bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
THE EFFECT OF GCG AND CSR ON PROFITABILITY WITH COMPANY AGE AS A MODERATING VARIABLE (STUDY ON MINING AND PLANTATION COMPANIES LISTED ON THE INDONESIA STOCK EXCHANGE)
Authors: Asri Ningtyas
Published: April 2023

Persaingan di dunia usaha saat ini, semakin ketat dan kompetitif dimana perusahaan dituntut untuk mampu mempertahankan usahanya serta perusahaan juga dituntut untuk lebih cermat dalam mengelola perusahaannya untuk mencapai keuntungan yang optimal. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis pengaruh GCG dan CSR terhadap profitabilitas dengan umur perusahaan sebagai variabel moderasi pada perusahaan pertambangan dan perkebunan yang terdaftar di Bursa Efek Indonesia (BEI). Sampel yang digunakan yaitu 26 perusahaan pertambangan dan perkebunan dengan 3 tahun periode pengamatan sehingga total sampel sebanyak 78 amatan. Jenis penelitian yang digunakan adalah kausalitas dengan pendekatan kuantitatif serta menggunakan sumber data sekunder. Data tersebut diuji dan dianalisis menggunakan SEM (Structural Equation Model) dengan program WarpPLS. Hasilnya menunjukkan bahwa GCG yang diproksikan menggunakan ukuran dewan komisaris dan CSR tidak berpengaruh terhadap profitabilitas dan sebaliknya GCG yang diproksikan dengan komite audit memiliki pengaruh positif terhadap profitabiitas. Hasil selanjutnya, umur perusahaan memperlemah hubungan antara ukuran dewan komisaris terhadap profitabilitas dan umur perusahaan tidak dapat memoderasi hubungan komite audit terhadap profitabilitas akan tetapi, umur perusahaan mampu memperkuat hubungan CSR terhadap profitabilitas.
Small intestine histologic neuronal features of type-2 diabetes mellitus rats treated with ethanolic extract red betel leaf (Piper crocatum) nanoparticle (EERbLNp)
Authors: Pangestiningsih Tri Wahyu , Primatika Roza Azizah , Budipitojo Teguh , Wendo Woro Danur
Published: April 2023

Objective: This study marked histological features of small intestine neurons in the type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rat model treated with ethanolic extract red betel leaf nanoparticle (EERbLNp)

Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats were allotted into five groups (six rats each). Group I is nondiabetic control; group II is streptozotocin-nicotinamide (STZ-NA)-induced T2DM; group III-V are the STZ-NA-induced T2DM treated daily per oral with EERbL-Np at the doses 30, 60, and 90 mg/kg, respectively, within 28days. The duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were collected for routine histological staining and cresyl violet special staining to evaluate the feature of neurons in the Meissner (submucosa) and Auerbach (muscular) plexus. Descriptive statistical analysis ANOVA and Tukey HSD were used to compare neuron indexes among groups.

Results: The necrotic neuron index in the duodenal and ileal Auerbach plexus, including the degenerative neuron index in the jejunal Auerbach plexus, were significantly decreased with the EERbL-Np treatment at the dosages 60 and 90mg/kg.

Conclusions: The 60 mg/kg EERbL-Np administration in the T2DM model may provide a neuroprotectant candidate in duodenal and ileal neuropathy. Dosage of 90mg/kg EERbL-Np is also promising in jejunal neuropathy treatment.
Breeding strategy and contract farming model to promote Boer Cross population continuity: A case study at Sadhana Arif Nusa Company Lombok Island West Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia)
Authors: Zaenuri Lalu Ahmad , Sumadiasa I Wayan Lanus , Pribadi Lalu Wira
Published: April 2023

Objective: This study aims to analyze population development strategies and contract farming models with East Lombok regency West Nusa Tenggara province farmers. This research was focused on SAN-C which is very concerned with the development of Boer goats and employing the people of East Lombok.

Methods: The study employed action research. Boer cross-goats data was obtained from the log book of SAN-C. Supporting data were obtained from in-depth interviews and FGDs with representatives of farmers, livestock traders, representatives of the East Lombok district government, and management representatives of SAN-C.

Results: This study found that the previous contract farming model with the credit system was changed to a profit-sharing system based on the weight of the goat. That is the difference in the final weight minus the initial weight multiplied by the price per kilogram divided by two. One part is for partners, and the other part is for SAN-C. Thus, the income for farmers is close to the minimum standard wage for the district of East Lombok.

