bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationship between Arabic Reading Skills (ARS) and Arabic Verbal Expression (AVE) as predictors for undergraduate students’ Arabic language achievement
Authors: Bakri Siti Nur Liyana , Kirembwe Rashid Abdul Hamed
Published: June 2023

This study investigated the relationship between Arabic reading skills (ARS) and Arabic verbal expression (AVE) for third-year students of a tertiary institution in Malaysia. The study employed a descriptive approach, using a set of questionnaires, with a random sample of n=42. The descriptive findings yielded a high level of students’ (ARS) as well as (AVE). The correlational analyses yielded a significant relationship between (ARS) and (AVE) levels for the population at (r, Sig. 2, n= 42). An (r) (H0) was rejected. An (r) (Ha) suggested that the more the engagement in (ARS) the better the levels of achievements in (AVE).
Assessment of the level of financial security of the enterprise (LLC «Uniplyt» as a case study)
Authors: Sytnyk Natalia , Batsman Iryna
Published: June 2023

This work examines the essence of the company's financial security. It is noted that the financial security of the enterprise covers a complex of the most important financial indicators that reflect stable financial and economic activity, the company's development and competitiveness. The constituent elements of security and the main factors of influence are characterized, which include the analysis of external and internal threats and risks of business activity, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the enterprise, an analysis of the company was carried out using the SWOT analysis method, using the example of the limited liability company «Uniplyt» (in hereinafter «Uniplyt» LLC), engaged in the production of woodworking products, fiberboard, plywood, lumber. The influence of state regulation on the financial security of enterprises is characterized, and the experience of Ukraine regarding financial security during the period of martial law is presented. The step-by-step analysis of the level of financial security at the researched enterprise was determined, with the help of which it is possible to exercise control over the enterprise's activities and to carry out constant monitoring of internal and external threats. The methods of determining the level of financial security of the enterprise, which are used to evaluate it, financial stability and the level of financial potential of business entities are highlighted. In particular, they include: methods of integral assessment of the company's financial security, methods of indicator assessment of the company's financial security, and methods of assessing the company's financial security based on bankruptcy analysis. Methods for assessing financial security by determining the level of probability of bankruptcy of the enterprise according to the models of such scientists as Tereshchenko and Altman were studied. Based on the calculated models for determining the probability of bankruptcy, we present matrices for the analysis of financial stability and financial potential. The strengths and weaknesses of the company's activity were identified and measures were proposed to improve the work of Uniplyt LLC. A forecast of the company's activity and suggestions for improving its activity for further development and profit growth are presented.
The role and significance of foresight in the strategic management of regional development in the era of globalization and digital transformation of the economy
Authors: Yefremova Nataliia , Marchenko Maryna , Lomovskykh Liudmyla
Published: June 2023

The article defines the role and significance of the foresight in the strategic management of regional development in the conditions of globalization and digital transformation of the economy, discloses ways of promoting the regional foresight in the development of regions, presents the characteristics of the directions of regional foresight assistance in solving global problems, substantiates the potential directions of the regional foresight. Foresight is a systematic approach to identifying and analyzing future trends and challenges, as well as developing strategies to address them. Foresight technologies, which involve systematic and structured research into possible futures, have the potential to provide valuable information for strategic decision-making. Ways in which regional foresight can contribute to regional development include anticipating and responding to change; promoting innovation and competitiveness; increasing stability; strengthening cooperation and partnership. Climate change, technological and demographic changes, globalization, political instability, resource management, infrastructure development, social and cultural diversity, management and policy development are among the directions of regional foresight's contribution to solving global problems. The most relevant areas of development of the regional foresight are such as increasing the use of data and analytics, expanding cooperation and involvement of interested parties, integration with other policy areas, emphasis on stability and sustainability. Regional foresight can contribute to global challenges by helping regions anticipate and adapt to change, fostering innovation and cooperation, building resilience and sustainability, and contributing to a more peaceful and prosperous world. In light of these global challenges, foresight can help regions develop strategies that are better suited to a complex and rapidly changing global environment. By engaging in foresight, regions can anticipate and adapt to change, foster innovation and collaboration, and build sustainable, resilient communities.
The Application of Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials in Depression: An Updated Review
Authors: Yadav Khushbu , Rani Anjna , Tyagi Pankaj , Babu Malakapogu Ravindra
Published: June 2023

