bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Probing the link between vision and language in material perception using psychophysics and unsupervised learning
Authors: Liao Chenxi , Sawayama Masataka , Xiao Bei
Published: October 2024

We can visually discriminate and recognize a wide range of materials. Meanwhile, we use language to describe what we see and communicate relevant information about the materials. Here, we investigate the relationship between visual judgment and language expression to understand how visual features relate to semantic representations in human cognition. We use deep generative models to generate images of realistic materials. Interpolating between the generative models enables us to systematically create material appearances in both well-defined and ambiguous categories. Using these stimuli, we compared the representations of materials from two behavioral tasks: visual material similarity judgments and free-form verbal descriptions. Our findings reveal a moderate but significant correlation between vision and language on a categorical level. However, analyzing the representations with an unsupervised alignment method, we discover structural differences that arise at the image-to-image level, especially among ambiguous materials morphed between known categories. Moreover, visual judgments exhibit more individual differences compared to verbal descriptions. Our results show that while verbal descriptions capture material qualities on the coarse level, they may not fully convey the visual nuances of material appearances. Analyzing the image representation of materials obtained from various pre-trained deep neural networks, we find that similarity structures in human visual judgments align more closely with those of the vision-language models than purely vision-based models. Our work illustrates the need to consider the vision-language relationship in building a comprehensive model for material perception. Moreover, we propose a novel framework for evaluating the alignment and misalignment between representations from different modalities, leveraging information from human behaviors and computational models.
Geometric separability of mesoscale patterns in embedding representation and visualization of multidimensional data and complex networks
Authors: Acevedo Aldo , Wu Yue , Traversa Fabio Lorenzo , Cannistraci Carlo Vittorio
Published: October 2024

Complexity science studies physical phenomena that cannot be explained by the mere analysis of the single units of a system but requires to account for their interactions. A feature of complexity in connected systems is the emergence of mesoscale patterns in a geometric space, such as groupings in bird flocks. These patterns are formed by groups of points that tend to separate from each other, creating mesoscale structures. When multidimensional data or complex networks are embedded in a geometric space, some mesoscale patterns can appear respectively as clusters or communities, and their geometric separability is a feature according to which the performance of an algorithm for network embedding can be evaluated. Here, we introduce a framework for the definition and measure of the geometric separability (linear and nonlinear) of mesoscale patterns by solving the travelling salesman problem (TSP), and we offer experimental evidence on embedding and visualization of multidimensional data or complex networks, which are generated artificially or are derived from real complex systems. For the first time in literature the TSP’s solution is used to define a criterion of nonlinear separability of points in a geometric space, hence redefining the separability problem in terms of the travelling salesman problem is an innovation which impacts both computer science and complexity theory.
The middle domain of Hsp104 can ensure substrates are functional after processing
Authors: Buchholz Hannah E. , Dorweiler Jane E. , Guereca Sam , Wisniewski Brett T. , Shorter James , Manogaran Anita L.
Published: October 2024

Molecular chaperones play a central role in protein disaggregation. However, the molecular determinants that regulate this process are poorly understood. Hsp104 is an AAA+ ATPase that disassembles stress granules and amyloids in yeast through collaboration with Hsp70 and Hsp40. In vitro studies show that Hsp104 processes different types of protein aggregates by partially translocating or threading polypeptides through the central pore of the hexamer. However, it is unclear how Hsp104 processing influences client protein function in vivo. The middle domain (MD) of Hsp104 regulates ATPase activity and interactions with Hsp70. Here, we tested how MD variants, Hsp104A503S and Hsp104A503V, process different protein aggregates. We establish that engineered MD variants fail to resolve stress granules but retain prion fragmentation activity required for prion propagation. Using the Sup35 prion protein, our in vitro and in vivo data indicate that the MD variants can disassemble Sup35 aggregates, but the disaggregated protein has reduced GTPase and translation termination activity. These results suggest that the middle domain can play a role in sensing certain substrates and plays an essential role in ensuring the processed protein is functional.
PVAT-conditioned media from Dahl S rats on high fat diet promotes inflammatory cytokine secretion by activated T cells prior to the development of hypertension
Authors: Jin Yining , Liu Sheng , Guzmán Kimberly E. , Kumar Ramya K. , Kaiser Luca M. , Garver Hannah , Bernard Jamie J. , Bhattacharya Sudin , Fink Gregory D. , Watts Stephanie W. , Rockwell Cheryl E.
Published: October 2024

