bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early John Hick on Theistic Religion and His Type of Theodicy
Authors: Ryzhakov Ioann ,   Institute of Philosophy, Russian Academy of Sciences
Published: July 2024

This paper discusses the most significant issues of John Hick’s philosophical theology in the early period of his work. In this study I trace the relationship between Hick’s personal religious experience and his philosophical intuitions, showing that it was both of these components, mutually influencing each other, that set him on the path of rejection of most of the Christian doctrines. In addition, the study shows that the specificity of Hick’s relationship with Christianity, as well as the principle of religious ambiguity arising from his religious epistemology, determined his further strategy within such a primary project of philosophical theology as theodicy. This conception, designed by early Hick as a Christian response to the problem of evil and named by him as “Irenaean theodicy”, from my point of view, was only partially successful, since the flaws and contradictions it contained were not resolved by him within the framework of the Christian religious paradigm, but only largely contributed to his further shift towards pluralistic worldview. Finally, Hick’s division of the Christian understanding of evil into “Augustinian” and “Irenaean” traditions and their further opposition, as this study demonstrates, is not sufficiently justified, nor is his naming of his own conception as “Irenaean”.
Russia’s internal colonization and nation formation: in the context of land relations between Russians and Kalmyks in the late XIXth – early XXth century)
Authors: Chetyrova Lyubov ,   Samara Uni­versity, Sakharov Alexey ,   Samara Uni­versity
Published: July 2024

The article is dedicated to the relations between Russian peasants and Kalmyks at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. “Life of the Kalmyks of the Stavropol province before the publication of the law on March 15, 1892” by the Orthodox missionary and ethnographer Ya.P. Dubrova [5] is the basis of the work. The analysis was carried out on the method­ological basis of decolonial theory (V. Mignolo, E. Dussel, A. Quijano, M. Tlostanova), as well as the theory of internal colonization of Russia (V. Morozov, A. Etkind). The first paragraph provides an overview of the academic research on the topic. Core provisions and approaches are identified. The problem of insufficient consideration of the aspect of ethnic differences in the theory of internal colonization of Russia is highlighted. The second paragraph examines the national policy of the Russian Empire in the 19th century. The mechanisms for constructing colonial hierarchies between the higher and lower classes, as well as ethnic Russians and foreigners are shown. The theory of na­tionalism by the British sociologist B. Anderson provided the way to classify social phe­nomena as signs of official and civil-republican nationalism. Fragments of Dubrova’s book are presented and analyzed, demonstrating the problems of relations between Rus­sian peasants and Kalmyks in the Russian Empire. The third paragraph presents an analy­sis of Soviet-era nationality policies. Within the framework of the concept of Soviet modernity by M. David-Fox, the preservation of the subaltern position of Russians is shown. At the same time, the status of ethnic Russians as a “savior people” is demon­strated – the most important plot of the Soviet colonial matrix. Finally, conclusions are presented.
All-Russian Scientific Conference “Tradition and modernity: axiology of Russian civilization”
Authors: Grachev Bogdan ,   Institute of Philosophy, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ugrin Ivan ,   Institute of Philosophy, Russian Academy of Sciences
Published: July 2024

The article provides an overview of the All-Russian scientific conference “Tradition and Modernity: Axiology of Russian Civilization” dedicated to the discussion of the con­cept of traditional values, which are declared as the state policy priority in Russia. The re­view reveals the content of the conference participants’ reports, reflects the most interest­ing moments of the discussions, and outlines the essence of the speakers’ constructive proposals for implementing the strategy for preserving and strengthening spiritual and moral values. The review is provided for everyone interested in scientific events af­fecting current problems of Russian identity and civilizational development.
Russian-Turkish relations in the last half of the XX – the first half of the XXI century. Circular relations model
Authors: Vakhitov Rustem ,   Bashkir State University, Petrov Viacheslav ,   Federal Agency For Nationalities Advisory Council
Published: July 2024

The article develops the ideas of the publication “Relations between Russia and Turkey in the XIX – first half of the XX century. The peacefulness of conservatism and the conflictogenicity of liberalism” by R.R. Vakhitov. The purpose of this article is to test the hypothesis that during the periods of conservative modernization in Russia (USSR) and Turkey there was a desire for peace and cooperation between the countries, while conflicts occurred mainly during periods of liberalization and Westernization. The article examines the stage from the late 1930s (the death of Ataturk) to the present and concludes that the hypothesis is generally confirmed. The periods of authoritarianism and conservative modernization (the 1970s and the present) are marked by cooperation and rapprochement between the two countries, and the periods of liberalization (1950–1960 and the 1990s) – by conflict.
Global land and solar energy relationships for sustainability
Authors: Jordaan Sarah , Li Xiao , Hernandez Rebecca , Armstrong Alona , Liu Pan
Published: July 2024

