bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Efficient Optimization Procedure for Reliability-Based Robust Multi-objective Design Applied to Reinforced Concrete Structures
Authors: Cassimiro Jonathan Justino Ápos , Nascimento Jacqueline Cristine Messias do , Motta Renato de Siqueira , Silva Silvana Maria Bastos Afonso da
Published: November 2023

Concrete structure designs use semi-probabilistic methods that apply safety factors to compensate for uncertainties, increasing loads and reducing resistances. While this ensures safety and reliability, probabilistic methods offer a more comprehensive approach by quantifying the probability of failure for a structure. We applied Reliability-Based Design Optimization (RBDO) and Reliability-Based Robust Multi-objective Design Optimization (RBRMDO) to a reinforced concrete linear plane frame. The study compared efficiency among procedures, considering accuracy, processing time, iterations, function evaluations, and Pareto point distribution quality. The main contribution lies in investigating various algorithm combinations to identify the most efficient and robust procedure for multi-objective optimization under uncertainties in concrete structure designs. The numerical methods Reliability Index Approach (RIA), Performance Measure Approach (PMA), Single-Loop Approach (SLA), and Sequential Optimization and Reliability Assessment (SORA) were coupled with Weighted Sum (WS) and Normal-Boundary Intersection (NBI) methods to build the Pareto frontier. The optimization used Sequential Quadratic Programming (SQP) through the Scipy library. The structural analysis employed the Finite Element Method (FEM) through the CasPy package. The reliability analysis employed the First-Order Reliability Method (FORM) for RIA and PMA through the Pystra package. SLA and SORA used a FORM routine implemented by us. HL-RF algorithm assessed the Most Probable Point (MPP) and finite differences calculated numerical derivatives. We tested four examples before the main design. SLA is the most efficient algorithm, and SORA presents excellent results. RIA and PMA underperformed in processing time and limit state function evaluations. NBI outperformed in the Pareto point distribution quality compared to WS.
Effect of abdominal aortic calcification on recurrence following initial hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases
Authors: Imaoka Kouki , Ohira Masahiro , Shimomura Manabu , Hattori Minoru , Bekki Tomoaki , Sato Koki , Imaoka Yuki , Akabane Shintaro , Nakano Ryosuke , Yano Takuya , Sakai Hiroshi , Hirata Fumihiro , Kuroda Shintaro , Tahara Hiroyuki , Ide Kentaro , Ishiyama Kohei , Kobayashi Tsuyoshi , Tanaka Yuka , Ohdan Hideki
Published: November 2023

Objective: To analyze the association between abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) and patient prognosis following resection of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM).
Summary background data: AAC potentially reflects intrahepatic immunity and is involved in tumor development and progression. However, the clinical effects of AAC on colorectal cancer (CRC) prognosis after curative-intent liver resection for CRLM remain unclear.
Methods: We evaluated the effect of AAC on the clinical prognosis and metastatic patterns in 99 patients who underwent hepatectomy for CRLM between 2010 and 2019.
Results: The high-AAC group had significantly worse overall survival (OS) and remnant liver recurrence rate (RR) after propensity score matching to adjust for differences in baseline characteristics of patients and tumors. In multivariate Cox regression analyses, high AAC volume was an independent risk factor for poor OS and liver RR, but not poor lung RR. The expression of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand, known as an anti-tumor marker, in liver natural killer (NK) cells was lower in the high-AAC group than in the low-AAC group.
Conclusions: High AAC volume showed a strong relationship with remnant liver RR after curative resection of CRLM. High AAC volume may be responsible for the suppression of anti-tumor activity in liver NK cells, which results in an increased risk of liver recurrence and poor prognosis.
Cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity in Mice- Prophylactic supplementation of quercetin exerts hepatoprotective effect by modulating PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway
Authors: Liu Lifeng , Zhao Qin , Huang Jing , Lei Shengping
Published: November 2023