There is considerable evidence that the immune system plays a role in hypertension, however this role is not fully characterized. Our previous studies demonstrated that mesenteric perivascular adipose tissue (mPVAT) harbors a large T cell population, which is a cell type identified as contributing to hypertension. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that soluble mediators in mPVAT influence T cell function just prior to the development of hypertension. Toward this end, we utilized a unique model of hypertension in which Dahl S rats on a high fat (HF) diet develop hypertension. We found that conditioned media (CM) from mPVAT from healthy Dahl S rats on control diet buffers T cell activation, however, mPVAT-CM from Dahl S rats on a HF diet markedly increased inflammatory cytokine induction (IFNγ, GM-CSF and IL-17a) by activated T cells. These cytokines are known to promote activation of macrophages and neutrophils, among other effects. Conversely, the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10, was not different between the groups, suggesting the effect is selective for inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, we conducted bulk RNA-seq on activated T cells cultured in mPVAT-CM from Dahl S rats on either control (CTL) or HF diet for 10 weeks. In accordance with the cytokine analysis, mPVAT-CM from HF diet-fed rats significantly upregulated many genes associated with IFNγ/IL-17 induction, whereas Th2/Treg-associated genes were downregulated. Taken together, these data strongly suggest soluble mediators from mPVAT influence T cell inflammatory status and may promote Th1/Th17 differentiation preceding the development of hypertension triggered by HF diet.
Genetic analysis of stay green related traits in maize with major gene plus polygenes mixed model
Authors: Zheng Ran , Zhou Yuchen , Lv Dan , Tong Bo , Luo Hongbing
Published: October 2024

Maize is one of the main food crops in the world, and cultivating high-yield and high-quality maize varieties is of great significance in addressing food security issues. Leaves are crucial photosynthetic organs in maize, and leaf senescence can result in the degradation of chlorophyll. This, in turn, impacts photosynthetic activity and the accumulation of photosynthetic products. Delaying leaf senescence and increasing carbon assimilation can enhance grain yield and biomass production. The stay green of maize is an important trait closely related to yield, feed quality and resistance. Therefore, this study employed multi-generation joint analysis of major genes and a polygene model to investigate the genetic inheritance of stay green-related traits. Four populations (P1, P2, F1 and F2) were obtained by crossing T01 (stay green) × Xin3 (non-stay green) and T01 (stay green) × Mo17 (non-stay green) under two environments. Six stay green-related traits, including visual stay green (VSG), number of green leaves (GLNM), SPAD value of ear leaf at anthesis (SPADS), SPAD value of ear leaf at maturity (SPADM), absolute green leaf area (GLAD), grain yield per plant (GYP), displayed continuous variations with kurtosis and skewness values of absolute value less than 1 and distribution close to normal. They were characterized by typical inheritance of quantitative traits, with these traits demonstrating the transgressive segregation. The correlation analysis among the traits revealed that five stay green traits have a positive impact on yield. VSG, GLNM and SPADM in the two populations were regulated by the two major genes of additive effects plus additive-dominance polygene model with a major gene heritability varying from 89.03 to 95.95% in the F2 generation. GLAD in TMF2 was controlled by two major genes of equal-additive dominance effects with high heritability (93.47%). However, in TXF2, GLAD was regulated by two major genes of additive-dominance interaction effects plus additive-dominance polygene model. These results provide important genetic information for breeding, which could guide the improvement of stay green-related traits. They also lay a foundation for quantitative trait loci mapping of the stay stay-green traits in maize.
Ten-year trends in lipid management among patients after myocardial infarction in South Korea
Authors: Oh Seok , Cho Kyung Hoon , Kim Min Chul , Sim Doo Sun , Hong Young Joon , Kim Ju Han , Ahn Youngkeun , Lee Sang Yeub , Shin Min-Ho , Kim Weon , Jeong Myung Ho
Published: October 2024

Background

Dyslipidemia is an important risk factor for acute myocardial infarction. However, real-world data on its prevalence and lipid management trends for Korean patients with acute myocardial infarction are limited. This study aimed to determine the 10-year temporal trends in dyslipidemia prevalence and lipid management in this patient population.

Methods and findings

The study used a merged database of two nationwide observational cohorts (2011–2020) that included 26,751 participants. The primary endpoints were the achievement rates of the (1) absolute low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) target of <70 mg/dL (<1.8 mmol/L), (2) relative LDL-C target reduction of >50% from the baseline, (3) absolute or relative LDL-C target (American target), and (4) both absolute and relative LDL-C targets (European target).

The dyslipidemia prevalence increased from 11.1% to 17.1%, whereas the statin prescription rate increased from 92.9% to 97.0% from 2011 to 2020. The rate of high-intensity statin use increased from 12.80% in 2012 to 69.30% in 2020. The rate of ezetimibe use increased from 4.50% in 2016 to 22.50% in 2020. The high-intensity statin and ezetimibe prescription rates (0.20% to 9.30% from 2016 to 2020) increased gradually. The absolute and relative LDL-C target achievement rates increased from 41.4% and 20.8% in 2012 to 62.5% and 39.5% in 2019, respectively. The American (45.7% in 2012 to 68.6% in 2019) and European (16.5% in 2012 to 33.8% in 2019) target achievement rates also increased.

