bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Philodulcilactobacillus myokoensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a fructophilic, acidophilic, and agar-phobic lactic acid bacterium isolated from fermented vegetable extracts
Authors: Kouya Tomoaki , Ishiyama Yohei , Ohashi Shota , Kumakubo Ryota , Yamazaki Takeshi , Otaki Toshiki
Published: June 2023

Lactic acid bacteria are commonly in the fermentation industry and pose potential positive effects on health. In this study, a new lactic acid bacterium was isolated from fermented vegetable extracts in Myoko, Niigata, Japan. This bacterium is fructophilic, acidophilic, and hard to grow on agar medium. The isolate is Gram-stain-positive, non-spore-forming, non-motile, rod-shaped, and catalase-negative. Growth occurred at pH 3.5–5.5, with optimal growth at pH 4.5–5.0. The cells formed colonies on a solid MRS medium with 20% (w/v) sucrose and 0.8% (w/v) gellan gum under anaerobic conditions. The bacterium was able to grow on up to 50% (w/v) sucrose but not on d-glucose. Moreover, 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that the strain was most closely related to Apilactobacillus ozensis (93.1% sequence similarity). The values of average nucleotide identity, digital DNA-DNA hybridization, average amino acid sequence identity, and amino acid identity of conserved genes were calculated between the isolated strain (type strain is WR16-4T = NBRC 115064T = DSM 112857T) and its phylogenetically closest type strains. The average nucleotide identity values (73.36–78.28%) and DNA-DNA hybridization values (16.3–32.9%) were significantly lower than the threshold values for species boundaries. The average amino acid sequence identity values (53.96–60.88%) were significantly below the threshold boundary of genus demarcation (68%). The amino acid identity of conserved genes values compared to strain WR16-4T were the genera Apilactobacillus, Nicoliella spurrieriana SGEP1_A5T, Acetilactobacillus jinshanensis HSLZ-75T, and Fructilactobacillus were 62.51–63.79%, 62.87%, 62.03%, and 58.00–61.04%, respectively. The 16S rRNA gene and core genome phylogenetic trees suggested that this novel strain was most closely related to the type strain of A. jinshanensis HSLZ-75T. Based on the physiological, morphological, and phenotypical characteristics of strain WR16-4T, we propose its classification as a novel genus, Philodulcilactobacillus myokoensis gen. nov., sp. nov.
The role of chronological age in climate change attitudes, feelings, and behavioral intentions: The case of null results
Authors: Ayalon Liat , Roy Senjooti
Published: June 2023

Past research has stressed the role of age and generation in climate change discourse, worries, and willingness to act. Therefore, the present paper aimed to examine the role of chronological age (as an arbitrary factor, which represents ageism) in lay people’s climate change-related attitudes, feelings, and behavioral intentions. Two experiments in different countries, Australia and Israel, were conducted for this purpose. The first study examined the impact of the age of the speaker, who provides information about the climate crisis and the second examined the impact of the age of the group being blamed for the situation. Outcome variables included perceived responsibility and motivation for the current climate situation in study 1 and perceived climate change-related attitudes, feelings, and behavioral intentions in study 2. In study 1 (n = 250, Australia), the age of the speaker, a climate activist, varied randomly to test the hypothesis that a younger activist would be more influential and increase motivation and responsibility to act compared to an older activist. In study 2 (n = 179, Israel), the age (young vs. old) of the group identified as being responsible for the climate crisis varied randomly, to test the hypothesis that people would be more willing to identify older people as being responsible for the current climate situation, and this would impact climate change-related attitudes, feelings, and behavioral intentions. Both studies resulted in null effects. Additionally, there was no interaction between the age of the respondent and the age of the source of the message or the age group being blamed by the message. The present study has failed to show that strategies that emphasize intergenerational conflict and ageism impact people’s attitudes, feelings, and behavioral intentions towards the current climate situation. This possibly can serve as an instigator for strategies that emphasize intergenerational solidarity, rather than conflict, as a guiding principle in future campaigns that advocate climate change adaptation and mitigation measures.
Structural and biophysical characterization of the secreted, β-helical adhesin EtpA of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli
Authors: Ntui Clifford Manyo , Fleckenstein James M. , Schubert Wolf-Dieter
Published: June 2023

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is a diarrhoeal pathogen associated with high morbidity and mortality especially among young children in developing countries. At present, there is no vaccine for ETEC. One candidate vaccine antigen, EtpA, is a conserved secreted adhesin that binds to the tips of flagellae to bridge ETEC to host intestinal glycans. EtpA is exported through a Gram-negative, two-partner secretion system (TPSS, type Vb) comprised of the secreted EtpA passenger (TpsA) protein and EtpB (TpsB) transporter that is integrated into the outer bacterial membrane. TpsA proteins share a conserved, N-terminal TPS domain followed by an extensive C-terminal domain with divergent sequence repeats. Two soluble, N-terminal constructs of EtpA were prepared and analysed respectively including residues 67 to 447 (EtpA67-447) and 1 to 606 (EtpA1-606). The crystal structure of EtpA67-447 solved at 1.76 Å resolution revealed a right-handed parallel β-helix with two extra-helical hairpins and an N-terminal β-strand cap. Analyses by circular dichroism spectroscopy confirmed the β-helical fold and indicated high resistance to chemical and thermal denaturation as well as rapid refolding. A theoretical AlphaFold model of full-length EtpA largely concurs with the crystal structure adding an extended β-helical C-terminal domain after an interdomain kink. We propose that robust folding of the TPS domain upon secretion provides a template to extend the N-terminal β-helix into the C-terminal domains of TpsA proteins.
TRIM21 restricts influenza A virus replication by ubiquitination-dependent degradation of M1
Authors: Lin Lulu , Wang Xingbo , Chen Zhen , Deng Tingjuan , Yan Yan , Dong Weiren , Huang Yu , Zhou Jiyong
Published: June 2023

