selection programs.
Nicotiana benthamiana-derived dupilumab-scFv reaches deep into the cultured human nasal epithelial cells and inhibits CCL26 expression
Authors: Kwon Beom Jun , Cho Na Hyun , Ahn Taeyoung , Kim Geunah , Diệu Nguyễn Thị Xuân , Kim Woo Taek , Cho Hyung-Ju , Seo Dong Hye , Kim Joo Young
Published: May 2024

Plants offer a cost-effective and scalable pharmaceutical platform devoid of host-derived contamination risks. However, their medical application is complicated by the potential for acute allergic reactions to external proteins. Developing plant-based protein therapeutics for localized diseases with non-invasive treatment modalities may capitalize on the benefits of plant proteins while avoiding their inherent risks. Dupilumab, which is effective against a variety of allergic and autoimmune diseases but has systemic responses and injection-related side effects, may be more beneficial if delivered locally using a small biological form. In this study, we engineered a single-chain variable fragment (scFv) of dupilumab, termed Dup-scFv produced by Nicotiana benthamiana, and evaluated its tissue permeability and anti-inflammatory efficacy in air-liquid interface cultured human nasal epithelial cells. Despite showing 3.67- and 17-fold lower binding affinity for IL-4Ra in surface plasmon resonance assays and cell binding assays, respectively, Dup-scFv retained most of the affinity of dupilumab, which was originally high, with a dissociation constant (KD) of 4.76 pM. In human nasal epithelial cells cultured at the air-liquid interface, Dup-scFv administered on the air side inhibited the inflammatory marker CCL26 in hard-to-reach basal cells more effectively than dupilumab. In addition, Dup-scFv had an overall permeability of 0.8% across cell layers compared to undetectable levels of dupilumab. These findings suggest that plant-produced Dup-scFv can be delivered non-invasively to cultured human nasal epithelial cells to alleviate inflammatory signaling, providing a practical approach to utilize plant-based proteins for topical therapeutic applications.
Investigation of the Anti-Cancer of Photodynamic Therapy Effects by Using the Novel Schiff-Base Ligand Complex on Human Breast Cancer Cell Line
Authors: Demirbağ Burcu , Ballı Ebru , Yildirim Metin , Ünver Hakan , Temel Gülhan , Yılmaz Mustafa Kemal , Değirmenci Evren , Kibar Deniz
Published: May 2024

Chemotherapy plays a role in many cancer therapies, including breast cancer, but due to its significant side effects, alternate treatment approaches have been investigated. One such alternative is Photodynamic Therapy (PDT), which employs a combination of oxygen, a photosensitizer (PS), and light of a specific wavelength. Transition metal complexes and SBL have gained interest in PDT. In this study aimed to assess the potential antitumor activity and underlying mechanism of a newly synthesized Schiff Base Ligand (SBL)-mediated PDT on MCF-7 cells, comparing its efficacy to cisplatin. We synthesized and characterized two novel Pd-conjugated SBL compounds (complex-1 and 2). Following the treatment of MCF-7 cells with these compounds, a Light-Emitting Diode (LED) was utilized to deliver a light dose of 14.8 J/cm2. In MCF-7 cells, we also looked at cytotoxicity, cell death rates, and ROS levels. Results indicated a significant increase in cytotoxicity and ROS levels in the group treated with complex-1 mediated PDT. The apoptotic and necrotic cell death also rose significantly. In conclusion, our study suggests that the complex-1 compound may serve as a promising candidate for anticancer agents in PDT for MCF-7 cells. In contrast, complex-2 mediated PDT did not demonstrate any observable anticancer activity.
Deciphering the Impact of PROM1 Alternative Splicing on Human Photoreceptor Development and Maturation
Authors: Lako Majlinda , Molina Marina Moya , Dorgau Birthe , Flood Emily , Letteboer Stef , Lorentzen Esben , Coxhead Jonathan , Smith Graham , Roepman Ronald , Nagaraja-Grellscheid Sushma , Armstrong Lyle
Published: May 2024

