bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Господарська діяльність населення укріпленого поселення Дикий Сад
Authors: Horbenko Kyrylo , Matviienko Liudmyla
Published: June 2024

Метою статті є визначення функціонального призначення археологічних матеріалів укріпленого поселення доби фінального бронзового віку Дикий Сад, встановлення основних сфер господарської діяльності, характерних рис побуту та напрямків зв’язків населення регіону Степового Побужжя наприкінці 2-го тис. до н.е.
Науковою новизною є комплексне висвітлення конструктивних особливостей планування та речового комплексу укріпленого поселення Дикий Сад, стану розвитку тваринництва, землеробства, промислів, ремісничого виробництва та головних напрямків обміну населення регіону.
Висновки. Встановлено, що укріплене поселення Дикий Сад функціонувало впродовж майже всього білозерського часу. Виходячи з палінологічних і літопедологічних даних, можна стверджувати, що людина 12-10 ст. до н.е. проживала в регіоні у сприятливих екоумовах. На момент її приходу на територію укріпленого поселення та на початку його існування клімат був м’якішим (перш за все, вологішим), ніж нині.
Населення регіону зберігало риси скотарської та землеробської форми господарювання з досить розвиненим ремеслом (гончарство, деревообробка, ткацтво, металообробка, обробка каменю, кістки та рогу) та промислами (полювання, рибальство), але безумовно з явними рисами поступових змін, пов’язаних із загальною перебудовою господарських структур фінального бронзового віку напередодні переходу до кочового способу життя, який почав абсолютно панувати в степу епохи раннього заліза.
Поступова переорієнтація господарства населення Дикого Саду підтверджується невеликою кількістю землеробських артефактів, а саме знайдених у культурному шарі укріпленого поселення зернотерок і розтирачів, невеликою кількістю серпів, обмеженим складом вирощуваних культурних рослин.
Господарська діяльність мешканців регіону Степового Побужжя, в період загальної кризи бронзової цивілізації, орієнтувалася на розвиток тваринництва, різноманітних промислів і на підтримання економічних зв’язків поміж окремими регіонами ойкумени, намагаючись пристосуватися до неминучих змін.
Данська присутність в акваторії Дніпро-Бузького лиману у 9-13 століттях: постановка питання
Authors: Kuzovkov Volodymyr , Smyrnov Oleksandr , Smyrnov Leonid
Published: June 2024

Мета статті – окреслити перспективи наукових розвідок данської присутності у Дніпро-Бузькому лимані у часи функціонування шляху «з варяг у греки», тобто 9-13 ст.
Наукова новизна. Систематизовано свідчення джерел про діяльність данців на шляху «з варяг у греки», зокрема в акваторії Дніпро-Бузького лиману. Означені основні історичні події регіону, в яких, з різною вірогідністю, приймали участь данці, та перспективи подальших історичних досліджень у цьому напрямку. При цьому враховані можливості, що надає застосування нових технологій, зокрема дослідження генетичних профілів.
Висновки. Протягом 9-13 ст. акваторія Дніпро-Бузького лиману відігравала виняткову роль у функціонуванні шляху «з варяг у греки». На острові святого Еферія (сучасна Березань) відбувалося переоснащення для морського плавання після проходження Дніпровського річкового шляху. Значну частку мандрівників складали вихідці зі Скандинавії, включаючи і данців. Надалі Чорним морем мандрівники могли дістатись Константинополя, або відправитись до країн мусульманського Сходу.
Про перші контакти данців зі Східною Європою свідчить поява срібних дирхемів на теренах Данії. Данські історичні джерела дозволяють висувати гіпотези про дії певних конунгів (Рагнара Лодброка, Хвітсерка, Рюрика Ютландського) на східних водних магістралях. Опосередковано ці данні дозволяють робити припущення про можливість мандрів данців через акваторію Дніпро-Бузького лиману ще у 9 ст.
Свідчення авторів з країн ісламу дозволяють припускати існування у 9-10 ст. певного зв’язку між данською активністю на Піренейському півострові та Середземному морі з військовими акціями київських князів, спрямованими на Візантію, або держави ісламського Сходу.
У 11-12 ст. Дніпро-Бузький лиман стає сполучною ланкою, через яку з Балтики до Константинополя прямує потік данських найманців. Данці стають однією зі складових варязької гвардії візантійських імператорів.
Матеріали сучасних археологічних досліджень середньовічних старожитностей острову Березань вказують на нові можливості для розкриття особливостей функціонування шляху «з варяг у греки» в акваторії Дніпро-Бузького лиману. Вперше відкриті поховання мандрівників надають додаткове підґрунтя для застосування сучасних методик дослідження генетичних профілів. Це дозволить уточнити етнічний склад мандруючих цією водною магістраллю, виділити окремі етнічні компоненти, у тому числі й данський.
Археологічні пам’ятки Поділля у науковій спадщині Сергія Гамченка (за матеріалами 1909-1913 рр.)
Authors: Stepanchuk Yuriy , Kuzminets Natalia , Harhaun Yana
Published: June 2024

