bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anti-CTLA4 treatment reduces lymphedema risk through a systemic expansion of the FOXP3+ Treg population
Authors: Gousopoulos Epameinondas , Wolf Stefan , Madanchi Matiar , Turko Patrick , Hollmen Maija , Tugues Sònia , von Atzigen Julia , Giovanoli Pietro , Dummer Reinhard , Lindenblatt Nicole , Halin Cornelia , Detmar Michael , Levesque Mitchell
Published: September 2023

Secondary lymphedema is a common sequel of oncologic surgery following lymphatic injury and presents a substantial global health burden for which no pharmacological treatment exists. The infiltration of the affected lymphedematous extremities with CD4+T-cells has been shown to influence lymphedema onset. Various approaches towards their manipulation have emerged as a promising strategy in lymphedema therapy. Here, we show that the modulation of CD4+FOXP3+ regulatory T-cells (Tregs) upon anti-CTLA4 treatment can protect against lymphedema development in melanoma patients and a mouse lymphedema model. A retrospective evaluation of a melanoma patients’ registry revealed that anti-CTLA4 reduces lymphedema risk compared to patients receiving only lymphadenectomy. Importantly, lymphedema tissue biopsies from human and mice presented an increased infiltration with CTLA4+ and Treg cells. To assess the underlying mechanism, anti-CTLA4 was used in the murine-tail lymphedema model, leading to a significant edema reduction and improvement of lymphatic function. The effect of the anti-CTLA4 treatment was attributed to the systemic expansion of Tregs, both in the animal model and in melanoma patients. The data from both, the pre-clinical and human studies indicating the protective effect of anti-CTLA4 against lymphedema, coupled with its anti-tumor properties, identify a promising candidate suitable for quick transition in the clinics.
One Sentence Summary: Anti-CTLA4 treatment reduces lymphedema risk in melanoma patients and lymphedema development in a pre-clinical model via Treg cell modulation.
Neuroprotective and memory enhancing effect of Nose to Brain formulation of 6- Hydroxyflavone in icv-STZ-induced Alzheimer's disease mouse model
Authors: Patil Hitesh , Pardeshi Chandrakant , Khule Siddheshwar , Gagarani Manish
Published: September 2023

Alzheimer's disease characterized by memory and cognitive impairments as well as neurobehavioral abnormalities. Streptozotocin (STZ) can induce a condition analogous to alzheimer's disease by promoting the accumulation of plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, resulted in progressive cognitive decline. 6-hydroxyflavone (6HOF) is a flavone that occurs naturally in the foliage of Barleria prionitis, an Acanthaceae plant species native to India. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of intranasal formulation of 6-Hydroxyflavon (6HOF-NTB) in mice that had been administered STZ (3mg/kg of icv) unilaterally. Neurodegeneration, and oxidative stress were used to evaluate the impact on working memory and neuroprotection. Memory impairment was developed by intracerebrovascular (icv) injections of streptozotocin (3mg/kg). Upon 21-day administration of 6HOF-NTB and Oral administrations of 6-HOF the behavioral parameter was studied using Morris water maze, novel object recognitions test, Y-maze, EPM etc. and the level of acetylcholinesterase and antioxidants was measured in brain homogenate.In a mouse model of a condition like Alzheimer's, demonstrated significant effect than the STZ-treated group. The 6HOF-NTB (1 mg/kg) increased transfer latency in the EPM, spontaneous alternation in the Y-maze, discrimination index, and novelty preference in the NOR. In addition, in the MWM, the number of platform crossings and time spent in the target quadrants increased, indicating an improvement in working spatial memory. In addition, the intranasal formulation inhibited oxidative stress and acetylcholinesterase levels in the brain, thereby reducing neurodegeneration. In the STZ induced memory impairment model in mice, the intranasal formulation of 6 HOF demonstrated desirable effects on cognitive functions and neuroprotection.
Deep Learning for Protein–peptide binding Prediction: Incorporating Sequence, Structural and Language Model Features
Authors: Chandra Abel , Sharma Alok , Dehzangi Iman , Tsunoda Tatsuhiko , Sattar Abdul
Published: September 2023

Protein-peptide interactions play a crucial role in various cellular processes and are implicated in abnormal cellular behaviors leading to diseases such as cancer. Therefore, understanding these interactions is vital for both functional genomics and drug discovery efforts. Despite a significant increase in the availability of protein-peptide complexes, experimental methods for studying these interactions remain laborious, time-consuming, and expensive. Computational methods offer a complementary approach but often fall short in terms of prediction accuracy. To address these challenges, we introduce PepCNN, a deep learning-based prediction model that incorporates structural and sequence-based information from primary protein sequences. By utilizing a combination of half-sphere exposure, position specific scoring matrices, and pre-trained transformer language model, PepCNN outperforms state-of-the-art methods in terms of specificity, precision, and AUC. The PepCNN software and datasets are publicly available at https://github.com/abelavit/PepCNN.git.
Study on eye movement characteristics of basketball players during free throws under different intensities
Authors: Zhao chunzhou , Li Sunnan , Liu Na
Published: September 2023