Conclusions: Importantly, the use of retinal organoids provides a valuable platform to study AS and unravel disease mechanisms in a more physiologically relevant context, opening avenues for further research and potential therapeutic interventions. Together our data indicate that cones may be more sensitive to PROM1 exon 4 skipping, corroborating the pathogenesis of late-onset mild maculopathy.
Introduction: Alternative splicing (AS) is a crucial mechanism contributing to proteomic diversity, which is highly regulated in tissue- and development-specific patterns. Retinal tissue exhibits one of the highest levels of AS. In particular, photoreceptors have a distinctive AS pattern involving the inclusion of microexons not found in other cell types. PROM1 whose encoded protein Prominin-1 is located in photoreceptor outer segments (OSs), undergoes exon 4 inclusion from the 12th post-conception week of human development through adulthood. Exon 4 skipping in PROM1 is associated with late-onset mild maculopathy, however its role in photoreceptor maturation and function is unknown.
Methods: In this study retinal organoids, a valuable model system, were employed in combination with phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligos (PMOs) to assess the role of exon 4 AS in the development of human retina. Retinal organoids were treated with the PMOs for four weeks after which RT-PCR, western blotting and immunofluorescence analysis were performed to assess exon 4 exclusion and its impact on photoreceptors. The transcriptome of treated ROs was studied by bulk RNA-Seq.
Results: Our data demonstrate that 55% skipping of PROM1 exon 4 resulted in decreased Prominin-1 expression by 40%, abnormal accumulation of cones in the basal side of the retinal organoids as well as detectable cone photoreceptor cilium defects. Transcriptomic and western blot analyses revealed decreased expression of cone, inner segment and connecting cilium basal body markers, increased expression of genes associated with stress response and the ubiquitin-proteasome system and downregulation of autophagy.
Higher Basic Teachers’ Perspective on Integrating Code Programming Nigerian Basic Education to Propel National Technological Advancement
Authors: Eke Eke Ogbu
Published: May 2024

This descriptive survey examines the perception of male and female higher Basic teachers on the integration of coding programming into the Nigerian basic education curriculum to propel national technological advancement. The population comprises 281(91 male and 190 females) public higher Basic education teachers in Owerri Municipal Council of Imo State. The population also serves as the sample size. Researcher’s made attitude questionnaire titled” Higher Basic Educational Teachers Questionnaire on Integrating Coding Programming in Basic Education for National Technological Advancement. (BETQICNTA) was used for data collection. It had reliability coefficient of 0.83 determined using Cronbach Alpha. The findings showed that higher Basic school teachers have positive perception on the integration of coding programming into the Nigerian basic education curriculum to propel national technological advancement. It was recommended among others that educational policymakers should prioritize the integration of coding programming into the Nigerian basic education curriculum. This integration should be comprehensive, ensuring that coding education is accessible to all students, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status.
A Gene Selection Algorithm for Microarray Cancer Classification Using an improved Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Nagra Arfan Ali , Khan Ali Haider , Abubakar Muhammad , Faheem Muhammad , Rasool Adil , Masood Khalid , Hussain Muzammil
Published: May 2024

Gene selection is an essential step for the classification of microarray cancer data. Gene expression cancer data (DNA microarray) facilitates computing the robust and concurrent expression of various genes. Particle swarm optimization (PSO) requires simple operators and less number of parameters for tuning the model in gene selection. The selection of a prognostic gene with small redundancy is a great challenge for the researcher as there are a few complications in PSO based selection method. In this research, a new variant of PSO (Self-inertia weight adaptive PSO) has been proposed. In the proposed algorithm, SIW-APSO-ELM is explored to achieve gene selection prediction accuracies. This novel algorithm establishes a balance between the exploitation and exploration capabilities of the improved inertia weight adaptive particle swarm optimization. The self-inertia weight adaptive particle swarm optimization (SIW-APSO) algorithm is employed for solution explorations. Each particle in the SIW-APSO increases its position and velocity iteratively through an evolutionary process. The extreme learning machine (ELM) has been designed for the selection procedure. The proposed method has been to identify several genes in the cancer dataset. The classification algorithm contains ELM, K- centroid nearest neighbor (KCNN), and support vector machine (SVM) to attain high forecast accuracy as compared to the start-of-the-art methods on microarray cancer datasets that show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Fault diagnosis method for rolling bearings based on BICNN under complex operating conditions
Authors: Duan Xiaoyan , Shi Jiashuo , Lei ChunLi , Zhao Zhengtian
Published: May 2024