Метою статті є вивчення наявних матеріалів особового фонду С. Гамченка, що стосуються археологічних досліджень на території Поділля у 1909-1913 рр., визначити їх перспективність для сучасних археологічних та історико-краєзнавчих досліджень.
Наукова новизна. Вперше детально та ґрунтовно проаналізовано зміст особового архівного фонду Сергія Гамченка, що зберігається в Науковому архіві Інституту археології НАН України, на наявність матеріалів щодо археологічних пам’ятників Поділля. Розкрито змістовну частину наявних матеріалів, їх повноту та перспективність для подальших досліджень як археологічної науки, так і краєзнавства.
Висновки. Сергій Спиридонович Гамченко беззаперечно є непересічною людиною у світі археологічної науки. Протягом п’яти років він здійснив колосальну дослідницьку працю з виявлення та дослідження різнокультурних археологічних пам’ятників на теренах Подільської губернії. До сьогодні увесь об’єм його роботи не введено до наукового обігу, адже велика кількість праць збереглася у рукописному, і навіть чернетковому, варіанті, що потребує скрупульозної та фахової роботи над ними. Матеріали дослідника представлені знахідками від кам’яної доби до ранньослов’янських часів.
Цифровізація фонду Сергія Гамченка стала важливим поступом у поширенні здобутків української археології для дослідників. Натомість, це повинен бути лише перший крок, адже у сховищах Наукового архіву ІА НАН України знаходиться багато фондів, які допоможуть як практичній археології, так і дослідникам історії археологічних досліджень, краєзнавцям, генеалогам.
Ознайомлення з матеріалами фонду С. Гамченка показує, що він потребує ретельної наукової обробки – систематизації матеріалів, адже навіть у межах однієї папки (зошита, записника, колекції тощо) матеріали розпорошені (про це свідчить опис нами щоденника за 1909 р.). Практично весь фонд представлений рукописними матеріалами, які в силу особливостей почерку дослідника, потребують розшифровки та коментарів фахівців-археологів, ознайомлених з науковою спадщиною вченого й описаними об’єктами. На наше глибоке переконання, лише повноцінна археографічна публікація матеріалів фонду зможе максимально залучити їх до наукового обігу.
Олександрівський курган на березі річки Акаржа біля Чорного моря: історія могили та спогади одного з її дослідників
Authors: Sаpоzhnykov Igor
Published: June 2024

Мета статті – аналіз ситуації стосовно Олександрівського кургану, розташованого на березі річки Акаржа поблизу Чорного моря. Йдеться про «розкопки» унікальної пам’ятки, проведені В. Бейлекчі і В. Петренко у 1993 р., матеріали яких досі не опубліковані.
Наукова новизна полягає у введенні до наукового обігу матеріалів і низки картографічних джерел щодо історії дослідження Олександрівського кургану. Крім того, опубліковані дані про реконструкцію кургану у 2010 р. та результати шурфувань 2020 р., а також розглянуті перспективи публікації матеріалів «розкопок» 1993 р.
Висновки. Тема прав на матеріали Олександрівського кургану, яка дискутується в Україні, а більше у Республіці Молдова, є надуманою, оскільки вони належать винятково українській державі та зберігаються у фондах Інституту археології та Одеського археологічного музею Національної академії наук України. Що стосується прав керівника розкопок кургану, який мав на них «Відкритий лист», то він міг би отримати на обмежені часом авторські права на публікацію матеріалів, якби він виконав усі вимоги та правила, передбачені інструкцією до «Відкритого листа». Йдеться про обов’язкову здачу до «Польового комітету» при Інституту археології або до Одеського археологічного музею після закінчення робіт та опрацювання матеріалів: завіреного «Відкритого листа», звіту, щоденника польових робіт, креслень, негативів, довідки про передачу знахідок на державне зберігання й ін. Однак, нічого з цього В. Бейлекчі не зробив, тому він фактично в авторські права і не вступав. І навіть більше: він порушив ще одне зобов’язання прописане у всіх «Відкритих листах» ІА АНУ 1993 р.: «Передоручення робіт по цьому «Відкритому листу» іншій особі забороняється». Отже, виходячи зі сказаного, В.Г. Петренко ніяких прав на матеріали Олександрівського кургану не мав, але не мав і зобов’язань, через що будь-які підписані ним дозволи на користування цими матеріалами не коштують паперу, на якому написані.
On Population Fidelity as an Estimator for the Utility of Synthetic Training Data
Authors: Florean Alexander , Forsman Jonas , Herold Sebastian
Published: June 2024

Synthetic data promises to address several challenges in training machine learning models, such as data scarcity, privacy concerns, and efforts for data collection and annotation. In order to actually benefit from synthetic data, its utility for the intended purpose has to be ensured and, ideally, estimated before it is used to produce possibly poorly performing models. Population fidelity metrics are potential candidates to provide such an estimation. However, evidence of how well they are suited as estimators of the utility of synthetic data is scarce.In this study, we present the results of an experiment in which we investigated whether population fidelity as measured with nine different metrics correlates with the predictive performance of classification models trained on synthetic data.Cluster Analysis and Cross-Classification show the most consistent results w.r.t. correlation with F1-performance but do not exceed moderate levels.The degree of correlation, and hence the potential suitability for estimating utility, varies considerably across the inspected datasets. Overall, the results suggest that the inspected population fidelity metrics are not a reliable and accurate tool to estimate the utility of synthetic training data for classification tasks. They may be precise enough though to indicate trends for different synthetic datasets based on the same original data.Further research should shed light on how different data properties affect the ability of population fidelity metrics to estimate utility and make recommendations on how to use these metrics for different scenarios and types of datasets.
Predicting Overtakes In Trucks Using Can Data
Authors: Butt Talha Hanif , Tiwari Prayag , Alonso-Fernandez Fernando
Published: June 2024