The previous literature has confirmed the hepatoprotective properties of Quercetin. This current study seeks to examine the pre-protective function of Quercetin in Cadmium (Cd)-induced liver damage, along with its modulation of the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway. A total of 60 male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to four groups: control (C), quercetin (Q, 100 mg/kg/day), Cd(Cd, 2.5 mg/kg/day), and quercetin and Cd(Q+Cd).Before receiving chloride treatment, quercetin was administered intragastrically for 4 weeks. Biochemical parameters, oxidative stress parameters and pro-inflammatory cytokines were examined. We used histological analysis to track changes in the liver's histology. Western blot analysis was used to assess the expression of apoptotic components and criticalproteins in the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway to identify the pre-protective effects. We discovered that the body weight of the Cd-treated mice dramatically rose after 4 weeks of quercetin pre-administration, and the Cd concentration in serum significantly decreased. By examining the levels of the blood liver indicators alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), quercetin enhanced Cd-induced liver dysfunction. Additionally, it was demonstrated that quercetin reduced Cd-mediated liver injury in mice by assessing the activity of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione (GSH) concentrations and the histological alterations. By monitoring Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), quercetin successfully reduced the inflammatory cytokines that the Cd metal caused in the liver. Additionally, in the liver tissues of Cd-mediated, quercetin could enhance the expression of Bcl-2 and decrease the expression of p-Akt, p-PI3K, Bax, Caspase-9, Caspase-3, NF-κB. This study demonstrates that quercetin pre-administration could reduce Cd-mediated liver damage by blocking the PI3K/Akt and NF-κB pathways.
Client Preferences in Psychotherapy: A North American Survey
Authors: Abrams Mike , Grdinic Marija Milisavljevic , Chronos Agatha
Published: November 2023

Psychotherapy researchers have provided an expanding base of evidence that psychotherapy is effective in attenuating numerous psychological problems. Despite the extensive research demonstrating that talking can heal, it is still not precisely clear how it does so. The healing effect of psychotherapy has been attributed to two broad categories of interventions, the common factors and the specific factors. The common factors consist of all therapist actions or attitudes that promote a communicative relationship in which the client feels safe, understood, and validated. These factors are indeed common to all research-based psychotherapies, and any therapy modality that implements these factors tends to be effective. In contrast, specific factors are the interventions specific to therapeutic modalities. Despite extensive research into the specific factors of many therapies, the common factors were found to be at least as important in the therapy efficacy of all major therapeutic approaches. Given their role in therapy outcome, it would be beneficial to determine which common factors play the greatest role in therapy efficacy. Since most common factors are therapist attributes, this study explored which therapist attributes are preferred by clients. An online survey was conducted using a sample of 1011 North Americans who were questioned about their preferences. Psychotherapy clients preferred psychotherapists with empathic and emotional attributes, in addition to therapists with knowledge of neuroscience, personality psychology, and physiology. However, some groups, particularly those traditionally marginalized, seem to be even more sensitive to common factors, requiring therapists who are exceptionally empathic and able to sympathize with clients.
Predictive Characteristics and Model Development for Acute Heart Failure Preceding Hip Fracture Surgery in Elderly Hypertensive Patients: A Retrospective Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Yu Qili , FU Mingming , Wang Zhiqian , Hou Zhiyong
Published: November 2023

Background: Hip fractures are a serious health concern among the elderly, particularly in patients with hypertension, where the incidence of acute heart failure preoperatively is high, significantly affecting surgical outcomes and prognosis. This study aims to assess the risk of preoperative acute heart failure in elderly patients with hypertension and hip fractures by constructing a predictive model using machine learning on potential risk factors.
Methods: A retrospective study design was employed, collecting preoperative data from January 2018 to December 2019 of elderly hypertensive patients with hip fractures at the Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University. Using SPSS 24.0 and R software, predictive models were established through LASSO regression and multivariable logistic regression analysis. The models' predictive performance was evaluated using metrics such as the concordance index (C-index), receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve), and decision curve analysis (DCA), providing insights into the nomogram's predictive accuracy and clinical utility.
Results: Out of 1038 patients screened, factors such as gender, age, history of stroke, arrhythmias, anemia, and complications were identified as independent risk factors for preoperative acute heart failure in the study population. Notable predictors included Sex (OR 0.463, 95% CI 0.299-0.7184, P=0.001), Age (OR 1.737, 95% CI 1.213-2.488, P=0.003), Stroke (OR 1.627, 95% CI 1.137-2.327, P=0.008), Arrhythmia (OR 2.727, 95% CI 1.490-4.990, P=0.001), Complications (OR 2.733, 95% CI 1.850-4.036, P＜0.001), and Anemia (OR 3.258, 95% CI 2.180-4.867, P＜0.001). The model's AUC was 0.785 (95% CI, 0.754–0.815), and decision curve analysis (DCA) confirmed the nomogram's excellent performance in predicting the incidence of preoperative acute heart failure in elderly patients with hypertension and hip fractures.
Conclusion: The predictive model developed in this study is highly accurate and serves as a powerful tool for the clinical assessment of the risk of preoperative acute heart failure in elderly hypertensive patients with hip fractures, aiding in the optimization of preoperative risk assessment and patient management.
Color discrimination repetition distorts color representations
Authors: Horiuchi Suzuha , Nagai Takehiro
Published: November 2023

