bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancement of chondrogenic differentiation in ATDC5 cells using GFOGER-modified peptide nanofiber scaffold
Authors: Yaylacı Seher
Published: November 2023

Objectives

Owing to its avascular nature, cartilage tissue has a restricted capacity for regeneration. These structural features make it difficult for a fully functional tissue to regenerate after damage. Therefore, studies aiming at cartilage tissue regeneration are getting quite interesting. In this study, we employed a novel approach to induce chondrogenic differentiation using a collagen mimetic peptide amphihile (PA) nanofiber. The nanofiber comprised a specific peptide sequence – glycine-phenylalanine-hydroxyproline-glycine-glutamate-arginine (GFOGER), corresponding to the α1 (I) collagen chain. This sequence was selected for its ability to mimic the structure and function of natural collagen in the extracellular matrix (ECM). This specific peptide sequence is expected to enhance the chondrogenic differentiation process by providing a more efficient and effective method for tissue engineering applications.

Methods

ATDC5 cells were cultured on the synthetic scaffold of collagen-mimicking PA nanofibers, facilitating adhesion, division, and chondrogenic cell differentiation.

Results

In our study, ATDC5 cells cultured on collagen mimetic peptide nanofiber expressed chondrogenic marker proteins, namely Collagen II and Sox9, significantly high at the 5th and 10th days compared to cells cultured on TCP in the absence of insulin as inducer.

Conclusions

According to our results, the collagen mimetic peptide-based scaffold supports cell growth and differentiation by mimicking the natural cell matrix.
Friedrich Schleiermachers Monologen und der Athenaeums-Kreis Wirkungsabsicht und Wirkungswandel einer frühromantischen Schrift
Authors: Patsch Hermann
Published: November 2023

Schleiermacher’s anonymous Soliloquies of 1800 were written as a Supplement to his likewise anonymous book On Religion, Speeches to its Cultured Despisers of 1799. They are addressed to the circle of intellectuals around the early Romantic periodical Athenaeum, to the „Holy family“ (Friedrich Schlegel), and moreover to the despisers of Transcendental philosophy whose state of discussion is reflected. Thus they belong to the history of modern individual thought. The form of the book follows the contemporary imitation of classical poetic form (Hölderlin) which was prevalent among the Athenaeum Circle as well. Schleiermacher discusses the separation of philosophy and life (Fichte), the forming one’s self and the forming of artistic works (Goethe), i. e. the dichotomy of individuality and artistry. He confesses himself not to be an artist. Schleiermacher’s intention in Soliloquies was to give philosophical idealism a personal depth beyond intellectual speculation. Looking back in 1803 he realizes, in the draft of a poem, that he had idealized his empirical self in his literary self. Except for a few remarks by Schlegel, who at first did not umask the author‘s anonymity, there was no reaction whatever from the Athenaeum Circle. Soliloquies later became a popular Protestant book for spiritual edification.
Unbekannte Briefe von und an Ferdinand Christian Baur Mit einer Einleitung von Friedrich Wilhelm Graf
Authors: Streckert Ursula
Published: November 2023

Ursula Streckert, a mother of five and a succesfull teacher, started to write a doctoral thesis after her retirement. It dealt with Ferdinand Christian Baur and German politics in the years before the bourgeois revolution of 1848, with a special focus on Wurttemberg. At her plea, I agreed to be her Doktorvater, all the more as I was highly impressed by her strong interest and drive to discover new sources. Indeed, thanks to her intensive research in many German and British archives, she succeeded in finding hitherto unknown letters of F. C. Baur, among them letters to his brother, academic scholars and academic colleagues of various German theological faculties. She investigated Baur’s activities in favour of the Philhellenic movement and his support for Polish revolutionaries fighting against Russian Czarism. Tragically, shortly before completing her doctoral thesis, Ursula Streckert succumbed to her fatal illness. The letters she discovered shed new light on Baur’s self understanding as a citical and, in the broadest sense, liberal theologian and on his commitment as a self-confident „Bürger“.
Інституційні механізми взаємодії громадянського суспільства і держави: спроба структуризації
Authors: Герасименко Олександр
Published: November 2023

Мета дослідження полягає у виокремленні наявних результатів попередніх дослідників і спробі зведення цих здобутків у вигляді структури інституційних механізмів взаємодії держави і громадянського суспільства.

Актуальність. В сучасному демократичному світі загальноприйнятим форматом стосунків між державою і громадським сектором є взаємодія. Тому, виникає потреба у структуризації понять «держава» і «громадянське суспільство». Це призводить до необхідності дослідження способів і механізмів, завдяки яким уможливлюється дана взаємодія. А, оскільки основною структурною складовою сучасних держав і публічного сектору є інститути, то інституційні механізми взаємодії держави і громадянського суспільства потребують особливої дослідницької уваги.

Результати дослідження. Розглянуто стан вивчення питання про механізми, які застосовуються державою і громадянським суспільством в ході їх взаємодії. Визначено основні формати взаємовідносин між державою і громадським сектором з огляду на складові даного процесу який відбувається і в багатосторонньому форматі. Перелічено основні напрямки взаємодії між державою і громадянським суспільством  на основі наявних інституційних та організаційних структур суспільства. Виокремлено найбільш розповсюджені і загальноприйняті типи державно-громадських стосунків, що реалізуються у вигляді різноманітних державно-громадських утворень. Запропоновано структуру  механізмів взаємовідносин інститутів держави і громадянського суспільства за критерієм функцій і суб'єктності.

