bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multifaceted Properties of Usnic Acid in Disrupting Cancer Hallmarks
Authors: Herman-Antosiewicz Anna , Gimła Mariola
Published: September 2024

Cancer, a complex group of diseases marked by uncontrolled cell growth and invasive behavior, is characterized by distinct hallmarks acquired during tumor development. These hallmarks, first proposed by Douglas Hanahan and Robert Weinberg in 2000, provide a framework for un-derstanding cancer's complexity. Targeting them is a key strategy in cancer therapy. It includes inhibiting abnormal signaling, reactivating growth suppressors, preventing invasion and me-tastasis, inhibiting angiogenesis, limiting replicative immortality, modulating the immune sys-tem, inducing apoptosis, addressing genome instability, and regulating cellular energetics.
Usnic acid (UA) is a natural compound found in lichens that has been explored as a cytotoxic agent against cancer cells of different origins. Although the exact mechanisms remain incom-pletely understood, UA presents a promising compound for therapeutic intervention. Under-standing its impact on cancer hallmarks provides valuable insights into the potential of UA in developing targeted and multifaceted cancer therapies.
This article explores UA activity in the context of disrupting hallmarks in cancer cells of different origins based on articles that emphasize the molecular mechanisms of this activity.
Re-Evaluating Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) and Polyploid Giant Cancer Cells (PGCCs) in the Light of Evolutionary Cancer Cell Biology ECCB
Authors: Niculescu Vladimir
Published: September 2024

According to evolutionary cancer cell biology ECCB, cancer stem cells do not arise from normal stem cells, but rather from the functional ACD phenotype of the germline. This phenotype proliferates through asymmetric cell division, producing self-renewing cells and non-proliferating daughter cells with cancer stem cell qualities (CSCs). ECCB posits that cancer stem cells themselves do not proliferate. Similar to protists, there is a close reciprocal relationship between both sister cells that collectively form a germ and stem cell lineage. These sister cells share functional roles: the proliferating cancer germline cells generate stem cells, while the non-proliferating cancer stem cells accumulate progenitor cells for new germline clones. ECCB distinguishes between primary CSCs, which are associated with carcinogenesis and primary tumors, and secondary CSCs, which are linked to metastases. This unicellular stem cell system is homologous to that of parasitic protists, such as amoebae. Both cancer stem cells and amoebae stem cells are generated by an oxygen-sensitive germline and are vulnerable to damage when oxygen levels exceed 6.0% (germline hyperoxia). Oxygen concentrations above this threshold can damage the germline genome. Dysfunctional germline cells do not undergo senescence; instead, they continue to cycle through defective symmetric cell cycles However, to regain functionality, the germline genome requires repair by hyperpolyploid giant cells known as native PGCCs, which are homologous to the multinucleated genome repair structures MGRS found in protists. Native PGCCs differ in some respects from genotoxic-induced PGCCs
Field Test of the MiniRadMeter Gamma and Neutron Detector for the EU Project CLEANDEM
Authors: Ripani Marco , Rossi Fabio , Cosentino Luigi , Longhitano Fabio , Musico Paolo , Osipenko Mikhail , Poma Gaetano Elio , Finocchiaro Paolo
Published: September 2024

In the framework of the H2020 CLEANDEM project a small robotic vehicle was equipped with a series of different sensors, developed for the preliminary inspection of areas possibly contaminated by radiation. Such unmanned inspection allows to identify dangerous locations prior to the possible start of human operations. One of the developed devices, named MiniRadMeter, is a compact, low-cost sensor to perform gamma and neutron radiation field mapping of the environment. The MiniRadMeter was successfully tested in a simulated field mission with four "hidden" radioactive sources and a neutron generator. In this work we describe the test procedure and the results, also supported by the outcome of dedicated Monte Carlo simulations.
Effect of Plant Extracts on Characteristics of Growth Promotion in Rice (Oryza sativa)
Authors: Ei Ei , Park Hyun Hwa , Kuk Yong In
Published: September 2024

Plant extracts are widely used in sustainable agriculture practices to enhance crop production and reduce chemical usage in agriculture. Using various extraction solutions of different plant extracts, this study synthesized planting and spraying techniques and extracted the persistence efficacy of rice. The influence of four water extracts on rice plant secondary compounds applied at various planting times. Psidium guajava, Aloe vera, Allium sativum, and Medicago sativa extracts with concentrations of 0.1 and 0.5% produced better growth promotion rates than urea 0.6%. Water extracts were more effective than foliar extracts in promoting rice growth when applied as soil. When direct seeding and transplanting methods were used, plants treated with these four selected extracts showed increases in shoot fresh weight of 48 and 68%, respectively. Thus, transplanted plants were more suitable for determining the influence of plant extracts on rice growth. The highest shoot fresh weight of two rice varieties was obtained seven days after treatment (DAT), followed by 14, 21, and 28 DAT. This study suggests that photosynthesis and antioxidant activities may play crucial roles in plant growth. These extracts can be used to promote plant growth in organic farming.
An Implementation based on Mask-D3QN of Quadruped Robot Motion for Steam Generator
Authors: Xu Biying , Zhang Xuehe , Yu Xuan , Ou Yue , Zhang Kuan , Cai Hegao , Zhao Jie , Fan Jizhuang
Published: September 2024

