bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preparation and electro-catalytic performance of SBA15 modified carbon- supported PtNi catalyst
Authors: Xia Li , Liu Yang , Zhang Sensen , Hu Tiangui , Li Xiang
Published: December 2023

Maximizing catalyst activity and stability while minimizing costs remains a formidable challenge. In this study, we employed the straightforward and easily executed ethylene glycol reduction method to synthesize highly active and stable Pt-Ni alloy catalysts, utilizing SBA15-modified carbon as the supporting material. Subsequent meticulous examinations delved into their physicochemical properties and electrocatalytic activities.Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses unveiled a uniform distribution of PtNi particles on the support, showcasing a narrow particle size distribution centered around approximately 1.91 nm with minimal aggregation. Electrochemical assessments demonstrated that Pt3Ni/SBA15-C outperforms Pt/C, exhibiting 50 and 150 mV higher half-wave potentials (E1/2) and onset potential (Eonset), respectively. Furthermore, our meticulously prepared Pt3Ni/SBA15-C, featuring a cage structure, displayed remarkable stability while sustaining superior catalytic durability under an applied potential of + 0.7 V. These findings underscore the effectiveness of the cage structure catalyst, comprising porous nanoparticles, in ensuring both catalytic activity and stability. The results collectively contribute to advancing our understanding of catalyst design and performance optimization in electrochemical applications.
BrainWave Diagnostics: An Extensive Examination of Determinants of Multiple Neurological Disease from EEG Signals
Authors: jain shraddha
Published: December 2023

BrainWave Diagnostics, an emerging field, leverages electroencephalography (EEG) data for cost-effective and resource-efficient neurological disorder detection. Although EEGs are commonly used for neurological disease detection, their low signal intensity and nonlinear features pose analytical challenges. This review explores the use of high-performance computational tools, machine learning, and deep learning methods in diagnosing a range of neurological disorders, including epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, autism, ADHD, stroke, tumors, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's, depression, and alcohol use disorder. The increasing prevalence of neurological disorders and their resource burden underscores the urgency of these diagnostic advancements. Future research can consider multi-modal approaches, providing practical solutions for neurological disorder detection beyond EEGs, with potential applications in diverse signal analysis domains.
Enhancing Simplified Chinese Poetry Comprehension in LLaMA-7B: A Novel Approach to Mimic Mixture of Experts Effect
Authors: Zhang Yiqun , Chen Xin
Published: December 2023

This study explored the potential of manual augmentation in enhancing the comprehension and translation capabilities of large language models, specifically focusing on the LLaMA-7B model in the context of Chinese poetry. Chinese poetry, with its rich cultural and historical complexities, presents a unique challenge for AI models predominantly trained on modern English datasets. Our research introduced a novel approach by manually augmenting LLaMA-7B, emulating a mixture-of-experts model integration. This method involved integrating specialized linguistic and cultural processing units, which significantly improved the model's ability to interpret the complex tonal patterns, metaphorical richness, and cultural allusions inherent in Chinese poetry. We conducted rigorous evaluations, measuring the augmented model's performance against expert translations and noting a 23% increase in comprehension accuracy and a 37% reduction in semantic hallucinations. Our findings not only demonstrated the efficacy of manual augmentation in bridging the gap between AI capabilities and the demands of classical literary texts, but also opened new avenues for applying similar techniques to other culturally-rich languages. Our study underscored the importance of cultural and contextual awareness in AI language processing, marking a step towards more advanced and culturally sensitive AI models.
Own-rooted Walnut Propagule of Four Walnut (Juglans) Rootstocks and Main Cultivated Cultivar Liaoning 1 Acquirement through Layering under Field Conditions
Authors: Liu Feng , He Youchao , Li Dongsheng , Zhang Junpei , Zhao Baojun
Published: December 2023

Walnut, a woody plant, is regarded as having difficulty rooting when propagated by vegetative methods, such as cutting and layering. A layering experiment was conducted in 2018 and 2022. In 2018, some Juglans species, including J. regia L. seedling (JR), J. regia cv. Liaoning 1 (JR LN1), J. hopeinesis Hu seedling (JH), J. mandshurica Maxim seedling (JM), and J. nigra L. seedling (JN), were the mother plants. The specific research hypotheses were that own-rooted walnut propagule could be obtained through layering. the rooting capacity of different Juglans species would be different, and the rooting ability of JN would be the highest among the samplings. The results indicated that all of these species in the experiment could be rooted by etiolation and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) treatment and that root occurrence was found 6 to 7 weeks after IBA treatment. The layers (shoots from the mother plant) on the seedlings of JR, JH, and JM obtained rooting percentages (RP) of 75.55%, 84.45%, and 86.67%, respectively, and root numbers (RNs) of 21.8, 42.8, and 38.8, respectively, after 20 days of etiolation and 1% IBA treatment. JR LN1 had difficulty rooting in equal conditions and had a RP of 31.11%. In 2022, JR LN1 was the only mother plant and the IBA concentration was increased to obtain satisfactory RP and RN. With the 4% and 8% IBA treatments, RPs of 88.9% and 93.3% and RNs of 40.3 and 27.7, respectively, were achieved. During the experiment, the RP, RN, root length (RL), and root diameter (RD), as well as the layer height (LH) and layer diameter (LD), were investigated and evaluated. Layers with low vigor were more likely to root, as shown by a nonparametric test conducted for the height and diameter of the layers of the rooting and nonrooting groups. A significantly negative correlation (r = −0.548) was observed between RN and LH. Moreover, the quality of the best results of JR LN1 layering propagule and that with ‘liaoning 1’ 1-year-old seedling were compared. Our results provide more support for the possibility of vegetative propagation of walnut by layering and more information regarding the clonal cultivation of walnut trees and the own-rooted seedling establishment of walnut cultivars.
Traffic Tolerance of Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) Cultivars as Affected by Nitrogen Fertilization
Authors: Pornaro Cristina , Henry Gerald , Macolino Stefano
Published: December 2023