Conclusion: By applying a new breeding strategy and contract farming models, the population of Boer cross increased sustainably. Similarly, the income of farmers will also increase. It is recommended that the new contract farming model can be applied to other farmers all over WNT. It was also recommended that both SAN-C and must make a selection, especially for F2 and F3 with the most superior phenotypes as stock breeders. Finally, excess feed production in the rainy season should be stored in the form of hay or silage to overcome the shortage of feed in the dry season.
CHOOSING A NEURAL NETWORK ARCHITECTURE FOR A VEHICLE AUTOPILOT
Authors: Dohadailo Oleksandr , Uspenskyi Valerii
Published: April 2023

In the paper the task of choosing a neural network architecture for creating an autopilot is considered. An autopilot was created for a virtual vehicle that can move along a defined route and respond to various traffic lights. The selected architecture, namely a convolutional neural network, has high efficiency in the task of image recognition. Autopilot consists of two convolutional neural networks, one of which recognizes the driving route, the other recognizes traffic light signals. Due to the large amount of noise, the traffic light recognition photos were processed to enhance the red channel and null the green and blue, which helped in the recognition of red and yellow colors. As an environment for training neural networks and testing the performance of the autopilot in general, a two-dimensional game with a top view was created. The autopilot model showed almost 100% accuracy in recognizing the route and traffic lights in the test environment. The positive test result showed that the autopilot can perform control in a simple environment and this gives the opportunity to complicate the operating environment. The proposed autopilot uses only images to navigate in space, which distinguishes it from the other existing autopilots and, in particular, makes it cheaper. The relevance of this work is based on studies of the increase in the number of vehicles and harmful emissions into the atmosphere in the future. In the paper the literary sources are analyzed, the rationale for choosing a neural network architecture is explained, the software implementation is described, the results of testing are shown, and the possible direction of development of this topic is indicated in the conclusions.
AXOIDS OF HOOKE’S JOINT
Authors: Koriak Oleksandr
Published: April 2023

The analysis of literary sources devoted to the research and construction of cardan transmissions using the Hooke's joint showed that the peculiarities of the spherical movement of the cardan joint crosspiece are insufficiently covered. This is explained by the relatively small weight of the crosspiece, due to which it almost does not affect the dynamics of the cardan transmission. The need to take into account the mass-geometric parameters of the crosspiece and to analyze comprehensively its movement may arise during accurate calculations of high-speed cardan transmissions. In this case, it is convenient to consider the movement of the crosspiece as rolling without sliding of the moving axoid on the stationary axoid. This approach makes it possible to more fully investigate the peculiarities of the spherical movement of the crosspiece and gives a visual representation of the orientation of its instantaneous axis of rotation in fixed and moving coordinate systems. Based on this, this work is devoted to the construction of a kinematic model of the Hooke's joint crosspiece, the movement of which is considered as rolling without sliding of a moving axoid on a stationary one.

As a result of the kinematic analysis of the Hooke's joint, the equations of the hodographs of the vector of the absolute angular velocity of the crosspiece in the fixed and moving coordinate systems were obtained, and the parameters of the fixed and moving axoids of the crosspiece of the cardan joint were determined. It is proved that the stationary axoid of the crosspiece of the Hooke's joint is an oblique elliptic cone with the apex in the center of the crosspiece, and its opposite generatrices, crossing the major axis of the guide ellipse, coincide with the axes of the drive and driven shafts of the joint. The moving axoid of the crosspiece is a closed conical surface with a variable opening angle, the maximum value of which is equal to twice the value of the interaxial transmission angle. With small values of the interaxial angle, which occur in the practice of using a single Hooke’s joint, a moving axoid can be approximately considered as a straight circular cone with a vertex in the center of the crosspiece and an opening angle equal to twice the value of the interaxial transmission angle. The error of this assumption increases rapidly with the increase of the interaxial transmission angle. The correctness of the obtained mathematical model was confirmed by computer modeling in the Autodesk Inventor environment.

The obtained results can be used in the study of dynamic processes that occur in cardan transmissions using Hooke's joint.
NEW INFORMATION OPERATORS IN PROBLEMS OF NUMERICAL INTEGRATION OF FUNCTIONS OF THREE VARIABLES
Authors: Nechuiviter Olesia , Ivanov Serhiy , Kovalchuk Kyrylo
Published: April 2023

The rapid development and implementation of the latest information technologies in many fields of science and technology contribute to the rise of new methods in mathematical modeling of systems and processes. In particular, new mathematical theories have appeared that can be effectively used for building and improvement of existing mathematical models of various phenomena and objects. One of these theories is the theory of new information operators, authored by the Laureate of the State Prize of Ukraine in Science and Technology, doctor of physical and mathematical sciences, professor (думаю, это излишняя информация в аннотации) O. M. Lytvyn. New information operators have found their application in the digital processing of signals and images, namely in the numerical integration of rapidly oscillating functions of many variables. Cubature formulas were built that are optimal in the order of accuracy and use the value of the non-oscillating factor of the integrand function not only at points, but also on planes or lines. The article demonstrates the application of new information operators to the numerical integration of functions of many variables, namely, the issue of approximate calculation of the integral from functions of three variables is considered in the case when the information about the function is given by its traces on the lines. The cubature formula uses an interlineation operator built on the basis of an interflatation operator with auxiliary functions in the form of piecewise constant splines. An estimate of the approximation error of the proposed cubature formula on the class of differentiable functions was obtained. The results of the calculation experiment in the computer mathematics system Mathcad are presented. Numerical calculations confirm the theoretical statements of the study.
ELASTIC TRANSVERSAL-ISOTROPIC SPACE WITH TWO UNIAXIAL PARALLEL CIRCULAR CRACKS AND ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS OF BASICITY
Authors: Nikolaev Oleksii , Krainychenko Alina
Published: April 2023

