bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study of the Dynamics of Diflunisal Release from a Polymer Matrix
Authors: Mihajlova P. A. , Adamova A. A. , Generalova Yu. E. , Snetkov P. P. , Morozkina S. N.
Published: January 2024

Introduction. The effectiveness of diflunisal in the treatment of cardiac amyloidosis has been clinically proven. Currently, only tablet forms of diflunisal are registered in the world, however, long-term use of NSAIDs leads to characteristic side effects. Therefore, delivery systems for diflunisal (including a form for external use) are now being actively developed to reduce side effects and improve its bioavailability.

Aim. Research of the dynamics of release of the active substance diflunisal from the polymer matrix of hyaluronic acid.

Materials and methods. The objects of the study are diflunisal gels in hyaluronic acid with a concentration of the main substance of 0.093, 0.14, 0.19 and 0.25 %. Quantitative determination was carried out by reverse-phase HPLC using a Prontosil C18, 120-5, 75 × 2 mm chromatographic column, thermostatically controlled at 40 °C. Eluent: phosphate buffer solution (PBS) with pH 3.0 and acetonitrile (30 : 70), flow rate 0.1 ml/min. Eluates were detected at wavelengths of 230, 270, 310 nm.

Results and discussion. During the work, a method (HPLC) was selected and a method for determining diflunisal in a HA matrix was developed. The delivery system under study significantly increases the solubility of diflunisal in an aqueous solution compared to the dissolution of the substance. The release of the active substance from the matrices was carried out in a phosphate buffer solution with pH 7.6. The release rate for all samples exceeded 90 % after 3 hours after the start of the experiment, with most of the active substance released within an hour.

Conclusion. The data obtained suggest that the release profile is characteristic of biodegradable matrices and diffusion-controlled delivery systems. Complete extraction of diflunisal from HA was achieved using PBS with pH 7.6 as a dissolution medium.
Design and Implementation of A LED Driver Circuit with Dimming Function without Burst Mode at Constant Switching Frequency
Authors: Borekci Selim , Acar Nihal C. , Ozdem Suyaip , Kircay Ali
Published: January 2024

This paper presents a dimmable LED driver with a topology of combination of series and parallel resonant converter. In dimming operation, a variable resonant inductor controlled by a PWM signal at a low frequency, while proving DC output current approaches, switching frequency variation or conventional PWM technique is not used. The proposed technique is performed on a load that consists of 40 one-watt power LEDs connected in series. Switching frequency of circuit is kept constant at 60 kHz. According to experiments results, LEDs can be dimmed to a desired power level linearly within the range of nominal power to very low power without being in burst mode unlike of the conventional PWM technique.
Digital Automation of Energy-Efficient In Vitro Irradiation of Orchard Plum Micro Cuttings
Authors: Kondrateva Nadezhda P. , Akhatov Ramis Z. , Bolshin Roman G. , Krasnolutskaya Maria G. , Selunsky Vasily V.
Published: January 2024

The yield and efficiency of cultivation of any crop depends on the quality of the planting material. The most promising method of modern horticulture, which makes it possible to significantly increase its environmental sustainability, is to obtain planting material, improved by culture of isolated tissues in vitro. There is blue honeysuckle, raspberries, garden strawberries, steppe cherries, domestic plums, and other crops studied in vitro in the Udmurt Federal Research Centre of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Udmurt FRC UB RAS). The light regime has a great influence on plant growth under in vitro conditions. A review of specialized literature showed the energy efficiency of the pulsed mode of plants irradiation as significantly reducing power consumption compared to stationary (continuous) one with the same quality of the grown products. In the Udmurt FRC UB RAS, pulsed irradiation of garden strawberry explants in vitro made it possible to increase their rooting by 10 %. The mode of irradiation in modern illuminators with LEDs under in vitro conditions can be changed by means of digital automated control systems. This makes it possible to implement an energy-saving pulsed irradiation mode that allows efficient electricity use. The purpose of this work was to develop a digital system for automated control of the operation of the irradiator with LEDs for the implementation of an energy-efficient pulsed mode of plant irradiation in vitro and its experimental testing. Experiments conducted with it on plum micro-cuttings showed that the largest leaf area (119 %) compared to the control was obtained using light pulses with a duration of 0.8 s, which confirms the feasibility of using a pulsed irradiation mode and optimizes its parameters for these conditions.
Enhancing Daylight Availability in Historical Buildings through Tubular Daylight Guidance Systems: A Simulation-Based Study
Authors: Sönmez Nurefşan , Kunduraci Arzu Cilasun
Published: January 2024

