bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation of the Stiffness of a Specially Strengthened Bridge When Crossed by Very Heavy Vehicles – A Case Study
Authors: Machelski Czesław , Hildebrand Maciej , Kliński Maksymilian
Published: March 2024

The measurement of bridge deflection induced by a motor vehicle is an effective way of verifying the weight of the vehicle, and even of determining the layout of its axles. If the vehicle’s weight and the impacts of its individual axles are known, deflection measurements can be used to verify the stiffness of the bridge structure and to evaluate the effectiveness of steel-concrete composite span integration. The bridge in this case study had been specially permanently adapted to carrying very heavy loads, generated by overweight transports reaching the total weight of a few to over 10 MN. The results of measurements of span deflections induced by a heavy vehicle and the way they were used to assess the weight of another overweight transport unit crossing the bridge are presented in the paper. The existing strengthening of the bridge has been found to be universal and effective for various overweight transports.
Limit States of Shallow Bridge Foundations With Sheet Piling Covers
Authors: Wymysłowski Michał
Published: March 2024

This article presents an analytical method which takes into account the beneficial effects of the sheet piling located around the foundation in the calculations of ULS and SLS of shallow foundations. The analytical method proposed by the author was described in detail on the example of a “theoretical bridge” with the assumed geometry and loads as well as with the assumed subsoil and water conditions under the bridge. The stresses in the subsoil under the foundation and the settlement were determined. The author’s method was also used to calculate the foundation settlement of an “existing bridge” located in Gdańsk (Poland). In both cases, the results were compared with the results obtained using PLAXIS 3D Advanced 2023.1 and additionally with geodetic measurements for “existing bridge”. The author’s proposal was based on the EN 1997-1: Eurocode 7 standard applicable in the European Union. It has original elements that are not included in the cited standard. The proposed method is not the only one that could be used to assess the limit states of shallow foundations with sheet piling cover. However, it is based on the applicable regulations, gives similar results to the results obtained with FEM and geodetic measurements.
Modern Technologies and Hermeneutical Analysis of Poetic Text
Authors: Chemezova Ekaterina Rudol'fovna
Published: March 2024

The subject of the study is a model of the use of modern technologies in literary analysis. The purpose of this study is to consider the stages of pedagogical technology of using AI technologies in hermeneutical text analysis. The object of the study is the poetic text of the Chinese poet of the Tang Du Fu era. The author of the article found that the use of AI-based Internet resources in the process of analyzing Chinese poetry helps to identify deep interpretations and meanings of key images. Special attention is paid to the possibility of expanding and deepening the semantic and hermeneutic meanings of Chinese poetry in the process of continuous analysis as part of pedagogical technology.  Based on the analysis performed with the help of AI, it was concluded that this kind of modern technology provides a quick adaptation of the identified meanings to the analysis process, which was considered on the material of the poetic text of Du Fu. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the fact that until now, Internet resources based on AI have not been used for hermeneutical analysis of literary text as part of pedagogical technology in general and based on the material of Chinese poetic texts by Du Fu, the poet of the Tang era, in particular. In the future, it seems promising to investigate the types and features of AI tools as an element of pedagogical technologies for continuous analysis of literary texts in the process of training future philologists.
A novel machine learning algorithm selects proteome signature to specifically identify cancer exosomes
Authors: Li Bingrui , Kugeratski Fernanda G , Kalluri Raghu
Published: March 2024

Non-invasive early cancer diagnosis remains challenging due to the low sensitivity and specificity of current diagnostic approaches. Exosomes are membrane-bound nanovesicles secreted by all cells that contain DNA, RNA, and proteins that are representative of the parent cells. This property, along with the abundance of exosomes in biological fluids makes them compelling candidates as biomarkers. However, a rapid and flexible exosome-based diagnostic method to distinguish human cancers across cancer types in diverse biological fluids is yet to be defined. Here, we describe a novel machine learning-based computational method to distinguish cancers using a panel of proteins associated with exosomes. Employing datasets of exosome proteins from human cell lines, tissue, plasma, serum, and urine samples from a variety of cancers, we identify Clathrin Heavy Chain (CLTC), Ezrin, (EZR), Talin-1 (TLN1), Adenylyl cyclase-associated protein 1 (CAP1), and Moesin (MSN) as highly abundant universal biomarkers for exosomes and define three panels of pan-cancer exosome proteins that distinguish cancer exosomes from other exosomes and aid in classifying cancer subtypes employing random forest models. All the models using proteins from plasma, serum, or urine-derived exosomes yield AUROC scores higher than 0.91 and demonstrate superior performance compared to Support Vector Machine, K Nearest Neighbor Classifier and Gaussian Naive Bayes. This study provides a reliable protein biomarker signature associated with cancer exosomes with scalable machine learning capability for a sensitive and specific non-invasive method of cancer diagnosis.
Imaging analysis of six human histone H1 variants reveals universal enrichment of H1.2, H1.3, and H1.5 at the nuclear periphery and nucleolar H1X presence
Authors: Salinas-Pena Monica , Rebollo Elena , Jordan Albert
Published: March 2024

