bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of the Improved Entry and Exit Method in Slope Reliability Analysis
Authors: Yang Rong , Xu Renhao , Sun Boyan , Wan Yukuai , Gao Xinyue
Published: July 2023

The entry and exit method is a simple and practical method to determine the critical slip surface of slope. However, it has the drawback of sacrificing computational efficiency to improve search accuracy. To solve this problem, this paper proposes an improved entry and exit method to search for the critical slip surface. Based on the random fields generated by using Karhunen–Loève expansion method, the simplified Bishop’s method combined with the improved entry and exit method is used to determine the critical slip surface and its corresponding minimum factor of safety. Then, the failure probability is calculated by conducting Monte Carlo simulation. Two examples are reanalyzed to verify the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method. Meaningful comparisons are made to demonstrate the calculating accuracy and calculating efficiency of the improved entry and exit method in searching for the minimum safety factor of slope, based on which the effect of the reduced searching range on slope reliability was explored. The results indicate that the proposed method provides a practical tool for evaluating the reliability of slopes in spatially variable soils. It can greatly improve the computational efficiency in relatively high-computational accuracy of slope reliability analysis.
Investing in Maternal Health: Economic Benefits and Policy Implications
Authors: La Barbera Salvatore
Published: July 2023

This article focuses on the economic dimensions of maternal health, highlighting the benefits of investing in maternal healthcare and the policy implications for sustainable development. Through a comprehensive review of the literature, the article explores the economic impact of maternal health, including its effects on human capital, productivity, and healthcare costs. It emphasizes the importance of addressing social determinants such as access to healthcare services, education, employment, income, and geographical disparities. By prioritizing maternal health, societies can unlock the economic potential of women, promote inclusive growth, and reduce gender disparities. The article discusses policy interventions, including the importance of healthcare infrastructure, financial support for maternal healthcare, and promoting gender equality. It also emphasizes the need for future research to quantify the economic benefits and evaluate the cost-effectiveness of different interventions. Overall, the article underscores the economic imperative of investing in maternal health and provides valuable insights for policymakers and researchers seeking to enhance maternal health outcomes and promote sustainable economic development.
Grouped Contrastive Learning of Self-supervised Sentence Representation
Authors: Wang Qian , Zhang Weiqi , Lei Tianyi , Peng Dezhong
Published: July 2023

This paper proposes a Grouped Contrastive Learning of self-supervised Sentence Representation (GCLSR), which can learn an effective and meaningful representation of sentences. Previous works maximize the similarity between two vectors to be the objective of contrastive learning, suffering from the high-dimensionality of the vectors. In addition, most previous works have adopted discrete data augmentation to obtain positive samples and directly employed contrastive framework of computer vision to perform contrastive training, which could hamper contrastive training because text data is discrete and sparse compared with image data. To address those issues, we propose a grouped contrastive learning framework, i.e., GCLSR, which divides the high-dimensional feature vector into several groups and respectively computes the groups’ contrastive losses to make use of more local information, eventually obtaining a more fine-grained sentence representation. In addition, in GCLSR, we design a new self-attention mechanism and a continuous as well as partial word vector augmentation (PWVA). For the discrete and sparse text data, the usage of self-attention could help model focus the informative words by measuring the importance of every word in a sentence. By using the PWVA, GCLSR can obtain high-quality positive samples used for contrastive learning. Experimental results demonstrate that our proposed GCLSR achieves an encouraging result on the challenging datasets of the standard semantic textual similarity (STS) task and transfer task.
Contextuality in Collective Intelligence: Not There Yet
Authors: Sulis William , Khan Ali
Published: July 2023

Type I contextuality or inconsistent connectedness is a fundamental feature of both the classical as well as the quantum realms. Type II contextuality (true contextuality or CHSH type contextuality) is frequently asserted to be specific to the quantum realm. Nevertheless, evidence for Type II contextuality in classical settings is slowly emerging (at least in the psychological realm). An example is given here of Type II contextuality involving a simple cooperative game. This arises due to the cooperative nature of the game which results in sign intransitivity for expectation values while individual random variables remain consistently connected. This shows that the conditions attributed uniquely to quantum systems may occur in classical settings as well. Sign intransitivity can be observed in preference relations in the setting of decision making and so intransitivity in decision making may also yield examples of Type II contextuality. Previously it was suggested that a fruitful setting in which to search for such contextuality is that of decision making by collective intelligence systems. An experiment was conducted using a detailed simulation of nest emigration by workers of the ant Temnothorax albipennis. In spite of intransitivity, these simulated colonies came close to but failed to violate Dzhafarov’s inequality for a 4-cyclic system. Further research using more sophisticated simulations and experimental paradigms is required
Oncogene-Induced Senescence is Crucial Antitumor Defense Mechanism of Human Endometrial Stromal Cells
Authors: Toropov Artem L , Deryabin Pavel I , Shatrova Alla N , Borodkina Aleksandra V
Published: July 2023