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is one of the most widely used species for sports fields in temperate climates because of its high wear tolerance. However, wear tolerance of cultivars may vary according to local environmental conditions and turfgrass management. In this study, we evaluated the wear tolerance of six perennial ryegrass cultivars (Adagio, Apple SGL, Equate, Firebird, Principal 2, Tetradark) under two fertility treatments (100 or 200 kg N⋅ha−1⋅yr−1) over 2 years. The field trial was performed at the Experimental Agricultural Farm at the University of Padova in northeastern Italy in a silty loam soil. Plots were arranged in a randomized complete block with three replications and subjected to three traffic events per week using a sports field wear simulator. Turfgrass quality (TQ), percent green cover (PGC), and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) were recorded every 2 weeks and averaged over each month. Although perennial ryegrass cultivars responded differently to wear stress, the higher nitrogen (N) rate positively affected the TQ of them all. ‘Tetradrak’ and ‘Equate’ had the lowest TQ, especially during the active growing seasons (spring and autumn). However, ‘Tetradark’ was particularly negatively affected during the cool fall months. The impact of a higher N fertilization rate on PGC and NDVI appeared to be more pronounced in spring than in fall. Furthermore, slight differences among cultivars and treatments were observed in summer and winter when temperatures were a limiting growth factor.
Ergonomia e segurança do trabalho em serrarias: estudo de caso no Município de Aripuanã, Mato Grosso
Authors: Gonçalves Murilo , Pedrosa Talita Dantas , Melo Rafael Rodolfo de , Acosta Fidel Cándano , Stangerlin Diego Martins , Paula Edgley Alves de Oliveira
Published: December 2023

O trabalho teve como proposta avaliar os aspectos ergonômicos e de segurança do trabalho ao qual estão submetidos os funcionários de uma serraria, a fim de diagnosticar e corrigir problemas relacionados às condições laborais nesse ambiente. Para isso, foi realizado um diagnóstico do perfil de trabalhadores de uma serraria localizada no Município de Aripuanã, no Estado de Mato Grosso, Brasil. Na análise, foi identificado o grau de desconforto dos trabalhadores e as condições gerais do ambiente de trabalho. Estes dados foram obtidos a partir de abordagem etnográfica e análise psicofísica. Também se analisou a segurança do ambiente a partir da utilização dos equipamentos de proteção individual (EPI) e coletiva (EPC). Os resultados mostraram que o local de trabalho pode chegar a temperaturas máximas de 39,7 °C e os níveis de ruídos podem chegar a 106,5 dB(A). Os resultados também apontaram que 19,41% dos operadores de alinhadeiras apresentaram desconforto na região do tronco, mostrando que a força e a repetitividade são fatores que podem causar lesões por esforços repetitivos (LER) e Distúrbios Osteomusculares Relacionados ao Trabalho (DORT). Logo, verifica-se que a serraria avaliada apresenta um ambiente insalubre com risco de acidentes para seus funcionários durante o período de trabalho..
Generalized real-space Chern number formula and entanglement hamiltonian
Authors: Fan Ruihua , Zhang Pengfei , Gu Yingfei
Published: December 2023

We generalize a real-space Chern number formula for gapped free fermions to higher orders. Using the generalized formula, we prove recent proposals for extracting thermal and electric Hall conductance from the ground state via the entanglement Hamiltonian in the special case of non-interacting fermions, providing a concrete example of the connection between entanglement and topology in quantum phases of matter.
Peculiarity of cultural transfer in literary translation (on the material of the Russian and Armenian translations of the British classic literature)
Authors:   Institute of Literature named after M.Abeghyan of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Armenia, Gasparyan Luiza A. , Poluboyarinova Larisa N. ,   St. Petersburg State University
Published: December 2023