This simulation-based study investigates the potential of tubular daylight guidance systems (TDGS) to enhance daylight availability in historical buildings. Historical buildings often face challenges in providing sufficient daylight to non-lit areas without altering the building’s facade. TDGS offer a passive, building-integrated solution that redirects daylight to target areas while preserving the building’s originality. The study focuses on a historic passage building without ground floor openings and aims to improve visual comfort and daylight availability. Climate Studio software is used to assess the current daylighting conditions and to simulate various scenarios for TDGS implementation. The study considers four TDGS alternatives with different diameters, evaluating their impact on useful daylight illuminance (UDI) and spatial daylight autonomy (sDA). The findings reveal significant increases in UDI and sDA, ranging from 68.7 % to 403.7 %, and from 79.9 % to 1813.6 %, respectively, depending on the tube diameter. These results underscore the importance of daylight tube diameter in increasing the availability and distribution of useful daylight. The study emphasizes the potential of TDGS to optimize daylighting experiences in historical buildings with limited daylight
Analysis of Bedroom Light Illumination and Sleep Quality of Elderly People at Bedtime
Authors: Li Junliang , Wang Tongyue , Hao Luoxi
Published: January 2024

Increasing age and physiological deterioration make it a safety problem for the elderly to go to the bathroom at night. In order to ensure the safety for the elderly, it is necessary to provide a certain degree of vertical illumination of the eyes and adequate illumination of the ground. However, excessive illumination also affects the rhythm and sleep continuity. This study aims to ensure the safety and rhythmic health of the elderly during the night, and a total of 80 senior citizens were studied. In this study, the type of bedroom light fixtures and night time use were counted, and the sleep quality of older adults was analysed in combination with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and measured illuminance data. Lighting graphs help to express the problems. The results showed that the mean vertical illuminance of the eyes with the lights on was 75.24 lx (SD=±46.81), and the illuminance of the ground was 25.72 lx (SD=±14.54). 66.25 % of the older adults use the table lamps in the bedroom. The problems with all kinds of the lamps were analysed in light diagrams. The result of the PSQI questionnaire showed a mean score of 8.10 ± 2.463, which scores too high and means bad sleeping condition. There is a high level of ocular illuminance, which affects the rhythm of the elderly people, and the ground illuminance is insufficient, which makes it difficult for the elderly people to notice unsafe factors such as the debris on the ground
Sosyal Hizmet Öğrencilerinin Yoksulluğa İlişkin Tutumlarının İncelenmesi
Authors: Akçe İslam , Buz Sema
Published: January 2024

Yoksulluk çağımızın önemli bir sosyal sorunudur. Çok boyutlu yapısı nedeniyle farklı açıklamalara ve anlamlandırmalara tabidir, buna bağlı olarak yoksulluğun anlamı ve tanımı değişebilmektedir. Sosyal çalışmacılar yoksullarla çalışarak bu sorunla mücadele etmektedir. Ancak yoksulluğun nedenleri hakkında yapılan araştırmaların eksikliği ve sosyal hizmet öğrencilerinin yoksullukla ilgili tutumlarının belirlenmemesi, gelecekteki mücadele çabalarının temel sorununu oluşturur. Bu doğrultuda araştırmanın amacı sosyal hizmet öğrencilerinin yoksulluğun nedenlerine yönelik tutumlarını analiz etmektir.
Araştırma, Türkiye'deki sosyal hizmet lisans eğitimi alan öğrencileri kapsamaktadır. 25.10.2022 tarihinde Yükseköğretim Bilgi Sistemi (YÖKSİS) verileri kullanılarak en yüksek taban puanlara sahip üniversitelerden seçilen 3. ve 4. Sınıflar arasından 232 öğrenci seçilmiştir. Katılımcıların sosyodemografik özelliklerinin olduğu "Kişisel Bilgi Formu" ile "Yoksulluğa İlişkin Nedensel Atıflar Ölçeği" gibi ölçme araçları kullanılmıştır.
Araştırmada, öğrencilerin yoksulluğun nedenlerine yönelik algılarının çoğunlukla yapısal yönü ağırlıklı olduğu; yoksullara yönelik sosyal hizmet uygulamalarının hak temelli yaklaşımla yürütülmesi gerektiği düşüncesinin yaygın olduğu görülmüştür. Sosyoekonomik durumun olumsuzlaştıkça yapısal atıf düzeylerinin arttığı ve kadınların erkeklere göre yoksulluğun nedenlerine daha fazla yapısal atıfta bulunduğu sonuçlarına ulaşılmıştır. Ayrıca kendini sosyal demokrat olarak tanımlayan bireyler yapısal, dindar olarak tanımlayanlar kaderci, muhafazakâr olarak tanımlayanlar ise bireysel atıflar yapmıştır.
Sosyal hizmet uzmanları, insan hakları temelli bir yaklaşımla müracaatçıların ihtiyaçlarına uygun müdahaleleri gerçekleştirmelidir. Sosyal çalışmacının kişisel değerlerini ikinci plana atarak mesleki müdahalelerde bulunma rolü önemlidir. Sosyal çalışmacının temel sorumluluklarından biri müracaatçıların haklarını savunmak ve çeşitliliğe saygı göstermektir.
A Comparative Study of Machine Learning Techniques for College Student Success Prediction
Authors: Tang Zaiyong , Jain Anurag , Colina Fernando E.
Published: January 2024

