bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictive Significance of Laboratory Parameters of Acute Kidney Injury in Children Undergoing Transposition of Great Arteries Surgery
Authors: Amanzholova Ainamkoz , Morenko Marina , Bekishev Bolat , Ivanova-Razumova Tatyana , Baiko Sergey , Koichubayeva Dariga , Zhailauova Azhar
Published: April 2024

Objective
The purpose of this retrospective observational study was to determine the potential risk factors, characteristics, and outcomes of acute kidney injury (AKI) in neonates who had a verified malformation and underwent transposition surgery.
Material and Methods
'A total of 37 individuals were grouped as follows: the first group (n=18) representing patients undergoing transposition of great arteries (TGA) surgery that developed AKI postoperatively, and the second group comprising patients undergoing arterial switch surgery as well but without developing postoperative AKI (n=19). Biochemical data were collected preoperatively and postoperatively: serum creatinine, urea, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), total protein, albumin, total and direct bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), CRP (C-reactive protein). Dynamic measurements were also taken after 6, 24, 48 and 72 hours of creatinine, urea, GFR, K+, Na+, systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Results
In the research involved pediatric patients undergoing arterial switch surgery, those who developed AKI as a postoperative complication had the following sensitive parameters including birth weight, length of stay (LOS) in the hospital, NT-proBNP and procalcitonin levels, amount of blood loss and development of liver failure which may represent prognostic factors for AKI development in postoperative period.
Conclusions
Newborns with confirmed malformation post-arterial switch surgery for TGA may experience acute kidney injury, influenced by factors such as birth weight, LOS, NT-proBNP and procalcitonin levels, blood loss, liver failure, and the requirement for peritoneal dialysis. Recognizing these elements enables closer monitoring and the implementation of measures to prevent AKI and its repercussions.
Pharmacokinetic analysis and simplified uptake measures for tumour lesion [18F]F-AraG PET imaging in patients with non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Wijngaarden Jessica E. , Slebe Maarten , Pouw Johanna E. E. , Oprea-Lager Daniela E. , Schuit Robert C. , Dickhoff Chris , Levi Jelena , Windhorst Albert D. , Oordt C. Willemien Menke-van der Houven van , Thiele Andrea , Bahce Idris , Boellaard Ronald , Yaqub Maqsood
Published: April 2024

Introduction
The novel positron emission tomography (PET) imaging tracer, [18F]F-AraG, targets activated T-cells, offering a potential means to improve our understanding of immune-oncological processes. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal pharmacokinetic model to quantify tumour lesion [18F]F-AraG uptake in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and to validate simplified measures at different time intervals against the pharmacokinetic uptake parameter.
Methods
Ten patients with early-stage NSCLC and three patients with advanced NSCLC underwent a dynamic PET scan of minimal 60 minutes. Venous and/or arterial blood sampling was obtained at maximum seven time points. Tumour lesion time activity curves and metabolite-corrected input functions were analysed using single-tissue reversible (1T2k), two-tissue reversible (2T4k) and two-tissue irreversible (2T3k) plasma input models. Simplified uptake measures, such as standardised uptake value (SUV) and tumour-to-blood (TBR) or tumour-to-plasma ratio (TPR), were evaluated for different time intervals.
Results
Whole-blood and plasma radioactivity concentrations showed rapid clearance of [18F]F-AraG. Metabolite analysis revealed a low rate of metabolism, at 70 min p.i., on average, 79% (SD = 9.8%) of the total radioactivity found in blood corresponded to intact [18F]F-AraG. The time activity curves were best fitted by the 2T3k model. Strong positive correlations were found for SUV (body weight (BW), lean body mass (LBM) or body surface area (BSA) corrected), TBR and TPR for any time interval between 20 to 70 min p.i. against the 2T3k-derived Ki. The correlation of TBR at 60–70 min p.i. with 2T3K-derived Ki (r(20) = 0.87, p < 0.01), was stronger than for SUVBW (r(20) = 0.78, p < 0.01).
Conclusion
Tumour lesion [18F]F-AraG uptake in patients with NSCLC is characterised by a 2T3k model. TBR and TPR show most potential for simplified quantification of tumour lesion [18F]F-AraG uptake in patients with NSCLC.
Magnetic performance enhancement of Sn substitution MnBi rare-earth-free melt-spun ribbons
Authors: Nguyen Truong Xuan
Published: April 2024

The effects of Sn dopant on microstructure and magnetic properties of MnBi1 − xSnx (x = 0; 0.05; 0.10; 0.15; 0.20; 0.25) melt-spun ribbons were systematically investigated. With increasing Sn content, the MnBi LTP fraction within the prepared ribbons exhibited a decreasing trend, associated with the formation of the Mn3Sn phase. The doped Sn atoms also affected the quenching process, altering the ribbons’ microstructures from the grain-like to rod-shaped. The optimized composition was found to be MnBi0.95Sn0.05, which was used to fabricate MnBi-based magnets. Maximum energy products of 12.9 MGOe, 8.1 MGOe, and coercivities of 14.8 kOe, 6.7 kOe were obtained in MnBi0.95Sn0.05 melt-spun annealed ribbons and the magnets prepared from them, respectively.
Enhancing Contextual Understanding of Mistral LLM with External Knowledge Bases
Authors: Sasaki Miyu , Watanabe Natsumi , Komanaka Tsukihito
Published: April 2024