The article is the first attempt to analyze in a comparative way the situation of the transfer of British literary classics to Russia and Armenia in the 19th–20th centuries on the basis of the Armenian and Russian translations of Dickens’ novel “The Adventures of Oliver Twist”. The article outlines the range of issues related to the study of the specifics of artistic translation in the light of the paradigm of cultural transfer. The idea of “translation as violence” and the concept of translation “skopos” are analyzed as closely related to the paradigm of cultural transfer. The Armenian national culture is characterized as predominantly focused on cultural transfer and the phenomenon of translation. The article sketches the situation of “counter-movement”, which was favorable to the active reception of Dickens’s heritage in Armenia in the late 19th century as a “classic”. This favorably influenced the “intermediary” role of Russian translations in Armenia. The conclusion is made that the socio-cultural context of early Victorian England in its specificity, as well as the topicality, are rather and almost equally alien to the host context of Russia and Armenia, which articulated their own “communication request” for Dickens and formed the “reputational background” of the author in a significantly different socio-cultural and geopolitical usus. At the same time, there is the factor of Armenian national specificity, which manifests itself, among other things, in the increase in the “degree of optimism” of the translated texts, a phenomenon that is less indicative for the Russian translations.
“Mit vielen Kupfern”: The Second Kamchatka Expedition as multimodal discourse in the diaries of G.W. Steller and the comic strip by T.E.Bak
Authors:   HSE University, Shirbanova Anna A. , Dergunova Kseniia N. ,   HSE University, Delazari Ivan A. ,   Nazarbayev University
Published: December 2023

The article discusses some literary incarnations of the Second Kamchatka Expedition led by V.Bering as stages of a multimodal discourse that corresponds to an important trend of literary evolution between the 18th and 21st centuries: the negotiation between the verbal and pictorial modes of representational design, particularly with respect to visual information. The study focuses on border cases of conditional literariness, in G.Genette’s terminology: nonfiction and comics. The diaries of an Expedition participant, German traveler and naturalist G.W. Steller, the illustrated editions of those diaries in three languages (German, English, and Russian), and the American cartoonist T.E.Bak’s graphic novel based on Steller’s narrative belong to different media, whose multimodality (the use of several sensorial and semiotic channels of communication within one art and/or medium) is explicit to various extent but crucial in terms of both authorial intention and readerly perception. The article lists three main functional types of visual data transmission (cartographic, panoramic, and experiential) in the documentary travelogue and the comic strip. A discursive continuity is revealed in how those modes and types combine from Steller (1774) to Bak (2013). Together, the two authors’ books exemplify a multimodal discourse, whose formal and medial properties are determined by their disposition to represent and transmit the experience of new land exploration. Such a task was natural for Steller the explorer, but Bak “inherits” it by virtue of discursive inertia despite his total lack of commitment to the goals of academic report writing.
The spa narrative of long 19th century Europe as map and network
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Kulishkina Olga N. , Poluboyarinova Larisa N. ,   St. Petersburg State University
Published: December 2023

The resort network of modern Europe developed over the course of the 18th and 19th centuries. Emerging at different times (first in Great Britain, then in France, then in Germany and Russia), all national spa centers in one way or another reproduce a single, taken from the Roman tradition of the term (as a result of direct “inheritance” or — as in Russia — through a foreign national settler) type of organization of living space. Being subordinated to the “dual purpose of curing and entertaining the sick” (Guy de Maupassant), this space turns out to be correlated with the idea of an “other” (different from normative-socialized) life. Separate segments of this single European network space of codified deviancy, linked typologically and genetically, can in turn be represented as bundles of various socio-cultural connections arising around specific spa “characters” (as an example — the literary and writing network of Baden-Baden resort). Finally, another type of connections correlated with the European spa environment is its literary representations, the 19th century European spa narrative, the main features and agents of which are discussed in the article, using Mikhail Bakhtin’s category of genre memory and with the help of the SNA method. The research allowed to separate out two important clusters within the European fictional spa narrative, firstly the lineage of Tobias Smollett and secondly the lineage of Walter Scott. Finally, it is demonstrated how both lines come together outside the 19th century in the work of W.G. Sebald.
The role of social support and resilience in the socio-psychological adaptation of adolescents
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Golovey Larisa , Galasheva Olga ,   St. Petersburg State University
Published: December 2023

The article discusses the role of social support and resilience in the socio-psychological adaptation (SPA) of adolescents is considered. Adolescence is characterized by rapid psychophysiological development, restructuring of social relations, and special sensitivity to the factors and resources of the social environment. The changes taking place in all spheres of a teenager's life require the mobilization of the internal resources of the individual and the appeal to the resources of the external environment. One of the indicators of the success of the functioning of the individual and its adaptation to the social environment is SPA. Despite the presence of numerous studies on the problems of SPA, the issue of the ratio of internal and external resources of SPA remains insufficiently studied, the role of various components of resilience and social support in the adaptation process has not been determined, gender characteristics of the level and structure of protected areas and its resources have not been studied. The purpose of the work is to study the role of resilience and social support in the SPA of adolescents. Methods: C. Rogers and R. Dymond SPA diagnostic technique, S. Maddi «Resilience» questionnaire adapted by D.A. Leontiev, questionnaire of social support of G. Sommer and T. Fydrich (adapted by A.B. Kholmogorova, G.A. Petrova). The study involved 299 adolescents aged 13-17 years. Gender differences in the structure of SPA indicators were revealed. Boys have higher adaptation (p ≤ 0.004), acceptance of others (p ≤ 0.000), emotional comfort (p ≤ 0.229), internality (p ≤ 0.046), striving for dominance (p ≤ 0.010). Girls are characterized by a higher level of self-acceptance (p ≤ 0.089). Higher indicators of hardiness were found in young men. No gender differences in the parameters of social support were found. It has been shown that the relationship of SPA with resilience and social support differs in boys and girls, as well as in groups with different levels of SPA. A number of components of resilience and perceived social support play roles as predictors of SPA.
50 ANOS DE ESTUDOS SOBRE A ENUNCIAÇÃO NA SEMIÓTICA BRASILEIRA
Authors: Fiorin Jose Luiz
Published: December 2023

