bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Protective Role of KANK1 in Podocyte Injury
Authors: Oda Keiko , Katayama Kan , Zang Liqing , Toda Masaaki , Tanoue Akiko , Saiki Ryosuke , Yasuma Taro , N D'Alessandro-Gabazza Corina , Shimada Yasuhito , Mori Mutsuki , Suzuki Yasuo , Murata Tomohiro , Hirai Toshinori , Tryggvason Karl , C Gabazza Esteban , Dohi Kaoru
Published: April 2024

Approximately 30% of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndromes are attributed to monogenic disorders that involve 27 genes. Mutations in KANK family members have also been linked to nephrotic syndrome; however, the precise mechanism remains elusive. To investigate this, podocyte-specific Kank1 knockout mice were generated to examine phenotypic changes. In the initial assessment under normal conditions, Kank1 knockout mice showed no significant differences in the urinary albumin-creatinine ratio, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine levels, or histological features compared to controls. However, following kidney injury with adriamycin, podocyte-specific Kank1 knockout mice exhibited a significantly higher albumin-creatinine ratio and a significantly greater sclerotic index than control mice. Electron microscopy revealed more extensive foot process effacement in the knockout mice than in control mice. In addition, KANK1-deficient human podocytes showed increased detachment and apoptosis following adriamycin exposure. These findings suggest that KANK1 may play a protective role in mitigating podocyte damage under pathological conditions.
Collaborative Learning Networks for Enhanced Education: A Framework for Device-to-Device Collaboration
Authors: Brandl Richard , Wang Jen-Han
Published: April 2024

This paper presents a novel framework for Collaborative Learning Networks (CLNs) in classrooms, aiming to optimize resource utilization and enhance educational services. The study addresses the inefficiencies of traditional education models, particularly the underutilization of computational resources and limited access to specialized software. The proposed framework employs a mix of task-based and random allocation strategies to distribute computational tasks within the CLN, considering each device’s capabilities and task requirements. The findings show significant improvement in resource utilization, facilitated by device-to-device collaboration and task sharing, thus enriching students’ learning experiences. This work contributes to optimizing resource utilization in education, advancing the field of CLNs.
Sam-Yellowe’s Trichrome Staining Identifies Life Cycle Stages of Opportunistic Free-Living Colpodellids
Authors: Sam-Yellowe Tobili Y. , Salti Mahdi I. , Adeloye Oluwapemi E.
Published: April 2024

The colpodellids consist of free-living predatory protists phylogenetically related to pathogenic Apicomplexan parasites such as Plasmodium species, Cryptosporidium sp. and Toxoplasma gondii. Among the colpodellids, Colpodella species prey on bodonids, algae, and ciliates. Voromonas pontica preys on Percolomonas species. In the past decade, Colpodella species have been reported to cause opportunistic infections in humans and animals, and having the potential for zoonotic infections in humans due to the presence of Colpodella species in ticks. In the reported cases, transmission and pathogenic stages of Col-podella were not identified by light microscopy. In the colpodellid V. pontica, cyst stages of both the pred-ator and its prey Percolomonas cosmopolitus have not been identified by light microscopy. In this study we evaluated the dye components used for Sam-Yellowe’s trichrome staining, from different major vendors to determine the consistency and reproducibility of the staining protocol to aid the use of the staining proto-col for diagnosis. We show that although slight variations in the color of the stained cells are obtained, life cycle stages of Colpodella ATCC 50594 could be clearly identified, regardless of the vendor used. For the first time, Sam-Yellowe’s trichrome staining series, could identify cysts of V. pontica and its prey, demonstrating that the staining protocol can identify life cycle stages of other colpodellids. Sam-Yellowe's trichrome staining will aid molecular diagnosis of infections caused by colpodellids in human and ani-mals, identify colpodellids in ticks and flies and from environmental samples, when used for staining.
Symptomatology and IgG Levels Before and After SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Breakthrough Infections in Vaccinated Individuals
Authors: Paula Nigella M. , Joucoski Emerson , Baura Valter A. , Souza Emanuel M. , Pedrosa Fábio O. , Gonçalves Alan G. , Huergo Luciano F.
Published: April 2024

Abstract: (1) Background: After the COVID-19 pandemic, there is increasing concern regarding the immunity of population to SARS-CoV-2 variants, particularly the Omi-cron variant and its sub-lineages. (2) Methods: The study involved analyzing the im-mune response and symptomatology of 27 vaccinated individuals who were subse-quently infected by Omicron sub-lineages. Blood samples were collected for serological analysis, including the detection of IgG antibodies reactive to the Nucleocapsid (N) and Spike (S) antigens of SARS-CoV-2. Additionally, participants were interviewed to assess the intensity of symptoms during the infection. (3) Results: Despite the high levels of anti-Spike IgG observed after vaccination, all participants were infected by Omicron sub-lineages. The most common symptoms reported by participants were fever or chills, sore throat, and cough. Surprisingly, the levels of anti-Spike IgG found prior to infection did not correlate with symptom severity post-infection. However, it was observed that high post-infection anti-Nucleocapsid IgG levels correlates with mild symptoms during the course of the disease, suggesting a potential role for anti-N antibodies in disease resolution. (4) Conclusions: The high levels of IgG anti-Spike resulting from vaccination may not provide complete protection against infection by the Omicron variant. Addi-tionally, our data suggest that anti-Nucleocapsid IgG titers are negatively correlated with the intensity of the symptoms during mild infections. These findings underscore the importance of ongoing surveillance of viral variants and continuous adaptation of vaccination strategies to ensure efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 variants.
The Effect of Battery Configuration on Dendritic Growth: a Magnetic Resonance Microscopy Study on Symmetric Lithium Cells
Authors: Peklar Rok , Mikac Urša , Serša Igor
Published: April 2024