Perceptual learning refers to the increase in perceptual sensitivity that results from several days of training on a perceptual task. Although perceptual learning has been shown to be effective in a variety of perceptual tasks, few studies have examined perceptual learning in color perception. In this study, we investigated how color discrimination training at a base color affected various aspects of color perception for entire hues. The training consisted of five days of S color discrimination (200 or 300 trials/day) at either the negative or positive L-M base color, depending on the observer groups. Before and after the training, three types of color perception tests (color difference, unique hue, and color category boundary) were conducted for colors with various hues to examine the changes in color perception due to the training. The results showed that the color discrimination thresholds in the training decreased as expected with repeated trials. Interestingly, the training also affected the performance of the three types of tests; the perceived color difference around the trained color tended to increase, and some of the unique hues and the color category boundaries shifted significantly toward the trained color. These results suggest that only a few days of color discrimination training can spill over to the entire color space and induce distortion of color representations in the visual system.
An Enhanced Method Based on LSTM and Regularized K-SVD for Source Number Estimation
Authors: Pan Qing , Jiang Huitang , Tian Nili , Ma Yechun
Published: November 2023

In complex environments with limited snapshots, most source number estimation algorithms encounter significant challenges. To address this issue, an enhancement method is proposed involving the integration of an optimized LSTM model with the regularized K-SVD algorithm.Initially, the optimization model is proposed based on the predictability of the LSTM sequence network. This model utilizes limited data to predict additional snapshots, thereby enhancing the covariance matrix of the signal. Subsequently, a sparse reconstruction algorithm based on the regularized K-SVD method is applied to effectively filter out noise, improving signal quality. The combination of the enhancement method with source number estimation techniques further boosts the performance of traditional algorithms. Experimental analysis confirms the superiority of the proposed enhancement method in colored noise environments. Simultaneously, in experiments with a limited number of snapshots, the proposed method significantly enhances estimation performance.
Insight into Hydrodynamics Behavior of Creeping Flow of Couple Stress Fluid Through Uniformly Porous Rectangular Channel under the Influence of Walls Slip; An analytical approach.
Authors: Ishaq Muhammad , Rehman Saif Ur , Afzal Farkhanda , Alshomrani Ali Saleh , Inc Mustafa
Published: November 2023

In this paper, we have obtained the exact solution for the slip effects on the creeping flow of a couple stress fluid through a uniformly porous walled channel. The momentum equations have been transformed into a stream function using the inverse method. Expressions for important physical quantities such as longitudinal velocity, transverse velocity, fractional reabsorption, leakage flux, axial pressure, volume flow rate, and mean pressure have been derived. Results have been presented graphically, demonstrating that the longitudinal velocity is influenced by the initial flow rate while the transverse velocity remains unaffected by the initial flow rate. Moreover, it has been shown that there are no detectable slip effects on the physical quantities studied. Notably, the initial flow rate significantly impacts the streamlines; an increase in flow rate straightens and aligns the streamlines, whereas a decrease leads to backward flow. The volume flow rate exhibits a substantial impact on longitudinal velocity, but no influence on transverse velocity is observed. This study holds the potential to assist bioengineers in designing medical tools with required pressure and flow rate specifications. The application of this model is particularly relevant to hemodialyzers.
Hydrodynamics of Incompressible Creeping Couple Stress Fluid Through a Uniformly Porous Channel in Presence of Darcy Resistance: Exact Solution and Physical Insights Using the Inverse Method Approach
Authors: Ishaq Muhammad , Fatima Nosheen , Afzal Farkhanda , Alshomrani Ali Saleh , Inc Mustafa
Published: November 2023