Being the major cellular component of highly dynamic tissue endometrial stromal cells (EnSC) are exposed to cycles of proliferation upon hormonal stimulation what might pose risks for mutations accumulation and malignization. However, endometrial stromal tumors are rare and unusual types of tumor. The present study aimed to uncover defense mechanisms that might underlie resistance of EnSC against oncogenic transformation. All experiments were performed in vitro using the following methods: FACS, WB, RT-PCR, IF, molecular cloning, lentiviral transduction, and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. We revealed that expression of the mutant HRASG12V results in senescence of EnSC. We experimentally confirmed inability of HRASG12V-expressing EnSC to bypass senescence and resume proliferation even upon oestrogen stimulation. At the molecular level, induction of oncogene-induced senescence (OIS) was accompanied by the activation of MEK/ERK, PI3K/AKT, p53/p21WAF/CIP/Rb and p38/p16INK4a/Rb pathways, however inhibiting either pathway did not prevent cell cycle arrest. PTEN loss was established as the additional feature of HRASG12V-induced senescence of EnSC. By using CRISPR-Cas9 mediated PTEN knockout, we distinguished PTEN loss-induced senescence as a reserve molecular mechanism to prevent transformation of HRASG12V-expressing EnSC. The present study highlights oncogene-induced senescence as an antitumor defense mechanism of EnSC controlled by multiple backup molecular pathways.
Psycho-Behavioral Characteristics Perceived as Facilitators by Brazilian Adults with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in a Public Health Service
Authors: Pecoli Priscila , Rosa Anderson , Gabbay Mônica , Dib Sérgio
Published: July 2023

Type 1 diabetes imposes a complex and challenging routine on patients and caregivers. Therefore, considering individual experiences and personal facilitators to promote assertive interventions is crucial. However, no studies have addressed these perspectives in the Brazilian adult population. We aimed to identify psycho-behavioral characteristics perceived as facilitators for coping with the condition. We used a biographical method to conduct semi-structured, face-to-face, in-depth interviews for each participant. Transcripts were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Participants (n = 22) were aged 18–57 years (mean: 30.2, standard deviation (SD): 8.7), and the duration since diagnosis was approximately 20.6 years (SD: 4.6). Twelve (54.4%) were women, 13 (59.1%) used insulin pumps, 14 (63.6%) had at least a college degree, and 13 (59.1%) had HbA1C (glycated hemoglobin) levels above 58 mmol/mol (7.5%). Five major themes emerged: 1) peer learning, 2) ownership, 3) welcoming experiences, 4) equity, and 5) reframe the path (P.O.W.E.R.). All themes appeared in the lived experiences shared by participants with HbA1C levels below 58 mmol/mol (7.5%). Improved glycemic control can be achieved, and the challenges encountered in diabetes care within similar socioeconomic contexts can be addressed, by an interdisciplinary care team that takes P.O.W.E.R into consideration when providing person-centered care strategies.
Development of an Edge-Computing-Based Intelligent Feeding System for Observing Depth-Specific Feeding Behavior in Red Seabream
Authors: Lee Donggil , Bae Jaehyun , Lee Kyounghoon
Published: July 2023

The supply of feed has a significant effect on fish growth and operation costs, making it a critical factor in aquaculture. Owing to the repetitive nature of feed supply, feeding techniques have undergone a shift from manual feeding to systems allowing operators to set feed quantities and timing, reducing labor efforts. However, unlike manual feeding, automatic systems cannot ad-just the amount of feed supplied according to the feeding activities of fish, potentially resulting in overfeeding or underfeeding. Such overfeeding causes marine pollution and increases operational costs, whereas underfeeding hinders fish growth. In this paper, we present an intelligent feeding system that observes the depth-specific feeding behavior of red seabream during the feeding process and determines whether feed supply must be continued. The performance of the feeding algorithm is evaluated by comparing the feed loss rate measured during a feeding experiment at a red seabream sea cage farm with that of the traditional manual feeding method. The results reveal that the feed supply per unit time of the manual method and the developed intelligent feed supply system is at an equivalent level. Moreover, the difference in the average feed loss rate is a negligible 1.16%, confirming that the new system is slightly more advantageous.
Stabilization of Hydroxy-α-Sanshool by Antioxidants Present in the Genus Zanthoxylum
Authors: Mitani Takahiko , Yawata Yasuko , Yamamoto Nami , Okuno Yoshiharu , Sakamoto Hidefumi , Nishide Mitsunori , Kayano Shinichi
Published: July 2023

Japanese pepper (sansho, Zanthoxylum piperitum) contains several types of sanshools belonging to N-alkylamides. Because of long-chain unsaturated fatty acids present in their structure, sanshools are prone to oxidative deterioration, which poses problems in processing. Here, we evaluated the effects of antioxidants from the genus Zanthoxylum in preventing sanshool degradation using accelerated tests. An ethanolic extract of segment membranes of the sansho fruit pericarp was incubated at 70 °C for 7 days with different antioxidants to determine the residual amount of hydroxy-α-sanshool (HαS) in the extract. α-Tocopherol (α-Toc) showed excellent HαS-stabilizing activity at low concentrations. Among phenolic acids, we noted that the HαS-stabilizing activity increased with the number of hydroxy groups per molecule. For example, gallic acid and its derivatives exhibited excellent sanshool-stabilizing activity. Quercetin was found to be a superior HαS stabilizer compared with hesperetin and naringenin. However, the effective concentration was much higher for phenolic compounds than for α-Toc. These substances are believed to play a role in preventing the decomposition of sanshools in the pericarp of sansho. These sanshool stabilizers should be useful in the development of new beverages, foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals that take advantage of the taste and flavor of sansho.
Reliability and Validity of the Polish Version of the Schema Mode Inventory (SMI)
Authors: Grażka Anna , Królewiak Klara , Sójta Klaudia , Strzelecki Dominik
Published: July 2023