Conclusions

The adoption of lipid management guidelines in clinical practice has improved. However, continued efforts are needed to reduce the risk of recurrent ischemic events.
Double task switching: An investigation into the effects of similarity and task-rule congruency on cognitive flexibility
Authors: Hinss Marcel F. , Brock Anke M. , Roy Raphaëlle N.
Published: October 2024

Similarity between tasks is an understudied factor in research on cognitive flexibility. This behavioural experiment had 31 participants perform a task switch paradigm in which participants were required to switch between 4 tasks of varying similarity. The experiment was constructed in a way that simultaneously allows for investigating the impact of mental fatigue and task-rule congruency on the participants. The results indicate that similarity between tasks substantially impacts performance with different effects on RT and accuracy. While learning effects may have negated the impact of mental fatigue across the 5 experimental blocks, a significant decrease in performance was observed within blocks. Furthermore, the exploratory analysis proposes a novel interaction between task-rule incongruent trials and the task of the previous trial. These results support the notion that neither the interference view of cognitive flexibility nor the reconfiguration view are fully adequate at explaining task switch costs if similarity is added as a factor. The presented study presents strong evidence that fundamental findings in the domain of cognitive flexibility may not map linearly to more ecological settings where tasks are often more dissimilar.
Oral rehydration therapy and Zinc treatment among diarrhoeal children in India: Exploration from latest cross-sectional National Family Health Survey
Authors: Halli Shiva S. , Biradar Rajeshwari A. , Prasad Jang B.
Published: October 2024

Background and aims

Diarrhoea is one of the deadliest diseases and causing death among children in India, but no systematic attempt is made to understand it especially its control using oral rehydration salts (ORS). It is well known that use of ORS and Zinc have been effective in containing diarrhoea among children. An attempt is made using large scale national data set in India to understand use of ORS and Zinc to control diarrhoea and their associated factors among diarrhoeal children under five in India.

Methods

Publicly available most recent cross-sectional National Family Health Survey data in India was used for the study. The multi-stage cluster sampling design was used with 2011 Census of India as a sampling frame. Households were selected using a Systematic Random Sampling design from selected primary sampling units in rural and urban clusters. From the selected households, the eligible children were those who suffered from diarrhoea in the two weeks preceding the survey and were less than 5 years old. Using this criterion, out of 232,920 children in the survey of less than five years, 16,213 sample diarrheal children found to be available for the study. Both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were used to analyse the data.

Results

Across India, 61% and 31% of the children were given ORS and Zinc respectively. However, combined ORS + Zinc treatment was only around 24%. The treatment of ORS, Zinc, and combined ORS + Zinc supplementations were significantly higher among younger children, children of 24–35 age group mothers, children from rich wealth index groups, belong to Hindu religion and general caste compared to their counterparts. The logistic regression results showed that consumption of ORS among diarrhoeal children under five years of age depends upon size of a child at birth. For instance, diarrheal children who were very small size at birth compared to very large at birth, had 39% lower odds of consuming ORS (AOR = 0.61; CI 0.48, 0.78; p<0.001). Another important variable is place of first treatment sought for diarrheal children. That is children who first sought treatment in private hospital compared to government hospital had 52% lower odds of ORS consumption. The logistic regression adjusted AORs are similar with Zinc and ORS + Zinc supplementations.

Conclusions

To improve the coverage and management of childhood diarrhoea in India, planning activities should focus not only on distribution, and increasing knowledge of ORS preparation especially for urban slum residents and rural disadvantaged groups through demonstration. There should be also proper focus on providing ongoing pathways to ensure proper supply chains.
Tailored synthesis and optimization of nickel-molybdenum carbide-graphite nanofiber composite for enhanced ethanol electrooxidation
Authors: Barakat Nasser A. M. , Gomaa Hassan E. , Khalil Khalil Abdelrazek , Al-Mubaddel Fahad S. , Hassan Mohamed K. , Abdel-Aty Marwa M.
Published: October 2024

A novel nickel-molybdenum carbide-graphite nanofiber composite is introduced as an electrocatalyst for ethanol electrooxidation. The proposed nanofibers have been prepared by calcinating electrospun nanofibers composed of nickel acetate tetrahydrate, molybdenum chloride, and polyvinyl alcohol. The calcination process was conducted at different temperatures (700, 850, and 1000°C) under a nitrogen gas atmosphere with a heating rate of 2.5 deg/min and a holding time of 5 h. Physicochemical characterizations have indicated that nickel acetate is entirely reduced to nickel metal during the sintering process, and molybdenum has bonded with carbon to produce molybdenum carbide. At the same time, the used polymer has been pyrolyzed to produce a carbon nanofiber matrix embedding formed inorganic nanoparticles. Electrochemical measurements concluded that molybdenum content and calcination temperature should be controlled to maximize the electrocatalytic activity of the proposed catalyst. Typically, the oxidation peak current density was 28.5, 28.8, 51.5, 128.3, 25.6, and 3 mA/cm2 for nanofibers prepared from an electrospun solution containing 0, 5, 10, 15, 25, and 35 wt% molybdenum carbide, respectively. Moreover, it was observed that increasing the calcination temperature distinctly improves the electrocatalytic activity. Kinetic studies have indicated that the reaction order is close to zero with a reaction temperature-dependent value. Moreover, it was detected that the electrooxidation reaction of ethanol over the proposed nanofiber composite follows the Arrhenius equation. The determined activation energy is 33 kJ/mol, which indicates good catalytic activity for the introduced nanofibers. Through the application of a set of visualization-based tools and the general linear model (GLM), the optimal conditions that generate the highest current density were identified. The computations unveiled that the optimal parameter settings are as follows: Mo content at 15 wt.%, methanol concentration of 1.55 M, and reaction temperature of 59°C.
ASV vs OTUs clustering: Effects on alpha, beta, and gamma diversities in microbiome metabarcoding studies
Authors: Fasolo Andrea , Deb Saptarathi , Stevanato Piergiorgio , Concheri Giuseppe , Squartini Andrea
Published: October 2024