Histone H1 participates in chromatin condensation and regulates nuclear processes. Human somatic cells may contain up to seven histone H1 variants, although their functional heterogeneity is not fully understood. Here, we have profiled the differential nuclear distribution of the somatic H1 repertoire in human cells through imaging techniques including super-resolution microscopy. H1 variants exhibit characteristic distribution patterns in both interphase and mitosis. H1.2, H1.3, and H1.5 are universally enriched at the nuclear periphery in all cell lines analyzed and co-localize with compacted DNA. H1.0 shows a less pronounced peripheral localization, with apparent variability among different cell lines. On the other hand, H1.4 and H1X are distributed throughout the nucleus, being H1X universally enriched in high-GC regions and abundant in the nucleoli. Interestingly, H1.4 and H1.0 show a more peripheral distribution in cell lines lacking H1.3 and H1.5. The differential distribution patterns of H1 suggest specific functionalities in organizing lamina-associated domains or nucleolar activity, which is further supported by a distinct response of H1X or phosphorylated H1.4 to the inhibition of ribosomal DNA transcription. Moreover, H1 variants depletion affects chromatin structure in a variant-specific manner. Concretely, H1.2 knock-down, either alone or combined, triggers a global chromatin decompaction. Overall, imaging has allowed us to distinguish H1 variants distribution beyond the segregation in two groups denoted by previous ChIP-Seq determinations. Our results support H1 variants heterogeneity and suggest that variant-specific functionality can be shared between different cell types.
The geometric basis of epithelial convergent extension
Authors: Brauns Fridtjof , Claussen Nikolas H , Lefebvre Matthew F , Wieschaus Eric F , Shraiman Boris I
Published: March 2024

Shape changes of epithelia during animal development, such as convergent extension, are achieved through the concerted mechanical activity of individual cells. While much is known about the corresponding large-scale tissue flow and its genetic drivers, fundamental questions regarding local control of contractile activity on the cellular scale and its embryo-scale coordination remain open. To address these questions, we develop a quantitative, model-based analysis framework to relate cell geometry to local tension in recently obtained time-lapse imaging data of gastrulating Drosophila embryos. This analysis systematically decomposes cell shape changes and T1 rearrangements into internally driven, active, and externally driven, passive, contributions. Our analysis provides evidence that germ band extension is driven by active T1 processes that self-organize through positive feedback acting on tensions. More generally, our findings suggest that epithelial convergent extension results from the controlled transformation of internal force balance geometry which combines the effects of bottom-up local self-organization with the top-down, embryo-scale regulation by gene expression.
Large-scale characterization of drug mechanism of action using proteome-wide thermal shift assays
Authors: Van Vranken Jonathan G , Li Jiaming , Mintseris Julian , Wei Ting-Yu , Sniezek Catherine M , Gadzuk-Shea Meagan , Gygi Steven P , Schweppe Devin K
Published: March 2024

In response to an ever-increasing demand of new small molecules therapeutics, numerous chemical and genetic tools have been developed to interrogate compound mechanism of action. Owing to its ability to approximate compound-dependent changes in thermal stability, the proteome-wide thermal shift assay has emerged as a powerful tool in this arsenal. The most recent iterations have drastically improved the overall efficiency of these assays, providing an opportunity to screen compounds at a previously unprecedented rate. Taking advantage of this advance, we quantified more than one million thermal stability measurements in response to multiple classes of therapeutic and tool compounds (96 compounds in living cells and 70 compounds in lysates). When interrogating the dataset as a whole, approximately 80% of compounds (with quantifiable targets) caused a significant change in the thermal stability of an annotated target. There was also a wealth of evidence portending off-target engagement despite the extensive use of the compounds in the laboratory and/or clinic. Finally, the combined application of cell- and lysate-based assays, aided in the classification of primary (direct ligand binding) and secondary (indirect) changes in thermal stability. Overall, this study highlights the value of these assays in the drug development process by affording an unbiased and reliable assessment of compound mechanism of action.
The Structures of Dialect as the Founding Element of Social Identity: The Case of Bursa City
Authors:   Faculty of Political Sciences, Sakarya University, Turkey, Akgün Sibel
Published: March 2024

Identity is a concept that consists of many concrete and abstract elements, both individually and socially. Individuals form groups emotionally and consciously within the framework of this concept and build different social identities. Social identity brings individuals together within their groups around similarities and differences, completing it as an integral part of their own self. Social identity constructs individuals and groups in societies by representing them with many character traits and self-creation motivation. Language is one of the most important characteristics in self-motivation and representation in the social identities of individuals and groups. Spoken language and its varieties (dialects) shape the identity of the individual throughout their life from birth and help them to reveal their subjectivity within the framework of a separate social group identity. Spoken language and its varieties (accent/idiom/dialect) shape the identity of the individual throughout their life and help them to reveal their subjectivity within the framework of social group identity. The subject of this study is the status of the dialect element as one of these preserved features constituting and developing the social identity of the individual in the city of Bursa. Data were collected through field research, using the qualitative analysis method. As the structure of dialects is most intensively observed in villages, the sample consisted of people selected only from the villages of Bursa city, mountain villages in particular. The people chosen in terms of representation ability were individuals with different characteristics pertaining to education, age, and occupational groups. The linguistic features and structure of the dialect used in Bursa are not examined in the study. The aim of the study is to reveal, with the qualitative field study conducted with the source persons, that the social identity approach is one of the representations that builds the individual and society.
Representations of Gender in Estonian Graffiti and Street Art
Authors:   Estonian Cultural History Archives, Estonian Literary Museum, Estonia, Annuk Eve , Voolaid Piret ,   Estonian Literary Museum, Estonia
Published: March 2024