(1) Background: The study presents an assessment of the psychometric properties of the Polish version the Short Schema Mode Inventory (SMI) adaptation. (2) Methods: First, the original version of the scale was translated. Subsequently, a validity and reliability study was conducted on a sample of 240 patients and 400 non-patients. In particular: the factor structure of the inventory was checked, internal reliability and intercorrelations between subscales were tested, differences between the clinical and non-clinical groups in terms of the severity of each factor were examined, and construct validity was assessed by comparing the association of results with external variables. (3) Results: The results did not conclusively confirm the 14-factor structure postulated in the original scale. Nevertheless, relatively the best fit indices were obtained for such a model. Internal reliability for the 14 subscales was in the acceptable to excellent range. Correlations between subscales took moderate to high values. The existence of differences between the clinical and non-clinical groups and the construct validity were confirmed. (4) Conclusions: The psychometric evaluation performed is mostly similar to the results obtained for other adaptations, and the results entitle the inventory to be used for research and clinical purposes with the knowledge of its limitations.
Top-down Design of Human-like Teachable Mind
Authors: Xie Ming
Published: July 2023

Teachability has been extensively studied under the context of making industrial robots to be programmable and reprogrammable. However, it is only recently that the artificial intelligence (AI) research community is accelerating the research works with the objective of making humanoid robots and many other robots to be teachable under the context of using natural languages. We human beings spend many years to learn knowledge and skills despite our extraordinary mental capabilities of being teachable with the use of natural languages. Therefore, if we would like to develop human-like robots such as humanoid robots, it is inevitable for us to face the issue of making future humanoid robots to be teachable with the use of natural languages as well. In this paper, we present the key details of a top-down design for achieving a teachable mind which consists of two major processes: the first one is the process which enables humanoid robots to gain innate mental capabilities of transforming incoming signals into meaningful crisp data, and the second one is the process which enables humanoid robots to gain innate mental capabilities of undertaking incremental and deep learning with the main focus of associating conceptual labels in a natural language to meaningful crisp data. These two processes consist of the two necessary and sufficient conditions for future humanoid robots to be teachable with the use of natural languages. In addition, this paper outlines a very likely new finding underlying human brain’s neural systems as well as the obvious mathematics underlying artificial deep neural networks. These outlines provide us the strong reason to separate the study of mind from the study of brain. Hopefully, the content discussed in this paper will help the AI research community to venture into the right direction which is to make future humanoid robots, non-humanoid robots, and many other systems to achieve human-like self-intelligence at cognitive level with the use of natural languages.
Coastal Erosion Caused by River Mouth Migration on Cuspate Delta: An Example from Thanh Hoa, Vietnam
Authors: Duy Dinh Van , Ty Tran Van , Than Cao Tan Ngoc , Thang Cu Ngoc , Hong Huynh Thi Cam , Phat Lam Tan , An Nguyen Thai , Thanh Tran Nhat , Viet Nguyen Trung , Tanaka Hitoshi
Published: July 2023

Coastal erosion is threatening the infrastructures of coastal community at the Ma River mouth in Thanh Hoa province, Vietnam. When coastal erosion happens, people try to prevent it by emergency solutions like hard structures. However, this approach usually leads to more severe problem since the mechanism for coastal erosion is not investigated and understood properly. In this study the long-term configuration of Ma River mouth in Thanh Hoa Province, Central Vietnam has been investigated using Landsat imagery from 1987 to 2023. An analytical solution of one-line model for shoreline change was also employed to calculate the sand discharge from Ma River as well as the diffusion coefficient for sand transported along-shore by breaking waves. There was an asymmetric configuration of the Ma River mouth during the last 37 years. The sand supply from the Ma River is around 350,000 m3/year. This amount of sand is going mainly to the northern beach of the Ma River delta (from 55% to 75%). The asymmetric morphology of the Ma River mouth delta is the trigger for severe coastal erosion reported recently. This study provides a quick and easy method to investigate the morphological change of cuspate deltas where measured data is limited.
Post-Earthquake Strengthening of RC Coupling Beams with GFRP Wrapping: Experimental Investigation
Authors: Eser Namık , Töre Erkan , İlki Alper , Orakçal Kutay , Bal İhsan Engin
Published: July 2023