Tripartite motif-containing protein 21 (TRIM21), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, plays a critical role in the host antiviral response. However, the mechanism and antiviral spectrum of TRIM21 in influenza A virus (IAV) remain unclear. Here, we report that TRIM21 inhibits the replication of various IAV subtypes by targeting matrix protein 1 (M1) from H3/H5/H9, but not H1 and H7 M1. Mechanistically, TRIM21 binds to the residue R95 of M1 and facilitates K48 ubiquitination of M1 K242 for proteasome-dependent degradation, leading to the inhibition of H3, H5, and H9 IAV replication. Interestingly, the recombinant viruses with M1 R95K or K242R mutations were resistance to TRIM21 and exhibited more robust replication and severe pathogenicity. Moreover, the amino acid sequence M1 proteins, mainly from avian influenza such as H5N1, H7N9, H9N2, ranging from 1918 to 2022, reveals a gradual dominant accumulation of the TRIM21-driven R95K mutation when the virus jumps into mammals. Thus, TRIM21 in mammals’ functions as a host restriction factor and drives a host adaptive mutation of influenza A virus.
Disparities in disruptions to public drinking water services in Texas communities during Winter Storm Uri 2021
Authors: Tomko Brianna , Nittrouer Christine L. , Sanchez-Vila Xavier , Sawyer Audrey H.
Published: June 2023

Winter Storm Uri of February 2021 left millions of United States residents without access to reliable, clean domestic water during the COVID19 pandemic. In the state of Texas, over 17 million people served by public drinking water systems were placed under boil water advisories for periods ranging from one day to more than one month. We performed a geospatial analysis that combined public boil water advisory data for Texas with demographic information from the 2010 United States Census to understand the affected public water systems and the populations they served. We also issued a cross-sectional survey to account for people’s lived experiences. Geospatial analysis shows that the duration of boil water advisories depended partly on the size of the public water system. Large, urban public water systems issued advisories of intermediate length (5–7 days) and served racially diverse communities of moderate income. Small, mostly rural public water systems issued some of the longest advisories (20 days or more). Many of these systems served disproportionately White communities of lower income, but some served predominantly non-White, Hispanic, and Latino communities. In survey data, “first-generation” participants (whose parents were not college-educated) were more likely to be placed under boil water advisories, pointing to disparate impacts by socioeconomic group. The survey also revealed large communication gaps between public water utilities and individuals: more than half of all respondents were unsure or confused about whether they were issued a boil water advisory. Our study reinforces the need to improve resilience in public water services for large, diverse, urban communitiesandsmall, rural communities in the United States and to provide a clear and efficient channel for emergency communications between public water service utilities and the communities they serve.
Formação Inicial de Professores, Flexibilidade e Avaliação Educativas: da Teoria à Prática
Authors: Juan María Luisa Aznar , Domingues João da Costa
Published: June 2023

FORMAÇÃO INICIAL DE PROFESSORES, FLEXIBILIDADE E AVALIAÇÃO EDUCATIVAS: DA TEORIA À PRÁTICA consubstancia um esforço coletivo de investigação-ação muito atual nas áreas da Didática e da Formação de Professores. Aqui se repensa essencialmente a Supervisão pedagógica, a Flexibilidade de programas, de docentes e discentes, e a avaliação educativa à luz das condições atuais do ensino-aprendizagem e dos seus alunos, tentando esclarecer dúvidas e apontando caminhos para os mais relevantes desafios neste domínio. Resultado de estudos e investigações conduzidas com rigor e realizadas sobre corpora representativos, esta obra manifesta, no seu conjunto, o quanto se pode entrever hoje como solução, mas também o quanto falta apurar em relação ao fieri permanente que constitui o próprio âmago do ensino-aprendizagem, mas também do aprender a ensinar.
Psychometric properties of the Entrepreneurial Intention Questionnaire (EIQ) in Dominican Republic adolescents
Authors:   Departamento de Metodología de las Ciencias del Comportamiento, Universidad de Valencia, Spain, Martínez-Gregorio Sara , Pérez-Jiménez Minerva ,   Escuela de Psicología, Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Torres Zaira ,   Departamento de Metodología de las Ciencias del Comportamiento, Universidad de Valencia, Spain, Oliver Amparo ,   Departamento de Metodología de las Ciencias del Comportamiento, Universidad de Valencia, Spain, Tomás José M. ,   Departamento de Metodología de las Ciencias del Comportamiento, Universidad de Valencia, Spain
Published: June 2023

