bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combining Ability and Heterosis Estimation in Elite Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L) Moench] Inbred lines Under Moisture Stress Areas of Ethiopia
Authors: Begna Temesgen , Birhan Techale , Tadesse Taye
Published: April 2023

The most important prerequisite in crop improvement is the selection of suitable parents, which could combine well and produce desirable hybrids. However, narrow genetic base, lack of potential hybrids and lack of information on the genetic components are the most important limiting factors for sorghum yield improvement. Therefore, the present study was conducted to estimate the combining abilities and heterosis for yield and its components. A total of 42 sorghum genotypes were evaluated using alpha lattice experimental design with two replications at Mieso and Kobo during the cropping season of 2019. Combined analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences due to genotypes for all studied traits over locations, which indicates the availability of substation genetic variation among genotypes. Based on general combining ability analysis, inbred line 3 and 4 were identified as best general combiners for both days to flowering and plant height traits whereas inbred line 2 and 7 were identified as best general combiners for stay green traits. The hybrid crosses 4x14, 8x15 and 11x14 were identified as best specific combiners for grain yield while hybrid 1x15 was best specific combiner for days to flowering, days to maturity, panicle length, panicle width and thousand seed weight. The estimates of general and specific combining ability revealed the preponderance of non-additive gene action since the ratio of general combining ability to specific combining ability was less than unity for all the traits under study except for plant height. The maximum grain yield was obtained from a hybrid 4x14 (6.32 tha-1) followed by hybrid 8x15(5.92 tha-1), 1x15 (5.88 tha-1), 13x14 (5.78 tha-1) and 6x15 (5.57 tha-1) with the average value of 5.0 tha-1 which had higher mean value than the mean of the parents and the check. Among the hybrids, 8x15 recorded maximum heterosis (112.41%) over the mid parents, hybrid 1x15 revealed maximum heterosis (68.71%) over the better parent whereas 4x14 recorded maximum grain yield with (30.71%) heterosis over the standard check for grain yield. Finally, based on mean yield performance, heterosis response and combining ability estimates for grain yield and its components, the hybrid crosses 4x14, 8x15, 1x15, 11x14, 11x15, 13x14 and 6x15 were found to be the most promising and potential hybrids which could be exploited commercially after critical evaluation for their superiority and yield stability across the locations over years.
Using Bayesian Phylogenetics to Infer Manuscript Transmission History
Authors: McCollum Joey , Turnbull Robert
Published: April 2023

Bayesian phylogenetic methods offer various models that would be especially suitable in the reconstruction of textual traditions, but text-critical applications of phylogenetics to date have generally not taken advantage of these features. In this paper, we offer a way forward for text-critical phylogenetics. On the side of theory, we highlight multiple Bayesian phylogenetic models and discuss their relevance to textual criticism. More practically, we show how TEI XML collations of textual traditions can be encoded to facilitate robust analyses using these models in BEAST 2, with the teiphy Python package mediating the conversion from TEI XML to BEAST XML. Finally, we give a proof of concept for this approach, showing that the results of BEAST 2 analyses of a sample collation of the Epistle to the Ephesians under different clock models cohere with established findings on the textual tradition of this work.
Do Not Keep It in the Dark: How Shading and Other On-farm Management Decisions Influence Seed Production and Quality of Asclepias tuberosa L.
Authors: Tevlin Sarah , Davidson Maria Teresa , Osmani Jena , Pérez Héctor E.
Published: April 2023

Demand for butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa L.) has increased in recent years. However, seed production practices are not well-defined. We partnered with a wildflower seed producer to investigate the effects of weed barrier cloth, plot shading, mature follicle harvest timing, and dry–cold stratification on seed production and germination. Weed cloth had no impact on seed production. However, shading decreased the number of seeds produced by 1.2- to 9.6-fold. Seeds harvested in July and August showed 2.9- and 2.3-fold improvements in total germination and more uniform and rapid germination compared with September-collected seeds. Conversely, seeds exposed to dry–cold stratification displayed a 3.0-fold reduction in the germination rate compared with nonstratified seeds. Our results indicate that the production system significantly impacts seed production and quality of A. tuberosa. Seed producers can use weed barrier cloth to facilitate seed collection from shattering follicles and suppress weeds without a considerable loss of seed production. However, plants should not be grown under conditions of additional shade. Furthermore, high-quality A. tuberosa seeds can be collected earlier in the year, but they should not be subjected to dry–cold stratification.
Conformal Carroll scalars with boosts
Authors: Baiguera Stefano , Oling Gerben , Sybesma Watse , Søgaard Benjamin T.
Published: April 2023

We construct two distinct actions for scalar fields that are invariant under local Carroll boosts and Weyl transformations. Conformal Carroll field theories were recently argued to be related to the celestial holography description of asymptotically flat spacetimes. However, only few explicit examples of such theories are known, and they lack local Carroll boost symmetry on a generic curved background. We derive two types of conformal Carroll scalar actions with boost symmetry on a curved background in any dimension and compute their energy-momentum tensors, which are traceless. In the first type of theories, time derivatives dominate and spatial derivatives are suppressed. In the second type, spatial derivatives dominate, and constraints are present to ensure local boost invariance. By integrating out these constraints, we show that the spatial conformal Carroll theories can be reduced to lower-dimensional Euclidean CFTs, which is reminiscent of the embedding space construction.
Modern approaches to the diagnosis and management of children with allergy to cow’s milk proteins
Authors: Pampura A. N. , Zhukalina E. F. , Morenko M. A. , Usenova O. P.
Published: April 2023