The paper focuses on gender aspects in graffiti and street art as context- and communication-based cultural phenomena. The key issues tackled here are how gender aspects and gender-based communication are expressed in graffiti and the nature of the gendered aesthetics of street art. The analysis aims to identify gender clichés in graffiti, illustrating stereotypical views from a broader sociocultural perspective. The study also highlights the role of graffiti and street art in challenging gender stereotypes and bringing novel concepts to the fore. The paper combines studies on graffiti and street art with the gender studies approach and employs as a research method the contextualisation of graffiti and street art as ephemeral cultural phenomena from a viewer’s perspective. Graffiti works collected mainly in 2010–2020 and held in the online graffiti database of the Estonian Literary Museum constitute the sources of this paper.
Traces of a Greek Myth (?) in Subcultures of Lur-Inhabited Regions of Western Iran
Authors:   Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Tehran, Iran, Ghazanfari Kolsoum , Asl Mohammad Seadat ,   Faculty of Humanities, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
Published: March 2024

This article aims to introduce, explore, and analyse an oral folk tale called “Ahmad Sādāti and His Companions”, common in some Lur villages in Fārs and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad provinces in Iran. The plot and storyline of this tale correspond to those of the myth of Ulysses and the giant Polyphemus in the Odyssey, attributed to Homer. The significance of this study lies in exhibiting the cultural exchange between Greek and local-indigenous subcultures of Iran. Greek and Persian cultures were in constant mutual contact from the mid-sixth century BC until late antiquity, and this contact became closer after Alexander’s campaign and the rise of the Seleucids in Iran. The study area is located on the western margins of the Iranian plateau – the birthplace of two great dynasties of Iranian rulers in ancient times – which redoubles the importance of the issue under investigation.
Wooing Werewolves: Girls’ Genius, Feminine, and Initiation in Angela Carter’s and Märta Tikkanen’s Versions of “Little Red Riding Hood”
Authors:   Department of Language and Communication Studies, University of Jyväskylä, Finland, Wide Carola Maria
Published: March 2024

Girls’ initiation contributes to cultural representations in Western folk fairy tales. This study examines girls’ initiation in three contemporary versions of “Little Red Riding Hood”, Angela Carter’s “The Company of Wolves” and “Wolf-Alice” (1979), and Märta Tikkanen’s Rödluvan (Little Red Riding Hood, 1986), in relation to “The Story of Grandmother”, popularized by Paul Delarue (1956). Combining fairy-tale research with Kristevan theories on subjectivity, the feminine, and the genius, it examines how initiation assigns to the girl in Delarue’s tale a social identity and role as a woman and how the contemporary tales negotiate this through the heroines’ wooing of werewolves. The findings, presented in both written and visual forms, show the reach of the heroines’ feminine psychosexual maturity, here called the girl genius, in Carter’s and Tikkanen’s versions, representing an alternative to traditional assumptions of girls’ psychosexuality within normative heterosexuality.
An Archetypal Analysis of the Queen Mother of the West in Chinese Mythology
Authors:   Department of Applied Psychology, Zhaoqing University, China, Zhou Caihong , Fu Zongmei ,   Faculty of International Studies, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, China
Published: March 2024

Amongst all the goddesses in ancient China, the Queen Mother of the West (Xiwangmu) represents the most multi-layered mother archetype with the richest connotations. Through a longitudinal literature review, this paper aims to explore different facets of the Queen Mother of the West as a representation of the Great Mother archetype in Jungian psychology. In ancient China, she was a supreme goddess controlling the order of the universe. Her residence, Mount Kunlun, is capable of nourishing and devouring life. She possesses the elixir of life and controls the punishments of the world. Thus, the Queen Mother of the West is transformed into a deity of both life and death. In the funeral rituals of the Han and Tang dynasties, she was a goddess who summoned the dead and led their spirits to heaven, while in folklore she was a mythical Muse for many emperors and the anima of many intellectuals. She is the mother of reincarnation and the eternal spirit. As a symbol for instinct, archetype and femininity in the collective unconscious, the Queen Mother of the West embodies both the positive and negative aspects of the mother archetype: the positive being the persona of the Great Mother and the negative being the shadow. At the ultimate stage of spiritual development, she acts as the anima and the transcendent Holy Virgin in ancient Chinese culture.
The responses of CO2 emission to nitrogen application and earthworm addition in the soybean cropland
Authors: Jiang Mei Guang , Yang Jingyuan , Xu Qi , Qi Linyu , Gao Yue , Zhao Cancan , Lu Huijie , Miao Yuan , Han Shijie
Published: March 2024