The potential of metallic lithium to become the anode material for next-generation batteries is hampered by significant challenges, chief among which is dendrite growth during battery charging. These dendritic structures not only impair battery performance but also pose safety risks. Among the non-destructive analytical techniques in battery research, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) stands out as a promising tool. However, the direct imaging of lithium by 7Li MRI is hindered by its low sensitivity and spatial resolution, making its use for of dendritic growth imaging very difficult. Instead, a recently introduced indirect imaging approach based on 1H MRI of the electrolyte was used in this study. This method was used for sequential 3D imaging to monitor the charging process of lithium metal symmetric cells in three different electrical circuits: single cell, four cells in parallel, four cells in series. The measured sequential images allowed measurement of dendrite growth in each cell using volumetric analysis. The growth results confirmed the theoretical expectation that growth across cells is uneven in a parallel circuit and even in a series circuit. The methods presented in this study can be applied also to many other dendrite-related issues in batteries.
Encapsulation of piROBotics within Double/Multiple Layer Beads/Carriers: A Concise Review
Authors: Agriopoulou Sofia , Smaoui Slim , Chaari Moufida , Varzakas Theodoros , Can Karaca Asli , Jafari Seid Mahdi
Published: April 2024

An increased demand for natural products nowadays most specifically probiotics (PRO) is evident since it comes in conjunction with beneficial health effects for the consumers. In this regard, it is well known that encapsulation could affect positively the PRO's viability throughout food manufacturing and long-term storage. This paper aims to analyze and review various multilayer strategies for encapsulation of PRO. Double-layer encapsulation of PRO by electro-hydrodynamic atomization or electrospray technology has been reported along with layer-by-layer assembly and water-in-oil-in-water (W1/O/W2) double emulsions to produce multilayer PRO-loaded carriers. Finally, their applications in food products are presented. The resistance (cover material) and viability of (PRO) to mechanical damage, during gastrointestinal transit and shelf life of these trapping systems are also described. The PRO encapsulation in double and multiple-layer coatings combined with other technologies can be examined to increase the opportunities for new functional products with amended functionalities opening a novel horizon in food technology.
Principal Component Analysis of Selected Indicators of Wheat in European Countries
Authors: Grujić Vučkovski Biljana , Marina Irina , Ćurčić Nikola V.
Published: April 2024

For this research we are selected three indicators of wheat: yield (t/ha), producer price (USD/t) and share of the harvested area under wheat in relation to the total land area of country (%). The mentioned indicators were analyzed for the period 2006-2021 in thirty-two European countries. The purpose of the research is to determine which of the mentioned indicators achieve average annual growth/decrease rates, what is the correlation between them, how European countries are grouped with their similarities and differences. The research examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mentioned indicators in a two time phases: Phase I, before the pandemic (2006-2019); Phase II, during the pandemic (2020-2021). The methodological approach to the research topic involved the application of descriptive statistics, as the method of principal components analysis (abbr. PCA) with graphics. A positive correlation exists only between the yield of wheat and the share of the harvested area under wheat in the total area of the land (0.291). PCA method showed that countries are grouped differently depending on the observed indicator and the analyzed time phase.
Development of Multifunctional Tandem Catalysts for CO2 Hydrogenation to Higher Alcohols
Authors: Chen Yun , Liu Jinzhao , Chen Xinyu , Gu Siyao , Wei Yibin , Wang Lei , Wan Hui , Guan Guofeng
Published: April 2024

The direct hydrogenation of greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) to higher alcohols (C2+OH), as an important research area in C1 chemistry, is one of the most essential approaches to convert CO2 into liquid fuels or other value-added chemicals. The high atom economy and direct pathway make this reaction attractive to convert CO2 to higher alcohols. However, due to the complicated reaction network and the difficulty of C-C coupling, the formation of higher alcohols is more difficult compared with methanol or other compounds containing one carbon. The key issue is development of novel catalysts with high conversion and space time yield. But this is still a huge challenge faced by researchers. In this review, the thermodynamics and reaction pathways of CO2 hydrogenation were firstly clarified. Subsequently, after reviewing single metal-based, bi-and multi-metallic catalysts, the recently progress of tandem catalytic system was emphasized. Finally, we also provided an overview about tandem catalysis for CO2 hydrogenation to higher alcohols.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Fibroblasts Efficiently Engage Senescence Pathways But Show Increased Sensitivity to Stress Inducers
Authors: Goyer Marie-Lyn , Deslauniers-Langevin Cynthia , Sonn Anthony , Mansour-Nehmo Georgio , Lisi Véronique , Benabdallah Basma , Beauséjour Christian
Published: April 2024