Allergy to cow’s milk proteins is the most common cause of allergic reactions in young children, with a significant impact on the quality of life of children and their families. The most significant biomarker of herbivore milk allergy is allergen-specific IgE (sIgE), which can be assessed both for the whole allergen (for example, cow’s milk (CM), mare’s milk, goat’s milk, etc.) and a specific molecule, included in their composition. This article focuses on the use of sIgE in infants with suspected cow’s milk protein allergy.
Congenital methemoglobinemia and abnormal hemoglobin M variant in a newborn with cyanosis
Authors: Dolgopolov I. S. , Rykov M. Yu. , Ryabtsev A. A. , Koltsova S. Yu.
Published: April 2023

Congenital methemoglobinemia, especially caused by pathological hemoglobin M, is an extremely rare cause of cyanosis in newborns. The time to onset and severity of clinical manifestations in hemoglobin M disease depends on which globin chain the mutation occurred in.

Purpose. To present the case of congenital methemoglobinemia associated with hemoglobin M disease, not recognized in the neonatal period, to summarize the data on diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis for this pathology.

Clinical case. In a full-term child without organ pathology, the development of diffuse cyanosis in the early neonatal period, a decrease in pSO2 of 70%, resistant to oxygen therapy, and increasing anemia were noted. The level of methemoglobin is up to a maximum of 17%. A decrease in the level of methemoglobin to 5.7% and stabilization of pSO2 >90% were obtained after two transfusions of erythrocyte suspension. No pathological forms of hemoglobin were detected during electrophoresis on the 5th day of life. Repeated electrophoresis at the age of 5 months revealed a pathological hemoglobin fraction of 8.9% corresponding to hemoglobin M Iwate. During the first year of observation, the growth and development of the child corresponds to the age norm. Stable acrocyanosis. Methemoglobin in the blood remains at the level of 8.7–8.9% without specific therapy for the last 6 months.

Conclusion. The diagnosis of congenital methemoglobinemia due to the presence of defective hemoglobin M (M-hemoglobinopathy) was established basing on the high persistent level of methemoglobin (9–12%) and hemoglobin electrophoresis identified an abnormal hemoglobin M (HbM Iwate) variant.
Love you in Throat Gristle: Subvocal Speech and Tainted Proprioception in the Work of William S. Burroughs
Authors: ÜSTÜN Berkay
Published: April 2023

The notion of subvocal speech looms over the American writer William S. Burroughs’ work and its defining feature is an involuntary continuity. Burroughs borrows the concept from the behaviorist psychologist John B. Watson’s attempts between the 1920s and ‘30s to come up with an image of thinking which foregrounds speech and its laryngeal correlates. Yet, while adopting this picture, Burroughs brings a much more pragmatic and experimental slant to subvocal speech, waging battle against a heteronomy lived as an impossibility of silence. Trying out a mimetic intervention that appropriates this elusive language conduct and the discourse of its description, he positions his formal experiments (“cut-ups”) as a medium of registration and acceleration that tries to disable the compulsory character of subvocal speech by taking it to its most extreme conclusions. When these experiments seem to reproduce instead of removing the heteronomy associated with subvocal speech, he explores other approaches, with the organic and evolutionary implications providing material for new directions in narrative, and the polyvalent status of the human throat coming under a detailed focus. Accordingly, Burroughs’ work opens out to a series of “organological” inquiries the richness of which finds philosophical and anthropological resonances. While philosophers like Deleuze and Guattari find inspiration in Burroughs for a concept of “the body without organs,” phenomenology also turns out to have a lot to contribute to a renewed understanding of subvocal speech. In sum, this paper aims to demonstrate that subvocal speech as an originally behaviorist notion has a much more layered character than is visible at first glance, enlisting at once the modes of cut-up, routine, and evolutionary speculation aside from straightforward critique.
Sumerlilerde Din Anlayışı ve Tanrı Algısı
Authors: ETGÜ Yıldız Tilbe , PEKŞEN Okay
Published: April 2023