Crawling robots are the focus of intelligent inspection research, and the main feature of this type of robot is the flexibility of in-plane attitude adjustment. The crawling robot HIT_Spibot is a new type of steam generator heat transfer tube inspection robot with a unique mobility capability different from traditional quadrupedal robots. This paper introduces a hierachical motion planning approach for HIT_Spibot, aiming to achieve efficient and agile maneuverability. The proposed method integrates three distinct planners to handle complex motion tasks: a nonlinear optimization-based base motion planner, a TOPSIS-based base orientation planner, and a Mask-D3QN (MD3QN) algorithm-based gait motion planner. Initially, the robot's base and foot workspace are delineated through envelope analysis, followed by trajectory computation using Larangian methods. Subsequently, the TOPSIS algorithm is employed to establish an evaluation framework conducive to foundational turning planning. Finally, the MD3QN algorithm trains foot points to facilitate robot movement along predefined paths. Experimental results demonstrate the method's adaptability across diverse tube structures, showcasing robust performance even in environments with random obstacles. Compared to the D3QN algorithm, MD3QN achieves a 100% success rate, enhances average overall scores by 6.27%, reduces average stride lengths by 39.04%, and attains a stability rate of 58.02%. These results not only validate the effectiveness and practicality of the method but also showcase the significant potential of HIT_Spibot in the field of industrial inspection.
A Mobile Phone Sales Forecasting Method Based on Attention-LSTM and Brand Exposure
Authors: Ma Hongwei , Chen Ming
Published: September 2024

Background: Accurate sales forecasting in the mobile phone industry is critical to informed decision making by both the government and corporations. This study seeks to enhance mobile phone sales predictions by incorporating brand exposure as a predictive factor, hence addressing the gap left by the existing forecasting models that do not consider the impact of brand awareness.

Method: This study thereby indicates a quantification method for brand exposure that merges word-of-mouth reviews with online search data. Word2Vec is used to extract initial keywords from a word-of-mouth corpus, whereas time-lag correlation analysis refines the core keywords. Later, PCA synthesizes brand exposure. The attention-LSTM framework hereby develops a forecasting model of mobile phone sales, effectively combining long short-term memory networks with the ability to capture time series dependencies and an attention mechanism to reduce data redundancy.

Results: By considering brand exposure, the experiments demonstrate that the attention-LSTM model decreases the RMSE and MAPE indicators by 2.02% and 0.96%, respectively. In addition, compared with the ARIMA, SVR, BP neural network, and LSTM models, the attention-LSTM model decreases the average percentage errors by 6.52%, 3.42%, 2.56%, and 0.81%, respectively.

Conclusion: Attention-LSTM captures dynamic sales trends very well and holds great significance over traditional models. Overall, including brand exposure, this model is very strong for the interpretation of mobile phone sales predictions, which has important implications in terms of policy as well as corporate strategies.
Heat Index: An Alternative Indicator for Measuring the Impacts of Meteorological Factors on Diarrhoea in the Climate Change Era: A Time-Series Study in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Authors: Haque Farhana
Published: September 2024

Heat index (HI) is a biometeorological indicator that combines temperature and relative humidity. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between heat index and daily counts of diarrhoea hospitalisation in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Data on daily diarrhoea hospitalisations and meteorological variables from 1981–2010 were collected. We categorised heat index of >94.3°F, >100.7°F and >105°F as high, very high and extremely high heat index, respectively. We applied time-series adjusted generalised linear model (GLM) with negative binomial distribution to investigate the effects of heat index and extreme heat index on hospitalisations for diarrhoea. Effects were assessed for all ages, <5 children and by gender. A unit higher HI, and high, very high and extremely high HI were associated with 0.8%, 8%, 7% and 9% increase in diarrhoea hospitalisation in all ages, respectively. The effects varied slightly by gender and were most pronounced in <5 children with a rise of 1°F in high, very high and extremely high HI associated with a 14.1% (95% CI: 11.3% – 17.0%), 18.3% (95% CI: 13.4% – 23.5%) and 18.1% (95% CI: 8.4% – 28.6%) increase of diarrhoea, respectively. This suggest that heat index may serve as an alternative indicator for measuring the combined effects temperature and humidity on diarrhoea.
The Cloud Model-Based Evaluation of Public Building Renewal Potential with the Game Theory Combination Weighting Methods-Case Study in China
Authors: Ying Zhang Jia , Sheng Li Xi
Published: September 2024