The risk of malignant transformation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)-derived cells in response to DNA damage is a potential concern as the tumor suppressor genes TP53 and CDKN2A are transiently inactivated during reprogramming. Here, we evaluated the integrity of cellular senescence pathways and DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair in iPSC-derived human fibroblasts (i-HF) compared to their parental skin fibroblasts (HF). Using a variety of functional assays, we show that the capacity of i-HF to enter senescence and repair DSB is not compromised after damage induced by ionizing radiation (IR) or overexpression of H-RASV12. Still, i-HF lines are transcriptionally different from their parental lines, showing enhanced metabolic activity and higher expression of p53-related effector genes. As a result, i-HF lines generally exhibit increased sensitivity to various stresses, have an elevated senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) and cannot be immortalized unless p53 expression is knocked down. In conclusion, while our results suggest that i-HF are not at a greater risk of transformation, their overall hyperactivation of senescence pathways may impede their function as a cell therapy product.
Improving the Giant Armadillo Optimization Method
Authors: Kyrou Glykeria , Charilogis Vasileios , G.Tsoulos Ioannis
Published: April 2024

Global optimization is widely adopted nowadays in a variety of practical and scientific problems. In this context, a group of techniques that is widely used is that of evolutionary techniques. A relatively new evolutionary technique in this direction is that of Giant Armadillo Optimization, which is based on the hunting strategy of giant armadillos. In this paper, a number of modifications to this technique are proposed, such as the periodic application of a local minimization method as well as the use of modern termination techniques based on statistical observations. The proposed modifications have been tested on a wide - series test functions, available from the relevant literature and it was compared against other evolutionary methods.
Comparative Study of Condensed and Hydrolysable Tannins during Early Stages of Zebrafish Development
Authors: La Pietra Alessandra , Imperatore Roberta , Coccia Elena , Mobilio Teresa , Ferrandino Ida , Paolucci Marina
Published: April 2024

In this study, we present data on the effects of condensed (CTs) and hydrolysable (HTs) tannins, polyphenols extracted from plants, at different concentrations on zebrafish development to identify the range of concentrations with toxic effects. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to CTs and HTs at two different concentration ranges (5.0, 10.0, 20.0 μgL-1 and 5.0, 10.0, 20.0 mgL-1) for 72 h. The toxicity parameters were observed up to 72 h of treatment. The uptake of CTs and HTs by zebrafish larvae was assessed by HPLC analysis. The qRT-PCR analysis was performed to evaluate gene expression of cd63, zhe1 and klf4, involved in the hatching process of zebrafish. CTs and HTs at 5.0, 10.0, and 20.0 μgL-1 were not toxic. On the contrary, at 5.0, 10.0, and 20.0 mgL-1 HTs induced a delayed in hatching starting from 48 h of treatment, while CTs showed a delayed in hatching mainly at 48h. The analysis of gene expression showed a down-regulation in the group exposed to HTs confirming the hatching data. We believe that this study is important to define the optimal doses of CTs and HTs, to be employed in different application fields such as chemical and animal feed industry, and medical science.
Preparation and Printing Performance of Visible Light Photo-chromic Paper based on PMoA-PWA/ZnO/PVP Composite
Authors: Zhao Wanqing , Zhao Hongmei , Feng Wei , Zhao Honggang
Published: April 2024

The recyclable paper based on photochromic materials not only reduces the pollution in the paper manufacture process, but also reduces the pollution caused by the use of ink, which receives wide attention. In this paper, a serial of PMoA-PWA/ZnO/PVP hybrid films which had different ratio of PMoA/PWA was prepared by the ultrasonic composite method. The results indicated that the hybrid film prepared when the ratio of PMoA to PWA was 3 had the best photochromic performance. In this system, ZnO was the photosensitizer while PMoA/PWA was the chromophore. The photochromic mechanism of PMoA-PWA/ZnO/PVP hybrid film was based on the photogenerated electron transfer mechanism. ZnO generated photoelectron under the excitation of visible light, then PMoA and PWA obtained the photoelectron and produced photoreduction reaction to generate heteropolyblue. The visible light photochromic paper was prepared by loaded PMoA-PWA/ZnO/PVP hybrid film (A3) on A4 paper. Application test showed that the prepared paper had extremely stable, excellent and reversible visible light photochromic properties, whether it was printing patterns or words and could replace the ordinary paper to realize the reuse of paper.
A Mini-Review on Diagnostic Methods for Antigen and Antibody Detection of Rocky Mountain and Brazilian Spotted Fever
Authors: Silva Kamila Alves , Prado Vanessa Borges , Silva Rafael Rodrigues , Rocha Marcelo Van Petten , de Oliveira Rafael Almeida Ribeiro , Falcão Tarumim de Jesus Rodrigues , Serpa Clara Cristina , Rocha Marina Andrade , Pereira Sabrina Paula , Silva Liria Souza , Machado Juliana Martins , Machado-de-Ávila Ricardo Andrez , Fujiwara Ricardo Toshio , Chavez Fumagalli Miguel Angel , Coelho Eduardo Antonio Ferraz , Giunchetti Rodolfo Cordeiro , Campos-da-Paz Mariana , Gonçalves Ana Alice Maia , Galdino Alexsandro Sobreira
Published: April 2024