İnsan, yaratılışı gereği inanmaya meyilli bir canlıdır. Bu inanma eyleminin kendisini gösterdiği en önemli yer dinî inançlardır. İnsanlık tarihinin ilk dönemlerinden itibaren doğada gördüğü ve karşısında çaresiz hissettiği olaylara insanüstü bir güç atfeden insan, bu gücün üst bir otoritenin kontrolünde olduğunu düşünmüştür. Bu düşünceden hareketle çok tanrılı bir inanç sistemi oluşturan insan toplulukları, tanrılar âlemini bir aile olarak tahayyül ederek evrenin işleyişini bu ailenin karar ve tercihlerine endekslemiştir. Bu durum da insanın yazgısının ve kamusal düzenin ister eril ister dişil formlarda olsun tanrısal bir otoritenin belirlemiş olduğu düşüncesini ortaya çıkarmıştır. Eski Mezopotamya coğrafyasında ortaya çıkan ilk köylerle birlikte organize bir yaşama sahip olan insan topluluklarının yönetilmesi ve toplumsal düzenin sağlanması inanç sistemleri çerçevesinde gerçekleşmiştir. İlk köylerin kentlere dönüşmesiyle daha kurumsal bir hâl alan inanç sistemleri Sumer Kent Devletleri ile birlikte dinî bir bürokrasiye sahip olmuş ve sosyal hayattan siyasete, manevi dünyadan ekonomiye kadar yaşamın her alanına hükmeder hâle gelmiştir. Mitolojik anlatılarla dinî dünyalarını daha da hareketlendiren Sumerliler, sahip oldukları din anlayışı ve tanrı algısını yazıyı icat ederek kayıt tutma geleneğini başlatmalarıyla sonraki dönemlere aktarmayı başarmışlardır. Bu aktarım, Antik Mezopotamya coğrafyasının binlerce yıllık kültürel birikiminde Sumer izlerinin görülmesinin en temel gerekçesidir. Bu çalışmada, Sumer toplumunun din anlayışı ve tanrı algısı çivi yazılı kaynaklardan yapılan çıkarımlar ve modern literatürden elde edilen bilgilerden hareketle sorgulayıcı bir biçimde ele alınacaktır.
Bir Şahıs İki Portre: Mutezile ve Hanbelilere Göre Muâviye b. Ebî Süfyân
Authors: İĞDE Muhyettin
Published: April 2023

Tarih; sosyal, siyasal ve dinî yapılanmaların bugünü ve geleceklerini inşa etmek için kullandıkları araçlardan biridir. Söz konusu yapılanmalar hedeflerini gerçekleştirmek amacıyla tarihsel verileri ideolojik bir şekilde ele almakta ve kutsanmış bir geçmiş inşa etmektedirler. Bu durum İslam tarihinde ortaya çıkan mezhebî yapılanmalar ve önemli şahsiyetlerin biyografileri için de geçerlidir. Bu çalışmada İslam tarihinin en tartışmalı isimlerinden biri olan Muâviye b. Ebî Süfyân örneğinde ideolojik bakış açısının yol açtığı anlama sorunları ortaya konulmaya çalışılmıştır. Mutezili ve Hanbeli müellifler, mensubu oldukları sosyal yapılanmaların ve içerisinde bulundukları şartların etkisiyle Muâviye’yi inceleme konusu yapmışlardır. Her iki mezhebe mensup müellifler aynı kişiyi ele almalarına ve aynı kaynaklardan yararlanmalarına rağmen Muâviye b. Ebî Süfyân ile ilgili birbirine taban tabana zıt iki portre ortaya çıkmıştır. Bir taraftan cenneti garantilediği iddia edilen Muâviye b. Ebî Süfyan, diğer taraftan cehennemlik olduğu iddia edilen Muâviye b. Ebî Süfyan. Her bir grup kendi ideolojik değerleri doğrultusunda bir tarih okuması yapmış ve tarihi geriye doğru inşa etmişlerdir. Bu yaklaşımlar arasında gerçek Muâviye’yi bulmak mümkün mü? Söz konusu yaklaşımlar İslam düşüncesini nasıl etkilemiştir? Eldeki bu malzemeler karşısında bugünün tarihçisi nasıl davranmalıdır? Geçmişteki ideolojik verilere rağmen tarafsız bir tarih veya tarih anlayışı inşa etmek mümkün müdür? Bu çalışma Muâviye örnekliğinde ideolojik tarih anlayışına ve kaynak kritiğinin önemine dikkat çekmeyi hedeflemektedir.
House ownership financing: sharia economic perspective
Authors: Harefa Safaruddin
Published: April 2023

In determining a place to live, consumers do not only look at the price factor, but also look at the origin of the location, building, and environmental factors. The reason consumers consider the price factor is related to their incomeSo looking at the explanation from the arguments that have been described above, then the original position of the mortgage is drawn from the perspective of Islamic economics, meaning that it is the same thing using buying and selling usually, what will distinguish it is a contract that will be carried out when carrying out the mortgage process both along with third parties or related parties in this regard. Even so, this must also pay attention to the signs when buying and selling mortgages because otherwise it will form a sale and purchase contract which falls to Haram acts.
The influence of individuals’ emancipative values (mis)match on subjective well-being
Authors:   HSE University, Afanasyeva Yulia A. , Ponarin Eduard D. ,   HSE University
Published: April 2023