Safe overtakes in trucks are crucial to prevent accidents, reduce congestion, and ensure efficient traffic flow, making early prediction essential for timely and informed driving decisions. Accordingly, we investigate the detection of truck overtakes from CAN data. Three classifiers, Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), Random Forest, and Support Vector Machines (SVM), are employed for the task. Our analysis covers up to 10 seconds before the overtaking event, using an overlapping sliding window of 1 second to extract CAN features. We observe that the prediction scores of the overtake class tend to increase as we approach the overtake trigger, while the no-overtake class remain stable or oscillates depending on the classifier. Thus, the best accuracy is achieved when approaching the trigger, making early overtaking prediction challenging. The classifiers show good accuracy in classifying overtakes (Recall/TPR ≥ 93%), but accuracy is suboptimal in classifying no-overtakes (TNR typically 80-90% and below 60% for one SVM variant). We further combine two classifiers (Random Forest and linear SVM) by averaging their output scores. The fusion is observed to improve no-overtake classification (TNR ≥ 92%) at the expense of reducing overtake accuracy (TPR). However, the latter is kept above 91% near the overtake trigger. Therefore, the fusion balances TPR and TNR, providing more consistent performance than individual classifiers.
DESENVOLVIMENTO REGIONAL POR MEIO DA IMPLEMENTAÇÃO DE MOEDAS SOCIAIS
Authors: Mendes Pires Haack Daniel , Ferreira Paulo Andre , Ponciano Prell Bianca , Da Silva Santos Ellen Natalia , Gomes Malta Luciana , Mendes Ferreira Kylenny Rachell , Ferreira Azeredo Marcela , Borges Gonçalves Leonardo
Published: June 2024

Este trabalho possui como tema a relação entre a implementação de moedas sociais o impacto às comunidades locais. O objetivo central deste estudo é ilustrar perspectivas para o desenvolvimento regional em comunidades periféricas por meio do emprego de moedas sociais, sob a ótica de duas experiências brasileiras. Como resultado, apresentaram-se a concepção de que moedas sociais oportunizam elevados avanços às comunidades, como o desenvolvimento da economia local, majoração da renda familiar, retenção de riquezas nas comunidades, dentre outros. Todavia, desafios como o encurtamento do circuito de circulação da moeda e a desconfiança da população local acerca da credibilidade do sistema financeiro alternativo despontam como obstáculos à sua efetiva implementação.
A ABORDAGEM EVOLUCIONÁRIA DA INOVAÇÃO E SUA RELAÇÃO COM A TRAJETÓRIA DOS INVESTIMENTOS EM P&D NO BRASIL DO SÉCULO XXI:
Authors: Castelã Nascimento Eduardo
Published: June 2024

O estudo discute a relação entre a abordagem evolucionária da inovação e os investimentos em Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento (P&D) no Brasil no século XXI. Baseado em teorias que aplicam conceitos da teoria evolucionária à economia, o estudo destaca o papel crucial da inovação cumulativa impulsionada pelos investimentos em P&D no crescimento econômico. A partir de uma revisão bibliográfica, é evidenciado que os investimentos em P&D têm um impacto significativo na taxa de patenteamento e na promoção da mudança tecnológica. Essa relação entre investimentos em pesquisa e desenvolvimento e inovação é um aspecto crucial para o aumento da produtividade e o estímulo ao crescimento econômico de longo prazo. A inovação cumulativa, impulsionada por esses investimentos, cria uma base sólida para o desenvolvimento econômico sustentável, pois permite a criação e aprimoramento contínuos de produtos, processos e serviços. No entanto, ao analisar os dispêndios em P&D no Brasil em comparação com outros países, constata-se uma posição desfavorável. Apesar de estar entre as maiores economias do mundo, o Brasil investe significativamente menos em P&D em comparação com outros países, tanto em termos absolutos quanto como percentagem do PIB. Essa disparidade coloca o país em uma situação desafiadora em termos de capacidade de inovação e competitividade internacional. Diante disso, o estudo sugere a necessidade de que o Brasil adote políticas e estratégias que promovam investimentos mais robustos em P&D para impulsionar a inovação e o crescimento econômico do país.
On monoids of metric preserving functions
Authors: Bilet Viktoriia , Dovgoshey Oleksiy
Published: June 2024

Let X be a class of metric spaces and let PX be the set of all f : [0, ∞) → [0, ∞) preserving X, i.e., (Y, f ∘ ρ) ∈ X whenever (Y, ρ) ∈ X. For arbitrary subset A of the set of all metric preserving functions, we show that the equality PX = A has a solution if A is a monoid with respect to the operation of function composition. In particular, for the set SI of all amenable subadditive increasing functions, there is a class X of metric spaces such that PX = SI holds.