This study explores the enhancement of contextual understanding and factual accuracy in Language Learning Models (LLMs), specifically Mistral LLM, through the integration of external knowledge bases. We developed a novel methodology for dynamically incorporating real-time information from diverse external sources, aiming to address the inherent limitations of LLMs rooted in their training datasets. Our experiments demonstrated significant improvements in accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score, alongside qualitative enhancements in response relevance and factual accuracy. The research also tackled the computational challenges of integrating external knowledge, ensuring the model's efficiency and practical applicability. This work not only highlights the potential of external knowledge bases to augment the capabilities of LLMs but also sets the stage for future advancements in creating more intelligent, adaptable, and contextually aware AI systems. The findings contribute to the broader field of AI and NLP by offering insights into overcoming traditional limitations of LLMs, presenting a significant step toward developing AI systems with enhanced real-world applicability and knowledge accessibility.
VIM-AS1, regulated by CpG methylation, cooperates with IGF2BP1 to inhibit tumor aggressiveness via EPHA3 degradation in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Han Su-hyang , Ko Je Yeong , Jung Sungju , Oh Sumin , Kim Do Yeon , Kang Eunseo , Kim Myung Sup , Chun Kyung-Hee , Yoo Kyung Hyun , Park Jong Hoon
Published: April 2024

Background
Early tumor recurrence observed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains challenging, as the mechanisms involved have not been completely elucidated. Microvascular invasion is associated with early recurrence; however, well-established biomarkers for diagnosis and predicting prognosis are lacking. In this study, we aimed to identify DNA methylation sites predicting liver cancer patient prognosis and validate HCC aggressiveness molecular mechanisms.
Methods
DNA methylome data from HCC patient samples (CGRC and TCGA) were analyzed to identify hypermethylated CpG sites. RNA-sequencing was performed on HCC cells with modulated expression of VIM-AS1, a long non-coding RNA regulated by CpG methylation. In vitro and in vivo studies investigated the intracellular molecular mechanism of action of VIM-AS1, and the CRISPR-dCas9 system was used for validating the potential of targeted DNA methylation as a therapeutic target.
Results
We observed that cg02746869, significantly associated with HCC patient prognosis, acted as a pivotal regulatory site for VIM-AS1. Suppression of VIM-AS1 due to methylation profoundly influenced the HCC cellular dynamics, specifically impairing the motility and invasiveness of cancer cells. This effect involved modulating EPHA3 expression and its subsequent interaction with the m6A-associated protein, IGF2BP1. Additionally, we observed that modifications in the methylation state of cg02746869 directly affected the invasive properties of HCC cells, underscoring the critical role of this methylation site in the oncogenic behavior of HCC.
Conclusions
Our results highlighted the significant role of DNA methylation in controlling lncRNA expression and its impact on HCC pathophysiology. Thus, cg02746869 is an emergent biomarker for prognostic evaluation and therapeutic intervention in HCC.
Digital Marketing in the Survival and Growth Strategies of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses During the War in Ukraine
Authors: Oklander Mykhailo , Yashkina Oksana , Zlatova Iryna , Cicekli Ilke , Letunovska Nataliia
Published: April 2024

This article shows the impact of the war on small and medium-sized businesses in Ukraine during the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, which started on February 24, 2022, and ended in September 2023. The object of the study is small and medium-sized enterprises that carry out business activities in Ukraine during a full-scale invasion. The research objective is to determine the business strategies and Internet marketing strategies used by small and medium-sized enterprises after full-scale invasion. The purpose of this study is to identify the most effective Internet marketing strategies and Internet marketing tools that helped small and medium-sized businesses survive the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation and continue to grow. The study was conducted through in-depth interviews with representatives of small and medium-sized businesses from different regions of Ukraine and from different fields of activity. Based on the categorical analysis of the responses, three periods of enterprise survival were summarized according to the chronology of military and political events in the country. The relevant Internet marketing strategies of small and medium-sized enterprises are identified. Business strategies and Internet marketing strategies that helped small and medium-sized enterprises increase their pre-war economic performance are also highlighted. Certain reasons for the deep crisis of small and medium-sized enterprises are outlined. The intensity and effectiveness of the use of Internet marketing tools by small and medium-sized businesses after a full-scale invasion are determined. The peculiarity of the results is the study of Internet marketing strategies and successful business strategies of small and medium-sized enterprises during the war. The scientific novelty of thisstudy is that it classifies the periods of survival and growth of small and medium-sized enterprises and identifies the most effective Internet marketing strategies for these periods. The efficiency and intensity of using Internet marketing tools were also systematized. The results obtained in the study will help small and medium-sized enterprises overcome crisis conditions and identify areas for the effective use of digital marketing. The findings are of practical value for small and medium-sized enterprises in other countries where there is a possibility of armed conflict.
Raman scattering of omphacite at high pressure: Toward its possible application to elastic geothermobarometry
Authors: Baratelli Lisa , Murri Mara , Alvaro Matteo , Prencipe Mauro , Mihailova Boriana , Cámara Fernando
Published: April 2024