Este artigo tem a finalidade de historiar as contribuições teóricas da semiótica brasileira à teoria da enunciação proposta por Greimas. Em 1974, foi publicado, na revista Significação, um texto de Greimas, em que ele estabelece a postura epistemológica para a constituição de uma teoria da enunciação. Depois de resenhar esse trabalho, são mostradas as contribuições teóricas feitas por pesquisadores brasileiros a essa teoria: análise da enunciação como o lugar de conexão do que foi chamado análise interna e análise externa; desenvolvimento do sistema de projeções da enunciação no enunciado e da gramática sócio-semiótica que preside às relações entre enunciador e enunciatário; estudo da construção dos atores da enunciação, por meio de recorrências, que criam um efeito de individualidade do discurso.
O brincar das crianças em tempos digitais
Authors: Habowski Adilson Cristiano , Ratto Cleber Gibbon
Published: December 2023

Este texto busca perscrutar as linhas de fuga por dentro do dispositivo da periculosidade em algumas dissertações e teses defendidas em Programas de Pós-Graduação em Educação sobre o brincar das crianças com as tecnologias digitais. Emergiram dois direcionamentos argumentativos no dispositivo da periculosidade: 1) Imobilização do corpo, fazendo um alerta para a necessidade de resgatar as brincadeiras tradicionais, pois as tecnologias digitais não estariam proporcionando o movimento físico. 2) Diferença entre analógico e digital, chamando a atenção para um possível perigo no brincar com as tecnologias digitais, no sentido de que as crianças estariam se inserindo num mundo que não existe e que nada produzem. Nas linhas de fuga desses dois direcionamentos argumentativos, apontamos que as crianças experimentam eventos que modificam de maneira significativa sua relação com a imobilização do corpo e das diferenças entre o analógico e o digital, pois elas imergem no ambiente integrado sem haver qualquer distinção.
Pro-inflammatory Cytokines may Associate Periodontitis with Pregnancy
Complications: A Short Review
Authors: Makiya Ali , Amiri Moghaddam Masoud , Faghihinia Farbod , Mahmoudi Anzabi Reza , Asadi Haniyeh , Fathi Amirhossein
Published: December 2023

Periodontitis is an oral inflammatory disease possessing detrimental impacts on supporting tissue of teeth (like gingiva, periodontal ligament, and
alveolar bone) and involves a great number of individuals all over the world. One of the appropriate ways to prevent this disease is to find related
risk factors. According to reports, pregnancy complications can be associated with this oral disease; however, the possible mechanisms linking
these two conditions have not been exactly determined. Hence, in this review, we summarize documents related to pregnancy complications and
periodontitis with a mechanistic insight.

:

Literature on the relevant topic was searched from scientific databases, including Scopus, Google Scholar, and PubMed, in English, between 1996
and 2022.

:

3Based on reports, pregnancy complications (premature labor, low weight at birth, and preeclampsia) can be related to periodontitis. This linkage
can be mediated by inflammatory reactions, one of the main pathogenic mechanisms in periodontitis. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α,
IL-1β, and IL-6, have the ability to induce labor and fetal toxicity and finally create preterm labor and low weight at birth. Besides, these cytokines
can potentiate chronic inflammatory responses in the fetal-maternal interface, impair placentation, and create endothelial dysfunction.

:

It seems that pro-inflammatory reactions, like secretion of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, can be a bridge for associating periodontitis and pregnancy
complications. However, more studies with larger sample sizes are needed to support these findings.
Potential Antihypertensive Activity of the Aqueous Extract of Ammi visnaga
and its Effect on ACE-2 in Rats
Authors: Amtaghri Smail , Qabouche Adil , Slaoui Miloudia , Eddouks Mohamed
Published: December 2023

Aims:

This work aimed to investigate the antihypertensive activity of Ammi visnaga.

Background:

The aqueous extract of Ammi visnaga has traditionally been used to treat hypertension
in Morocco.

Objective:

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of Ammi visnaga aqueous
extract (AVAE) on arterial blood pressure, systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean blood pressure
(MBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR) in normotensive and hypertensive
rats. In addition, the effect of the aqueous extract of Ammi visnaga on vasodilatation was
assessed in isolated rat aortic rings with functional endothelium pre-contracted with epinephrine
EP or KCl.

Methods:

AVAE was obtained, and its antihypertensive ability was pharmacologically investigated
in L-NAME hypertensive and normotensive rats. The rats received oral AVAE at two selected
doses of 70 and 140 mg/kg for six hours (acute experiment) and seven days (sub-chronic).
Thereafter, systolic, diastolic, mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate were evaluated. Moreover,
the vasorelaxant activity of AESA was performed in thoracic aortic ring rats. In addition,
the mechanisms of action involved in the vasorelaxant effect were studied.