The study aims to compare the performance of various machine learning models for student persistence prediction. The research starts with a historical review of student retention studies and the evolution of predictive models in the field. It highlights the importance of predicting student persistence for educational institutions and individuals. It then describes a dataset from ResearchGate, consisting of anonymized undergraduate student data collected between 2008 and 2018, with 37 features and 4,424 records. Ten machine learning algorithms are considered, with two popular machine learning algorithms, Logistic Regression, and Random Forest classification, being compared in more detail for their performance in predicting student persistence. Evaluation metrics such as prediction accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score are used. Results show that the Random Forest model outperforms Logistic Regression in predicting student outcomes, particularly when using the synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE) to address the class imbalance. Overall, this study contributes to student retention research and provides insights for developing targeted support measures to enhance student success in higher education.
Formative Assessment Activities That Engage Students and Support Success
Authors: Wilkinson Denise
Published: January 2024

As we navigate past the pandemic, enhancing student learning through innovative methods is crucial. Literature has shared that focusing on innovative ways to include formative assessment, is one way to address student learning and success (Barkley, 2010). This article explores classroom assessments: summative and formative assessments. Summative assessments are periodically administered throughout a course to gauge students' learning progress within a set timeframe. However, this paper’s primary focus is on formative assessments, which encompass low-stakes assignments that engage students and provide valuable feedback to both instructors and students, identifying comprehensive challenges for adaptive teaching. Research suggests that students can work towards their learning objectives through in-class practice and low-stakes assignments, fostering motivation and enhancing engagement in a stress-free environment (Garrison, 2007). This article delves into formative assessment activities, such as flipped assignments, interactive engagement tasks, test reviews, and student reflections. These activities offer constructive feedback to instructors and students while fostering engagement. The positive feedback received from participating students underscores their effectiveness.
Angola: Uma realidade inaceitável de pobreza e desigualdade
Authors: Cassinela Osvaldo Israel Salumbongo , Cacknazarof Ivan
Published: January 2024

Angola não é inerentemente um país pobre, mas sim foi afetado por um histórico de escravidão e conflitos civis, gerando injustiça, desigualdade e uma grande parcela da população vivendo em condições precárias. As limitações enfrentadas, como a falta de acesso a direitos sociais essenciais a maior parte da população, juntamente com desigualdades de oportunidades econômicas e sociais, são os principais impulsionadores da pobreza. Colocando o país em última posição entre os PALOP no Índice de prosperidade de Legatum de 2023 e ocupando a penúltima posição em relação aos seus países vizinhos. Este estudo busca analisar a trajetória e características da pobreza e desigualdade em Angola, adotando a abordagem de Amartya Sen para combater as privações e promover as liberdades individuais como forma de reduzir a pobreza. Embora não seja viável abordar todas as privações sociais neste espaço limitado, concentramo-nos nos direitos sociais fundamentais, como educação, saúde e emprego. Concluímos que as estratégias devem priorizar não apenas o crescimento econômico, mas também a promoção das liberdades e habilidades individuais, facilitando o acesso e uso de políticas sociais para as populações mais vulneráveis, quebrando as barreiras sociais.
A difusão da política de gestão e sustentabilidade socioambiental na Universidade Federal do Pará
Authors: Prestes Maria Ivete Rissino , Siqueira Gilmar Wanzeller , Siqueira Maria Alice do Socorro Lima , Alvares Tereza Cristina Cardoso , Teixeira Diego Figueiredo , Wanzeller Milena de Lima
Published: January 2024

A difusão da política de gestão e a sustentabilidade socioambiental são apresentadas como uma alternativa no campo da administração pública, onde a participação dos servidores técnico-administrativos em educação e docentes na criação de um bem comum é um privilégio de um processo participativo deliberativo. O objetivo dessa pesquisa é compreender o processo de gestão e sustentabilidade socioambiental no contexto do Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Naturais da Universidade Federal do Pará (ICEN/UFPA), entender a percepção do servidor técnico administrativo em educação e docentes gestores da administração na decisão do ambiente educacional, bem como a aplicabilidade da educação ambiental. O procedimento metodológico foi baseado na Instrução Normativa 10/2012, na qual foi elaborado um questionário com 28 questões abertas e fechadas. O questionário foi respondido por servidores e docentes das faculdades e departamentos atuantes no Instituto. A análise dos dados mostrou que a ideia de difundir e utilizar a educação ambiental como ferramenta interdisciplinar e multidisciplinar como prática ambientais, concretiza a abordagem teórica dos processos de gestão e sustentabilidade socioambiental de recursos humanos do ICEN/UFPA.
Analysis on Digital Game Playing Attitudes Amongst University Students: A Research on Generation Z
Authors: Çobanoğlu Halil Orbay , Türktemiz Halil , Bayraktar Işık
Published: January 2024