Social sciences pay a great deal of attention to the effects of one’s (dis)similarity with one’s environment. Research of values is one aspect of these studies, where values are most abstracted individual goals which help one evaluate various phenomena as either good or bad. Most often, scholars focus on similarities and conclude that being similar to one’s environment makes one happier and self-confident and results in better relations with other people. There are relatively few studies that focus on the effects of dissimilarities, which leaves an opportunity for new studies. Based on the most recent waves of the World Value Survey and European Value Study (N = 122,224), this paper investigates whether one’s difference in Welzel’s emancipative value index (EVI) from the mean country level affect individual subjective well-being (SWB). Our analysis suggests that this effect depends on (1) the sign of the difference and (2) the country mean EVI. In low-EVI countries people with lower levels of EVI tend to be happier than other people in their country. There is no effect in high-EVI countries. Furthermore, high levels of mean country EVI is a stronger predictor of happiness than are individual differences.
Civiс solidarity in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors:   Centre for Social Technologies and Applied Research “SPHERE” Ltd, Serdyukov Boris V.
Published: April 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic will remain in history as one of the most significant and tragic events that took place in 2020-2021. The threat of rapid distribution of coronavirus demanded from state bodies of various countries of decisive actions. These actions were aimed at ensuring the safety of their population, as well as to prevent mass infection of the population. The need to urgently mobilize people to combat the epidemiological threat made urgent work to build the appropriate forms of civil solidarity. The Russian Federation also took part in this process. However, the urgent need to coordinate this process in the shortest possible time inevitably led to increased load on the integration infrastructure of Russian society. As a result of such a load, this integration structure and its inherent features became more understandable. In this process, it was also possible to identify those problems that are usually difficult to diagnose in a society in a state of balance. This article presents the results of a sociological study devoted to the analysis of the civil solidarity of residents of St Petersburg in the face of the threat of the spread of pandemia COVID-19. The work presents a methodological construct based on the works of classics of sociology. This construct made it possible to analyze the specifics of the integration of Petersburgers into those relations of civic solidarity that make it possible to counteract the risks of coronavirus spread. The article describes the logic of development and the structure of civic solidarity in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The article also analyzed by citizens the perception of the threat of coronavirus distribution as a factor in public life and its integration significance in the context of the formation of a particular joint environment. The result of the study was a description of the most common solidarization practices aimed at counteracting the pandemic, and the disclosure of the main factors that affect the civil behavior of the city’s inhabitants.
Trust in the entrepreneurial environment of St Petersburg: The empirical study
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Veselov Yuri V.
Published: April 2023

Trust in the business environment is usually seen as the trust of entrepreneurs to each other or trust within the firm as the trust of managers to their subordinates. The importance of such trust for the successful functioning of the economy and business is often emphasized. This article presents another aspect: it is the trust of entrepreneurs as a socio-professional group to other people (generalized trust), their trust in a narrow circle - family members and acquaintances (particularized trust); trust in social institutions (institutional trust). The characteristics of trust of entrepreneurs are compared with other socio-professional groups (such as workers, specialists with higher education in the field of science and culture, civil servants). Entrepreneurs have the highest level of trust, both generalized and particularized, among all socio-professional groups, but the level of trust in the state is the lowest for them. A rationalized attitude towards trust, involvement in horizontal (non-hierarchical) social relations, an increased level of risk, and the need for trust to reduce transaction and social costs distinguish entrepreneurs from other socio-professional groups and form their specific (local) culture of trust. The article also reveals the features of entrepreneurial trust in the field of digital technologies that are actively developing today (trust in social networks; trust in online commerce; trust in mobile applications of banks, etc.). Our study is based on the results of two surveys conducted in St Petersburg - a telephone survey of city of St Petersburg, N = 1032 (2020); Internet survey, N = 505, residents of the city and region (2021); in-depth interviews with entrepreneurs (10) (2020-2021).
Effects of rice husk powder and thermal hydrolysis on sludge characteristics
Authors: Feng Guohong , Tian Ziyang , Wang Jun
Published: April 2023

To reduce the water content and improve the incineration characteristics of sludge, rice husk and thermal hydrolysis were employed in this study. Effects of rice husk and thermal hydrolysis on the characteristics of the sludge were investigated. The results showed that synergistic thermal hydrolysis with rice husk could effectively destroy sludge particles and release more bound water. For rice husk with a particle size of 50-mesh and an additional amount of rice husk at 1:0.2, the solid content of the sludge was reduced from 17.4 to 16.2%, and the sludge particle size was reduced by 6%. Filtration time and specific resistance to filtrate (SRF) were shortened by 88.9 and 98.7%, respectively. The organic matter content of the filtration cake increased by 14%, compared with the sludge treated by thermal hydrolysis without rice husk. Furthermore, it could be shown that the most optimal conditions were rice husk of particle size 50-mesh and an additional amount of rice husk at 1:0.2, which could lead to effective thermal hydrolysis and higher organic matter content of the filtration cake.
Influence of Climate Change on precipitation and the formulation of Rain Design in Brazil
Authors: Souza Laise Novellino Nunes de , Lugon Junior Jader , Oliveira Vicente de Paulo Santos de
Published: April 2023

This work aims to answer whether climate change is a precursor to updating the rain equations developed in different regions of Brazil. The methodology was based on a Systematic Review of the existing literature, made through the “Periódicos Capes” portal. The results showed that in some cities, there are no rain equations and not enough rain measurements available, so, in these cases it is not possible to study Climate Change and the formulations of Rain Designs. However, in places where data are available, the need to update the Rain Design equations are evaluated using recent historical rainfall data, and it was found that these changes could be explained by climate change.
The Gut Microbiota-Brain Axis: Potential Mechanism of Drug Addiction
Authors: Luo Xiao , Li Hong , Fan Xuan , Wu Xiaocong , Zhou Ruiyi , Lei Yi , Xue Dan , Yang Fazheng , Xu Yu , Wang Kunhua
Published: April 2023

As a chronic encephalopathy, drug addiction is responsible for millions of deaths per
year around the world. The gut microbiome is a crucial component of the human microbiome.
Through dynamic bidirectional communication along the 'gut-brain axis,' gut bacteria cooperate
with their hosts to regulate the development and function of the immune, metabolic, and nervous
systems.

:

These processes may affect human health because some brain diseases are related to the composition
of gut bacteria, and disruptions in microbial communities have been implicated in neurological
disorders.