Introduction: This work represents the first attempt to obtain evidence of the validity of an entrepreneurial intention questionnaire in the adolescent population of a Latin American or Caribbean country. The objectives are to study the factor structure, the reliability, the external validity and to test the gender invariance of the Entrepreneurial Intention Questionnaire, in its adaptation for adolescents. Method: The sample consisted of 708 adolescents from the Dominican Republic with a mean age of 15.49, 65.2% of whom were women and 35.8% were men. Analyses included confirmatory factor analysis, Cronbach’s Alpha and Omega scores for reliability, correlations, and a gender invariance routine. Finally, latent means of females and males are compared. Results: The confirmatory factor analysis showed a good fit to the data and the reliability results were adequate. In addition, the correlations with the Entrepreneurial Attitudes Scale for Students were positive and statistically significant. Also, strict gender invariance was successfully verified. Although males presented a higher subjective norm, females showed higher entrepreneurial intentions. Conclusions: The Entrepreneurial Intention Questionnaire shows adequate psychometric properties and proves useful in conducting research on the promotion of entrepreneurship in early stages.
Pod positioning and grain yield of common bean as affected by sowing density, nitrogen fertilization and fertilization depth
Authors: Da Silva José Geraldo , Ferreira Enderson Petrônio de Brito , Nascente Adriano Stephan , Sarmento Pedro Henrique Lopes , Messias Matheus
Published: June 2023

The positioning of pods in common bean directly affects grain losses in mechanized harvesting. However, only few studies have assessed facttors that can affect pods positioning. The objective of this work was to determine the effect of plant density, nitrogen fertilization, and fertilization depth on the distribution of pods of the common bean. The field experiments were carried out in two cropping seasons, 2017 and 2018, during the winter period in the Cerrado region. The experimental design was randomized blocks in a 4x2 factorial scheme, with four replications. The treatments consisted of the combination of four sowing densities (5, 10, 15, and 20 plants m-1) with two depths of fertilizer application (6 and 12 cm). The results allowed inferring that the depth of the fertilization does not affect the distribution of pods in the common bean. Plant density does not affect common bean grain yield. More than a quarter of the common bean pods of the BRS FC104 are positioned close to the ground, below 100 mm, in the area where harvester machines operate. Nitrogen fertilization and plant density affect the distribution of pods in common bean plants. At higher doses of N (90 kg ha-1), plant density should be increased. On the other hand, at lower doses (45 kg ha-1), plant density must be reduced. It is concluded that the sowing density can be an efficient strategy to provide the highest positioning of pods in the upper part of the common bean plants, reducing harvest loss.
Quality of Graduate SpecializationCourses: Two Decades of Production
Authors: Brascero de Souza Andresa Cristina , Zerbini Thaís
Published: June 2023

Lato sensu graduate courses were created to train and prepare professionals for the labor market. The aim of this investigation is to discuss issues about these graduate courses, the quality of the courses offered, their disadvantages and contributions, given their relevance to the labor market. The retrieved studies were indexed in the databases: Web Science, Proquest, BVS and Scielo. The keywords used were: “lato sensu graduate”, “MBA”, “quality” and “employability”, 419 articles were retrieved, of which 31 were analyzed. The inclusion criteria: 2000 to 2019; scientific articles, open access for download; peer-reviewed journals; in Portuguese, English and Spanish; build and/or validated measurement instruments and quality of the literature. The main results indicate that professionals, when investing in graduate courses, believe in the possibility of insertion in professional life, ascension or career redirection. These programs have shown a loss of quality over time, and this is due to the lack of official monitoring and regulations, in addition to the lack of credibility in the learning offered. This study aims to contribute to the discussion and reflection on lato sensu graduate courses, the outdated education system and, in this regard, to raise new scientific concerns that may arise from this research survey.
Calculating the risk of fire in community pharmacies. Gustav-Purt method
Authors: Prieto Muñoz Bernardo
Published: June 2023

Introduction: Fire is a chemical reaction of combustion, based on the strongly exother-mic “oxidation-reduction” phenomena that produce a big detachment of light and heat.Its effects are, generally, harmful, producing personal injuries due to smoke, toxic gasses, and extremely hot temperatures; and damaged materials and buildings.Fire is produced when the three following factors simultaneously coexist in time and spa-ce: Fuel; a comburent agent, usually the oxygen in the air; and heat, which contributes the necessary energy to actuate the reaction. Besides, it is necessary, for the production of the flame, the existence of a chain reaction.Method: The Gustav-Purt Method, which aim is to calculate the potential risk in a determi-nate building and of the means to fight fires should be implemented. Results: After the calculation of the distinct factors, the conclusion that the risk of fire in a pharmacy is high is reached.Discussion: Therefore, strict inspection by sanitary authorities to avert the danger of the fire is necessary.
Development of BiOBr/TiO2 nanotubes electrode for conversion of nitrogen to ammonia in a tandem photoelectrochemical cell under visible light
Authors: Amelia Prita , Gunlazuardi Jarnuzi
Published: June 2023