The aim of this study is to investigate university students’ attitudes who are called as Generation Z, on digital game playing. In this study, 109 female and 106 male students with a total of 215 students who are attending to various departments of Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, took place voluntarily. In the research, Digital Game Playing Attitude Scale (DGPBS) which was developed by Demir and Bozkurt (2019), was used. The data of the research was analysed using IBM SPSS 25 packaged software. To statistically analyse the data obtained from the participants, independent sample T-Test and one-way analysis of variance test are used. It is observed that there is a statically significant difference, according to the gender variable, by means of behavioural sub-dimension in students’ digital plays. It is detected that there is a statically significant difference, in terms of students’ cognitive sub-dimension digital plays causing from faculty difference. It is detected that there is a significant difference in students’ digital plays by means of any sub-dimension causing from class variable. It is observed that there is significant difference in students’ digital plays by means of cognitive sub-dimension according to the educational level variable of the mother. It is detected that there is significant difference in students’ digital plays by means of cognitive sub-dimension according to the digital play times. As a result of the research students’ digital play attitudes are affected accordingly to gender, faculty, class, digital play time and mother’s educational level.
Is Burnout a Determinant of Moral Disengagement in Team and Individual Sports?
Authors: Tekkurşun Demir Gönül , Namlı Sevinç
Published: January 2024

This study aims to reveal the relationship between moral disengagement and burnout, the level of prediction, and differentiation by different variables. In the present study, in which the relational scanning model among the quantitative research models was used, 530 elite athletes were involved. The athlete burnout scale (ABQ) and moral disengagement in sports scale (MDSS-SF) were used to collect data. The data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation analysis, regression analysis, t-test, and ANOVA. As a result of the analysis, it was determined that the burnout level of the athletes was positively related to moral disengagement and the level of burnout was a predictor of moral disengagement in sports. It was found that there was no significant difference between burnout and moral disengagement levels of team and individual sports athletes, that the moral disengagement level of male athletes was significantly higher than that of female athletes, and that male team athletes’ level of burnout in sports was significantly higher than that of female team athletes. Moreover, the burnout-in-sports score of athletes having 12 years or longer sportive experience in individual branches was significantly higher than that of athletes having 7-11 years and that of athletes having a minimum of 6 years of experience. In this study, it was concluded that athletes’ level of burnout in sports increased the level of moral disengagement, that male athletes had a higher level of moral disengagement, and that long experience in sports increased the burnout among individual branch athletes.
Program keterampilan menjahit bagi kelompok ibu rumah tangga sebagai perwujudan pemberdayaan perempuan
Authors: Putri Hesti Rosita Dwi , Hijriah  , Amir Supratiwi
Published: January 2024

Pemberdayaan Perempuan melalui keterampilan menjahit dilaksanakan pada RT 16 Kelurahan Karang Joang KM. 12 Balikpapan Utara, Kalimantan Timur. Pada dasarnya pemberdayaan perempuan ini bertujuan untuk membuat setiap perempuan menjadi seorang yang mandiri yang tidak menggantungkan hidupnya pada keluarganya maupun orang lain. Metode pengabdian menggunakan metode Participatory Action Research (PAR) yang kegiatan dilakukan dengan melibatkan Masyarakat dalam mengikuti pelatihan keterampilan menjahit dimulai dari berdiskusi awal, merumuskan permasalah, merancang rencana kegiatan, melaksanakan pelatihan hingga evaluasi akhir. Manfaat kegiatan ini yaitu meningkatkan keinginan ibu rumah tangga untuk memiliki keterampilan khususnya menjahit. Hasil evaluasi dilakukan dengan pengisian kuisioner pada awal dan akhir kegiatan sehingga didapat perkembangan yang cukup signifikan pada pengetahuan alat dan teknik jahit, kemudian tahapan yang paling sulit pada proses pembuatan pola dan yang paling disenangi yaitu menjahit dan mengobras, serta kemampuan peserta pelatihan meningkat 90 % dari yang awalnya belum perna menjahit hingga mampu menyelesaikan blus masing-masing pada akhir kegiatan. Kelanjutan kegiatan ini yaitu melakukan pelatihan lanjutan dalam meningkatkan kreativitas keterampilan menjahit pada penerapan berbagai produk yang memiliki nilai jual dimasyarakat.
Optimasi literasi keuangan rumah tangga pada masyarakat pedesaan
Authors: Perseveranda Maria Erse , Manafe Henny Angry , Paridy Anggraeny , Mooy Maria Odilia Veronika , Lejap Hedwigh Hendrikus Temai , Kanadjo Leni MarLina
Published: January 2024

Tingkat literasi keuangan masyarakat di desa berada pada level yang lebih rendah daripada masyarakat di kota. Hal ini sangat disayangkan, sebab tingkat literasi keuangan yang mumpuni merupakan salah satu kapabilitas utama yang harus dimiliki oleh setiap orang agar dapat memiliki penghidupan ekonomi yang layak. Salah satu peran vital dari literasi keuangan adalah membantu individu dalam membuat perencanaan keuangan yang efisien. Dengan memiliki perencanaan keuangan yang efisien, maka seluruh sumber daya ekonomis yang digunakan dapat memberikan hasil yang optimal. Salah satu kelompok masyarakat desa dengan tingkat literasi keuangan yang rendah adalah anggota KUB. St. Gabriel, Oebelo. Menyadari hal ini, tim dosen dari Fakultas Ekonomika & Bisnis Unwira, bekerja sama dengan Dili Institute of Technology (DIT) Timor Leste untuk membuat kegiatan pengabdian masyarakat dengan tujuan mengedukasi masyarakat di daerah urban, seperti anggota KUB. St. Gabriel Oebelo, Kabupaten, mengenai pentingnya perencanaan keuangan dalam kehidupan berumah tangga. Bentuk kegiatan ini berupa sosialisasi mengenai literasi keuangan, dengan topik khusus tentang perencanaan keuangan. Kegiatan edukassi ini dibagi atas dua sesi, yaitu pemaparan materi oleh narasumber, dan kemudian ilanjutkan dengan diskusi maupun tanya jawab. Hasil akhir dari kegiatan ini adalah peningkatan pemahaman dan keterampilan dari anggota KUB. St. Gabriel Oebelo, mengenai tata cara dalam mengelola perencanaan keuangan yang efisien. Dengan memiliki pemahaman dan keterampilan keuangan yang efisien, maka mereka mudah dalam membuat anggaran keuangan harian, bulanan, tahunan, serta tak mudah terjerat kebiasaan buruk seperti berjudi online, pinjol, maupaun investasi bodong.
Identifikasi Penerapan Desain Universal pada M Bloc Space di Jakarta
Authors: Rahardjo Astrid Hapsari , Hamzah Andi Nasri , Maulid Annas
Published: January 2024

