bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THE QUIET REVOLUTION OF ISRAEL’S PUBLIC PROCUREMENT LAW
Authors: Peled Hadas
Published: April 2023

This article gives a legal-historical outlook on the development of the Israeli procurement law, the main achievements and challenges, and the “quiet revolution” it is going through. This article analyses the respective roles of the three branches: the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary from an institutional vantage point, in designing the public procurement legal framework. This, while considering the greater socio-political and economic context. Israel’s public procurement regime is undergoing significant changes. The most recent changes involve a greater degree of professionalism by different governmental units; e-procurement; e-tendering; and a pilot of e-guarantees. Furthermore, the government is promoting public-private partnerships (PPPs) by engaging in more sophisticated long-term procurement models. Moreover, the decision of the Supreme Court of Israel in Bibi Roads Earthmoving & Development Ltd v Israel Railways Ltd is an important milestone representing a formalistic approach in contract law interpretation of government procurement contracts. This decision had a profound impact on the procurement cycle as a whole. A proposal for a revision of the Mandatory Tenders Regulations, aimed at increasing competition and diversity of suppliers by giving the government/executive more discretion in the procurement process, is now on the table. Within this context, the judicial overhaul promoted by the 37th government and its ramifications on public procurement law is briefly discussed.
Logging and Indigenous peoples' well-being: an overview of the relevant international human rights jurisprudence
Authors: Mei L.
Published: April 2023

Logging activities worldwide occur on lands that are already inhabited and used by Indigenous peoples and other local communities and often cause negative impacts on those communities. International human rights law provides one framework within which to understand these impacts. In
particular, a discrete body of rights within international human rights law pertain to Indigenous peoples. Encroachments on Indigenous lands, such as through logging or other forestry operations, often run up against the full spectrum of Indigenous peoples' rights, all of which are interdependent
and interconnected. Numerous human rights bodies, including the United Nations treaty bodies and regional human rights courts, have addressed Indigenous rights in the context of logging and other extractive activities. This article reviews existing jurisprudence elaborating the scope of these
rights and explains how respect for land and participation rights can help prevent impacts on other rights. International human rights jurisprudence outlines three steps as core components of Indigenous peoples' participation rights and as safeguards to protect other rights: conduct environmental
and social impact assessments; engage in consultations with the affected Indigenous peoples with the aim of obtaining free, prior, and informed consent; and agree on benefit sharing, compensation, prevention, and mitigation measures with the affected Indigenous peoples. However, these requirements,
and respect for Indigenous peoples' rights more broadly, remain to be effectively implemented and observed in practice.
A low power respiratory sound diagnosis processing unit based on LSTM for wearable health monitoring
Authors: Zhou Weixin , Yu Lina , Zhang Ming , Xiao Wan’ang
Published: April 2023

Early prevention and detection of respiratory disease have attracted extensive attention due to the significant increase in people with respiratory issues. Restraining the spread and relieving the symptom of this disease is essential. However, the traditional auscultation technique demands a high-level medical skill, and computational respiratory sound analysis approaches have limits in constrained locations. A wearable auscultation device is required to real-time monitor respiratory system health and provides consumers with ease. In this work, we developed a Respiratory Sound Diagnosis Processor Unit (RSDPU) based on Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM). The experiments and analyses were conducted on feature extraction and abnormality diagnosis algorithm of respiratory sound, and Dynamic Normalization Mapping (DNM) was proposed to better utilize quantization bits and lessen overfitting. Furthermore, we developed the hardware implementation of RSDPU including a corrector to filter diagnosis noise. We presented the FPGA prototyping verification and layout of the RSDPU for power and area evaluation. Experimental results demonstrated that RSDPU achieved an abnormality diagnosis accuracy of 81.4 %, an area of 1.57 × 1.76 mm under the SMIC 130 nm process, and power consumption of 381.8 μW, which met the requirements of high accuracy, low power consumption, and small area.
Impact of storage temperature and time before analysis on electrolytes (Na+, K+, Ca2+), lactate, glucose, blood gases (pH, pO2, pCO2), tHb, O2Hb, COHb and MetHb results
Authors: Puravet Antoine , Rieu Benjamin , Phere Camille , Kahouadji Samy , Pereira Bruno , Jabaudon Matthieu , Andanson Benjamin , Brailova Marina , Sapin Vincent , Bouvier Damien
Published: April 2023

Objectives

The objective of our study is to evaluate the effect of storage temperature and time to analysis on arterial blood gas parameters in order to extend the CLSI recommendations.

Methods

Stability of 12 parameters (pH, pCO₂, pO₂, Na+, K+, Ca2+, glucose, lactate, hemoglobin, oxyhemoglobin, carboxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin) measured by GEM PREMIER™ 5000 blood gas analyzer was studied at room temperature and at +4 °C (52 patients). The storage times were 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 min. Stability was evaluated on the difference from baseline, the difference from the analyte-specific measurement uncertainty applied to the baseline value, and the impact of the variation on the clinical interpretation.