Висновки. Попри те, що було наведено низку визначень досліджуваного поняття, не існує єдиного і чіткого підходу до розгляду інституційних механізмів взаємодії громадянського суспільства і держави. Серед множини інших, саме інституційні механізми займають провідне місце в системі способів взаємодії між громадянським суспільством і державою, адже вони включають в себе всі структурні елементи даної взаємодії і формують структуру цього процесу.
Is There Such a Thing as Religious Belief?
Authors: Burley Mikel
Published: November 2023

Whether there is such a thing as religious belief has been queried by philosophers who think the attitudes that get called religious beliefs are radically different from standard types of belief. It is sometimes claimed that so-called religious beliefs are, for example, resistant to experiential evidence in ways that genuine types of belief are not. A recent proponent of this contention, Brian Clack (2016), has argued that the lack of connection between religious attitudes and the world of everyday experience entails that these attitudes should be classified as “belief-like imaginings” rather than as bona fide beliefs. While admitting that contentions such as this prompt useful reflection upon the specificities of religious belief, I argue that the view that what are ordinarily called religious beliefs are not really beliefs amounts to an unwarranted linguistic stipulation. The concept of belief has a diversity of applications rather than being restricted to the narrow subset which dubious empiricist assumptions might lead us to privilege.
“Call me a Fanatic"
Authors: Richman Naomi
Published: November 2023

Anthropologists have pointed to the politics at play in the uneven application of the term “belief” to describe different cultural representations of reality. They have observed that westerners sometimes reserve the term “belief” for the description of non-western epistemologies, while categorising their own perspectives, informed by theories of scientific empiricism for example, as “knowledge.” This is an important critique, so what to do when our non-western interlocutors insist on being called “believers?” This article considers the ideas of a Nigerian Pentecostal church who not only characterize their faith using the language of “belief,” but even aspire to be branded “fanatics” by outsiders. Drawing on the teachings of the church, striking congruences between the understandings of belief deployed by this group and by scholars of religion are brought to light, collapsing the distance between self-described African Christian “fanatics” and those who critically analyse them.
Corporate competitiveness and communication practice in communication technologies – international comparison
Authors: Huszárik Erika Seres , Kosár Silvia Tóbiás , Korcsmáros Enikő , Gódány Zsuzsanna , Csinger Bence
Published: November 2023

The technological changes of the Industry 4.0 period and the spread of communication and information technologies allow for a more efficient diversification of products and services in response to changing consumer needs. Modern ICT tools are used by all companies to varying degrees. The main aim of the primary research on which this study is based was to assess the challenges of small and medium-sized enterprises operating in Slovakia and Hungary, the factors influencing their competitiveness, and from this to learn which are the most effective communication technologies in Industry 4.0. The primary research was carried out in the form of a questionnaire survey, and the number of items of the examined international sample was 275 (145 SMEs in Hungary and 130 in Slovakia). In addition to the descriptive statistical analyses, the research questions and the related hypotheses were tested by ANOVA table and cluster analysis. The respondents from the two countries also have a unified view of the factors that help increase competitiveness. In connection with the cluster analysis, it can be stated that the business activity does not fundamentally affect whether the individual companies belong to the group of environmentally conscious people who rely on human resources and digitalisation, or to the group with negative attitudes who do not trust it. Companies still consider the constantly updated corporate website to be the most effective means of corporate communication, and although communication on social media is becoming more and more valuable, the respondents believe that the shift in communication through the website which would have been replaced by communication via the social network has not yet taken place.
Socio-ecological market economy: A research approach
Authors: Pysz Piotr , Jurczuk Anna E. , Moszyński Michał
Published: November 2023

The aim of this article was to present the possibilities offered by the ordoliberal theory that predispose it to determine a socio-economic order which makes it possible to tackle the dysfunctions and crises that afflict today’s economy and all human civilisation, especially in the ecological dimension. The analysis is based on critical study of the professional literature on the subject in question, which includes both publications on ordoliberal thought and texts which identify the threats present in the modern world. The ordoliberal theory of economic governance shows the potential for its development to include environmental issues, as well as its application as an intellectual basis for socio-economic policies capable of helping to solve contemporary problems. This article represents one of the first attempts to complement the ordoliberal theory of economic order and the concept of the Social Market Economy with ecological aspects.
The importance of the degrowth concept in the 21st century
Authors: Raftowicz Magdalena
Published: November 2023

The article addresses the problem of degrowth, approached as a socio-economic process reducing human pressure on the environment (the detoxification of nature) by setting alternative economic goals and recognising other boundaries (ecological and social) in the socio-economic development. Its main purpose is to systematise knowledge about degrowth and attempt to answer the question whether the concept of degrowth has a chance of becoming a new real paradigm of socio-economic development in the 21st century. A critical analysis of the source literature covering the problem of socio-economic development paradigm and the concept of degrowth was the starting point of the research. The empirical study relating to the problem of shortening food supply chains in Poland serves as an example illustrating the practical implication of degrowth. The conducted analysis showed that the concept of degrowth may become a new paradigm of socio-economic development in the 21st century. It requires, however, further changes in the institutional system as a controlled process of changes.
Determinants of the financial liquidity of local governments: Empirical evidence from Poland
Authors: Galiński Paweł
Published: November 2023