To address the issues of poor noise resistance and insufficient generalization performance in traditional fault diagnosis methods, an end-to-end rolling bearing fault diagnosis method based on Bidirectional Interactive Convolutional Neural Network (BICNN) is proposed. Firstly, the bearing vibration signal is directly input into the wide convolutional kernel for rapid feature extraction, reducing the interference of high-frequency noise. Secondly, a modified Rectified Linear Unit (M-ReLU) activation function is designed to solve the problem of "neuron death" in the ReLU activation function. Then, a bidirectional interactive feature extraction module is constructed, and the features extracted are input into the bidirectional interactive feature extraction module to capture the channel and spatial feature information simultaneously. Next, the extracted information is imported the presented feature enhancement module to achieve more valuable information transmission and accumulation. Finally, a small convolutional kernel is applied to further extract feature information, and a global average pooling layer is used to replace the fully connected layer, reducing the number of parameters while avoiding the problem of model overfitting. The Softmax is utilized to classify the types of bearing faults. Two different datasets are adopted to validate the fault diagnosis performance of the proposed model under − 4dB signal-to-noise ratio and variable working conditions. Experimental results show that compared with other fault diagnosis methods, the proposed model has higher fault diagnosis accuracy, stronger noise resistance, and generalization ability.
Incorporation of residual lime can ameliorate subsoil acidity promptly and improve crop performance on sandy soils of the semi-arid regions of Western Australia
Authors: Azam Gaus , Rahman Md Shahinur
Published: May 2024

Background and Aims
Repeated surface application of lime to acidic soil improves farm productivity but cannot manage subsoil acidity promptly. Lime accumulation in topsoil prompted this study to evaluate the role of strategic tillage as a method to swiftly improve subsoil acidity, crop root growth, and yield without additional lime.
Methods
We measured residual lime (carbonate concentration), pH and exchangeable aluminium concentration (EAC) in 2-cm layers in the top 10 cm of soils from three long-term lime experiments at Wongan Hills (WH), Northam (NO) and Merredin (ME). We then incorporated topsoil from 0–4 cm (containing the highest amount of residual lime) at eight incorporation rates with the most acidic subsoil from 20–30 cm depth of the same profile and incubated for six weeks before re-measuring pH and EAC and growing wheat and barley to assess the impact on root growth. In addition, we conducted a field experiment at WH by rotary hoeing both limed and untreated control plots to 25 cm depth in 2018 and grew wheat, canola and barley in 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively, to measure the impact on soil parameters and crop performance.
Results
A significant amount of residual lime was concentrated in the top 4 cm of soil at all three sites. We measured a total of 1.7, 1.8 and 1.3 t/ha of residual lime in the topsoil (0–10 cm) for the limed plots at WH, NO and ME, respectively. The incorporation of 5%, 10% and 25% topsoil containing residual lime from NO, WH and ME, respectively, with the acidic subsoil was enough to increase soil pH to the target level and to decrease soil EAC significantly and hence improved wheat and barley root length by up to 2 and 13-fold. In the field experiment at WH, the incorporation of residual lime significantly increased subsoil pH by up to 0.7 units, decreased EAC and improved canola yield and water use efficiency.
Conclusion
We concluded that with a good surface liming history, the incorporation of topsoil containing sufficient residual lime with the acidic subsoil may offer a quick amelioration of subsoil acidity without further lime application.
The molecular mechanism investigation of HBP-A slows down meniscus hypertrophy and mineralization by the damage mechanical model
Authors: Yang Zongrui , Feng Yuanyuan , Zhang Mingcai , Liu Yongming , Xiong Yizhe , Wang Xiang , Shi Ying , Chen Bo , Wang Zhengming , Ge Haiya , Zhan Hongsheng , Shen Zhibi , Du Guoqing
Published: May 2024