The effects of nitrogen application or earthworms on soil respiration in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain of China have received increasing attention. However, the response of soil carbon dioxide (CO2) emission to nitrogen application and earthworm addition is still unclear. A field experiment with nitrogen application frequency and earthworm addition was conducted in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain. Results showed nitrogen application frequency had a significant effect on soil respiration, but neither earthworms nor their interaction with nitrogen application frequency were significant. Low-frequency nitrogen application (NL) significantly increased soil respiration by 25%, while high-frequency nitrogen application (NH), earthworm addition (E), earthworm and high-frequency nitrogen application (E*NH), and earthworm and low-frequency nitrogen application (E*NL) also increased soil respiration by 21%, 21%, 12%, and 11%, respectively. The main reason for the rise in soil respiration was alterations in the bacterial richness and keystone taxa (Myxococcales). The NH resulted in higher soil nitrogen levels compared to NL, but NL had the highest bacterial richness. The abundance of Corynebacteriales and Gammaproteobacteria were positively connected with the CO2 emissions, while Myxococcales, Thermoleophilia, and Verrucomicrobia were negatively correlated. Our findings indicate the ecological importance of bacterial communities in regulating the carbon cycle in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain.
IS THE TAX WEDGE IN POLAND NON-LINEAR?
Authors: Augustynowicz Ewelina
Published: March 2024

The article attempts to answer the question posed in the title - is the tax wedge in Poland non-linear? The aim of the article is to present changes in the size of the tax wedge with the increase in gross pay and to examine whether there is a pay threshold beyond which the size of the tax wedge decreases. In the course of the research, the impact of gross pay on the size of the tax wedge was compared. The study also attempts to indicate the gross pay, beyond which the size of the tax wedge increases again.

A hypothesis was formulated that there is a pay threshold beyond which the tax wedge loses its linear character. The comparative analysis of the size of the tax wedge was carried out on twenty-three variants of gross pay. The results show that after exceeding the gross spay of PLN 20,100, the tax wedge loses its linear character.
The Evaluation of Parenting Styles of Children with Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder
Authors: Rahman Taslima , Royle Ramendra Kumar Singh , Chowdhury Ahmed Riad , Islam S. M. Zikrul , Islam Rafiqul , Akter Nurjahan , Gani Muhammad Ataul
Published: March 2024

Background: Parenting has an important role in improving the performance of children with ADHD and in their families, this study will create awareness about parenting styles among parents addressing differences in parenting styles and improving the quality of child mental health.

Objective: This study was intended to evaluate the different parenting styles of parents having children with ADHD and healthy children. It also aimed to find out any relationship between the socio-demographic variables of children and parents with the parenting style of the diseased child. 

Methodology: This was a case-control study. The study was conducted in the Department of Psychiatry, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, Sylhet during the period from September 2020 to August 2022. ADHD was diagnosed using DSM-5 and confirmed by a consultant psychiatrist. A total of 60 parents of children (ADHD=30, Healthy=30) were interviewed who fulfilled the enrollment criteria. Semi-structured questionnaire for socio-demographic variables and a Bangla Parenting Style and Dimension Questionnaire (PSDQ) were used for assessing parenting style. The data analysis was conducted utilizing the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) method, followed by post-hoc comparisons using the Bonferroni correction.

Results: The predominant parenting style found to be applied to children with ADHD was authoritative (56.67%), followed by 26.67% authoritarian parenting and 16.33% permissive parenting style. Among the parents of healthy children, 53.33% were authoritative, 23.33% were authoritarian and permissive. There was a statistically significant association of parenting styles with education level and occupation. ADHD children's parents who studied up to the primary level had a significantly higher authoritarian score and (authoritarian p = 0.005) and the normal children's parents who studied up to the secondary level had a significantly higher authoritarian score (authoritarian p = 0.007. A significant association was found in the authoritarian domain in parents who were housewives (p = 0.032). Individuals within 6-9 years age range exhibit significantly higher scores in the authoritative domain (p=.001).  Both boys and girls groups exhibit a considerably higher score in the authoritative domain (p=.003, p=.001). 

Conclusion: The fact that parenting styles influence ADHD may appear to be a burden, but it can also be an opportunity to change one's life. Solutions like parent training programs can provide skills and strategies as well as help build resilience in parents to manage the challenging behavior of children with ADHD.
Synthesis of TiO\(_2\) Impregnated Ribes nigrum Stem Nanoactivated Carbon and their Application to Remove Heavy Metals
Authors: Magaji Buhari , Pindiga Nasiru Yahaya , Bida Ibrahim Mohammed
Published: March 2024