In the paper a problem of the stress state in a transversely isotropic space with two parallel circular cracks, the centers of which are located on the axis of anisotropy of the space, is investigated. A constant normal load acts on the crack planes. The problem is solved by the generalized Fourier method. For this purpose, systems of compressed spheroidal coordinates are introduced, the origins of which are connected to the centers of cracks. The general solution of the problem is constructed in the form of series based on axisymmetric variants of the general vector solutions of the system of equations of equilibrium of a transversely isotropic body in spheroidal coordinates, which were previously constructed by one of the authors of the paper. To implement the method, it is further generalized to compressed spheroidal coordinate systems with origins shifted along the axis. For this purpose, new addition theorems for basic vector displacements of transversally isotropic bodies in the above-mentioned coordinate systems are obtained. After applying the generalized Fourier method, the problem is reduced to an infinite system of linear algebraic equations. It is proved that under certain geometrical and mechanical conditions the operator of the system is a Fredholm operator. The reduction method is used for the numerical solution of the system. Graphs of normal stresses in the plane of one of the cracks outside its boundaries, as well as values of stress intensity factor at the top of the crack for different geometric parameters of the cracks, are obtained. The obtained results agree with the known value of the stress intensity factor in the problem with one crack. The practical convergence of the reduction method is studied.

As an important related problem, the problem of proving the basicity of a general axisymmetric set of external solutions of the system of equilibrium equations of a transversally isotropic body whose boundary is described in compressed spheroidal coordinates is considered. The key problem here is obtaining subtle estimates from below of the modulus of the determinant of the first boundary value problem. As a corollary of the obtained result, several important estimates from the theory of special functions are derived, in which Legendre functions of the second kind from a purely imaginary argument appear.
Анализ динамики эпидемического процесса COVID-19 в мире за неделю с 08.04.2023 г. по 14.04.2023 г.
Authors: Зимирова Анастасия , Поспелов Михаил , Иванова Александра , Дмитриева Людмила , Чумачкова Елена , Карнаухов Игорь , Щербакова Светлана , Кутырев Владимир
Published: April 2023

В обзоре представлен анализ эпидемиологической ситуации в странах мира по COVID-19 за неделю с 08.04.2023 г. по 14.04.2023 г.
Posibilités et défis de la clase inverse pour l'enseignement du français langue étrangère
Authors: Caravello Manuela , Huertas Abril Cristina A. , Gómez Parra María Elena
Published: April 2023

La classe inversée (« flipped classroom ») est une approche pédagogique consistant à « inverser » et à adapter les activités d’apprentissage traditionelles aux étudiants en utilisant la formation à distance et la formation en classe, et elle favorise la co-construction ou co-élaboration des apprentissages entre pairs et s’appuie sur l’apprentissage individuelle grâce aux Technologies de l’information et de la communication pour l’enseignement (TICE). Cette approche se prête particulièrement à l’enseignement/apprentissage des langues étrangères car elle offre aux élèves davantage d’occasions d’être exposés à la langue cible, à l’intérieur et à l’extérieur de la salle de classe, grâce aux nouvelles technologies. Pourtant très peu d’études sur la classe inversée se concentrent sur l’enseignement/apprentissage des langues. Cet article traite du concept de la classe inversée, en tenant compte de ses principaux fondements théoriques. Il analyse ensuite ses possibilités et ses défis dans le domaine de l'enseignement du français langue étrangère.

 

El aula invertida o flipped classroom es un enfoque pedagógico que consiste en “invertir” y adaptar las actividades de aprendizaje tradicionales al alumnado utilizando las ventajas de la educación a distancia y de la formación en el aula, fomentando la construcción y el desarrollo del aprendizaje de manera conjunta y entre iguales, y favoreciendo el aprendizaje individual a través de las Tecnologías del Aprendizaje y el Conocimiento (TAC). Este enfoque es especialmente interesante para los procesos de enseñanza-aprendizaje de lenguas extranjeras, pues ofrece al alumnado más oportunidades de estar en contacto con el idioma objetivo, tanto dentro como fuera del aula, mediante el uso de las nuevas tecnologías. Sin embargo, son limitados los estudios sobre el aula invertida que se centran en la enseñanza-aprendizaje de idiomas. Este artículo discute el concepto de aula invertida, teniendo en cuenta sus principales fundamentos teóricos, para posteriormente analizar sus posibilidades y principales en el ámbito de la enseñanza del francés como lengua extranjera.
"L' Art poétique" de Boileau Depreaux y sus traducciones al español en verso
Authors: García Calderón Ángeles
Published: April 2023

Trabajo que trata del conocido poema de Boileau Art poétique, formado por cuatro cantos y mil cien versos alejandrinos y de las traducciones al español en verso, ya comentadas por dos figuras literarias tan importantes como el cartagenero Marqués de Valmar y el santanderino Menéndez Pelayo. Tras un breve análisis de las cinco traducciones: la del jesuita Francisco Javier Alegre (1776), Juan Bautista Madramany (1787), Juan Bautista Arriaza (1807), Pedro Bazán de Mendoza (1817) y el colombiano José María Salazar (1828), paso a traducir los 232 versos del Primer Canto, añadiéndoles notas aclaratorias, generalmente alusivas a los nombres propios y obras citadas por Boileau.