The present study aimed to investigate the eye movement characteristics of basketball players during free throws at different intensities. This study selected 20 professional female basketball players wore a mobile eye tracker and made free throws at low, moderate and high exercise intensities. Eye movement data were recorded using the Tobii Glasses 3 eye tracker.Three kinds of exercise intensity under the free throws, front, top,bottom,top left, bottom left and bottom right average number of fixation was significantly different, front, bottom, top left and bottom right average fixation duration were significantly different, average pupil dilation was significantly significant.With the increase of exercise intensity, the total average number of fixation and fixation duration gradually increased, the pupil dilation increased, and the average number of fixation and fixation duration of AOI changed.The increase of exercise intensity leads to the distraction of attention, the automatic calculation ability of vision is reduced, and the information search strategy is decreased. The automatic information processing mode is destroyed and the control ability of the cognitive system is reduced, the fixation stability is changed, and the information processing ability is decreased.
Clinical Application of the Modified Neck-Shoulder Technique Based on Membrane Autopsy in Laparoscopic Totally Extraperitoneal Prosthesis for Indirect Inguinal Hernia
Authors: Pan Guofeng , Xu Yanchang , Chen Jian , Pan Guoyan , He Limei , Weng Jianbin , Li Junpeng , Zhang Weihong
Published: September 2023

Objective: To investigate the anatomical basis and clinical application value of the modified neck-shoulder technique based on membrane autopsy in laparoscopic totally extraperitoneal prosthesis (TEP) for tension-free repairs of indirect inguinal hernia.
Methods:In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed the clinical data of 136 patients with indirect inguinal hernia who underwent laparoscopic TEP for tension-free repairs in Department of gastroenterological surgery Unit 1, the First Hospital of Putian City, Fujian Province from June 2017 to June 2020. The patients were divided into the modified neck-shoulder technique group (68 cases) and the traditional surgery group (68 cases) according to the different surgical methods. The intraoperative and postoperative conditions of the two groups were compared.
Results:Both the modified neck-shoulder technique group and the traditional surgery group completed the herniorrhaphy. Compared with the traditional surgery group, the modified neck-shoulder technique group had a shorter operation time [(37.15±5.320) min vs. (54.04±5.202) min, t=18.472, p<0.001], less intraoperative blood loss [(5.53±1.634) ml vs. (16.21±3.375) ml, t=23.544, p<0.001], lower incidence of intraoperative peritoneal injury [3 cases (4.41%) vs. 9 cases (13.26%), χ²=3.29, p=0.07], lower intraoperative conversion rate [1 case (1.47%) vs. 8 cases (11.76%), χ²=5.83, p=0.016], and lower incidence of postoperative chronic pain [1 case (1.47%) vs. 12 cases (17.65%), χ²=10.291, p=0.001], all of which were statistically significant (p<0.05). Both groups were followed up for 12 months after surgery. Relapse was not observed in any case.
Conclusion: Based on the surgical principles of the open neck-shoulder technique and the understanding of the membrane autopsy in the inguinal region, our center has summarized a set of operation procedures called the “modified neck-shoulder technique” for laparoscopic TEP for tension-free repairs of indirect inguinal hernia. This new surgical technique could quickly and accurately separate and cross the interlayer gap in the preperitoneal space under the enlarged view of the laparoscope, allow the high ligation and detachment or return of the hernia sac, and make the placement of the patch more reliable, reduce collateral damage, reduce postoperative complications, and save operation time.
Spatially Distinct Immunothrombotic Signatures in Patients with Pneumonia-Related Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: Insights from Lung Alveolar and Blood Circulation Profiles
Authors: Zong Xiaolong , Geng Liying , Liu Yaru , Wang Xiao , Li Duanyang , Sun Yu , Wang Jinying , Zhou Zhiqing , Li Zhenyu
Published: September 2023

Background
The role of immunothrombosis in the pathogenesis of pulmonary acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is increasingly recognized, but its implications in extrapulmonary complications remain inadequately understood. This study aimed to compare the immunothrombotic signatures in patients with pneumonia-related ARDS (p-ARDS) at both pulmonary and systemic levels and to assess their clinical relevance.
Methods
This prospective observational study included consecutive patients with p-ARDS admitted to the intensive care unit between July and November 2022. Concurrently hospitalized patients with common pneumonia in the general ward were included as controls. Paired bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and serum samples were utilized to quantify 15 biomarkers and characterize pulmonary and systemic immunothrombotic signatures, respectively. The clinical relevance of these biomarkers was explored using Spearman correlation, receiver operating characteristic, and binary logistic regression analyses.
Results
A total of 23 patients with p-ARDS and 10 pneumonia controls were included for analysis. Among the p-ARDS cohort, 10 out of 23 patients experienced mortality within 28 days of admission. Our results revealed significant signatures of pulmonary inflammation and systemic endothelial injury in patients with p-ARDS, in comparison to the pneumonia controls. Specially, BALF IL-6 showed a negative correlation with PaO2/FiO2 ratio (Spearman r = − 0.67, P < 0.001), while serum a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin type 1 motif, 13 (ADAMTS-13) and soluble thrombomodulin (TM) exhibited close correlations with SOFA and DIC score. The combination of BALF IL-6 and serum TM showed promise in distinguishing p-ARDS from common pneumonia (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.955; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.895 − 1.000). Furthermore, BALF H3cit was significantly associated with 28-day mortality, even after adjusting for the SOFA score upon admission (odds ratio [OR] = 6.71; 95% CI: 1.05 − 42.44; P = 0.043).
Conclusions
This preliminary investigation revealed compartment-specific differences in the immunothrombotic signature between patients with p-ARDS and those with pneumonia alone. These findings provide insights into the pathophysiology underlying p-ARDS and its complications, with potential to facilitate the development of precision medicine approaches for its clinical management.
Research on Improved YOLOv8 Algorithm for Insulator Defect Detection
Authors: Zhang Lin , Li Boqun , Cui Yang , Lai Yushan , Gao Jing
Published: September 2023