Depression is the most common stress-related mental illness. It has an impact on millions of individuals globally. Genetic, biochemical, environmental, and psychological elements can all play a role in its development. Medications, psychotherapy, and lifestyle changes are frequently used to treat depression. Antidepressant medications work by altering the levels of certain chem-icals in the brain. At the same time, psychotherapy aims to help individuals better understand and manage their emotions and thoughts, which otherwise may lead to depression. The current treatment strategy for the illness has several drawbacks, such as adverse effects, ineffectiveness, long-term use, stigma, and cost-related issues of the medication used. These negative effects un-derscore the need for more successful and novel methods of treating depression, such as the investigation of medication delivery techniques based on nanotechnology. Increased medication effectiveness, fewer side effects, long-lasting medication effects, a good understanding of the neural underpinnings of depression, and the potential for the creation of personalized medicines are some of the potential benefits of using nanotechnology in depressive disorder treatment. In several scientific domains, nanotechnology has many benefits. Nanoparticles are the fundamen-tal building blocks of nanotechnology in this regard. Nanoparticles hold great promise for use in medical applications, as recently developed nanotechnology has shown. This review focuses on the most popular nanomaterials that are used to treat depression, in addition to how well these nanomaterials are at managing depression based on their physical, chemical, and biological properties. We have also talked about the difficulties that the various nanomaterials face, which limit their uses and prevent the development of effective clinical therapies.
القيم الخبرية في المواقع الالكترونية لوكالات الأنباء الاقليمية ازاء الشأن العراقي
Authors: محسن بارق علي , عبد الرزاق نوح عز الدين
Published: June 2023

يهدف هذا البحث الى التعرف على القيم الخبرية التي تعتمد عليها وكالات الأنباء الاقليمية في انتقائها ونشرها للأخبار، والتي تُعدّ اللبنة الأساسية التي يتحول بمقتضاها حدث ما لخبر صالح للنشر، لذا قام الباحث باستخدام المنهج المسحي، ولتحقيق أهداف البحث استخدم أسلوب تحليل المضمون معتمدًا على العينة القصدية في المواقع الرسمية لوكالات الأنباء "العراقية، التركية، الإيرانية"، وكان عدد الأخبار الخاضعة للتحليل 596 خبر.
مستقبل العمل التلفزيوني في ظل تحديات الذكاء الاصطناعي دراسة استشرافية
Authors: عبيد مهند حميد
Published: June 2023

تناول البحث موضوع مستقبل العمل التلفزيوني في ظل تحديات الذكاء الاصطناعي، وللدراسة أهداف عدّة منها: معرفة انعكاسات الذكاء الاصطناعي في شكل ومضمون الرسالة التلفزيونية، والتحري عن مجالات توظيفه في التلفزيون، وتعد هذه الدراسة من الدراسات الاستشرافية المستقبلية والتي اعتمد فيها الباحث على المنهج المسحي، وبما أن البحث يتعلق بالرؤية الاستشرافية فقد اعتمد الباحث على أسلوب جمع آراء الخبراء والمتخصصين في مجال الذكاء الاصطناعي وخبراء الإعلام، واعتمد أيضًا على المقابلات المعمقة لغرض الحصول على البيانات والمعلومات من المبحوثين، وقد تم اختيار (30) خبيرًا، توزّعوا بواقع (15) خبيرًا من الذكاء الاصطناعي و(15) خبيرًا من الإعلام.وتوصلت الدراسة إلى نتائج عدّة أبرزها: إنّه يمكن استخدام تقنيات التعلم الآلي وتقنيات التعلم العميق وخوارزميات توليد اللغة الطبيعية في العمل الإعلامي، ويساعد الذكاء الاصطناعي الفضائيات في كشف الأخبار المزيفة وكتابة القصص الخبرية وتحسين جودة البث والارسال التلفزيوني، كما أن هناك تحديات كبيرة تواجه الفضائيات عند استخدام تقنيات الذكاء الاصطناعي من أبرزها: وجود كادر مهني وبرامجي متخصص في مجال تكنولوجيا المعلومات.
Đo lường mức độ quản trị lợi nhuận: Nghiên cứu thực nghiệm tại các công ty niêm yết
Authors: Đỗ Thùy Linh , Vũ Hùng Phương
Published: June 2023

Nghiên cứu thực hiện nhằm đo lường mức độ quản trị lợi nhuận của các công ty niêm yết trên thị trường chứng khoán Việt Nam. Dựa trên dữ liệu các công ty niêm yết tại hai Sở giao dịch chứng khoán Hà Nội và Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh từ 2009 đến 2019 và sử dụng hai phương pháp thông qua kế toán dồn tích và thông qua giao dịch thực tế để đo lường mức quản trị lợi nhuận của các công ty. Nghiên cứu đã thực hiện các kiểm định để tìm ra sự phù hợp của các mô hình hồi quy Pool OLS, hồi quy với tác động cố định (FEM), hồi quy với tác động ngẫu nhiên (REM), từ đó lựa chọn mô hình phù hợp nhất để xác định mức độ quản trị lợi nhuận của từng phương pháp. Kết quả của các mô hình hồi quy cho thấy các công ty tại Việt Nam có thực hiện quản trị lợi nhuận. Bên cạnh đó, có những sự tương đồng và có những khác biệt trong mức độ quản trị lợi nhuận của các công ty thông qua hai phương pháp này.
DISEÑO INTERDISCIPLINAR DE SITUACIONES DIDÁCTICAS PARA NIÑOS
Authors: Sánchez Borrero Guillermo
Published: June 2023