Global energy transitions with high growth in solar power in meeting net zero goals by 2050 must consider solar energy-land interactions and economics to align sustainability goals. We quantify a capacity-weighted average value of land-use efficiency (LUE) as 56.8 (36.9-62.1, 25th-75th percentile) W/m2, and lifetime land transformation (LT) as 408.6 (311.7-587.0) m2/GWh for all large, ground-mounted photovoltaic plants globally. Asia-Pacific had a 14.7% higher LUE (and a 21.0% lower LT) compared to other regions. These results inform levelized-cost of energy and sustainability comparisons of rooftop (land-sparing) versus large, ground-mounted (land-intensive) photovoltaic build-outs by country and region. These findings suggest that the substitution of land-intensive for land-sparing photovoltaic buildouts is most expensive in India (51.2 $/MWh) and least expensive in the United States (34.2 $/MWh). Results point to the need to determine economic implications of global land-sparing opportunities and enact policies to enhance techno-ecological synergies.
The influence of physical exercise on the loneliness of the older adults: the mediating role of frailty and depression
Authors: Gu Song , Liu Shiling
Published: July 2024

Background
Frailty, depression, and loneliness are risk factors for successful aging. Physical exercise is an important method to promote the physical and mental health of the older adults. Guided by the integral conceptual model of frailty, this study constructed a mediating model to examine the influence of physical exercise on the loneliness of the older adults, as well as determine the mediating role of frailty and depression between them.
Methods
In this descriptive and cross-sectional study, a questionnaire survey was conducted on 505 older adults individuals aged 60 and above in China from February to July 2023. The data were collected using the Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3), the UCLA Loneliness Scale (ULS-8), the Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). The collected data was analyzed for mediating effects using the SPSS macro program PROCESS v4.0, Model 6.
Results
Physical exercise negatively predicted frailty, depression, and loneliness in the older adults (β = -0.414, P < 0.01; β = -0.248, P < 0.01; and β = -0.194, P < 0.01, respectively). Physical exercise affects loneliness through four paths: direct effect, the mediating effect of frailty, the mediating effect of depression, and serial multiple mediating effect of frailty and depression. The mediating effect model explained 58.55% of the variation in loneliness.
Conclusions
Physical exercise can not only improve the frailty of the older adults but also alleviate the depression caused by the decline in their physiological and social functions, thereby comprehensively improving their loneliness. From the perspective of frailty, we could identify high-risk groups for depression and loneliness and find targeted interventions based on the type of frailty (social, psychological, and physiological), such as participating in collective physical exercise and combining physical exercise interventions with antidepressant medication or nutrition interventions. The results of this study can help older adults people manage their health and improve their physical and mental state.
Phytoplankton community response to water physicochemical characteristics under seasonal variation at the Ubol Ratana Dam, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Authors: Somdee Anchana , Butsat Weeraput , Somdee Theerasak
Published: July 2024

Water eutrophication is a significant environmental issue that impacts aquatic ecosystems worldwide. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationships among the water physicochemical characteristics, phytoplankton community, and cyanotoxins in the Ubol Ratana Dam, Khon Kaen, Thailand, during the years 2022–2023 and to evaluate the relationships between changes in water parameters and the dynamics of the phytoplankton community under seasonal variations in the Ubol Ratana Dam. A total of 84 phytoplankton species belonging to 8 phyla were found in six different locations in the reservoir. Cyanobacteria (Cyanophyta) had the highest cell density (84.06%), with Microcystis aeruginosa being the dominant species. In terms of seasonality, the diversity indices, including Shannon‒Wiener and evenness values, were highest during summer and lowest during the rainy season, while species richness remained constant. Interestingly, the phytoplankton density was greater at the center of the dam and water outlet stations than that at the other stations, and these two areas also had the lowest nitrate and ammonium concentrations. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) explained 66.8%, 70.6%, and 63.8% of the total variation in the rainy, winter, and summer seasons, respectively. This indicates that nitrate and ammonium were factors that influenced phytoplankton growth. Correlation analysis revealed that the abundance of dominant cyanobacteria was positively correlated with temperature and orthophosphate content and negatively correlated with nitrate and ammonium content. Overall, nitrogen concentration mainly governed cyanobacterial blooms. These results suggest that relationships between physicochemical factors and the phytoplankton community significantly influence the seasonal variations in phytoplankton, providing valuable insights for future monitoring of phytoplankton blooms.
Discussion on stress assumption and yield criterion determination rule in teaching of the PSM
Authors: Mei Ruibin , Bao Li , Chen Tanqiu , Chen Lihao , Liu Xianghua
Published: July 2024

As one of the main methods to solve deformation mechanics, the principal stress method (PSM) is widely used in stress analysis and technology optimization of metal forming processes. The stress assumption, yield criterion and boundary conditions have been investigated according to the frequently asked questions in teaching and the application of the PSM, and then the determination rule was proposed and described. The yield criterion, boundary conditions and calculated results should keep the corresponding relationship with the initial stress assumption of the micro-element. The stress distribution and load in the plane deformation of the rectangular workpiece was successfully solved using the PSM based on the rule proposed and FEM. The average relative error is 8.3% between the predicted loads by FEM and PSM, and the stress and load predicted by PSM are in good agreement with the FEM. Furthermore, the same calculated results of stress were obtained under different conditions, indicating that the rule proposed is reliable and practical significance for the teaching and application of the plastic mechanics.
New Model for Quantifying the Impact of the Social Economy on Water Resources’ Sustainability
Authors: Georgescu Lucian Puiu , Ionescu Romeo Victor , Antohi Valentin Marian , Zlati Monica Laura , Iticescu Catalina
Published: July 2024