Ammonia (NH3) is one of the important chemicals for human life. The demand for ammonia is expected to increase every year. Conventionally, the fixation process of N2 to produce NH3 in the industrial sector is carried out through the Haber−Bosch process, which requires extreme temperature and pressure conditions that consume a high amount of energy and emit a considerable amount of CO2. Therefore, it is necessary to develop alternative technology to produce ammonia using environmentally friendly methods. Many studies have developed the photo-electrochemical conversion of nitrogen to ammonia in the presence of semiconductor materials, but the resulting efficiency is still not as expected. In this research, the development of the tandem system of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell - Photoelectrochemistry (DSSC - PEC) was carried out for the conversion of nitrogen to ammonia. The DSSC cell was prepared using N719/TiO2 nanotubes as photoanode, Pt/FTO as cathode, and electrolyte I-/I3-. The DSSC efficiency produced in this research was 1.49%. PEC cell at the cathode and anode were prepared using BiOBr/TiO2 nanotubes synthesized by the SILAR (Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction) method. The resulting ammonia levels were analyzed using the phenate method. In this study, ammonia levels were obtained at 0.1272 µmol for 6 hours of irradiation with an SCC (Solar to Chemical Conversion) percentage of 0.0021%.
Seksio Sesarea pada Wanita G2P1A0 Hamil Aterm dengan Confirmed COVID-19 Disertai Diabetes Mellitus Dalam Terapi Insulin dan HIV Positif
Authors: Wicaksono Satrio Adi , Nugroho Taufik Eko
Published: June 2023

Latar Belakang: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) adalah penyakit sistem pernapasan akut yang disebabkan oleh virus corona jenis baru (SARS-CoV-2) yang pertama kali ditemukan pada bulan Desember 2019 di Wuhan, Provinsi Hubei, China. Beberapa penyakit salah satunya diabetes mellitus, menjadi penyakit predisposisi perjalanan penyakit yang berat dan meningkatkan risiko kematian akibat COVID-19.  Penderita COVID-19, terlebih yang memiliki predisposisi penyakit lain seperti diabetes mellitus dan HIV, menjadi hal yang perlu diperhatikan dalam pengelolaan perioperatif. Laporan kasus ini akan membahas teknik anestesi yang dipilih pada pasien ini, yang mana pasien dalam kondisi hamil, dengan COVID-19, diabetes mellitus, dan HIV positif.Kasus: Kami melaporkan sebuah kasus, seorang wanita 31 tahun dengan diagnosis G2P1A0 hamil aterm dirujuk ke RSUP Dr. Kariadi dengan HIV positif diabetes mellitus on insulin, bekas seksio sesarea, penderita dalam pengawasan (PDP) COVID-19. Penderita memiliki riwayat diabetes mellitus dengan insulin sejak 6 tahun lalu dan dinyatakan positif HIV sejak tahun 2019. Penderita memiliki keluhan batuk kering sejak 1 bulan yang lalu. Pada pemeriksaan fisik didapatkan keadaan umum penderita tampak baik dengan kesadaran composmentis, tanda vital dalam batas normal. Swab antigen COVID-19 dinyatakan positif. Pada pemeriksaan laboratorium didapatkan keadaan anemia ringan dan hiponatremia. Penderita menjalani operasi seksio sesarea dengan anestesi spinal.Pembahasan: Sebelum operasi, selama operasi dan pascaoperasi seksio sesarea, hemodinamik penderita dalam keadaan stabil, hasil lab gula darah didapatkan hasil normal.  Penderita kemudian dirawat di ruangan dengan perawatan isolasi COVID-19.Kesimpulan: Anestesi regional merupakan pilihan untuk penderita dengan COVID-19 bila memungkinkan. Teknik anestesi regional yang tepat dapat menjaga fungsi pernapasan dan menghindari aerosolisasi untuk mencegah penularan virus COVID-19 dengan tetap memperhatikan level Alat Pelindung Diri dan penggunaan ruangan bertekanan negatif. Obat-obat anestesi umum dapat berbahaya bila berinteraksi dengan obat HIV, maka dari itu, anestesi regional lebih dipilih.
Enhanced Recovery After Cesarean Surgery (ERACS): Analisis Berbasis Bukti
Authors: Prayanangga Karyadi , Nilasari Dewita
Published: June 2023

Peningkatan pemulihan setelah seksio sesarea (Enhanced Recovery After Cesarean Surgery/ERACS) ialah sistem berbasis bukti untuk memperbaiki luaran pascaoperasi, pemulihan fungsional ibu, serta mempercepat lamanya perawatan di rumah sakit. Prinsip-prinsip ini melibatkan intervensi yang mencakup periode preoperasi, intraoperasi, dan pascaoperasi. Studi ini bertujuan untuk membuat telaah kritis untuk mengetahui apakah penerapan metode ERACS dapat memberikan perbaikan terhadap lamanya perawatan di rumah sakit, waktu mobilisasi pascaoperasi, kembalinya fungsi usus/saluran cerna, dan kondisi bebas nyeri.Dengan melibatkan pasien sejak sebelum operasi, tujuan ERACS dapat tercapai dan dapat mengatasi kebutuhan pasien yang mungkin berisiko lebih tinggi mengalami komplikasi.
Analisa Visual Citra Hasil Kombinasi Steganografi dan Kriptografi Berbasis Least Significant Bit Dalam Cipher
Authors: Mulyono Ibnu Utomo Wahyu , Kusumawati Yupie , Ningrum Novita Kurnia
Published: June 2023