The current study examines the features of a two-dimensional steady incompressible flow of creeping couple stress fluid across a permeable channel with uniform reabsorption. The mathematical model that governs this flow is composed of linear partial differential equations and homogeneous boundary constraints. The Inverse method approach, an analytical technique, is used to find solutions to the problem. By converting the momentum equations to stream functions, the inverse approach helps derive all the relevant physical quantities, including the longitudinal and transverse velocities, fractional reabsorption, leakage flux, axial pressure, volume flow rate, and mean pressure. Using MATLAB software, the dependent functions such as stream function, pressure, and volume flow are evaluated for different parameter values. The findings indicate that the longitudinal velocity is affected by the initial flow rate, while the transverse velocity shows no change in its profile. The streamlines become more straight and identical as the flow rate increases. Backward flow occurs at the end of the slit due to the porosity parameter. However, the initial flow rate does not impact the transverse velocity of the fluid in the permeable channel. This study fully describes a mathematical foundation for understanding fluid movement across permeable boundaries, which have practical applications in areas such as gaseous diffusion, filtration, and biological mechanisms.
Effects of indole-3-butyric acid supplementation in diets containing high soybean meal on growth, intestinal inflammation, and intestinal flora of pearl gentian grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × Epinephelus lanceolatu♂)
Authors: Pang Aobo , Zhang Sen , Dong Shaohan , Zhang Xianxin , Liang Junhui , Fang Yanxin , Tan Beiping , Zhang Wei
Published: November 2023

Soybean meal and its processing products have been widely used in fish feeds. In aquaculture, there is a lack of effective targeted protection against food-borne enteritis caused by feeding soybean meal. Our preliminary research found that Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) has the potential application value. The present research evaluated the influence of supplementing different levels of IBA to diets containing high soybean meal on alleviating intestinal inflammation in juvenile pearl gentian grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀ × E. lanceolatus♂). The feeding experiment lasted for eight weeks. The FM diet with fish meal as the main protein source was prepared. In addition, six diets were prepared in which soybean meal was used to replace some of the fish meal as a secondary protein source. IBA was added to these six diets at 0 g/kg, 0.8 g/kg, 1.6 g/kg, 2.4 g/kg, 3.2 g/kg, and 4.0 g/kg, respectively. The use of soybean meal to replace some of the fish meal in the diet resulted in weakened growth performance of the fish. Growth inhibition due to SBM ingestion was significantly reduced in fish fed diet supplemented with 2.4 g/kg IBA. Feeding the SBM diets caused a severe inflammatory reaction in the distal intestine of the fish, and IBA helped to suppress the inflammation, as evidenced by changes in histological characteristics, immune-related biochemical index levels, and immune-related gene expression levels between the groups. In addition, this study investigated the role of IBA feeding on fish from the perspective of intestinal flora. IBA interacts with the intestinal flora, leaving the intestinal flora of fish with enteritis in a recovering state. These findings provide a theoretical basis for IBA to mitigate SBMIE in pearl gentian grouper and promote the further application of soybean meal in carnivorous fish.
Identification of T cell exhaustion-related genes in clear cell renal cell carcinoma and construction of a prognostic model
Authors: Wang Qi , Wu Wensong , Aisha Awuti , Xin Jiayan , Chang Fan , Zhang Jianghui , Tang Shuai , Lv Zheng , Chen Fangmin
Published: November 2023

Background: T cell exhaustion (TEX) is associated with tumor progression and the efficacy of immunotherapy. The aim of this study is to investigate TEX-related genes in clear cell renal cell carcinoma(ccRCC), identify their key genes, and construct a prognostic model based on TEX-related genes.
Method: Tumor and normal samples of ccRCC were obtained from TCGA. WGCNA was employed to screen TEX-related genes, while MCODE was used to filter hub genes. Analysis of hub gene differential expression between tumor and normal tissues was conducted alongside immune cell correlation assessments. Renal cancer patients were stratified into two subgroups via clustering analysis, enabling comparison of TEX-related gene expression and immune cell infiltration between these groups. Subsequently, a prognostic model was constructed using lasso regression analysis, evaluating the correlation between risk scores, clinical features, immunotherapeutic efficacy, and IC50 of chemotherapy drugs. External validation of the model was performed using ICGC datasets.
Results：In our study, we identified 5 hub genes among 185 TEX-related genes in ccRCC, all of which exhibited a positive correlation with T cell infiltration. The high expression subgroup of TEX- related genes displayed lower survival rates compared to the low-expression subgroup. Our developed prognostic model effectively predicts overall patient survival, demonstrating high accuracy via ROC curve analysis. Additionally, increased risk scores were associated with poorer clinical features, diminished immunotherapeutic efficacy, and higher IC50 values for chemotherapy drugs.
Conclusion:The TEX-related genes we identified may potentially serve as novel targets for the treatment of advanced-stage renal cancer. Moreover, the TEX-related prognostic model could serve as an effective tool for predicting outcomes in renal cancer patients.
Targeting SARS-CoV-2 main protease 3CL pro and human ACE2 with Paeonia Phytochemicals by in silico and in vitro Studies in Terms of Possible COVID- 19 Therapeutics
Authors: Bostancioglu Safiye Merve , Sandalli Aytul , Almohazey Dana , Alsaeed Moneerah , Alhamid Galyah , Rabaan Ali , Turumtay Emine Akyuz , Turumtay Halbay , Innocent David Chinaecherem , Tombuloglu Huseyin
Published: November 2023