With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technologies, drone aerial photography has gradually become the mainstream method for defect detection of transmission line insulators. To address the issues of slow recognition speed and low accuracy in existing detection methods, this paper proposes an insulator defect detection algorithm based on an improved YOLOv8s model. Initially, a Multi-scale Large Kernel Attention (MLKA) module is introduced to enhance the model's focus on features of different scales as well as low-level feature maps. Additionally, by employing lightweight GSConv convolution and constructing the GSC_C2f module, the computational process is simplified and memory burden is reduced, thereby effectively improving the performance of insulator defect detection. Finally, an improved loss function using SIoU is adopted to optimize the model's detection performance and enhance its feature extraction capability for insulator defects. Experimental results demonstrate that the improved model exhibits excellent performance in drone aerial photography for insulator defect detection, achieving an mAP of 99.22% and an FPS of 55.73 frames per second. Compared to the original YOLOv8s and YOLOv5s, the improved model's mAP increased by 2.18% and 2.91%, respectively, and the model size is only 30.18MB, meeting the requirements for real-time operation and accuracy.
Outcome of transarterial radioembolization in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma as a first line interventional therapy and after previous transarterial chemoembolization
Authors: Wagenpfeil Julia , Kupczyk Patrick , Bruners Philipp , Siepmann Robert , Guendel Emelie , Luetkens Julian , Isaak Alexander , Meyer Carsten , Attenberger Ulrike , Kütting Daniel
Published: September 2023

Due to lack of data, there is an ongoing debate regarding the optimal interventional therapy of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of the study is to compare the results of transarterial radioembolization (TARE) as first-line therapy and after prior transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in these patients. 83 patients were evaluated. 38 patients received at least one TACE session prior to TARE (27 male; mean age 67.2 years; 68.4% stage BCLC B, 31.6% BCLC C); 45 patients underwent primary TARE (33 male; mean age 69.9 years; 40% BCLC B, 58% BCLC C). Clinical (age, gender, BCLC stage, activity (GBq), Child-Pugh status, portal vein thrombosis, tumor volume), and procedural (overall survival (OS), local tumor control (LTC) and progression-free survival (PFS)) data were compared. Regression analysis was performed to evaluate OS, LTC and PFS. No differences were found in OS (95% CI:1.12, P = 0.289), LTC (95% CI:0.003, P = 0.95) and PFS (95% CI:0.4, P = 0.525). Regression analysis revealed a relationship between Child-Pugh Score (P = 0.005), size of HCC lesions (> 10 cm) (P = 0.022) and OS; neither prior TACE (Child Pugh B patients; 95% CI:0.120, P = 0.729) nor number of lesions (> 10; 95% CI:2.930, P = 0.087) correlated with OS. Prior TACE does not affect outcome of TARE in unresectable HCC.
Ligand Based Pharmacophore Modeling, Virtual Screening, Molecular Docking, Molecular Dynamic simulation and In-silico ADMET Studies for the Discovery of Potential BACE-1 Inhibitors
Authors: Shareef Usman , Altaf Aisha , Zargaham Muhammad Kazim , Bhatti Rohail , Ibrahim Ahsan , Zahid Muhammad Ammar
Published: September 2023

Pharmacophore modeling is an innovative technology to explore and extract potential interactions between ligand-protein complexes. On the other hand, virtual screening is an in-silico technique that uses pharmacophore models to analyze extensive databases of compounds or approved drugs to evaluate interactions. These techniques enable to discover, establish, and evaluate therapeutics and other biologically active compounds and also allow the optimization of several hundred and thousand compounds to be tested for interaction against the target protein or receptor, which narrows down the potential molecules that can be used for further studies. Drug repurposing can be done by integrating these techniques into the study design, allowing reduced cost associated with conventional hit and trial testing of compounds, running large databases in shorter duration. The study reported the successful generation and validation of pharmacophore model with subsequent virtual screening. Virtual screening of databases produced 6 hits which were further subjected to in-silico analysis and resulted in identification of anileridine as the potential BACE-1 inhibitor. Anileridine showed significant interaction with one of the important amino acids of the catalytic dyad of the enzyme i.e. Asp32. Furthermore, MD simulations supported the molecular docking and MM-GBSA results and revealed to formation of stable interactions between anileridine and BACE-1. After establishing anileridine as the potential BACE-1 inhibitor procured from already approved drugs, it was subjected to extensive in-silico ADMET studies. Furthermore, the model (AHRRR) can be used to rationally design novel inhibitors of BACE-1 and also identify new molecules from databases as potential BACE-1 inhibitors.
EZH2 Suppresses Ferroptosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Reduces Sorafenib Sensitivity Through Epigenetic Regulation of TFR2
Authors: Lai Yongwei , Han Xu , Xie Bo , Wang Didi , Li Tongtong , Li Wei , Xie Yaohong , Yang Zhengyi , Song Wenqi , Zhang pengxia
Published: September 2023