Kriptografi dan steganografi adalah teknik yang digunakan untuk mengamankan data untuk meminimalkan pencurian data dan akses oleh orang yang tidak berwenang. Kombinasi Rivest Cipher 4 - Least Significant Bit diusulkan dalam penelitian ini untuk memberikan perlindungan bagi pesan dan berbagai format file yang tertanam dalam gambar digital. Pesan rahasia dienkripsi dengan metode RC4 sebelum dimasukkan kedalam gambar menggunakan LSB. Studi ini juga menganalisis kinerja kombinasi algoritma LSB – RC4 pada berbagai file dan ukuran gambar sampul. Gambar sampul menggunakan gambar dengan saluran RGB. Untuk pengukuran kinerja imperceptibilitas digunakan Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR), Mean Square Error (MSE), dan analisis histogram.Nilai rata – rata PSNR yang didapatkan pada penelitian ini lebih dari 30 dB, ini membuktikan bahwa kualitas gambar stego sangat baik dan kualitas gambar stego yang baik memiliki nilai PSNR minimal 30 dB. Nilai PSNR yang didapatkan secara keseluruhan lebih dari 30 dB dengan nilai terendahnya 45,15 dB dengan ukuran citra 128x128 pixel.
Pojmové zakotvení modelu spirituální gramotnosti v českém pedagogickém prostoru a možnosti její kultivace ve školním prostředí
Authors: Jirásek Ivo
Published: June 2023

Studie s využitím metody pojmové analýzy zdůrazňuje téma spirituální gramotnosti (jako rozvoje specifické duchovní osobnostní kvality jedince) ve veřejném sekulárním školství. Spirituální dimenze je součástí lidského způsobu bytí a neměla by být zaměňována za religiózní vztah k posvátnému. Vyjevuje se ve čtyřech typech vztahů, přičemž první je vztahem k sobě s důrazem na schopnosti sebereflexe a kladení otázek po smyslu života. Druhý je vztahem k lidem v přátelském a láskyplném postoji. Třetí zakládá vztah k přírodě v modu spřízněnosti a citlivosti. A čtvrtý je přesahem zažívaným v údivu a úžasu při transcendenci zakoušené v transformativních prožitcích. Příspěvek závěrem upozorňuje na vybrané možnosti, jimiž lze spirituální gramotnost kultivovat ve veřejném školství s ohledem na věkové dispozice dětí a mládeže.
Antioxidant and antidiabetic properties of Garcinia cowa Roxb. extracts from leaves, fruit rind, and stem bark in different solvents
Authors: Wanna Chanate , Boonman Narumon , Phakpaknam Sirirat
Published: June 2023

The objective of this investigation was to assess the antioxidant and antidiabetic abilities of Garcinia cowa Roxb., a Thai native plant that has a history of use in traditional medicine in several countries. To achieve this goal, different plant parts, such as the leaves, fruit rind, and stem bark, were subjected to extraction with hexane, ethyl acetate, and 70% ethanol using the maceration method. The Folin-Ciocalteu technique was used to quantify the extracts' total phenolic content (TPC). The antioxidant assays, including DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP, and antidiabetic properties through the alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory capacities of different extracts from G. cowa were assessed. The results revealed that the stem bark extracted with ethyl acetate displayed the highest level of TPC at 153.68 mg GAE/100 g DW. Compared to the other extracts, the stem bark ethyl acetate extract demonstrated the highest antioxidant activity in DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays with values of 436.86, 359.17, and 526.98 µmol TE/100 g DW, respectively. Further examination of the antidiabetic effects of stem bark extract in ethyl acetate exhibited the highest alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activities with IC50 values of 12.54, and 8.48 mg/mL, respectively. The findings of this research provide initial indications that G. cowa has both antioxidant and antidiabetic attributes and could be viewed as a potential therapeutic agent for managing diabetes.
Effects of beetroot juice supplementation on vascular functional and structural changes in aged mice
Authors: Tawa Masashi , Nakagawa Keisuke , Ohkita Mamoru
Published: June 2023

This study investigated whether beetroot juice (BRJ) ingestion ameliorates aging‐induced functional and structural changes in vasculature. Aged mice (98–100 weeks old) were supplemented with BRJ (nitrate: 3.5 mmol/L) or drinking water for 4 weeks and compared with young mice (12–15 weeks old). The vasorelaxant response of isolated aortas to acetylcholine was markedly weaker in aged mice than in young mice, but the attenuated relaxation was significantly improved in BRJ‐supplemented aged mice. The acetylcholine‐induced relaxation was completely abolished by Nω‐nitro‐l‐arginine methyl ester in all groups. Additionally, the response to sodium nitroprusside was comparable among the three groups. The aortic medial thickness was significantly greater in aged mice than in young mice, and BRJ supplementation did not suppress this thickening. Plasma nitrate levels were significantly higher in BRJ‐supplemented aged mice than in non‐supplemented aged mice. Conversely, non‐supplemented aged mice had high plasma levels of thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances, but the levels were suppressed in BRJ‐supplemented aged mice. These findings suggest that BRJ ingestion improves vascular endothelial dysfunction associated with aging, at least in part, by enhancing nitric oxide bioavailability and reducing oxidative stress. Therefore, beetroot ingestion may be a highly useful self‐medication option to prevent vascular aging.
Inhibition of TAZ impairs the migration ability of melanoma cells
Authors: Zhang Hao , Tu Leijing , Ma Zhouji , Lin Yue , Tan Qian
Published: June 2023