:

We review the compositional and functional diversity of the gut microbiome in drug addiction.
We discuss intricate and crucial connections between the gut microbiota and the brain involving
multiple biological systems and possible contributions by the gut microbiota to neurological disorders.

:

Finally, the treatment of probiotics and fecal transplantation was summarized. This was done to further
understand the role of intestinal microecology in the pathogenesis of drug addiction and to explore
new methods for the treatment of drug addiction.
Neuroprotective Potential of Polydatin in Combating Parkinson’s Disease
through the Inhibition of Monoamine Oxidase-B and Catechol-o-Methyl
Transferase
Authors: Phukan Banashree Chetia , Roy Rubina , Choudhury Shuvasish , Bhattacharya Pallab , Borah Anupom
Published: April 2023

Aims:

This study aims to deduce the plausible contribution of polydatin in dopamine replenishment and dopaminergic neuroprotection to unveil its potential as a drug candidate for PD.

Background:

Available therapies for the management of dopaminergic degradation in Parkinson’s disease (PD) provide only symptomatic relief and are associated with various adverse effects. Levodopa (L-DOPA) is an age-old therapy in the treatment paradigm of PD, either used as mono-therapy or in combination with the inhibitors of the dopamine catabolising enzymes monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) and catechol O-methyltransferase (COMT) for replenishing the levels of the neurotransmitter. The discovery of plant-based novel drug therapies would help to target multiple pathways underlying the disease pathogenesis and are associated with minimal side effects. Polydatin, the precursor of resveratrol, has been explored recently to possess neuroprotective efficacy, however, the molecular mechanisms that underlie the Parkinsonism-associated neurobehavioral recovery as well as the neurorescue potential of polydatin has not been illustrated yet.

Objective:

The present study aimed to unveil the role of polydatin in dopamine upregulation in PD, by determining its dual inhibitory potential on the enzymes responsible for its breakdown, MAO-B and COMT. The study further aimed to elucidate the role of this molecule in regulating the enzymatic activity of Cytosolic Phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), the crucial enzyme underlying several pathogenic pathways leading to neurodegeneration.

Methods:

Molecular docking simulation of polydatin with the dopamine catabolizing enzymes MAO-B and COMT, as well as cPLA2, along with their respective known inhibitors was performed using the Molegro Virtual Docker (MVD) 2.1 package.

Results:

In-silico analyses revealed that polydatin could significantly inhibit the activities of this dopamine catabolizing enzyme, MAO-B, and COMT with comparable docking scores and more numbers of hydrogen bonds, and weaker interactions as that of their respective available synthetic inhibitors. Moreover, it was found that polydatin could regulate the activity of cPLA2 comparable to its known inhibitors.

Conclusion:

Polydatin exhibited efficacy as a potent dopamine replenishing agent by inhibiting its metabolizing enzymes as well as found to have efficacy against neuroinflammation, thereby highlighting the significance of designing novel phyto drugs for combating dopamine deficiency in PD.
Neuroprotective and Nootropic Evaluation of some Important Medicinal Plants in Dementia: A Review
Authors: Shah Fahad Hassan , Eom Young Seok , Lim Kyeong Ho , Kim Song Ja
Published: April 2023

:

Dementia is a devitalising decline in neurological acuity, which burdens both high- and lowincome
countries due to poor diagnostic systems and high healthcare costs. A growing population and
rises in deleterious environmental and genetic anomalies aggravate new and aggressive cases of dementia
and neurodegenerative disorders. The unparalleled capability of medicinal plants is constantly explored in
treating neurological disorders, and some of these phytocompounds are used for treating diseases. However,
some of these metabolites are neurotoxic and disrupt DNA polymerase functions. They possess lifethreatening
side effects and are unable to prevent disease progression. Therefore, it is important to focus
on discovering novel compounds from new medicinal plants. Our review encompasses some medicinal
plant metabolites recently explored in treating this disease. We also summarized the molecular mechanism
of action as determined in in-vitro: the toxic dose, nootropic and neuroprotective effects on neurophysiology
and neurotransmitter levels, and the antioxidant effects.
Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Gram-negative Bacteria in an Iranian
Referral Pediatric Hospital: A Present Danger of New Delhi Metallo-β-
lactamase
Authors: Mahmoudi Shima , Pourakbari Babak , Rostamyan Maryam , Raji Hojatollah , Sadeghi Reihaneh Hosseinpour , Mamishi Setareh
Published: April 2023

Background:

Antimicrobial resistance among gram-negative bacteria has been growing,
particularly in developing countries, like Iran. The emergence and spread of carbapenem-resistance
mechanisms is a major public health concern because no definite treatments have yet been established
for this problem. This study aimed to evaluate antibiotic susceptibility of gram-negative bacteria,
metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) and carbapenemase-producing genes, including bla NDM, bla
VIM, and bla IMP in patients referred to Children’s Medical Center, Tehran, Iran.

Material and Methods:

In this cross-sectional study, a total of 944 gram-negative isolates were tested
in the study, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed. Moreover, MBL production of
carbapenem-resistant isolates, as well as the presence of bla NDM, bla VIM, and bla IMP, was investigated.