Currently, urban renewal activities in China are booming. And promoting the renovation of public buildings is the key due to its large scale, high cost and significant impact to the nature and social environment. To reduce the ambiguity and uncertainty in evaluating the potential for renewal of existing public buildings, a renewal potential evaluation model combining game theory combination weighting method and cloud model theory is proposed. The paper constructs a comprehensive evaluation index system based on relevant standards and literature. Game theory is used to optimize the weights obtained by AHP and entropy weight methods to obtain a combined weight. MATLAB programming is used to calculate the comprehensive cloud parameters of the evaluation index for the potential renewal of existing public buildings and therefore generate cloud Graphs. Through case study in Nanjing of China, it has been demonstrated that the combination empowerment cloud model can objectively reflect the relationship between the fuzziness and randomness of evaluation indicators for public building renewal potential. The expression of cloud Graphs can intuitively reflect the magnitude of renewal and renovation potential and the degree of uncertainty in evaluation results. The research result provides useful references for the sustainable utilization of building resources in the era of building.
Ternary Associativity and Ternary Lie Algebra at Cube Root of Unity
Authors: Abramov Viktor
Published: September 2024

We propose a new approach to extending the notion of commutator and Lie algebra to algebras with ternary multiplication laws. Our approach is based on ternary associativity of the first and second kind. We propose a ternary commutator, which is a linear combination of six (all permutations of three elements) triple products. The coefficients of this linear combination are the cube roots of unity. We find an identity for the ternary commutator that holds due to ternary associativity of the first or second kind. The form of the found identity is determined by the permutations of the general affine group GA(1,5)⊂S5. We consider the found identity as an analogue of the Jacobi identity in the ternary case. We introduce the concept of a ternary Lie algebra at the cubic root of unity and give examples of such an algebra constructed using ternary multiplications of rectangular and three-dimensional matrices. We point out the connection between the structure constants of a ternary Lie algebra with three generators and an irreducible representation of the rotation group.
Alkyl Pyridinol Compounds Exhibit Antimicrobial Effects against Gram-Positive Bacteria
Authors: Canchola Juan , Donkor Gracious Yoofi Boafo , Tawiah Patrick Ofori , Fasawe Ayoola , Ayim Emmanuel , Engelke Martin F , Dahl Jan-Ulrik
Published: September 2024

The rise of antibiotic-resistant pathogens represents a significant global challenge in infectious disease control, which is amplified by the decline in the discovery of novel antibiotics. Staphylococcus aureus continues to be a highly significant pathogen causing infections in multiple organs and tissues in both healthcare institutions and community settings. The bacterium has become increasingly resistant to all available antibiotics. Consequently, there is an urgent need for novel small molecules that inhibit growth or impair survival of bacterial pathogens. Given their large structural and chemical diversity as well as often unique mechanisms of action, natural products represent an excellent avenue for the discovery and development of novel antimicrobial treatments. Anaephene A and B are two such naturally occurring compounds with significant antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria. Here, we report the rapid syntheses and biological characterization of five novel anaephene derivatives, which display low cytotoxicity against mammalian cells but potent antibacterial activity against various S. aureus strains, including methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and the multi drug-resistant community acquired strain USA300LAC. A Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction served as the key step for the synthesis of the alkyl pyridinol products. Using the compound JC-01-074, which displays bactericidal activity already at low concentrations (MIC: 16 mg/ml), we provide evidence that alkyl pyridinols target actively growing and biofilm-forming cells and show that these compounds cause disruption and deformation of the staphylococcal membrane, indicating a membrane associated mechanism of action.
Validation of Greulich and Pyle Atlas for Radiological Bone Age Assessment in Pediatric Population from the Canary Islands
Authors: Martín Pérez Isidro Miguel , Martín Pérez Sebastián Eustaquio , Vega González Jesús María , Molina Suárez Ruth , García Hernández Alfonso Miguel , Rodríguez Hernández Fidel , Herrera Perez Mario
Published: September 2024

Accurate assessment of bone age (BA) is crucial for pediatric clinical practice. This study validated the Radiological Reference Atlas for Bone Age in the Canary Islands Population with a total of 203 anteroposterior left hand and wrist radiographs from healthy children (91 females, 112 males) across preschool, school-age, and adolescent stages. Intra-observer agreement, assessed by intraclass correlation coefficients (BAA1: ICC = 1.000, BAA2: ICC = 0.995, BAA3: ICC = 0.943), showed differing levels of precision among assessors. Inter-observer agreement was high (Pearson’s r = 0.905 - 0.951), suggesting consistent evaluations across different expertise levels. Accuracy analysis revealed significant BA underestimation compared to chronological age (CA) in preschool (MD = -17.036 months, p < 0.001) and school-age (MD = -8.165 months, p < 0.001) groups, but closer agreement in teenagers (MD = -0.33 months, p = 0.550). Furthermore, a relevant underestimation in the teenage stage for girls compared to boys was also noted. These findings underscore the atlas's precision; however, its accuracy for BA assessment in younger children and adolescent girls needs to be approached with caution.
Design and Development of Miniature Measuring Instrument for Parachute Cords Dynamic Load for Stepless Parachute Opening
Authors: Wei Liang , Xin Zhao , Peng Wu Peng , Xin Li Yu , Shuai Lv
Published: September 2024