The importance of sustainable use of water sources in the context of social economy development is a topic of real interest in the context of current regional and global challenges. The main objective of this study is to analyse the disparity of correlations between sector-specific social economy indicators and their impact on water sources at EU27 level. The used methods are meta-analysis, followed by the substantiation of working hypotheses based on this, database design for modelling, use of correlational and econometric statistical methods. The novelty of this approach is the definition and validation of a new model, on the basis of which we formulate viable public policy proposals to support the evolution of the green social economy. The present study is characterised by its complexity (very large number of statistical variables analysed) and dynamic approach. The main conclusion of the research is that even with sustained efforts on environmental protection, the European social economy's even oscillating results tend to cover environmental objectives even at the risk of exceeding budget allocations in the field.
Dietary patterns among European children and their association with adiposity-related outcomes: a multi-country study
Authors: Warkentin Sarah , Stratakis Nikos , Fabbri Lorenzo , Wright John , Yang Tiffany , Bryant Maria , Heude Barbara , Slama Remy , Montazeri Parisa , Vafeiadi Marina , Grazuleviciene Regina , Brantsæter Anne Lise , Vrijheid Martine
Published: July 2024

Background/Objective: Children’s diets in school-age are inherently unhealthy, with few meeting dietary recommendations. Yet, little is known about similarities and differences on dietary patterns across countries and their association with obesity. We aimed to derive dietary patterns in childhood and explore their association with adiposity-related outcomes in childhood and adolescence.Subjcts/Methods: This study included data from six European countries (Spain, France, UK, Greece, Lithuania and Norway) during childhood (n = 1 597) and adolescence (n = 803). Using a food frequency questionnaires, we derived data-driven dietary patterns through exploratory factor analyses and calculated the Mediterranean KIDMED index. We assessed body mass index z-score (zBMI), fat mass proportion and waist-to-height ratio at both visits. Associations were estimated using generalized linear regressions, adjusted for key-confounders.Results “Meat”, “Dairy”, “Western”, “Healthy” and “Sweets and fats” dietary patterns were derived. Norwegian children showed better diet quality, with higher consumption of fruits and vegetables, and highest “Healthy pattern” adherence, and Lithuanian children, the worst, with higher sweets consumption, and highest “Western pattern” adherence. Children with lower intake of healthy foods (vegetables, fruits, fish) tended to have higher adiposity, e.g., children with average or low “Healthy pattern” adherence (vs. high) had higher fat mass proportion in childhood (average: β(95%CI) 1.44(0.48;2.39), low: 1.10(0.09;2.12)). Low adherence to a “Healthy pattern” (vs. high) was associated with increased adolescent zBMI, and child and adolescent waist-to-height ratio. Low “Dairy pattern” adherence (vs. high), was associated with lower zBMI and fat mass in childhood, but not in adolescence. No significant associations were seen with the KIDMED index.Conclusions Many European children have poor diets and a low adherence to a healthy diet pattern may be of concern for adiposity-related outcomes. Assessment of children’s dietary patterns can help tailor dietary advice and provide support for families aiming to prevent future excess weight gain.
Efficacy of light-emitting diode-mediated photobiomodulation in tendon healing in a murine model
Authors: Lim Jae Kyung , Kim Jae Ho , Park Gyu Tae , Cho Min Kyung , Woo Seung Hun , Woong Suk Woong Suk
Published: July 2024

Background
The application of light-emitting diode (LED)-dependent photobiomodulation (PBM) in promoting post-tendon injury healing has been recently reported. Despite establishing a theoretical basis for ligament restoration through PBM, the lack of empirical evidence deems this therapeutic strategy contentious. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the potency of LED-based PBM in facilitating tendon healing in a murine model.
Methods
Migration kinetics were analyzed at two specific wavelengths: 630 and 880 nm. The Achilles tendon in the hind limbs of Balb/c mice was severed by Achilles tendon transection. Subsequently, the mice were randomized into LED non-irradiation and LED irradiation groups. Mice with intact tendons were employed as healthy controls. The wounds were LED-irradiated for 20 min daily for two days. Histological properties, tendon healing mediators, and inflammatory mediators were screened on day 14.
Results
The roundness of the nuclei and fiber structure, indicating the degree of infiltrated inflammatory cells and severity of fiber fragmentation, respectively, were lower in the LED irradiation group than in the LED non-irradiation group. Immunohistochemical analysis depicted an increase in tenocytes (SCX+ cells) and a recovery of wounds with reduced fibrosis (lower collagen 3 and TGF-β1) in the LED irradiation group during healing; conversely, the LED non-irradiation group exhibited tissue fibrosis. Overall, the ratio of M2 macrophages to total macrophages in the LED irradiation group was higher than that in the injured group.
Conclusion
LED-based PBM in the Achilles tendon rupture murine model effectuated a rapid restoration of histological and immunochemical outcomes. These findings suggest that LED-based PBM presents remarkable potential as an adjunct therapeutic for tendon healing and warrants further research to standardize various parameters to advance and establish it as a reliable treatment regime.
A Steganographic Backdoor Attack Scheme on Encrypted Traffic
Authors: Rao Bing , Zhu Guiqin , Ding Qiaolong , Chen Dajiang , Cao Mingsheng , Cao Yang , Wang Feiyan
Published: July 2024