Results:

The most common gram-negative isolated bacteria were Escherichia coli (489 samples,
52%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (167 samples, 18%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (101
samples, 11%), Enterobacter spp. (64 samples, 7%), Pseudomonas spp. (35 samples, 4%), Acinetobacter
baumannii (18 samples, 2%), and Burkholderia cepacia (17 samples, 2%). Imipenemresistant
was found in 75%, 61%, and 60% of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Enterobacter spp.,
and A. baumannii isolates, respectively. Moreover, the highest resistance to meropenem was observed
in S. maltophilia, A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa, and B. cepacia (100%, 96%, 83%, and
61.5%, respectively). Double disk synergy test (DDST) results showed that 112 out of 255 carbapenem-
resistant isolates (44%) were MBL-producing ones. The presence of the bla NDM gene
was identified in 32 (29%) of MBL-producing isolates, 13 of which were K. pneumoniae, 7 P. aeruginosa,
and 7 E. coli, 3 Enterobacter spp., and 2 Klebsiella spp, respectively. The presence of the
bla IMP and bla VIM genes was detected in 2 (2%) and 1 (1%) of MBL-producing isolates. These
genes were detected in only MBL-producing P. aeruginosa isolates.

Conclusion:

Our findings suggest the emergence of NDM-producing strains in our hospital, and
bla NDM was the most frequently detected carbapenemase gene in MBL-producing P. aeruginosa,
K. pneumoniae, and Klebsiella spp. Since such bacteria can easily spread among patients in the
hospital, a strong infection control and prevention plan is highly recommended.
Periostin Acts as a Bridge between Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)
and Chronic Inflammation to Modulate Insulin Resistance by Modulating
PPARα/NF-κB/TNF-α Signaling Pathway
Authors: Ji Qun , Li Xinying , Wang Yan , Liu Haiwei , Chen Kaining , Quan Huibiao , Zhang Huachuan , Ran Jianmin
Published: April 2023

Introduction:

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is considered an imbalance of glucose metabolism and insulin resistance during pregnancy.

Aim/Objective:

To evaluate the levels of periostin (POSTN) in patients with GDM and investigate the association between POSTN and GDM.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 30 pregnant women (NC group) and 30 pregnant women with GDM (GDM group) were involved. The GDM mouse model was established by intraperitoneally injecting streptozotocin. The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), insulin, and insulin resistance indices were tested. An immunohistochemical and Western blot assay was conducted to determine the expression of POSTN, PPARα, TNF-α, and NF-kB. HE staining was performed to evaluate inflammation in the placental tissues of women with GDM and GDM mice. POSTN-siRNA was transfected into glucose-pretreated HTR8 cells, and pAdEasy-m-POSTN shRNA was infected in GDM mice. The RT-PCR assay determined the gene transcription of POSTN, TNF-α, NF-kB, and PPARα.

Results:

Pregnant women in the GDM group demonstrated significantly higher OGTT (p<0.05), insulin levels (p<0.05) and insulin resistance (p<0.05) compared to those of the NC group. The serum levels of POSTN in pregnant women of the GDM group were significantly higher than that of the NC group (p<0.05). The obvious inflammation was activated in pregnant women in the GDM group. POSTN-siRNA significantly enhanced the cell viability of glucose-treated HTR8 cells compared to that without glucose treatment (p<0.05). POSTN-siRNA (pAdEasy-m-POSTN shRNA) markedly reduced the glucose level of glucose-treated HTR8 cells (GDM mice) compared to that without treatment (p<0.05). POSTN-siRNA (pAdEasy-m-POSTN shRNA) promoted PPARα gene transcription (p<0.05) and inhibited NF-kB/TNF-α gene transcription (p<0.05) in glucose-treated HTR8 cells (GDM mice) compared to those without treatment. POSTN-siRNA modulated NF-kB/TNF-α pathway mediated inflammation by regulating PPARα in HTR8 cells and GDM mice. PPARα participated in POSTN-associated inflammation. pAdEasy-m-POSTN shRNA inhibited T-CHO/TG levels in GDM mice compared to those without treatment (p<0.05). All the effects of POSTN-siRNA (pAdEasy-m-POSTN shRNA) were obviously blocked by PPARα inhibitor treatment.

Conclusion:

POSTN levels were significantly higher in pregnant women with GDM and were associated with chronic inflammation and PPARα expression. POSTN may act as a bridge between GDM and chronic inflammation to modulate insulin resistance by modulating PPARα/NF-κB/TNF-α signaling pathway.
Applications of Silver Nanoparticles in Patent Research
Authors: Azevedo Ana Paula G.B. , Müller Nathalia , Sant´Anna Celso
Published: April 2023

Background:

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been widely applied in research and industrial
fields, finding applications in nanomedicine, drug delivery, biomedical devices, electronics, the energy
sector, and environmental protection. Patents provide information on the industrial viability of
product technologies, and the number of patent documents provides an estimate of the evolution of a
specific technological field.

Aims:

The present work aims to describe the current trends in AgNPs patent applications. In addition, a
retrospective study of published patents in Brazil is presented.

Methods:

Analyses of AgNPs-related patents were conducted using the free platform for patent search
Lens® in 2010-2019 and articles published in same period using the Scholar® base. The patent applications
and their evolution over time, major depositors and holders, and the main technological areas associated
with AgNP applications have been described.

Results:

China and United States are the major patent applicants for nanotechnologies. The worldwide
distribution of publications of journal articles shows that China, India, and the United States are the
leading countries in the total number of articles published, in that order.