El presente artículo muestra cómo se diseñan situaciones didácticas mediante el método de Enseñanza Basado en Proyectos Integradores y Retos. Permite reconfigurar diferentes temas matemáticos, los cuales se vuelven desafíos a resolver por los estudiantes de las carreras de Diseño Gráfico y Ciencias de la Educación de la Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (PUCE), quienes son parte del proceso. La propuesta del material didáctico se enmarca en un contexto social limitado al acceso a recursos didácticos en grupos de niños que necesitan un modelo de educación proyectiva con un aprendizaje autónomo y lleno de experiencias. Este proyecto integrador evidencia los años de investigación y desarrollo de las herramientas colaborativas de Diseño en objetos tangibles, que cumplen con las expectativas y necesidades didácticas. Se expone el proceso de creación del proyecto integrador en equipos interdisciplinares, cuyo objetivo es diseñar material didáctico de contenidos matemáticos, que estimulen el aprendizaje activo y participativo en el usuario. Se implementa la codocencia interdisciplinar como estrategia pedagógica para construir nuevos paradigmas de la enseñanza universitaria, siendo el método proyectual el articulador del proceso de diseño en las etapas de investigación conjunta transdisciplinar, definición de requerimientos y concepto de diseño, el desarrollo y validación de la propuesta didáctica.Palabras clave: Diseño gráfico, experiencias didácticas, codocencia, concepto gráfico, método proyectual.

AbstractThis article shows how didactic situations are designed through the method of teaching based on integrative projects and challenges. It allows for the reconfiguration of different mathematical topics, which become challenges to be solved by students in the Graphic Design and Education Science careers at the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador (PUCE), who are part of the process. In a social context that weakens access to didactic resources for groups of children who need a projective education model with autonomous and experiential learning, this integrative project demonstrates years of research and development of collaborative design tools that meet didactic expectations and needs. The process of creating the integrative project is presented by interdisciplinary teams whose objective is to design didactic material for mathematical content that stimulates active and participatory learning in the user. Interdisciplinary co-teaching is implemented as a pedagogical strategy to build new paradigms of university teaching, with the project method as the articulator of the design process in the stages of joint transdisciplinaryresearch, the definition of requirements and design concepts, and the development and validation of the didactic proposal.Keywords: Graphic design, didactic experiences, co-teaching, graphic concept, project method.
Flexible Transparent Planar Heater Comprising ZnO/Cu/Al2O3
Authors: Kim Heechang , Choi Dooho
Published: June 2023

In this study, we fabricated transparent heaters composed of an ultrathin Cu-layer heating element sandwiched between a ZnO underlayer and an Al2O3 overlayer. With the Cu layer thickness fixed at 8.5 nm, the thicknesses of the ZnO and Al2O3 layers were independently varied to reach the optimum antireflecting condition (maximum transmittance of 88.3% and average visible light transmittance of 79.8% were achieved). The sheet resistances for the ZnO/Cu/Al2O3 heaters can be varied by simply modulating the Cu layer thicknesses. In order to assess the flexibility of the transparent heaters, we constructed a ZnO/Cu/Al2O3 structure on flexible polyimide substrates, and the thermal, electrical, optical and mechanical characteristics were evaluated. Because of the planar heating element of the Cu layer, the thermal response was found to be extremely high, i.e., less than 10 s were required to reach 90% of the target temperatures. Once the target temperatures were reached, the heater temperatures were highly stable with no degradation of electrical and optical properties. Furthermore, the heating capability was maintained under severe mechanical deformation, e.g., at a bending radius of 4 mm. The structure also exhibited highly sustainable optoelectronic properties under repetitive mechanical deformation, confirming the potential for commercialization. Finally, we demonstrated that ZnO/Cu/Al2O3 rolled around a human finger exhibited highly uniform heating characteristics, rendering the heaters suitable for wearable, healthcare electronics.
Effect of Oxygen Concentration on the Growth and Cathodoluminescence Properties of MgO Nanowires
Authors: Lee Geun-Hyoung
Published: June 2023

MgO nanowires were grown by a thermal evaporation method at different N2/O2 gas ratios in order to investigate the effect of oxygen concentration on the growth and luminescence properties of the MgO nanowires. A thermal evaporation process was conducted at 1000oC and under a pressure of 500Torr. No nanowires were grown in a pure N2 gas atmosphere. Nanowires were formed at oxygen concentrations above 25% in a mixture of N2 and O2 gases. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that the MgO nanowires had a cubic crystal structure. Compared to the nanowires formed at high oxygen concentration, the nanowires grown at low oxygen concentration had larger diameters and rougher side surfaces. Nanowires with very smooth side surfaces were formed at high oxygen concentrations. The difference in surface roughness was supposed to be due to the change in the growth habit of nuclei. Two visible emissions were observed in the cathodoluminescence spectra of the MgO nanowires. One was an emission peak centered near 400 nm and the other was an emission peak with a central wavelength of 500 nm. As the oxygen concentration increased, the emission intensity of the 400 nm band decreased and the emission intensity of the 500 nm band increased. The maximum emission at 500 nm was observed from the nanowires formed in a pure O2 atmosphere. The full width at half maximum of the emission peak at 500 nm was narrower than that of the emission peak at 400 nm.
Maria Irene Fornes and Samuel Beckett: ‘Different and the Same’
Authors: Ben-Zvi Linda
Published: June 2023