Our research aims to address the urgent need for retrofitting measures to enhance the resilience of damaged coupling beams in real-life scenarios. We conducted a series of tests on scaled-down prototype coupling beams, carefully adhering to similarity theory requirements to ensure accurate representation.
The test results showed that the chord rotation capacities of different specimens with the same diagonal bundle varied significantly due to the difference in the confinement levels. The specimens with lower level of confinement were found to have less displacement capacity. When the specimens were strengthened by wrapping with GFRP after damage, it was observed that the increase in confinement level significantly increased the chord rotation capacities of all specimens. In addition, in the tests before the strengthening, the elongation behavior of the specimens is observed until the damage development reaches approximately 2% chord rotation. With the in-crease in chord rotation, the elongation behavior of the specimens stops with increasing damage and then shortening behavior is observed. After retrofitting, it was observed that the axial elongation continued in a limited manner depending on the location and size of the concrete separated from the beam core in the case of collapse before strengthening, and then the beam showed a shortening behavior predominantly.
After strengthening studies, our findings contribute valuable insights into the behavior and performance of damaged coupling beams, emphasizing the potential of urgent GFRP wrapping as a viable solution to enhance the seismic resilience of middle- and high-class buildings with structural walls after seismic events.
Exploring Emotional Responses in Interactive Installation Art: A Convergence of Affective Computing and Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Xiaowei Chen , Zainuddin Ibrahim
Published: July 2023

A single paragraph of about 200 words maximum. For research articles, abstracts should give a pertinent overview of the work. We strongly encourage authors to use the following style of structured abstracts, but without headings: (1) Background: Place the question addressed in a broad context and highlight the purpose of the study; (2) Methods: briefly describe the main methods or treatments applied; (3) Results: summarize the article’s main findings; (4) Conclusions: indicate the main conclusions or interpretations. The abstract should be an objective representation of the article and it must not contain results that are not presented and substantiated in the main text and should not exaggerate the main conclusions. This study presents a comprehensive literature review on the convergence of affective computing, interactive installation art, multi-dimensional sensory stimulation, and artificial intelligence (AI) in measuring emotional responses. It addresses the problem of understanding emotional response and measurement in the context of interactive installation art under artificial intelligence (AI). The study aims to fill the existing research gaps by examining three key aspects: sensory stimulation, multi-dimensional interactions, and engagement, which have been identified as significant contributors to profound emotional responses in interactive installation art. The study proposed approach involves conducting a process analysis of emotional responses to interactive installation art, aiming to develop a conceptual framework that explores the variables influencing emotional responses. The study will formulate hypotheses that make specific predictions about the relationships between sensory stimulation, multi-dimensional interactions, engagement, and emotional responses. By employing the ASSURE model combined with experimental design, the research methodology ensures a systematic and comprehensive study implementation. The implications of this project lie in advancing the understanding of emotional experiences in interactive installation art under AI, providing insights into the underlying mechanisms that drive these experiences. The contributions of this research include bridging the identified research gaps, refining theoretical frameworks, and guiding the design of more impactful and emotionally resonant interactive artworks. Ultimately, this research aims to contribute to the broader field of human-computer interaction and enhance the development of immersive and emotionally engaging interactive installations.
Exploring Sleep in Caregivers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and the Relationship to Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and Family Quality of Life (FQoL)
Authors: Russell Maureen , Baldwin Carol M. , Quan Stuart F.
Published: July 2023

Study Objectives: To (1) investigate the prevalence of sleep disorder symptoms in caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and (2) the relationships between caregiver sleep problems and their health-related quality of life and family quality of life. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study of caregivers (N=62) of children ages 6 to 11 years old diagnosed with ASD receiving care at a regional autism research and resource center. Measurements and Results: Participants completed the Sleep Habits Questionnaire (SHQ), the Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) SF-12, and the Beach Center Family Quality of Life Scale (FQOL). Caregivers with longer sleep duration reported better mental health and better family quality of life. Caregivers who reported insomnia symptoms, non-restorative sleep, and insufficient sleep were more likely to report poorer mental health than caregivers who did not report these sleep disorder symptoms. Caregivers with obstructive sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome experienced worse physical quality of life. Conclusions: The physical and mental health of the primary caregiver is essential to the support of the child with ASD and to the functioning of the family. The study findings point to the importance of future research and interventions to enhance sleep health in order to improve quality of life for caregivers of children with ASD.
Number of Sensors Needed to Achieve Reliable Aeration Cooling During the Fall Harvest and Monitoring of Grain Quality During the Non-Aerated Storage Period Based on Predicted Temperatures in a Grain Mass Using Cable-Based Sensors Versus Wireless Sensors a
Authors: Aby Guy R. , Maier Dirk E.
Published: July 2023

Monitoring the quality of stored bulk grain is generally done using temperature cables hung from silo roofs. Little investigation has been done into the effects of number of sensors and their placement in terms of reliability of the monitoring system with regard to making stored grain quality management decisions. A previously developed 3D finite element simulation model was verified and used to investigate these aspects. In the first study, a silo was loaded with about 228.6 Mg (9000 bushels) of maize and six temperature cables were placed in the grain mass. The maize was aerated continuously for a period of two weeks, and the cable sensor temperatures were compared to the predicted temperatures which were in close agreement with the observed readings. The standard error of prediction ranged from 2.0 to 3.7°C. In the second study, 15 and 30 sensors were placed at manufacturer recommended depths and horizontal locations in the grain mass of three silo sizes (i.e., 11x11, 14.6x14.6 and 14.6x18.3 m diameter by eave height). The average grain temperatures predicted by the 15 and 30 sensors over a one-year simulation period were compared to the average grain temperatures predicted for the entire grain mass (1968, 3052, and 3204 mesh nodes). The number of sensors needed to monitor stored grain temperatures reliably in the three silo sizes investigated heavily depended on whether the aeration control strategy achieved a sufficiently low temperature by the time the aeration fans were turned off and sealed ahead of the non-aerated storage period. Fifteen or 30 sensors were sufficient to monitor grain temperatures during the aeration cooling period but for the two larger silo sizes more than 30 sensors would be needed during the storage period. As silo size increased, and surface-to-volume ratio decreased, grain temperatures remained lower during the storage period. Results support the best management practice recommendation of leaving cooled grain cold and not warming it up in the spring ahead of storage into the summer.
A Review on Agricultural Wastes and Pineapple Leaf Fibers in UAVs Airframe Manufacturing
Authors: Shahar Farah Syazwani , Sultan Mohamed Thariq Hameed , Łukaszewicz Andrzej , Grzejda Rafał
Published: July 2023