2020 Mathematics Subject Classification

Primary 26A30, Secondary 54E35, 20M20
Defining melanoma combination therapies that provide senolytic sensitivity in human melanoma cells
Authors: Tchelougou Daméhan , Malaquin Nicolas , Cardin Guillaume B. , Desmul Jordan , Turcotte Simon , Rodier Francis
Published: June 2024

Malignant Melanoma that resists immunotherapy remains the deadliest form of skin cancer owing to poor clinically lasting responses. Alternative like genotoxic or targeted chemotherapy trigger various cancer cell fates after treatment including cell death and senescence. Senescent cells can be eliminated using senolytic drugs and we hypothesize that the targeted elimination of therapy-induced senescent melanoma cells could complement both conventional and immunotherapies. We utilized a panel of cells representing diverse mutational background relevant to melanoma and found that they developed distinct senescent phenotypes in response to treatment. A genotoxic combination therapy of carboplatin-paclitaxel or irradiation triggered a mixed response of cell death and senescence, irrespective of BRAF mutation profiles. DNA damage-induced senescent melanoma cells exhibited morphological changes, residual DNA damage, and increased senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). In contrast, dual targeted inhibition of Braf and Mek triggered a different mixed cell fate response including senescent-like and persister cells. While persister cells could reproliferate, senescent-like cells were stably arrested, but without detectable DNA damage and senescence-associated secretory phenotype. To assess the sensitivity to senolytics we employed a novel real-time imaging-based death assay and observed that Bcl2/Bcl-XL inhibitors and piperlongumine were effective in promoting death of carboplatin-paclitaxel and irradiation-induced senescent melanoma cells, while the mixed persister cells and senescent-like cells resulting from Braf-Mek inhibition remained unresponsive. Interestingly, a direct synergy between Bcl2/Bcl-XL inhibitors and Braf-Mek inhibitors was observed when used out of the context of senescence. Overall, we highlight diverse hallmarks of melanoma senescent states and provide evidence of context-dependent senotherapeutics that could reduce treatment resistance while also discussing the limitations of this strategy in human melanoma cells.
The use of decision making under deep uncertainty in the IPCC
Authors: Lempert Robert J. , Lawrence Judy , Kopp Robert E. , Haasnoot Marjolijn , Reisinger Andy , Grubb Michael , Pasqualino Roberto
Published: June 2024

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) exists to provide policy-relevant assessments of the science related to climate change. As such, the IPCC has long grappled with characterizing and communicating uncertainty in its assessments. Decision Making under Deep Uncertainty (DMDU) is a set of concepts, methods, and tools to inform decisions when there exist substantial and significant limitations on what is and can be known about policy-relevant questions. Over the last twenty-five years, the IPCC has drawn increasingly on DMDU concepts to more effectively include policy-relevant, but lower-confidence scientific information in its assessments. This paper traces the history of the IPCC’s use of DMDU and explains the intersection with key IPCC concepts such as risk, scenarios, treatment of uncertainty, storylines and high-impact, low-likelihood outcomes, and both adaptation and climate resilient development pathways. The paper suggests how the IPCC might benefit from enhanced use of DMDU in its current (7th) assessment cycle.
The use of warehouse automation technology for scalable and low-cost direct air capture
Authors: McQueen Noah , Drennan David
Published: June 2024

Direct Air Capture (DAC) offers a promising pathway for combating climate change by removing carbon dioxide (CO2) directly from the atmosphere. Here, we discuss Heirloom’s approach to DAC, which uses naturally occurring minerals, namely, calcium carbonate (CaCO3), in a cyclic process that leverages warehouse automation systems previously developed for large warehouses. The integration of DAC with warehouse automation systems unlocks a degree of manufacturability, scalability, operational efficiency, and financial viability. For successful scaling, DAC technologies and project developers must think through key scalability constraints, including modularity, constructability, supply chains, and leveraging existing infrastructure.
Investigating the interplay of loneliness, computer-mediated communication, online social capital, and well-being: insights from a COVID-19 lockdown study
Authors: Fahy Megan , Barry Marguerite
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Recent studies have found that there is scope for communication technologies to increase online social capital. Although studies have linked online social capital and mental well-being, there is a need to identify the causal pathways within this relationship. This study explores the role of loneliness in the relationship between computer-mediated communication, online social capital and well-being.

Methods

The study used an online questionnaire and had 217 participants. William's 2006 scale was used to measure individuals’ online social capital, and structural equational modelling (SEM) was used to explore the relationship between computer-mediated communication, use, levels of loneliness, online social capital and well-being. This study was conducted remotely during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Ireland.

Results

High levels of online communication mitigated the otherwise negative effects of loneliness on well-being when online interaction fostered online social capital.