The aim of this paper was to examine the financial, economic and social factors as well as spatial relations influencing the level of the financial liquidity of local governments. In the study research, logistic regression models were applied as well as Moran’s I statistic concerning the spatial autocorrelation on the counties in Poland. According to the data for the period 2018-2020, there were estimated regressions for each year and the longitudinal models. The results of the models’ calculation and validation indicated that they might be used to define the level of liquidity in the local public units, since this liquidity influences the local economic condition and the range of public service delivery. The findings show that the predictors of the cash position have both an internal and an external character. Some of these factors appear constantly and result from the situation of the operating part of the local budget. Hence, the fiscal capacity is crucial in this field and the share of own revenues. A debt burden might also determine the analysed liquidity, as well as the size of the unit, which is in line with the presented findings of other scholars, therefore it is important to constrain the growth of the fixed costs and make the local budget more flexible. On the other hand, the share of students in the population is significant due to the fact this influences the scope of public tasks in the field of education. Thus, the local units have real instruments to manage their financial liquidity, which is mainly affected by the transactions-motive and the precautionary-motive. Analysing the spatial structure on the financial liquidity, there is a weak, negative spatial correlation in this field. The study also revealed the phenomenon of ‘outliers’. To sum up, there are specific fiscal and socio-economic characteristics of the local public units affecting their cash positions, which is also influenced by the spatial structure.
Impact of the Regional Operational Programme on selected production factors of development. A case study for the Opolskie voivodeship
Authors: Mach Łukasz , Dąbrowski Ireneusz , Bedrunka-Gudaniec Karina , Frącz Paweł
Published: November 2023

The article presents research aimed at analysing the impact of the Regional Operational Programme for the Opolskie voivodeship on selected macroeconomic factors of regional growth. The undertaken research analysed the impact of macroeconomic variables related to the labour market, average wages, and the housing market. Each of the specified areas was scrutinised, taking into consideration the analysis of temporal fluctuations in the examined factors in relation to the financial disbursements made under the Regional Operational Programme (ROP) for the Opolskie voivodeship. A correlation analysis was conducted between the examined variables and the financial contributions under the ROP for the Opolskie voivodeship, and a functional correlation analysis was carried out for the examined dimensions. The conducted analyses showed the positive impact of the disbursed funds under the ROP for the Opolskie voivodeship on the examined macroeconomic indicators. The obtained results may have a utilitarian aspect in decision making at both regional and national levels. It should also be noted that a literature analysis of the issue was conducted prior to the research process to ensure systematic research conclusions. This study demonstrates the importance of the cascading strategic planning process and comprehensively describes the evolution of the EU’s approach to interpreting the growth of particular regions, emphasising development, sustainability, and smart specialisation. Evaluating the impact of public policy and public funds is not easy and often poses challenges, however it should be noted that the creation of models allows for showcasing various, often simplified, aspects of reality.
Discrimination against women in the local labour markets of Eastern Poland
Authors: Bolińska Monika , Dykas Paweł , Wisła Rafał
Published: November 2023

This study discusses the effect of spatial factors, understood as distances between counties (Pl. ‘powiat’), on the increase in unemployment rates in Eastern Poland, and also aims to determine the effect of business cycles on unemployment by gender. The research project was based on the methods of spatial econometrics used to analyse panel data collected in the period 2010-2020 in 101 counties in Eastern Poland (NUTS 4). The study led to the conclusion that women needed a longer time to get a job than men in the phase of economic expansion. In times of rising unemployment in the local labour markets of Eastern Poland, women left the workforce at a greater rate than men, and when unemployment in those markets fell, women remained out of work for a longer time.
The role of cluster organisations in stimulating cooperation between business and science. Experience from the Visegrad Group countries
Authors: Kowalski Arkadiusz Michał , Kuberska Dominika , Mackiewicz Marta
Published: November 2023

Cooperation between science and business is regarded as a prerequisite for the development of innovation. The aim of this article is to provide a holistic view on the nature of business-research relations in cluster organisations in the Visegrad countries, by assessing their role in promoting this cooperation and identifying its determinants and barriers. The recognition of cluster organisations as a driver of innovation is connected with the fact that they create an environment conducive to cooperation, building trust between their members and reducing numerous barriers that limit it. This paper examines the role of cluster organisations in stimulating cooperation between business and science, providing a comparative analysis of the Visegrad countries in this respect. On the basis of in-depth interviews with managers of cluster organisations, and a survey of representatives of science-sector institutions, the authors clarified the role of cluster organisations in this process. Barriers were also diagnosed, such as the capacity constraints of R&D&I in SMEs, the cost of cooperation due to administrative overheads, differences in the organisational interest and culture. The study sheds new light on the role of cluster organisations and their members, showing that the ‘strategic innovators’ are critical to science-business cooperation. The research findings may inspire cluster organisation managers and other actors to create a common innovation ecosystem and approach, as well as encourage cluster organisation companies to implement joint research projects together with research organisations, which will result in mutual benefits for the parties involved.
Internal factors influencing customer attitude, purchase intention and purchase behaviour with regard to green personal care products. A literature review
Authors: Szaban Marta
Published: November 2023