Background: Sorafenib is a first-line drug, and increasing the sensitivity to sorafenib can effectively prolong the time of sorafenib resistance, which has great benefits for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. One of the important mechanisms of sorafenib in treating HCC is to induce cell ferroptosis. Hence, it is of great importance to investigate the mechanisms that increase sorafenib-induced ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma.
Methods: Bioinformatic analysis approaches were used to assess EZH2 expression, prognosis and clinical characteristics. IHC staining assays were performed to assess the expression of EZH2 in tumors and normal tissues. CCK-8, EdU staining and colony formation assays were performed to assess cell proliferation. Western blot and q-PCR analysis of ferroptosis-associated genes. As indicators of ferroptosis, intracellular levels of glutathione, malondialdehyde, and iron were measured. ROS detection by the DCFH-DA probe and mitochondrial membrane potential were tested by JC-1. ChIP analysis was used to study histone modification. The antitumor effects of the combination of tazemetostat and sorafenib were investigated in both in vitro and in vivo studies.
Results: EZH2 expression is upregulated in HCC and predicts an unfavorable prognosis. Overexpression of EZH2 can promote HCC cell proliferation and reduce ferroptosis. Further analysis showed that EZH2 can increase the modification of H3K37me3 and regulate the expression of TFR2. Reducing RNA polymerase II binding in the promoter region of TFR2 leads to decreased expression of TFR2. The decrease in intracellular iron levels inhibits the occurrence of the Fenton reaction and cell ferroptosis. Knockdown of EZH2 can increase sorafenib sensitivity in hepatocellular carcinoma cells, and tazemetostat, an inhibitor of EZH2, with sorafenib had significant synergistic antitumor effects both in vitro and in vivo
Conclusions: EZH2 epigenetically regulates TFR2 expression through H3K27me3 and inhibits the occurrence of ferroptosis. The EZH2 inhibitor tazemetostat synergized with sorafenib and had superior synergistic effects in anticancer therapy in vitro and in vivo.
The Generalized AEP for Higher Order Nonhomogeneous Markov Information Source
Authors: Shi Zhiyan , Zhu Xiaoyu
Published: September 2023

The asymptotic equipartiton property (AEP) plays a crucial role in information theory, providing a theoretical foundation for understanding and analyzing aspects such as coding, compression, and the reliability of communication systems. In this paper, we mainly study the generalized AEP of higher order nonhomogeneous Markov information sources by establishing several strong deviation theorems. To achieve this, we first introduce the concepts of generalized sample divergence rate of th-order nonhomogeneous Markov information sources. Meanwhile, we give a class of generalized strong deviation theorems for moving average of the functions of + 1 variables for th-order nonhomogeneous Markov information sources, and also establish strong deviation theorems and strong limit theorems of the frequencies of occurrence of ordered tuples of states for this Markov information sources. Finally, the generalized AEP for th-order nonhomogeneous Markov information sources are establised. Our results also generalize some known results.
MSC(2020): 60J10; 60F15; 94A15
A Comparative Study of Analytical and Finite Element Analysis Numerical Approaches of the Equivalent Thickness of Large 4H-SiC Taiko Wafers
Authors: Vinciguerra Vincenzo , Malgioglio Giuseppe Luigi , Landi Antonio , Rascunà Simone , Renna Marco
Published: September 2023

The successful handling of large semiconductor wafers is crucial for their production on a large scale. Recently, the development of pilot lines using 8" wide band gap substrates, such as silicon carbide, has brought about similar challenges. Early-stage warpage control is essential to prevent uncontrolled asymmetric warpage, known as wafer bifurcation or buckling, which can occur with 8" 4H-SiC substrates, too. Moreover, the manufacturing process for large 4H-SiC wafers can be challenging due to warping during finishing and processing. Even in a gravity-free environment, thinning an 8" or 12" wafer can result in warpage and bifurcation. To mitigate this issue, the taiko method, which involves creating a thicker ring region around the rim of the wafer, has been widely used. Previous research has focused on the theoretical factors affecting the warpage of a backside metalized taiko wafer. This study extends the case of a front-side metalized taiko wafer and introduces the concept of the equivalent thickness to a 4H-SiC large taiko wafer. The equivalent thickness lies between the thickness of the central region and the annular region due to the influence of the ring region. Modelling can be helpful due to the limited number of taiko wafers that can be produced in a production line. In the investigation we developed both an analytical approach and a finite element analysis (FEA) with ANSYSY® software to model the equivalent thickness of a 4H-SiC taiko wafer. We investigated the curvature as a function of the stress of the metal layer, considering key design factors such as the substrate region thickness, thin metal film thickness, step height, and width of the annular ring region. By systematically varying the thickness of the central region of the taiko wafer, we investigated the curvature as a function of stress induced by thermal loads in the linear regime. The aim of this study is to identify regularities and similarities with the Stoney equation and investigate the validity of the analytical approach for the case of a 4H-SiC substrate.
Self-reported competence among advanced practice nursing students in Denmark, Finland and Norway: A cross-sectional multicentre study
Authors: Martinsen Randi , Ahlin-Søvde Sigrid , Grov Ellen Karine , Andersson Ewa K , Gardulf Ann
Published: September 2023