In the past few decades, the use of agricultural waste has been increasing due to the increasing demand for sustainable materials. This paper aims to review the significance of agricultural waste as a type of wealth and its potential as an alternative material in the composite field. It was found that many agricultural wastes had been utilized in various production of ecological products. The review discusses the physical, mechanical, and chemical properties of the natural fibers made from agricultural waste and the use of Pineapple Leaf Fiber Reinforced Composite to manufacture UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles). The extracted waste fibers’ physical, mechanical, and chemical properties show that these agricultural wastes can produce better advanced composite materials suitable for structural applications. The use of pineapple leaf fiber in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles manufacturing has the potential to revolutionize this industry and contribute to a more sustainable future.
Response Surface Methodology-Based Parameter Optimization of Candlenut Seeds Extraction (Aleurites moluccana Willd)
Authors: Variyana Yeni , Ermaya Dewi , Shintawati Shintawati , Cendekia Devy , Mahfud Mahfud
Published: July 2023

ABSTRACT. Aleurites moluccana Willd, known candlenut plant, has the potential to be used for vegetable oil, pharmacological purposes, and biofuel. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the optimal extraction conditions for this extraction. The current study aimed to use response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize the Microwave Hydrodiffusion Gravity (MHG) conditions for extraction yield. A three-factor-three-level Box-Behnken design (BBD) was used to investigate the effects of three independent parameters: material size (A), microwave power (B), and extraction time (C). The experimental data for the candlenut seed extraction were analyzed to obtain quadratic polynomial equations. The effects of various parameters on the yield of extraction yield were then examined and analyzed using plots and contours.The results showing extraction yield significantly influenced all independent parameters were p < 0.0001.  Further, The study predicted the optimum conditions for extracting candlenut seeds, which included using material size in 1.378 cm, microwave power of 599.359 W, and extraction time 66.076 min, resulted yield of 5.015%. Based on experimental data conditions, the highest extraction yield was 5.5% of 1 cm, 600 W, and 60 min, respectively, which were in good agreement with the predicted model. The study concluded that the optimized MHG method could be useful in industrial extraction processes and the use of statistical method can optimize the extraction process and reduce the number of experiments required.

Keywords: candlenut, RSM, MHG, yield
Web-based Product Marketing Information System for MSMEs Tanggulangin Wallet and Bag Manufacturers
Authors: Dewi Enda Nuriya , Sumarno Sumarno
Published: July 2023

The existence of MSMEs has an influence on improving people's welfare which can provide many business opportunities for the community. However, MSMEs currently have weaknesses in marketing their products, moreover they are still carrying out a manual marketing strategy using the method of making brochures, pamphlets and promoting their products in several stores. At the present time it is not easy to do marketing, the lack of the role of internet technology which can hinder MSMEs in terms of marketing their products. So that the business can develop and get maximum results, of course the role of internet technology is also very important for MSMEs in developing their business products. One way is to build an information system with PHP and MySQL programming as database storage. The end result of this research is the advantage of an information system that is useful for the long term with the aim of facilitating online marketing and sales to be able to expand market reach.
Digital Book of Indonesian Rare Flora Using Augmented Reality
Authors: Umami Nur Reza , Dijaya Rohman , Rahmawati Yunianita
Published: July 2023

The uniformity of the flora is still not widely known. Therefore, natural knowledge has an important role in education considering the limitations of print media as a learning medium. Innovation by utilizing Augmented Realityp technology is very helpful as a learning medium that can support the learning process more effectively and efficiently, on the other hand Augmented Reality that displays 3D models of objects in real time can also increase interest in learning in knowing Indonesia's rare flora attractively and interactively.So, researchers designed and developed the application "Digital Flora Langka Indonesia Using Augmented Reality" with SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) methods which are expected to help as an interesting learning medium.
Des-ocultando a Eros:
Authors: Loayza Cabezas Grimanesa Madeleine
Published: July 2023

La reflexión fenomenológica explica la complejidad del devenir del flujo constante que es la poiesis escénica (productiva y expectatorial), en tanto fenómeno móvil y mutable. Como enfoque metodológico, las estructuras formales de la teoría fenomenológica propuesta por Sokolowski (2012) describen y analizan los dispositivos poéticos del montaje “Descripción de un cuadro”[1], enfocándose en la “tension erótica” que mantiene vivo el ritmo atávico del encuentro actor/espectador. De este modo, se incorporan nuevas herramientas y procedimientos que destacan la multiplicidad que articula la praxis teatral, y proponen nuevas vías de acceso al conocimiento, que considera las circunstancias específicas del sujeto epistémico, en acuerdo con la epistemología contemporánea.