Spacecraft recovery technology is crucial in the field of aerospace, in which the parachute plays a key role in slowing down the descent speed of the spacecraft and realizing a smooth landing. In order to construct a dynamically adjustable parachute deployment strategy, it is necessary to measure the parachute dynamic load accurately in real time. However, the existing sensor measurement scheme is difficult to meet the measurement requirements due to its large structure and complex wiring. In order to meet the current demand for real-time measurement of parachute cords dynamic load, a miniature measuring instrument is designed.According to the function and technical requirements of the miniature measuring instrument, the hardware modules of the acquisition system are selected and designed, and the integration debugging and performance optimization of the microcontroller module, A/D sampling module, signal acquisition circuit and power supply module are carried out. The software of the parachute cords tension acquisition system based on the miniature measuring instrument is developed. The elastomer is modeled by using SolidWorks and statically analyzed by using AnsysWorkbench finite element analysis software. Then the final structure of the elastomer and the pasting position of the strain gage are determined through the results analysis as well as experimental verification. The hardware module of the signal acquisition system for the miniature measuring instrument is then encapsulated. The force value of the miniature measuring instrument is calibrated and tested many times by using the microcomputer-controlled electronic universal testing machine. The experimental results show that the designed miniature measuring instrument has accurate data, strong stability and good real-time performance, which meets the demand for real-time accurate measurement of miniature measuring instrument, and can provide reliable data for parachute cords parameter validation and stepless unfolding design.
Megaselia scalaris and Senotainia tricuspis Infesting Apis mellifera: Genotyping, Detection by Quantitative PCR, and Involvement in the Transmission of Microbial Pathogens
Authors: Rossi Franca , Iannitto Martina , Hulaj Beqe , Manocchio Paola , Gentile Francesca , Matto Ilaria Del , Paoletti Massimiliano , Marino Lucio , Ricchiuti Luciano
Published: September 2024

Megaselia scalaris and Senotainia tricuspis are two parasitoid flies of the honeybee Apis mellifera and are known to infest apiaries of different European and Mediterranean countries. However, their prevalence is still little known and no systematic control of their presence and countermeasures are currently adopted. To achieve a better knowledge about their distribution in apiaries, quantitative PCR (qPCR) based methods for their rapid detection directly in hive matrices were developed in this study. These were applied to samples of adult honeybees and hive debris collected in the summer season in Central Italy and Kosovo. In total 16 samples per type per region were analyzed. Both flies were detected in the two geographical contexts but more frequently in Central Italy. The positive apiaries in Central Italy were re-sampled one year later by capturing viable honeybees and isolating emerging flies after differentiation into adults. These were genotyped by sequencing regions of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene COI for M. scalaris and cytochrome B gene cytB for S. tricuspis amplified with specific primers designed in this study. Different genotypes of M. scalaris were detected and these were related to biotypes from distant nations. Some fly isolates were shown to harbor DNA or RNA of honeybee microbial pathogens. Results suggested to implement efficient control against these parasites in apiaries to limit their detrimental effects. The qPCR tests that have been developed can facilitate larger screening studies and early detection.
Achieving Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings through Renewable Energy Production-Storage Optimization
Authors: Hongvityakorn Bhumitas , Jaruwasupant Nattawut , Khongphinitbunjong Kitiphong , Aggarangsi Pruk
Published: September 2024

This research focuses on optimization of coupled solar production and battery storage system to achieve Nearly Zero-Energy Building (nZEBs) based on building load behavior patterns. Moni-toring data from an office building with 120kW peak and 40kW average load consumption equipped with a 160kW solar photovoltaic (PV) system and a 50kW-45kWh energy storage system (ESS). The primary objective is to the primary objective is to analyze collected data from existing system and setup guideline to optimize ESS capacity to maximize clean energy consumption and thus minimize excess production losses, progressing the building toward Nearly ZEB Level 1 status (87.5%-100% energy usage). The study outcome has identified parameter impacts and demonstrates additional optimized cases with various PV and ESS installed capacity.
Further analysis is performed based on working day load profile and appliance patterns. This ap-proach aims to learn the usage HVAC, lighting, and electronics, enabling the optimization scheme to be applied to buildings with different load patterns. Additionally, the analysis predicts other building behavior patterns and optimized clean energy system. The findings are then validated against actual data and the results demonstrate good model accuracy, especially daytime predic-tion. These insights also provide guidelines and strategies for further interventions on HVAC operations and adjusting concerned schedules to achieve desired ZEB level.
Onwudinuba Philosophy: The Hermeneutics of Death as a Component of Wealth in Igbo Cosmology
Authors: Okeke Johnson Ifeanyi
Published: September 2024