Results:

AVAE lowered blood pressure only in L-Name-induced hypertensive rats. Furthermore,
AVAE (0.375-1.375 mg/ml) showed a vasodilator effect in isolated aortic rats. In addition, not
all of the medications used in our study were responsible for the signaling pathway. As a result,
additional pharmaceuticals are required to confirm the mechanism of this signaling pathway.

Conclusion:

The aqueous extract of Ammi visnaga exerts an interesting antihypertensive activity,
which could be mediated through its vasorelaxant activity. The study supports its use as a
medicinal plant against hypertension in Morocco.
Exploring the Therapeutic Potential: Antiplatelet and Antioxidant
Activities of Some Medicinal Plants in Morocco
Authors: Lafdil Fatima Zahra , Amirou Asmae , Bnouham Mohamed , Legssyer Abdelkhaleq , Ziyyat Abderrahim , Mekhfi Hassane
Published: December 2023

Background::

Thrombotic events and oxidative stress are major complications of certain
ischemic disorders. The fight against these complications requires very intense research to develop
new therapeutic agents of natural origin.

Objective::

The general objective of this work is the scientific valorization of five medicinal plants:
Rhus pentaphylla, Zizyphus lotus, Ammodaucus leucotrichus, Inula viscosa, and Cinnamomum
zeylanicum by exploring their effects on rat platelet aggregation, antioxidant potential and determining
their phytochemical composition.

Methodology::

The aggregation test was monitored by stimulating isolated washed platelets suspension
in the absence and presence of extracts. The antioxidant activity was conducted in vitro according
to three methods: DPPH free radical scavenging activity, β-carotene bleaching test, and ferric
reducing antioxidant power test. The quantitative determination of total polyphenols and flavonoids
are determined respectively according to the Folin-Ciocalteu method and the colorimetric method
with aluminum chloride.

Results::

The results obtained show that the aqueous extract of the fruits of Rhus pentaphylla and
the aerial part of Inula viscosa, as well as the stalk peel of Cinnamomum zeylanicum, significantly
(p˂0.001) inhibit thrombin-platelet aggregation, while the other plant extracts have a slightly, but
significant effect. These extracts exert a remarkable antioxidant activity with the three methods
used. But, their IC50 values are still higher than those of the antioxidant references (ascorbic acid
and butyl hydroxyanisole). Qualitative phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of secondary
metabolites with varying contents. Additionally, the results of quantitative phytochemical analysis
showed that the aqueous extracts of the leaves of Rhus pentaphylla and the aerial part of Inula viscosa
contain the highest amount of polyphenols and flavonoids. These secondary metabolites are
also present in the other extracts but in smaller quantities.

Conclusion::

These results could contribute to the validation of the medical use of these extracts that
exert an antiplatelet effect to treat hemostatic and thrombotic disorders.
Unraveling Ethnic Disparities in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC): Exploring The Impact of Metabolic, Reproductive, Environmental, and Social Factors on the Disease Course in African-American (AA) Women Population
Authors: Rygiel Katarzyna
Published: December 2023

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a particularly aggressive
subtype of breast cancer (BC) in which the expression of the estrogen receptor
(ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor
(HER2) is absent or very low. TNBC consists of approximately 15-30% of the
invasive BC cases in the United States (US) Women with TNBC represent a
heterogeneous population with regard to their ethnicity and biology including the
genetic make-up metabolic or hormonal profile as well as the socioeconomic status
(SES) cultural behavioral educational levels. Notably African-American (AA) women
usually have a higher prevalence of TNBC and a worse prognosis compared to
European-American (EA) or Non-Hispanic White (NHW) women. The goal of this
chapter is to elucidate the possible interplay of inherited and acquired, often lifestyle-related risk factors which can stimulate the initiation and development of the most
aggressive subtypes of TNBC in AA women compared to their EA (or NHW)
counterparts. In particular this chapter explores some ethnic disparities in TNBC
mainly in the example of the US where such disparities have been studied in clinical
research. This chapter also focuses on differences in TNBC risk factors healthcare
patterns clinical outcomes between AA and EA (or NHW) women. It briefly discusses
the multi-factorial etiology of these disparities e.g genetic, hormonal, metabolic,
behavioral, cultural, socio-economical and environmental. Presented short analysis of a
dynamic blend of inherited and acquired variables also provides some directions for the
reduction of these disparities, to improve TNBC outcomes, among women from ethnic
groups, such as AA.
A Closer Look at the Androgen Receptor (AR)- positive and AR-negative Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Can We Apply Novel Targeted Therapeutics?
Authors: Rygiel Katarzyna
Published: December 2023