 

This paper hinges around the well known poem by Boileau, Art poétique, which consists of four Cantos and one thousand one hundred Alexandrian verse lines and their verse translations into Spanish, commented long ago by two outstanding figures, namely the Marquis of Valmar, from Cartagena, and the Santander born Menéndez Pelayo. After doing a brief analysis of the five translations, namely those of the Jesuit F. Javier Alegre (1776), J. Bautista Madramany (1787), J. Bautista Arriaza (1807), Pedro Bazán de Mendoza (1917) and the Colombian José Maria Salazar (1828), I proceed to translate the 232 lines of the First Canto, adding further explanatory notes allusive to proper names and other works cited by Boileau.
Estudios sobre las autoras francófonas del África Occidental: revisión bibliográfica
Authors: Gómez Campos Manuel
Published: April 2023

La literatura siempre ha supuesto un gran aporte cultural para la sociedad, y las investigaciones que se desarrollan sobre la misma ayudan a visibilizar su presencia y a conocer de mejor forma, a través de su trabajo, su análisis. En el presente estudio tenemos como objetivo presentar el estado de los estudios sobre las autoras francófonas del África Occidental. Asimismo, expondremos y trataremos de estudiar cuáles son los principales temas que se llevan a cabo, la originalidad de sus propuestas y sus coincidencias o diferencias con otros autores en las publicaciones escritas en español y en francés, con el objetivo de conocer el avance de esta literatura.

 

Literature has always been a great cultural contribution, and the research that is being carried out on it helps to make its presence visible and to better understand its analysis through its work. In this paper we aim to present the situation of studies on Francophone women authors from West Africa. We will also present and attempt to study the main themes of these studies, the originality of their proposals and their coincidences or differences with other authors, with the aim of learning about the progress of this literature.
Agenda 2030 y producción ecológica: la traducción agro-jurídica yen lo relativo al certificado (DE-ES)
Authors: Jiménez Domínguez Mar
Published: April 2023

El presente trabajo se centra en el análisis del certificado (alemán-español) de productos ecológicos —expedidos por la UE y los respectivos países de las lenguas de trabajo— como género híbrido en el convive terminología jurídica y agroalimentaria. Por ello, en primer lugar, contextualizamos la relevancia de este sector desarrollando unas cuestiones previas en torno a la Agenda 2030 y los ODS. En segundo lugar, expusimos la normativa y la regularización de la Unión Europea respecto a este tipo de productos, así como también sus particularidades a nivel nacional tanto de Alemania como de España. En tercer lugar, elegimos como texto meta el Reglamento (CE) nº 2018/848 del Parlamento Europeo y del Consejo sobre producción ecológica y etiquetado de los productos ecológicos, centrándonos concretamente, en anexo VI en el que se expone el certificado tipo. Posteriormente, escogimos los términos con mayor densidad conceptual tanto desde un punto de vista jurídico como agroalimentario con tal de establecer cuáles prevalecían en el género híbrido elegido objeto de análisis.

 

The present work focuses on the German-Spanish analysis of certificates of organic products —issued by the EU and respective countries of working languages— as a hybrid genre in which coexisting legal and agri-food terminology. Therefore, fistly, we contextualize the relevance of this sector by developing some preliminary questions around the 2030 Agenda and the SDG. Secondly, we presented the regulations of the European Union regarding this type of products, as well as their particularities at the national level in both Germany and Spain. Third, we chose as target text Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council on organic production and labeling of organic products, focusing on Annex VI in which type certificate is exposed. Subsequently, we chose terms with highest conceptual density both from a legal and agri-food point of view in order to establish which ones prevailed in hybrid genre chosen as the object of analysis
A 10-Year monthly climatology of wind direction : case-study assessment
Authors: Hoch Brendon , Cook Samantha
Published: April 2023

A 10-year monthly climatology of wind direction in compass degrees is developed utilizing datasets from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, Climate Forecast System. Data retrieval methodologies, numerical techniques, and scientific analysis packages to develop the climatology are explored. The report describes the transformation of input data in Gridded Binary format to the Geographic Tagged Image File Format to support geospatial analyses. The specific data sources, software tools, and data-verification techniques are outlined.
Strong Eastern Pacific El Niño events determine ENSO amplitude and asymmetry
Authors: Bayr Tobias , Lübbecke Joke , Latif Mojib
Published: April 2023

The El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) varied considerably over the last 140 years and the reason of that is under debate. The warm phase of ENSO is termed El Niño, the cold phase La Niña. Here we show that the difference between periods of high and low ENSO variability results mainly from the amplitude of Eastern Pacific (EP) El Niños, while the amplitudes of Central Pacific (CP) El Niños and La Niñas are comparable. Further, ENSO asymmetry and amplitude covary, suggesting that the number of strong EP El Niños dominates both. We find similar relations in the 40 historical runs of the Large Ensemble from the CESM1-CAM5-BGC model. Finally, the fraction of strong EP El Niños explains the spread in ENSO amplitude and asymmetry in preindustrial control simulations from the CMIP6 database. This study emphasizes the need of a better understanding of the deterministic and stochastic factors that are important for the development of strong EP El Niño events in observations and climate models.
Strain Rate Analysis of Efficient Honeycomb Sandwich Panels under Blast Load
Authors: Sawant Rashmi , Patel Murlidhar , Patel Shivdayal
Published: April 2023