Rocky Mountain or Brazilian spotted fever, caused by Ricketsia ricketssi, is a fulminant, seasonal, and neglected disease that occurs in focal points of North America and South America. Rapid detection are essential for a better prognosis and survival rate of the infected individual. However, disease diagnosis still faces challenges as the accuracy of many of the available laboratory tests fluctuates. Therefore, this review aimed to identify methods for antibody or antigen detection, its gaps, and evolution over time. A search was conducted to find all studies in the Pubmed database that described antibody or antigen detection for Ricketsia ricketsii infection. Initially, a total of 403 articles were screened. Of these articles, only 19 fulfilled the pre-established inclusion criteria and were selected. Among the different methods applied, the IFA technique was the one most frequently found in the studies. However, it presented varied results such as low specificity using the indirect method. Other techniques, such as ELISA and immunohistochemistry, were also found, although in smaller numbers and with their own limitations. Although some studies showed promising results, there is a pressing need to find new techniques to develop a rapid and effective Ricketsia ricketssi infection diagnosis.
Diagnosis of Plant Viruses Using NGS to Support Virus Management and Tomato Breeding
Authors: González-Pérez Enrique , Chiquito-Almanza Elizabeth , Villalobos-Reyes Salvador , Canul-Kú Jaime , Anaya-López José Luis
Published: April 2024

Viral diseases pose a significant threat to tomato crops (Solanum lycopersicum L.), one of the world's most economically important vegetable crops. The limited genetic diversity of cultivated tomatoes contributes to their high susceptibility to viral infections. To address this challenge, tomato breeding programs must harness the genetic resources found in native populations and wild relatives. Breeding efforts may aim to develop broad-spectrum resistance against the virome. To identify the viruses naturally infecting 19 advanced lines, derived from native tomatoes, high-throughput sequencing (HTS) of small RNAs and validation by PCR and RT-PCR were used. Single and mixed infections with Tomato mosaic virus (ToMV), Tomato golden mosaic virus (ToGMoV), and Pepper huasteco yellow vein virus (PHYVV) were detected. The complete consensus genomes of three variants of Mexican ToMV isolates were reconstructed, potentially forming a new ToMV clade with a distinct 3' UTR. The absence of reported mutations associated with resistance-breaking to ToMV suggests that the Tm-1, Tm-2, and Tm-22 genes could theoretically be used to confer resistance. However, the high mutation rates and a 63 nucleotide insertion in the 3' UTR of Mexican ToMV isolates suggest the need to evaluate known resistance genes against these viral variants. The precise identification and characterization of viruses that naturally infect tomato germplasm could be used as a strategy for selecting the appropriate disease management and guiding breeding efforts.
Examination of the Vitreolenticular Interface in Relation to Uneventful Phacoemulsification over One-Year Postoperative Period
Authors: Elekes Ágnes , Németh Gábor , Lauter Dóra , Edelmayer Márton , Rupnik Zsófia , Vámosi Péter
Published: April 2024

Background: Swept-source anterior segment optical coherence tomography (SS-AS- OCT) is a suitable examination for the vitreolenticular interface. Methods: In a prospective study using Anterion (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany) 102 eyes of 102 patients were examined, in pupil dilation, preoperatively and 6 times over 1-year follow-up. Preoperatively anterior hyaloid membrane (AHM) visibility was determined with Imaging App with high reliability. Postoperatively capsular bag–AHM distance was measured on six points by using Metrics App. Results: The AHM was visible in 18.6% preoperatively and postoperatively as well (Group 1), 49% of the preoperatively adherent AHMs became visible (Group 2A), 32.4% remained attached (Group 2B). Group 1: the average deepest point first day was 782.5 ± 324.1 microns, and it significantly differed from the later follow-up values. Group 2A: the average deepest value was 184.1 ± 220.1 microns, and there was no statistically significant difference between the postoperative visit values. The difference between the groups was statistically significant at every location and at each time points. Conclusions: AS-SS-OCT can be used to check BS both preoperatively(with limitations) and postoperatively.
Generalized Pareto Distribution of Firm Sizes: Evidence from China
Authors: Tao Yong , Liu Ruoxi
Published: April 2024