Background: The healthcare systems in Nordic countries and worldwide are under press due to increase in the population of older people and shortage of nurses. Educating nurseswith a high level of competence, such as advanced practice nurses is of great importance to secure effective, safe and high-quality care.
Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate self-reported competence among master’s students of advanced practice nursing in Denmark, Finland and Norway.
Methods: A multicentre, cross-sectional study design was used and conducted at five universities in Denmark, Finland and Norway. The Nurse Professional Competence Scale Short-Form forming six competence areas was used with a maximum score 7 per item for analysis of single items and a transformed 1-100 scale for analysing the competence areas (higher score, higher self-reported competence). Descriptive and comparative statistics were used to analyse the data.
Results: The highest mean score was found for the competence area ‘Value-based nursing care’. Students living with home-dwelling children (≤18 years) reported a significantly higher competence regarding ‘Nursing care’, while students ³33 years reported significantly higher competence regarding ‘Nursing care’ and ‘Value-based Nursing care’. No significant differences were found between the students working or not working alongside their studies, between students with or without further nursing-related education or between students having long or short experiences as nurses.
Conclusion: The findings from this study might contribute to a further development of the curriculums in advanced practice nursing to ensure high-quality nursing and a sustainable health care in the future. Future high-quality master’s programmes might benefit from a systematically collaboration between Nordic higher education institutions. Higher age, having children at home and working while studying should not be considered factors of concern.
Confirmation of negative urine culture status after appropriate antibiotic treatment prior to endourological stone procedures: Is it really necessary?
Authors: Sahin Cahit , Sobay Resul , Asik Alper , Sahinler Emre Burak , Yildirim Salih , Kul Kamil , Sarica Kemal
Published: September 2023

To evaluate the necessity of confirmation for a negative urine culture test outcome after an appropriate antibiotic regimen for urinary tract infection (UTI) prior to endoscopic stone removal procedures. 170 cases with culture proven UTI and undergoing an appropriate antibiotic regimen based on test outcomes before endoscopic stone removal were evaluated in two groups: Group 1 (n = 85) Patients receiving culture based antibiotic therapy and had a second urine culture test for “sterile urine” status prior to the procedures and Group 2 (n = 85) Patients receiving the same antibiotic therapy and had no additional urine culture test further. Cases were comparatively evaluated with respect to the statistical significance of postoperative infective complications (fever, sepsis) and the duration of hospital stay and re-admission rates during early post-operative period. Our findings showed that no significant difference was present regarding the rate of infective complications (presence of fever, incidence of septic findings), hospitalization period and readmission rates between two groups. Although the presence of a sterile urine has been confirmed by urine culture test in group 1 cases, no additional urine culture was performed with this aim in group 2 cases ( sterile urine was confirmed with only urinalysis) and the outcomes regarding the infective problems were found to be similiar. Our current findings indicate that a second urine culture test may not be a “ must” if the patients receive an appropriate antibiotic regimen based on the sensitivity test outcomes for a reasonable time period.
Potential Antioxidative Effects of Folic Acid and Betaine Combination Against to Amyloid beta (1-42) and Homocysteine-induced Oxidative Stress in Synaptosomes
Authors: Özkoç Mete , Can Betül , İlhan Ayşegül Oğlakçı , Söğüt İbrahim , Ataizi Zeki Serdar , Kandemir Turan , Dönmez Dilek Burukoğlu , Kanbak Güngör
Published: September 2023

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease and common type of dementia. Increasing number of death due to the disease has made it an important public health problem to be solved. Extracellular accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide and hyperphosphorylated tau proteins in intracellular matrix are two major signs of the AD. In many research high levels of homocysteine (Hcy) were noted in AD. Oxidative stress appears as one of the significant factors in AD pathogenesis. Synaptosomes are substantial physiological membranous structures and can be utilized one of the in vitro models of AD. In this study, synaptosomal fractions were obtain from forebrain of rats and study groups were separated into five: control, Aβ(1–42), Aβ(1–42) + Hcy, Aβ(1–42) + Hcy + Folic Acid + Betaine, Betaine + Folic Acid. Total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), oxidative stress index (OSI), malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were evaluated. In Aβ(1–42) + Hcy group the high levels of TOS (0.2 ± 0.05 mol H2O2 eq/L), OSI (34.47 ± 4.41) and MDA (2,29 ± 0.42 nmol/g protein) were remarkable findings compared the control group. Administration of folic acid and betaine in combination recovered the harmful effect of Aβ(1 42) + Hcy by decreasing the TOS, OSI and MDA levels and increasing the TAS (0.41 ± 0.11mmol Trolox eq/L). In conclusion, Hcy and Aβ peptide together can lead to neurodegeneration by increasing the oxidative stress and this detrimental effect can be eliminated by administration of folic acid and betaine.
Online self-calibration and time synchronization of camera and IMU in substation scenarios
Authors: Zhang Chenwei , Zeng Pingliang , Jin Tao , Tu Mingyang
Published: September 2023