The revitalization of the Perum Peruri area in Jakarta has changed its image from a relatively closed industrial area completed with its own employee residence into an open creative space designated especially for the millennials. The adaptive-reuse concept was used to prioritize the preservation and conservation of a state-owned heritage asset. The objective of this study is to identify the implementation of universal design guidelines by means of matching the outcome of the revitalization towards the government of the Republic of Indonesia regulation inscribed in Permen PUPR no. 14/PRT/M/2017. This study employs two approaches, a qualitative approach which descriptively matches the revitalization of M Bloc Space towards the regulation mentioned and a quantitative approach by means of distributing questionnaires to gain insights into the users’ perception of the implementation of universal design principles at M Bloc Space. The study shows that there are limitations to universal design implementation due to the design restriction as regulated in the heritage building regulation. It is important to stress that this study does not emphasize on the heritage part of the M Bloc Space development, rather its adaptation toward the needs of many of its users.
Klasifikasi Lingkungan Cagar Budaya di Kawasan Jembatan Merah Kota Surabaya Berdasarkan Signifikansi Makna Kultural
Authors: Suciningtyas Deby , Sudikno Antariksa , Rukmi Wara Indira
Published: January 2024

Jembatan Merah area is a historical splash area for the city of Surabaya, because many historical buildings are found. Apart from being the area of the old city of Surabaya, the Jembatan Merah area is also designated as an area for the development of trade and services. The design of the settlement in the Jembatan Merah area is one of the characteristics of the Dutch Indies city that implemented a policy of ethnic segregation, namely ethnic Chinese or foreign easterners, Arabs, and Europeans. The study of the Jembatan Merah area is needed to maintain its authenticity and protect the historical values contained in the area. The purpose of this study is to identify the characteristics of the cultural heritage environment and to determine the potential for its preservation. This study uses a quantitative approach with descriptive analysis and analysis of cultural significance. The results of the study show that the Jembatan Merah area is in the cultural heritage environmental group II and III with high-average conservation potential with small to average-large changes.
Alexander Gillies and Adam Smith: Freemasonry and the Resonance of Self-Love
Authors: Heath Eugene
Published: January 2024

In 1766 at the Lodge of Kilwinning, Alexander Gillies, a young Scottish minister, delivered a discourse that not only manifested the influence of Adam Smith's moral theory but articulated how Christianity and freemasonry proposed distinct but complementary responses to the problem of self-love. This article, part intellectual history and part biography, examines Gillies's discourse, taking into account details of Gillies's life and establishing that he was in fact a student of Smith's at the University of Glasgow. The article then considers Smith's influence, as evident in Gillies's discourse, and reveals how a Calvinist notion of self-love resonated into the late eighteenth century. In the discourse, Gillies invoked subjects redolent of Smith's moral theory: the force of social interaction, the power of sympathy and the negative influence of self-love (a theme also manifest in some sermons of Smith's colleague, William Leechman). Like Smith, Gillies also worried about partiality and faction. Gillies forwarded the institution of freemasonry as a means—complementary to Christianity—of counteracting the tendency to partiality, born of self-love. In a later satirical composition, published in 1774 in the Edinburgh Magazine and Review, Gillies extended another critique of the power of self-love. Forged in part from his relation to Smith, Gillies's concern with self-love and his fresh stance on freemasonry yield a distinct perspective on eighteenth-century Scottish culture and ideas and offer insight into the complex relations of university, kirk and masonic lodge.
Molecular Pathways in Sepsis Pathogenesis: Recent Advances and Therapeutic Avenues
Authors: Addissouky Tamer A. , El Tantawy El Sayed Ibrahim , Ali Majeed M. A. , Wang Yuliang , El Baz Ayman , Khalil Ahmed A. , Elarabany Naglaa
Published: January 2024

Background: Sepsis remains a critical global health challenge with high mortality. This review summarizes current understanding of the intricate molecular mechanisms governing sepsis pathogenesis and highlights emerging therapeutic approaches.