Objective
This study aimed to determine if HBP-A slows down meniscus hypertrophy and mineralization due to abnormal mechanical damage and if the therapeutic effects of HBP-A are mediated through p38-MAPK signaling pathways.
Methods In vivo guinea pig study:
Male Hartley guinea pigs underwent anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) on the right knee; the left knee served as the control. Three days after molding, high, medium, and low doses of HBP-A were injected into the right knee cavity. The injections were given twice a week for 10 weeks. The width of the medial and lateral meniscus is measured separately using a ruler to assess its hypertrophy. The intensity and area of meniscal calcification were evaluated by Alizarin red and Von Kossa staining. Safranin O/Fast Green staining and OA menisci or cartilage damage scores rated to evaluate degeneration of meniscus and cartilage. Meniscal hypertrophy and calcification-related markers, mtrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13), runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), Indian hedgehog (Ihh), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and ankylosis homolog (ANKH), were detected by immunohistochemistry and RT-qPCR. In vitro rat PMFs study: In vitro isolation and identification of the phenotype of rat primary meniscus fibrochondrocytes (PMFs). 10% stretch force was applied to the isolated PMFs for 24 hours, followed by intervention with 0.3 mg/ml of HBP-A. PMFs proliferation, apoptosis, calcification, and hypertrophy were detected by CCK-8, flow cytometry, Alizarin red, and Toluidine blue staining, respectively. Western Blot and RT-qPCR determine meniscal hypertrophy and calcification related markers with p38 MAPK signaling pathway-related target markers.
Results In vivo guinea pig study:
Guinea pig's meniscus the width, as well as the area and intensity of meniscus calcification and meniscus and articular cartilage injury score were significantly reduced in the HBP-A intervention group compared to the ACLT group. The expression levels of MMP13, Runx2, Ihh, ALP, and ANKH at the protein and gene level significantly decreased in the HBP-A intervention group compared to the ACLT group. In vitro rat PMFs study: Apoptosis, hypertrophy, and calcification of rat PMFs after 10% stretch force for 24h were significantly improved with 0.3mg/ml HBP-A. Western blot and RT-qPCR showed that hypertrophy, calcification, and p38 MAPK signaling pathway-related markers of PMFs were incredibly depressed in the HBP-A intervention group compared to the 10% stretch force group.
Conclusion
HBP-A can slow down meniscus hypertrophy and mineralization induced by abnormal mechanical loading, and its mechanism of action may be through the p38-MAPK signaling pathway.
Evaluation of different irrigation activation techniques for the removal of various medicaments from a simulated internal resorption cavity
Authors: SARIYILMAZ Öznur , USLU Gülşah , SARIYILMAZ Evren , KESKİN Neslihan Büşra
Published: May 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to assess different activation techniques’ efficacy in the removing calcium hydroxide (Ultracal XS), Ledermix and Bio-C Temp from simulated internal root resorption (IRR) cavities.
Materials and Methods: 108 single-rooted maxillary incisors were prepared using Reciproc R50 files. Simulated IRR cavities, 2 mm in diameter and 8 mm from the apex, were created. Ultracal XS, Ledermix, and Bio-C Temp were applied to the samples, grouped by irrigation activation techniques: Standard Needle Irrigation (SNI), EDDY, Passive Ultrasonic Irrigation (PUI), and XP-endo Finisher (XPF). Medicament removal efficacy was evaluated using a standardized scoring system. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test.
Results: XPF and PUI were more effective than SNI in medicament removal across the groups, with no significant difference between them. EDDY showed no a significant difference compared to other groups. Ledermix was more effectively removed in all activation groups compared to Bio-C Temp. The XPF was superior in removing Ultracal XS compared to Bio-C Temp. However, none of the groups achieved complete medicament removal.
Conclusions:XPF and PUI techniques enhance medicament removal efficacy. Bio-C Temp was more difficult to remove from the IRR cavities than other medicaments.
Clinical Relevance: Bio-C Temp is a novel bioceramic intracanal medicament recommended for root resorptions. This study compared its removability from internal resorption cavities to various medicaments using different irrigation activation methods
Exploring the potential of Candida sp. as probiotic for enhancing water quality in aquaculture
Authors: Cheng Ann-Chang , Li Jie-Ying , Balantyne Rolissa , Chiu Shieh-Tsung , Liu Chun-Hung
Published: May 2024