 

[1] Obra de Heiner Müller, dirigida por Madeleine Loayza, autora del presente artículo, con temporadas desde 2014 hasta la actualidad. Ganadora de dos Premios Universidad Central del Ecuador, en categoría docente, como Proyecto de investigación, y como obra publicada (Retrato de Mujer con naranhjas, FAUCE Editorial, 2019).
Influence of feeding mustard oil cake and soybean meal in calf starter on growth and blood metabolites of crossbred dairy calves
Authors: Sarker Md. Abid Hasan , Hossain Nobin , Arefin Sumaiya , Bari Md. Sadakatul , Habib Md. Rezwanul , Khandakar Md. Mehedi Hasan , Islam Md. Zakirul , Islam Mohammad Ashiqul , Rashid Md. Harun-ur- , Siddiki Mohammad Shohel Rana
Published: July 2023

The study was designed to envisage the changes in growth measurements and blood metabolites of crossbred dairy calves in response to calf starters feeding with different protein sources. All calves were fed colostrum until they were three days old. Then, calves were given 2.5 L of fresh whole milk for up to 10 days and 3 L of fresh whole milk for up to 56 days. Calves were fed a farm starter (control), other dietary groups starter containing mustard oil cake (MOC), soybean meal (SM), and a mixture of MOC and SM as MOCSM protein sources. Starting on day 21, all the calves received starter feeds. On day 56, they were weaned, and the study included calves until day 70. Data were recorded on dry matter intake, growth measurements and blood nutrients profile. Calves consumed greater DM when MOC in the starter was supplied, which was 22.5% more than that of the control-fed group. Calves feeding with SM and MOCSM consumed almost similar quantities of DM at 220.87 and 224.87 g/head/day, respectively. The BWG of calves increased significantly by 5.04 and 4.06% more in the MOC-fed group than in the SM and MOCSM groups. MOC, SM, and MOCSM-fed calves had similar (p>0.05) BLG; however, the control diet had significantly lower BLG. Blood glucose levels did not vary among the calves fed the control, MOC, SM, and MOCSM diets. Significantly higher serum albumin, urea, and BUN concentrations were found in MOC diet-fed calves than in others. Calcium and phosphorus concentration varied significantly among dietary groups and was noticeably lower in the control group compared to the other dietary groups. The results revealed that calf starters endowed with MOC as a protein source and in combination with SM were found advantageous in improving body growth and development.
Metformin sensitizes hepatocellular carcinoma to sorafenib by facilitating NHE1 degradation
Authors: Tian Geng , Yu Juping , Yan Liao , Ye Fangyu , Gui Yanping , Li Jia , Yang Shihe , Zou Lin , Zhang Lulu , Zhao Li
Published: July 2023

Sorafenib is a first-line chemotherapy drug for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the drug resistance appeared over time. Hypoxia and acidosis are common features of the microenvironment, which contribute to the drug resistance. Here, we verified that metformin could enhance the sensitivity of HCC cells to sorafenib under hypoxia. Furthermore, metformin altered the pH levels and reversed the acidification of extracellular environment. Mechanistically, metformin promoted the ubiquitination and degradation of NHE1, a sodium-hydrogen exchanger-1, which altered the pH regulation and decreased the sensitivity of HCC cells to chemotherapy. Finally, lung metastasis mice model, subcutaneous xenograft mice model, and orthotopic recurrence mice model were used to confirm the synergistic effects of metformin in vivo. In conclusion, metformin might be a promising adjuvant therapy to enhance the effectiveness of sorafenib in HCC patients.
Exploratory study on the metabolic similarity of denitrifying carbon sources
Authors: zhang jinsen , Xia Zhiheng , Wei Qi , Luo Fangzhou , Jiang Zhao , Ao Ziding , Chen Huiling , Niu Xiaoxu , Liu Guohua , Qi Lu , Wang Hongchen
Published: July 2023

Mixed carbon sources have been developed for denitrification to eliminate the “carbon dependency” problem of single carbon. The metabolic correlation between different carbon sources is significant as a guidance for the development of novel mixed carbon sources. In this study, to explore the metabolic similarity of denitrifying carbon sources, we selected alcohols (methanol, ethanol, glycerol) and saccharides carbon sources (glucose, sucrose and starch). Batch denitrification experiments revealed that methanol-acclimated sludge improved the denitrification rate of both methanol (14.42 mg-N/gMLVSS*h) and ethanol (9.65 mg-N/gMLVSS*h), whereas ethanol-acclimated sludge improved the denitrification rate of both methanol (7.80 mg-N/gMLVSS*h) and ethanol (22.23 mg-N/gMLVSS*h). In addition, the glucose-acclimated sludge and sucrose-acclimated sludge possibly improved the denitrification rate of glucose and sucrose, and the glycerol-acclimated sludge improved the denitrification rate of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), alcohols, and saccharides carbon sources. Functional gene analysis revealed that methanol, ethanol, and glycerol exhibited active alcohol oxidation and glyoxylate metabolism, and glycerol, glucose, and sucrose exhibited active glycolysis metabolism. This indicated that the similarity in the denitrification metabolism of these carbon sources was based on functional gene similarity, and glycerol-acclimated sludge exhibited the most diverse metabolism, which ensured its good denitrification effect with other carbon sources.
Development and validation of a clinical prediction model for concurrent pulmonary infection in convalescent patients with intracerebral hemorrhage
Authors: Xu Jixiang , Li Yan , Li Shaomin , Han Xiaoxiao , Chen Liang , Qi Yingliang , Zhou Xiaomei
Published: July 2023