Main body of the abstract: The dysregulated immune response in sepsis, involving both excessive inflammation and immunosuppression, is mediated through cytokines, pattern recognition receptors, and disturbances in immune cell function. Endothelial dysfunction, coagulation abnormalities, microbiome dysbiosis, and metabolic/mitochondrial alterations also critically contribute to sepsis progression. Preclinical models have facilitated detailed study of these pathways and identification of potential therapeutic targets, including immunomodulators, microbiome-directed therapies, endothelial modulators, anticoagulants, and metabolic/mitochondrial agents. Combination therapies targeting multiple pathogenic aspects may be necessary. However, translating preclinical findings to clinical applications remains challenging. Heterogeneity among sepsis patients is a key issue, underscoring the need for precision medicine approaches. Potential adverse effects and optimal treatment regimens must be rigorously evaluated.

Short conclusion: Further research should focus on validating preclinical discoveries, understanding sepsis subtypes, developing predictive biomarkers and innovative therapies including artificial intelligence-based tools, and bridging knowledge gaps through enhanced academia-industry collaboration. Comprehensive efforts spanning from unraveling molecular pathways to clinical translation hold promise for improving outcomes in this deadly syndrome.
Agroecological transitions: reading, writing, and thinking across disciplinary divides
Authors: Cusworth George
Published: January 2024

There is great diversity in the methods, terms, and empirical focuses employed by social and natural scientists working on agroecological transitions. The upshot is that whilst various researchers may nominally be putting their shoulder to the same agroecological wheel, the impact of their combined efforts is not what it might be. The aim of this article is to assist in the co-ordination and collaboration of disparate research activities and actors. It does so by offering the readers of this journal a user-friendly guide to some of the terms being used by social scientists (particularly human geographers and anthropologists) in their work on pests, diseases, crop protections and agroecological transitions. Such a document is of particular use as the terms and concepts employed by social scientists are equipped to generate analysis with explicit political insight in a way that those used by natural scientists may not be. The concepts and theories of social scientists foreground the commonalities that cut across case studies which might otherwise seem separated by a reservoir of context specificity. Tooled with these terms of analysis, the promise of agroecology rightly becomes something with far reaching political and justice consequences. These terms are presented across five areas: the ontological, the epistemological, the methodological, the historical, and the aesthetic. Given the range of social, ecological, cultural, and economic barriers involved in effecting an agroecological transition, it is vital that different researchers are conversant in each other’s language.
Solvothermal synthesis of SnO2 nanoparticles for perovskite solar cells application
Authors: Xie Haixia , Que Wenxiu
Published: January 2024

Perovskite solar cells show great potential application prospects in the field of solar cells due to their promising properties. However, most perovskite solar cells that exhibit excellent photovoltaic performance typically require a carrier transport layer that necessitates a high-temperature annealing process. This greatly restricts the scalability and compatibility of perovskite solar cells in flexible electronics. In this paper, SnO2 nanoparticles with high crystallinity, good dispersibility and uniform particle size distribution are first prepared using a solvothermal method and dispersed in n-butanol solution. SnO2 electron transport layers are then prepared by a low-temperature spin coating method, and the photovoltaic characteristics of perovskite solar cells prepared with different SnO2 nanoparticles/n-butanol concentrations are studied. Results indicate that the rigid perovskite solar cell achieves the highest power conversion efficiency of 15.61% when the concentration of SnO2 nanoparticles/n-butanol is 15 mg mL−1. Finally, our strategy is successfully applying on flexible perovskite solar cells with a highest PCE of 14.75%. Our paper offers a new possibility for large-scale preparation and application of perovskite solar cells in flexible electronics in the future.
The effects of flip angle and gadolinium contrast agent on single breath-hold compressed sensing cardiac magnetic resonance cine for biventricular global strain assessment
Authors: Wang Fuyan , Pu Cailing , Ma Siying , Zhou Junjie , Jiang Yangyang , Yu Feidan , Zhang Shuheng , Wu Yan , Zhang Lingjie , He Chengbin , Hu Hongjie
Published: January 2024

Background

Due to its potential to significantly reduce scanning time while delivering accurate results for cardiac volume function, compressed sensing (CS) has gained traction in cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) cine. However, further investigation is necessary to explore its feasibility and impact on myocardial strain results.

Materials and methods

A total of 102 participants [75 men, 46.5 ± 17.1 (SD) years] were included in this study. Each patient underwent four consecutive cine sequences with the same slice localization, including the reference multi-breath-hold balanced steady-state free precession (bSSFPref) cine, the CS cine with the same flip angle as bSSFPref before (CS45) and after (eCS45) contrast enhancement, and the CS cine (eCS70) with a 70-degree flip angle after contrast enhancement. Biventricular strain parameters were derived from cine images. Two-tailed paired t-tests were used for data analysis.

Results

Global radial strain (GRS), global circumferential strain (GCS), and global longitudinal strain (GLS) were observed to be significantly lower in comparison to those obtained from bSSFPref sequences for both the right and left ventricles (all p < 0.001). No significant difference was observed on biventricular GRS-LAX (long-axis) and GLS values derived from enhanced and unenhanced CS cine sequences with the same flip angle, but remarkable reductions were noted in GRS-SAX (short-axis) and GCS values (p < 0.001). After contrast injection, a larger flip angle caused a significant elevation in left ventricular strain results (p < 0.001) but did not affect the right ventricle. The increase in flip angle appeared to compensate for contrast agent affection on left ventricular GRS-SAX, GCS values, and right ventricular GRS-LAX, GLS values.

