bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Probabilities of reaching required diffusion of granular energy technologies in European countries
Authors: Zielonka Nik , Trutnevyte Evelina
Published: March 2024

To support discussions around the feasibility of the energy transition, we present probabilistic projections of the expected diffusion of solar photovoltaics, wind power, biogases, heat pumps and low-carbon passenger vehicles in 39 European countries for 2023-2050 under current contextual conditions. We then compare the projected capacities against those required for reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. We create our projections using 72 different variants of diffusion models that we test using hindcasting (2012-2022) and weigh according to their performance. We find that the projected diffusion of all granular technologies leads to an uneven distribution of capacities across Europe. Most countries will likely reach required numbers of battery electric vehicles, but with high uncertainty. Most countries are unlikely to reach the required capacities of wind power and biogases with high confidence. Probabilities and confidence levels of reaching required capacities of solar photovoltaics and heat pumps vary the most between countries.
Royal Jelly-Mediated Silver Nanoparticles Show Promising Anti-Cancer Effect on HeLa and A549 Cells Through Modulation of the VEGFa/PI3K/Akt/MMP-2 Pathway
Authors: Kocharyan Meri , Marutyan Syuzan , Nadiryan Edita , Ginovyan Mikayel , Javrushyan Hayarpi , Marutyan Seda , Avtandilyan Nikolay
Published: March 2024

Cancer poses a significant challenge in the medical field, requiring thorough investigation into its mechanisms and the development of effective treatments. Recently, there has been increasing interest in integrating drugs with metal nanoparticles, which are notable for their unique size and physicochemical properties, aiming to enhance anticancer efficacy. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), especially those obtained through environmentally friendly methods known as green synthesis, have garnered attention. Royal jelly (RJ), a substance produced by bees recognized for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties, is particularly interesting. This study focuses on the green synthesis of AgNPs using royal jelly and its bioactivity against cancer cells. It provides a detailed characterization of the nanoparticles and examines their effects on cancer cells, specifically Hela cervical cancer and A549 lung cancer cell lines. The results highlight the cytotoxicity induced by AgNPs in HeLa and A549 cells, which is mediated through apoptosis via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Our research findings demonstrate that one of the mechanisms underlying cell death involves increased concentration of ROS/RNS and downregulation of the VEGFa/MMP-2/COX-2 pathway. This study is among the few to elucidate the mechanism of the anticancer effects of nanoparticles synthesized through this method. Overall, our research contributes to the ongoing exploration of cancer biology and offers insights into potential therapeutic approaches by harnessing the capabilities of green-synthesized nanoparticles.
Development of a hybrid bio-purification process of lactic acid solutions employing an engineered E. coli strain in a membrane bioreactor
Authors: Nastouli Alexandra , Sweeney Joseph , Harasek Michael , Karabelas Anastasios J. , Patsios Sotiris I.
Published: March 2024

Background: A potential alternative to lactic acid production through sugar fermentation is its recovery from grass silage leachate. The separation and purification of lactic acid from fermentation broths remains a key issue, as it amounts to up to 80% of its industrial production cost. In this study, a genetically engineered E. coli strain (A1:ldhA), that cannot catabolize lactic acid, has been used to selectively remove impurities from a synthetic medium comprising typical components (i.e. glucose and acetic acid) of green grass silage leachate. A systematic approach has been followed to provide a proof-of-concept for a bio-purification process of lactic acid solutions in a membrane bioreactor operating in semi-continuous mode.
Results: The synthetic medium composition was initially optimized in shake-flasks experiments, followed by scale-up in bench-scale bioreactor. Complete (i.e. 100%) and 60.4% removal for glucose and acetic acid, respectively, has been achieved in batch bioreactor experiments with a synthetic medium comprising 0.5 g/L glucose and 0.5 g/L acetic acid as carbon sources, and 10 g/L lactic acid; no lactic acid catabolism was observed in all batch fermentation tests. Afterwards, a hybrid biotechnological process combining semi-continuous bioreactor fermentation and ultrafiltration membrane separation (membrane bioreactor) was applied to in-situ separate purified medium from the active cells. The process was assessed under different semi-continuous operating conditions, resulting in a bacteria-free effluent and 100% glucose and acetic acid depletion, with no lactic acid catabolism, thus increasing the purity of the synthetic lactic acid solution.
Conclusion: The study clearly demonstrated that a bio-purification process for lactic acid employing the engineered E. coli strain cultivated in a membrane bioreactor is a technically feasible concept, paving the way for further technological advancement.
Implementation of energy-efficient technologies in the activities of the enterprise
Authors: Tkachenko Pavlo , Yevdokymova Alona , Yevdokymov Andrii
Published: March 2024