Maria Irene Fornes is one of the most revered American playwrights. Dramatists she influenced, actors she directed in her plays, students she mentored in her playwriting workshops, as well as academics who taught and published essays and books on her diverse output – over 40 plays in her 40-year career – share Tony Kushner’s assessment that ‘‘America has produced no dramatist of greater importance’. Born in Havana, Cuba in 1930, Fornes came to New York in 1945, and by the early 1960s, she was a central force in the establishment of the Off-Off Broadway avant-garde movement in Greenwich Village. In 1953 she saw the original production of En attendant Godot in Paris and was inspired to become a playwright. Over the years, critics have cited Beckett’s impact on Fornes; however, this is the first essay to provide a detailed study of the specific ways Beckett’s plays influenced Fornes' dramas, particularly Tango Palace, Dr. Kheal, Fefu and her Friends, and Mud. Following Beckett, she jettisoned cohesive plots, traditional themes, outworn theatrical tropes, predictable endings, familiar settings, and identifiable characters declaiming to audiences where a play is heading and why. Most importantly, Beckett illustrated that different theatre forms were possible. This essay illustrates how Fornes, inspired by, but not imitating Beckett, made her own assault on conventional drama, The essay is also the first to delineate the ways in which Fornes' first play, Tango Palace, derives from her three-year love affair with Susan Sontag.
The covid-19 pandemic effect to livelihood strategy adaptation of rubber smallholding household: a case study in Songkhla province, the southern Thailand
Authors: Somboonsuke Buncha , Somboonsuke Buncha , Boonkongma Milinpat , Preuksa Narumon , Chiarawipa Rawee , Kongmanee Chaiya , Potikul Pimpakan
Published: June 2023

The objective of this study was to study how COVID-19 affected the livelihood of rubber smallholding households in Songkhla Province. Total 280 households were randomly selected and interviewed using questionnaire. The results revealed that, finding both positive and negative impact of economy, 74.3% of respondents showed that farmers had adequacy of financial assets, fewer consuming products purchased from the community market and switched to buying more products from supermarkets at 69.7%, decreasing incomes at 93.6%, more saving with considering home expenditure at 92.7%, and 74.3% of farmers had more plantation management.  95.4% of farmers reported changes in social capital as a result of the impact on their livelihood, and 56.0% of farmers were required to take part in the government's initiative to enhance their standard of living. The effects of livelihood adaptation strategies on rubber-producing techniques include an improvement in production efficiency, a decrease in production costs, an expansion of production, an increase in the diversify of production systems, the use of hired labor, employment outside the farm sector, and household financial management. When examining the contributing factors, the livelihood adaption strategies of rubber smallholding households can be explained at 63.7% (R2 adjust=0.637) by social effect, economic effect, production technology, and environment effect. It was discovered that social effect was best explained (0.490Zx1). The study recommended farm adaptation strategies, including increasing the use of household labor rather than hired labor, using online market channels with different media, increasing farmers' digital markets to adapt agricultural products and livelihoods, and providing a financial plan, diversifying the production system, and increasing sources of income.
Dairy manure nutrient recovery reduces greenhouse gas emissions and transportation cost in a modeling study
Authors: Feng Xiaoyu , Smith Ward , VanderZaag Andrew C.
Published: June 2023

Technologies that separate manure or digestate into fractions with different solids and nutrient contents present interesting options to mitigate manure storage emissions (by reducing the quantity of carbon stored anaerobically) and to improve nutrient distribution (by reducing the quantity of water transported with nutrients). In this study, the dairy farm model, DairyCrop-Syst, was used to simulate storage emissions of methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and ammonia (NH3), and to simulate nutrient distribution for a case-study farm in Canada. The farm used several types of manure processing, including: anaerobic digestion (AD), solid-liquid separation (SLS), and nutrient recovery (NR). Simulations were done with combinations of the above technologies, i.e., a baseline with only AD that produced a single (unseparated) effluent, compared to AD+SLS, and AD+SLS+NR that produced two separate fractions. With AD+SLS+NR, the processing system isolated a solid fraction with a high concentration of N and P, and a liquid fraction containing less nutrients. Compared to the baseline system, the addition of solid liquid separation and nutrient recovery (i.e. SLS+NR) reduced CH4 emissions from outdoor liquid digestate storage by 87%, with only a small offset from higher N2O and NH3 emissions from storing the solid fraction. The solid fraction was simulated to be transported to fields at least 30 km away from the dairy barns, while the liquid fraction was transported by dragline to fields adjacent to the barn. The advanced nutrient separation system resulted in much lower transport costs for manure nutrients and the ability to transport N and P to greater distances.
Physicochemical, structural, and adsorption characteristics of DMSPS-co-DVB nanopolymers
Authors: Bosacka Alicja , Zienkiewicz-Strzalka Malgorzata , Derylo-Marczewska Anna , Chrzanowska Agnieszka , Blachnio Magdalena , Podkoscielna Beata
Published: June 2023