In microbial community sequencing, involving bacterial ribosomal 16S rDNA or fungal ITS, the targeted genes are the basis for taxonomical assignment. The traditional bioinformatical procedure has for decades made use of a clustering protocol by which sequences are pooled into packages of shared percent identity, typically at 97%, to yield Operational Technical Units (OTUs). Progress in the data processing methods has however led to the possibility of minimizing technical sequencers errors, which were the main reason for the OTU choice, and to analyze instead the exact Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASV) which is a choice yielding much less agglomerated reads. We have tested the two procedures on the same 16S metabarcoded bacterial amplicons dataset encompassing a series of samples from 17 adjacent habitats, taken across a 700 meter-long transect of different ecological conditions unfolding in a gradient spanning from cropland, through meadows, forest and all successional transitions up to the seashore, within the same coastal area. This design allowed to scan a high biodiversity basin and to measure alpha, beta and gamma diversity of the area, to verify the effect of the bioinformatics on the same data as concerns the values of ten different ecological indexes and other parameters. Two levels of progressive OTUs clustering, (99% and 97%) were compared with the ASV data. The results showed that the OTUs clustering proportionally led to a marked underestimation of the ecological indicators values for species diversity and to a distorted behaviour of the dominance and evenness indexes with respect to the direct use of the ASV data. Multivariate ordination analyses resulted also sensitive in terms of tree topology and coherence. Overall, data support the view that reference-based OTU clustering carries several misleading disadvantageous biases, including the risk of missing novel taxa which are yet unreferenced in databases. Since its alternatives as de novo clustering have on the other hand drawbacks due to heavier computational demand and results comparability, especially for environmental studies which contain several yet uncharacterized species, the direct ASV based analysis, at least for prokaryotes, appears to warrant significand advantages in comparison to OTU clustering at every level of percent identity cutoff.
Associations between academic achievement and weight status in a multi-ethnic sample of New Caledonian adolescents
Authors: Frayon Stéphane , Swami Viren , Wattelez Guillaume , Nedjar-Guerre Akila , Galy Olivier
Published: October 2024

Several studies have reported a negative association between obesity and academic achievement in school-aged children. In the Pacific region, the prevalence of adolescent overweight is high, but no study has considered issues of academic achievement in this population. To rectify this, we examined relationships between academic achievement and weight status in a multi-ethnic (European and Kanak) sample of New Caledonian adolescents. Objective anthropometric measures (height, weight, waist circumference) were obtained from European and Kanak New Caledonian adolescents (N = 526) between July 2018 and April 2019. Body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-height ratios (WHtR) were used as proxies of weight status. Ethnicity was self-reported and additional sociodemographic data (socioeconomic status, gender identity, urbanicity of residence, school remoteness) were extracted from relevant databases. Academic achievement scores were obtained from ninth grade national test in language, mathematics, history-geography, and sciences. Bivariate correlations showed that the associations between anthropometric indicators of weight status and academic achievement were significant in adolescents of European, but not Kanak, origin. Underweight and normal-weight European adolescents had significantly higher academic achievement than Kanak adolescents at the same weight categories. Additionally, BMI-z was significantly associated with academic achievement after controlling for socio-demographic variables, but only in adolescents of European origin. Weight status appears to be associated with academic achievement in New Caledonia, but only in adolescents of European origin. Ethno-cultural understandings and experiences may shape the ways in which weight status affects academic achievement in this context.
GAN-WGCNA: Calculating gene modules to identify key intermediate regulators in cocaine addiction
Authors: Kim Taehyeong , Lee Kyoungmin , Cheon Mookyung , Yu Wookyung
Published: October 2024

Understanding time-series interplay of genes is essential for diagnosis and treatment of disease. Spatio-temporally enriched NGS data contain important underlying regulatory mechanisms of biological processes. Generative adversarial networks (GANs) have been used to augment biological data to describe hidden intermediate time-series gene expression profiles during specific biological processes. Developing a pipeline that uses augmented time-series gene expression profiles is needed to provide an unbiased systemic-level map of biological processes and test for the statistical significance of the generated dataset, leading to the discovery of hidden intermediate regulators. Two analytical methods, GAN-WGCNA (weighted gene co-expression network analysis) and rDEG (rescued differentially expressed gene), interpreted spatiotemporal information and screened intermediate genes during cocaine addiction. GAN-WGCNA enables correlation calculations between phenotype and gene expression profiles and visualizes time-series gene module interplay. We analyzed a transcriptome dataset of two weeks of cocaine self-administration in C57BL/6J mice. Utilizing GAN-WGCNA, two genes (Alcam and Celf4) were selected as missed intermediate significant genes that showed high correlation with addiction behavior. Their correlation with addictive behavior was observed to be notably significant in aspect of statistics, and their expression and co-regulation were comprehensively mapped in terms of time, brain region, and biological process.
Coexistence from a lion’s perspective: Movements and habitat selection by African lions (Panthera leo) across a multi-use landscape
Authors: Jansson Ingela , Parsons Arielle W. , Singh Navinder J. , Faust Lisa , Kissui Bernard M. , Mjingo Ernest E. , Sandström Camilla , Spong Göran
Published: October 2024