Purpose: This paper proposes an umbrella term for personal care products with green attributes and contributes a systematised review of the existing research into the factors which influence the attitude, purchase intention and purchase behaviour with regard to this product category. Study design/methodology/approach: This research literature review uses the most popular databases that compile articles from between 2007 and 2021, published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Findings: The findings indicate that the focus of the reviewed studies was predominantly placed on analysing factors that influence either the attitude or purchase intention, and less often on purchase behaviour. Additionally, it was determined that health consciousness and appearance awareness are factors which are in need of further investigation with respect to their direct relation to the attitude and purchase intention towards green personal care products. Originality/value: This meta-analysis of the literature is the first systematisation of research on the determinants of green consumption with a hierarchical breakdown of the effects on attitude, intention, and purchasing behaviour within a single green product category. It provides valuable insights into the discussion on the attitude-behavioural gap. Addressing this gap will allow communities to transition to sustainable consumption more effectively. Research limitations/implications: The small number of identified empirical studies within the research field resulted in identifying a promising number of research gaps to be addressed in future. Practical implications: This study will be of value to marketing practitioners in relation to shaping effective marketing strategies in the green personal care products market.
Strategic decision-making model for the regional development of rural areas: A Serbian case study
Authors: Voza Danijela , Arsic Sanela , Nikolic Djordje , Zivkovic Zivan
Published: November 2023

Making decisions about the activities aimed at enhancing rural development often requires implementing a multidisciplinary approach and including the opinions and attitudes of several regional stakeholders. This paper proposes a hybrid SWOT-ANP model for selecting an optimal scenario to realise the vision for developing a rural area in Serbia. The four-phase decision-making approach applied in this paper consisted of the following elements: vision, strategic goals, SWOT analysis, and alternative scenarios. The results indicated that the most appropriate strategies for regional development of this rural area were those related to the more sustainable utilisation of natural resources. This model should be of significant help to decisionmakers when defining the main determinants of the future development strategy of any rural area.
Actor Prioritized Experience Replay
Authors: Saglam Baturay , Mutlu Furkan B. , Cicek Dogan C. , Kozat Suleyman S.
Published: November 2023

A widely-studied deep reinforcement learning (RL) technique known as Prioritized Experience Replay (PER) allows agents to learn from transitions sampled with non-uniform probability proportional to their temporal-difference (TD) error. Although it has been shown that PER is one of the most crucial components for the overall performance of deep RL methods in discrete action domains, many empirical studies indicate that it considerably underperforms off-policy actor-critic algorithms. We theoretically show that actor networks cannot be effectively trained with transitions that have large TD errors. As a result, the approximate policy gradient computed under the Q-network diverges from the actual gradient computed under the optimal Q-function. Motivated by this, we introduce a novel experience replay sampling framework for actor-critic methods, which also regards issues with stability and recent findings behind the poor empirical performance of PER. The introduced algorithm suggests a new branch of improvements to PER and schedules effective and efficient training for both actor and critic networks. An extensive set of experiments verifies our theoretical findings, showing that our method outperforms competing approaches and achieves state-of-the-art results over the standard off-policy actor-critic algorithms.
Cell specificity v1
Authors: Dong Xianjun
Published: November 2023

This protocol describes the method to perform cell specificity analysis.
Defining AD and PD risk genes v1
Authors: Dong Xianjun
Published: November 2023

This protocol describes the method of how we define AD and PD risk genes based on the publications.
Antioxidant And Anti-Mycotoxin Activities, And Cytotoxicity Properties In Vitro Of Propolis Extracts
Authors: Rasmy Soad , Saleh Gulsen , Hassan Enayat , Negm Eman , Amin Walaa
Published: November 2023

Abstract: The present study aims to determine the antioxidant activity and cytotoxic activity of propolis and evaluate the anti-mycotoxin activity of different propolis extracts. The three extracts of propolis (ethyl acetate, ethanol (75%), and water) were subjected to testing of the antioxidant potential, and total phenolic and flavonoid contents. determination of the cytotoxicity activity by standard cell culture method against colon and liver and the ability of propolis extracts to control aflatoxin (AF) production. The results revealed that the highest value of antioxidant activities was found for propolis ethyl acetate extract with an average % inhibition of 63.42%. the highest amount of propolis's total phenolic and flavonoid contents using ethyl acetate extract were 149.5 µg gallic acid equivalent/mg extract and 218.1 µg quercetin equivalent/mg extract, respectively. The three propolis extracts affect liver and colon human cell cancer. Ethyl acetate extract of propolis showed the lowest IC50 with the highest anti-cancer activity on the liver cancer cell line. In comparison, water extract showed the lowest IC50 with the greatest anticancer activity on the colon cancer cell line (50 and 54 µg/ml, respectively). Using different concentrations of propolis to reduce AF levels led to the complete disappearance of AF production at 100, 200, and 400 mg/ml concentrations of Ethyl acetate extract against AF production. In conclusion, these obtained findings indicated that propolis extracts exhibited substantial antioxidant and anti-cancer activities.
Impact of Task Oriented Training on Activities of Daily Living in Post Stroke Rehabilitation: A Single Arm Randomised Controlled Trial
Authors: Manivannan S.  , CKV Bhuvaneswari
Published: November 2023