Aquaculture is an important industry that provides a significant amount of seafood globally. However, the industry faces challenges such as water quality management. The objective of the study was to isolate and identify bacteria with the capacity to eliminate nitrite in water from shrimp ponds and evaluate their potential as probiotics to improve water quality. Additionally, the study also determines the ideal conditions for the probiotic to effectively reduce nitrite-N and ammonia-N. Water samples were collected from four shrimp ponds (SW1', SW2', SW3', SW4') and isolates were obtained. Among all the samples, SW4 was the most effective in reducing concentration of nitrite-N. Upon further isolation of SW4, the strain SW4-W6 showed significant nitrite-N reduction capability compared to 19 other isolates tested. Through morphological, genetic (ITS sequence), and phylogenetic analyses, strain SW4-6 was identified. Candida sp. SW4-6 showed superior nitrite-N and ammonia-N reduction capabilities with sucrose as the carbon source, with complete reduction observed at a C/N ratio of 15–20. Gene expression analysis revealed up-regulation of nitrite reductase in SW4-6 after inoculation, with significantly higher expression observed with sucrose as the carbon source. Salinity and temperature significantly influenced nitrite-N and ammonia-N reduction by SW4-6, with higher temperatures (30°C) and 0% NaCl favoring faster reduction rates. Candida sp. SW4-6 emerges as a promising probiotic candidate for aquaculture water quality management due to its efficient nitrite-N and ammonia-N reduction capabilities under optimal conditions. Its safety profile and ability to thrive across various salinity and temperature conditions further support its potential applicability in aquaculture.
Attitudes and Awareness of Medical Students Towards Teleradiology and the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Diagnostic Radiology.
Authors: Almuhanna Afnan , Almohsen Danyah , Alhuraish Deemah , AlSultan Deem , AlRatrout Farah , Alzanadi Rabab , Abbas Rana
Published: May 2024

Rationale and Objectives: Teleradiology and artificial intelligence (AI) have emerged as important tools for facilitating healthcare workers in diagnosing, treating, and preventing diseases. They can also be used in the analysis of X-ray images, MRIs, and CT scans. This study delves into the perceptions of medical students at Imam Abdulrahman University (IAU) regarding the role of AI and teleradiology. The findings also shed light on the opinions of medical students at the IAU on the potential augmentation and replacement of radiologists with AI.
Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data were collected from medical students at Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, Eastern region, Saudi Arabia. An online self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data during August 2023. Medical students’ opinions were assessed using the Chi-square test.
Results: The study concluded that 65.2% of the respondents thought radiologists should embrace AI. Moreover, 56.1% agreed that the AI would augment the radiologist's capability and efficiency. However, 46.2% believed that teleradiology could replace radiologists working at the hospital, and 42.5% agreed that the impact of AI alone would reduce the number of radiologists needed in the field.
Conclusion: Medical students expressed different opinions in the role of AI in augmenting or replacing radiologists. For teleradiology, the results were promising as students showed interest and optimistic views. Understanding and addressing these perceptions from our future physicians is crucial for developing a strong radiology workforce capable of navigating the transformative journey of a more technological healthcare environment.
Physiological responses of Catfish liver to katuk extract, turmeric powder, and vitamin C supplemented in the diet during ovarium development
Authors: Awaludin Awaludin , Manalu Wasmen , Andriyanto Andriyanto , Sudrajat Agus Oman , Haryadi Joni
Published: May 2024