It has been empirically observed that the upper tail of the firm size distribution follows either the Pareto distribution or the Zipf distribution, with both patterns being explained by Gibrat’s law (Gabaix, 1999). This article analyzed firm revenue data from China, spanning from 2005 to 2013, to examine the whole range of the firm size distribution. Our empirical analysis revealed that firm revenue data over these years is well fitted by a three-parameter generalized Pareto distribution, with the fitted parameters indicating a dichotomy: The size distribution of large-sized firms, namely the upper tail, is asymptotically characterized by a Pareto distribution or a Zipf distribution, whereas the size distribution of smaller and medium-sized firms is approximated by an exponential distribution. This finding suggests that Gibrat’s law should be extended to account for the emergence of a generalized Pareto distribution.
Determination Mitochondria's Quality Control of Parkinsonism Using Real-Time Reverse-Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction
Authors: Akram Al-Baraa
Published: April 2024

Nuclear DNA mutations, mitochondrial DNA mutations, combined nuclear and mitochondrial DNA defects, and random occurrences are the main causes of mitochondrial disease. Black pigmentation loss is a major sign of Parkinsonism. Because of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, it drops to less than 80%. The degree of motor impairment was correlated with the amount of black pigmentation loss. After RNA extraction, reverse transcription is carried out because reverse transcriptase was used to create cDNA. One microliter of total RNA supplemented with IORT Buffer, dNTPs, random hexamers, Multi-Scribe Reverse Transcriptase, and nuclease-free was used to create cDNA. The following was how the reaction was carried out in a thermal cycler: 10 minutes at 25°C, 120 minutes at 37°C, 5 seconds at 85°C, and lastly 4°C. The data was expressed as a v-value, which shows how much the target gene is enriched in comparison to the reference gene. Earlier research using mice injected with functional HtrA2/Omi protease activity revealed similar outcomes, including induced up-regulation of CHOP, decreased mitochondrial function, and early brain cell aging because of an increase in mtDNA deletions. The cell viability of the genotypes exhibits a dmg concentration-dependent effect in these results, suggesting that high content ratios of drug treatment with 6-OHDA may be the cause of cellular content depletion. After 6-OHDA neurotoxin treatment, CHOP is up-regulated. Prior in vitro research has shown that treatment with a model based on 6-OHDA neurotoxin causes the activation of mitochondrial stress pathways, which in turn promotes the death of neurons. 6-OHDA reversibly inhibited complexes I and IV's activities in rat brain cells, which led to dopaminergic neurodegeneration, a defining feature of PD pathogens. As a result, the number of living cells will directly correlate with the dmg concentration, supporting the results of the current study. Real-time PCR can generally demonstrate that the removal of HtrA 2 results in a significant up-regulation of Hsp60 expression when compared to WT cells. This could be linked to a decreased threshold for mitochondrial stress in HtrA2 KO cells, which would explain why, following ADEP4 and ACP5 treatment, Hsp60 is significantly up-regulated in HtrA2 KO cells compared to WT cells.
Enhancing Dengue Outbreak Predictions Using Machine Learning: A Comparative Analysis of Models
Authors: Mandavalli Satish
Published: April 2024

Dengue, a perilous fever-type illness transmitted by mosquitoes, remains a significant global health concern. The incidence of dengue outbreaks is primarily influenced by climate factors, contributing to fluctuating dengue cases. Therefore, this study aims to develop predictive models for dengue outbreaks employing Machine Learning (ML) techniques. Four distinct ML models, namely K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), Random Forest (RF), Gradient Boosting Regressor (GBR), and Support Vector Regressor (SVR), were employed in this study. Prior to model analysis, thorough data preprocessing was conducted. In some instances, certain attributes exhibiting sparse correlations with dengue occurrence were eliminated based on correlation analysis. Upon finalizing the models, performance evaluation was executed through comparison based on Mean Absolute Error (MAE) metrics. The findings of this comparative analysis revealed that the KNN model exhibited significantly superior performance compared to the other three models. This outcome underscores the potential of KNN in enhancing the accuracy of dengue outbreak predictions.
Detection and Characterization of Methylated Circulating Tumor DNAs in Gastric Cancer
Authors: Seo Seung Young , Youn Sang Hee , Bae Jin-Han , Lee Sung-Hun , Lee Sun Young
Published: April 2024

Gastric cancer is the 5th most common disease in the world and the 4th most common cause of death. It is diagnosed through esophagogastroduodenoscopy with biopsy, however there are limitations in finding lesions in the early stages. Recently, research has been actively conducted to use liquid biopsy to diagnose various cancers, including gastric cancer. Various substances derived from cancer are reflected in the blood. By analyzing these substances, it was expected that not only the presence or absence of cancer but also the type of cancer can be diagnosed. However, the amount of these substances is extremely small, and even these have various variables depending on the characteristics of the individual or the characteristics of the cancer. To overcome these, we collected methylated DNA fragments using MeDIP and compared them with normal plasma to characterize gastric cancer tissue or patient’s plasma. And we attempted to diagnose gastric cancer using the characteristics of cancer reflected in the blood through the cancer tissue and patient’s plasma. As a result, we confirmed that the consistency of common methylated fragments between tissue and plasma was approximately 41.2%, and found the possibility of diagnosing and characterizing cancer using the characteristics of the fragments through SFR and 5'end-motif analysis.
Advancements in Risk Management Software for Dealers and Brokers: Discuss the Latest Technologies and Methodologies in Risk Management Software Development
Authors: Kapil Dharika
Published: April 2024