Honeycomb sandwich panels are investigated for a broad range of areas as protective structures that can withstand blast loading. The advantage of these panels is that they are light in weight when compared to solid metal plates due to the hollow core and have high energy absorption capabilities. Due to their high bending stiffness, honeycomb sandwich panels have found applications in aerospace, automotive, marine, defense, and railway industries. In order to analyze the effect of blast loading on sandwich panels the experiments that need to be conducted are costly as well as time-consuming. Also, while conducting experiments with explosives, human safety is a major concern. Taking the aforementioned parameters into consideration, modeling and simulation of honeycomb sandwich panels is the better alternative. ABAQUS software has been used in this paper to study the behavior of metallic honeycomb sandwich panels (MHSP) with squared, hexagonal, and circular cores when subjected to blast loads of different kilograms of trinitrotoluene (TNT). The obtained simulation results show that circular core has higher blast resistance as compared to hexagonal and square cores. With the aim of optimizing blast protection characteristics of the sandwich model, effect of gel-filling and addition of Aluminium foamto hollow honeycomb core of the sandwich panelswas investigated.The face plate deflection and energy absorption capacity were found to have improved after these additions. Mass evaluation pertaining to reduction in plate deflection versus increase in weight of the sandwich panel after addition of gel and foam was also performed. The influence of strain rate on the deflection of blast-loaded sandwich panels was also studied. It was found that higher strain rates gave favourable results i.e., lower deformation values. Lastly, energy absorption study of all the various configurations of the sandwich panel was performed.
The precise reconstruction of the center of rotation in total hip arthroplasty after femoral neck fractures - a clinically crucial challenge
Authors: Nieschk Christopher , Abelmann-Brockmann Johanna , Lisitano Leonard , Fenwick Annabel , Röttinger Heinz , Ecker Michael , Mayr Edgar , Röttinger Timon
Published: April 2023

In past experiments based on 3-D models, medialization of the center of rotation (COR) in total hip arthroplasty (THA) with unilateral hip dysplasia showed a negative influence on the muscle strength of the abductors and the reaction force of the hip joint. The COR displacement was referenced to the healthy non-dysplastic hip and the results therefore might contradict given paradigms, where reduced hip loading forces are claimed to increase functional outcomes. The aim of this study was a clinical evaluation of the COR placement towards the patient’s recovery with respect to daily living ability and mobility using der Barthel index and the Parker mobility score (PMS). 110 patients who underwent THA after a femoral neck fracture between January 2019 and January 2021 were retrospectively evaluated towards their Barthel index on discharge (N = 68). 47 Patients were available for a follow up interview and were interviewed for the Barthel index and Parker Mobility Score (PMS) 6 and 12 months after surgery. COR medialization, superior COR displacement and especially the combination of both (superomedialization) leads to reduced mobility while inferior displacement leads to increased pain. According to our results we recommend an exact vertical COR-restoration, while horizontal medial displacement needs to be avoided.
Quantification for Food Inspection enabled by Hyperspectral Imaging System and Machine Learning
Authors: Kim Un Jeong , Lee Suyeon , Kim Hojung , Kim Hyochul , Kim Seok In , Roh Young-Geun , Son Hyungbin , Han Jeong Su , Choi Junhoe , kim Sungmin , Kim Soo Eon , Hwang Inho , Park Yeonsang , Yun Seokho
Published: April 2023

Several important sensory physical quantities exist but are difficult to quantify, including food freshness. With the aid of a hyperspectral imaging system (HIS) and machine learning (ML), meat freshness is converted into a measurable physical quantity, i.e., freshness index (F. I.), in this study. F. I. is defined from meat fluorescence, which has a strong correlation with bacterial density, using a line-scan-type HIS stimulated at 365 nm. Combined with ML techniques, hyperspectral images are processed more efficiently. By employing linear discriminant and quadratic component analyses for hyperspectral images, F. I. can be estimated from its decision boundary after hyperspectral images are taken at an unknown freshness state. Advanced sensing versatility utilized by computational sensing systems allows hyper-personalization and hyper-customization of human life with the aid of home appliances and smartphones.
Bei Mu Gua Lou San facilitates mucus expectoration by increasing surface area and hydration levels of airway mucus in an air-liquid-interface cell culture model of the respiratory epithelium
Authors: Groiss Silvia , Somvilla Ina , Daxböck Christine , Stückler Manuela , Pritz Elisabeth , Brislinger Dagmar
Published: April 2023