Reproduction success in oviparous animals is determined by the optimum vitellogenin deposition in the follicles. Vitellogenin is synthesized by hepatocytes under estrogen stimulation. Hepatocytes functionalities are important to produce vitellogenin. This research was designed to increase liver functions by using catfish as a model. The hepatocyte function is improved by katuk extract, turmeric powder, and vitamin C supplementations. The experiment consisted of 8 treatments and 3 repetitions. The treatments were given for 8 weeks. Parameters measured were Hepatosomatic Index (HSI), histology of the liver, concentrations of serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The results showed that HSI in catfish supplemented with combination of katuk extract, turmeric powder, and vitamin C showed the highest values. The liver histology in catfish supplemented with turmeric powder showed the lowest level of hepatocyte vacuolization compared to all treatments without turmeric supplementation. The SOD values were increased in the groups of catfish supplemented with turmeric powder with SGPT and SGOT values decreased compared to catfish without turmeric powder supplementation. It is concluded that turmeric powder supplementation can improve the hepatocytes capacities and functionalities to support vitellogenin synthesis to be deposited in the growing and developing oocytes.
Research on Static Loading Method for Flexible Airship
Authors: Meng Jingye , Mao Tianye , Huang Bin , Zhao Hongling , Zhu Rensheng , Jie Desuan
Published: May 2024

In this paper, the static loading method is presented for studying nonlinear aerodynamic effect of flexible airship. We calculated the coupled aerodynamic and deformation problem by numerical simulation, and established instrumentation system indoor based on the data of the large airship developed by our client. By converting aerodynamic load into the concentrated force, we conducted static load test on the airship model. Consequently, we obtained the simulated deformation contours at various angles of attack and typical wind speed both by aerodynamic load and concentrated forces. Moreover, we measured the deformations of five measured zones with the depth processing camera, and compared the measured and simulated deformations. The results show our static loading method can effectively reflect the deformation distribution caused by aerodynamic loads on flexible airship, and it is effective to study the deformation of flexible airship at actual flight condition by this method.
Influence of pH on the Cytotoxic Activity of Organic Acids against Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Lee Sungmun
Published: May 2024

Cancer is among the leading causes of death, and breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. Cancer cells including breast cancer cells generate a reversed pH gradient. Cancer cells have lower extracellular pH (pHe) of ~6.7 - 7.1 and higher intracellular pH (pHi) of 7.4, while normal cells have pHe of 7.4 and lower pHi of 7.2. Exogenous pH changes can modulate the cell growth and cell cycle of breast cancer cells. Here, we investigated how organic acids affected breast cancer cells. MDA-MB-231 cell lines, metastatic human breast cancer cells, were cultured in medium with ten organic acids, and the cytotoxicity of all organic acids against MDA-MB-231 cells was measured. Among ten organic acids, four organic acids, succinic acid (SA), fumaric acid (FA), tartaric acid (TA), and citric acid (CA), were more toxic to MDA-MB-231 cells than other organic acids. The further results demonstrated that the cytotoxicity was caused mainly by acidic pH or pH changes of four organic acids. Four organic acids also affected cell toxicity, cell density, and morphology of MDA-MB-231 spheroids. The information of this research will be beneficial to design novel anticancer drugs to treat breast cancer.
The Correlation Between SiO2 and The Conduction Properties of Li+ Ions in an Amorphous Gel Polymer Electrolyte Composed of PMMA/PLA-LiBOB
Authors: Khan N. M. , Kufian M. Z. , Samsudin A. S.
Published: May 2024