Results

At room temperature, all parameters except the lactate remained stable for at least 60 min. A statistically significant difference was observed for pH at T45 and T60 and for pCO2 at T60 without modification of clinical interpretation. For lactate, clinical interpretation was modified from T45 and values were outside the range of acceptability defined by the measurement uncertainty. All parameters except pO2 remained stable for at least 120 min at +4 °C.

Conclusions

A one-hour transport at room temperature is compatible with the performance of all the analyses studied except lactate. If the delay exceeds 30 min, the sample should be placed at +4 °C for lactate measurement. If the samples are stored in ice, it is important to note that the pO2 cannot be interpreted.
Value of monocyte distribution width for predicting severe cholecystitis: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Kao Chih-Hao , Liu Yen-Hung , Chen Wei-Kung , Huang Fen-Wei , Hsu Tai-Yi , Cheng Han-Tsung , Hsueh Po-Ren , Hsiao Chiung-Tzu , Wu Shih-Yun , Shih Hong-Mo
Published: April 2023

Objectives

Acute cholecystitis is a gallbladder inflammation, and the Tokyo Guidelines 2018 (TG18) can be used to predict its presence and severity with high sensitivity and specificity. However, TG18 grading require the collection of excessive parameters. Monocyte distribution width (MDW) is a parameter used to detect sepsis early. Therefore, we investigated the correlation between MDW and cholecystitis severity.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study of patients with cholecystitis admitted to our hospital from November 1, 2020, to August 31, 2021. The primary outcome was severe cholecystitis analyzed as a composite of intensive care unit (ICU) admission and mortality. The secondary outcomes were length of hospital stay, ICU stay, and TG18 grade.

Results

A total of 331 patients with cholecystitis were enrolled in this study. The average MDWs for TG18 grades 1, 2, and 3 were 20.21 ± 3.99, 20.34 ± 3.68, and 25.77 ± 6.61, respectively. For patients with severe cholecystitis, the average MDW was 25.42 ± 6.83. Using the Youden J statistic, we set a cutoff MDW of 21.6. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that patients with an MDW≥21.6 had a higher risk of severe cholecystitis (odds ratio=4.94; 95 % CI, 1.71–14.21; p=0.003). The Cox model revealed that patients with an MDW≥21.6 were more likely to have a prolonged hospital stay.

Conclusions

MDW is a reliable indicator of severe cholecystitis and prolonged length of stay. Additional MDW testing and a complete blood count may provide simple information for predicting severe cholecystitis early.
Optimization of Coulomb glass system using quenching and annealing at small disorders
Authors: Sharma Nidhi , Malik Vikas
Published: April 2023

In this paper we have used Monte Carlo simulations to study the two dimensional Coulomb glassmodel at half filling. The simulations were carried out using the Metropolis algorithm at zero and small finite disorder. We have used two protocols namely quenching and annealing to find the ground state of the system. In the quenching protocol at zero disorder, we looked at the effect of temperature on the efficiency of finding the ground state. The efficiency does not improve by decreasing the temperature. Since efficiency for quenching protocol was very low, we then used the annealing protocol to find the minimum energy state of the system. The annealing protocol was much more efficient than the quenching procedure. At finite disorder less than the critical disorder, the efficiency of the quenching protocol decreased compared to the zero disorder case. These results have been discussed in terms of domain theory and the density of states.
A Comparative Analysis of “Rural Science Fiction”, a New Chinese Film Genre
Authors: Huang Mingfen , Xiang Lingling
Published: April 2023

“Rural Science Fiction” (RSF) is a new category of science fiction comedy film, which has recently emerged in China. In RSF, modern farmers are presented as the protagonist, and alien visitors as the other. In the context of changing rural environments, two opposing views are expressed, which leads to a unique comedy: on the one hand, the vision of longing inspired by the trends of commercialization, industrialization, and urbanization; and on the other hand, the worthlessness of these trends. In RSF, thoughts concerning the prospect of technology, the future of human beings, and the interstellar interactions are mainly carried out from the perspective of country folks, whose wisdom is shown through indigenous methods that are adapted to local conditions. As a result, the “low-tech” earthmen typically defeat the “high-tech” aliens.
The Transcendental Phenomenological Argument against Eternalism
Authors: Bernáth László , Inan Daniel Haydar
Published: April 2023

In this paper, we argue against eternalism on the basis of certain phenomenological considerations regarding our experiential life in a relatively novel way. Contrary to well-known phenomenological arguments that attempt to refute tenseless theories of time, our argument that we call the Transcendental Phenomenological Argument against Eternalism is against both tenseless and tensed versions of eternalism. The argument is based on the fact that one experiences a phenomenologicalsuccessionof experiences, and it shows that perdurantist forms of eternalism have to either deny this fact or should embracead hocand metaphysically implausible assumptions about the nature of the mind. As we argue, neither of these options seems to be too promising.
Recent advances in developing tetrathiafulvalene analogs of electrode materials: discovery of an in-cell polymerization technique
Authors: Yoshimura Aya , Misaki Yohji
Published: April 2023