In the rapidly evolving FinTech sector, risk management is paramount for dealers and brokers. This paper underscores the significance and progression of risk management within this realm. Initially, it reviews the traditional risk management technologies and their inherent limitations. The discourse then shifts to contemporary solutions, specifically emphasizing the role of artificial intelligence, machine learning algorithms, and big data analytics in forecasting and mitigating potential risks. The paper also presents case studies of companies effectively utilizing these advanced techniques, highlighting their benefits in real-world scenarios. Additionally, it addresses forthcoming challenges, including regulatory compliance, data privacy issues, and the imperative for strengthened cybersecurity measures. The conclusion acknowledges that the adoption of these innovative technologies not only boosts operational efficiency but also markedly diminishes financial risks, thereby contributing to a more stable and reliable financial market
Association of Serum Inflammatory Factors With Prognosis After Revascularization Therapy in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Tang Dingzhong , Chen Xinxin , Yin Songhe , Zhang Lei , Liang Xue lin , Luo Guojun , Yu Chunli
Published: April 2024

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of serum inflammatory factor levels in acute ischemic stroke patients after revascularization therapy in assessing acute prognosis. METHODS: 94 patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent revascularization therapy admitted to our hospital from January 01, 2022 to January 01, 2024 were studied. The main evaluation index was modified Rankin Scale score (mRS) after 3 months, and patients with mRS score >2 were categorized into the poor prognosis group, and the rest were the good prognosis group. As well as the treatment of revascularization in all patients was used as a division into a thrombus extraction group and an intravenous thrombolysis group. Logistic regression analysis was applied to explore the independent risk factors for the prognosis of patients treated with recanalization for acute ischemic stroke. RESULTS: Two groups with good (59 cases) and poor (35 cases) prognosis were divided according to the mRS score. There were some differences in age, gender, emergency GLU, INR, whether they had diabetes or hypertension and other contents between the two groups, but the differences were not statistically significant. The NIHSS score, hospitalization days, previous cardiac history, hospitalization days, LDL, fasting glucose, IL-6, and TNF-a at the time of admission were lower than those in the poor prognosis group, and the difference was statistically significant. In the patients in the embolization group, there were some differences in age, gender, emergency GLU, INR, whether they had diabetes or hypertension and other contents between the two groups, but the differences were not statistically significant. The pre-hospital NHISS score, IL-6, and TNF-a of patients in the good prognosis group were lower than those in the poor prognosis group, and the difference was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: IL-6 and TNF-α may be used as predictors of prognosis after revascularization therapy for acute ischemic stroke, and this conclusion also applies to patients in the embolization group.
Analysis of the Financial and Non-Financial Indicators of the Beer Sector: Italy and Spain
Authors: Arimany Serrat Núria , Sgorla Andrey Felipe
Published: April 2024

A study analyzed financial statements in the beer sectors of Italy and Spain during 2019-2021 using compositional data analysis (CoDa) to gauge pre- and post-pandemic financial health and aid sector-level decision-making. Geometric averages were employed to mitigate statistical issues, offering more accurate insights than arithmetic averages. The exploratory, quantitative methodology calculated key financial ratios and profitability metrics. Results indicated satisfactory short-term solvency. Returns and margins remained subpar despite pandemic policies. Geometric averages proved essential in portraying sector health accurately, underscoring the need for their use in classic brewing sector ratios. The study also showcased CoDa's efficacy in diagnosing sectoral financial health for informed decision-making. Furthermore, a web analysis revealed varying transparency levels in communicating non-financial indicators, with Spain excelling in waste, water, and energy disclosures, while Italy prioritized energy and waste with less transparency.
The Impact of Intellectual Capital on Sustainable Performance: Banking Sector in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Sayed Omer Ahmed , Nefzi Aida
Published: April 2024

This study investigates the impact of intellectual capital on the sustainable performance of banks in Saudi Arabia, focusing on the period from 2012 to 2022. Utilizing data from ten major Saudi banks, the research examines how different components of intellectual capital—Human Capital Efficiency (HCE), Structural Capital Efficiency (SCE), and Capital Employed Efficiency (CEE)—influence key financial performance indicators such as Return on Equity (ROE) and Net Profit Margin (NPM). The study is grounded in the resource-based view of the firm, which suggests that a firm’s internal resources can provide a sustainable competitive advantage. The analysis employs panel data techniques, including fixed and random effects models, to assess the relationships between intellectual capital components and bank performance while controlling for variables like bank size, financial leverage, GDP growth, inflation, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings reveal that intellectual capital significantly enhances bank performance in Saudi Arabia, with human capital efficiency showing the most decisive influence on ROE and NPM. Structural capital and capital employed efficiency also contribute positively but vary in their impact on different performance measures. This research contributes to the theoretical and practical understanding of the role of intellectual capital in promoting sustainable banking practices. It underscores the importance of strategic management of intellectual capital in enhancing financial performance and achieving sustainability goals, particularly in the context of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. The study's insights are relevant for bank managers and policymakers who leverage intellectual capital for economic diversification and sustainable development.
Visual Data and Pattern Analysis for Smart Education: A Robust Drl-Based Early Warning System for Student Performance Prediction
Authors: Bagunaid Wala , Chilamkurti Naveen , Shahraki Ahmad Salehi , Bamashmos Saeed
Published: April 2024