Conclusion

Despite incorporating gadolinium contrast agents and applying larger flip angles, single breath-hold CS cine sequences consistently yielded diminished strain values for both ventricles when compared with conventional cine sequences. Prior to employing this single breath-hold CS cine sequence to refine the clinical CMR examination procedure, it is crucial to consider its impact on myocardial strain results.
Deep breathing in your hands: designing and assessing a DTx mobile app
Authors: Jeong Harim , Yoo Joo Hun , Goh Michelle , Song Hayeon
Published: January 2024

Digital Therapeutics (DTx) are experiencing rapid advancements within mobile and mental healthcare sectors, with their ubiquity and enhanced accessibility setting them apart as uniquely effective solutions. In this evolving context, our research focuses on deep breathing, a vital technique in mental health management, aiming to optimize its application in DTx mobile platforms. Based on well-founded theories, we introduced a gamified and affordance-driven design, facilitating intuitive breath control. To enhance user engagement, we deployed the Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficient (MFCC)-driven personalized machine learning method for accurate biofeedback visualization. To assess our design, we enlisted 70 participants, segregating them into a control and an intervention group. We evaluated Heart Rate Variability (HRV) metrics and collated user experience feedback. A key finding of our research is the stabilization of the Standard Deviation of the NN Interval (SDNN) within Heart Rate Variability (HRV), which is critical for stress reduction and overall health improvement. Our intervention group observed a pronounced stabilization in SDNN, indicating significant stress alleviation compared to the control group. This finding underscores the practical impact of our DTx solution in managing stress and promoting mental health. Furthermore, in the assessment of our intervention cohort, we observed a significant increase in perceived enjoyment, with a notable 22% higher score and 10.69% increase in positive attitudes toward the application compared to the control group. These metrics underscore our DTx solution’s effectiveness in improving user engagement and fostering a positive disposition toward digital therapeutic efficacy. Although current technology poses challenges in seamlessly incorporating machine learning into mobile platforms, our model demonstrated superior effectiveness and user experience compared to existing solutions. We believe this result demonstrates the potential of our user-centric machine learning techniques, such as gamified and affordance-based approaches with MFCC, which could contribute significantly to the field of mobile mental healthcare.
A novel link between chronic inflammation and humanin regulation in children
Authors: Zhao Yunhan , Mäkitie Outi , Laakso Saila , Fedosova Vera , Sävendahl Lars , Zaman Farasat
Published: January 2024

Objective

Children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often suffer from poor bone growth and impaired bone health. Humanin is a cytoprotective factor expressed in bone and other tissues and we hypothesized that humanin levels are suppressed in conditions of chronic inflammation. To address this, humanin levels were analyzed in serum samples from IBD patients and in ex vivo cultured human growth plate tissue specimens exposed to IBD serum or TNF alone.

Methods

Humanin levels were measured by ELISA in serum from 40 children with IBD and 40 age-matched healthy controls. Growth plate specimens obtained from children undergoing epiphysiodesis surgery were cultured ex vivo for 48 hours while being exposed to IBD serum or TNF alone. The growth plate samples were then processed for immunohistochemistry staining for humanin, PCNA, SOX9 and TRAF2 expression. Dose-response effect of TNF was studied in the human chondrocytic cell line HCS-2/8. Ex vivo cultured fetal rat metatarsal bones were used to investigate the therapeutic effect of humanin.

Results

Serum humanin levels were significantly decreased in children with IBD compared to healthy controls. When human growth plate specimens were cultured with IBD serum, humanin expression was significantly suppressed in the growth plate cartilage. When cultured with TNF alone, the expression of humanin, PCNA, SOX9, and TRAF2 were all significantly decreased in the growth plate cartilage. Interestingly, treatment with the humanin analog HNG prevented TNF-induced bone growth impairment in cultured metatarsal bones.

Conclusion

Our data showing suppressed serum humanin levels in IBD children with poor bone health provides the first evidence for a potential link between chronic inflammation and humanin regulation. Such a link is further supported by the novel finding that serum from IBD patients suppressed humanin expression in ex vivo cultured human growth plates.
Impact of COVID-19 convalescence on pregnancy outcomes in patients undergoing IVF/ICSI during fresh ART cycles: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Cao Mingya , Han Yan , Feng Tengfei , Lu Peiyang , Wang Yue , Sun Qingyun , Zhao Zhiming , Pan Wensen
Published: January 2024

Objective

The aim was to study the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) convalescence on female fertility and laboratory and clinical outcomes in fresh assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, we analyzed data from 294 patients who had recovered from COVID-19 and who underwent fresh ART cycles between January and March 2023 (COVID-19 group). This group was compared with 631 patients who underwent similar ART cycles in the same period in 2022 but without having been infected with COVID-19 (non-COVID-19 group). The analysis focused on comparison of basic demographic characteristics and laboratory parameters of patients in each group. The primary outcome measure was the clinical pregnancy rate, which was examined to assess the impact of COVID-19 infection on the efficacy of ART treatment.