Large model has become a hot topic in academia and industry area, whose infrastructure includes lots of data transmission and transformation technologies.To prevent malicious attacks, data encryption is used commonly for data protection. However, with the AI technology development, the feature of encrypted data can be extracted and analyzed more easily than before. Therefore, in this paper we extend a steganographic backdoor attack approach based on the Least Significant Bit (LSB) to attack encrypted traffic. More specifically, the traffic data files are transformed into two-dimensional grayscale images after data processing and normalizated by the USTC-2016 toolset and two-dimensional array processing by the Numpy toolset in Python. Then we use LSB Steganography to attack the traffic images and poison the training dataset and analyze the neural network for classification test after contamination. Besides, lots of experiments are taken with different portion of poisoning data, which indicates that it has an effect on the stealthiness and effectiveness of the attack.
A climatology of local hourly wet spells across the Tropics
Authors: Moron Vincent , Cornillault Erwan , Ali Haider , Fowler Hayley , Robertson Andrew
Published: July 2024

We explore the relationships amongst duration, total amount, mean and maximum hourly intensity of rainfall and spatial scale for more than a thousand rain gauges covering a diverse range of tropical and subtropical (30°N-30°S) climates, from arid (<= 200 mm year⁻¹) to very wet (> 3000-4000 mm year⁻¹). We find the interannual variation of seasonal (3-month) totals is primarily driven by wet hour frequency rather than the mean intensity of rainfall. A total of 3.5 million local wet spells (WS: consecutive wet hours with at least 1 mm of rain) are then systematically analyzed. WS lasting 5 hours or less account for 80% of wet hours and of total rainfall. The amount of rainfall during a local WS is most strongly controlled by its duration and then its mean hourly intensity, but these WS characteristics are nearly independent. The 3.5 million local WS are then grouped into a reduced set of 7 “canonical” wet spells (cWS). Despite some relatively small differences amongst national networks, the seven cWS offer a general framework for tropical rainfall variability seen through the prism of the local WS. About 72% of the WS included in two categories (cWS#1 and #3) are short and result in negligible amounts of rainfall. Two other categories (cWS#2, 8.8% of the wet spells, and #4, 4.9% of the wet spells) are short but with very high mean intensity and have the smallest spatial scales. Additionally, two categories (cWS #6, 3.9% of the WS, and cWS #7, 0.9% of the WS) are long-lasting, moderately intense and cover the largest areas. The final category (cWS#5, 9.4% of the WS) is moderately long in duration and less intense compared to cWS#2, #4, #6 and #7. Hourly extremes tend to occur primarily during cWS#2 and cWS#4, contributing the least to the total number of wet hours, and then during cWS#6. Daily extremes tend to occur more in cWS#7 and #6, which are the longest cWS, but with a significant contribution from the short intense cWS#4. A larger contribution of cWS#2 and cWS#4 to 3-month amounts tends to decrease the spatial scale of their interannual variations.
Unveiling the Impact of Electron Accumulation on the Performance of Quantum-Dot Light-Emitting Diodes Using Electrically Pumped Transient Absorption Spectroscopy
Authors: Jin Shengye , Yan Xianchang , Chen Cuili , Wu Boning , Sun Fengke , Bao Hui , Tian Wenming , Chang Shuai , Zhong Haizheng
Published: July 2024

The quantum-dot light-emitting diode (QLED) is a new generation light emission source that holds great promise for display and laser applications. Unbalanced electron and hole injections, leading to excessive electron accumulation in the quantum dots (QDs), are believed to impair QLED performance. However, this effect of electron accumulation remains unverified due to the lack of a time-resolved technology capable of characterizing electrons in QLEDs. To tackle this challenge, we develop a unique electrically pumped transient absorption (E-TA) spectroscopy to probe the density of accumulated electrons in QD layer with a nanosecond time resolution. The E-TA result provides a comprehensive understanding of the electron accumulation dynamics in red, green and blue QLEDs, by quantifying the electron injection time (τr) after external voltage on, electron release time (τd) after external voltage off, and equilibrated electron density (Ne) accumulated at QD layer during device operation. We find that when QDs with a quantum yield of 95% are used in QLEDs, electron accumulation indeed harms device efficiency. However, when QDs with a quantum yield of less than 70% are used, QLED efficiency increases with a higher density of accumulated electrons. We expect this result to guide further QLED optimization and to promote the application of E-TA for QLED studies.
Inhibitory effect of L-Methionine on bacterial speck of tomato
Authors: NAKAJIMA Masami , Sakamoto Ayane , Tanaka Tomoya , Nakashita Hideo
Published: July 2024