Due to their widespread occurrence in several geological settings, omphacite inclusions could be used for elastic Raman geothermobarometry. However, the Raman scattering of complex silicate minerals entrapped in a host depends on both the chemical composition and elastic strain developed during the metamorphic pathway, which makes the task very challenging. Here, as a very first step to probe the potential of omphacite to be used as a mineral inclusion in elastic geothermobarometry, we report the pressure dependence of the Raman spectra of omphacite crystals with the same composition, approximately Jd43Di57, but having different symmetry because of the existence (P2/n) or absence (C2/c) of chemical order at the six- and eight-coordinated cation sites. The experimental results are complemented by ab initio quantum mechanical simulations on fully ordered omphacite (Jd50Di50). We demonstrate that the position of the well-resolved Raman peak near 688 cm–1, arising from Si-O-Si bond bending, is very sensitive to pressure but independent of the state of chemical order, which makes it promising to be utilized in Raman geobarometry. The width of this peak varies with chemical order but not with pressure and therefore can be used to constrain the temperature of inclusion entrapment, because the chemical order is indicative of the closure temperature of the cation-exchange reaction. However, further detailed analyses on the compositional variation of the Raman spectra of omphacite is required before considering omphacite-in-garnet systems to be suitable for Raman elastic geothermobarometry.
Digital transformation research trends in Ukraine and the world: meta & bibliometric analysis
Authors: Voronenko Iryna , Bohush Alla , Voronenko Oleksandr , Klymenko Nataliia , Kostenko Inna , Kudrina Olga , Bozhkova Viktoriia
Published: April 2024

In this work, the main trends in research and publication activity in digital transformation in the world and Ukraine are analyzed using meta- and bibliometric analysis. For this purpose, bibliometric data on scientific publications on the topic of digital transformations in the Google Scholar and Scopus databases were selected, which were additionally analyzed using the VOSviewer software package. Based on filtering the results obtained, an array was formed that included 366 scientific publications for 2019–2023 in Ukrainian in the Google Scholar database and 3,703 scientific publications in English for 2020–2023 in the Scopus database. Dynamic time analysis revealed a significant surge of scientific interest in the topic of digital transformations in recent years, while structural analysis revealed the multi-industry structure of existing research. The creation of bibliographic maps of keywords and publication maps allowed us to form an idea of the main thematic areas of research in the context of digital transformations and their opinion leaders. The data obtained became the basis for formulating recommendations for further areas of research in digital transformation, in particular, on the development of a unified roadmap for the digital transformation of education at different educational qualification levels and for various specialties. This will contribute to the formation of a single systemic approach to the digital transformation of Ukraine as a guarantee for the state’s sustainable development, well-being, strengthening of national security, speeding up the pace of European integration processes, as well as promoting national interests at the international level.
Cultural Character Analysis on Architectural Elements of the Chinese Temples’ Buildings before the 19th Century in Central Java
Authors: Mildawani Irina , Darmawan Djoko
Published: April 2024

The research provided an in-depth exploration of the architectural nuances of pre-19th century Chinese temples in Central Java, Indonesia, emphasizing their cultural significance and relevance. A detailed examination of a range of temples identified unique architectural features that reflected a sophisticated synthesis of Chinese cultural elements and local Javanese traditions. Applying a qualitative method, the research integrated historical scrutiny with architectural analysis, meticulously examining stylistic attributes, construction methodologies, and decorative patterns typical of these temples. The key discoveries highlight an intricate amalgamation of traditional Chinese architectural principles with native materials and craftsmanship, culminating in a distinctive, hybrid architectural form. This fusion not only symbolizes the cultural convergence and assimilation between Chinese immigrants and the indigenous Javanese during the pre-colonial era but also underscores the role of these temples as pivotal preservers of Chinese cultural heritage in Java. Furthermore, the research contributes to a deeper understanding of the diversity within architectural practices and offers insightful perspectives on the historical and socio-cultural dynamics in Central Java. The novelty of the research is anchored in its focused examination of a historically and geographically specific context, its interdisciplinary and thorough approach, the revelation of a unique hybrid architectural style, and its significant insights into the cultural and sociological dimensions of Central Java’s architectural legacy.
“Gundala” an Indonesian Superhero Film and Its Influence on Audiences’ National Identity
Authors: Sutanto Marisa Rianti , Kosasih Marcella Melly
Published: April 2024

The research aimed to find out and prove the impact of the film Gundala on its audience’s sense of national identity. The research was conducted by using the method of audience reception. The target audience of the survey was people who belong to the young adult category called Generation Z. The survey was conducted through the distribution of a seven-question questionnaire, and data were obtained from 53 respondents. The questions were designed according to the expression of four aspects reflected in the film plot: character, accessories, ethnoscape, and community. The results of the questionnaire data are presented through frequency distribution tables, measured according to Likert scale positive statements. Based on the survey results, the Generation Z audience has an awareness of national identity reflected in the film “Gundala”. The results of the qualitative analysis of the questionnaire data show that the film “Gundala” has a minor but discernible impact on the audience’s sense of national identity.
Knowledge Management for Electronic-Based Government System Using Semantic Thesaurus
Authors: Hidayati Nuraisa Novia , Srimoeljanto Agoeng
Published: April 2024