Diminishing wild space and population fragmentation are key drivers of large carnivore declines worldwide. The persistence of large carnivores in fragmented landscapes often depends on the ability of individuals to move between separated subpopulations for genetic exchange and recovery from stochastic events. Where separated by anthropogenic landscapes, subpopulations’ connectivity hinges on the area’s socio-ecological conditions for coexistence and dispersing individuals’ behavioral choices. Using GPS-collars and resource- and step-selection functions, we explored African lion (Panthera leo) habitat selection and movement patterns to better understand lions’ behavioral adjustments in a landscape shared with pastoralists. We conducted our study in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA), Tanzania, a multiuse rangeland, that connects the small, high density lion subpopulation of the Ngorongoro Crater with the extensive Serengeti lion population. Landscape use by pastoralists and their livestock in the NCA varies seasonally, driven by the availability of pasture, water, and disease avoidance. The most important factor for lion habitat selection was the amount of vegetation cover, but its importance varied with the distance to human settlements, season and time of day. Although we noted high levels of individual variation in tolerance for humans, in general lions avoided humans on the landscape and used more cover when closer to humans. Females showed more consistent avoidance of humans and stronger use of cover when near humans than did males. Connectivity of lion subpopulations does not appear to be blocked by sparse pastoralist settlements, and nomadic males, key to subpopulation connectivity, significantly avoided humans during the day, suggesting a behavioral strategy for conflict mitigation. These results are consistent with lions balancing risk from humans with exploitation of livestock by altering their behaviors to reduce potential conflict. Our study lends some optimism for the adaptive capacity of lions to promote coexistence with humans in shared landscapes.
Effect of formulations over a Periodic Capacitated Vehicle Routing Problem with multiple depots, heterogeneous fleet, and hard time-windows
Authors: Arenas-Vasco Alejandro , Rivera Juan Carlos , Baldoquín Maria Gulnara
Published: October 2024

This article presents a novel contribution to the Periodic Vehicle Routing Problem (PVRP) by introducing two new problem formulations which differ in the usage of the crucial flow variable. The formulations are tailored to meet the specific demands of the vending machine industry in Medellín, Colombia, and require considering a PVRP with time windows, a heterogeneous fleet, and multiple depots. This scenario, tailored to address real-world complexity and computational challenges, brings to light an exponential surge in integer variables as customer numbers increase. The research presents an analysis of PVRPs that include the four mentioned attributes, compares their similarities, and delves into their nuances. From the analysis it is derived that the variant of the PVRP presented has not been considered previously, taking into account not only these attributes, but also the restrictions involved. Empirical experiments are conducted to examine the intricate interplay between the two proposed formulations, highlighting their impact on the performance of the GUROBI solver. The study provides valuable insights into problem-specific adaptations and algorithmic approaches, emphasizing the significance of the proposed formulations in addressing multifaceted PVRPs. In essence, this research positions the introduction of these two formulations as a pioneering step, offering a new paradigm for approaching the PVRP.
Analysis of the Leishmania mexicana promastigote cell cycle using imaging flow cytometry provides new insights into cell cycle flexibility and events of short duration
Authors: Howell Jessie , Omwenga Sulochana , Jimenez Melanie , Hammarton Tansy C.
Published: October 2024

Promastigote Leishmania mexicana have a complex cell division cycle characterised by the ordered replication of several single-copy organelles, a prolonged S phase and rapid G2 and cytokinesis phases, accompanied by cell cycle stage-associated morphological changes. Here we exploit these morphological changes to develop a high-throughput and semi-automated imaging flow cytometry (IFC) pipeline to analyse the cell cycle in live L. mexicana. Firstly, we demonstrate that, unlike several other DNA stains, Vybrant™ DyeCycle™ Orange (DCO) is non-toxic and enables quantitative DNA imaging in live promastigotes. Secondly, by tagging the orphan spindle kinesin, KINF, with mNeonGreen, we describe KINF’s cell cycle-dependent expression and localisation. Then, by combining manual gating of DCO DNA intensity profiles with automated masking and morphological measurements of parasite images, visual determination of the number of flagella per cell, and automated masking and analysis of mNG:KINF fluorescence, we provide a newly detailed description of L. mexicana promastigote cell cycle events that, for the first time, includes the durations of individual G2, mitosis and post-mitosis phases, and identifies G1 cells within the first 12 minutes of the new cell cycle. Our custom-developed masking and gating scheme allowed us to identify elusive G2 cells and to demonstrate that the CDK-inhibitor, flavopiridol, arrests cells in G2 phase, rather than mitosis, providing proof-of-principle of the utility of IFC for drug mechanism-of-action studies. Further, the high-throughput nature of IFC allowed the close examination of promastigote cytokinesis, revealing considerable flexibility in both the timing of cytokinesis initiation and the direction of furrowing, in contrast to the related kinetoplastid parasite, Trypanosoma brucei and many other cell types. Our new pipeline offers many advantages over traditional methods of cell cycle analysis such as fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry and paves the way for novel high-throughput analysis of Leishmania cell division.
Roles of low muscle strength and sarcopenic obesity on incident symptomatic knee osteoarthritis: A longitudinal cohort study
Authors: Yan Laijun , Ge Haiya , Wang Zhengming , Shen Anping , Xu Qinguang , Jiang Ding , Cao Yuelong
Published: October 2024