L-methionine (L-Met) is an amino acid necessary for protein biosynthesis. In this study, the inhibitory effect of L-Met on bacterial speck of tomato (Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato: PST) was investigated. When leaves of tomato plants pretreated with L-Met were inoculated with PST, symptoms were reduced compared with the control. In addition, we measured the number of bacteria in the inoculated leaves. Decreased bacterial growth was observed in the inoculated leaves of L-Met-treated plants. Furthermore, we investigated the expression of PR1b reported as a marker gene in the SA signaling pathway in L-Met-treated plants after PST inoculation. Enhancement of the gene expression was observed in L-Met-treated plants after inoculation. These observations suggested that the inhibitory effect of L-Met treatment on bacterial speck of tomato may be due to priming the SA-related signaling pathway.
Effect of vaccination against HPV in the HPV-positive patients not covered by primary prevention on the disappearance of infection.
Authors: Dominik Pruski , Sonja Millert-Kalińska , Robert Jach , Marcin Przybylski
Published: July 2024

An undeniable risk factor for cervical cancer and intraepithelial neoplasia is persistent infection with HPV – types: 16,18, 31, 45, 52 and others. Changes in sexual behavior may in the coming decades influence the epidemiology of HPV-related lesions. For those diseases, vaccination against HPV may be the only effective mean of prevention. Our study aims to show the results and changes in the smear for HPV DNA in patients after receiving a vaccination course with a 9-valent HPV vaccine in women with HPV infection. Out of 320 subjects, with HPV- positive result 250 (78.1%) decided to be vaccinated against HPV and 70 (21.9%) did not. In the vaccinated group the rate of HPV disappearance was significantly higher over the follow-up period than in the control group. This applies especially to the complete disappearance of the HPV - in 72.4% vaccinated women compared to 45.7% unvaccinated. This effect is especially visible when analyzing the disappearance of HPV genotypes covered by the 9-valent vaccine. A significant disappearance of HPV infection occurs in patients both diagnosed due to HPV and undergoing LEEP-conization due to HSIL. Vaccination of this group of women will probably reduce the occurrence of different HPV-related lesions.
Developing a Region-Specific Predictive Model for Shear Wave Velocity to Evaluate Seismic Site Response and Liquefaction Potential of Silty Soils
Authors: Kennedy Charles , TrustGod John , Banje Geofrey
Published: July 2024

The research work explored empirical relationships between shear wave velocity (Vs) and other in-situ test results, formulating a predictive model to estimate Vs from fundamental soil characteristics. Undisturbed soil samples were collected from 5 sites in Rivers State, Nigeria and tested for index properties including liquid limit, plastic limit, and specific gravity. Direct Vs measurements were made using downhole tests. An empirical correlation model was formulated relating Vs to shear modulus, bulk density, and depth, achieving an R2 of 0.963. The soils were classified as low plasticity silts and silty clays, with liquid limits of 26.9–31.1%, plasticity indexes of 8.2–9.3%, and specific gravities averaging 2.67. Undrained shear strengths varied from 10.8–16.3 kPa with effective friction angles of 25–32 degrees. The developed Vs predictive model correlated well with NEHRP site classifications, providing insight into seismic site response. Liquefaction triggering analysis using the Vs data indicated Sites S1-S3 are susceptible, while Sites S4-S5 are relatively resistant. The study addresses the challenge of accurately estimating Vs for liquefaction assessment of complex silty soils, by developing a region-specific predictive model based on fundamental soil properties. This fills a key knowledge gap for the Niger Delta region, providing a useful framework for geotechnical site characterization and hazard mitigation in similar environments vulnerable to seismic risks. The robust Vs model and comprehensive soil data offer valuable insights for understanding the dynamic behavior and liquefaction susceptibility of these soils.
Melatonin application in in vitro conditions may modulate the phyto-biochemical mechanisms of Hymenocrater longiflorus Benth. under salinity stress
Authors: Manafi Hamideh , Mozafari Ali Akbar , Ghoran Salar Hafez
Published: July 2024

Hymenocrater longiflorus Benth. (Surahalala) is an aromatic perennial plant species rich in secondary metabolites. It exhibits pharmaceutical effects due to essential oils and terpenoid compounds. This study investigated the effects of different NaCl concentrations (0, 50, 100 mM), as salt stress, and melatonin levels (0, 5, 15, 25 µM) on the physiological and phyto-biochemical traits of H. longiflorus under in vitro cultivation. The results showed that the growth parameters, i.e. fresh weight, shoot length, chlorophyll, carotenoids, and relative water content, were maximized by applying 5 µM melatonin. High salinity (50 and 100 mM) caused a significant increase in malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide levels, while melatonin treatment reduced the negative effects of salinity and oxidative damage in H. longiflorus. Total phenol content, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase enzyme activity, and antioxidant activity increased upon applying NaCl and melatonin treatments. Under salt stress conditions, certain terpenes (i.e., d-limonene, α-thujene, and γ-terpinene) increased, while others, like α-pinene, copaene, and terpinen-4-ol, decreased. Notably, the application of melatonin at higher concentrations (5 to 25 µM) resulted in elevated essential oil contents, including terpinen-4-ol, eremophila ketone, and copaene. However, 15 µM melatonin and 100 mM NaCl combined achieved the highest levels of d-limonene, α-thujene, and γ-terpinene. Our findings highlighted melatonin’s potential to modulate plant growth and improve the biosynthesis of essential oils and terpenoids in H. longiflorus, subjected to salt stress under in vitro cultivation. This research suggests promising strategies to increase the active phytochemicals of H. longiflorus to enhance its pharmacological benefits and the development of natural products.
Exploratory assessment of Lead-Zinc mineralization in Bangalela area Central Benue Trough Nigeria using integrated ground geophysical data
Authors: Onum Stephen Adikwu , Ibeneme Sabinus Ikechukwu , Njoku Ikechukwu Onyema , Jika Hilary Terkula , Okenu Stella Chigozie , Okoro Eze Martins
Published: July 2024