Lithium-ion batteries are attractive for their use in portable electronics and electric vehicles owing to their high energy and power density. Organic materials as active materials for the positive electrode have attracted attention as an alternative to inorganic materials in sustainable batteries. However, there is a serious drawback that elution into the electrolyte solution. This article describes our attempts in the development of tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) analogs for active materials. We have developed four types of fused TTF systems; multifused TTF systems, TTF analogs extended with cyclohexene moieties, TTF analogs extended with an anthraquinoid spacer, and fused TTF and benzoquinone systems. These molecules were designed based on the idea that increasing the size and planarity of the molecules and intermolecular interactions. They were successfully synthesized and their cell performances were clarified. We also describe that a TTF analog bearing triphenylamines was applied to long-cycle-life electrodes as a recent effort. This molecule was successfully synthesized using palladium-catalyzed C-H arylation and the cycle life of the cells comprising this molecule was markedly improved by in-cell electropolymerization.
Application of vibration compensation based on image processing in track displacement monitoring
Authors: Yu Ping , Wang Honglin
Published: April 2023

The track state detection is of great significance to timely understand the operation state of track and find track defects and prevent operation accidents. This article initially analyzes the key technologies of track detection system and then proposes an image detection technology and image processing method for analyzing track detection at home and abroad, thus putting forward the scheme of track detection using image processing. The characteristics of onsite track images are analyzed, and a track state detection system based on track image preprocessing, image position correction, image defect comparison, and track section size measurement is designed in this article. Further in this article, a study of image linear transformation, noise filtering, defect recognition, and edge detection in track image processing is applied. Furthermore, a robust piecewise linear transformation is designed using the combination of image threshold transformation and image gray transformation. It reduces the loss of detailed information in the process of image processing. The center point of track bright band is determined by the image region segmentation method, which effectively reduces the error of image track measurement and improves the measurement accuracy.
Synergistic effect in bimetallic gold catalysts: recent trends and prospects
Authors: Mkhondwane Siphumelele T. , Pullabhotla Viswanadha Srirama Rajasekhar
Published: April 2023

Bimetallic gold (Au) catalysts present an exceptional development trend toward enhancing the catalytic efficiency of the Au based catalysts. The aim of this review is to provide an insight into synergic effect of the bimetallic Au catalysts in enhancing the efficiency of various processes. The review covers some important aspects involving the effect of particle size, composition, metal-support interaction, morphology and the interaction between Au atom and the secondary metal on catalytic properties of the bimetallic Au catalysts. Particularly, the effect of the core–shell and faceted bimetallic Au catalysts morphologies are clearly articulated in the introduction. In the next section, various spectroscopic and microscopic characterization techniques, which often form a basis for the discussion of the synergic effect of the catalysts in enhancing the process efficiency are also discussed. Finally, we provide a summary on the progress made in catalytic exploration of bimetallic Au catalysts focusing in oxidation of hydrocarbons, fuel cell processes, oxidative transformation of the biomass derived products and photocatalysis.
Detection of iodine in aqueous extract of plants through modified Mohr’s method
Authors: Azmat Rafia , Bano Rohi , Moin Sumeira , Ahmed Tahseen , Saleem Ailyan , Ahmed Waseem
Published: April 2023

This article explores the extraction of iodine contents in Ipomoea pes-caprae plants using the modified Mohr’s method applied to a biological extract prepared in an aqueous solution. The plants were collected from three coastal regions of the Arabian Sea at Karachi coast, privileged as iodine resource areas. The size of the stem, leaves, and flowers of collected plants was measured after transportation into the laboratory before preparation of aqueous extract. It was found to be significantly different in size from each other. The electrical conductivity of the biological extract was recorded through a conductometer. For this purpose, the extract of different parts of the I. pes-caprae plants was prepared, followed by heating and filtration, while silver nitrate (AgNO3) was used as a precipitating agent. It was interesting to note that when filtrate was titrated with AgNO3, the precipitate started to settle down. Results showed the lowest iodine concentration in the flowers of all tested plants, followed by the highest in the leaves. Conductometric precipitation reaction was influential in determining iodine in herbal medicinal plants. It was observed that the size of the plants and collection sites impacted the iodine concentration. It was lowest in I. pes-caprae, collected from sea view Karachi, while highest in plants of Hawksbay. The endpoint of this biochemical reaction was taken when conductivity started rising. The standard curve of KI was prepared to determine the concentration of iodine in plant samples through conductometric titration. Moreover, the presence of Iodine was confirmed through a chemical testing method using HNO3, NH4OH, and H2SO4, after a complete precipitation reaction. The iodine quantification was done using a spectrophotometer through hexane solvent after being treated with H2SO4.
A Bayesian model to identify multiple expression patterns with simultaneous FDR control for a multi-factor RNA-seq experiment
Authors: Bian Yuanyuan , He Chong , Qiu Jing
Published: April 2023