As important medicinal herbs, Paeonia species have been used in ancient medicine. Although its therapeutic potential is well known, the potential efficacy of Paeonia phytochemicals against the emerging coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has yet to be tested. This study selected seventy-six Paeonia compounds to determine their potential druggable impact on SARS-CoV-2 main protease (3CLpro) and human ACE2 proteins. Structure-based virtual screening (SBVS) approach was performed by PyRx molecular docking software, including the Open Babel v2.4 and AutoDock 4.2.6 tools. The lowest affinity score and desired hydrogen bonding interactions were selected, and SwissADME was used to predict drug-likeness and pharmacokinetics properties. In addition, the potential cytotoxic effect of five Paeonia root extracts was tested in cancer (HCT116 and HeLa) and fibroblast (HFF) cell lines. The results showed that nine Paeonia ligands (catechin, apigenin, palbinone, kaempferol, paeoniflorigenone, eriodictyol, paeonilactone C, cassythicine, and 3-O-methylquercetin) were able to interact with SARS-CoV-2 at high affinity (from − 7.5 to -9.0 kJ/mol), as possible SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors. Molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) analysis revealed that five of these phytochemicals -cathecin, apigenin, palbinone, paeoniflorigenone, and eriadictyol- have the potential to act as effective compounds. In addition, the plant extracts at low concentrations is not cytotoxic for selected cell lines. Overall, this study points to the inhibitory potential of Paeonia phytochemicals as novel therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2. Their druggable potential can be tested in vivo in further studies.
The Contribution of Artificial Intelligence in Blind Equalization Using SOSA-MIMO Algorithm with QOSTBC Coding
Authors: Abderrazak Derbale , Abdessalam Bassou
Published: November 2023

The recent evolution in communications forces us to rely on AI to improve the quality of communications. Artificial intelligence has become one of the necessities in the development of scientific life. In this article, we integrate artificial intelligence into blind equalization using the coding technique QOSTBC with Multi-input Multi-output (MIMO) transmission. The Multi-input Multi-output (MIMO) transmission and the blind equalizer schemes by using the QOSTBC coding have become the techniques of choice for increasing spectral efficiency in bandwidth-congested areas are hit in demand nowadays, especially in mobile applications, where devices with size, weight, and power constraints are common. In this paper, we propose a new blind equalizer using the second-order statistical algorithm in a MIMO system with QOSTBC coding used. QOSTBCs with MIMO-SOSA are used to enhance the energy efficiency of the communication system with 8; 4 and 2 antennas. We obtain the optimal performance that ensures full diversity and maximizes the QOSTBC minimum coding gain distance. Simulation results are presented for MIMO-SOSA under 5g wireless Rayleigh channels so that a fair performance comparison with other reference techniques can be established. The results show that by using MIMO-SOSA along with a coding QOSTBC and with diversity in the fading channel and thus low BER at high SNR can be ensured. More importantly, it is also shown that QOSTBC using MIMO-SOSA achieves a better error performance than those using conventional modulation format.
Monitoring the Landscape Pattern Dynamics and Driving Forces in Dongting Lake Wetland in China Based on Landsat Images
Authors: Guo Mengshen , Zhou Nianqing , Cai Yi , Zhao Wengang , Lu Shuaishuai , Liu Kehao
Published: November 2023

Dongting Lake wetland is a typical lake wetland in the Middle and Lower Yangtze River Plain in China. Due to the influence of natural and human activities, the landscape pattern has changed significantly. 12 Landsat images of Dongting Lake wetland from 1991 to 2022 were extracted and classified based on the CART decision tree method. The dynamic characteristics of wetland vegetation spatial pattern changes were analyzed using landscape pattern index, dynamic degree model and transition matrix model. Redundancy analysis and grey correlation analysis methods were used to explore the driving factors. The results showed that in the past 32 years, the fragmentation degree of Dongting Lake wetland landscape has increased, the heterogeneity has decreased and the landscape shape has become more complex. The mutual conversion of mudflat and water was one of the forms of landscape transformation, while the mutual conversion of sedge and reed area was the main trend of vegetation landscape change. Water level had the greatest contribution to wetland landscape fragmentation, with the lower the water level, the greater the degree of landscape fragmentation. Human activities were the most important driving force, especially the policy changes in reed and woodland, as well as the establishment of the Three Gorges Dam, which have a significant impact on the landscape change pattern and ecological function of wetland. The research results are of great significance for wetland ecological restoration and environmental protection, providing scientific support for government management and decision-making.
Bio-mimetic sensing characteristics of differently synthesized polyanilines towards the surrounding electrical and chemical energetic conditions
Authors: Rajan Lijin , Sidheekha Madari Palliyalil , Shabeeba Aranhikundan , Rajan Ayana , Krishnendu Thamburan Vathukkal , Ismail Yahya A.
Published: November 2023