Integrated interpretation of ground magnetic (GM), electromagnetic very low frequency (EM-VLF), electrical resistivity (ER), and induced polarization (IP) data was carried out in this study to investigate the mineralization potentials of the Bangalela area, Central Benue Trough, Nigeria. The GM data was reduced to the equator (RTE), followed by the application of edge enhancement filtering such as first vertical derivative (FVD), to locate the contacts of linear geological features that may control mineralization in the study area, and also to isolate potential prospective exploration targets for lead-zinc deposits. Acquisition of EM-VLF and ER/IP survey were employed to further investigate the delineated zones of interest to ascertain their potentials for mineralization occurrence. The results revealed potential prospective mineralization zones, controlled by the identified conductive structures trending in directions that conforms with known tectonic orientations in the Benue Trough. These isolated mineral targets characterized by chargeability values greater than 15 msec were confirmed to be lead-zinc ore deposits on fresh core samples obtained from two drill points along the interpreted geoelectrical profiles. Probable ore reserve computation showed that the lead-zinc deposit in the Bangalela area contain mineralization volumes of high economic value.
A robust variant of cubic smoothing spline approximation
Authors: De Giosa Marcello , Falini Antonella , Iavernaro Felice , Losito Susanna , Mazzia Francesca , Rubino Giorgia
Published: July 2024

We introduce a robust variant of smoothing spline regression which exploits an entropy-based argument to automatically detect and remove outliers during the fitting procedure. This involves considering a penalized weighted residual sum of squares, with the distribution of weights determined by maximizing the associated entropy function. An illustrative example is provided to show the potential of the new approach compared to other standard robust techniques. Additionally, we include examples on datasets derived from real-world applications.
MSC Classification: 65D10 , 94A17
Cholinergic agonist Carbachol improves N-acetylcysteine treatment on Paracetamol-induced experimental hepatotoxicity in mice
Authors: Erturk Zamir Kemal , Ozcelebi Esin , Gocmen Ayse Yesim , Doganyigit Zuleyha , Okan-Oflamaz Asli , Iskit Alper Bektas
Published: July 2024

A cholinomimetic agent carbachols (CCh) effect on mice model of paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity was evaluated in comparison with antidote N-acetylcysteine (NAC). In the toxicity of paracetamol (APAP), production of N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI), which is a toxic metabolite of paracetamol for hepatocytes, increases. The antidote effect of NAC is due to its function as a precursor of GSH, which detoxifies the NAPQI. Studies have shown that the parasympathomimetics may contribute positively to paracetamol toxicity through many mechanisms. In this study, NAC, CCh, and NAC + CCh were administered intraperitoneally to mice with APAP toxicity. Mesenteric artery and portal vein blood flow were measured. AST, ALT, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17 levels were measured and an increase was observed during APAP toxicity. The increases were mild relatively in the groups administered NAC, CCh, NAC + CCh. In this study, TAS, TOS, GSH, GSSG levels were also measured. After APAP toxicity, a decrease in antioxidant molecules, an increase in oxidant molecules, and oxidative stress index were observed. These findings were found to be less prominent in NAC, CCh, NAC + CCh administered groups. Results consistent with biochemical findings were obtained in histopathological evaluations. In conclusion, parasympathomimetic stimulation can be protective through reducing inflammation, activating antioxidant pathways in APAP-induced hepatotoxicity and may support NAC antidote therapy .
Psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the Disruptive Behavior Disorders Rating Scale reported by parents and caregivers
Authors: Kishida Kohei , Tsuda Masami , Ishikawa Shin-ichi
Published: July 2024

The Disruptive Behavior Disorders Rating Scale (DBDRS) is widely used in many countries as a questionnaire to measure each symptom of Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and conduct disorder (CD) in children and adolescents. This study’s objectives were (1) to examine the psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the DBDRS (J-DBDRS), measuring the symptoms of ADHD, ODD, and CD in children and adolescents reported by parents/caregivers, (2) to estimate the prevalence of ADHD, ODD, and CD in Japanese children and adolescents using the J-DBDRS, and (3) to examine the relationship between its symptoms, anxiety, depression, and irritability. A total of 2442 parents and caregivers who had children and adolescents aged 6–15 participated in the study. The results confirmed the structural validity for the four-factor structure, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and convergent validity of the J-DBDRS. According to the results, the psychometric properties of the J-DBDRS; the characteristics of the estimated prevalence of ADHD, ODD, and CD in Japan; and the associations between each mental symptom were discussed.
The effect of low-level laser therapy conditions on macrophages’ immunomodulatory processes as an example of regeneration process stimulation
Authors: Matuła Aleksandra , Lizak Amelia , Stodolak-Zych Ewa , Bac Aneta , Homa Joanna , Stenka Beata , Scislowska-Czarnecka Anna
Published: July 2024