Background: Bei Mu Gua Lou San (BMGLS) is an ancient formulation known for its moisturizing and expectorant properties, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. We investigated dose-dependent effects of BMGLS on its rehydrating and mucus-modulating properties using an air-liquid-interface (ALI) cell culture model of the Calu-3 human bronchial epithelial cell line and primary normal human bronchial epithelial cells (NHBE), and specifically focused on quantity and composition of the two major mucosal proteins MUC5AC and MUC5B.
Methods: ALI cultures were treated with BMGLS at different concentrations over three weeks and evaluated by means of histology, immunostaining and electron microscopy. MUC5AC and MUC5B mRNA levels were assessed and quantified on protein level using an automated image-based approach. Additionally, expression levels of the major mucus-stimulating enzyme 15-lipoxygenase (ALOX15) were evaluated.
Results: BMGLS induced dose-dependent morphological changes in NHBE but not Calu-3 ALI cultures that resulted in increased surface area via the formation of herein termed intra-epithelial structures (IES). While cellular rates of proliferation, apoptosis or degeneration remained unaffected, BMGLS caused swelling of mucosal granules, increased the area of secreted mucus, decreased muco-glycoprotein density, and dispensed MUC5AC. Additionally, BMGLS reduced expression levels of MUC5AC, MUC5B and the mucus-stimulating enzyme 15-lipoxygenase (ALOX15).
Conclusions: Our studies suggest that BMGLS rehydrates airway mucus while stimulating mucus secretion by increasing surface areas and regulating goblet cell differentiation through modulating major mucus-stimulating pathways.
Secretion of endoplasmic reticulum protein VAPB/ALS8 requires topological inversion
Authors: Chihara Takahiro , Kamemura Kosuke , Kozono Rio , Okumura Misako , Koga Daisuke , Kusumi Satoshi , Sekine Sayaka , Kamiyama Daichi
Published: April 2023

VAMP-associated protein (VAP) is a type II integral transmembrane protein at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Mutations in human VAPB/ALS8 are associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The N-terminal major sperm protein (MSP) domain of VAPB (Drosophila Vap33) is cleaved, secreted, and acts as a signaling ligand for several cell-surface receptors. Although extracellular functions of VAPB are beginning to be understood, it is unknown how the VAPB/Vap33 MSP domain facing the cytosol is secreted to the extracellular space. Here we show that Vap33 uses the ER-Golgi conventional secretion pathway to reach the plasma membrane, where the MSP domain is exposed extracellularly by topological inversion. The externalized MSP domain is cleaved by Matrix metalloproteinase 1/2 (Mmp1/2). Overexpression of Mmp1 restores decreased levels of extracellular MSP domain derived from ALS8-associated Vap33 mutants. We propose an unprecedented secretion mechanism for an ER-resident membrane protein, which may contribute to ALS8 pathogenesis.
WITHDRAWN: The impact of environmental investment on corporate green performance: A mediated utility analysis based on technological innovation
Authors: Zhou Maochun , Gao Peiru
Published: April 2023

To a certain extent, environmental investment represents the extent of corporate efforts in environmental protection. Can corporate environmental investment improve corporate green performance? And what role does technological innovation play in the middle? Based on the data of A-share listed companies in China from 2015 to 2020, the article empirically examines the impact of environmental protection investment on corporate green performance. The results show that both environmental investment and technological innovation can enhance corporate green performance, and there is a significant positive spatial correlation; technological innovation can be a mediating variable of environmental investment affecting corporate green performance; and corporate efficiency investment plays a positive influence in the promotion of environmental investment on green performance. The study further substituted the proxy variables of technological innovation through placebo test, two-stage least squares and Sobel and Bootstrap tests for robustness. These tests support the findings of the study and suggest that environmental investments have a significant impact on the level of green performance of firms by stimulating technological innovation.
C.I.C.: F270.7
Wide-field calcium imaging of cortical activation and functional connectivity in externally- and internally driven locomotion
Authors: Ebner Timothy , West Sarah , Gerhart Morgan
Published: April 2023

The neural dynamics underlying self-initiated versus sensory driven movements is central to understanding volitional action. Upstream motor cortices are associated with the generation of internally-driven movements over externally-driven. Here we directly compare cortical dynamics during internally- versus externally-driven locomotion using wide-field Ca2+
imaging. We find that secondary motor cortex (M2) plays a larger role in internally-driven spontaneous locomotion transitions, with increased M2 functional connectivity during starting and stopping than in the externally-driven, motorized treadmill locomotion. This is not the case in steady-state walk. In addition, motorized treadmill and spontaneous locomotion are characterized by markedly different patterns of cortical activation and functional connectivity at the different behavior periods. Furthermore, the patterns of fluorescence activation and connectivity are uncorrelated. These experiments reveal widespread and striking differences in the cortical control of internally- and externally-driven
locomotion, with M2 playing a major role in the preparation and execution of the self-initiated state.
MD-ALL: an Integrative Platform for Molecular Diagnosis of B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Gu Zhaohui , Hu Zunsong , Jia Zhilian , Liu Jiangyue , Mao Allen , Han Helen
Published: April 2023