Sistem Pemerintahan Berbasis Elektronik (SPBE), the electronic-based government system, is Indonesia’s egovernment policy providing services to citizens through information and communication technology. Knowledge containing SPBE must be managed in various ways, one of which is the creation of an SPBE thesaurus to facilitate access and search for SPBE-related items using words or terms about it. In this study, we provide an overview of the thesaurus development process that has complied with the ISO 25964 standard and uses the Simple Knowledge Organization System (SKOS) as the application of the thesaurus in the web environment. Basic concepts or related terms and relationships between concepts have been linked with similar concepts in other thesauri that have existed before. This research also looks at the process of automating the recognition of related terms in internet articles using Word2Vec and Doc2Vec. In the process of adding terms, we discover challenges in filtering terms, determining relationships between terms, and determining reciprocal relationships between terms.
Fine Tuning of Interval Configuration for Deep Reinforcement Learning Based Congestion Control
Authors: Naqvi Haidlir , Hilman Muhammad Hafizhuddin , Anggorojati Bayu
Published: April 2024

It is apparent that various internet services in today’s digital ecosystem effectuate different types of networks’ quality of services (QoS) requirements. This condition, in fact, adds another level of complexity to the current network congestion control protocols. Therefore, it drives the adoption of deep reinforcement learning to improve the protocols’ adaptability to the dynamic networks’ QoS requirements. In this case, the state-of-the-art works on congestion control protocols, formulate the markov decision process (MDP) by transforming the congestion control pattern from the saw tooth congestion window to the staircase sending rate per-interval cycles. This approach treats congestion control as a sequential decision-making process that fits reinforcement learning. However, the interval configuration parameter that gives the optimum QoS has not been empirically studied. In this work, we present an extensive study on various interval configuration parameters for the deep reinforcement learning-based congestion control agent. Our work shows that various interval configuration, which consists of the RTT estimator and the n parameter, results in different QoS. The experiment shows that the RTTjk has significantly higher throughput than RTTewma and RTTmin−filtered in various network conditions. Furthermore, we found that the RTTjk with n = 2.0 is superior to other configurations in almost all networking scenarios. Whereas the RTTjk with n = 1.0 is optimal for a network environment with fixed bandwidth scenario.
Note on Algorithmic Investigations of Juosan Puzzles
Authors: Ammar Muhammad Tsaqif , Arzaki Muhammad , Wulandari Gia Septiana
Published: April 2024

We investigate several algorithmic and mathematical aspects of the Juosan puzzle—a one-player pencil-and- paper puzzle introduced in 2014 and proven NP-complete in 2018. We introduce an optimized backtracking technique for solving this puzzle by considering some invalid subgrid configurations and show that this algorithm can solve an arbitrary Juosan instance of size m × n in O(2mn) time. A C++ implementation of this algorithm successfully found the solution to all Juosan instances with no more than 300 cells in less than 15 seconds. We also discuss the special cases of Juosan puzzles of size m × n where either m or n is less than 3. We show that these types of puzzles are solvable in linear time in terms of the puzzle size and establish the upper bound for the number of solutions to the Juosan puzzle of size 1 × n. Finally, we prove the tractability of arbitrary m × n Juosan puzzles whose all territories do not have constraint numbers.
Definition and application of the Péclet number threshold for water quality analysis in water distribution networks
Authors: Piazza Stefania , Sambito Mariacrocetta , Freni Gabriele
Published: April 2024

To assess the water quality within the distribution networks, simplified models are used, which adopt an advective–reactive approach and neglect diffusion–dispersion phenomena. Although such simplifications can be sufficiently accurate in complete turbulent uniform flow regimes, literature works demonstrated that they could produce wrong results in laminar and transitional regimes that are relevant when analysing low flows, dead-end pipes in looped distribution networks or service connections. On the other hand, advective simplification allows for considerable computational savings during the simulation of large networks. Therefore, a criterion is needed for better discriminate pipes in which the advective approach is sufficient or the diffusive approach is required. The present study aims to investigate the use of the Péclet number to discriminate the use of advective simplification both adopting the two-dimensional (2D) advection–dispersion equation and the one-dimensional (1D) cross-section averaged advection–dispersion equation. The numerical analysis was applied to a linear pipeline using the EPANET, 1D advective–dispersive–reactive, and EPANET-DD (Dynamic–Dispersion) models. The results showed the inadequacy of the Péclet number in discriminating the dominance of the advective–dispersive process in real systems, as it is linked to the pipe's length, regardless of the flow regime occurring on the pipeline.
Machine learning approaches for anomalous storm pattern identification
Authors: Sharp David , Barnes Andrew Paul
Published: April 2024

Anomaly detection is used to explore the link between data-driven anomalous storms and their socio-economic impact on countries within the North-West Pacific. Three anomaly detection models are trialled using three distinct algorithms on the storm tracks and temperature profiles of storms. A feature-based comparison of the top 5% of anomalous storms from each model is used to reveal variations in anomalous storm activity. Further to this, the socio-economic impact of the anomalous storms is assessed, revealing a link between the anomalous behaviour of storms and the impact experienced by countries on their path. A final cross-comparison shows that the k-Nearest Neighbour and Isolation Forest algorithms succeeded at identifying high-impacting storms. However, the agglomerative clustering model found many unique storms that had low impact. This highlights the importance of considering both trajectory and temperature in determining the severity and impact of erroneous storms.
Efecto del biol y la rotación con Abono Verde (Crotalaria juncea) en la producción de Espinaca (Spinacea oleracea) bajo cultivo orgánico
Authors: Siura C. Saray , Montes Isabel , Dávila Susana
Published: April 2024