The issue of increasing energy efficiency at enterprises combines scientific, economic, social and environmental aspects. The increase in energy consumption leads to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution. Increasing energy efficiency allows reducing the negative impact on the environment and reducing energy costs. This contributes to increasing the competitiveness of enterprises and stimulates innovative development. Analysis of scientific publications on energy efficiency at enterprises of various industries shows significant interest of researchers in this topic. The main areas of research include: eco-innovation and sustainable development: Researchers focus on the importance of energy-efficient technologies in the context of sustainable development and conservation of natural resources. Sector Specifics: Each industry has its own specifics and challenges, and research is aimed at developing optimal solutions for each sector. Technological aspects: researchers are studying various energy-efficient technologies that can reduce energy consumption and improve the efficiency of business processes. Big data technologies, artificial intelligence, cloud technologies and other IT solutions aimed at increasing energy efficiency are studied. The main goal of this scientific article is to consider various energy-efficient technologies that can be used at enterprises to reduce energy consumption and optimize resources. Analysis of various lighting systems, heating and air conditioning systems, energy-efficient production system technologies, energy-efficient transport systems, energy efficiency management information technologies, energy-efficient building materials and structures, and energy generation and storage technologies is carried out. The implementation of these energy-efficient technologies in enterprises can have many positive consequences, such as reducing energy costs, increasing competitiveness, increasing profitability, creating new jobs and developing innovative potential. Based on the results of the research, conclusions were drawn.
Company strategic development in the context оf ensuring its financial security
Authors: Hrytsenko Larysa , Derkach Liliia , Riabenkov Oleksii , Hrytsenko Oleksandr
Published: March 2024

Ensuring the development of companіes as one of the conditions for the country's economic sustainability is of particular relevance in today's environment. The development of a company largely depends on ensuring the optimal level of financial security, which is an important condition for its effective functioning. Therefore, this paper proposes to consider ensuring financial security as the most relevant and priority decision when choosing a company development strategy, which will be beneficial in most circumstances of a changing market environment. Thus, the purpose of the paper is to study the theoretical and practical foundations of ensuring financial security of a company as a strategic approach and, consequently, a guarantee of development of such a company in the long run. The paper outlines the interrelation of the concept of strategic development with the economic category of "financial security", which results in determining that financial security is the basis for ensuring the prospects for the development of business activities. The categorical and conceptual apparatus of company financial security is detailed. Thanks to the study of the essence of strategic development and financial security, an understanding of these economic categories has been formed, which has allowed to formulate a concept of company strategic development aimed at preserving and strengthening its financial security as a condition for its uninterrupted functioning. The paper describes the essence of the components of the formed concept, including, in particular, the choice of strategy, analysis of the environment, definition of tasks and methods of their implementation, implementation of the strategy, evaluation of the results obtained and, if necessary, adjustment of strategic aspects. It is determined that the course of strategic planning and, accordingly, a qualified approach to its implementation are extremely important. These key aspects can provide a foundation for the smooth functioning of companіes and promote their sustainable development, which will ensure competitiveness, investment attractiveness and economic growth of the country.
Entanglement-enabled symmetry-breaking orders
Authors: Lin Cheng-Ju , Zou Liujun
Published: March 2024

A spontaneous symmetry-breaking order is conventionally described by a tensor-product wavefunction of some few-body clusters; some standard examples include the simplest ferromagnets and valence bond solids. We discuss a type of symmetry-breaking orders, dubbed entanglement-enabled symmetry-breaking orders, which cannot be realized by any such tensor-product state. Given a symmetry breaking pattern, we propose a criterion to diagnose if the symmetry-breaking order is entanglement-enabled, by examining the compatibility between the symmetries and the tensor-product description. For concreteness, we present an infinite family of exactly solvable gapped models on one-dimensional lattices with nearest-neighbor interactions, whose ground states exhibit entanglement-enabled symmetry-breaking orders from a discrete symmetry breaking. In addition, these ground states have gapless edge modes protected by the unbroken symmetries. We also propose a construction to realize entanglement-enabled symmetry-breaking orders with spontaneously broken continuous symmetries. Under the unbroken symmetries, some of our examples can be viewed as symmetry-protected topological states that are beyond the conventional classifications.
Ensino fundamental e o envelhecimento: Revisão da literatura
Authors: Ferreira Lydiane da Silva Fernandes Vaz , Varoto Vania Aparecida Gurian
Published: March 2024

O fenômeno do envelhecimento é uma tendência mundial. Em todos os ciclos da vida este processo está presente, e medidas de conscientização sobre o envelhecer individual e coletivo devem ser valorizadas e desenvolvidas no contexto educacional. Este artigo se propôs a realizar uma revisão bibliográfica sobre o conteúdo do envelhecimento no ensino fundamental, através de uma pesquisa quali-quantitativa, e busca nas bases de dados selecionadas e pelos descritores educação, gerontologia, idoso e ensino fundamental, e suas combinações. Os critérios de inclusão foram publicações completas, de livre acesso, entre 2011-2021, nas línguas português, inglês e espanhol. Das produções encontradas, 63 delas apresentaram relevância baixa, e 2 altas que refletem experiências no Distrito Federal e no Estado de São Paulo, destacando a importância de introduzir temas sobre envelhecimento nas escolas de forma estruturada e alinhada ao currículo pedagógico, experiência indicada na política educacional do Estado de São Paulo. Essa abordagem alinha-se com a formação do cidadão e os movimentos participativos, que oportunizam ações e se articulam intersetorialmente, projetando medidas de envelhecimento saudável à comunidade. Este estudo se mostra relevante e destaca que medidas intergeracionais devem se propagar no contexto escolar para eliminação de preconceito e promoção de atitudes positivas sobre o envelhecimento.
Combinatorial Synthesis of Chiral Esters from Fruit Aroma in Continuous-Flow Reactors by Chemical and Enzymatic Catalysis
Authors: Melo Calionara Waleska , Santana Yasmin , Silva Rodrigo , Bezerra Marco Antônio , Bizzo Humberto , Souza Rodrigo Octavio , Leão Raquel Ana , Rezende Claudia
Published: March 2024