As smart grids continue to evolve, inspection robots based on vision and inertial measurement unit (IMU) fusion systems (VIO) have become increasingly critical for ensuring safe operation and maintenance within substations.The implementation of VIO requires precise alignment of internal and external parameters, initialization, and synchronization of the IMU and camera sensor clocks.In this paper, a joint camera-IMU initialization algorithm is proposed that enables online self-calibration and time synchronization of camera and IMU, it extends the open-source VINS-Mono system to utilize depth data in the VIO phase. The algorithm proposed in this paper is evaluated through experiments performed on the EuRoC dataset. The results are compared with vision-only systems, VINS-Mono, and VI-ORB systems, demonstrating the potential for improved system performance compared to other algorithms. Moreover, a mobile robot platform equipped with vision and IMU sensors is built to verify the utility and effectiveness of the algorithm in real-world scenarios.
Tackling social disconnection: An umbrella review of RCT-based interventions targeting social isolation and loneliness
Authors: Hansen Thomas , Nes Ragnhild Bang , Hynek Kamila , Nilsen Thomas S. , Reneflot Anne , Stene-Larsen Kim , Tornes Ragnhild , Bidonde Julia
Published: September 2023

Background
Social isolation and loneliness are urgent public health concerns associated with negative physical and mental health outcomes. Understanding effective remedies is crucial in addressing these problems.
Objectives
To synthesize and critically appraise scientific evidence on the effectiveness of social isolation and loneliness interventions overall and across subgroups. We focused on systematic reviews (SRs) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
Methods
We searched seven databases (June 2022 and updated June 2023) and supplemented the search with grey literature and reference screening to identify SRs published since 2017. Screening, data extraction, and quality assessment using the AMSTAR2 tool were conducted independently by author pairs, with disagreements resolved through discussion.
Findings:
We included 29 SRs, 16 with meta-analysis and 13 with narrative synthesis. All SRs focused on loneliness, with 12 additionally examining social isolation. Four SRs focused on young people, 11 on all ages, and 14 on older adults. The most frequently examined intervention types were social (social contact, social support), psychological (therapy, psychoeducation, social skills training), and digital (e.g., computer use and online support). Meta-analyses indicated small-to-moderate beneficial effects, while narrative synthesis demonstrated mixed or no effect. Social interventions for social isolation and psychological interventions for loneliness were the most promising. However, caution is warranted due to the effects’ small magnitude, significant heterogeneity, and the variable quality of SRs. Digital and other interventions showed mixed or no effect; however, caution is advised in interpreting these results due to the highly diverse nature of the interventions studied.
Conclusion
This overview of SRs shows small to moderate effectiveness of social interventions in reducing social isolation and psychological ones in tackling loneliness. Further rigorously conducted RCTs and SRs are needed to guide policy decisions regarding the implementation of efficacious and scalable interventions. Evaluation should focus on both preventive structural interventions and tailored mitigating strategies that address specific types and causes of loneliness.
Housing Quality Index Analysis at the Urban Axis Level in Eastern and Western Europe Using Ses Analysis Case Study: Bistrita-Cluj-Napoca -Debrecen-Békéscsaba- Bourges- Chateauroux -Pamplona -Zaragoza
Authors: Tătar Marius Alexandru
Published: September 2023

The size of the home is considered the most critical issue affecting the quality of life. This can be measured by the quality of the house and its environment. This paper highlights the housing quality index at the urban axis level the urban axes of Western and Eastern Europe and the impact of socioeconomic activities on the index. The Household Quality of Life Index (HQLI) was calculated using 11 variables. Household quality of life comprises two distinctive indices: the Housing Conditions Index (HCI) and the Asset Possession Index (API). The study found a variation in the housing condition variables across the urban focus areas. The impact of the socioeconomic environments is disproportionately dependent on the social-economic profile of the urban environments that make up the Urban Axis and the related economic activities that take place in the area of influence in the administrative-territorial units and the variability of the Housing Conditions Index This can be measured by the quality of the house and its environment. This paper highlights the housing quality index at the urban axis and the impact of socioeconomic activities on this index.
The study area comprises territories in the urban axis in Western Europe and the urban axis in Eastern Europe. The socio-economic context of the area has been the basis for understanding the patterns of evolution identified in the urban landscape and being a driver in ongoing urban transformations and processes. The impact of the socio-economic is disproportionate to the socioeconomic profile of the urban environments that make up the Urban Axis and the economic activities related to the economic activities taking place in the catchment area in the administrative-territorial units, hence the variability of the Housing Conditions Index which is a system Housing Quality Indicator (HQI) is a tool for measuring and evaluating housing systems based on quality and not just cost.
Vaccination prevents IL-1β-mediated cognitive deficits after COVID-19
Authors: Klein Robyn , Vanderheiden Abigail , Hill Jeremy , Jiang Xiaoping , Deppen Benjamin , Bamunuarachchi Gayan , Soudani Nadia , Joshi Astha , Cain Matthew , Boon Adrianus
Published: September 2023