Objectives

Sarcopenia is prevalent in middle to old age. We aimed to investigate the association between muscle strength and the incident knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods

12,043 participants were collected from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. The effects of sarcopenic obesity (defined by obesity in combination with possible sarcopenia) on knee OA onset were calculated using Poisson regression models. Mediation analysis was fit to estimate mediating proportion of muscle strength on the association between obesity and incident knee OA.

Results

The study all enrolled 12,043 participants with 2,008 progressed to knee OA. Poisson analyses demonstrated causal association of general obesity (RR:1.23, 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.39) and abdominal obesity (RR:1.23, 95% CI: 1.11 to 1.35) with knee OA onset. For the risk of incident knee OA, participants with the highest level of normalized grip strength had a decreased risk of incident knee OA by 0.33 (RR:0.67, 95% CI: 0.60 to 0.75) times compared to the control group, and chair-rising time was associated with increased risk of incident knee OA by 0.65 (RR:1.65, 95% CI: 1.17 to 2.33) times. Sensitivity analysis identified similar results. Participants with sarcopenic obesity were about 2 times risk of incident knee OA than reference group. Normalized grip strength and chair-rising time mediated the association between obesity and incidence of knee OA.

Conclusions

Sarcopenic obesity is correlated with an increased risk of knee OA. Muscle strength recovery may alleviate the risk of incident knee OA in middle to old age with obesity.
Pessoas Transgênero em um Mundo em Mudanças: Visões Sobre a Identidade de Gênero na Península Ibérica
Authors: Reinaldo da Cunha Leandro
Published: October 2024

A forma como cada país trata os grupos tidos como minoritários existentes em seu território pode ser considerada como um critério para aferir o patamar civilizatório em que ele se encontra, pois quanto menor for a proteção ofertada a quem encontra‑ se em uma situação de vulnerabilidade, maior será a distância dos preceitos elementares que norteiam os Direitos Humanos. Entre os grupos mais vulnerabilizados atualmente, com base na sexualidade, estão as pessoas transgênero, as quais sofrem discriminações que lhes vedam o acesso a alguns dos direitos mais fundamentais pelo simples fato de não se reconhecerem como pertencentes ao gênero esperado em decorrência do sexo que lhes foi atribuído quando do seu nascimento. A luta pelo estabelecimento dos Direitos Humanos em favor das minorias sexuais tem se mostrado árdua, contudo, alguns países, como Portugal e Espanha, estão atentos, resguardando a integridade de pessoas transgênero, afastando‑ se da leniência legislativa que caracteriza alguns Estados Esquizofrênicos, como ocorre no Brasil. Para o presente trabalho utiliza‑ se da pesquisa bibliográfica, valendo‑se do método científico‑ dedutivo.
Entre a Doutrina e a (Não)Doutrina: Notas Inspiradas por um Ícone
Authors: Furlin Marcelo
Published: October 2024

A História é ilustrada por ícones, que se desdobram em pensamentos e em ações. Sob a inspiração de Dr. Álvaro Vasconcelos, pensador português e cidadão cosmopolita, o texto aborda a condição do ser humano no mundo contemporâneo, em movimentos das periferias para o centro, entre a Tradição e a Modernidade, com vista à plena dignidade. Nesse sentido desafiador, notas significativas da Doutrina Social da Igreja e da Carta Encíclica Fratelli Tutti promovem interpretações inspiradoras sobre a (não)doutrina e horizontes de crítica para questões pulsantes da atualidade.
Migrações internacionais e tendências da sua regulação
Authors: Oliveira Andreia Sofia
Published: October 2024

Neste artigo, procuramos discernir quais são as tendências globais das políticas e dos regimes jurídicos aplicáveis às migrações internacionais. Nele identificamos quatro tendências fundamentais: a dualidade de regimes, que insistem numa distinção cortante entre refugiados e outros migrantes; a fragmentação dos regimes aplicáveis aos estrangeiros numa multiplicidade de estatutos cuja articulação é difícil; a externalização dos controlos migratórios; e o combate a alguns (muito expressivos, em termos numéricos) movimentos migratórios, usando, para o efeito, muitas vezes, a via criminal.
Miguel de Unamuno y sus esculturas en el País Vasco
Authors: Cava Mesa María Jesús
Published: October 2024