Conducting polymers are recognized as responsive gels capable of responding to the changes in their surrounding environment through their unique electrochemical response. Various polyanilines at different reaction time were synthesized chemically and their properties were examined using TGA, UV-VIS spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and coulovoltammetry (QV). To investigate their electrochemical sensing capabilities towards both electrical and chemical stimuli, the chronopotentiometric responses in HCl solutions were monitored by varying the working variables: the applied current and electrolyte concentration, at a constant charge obtained from respective QV. The consumed electrical energy during the electrochemical reaction was observed to change linearly with the driving current, while a logarithmic relationship was established with the electrolyte concentration. The electrical energy served as the sensing parameter, and the sensitivity was found to be associated with the reaction time during synthesis of the polymers, with longer chains exhibiting greater sensitivity. The experimental findings were validated using a theoretical equation. Applicability of polyaniline to act as a model material for designing bio-mimetic sensing devices using only two connecting wires is verified here as they mimic the electrochemical reactions of biological muscles comprising of natural polymeric chain.
Utility of Contrast-Enhanced MRI Radiomics Features combined with clinical indicators for Predicting Induction Chemotherapy Response in Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma
Authors: Wang Xiaochen , Zhao Litao , Wang Sihui , Zhao Xuening , Chen Lingxu , Sun Xuefei , Liu Yuanbo , Liu Jiangang , Sun Shengjun
Published: November 2023

Purpose To evaluate the utility of contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI) radiomics features combined with clinical variables to predict induction chemotherapy (IC) response when treating primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL).
Methods A total of 131 patients with PCNSL (101 in the training set and 30 in the testing set) who had had contrast-enhanced MRI scans were retrospectively analyzed. Pyradiomics was used to extract radiomics features, and the clinical variables of the patients were collected. Radiomics prediction models were constructed using different combinations of feature selection methods and machine learning models, from which the best combination was selected. We screened clinical variables associated with treatment outcome and developed clinical prediction models. The prediction performance of radiomics model, clinical model, and combined model, which integrates the best radiomics model and clinical characteristics was independently assessed and compared using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves.
Results In total, we extracted 1598 features. The best radiomics model we chose used T-test and RFE for feature selection and logistic regression for model building. Serum Interleukin 2 Receptor (IL-2R) and ECOG Score were used to construct a clinical predictive model of induction chemotherapy response. The results of the test set showed that the combined prediction model (radiomics and IL-2R) had the highest area under the ROC curve at 0.868 (0.683,0.967), followed by the radiomics model at 0.857 (0.681,0.957), and the clinical prediction model (IL-2R and ECOG) at 0.618 (0.413,0.797). The combined model was significantly more accurate than the clinical model (AUC, 0.868 vs. 0.618, P < 0.05). While the radiomics model had slightly better predictive power than the clinical model, this difference was not statistically significant (AUC, 0.857 vs. 0.618, P > 0.05).
Conclusions Our prediction model, which combines radiomics signatures from CE-MRI with serum IL-2R, can effectively stratify PCNSL patients before high-dose Methotrexate (HD-MTX) based chemotherapy.
Losartan and Metamorphopsia
Authors: Mehrotra-Varma Jai , Thinda Sumeer
Published: November 2023

Background:
Losartan, a commonly used hypertension medication, is associated with rare neurological side effects. This report presents the first case of losartan-linked bilateral metamorphopsia - a distortion of visual perception.
Case Presentation:
A 65-year-old woman with hypertension and myopic degeneration developed bilateral metamorphopsia while taking losartan. Despite normal retinal exams and neuroimaging, the symptoms persisted. Discontinuation of losartan led to symptom resolution over one year with no recurrence.
Conclusions:
This unique case emphasizes the need to evaluate drug-related adverse events in clinical diagnoses. Losartan's potential impact on the midbrain's visual processing regions may explain the observed visual disturbances. Further research is needed to explore this connection.
Characterization of telomere variant repeats using long reads enables allele-specific telomere length estimation
Authors: Stephens Zachary , Kocher Jean-Pierre
Published: November 2023