The aim of this work is the synthesis and characterization of the series of S,S′-thiodi-4,1-phenylene bis(thio-methacrylate)-co-divinylbenzene (DMSPS-co-DVB) nanomaterials. The series of new nanopolymers including three mixed systems with different ratios of DMSPS and DVB components, DMSPS-co-DVB = 1:1, DMSPS-co-DVB = 1:2, and DMSPS-co-DVB = 1:3, was synthesized in the polymerization reaction. The research task is to investigate the influence of the reaction mixture composition on morphological, textural, and structural properties of final nanosystems including size, shape, and agglomeration effect. The advanced biphasic nanomaterials enriched with thiol groups were successfully synthesized as potential sorbents for binding organic substances, heavy metals, or biomolecules. To determine the impact of the DMSPS monomer on the final properties of DMSPS-co-DVB nanocomposites, several techniques were applied to reveal the nano-dimensional structure (SAXS), texture (low-temperature nitrogen sorption), general morphology (SEM), acid–base properties (potentiometric titration), and surface chemistry and phase bonding effectiveness (FTIR/ATR spectroscopy). Finally, kinetic studies of aniline sorption on polymeric materials were performed.
Case report: Braid-like right coronary artery with chest pain
Authors: Wang Wenbo , Lan Lan , Hu Huijuan
Published: June 2023

Braid-like coronary artery is very rare. It is featured by the division of the coronary artery into multiple tortuous small channels that later converge into a normal lumen at any segment of the coronary artery. We presented a case of a 27-year-old male patient with occasional chest pain. In coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and coronary angiography, a braid-like appearance was found in the right coronary artery. After multidisciplinary discussion, it was speculated to be a woven coronary artery (WCA). We conducted a literature review about woven coronary arteries.
Influence of body mass index and waist–hip ratio on male semen parameters in infertile men in the real world: a retrospective study
Authors: Wang Shuxian , Wu Baorui , Wang Changming , Ke Zongpan , Xiang Ping , Hu Xuechun , Xiao Jun
Published: June 2023

Background

It is suggested that body mass index (BMI) can affect male semen quality; however, the results remain controversial. In addition, most studies have focused on the effect of obesity on semen quality. Evidence on the relationship of underweight or waist-hip ratio (WHR) with semen quality is rare. This study aimed to assess the association of BMI and WHR with semen quality.

Methods

Data, including BMI and WHR, was collected from 715.00 men who underwent a fertility evaluation. BMI (kg/m2) was categorized as <18.50 (underweight), 18.50–24.90 (normal), 25.00–27.90 (overweight), and ≥28.00 (obese) kg/m2 for analysis. WHR was categorized as <0.81 (normal) and ≥0.81 (high). Semen volume, sperm concentration, progressive motility, and total motile sperm count were detected by experienced clinical technicians.

Results

Spearman’s correlation showed that BMI was weakly associated with sperm progressive motility (r = 0.076, P < 0.05), while WHR showed no relationship with semen parameters. The azoospermia rate was significantly higher (33.33% vs. 2.10%, P < 0.001) and the sperm concentration was lower (P < 0.05) in the underweight group. The nonlinear correlation analysis showed that BMI was negatively associated with sperm concentration while BMI was more than 22.40 kg/m2 (P < 0.05), while WHR was negatively related to sperm progressive motility within 0.82 to 0.89 (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the multivariate logistic analysis showed that follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) was an independent risk factor for normal sperm concentration (odds ratio [OR]: 0.791, P = 0.001) and morphology (OR: 0.821, P = 0.002), BMI was an independent risk factor for normal sperm progressive motility, and testosterone was an independent risk factor for sperm morphology (OR: 0.908, P = 0.023).

Conclusion

BMI and WHR were significantly associated with semen parameters, while BMI was an independent risk factor for normal sperm progressive motility. Reproductive hormones, including FSH and testosterone, had a significant influence on sperm concentration and sperm morphology.
Optimizing strategies to identify high risk of developing type 2 diabetes
Authors: Bracco Paula Andreghetto , Schmidt Maria Inês , Vigo Alvaro , Mill José Geraldo , Vidigal Pedro Guatimosim , Barreto Sandhi Maria , Sander Mária de Fátima , da Fonseca Maria de Jesus Mendes , Duncan Bruce Bartholow
Published: June 2023

Introduction

The success of diabetes prevention based on early treatment depends on high-quality screening. This study compared the diagnostic properties of currently recommended screening strategies against alternative score-based rules to identify those at high risk of developing diabetes.

Methods

The study used data from ELSA-Brasil, a contemporary cohort followed up for a mean (standard deviation) of 7.4 (0.54) years, to develop risk functions with logistic regression to predict incident diabetes based on socioeconomic, lifestyle, clinical, and laboratory variables. We compared the predictive capacity of these functions against traditional pre-diabetes cutoffs of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-h plasma glucose (2hPG), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) alone or combined with recommended screening questionnaires.