Short-chain chiral esters are important constituents in natural fruit flavors, as well as in food and pharmaceutical industries. Different chemical and bio-catalytic routes are used for their synthesis, but the use of simultaneous techniques has not been much explored, as combinatorial synthesis and bio-catalysis in continuous-flow systems. Here, the objective was to synthesize chiral esters typically found in fruit flavors, to obtain chemical libraries with high conversion and enantiomeric excess, using combinations of these three techniques. Combinatorial synthesis in continuous-flow coil-type reactors with fix bed was used in the esterification of the secondary alcohols 2-butanol (1a), 2-pentanol (1b), 3-hexanol (1c), 2-heptanol (1d) and 2-octanol (1e) with acetic (2) and propanoic (3) acids. A surface-response method was applied to optimize the reaction conditions. Conversions were above 88% after 60 min for the reaction with chemical catalysts in continuousflow reactors compared to 85%, but after 120 min, when conventional batch processes were used. By applying a biocatalyst, a chemical library of R acetates was prepared, with conversions over 48% after 48 h for batch and 40% after only 70 min for continuous flow reactions. It was observed that both enzymatic and homogeneous chemical catalysis showed to be viable for the chiral esters.
Assessment of concentrations of heavy metals in three leafy vegetables irrigated with wastewater in Hadnet district, Mekelle, Ethiopia
Authors: Tadesse Hailekiros , Sbhatu Desta Berhe , Gebreyohannes Gebreselema
Published: March 2024

Mekelle is one of the Ethiopian cities suitable for urban and peri-urban agriculture for cultivating leafy vegetables using wastewater. The consumption of unprocessed and processed leafy vegetables is also very high in the city. Wastewater samples collected from four experimental sites (ESs) in Hadnet district of the city had higher concentrations in 4 (i.e., Cd, Cr, Cu, and Mn) of the 10 heavy metals tested than the permissible limit established by pertinent standards. Spring water samples collected from another site called Kallamino, designated as a comparison site, also had higher concentrations in 4 (i.e., Al, As, Cd, and Cu) of the 10 heavy metals tested. However, the leafy vegetables grown in the least contaminated ES had higher concentrations in 6-7 of the 10 heavy metals tested. The lettuce and spinach samples had elevated concentrations of As and Al, respectively. The wastewater used to irrigate vegetable farms in Hadnet district is not safe enough. More importantly, the soils of the farms might have accumulated far more heavy metals. The cultivated lettuce, spinach, and cauliflower are highly contaminated. Thus, the use of wastewater for irrigating urban and peri-urban farms needs to be regulated.
Metáforas y analogías zoológicas en la construcción conceptual de sujetos y prácticas fronterizas
Authors: Benedetti Alejandro , Salizzi Esteban , Millán María del Rosario
Published: March 2024

El objetivo es problematizar analogías y metáforas utilizadas para hacer referencia a artefactos, fenómenos, prácticas y sujetos vinculados a las fronteras interestatales latinoamericanas, en diferentes escalas temporales. Busca describir y analizar los diferentes usos expresivos y argumentativos de estos recursos valorados por su utilidad para concentrar la atención sobre ciertos atributos o rasgos del objeto de conocimiento que se está construyendo, lo que otorga familiaridad y proximidad. Sin embargo, se trata de artilugios que muchas veces colaboran en cristalizar imágenes estereotipadas, estigmatizantes y restan potencial crítico a las investigaciones. A través de su empleo se genera un potencial riesgo de simplificación analítica y transferencia de sentidos asociados a sesgos ideológicos. Para desarrollar el trabajo se sistematiza un corpus conformado por artículos de prensa, informes y publicaciones académicas, referidos a fronteras interestatales latinoamericanas, donde se centra la mirada en el uso dado a tres palabras: mulas, coyotes y hormigas.
The Multiple Roles of Heat Shock Proteins in the Development of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Su Jinfeng , Wang Haiyan , Wang Zun
Published: March 2024

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic inflammatory condition of the
human intestine, comprises Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). IBD
causes severe gastrointestinal symptoms and increases the risk of developing
colorectal carcinoma. Although the etiology of IBD remains ambiguous, complex
interactions between genetic predisposition, microbiota, epithelial barrier, and immune
factors have been implicated. The disruption of intestinal homeostasis is a cardinal
characteristic of IBD. Patients with IBD exhibit intestinal microbiota dysbiosis, impaired
epithelial tight junctions, and immune dysregulation; however, the relationship between
them is not completely understood. As the largest body surface is exposed to the
external environment, the gastrointestinal tract epithelium is continuously subjected to
environmental and endogenous stressors that can disrupt cellular homeostasis and
survival. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are endogenous factors that play crucial roles in
various physiological processes, such as maintaining intestinal homeostasis and
influencing IBD progression. Specifically, HSPs share an intricate association with
microbes, intestinal epithelium, and the immune system. In this review, we aim to
elucidate the impact of HSPs on IBD development by examining their involvement in
the interactions between the intestinal microbiota, epithelial barrier, and immune
system. The recent clinical and animal models and cellular research delineating the
relationship between HSPs and IBD are summarized. Additionally, new perspectives
on IBD treatment approaches have been proposed.
Exploring Women’s Childbirth Experiences in Labor Induction versus Expectant Management: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Adjie Josef Maria Seno , Rosari Teresa Catalina , Priscilla Janice
Published: March 2024