Introduction: There are several complications following the stroke including reduced functional independence, inability to maintain adequate posture, alterations in daily activities and several others. Physical therapy intervention aims at improving the stated complications targeting the task-oriented approach. This study investigated the effect of task-oriented training in post stroke patients on activities of daily living. Methodology:  In this single-arm randomized controlled trial, 10 post-stroke males with hemiparesis and functional limitations in activities of daily living (ADL) were recruited following informed consent. The study implemented a structured intervention including activities like Forward Reach and Grasping Pen in sitting, Ball squeeze, stacking rings, piling up the Cones, Pegboard activities, Ball kicking, and Stepping drill. Each activity had a different dosage based on the specific drill performed. Pre and post-test evaluations were conducted on Day 0 and Day 21, utilizing the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and Barthel Index (BI). Results:  Within the group comparisons revealed statistically significant differences (p< 0.05). The pre and post-test readings for FIM were evaluated as 52.50±15.130 and 69.0±11.972 respectively and for BI were observed as 61.0±14.870 and 74.50±7.619 respectively. Conclusion: Task-oriented training is an effective and viable method for enhancing functional independence and strength in activities of daily living (ADLs) in patients with hemiparesis following stroke.
Scientific and Yogic Aspects of Human Habits
Authors: Neelu Goyal  , Ram kishore  , Ishwar Bharadwaj  , Dheeraj Kumar
Published: November 2023

This article investigates how human habits are formed from Yogic and scientific angles. It explains in a simple way how our routines become habits for our brains and minds. According to the essay, the strength of these routines determines whether someone develops good or negative habits. According to science, when we frequently do something, "neurological pathways" are formed in the brain. It is simpler to carry out the task using these paths. Therefore, your brain strengthens the habit if you do something and it makes you pleased. Conversely, if you do something reluctantly, the habit will likely form more slowly or not at all. The article also mentions elements like practicing, learning, concentrating, exercising, resting, and more that aid in the development of neural pathways. According to Yogic theory, our senses and minds are the source of all of our experiences. When we encounter something repeatedly, it creates powerful mental "Samskaras" in our minds that eventually become habits. These behaviors could be mental ideas or bodily acts. According to the text, habits can be created through deeds, words, or feelings. When our habits are solid, we act instinctively and occasionally without even realizing it. The article offers advice on how to create or break habits, including awareness, clear aims, repetition, mindfulness, and patience. It also suggests making a space that is encouraging and taking stock of your development.
Fezolinetant: A Potential Treatment for Moderate to Severe Vasomotor Symptoms of Menopause
Authors: DePree Barbara ,   Holland Hospital Women’s Specialty Care, Holland, MI, USA
Published: November 2023

The most common symptom of menopause is vasomotor symptoms (VMS), which occur in more than 80% of postmenopausal women. Furthermore, VMS are the manifestation of menopause for which women most commonly seek treatment, namely, to address their impacted quality of life, including sleep, and work- and non-work-related productivity. VMS vary in frequency, intensity and duration. Hormone therapy (HT) has been our most effective treatment for VMS and has been approved for this indication by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Despite being a safe and effective treatment option, many patients and providers are hesitant to consider HT. Moreover, HT is contraindicated for some women. While many over-the-counter and non-HT options are available, we lack data on the efficacy and safety of most of these. This has left a void for women. Fezolinetant was recently approved by the FDA for the treatment of moderate-to-severe VMS. So far, clinical trials have shown positive results in terms of safety and efficacy. Fezolinetant is a non-hormonal, neurokinin 3 receptor antagonist that works in the hypothalamus at the thermoregulatory centre. Blocking the non-hormonal neurokinin 3 receptor antagonist modulates hot flashes and night sweats. As early as 4 weeks from initiating fezolinetant, women experienced a statistically significant reduction of both severity and frequency of VMS per day, resulting in an improved quality of life.
Seliciclib: A New Treatment for Cushing’s Disease?
Authors: Armeni Eleni ,   Department of Endocrinology and NET Unit, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK, Grossman Ashley ,   Department of Endocrinology and NET Unit, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK,   Centre for Endocrinology, Barts and the London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK,   Green Templeton College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
Published: November 2023