Based on the androgen receptor (AR) expression, triple-negative breast
cancer (TNBC) (that is estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human
epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) negative), can further be divided into AR-negative TNBC (also known as quadruple-negative breast cancer (QNBC), a more
frequent TNBC subtype) and AR-positive TNBC.
The paucity of treatment targets makes QNBC very difficult to manage. Moreover, in
the absence of AR expression, many breast cancers (BCs) often display aggressive
behavior, leading to negative outcomes in afflicted women. At present, some novel
therapeutic targets have emerged, and hopefully, the relevant targeted strategies will
improve the survival of patients with QNBC.
This chapter briefly outlines the main TNBC subtypes and focuses on the AR
expression (its presence vs. absence), and potential treatment approaches, including AR
antagonists (ARA). In addition, this chapter overviews certain molecular
characteristics of TNBC and presents recently approved targeted therapies.
Importance of Biomarker Conversions as “Road Signs” to Manage Women with Metastatic Breast Cancer: How To Use Them for Personalized Care of These Patients?
Authors: Rygiel Katarzyna
Published: December 2023

During a metastatic progression of breast cancer (BC), and upon
application of various antineoplastic therapies, the initial status of biomarkers can be
altered. Awareness of changes in hormone receptors (HR) and human epidermal
growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is very important, because they may have an impact
on patient management. However, the procedures for monitoring these changes in
women with metastatic BC still remain unclear.
According to the guidelines for clinical practice from the American Society of
Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the reevaluation of metastatic BC lesions, is of great
importance, and it has been recommended that the biopsies of multiple metastatic
lesions need to be performed.
The aim of this chapter is to highlight the role of retesting receptor status in BC
metastases and the impact that this approach may have on the selection of therapeutic
strategies, in the individualized management plans for patients with metastatic BC.
In addition, this chapter concisely presents some novel biomarkers linked with targeted
therapies for metastatic BC.
The Way Out From the Labyrinth of Anticancer Therapies for Patients with Breast Cancer: How Can We Improve Their Cardiac Safety and Quality of Life?
Authors: Rygiel Katarzyna
Published: December 2023

Patients with Breast cancer (BC) often experience a spectrum of adverse,
anticancer therapy-related symptoms, which deteriorate their quality of life (QoL).
Therefore, effective strategies for BC are needed. Personalized medicine offers many
therapeutic options (e.g., targeted therapies) that can be tailored to the individual needs
of a given patient.
This chapter aims to briefly present typical side effects of current anticancer
treatments, which often reduce the QoL of patients with BC and survivors. In
particular, it addresses pain (including chemotherapy (CHT)-induced peripheral
neuropathy (PN) and lymphedema), depression, cognitive dysfunction, premature
menopause, and CHT-induced menopause. It focuses on the adverse effects of the BC
therapies, such as chemotherapy (CHT), immunotherapy (IT), and some targeted
therapies. In addition, several issues related to cardiovascular toxicity induced by
anticancer treatments and cardioprotective measures for women with BC are
addressed. This chapter also touches on the recent advances in precision medicine and
provides some future directions, aimed at fulfilling unmet needs of patients with BC.
The described approaches may be helpful in planning personalized treatment,
facilitating the patient’s tolerability of many available anticancer therapies, optimizing
the medication selection, and improving the patient’s QoL.
Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT): Introducing a Process-based System of Psychotherapy to Help Patients with Breast Cancer
Authors: Rygiel Katarzyna
Published: December 2023

Compassion-focused therapy (CFT) integrates techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy with concepts from psychology and neuroscience. The main
objective of CFT is to use compassionate mind training to help individuals develop and
maintain the experiences of inner warmth and stability, through the cultivation of
compassion (including self-compassion).
This chapter will describe in detail self-compassion as a technique to help ease
distress, anxiety, or depressive feelings, as well as enhance resilience and establish
objective health-related expectations and goals for patients with serious chronic
diseases, such as cancer, including triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
Applications of Computational Toxicology in Pharmaceuticals, Environmental and Industrial Practices
Authors: Singh Nidhi , Joshi Seema , Pandey Jaya
Published: December 2023

Computational toxicology is a rapidly developing field that uses
computational logarithms and mathematical models for a better understanding of the
toxicity of compounds and test systems. This recent branch is a combination of various
fields encompassing chemistry, computer science, biology, biochemistry, mathematics,
and engineering. This chapter focuses on the usage of computational toxicology in
various fields. This multifaceted field finds application in almost every pharmaceutical
and industrial process which in turn offers safer environmental practices.
Computational toxicology has revolutionized the field of drug discovery as it has
helped in the production of significantly efficient drug molecules through time-saving
and cost-effective methods. It has also proved a boon for various industries ranging
from often-used cosmetics to daily-use food products, as toxicological assessment of
chemical constituents in them provides quicker and safer production. All these
computational assessments thereby save a lot of chemical wastage and thus give a
helping hand in exercising healthy environmental practices. Besides this, pollutant
categorization and waste management through computational tools have also been
favoured by many agencies that work for environmental sustainability. Thus, to sum
up, computational technology has completely transformed the processes and practices
followed in pharmaceutics, environment protection and industries, and paved the way
for efficient, cost-effective, and less hazardous routes.
How to Neutralize Chemicals that Kill the Environment and Humans: An Application of Computational Toxicology
Authors: Modanwal Shristi , Mishra Nidhi , Mishra Ashutosh
Published: December 2023