Telomeres are regions of repetitive DNA at the ends of linear chromosomes which protect chromosome ends from degradation. Telomere lengths have been extensively studied in the context of aging and disease, though most studies use average telomere lengths which are of limited utility. We present a method for identifying all 92 telomere alleles from long read sequencing data. Individual telomeres are identified using variant repeats proximal to telomere regions, which are unique across alleles. This high-throughput and high-resolution characterization of telomeres could be foundational to future studies investigating the roles of specific telomeres in aging and disease.
Correlations between ATF3 polymorphisms and ischemic stroke in Dali, Yunnan Province, as determined by a case-control study
Authors: Yang Yunhui , Wang Pengyu , Wang Min , Wang Guangming
Published: November 2023

Background: Genetic factors play an important role in ischemic stroke (IS) onset. Activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) is a known IS biomarker; however, the association between ATF3polymorphisms and susceptibility to IS remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to explore the association between ATF3single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and genetic susceptibility to IS in a population in Dali, Yunnan, China.
Methods: We included 145 patients with IS and 127 healthy controls in this case-control study. ATF3SNP sites (rs1105899, rs1008737, rs1195474, and rs1195472) were genotyped using SNaPshot detection.
Results: Venous serum glucose (VSG), white blood cell count, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were IS risk factors; VSG had the highest impact on IS susceptibility, whereas SBP had the lowest. Genotype distributions of rs1105899, rs1008737, and rs1195472 polymorphisms in the control group conformed to the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. Association analysis between ATF3 polymorphisms and IS risk showed that rs1105899, rs1008737, and rs1195474 ATF3 polymorphisms were not significantly associated with IS risk. In the codominant and superdominant model of the rs1195472 [C/T] loci, CT carriers exhibited a lower IS risk than CT and TT carriers. Haplotype AGAC was an inhibitory factor for IS. The GTEx database showed that the rs1195472 CT genotype increased ATF3 expression and was associated with its expression in individual tissues.
Conclusion: The rs1195472 polymorphism was associated with IS risk in our study population; no significant correlation was noted between rs1105899, rs1008737, and rs1195474 polymorphisms and IS.
En torno a «Il più santo tra gli italiani, il più italiano tra i santi».
Authors: Álvarez Arocha Cristian , Midhatovna Dusaeva Enzhe
Published: November 2023

La frase con la que a veces se ha llamado a Francisco de Asís «il più santo tra gli italiani, il più italiano tra i santi» puede causar sorpresa desde fuera de Italia por su afirmación demasiado exclusiva de una nacionalidad. Algunas sugestiones que surgen de la lectura de unas lí­neas de Jorge Luis Borges orientan un posible sentido de interpretación sobre la representación subjetiva de ideales patrióticos. Además de ello, tomando como base la investigación de Felice Accrocca para determi­nar el origen de la frase, se observa cómo la segunda parte de esta se encuentra por primera vez en la obra de Vincenzo Gioberti (1843); con ella se buscaba elogiar las cualidades del Santo que caracterizarían un emblema patriótico para la unificación de la Italia. Se completa la breve crónica histórica que expone Accrocca con las vicisitudes de la frase eslogan, en cuanto a su uso ideológico y político, incluyendo la manipulación de la figura del Santo. Sin embargo, la necesidad de precisar otros elementos ausentes en el trabajo de Accrocca lleva al examen de algunos textos con argumentaciones sobre la identificación del amor al prójimo con el amor a la patria. Se indica asimismo cómo la frase inicial se convirtió en memorable retruécano en un discurso de Geremia Brunelli (1882). Finalmente, la proclamación de Francisco de Asís como Patrono de Italia (1939) busca recuperar el sentido de los valores que el Santo ejemplifica más allá de la exaltación patriótica y aun en contraposición con una exacerbación de esta.
Articulación para un encuentro entre la comunicabilidad divina en prácticas chamánicas con alucinógenos, y la revelación en sentido cristiano
Authors: Valenzuela Osorio Vicente
Published: November 2023