Background:

Negative childbirth experiences impact the well-being of women and their
families. With rising induction of labor (IOL) rates and the inconsistent evidence regarding its
impact on childbirth experiences, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate
the overall effect of IOL versus expectant management on women’s childbirth experiences, defined
as a woman’s self-assessment of her lasting memories of the childbirth event.

Methods:

We searched databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, ProQuest
and EBSCO) for RCTs and observational studies from 1970 to September 2023. Inclusion criteria
covered women aged 19 and older with live, singleton, cephalic pregnancies at 37 0/7 until 41 6/7
weeks gestation. Quality was assessed using the Jadad and Newcastle-Ottawa Scales. RevMan 5.4
software and random-effects meta-analysis were used, adhering to PRISMA guidelines.

Results:

Of the 1.467 screened articles, we included nine studies from five European countries. Six
studies (2.376 women) used the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ). Overall CEQ scores
showed no significant IOL vs. expectant management differences (MD = 0.01 [95% CI -0.06, 0.08];
p=0.78; I2 = 65%). Subgroup analyses favored IOL in RCTs (MD = 0.07 [95% CI 0.02, 0.13];
p=0.006; I2 = 0%) and studies with ≥500 participants (MD = 0.09 [95% CI 0.02, 0.15]; p=0.006; I2
= 0%). Conversely, four studies (48.324 women) using the Childbirth Experience Visual Analogue
Scale (VAS) favored expectant management (OR = 0.73 [95% CI 0.63, 0.85]; p<0.001; I2 = 86%).

Conclusion:

VAS assessments suggest a more positive childbirth experience with the expectant
management group. Improvements in the IOL process, transfer to delivery, and pain relief
administration may benefit the IOL group. In contrast, the overall CEQ scores did not significantly
differ between groups. Clinical practice should consider individualized approaches that align with
patient needs and medical contexts. Limitations, such as variability in study quality and data
heterogeneity, should be acknowledged.
An Extended Feature Representation Technique for Predicting
Sequenced-based Host-pathogen Protein-protein Interaction
Authors: Emmanuel Jerry , Isewon Itunuoluwa , Olasehinde Grace , Oyelade Jelili
Published: March 2024

Background:

The use of machine learning models in sequence-based Protein-Protein Interaction
prediction typically requires the conversion of amino acid sequences into feature vectors.
From the literature, two approaches have been used to achieve this transformation. These are referred
to as the Independent Protein Feature (IPF) and Merged Protein Feature (MPF) extraction
methods. As observed, studies have predominantly adopted the IPF approach, while others preferred
the MPF method, in which host and pathogen sequences are concatenated before feature encoding.

Objective:

This presents the challenge of determining which approach should be adopted for improved
HPPPI prediction. Therefore, this work introduces the Extended Protein Feature (EPF)
method.

Methods:

The proposed method combines the predictive capabilities of IPF and MPF, extracting essential
features, handling multicollinearity, and removing features with zero importance. EPF, IPF,
and MPF were tested using bacteria, parasite, virus, and plant HPPPI datasets and were deployed to
machine learning models, including Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Multilayer
Perceptron (MLP), Naïve Bayes (NB), Logistic Regression (LR), and Deep Forest (DF).

Results:

The results indicated that MPF exhibited the lowest performance overall, whereas IPF performed
better with decision tree-based models, such as RF and DF. In contrast, EPF demonstrated
improved performance with SVM, LR, NB, and MLP and also yielded competitive results with DF
and RF.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the EPF approach developed in this study exhibits substantial improvements
in four out of the six models evaluated. This suggests that EPF offers competitiveness with
IPF and is particularly well-suited for traditional machine learning models.
Tabersonine Induces the Apoptosis of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma In vitro and
In vivo
Authors: Li Xuan , Li Xudan , Chen Lianghua , Deng Yuan , Zheng Zhizhong , Ming Yanlin
Published: March 2024

Background:

Tabersonine, a natural indole alkaloid derived from Apocynaceae plants, exhibits antiinflammatory
and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities, among other pharmacological effects. However, its
anti-tumor properties and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain underexplored.

Objective:

The present study aims to investigate the anti-tumor effects of tabersonine and its mechanisms in inducing
apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods:

The inhibitory effects of tabersonine on the viability and proliferation of liver cancer cells were evaluated
using MTT assay and colony formation assay. AO/EB, Hoechst, and Annexin V-FITC/ PI staining techniques
were employed to observe cell damage and apoptosis. JC-1 staining was used to detect changes in mitochondrial
membrane potential. Western blot analysis was conducted to study the anti-tumor mechanism of tabersonine
on liver cancer cells. Additionally, a xenograft model using mice hepatoma HepG2 cells was established
to assess the anti-tumor potency of tabersonine in vivo.