LLLT (low-level laser therapy) covers a wide range of parameters in terms of laser properties and dosage, which is important for its effects. To obtain the desired therapeutic effect of LLLT on cells, it is important to select optimal irradiation conditions. This article focuses on the selection of biostimulating exposure conditions for LLLT, which are the method of beam application, the radiation power and dose, and then the assessment of the immunomodulatory effect of LLLT on resting macrophages of the RAW 264.7 cell line. Irradiation of cells with a pulsed laser beam with a power of 200 mW and a dose of 5 J/cm2 results in an increase in the adhesion and viability of macrophages and increase the secretion of protein, NO by macrophages and their TOS, which may suggest the polarization of macrophages towards the M1 phenotype. On the other hand, a decrease in the secretion TNF-α, MCP-1 and MMP-9 by cells may indicate the polarization of macrophages towards the M2 phenotype. It seems that for an optimal response of resting macrophages, they often share common features of the M1 and M2 phenotypes and that their phenotype should be considered as a spectrum of continuous differentiation under the influence of LLLT.
Localized and systemic effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on growth, antioxidant defense system, and nutrient uptake of alfalfa under uniform and non-uniform salt stress
Authors: Xiong Xue , Wei Yuqi , Liu Mohan , Liu Nan , Zhang Yingjun
Published: July 2024

Background and Aims: Salinity causes significant environmental stress restricting plant growth and development, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can protect plants against salt stress through different mechanisms. The aim of this study was to explore the local and systemic effects of AMF in alfalfa plants under non-uniform salinity and the mechanisms underlying these effects.
Methods: Alfalfa plants were subjected to uniform and non-uniform salt stress using a split-root system, with one or both root compartments inoculated or not inoculated with AMF.
Results: We observed that AMF inoculation ameliorated the negative effects of salt stress by enhancing the dry weight, plant growth rate, photosynthesis, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes including CAT, POD, and SOD. These effects contributed to maintaining ionic and nutritive balance and resulted in lower levels of lipid peroxidation and H2O2 contents under both uniform and non-uniform salinity treatments, particularly when the whole root system was inoculated with AMF. Under non-uniform salinity, AMF alleviated oxidative stress in the high-saline root side where it was inoculated, thus playing a key role in alleviating salt-induced damage. Conversely, when AMF was inoculated on the non-saline root side, both root compartments exhibited systemic oxidative defense mechanisms, highlighting the significance of functional equilibrium within the root system in enhancing salt tolerance.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that AMF ameliorates the effects of salt stress through distinct antioxidant defense and ion regulation mechanisms under non-uniform salinity. P uptake and ion regulation were more effective in the AMF-inoculated root side, both under uniform and non-uniform salinity conditions.
Preliminary determination of early growth response of wheat to potassium iodate priming
Authors: Modi Albert Thembinkosi
Published: July 2024

The objective of the study was to determine the efficacy of iodine priming in combination with water availability levels on the physiological attributes of wheat (Triticum aestivum) as determined at stage Z14.7/22 of plant growth. Two levels of potassium iodate halopriming (100 mg l− 1 and 200 mg l− 1 ) were compared with distilled for priming seeds before planting to grow seedlings under conditions of controlled water availability determined by field capacity (FC). Adequate water availability (100% FC) throughout seedling growth was compared with declining water availability from planting to 25% FC before harvesting plants to determine biomass in terms of root: shoot ratio (RSR). Crop physiological response was determined using membrane stability index (MSI) and leaf chlorophyll and carotenoid contents. Results confirmed the positive role of halopriming wheat seeds to improve resistance to water stress at the early stage of crop development. The use of potassium iodate negligibly improved plant biomass accumulation, but leaf membrane stability index was significantly improved. These changes were associated with enhancement of chlorophyll (a, b) and carotenoid contents. This study provides insight into the potential effect of seed treatment on wheat response to soil water availability at the early stages of development.
Protective Effects of 17β Estradiol in the Aorta of Collagen-Induced Arthritis Rats: Modulation of TLR4/NOX4/NF-kβ and TGFβ1/Fibronectin/α-SMA Pathways and Attenuation of Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, Fibrosis, and Apoptosis
Authors: Govindasamy Navishaa , Barman Madhumanti , Salleh Naguib , Giribabu Nelli , Shahzad Huma
Published: July 2024