Conclusion

Overall, the proposed model offers qualified support for the continued analysis of technology-mediated communication as a potential source for building online social capital and improving the well-being of particular individuals with high levels of loneliness.
Alleviating premenstrual symptoms with smartphone-based heart rate variability biofeedback training: a pilot study
Authors: Blaser Berenike Lisa , Weymar Mathias , Wendt Julia
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) is a well-studied intervention known for its positive effects on emotional, cognitive, and physiological well-being, including relief from depressive symptoms. However, its practical use is hampered by high costs and a lack of trained professionals. Smartphone-based HRVB, which eliminates the need for external devices, offers a promising alternative, albeit with limited research. Additionally, premenstrual symptoms are highly prevalent among menstruating individuals, and there is a need for low-cost, accessible interventions with minimal side effects. With this pilot study, we aim to test, for the first time, the influence of smartphone-based HRVB on depressive and premenstrual symptoms, as well as anxiety/stress symptoms and attentional control.

Methods

Twenty-seven participants with above-average premenstrual or depressive symptoms underwent a 4-week photoplethysmography smartphone-based HRVB intervention using a waitlist-control design. Laboratory sessions were conducted before and after the intervention, spaced exactly 4 weeks apart. Assessments included resting vagally mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV), attentional control via the revised attention network test (ANT-R), depressive symptoms assessed with the BDI-II questionnaire, and stress/anxiety symptoms measured using the DASS questionnaire. Premenstrual symptomatology was recorded through the PAF questionnaire if applicable. Data analysis employed linear mixed models.

Results

We observed improvements in premenstrual, depressive, and anxiety/stress symptoms, as well as the Executive Functioning Score of the ANT-R during the intervention period but not during the waitlist phase. However, we did not find significant changes in vmHRV or the Orienting Score of the ANT-R.

Discussion

These findings are promising, both in terms of the effectiveness of smartphone-based HRVB and its potential to alleviate premenstrual symptoms. Nevertheless, to provide a solid recommendation regarding the use of HRVB for improving premenstrual symptoms, further research with a larger sample size is needed to replicate these effects.
Students’ perceptions of endodontic typodont teeth with simulated canals printed from novel materials
Authors: Cresswell-Boyes Alexander Jon , Davis Graham Roy , Baysan Aylin
Published: June 2024

Introduction

This study aimed to investigate students' perceptions of the use of 3D-printed typodonts by implementing a questionnaire and evaluating the students' comparisons between extracted, commercial and 3D-printed teeth.

Methods

Ethical approval was obtained (QMER20.586/2021) and questionnaire feedback was collected anonymously using an online survey. A total of 143 fourth- and fifth-year dental students were approached to participate during pre-clinical courses focussing on root canal therapy. The tooth design was based on micro-CT data of an extracted maxillary central incisor and 3D-printed with haptically-similar materials produced in previous work. The questionnaire comprised 11 Likert-scale questions, four open-ended questions, two “yes” or “no” questions and three closed-ended questions.

Results

Eighty questionnaires were returned. Overall, the feedback was favourable towards the 3D-printed typodonts compared to the commercial teeth. The biggest difference in responses was in Question 6 related to the realism of drilling the enamel when comparing 3D-printed teeth with commercial ones. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference (p < 0.05); the fourth-year's response on average, was 2.95 (±0.73) an “agree” rating, whereas the fifth-year's response was 3.98 (±0.82) with “neither agree or disagree”.

Discussion

Within the limitations of this study, the 3D-printed typodonts were rated high in comparison to the commercial teeth in terms of overall operative experiences.
Effectiveness and safety of GnRH antagonist originator and generic in real-world clinical practice: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Cao Mingzhu , Hu Yuqi , Xiao Jiaqi , Li Sichen , Lin Yanshan , Liu Jianqiao , Liu Haiying
Published: June 2024

Objective

This study aims to determine whether the live birth rates were similar between GnRH antagonist original reference product Cetrotide® and generic Ferpront®, in gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist protocol for controlled ovarian stimulation (COS).

Methods

This retrospective cohort study investigates COS cycles utilizing GnRH antagonist protocols. The research was conducted at a specialized reproductive medicine center within a tertiary care hospital, spanning the period from October 2019 to October 2021. Within this timeframe, a total of 924 cycles were administered utilizing the GnRH antagonist originator, Cetrotide® (Group A), whereas 1984 cycles were undertaken using the generic, Ferpront® (Group B).

Results

Ovarian reserve markers, including anti-Mullerian hormone, antral follicle number, and basal follicular stimulating hormone, were lower in Group A compared to Group B. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance these markers between the groups. After PSM, baseline clinical features were similar, except for a slightly longer infertile duration in Group A versus Group B (4.43 ± 2.92 years vs. 4.14 ± 2.84 years, P = 0.029). The duration of GnRH antagonist usage was slightly longer in Group B than in Group A (6.02 ± 1.41 vs. 5.71 ± 1.48 days, P < 0.001). Group B had a slightly lower number of retrieved oocytes compared to Group A (14.17 ± 7.30 vs. 14.96 ± 7.75, P = 0.024). However, comparable numbers of usable embryos on day 3 and good-quality embryos were found between the groups. Reproductive outcomes, including biochemical pregnancy loss, clinical pregnancy, miscarriage, and live birth rate, did not differ significantly between the groups. Multivariate logistic regression analyses suggested that the type of GnRH antagonist did not independently impact the number of oocytes retrieved, usable embryos, good-quality embryos, moderate to severe OHSS rate, clinical pregnancy, miscarriage, or live birth rate.