Nanoactivated carbons from Ribes nigrum (black currant) stem were prepared using two-step procedure with excellent yield and were characterized using different spectroscopic techniques. The FTIR spectroscopy revealed O-H, C=C, C=N, and C-O stretching. XRD analysis revealed the particle sizes as 29.57 nm for stem activated carbon (SAC) and 26.55 nm for stem activated carbon impregnated with titanium (SAT) while, the morphology of the SAC and SAT were revealed by SEM to be spherical, granular and porous. The prepared nanoactivated materials were used for removal of Pb2+ and Cd2+ from aqueous solution. The influences of initial metal ion concentration, agitation time, adsorbent dose, temperature and pH were studied in batch experiments at room temperature. The adsorption equilibriums were rapid at 60 min of agitation for Pb2+ and Cd2+ on SAT with appreciable %removal. The adsorption data for Pb2+ and Cd2+ on SAT fitted well into Freundlich isotherm than Langmuir given correlation coefficient (R2) very close to unity and appreciable maximum adsorption capacity KF > 1.00. The fitting into Freundlich indicates multilayer coverage on the adsorbents. The kinetic studies showed good correlation coefficient for a pseudo-second order kinetic model for the SAT. The enthalpies of the adsorption process are: +12.754 and +18.377 KJ mol-1 for Pb2+ and Cd2+ on SAT respectively. The entropies of the adsorption process were also evaluated and have been found to be +41.805 and +12.151 KJ mol-1 for Pb2+ and Cd2+ on SAT. The results showed that SAT has the potential to be applied as alternative low-cost nanoadsorbents in the remediation of metal contamination in water.
Cost and Income Structure of Organic and Conventional French Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) Cultivation: A Case Study of Himachal Pradesh, India
Authors: Kumar Shaminder , Prasher RS , Devi Nisha , Sanjeev Kumar Sanjeev Kumar
Published: March 2024

The objective of this study was to investigate the cost and income structure of organic and conventional French bean cultivation in Solan district, Himachal Pradesh, in the 2018/ 2019 crop year. The sample included 80 farmers selected using a purposive sampling method, consisting of 40 organic and 40 conventional French bean growers. Survey questionnaires were used as the main instrument for data collection. Descriptive statistics and cost and income analysis were used for data analysis. The results indicate that the cost of production was higher, and output was lower under organic bean cultivation. Despite this, organic bean cultivation was more profitable than conventional farming, which was attributed to the higher prevailing market price for organic beans. Organic growers encounter numerous challenges and issues when cultivating and marketing of vegetables. Farmers seek a variety of aid from the government, business sector, and co-operative organizations to solve all of these challenges.
Feeding Tomorrow: A Journey into Sustainable Nutrition for Personal and Planetary Health
Authors: Marak Natasha R , Parashar Arya
Published: March 2024

In a time when the relationship between one’s own health and the health of the planet is more intertwined than ever, the idea of sustainable nutrition appears as a tenet for promoting both planetary and individual balance. This article explores the complex connection between our diet and physical health, highlighting the significant influence our food choices have on the environment. Fundamentally, sustainable nutrition promotes an intentional eating style that goes beyond individual health restrictions. It invites people to think about how their food choices may affect the environment more broadly. Given that eating habits have a significant impact on ecological footprints, the article promotes a switch to plant-based diets, stressing the sustainable production of a variety of crops that support biodiversity and reduce the strain on natural resources. It examines the damage that modern industrialized agriculture causes to the environment and emphasizes the need of using organic and regenerative farming techniques. It also promotes lowering carbon footprints by consuming seasonal, local produce, which has positive effects on the environment and the economy. The article addresses the issue of global food waste and suggests composting, careful meal planning, and backing initiatives to reduce food waste in order to reduce landfill methane emissions.

The present review employs a methodology that includes a thorough literature review and an objective evaluation of studies conducted in an area of sustainable development. It also aims to identify trends, challenges, and potential directions for future exploration. To sum up, it aims to shed light on the mutually beneficial relationship between individual and global health. This article aims to inspire a collective commitment to nourishing not only our bodies but also the Earth we call our home, by encouraging mindfulness in dietary choices, advocating for sustainable food systems, and promoting education. As we embark on this journey towards sustainable nutrition, we lay the foundation for a healthier, more resilient future for both ourselves and the planet.
IL-6 Gene (174G/C) Single Nucleotide Polymorphism as an Indicator of COVID-19 Severity in Egyptian Patients
Authors: Kasem Bsant Safwat , Sharshar Ragia S. , Ibrahim Wesam Salah , Elserogy Hesham Ahmed
Published: March 2024

Background: The viruses' direct damage plays a part in the disease's beginning, the cytokine storm brought on by COVID-19 is crucial to the emergence of acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This study aimed to investigate the correlation between IL-6 and its IL- 6 gene (174G/C) single nucleotide polymorphism with the pathogenesis of COVID-19 severity in Egyptian patients.

Materials & Methods: Egyptian patients proved to be COVID-19 positive were classified into three groups; Group 1 (mild cases), Group 2 (moderate cases) and Group 3 (severe and critical cases). Complete blood count, liver function tests, renal function tests, CRP, and coagulation profile, serum ferritin, D-dimer, procalcitonin, lactate dehydrogenase and detection of serum interleukin 6 levels, and IL-6 gene polymorphism were investigated for all enrolled 135 patients.