Este artículo trata sobre las esculturas erigidas para enaltecer la figura de Miguel de Unamuno y Jugo en el País Vasco.
Issues of Cleanroom Environment: Design of Measures for Better Thermal Comfort of Cleanroom Users
Authors:   , Konečná Kateřina
Published: October 2024

The aim of this thesis was to discover and set a selection of clothing ensembles frequently used for cleanrooms with cleanliness ISO 8 to ISO 5 including clothing alternatives, and determine the thermal insulation of each ensemble using the most convenient method of thermal manikin. Furthermore, the comfort air temperature was predicted for each ensemble and the predicted mean vote was assessed for different air temperatures. The results showed differences in the basic thermal insulation of 25 reusable cleanroom ensembles in the range of 0.61 clo to 1.16 clo. Differences were brought about by different factors, including textile properties or clothing tailoring, and were detected not only between different classes of cleanliness but also within the same cleanliness. Consequently, the predicted comfort temperatures ranged from 17.6 °C to 21.8 °C. As a result, a different level of thermal satisfaction of users can be predicted. In addition, results and their potential use were demonstrated by developing a multipurpose tool that users beyond cleanroom operators can benefit from and can enhance the thermal comfort. In general, the conducted evaluation of cleanroom ensembles opens possibilities in offering a selection of suitable clothing sets and finding their alternatives to outweigh the differences between users in the activity performed and personal preferences, and leads to more satisfied cleanroom occupants and efficient cleanroom operation. Based on these results, further research of new materials and more suitable options for cleanrooms can be initiated.
The influence of inhomogeneities in radon-proof materials on the value of radon diffusion coefficient
Authors:   , Dobrovolný Tomáš
Published: October 2024

The submitted dissertation focuses on the impact of minor breaches or inhomogeneities in radon-proof insulation materials on the value of the radon diffusion coefficient. Minor breaches can occur during the construction of a building when radon-proof insulation is not protected. A simple stone trapped in the soleplate or any sharp object, as well as a worker walking on the radon-proof insulation, can create hundreds of minor holes. Other minor breaches are inhomogeneities arising during the production of the radon-proof insulation material or during its application. Breaches in radon-proof insulation allow radon to penetrate into the interior of the building throughout its lifespan. These minor breaches negatively affect the radon diffusion coefficient, which is considered in the design of the building and can even have fatal consequences for the occupants of these homes. Dissertation involves long-term experimental measurements of the radon diffusion coefficient. The measurements were conducted under non-stationary conditions using available, uncertified radon sources. The work also included the design and construction of the measuring apparatus. Minor damages were documented using an electron microscope. Additionally, silicate samples with enhanced properties for reducing porosity and thereby radon permeability were measured. Microorganisms that seal pores were introduced into selected samples to observe their impact on the resulting radon diffusion coefficient through these enhanced materials. The work was experimental in nature, requiring not only the securing, processing, and evaluation of extensive measurements but also the creation of an innovative measuring apparatus that would be sufficiently reliable and stable for measurements using available continuous radon detectors.
b-Glucan Comparison in the Mushrooms of Medicinal Fungal Species
Authors: Totowiputro Dicky Kurniawan , Sargowo Djanggan , Tjokroprawiro Askandar , Rifa'i Muhaimin
Published: October 2024

Agaricus blazei Murill has been known as a mushroom with medicinal properties, such as its efficacy in maintaining the immune system and other metabolic processes. The main polysaccharide found in A. blazei, is b-glucan. This study aims to quantify and compare b-glucan content in A. blazei compared with the medicinal mushrooms Ganoderma sp. and Pleurotus ostreatus. ?-glucan was extracted from each species using an alkaloid extraction method. The b-glucan content was determined using UV-Vis Spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 220 nm. The data showed that A. blazei contained the highest level of b-glucan, 6.99% (w/w), while the other mushrooms contained less than 2 %. This study obtained that A. blazei contain high levels of b-glucan compared with Ganoderma sp. and Pleurotus ostreatus. Thus, A. blazei has the potential as medicine, especially to maintain the balance of the immune system. To keep the body healthy and balance immune system patient can consume Agaricus blazei Muril.
ANALISIS FAKTOR-FAKTOR YANG MEMPENGARUHI PENDAPATAN PETANI PADI (Studi Kasus : Kecamatan Godong, Kabupaten Grobogan)
Authors: Nugraha Cendikia Himawan Tri , Benedictus Maria Nugroho Sumarjiyanto
Published: October 2024

Godong Subdistrict is one of the riceproducing areas in Grobogan Regency, which has the title as a rice barn in Grobogan Regency with a potential crop level. study aims to determine the effect of land area, capital and labour on farmer’s income. The data used are primary data with a sample size of 98.90 rounded off to100 farmers. This research used quantitative methods with multiple regression analysis methods. The results showed that the capital variable had a positive and insignificant effect on farmers' income in the fields. In contrast, the variables of land area and labour have a positive and significant effect on income in the rice fields in Godong District, Grobogan Regency. The coefficient of determination (R-square) is obtained at 0.288. The coefficient of R-square means that 28.8% of the dependent variable (income) can be explained by the independent variables, namely capital, land area, and labour. While the remaining 71.2% is explained by other variables outside the model used, such as factors of production, selling price, and the amount of production.
ANALISIS FENOMENA DEFISIT ANGGARAN DAN DEFISIT TRANSAKSI BERJALAN DI INDONESIA (1990-2019)
Authors: Perdana Mayang Novi Annisa , Sugiyanto FX
Published: October 2024