Conclusion:

Our study of patent applications and published articles confirmed the growing global increase
in new technologies involving NPs and AgNPs, particularly in the biotechnology area, in the
fields of medicine and agriculture.
An Overview on Naturally Occurring Phytoconstituent: Lithospermic Acid
Authors: Semwal Bhupesh Chander , Hussain Amjad , Singh Sonia
Published: April 2023

Lithospermic acid is a phenylpropanoid oligomer isolated from an aqueous extract of dried
roots of various Lamiaceae and Boraginaceae plants and used as a folk medicine to treat cardiovascular
disease and to improve body functions. The manuscript has been written to provide valuable insights into
naturally occurring phytocomponent, Lithospermic acid, and even explore its therapeutic potential. The
data have been gathered from books and web sources, including Science Direct, Publons, Web of Science,
and Scopus of the latest year. Lithospermic acid is a conjugate of rosmarinic and caffeic acid with a dihydro
benzofuran nucleus and possesses a high antioxidant potential and prevents the production of superoxide
radicals and lipid peroxidation and protects the tissue from deleterious effects of reactive oxygen
species. In addition, it also possesses a wide range of pharmacological activities, including reducing atherosclerosis,
anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-viral, HIV-1 integrase, and hyaluronidase inhibition,
aldose reductase inhibition and improvement in uremic symptoms guanidino succinic acid level. Due
to its anti-HIV activity, LA has gained much attention among the scientific community. Moreover, it is
widely distributed to all the peripheral tissue in rats, and its metabolites undergo enterohepatic circulation
and are excreted through biliary excretion. In this review, we concluded LA with its phytochemistry,
pharmacokinetics, and pharmacological activities.
Decreased Expression of EP3 Receptor mRNA in the Brain of Mouse
Model of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Anggadiredja Kusnandar , Kurniati Neng Fisheri , Kasai Atsushi , Hashimoto Hitoshi
Published: April 2023

Background:

Accumulating evidence has implicated the role of neuroinflammation in the pathology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental disorder.

Objectives:

To investigate the expression of prostaglandin EP3 (EP3) receptor mRNA in the brain of ASD mouse model.

Methods:

Pregnant mice were injected with valproic acid (VPA) 500 mg/kg intraperitoneally at 12.5 d gestation. The offspring were tested at the age of 5-6 weeks old for their social interaction behav-ior. Each mouse was assessed for prostaglandin EP3 receptor expression in the prefrontal cortical, hippocampal and cerebellar areas one day after the behavioral test.

Results:

Compared to the naive, mice born to dams treated with VPA demonstrated a significantly shorter duration of sniffing behavior, a model of social interaction. Results further showed that the expression of EP3 receptor mRNA was significantly lower in all three brain regions of the mice born to VPA-treated dams.

Conclusion:

The present study provides further evidence of the relevance of the arachidonic acid cascade as an essential part of neuroinflammation in the pathology of ASD.
O Traço Contínuo do Envelhecimento por entre O Amor, O Sexo e O Erotismo
Authors: Gusmão Gisela de O. , D'Agostini Caroline Z. , Carneiro Maristela
Published: April 2023

This is a work in development to reflect on the body and social image of elderly men and women, culminating in an e-book, which will discuss love, sex and eroticism in old age, and, will feature erotic illustrations, using the technique of Traço Contínuo [Continuous Dash], in which organic lines united express shapes while the image of the illustration is completed in the mind of the observer. The mind analyses the empty spaces seeking a complete image, besides the symbolism of the unification of the lines in relation to the union that sexuality manifests between people; and of Desenho Gestual [Gestural Drawing], which aims to capture the movement and expression of the object of study, with fluidity and dynamics.Although the line on the paper remains static, we perceive the movement and changes in the bodies, as well as the passage of time. We take as a basis the concepts of Norbert Elias, the phenomenological view of body and corporeality as resistance.
Landscapes in motion: the border lands of artistic practice
Authors: Gaspar Renata
Published: April 2023

This paper addresses the production of borders through the lenses of the autonomy of migration, and how the autonomist perspective on borders as flexible and mobile power formations might serve the analysis of spatial production in the context of artistic practices. Specifically, the paper focusses on questions of identity and belonging and how these are conveyed in artworks through practices of translation. I propose that ‘artistic practices of translation’ express an embodied form of intertextuality, attesting to the importance of translation as means to remain in transit – between languages, cultures, places, and their memories – and materialising a counter-hegemonic epistemology of spatial production. This is illustrated through a video piece by visual artist Mona Hatoum alongside mobility control in the occupied territories of Palestine
The Correlation of Microclimate on Milk Productivity and Lactation Percentage of Friesian Holstein Dairy Cattle in Balai Pengembangan Ternak Sapi Perah Hijauan Pakan Ternak (BPTSP HPT) Cikole
Authors: Rachmawanto Muhammad Dimas , Atabany Afton , Purwanto Bagus Priyo
Published: April 2023