Results

Basal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were significantly lower and antral follicle count (AFC) was markedly higher in the COVID-19 group compared to the non-COVID-19 group (P<0.001 and P=0.004, respectively). The predominant ovarian stimulation protocol in the COVID-19 group was GnRH antagonists (64.85%, P<0.001), with a reduced gonadotropin (Gn) dosage and duration in comparison to the non-COVID-19 group (P<0.05). Although the number of blastocysts formed was lower in the COVID-19 group (P=0.017), this group also exhibited a higher blastocyst freezing rate and a higher rate of high-quality embryos per retrieved oocyte (P<0.001 and P=0.023, respectively). Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that COVID-19 convalescence did not significantly impact clinical pregnancy rates in fresh transfer cycles (odds ratio [OR] = 1.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.68-1.96, P=0.5874). However, smooth curve-fitting and threshold effect analysis revealed an age-related decline in clinical pregnancy rates in both groups, more pronounced in the COVID-19 group, for women aged over 38 years, with the likelihood of clinical pregnancy decreasing by 53% with each additional year of age (odds ratio [OR] = 0.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.61–1.08, P=0.1460; odds ratio [OR] = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.21–1.05, P=0.0647).

Conclusions

Our findings present no substantial evidence of adverse effects on clinical pregnancy outcomes in fresh ART cycles in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) during the period of convalescence from COVID-19. However, age emerges as a significant factor influencing these outcomes. Notably, for women above 38 years of age, the likelihood of clinical pregnancy in patients with a prior COVID-19 infection decreased by 53% with each additional year. This highlights the importance of considering maternal age, especially in the context of COVID-19, when evaluating the likelihood of successful pregnancy following ART treatments.
Comparing Day 5 versus Day 6 euploid blastocyst in frozen embryo transfer and developing a predictive model for optimizing outcomes: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Yin Beining , Li Sichen , Sun Lin , Yao Zhiyi , Cui Yueyue , Zhang Congli , Zhang Yile
Published: January 2024

Background

Optimal protocols for frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) after preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) remain unclear. This study compared Day 5 (D5) and Day 6 (D6) blastocysts and evaluated predictors of FET success.

Methods

A total of 870 patients with genetic diseases or chromosomal translocations who received PGT at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2015 to December 2019 were recruited. All patients underwent at least one year of follow-up. Patients were divided into groups according to the blastocyst development days and quality. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were applied to identify risk factors that affect clinical outcomes and to construct a predictive nomogram model. Area under the curve (AUC) of the subject’s operating characteristic curve and GiViTI calibration belt were conducted to determine the discrimination and fit of the model.

Results

D5 blastocysts, especially high-quality D5, resulted in significantly higher clinical pregnancy (58.4% vs 49.2%) and live birth rates (52.5% vs 45%) compared to D6. Multivariate regression demonstrated the number of blastocysts, endometrial preparation protocol, days of embryonic development and the quality of blastocysts independently affected live birth rates (P<0.05). A nomogram integrating these factors indicated favorable predictive accuracy (AUC=0.598) and fit (GiViTI, P=0.192).

Conclusions

Transferring high-quality D5 euploid blastocysts after PGT maximizes pregnancy outcomes. Blastocyst quality, blastocyst development days, endometrial preparation protocols, and number of blastocysts, independently predicted outcomes. An individualized predictive model integrating these factors displayed favorable accuracy for counseling patients and optimizing clinical management.
Maternal undernutrition results in transcript changes in male offspring that may promote resistance to high fat diet induced weight gain
Authors: Miles Tiffany K. , Allensworth-James Melody L. , Odle Angela K. , Silva Moreira Ana Rita , Haney Anessa C. , LaGasse Alex N. , Gies Allen J. , Byrum Stephanie D. , Riojas Angelica M. , MacNicol Melanie C. , MacNicol Angus M. , Childs Gwen V.
Published: January 2024

Maternal nutrition during embryonic development and lactation influences multiple aspects of offspring health. Using mice, this study investigates the effects of maternal caloric restriction (CR) during mid-gestation and lactation on offspring neonatal development and on adult metabolic function when challenged by a high fat diet (HFD). The CR maternal model produced male and female offspring that were significantly smaller, in terms of weight and length, and females had delayed puberty. Adult offspring born to CR dams had a sexually dimorphic response to the high fat diet. Compared to offspring of maternal control dams, adult female, but not male, CR offspring gained more weight in response to high fat diet at 10 weeks. In adipose tissue of male HFD offspring, maternal undernutrition resulted in blunted expression of genes associated with weight gain and increased expression of genes that protect against weight gain. Regardless of maternal nutrition status, HFD male offspring showed increased expression of genes associated with progression toward nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Furthermore, we observed significant, sexually dimorphic differences in serum TSH. These data reveal tissue- and sex-specific changes in gene and hormone regulation following mild maternal undernutrition, which may offer protection against diet induced weight gain in adult male offspring.