Computational toxicology is an applied science that combines the use of the
most recent developments in biology, chemistry, computer technology, and
mathematics. Integrating all of these fields into a biologically based computer model to
better understand and anticipate the negative health impacts of substances like
environmental contaminants and medications. As public demand rises to eliminate
animal testing while maintaining public safety from chemical exposure, computational
approaches have the potential of being both rapid and inexpensive to operate, with the
ability to process thousands of chemical structures in a short amount of time. The
agency's computational toxicology lab is always working on new models for decision support tools such as physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models,
benchmark dose (BMD) models, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models, and
quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models. The models are being used
to analyze the toxicological effects of chemicals on mammals and the environment in a
variety of industries, including cosmetics, foods, industrial chemicals, and medicines.
Additionally, the toolbox’s understanding of toxicity pathways will be immediately
applicable to the study of biological responses at a variety of dosage levels, including
those more likely to be typical of human exposures. The uses of computational
toxicology in environmental, pharmacological, and industrial processes are covered in
this study.
Computational Aspects of Organochlorine Compounds: DFT Study and Molecular Docking Calculations
Authors: Tiwari Nikita , Kumar Mishra Dinesh , Mishra Anil
Published: December 2023

The paper and pulp industry generates enormous amounts of wastewater
containing high quantities of chlorinated toxicants. These volatile organochlorine
compounds are widespread toxic chemicals that may cause harmful effects on humans
via interaction with human α-amino-β-carboxymuconate-ε-semialdehyde
decarboxylase (hACMSD) which is a vital enzyme of the kynurenine pathway in
tryptophan metabolism. It averts the accumulation of quinolinic acid (QA) and supports
the maintenance of the basal Trp-niacin ratio. Herein, we report the optimization of
organochlorine compounds employing density functional theory (DFT) with B3LYP/6-
311G+(d,p) basis set to elucidate their frontier molecular orbitals as well as the
chemical reactivity descriptors. The DFT outcome revealed that organochlorine
compounds show a lower HOMO-LUMO gap as well as a higher electrophilicity index
and basicity as compared to the substrate analogue, Dipicolinic acid. To assess the
structure-based inhibitory action of organochlorine compounds, these were docked into
the active site cavity of hACMSD. The docking simulation studies predicted that
organochlorine compounds require lower binding energy (-3.86 to -6.42 kcal/mol)
which is in good agreement with the DFT calculations and might serve as potent
inhibitors to hACMSD comparable with its substrate analogue, Dipicolinic acid which
has a binding affinity of -4.41 kcal/mol. Organochlorine compounds interact with key
residues such as Arg47 and Trp191 and lie within the active site of hACMSD. The high
binding affinity of organochlorine compounds was attributed to the presence of several
chlorine atoms, important for hydrophobic interactions between the organochlorine
compounds and the critical amino acid residues of the receptor (hACMSD). The results
emphasized that organochlorine compounds can structurally mimic the binding pattern
of Dipicolinic acid to hACMSD.
Toxicology Studies of Anisole and Glyoxylic Acid Derivatives by Computational Methods
Authors: Gupta Sakshi , Joshi Seema
Published: December 2023

Toxicology is a domain imbricating biology, chemistry, pharmacology, and
medicine that involves observing and analyzing inauspicious consequences of chemical
exposure on living beings thus identifying and manifesting toxins and toxicants.
Progress in computer sciences and hardware in combination with equally remarkable
growth in molecular biology and chemistry are providing toxicology with a reigning
new tool case. This tool case of computational models assures to enhance the efficacy
by which the hazards and risks of environmental chemicals are driven. In this study, we
investigated two compounds namely: Phenylgloxylic acid (PGA) and 4-ethynyl anisole
(MOPA) experimentally as well as quantum chemically. Density functional theory was
employed to investigate the tilted compounds theoretically. All the Quantum chemical
calculations were performed by implying the Density functional theory technique,
B3LYP method and 6-311++G (d, p) basis set. The reactive areas of the molecule were
obtained by Fukui functions. The ADME properties and drug-likeness nature of the
derivatives were obtained by SwissADME Tool [1]. Molecular docking studies were
also performed with different receptor proteins to study the best ligand-protein
interactions. The biological study-drug-likeness was also performed to check the drug like nature of the molecule.
Clinical Outcomes of Endolymphatic Sac Decompression Surgery in Menière’s Disease
Authors: Seo Hee Won , Cho Young Sang , Chung Won-Ho
Published: December 2023