B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) consists of dozens of subtypes defined by distinct gene expression profiles (GEPs) and various genetic lesions. With the application of transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq), multiple novel subtypes have been identified, which lead to an advanced B-ALL classification and risk-stratification system. However, the complexity of analyzing RNA-seq data for B-ALL classification hinders the implementation of the new B-ALL taxonomy. Here, we introduce MD-ALL (Molecular Diagnosis of ALL), a user-friendly platform featuring sensitive and accurate B-ALL classification based on GEPs and sentinel genetic alterations. In this study, we systematically analyzed 2,955 B-ALL RNA-seq samples and generated a reference dataset representing all the reported B-ALL subtypes. Using multiple machine learning algorithms, we identified the feature genes and then established highly accurate models for B-ALL classification using either bulk or single-cell RNA-seq data. Importantly, this platform integrates the key genetic lesions, including sequence mutations, large-scale copy number variations, and gene rearrangements, to perform comprehensive and definitive B-ALL classification. Through validation in a hold-out cohort of 974 samples, our models demonstrated superior performance for B-ALL classification compared with alternative tools. In summary, MD-ALL is a user-friendly B-ALL classification platform designed to enable integrative, accurate, and comprehensive B-ALL subtype classification.
“Shared experience makes this all possible”: documenting the guiding principles of staff providing peer-led services for people released from prison
Authors: Palis Heather , Young Pam , Korchinski Mo , Wood Shawn , Xavier Jessica , Luk Nelson , Mahil Simrat , Bartlett Sofia , Brown Helen , Salmon Amy , Nicholls Tonia , Slaunwhite Amanda
Published: April 2023

Background: There is a growing body of evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of peer-led services in supporting community reintegration for people released from prison. This study aims to describe the guiding principles that Unlocking the Gates Services Society (UTGSS) (a not-for profit organization) staff practice in the provision of peer-led services to clients released from prison.
Methods: Data were collected using focus groups (N=10; 2 groups with 5 participants each) and one-on-one interviews (N=5) including a total of 13 people, representing all UTGSS staff at the time of the study. An inductive thematic analysis was used to identify patterns in the data. Initial coding was done by using “in-vivo” codes (i.e. applying codes to terms used by participants). This informed the direction of the next stage of analysis, which focused on identifying categories that synthesized the codes and data across transcripts. In this stage, broad themes and sub-themes were developed.
Results: Four themes were constructed to reflect the guiding principles of UTGSS staff:
1) Offering hope; 2) Building respectful relationships; 3) Providing consistent support; 4) Meeting people where they are at. Two connected themes arose: 1) Relying on shared experience, which participants reported serves as the foundation for practicing these guiding principles and 2) Bridging connections to services, which reflects the outcome of practicing these guiding principles.
Conclusions: The principles identified in this study can be used by UTGSS staff as a guide for checking-in on progress with clients and may be considered as a model for reflection on practice by staff providing similar peer-led services. These principles should not be applied in a prescriptive way, as relationship building is at the centre of peer support, and different applications will be required depending on clients’ goals and the range of supports available within their community.
A Classification of Immunogenic Cell Death Predicts Prognosis in Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma
Authors: Qiu Qiangmin , Sun Kai , Li Chenyuan , Yao Xinrui , Li Zhiyu , Wang Zhong , Yao Feng
Published: April 2023

Immunogenic cell death (ICD) is a form of controlled cell death that affects the tumor microenvironment through damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) such as CALR, ANXA1, CXCL10, HMGB1, ATP, and Type1 IFN. ICD is distinct from apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis. Targeting ICD can influence cancer development in many preclinical studies. It is promising for clinical application. Herein, we used consensus clustering to classify Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) patients into high-ICD and low-ICD subtypes. We used univariate and multivariate Cox regressions, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, and Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival analysis to create a predictive model for ICD. Our findings showed that high-ICD patients had better clinical outcomes, invasion of immune cells, and immunological response than low-ICD patients. Moreover, we identified six ICD-related genes in KIRC and discovered that LY96 regulates proliferation, migration, and invasion in KIRC. We established a categorization of immunogenic cell death for predicting prognosis in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma, which may be advantageous for immunotherapy of KIRC.
The Re-nonnegative definite and Re-positive definite solutions of the matrix equation AXB = C on a linear manifold
Authors: Li Sisi , Yuan Yongxin
Published: April 2023

Let SE = { X ∈ Cn×n | ∥ XD - Z ∥F = min, D, Z ∈ Cn×q } be a linear manifold of Cn×n. We will consider the Re-nonnegative definite (Re-nnd) and Re-positive definite (Re-pd) solutions of the matrix equation AXB = C on SE , and deduce the solvability conditions for the equation as well as the explicit expressions for the general Re-nnd and Re-pd solutions when the stated conditions hold.
MSC Classification: 15A24 , 15A57
COVision: Convolutional Neural Network for the Differentiation of COVID-19 from Common Pulmonary Conditions Using CT Scans
Authors: Parikh Kush , Mathew Timothy
Published: April 2023