It is often of research interest to identify genes that satisfy a particular expression pattern across different conditions such as tissues, genotypes, etc. One common practice is to perform differential expression analysis for each condition separately and then take the intersection of differentially expressed (DE) genes or non-DE genes under each condition to obtain genes that satisfy a particular pattern. Such a method can lead to many false positives, especially when the desired gene expression pattern involves equivalent expression under one condition. In this paper, we apply a Bayesian partition model to identify genes of all desired patterns while simultaneously controlling their false discovery rates (FDRs). Our simulation studies show that the common practice fails to control group specific FDRs for patterns involving equivalent expression while the proposed Bayesian method simultaneously controls group specific FDRs at all settings studied. In addition, the proposed method is more powerful when the FDR of the common practice is under control for identifying patterns only involving DE genes. Our simulation studies also show that it is an inherently more challenging problem to identify patterns involving equivalent expression than patterns only involving differential expression. Therefore, larger sample sizes are required to obtain the same target power to identify the former types of patterns than the latter types of patterns.
The influence of CASP8 D302H gene variant in colorectal cancer risk and prognosis
Authors: Cacina Canan , Turan Sürmen Saime , Arıkan Soykan , Pençe Sadrettin , Yaylım İlhan
Published: April 2023

Objectives

Apoptosis is defined as programmed cell death, which regulates cellular functions and various physiological responses. Several studies reported that Caspase genes play important roles in the apoptosis and inflammation process. Caspase-8 (CASP8) is a member of the cysteine protease family and a key regulator gene in the induction of apoptosis. In present study, we aimed to investigate the possible associations between the CASP8; D302H (G>C) gene polymorphism and colorectal cancer risk and prognosis.

Methods

The CASP8; D302H genotypes were determined in 75 colorectal cancer patients and 122 healthy controls. Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism method (PCR-RFLP) was used to detect the CASP8; D302H gene variation in the study group.

Results

We found that individuals carrying the GC genotype of CASP8; D302H gene variation had significantly lower colorectal cancer risk compared with those carrying CC and GG genotypes (OR=0.539; p=0.045). In addition, we analyzed the clinicopathological characteristics of patients and noticed a significant correlation between the C allele frequency and moderately differentiated tumor parameter (p<0.05).

Conclusions

The CASP8; D302H gene polymorphism GC genotype might be associated with a reduced risk of colorectal cancer but further studies in a larger population are needed most effective evaluation of the CASP8; D302H gene variation in colorectal cancer development.
The effects of SDS, APG, and DTAB surfactants on the morphology of micro-nano RDX particles prepared in a microfluidic reactor
Authors: Li Ying , Zhang Yifan , Zhan Lewu , Hou Jing , Li Bindong
Published: April 2023

The effects of different surfactants on the morphology of 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazinane (RDX) micro-nanoparticles prepared by solvent/non-solvent method in a microfluidic reactor were investigated. Alkyl polyglycoside (APG), sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) were selected as non-solvents. The surface tension and interfacial tension (IFT) properties of SDS, APG and DTAB were investigated. Compared to DTAB and SDS, the APG could effectively reduce the interfacial tension to 10−2 mN/m and exhibited better surface tension. The RDX prepared with different surfactants were analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR). The results showed that the different surfactants could significantly improve the dispersion effect of RDX and the crystal morphology was uniform and stable.
Perceptual History Biases Are Predicted by Early Visual-Evoked Activity
Authors: Fornaciai Michele , Togoli Irene , Bueti Domenica
Published: April 2023

What we see in the present is affected by what we saw in the recent past. Serial dependence, a bias making a current stimulus appear more similar to a previous one, has been indeed shown to be ubiquitous in vision. At the neural level, serial dependence is accompanied by a signature of stimulus history (i.e., past stimulus information) emerging from early visual-evoked activity. However, whether this neural signature effectively reflects the behavioral bias is unclear. Here we address this question by assessing the neural (electrophysiological) and behavioral signature of stimulus history in human subjects (both male and female), in the context of numerosity, duration, and size perception. First, our results show that while the behavioral effect is task-dependent, its neural signature also reflects task-irrelevant dimensions of a past stimulus, suggesting a partial dissociation between the mechanisms mediating the encoding of stimulus history and the behavioral bias itself. Second, we show that performing a task is not a necessary condition to observe the neural signature of stimulus history, but that in the presence of an active task such a signature is significantly amplified. Finally, and more importantly, we show that the pattern of brain activity in a relatively early latency window (starting at ∼35-65 ms after stimulus onset) significantly predicts the behavioral effect. Overall, our results thus demonstrate that the encoding of past stimulus information in neural signals does indeed reflect serial dependence, and that serial dependence occurs at a relatively early level of visual processing.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTWhat we perceive is determined not only by the information reaching our sensory organs, but also by the context in which the information is embedded. What we saw in the recent past (perceptual history) can indeed modulate the perception of a current stimulus in an attractive way, a bias that is ubiquitous in vision. Here we show that this bias can be predicted by the pattern of brain activity reflecting the encoding of past stimulus information, very early after the onset of a stimulus. This in turn suggests that the integration of past and present sensory information mediating the attractive bias occurs early in the visual processing stream, and likely involves early visual cortices.
Barriers and Facilitators for Successful Community Forestry: Lessons Learned and Practical Applications From Case Studies in India and Guatemala
Authors: Jamkar Vishal , Butler Megan , Current Dean
Published: April 2023