External and internal factors can affect the body of livestock. External factors consist of climate, offering feed, and maintenance management. Internal factors include the biological aspects of lactating dairy. This research was conducted to see the microclimate relationship between milk production and the proportion of lactation. This study aims to identify and evaluate Friesian Holstein dairy cattle productivity based on the microclimate in BPTSP HPT Cikole. This study used the survey method to obtain secondary data. The regression and correlation test was used to analyze data. Results showed 111 Holstein dairy cattle productivity based on the amount of milk, and lactation proportion fluctuated from 2017 to 2019. The regression results and the impact of microclimate in general on milk production had no significant effect. It was proven that BPTSP HPT Cikole was successful in overcoming the effects of microclimate changes. In conclusion, that temperature, humidity, precipitation, and THI do not affect the production of Friesian Holstein cow's milk at BPTSP HPT Cikole. Based on the regression analysis results, precipitation significantly affects the proportion of lactation with an R2 value of 78.08%.
Carcass and Tibia Bone of Broiler Chickens Fed Amorphophallus companulatus tubers Fermented by Bacillus subtilis
Authors: Koni Theresia Nur Indah , Zuprizal Zuprizal , Rusman Rusman , Hanim Chusnul
Published: April 2023

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of fermented Amorphophalllus companulatus (AC) tubers by Bacillus subtilis on the final weight, carcass weight, and tibia bone of broiler chickens. The feeding trial lasted for 35 days. One hundred and twelve eight days old male broilers of the New Lohmann strain were used for the study. There were four treatment groups and four replications with seven birds per replicate. The four treatments were 1) a control diet without FAC, 2) a diet with 5% FAC, 3) a diet with 10% FAC, and 4) a diet with 15% FAC. The variable observed were final weight, carcass weight, abdominal fat weight, percentage of carcass weight, length, and weight of tibia bone. The result showed that feeding FAC tubers meal did not affect (P>0.05) final weight, carcass weight, the percentage of carcass weight, length, and weight of tibia bone. Feeding FAC tuber meal up to 15% had lower (P<0.05) abdominal fat than feeding control dietary. In conclusion, fermented AC by Bacillus subtilis can be used up to 15% in broiler diets without adversely affecting carcass weight and tibia bone.
The Effect of Feeding with Different Percentages of Energy on the Growth Performance of Jowo Super Chicken
Authors: Lestari S. P. , Sjofjan O. , Furqon A. , Nuningtyas Y. F. , Natsir Muhammad Halim
Published: April 2023

This study aims to determine the different levels both metabolic energy and protein treatments on growth performance of Jowo Super (JOPER) chickens. A total of 192 one-day-old chicks Jowo Super chickens (unsexed) were used in twelve-week trials. Prior to statistical analysis using analysis of variances (Anova) where least significance differences subjected using Duncan Multiple Test. The different levels of treatments on growth performance was not significance differ (p > 0.05). In summary, the metabolizable energy was recommended at 2880 kcal/kg (starter periods) and 2,950 kcal/kg (finisher). Feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and mortality was best in the 1707.17; 744.25; 2.53; 699.75, respectively.
A Predicted Genetic Parameter for Body Weight and Body Size at Yearling Age of Male Bali cattle
Authors: Chaerunissa Meidina , Nurgiartiningsih V.M. Ani
Published: April 2023

This research aimed to predicted the genetic parameter for body weight and body size, including body height, body length, and chest girth at yearling age of male Bali cattle in BPTU-HPT Denpasar, Bali. The materials used were 79 heads of male Bali at yearling age. The variables observed were body weight (BW), body height (BH), body length (BL), and chest girth (CG) recorded from 2016 to 2018. The body weight and body size data were analyzed to find out the mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation. Variance and co variance component were analyzed using Analyses of Variance and Covariance one way lay out un balanced design. The heritability and genetic correlation were calculated using the paternal half-sib correlation method. Results showed that the average of body weight, body height, body length, and chest girth were 129.72±13.73 kg, 102.91±4.27 cm, 94.32±5.54 cm, and 121.91±8.47 cm, respectively. The value of heritability estimation for body weight, body height, body length, and chest girth were 0.50±0.08, 0.46±0.07, 0.44±0.07, and 0.10±0.02, respectively. The genetic correlation between BW-BH, BW-BL, and BW-CG were categorized as moderate to a high value (0.67, 0.98, and 0.35, respectively). Breeding value for body weight and body height were both 50% positive value, and breeding value for body length and chest girth were 40% and 60% positive value, respectively. The rank correlation coefficient between rank based on BW-BH, BW-BL, and BW-CG were 0.31, 0.61, and -0.01, respectively. Based on the heritability value, genetic correlation, and rank correlation coefficient, body length could be used as selection criteria, which would give a response to improve body weight.
Developing diagnostic test assessment to measure creative thinking skills of Biology preservice teacher students
Authors: Eliaumra Eliaumra , Samaela Dewi Purwasih , Muhdin Nining Kasim
Published: April 2023

The research aims to develop a diagnostic test assessment to measure the creative thinking skills of biology preservice teacher students. This research and development used Thiagarajan's 4D (Define, Design, Develop, and Dissemination) model. The diagnostic test assessment was developed in the form of an essay test with five numbers of scoring rubrics. This research was conducted at the Biology Education Study Program, University of Sintuwu Maroso. The results of the expert validation of the assessment instrument are high, and the reliability value is high. The results of the test found that all questions were valid and reliable. The student's creative thinking skills obtained an average value of fluency of 75.01% in the high category, flexibility thinking skills of 64.13% in the medium category, originality thinking skills of 69.56% in the medium category, elaboration skills of 75.01% in the high category and evaluation skills of 75.07% in the high category. All students' creative thinking skills are in the moderate category with a score of 71.74%, and the follow-up to the diagnostic results is that the lecturer can provide remedial on several learning indicators that have not been achieved.