This study x-rays the philosophical meanings, interpretations, and intersections of death and wealth in Igbo cosmology. Using such tools as oral interviews, ethnography and participant observations, the researcher extracted data from both primary and secondary sources to clarify some misconceptions surrounding wealth and death in Igbo religious and philosophical thought. This research is timely because amidst a growing literature on the Igbo people and culture, discourses on the complementarity and convergence of good death and wealth have lacked attention over the years. This work fills this gap through the application of hermeneutic approach which enabled an informed conclusion that the Igbo recognise two categories of death: the bad death and the good death. While The bad death is abhorred and avoided, the good death is the expectation of every Igbo human person as it is a strong component of wealth. The findings provide a better understanding of African Igbo culture, death, wealth, and the meanings they attach to life which is equally important for a harmonious relationship and a stable social order. The paper calls for a reexamination of the narratives surrounding peripheral interpretations given to this aspect of Igbo culture. It further contributed to the growing volumes of literature on Igbo history, indigenous philosophy, and religion, among others.
Cgrp Monoclonal Antibodies: Key Lessons from Real World Evidence
Authors: Orlando Bianca , Egeo Gabriella , Aurilia Cinzia , Fiorentini Giulia , Barbanti Piero
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Background
The advent of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) pathway has transformed the management of migraine, offering newfound optimism for clinicians and individuals with episodic migraine (EM) and chronic migraine (CM). While randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have provided crucial insights into the effectiveness and safety profiles of these treatments, their translation into real-world clinical practice remains a e challenge.
Objective
This review aims to conduct a comprehensive assessment of real-world studies, offering valuable insights tailored for practical application in clinical settings.
Methods
We conducted a comprehensive literature search in PubMed, SCOPUS, and MEDLINE for real-life studies on erenumab, fremanezumab, and galcanezumab. Abstracts underwent rigorous screening by two reviewers for relevance. Data extraction from selected articles was performed using a standardized form, with verification by a second reviewer. Data synthesis was narrative, following PRISMA guidelines.
Results
Our search included 55 pertinent studies conducted between 2019 and 2023. Real-world study designs demonstrated notable variability in the selection and inclusion of migraine patients, influenced by factors such as attack frequency, data collection criteria, and primary/secondary objectives. Key findings commonly reported considerable improvements in efficacy outcomes (migraine frequency, analgesic use, pain severity, disability), high responder rates, and optimal safety and tolerability profiles.
Conclusion
Real-world evidence underscores the role of anti-CGRP mAbs as targeted therapies for both CM and EM patients. The overall results indicate that the effectiveness and tolerability of anti-CGRP mAbs in real-world applications may exceed those observed in RCTs, an unprecedented finding in clinical neurology.
Eco-Friendly Dyeing Processes of Nylon 6.6 woven Fabrics with Used Coffee Grounds (UCG)
Authors: Becker Payton , Ciesielska-Wrobel Izabela
Published: September 2024

(1) Background: The increasing demand for sustainable practices in the textile industry has led to the exploration of natural dyes and eco-friendly dyeing processes. This study focuses on the potential of used coffee grounds (UCG) as an eco-friendly natural dye for Nylon 6.6 woven fabrics. (2) Methods: Five dyeing processes were evaluated, varying in the use of mordants and acids, to assess their impact on color saturation, colorfastness to laundering, and crocking resistance of Nylon 6.6. fabric. The processes included a control with no mordant or acid and others that incorporated tannic acid, acetic acid, and ferrous sulfate heptahydrate. (3) Results: The results demonstrated that Process 4, which combined tannic acid pre-mordanting with acetic acid in the dye bath, provided the best balance between color saturation and colorfastness. Process 2, utilizing only tannic acid, offered some durability in laundering and crocking tests. Process 5, being the least eco-friendly process demonstrated high color saturation, but it performed poorly in colorfastness to crocking, which means that it releases the UCG-based dye after rubbing of the dyed Nylon 6.6. fabric. (4) Conclusions: The findings confirm that UCG can be an effective and sustainable natural dye for Nylon 6.6, with pre-mordanting and acid treatment significantly enhancing dye uptake and retention. However, further research is needed to optimize color intensity and expand the application of UCG in textile dyeing.
Individual Urban Trees Clustering in LiDAR Data with 3-D Gestalt Measures
Authors: Silva Daniel Andrade , dos Santos Daniel Rodrigues
Published: September 2024

Despite the technological advancements of 3-D city models, the 3-D shape abstraction methods for urban vegetation are recent and still limited to support spatial analysis of individual or groups of trees and forest patches. In this paper, a scheme for individual urban tree abstraction, which retains the semantic complexity of the object, is proposed. Our contribution is three-fold. First, an initial tree structure based on a new 3-D aggregation operator is proposed. Second, we developed Gestalt rules for 3-D urban vegetation mapping. Third, current state-of-the-art deep learning is adapted for the abstraction of individual urban trees. Quantitative and qualitative results show the effectiveness of our proposed approach in accurately reducing the spatial density of trees and the degree of fragmentation of the total green area, which can access information about the location, size, and spatial distribution of mapped urban trees.
Evaluation of the Use of Cell Lines in Studies of Selenium‐Dependent Glutathione Peroxidase 2 (GPX2) Involvement in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Esworthy R Steven
Published: September 2024