Results: There was a significant decrease of platelets count of group II & III as compared to group I. There was a significant increase of total leucocytic count, CRP, ferritin, D – dimer, procalcitonin, blood urea and IL6 of group III as compared to group I & II. There was significant decrease of relative lymphocyte counts % of group III as compared to group I & II. There was significant increase of LDH of group II & III as compared to group I. There were no statistically significant differences were found as regards hemoglobin, SGPT, SGOT, serum creatinine and I.N.R & interleukin-6 174G/C distribution of the different studied groups.

There were positive correlations between serum interleukin 6 levels and CORAD scores, ferritin count, LDH, and D- dimer, and blood urea, and only a negative correlation with relative lymphocyte count %.

Conclusion: interleukin-6 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. In addition, it reveals that serum IL6 can be used as a predictor of disease severity in COVID-19 patients, but interleukin-6 174G/C genotype distribution cannot be used as a predictor of disease severity in COVID-19 Egyptian patients.
The Current State of Hydrogen-Enriched Engine Development
Authors: Zhang Xu , Wang Jiaqi , Lou Zhichao , Shen Shaokai , Meng Jintao , Zhou Chunjian
Published: March 2024

In recent years, with the further strengthening of environmental protection, researchers have paid extensive attention to the hydrogen-enriched engine. hydrogen-enriched mix hydrogen with conventional fuels and are designed to reduce exhaust emissions, improve combustion efficiency and enhance power performance. Proper hydrogen incorporation can reduce carbon emissions and nitrogen oxide emissions, and improve engine power output and combustion efficiency. In this paper, four kinds of hydrogen-enriched engines are introduced comprehensively, and the effects of hydrogen-enriched ratio on combustion and emission performance of engines are analyzed, as well as the effects of different technologies on hydrogen-enriched engines. The research results show that hydrogen-enriched engines have significant advantages in reducing emissions, improving combustion efficiency and enhancing power performance, and become one of the important technologies for the future automotive industry to transition to clean energy.
Bir Annenin Akıcı Okuma Stratejilerini Kullanması: AKOSEP’in Etkileri
Authors: AÇIKGÖZ Murat Hikmet , SÖNMEZ KARTAL Mine
Published: March 2024

Bu araştırmanın amacı Akıcı Okuma Stratejileri Aile Eğitim Programı’nın (AKOSEP) ve performans geri bildirimlerinin özel öğrenme güçlüğü (ÖÖG) tanılı çocuğu olan bir anneye akıcı okuma stratejilerini öğretmedeki etkililiğini belirlemektir. AKOSEP kapsamında anneye öğretilmesi hedeflenen akıcı okuma stratejileri tekrarlı okuma, kelime tekrar ve eko okuma stratejileridir. Araştırmanın katılımcılarını bir anne ve ÖÖG tanısı olan 10 yaşındaki oğlu oluşturmaktadır. AKOSEP’in etkililiğinin belirlendiği bu araştırmada tek denekli araştırma modellerinden davranışlar arası yoklama evreli çoklu yoklama modeli kullanılmıştır. Ayrıca araştırmada, strateji öğretimi sürecinde katılımcı çocukla birlikte uygulanan akıcı okuma stratejilerinin çocuğun akıcı okuma becerileri üzerindeki etkisi deneysel bir kontrol kurulmadan incelenmiştir. Araştırma bulguları, AKOSEP ve performans geri bildirimlerinin annenin akıcı okuma stratejilerini edinmesinde ve doğru bir şekilde kullanmasında etkili olduğunu; bu etkinin uygulamanın sona ermesinden sonra da sürdürülebildiğini göstermiştir. Ayıca strateji öğretimi sürecinde uygulanan akıcı okuma stratejilerinin ÖÖG olan çocuğun okuma doğruluğunda ve okuma hızında artışa neden olduğu gözlenmiştir. Araştırmanın sonunda anne-çocuk çiftinin AKOSEP ve uygulama sürecine ilişkin olumlu düşüncelerini dile getirdikleri belirlenmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular alanyazın çerçevesinde tartışılmış, uygulamaya ve ileriki araştırmalara yönelik çeşitli önerilerde bulunulmuştur.
Covid-19: factors associated with the use and adherence of personal protective equipment in Brazil among residents / Covid-19: fatores associados ao uso e adesão de equipamentos de proteção individual entre residentes no Brasil
Authors: De Assis Camila Cristina Gregório , Dutra Herica Siva , Laurindo Cosme Rezende , Carbogim Fábio da Costa , Lanza Fernanda Moura , Coelho Angélica da Conceição Oliveira
Published: March 2024