Conclusion

The retrospective analysis revealed no clinically significant differences in reproductive outcomes between Cetrotide® and Ferpront® when used in women undergoing their first and second COS cycles utilizing the GnRH antagonist protocol.
Impaired embryo development potential associated with thyroid autoimmunity in euthyroid infertile women with diminished ovarian reserve
Authors: Zhang Yongjie , Zhang Yuchao , Su Zhuolun , Ren Bingnan , Yu Shuang , Li Wenjing , Xu Ninghua , Lou Hua
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations of thyroid autoimmunity (TAI) with the number of oocytes retrieved (NOR), fertilization rate (FR), and embryo quality (EQ) in euthyroid women with infertility and diminished ovarian reserve (DOR).

Methods

This retrospective cohort study involved 1,172 euthyroid women aged 20–40 years with infertility and DOR who underwent an oocyte retrieval cycle. TAI was diagnosed in the presence of serum thyroperoxidase antibody (TPOAb) concentrations higher than 34 IU/ml and/or serum thyroglobulin antibody (TgAb) concentrations exceeding 115.0 IU/ml. Among these women, 147 patients with TAI were classified as the TAI-positive group, while 1,025 patients without TAI were classified as the TAI-negative group. Using generalized linear models (GLMs) adjusted for confounding factors, we evaluated the associations of TAI and the serum TPOAb and TgAb concentrations and NOR, FR, and EQ in this study’s subjects. The TPOAb and TGAb values were subjected to log10 transformation to reduce skewness. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the effects of TPOAb and TgAb concentrations on the probabilities of achieving a high NOR (≥7) and high FR (>60%).

Results

For the whole study population, women with TAI had a significantly lower NOR and poorer EQ than women without TAI (P < 0.001 for both). Interestingly, in the TSH ≤2.5 subgroup, the TAI-positive group also had a significantly lower NOR and poorer EQ than the TAI-negative group (P < 0.001 for both). Furthermore, negative associations were observed between log10(TPOAb) concentrations and NOR and the number of high-quality embryos and available embryos (P < 0.05 for all). The log10(TgAb) concentrations were inversely associated with NOR and the number of high-quality embryos (P < 0.05 for all). In the regression analysis, the log10(TPOAb) concentrations had lower probabilities of achieving a high NOR [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 0.56; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.37, 0.85; P = 0.007].

Conclusions

TAI and higher TPOAb and TgAb concentrations were shown to be associated with reductions in the NOR and EQ in the study population. Our findings provide further evidence to support systematic screening and treatment for TAI in euthyroid women with infertility and DOR.
Exploring the relationship between life course adiposity and sepsis: insights from a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Cheng Zimei , Li Jingjing , Tong Wenjia , Liu Tingyan , Zhang Caiyan , Ma Jian , Lu Guoping
Published: June 2024

Objectives

The relationship between adiposity and sepsis has received increasing attention. This study aims to explore the causal relationship between life course adiposity and the sepsis incidence.

Methods

Mendelian randomization (MR) method was employed in this study. Instrumental variants were obtained from genome-wide association studies for life course adiposity, including birth weight, childhood body mass index (BMI), childhood obesity, adult BMI, waist circumference, visceral adiposity, and body fat percentage. A meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies for sepsis including 10,154 cases and 454,764 controls was used in this study. MR analyses were performed using inverse variance weighted, MR Egger regression, weighted median, weighted mode, and simple mode. Instrumental variables were identified as significant single nucleotide polymorphisms at the genome-wide significance level (P < 5×10-8). The sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the reliability of the MR estimates.

Results

Analysis using the MR analysis of inverse variance weighted method revealed that genetic predisposition to increased childhood BMI (OR = 1.29, P = 0.003), childhood obesity (OR = 1.07, P = 0.034), adult BMI (OR = 1.38, P < 0.001), adult waist circumference (OR = 1.01, P = 0.028), and adult visceral adiposity (OR = 1.53, P < 0.001) predicted a higher risk of sepsis. Sensitivity analysis did not identify any bias in the MR results.

Conclusion

The results demonstrated that adiposity in childhood and adults had causal effects on sepsis incidence. However, more well-designed studies are still needed to validate their association.
Research trends of nature-based solutions: from urban to climate change
Authors: Yang Hyunyoung , Chae Jeongyeon , Song Cholho , Choi Eunho
Published: June 2024