Hydroperoxides (ROOH) are known as damaging agents capable of mediating mutation, while a role as signaling agents through oxidation of protein sulfhydryls that can alter cancer-related pathways has gained traction. Glutathione peroxidase 2 (GPX2) is an antioxidant enzyme that reduces ROOH at the expense of glutathione (GSH). GPX2 is noted for a tendency of large in-creases or decreases in expression levels during tumorigenesis that leads to investigators focusing on its role in cancer. However, GPX2 is only one component of multiple enzyme families that metabolize ROOH and GPX2 levels are often very low in the context of these other ROOH reducing activities. Colorectal cancer (CRC) was selected as a case study for examining GPX2 function as colorectal tissues and cancers are sites where GPX2 is highly expressed. A case can be made for a significant impact of changes in expression levels. There is also a link between GPX2 and NADPH oxidase 1 (NOX1) from earlier studies that is seldom addressed and is discussed, presenting data on a unique association in colon and CRC. Tumor-derived cell lines are quite commonly used for pre-clinical studies involving the role of GPX2 in CRC. Generally, selection for this type of work is limited to identifying cell lines based on high and low GPX2 expression with the standard re-search scheme of overexpression in low expressing lines and suppression in high expressing lines to identify impacted pathways. This overlooks CRC subtypes among cell lines involving a wide range of gene expression profiles and a variety of driver mutation differences along with a large difference in GPX2 expression levels. A trend for low and high GPX2 expressing cell lines to segregate into different CRC subclasses, indicated in this report, suggests that choices based solely on GPX2 levels may provide misleading and conflicting results by disregarding other properties of cell lines and failing to factor in differences in potential protein targets of ROOH. CRC and cell line classification schemes are presented here that were intended to assist workers in performing pre-clinical studies but are largely unnoted in work on GPX2 and CRC. Studies are often initiated on the premise that the transition from normal to CRC is associated with up-regulation of GPX2. This is probably correct. However, the source normal cells for CRC could be almost any colon cell type, some with very high GPX2 levels. These factors are addressed in this study.
Towards Hydraulic Design Optimization of Shaft Hydropower Plants: A 3D-CFD Application Based on Physical Models
Authors: Alapfy Bertalan , Gamarra Nicolas Francisco , Rüther Nils
Published: September 2024

The shaft hydropower plant (SHPP) is a novel hydraulic concept for low-head hydropower sites with several environmental and operational advantages over conventional layouts. However, the first two projects implementing this concept have shown comparatively high construction costs and project risks. Therefore, further optimization is required to the economic attractiveness and enabling broader market adoption. Initial model tests recommend a square-shaped shaft inlet with a three-sided approach flow for low-loss and fish-friendly inflow conditions. Yet, this design requires significant space for structural implementation and may be unsuitable for use with multiple shafts or as an extension of non-powered dams and weirs. This research paper presents the application of a computational fluid dynamics simulation setup to evaluate the hydraulic per-formance of various design configurations, especially, alternative design layouts with one-sided approach flow without further physical model tests,. The simulation setup is calibrated against observations including head loss and velocity measurements from the physical model tests, and its satisfactory performance enables the analysis of alternative design layouts. This aims to derive the most significant design parameters for achieving the desired hydraulic conditions at the intake. Increasing the flow depth before the intake and enlarging the inlet area have the most significant impact, while increasing the overflow of the front gate has the least significant effect.. The chosen CFD application is deemed suitable for hydraulic design optimization and provides guidance on the key parameters to focus on for tailored site-specific design development.
The Role of Peptides in Combatting HIV Infection: Applications and Insights
Authors: Helmy Naiera M , Parang Keykavous
Published: September 2024

Peptide-based inhibitors represent a promising approach for the treatment of HIV-1, offering a range of potential advantages including specificity, low toxicity, and the ability to target various stages of the viral lifecycle. This review outlines the current state of research on peptide-based anti-HIV therapies, highlighting key advancements and identifying future research directions. Over the past few years, there has been significant progress in developing synthetic peptide-based drugs that target various stages of the viral life cycle, including entry and replication. These approaches aim to create effective anti-HIV therapies. Additionally, peptides have proven valuable in the development of anti-HIV vaccines. In the quest for effective HIV vaccines, discovering potent antigens and designing suitable vaccine strategies are crucial for overcoming challenges such as low immunogenicity, safety concerns, and increased viral load. Innovative strategies for vaccine development through peptide research are, therefore, a key focus area for achieving effective HIV prevention. This review aims to explore the strategies for designing peptides with anti-HIV activity and to highlight their role in advancing both therapeutic and preventive measures against HIV.
Enhancing Arabic Speaking Skills in Indonesian Madrasahs
Authors: Anggraini Niatri , Anwar Najih
Published: September 2024