Malignant melanoma (MM) is characterized by rapid growth, frequent metastasis, and high mortality. Targeted therapy for MM is still a research hotspot due to the increasing understanding of the hippo pathway. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) in MM tumorigenesis. Based on the database analysis, we found that the median mRNA expression of TAZ (5.4) was found to be similar to that of YAP (5.5) in 473 human melanoma specimens. However, in 63 MM cell lines, the median expression of TAZ (10.8) was expressed at a higher level than that of YAP (9.5), which was then validated in A375. TAZ down-regulation by siRNA decreased the migration (72%) and invasion (74%) abilities of A375. Furthermore, the down-regulation of TAZ inhibited the proliferation of A375 without affecting apoptosis. We subsequently blocked hippo signaling with verteporfin and found that verteporfin application decreased the number of migrating (63%) and invading (69%) cells, respectively. We further found that Cyr61 declined following TAZ down-regulation. Moreover, TAZ negatively correlates with melanoma patient’s overall survival. Our data proved that TAZ contributed to MM metastasis, which might be a potential therapeutic target in the future.
Urine transfer devices may impact urinary particle results: a pre-analytical study
Authors: Debunne Nathan , Delanghe Joris , Raman Leen , Oyaert Matthijs
Published: June 2023

Objectives

Well-standardized procedures in the pre-analytical phase of urine diagnostics is of utmost importance to obtain reliable results. We investigated the effect of different urine collection methods and the associated urine transfer tubes on urine test strip and particle results.

Methods

In total, 146 selected urine samples were subdivided into three different collection containers and subsequently transferred into its accompanying transfer tube (BD, Greiner, Sarstedt vacuum and Sarstedt aspiration). As reference, the original urine sample was directly measured on the analyser. Both chemical test strip analysis (Sysmex UC-3500) and fluorescence flow cytometry particle analysis (Sysmex UF-5000) were performed on all samples.

Results

No statistically significant differences in test strip results were found between the studied transfer methods. On the contrary, transfer of urine samples to the secondary tubes affected their particle counts. Clinically significant reductions in counts of renal tubular epithelial cells and hyaline casts were observed using the BD and Greiner transfer tubes and in counts of pathological casts using the BD, Greiner and Sarstedt vacuum tubes.

Conclusions

The results of this study indicate that the use of urine transfer tubes may impact counts of fragile urine particles. Clinical laboratories need to be aware about the variation that urine collection methods can induce on urine particle counts.
Tuning of PID controllers for unstable first-order plus dead time systems
Authors: Bi Jianyu , Tan Wen , Yu Mei
Published: June 2023

In this paper, proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controllers are tuned for unstable first-order plus dead time (UFOPDT) systems. Genetic algorithm (GA) is used to find the parameters of the PID controller for UFOPDT systems under the constraint of robustness measure. By curve fitting, the controller parameters are expressed as the functions of the UFOPDT model parameters. Two tuning formulas which consider robustness and the tradeoff between disturbance rejection and robustness of the closed-loop system are proposed. The proposed tuning formulas extend the application range of the existing methods and simulation results show that the tuned PID controllers can achieve good performance for UFOPDT systems.
On some geometric results for generalized k-Bessel functions
Authors: Toklu Evrim
Published: June 2023

The main aim of this article is to present some novel geometric properties for three distinct normalizations of the generalized

k

k

-Bessel functions, such as the radii of uniform convexity and of

α

\alpha

-convexity. In addition, we show that the radii of

α

\alpha

-convexity remain in between the radii of starlikeness and convexity, in the case when

α
∈

[

0
,
1

]

,

\alpha \in {[}0,1],

and they are decreasing with respect to the parameter

α
.

\alpha .

The key tools in the proof of our main results are infinite product representations for normalized

k

k

-Bessel functions and some properties of real zeros of these functions.
Multicenter evaluation of a method to identify delayed diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis and sepsis in administrative data
Authors: Michelson Kenneth A. , Bachur Richard G. , Cruz Andrea T. , Grubenhoff Joseph A. , Reeves Scott D. , Chaudhari Pradip P. , Monuteaux Michael C. , Dart Arianna H. , Finkelstein Jonathan A.
Published: June 2023

Objectives

To derive a method of automated identification of delayed diagnosis of two serious pediatric conditions seen in the emergency department (ED): new-onset diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and sepsis.

Methods

Patients under 21 years old from five pediatric EDs were included if they had two encounters within 7 days, the second resulting in a diagnosis of DKA or sepsis. The main outcome was delayed diagnosis based on detailed health record review using a validated rubric. Using logistic regression, we derived a decision rule evaluating the likelihood of delayed diagnosis using only characteristics available in administrative data. Test characteristics at a maximal accuracy threshold were determined.

Results

Delayed diagnosis was present in 41/46 (89 %) of DKA patients seen twice within 7 days. Because of the high rate of delayed diagnosis, no characteristic we tested added predictive power beyond the presence of a revisit. For sepsis, 109/646 (17 %) of patients were deemed to have a delay in diagnosis. Fewer days between ED encounters was the most important characteristic associated with delayed diagnosis. In sepsis, our final model had a sensitivity for delayed diagnosis of 83.5 % (95 % confidence interval 75.2–89.9) and specificity of 61.3 % (95 % confidence interval 56.0–65.4).