As one of the efforts to combat climate change and the biodiversity crisis, an interest in nature-based solutions (NbS) has been growing. Although there have been diverse discussions on NbS, it is still insufficient to find a quantitative evaluation of the global research trends in which field and to what extent NbS has been studied. In this regard, this study employed latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) topic modeling and keyword analysis to quantitatively evaluate the research trends of NbS. Among research papers on NbS searched on SCOPUS, 2,625 studies (2009–2022) were analyzed by LDA. As a result, NbS-related articles were classified into seven topics (i.e., Urban governance, Urban green infrastructure, Wastewater treatment, Coastal protection, Flood mitigation, Carbon sequestration, and Sustainable agriculture). Of these, the urban and water-related topics accounted for the largest proportion. In contrast, the carbon sequestration and sustainable agriculture topics accounted for a smaller proportion, but the proportion significantly increased over time. As a result of keyword analysis, the frequency of urban and water keywords remained high. In contrast, the frequency of climate change and carbon keywords was low and has recently increased. In the keyword network, the co-occurrence frequency and connection of urban and water keywords were initially high. Still, over time, keywords related to climate change and carbon increased similarly to those related to urban and water. The findings of this study imply that NbS has mainly focused on urban and water-related researches. Still, climate change and carbon-related researches may also be actively handled in relation to NbS in the near future.
Risk mapping for better governance in biobanking: the case of biobank.cy
Authors: Akyüz Kaya , Goisauf Melanie , Martin Gillian M. , Mayrhofer Michaela Th. , Antoniou Stella , Charalambidou Georgia , Deltas Constantinos , Malatras Apostolos , Papagregoriou Gregory , Stefanou Charalambos , Voutounou Mariel
Published: June 2024

Introduction: Risk governance is central for the successful and ethical operation of biobanks and the continued social license for being custodians of samples and data. Risks in biobanking are often framed as risks for participants, whereas the biobank’s risks are often considered as technical ones. Risk governance relies on identifying, assessing, mitigating and communicating all risks based on technical and standardized procedures. However, within such processes, biobank staff are often involved tangentially. In this study, the aim has been to conduct a risk mapping exercise bringing biobank staff as key actors into the process, making better sense of emerging structure of biobanks.

Methods: Based on the qualitative research method of situational analysis as well as the card-based discussion and stakeholder engagement processes, risk mapping was conducted at the biobank setting as an interactive engagement exercise. The analyzed material comprises mainly of moderated group discussions.

Results: The findings from the risk mapping activity are framed through an organismic metaphor: the biobank as a growing, living organism in a changing environment, where trust and sustainability are cross-cutting elements in making sense of the risks. Focusing on the situatedness of the dynamics within biobanking activity highlights the importance of prioritizing relations at the core of risk governance and promoting ethicality in the biobanking process by expanding the repertoire of considered risks.

Conclusion: With the organismic metaphor, the research brings the diverse group of biobank staff to the central stage for risk governance, highlighting how accounting for such diversity and interdependencies at the biobank setting is a prerequisite for an adaptive risk governance.
Transcriptome meta-analysis reveals the hair genetic rules in six animal breeds and genes associated with wool fineness
Authors: Pu Xue , Ma Shengchao , Zhao Bingru , Tang Sen , Lu Qingwei , Liu Wenna , Wang Yaqian , Cen Yunlin , Wu Cuiling , Fu Xuefeng
Published: June 2024

Wool plays an irreplaceable role in the lives of livestock and the textile industry. The variety of hair quality and shape leads to the diversity of its functions and applications, and the finer wool has a higher economic value. In this study, 10 coarse and 10 fine ordos fine wool sheep skin samples were collected for RNA-seq, and coarse and fine skin/hair follicle RNA-seq datasets of other five animal breeds were obtained from NCBI. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis showed that the common genes were clustered into eight modules. Similar gene expression patterns in sheep and rabbits with the same wool types, different gene expression patterns in animal species with different hair types, and brown modules were significantly correlated with species and breeds. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses showed that, most genes in the brown module associated with hair follicle development. Hence, gene expression patterns in skin tissues may determine hair morphology in animal. The analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed that 32 highly expressed candidate genes associated with the wool fineness of Ordos fine wool sheep. Among them, KAZALD1 (grey module), MYOC (brown module), C1QTNF6 (brown module), FOS (tan module), ITGAM, MX2, MX1, and IFI6 genes have been reported to be involved in the regulation of the hair follicle cycle or hair loss. Additionally, 12 genes, including KAZALD1, MYOC, C1QTNF6, and FOS, are differentially expressed across various animal breeds and species. The above results suggest that different sheep breeds share a similar molecular regulatory basis of wool fineness. Finally, the study provides a theoretical reference for molecular breeding of sheep breeds as well as for the investigation of the origin and evolution of animal hair.
DKPE-GraphSYN: a drug synergy prediction model based on joint dual kernel density estimation and positional encoding for graph representation
Authors: Dong Yunyun , Bai Yujie , Liu Haitao , Yang Ziting , Chang Yunqing , Li Jianguang , Han Qixuan , Feng Xiufang , Fan Xiaole , Ren Xiaoqiang
Published: June 2024

Introduction: Synergistic medication, a crucial therapeutic strategy in cancer treatment, involves combining multiple drugs to enhance therapeutic effectiveness and mitigate side effects. Current research predominantly employs deep learning models for extracting features from cell line and cancer drug structure data. However, these methods often overlook the intricate nonlinear relationships within the data, neglecting the distribution characteristics and weighted probability densities of gene expression data in multi-dimensional space. It also fails to fully exploit the structural information of cancer drugs and the potential interactions between drug molecules.