Objectives: Endolymphatic sac decompression surgery (ESDS) is one of the surgical methods for intractable Menière’s disease (MD), and it is known as a relatively safe treatment that does not cause hearing loss. However, the effectiveness and the degree of vertigo control rate of ESDS are still controversial. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of ESDS in intractable MD.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 33 patients who underwent ESDS for intractable MD from January 2002 to March 2022. Clinical characteristics of patients, pure tone threshold, medical treatment method, and number of vertigo attacks before and after surgery were assessed. The improvement of hearing and vertigo was evaluated according to the 1995 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery criteria.Results: Of the 33 patients, the average follow-up period was 21.2 months, with immediate follow-up within 2 months (28 patients), short term between 2 and 6 months (27 patients), and long term at 12 months or later (29 patients). In the immediate hearing threshold, both air conduction and bone conduction showed slight deterioration, but there was no significant change in the long-term hearing threshold. At long-term follow-up, 12 patients (41.4%) were able to live without medication, and 18 patients (62.1%) showed improvement in their vertigo symptoms. In addition, patients who showed improvement in hearing also showed improvement in vertigo at the same time.Conclusions: ESDS in intractable MD is a relatively safe and effective treatment method for reducing vertigo attack without worsening hearing threshold.
Tem um Monstro no Meu Espelho: Uma Análise do Romance Gráfico Autobiográfico Monstrans: Experimentando Horrormônios, de Lino Arruda
Authors: Lelis Camila Luiza , Antônio Assis Lima Marcus
Published: December 2023

O presente artigo busca debater a construção de narrativas queer em outras formas de linguagem, como os quadrinhos, através do levantamento de bibliografias dentro dos escopos teóricos dos Estudos de Gênero, História da Arte e Quadrinhos. Uma autobiografia em quadrinhos pode apresentar inúmeras possibilidades de reflexão por se tratar de uma obra que permite que a imagem também seja parte da construção narrativa, pois, quando se trata de uma ilustração autobiográfica, temos a oportunidade de vislumbrar a imagem que o artista tem de si e se propõe a expor. Com o intuito de investigar as possibilidades de interpretação e análise de uma obra autobiográfica queer em quadrinhos, tal debate será construído por meio da análise do romance gráfico Monstrans: Experimentando Horrormônios, de Lino Arruda (2021), que traz, em sua publicação, traços disformes e aquarelados que constroem a narrativa das memórias do autor em seu processo de compreensão de sua identidade de gênero. Propõe-se refletir sobre a temática da monstruosidade presente nesta obra e como ela pode funcionar como recurso estilístico e crítica da autorrepresentação de corpos dissidentes, focando, especificamente, na relação do artista com o espelho, instrumento frequentemente visto em outras obras em quadrinhos de autoria travesti/trans também aqui mencionadas.
How to access viability of Zanthoxylum rhoifolium seeds? A protocol of tetrazolium test as an alternative to evaluate a dormant seed
Authors: Jan Schramm Corrêa Bruno , Alexandra Cristina Schatz Sá  , Laís da Rosa Delfes  , Anieli Cioato de Souza  , Betel Cavalcante Lopes  , Luciana Magda de Oliveira
Published: December 2023

A tetrazolium test method is proposed for evaluating seed quality of Zanthoxylum rhoifolium Lam. We used seeds from two lots, which we immersed in distilled water for 8 hours and subjected to two preparations: A - lateral incision into the seed, parallel to the hilum, to expose the endosperm, and B - extraction of the embryos. We then exposed the seeds of both preparations to the tetrazolium solution at two concentrations (0.1% and 0.05%) for two periods (24 hours and 48 hours) at a temperature of 25 ºC, then the seeds were evaluated in a 2 × 8 factorial scheme (lots × treatments) and classified in viable and non-viable. We found that the best preparation for the tetrazolium assay in Zanthoxylum rhoifolium was to remove part of the seed coat, this allowed the solution to penetrate the internal tissues without damaging the embryo. There were no significant differences between concentrations of 0.1% at 24 hours and 0.05% for 48 hours. We concluded that immersion of seeds in water for 8 hours, followed by a lateral cut parallel to the hilum exposing the endosperm at a concentration of 0.1% tetrazolium for 24 hours or 0.05% for 48 hours is an efficient method for quality assessment of Zanthoxylum rhoifolium seeds.
La respuesta de Abies hickelii a los factores ambientales en el sur de México
Authors: Gutiérrez Erick , Trejo Irma
Published: December 2023

Las condiciones ambientales influyen en varios procesos ecológicos y fenológicos de las especies vegetales, como la dispersión, el banco de semillas en el suelo y la germinación. El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar la relación entre la abundancia de los individuos adultos y plántulas, la lluvia de semillas, la tasa de germinación y la supervivencia de Abies hickelii, con respecto a las condiciones ambientales en la Sierra Norte, Oaxaca, México. Se realizaron muestreos de vegetación, se colocaron trampas para la lluvia de semillas, se colectó el banco de semillas en el suelo y se cuantificó la germinación y su supervivencia. En cada sitio se midieron las condiciones ambientales (climáticas, edáficas, topográficas y lumínicas). Se registró que en el sitio de mayor altitud (3150 m), A. hickelii presentó mayor densidad de adultos y plántulas, y mayor porcentaje de germinación en comparación con los sitios de menor altitud. La abundancia de individuos adultos y plántulas de A. hickelii está relacionada con la apertura del dosel y la intensidad máxima de precipitación. La producción de semillas está relacionada con la precipitación total anual; mientras que la germinación y la supervivencia no se asociaron con ninguna de las variables ambientales analizadas. Este estudio consideró diferentes aspectos del ciclo de vida de A. hickelii y su relación con las condiciones del medio donde se establece, para conocer las variables ambientales más relevantes en cada etapa de su crecimiento. Esta información es relevante para especies endémicas y en peligro de extinción.