Results and Discussion:

Our findings revealed that tabersonine significantly inhibited cell viability and proliferation,
inducing apoptosis in liver cancer cells. Treatment with tabersonine inhibited Akt phosphorylation, reduced
mitochondrial membrane potential, promoted cytochrome c release from mitochondria to the cytoplasm, and
increased the ratio of Bax to Bcl-2. These findings suggested that tabersonine induces apoptosis in liver cancer
cells through the mitochondrial pathway. Furthermore, tabersonine treatment activated the death receptor pathway
of apoptosis. In vivo studies demonstrated that tabersonine significantly inhibited xenograft tumor growth.

Conclusion:

Our study is the first to demonstrate that tabersonine induces apoptosis in HepG2 cells through both
mitochondrial and death receptor apoptotic pathways, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent candidate for
hepatic cancer.
Envisioning the Future: Nanomicelles Revolutionizing Ocular Drug
Delivery
Authors: Modi Chetna , Gadhvi Varsha , Prajapati Bhupendra G.
Published: March 2024

Due to the complexities of the eye's anatomy and physiology, achieving targeted drug delivery
with minimal harm to healthy eye tissues has proven to be difficult. The focus of the review is
on the potential of lipid and polymer micelle-based drug delivery systems, specifically nanomicelles,
to overcome these challenges and improve the absorption of insoluble drugs. Nanomicelles offer
several advantages, such as enhanced drug release kinetics, increased drug incorporation, and improved
formulation of hydrophobic medicines. The review provides insights into various excipients,
preparation methods, and evaluation techniques used in nanomicellar-based drug delivery systems.
Furthermore, the review highlights current research and patents related to nanomicelles in ocular
drug delivery, suggesting growing interest and potential for future developments in this field. Nanomicelles
present a promising approach that may revolutionize ocular drug delivery and open new
possibilities for treating various ocular diseases while minimizing adverse effects on healthy eye tissues.
Una especie nueva más del género Dahlia (Asteraceae, Coreopsideae): ¿estamos cerca de conocer su diversidad total?
Authors: Reyes-Santiago Jerónimo , Ortiz-Brunel Juan Pablo , Lichter-Marck Isaac H. , Castro-Castro Arturo
Published: March 2024

Antecedentes y Objetivos: El género Dahlia es cultural y económicamente apreciado. Las exploraciones botánicas en áreas de riqueza para Dahlia siguen aportando novedades taxonómicas. Los objetivos de esta comunicación son describir a la nueva especie D. gypsicola, y compararla morfológica y ecológicamente con D. calzadana, proveer un mapa de distribución, ilustraciones, una clave de identificación para Dahlia de la región biocultural Cañada-Mixteca en Oaxaca, México, y análisis de acumulación de especies. Métodos: Nuestro estudio se basó en exploraciones de campo, revisión de especímenes de herbario y análisis de colecciones vivas. Se determinó el estado de conservación considerando el área de distribución y criterios y categorías de la Lista Roja de la UICN. Para medir el esfuerzo de muestreo se realizó un análisis predictivo de riqueza considerando 41 especies de Dahlia y 2297 registros de herbario recolectados entre 1791-2021. Resultados clave: Dahlia gypsicola es miembro de Dahlia sección Dahlia; relacionada morfológicamente con D. calzadana. Se diferencia por el hábito herbáceo, hojas y tallos semisuculentos, peciolos y capítulos más pequeños, más capítulos por sinflorescencia y menos flores del disco por capítulo. Además, ambas especies son alopátricas y no comparten preferencias ecológicas ni fenología. Se propone la categoría En Peligro Crítico (CR B1a) para D. gypsicola y En Peligro (EN B1a) para D. calzadana. Los predictores de riqueza muestran que el número de especies conocidas de Dahlia está casi completo: el inventario se acerca al 95% y el número previsto de especies es cercano a 43. Conclusiones: Un conocimiento completo de la diversidad de Dahlia podría potenciar programas de fitomejoramiento con impactos económicos y culturales, porque las posibilidades de generar nuevos cultivares son amplias. Se recomienda continuar explorando e incrementar las colecciones botánicas, porque pueden existir especies no descritas donde los centros de endemismo de gipsófitas se superponen con áreas de riqueza de Dahlia.
Biblioteca Agropecuaria de Colombia :una ventana al conocimiento agropecuario. ¡Descubrir, conocer y aplicar!
Authors:   Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria - AGROSAVIA,   Ministerio de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural
Published: March 2024

En el presente plegable se da a conocer la historia de la Biblioteca Agropecuaria de Colombia, los recursos y servicios con los que cuenta
Análisis para la cadena productiva de flores y follajes desde las herramientas de gestión tecnológica. Caso de estudio: Rosas (Rosacae)
Authors: Flórez Martínez Diego Hernando , Vargas Alvarado Sandra Carolina
Published: March 2024