With the growing amount of COVID-19 cases, especially in developing countries with limited medical resources, it is essential to accurately diagnose COVID-19 with high specificity. Due to characteristic ground-glass opacities (GGOs), present in both COVID-19 and other acute lung diseases, misdiagnosis occurs often — 26.6% of the time in manual interpretations of CT scans. Current deep learning models can identify COVID-19 but cannot distinguish it from other common lung diseases like bacterial pneumonia. COVision is a multiclassification convolutional neural network (CNN) that can differentiate COVID-19 from other common lung diseases, with a low false-positivity rate. This CNN achieved an accuracy of 95.8%, AUROC of 0.970, and specificity of 98%. We found statistical significance that our CNN performs better than three independent radiologists with at least 10 years of experience, especially at differentiating COVID-19 from pneumonia. After training our CNN with 105,000 CT slices, we analyzed our CNN’s activation maps and found that lesions in COVID-19 presented peripherally, closer to the pleura, whereas pneumonia lesions presented centrally. Finally, using a federated averaging model, we ensemble our CNN with a pretrained clinical factors neural network (CFNN) to create a comprehensive diagnostic tool.
Design and development of an electroanalytical sensor based on molecularly imprinted polyaniline for detection of thyroxine
Authors: Singh Deepanmol , Roy Souradeep , Mahindroo Neeraj , Mathur Ashish
Published: April 2023

Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are one of the most frequently observed endocrine disorders in the world. Failure to undergo timely diagnosis and treatment often results in life-threatening events such as arrythmia, hypertension and cardiac arrest. Considering the various limitations of conventional diagnostic techniques, early, accurate and efficient diagnosis of these disorders is pivotal for their timely management. In the present work, a Molecularly Imprinted Polymer (MIP) based sensor is developed for the detection of thyroxine (T4) – the key biomarker. This has been achieved by templating T4 into polyaniline matrix supported on Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) coated glass electrodes. The chemical synthesis of polyaniline was done through oxidative polymerization and optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The optimum conditions for ultrasonication based extraction of T4 from polyaniline matrix was 15min at 30°C with 75mM NaOH. The developed MIP based sensor was characterized using chromatographic, spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques. The sensor calibration was obtained within T4 concentration range of 5pg/mL – 50pg/mL, with a calculated Limit of Detection (LoD) of7.96pM (6.16pg/mL). The developed MIP-based electroanalytical sensor was found to exhibit high degree of selectivity against various interferants, and thereby possessing huge prospects towards futuristic point-of-care applications.
18F-DCFPyL PET versus 18F-PSMA-1007 PET for the Detection of Prostate Cancer Biochemical Recurrence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Huo Huasong , A Gu , Shen Shurui , Wu Shouwang , Zhang Hongwei , Chen Zhuo , Yang Fuwei
Published: April 2023

Purpose This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the ability of 18F-DCFPyL positron emission tomography (PET) and 18F-PSMA-1007 PET to detect biochemical recurrence (BCR) in prostate cancer for different prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and recurrence locations.Methods The PubMed and Embase databases were searched for relevant publications until March 2023. All studies evaluating the detection rate of BCR in prostate cancer using either 18F-DCFPyL PET or 18F-PSMA-1007 PET were included. The detection rates of the two radiotracers were evaluated using the DerSimonian and Laird method and transformed with the Freeman-Tukey double inverse sine transformation.Results A total of 31 studies with 3,184 patients were included in this analysis. The pooled overall detection rate was 0.77 (95% CI: 0.70–0.83) for18F-DCFPyL PET and 0.82 (95% CI:0.75–0.88) for 18F-PSMA-1007 PET. The overall detection rate for BCR did not differ significantly between the 2 radiotracers (P = 0.35). The PSA levels had no impact on the detection rate (all P > 0.05) except for PSA levels between 0.5 and 2 ng/ml, whereby 18F-PSMA-1007 PET had a significantly higher (P < 0.01) detection rate. The presence of local recurrence, lymph node metastasis, bone metastasis, and viscera metastasis (all P > 0.05) had no significant difference on the detection rate between the two tracers.Conclusions 18F-PSMA-1007 PET seems to have higher positivity rate in 0.5-2.0 ng/ml PAS level. However, histopathological confirmation as a reference standard was lack among the included studies. Further larger studies with histopathology as the gold standard are warranted.
A Qualitative Analysis of Organisational Commitment in an Algerian Pharmaceutical Industry
Authors: Houfaf Khoufaf Assia , Nouiri Abdennour
Published: April 2023

Quiet quitting, bullshit jobs , the great resignation are recurrent words referring to disturbances increasingly observed in work life and new concepts characterizing the job market. They mainly indicate the evolution of work perception, the deterioration of work relations, and a quest for meaning among employees. In this context, this research attempts to look closely into the relationship between an organisation and its employees through a qualitative case study. This paper will first present a literature review as thoroughly as possible about the evolution of the concept of organisational commitment from the 1960s up to now; the literature review will also encompass the main antecedents and outcomes of this concept on organisational performance. Then, qualitative research following the socio-economic approach to management will be conducted in the Algerian pharmaceutical industry to grasp the complexity of the concept. A series of 38 semi-guided interviews is conducted, starting with the CEO of the company and including each Division Director and Chief of Department. The results of the research allowed us to identify several pivotal ideas that are likely to hinder organisational commitment, including the size of the premises is no longer fitted to the size of the company, which deteriorates the work environment and impedes performance; lack of work organisation and information communication following the growth of the company such as the absence of a Human Resource Management and a Management control division; centralization of decision making and communication about company objectives which contributes to a blurred role distribution; HRM practices characterized by limited career evolution option and a flawed personnel appraisal process; and finally, organisational changes put the company at challenge because of resistance to change ERP, skills shortage, skills destruction, flawed training and dissonant communication.