Se evaluó el rendimiento y calidad de dos cultivares de espinaca (uno de polinización abierta OP y un híbrido)  cultivados en una parcela de producción orgánica con y sin rotación con abono verde (Crotalaria juncea) y cuatro concentraciones de aplicación foliar de biol (0, 20, 40 y 100%). Se utilizó el diseño estadístico de bloques completos al azar, con arreglo factorial. El rendimiento fue altamente significativo para la rotación con abono verde (24.3 t/ha), biol (25.8 t/ha)  y la interacción de rotación con abono verde x cultivar (25.2 t/ha), donde el rendimiento del cultivar OP fue superior al híbrido cuando se utilizó la rotación con abono verde. Los altos rendimientos obtenidos cuando se usa la rotación con abono verde y dosis crecientes de aplicaciones foliares de biol justifican su uso en este cultivo, especialmente cuando se trata de pequeños agricultores, contribuyendo a incrementar la producción orgánica de espinaca, aún cuando se usen cultivares de polinización abierta.
Efecto de la edad y época de corte sobre el rendimiento y valor nutritivo del Pasto Elefante Morado (Pennisetum purpureum, Schum.) en la Costa Central
Authors: Barrón L. José , Velásquez G. Marco , Echevarria R. Mariano , Basurco T. Vanessa
Published: April 2024

Con el objeto de determinar el rendimiento forrajero y valor nutritivo se evaluó el pasto elefante morado (Pennisetum purpureum, Schum.) en la costa central. Los tratamientos fueron las edades del pasto: 4ta, 5to, 6to, 7mo y 8vo semana distribuidos en un diseño de bloques completos al azar con muestreo, dos repeticiones/tratamiento. El rendimiento de forraje verde fue mas alto a la 8va semana en primavera mientras que en verano fue a la 4ta  semana, el rendimiento de materia seca fue superior a la 5ta semana en primavera y a la 4ta semana en verano, así mismo la altura de la planta fue superior a la 8ta  semana en ambas estaciones. Las mejores relaciones hoja: tallo se encontraron en primavera (2.08) comparado con el verano (1.08) siendo diferentes estadísticamente (P≤0.05). El macollamiento disminuyó con la edad en ambas estaciones, teniendo una media de 86.91 macollos a la edad de 4 semanas en promedio y 55.77 macollos a la octava semana, siendo diferentes estadísticamente (P≤0.05). Los contenidos de proteína cruda decrecen con la edad de 15.92 % a 12.27 % en primavera y de 11.44 % a 8.67 % en verano, notándose mayores contenidos proteicos en primavera. Los niveles de fibra cruda, fibra detergente neutro y fibra detergente ácido aumentan con la edad del forraje y son mayores en verano con respecto a primavera. La estación del año (primavera o verano) afectó el rendimiento forrajero y valor nutritivo del pasto. En primavera se encontraron mayores contenidos de proteína cruda y más bajos contenidos de fibra detergente neutro que en verano. Se concluye que el rendimiento del pasto elefante morado es superior en verano y a una edad de corte de 4 semanas y el valor nutritivo es mejor cuando se hacen cortes a una edad más temprana para ambas estaciones. Por lo que se recomienda el uso de este pasto después del corte de uniformización, a la 4ta semana en ambas estaciones para obtener un forraje de alta calidad.
Fibrados Vectoriales y el Semigrupo V(X)
Authors: Zela Apaza Ana
Published: April 2024

Se presenta un estudio de una estructura que es la generalización del fibrado tangente denominada Fibrados Vectoriales con ésta estructura se formaría el conjunto V(X) constituido por clases de isomorfismos de fibrados vectoriales que al ser dotado con la Suma de Whitney se convierte en un semigrupo abeliano. Este semigrupo daría origen a la K-teoría topológica
Vida útil y uso anual de los tractores agrícolas en el Valle de Cajamarca-Departamento de Cajamarca. Periodo 1996-2007
Authors: Zingg R. Augusto
Published: April 2024

La vida útil de los tractores y su uso anual han sido en muchas ocasiones, motivo de especulación por parte de los representantes de ventas de las diversas fábricas, en su afán de vender, principalmente al Estado una cantidad importante de maquinaria agrícola específicamente tractores. Diversos estudios han demostrado que el uso anual no supera las 1,000 horas máquina recomendadas como económicamente viables; y es por ello que se actualizó el estudio realizado en el valle de la ciudad de Cajamarca, encontrando que la vida útil promedio de los tractores evaluados con horómetro pasó de 3,063 a 5,500 horas máquina con un incremento en los últimos 11 años de 2,438 horas – máquina (en 1996 el tractor con mayor cantidad de horas máquina correspondió a uno marca Shanghai 504 DT con 9,606.62, mientras que en el 2007 correspondió a uno marca Massey Ferguson 1075 con 10,685.15 horas máquina registrado en 38 años, por otro lado los tractores con menor cantidad de horas máquina corresponden a dos tractores marca Benye 254 DT con 49 y 569 horas maquina), En cuanto al uso anual, los registros demostraron un total de 391.08 horas máquina/año en el año 1996 y 279 horas máquina/año el 2007 debido fundamentalmente a la disminución de hatos ganaderos y el retiro de servicio de la mayoría de tractores propiedad del Estado. Cabe señalar que sólo el 18% de las maquinas propiedad del Estado y el 88% de particulares se encontraban operativas el 2007 y el 100% de los tractores evaluados supera los 14 años de servicio.
Evaluación Institucional y Mejoramiento de la Calidad. Un Modelo posible en la Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina
Authors: Valdez D. Silvia
Published: April 2024

La Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina ha logrado un grado de madurez institucional, una imagen de prestigio y de excelencia académica que le da presencia a nivel nacional e internacional; además, de un gran potencial y responsabilidad histórica para brindar aportes al desarrollo nacional en diversos campos del saber.Es necesario iniciar un proceso de análisis interno para modificar su estructura hacia un modelo universitario más dinámico y flexible que le permita enfrentar los retos del siglo XXI y ofrecer respuestas ágiles y oportunas a las necesidades del país. Una primera etapa se realizaría a través de un proceso de construcción conjunta con los participantes universitarios en diversos foros de reflexión académica, y culminaría con la elaboración y aprobación de un nuevo Estatuto Orgánico.
Uso de la harina de Maca (Lepidium peruvianum G. Chacón) como insumo de la dieta de alevines de tilapia roja (Oreochromis spp.), criadas en condiciones de laboratorio
Authors: Verástegui M. Aníbal , Vargas C. Jessie , Loo K. Teddy
Published: April 2024

En el presente trabajo se evaluó la inclusión de harina pre-gelatinizada de maca (Lepidium peruvianum G. Chacón) en términos de supervivencia, tasa de crecimiento (TC), conversión alimenticia (CA) y coeficiente de digestibilidad aparente de la materia seca de la dieta (CDA). Se formularon 4 dietas isoprotéicas e isocalóricas, las cuales fueron suplementadas con 4 niveles de harina de maca pre-gelatinizada: 0 (dieta testigo, T1), 5 (dieta T2), 10 (dieta 3), 15% (dieta 4) cada uno realizado por triplicado. El experimento se llevó a cabo en la Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina (UNALM), en el Laboratorio de Acuicultura de la Facultad de Pesquería, en un sistema de recirculación de agua, durante 12 semanas. Se observó que con un nivel de inclusión de harina de maca pre-gelatinizada del 5% se puede mejorar la utilización del alimento en términos de crecimiento sin llegar a encontrarse diferencias significativas con respecto a las concentraciones de 10 y 15%. El análisis de la digestibilidad aparente indica que la inclusión de harina de maca pre-gelatinizada reduce notablemente la digestibilidad de la dieta. El presente trabajo no es concluyente en cuanto al uso de maca como insumo en la dieta para tilapias, sino que nos conduce a realizar investigaciones complementarias, como la determinación de la digestibilidad de la maca y un estudio de la interacción de los compuestos que contiene la maca debido a la gran complejidad que esta muestra.
Colonización de Chondracanthus chamissoi (Rhodophyta, Gigartinales) sobre sustratos calcáreos en Playa Mendieta, Reserva Nacional de Paracas
Authors: Pariona I. Ernesto , Gil-Kodaka Patricia
Published: April 2024

Se realizaron experimentos de colonización de Chondracanthus chamissoi sobre sustratos naturales empleando valvas del gasterópodo Stramonita chocolata (caracol común). Se instalaron tres series mensuales de sustratos calcáreos en la pradera natural de macroalgas entre junio y agosto. La colonización se analizó contando los microtalos dos meses después de cada instalación y el crecimiento de los talos se midió después de tres meses. Aunque inicialmente se observó un mayor reclutamiento y un crecimiento más acelerado por parte del alga oportunista Ulva. costata, en el transcurso de los meses evaluados el establecimiento y predominio de C. chamissoi se fue haciendo evidente sobre los sustratos calcáreos. Se observó una fuerte competencia por el sustrato entre C. chamissoi y una gran diversidad de macroalgas en el submareal somero de Mendieta, siendo la especie más agresiva Macrocystis pyrifera (Phaeophycea), que llegó a desplazar completamente a C. chamissoi de los sustratos calcáreos en el mes de noviembre. La porosidad que presenta el periostraco de S. chocolata, favoreció el establecimiento, adhesión y germinación de esporas de numerosas macroalgas las cuales compitieron entre si evidenciando procesos de sucesión que estimularon el desarrollo de C. chamissoi sobre este sustratos calcáreo.
Dietas artificiales en la crianza de la Abeja Melífera, Apis mellifera L.
Authors: Montero Alexei , Martos Agustín , Chura Julián
Published: April 2024