This research investigates the implementation of the Drilling Arabic Program (DAP) in enhancing speaking skills at the Junwangi Krian Siadoarjo Bilingual Madrasah Aliyah. Using qualitative methods, educators and students were surveyed to identify supporting and inhibiting factors and propose solutions. Findings reveal that while DAP is divided into planning, implementation, and evaluation stages, supporting factors include teacher competence and student enthusiasm, while inhibiting factors include teachers' lack of approach and inadequate infrastructure. Solutions include optimizing teacher development groups, improving time management, encouraging Fus-ha Arabic usage, and enhancing infrastructure. These results provide insights for improving Arabic language education in madrasahs and preserving Islamic linguistic heritage.
Highlight: 
1. DAP Implementation Stages: Planning, executing, and evaluating Arabic speaking skill enhancement.2. Key Supporting Factors: Teacher competence, student enthusiasm, and available infrastructure.3. Addressing Challenges: Teacher approach, understanding, and infrastructure; solutions proposed.
Keyword: Drilling Arabic Program, Madrasah Aliyah, Speaking Skills, Qualitative Research, Language Education
Factors Influencing SIMRS Quality at Al-Islam H.M Mawardi General Hospital
Authors: Solihin Ahmad , Nisak Umi Khoirun
Published: September 2024

This quantitative study investigates the impact of organizational factors on Hospital Management Information Systems (HMIS), employing the PRISM framework. The absence of a search menu linked to the primary key of national identity number in the HMIS was scrutinized for its effects. Results reveal significant influences of organizational factors on technical and behavioral aspects of HMIS. Notably, periodic evaluations by the IT team significantly enhance technological advancements within hospitals, while frequent training sessions for HMIS users markedly improve their comprehension of system functionalities. These findings underscore the pivotal role of organizational strategies in shaping the effectiveness and efficiency of HMIS, offering valuable insights for optimizing healthcare information management practices.
Highlights :

Organizational factors significantly influence technical enhancements in Hospital Management Information Systems.
Frequent evaluations by the IT team contribute to technological advancements within hospital systems.
Regular user training sessions enhance comprehension and utilization of HMIS functionalities

Keywords: Hospital Management Information Systems, Organizational Factors, PRISM Analysis, Technology Improvement, User Training
Actors' Cooperation in Overcoming Street Children
Authors: Masfufah Dwi Nur , Agustina Isna Fitria
Published: September 2024

This qualitative field research aimed to determine the synergy of actors in handling street children in Sidoarjo District, Indonesia. The study found that the implementation process of the policy for handling street children involved various stakeholders, both government and non-government, and was incorporated in a special coordination team called the Street Children Outreach Team. The team had a clear division of roles, and the stakeholders negotiated to avoid domination of one another's roles. The indicators and objectives that must be met by stakeholders in working together include the 4R approach, namely rights, responsibilities, revenues, and relationships. The study implies that effective collaboration among stakeholders is crucial in handling street children, and a clear division of roles can prevent conflicts and ensure the success of the program.
Highlight :

The study emphasizes the importance of a clear division of roles among stakeholders in handling street children.
The Street Children Outreach Team in Sidoarjo District involves various government and non-government stakeholders, working together with a 4R approach (rights, responsibilities, revenues, and relationships).
Effective collaboration among stakeholders is crucial in handling street children, and it can be achieved through the negotiation to avoid the domination of one another's roles.

Keywords: Synergy of actors, Street children, Stakeholders, Sidoarjo District, Indonesia
Firm Value Determinants in Chemical Sub-sector: Moderation by Firm Size (2017-2021)
Authors: Safitri Anik , Ernandi Herman
Published: September 2024

This quantitative study investigates the influence of tax planning, profitability, liquidity, and dividend policy on firm value in the chemical sub-sector manufacturing companies listed on the IDX during 2017-2021. Employing Partial Least Square (PLS) analysis on a sample of 50 companies selected through purposive sampling, we found that tax planning and profitability significantly impact firm value, while liquidity and dividend policy exhibit no such effect. Additionally, firm size moderates the relationship between tax planning and dividend policy with firm value but does not moderate the relationship between liquidity and profitability with firm value. These findings provide insights for policymakers and practitioners regarding the significance of tax planning strategies and the interplay between firm size and key determinants of firm value within the chemical manufacturing sector 
Highlights :

Tax planning and profitability significantly influence firm value in the chemical manufacturing sector.
Firm size moderates the relationship between tax planning and dividend policy with firm value.
Liquidity and dividend policy show no significant effect on firm value in the chemical manufacturing sector.