Internationally, numerous examples have been of efforts to promote community-based forest management (CBFM) through forest decentralization programs that promote forest conservation and livelihood improvements. Although there are successful examples, those efforts have been met with mixed success. This article proposes an analytical framework for evaluating the case studies of CBFM, highlighting the interconnection between community capital, land tenure, and markets. The analytical framework is used to analyze factors contributing to community forestry success focusing on two case studies in central India and northern Guatemala’s Maya Biosphere Reserve. We evaluate how the interplay of community capitals (i.e., community skills and resources), tenure, and markets is crucial for the successful replication of community forestry efforts. Specifically, we demonstrate that community capital factors such as social (bonding and linking), human, natural, and political; tenure factors such as a legal basis for rights, implementation of rights policy, community engagement in decision-making related to rights, withdrawal rights; and market factors such as market availability for the product, market accessibility for the producers, and profitability are the most important for facilitating and replicating community forestry efforts. Our framework can be used by nonprofits and policymakers to engage with community forestry planning as well as for monitoring and evaluation.
Evidence for low nanocompaction of heterochromatin in living embryonic stem cells
Authors: Dupont Claire , Chahar Dhanvantri , Trullo Antonio , Gostan Thierry , Surcis Caroline , Grimaud Charlotte , Fisher Daniel , Feil Robert , Llères David
Published: April 2023

Despite advances in the identification of chromatin regulators and genome interactions, the principles of higher‐order chromatin structure have remained elusive. Here, we applied FLIM‐FRET microscopy to analyse, in living cells, the spatial organisation of nanometre range proximity between nucleosomes, which we called “nanocompaction.” Both in naive embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and in ESC‐derived epiblast‐like cells (EpiLCs), we find that, contrary to expectations, constitutive heterochromatin is much less compacted than bulk chromatin. The opposite was observed in fixed cells. HP1α knockdown increased nanocompaction in living ESCs, but this was overridden by loss of HP1β, indicating the existence of a dynamic HP1‐dependent low compaction state in pluripotent cells. Depletion of H4K20me2/3 abrogated nanocompaction, while increased H4K20me3 levels accompanied the nuclear reorganisation during EpiLCs induction. Finally, the knockout of the nuclear cellular‐proliferation marker Ki‐67 strongly reduced both interphase and mitotic heterochromatin nanocompaction in ESCs. Our data indicate that, contrary to prevailing models, heterochromatin is not highly compacted at the nanoscale but resides in a dynamic low nanocompaction state that depends on H4K20me2/3, the balance between HP1 isoforms, and Ki‐67.
The Ebola virus VP40 matrix layer undergoes endosomal disassembly essential for membrane fusion
Authors: Winter Sophie L , Golani Gonen , Lolicato Fabio , Vallbracht Melina , Thiyagarajah Keerthihan , Ahmed Samy Sid , Lüchtenborg Christian , Fackler Oliver T , Brügger Britta , Hoenen Thomas , Nickel Walter , Schwarz Ulrich S , Chlanda Petr
Published: April 2023

Ebola viruses (EBOVs) assemble into filamentous virions, whose shape and stability are determined by the matrix viral protein 40 (VP40). Virus entry into host cells occurs via membrane fusion in late endosomes; however, the mechanism of how the remarkably long virions undergo uncoating, including virion disassembly and nucleocapsid release into the cytosol, remains unknown. Here, we investigate the structural architecture of EBOVs entering host cells and discover that the VP40 matrix disassembles prior to membrane fusion. We reveal that VP40 disassembly is caused by the weakening of VP40–lipid interactions driven by low endosomal pH that equilibrates passively across the viral envelope without a dedicated ion channel. We further show that viral membrane fusion depends on VP40 matrix integrity, and its disassembly reduces the energy barrier for fusion stalk formation. Thus, pH‐driven structural remodeling of the VP40 matrix acts as a molecular switch coupling viral matrix uncoating to membrane fusion during EBOV entry.
A tiny loop in the Argonaute PIWI domain tunes small RNA seed strength
Authors: Xiao Yao , Liu TingYu M , MacRae Ian J
Published: April 2023

Argonaute (AGO) proteins use microRNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) as guides to regulate gene expression in plants and animals. AGOs that use miRNAs in bilaterian animals recognize short (6–8 nt.) elements complementary to the miRNA seed region, enabling each miRNA to interact with hundreds of otherwise unrelated targets. By contrast, AGOs that use miRNAs in plants employ longer (> 13 nt.) recognition elements such that each miRNA silences a small number of physiologically related targets. Here, we show that this major functional distinction depends on a minor structural difference between plant and animal AGO proteins: a 9‐amino acid loop in the PIWI domain. Swapping the PIWI loop from human Argonaute2 (HsAGO2) into Arabidopsis Argonaute10 (AtAGO10) increases seed strength, resulting in animal‐like miRNA targeting. Conversely, swapping the plant PIWI loop into HsAGO2 reduces seed strength and accelerates the turnover of cleaved targets. The loop‐swapped HsAGO2 silences targets more potently, with reduced miRNA‐like targeting, than wild‐type HsAGO2 in mammalian cells. Thus, tiny structural differences can tune the targeting properties of AGO proteins for distinct biological roles.
1H-MRS to evaluate improved triglyceride accumulation in idiopathic triglyceride deposit cardiomyovasculopathy after CNT-01 (tricaprin/trisdecanoin) administration
Authors: Aikawa Tatsuro , Sai Eiryu , Kudo Ayako , Kawaguchi Yuko O , Takamura Kazuhisa , Hiki Makoto , Yokoyama Takayuki , Miyazaki Tetsuro , Fujimoto Shinichiro , Shimada Kazunori , Hirano Ken-ichi , Daida Hiroyuki , Minamino Tohru
Published: April 2023