Conclusions

Children with delayed diagnosis of DKA can be identified by having a revisit within 7 days. Many children with delayed diagnosis of sepsis may be identified using this approach with low specificity, indicating the need for manual case review.
Russian War, Neocolonialism and Holocaust Studies in Ukraine
Authors: Dolhanov Petro
Published: June 2023

This text is related to the theme of the usage of historical narratives about WWII in the current Russian War against Ukraine. It is a brief analysis of the instrumentalisation of Holocaust history in Russian propaganda, as well as the role of historians as enablers in these processes. The essay also focuses on the issue of decolonization of historical narratives in Western academia and Ukrainian discourses of WWII in the context of the Russian–Ukrainian War. The final issue discussed in this text concerns how Russian aggression in Ukraine has affected academic studies and research on the history of the Holocaust in Ukraine and EU countries.
Un commento di età imperiale al libro secondo dell’Etica Nicomachea. Traduzione con introduzione e note
Authors: Natali Carlo
Published: June 2023

We present here the first translation into a modern language of the anonymous commentary on the second book of the Nicomachean Ethics. It is an evidence of the style of exegetical work that was being done in the Peripatetic schools during the 2nd–3rd century AD, and a testimony to a particular version of 2nd century Aristotelianism. Even if the comment is not continuous, one gets the impression of listening to a good lecturer illustrating Aristotle’s text. He paraphrases it at times, makes comparisons with other passages of the corpus, illustrates the structure and the logic of the discourse, and shows the difference between Aristotle’s positions and those of other schools. In the most theoretically interesting parts of the commentary the anonymous discusses aporiai, and opposes Aristotle’s ethical theories to other schools, especially to the Stoics.
On Plato’s Precosmos (Ti. 52d2–53c3)
Authors: Petrucci Federico M.
Published: June 2023

The aim of this paper is to provide a new reading of Plato’s precosmos (Ti. 52d2–53c3). More specifically, I shall argue that the precosmos is populated by bodies deriving from random complexes of properties, and that this is the effect of the Receptacle’s full precosmic participation in the Paradigm. This will turn out to be consistent with a robust notion of ‘precosmic generation’ and will reveal why Plato may have sought to refer to this otherwise puzzling scenario: representing the precosmos in this way allows Plato to effectively justify why the Demiurge is responsible only for the goodness and perfection of the universe, and why it is properly the best possible cause.
L’interprétation astrologique de la philosophie naturelle d’Aristote selon Alexandre d’Aphrodise et Bardesane le Syrien
Authors: Jurasz Izabela
Published: June 2023

The existence of common points between Alexander of Aphrodise and Bardaisan the Syrian has been pointed out on various occasions. However, this question has not been explored in depth. The article proposes to analyse the cosmological ideas of Alexander and Bardaisan. Because both authors are known for their anti-determinist and anti-astrological polemics, it is preferable to place this comparison in the context of the astrological interpretation of Aristotle’s natural philosophy. The article discusses the Aristotelianism of Bardaisan, who may be the first representative of the reception of this doctrine in Syriac.
Notes on Prior Analytics II 22.68a16–21
Authors: Zanichelli Riccardo
Published: June 2023

At Prior Analytics II 22.68a16–21, Aristotle argues that if A is predicated of all B and C and nothing else, and B is predicated of all C, then A and B convert. In justifying his argument, however, he appears to claim that B is not predicated of all A. This claim has long been a cause of puzzlement to commentators. A widespread view is that the kind of conversion discussed in the passage at issue should be explained in both extensional and intensional terms. After providing some textual evidence that Aristotle only apparently claims that B is not predicated of all A, I give a purely extensional account of Aristotle’s argument. This account is plausible, conservative and simpler than any of the intensional accounts that have been proposed so far.
Stanza-based networks for poetic texts: a pilot study
Authors: Buk Solomija , Rovenchak Andrij
Published: June 2023

We use approaches from the theory of complex networks to analyze the Prologue to Moses, a poem by the Ukrainian writer and scholar Ivan Franko. The Ukrainian text (in the original orthography from 1905 and the modern one) and several translations into Polish, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Slovak, and Spanish are studied. Networks are built in a manner that links are drawn between words (considered network vertices) within a stanza. Seven network parameters are calculated: all-degree centralization, assortativity, average path length, betweenness, clustering coefficient, density, and transitivity. Their dynamics is analyzed as the vertices with the highest numbers of links are removed from the networks one by one. The data obtained for the human-made translations are compared to those based on machine translations generated by the Google Translate service. Peculiarities of certain translations are underlined. Tentative correlation between the values of parameters and levels of language analyticity/syntheticity are established. Prospects toward automatic lemmatization and related problems to be solved are briefly outlined.
Incidental collocational learning from reading-while-listening and the impact of synchronized textual enhancement
Authors: Jung Jookyoung , Lee Minjin
Published: June 2023

The present study explored if textual enhancement would promote incidental learning of collocations from reading-while-listening, and if synchronizing the timing of textual enhancement to the audio could affect the efficacy of textual enhancement. Fifty-six Korean speakers engaged in reading-while-listening of two English stories under one of three conditions: no enhancement, target collocations coloured in red, and target collocations dynamically turning to red in synchronization with the audio. The target collocations were 12 adjective-pseudonoun pairs, and participants’ learning was measured with a series of recall and recognition tests on pseudonoun form, meaning, and collocations, recording both response accuracy and latency. The results from mixed-effects modeling revealed that both colouring conditions promoted receptive knowledge about the target collocations, and synchronized colouring further boosted semantic processing of the pseudonouns. The findings indicate that synchronization between textual and audio input could be a useful catalyst to encourage deeper engagement with the enhanced features.
Fibroblast growth factor 23 levels in cord and peripheral blood during early neonatal period as possible predictors of affected offspring of X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets: report of three female cases from two pedigrees
Authors: Nabeshima Yukiyo , Sato Takeshi , Zukeran Hiroaki , Komatsu Rieko , Nakano Satsuki , Ichihashi Yosuke , Tominaga Takahiro , Miwa Masayuki , Amano Naoko , Ishii Tomohiro , Hasegawa Tomonobu
Published: June 2023

Objectives

The role of serum fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) level in early neonatal period on the diagnosis of X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets (XLH) remains unclear.