El sector agropecuario, se caracteriza por ser aquel que aporta al PIB de Colombia el 9%, con variaciones estimadas en crecimiento para el 2012 de un 4% (Revista Dinero, 2012), donde la distribución por subsectores, ha tenido dinámicas disimiles acorde con los cambios y variabilidad de oferta y demanda tanto del mercado interno como externo (Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística, 2010). En el marco del fortalecimiento a nivel de I+D+i desde la política nacional, se establecen directrices para garantizar que el Sistema Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología Agropecuaria (SNCTA), impulsado por el Ministerio de Agricultura y Desarrollo Rural– MADR a través del proyecto “Transición de la Agricultura”, el cual inició en el 2006 una serie de estudios con miras a la definición de las Agendas Prospectivas de Investigación de 20 cadenas productivas, donde actualmente se encuentra en desarrollo del SNCTA –SIEMBRA como plataforma de información del sector
Estudio de inteligencia competitiva para la cadena productiva de la sábila
Authors: Flórez Martínez Diego Hernando
Published: March 2024

Este documento se construye como un estudio exploratorio para el fortalecimiento de la cadena productiva de la sábila en Colombia, contemplando aspectos de la variable comercial y la variable tecnológica que permitan fortalecer los procesos de formulación, ejecución y evaluación de la agenda de investigación, establecer lineamientos estratégicos y conocer la dinámica del entorno frente a este producto del sector agropecuario/agroindustrial. La sábila o aloe vera, es una planta de hojas suculentas elongadas y espinosas en el margen, se encuentra en regiones tropicales y subtropicales, también se pueden encontrar en regiones desérticas y semidesérticas
Exploring the Pathways of Diabetes Foot Complications Treatment and Investigating Experiences From Frontline Health Care Professionals: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study
Authors: Andrikopoulou Elisavet , Chatzistergos Panagiotis , Chockalingam Nachiappan
Published: March 2024

Background

Diabetes affects more than 4.3 million individuals in the United Kingdom, with 19% to 34% developing diabetes-related foot ulceration (DFU) during their lifespan, which can lead to an amputation. In the United Kingdom, every week, approximately 169 people have an amputation due to diabetes. Preventing first-ever ulcers is the most effective strategy to reduce the occurrence of diabetes-related amputations, but research in this space is lacking.

Objective

This protocol seeks to document the experiences and perspectives of frontline health care professionals who work with people who have diabetes and diabetes-related foot problems. Special attention is given to their perceptions of barriers to effective care, their views about barriers to effective and inclusive engagement with people with diabetes, and their experience with the first-ever DFU. Another aspect of the study is the focus on whether clinical management is affected by data sharing, data availability, and interoperability issues.

Methods

This is a mixed methods explanatory protocol, which is sequential, and its purpose is to use the qualitative data to explain the initial quantitative data collected through a survey of frontline health care professionals. Data analysis of quantitative data will be completed first and then synthesized with the qualitative data analysis. Qualitative data will be analyzed using the framework method. This study will use joint displays to integrate the data. Ethical approval has been granted by the ethics committee of Staffordshire University.

Results

The quantitative data collection started in March 2023 and will close in May 2024. The qualitative interviews commenced in November 2023 with volunteer participants who initially completed the survey.

Conclusions

This study’s survey focuses on data interoperability and the interviews focus more on the perspectives and experiences of clinicians and their perceived barriers for the effective management of diabetes foot ulcers. Including a geographically relevant and diverse cohort of health care professionals that spans a wide range of roles and care settings involved in diabetes-related foot care is very important for the successful application of this protocol. Special care is given to advertise and promote participation as widely as possible. The qualitative part of this protocol is also limited to 30-40 interview participants, as it is not realistic to interview higher numbers, due to time and resource constraints.

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/54852
Deep Learning for Structuring Epidemiological Reports and Temporal Event Extraction: A TBNN Model Study (Preprint)
Authors: zhang liang , zhang bing , Li Ning , Chu Yanru , Jiao Xiaokang , Jiao Zengtao , chen yi
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND

The ongoing global health emergency has brought to the fore the need for quick and precise analysis of epidemiological investigations, as traditional methods have proven to be inadequate and limited in their ability to extract crucial information. To address this challenge, this study introduces an innovative deep learning approach: a Time-Based Neural Network (TBNN), which aims to efficiently extract and organize important data from epidemiological investigation reports.

OBJECTIVE

To streamline and enhance the process of extracting essential information from epidemiological investigation reports, this study focuses on patient event data. The proposed TBNN model integrates temporal-aware deep learning algorithms to improve the efficiency of information processing. The anticipated outcome is a significant enhancement in the efficacy of epidemic response mechanisms.

METHODS

The Time-Based Neural Network (TBNN) method employs a synergistic approach by integrating a pre-trained Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) language model with a Bi-directional Long Short-Term Memory (Bi-LSTM) network for information extraction. This technique involves the generation of time-enhanced textual representations, targeted extraction of information, and the assimilation of temporal dynamics, offering a holistic strategy for processing unstructured data in epidemiological investigation reports. To ensure robustness, the model training and validation are conducted using the ECR-COVID-19 dataset.

RESULTS

Experimental results demonstrate that TBNN outperforms existing models in event extraction, specifically in terms of precision, recall, and F1 scores. The model's operational efficiency is highlighted by its capability to process reports efficiently on a commonly available 4-core Intel i5-class CPU, underscoring its practical feasibility for deployment in real-world epidemiological investigations.