Triglyceride deposit cardiomyovasculopathy (TGCV) is an intractable disease characterized by massive triglyceride (TG) accumulation in the myocardium and coronary arteries caused by genetic or acquired dysfunction of adipose TG lipase (ATGL). A phase IIa trial has been conducted involving patients with idiopathic TGCV using CNT-01 (tricaprin/trisdecanoin) by the Japan TGCV study group, which showed that CNT-01 improved myocardial lipolysis as demonstrated by iodine-123-beta-methyl iodophenyl-pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) scintigraphy. We evaluated changes in myocardial TG content using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) before/after CNT-01. This report describes a male patient with hypertension, diabetes, angina pectoris, repeated percutaneous coronary intervention, chest pain, and exertional dyspnea that persisted despite standard medications and nitroglycerin. Idiopathic TGCV was diagnosed based on a remarkably reduced washout rate (WR) for BMIPP scintigraphy, high myocardial TG content on 1H-MRS, and no ATGL mutation. After an 8-week, 1.5 g/day CNT-01 administration, the WR of BMIPP increased from 5.1 to 13.3% and the myocardial TG content decreased from 8.4 to 5.9%, with no adverse effects. CNT-01 corrected myocardial lipolysis and subsequently reduced TG content in idiopathic TGCV as evaluated using 1H-MRS, which may be a useful, noninvasive evaluation of therapeutic efficacy.

Learning points

Triglyceride deposit cardiomyovasculopathy (TGCV) is an intractable disease characterized by massive triglyceride accumulation in the myocardium and coronary arteries, caused by genetic or acquired dysfunction of adipose triglyceride lipase.

Japan TGCV Study Group developed a specific treatment for idiopathic TGCV using CNT-01 (tricaprin/trisdecanoin), a type of medium-chain fatty acid.

CNT-01 corrected myocardial lipolysis and reduced TG content in idiopathic TGCV using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, which may be a useful noninvasive evaluation of therapeutic efficacy.
El dictamen de Joaquín Juan Flores a la Academia para la reforma de la ortografía (1806). Historia de los debates, acuerdos y alcance de la reforma
Authors: Gaviño Rodríguez Victoriano
Published: April 2023

En el año 1806 el académico andaluz Joaquín Juan Flores presenta a la Real Academia Española un dictamen en el que expone su plan para la reforma de la ortografía española, un interesante texto que, a pesar de la repercusión que tuvo en su época en el seno de esta institución, ha pasado inadvertido para los estudios historiográficos sobre la rae y los debates sobre la reforma ortográfica de nuestra lengua. Los objetivos concretos de este trabajo se centran en: a) analizar el contenido de este dictamen y de los votos que los distintos académicos desarrollaron a partir de él; b) indagar en los argumentos esgrimidos por los académicos a favor o en contra de las reformas; c) examinar las decisiones adoptadas por la rae al hilo de todas las propuestas, y d) estudiar su alcance y trascendencia en las publicaciones académicas posteriores, especialmente, la octava edición de la Ortografía de 1815. Los resultados finales de esta investigación revelarán nuevas ideas al respecto de la reforma ortográfica académica y también servirán para redefinir las diferentes tendencias que, al hilo de las discusiones internas, posee la institución en contraste con las doctrinas oficiales de sus publicaciones.
Gamification Elements in the Process of Ukrainian Language Training of Pedagogy Specialists
Authors: Humeniuk Iryna
Published: April 2023

The article studies the problem of using gamification elements in the process of training future preschool and primary school teachers on the example of the methodology of teaching Ukrainian Language for Professional Purposes. The necessity of improving the methodology of teaching the language to students of different age groups while taking into account the main educational trends and public demand has been substantiated. According to the goal, the essence of the "gamification" concept has been defined regarding the modern education sector. The peculiarities of using gamification, which have a great impact on the effectiveness of teaching students at pedagogical institutions of higher education, have been determined.

It is emphasized that the growth of the number of game means in the methodology of teaching Ukrainian Language for Professional Purposes is not always directly proportional to the increase of success. Since gamification is impossible without using information and communications technology, consideration of the factor of appropriate technological support is necessary. The age factor manifests itself rather in the information and technological skills and abilities of certain age groups than the effectiveness of completed tasks on the condition of unhindered mastery of the technology. In the process of gamification, the element of novelty has a significant impact, as well as the temporal and motivational dependence of the interest of the performers on the duration or algorithmization of the tasks. The psychological factor is manifested through gender, which substantiates the inefficiency of using gamification with elements of competition or open ranking of results for female audience. In the context of training pedagogy specialists, the process of gamification during the study of a certain discipline has a dual purpose: increasing the motivation and therefore the effectiveness of training, formation of necessary competencies of future teachers; mastering completed gamified tasks as possible ways and means of teaching the Ukrainian language in future professional activity.