Results

Presenting FPG > 100 mg/dl predicted 76.6% of future cases of diabetes in the cohort at the cost of labeling 40.6% of the sample as high risk. If FPG testing was performed only in those with a positive American Diabetes Association (ADA) questionnaire, labeling was reduced to 12.2%, but only 33% of future cases were identified. Scores using continuously expressed clinical and laboratory variables produced a better balance between detecting more cases and labeling fewer false positives. They consistently outperformed strategies based on categorical cutoffs. For example, a score composed of both clinical and laboratory data, calibrated to detect a risk of future diabetes ≥20%, predicted 54% of future diabetes cases, labeled only 15.3% as high risk, and, compared to the FPG ≥ 100 mg/dl strategy, nearly doubled the probability of future diabetes among screen positives.

Discussion

Currently recommended screening strategies are inferior to alternatives based on continuous clinical and laboratory variables.
Leptin and melatonin’s effects on OVX rodents’ bone metabolism
Authors: Lin Zhenen , Yu Guanshu , Xiong Shengren , Lin Yu , Li Zhaohui
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the effects of leptin and melatonin intervention on bone metabolism in ovariectomize (OVX) rodents, as well as their potential mechanisms of action.

Methods

Prepare an OVX model of osteoporosis in rodents and validate the model by collecting bilateral tibia samples for Micro-CT scanning and histological analysis. A control group of normal size, the OVX group, the OVX+Sema4D (Semaphorin 4D) group, the OVX+Sema4D+Leptin group, the OVX+Sema4D+ Melatonin(MT) group and the OVX+Sema4D+Leptin+ MT group were the experimental groups. Adenovirus vector construction and tibial medullary injection validation were conducted in accordance with the aforementioned experimental groups. Four groups of rats were injected with the Sema4D overexpression adenovirus vector into the tibial medullary cavity, and two groups were injected with the Leptin overexpression adenovirus vector. The repair of osteoporosis was observed using micro-CT and histological analysis. Immunohistochemical detection of bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) expression in bone tissue was employed to ascertain the amount of osteoclasts in the upper tibial metaphysis, utilizing TRAP(tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase) staining.

Results

Increased levels of BV/TV, Tb.N, BMD, and BMC were seen in the OVX+ Sema4D+Leptin, OVX+ Sema4D+MT, and OVX+ Sema4D+Leptin+ MT groups compared to the OVX group, whereas Tb. Sp levels were lowered. When compared to the Sema4D overexpression group, the trabecular bone structure of the OVX + Sema4D + Leptin, OVX + Sema4D + MT, and OVX + Sema4D + Leptin + MT groups is largely intact, tends to be closer, and the amount of trabecular bone increases. The OVX + Sema4D + Leptin + MT group in particular.The expression of BMP-2 was dramatically upregulated (p<0.05), the number of TRAP-stained osteoclasts was significantly reduced (p<0.05), and BALP(bone-derived alkaline phosphatase) and TRAP-5b(tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-5b) activities were significantly downregulated (p<0.05).

Conclusion

In rats with osteoporosis, leptin and melatonin can be seen to augment the trabecular microstructure of the bone, augment bone growth, diminish trabecular harm, and mend the bone. The combined effect is more powerful.
Irisin, in women and men: blood pressure, heart rate, obesity and insulin resistance
Authors: Almeida González Delia , Rodríguez-Pérez María del Cristo , Fuentes Ferrer Manuel , Cuevas Fernández Francisco Javier , Marcelino Rodríguez Itahisa , Cabrera de León Antonio
Published: June 2023

Background

Irisin is a myokine that increases with leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and for which a cardiovascular protective role has been postulated. Our aim was to assess this role in the general population.

Methods

A cross-sectional analysis was performed in a large randomly selected population sample (n=2298 women and 1529 men). Apart from age and sex, we record anthropometrics (blood pressure, heart rate, obesity), lifestyle (LTPA, smoking, alcohol), and biochemical measurements (irisin, lipid profile, insulin resistance). Correlations and regression multivariate models were used to analyze the association of irisin levels with the studied factors.

Results

The variables more strongly and directly associated with irisin, adjusting the studied factors separately in women and men, were HOMA-2 (p=0.043 and p=0.001, respectively) and LTPA (p<0.001 and p=0.001, respectively). Also heart rate inversely (p=0.005 and p=0.002, respectively) and DBP directly (p<0.005 and p=0.045, respectively) were associated to irisin in both sexes. The waist/height ratio (p<0.001) was inversely associated to irisin only in women, and the alcohol drinking was directly associated (p=0.029) only in men.

Conclusion

We provide new findings for irisin, such as its association with DBP and with heart rate; furthermore, in women irisin is associated to abdominal obesity, and in men is associated to the alcohol intake. We also corroborate the association of irisin with LTPA and insulin resistance. The associations detected point towards a protective role of irisin in the maintenance of cardiometabolic health.
The complications of male hypogonadism: is it just a matter of low testosterone?
Authors: Munari Elisabetta Veronica , Amer Myriam , Amodeo Alessandro , Bollino Ruggiero , Federici Silvia , Goggi Giovanni , Giovanelli Luca , Persani Luca , Cangiano Biagio , Bonomi Marco
Published: June 2023