CONCLUSIONS

The TBNN model offers a promising solution for refining data extraction and structuring within epidemiological investigation reports, providing a more efficient and accurate method for information extraction. The performance and efficiency of the model underscore its potential use in improving the overall capacity of epidemic responses during large-scale outbreaks.
DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF NANOBIOCOMPOSITE TOPICAL FORMULATION
Authors: JADAV MANISHA , PATEL VANDANA , LATA JHA LALIT
Published: March 2024

Objective: The proposed research involving transferosomes within a hydrogel matrix offers a promising approach for enhanced wound healing. This system aims to facilitate the dermal delivery of nanosized curcumin while incorporating Ascorbic acid and Salicylic acid. The integration of these components holds the potential for advancing chronic wound therapy.
Methods: Curcumin transferosomes were formulated by the lipid thin film hydration method and further optimization was carried out using 32 full factorial design. The transferosome formulation, prepared using phospholipon 90G, involved selecting specific variables: the quantity of edge activator and sonication duration as independent factors, while the optimization process considered particle size and entrapment efficiency as dependent variables. Following the optimization of the transferosomes, a hydrogel formulation was developed using the central composite design approach.
Results: Optimized transferosome (Batch F8) showed 87.75±3.74 nm (nanometer) particle size and 91.18±2.71% entrapment efficiency. Hydrogel was formulated by Central composite design, selecting pH and spreadability as dependent factors, to which was added curcumin transferosomes, Ascorbic acid and Salicylic acid. The data was analyzed using Stat-ease Design-Expert v7.0.0 software. The optimized batch F3 showed a pH of 6.84, spreadability of 12.89 gm. cm/sec and Curcumin release of 87.47%. Drug release from nanobiocomposite hydrogel was evaluated using the in vitro study of the formulation. The various kinetic models were applied to in vitro release data for the prediction of the drug release kinetic mechanism. The release constants were calculated from the slope of appropriate plots, and the regression coefficient (R2) was determined. It was found that the in vitro drug release of the formulation was best explained by Higuchi as the plots show the highest linearity. The regression coefficient (R2) was found to be 0.907, 0.9266 and 0.9536 for Ascorbic acid, Salicylic acid and Curcumin, respectively.
Conclusion: The nanobiocomposite topical formulation was thus prepared, tested and for skin irritancy study. There is no noticeable signs of erythema, edema, or inflammation were observed on the skin. These results indicate that the developed transdermal formulation does not cause skin irritation and can be considered non-irritating.
DESIGN AND IN VIVO EVALUATION OF NAPROXEN-LOADED TRANSFEROSOMAL GEL FOR TRANSDERMAL DELIVERY
Authors: BINDU E. HIMA , G. V. RADHA
Published: March 2024

Objective: The main objective of the present study was to formulate, optimize, and evaluate naproxen transfersomal gels.
Methods: Reverse phase evaporation was used to create thirteen different formulations of naproxen-loaded transfersomes. Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Central Composite Designs (CCD), the influence of independent process variables, such as soy lecithin, cholesterol content and surfactant concentration, on dependent variables, such as entrapment effectiveness and vesicle size of naproxen transfersomes, was assessed. In vitro, ex-vivo, and in vivo drug release of formulations were also studied.
Results: It was discovered that the NTG7 formulation of transfersomes had the maximum entrapment effectiveness and ideal vesicle diameter. The optimized NTG7 formulation displayed a maximum drug content of 97.4% and a maximum drug release of 88.03%. The release of naproxen from the final gel adhered to the Korsmeyer-Peppas release model. The ex-vivo drug release of the optimized formulation was found to be 85.91% for 24 h. The maximum drug concentration after oral administration was 843.54±7.67ng/ml, and Tmax was 3.0±0.08h. The improved formulation's AUC0-∞ was greater than the commercial formulation's. A higher drug concentration in the blood compared to the marketed formulation suggested better systemic absorption of naproxen from the gel formulation. After three months, at a temperature range of 2 to 8 °C, the formulation demonstrated correct semisolid consistency and good stability and there was also no appreciable change in the initial values of appearance, pH, and % drug content.
Conclusion: The above findings imply that the gel created using naproxen-loaded transfersomes may be a potentially valuable new formulation.
THE DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF ANALYTICAL METHOD FOR EVALUATING GALLIC ACID IN ETHYL ACETATE FRACTION (EAF) OF SNEDDS FORMULATION: QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS WITH IN VITRO ASSAY
Authors: APRIDAMAYANTI PRATIWI , PRATIWI LIZA , SARI RAFIKA
Published: March 2024