Based on the analysis of the information space of the problem, a system of tasks with gamification elements has been developed and adapted to the content of the Ukrainian Language for Professional Purposes academic discipline.
Interwar Period in Polish History Handbooks of the Fifty Years (1945 – 1994)
Authors: Wagner Barbara
Published: April 2023

The article presents the theoretical aspects of teaching Polish history at schools from 1945 to 1994. The author emphasizes that the Poles undeniably are a nation whose identity and national character have been shaped to a great extent by tradition and history education. It has been proven that the national character is formed in the course of history and the factors contributing to it may be easily recognized. When the national character manages to specify itself it tends to stability and rejection or assimilation destructive influence. It turned out that of great importance is that the national character is never exclusively unique or uncommon; it is rather a combination of widespread features typical for many nations.  These two trends of historical influence existed side by side despite their contrary character which was especially clear within fifty years. The formation of the historical consciousness of the contemporary Poles has been proudly influenced by the image of the interwar period of 1918-1939. The author concludes that the expansion of history propaganda function did not result in a change in social awareness of history. People rejected the official history (even reliably presented facts) since they still had in mind the practice of the Stalin period and the faults of the recent history; instead, they resorted to 'private' history which was frequently based on books of the 19th-century authors.
Peculiarities of Future Educators’ Training for the Forming of the Fundamentals of National Consciousness in Children of Older Preschool Age
Authors: Marchii-Dmytrash Tamara , Boryn Halyna
Published: April 2023

The peculiarities of professional training of future educators for the forming of older preschool-age children’s national consciousness are substantiated in the article. The main tasks, directions, and means of national education of children of older preschool age are analyzed. The main ethnographical means that contribute to the forming of the fundamentals of the national consciousness of children in the sixth year of life are specified and characterized, and the content of pedagogical activities aimed at expanding their horizons with specific ethnographical knowledge and ideas about important social phenomena and events is determined. All this can be realized with the help of various genres of oral folk art, traditions and customs of the Ukrainian people, folk games and toys, folk industries and crafts, and national symbols. All the ethnographical means listed above in figurative and rhythmic forms reflect real life in all its diversity (everyday life, social phenomena, work, human relationships) and contribute to national education, forming of the fundamentals of the national consciousness of older preschool-age children.

It was established that preschool national education should help the child to form and apply the acquired social knowledge, and contribute to the forming of the skills of spiritual perception of national and cultural heritage. The result of national education should be reflected in the children's acquisition of social experience, the inheritance of the spiritual and moral values of the Ukrainian people, the achievement of a high level of national consciousness, as well as in the forming of a personality as a patriot of one's country. It is worth noting that national feelings are the basis of national consciousness and they do not arise by themselves, but only as a result of long-term educational influence on the personality, starting from the older preschool age.

The future IPE teachers’ training for the development of national consciousness in children of older preschool age should be aimed at self-realization and the disclosure of their individual creative abilities. Gradually, the student’s vocabulary is enriched with everyday words, proverbs, sayings, tongue twisters, riddles, and other works of oral folk creativity, they learn to dramatize fragments of familiar Ukrainian fairy tales, make toys, decorate national dishes, clothes, and other household items. A systematic approach in work promotes the development of higher education getters’ interests in ethnography.
Percepções de Pacientes sobre a Terapia Cognitivo-Comportamental em Grupo para a Obesidade
Authors: Westphalen Roberta Bilibio , Pilla Della Méa Cristina , Thomé Ferreira Vinícius Renato
Published: April 2023

Objetivo. Analisar os feedback de indivíduos com diagnóstico de obesidade que realizaram 8 sessões de Terapia Cognitivo Comportamental em Grupo (TCCG). Método. Participaram 13 pacientes com diagnóstico prévio de obesidade. O instrumento foi uma entrevista conduzida no último encontro da TCCG e, posteriormente, foi realizada a análise de conteúdo de Bardin. Resultados. Foram organizadas quatro categorias: benefícios da participação da intervenção, emagrecimento e autoestima, melhora na qualidade da alimentação, melhora na saúde física e qualidade de vida. Além do emagrecimento, houve uma melhora na qualidade da alimentação, perda de peso, bem-estar e autoestima e, consequentemente, na qualidade de vida. Além de sua aplicação no tratamento da obesidade, a TCCG pode ser uma abordagem promissora no tratamento de outros transtornos.
Klinikai neuropszichológiai tesztek magyarországi normatív adatai I.
Authors: Fábián Balázs , Kenyhercz Flóra , Bugán Antal , Andrejkovics Mónika
Published: April 2023