Objetivo: analisar os fatores associados ao uso e a adesão aos equipamentos de proteção individual pelos profissionais pós-graduandos vinculados a programas de residência em saúde.Método: transversal com 227 residentes.Avaliadas variáveis relaciondas à adesão  e uso adequado de equipamentos de proteção individual por meio de  instrumento validado “E.P.I.covid-19Brasil-versão adaptada para residentes”.Realizou-se análise bivariada, teste qui-quadrado/exato de Fisher e cálculo da razão de prevalência. Pesquisa foi aprovada pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa com Seres Humanos.Resultados: Realizaram atividades de capacitação sobre EPIs (59,9%).Associação entre uso de máscara cirúrgica(p≤0,01) e idade; área de concentração do programa e uso de gorro (p≤0,01) e máscara cirúrgica (p=0,04); realização de atividades de capacitação e uso de máscara cirúrgica (p=0,02) e N95 (p≤0,01). A adesão  variou de 0% a 67%.Conclusão: fatores associados ao uso adequado, idade, área de concentração do programa e realização de atividades de capacitação.Houve fragilidades na adesão. Sugere-se o fortalecimento do tema biossegurança  na residência.
Iterative learning control and repetitive control in hard disk drive industry—A tutorial
Authors: Chen YangQuan , Moore Kevin L. , Yu Jie , Zhang Tao
Published: September 2007

This paper presents a tutorial on iterative learning control (ILC) and repetitive control (RC) techniques in hard disk drive (HDD) industry for compensation of repeatable runouts (RRO). After each tutorial, an application example is given. For ILC, a simple filtering‐free implementation for written‐in RRO compensation is presented. For the RC part, a new application of RC in dual‐stage HDD servo is presented. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The collagen family members as cell adhesion proteins
Authors: Heino Jyrki
Published: September 2007

The collagen family of extracellular matrix proteins has played a fundamental role in the evolution of multicellular animals. At the present, 28 triple helical proteins have been named as collagens and they can be divided into several subgroups based on their structural and functional properties. In tissues, the cells are anchored to collagenous structures. Often the interaction is indirect and mediated by matrix glycoproteins, but cells also express receptors, which have the ability to directly bind to the triple helical domains in collagens. Some receptors bind to sites that are abundant in all collagens. However, increasing evidence indicates that the coevolution of collagens and cell adhesion mechanisms has given rise to receptors that bind to specific motifs in collagens. These receptors may also recognize the different members of the large collagen family in a selective manner. This review summarizes the present knowledge about the properties of collagen subtypes as cell adhesion proteins. BioEssays 29:1001–1010, 2007. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Is it genomic imprinting or preferential expression?
Authors: Khatib Hasan
Published: September 2007

Imprinted genes are monoallelically expressed in a parent‐of‐origin‐specific manner, but for many genes reported to be imprinted, the occurrence of preferential expression—where both alleles are expressed but one is expressed more strongly than the other in a parent‐of‐origin‐specific way—has been reported. This preferential expression found in genes described as imprinted has not been thoroughly addressed in genomic imprinting studies. To study this phenomenon, 50 genes, reported to be imprinted in the mouse, were chosen for investigation. Preferential expression was observed for 21 of 27 maternally expressed genes. However, only 5 of 23 paternally expressed genes showed preferential expression. Recently, it has been reported that a remarkable proportion of non‐imprinted genes show differential allelic expression. If there is overlap between non‐imprinted genes that are differentially expressed and imprinted genes that are preferentially expressed, we need to set new definitions of imprinted genes that, in turn, would probably lead to reassessments of the total number of imprinted genes in mammalian species. BioEssays 29:1022–1028, 2007. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The management of DNA double‐strand breaks in mitotic G2, and in mammalian meiosis viewed from a mitotic G2 perspective
Authors: Burgoyne Paul S. , Mahadevaiah Shantha K. , Turner James M.A.
Published: September 2007

DNA double‐strand breaks (DSBs) are extremely hazardous lesions for all DNA‐bearing organisms and the mechanisms of DSB repair are highly conserved. In the eukaryotic mitotic cell cycle, DSBs are often present following DNA replication while, in meiosis, hundreds of DSBs are generated as a prelude to the reshuffling of the maternally and paternally derived genomes. In both cases, the DSBs are repaired by a process called homologous recombinational repair (HRR), which utilises an intact DNA molecule as the repair template. Mitotic and meiotic HRR are managed by ‘checkpoints’ that inhibit cell division until DSB repair is complete. Here we attempt to summarise the substantial recent progress in understanding the checkpoint management of HRR in mitosis (focussing mainly on mammals) and then go on to use this information as a framework for understanding the presumed checkpoint management of HRR in mammalian meiosis. BioEssays 29:974–986, 2007. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Breast cancer and metabolic syndrome linked through the plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 cycle
Authors: Beaulieu Lea M. , Whitley Brandi R. , Wiesner Theodore F. , Rehault Sophie M. , Palmieri Diane , Elkahloun Abdel G. , Church Frank C.
Published: September 2007

Plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 (PAI‐1) is a physiological inhibitor of urokinase (uPA), a serine protease known to promote cell migration and invasion. Intuitively, increased levels of PAI‐1 should be beneficial in downregulating uPA activity, particularly in cancer. By contrast, in vivo, increased levels of PAI‐1 are associated with a poor prognosis in breast cancer. This phenomenon is termed the “PAI‐1 paradox”. Many factors are responsible for the upregulation of PAI‐1 in the tumor microenvironment. We hypothesize that there is a breast cancer predisposition to a more aggressive stage when PAI‐1 is upregulated as a consequence of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). MetS exerts a detrimental effect on the breast tumor microenvironment that supports cancer invasion. People with MetS have an increased risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease and hyperinsulinemia. Recently, MetS has also been identified as a risk factor for breast cancer. We hypothesize the existence of the “PAI‐1 cycle”. Sustained by MetS, adipocytokines alter PAI‐1 expression to promote angiogenesis, tumor‐cell migration and procoagulant microparticle formation from endothelial cells, which generates thrombin and further propagates PAI‐1 synthesis. All of these factors culminate in a chemotherapy‐resistant breast tumor microenvironment. The PAI‐1 cycle may partly explain the PAI‐1 paradox. In this hypothesis paper, we will discuss further how MetS upregulates PAI‐1 and how an increased level of PAI‐1 can be linked to a poor prognosis. BioEssays 29:1029–1038, 2007. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Intelligence and the developing human brain
Authors: Shaw Philip
Published: September 2007

Determining the brain properties that make people ‘brainier’ has moved well beyond early demonstrations that increasing intelligence correlates with increasing grey and white matter volumes. Both structural and functional in vivo neuroimaging techniques delineate a distributed network of brain regions, perhaps with a focus in the lateral prefrontal cortex, which varies in extent and connectivity with individual differences in intelligence. Longitudinal studies further show that the neuroanatomic correlates of intelligence are dynamic, changing most rapidly in early childhood. Several promising candidate genes affecting neuronal development and neurotransmission have been proposed that might begin to explain the marked genetic overlap between cortical morphology and intelligence. A major future challenge is to determine the cellular events that underpin the neuroanatomic differences correlated with intelligence. BioEssays 29:962–973, 2007. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Macroevolution of complex cytoskeletal systems in euglenids
Authors: Leander Brian S. , Esson Heather J. , Breglia Susana A.
Published: September 2007

Euglenids comprise a group of single‐celled eukaryotes with diverse modes of nutrition, including phagotrophy and photosynthesis. The level of morphological diversity present in this group provides an excellent system for demonstrating evolutionary transformations in morphological characters. This diversity also provides compelling evidence for major events in eukaryote evolution, such as the punctuated effects of secondary endosymbiosis and mutations in underlying developmental mechanisms. In this essay, we synthesize evidence for the origin, adaptive significance and diversification of the euglenid cytoskeleton, especially pellicle ultrastructure, pellicle surface patterns, pellicle strip number and the feeding apparatus. We also highlight holes in our knowledge that must be filled before we are able to confidently describe euglenid cell biology and infer the earliest stages in euglenid evolution. Nonetheless, by possessing combinations of characters resulting from adaptive change and morphostasis, euglenids have retained key pieces of evidence necessary for reconstructing the early evolution and diversification of eukaryotic life. BioEssays 29:987–1000, 2007. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Notch and NFκB signaling pathways: Do they collaborate in normal vertebrate brain development and function?
Authors: Ang Hwee‐Luan , Tergaonkar Vinay
Published: September 2007

Both Notch and NFκB signaling pathways are well‐known for regulating proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Recent studies have presented several lines of evidence supporting an integration of the Notch and NFκB signaling pathways in differentiation/maturation of a diverse range of cell types. It is notable that Notch and NFκB signaling pathways share many common features: (i) both are activated by common stimuli such as TNF‐α and hypoxia, (ii) activated Notch (NICD) and NFκB mediate transcription by regulating corepressors such as SMRT/N‐COR, and (iii) both regulate similar target genes such as Hes‐1 and IκBα. This review expands on how the collaboration between these pathways may play an important role in the CNS. We will speculate on the mechanisms by which Notch and NFκB signaling may collaborate to regulate stem cell renewal and differentiation during brain development and function. BioEssays 29:1039–1047, 2007. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The anatomy of auxin perception
Authors: Kepinski Stefan
Published: September 2007

Auxin is a simple molecule but one with a complex and crucial influence on plant development. Accumulation and response to this important plant hormone underlies events as diverse as embryo patterning and growth responses to light and gravity. As such, research on auxin can be traced back to Darwin and has flourished into an immense body of work that has often had implications beyond plant biology. The latest instalment of the auxin story is no different:(1) the solution of the crystal structure of the auxin receptor TIR1 illustrates, in spectacular detail, precisely how auxin is perceived and provides an insight into the working of a new class of receptor, which seems likely to be the first example of a new paradigm in eukaryotic signal transduction. BioEssays 29:953–956, 2007. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
CREB, neurogenesis and depression
Authors: Gass Peter , Riva Marco A.
Published: September 2007

The transcription factor CREB has been implicated in signalling pathways relevant for pathogenesis and therapy of depression. CREB is upregulated and activated in the hippocampus by chronic antidepressant treatment, similarly as neurogenesis. Surprisingly, a recent study using CREB‐deficient mice also demonstrates an upregulation of neurogenesis correlating with an antidepressant behavioral phenotype.1 Interestingly, CREB‐deficient mice show a rapid behavioral response to antidepressants, while wild‐type mice do not. This minireview tries to reconcile these new findings with established concepts on CREB, neurogenesis and depression. It also outlines some crucial experiments and lines of future research that could clarify some of the pending questions. BioEssays 29:957–961, 2007. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.