Background Recovery from intracerebral hemorrhage is an important but underappreciated part of the prognosis of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage. Pulmonary infection (PI) is the most common complication that greatly affects the recovery process of patients with intracerebral hemorrhage. Dynamic nomograms to predict concurrent pulmonary infections in patients recovering from cerebral hemorrhage have not been reported. The aim of this study aims to identify the risk factors for pulmonary infection in convalescent patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, and to build and validate a clinical prediction model. Methods A total of 761 convalescent patients with intracerebral hemorrhage were included in this study. Pulmonary infection was determined based on the clinical manifestations and chest X-ray, and the patients were then divided into the PI group and non-PI group. Baseline and clinical data of the patients were retrospectively analyzed. First, univariate logistic regression was performed to initially screen out predictors. Then, the predictors were optimized using least absolute shrinkage and selection operation (LASSO) regression. Finally, multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out on the optimized predictors to identify independent risk factors and construct a nomogram prediction model. The area under the curve (AUC), calibration curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the discrimination, calibration, and clinical utility of the model. Results Age, antibiotic use, disturbance of consciousness, tracheotomy, dysphagia, length of bed rest, nasal feeding, and procalcitonin were associated with pulmonary infection in convalescent patients with intracerebral hemorrhage. The consistency index (C-index) of the prediction model was 0.901 (95%CI: 0.878 ~ 0.924). Repeated sampling by Bootstrap for 1000 times yielded a C-index of 0.900 (95%CI: 0.877 ~ 0.923), indicating that the model has excellent discrimination. Moreover, the Hosmer-Lemeshow test revealed a good goodness of fit of the model (P = 0.982). The DCA decision curve showed that the nomogram in PI group has a good net clinical benefit. Conclusion This study constructed a nomogram prediction model based on the demographic and clinical characteristics of convalescent patients with intracerebral hemorrhage. Further studies showed that this model is of great value in the prediction of pulmonary infection in convalescent patients with intracerebral hemorrhage.
Whole-Genome Sequencing and Analysis of Chryseobacterium arthrosphaerae from Rana nigromaculata
Authors: ZHU Lihong , LIU Hao , LI Xiaohui , SHI Yuefeng , YIN Xiaoliang , PI Xionge
Published: July 2023

Chryseobacterium arthrosphaerae strain FS91703 was isolated from Rana nigromaculata in our previous study. To investigate the genomic characteristics, pathogenicity-related genes, antimicrobial resistance, and genetic evolutionary relationships of this strain, PacBio RS II and Illumina HiSeq 2000 platforms were used for the whole genome sequencing. The genome size of strain FS91703 was 5,435,691 bp and GC content was 37.78%. A total of 4,951 coding genes were predicted; 52 virulence factors and 94 virulence genes were identified, with the most relevant genes involved in the virulence factor of immune regulation. Analysis of antibiotic resistance genes revealed that strain FS91703 harbored 10 antibiotic resistance genes in 6 categories and 2 multidrug-resistant efflux pump genes, including adeG and farA. Strain FS91703 was sensitive to β-lactam combination drugs, cephem, monobactam and carbapenems, intermediately resistant to phenicol, and resistant to penicillin, aminoglycosides, tetracycline, fluoroquinolones, and folate pathway inhibitors. Phylogenetic and ANI analyses suggested that strain FS91703 had the closest genetic relationship to the C. arthrosphaerae species; 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that both species were on the same branch of the evolutionary tree; FS91703 and FDAARGOS 519 (C. arthrosphaerae) or ED882-96 (C. arthrosphaerae) had ANI values of 96.69% or 96.13%, respectively. Thus, C. arthrosphaerae (FS91703) is a multidrug-resistant and highly virulent bacterium, providing theoretical support for the etiology and disease control due to C. arthrosphaerae in Rana nigromaculata. The results of this study are presented in the following pages.
What is the impact of plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) gene polymorphism on gynecological malignancies: a retrospective study
Authors: Li Xin , Yan Zhenzhen , Luo Suiyu
Published: July 2023