Bevezetés: A végrehajtó funkciók közé azon kognitív folyamatok
tartoznak, amelyek képessé teszik a személyt a mindennapjai során a célirányos
viselkedés fenntartására, a környezeti változásokhoz való alkalmazkodásra,
valamint feladathelyzetekben kontrollálják és koordinálják a viselkedést. A
végrehajtó funkciók felmérésére számos diagnosztikai eszközt alkalmaznak már
széles körben, de ezek kiértékelését megnehezítette a magyar normatív adatok
hiánya. Célkitűzés: A jelen tanulmány célja a magyar normatív
adatok feltérképezése és a nem, az életkor és az iskolázottság hatásának
megállapítása volt három gyakran használt, a végrehajtó funkciókat mérő teszt
bevonásával. Módszer: Korra, nemre és iskolázottságra
reprezentatív hazai mintán (316 fő: 175 nő, 141 férfi) felvételre került a
Viktória Stroop Teszt, az Öt-Pont Teszt és a Trail Making Teszt.
Eredmények: A teszteken nyújtott teljesítmény az idősebbek
körében gyengébb volt, míg a magasabb iskolai végzettséggel rendelkezők magasabb
pontszámokat értek el. Nem találtunk szignifikáns összefüggést a nem és a
teszteken nyújtott teljesítmény között. A tesztek között szignifikáns
korrelációt figyeltünk meg. Következtetés: A vizsgálatban
használt tesztek értékesek lehetnek a klinikai gyakorlat és kutatás számára. Az
általunk bemutatott normatív adatbázis értékes összehasonlítási alapot képez a
végrehajtó funkciók és a kognitív funkciók romlásának vizsgálatában. Orv Hetil.
2023; 164(15): 577–585.
Analgesic, anti-inflammatory and non-ulcerogenic properties of Annickia chlorantha aqueous stem bark extract.
Authors: Mezui Christophe , Mezui Christophe
Published: April 2023

Annickia chlorantha is used in Cameroon to treat stomach problemsand many other diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate analgesic,anti-inflammatory and non-ulcerogenic properties of aqueous stem bark extract of Annickia chlorantha (ASBEAC). These properties were tested on in vivo induced pain models by intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid and paw injection of formaldehyde:25 rats were divided into 5 batches of 5 animals: negative control received distilled water (5 mL/kg), positive control received indomethacin (50 mg/kg) and three test groups received ASBEAC (125, 250 and 500 mg/kg). Anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by in vitro method using membrane stabilization at different extract concentrations (25-1600 ug/mL).For non-ulcerogenic test, 20 rats were divided into 4 groups of 5 animals: negative control received distilled water (5 mL/kg), two test groups receivedASBEAC (250 and 500 mg/kg), and positive control received indomethacin (50 mg/kg).The results show that, ASBEAC significantly reduced (p< 0.001), with dose-dependent manner, the number of abdominal contortions with a maximum inhibition percentage (76.47%) at the dose of 500 mg/kg. Significant inhibition of pain(p<0.001), in a dose-dependent mode, for the pain test induced by paw injection of formaldehyde were also noted. With a maximum inhibition percentage of 40.69% and 30.35%, respectively for phases 1 and 2. For anti-inflammatory test,ASBEAC (200-1600 ug/mL) significantly (p <0.001) protected heat-induced hemolysis of erythrocytes.The non ulcerogenic test show that ASBEAC at all doses did not cause ulcer, but significantly increased and in a dose-dependent manner, themucus secretion. This study indicates that ASBEAC has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and non-ulcerogenic properties.
Eriocalyxin B inhibits inflammation induced by CCI-induced microglia activation to relieve neuropathic pain through inhibition of JAK2/STAT3 and NF-κB pathways
Authors: Sheng Zhifeng , Pan Xiaoyan
Published: April 2023

Neuropathic pain is a very troublesome disease that seriously affects human life. Eriocalyxin B (EriB) has been revealed to attenuate various diseases through its anti-inflammatory effects, but its regulatory effects on neuropathic pain remains unclear. The paw withdrawal threshold and paw withdrawal thermal latency were detected through mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia tests. The spinal injury was assessed through hematoxylin and eosin staining. The cell apoptosis was measured through terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling assay. The protein expressions were examined through Western blot analysis. The mRNA expression was examined through reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 level in the spinal cord was evaluated through immunofluorescence assay. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 were measured through enzyme-linked-immunosorbent serologic assay. The chronic constriction injury (CCI) rat model was constructed for the study. Our results demonstrated that EriB relieved CCI-stimulated neuropathic pain and nerve damage. In addition, the enhanced neural apoptosis mediated by CCI induction was reduced after EriB treatment. In addition, EriB inhibited CCI-induced microglia activity and inflammation. At last, the Janus kinase 2–signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK2/STAT3) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathways were activated in CCI rat model, which were attenuated following EriB treatment. Importantly, EriB (10 mg/kg) had a strong effect that was similar to the positive control (1-μg/kg dexmedetomidine), suggesting that EriB may be an effective drug for neuropathic pain. This study demonstrated that EriB inhibited inflammation caused by CCI-induced microglia activation to relieve neuropathic pain through inhibition of JAK2/STAT3 and NF-κB pathways. This study may highlight the regulatory functions of EriB in the treatment of neuropathic pain.