Methods: To overcome these challenges, we introduce an innovative end-to-end learning model specifically tailored for cancer drugs, named Dual Kernel Density and Positional Encoding (DKPE) for Graph Synergy Representation Network (DKPEGraphSYN). This model is engineered to refine the prediction of drug combination synergy effects in cancer. DKPE-GraphSYN utilizes Dual Kernel Density Estimation and Positional Encoding techniques to effectively capture the weighted probability density and spatial distribution information of gene expression, while exploring the interactions and potential relationships between cancer drug molecules via a graph neural network.

Results: Experimental results show that our prediction model achieves significant performance enhancements in forecasting drug synergy effects on a comprehensive cancer drug and cell line synergy dataset, achieving an AUPR of 0.969 and an AUC of 0.976.

Discussion: These results confirm our model’s superior accuracy in predicting cancer drug combinations, providing a supportive method for clinical medication strategy in cancer.
Biohydrogen: prospects for industrial utilization and energy resiliency in rural communities
Authors: Mandalika Anurag S. , Chou Katherine J. , Decker Stephen R.
Published: June 2024

Biohydrogen (bioH2) production in rural regions of the United States leveraged from existing biomass waste streams serves two extant needs: rural energy resiliency and decarbonization of heavy industry, including the production of ammonia and other H2-dependent nitrogenous products. We consider bioH2 production using two different strategies: (1) dark fermentation (DF) and (2) anaerobic digestion followed by steam methane reforming of the biogas (AD-SMR). Production of bioH2 from biomass waste streams is a potentially ‘greener’ pathway in comparison to natural gas-steam methane reforming (NG-SMR), especially as fugitive emissions from these wastes are avoided. It also provides a decarbonizing potential not found in water-splitting technologies. Based on literature on DF and AD of crop residues, woody biomass residues from forestry wastes, and wastewaters containing fats, oils, and grease (FOG), we outline scenarios for bioH2 production and displacement of fossil fuel derived methane. Finally, we compare the costs and carbon intensity (CI) of bioH2 production with those of other H2 production pathways.
Causal relationship between type 1 diabetes mellitus and mycoses: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Chen Xiaolan , Chen Chen , Wu Mingyan , Wang Shanmei , Jiang Hongbin , Li Zhe , Yu Yuetian , Li Bing
Published: June 2024

Background

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is frequently associated with various infections, including mycoses; however, the direct link between T1DM and fungal infections remains under-researched. This study utilizes a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach to investigate the potential causal relationship between T1DM and mycoses.

Methods

Genetic variants associated with T1DM were sourced from the European Bioinformatics Institute database, while those related to fungal infections such as candidiasis, pneumocystosis, and aspergillosis were obtained from the Finngen database, focusing on European populations. The primary analysis was conducted using the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method, with additional insight from Mendelian randomization Egger regression (MR-Egger). Extensive sensitivity analyses assessed the robustness, diversity, and potential horizontal pleiotropy of our findings. Multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR) was employed to adjust for confounders, using both MVMR-IVW and MVMR-Egger to evaluate heterogeneity and pleiotropy.

Results

Genetically, the odds of developing candidiasis increased by 5% in individuals with T1DM, as determined by the IVW method (OR = 1.05; 95% CI 1.02–1.07, p = 0.0001), with a Bonferroni-adjusted p-value of 0.008. Sensitivity analyses indicated no significant issues with heterogeneity or pleiotropy. Adjustments for confounders such as body mass index, glycated hemoglobin levels, and white blood cell counts further supported these findings (OR = 1.08; 95% CI:1.03–1.13, p = 0.0006). Additional adjustments for immune cell counts, including CD4 and CD8 T cells and natural killer cells, also demonstrated significant results (OR = 1.04; 95% CI: 1.02–1.06, p = 0.0002). No causal associations were found between T1DM and other fungal infections like aspergillosis or pneumocystosis.

Conclusion

This MR study suggests a genetic predisposition for increased susceptibility to candidiasis in individuals with T1DM. However, no causal links were established between T1DM and other mycoses, including aspergillosis and pneumocystosis.
Exploring the Aβ1-42 fibrillogenesis timeline by atomic force microscopy and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Polykretis Panagis , D’Andrea Cristiano , Banchelli Martina , Napolitano Liliana , Cascella Roberta , de Angelis Marella , Matteini Paolo
Published: June 2024

Introduction: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive debilitating neurological disorder representing the most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide. Although the exact pathogenic mechanisms of AD remain unresolved, the presence of extracellular amyloid-β peptide 1-42 (Aβ1-42) plaques in the parenchymal and cortical brain is considered one of the hallmarks of the disease.

Methods: In this work, we investigated the Aβ1-42 fibrillogenesis timeline up to 48 h of incubation, providing morphological and chemo-structural characterization of the main assemblies formed during the aggregation process of Aβ1-42, by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), respectively.

Results: AFM topography evidenced the presence of characteristic protofibrils at early-stages of aggregation, which form peculiar macromolecular networks over time. SERS allowed to track the progressive variation in the secondary structure of the aggregation species involved in the fibrillogenesis and to determine when the β-sheet starts to prevail over the random coil conformation in the aggregation process.

Discussion: Our research highlights the significance of investigating the early phases of fibrillogenesis to better understand the molecular pathophysiology of AD and identify potential therapeutic targets that may prevent or slow down the aggregation process.