Objective: This study aimed to develop a simple, accurate, precise, sensitive, robust, and stable analytical method for the evaluation of gallic acid in Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery System (SNEDDS) incorporating ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) of Melastoma malabathricum leaves in combination with Gentamicin. Methods: Validation process followed ICH guidelines and applied a reverse phase HPLC method with a mobile phase of acetonitrile-phosphoric buffer at pH 3.03 (20:80 v/v). The stationary phase consisted of a VP-ODS shim-pack C-18 column (250x4.6 mm) with a flow rate of 0.2 ml/min and detection at 263 nm using an Ultraviolet detector. Additionally, antioxidant activity was assessed through the DPPH and FRAP methods, and SPF value was determined with a UV/Vis spectrophotometer in the 290-390 nm wavelength range. Results: The results showed that the retention time of quercetin was 16.648 min with a tailing factor of 1.623. The regression equation (y=224689x-989000) had a concentration range of 10-55 µg/ml and a correlation value of 0.9920. Limit of Detection (LOD) and Limit of Quantification (LOQ) were found to be 2.394±0.086 and 7.254±0.260 µg/ml, respectively. Method accuracy, determined by recovery values at concentrations of 50%, 100%, and 150%, ranged from 91.18% to 109.49%. Repeatability inter-day variations were expressed as %RSD values of 1.027-1.963% for AUC and 0.150-0.145 for RT. Moreover, the applied method showed stability within a temperature range of 14 °C–35 °C. Analysis showed gallic acid content of 1.773±0.049 mg/g in SNEDDS EAF formulation. Antioxidant activity measured through the DPPH and FRAP methods yielded IC50 values of 4.167±0.552 µg/ml and 20.253±0.619 µg/ml, respectively, while SPF value at SNEDDS concentration of 150 µg/ml was 36.993±0.183. Conclusion: This study successfully developed a precise, accurate, specific, and stable method for quantifying gallic acid levels in SNEDDS EAF of Melastoma malabathricum leaves in combination with Gentamicin. Therefore, SNEDDS EAF formulation exhibited an effective wound-healing potential, supported by a robust quality control process.
NANOENCAPSULATION OF ETHANOL EXTRACT OF PAPAYA LEAF (CARICA PAPAYA LINN.) USING CHITOSAN AND TESTING ITS EFFECTIVENESS AS AN ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
Authors: ANDRIE MOHAMAD , TAURINA WINTARI
Published: March 2024

Objective: Papaya is a plant typical of West Kalimantan which has many properties such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimalarial, and antibacterial. This research aims to formulate ethanol extract of papaya leaves into a nanoencapsulated preparation and test its effectiveness as an anti-inflammatory.
Methods: Nanoparticle formulations made with the ionic gelation method use polymer chitosan (0.25%-1%) with crosslinker sodium tripolyphosphate (0.25%). Nanoencapsulation ethanol extract of papaya leaf was evaluated for characteristics including particle size distribution, index polydispersity, zeta potential, particle morphology, and entrapment efficiency. Furthermore, The efficacy of anti-inflammatory nanoencapsulation was then evaluated on male Wistar rats with carrageenan-induced inflammation using doses of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg. The assessment of anti-inflammatory activity utilized the Rat hind paw edema method by observing the development of inflammation in the volume of the soles of the test animals' paws.
Results: The results of nanoencapsulation characterization showed that papaya ethanol extract in Formula 1 with a ratio of Chitosan: Papaya Leaf Extract Ethanol: NaTPP = 6:1:1 was the best formula, exhibiting an average particle size of 217.3±47.8 nm, a polydispersity index value of 0.271, a zeta potential value of+34.3 mV, an entrapment efficiency value of 65.54, and a particle morphology that is less spherical. The test for anti-inflammatory activity of papaya leaf ethanol extract nanoparticles, administered orally at a dosage of 200 mg/kgBW, demonstrated the highest percentage of anti-inflammatory efficacy at 61.538%. In comparison, the positive control group (diclofenac sodium) exhibited 54.325%, and the low-dose group (100 mg/kgBW) showed 51.585%. The results showed that the ethanol extract of papaya, when nanoencapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles, exhibits good characteristics and has significant potential for inhibiting inflammation in male Wistar rats induced by carrageenan.
Conclusion: The characterization results of the optimal chitosan-ethanol papaya leaf extract nanoparticles were obtained using Formula 1. Nanoparticles of chitosan-ethanol extract from papaya leaves at doses I and II exhibited anti-inflammatory activity that was not significantly different.
REVOLUTIONIZING DRUG DELIVERY INNOVATION: LEVERAGING AI-DRIVEN CHATBOTS FOR ENHANCED EFFICIENCY
Authors: MALKAWI RUBA
Published: March 2024

This study aims to delineate the pivotal role of ChatGPT, an Artificial intelligence-driven (AI) language model, in revolutionizing drug delivery research within the pharmaceutical sciences domain. The investigation adopted a structured approach involving systematic literature exploration across databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, IEEE Xplore, and Google Scholar. A selection criterion emphasizing peer-reviewed articles, conference proceedings, patents, and seminal texts highlights the integration of AI-driven chatbots, specifically ChatGPT, into various facets of drug delivery research and development. ChatGPT exhibits multifaceted contributions to drug delivery innovation, streamlining drug formulation optimization, predictive modeling, regulatory compliance, and fostering patient-centric approaches. Real-world case studies have underscored its efficacy in expediting drug development timelines and enhancing research efficiency. This paper delves into the diverse applications of ChatGPT, showcasing its potential across drug delivery systems. It elucidates its capabilities in accelerating research phases, facilitating formulation development, predictive modeling for efficacy and safety, and simplifying regulatory compliance. This discussion outlines the transformative impact of ChatGPT in reshaping drug delivery methodologies. In conclusion, ChatGPT, an AI-driven chatbot, has emerged as a transformative tool in pharmaceutical research. Their integration expedites drug development pipelines, ensures effective drug delivery solutions, and augments healthcare advancements. Embracing AI tools such as ChatGPT has become pivotal in evolving drug delivery methodologies for global patient welfare.