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) have revolutionised e-learning by creating personalised, adaptive, and secure environments. However, challenges such as privacy, bias, and data limitations persist. E-FedCloud aims to address these issues by providing more agile, personalised, and secure e-learning experiences. This study introduces E-FedCloud, an AI-assisted adaptive e-learning system that automates personalised recommendations and tracking, thereby enhancing student performance. It employs federated learning-based authentication to ensure secure and private access for both course instructors and students. Intelligent Software Agents (ISAs) evaluate weekly student engagement using the Shannon Entropy method, classifying students into either engaged or not-engaged clusters. E-FedCloud utilises weekly engagement status, demographic information, and an innovative DRL-based early warning system, specifically ID2QN, to predict the performance of not-engaged students. Based on these predictions, the system categorises students into three groups: risk of dropping out, risk of scoring lower in the final exam, and risk of failing the end exam. It employs a multi-disciplinary ontology graph and an attention-based capsule network for automated, personalised recommendations. The system also integrates performance tracking to enhance student engagement. Data is securely stored on a blockchain using the LWEA encryption method.
The Diversity and Extensive Presence of Culturable Anoxygenic Phototrophic Bacteria in Manitoba Marshes
Authors: Messner Katia , Yurkov Vladimir
Published: April 2024

Marshes are an important ecosystem, acting as biodiversity hotspot, a carbon sink as well as a bioremediation site, breaking down anthropogenic waste such as antibiotics, metals and fertilizers. For participating in these metabolic activities and their capability to contribute to primary productivity, microorganisms in such habitats have become of interest to investigate. Since Proteobacteria were previously found to be abundant, and the waters are well-aerated and organic-rich, this study on the presence of anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria, purple non-sulfur bacteria or aerobic anoxygenic phototrophs in marshes was initiated. Samples were collected at 7 Manitoban sites and anoxygenic phototrophs were cultivated and preliminary enumerated. A group of 14 strains, which represented the phylogenetic diversity of the isolates was further physiologically investigated. Aerobic anoxygenic phototrophs and purple bacteria were present at each location and they belonged to the α- and β-Proteobacteria subphyla. Some were closely related to known heavy metal reducers (Brevundimonas) and xenobiotic decomposers (Novosphingobium, Sphingomonas). All were able to synthesize the photosynthetic complexes aerobically. This research highlights the diversity and potential contribution’s anoxygenic phototrophs make to the essential functions taking place in wetlands.
The effect of thermal ageing on electrical and mechanical properties of thermoplastic nanocomposite insulation of power high-voltage cables
Authors: El Sherkawy E. , Nasrat L. S. , Rihan M.
Published: April 2024

This research explores the thermal ageing influence on the Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) dielectric properties, which is utilised as electrical insulation in high-voltage cables. An accelerated thermal ageing test was done at four temperature ranges ranging from 25 °C to 120 °C to define the degree of material deterioration under thermal ageing and to prevent its failure. LDPE composite samples were made by adding aluminium oxide (Al2O3) inorganic filler in two different grain sizes (nano and micro) with various concentrations. The effect of adding inorganic filler on the acceleration of the thermal ageing of the polymer was studied by heating the samples for different periods of time and measuring the dielectric strength of the samples. The obtained results show that thermal ageing considerably affects the electrical properties of the material. The LDPE/Al2O3 nanofiller sample has the highest dielectric strength value at different temperatures. Thermogravimetric analysis was used to investigate the thermal characteristics of materials. The mechanical characteristics of LDPE polymer are studied using tensile strength and elongation at break tests. References 27, table 4, figures 6.
Solar shunt active power filter based on optimized direct power control strategy with disturbance rejection principle
Authors: Boudechiche G. , Aissa O. , Sarra M. , Griche I.
Published: April 2024