Up to 25% of SARS-CoV-2 patients exhibit post-acute cognitive sequelae. Although millions of cases of COVID-19-mediated memory dysfunction are accumulating worldwide, the underlying mechanisms and how vaccination lowers risk are unknown. Interleukin-1, a key component of innate immune defense against SARS-CoV-2 infection, is elevated in the hippocampi of COVID-19 patients. Here we show that intranasal infection of C57BL/6J mice with SARS-CoV-2 beta variant, leads to CNS infiltration of Ly6Chi monocytes and microglial activation. Accordingly, SARS-CoV-2, but not H1N1 influenza virus, increases levels of brain IL-1β and induces persistent IL-1R1-mediated loss of hippocampal neurogenesis, which promotes post-acute cognitive deficits. Breakthrough infection after vaccination with a low dose of adenoviral vectored Spike protein prevents hippocampal production of IL-1β during breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection, loss of neurogenesis, and subsequent memory deficits. Our study identifies IL-1β as one potential mechanism driving SARS-CoV-2-induced cognitive impairment in a new murine model that is prevented by vaccination.
Imaginationen von Ungleichheit im Notfall-Distanzunterricht
Authors: Büchner Felix , Bittner Martin , Macgilchrist Felicitas
Published: September 2023

Dieser Beitrag widmet sich dem Notfall-Distanzunterricht als soziotechnischem Phänomen und seiner Konstruktion im Policydiskurs während der Coronapandemie. Er fragt danach, wie Distanzunterricht in Policydokumenten der deutschen Bundesländer imaginiert wird und wie sozio-digitale Ungleichheit in diesen Imaginationen als Problem repräsentiert ist. Basierend auf der thematischen Dokumentsammlung ‹CoBiS – Covid 19-Corpus des Bildungssystems› wurde eine Policyanalyse mithilfe des ‹WPR-Ansatzes› durchgeführt und die ‹soziotechnische Imagination› der Reibungslosigkeit rekonstruiert. Der Beitrag beleuchtet drei Aspekte: (1) Reibungslose Lebensräume, (2) Reibung durch Ungleichheit und (3) Gleichheit durch Technik. Über die Imagination der Reibungslosigkeit werden im Policydiskurs Vorstellungen und Visionen von Bildungssubjekten aufgerufen, die wohlständige, privilegierte und bürgerlich-weisse Kontexte bevorzugen und gleichzeitig marginalisierte, deprivilegierte und minorisierte Kontexte benachteiligen. Der Beitrag zielt insgesamt darauf ab, Impulse in die inklusive Medienbildung einzubringen, um die in Policydiskursen aufgerufenen soziotechnischen Imaginationen zu erkennen und ihnen kritisch begegnen zu können.
MODEL GAYA KEPEMIMPINAN TRANSFORMATIF DALAM MENINGKATKAN DAYA SAING PENDIDIKAN DI ERA INDUSTRI 4.0
Authors: Safi'i Asrop
Published: September 2023

Organizational culture at the school level requires leaders who are creative, in mobilizing madrasah, so that the learning carried out becomes meaningful and produces quality education.  Transformative leadership design model is needed as an effort to produce education that is competitive and produces students who have personality integrity, a disciplined attitude, are creative, innovative and competitive. This article seeks to elaborate on the transformative leadership model of madrasah headmaster in increasing the competitiveness of education in the industrial era 4.0 with the object of Madrasah Aliyah. Using library research, this article argues that transformative leaders have several indicators: first, the existence of team work that collaborates across the entire academic community. Second, there is an increase in teacher work ethic, thereby fostering teacher professionalism. Third, it enables the implementation of the supervisory leadership role. Fourth, creating madrasah organizational arrangements, a relationship climate that is loose coupling, and changing the structure and climate of the bureaucracy to a comfortable professional bureaucracy so as to enable the implementation of organizational leadership roles.
Barriers to technology innovation among nascent entrepreneurs in deprived areas
Authors: Rajiani Ismi , Kot Sebastian , Michałek Janusz , Gede Riana I
Published: September 2023