Previous studies have suggested that corticotroph tumours are associated with the overexpression of cyclin E and that the inactivation of cyclin-dependent kinases, which activate cyclin E, may have antisecretory and antiproliferative effects. Seliciclib, also known as R-roscovitine, is a pituitary-targeting agent shown to inhibit the growth of corticotroph tumour cells via cyclin E and retinoblastoma protein-mediated pathways. A recent study investigated the role of seliciclib in regulating biochemical parameters in a small number of patients with Cushing’s disease, providing preliminary data on its possible therapeutic effectiveness in treating this disorder.
Polyelectrolyte Microcapsules as a Tool to Enhance Photosensitizing Effect of Chlorin E6
Authors: Brodovskaya Ekaterina P. , Tararina Larisa А. , Zharkov Mikhail N. , Khutorskaya Irina A. , Yakobson Denis E. , Al-khadj Aioub Amina , Maev Igor V. , Zaborovskiy Andrey V. , Yunina Dina V. , Tsaregorodtsev Sergei V. , Sukhorukov Gleb  B. , Pyataev Nikolay A.
Published: November 2023

Introduction: Photodynamic therapy is a promising method of tumors treatment using photosensitizers and light of a certain wavelength. PS modification improves and enhances the phototoxic effect with decreased dark cytotoxicity.
Materials and Methods: We compared the photosensitizing effect of polyelectrolyte microcapsules with chlorin E6 (ClE6) and free ClE6 at equivalent concentrations on murine fibroblast culture L929 using in vitro tests. Microcapsules were prepared layer by layer, sequentially depositing oppositely charged polyelectrolytes onto spherical CaCO3 particles. Cellular uptake of capsules was assessed using confocal microscopy. MTT test was used for a study of cell viability, and the relative amount of ROS was determined by the fluorescent method.
Results: Microcapsules with ClE6 (in all tested concentrations) after exposure to red light (660 nm) reduced cell viability from 20% to 5%, while these capsules did not have dark cytotoxicity. Free ClE6 at the same concentrations as in the capsules after irradiation reduced viability from 65% to 35%. The level of ROS in the group of cells with capsules was 2 times higher compared to the group with CLE6.
Discussion: The most probable mechanism of toxicity increase is creation of a higher ROS concentration and effect localization in the area of microcapsule interaction with the cell membrane. ROS production activation may stem from capsules providing a higher local PS concentration in the cell or nearby than the drug’s free form.
Conclusion: The inclusion of chlorin E6 in polymer capsules reduced dark toxicity and increased the photosensitizing effect compared to the free form of ClE6.
Greenfield project finance loan maturity and the role of multilateral development banks in developing countries
Authors: Yasumura Kota
Published: November 2023

This paper is intended to provide empirical evidence for the financial additionality of multilateral development banks (MDBs) in private sector infrastructure projects. To validate MDBs’ financial additionality, this study uses IJGlobal’s project finance database to examine whether the loan tenor of MDBs’ project finance loans is significantly longer than the average loan tenor extended by commercial banks, using ordinary least squares (OLS) and Poisson Pseudo Maximum Likelihood (PPML) estimations. The result of the empirical analysis shows that project finance loans involving MDBs have significantly longer loan maturity than average loans in lower-middle-income and upper-middle-income countries, while projects in low-income countries and Sub-Saharan Africa do not have such a tendency. Furthermore, in host countries where government effectiveness is underdeveloped, the coefficient of project finance loans provided by MDBs is negative with statistical significance. As a policy implication, these findings indicate that for MDBs to ascertain financial additionality in countries where government effectiveness is weak, additional measures such as capacity building of the host government and additional financial intervention are needed.
Financial literacy, self-control, self-esteem, and credit card utilization
Authors: Hadianto Bram , Herlina Herlina , Mariana Ana , Tjahyadi Rully Arlan , Tjun Lauw Tjun
Published: November 2023

This study combines one personal financial management concept, money-related literacy, and psychological ideas, i.e., self-control and self-esteem, in one model to be statistically associated with credit card behavior by utilizing gender as the control variable. Therefore, this study investigates and analyses the effect of financial literacy, self-control, and self-esteem on credit card usage. Furthermore, this study employs 120 bank employees as samples, taken by a snowball sampling technique. Besides, this study surveys their perspective based on the close-ended questions in the questionnaire. After obtaining their responses, their validity and reliability are verified. Also, the goodness-of-fit model is detected. After the model fits the data, the structural equation model based on covariance is utilized to examine the causal relationship declared in the proposed hypotheses. After checking them, this study concludes that financial literacy, self-control, and self-esteem successfully create credit card utilization. Employees with strong financial literacy, self-control, and self-esteem are responsible for owning credit cards because they tend to use them less and pay their bills on time. Females have a positive propensity for credit card utilization to achieve their identity and emotional status. As an implication, the study recommends females instantly convert their transactions into installments and pay the bill in the maximum and minimum ranges to avoid a decrease in credit scores. Besides, internal and external marketing is needed to attract female employees working at similar banks or other banks that cannot issue credit cards.
Reviewing the Main Cancer Therapies: Virotherapy Has a High Potential for Cancer Treatment
Authors: Rismanbaf Amirhossein
Published: November 2023