Introduction. This paper focuses on a renewable energy system coupled to a dual purpose power grid via a parallel active power filter for injecting photovoltaic energy into the grid and improving the power quality in the presence of the non-linear load. The novelty of the work consists in the combination of two advanced techniques – Fuzzy Logic Controller (FLC) and the optimized Anti-Windup Fractional Order Proportional-Integral Differentiator (AW-FOPID) regulator based on Particle Swarm Optimization with the Spreading Factor (PSO-SF) algorithm, applied to the improved Direct Power Control (DPC) strategy under different conditions related to climate changes and healthy or infected electrical network. Purpose. Its main role is to improve the power quality and reject the perturbations deforming the electrical network under distorted, unbalanced and balanced grid voltage conditions. Besides, the FLC is employed the Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) under any weather conditions. In addition, the optimized AW-FOPID controller leads to keep the DC bus voltage at its reference value with small undershoots and overshoots in the voltage with a short response time in steady or dynamic states. Methods. The rejection of disturbances affecting the grid is offered by the improved DPC. On the other hand, an intelligent method based on fuzzy logic was used MPPT under any weather conditions. Furthermore, an AW-FOPID regulator based on PSO-SF algorithm is used to keep the DC bus voltage at its reference value with small undershoots and overshoots in the voltage, while keeping a fast response time. Results. The proposed system control is evaluated in various states of power source: distorted, unbalanced, and balanced by simulation using MATLAB/Simulink. The simulation results illustrate the effectiveness and performance of the studied control strategies. References 26, tables 8, figures 16.
CHEMICAL MODIFICATION OF ROAD PETROLEUM BITUMEN WITH MALEIC ANHYDRIDE AND POLYETHYLENE GLYCOLS
Authors: Gunka Volodymyr , Bratychak Michael , Hrynchuk Yurii , Prysiazhnyi Yuriy , Sidun Iurii , Demchuk Yuriy
Published: April 2024

A number of problems arise in the production and application of road bitumen. One of them is unsatisfactory operational characteristics, mainly heat resistance, elasticity and adhesion between the binder and aggregate. With an increase in the intensity of traffic, an increase in the volume of heavy goods transportation, the mass of cars, together with the influence of weather and climate factors on the structure, this leads to the destruction of the road surface. The work describes the results of the study of the process of chemical modification of road petroleum bitumen with maleic anhydride and polyethylene glycols (PEG) to obtain bitumen-polymer mixtures, which, in addition to good heat resistance, also have high elasticity. When modifying road bitumen with maleic anhydride, the latter acts as a certain narrowing link, which contains on the one hand a double bond that interacts with bitumen, and on the other hand an anhydride group that can interact with various polymers containing functional groups (hydroxyl, epoxy and other). Further, by adding a polymer to maleinized bitumen (bitumen modified with maleic anhydride), the resulting bitumen-polymer mixtures can be given various properties (heat resistance, elasticity, adhesion, and others). Polyethylene glycol is a cheap polymer capable of interacting with the anhydride group of maleic anhydride in bitumen on the hydroxyl group. It was established that the effect of maleic anhydride and maleic anhydride together with PEG on the heat-resistant characteristics of bitumen is the same regardless of the modification conditions. Compared to the original bitumen, the obtained BPS is characterized by a higher softening temperature, lower penetration and ductility. The temperature of brittleness is not rapid, but it is increasing. The influence of the used modifiers on bitumen elasticity is significant and depends on the modification conditions. It was established that PEG 2000 is the optimal PEG for modifying maleinized bitumen, from the point of view of ensuring good bitumen elasticity.
ASPHALT MIXTURES AND ASPHALT CONCRETE USING OIL RESIDUES AND BITUMEN MODIFIED WITH MALEIC ANHYDRIDE AND POLYETHYLENE GLYCOLS
Authors: Gunka Volodymyr , Hrynchuk Yurii , Prysiazhnyi Yuriy , Sidun Iurii , Demchuk Yuriy , Volynets Maryna
Published: April 2024

A number of problems arise during the production and use of petroleum road bitumen. One of them is unsatisfactory performance characteristics, mainly heat resistance, plasticity, elasticity, and adhesion between the binder and the surface of the mineral material. With the increase in traffic intensity, the growth of heavy traffic volumes, the weight of cars, along with the impact of weather and climatic factors on the structure, this leads to the destruction of the road surface. One of the most promising areas in improving the quality of binders to obtain pavements with improved performance characteristics is their modification with polymeric materials. However, the use of modifiers is limited due to their high cost. Therefore, it is important to find inexpensive substances that would improve the performance characteristics of bitumen. This work is devoted to a completely new binder for asphalt mixtures, including crushed stone mastic mixtures. As a binder, we used raw materials for the production of bitumen - tar, modified with maleic anhydride and polyethylene glycol. The design of crushed stone and mastic asphalt mixtures using the obtained binders was carried out, and samples of crushed stone and mastic asphalt concrete were formed from them and tested. It was found that when binders were obtained from tar by modifying it with maleic anhydride and polyethylene glycol, crushed stone mastic mixtures with lower strength values were obtained compared to binders obtained by modifying oxidized bitumen. Comparison of crushed stone and mastic mixtures obtained using SBS modified bitumen and the studied binders showed that the use of the studied binders (oxidized bitumen modified with maleic anhydride and maleinized oxidized bitumen modified with polyethylene glycol) is characterized by lower water saturation and strength compared to the use of oxidized bitumen modified with SBS.