Con el objetivo de determinar la mejor dieta artíficial en la crianza de la abeja melífera, Apis mellifera L. se realizó el presente estudio en la Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina (UNALM), Lima, Perú, en un periodo invernal, se utilizaron cuatro dietas artificiales, en núcleos de abejas Apis mellifera L., el diseño estadístico fue un diseño de bloques completamente al azar, con cuatro repeticiones. Se utilizaron 5 tratamientos, cuatro con la dieta artificial y un testigo sin dieta. Las dietas artificiales fueron: jarabe de sacarosa, pasta alimenticia formulada con polen + jarabe de sacarosa, pasta alimenticia formulada con harina de soya + jarabe de sacarosa, y pasta alimenticia formulada con harina de haba + jarabe de sacarosa. Cada 10 días se suministró 1 litro de jarabe y 100 gramos de pasta alimenticia a cada colmena tratada. Se evaluó el consumo de pasta alimenticia, el número de huevos, larvas, y pupas, así como la densidad poblacional de adultos. El consumo de pasta se registró 4 días después de su suministro. Los otros parámetros se registraron antes de iniciado el proceso de alimentación artificial (0 días), y a los 30 y 60 días después de aplicados los tratamientos. Se encontró que la pasta alimenticia bajo cualquiera de sus formulaciones es consumida ávidamente y por igual por las abejas obreras lo cual, a su vez, determinó alta población de abejas en las colmenas. La pasta formulada con soya o polen influyeron positivamente en el número de huevos en la colmena, en tanto que la pasta con haba o polen influyeron positivamente en el número de larvas, habiendo influido positivamente las tres formulaciones de pasta alimenticia en el número de pupas. Las colmenas que no fueron sometidas a alimentación artificial o aún aquellas que solamente recibieron jarabe de sacarosa solamente, experimentaron una fuerte disminución de sus poblaciones en los diferentes estados de desarrollo que determinaron la muerte o enjambrazón de las abejas.
Novel Pyridyl Macrocyclic Triarylmethanes: Synthesis by Ring-closing Metathesis and Chemical Analysis
Authors: Mohamed Ameni Hadj , Coutant Corinne , Msaddek Moncef , Veitía Maité Sylla-Iyarreta
Published: April 2024

Background:

Nowadays, macrocyclic compounds constitute a privileged source for the development of compounds with interesting biological properties. Ring-closing olefin me-tathesis has received great attention for the synthesis of small, medium, and larger ring systems.

Methods:

In the present work, we described the synthesis of eight original pyridyl macrocyclic triarylmethanes using an efficient 3-step synthetic strategy. The bisalkylated 4,4'-(pyridin-X-ylmethylene) diphenols (X = 2 - 4) were prepared by ring-closing metathesis as mac-rocyclization key step, using Grubbs second generation catalyst.

Results:

The pyridyl macrocyclic triarylmethanes were obtained with moderate to good yields. The introduction of a pyridine N-oxide moiety before the macrocyclization proved to be interest-ing to afford a higher yield of the corresponding metathesis product. FT-IR, 1 H NMR, 13C NMR, and X-ray diffraction analysis have been used for the characterization of the synthesized compounds.

Conclusion:

The synthetic strategy used here proposes an efficient alternative to prepare macro-cyclic triarylmethanes of different sizes.
A Deep Dive into PDE5 Inhibition: Innovative Discoveries via Virtual Screening
Authors: Debnath Abhijit , Chaudhary Hema , Sharma Parul , Singh Rajesh , Srivastava Shikha
Published: April 2024

Background:

PDE5 inhibitors have had a surge in popularity over the last decade owing
to their efficacy in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, coronary vasculopathy, and pulmonary arterial
hypertension. These inhibitors exhibit competitive binding with phosphodiesterase type 5 and
inhibit the hydrolysis of cyclic guanosine monophosphate, hence elevating the levels of cGMP in
smooth muscle cells and prolonging the duration of an erection. However, due to production costs
and side effects, further research is needed to discover new PDE5 inhibitors.

Objective:

The study aimed to identify potent PDE5 inhibitors by employing the extensive application
of computer-aided drug design.

Methods:

Three different databases, named Million Molecules Database, Natural Product Database,
and NCI Database, have been screened, which has been followed by filtering based on various druglikeness
rules, docking, ADME, toxicity, consensus molecular docking, and 100 ns molecular dynamics
simulation.

Results:

Three compounds (ZINC05351336, ZINC12030898, and ZINC17949426) have exhibited
stable-binding characteristics at the active site of PDE5, demonstrating a robust binding affinity.
These molecules have been found to possess drug-like capabilities, effective ADME features, low
toxicity, and high stability.

Conclusion:

The study has delved into the realm of PDE5 inhibitors, which have been found to be
effective in treating erectile dysfunction, but high production costs and side effects necessitate new
ones. Through computer-aided drug design and screening, three compounds have been identified
with promising binding characteristics, drug-appropriate properties, effective ADME profiles, minimal
toxicity, and stability, making them potential candidates for future PDE5 inhibitors
Outcomes of Patients with Heavily Pretreated Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma Receiving Salvage Cytotoxic Therapy with Supportive Stem Cell Boost
Authors: Bangolo Ayrton , Oza Samir , Reich-Slotky Ronit , Chappell Aimee , Siegel David S. , Parmar Harsh , Biran Noa , Vesole David H. , Phull Pooja
Published: April 2024

Background:

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable hematologic malignancy characterized
by the neoplastic proliferation of plasma cells, which produce monoclonal immunoglobulin
that can cause vital organ damage, subsequently leading to significant morbidity and mortality.
Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (ASCT) is the standard-of-care management of eligible
patients with newly diagnosed MM. Experts recommend collecting enough stem cells upfront
to support a possible tandem transplant, salvage ASCT, or a stem cell “boost” to allow for
the administration of multiagent cytotoxic chemotherapy in patients with relapsed/refractory disease.

Objective:

There is currently a paucity of data on the response rates and outcomes of patients with
relapsed MM who undergo cytotoxic chemotherapy followed by a stem cell boost; this study examines
the outcomes of patients treated with this approach.

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective chart review from two oncologic treatment centers in the
United States of adult patients who underwent a first ASCT between 1999 and 2021 and subsequently
received cytotoxic chemotherapy followed by stem cell boost further on in their disease
course. Survival analysis was carried out using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the log-rank test
was used to compare survival curves.