Case presentation

Two female patients from the first pedigree had an affected mother, and the other female from the second pedigree had an affected father. In all three cases, FGF23 levels were high in cord blood and peripheral blood at day 4-5. Additionally, the FGF23 levels considerably increased from birth to day 4-5. We identified a PHEX pathogenic variant and initiated treatment during infancy in each case.

Conclusions

In neonates with a parent diagnosed as PHEX-associated XLH, FGF23 in cord blood and peripheral blood at day 4-5 may be useful markers for predicting the presence of XLH.
How to Become a Good Artist – Kant on Humaniora and the ‘Propaedeutic for All Beautiful Art’
Authors: Berger Larissa
Published: June 2023

In § 60 of theCritique of Judgment, entitled ‘On the doctrine of method of taste,’ Kant suggests that the study of so-calledhumaniora(ancient Roman and Greek literature) will help one to become a good artist. I will argue that a proper, namely emotional, engagement withhumaniorawill further the two components of humanity in ourselves: the feeling of sympathy and the ability to communicate feelings. I will discuss two options of how a strengthening of these two components might contribute to the creation of good artworks: it will help one to create artworks that arouse the universal communicable pleasure in the beautiful, or it will help one to create artworks that arouse sympathetic feelings. Siding with the latter option, I will argue that emotions can contribute to the enlivening of aesthetic ideas and, thus, to good art.
Terahertz all-silicon metasurfaces with off-axis bifocal characteristics for polarization detection
Authors: Li Hui , Duan Shouxin , Zheng Chenglong , Xu Hang , Li Jie , Song Chunyu , Yang Fan , Shi Wei , Zhang Yating , Shen Yun , Yao Jianquan
Published: June 2023

Functional devices for terahertz (THz) polarization detection in transmission mode are highly desired in integrated applications, but traditional polarization measurement systems are bulky and highly cost. The combination between all-silicon metasurfaces and focused beams carrying polarization information has offered a new opportunity for miniaturized polarization detection behavior. Here, we investigate and experimentally demonstrate a new scheme for realizing efficiently miniaturized polarization detection behavior based on the polarization multiplexing encoding technique. The full-Stokes parameter matrix of the incident polarization state can be reconstructed in a single snapshot by using a microprobe to record, pixel by pixel, the complex amplitude information contained in a pre-designed plane. Subsequently, the polarization detection capability of the proposed design principle is evaluated using random polarization states defined on the surface of a standard Poincaré sphere (PS). Such a scheme offers potential applications for the development of compact photonic meta-platforms for polarization detection in transmission mode, being highly favored in polarization high-resolution imaging, remote sensing, and THz communications.
Human EVI2B acts as a Janus-faced oncogene/antioncogene by differently affecting as per cancer type neoplastic cells growth and immune infiltration
Authors: Zhang Fangyingnan , Wang Xinning , Zhang Xiaoqi , Waheed Saquib , Zhong Rong , Armato Ubaldo , Wu Jun , Chiarini Anna , Prà Ilaria Dal , Zhang Chao , Li Zhibin
Published: June 2023

Objectives

The EVI2B (Ecotropic Viral Integration Site 2B) gene encodes a transmembrane glycoprotein pivotal in immunocytes maturation. Recent evidence implicated EV12B’s expression with human colon cancer progression. However, EVI2B’s downstream pathways affecting tumor growth and tumor-infiltrating cells remain unclear.

Methods

We first studied the diagnostic and prognostic value of EVI2B in pan-cancers by utilizing a series of in silico tools and clinical samples. Then we identified the modulated transcriptional expression and DNA methylation in high EVI2B’s expression groups of the same three cancers. We verified via RT-PCR the effect of stable EVI2B knock-down on the expression of JAK/STAT-related genes in two immune cell lines and the acceleration of proliferation in four cancer cell lines. Finally, the regulation of leukocyte infiltration was studied using TIMER.

Results

In SKCM and LUAD a heightened EVI2B’s expression promoted a better prognosis. Conversely, in LGG EVI2B’s upregulation concurred with a worse prognosis. EVI2B silencing enhanced the proliferation of the tumor cell lines. The hypermethylated genome strengthened EVI2B’s Janus-like effect in high EVI2B expressing SKCM and LUAD tumors. While the total DNA methylation was lower in high EVI2B expressing LGG. Further analysis revealed that multiple EVI2B-involved down-stream JAK-STAT genes also exhibited the Janus-like feature in SKCM, LUAD and LGG progression. Correspondingly, anti-tumor leukocytes infiltrated EVI2B high expressing SKCM and LUAD while more pro-tumor ones penetrated into EVI2B heightened LGG.

Conclusions

EVI2B acts as a Janus-faced oncogene/antioncogene by differently affecting neoplastic cell proliferation rates and tumor-promoting or tumor-hindering immunocytes’ infiltration.