In 2020, around 10 million deaths worldwide were attributed to cancer, making it one of the leading causes of mortality globally. On the other hand, a lot of money, time, and energy is spent on the treatment process of this disease. In fact, cancer is a big challenge that we have been facing for years, but there is still no method that can definitively cure this disease. For years, we have mainly used surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy to treat cancer. Although many advances have been made in these methods, these methods are not a definitive cure for all types of cancer and also have many complications and impose high costs on patients. By virtue of the remarkable effectiveness of CAR-T cell therapy in the treatment of leukemia, hopes for effective treatment for various types of cancer increased, but by testing this method in solid tumors, it was found that this method has low efficiency in solid tumors. In this review article, I consider the challenges and mechanisms that cancer cells apply to resist different main therapies, and finally, by comparing the challenges of different therapies, I conclude that virus therapy has a higher potential than other methods to end the problem of cancer and become a definitive cure for cancer.
Pyogenic Arthritis, Pyoderma Gangrenosum and Acne (PAPA) and PAPA-Like Syndromes: Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Hajialigol Amir Hossein , Jamee Mahnaz , Kamfar Sharareh , Sharifinejad Niusha , Ashouri Soheil , Tabatabaeimehr Seyed Yasin , Soltani Afsaneh , Mahdaviani Seyed Alireza , Velayati Ali Akbar
Published: November 2023

Pyogenic sterile arthritis, pyoderma gangrenosum, and acne (PAPA) syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant autoinflammatory disorder caused by mutations in the PSTPIP1/CD2BP1 gene. We systematically reviewed 93 patients with PAPA and PAPA-like syndrome. Most patients were male (65.9%) mainly born to non-consanguineous parents. The median (IQR) age at the onset of symptoms and diagnosis was 6.0 (2.0- 8.0) and 25.0 (7.0-32.0) years, respectively. 62.5% of patients were presented with arthropathies and septic arthritis was the most common (54.2%) initial diagnosis. Joint disorders were the most common findings (n=71, 78.9%) starting at the median (IQR) age of 4.0 (2.0-8.0) years, mainly in the knee (56.5%), ankle (36.9%), and elbow (47.8%). Skin involvement (62 (66.7%)) initially presented at a median (IQR) age of 12.0 (20.-10.0) years and included pyoderma gangrenosum (n=41, 44.1%), acne (n=43, 46.2%), and nodulocystic acne (n=19, 20.4%). There was a stronger association between skin manifestations and the development of the classic triad (P<0.001) compared to joint disorders (P=0.05) and patients with lower age of onset were more prone to the progression of the complete triad (P=0.18). Corticosteroids (n=45, 50.0%) with or without anakinra (33.3%) were the treatments applied in the majority of patients. PAPA/PAPA-like syndromes involve mainly non-axial joints in early childhood and later skin in the second decade of life. Only 26.4% of the patients manifested the classical triad of PAPA syndrome. There is no clear genotype-phenotype association in these disorders. More studies are required to investigate the therapeutic options in PAPA/PAPA-like syndromes.
Genetics of Aberrant Immune Responses During Tumor Progression Among Iranian Population
Authors: Akhlaghipour Iman , Moloudian Matin , Basirat Zahra , Taghehchian Negin , Gachpazan Meisam , Moghbeli Meysam
Published: November 2023

The immune system has a critical tumor suppressor function via the detection and elimination of the tumor cells. Tumor cells' immune escaping is commonly observed during neoplastic transformations. Immune response suppression or aberrations facilitate immune escape that promotes tumor progression in distant or primary locations via epithelial-mesenchymal transition and angiogenesis, respectively. It has been reported that there is a rising trend of cancer incidence among the Iranian population. Since aberrant immune responses are involved in tumorigenesis; immunotherapeutic methods can be efficient for tumor cell elimination. In the present review, we discussed all of the immune-related genes that have been associated with tumor progression among the Iranian population to clarify the genetics of immune deficiency during tumor progression in this population. T regulatory and T helper related genes were the most frequently deregulated genes during tumor progression in the Iranian population. This review paves the way to suggest an immune-specific panel of genetic markers for diagnostic and immunotherapeutic purposes among Iranian cancer patients.
The influence of diseases on the biostructure of ancient populations
Authors: Gładykowska-Rzeczycka Judyta
Published: November 2023

Problem udziału chorób, w szczególności takich, których ślady znaleźć. można na materiałach kostnych, w kształtowaniu struktury biologicznej populacji ludzkich w dawnych czasach zbadany został na czterech seriach szkieletowych. Dwie z nich to małe serie charakteryzujące się dobrym stanem zachowania materiału kostnego (Doktorce, Suraż), dwie dalsze — duże serie, lecz zachowane w znacznie gorszym stanie (Złota, Czersk), Zbadano następujące. Charakterystyki demograficzne: 1) liczebność serii, 2) przeciętny wiek w chwili. śmierci osób dorosłych, 3) frakcja zmarłych w wieku dziecięcym (d0 —14), 4) współczynnik reprodukcji potencjalnej (Rpot), 5) wskaźnik stanu biologicznego (Ibs), 6) współczynnik reprodukcji netto (Ro). Wydzielono sześć grup. schorzeń: 1) wrodzone wady rozwojowe, 2) zmiany systemowe, 3) procesy zapalne, 4) zmiany degeneracyjne i deformacyjne, 5) zmiany nowotworowe, 6) zmiany pourazowe. Ogół osób ze zmianami patologicznymi nie odzwierciedla rzeczywistej struktury demograficznej populacji. Dokładniejsza analiza wykazała pewne zależności między strukturą biologiczną grupy a stanem zdrowia.
KUALITAS TES BERMUATAN ETNOSAINS UNTUK MENGUKUR KETERAMPILAN BERFIKIR KRITIS MAHASISWA
Authors: Roza Media , Festiyed Festiyed
Published: November 2023