The history of diagnosing hypogonadism and hypotestosteronemia shows us the many steps that were necessary to achieve our current knowledge and the ability to improve these patients’ well-being. Moreover, so far, criteria for diagnosing hypotestosteronemia varies according to the underlying condition, and according to the consensus or guideline adopted. Furthermore, besides the many signs and symptoms, there are several complications associated with low testosterone levels such as osteoporosis, metabolic alterations, as well as cardiovascular disorders. However, data are often conflicting regarding the severity, timing or even the real clinical relevance of these complications, although these studies often lack essential information such as gonadotropin levels or the underlying cause of hypogonadism. The present review focus on the complications of male hypogonadism according to the cause of testosterone deficiency, highlighting the lack of information found in many studies investigating its effects. We thereby stress the necessity to always perform a complete evaluation of the type of hypogonadism (including at least gonadotropins and secondary causes) when investigating the effects of low testosterone levels.
Distinct inflammatory signatures of upper and lower body adipose tissue and adipocytes in women with normal weight or obesity
Authors: Lempesis Ioannis G. , Hoebers Nicole , Essers Yvonne , Jocken Johan W. E. , Dineen Rosemary , Blaak Ellen E. , Manolopoulos Konstantinos N. , Goossens Gijs H.
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Upper and lower body fat accumulation poses an opposing obesity-related cardiometabolic disease risk. Depot-differences in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) function may underlie these associations. We aimed to investigate the inflammatory signatures of abdominal (ABD) and femoral (FEM) SAT in postmenopausal women with normal weight or obesity.

Methods

We included 23 postmenopausal women with normal weight (n = 13) or obesity (n = 10). In vivo secretion of adipokines from ABD and FEM SAT was measured using the arterio-venous balance technique. Adipokine gene expression and adipocyte morphology were examined in ABD and FEM SAT. Furthermore, adipokine expression and secretion were investigated in vitro using differentiated human primary ABD and FEM subcutaneous adipocytes derived from the study participants.

Results

Plasma leptin and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 concentrations were higher, and ABD and FEM adipocytes were larger in women with obesity than normal weight. No differences in adipocyte size and blood flow were apparent between ABD and FEM SAT. We found significant release of leptin and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 from ABD and FEM SAT, with higher fractional release of MCP-1 from ABD than FEM SAT. Gene expression of leptin, PAI-1, and tumor necrosis factor-α was lower in ABD than FEM SAT and higher in women with obesity than normal weight. In ABD adipocytes, interleukin-6, PAI-1, and leptin gene expression were higher, while adiponectin and dipeptidyl-peptidase-4 gene expression were lower than in FEM adipocytes. Finally, ABD adipocytes secreted less MCP-1 compared to FEM adipocytes.

Discussion

These findings demonstrate that upper and lower body SAT and adipocytes are characterized by distinct inflammatory signatures in postmenopausal women, which seem independent of adipocyte size.
An accurate and efficient quasi-dynamic simulation method of electricity-heat multi-energy systems
Authors: Lu Yiyang , Yang Kuo
Published: June 2023

Quasi-dynamic energy flow computation (EFC) has become a critical tool to determine and predict the states of the multi-energy system (MES), which helps improve MES’ operation efficiency and issues the security warning. However, methods in literature suffer numerical problems including fake oscillations, divergence, etc., Also, with the increasing of system dimensions, the computation efficiency can be hardly guaranteed due to the cross iterations between different nonlinear equations. This paper proposes an accurate and efficient method for quasi-dynamic energy flow computation. Using a scheme with total variation decreasing property, the numerical instability in solutions of thermal dynamics are effectively reduced. By estimating local truncation errors in a cheap way, the simulation step sizes are controlled adaptively and hence the overall simulation efficiency is greatly increased. Numerical tests were performed in a small system and the famous Barry Island system, which verified the advantages of the proposed method in both efficiency and accuracy.
Satellite observations showed a negligible reduction in NO2 pollution due to COVID-19 lockdown over Poland
Authors: Ugboma Emeka A. , Stachlewska Iwona S. , Schneider Philipp , Stebel Kerstin
Published: June 2023

The tropospheric NO2 column from Sentinel-5P/TROPOMI (2018–2020) and Aura/OMI (2010–2020) over Poland, notably for 7 major Polish cities, was used to assess the annual variability and the COVID-19 lockdown effect. On a national scale, during lockdown (March–June 2020), strong sources of pollution were found in Katowice and Warszawa, as well as at the power plant in Bełchatów. A gradual drop in OMI NO2 values between March and June was found for all cities and the entire domain of Poland, this being a part of the annual NO2 cycle derived for every year from 2010 to 2020. In fact, the gradual drop of NO2 in the lockdown year was within the typical monthly and annual variability. In March 2020, Kraków showed the highest NO2 reduction rate. A reduction of NO2 was observed in Gdańsk, Wrocław, and Warszawa during every month of the lock-down period. Several factors, including wind speed and direction, temperature, and increased emission sources, can limit the dispersion and removal of NO2. Although meteorological conditions have a significant impact on the annual cycle of NO2 in Poland, it is important to note that anthropogenic emissions remain the primary driver of NO2 concentrations. Therefore, the study concludes that the effect of COVID-19 restrictions on NO2 pollution was negligible and clarifies the current understanding of the COVID-19 effect over Poland, with an emphasis on hotspots in the major Polish cities and their vicinity. This is consistent with our understanding that the reduction of NO2 pollution is seen in cities due to reduced traffic (domestic, municipal, and airborne).
Short branch attraction in phylogenomic inference under the multispecies coalescent
Authors: Liu Liang , Yu Lili , Wu Shaoyuan , Arnold Jonathan , Whalen Christopher , Davis Charles , Edwards Scott
Published: June 2023