Keywords: Tax Planning, Firm Value, Partial Least Square (PLS), Chemical Manufacturing Sector, Firm Size Moderation
Theoretical Basis For The Evaluation Of Multi-Storey Housing
Authors: Adizova Farangiz Nurali qizi
Published: September 2024

It should be noted that the sharp development of the urbanization process as well as the increase in the population significantly exceeds the demand for housing construction in the country. The optimal solution to this issue is the construction of multi-storey houses. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the housing reforms carried out today are evidence of this. Multi-storey houses are used not only to provide housing for the population , but also to radically change the appearance of cities and bring them to the level to which they can meet the modern demand. For this reason, the construction of multi-storey residences in our country is also gaining momentum.
Financial development and environmental sustainability in Nigeria: Does institutional environment matter?
Authors: Ojeyinka Titus Ayobami , Oje grace Nyonnoh
Published: September 2024

Environmental sustainability has become a global agenda that every country strives to attain to promote prosperity and intergenerational wealth for the enhancement of human welfare and survival. It is against this backdrop that this study explores the effect of financial development on environmental sustainability as well as the moderating role of institutional quality on the nexus between the two variables. The study applies autoregressive distributed lags (ARDL) as the primary estimation technique while fully modified OLS and canonical cointegration regression are employed as robustness checks on the parameter estimates on annual data between 1986 and 2020. The study finds evidence of cointegration between environmental sustainability indicators and financial development. The outcomes from the baseline models suggest that financial development and weak institutional quality deteriorate environmental performance both in the short run and long run periods. However, additional findings from the paper affirm that institutional quality and financial development complement each other in promoting environmental sustainability in Nigeria. The results are consistent for the two indicators of environmental sustainability and robust to different estimation techniques. The study concludes that institutional quality plays a fundamental role by stimulating the favourable effect of financial development on environmental quality.
Physiologic effects of prone positioning on gas exchange and ventilation-perfusion matching in awake patients with AHRF
Authors: Chao Yali , Yuan Xueyan , Zhao Zhanqi , Frerichs Inéz , Li Zhe , Sun Qin , Chen Dongyu , Zhang Rui , Qiu Haibo , Liu Ling
Published: September 2024

Background
Prone positioning (PP) improves oxygenation in awake patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF). However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear in patients with diverse lung morphology. We aimed to determine the short-term effects of awake prone positioning (APP) in AHRF patients with focal and non-focal lung morphology.
Methods
This is a prospective physiological study. Twenty-four non-intubated patients with PaO2/FiO2 ≤ 300 mm Hg were included. Gas exchange, ventilation and perfusion distribution, and hemodynamics variables were recorded in the supine position (SP1), 2 h after PP, and 1 h after re-supine (SP2). Lung morphology was classified as focal and non-focal patterns using computed tomography.
Results
Twelve of the included patients were classified to the focal group and 12 to the non-focal group. PaO2/FiO2 improved after PP in all patients (161 [137, 227] mmHg vs. 236 [202, 275] mmHg, p < 0.001). Ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) matching increased after PP in all patients (61.9 [53.9, 66.5] vs. 77.5 [68.3, 80.0], p < 0.001). Shunt exhibited a significant decrease in patients of the non-focal group (28.6 [22.5, 30.3] vs. 11.3 [9.0, 14.5], p < 0.001), whereas no difference was found in the focal group after PP. Dead space decreased significantly in patients of the focal group (25.6 [21.5, 28.4] vs. 12.0 [10.8, 14.1], p < 0.001), whereas no difference was found in the non-focal group after PP.
Conclusions
APP improves V/Q matching by decreasing dead space in patients with focal lung morphology, and by decreasing shunt in patients with non-focal lung morphology.
Trial registration:
The study is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04754113).
Association of anthropometric indices with menstrual abnormalities among female patients attending the Fertility Clinic of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi
Authors: Onyejike Darlington , Okwuonu Ifeoma , Chukwuma Anita , Nwamaradi Albert , Amaonye Chinenye , Okafor Emeka , Agulanna Ambrose , Okeke Somadina , Ojemeni Chinenye , Ejiofor Dominic
Published: September 2024

Background
Menstrual abnormalities encompass a range of menstrual cycle disturbances, such as changes in the frequency, duration, or amount of bleeding. This study evaluated the association between menstrual abnormalities such as oligomenorrhea, menorrhagia and amenorrhea with anthropometric parameters such as BMI, WHR and WHtR among young women attending the Fertility Clinic of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology unit of NAUTH, Nigeria.
Methods
Random sampling technique was employed to select 200 women aged between 18–40 years, without any known medical condition that may affect menstrual function. Data were collected via questionnaires which composed of demographic information concerning menstruation, menstrual cycle and anthropometric parameters. The anthropometric parameters include height, weight, waist circumference and hip circumference.
Results
There was a statistically significant positive correlation between oligomenorrhea and BMI (r = .445, p = .001), WHR (r = .207, p = .003) and WHtR (r = .440, p = .001). There was a statistically non-significant negative correlation between menorrhagia and BMI (r = − .035, p = .618), WHR (r = − .010, p = .890) and WHtR (r = − .008, p = .912). There was a statistically non-significant very weak positive correlation between age and oligomenorrhea (p = .084) and menorrhagia (p = .104). Results from this study showed that there was no prevalence of amenorrhea among the study subjects.
Conclusions
Findings from this study indicate that obesity is a predisposing factor for oligomenorrhea. Age is not a predisposing factor for menorrhagia and oligomenorrhea. Amenorrhea is not a common menstrual disorder among young women in Anambra state, Nigeria. This study highlights the need for healthy body weight among young women.