Keterampilan berfikir kritis sangat penting dalam pembelajaran kimia. Berpikir kritis membutuhkan suatu instrumen penilaian tersendiri karena melibatkan proses bernalar dan berpikir reflektif. Instrumen penilaian untuk mengukur keterampilan berpikir kritis yang berkualitas harus memenuhi kriteria valid dan reliabel. Artikel ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan kualitas instrumen tes berpikir kritis bermuatan etnosains pada topik stoikhiometri. Penelitian ini merupakan bagian dari penelitian pengembangan dengan model ADDIE dengan fokus pada aspek validitas dan reliabilitas tes. Jenis instrumen tes yang dikembangkan berupa soal essai yang membutuhkan penjelasan. Konteks etnosains sesuai dengan kebudayaan masyarakat Minangkabau, yaitu batik tanah liek. Penelitian ini menghasilkan instrumen tes berfikir kritis bermuatan etnosains Minangkabau yang terdiri atas 10 butir soal. Soal yang telah dikembangkan dinyatakan valid dan reliabel dengan harga validitas 93,3% dan reliabilitas sebesar 0,98. Dapat disimpulkan bahwa instrumen tes yang dikembangkan dinyatakan layak untuk mengukur keterampilan berpikir kritis mahasiswa.
PENGARUH LKPD BERBASIS KETERAMPILAN PROSES SAINS TERHADAP PENGETAHUAN SISWA SMP KELAS VIII
Authors: Indarti Khofifah , Indrawati Indrawati , Rusdianto Rusdianto
Published: November 2023

Tujuan penelitian mengkaji pengaruh LKPD berbasis KPS materi sistem peredaran darah terhadap pengetahuan siswa SMP kelas VIII. Jenis penelitian yakni quasi eksperimen berdesain non equivalent pretest postest control grup design. Penelitian ini bertempat di SMPN 12 Jember dengan populasi kelas VIII adalah 188 siswa. Sample ditetapkan menggunakan metode purposive sampling teknisnya akan dipilih sesuai pertimbangan tertentu. Sampel terpilih kelas VIII C selaku kelas kontrol, kelas VIII B selaku kelas eksperimen. Instrumen utama yang digunakan yakni tes serta non tes, sedangkan instrumen pendukung yakni dokumentasi dan analisis data. Hasil penelitian hipotesis pada hasil belajar pengetahuan dengan Uji Independent Sample T-Test. Hasil uji mendapatkan value Sig.(2-tailed) sejumlah 0.005, (0.005 < 0.5). Hasil uji berdasarkan pedoman pengambilan keputusan maka H0 ditolak serta Ha diterima. Hipotesis yang dihasilkan bermakna adanya perbedaan antara postes hasil belajar pengetahuan kelas eksperimen serta kontrol. Uji kedua dilakukan uji T-pihak kanan yang memperlihatkan t hitung sejumlah 2.894. t tabel didapati dari taraf signifikansi 0.05 pada df 58 menunjukkan ttabel sejumlah 1.671. Nilai thitung  > ttabel , H0 ditolak serta Ha diterima yang berbarti perolehan rerata postes kelas eksperimen lebih baiksiswa dari kelas kontrol. Sehingga, kesimpulannya LKPD berbasis KPS materi Sistem Peredaran Darah berpengaruh signifikan terhadap hasil belajar siswa SMP kelas VIII.
EVALUASI PENGGUNAAN MEDIA E-BOOK BERBASIS INQUIRY LEARNING DI KALANGAN GURU
Authors: Yuliastrin Adisti , Vebrianto Rian , Zulfianti Gitania
Published: November 2023

Media E-Book merupakan buku berbasis digital yang bersifat dinamis dapat mempermudah peserta didik dalam proses pembelajaran di sekolah. Tujuan Penelitian mengevaluasi penggunaan  media E-Book pada materi sistem pencernaan. Disain penelitian dengan model pengembangan Research and Development (R&D) dengan jenis ADDIE. Riset ini menggunakan instrumen yaitu angket pengukuran media E-Book yang memiliki 3 konstrak, yaitu design produk, informasi yang dimuat, dan keefektifan produk. Penelitian yang dilakukan dengan melibatkan 7 orang guru Pakar(telah tersertifikasi) dari berbagai sekolah. Alat pengumpul untuk data yaitu dengan cara mengisi kuesioner secara online. Data yang diperolehsaat penilaian media dengan menggunakan instrumen tersebut merupakan data kuantitatif akan dianalisis dengan bantuan program SPSS versi 23. Hasil penelitian didapatkan dengan 3 konstruk memiliki rata-rata 3.97 pada kategori tinggi (baik). Dari penelitian diketahui bahwa media yang dikembangkan telah memenuhi syarat untuk digunakan dalam pengembangan media E-Book pada materi sistem peredaran darah bagi peserta didik. Sehingga, para stakeholder dan pendidik dapat menggunakan media yang telah dikembangkan dalam bentuk E-Book.