Background:Plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) is a protein that inhibits the activation of plasminogen. Some studies investigated the associations between PAI-1 4G/5G polymorphism and various cancers, but the results were inconsistent. So we aimed to observe the distribution of PAI-1 4G/5G genotypes in the patients of gynecological malignancies and gynecological benign tumors. To analyze the relationship between PAI-1 gene polymorphism and 4G/5G alleles with gynecological malignancies.Methods:Retrospectively analyzed 490 patients who underwent selective surgery from March 2022 to February 2023, in the obstetrics and gynecology department of Henan University People's Hospital. Patients subsequently were assigned into two groups, according to their postoperative pathologies. The malignancy group was 245 patients whose postoperative pathologies were gynecological malignant tumors and 245 patients whose postoperative pathological diagnosis was gynecological benign tumors were regarded as control group. We collected PAI-1 4G/5G genotypes in both groups of patients, compared baseline data and PAI-1 4G/5G genotypes between patients in the malignancy group and the control group. We analyzed the association between PAI-1 4G/5G genotypes and gynecological malignant tumors. All data analysis was performed using SPSS 25.0, variables were compared by the Wilcoxon rank sum test andχ2test.Results:The distribution of PAI-1 4G/5G polymorphism was quite different between patients in the malignancy group and the control group (P＜0.001), and 4G allelic frequency was quite different in the patients with malignancies and benign tumors (P＜0.001), and 4G allelic frequency was significantly higher in the patients with malignancies than in the control group.Conclusion:Our data suggested that there was a correlation between PAI-1 4G/5G polymorphism and gynecological malignancies, and the frequency of the PAI-1 4G/4G genotype and 4G allele was significantly higher in the patients with malignancies than in the control group.
Evaluation of the anthraquinone drug rhein at IC50 on T-47D breast cancer cell lines based on analytical methods
Authors: Heidari Pedram , Shekardasht Mehrnaz Babaei , Alipour Arash , Mehraei Negin
Published: July 2023

Rhubarb (Rheum ribes L.) is a perennial herb belonging to the Rheum (Polygonaceae) genus. This study aimed to isolate, purify, and characterize rhein anthraquinones from rhizomes of rhubarb and investigate their cytotoxic effects on the T-47D cell line. Separation and purification were performed by column chromatography. The identity of rhein was established by TLC, TLC densitometry, HPLC, 1HNMR, and FT-IR. In vitro, cytotoxicity and IC50 levels were assessed using the MTT assay. Various concentrations of rhein were exposed to determine the cytotoxic effect by measuring the cell proliferation activity of the T-47D breast cancer cell line after 24 and 48 h of incubation. The IC50 values determined for the Rhine were 226.53 and 229.00 ppm at 24 and 48 hours. Anthraquinones extracted from Rhein have significant anticancer activity against the T-47D cell line and may be of great therapeutic value for further study as antitumor agents.
GALECTIN-1 is involved in sperm-egg fusion via interaction with JUNO in rats
Authors: Lai Xiong , Liu Yuqi , Fan Yaochun , Li Hongxia , Han Guotao , Su Huimin , Xing Wanjin
Published: July 2023

Background: Sexual reproduction is the basic way for higher eukaryotes to reproduce. Fusion of sperm with oocyte is the key process for success of sexual reproduction. Multiple proteins have been identified to be implicated in mammalian sperm-egg fusion, in which only a few, such as IZUMO1 of sperm and JUNO of egg, have been verified by knockout mice to be indispensable to gamete fusion. However, interaction between IZUMO1 and its receptor JUNO mediates sperm-egg recognition and binding, but is unqualified for membrane fusion. Thus, there might be other accessorial proteins interacting with IZUMO1 or/and JUNO for the sperm-egg binding and succeeding membrane fusion.
Results: Here, we reported that treatment of rat sperm and egg with anti-Galectin-1 antibody significantly inhibits IVF rate. Galectin-1 was detected on the head and the front half flagellum of rat sperms and in cytoplasm of spermatocytes and the Sertoli cells. It was also found on cell membrane of rat MII eggs as well as in cytoplasm of cumulus cells. Galectin-1 interacts with JUNO and co-localizes with JUNO on the cell membrane and in cytoplasm of rat MII eggs.
Conclusions: Our results suggested that Galectin-1 be involved in the process of sperm-egg fusion through interaction with JUNO.
The Diversity of the Microbiome Impacts Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Development in Mice and Humans
Authors: Niemann Carsten , Faitova Tereza , Coelho Mariana , Cunha-Bang Caspar da , Öztürk Selcen , Kartal Ece , Bork Peer , Seiffert Martina
Published: July 2023

The gut microbiota play a critical role in maintaining a healthy human body and their dysregulation is associated with various diseases. In this study, we investigated the influence of the gut microbiome diversity on chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) development. In the Eµ-TCL1 mouse model of CLL, we observed a faster course of disease when mice were housed in high hygiene conditions. Shotgun DNA sequencing of fecal samples showed that this was associated with a lower microbiome complexity which was dominated by Mucispirillum and Parabacteroidesgenera in comparison to mice kept under lower hygiene conditions. Stool sample analysis of CLL patients revealed individual and heterogeneous microbiome compositions, but allowed for grouping of patients according to their microbiome complexity. Interestingly, CLL patients with a lower microbiome diversity and an enrichment of bacteria linked to poor health suffered from a more progressed or aggressive form of CLL. In conclusion, we applied taxonomic microbiome analyses to demonstrate a link between the gut microbiota diversity and CLL development in mice and humans. Our novel data serve as a basis for further investigations to decipher the pathological and mechanistic role of intestinal microbiota in CLL development.