Results:

We found that the majority (56.6%) of these patients responded to therapy and that
60.6% of these patients were able to receive at least one subsequent line of therapy post-boost.
Furthermore, patients who responded to therapy had significantly longer median overall survival
compared to those who did not respond (323 days vs 93 days, p=0.0045), and age did not affect response
to therapy.

Conclusion:

This data allow clinicians to appropriately implement and inform patients of the therapeutic
uses and clinical outcomes of stem cell boost in patients with multiply relapsed/refractory
MM.
Response of Male Reproductive System against Ionizing Radiation and Available Radio-protective Agents: Cellular and Molecular Insight
Authors: Parashar Ronit , Yadav Sanwar Mal , Meena Priyadarshi , Kumar Raj , Jheeta Kuldeep S , Saini Priya , Patel Dev Dutt
Published: April 2024

Background:

The reproductive organ, housing spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs),
undergoes ongoing division impacted by the irradiation dosage and exposure duration. Within
the male reproductive organ, germ stem cells (spermatogonia) and somatic cells (Sertoli and
Leydig cells) are present. Lower doses of ionizing (>4-6 Gy) and non-ionizing radiation (radiofrequency
and microwave range 900 MHz - 2.45 GHz) may cause sperm-related issues, while
higher doses (15 Gy) may affect Leydig cells and testosterone production. Response to radiation
varies with age and pubescence. Spermatogonial stem cells, crucial for regenerating the spermatogenic
lineage, express molecular markers like Estrogen receptor, FSH (Follicular Stimulating
Hormone) receptor, TLR-4 (Toll-like Receptor-4), TLR-5 (Toll-like Receptor-5), FGF2 (Fibroblast
Growth Factor-2), KIT (Receptor Tyrosine Kinase), AT-1 (Angiotensin II Type-1 Receptor),
LXRs-γ (Liver X Receptor-γ), TNF-β (Tumor Necrosis Factor-β), and PCNA (Proliferating
Cell Nuclear Antigen), influencing stem cell activity in testes.

Objective:

This study aimed to review the various available radioprotective agents and their efficacy
in targeting the male reproductive system from the available literature.

Result:

Various radioprotective herbal/synthetic/microbial/metallic extracts/formulations/
drugs [Septilin, Silymarin, Organic Turmeric, Oestrogen, Melatonin, Febuxostat, SQGD (Semiquinone
glucoside derivative), Rapamycin, Entolimod, Zinc, Selenium, etc.] have been investigated
up to exposure, but owing to effectiveness issues, they are unable to fulfil the aim to the
fullest of restoring male fertility and normal testosterone levels during such eventuality.

Conclusion:

Further study is needed to optimize these tactics and fill knowledge gaps. Also, the
effective components of herbal, synthetic drugs, etc., should be isolated and tested up to clinical
levels, paving the way for successful radioprotection and radiomitigation strategies in the male
reproductive system.
In Vitro Protocols for Micropropagation of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don
Authors: Vijaya Laxmi Govindugari , Dharmalingam K.
Published: April 2024

Catharanthus roseus (C. roseus) is an important alkaloid-yielding medicinal
and ornamental plant belonging to the family Apocynaceae. The genus Catharanthus is
well studied and reported to contain biologically active terpenoid indole alkaloids
(TIAs) with over 130 compounds isolated and identified. It has great medicinal
importance in treating various ailments to treat diseases as diabetes, malaria,
menorrhagia, Hodgkin’s disease, etc. In view of the immense importance in the
pharmaceutical industry, micropropagation of C. roseus has been the best alternative
for continuous source of plants and also for in vitro production of secondary
metabolites. Various explants have been studied for micropropagation; however, nodal
explants were the most suitable. For surface sterilization, 0.1% HgCl2
or 70% ethanol,
followed by sodium hypochlorite and Bavistin (carbendazim), was optimum to control
the microbial contamination. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium was the most widely
used for its success rate. 2,4-D for callus initiation and BAP, along with zeatin and
activated charcoal, were reported to be promising for regeneration of plantlets. The
100% acclimatization of plantlets on transfer to field depends on the soil mixture and
environmental conditions and humidity in the initial stages of transfer from in vitro
cultures.
Decalepis hamiltonii Wight & Arn.: An Overview of its Bioactive Constituents and Conservation Strategies
Authors: Bhat Pradeep , Jayagoudar Santoshkumar , Hegde Sachet , Ghane Savaliram G. , Hegde Harsha V.
Published: April 2024

Decalepis hamiltonii Wight & Arn. (Family: Apocynaceae) is a climber
native to Southern Peninsular India, commonly called Swallow Root. The plant is used
in Ayurveda, Siddha and other traditional systems of medicines as a blood purifier,
appetizer, rejuvenator, wound healing agent, etc. Apart from this, various other
medicinal uses and pharmacological properties created a great demand for this plant
that has resulted in destructive harvesting practices in the wild. The plant is generally
reproduced through seeds; however, in most of the cases, germination is an intricate
process due to its poor seed viability and delayed seed production. Hence, its
population has gradually declined due to over-harvesting of medicinally important
tuber. International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) declared all the species of
Decalepis as ‘Critically Endangered Globally’. In the present chapter, complete
information on traditional uses, phytoconstituents and micropropagation of
ethnomedicinally important and critically endangered species D. hamiltonii is
discussed.