In the present work, varying silica nanofillers (SiO2) compositions were successfully introduced into PMMA/PLA-20%LiBOB amorphous gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) systems. FTIR analysis unveiled subtle alterations in wavenumber shifting and intensity at several highlighted peaks, indicating the occurrence of molecular interactions within the GPE. XRD analysis revealed a notable reduction in crystallinity, particularly up to 6 wt.% SiO2, implying that the presence of nanofillers influenced complexation ability and amplified amorphous regions. Meanwhile, TGA analysis confirmed that the 6 wt.% SiO2 sample exhibited the least mass loss, affirming its exceptional thermal stability and proved the increase in ionic conductivity until the maximum value of 2.19×10-3 S cm-1 for samples up to 6 wt.%. The TNM testing resulted in a notably high lithium-ion transference number, which indicates the practical viability of this composition for application in lithium-ion batteries and provides promising enhanced electrochemical performance.
Chilling and heat requirement for dormancy breaking and flowering of the plum accessions belonging to the living collection of Morocco
Authors: Hamdani Anas , Yaacoubi Adnane El , Bouda Said , Erami Meryem , Adiba Atman , Outghouliast Hakim , Charafi Jamal
Published: May 2024

The date of endodormancy release and chill requirements of twenty-eight plum cultivars (Prunus domestica L. and Prunus salicina Lindl) growing in a collection at the experimental station of the National Institute of Agricultural Research of Meknes (Morocco) were determined according to three models namely the Chilling Hours model (in Chilling Hours, CH), the Utah model (in Chill Units, CU) and the Dynamic model (in Chill Portions, CP). In this regard, the forcing tests were conducted out on floral buds of all plum cultivars in order to follow the weight of buds in field and under controlled climate conditions. The heat requirements calculation was based on counting the Growing Hours Degree between the endodormancy release date determined by forcing tests and the flowering dates observed in field for each cultivar. Significant differences were revealed in chill and heat requirements between the plum cultivars studied, ranging from 336 to 522 CH, 645 to 1,046 CU, 37.5 to 55.93 CP and 6,618 to 9,673 GDH according to Chilling Hours, Utah, Dynamic and GDH models, respectively. In addition, the results showed great variability between cultivars according to their dormancy levels, ranging from low chill and heat cultivars (INRA-PR38, INRA-PR40 and Santa Rosa) to highest ones (Stanley, Prune d’Ente, Monglobe and Fortune), which generated differences in the dates of endodormancy release and flowering process. Correlations between chill requirements, heat requirements and flowering dates have been established since cultivars with low chill requirements (also low heat requirements) have earlier endodormancy release and flowering dates in comparison to those showed high chill requirements. The results obtained in this investigation constitute a basis to improve knowledge of the plum species cultivated under Moroccan climate conditions and make it possible to determine the most appropriate cultivation areas for these cultivars, given the current and future climate change.
A PSO- robust high-speed software encoder for a PMSM machine in a wind energy system application
Authors: Alkuhayli Abdulaziz , flah aymen , El-Bayeh Claude Ziad , Blazek vojtech , Prokop Lukas
Published: May 2024

Wind energy systems are based on a synchronous machine, which can support a high-speed rotation case due to possible high wind coming speeds. The machines used are affiliated with permanent magnet machines, and it seems that when the speed becomes high, speed detection can be difficult if a software application is adapted. This difficulty appears when the high speeds come, as the motor temperature will increase, which can influence motor parameters, especially the stator resistance. This will influence the proposed speed software estimator robustness. The proposed high-speed estimator algorithm is based on the model reference adaptive system MRAS estimation method, which can be used for motor speed estimation. The proposed MRAS concept was based on the reactive power model, which ensures the robustness of the estimator in facing any possible stator resistance variation, even at very high speeds. This MRAS estimator was tuned by the particle optimization algorithm to avoid the regulator parameter identification problem. So, this concept was modelled and mathematically defined, then tested by implementation on the Matlab tool and on a real machine prototype which can operate a high-speed rotated load. The stability analysis of the overall speed encoder is also shown in various speed regions, and practice lab application is presented and discussed to show the success of the proposed high-speed control scheme. The results were depicted under 42000 rpm (eq to 600 Hz), and the proposed speed estimator demonstrated good behaviour, and a lesser estimator error was evaluated at 50 Hz as the maximum speed error.
Usefulness of COI gene based molecular method for identification of field collected maggots, Puducherry, South India
Authors: Bhuvaneshwaran Sudha , Padmanaban Visa Shalini , Radja Ranjana Devi , Anandan Gayathri , Venkatesan Shakila , Semalaiyappan Janani , Kumar Ashwani , Kutti Vijesh Sreedhar
Published: May 2024