Entrepreneurs in economically challenged areas frequently rely on financial and technical incentives and aid from public and local governments to embrace and apply new technology. This study aims to investigate the challenges to technology innovation that these businesses face. Based on a survey of 422 nascent entrepreneurs in Banjarmasin, Indonesia, an empirical model of the determinants influencing the adoption of technology innovation is developed. The current study used factor analysis as a methodological tool to identify the critical impediments to technology innovation. The study’s findings highlighted five major barriers. More financial resources are needed: as nascent entrepreneurs in these locations frequently need help to get the necessary funds to support their creative endeavors. There is a need for more skilled individuals: new businesses need help to locate and keep employees with the appropriate technological skills. Unfavorable economic conditions exacerbate the problem by making it difficult for new entrepreneurs to access markets and resources that could support their innovative efforts. Furthermore, there needs to be more collaborative efforts, with nascent entrepreneurs in these places frequently needing more collaboration and networking possibilities, expanding their potential to develop. Finally, the study identifies insufficient government support as a barrier to assisting entrepreneurs in adopting novel technologies. These hurdles can be efficiently overcome by government assistance, private-sector investment, and collaborative efforts among nascent entrepreneurs.
Unveiling the dynamics of motivation, work-life balance, and work engagement among Vietnamese employees in multinational corporations
Authors: Viet Nguyen Quoc , Ninh Nguyen Hai , Uyen Phan To
Published: September 2023

This paper investigates the factors influencing work engagement among local Vietnamese staff in multinational corporations by focusing on the impacts of work motivation and work-life balance on work engagement. It explores the role of salary, bonuses, financial rewards, and career promotion in shaping employees’ motivation. A structured questionnaire was administered to 279 respondents working at Samsung Electronics Vietnam Co., Ltd. The collected data were analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) techniques and SmartPLS software. The findings reveal that career promotion opportunities significantly influence work motivation, surpassing salary, bonuses, and financial rewards. Work motivation and work-life balance positively affect work engagement, with work motivation exhibiting a more substantial impact. The study emphasizes the importance of clear career paths and growth opportunities in enhancing employee work motivation and engagement. It also underscores the need for organizations to create a supportive work environment, offer competitive compensation packages, and implement recognition programs. These findings have practical implications for multinational corporations operating in Vietnam, highlighting the significance of prioritizing employee career progression, promoting work-life balance, and fostering a motivating work environment.
Workplace Romance: Examining Romance Motives and Organization Policies in Indonesia
Authors: Amanda Hiroko Jodi Brigitte Laura , Mustika Martina Dwi
Published: September 2023

The research aimed to predict a person’s intention to have a romantic relationship at work, seen from the motives (love and work) and types of policies (strict, warning, no policy) that existed in the company. Romance in the workplace was a common phenomenon in organizations, but this behavior was still considered sensitive to be investigated in Indonesia. In total, 268 Indonesian employees aged 20-40 years who worked at least six months in a company participated in the 2x3 factorial experimental vignette method, and for data analysis, it used repeated measured ANOVA. The research results have found that several types of company policies determine a person’s intention to have romance at work. The stricter the rules and the heavier the punishment, the less likely a person will engage in romance at work. However, on the motive, it is found that there is no difference between the types of motives and one’s intentions in a workplace romance. Finally, the interaction between motives and policies is not significant enough to predict a person’s intention to engage in romance at work. Therefore, it can be concluded that in Indonesia, the implementation of policies still has an essential role in reducing the negative impact of romance in the workplace. Other variables can still be included for future research to see the factors influencing a person’s intentions in workplace romance.
No Differences of Adolescents’ Hope in Terms of Developmental Phases and Gender
Authors: Ayriza Yulia , Izzaty Rita Eka
Published: September 2023

The research aimed to investigate the differences in adolescents’ hope based on developmental phases (age) and gender. Hope, as one of the positive emotional resources, is essential for adolescents in performing psychosocial adaptations. There were still inconsistent results from several studies regarding differences in the level of hope in adolescence based on age and gender, which suggested the need for further investigation. This cross-sectional research involved 400 female and male adolescents who were attending junior and senior high schools with an age range between 13-20 years (M age= 16,04 years, 84% females and 16% males). Data were collected using Snyder’s Hope Scale, which was distributed to respondents through online Google Forms. The collected data were analyzed using the t-test techniques. The results show that most adolescents (45,8%) are in the very high category of hope. Further, the results also indicate that there is no significant difference in hope between early and late adolescents, as well as between girls and boys. This implies that interventions to improve adolescents’ hope can be carried out without paying attention to these demographic variables. Limitations and suggestions for future research related to the results are also discussed.
Implementing Personalized Learning in Universities Classrooms: Lecturers’ Challenges and Perceptions
Authors: Herawati Agnes
Published: September 2023

The research aimed to investigate the challenges faced by university lecturers and how they overcome them, as well as the perceptions towards the implementation of a personalized learning approach. Personalized learning was considered a teaching approach that emphasized how to achieve the learning objectives, students’ active learning, and self-regulated learning that could not be fully served in traditional classes. This approach focused on each student’s learning pace and their active participation in the learning process. In the long run, implementing personalized learning was hoped to develop students into responsible and lifelong learners. Although lecturers showed an excellent perception of the implementation of personalized learning, however, it was no doubt that conducting this approach brought some new experiences and challenges for the lecturers as well. Mixed method was applied in the research. The result shows the difference between personalized learning and traditional one in terms of time management, students’ responsibilities and motivations, and class interaction, and those become the most challenging matters faced by the lecturers. How lecturers make use of technology to realize better-personalized learning classes and other crucial things that are needed by the lecturers in implementing personalized learning are also presented.