This research is motivated by the occurrence of twin deficit in Indonesia that have occurred since 2012. Twin deficit is a phenomenon where the budget deficit occurs simultaneously with the current account deficit. The relationship between the government budget and the current account is explained through components in the APBN and the current account balance. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the correlation between the budget deficit and the current account deficit.This study uses time series data for the period 1990-2019, obtained from Kementrian Keuangan Republik Indonesia, Bank Indonesia and World Bank publications. The method used in this study is the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) regression method to see the short-term and long-term relationships of budget deficit to the current account deficit.The results of this study indicate that there is a correlation between the budget deficit and the current account deficit. This is indicated by the empirical results which show that significantly the budget deficit has a correlation with the current account deficit in the short and long term. In the period 1990-1999, the budget balance and the current account showed no correlation. The current account deficit in that period was mainly due to investment patterns. The existence of a balance relationship between the budget balance and the current account is shown in the 2000-2019 period, during which Indonesia implemented a deficit budget system.
Analisis Pengaruh Defisit Anggaran, Belanja Pemerintah Pusat, dan Utang Pemerintah Terhadap Pertumbuhan Ekonomi di Indonesia Tahun 1990-2019
Authors: Elisabeth Praycilia , Sugiyanto FX
Published: October 2024

In maintaining and increasing economic growth, it is necessary to have appropriate and effective policies so that the target of increasing economic growth every year can be achieved. This policy must be in line with various developments carried out to increase economic growth. However, high government spending will increase the budget deficit and also increase the need for financing through debt. This study uses the variable budget deficit, central government spending, government debt (SBN and ULN), and economic growth in Indonesia from 1990 to 2019. The analysis method used is time series data analysis with the Autoregressive Vector model (VAR) which aims to identify long-term relationships between variables and the Error Correction Model (ECM) which aims to analyze the longterm and short-term effects between variables. The results of research with the VAR model show that the variable deficit, government spending, government securities, and foreign debt have a one-way relationship with Gross Domestic Product.The results of the study with the ECM model show that the central government spending variable and Government Securities (SBN) have a positive and significant effect on gross domestic product (GDP) in the short and long term, and foreign debt has a negative and significant effect on GDP in the short and long term during the period 1990-2019. Based on this research, it can be concluded that the fiscal policy implemented in 2019 is a sustainable fiscal policy. Keywords: Economic Growth, Central Government Expenditure, Budget Deficit, Government Debt, Fiscal Sustainability
Analisis Pengaruh Pertumbuhan Ekonomi, Jumlah Penduduk, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Energy Use/Consumption dan Krisis Ekonomi Terhadap Kualitas Lingkungan Ditinjau Dari Tingkat Carbon Footprint di Asean 8
Authors: Santi Rendria , Sasana Hadi
Published: October 2024

Environmental degradation is an important issue which is currently can be a threat to sustainable economic development in both developed and developing countries. Research on environmental damage due to economic development actually has been done a lot in the previous research but most of them only uses CO2 emission indicators to measure the level of environmental degradation. This study uses the concept of Ecological Footprint and more specific this study want to analyst Carbon Footprint to see the level of environmental damage. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of economic growth, population, energy consumption, foreign direct investment (FDI) and crisis economics on Carbon Footprint in ASEAN 8 during the period 2000-2017 and to prove the existence of Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) shown by Inverted U-shaped. The method that used in the study is panel data regression with the Random Effect Model. The results showed that the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis was proven in ASEAN 8 countries. Population and energy consumption variables have a positive and significant effect on the level of Carbon Footprint, while foreign direct investment has a positive effect and appropiate with Pollution Heaven Hypothesis, but does not significantly affect the Carbon Footprint.
Pengaruh Size dan Sales Growth Terhadap Profitabilitas Perusahaan Manufaktur Sektor Konsumsi Dengan Struktur Modal Sebagai Variable Moderasi
Authors: Andinata Wawan
Published: October 2024

This research is motivated by the profitability of companies in the consumer and goods industry sector which have decreased and some have even experienced losses. The main objective of this study is to determine the effect of company size, sales growth on profitability with capital structure as a moderating variable in the industrial sector of goods manufacturing and consumption for the period 2016-2018.The sample of this study consisted of 27 sample companies representing 3 consecutive years. The sampling technique used in this study was purposive sampling, which is a technique with certain considerations or criteria. This research uses Moderating Regression Analysis analysis tools. The results of this study indicate that company size has a negative effect on profitability, sales growth, and capital structure has no effect on profitability. Capital structure is able to moderate company size on profitability and capital structure is unable to moderate sales growth on profitability. The limitation of this research is the low R Square value. Suggestions for future research are to increase the number of independent variables such as the audit committee, extend the research period and add to other manufacturing sectors.