Flies and maggots are of medical importance, and it is often necessary to identify them at species level. Conventionally, this is carried out based on morphological features using taxonomic keys. However, identification of maggots based on morphology is difficult and required entomological expertise is often lacking in many clinical settings. Molecular methods can be an alternative to morphology based identification. We explored the utility of mitochondrial COI gene based molecular method, as a tool for identifying field collected maggots in Puducherry, India. Maggots were collected from different locations in Puducherry using rotten fish and kitchen waste as baits and a segment of the COI gene was amplified and phylogenetic analysis was performed. The identified maggots belonged to Sarcophaga peregrina, Hemipyrellia ligurriensand Chrysomya megacephala. We highlight the usefulness of molecular methods in precise identification of maggots in certain settings is highlighted.
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) adjust flight strategy depending on loading
Authors: He Yu Zhu , Ouyang Hui Dan , Li Chang Long , Lu Ting Song , Wu Li Hui , Wu Hong Ping , Zhong Xun , Zhang Jin Wu , He Xu Jiang
Published: May 2024

The honeybee is an optimal model for studies on aerodynamics and bionic aircrafts, and they have an excellent loading ability during flight. However, it is unclear how honeybees adjust their flight strategies under different loading states. In this study, metal tags with different weights (20 mg, 40 mg and 60 mg) were glued onto the thoraxes of honeybee foragers, the natural foragers were used as control. A 3D level setup was conducted to record the flight trails of each marked bees during their homing process. Our results showed that the control and the 20 mg group had more flexible turnings with significantly larger curvatures and significantly lower flight speeds compared to the 40 mg and 60 mg groups. During the landing process, the control and the 20 mg group rapidly decreased their flight speeds and notably increased their curvatures, whereas the 40 mg group remained a more stable flight speed and curvature. The 60 mg group notably increased flight speed and decreased curvature before reaching the ground. This work reveals that honeybees have an ability of flexibly altering their flight strategies under different load-bearing states during homing process, which serves as a good model for aerodynamics and bionic aircraft studies.
Ontology-based Activity Intention Recognition via Human-in-the-loop Framework
Authors: Heo Taejung , Hwang Seokju , Gong Yeseul , Kim Donghyun , Lee Kyong-Ho , Kim Taeho , Kim Eunji
Published: May 2024

Human intention recognition is crucial for various human-centered settings.Existing approaches can be categorized into data-driven and knowledge-drivenmethods. While data-driven methods have shown promising performance withlarge training sets, they face challenges in data collection and limited interpretability.In contrast, knowledge-driven methods have the advantage of notrequiring training data and being interpretable, but acquiring high-qualitydomain knowledge is time-consuming and costly. To address these challenges,we propose OntoIR, a novel Ontology-based human activity Intention Recognitionsystem with a human-in-the-loop rule generation and refinement framework.OntoIR involves an ontology and human-guided logical rules to recognize humanactivities and intentions. By Leveraging rule mining model, the OntoIR extractscandidate rules enriches them with contextual information. Human experts thencurate meaningful rules and supplement insufficient context information. Thisallows us to obtain explainable human intention recognition results throughexpressive rules in situations where data is scarce. To evaluate our system,we collect an Activity/Intention recognition dataset, AICar, in a car showroomenvironment. Comprehensive experiments are conducted on the AICar,demonstrating that the collaboration of rule-mining models and domain expertsimproves the performance of activity intention recognition without lowering theinterpretability of recognition results.