Menopause and Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are both known to cause elevation of blood pressure in women. The hormonal mechanisms underlying the increase in blood pressure in menopausal women with RA are poorly understood. Thus, the aims of this study were to examine the role of estrogen in these diseases. RA was induced in ovariectomised rats using incomplete Freund's adjuvant and immune-mediated collagen type II. Rats were then randomly divided into six groups: sham, ovariectomised (Ovx), RA induced ovariectomised (Ovx + RA), and RA induced ovariectomised plus estrogen, baricitinib or losartan. Blood pressure was measured through carotid artery cannulation. H&E and Picro Sirius Red staining was performed to evaluate histological alterations and collagen deposition. Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and qPCR methods were used to evaluate the oxidative, inflammatory, growth and fibrosis, and apoptosis markers in the aorta tissues. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was significantly elevated in Ovx rats and slightly raised without significant difference in the Ovx + RA rats. MAP in the ovariectomised RA rats were significantly reduced with estrogen and losartan treatment. Elevated expressions of NOS, iNOS, NOX2 and NOX4, TLR4, NF-ĸB, TNF-α, VEGF, FGF-2, αSMA and caspase3 in Ovx + RA rats were reduced with estrogen treatment. On the other hand, expressions of Smad2, TGFβ1, Bax-2, and fibronectin were found to be increased with estrogen treatment. The study suggests that estrogen modulates signaling pathways differently in the aorta of RA rats. These findings could help to develop new strategies for managing high blood pressure in postmenopausal women with RA.
Forest structure predicts plant and animal species diversity and composition changes in an Amazonian forest
Authors: Pedro Marcelle São , Smith Marielle N. , Zuquim Gabriela , Tuomisto Hanna , Stark Scott C. , Amaral Lucas , Bobrowiec Paulo Estefano  D. , Bueno Anderson S. , Capaverde Ubirajara , Castilho Carolina , Esteban Erick , Lima Albertina , Magnusson William , Menger Juliana , Pinto Maria Goretti , Rincón Lorena , Tavares Valéria da Cunha , Waldez Fabiano , Schietti Juliana
Published: July 2024

Forest structure plays an important role in determining habitat suitability for plants and animals, but these relationships are poorly characterized for different biological communities in tropical forests. We used ground-based lidar to quantify structural metrics and determine their contribution in predicting species diversity and compositional changes between plots for nine biological groups in an Amazonian forest. For each group, we calculated Fisher's alpha index and summarized community composition using Principal Coordinates Analysis. As biological organisms may also react directly to hydro-edaphic conditions, we carried out variation partitioning analysis using linear regressions to disentangle the relative contribution of structural metrics and hydro-edaphic variables. Forest structure was related to species diversity and composition of some groups, specifically for plants, anurans, and birds. Mean canopy height, leaf area height volume, and skewness explained more than one-third of species diversity of palms and trees, with higher values relating to higher species diversity. Hydro-edaphic variables were the most important predictors of the main compositional axis for plant groups, but some structural metrics explained more than 30% of the secondary compositional axis for ferns + lycophytes, trees, birds, and anurans. Vegetation height and variability, vegetation quantity, and vertical structure, but not canopy openness, were the main structural characteristics modulating species diversity and composition. Our findings reinforce the potential to estimate species diversity and compositional changes across structural gradients using lidar-derived metrics in a hyper-diverse forest. Understanding these relationships advances our ability to make community predictions useful for conservation and provides new avenues to investigate the mechanisms impacting diversity.
Comparative study on the reduction of tritium breeding ratio caused by inventory changes of a solid-state tritium breeding blanket in a fusion demonstration reactor using MCNP and FISPACT-II
Authors: Kim Byung Chul
Published: July 2024

The self-sufficient supply of tritium in the deuterium-tritium nuclear fusion demonstration reactor (DEMO) is a fundamental design requirement. But, it is hindered by depletion of tritium breeding materials resulting in reduction of tritium breeding ratio (TBR) less than the initial design value especially in the solid-state tritium breeding blanket (TBB) of the DEMO. Unlike the liquid tritium breeding blanket of DEMO, compensation measures of the depleted breeding material in the solid-state TBB will be its substitution depending on the reduction rate of TBR. To estimate the replacement period of the solid-state TBB, it is required to estimate the reduction rate of TBR according to the operation conditions of the DEMO and the physical configuration of a solid-state TBB. In this study, the representative simulation codes, MCNP and FISPACT-II, are used for assessment of the reduction rate of TBR with the benchmarking model which is modified from the one poloidal segment of the TBB in the Korean-DEMO. After 3 full power-year operations with the neutron irradiation on the benchmarking model, the TBR simulated by MCNP is reduced to 96.84% of the initially calculated TBR, but the TBR calculated by FISPACT-II is reduced to 90.57% from the initially calculated TBR.
AR2PS - Adaptive Opportunistic Routing With an Analytical Hierarchy Process for Reliable and Efficient Path Selection in Wireless Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Immanuvel A. , Sureshkumar N. N.
Published: July 2024

Wireless ad hoc networks are decentralized networks in which mobile user equipment nodes dynamically form connections. This paper presents adaptive opportunistic routing with an analytical hierarchy process for reliable and efficient path selection in wireless ad hoc networks an optimized forwarder selection approach using adaptive opportunistic routing enhanced by the analytical hierarchy process. The adaptive opportunistic routing algorithm evaluates the signal strength, link quality indicator, and packet delivery ratio to dynamically choose the most reliable forwarder node, ensuring robust and efficient data transmission. The integration of analytical hierarchy process allows systematic decision-making based on multiple criteria to optimize network performance. The results indicate that the proposed AR2PS protocol significantly improves network performance compared to ETBR, CCAN, and HANA. Specifically, AR2PS decreases the average end-to-end delay by 38.33% and lowers the packet dropping ratio by 34.7% in network depending on packet intervals. Furthermore, AR2PS achieves up to 10.31% higher throughput and increases the packet delivery ratio by 9.15%. Overall, the AR2PS routing scheme substantially enhances the network's performance across multiple metrics.