Accurate reconstruction of species trees often relies on the quality of input gene trees estimated from molecular sequences. Previous studies suggested that if the sequence length is fixed, the maximum likelihood may produce biased gene trees which subsequently mislead inference of species trees. Two key questions need to be answered in this context: what are the scenarios that may result in consistently biased gene trees? and for those scenarios, are there any remedies that may remove or at least reduce the misleading effects of consistently biased gene trees? In this article, we establish a theoretical framework to address these questions. Considering a scenario where the true gene tree is a 4-taxon star tree T∗=(S1,S2,S3,S4) with two short branches leading to the species S1 and S2, we demonstrate that maximum likelihood significantly favors the wrong bifurcating tree [(S1, S2), S3, S4] grouping the two species S1 and S2 with short branches. We name this inconsistent behavior short branch attraction, which may occur in real-world data involving a 4-taxon bifurcating gene tree with a short internal branch. If no mutation occurs along the internal branch, which is likely if the internal branch is short, the 4-taxon bifurcating tree is equivalent to the 4-taxon star tree and thus will suffer the same misleading effect of short branch attraction. Theoretical and simulation results further demonstrate that short branch attraction may occur in gene trees and species trees of arbitrary size. Moreover, short branch attraction is primarily caused by a lack of phylogenetic information in sequence data, suggesting that converting short internal branches to polytomies in the estimated gene trees can significantly reduce artifacts induced by short branch attraction.
Out to sea: ocean currents and patterns of asymmetric gene flow in an intertidal fish species
Authors: Snead Anthony A. , Tatarenkov Andrey , Avise John C. , Taylor D. Scott , Turner Bruce J. , Marson Kristine , Earley Ryan L.
Published: June 2023

Passive dispersal via wind or ocean currents can drive asymmetric gene flow, which influences patterns of genetic variation and the capacity of populations to evolve in response to environmental change. The mangrove rivulus fish (Kryptolebias marmoratus), hereafter “rivulus,” is an intertidal fish species restricted to the highly fragmented New World mangrove forests of Central America, the Caribbean, the Bahamas, and Florida. Mangrove patches are biological islands with dramatic differences in both abiotic and biotic conditions compared to adjacent habitat. Over 1,000 individual rivulus across 17 populations throughout its range were genotyped at 32 highly polymorphic microsatellites. Range-wide population genetic structure was evaluated with five complementary approaches that found eight distinct population clusters. However, an analysis of molecular variance indicated significant population genetic structure among regions, populations within regions, sampling locations within populations, and individuals within sampling locations, indicating that rivulus has both broad- and fine-scale genetic differentiation. Integrating range-wide genetic data with biophysical modeling based on 10 years of ocean current data showed that ocean currents and the distance between populations over water drive gene flow patterns on broad scales. Directional migration estimates suggested some significant asymmetries in gene flow that also were mediated by ocean currents and distance. Specifically, populations in the center of the range (Florida Keys) were identified as sinks that received migrants (and alleles) from other populations but failed to export individuals. These populations thus harbor genetic variation, perhaps even from extirpated populations across the range, but ocean currents and complex arrangements of landmasses might prevent the distribution of that genetic variation elsewhere. Hence, the inherent asymmetry of ocean currents shown to impact both genetic differentiation and directional migration rates may be responsible for the complex distribution of genetic variation across the range and observed patterns of metapopulation structure.
In vitro models to study natural killer cell dynamics in the tumor microenvironment
Authors: Carannante Valentina , Wiklund Martin , Önfelt Björn
Published: June 2023

Immunotherapy is revolutionizing cancer therapy. The rapid development of new immunotherapeutic strategies to treat solid tumors is posing new challenges for preclinical research, demanding novel in vitro methods to test treatments. Such methods should meet specific requirements, such as enabling the evaluation of immune cell responses like cytotoxicity or cytokine release, and infiltration into the tumor microenvironment using cancer models representative of the original disease. They should allow high-throughput and high-content analysis, to evaluate the efficacy of treatments and understand immune-evasion processes to facilitate development of new therapeutic targets. Ideally, they should be suitable for personalized immunotherapy testing, providing information for patient stratification. Consequently, the application of in vitro 3-dimensional (3D) cell culture models, such as tumor spheroids and organoids, is rapidly expanding in the immunotherapeutic field, coupled with the development of novel imaging-based techniques and -omic analysis. In this paper, we review the recent advances in the development of in vitro 3D platforms applied to natural killer (NK) cell-based cancer immunotherapy studies, highlighting the benefits and limitations of the current methods, and discuss new concepts and future directions of the field.