El objetivo de este artículo de investigación es proponer puen­tes de diálogo o articulación entre la experiencia de una comuni­cación divina en las prácticas chamánicas con alucinógenos y la experiencia propia del cristianismo de la revelación. Este diálogo se ha visto truncado desde la época colonial, cuando los misioneros prohibieron las prácticas indígenas chamánicas. Pero en el contexto del magisterio del papa Francisco y de las visiones relacionales del mundo, se hace necesario proponer una posible articulación que respete la diferencia y autonomía de campos y de niveles de lenguaje culturales y religiosos, pero que permita también la uni­dad. Por eso mismo, el método es de mediación y articulación. El principal resultado consiste en notar que hay puntos de encuentro (el cuidado y la vida), y diferencias (la manera en que se concretiza el cuidar y el vivir). Además que, en el marco del problema de la unidad y la diferencia de estas experiencias, aparece la noción de plenitud o pleroma como un horizonte y gesto enriquecedor de los diversos sentidos y capas del vivir.
Role of entrepreneur’s perspective of waste management for coffee shop sustainability
Authors: Alfarizi Muhammad , Lindiasari Samputra Palupi , Isnaeni Dwi Arista Nor
Published: November 2023

The development of the coffee business as a small and medium enterprise (SME) shows positive things with the increasing number of coffee, which means an abundance of existing coffee grounds. There is a lack of research on entrepreneur perspectives on coffee waste management. This study aims to analyze the perspective of coffee shop entrepreneurs in managing coffee waste and converting waste into alternative energy for sustainable and environmentally friendly prospects. Respondents in this study were 201 coffee shop owners in Bekasi, Indonesia, who received questionnaires using the snowball sampling technique; for data analysis, the paper used PLS-SEM. This study found that the entrepreneur perspective significantly affects coffee waste management, encouraging the sustainability of coffee shops. The results of the R-Square analysis show that coffee shop owner awareness is strongly influenced by coffee waste management knowledge (93.6%); the attitude of coffee shop owners is influenced by coffee waste management knowledge and coffee shop owner awareness (92.5%); and the coffee waste management behavior is influenced by coffee shop owner awareness and attitude of coffee shop owners (97.8%). In addition, entrepreneurs’ excellent attitudes and awareness toward the potential of coffee grounds encourage them to carry out better waste management through sorting procedures to convert coffee grounds into alternative energy.
AcknowledgmentThis study is funded by the Directorate of Research and Development, Universitas Indonesia, under Hibah PUTI 2022 (Grant No. NKB-1364/UN2.RST/HKP.05.00/2022).
Qualidade microbiológica e pH de carne bovina moída comercializada em supermercados no Sul da Bahia - Brasil
Authors: Deminicis Bruno Borges , Deminicis Renata Gomes da Silveira
Published: November 2023

Objetivou-se avaliar a qualidade microbiológica e o pH da carne bovina moída comercializada em supermercados no Sul da Bahia, Brasil. Foram realizados coleta e preparo de amostras de “carne moída” nas quais o pH foi aferido e as análises microbiológicas foram realizadas com a contagem de bactérias aeróbias mesófilas, bolores e leveduras, determinação do Número Mais Provável (NMP) de coliformes totais e Coliformes a 45ºC ou termotolerantes, pesquisa de Escherichia coli, pesquisa de Salmonella e contagem de Staphylococcus coagulase-positiva. O número mais provável de coliformes totais variou de 21 a 2,7 x 104 NMP/g (média 3,5x103 NMP/g) e coliformes a 45oC ou termotolerantes de <3 a 5 x 103 NMP/g (média 1,3x103 NMP/g). A presença de Escherichia coli foi confirmada em 70% das amostras. Não foi detectada a presença de Salmonella em nenhuma das amostras, e Staphylococcus coagulase positiva foi <100 UFC/g em todas as amostras analisadas. Todas as amostras de carne moída apresentaram pH entre 5,5 e 7.
Effects of Short Term Pollen Storage on Fruit Set, Seed Number and Seed Germination Rate in Cut Rose Hybridization
Authors: TURNA Gülşah , KAZAZ Soner , KILIÇ Tuğba
Published: November 2023

Roses are known for their low pollen quality. It remains unclear how many days of pollen should be used in order not to reduce crossbreeding success. The study was conducted to determine whether short-term pollen storage is effective on the crossing success of roses comparatively in vivo and in vitro. The study was conducted in a greenhouse and a cytology laboratory at Ankara University, Turkey. The 'Avalanche' rose variety was used as the seed parent, and 'Magnum' was the pollen parent. A total of 210 crosses were made. Pollens were used immediately (day 0) and stored at +4°C for 6 days after collection. The pollen viability by IKI and the germination rates by the petri dish method, the fruit and seed set, the fruit and seed weight, and the seed germination rate were recorded. All examined traits showed a decreasing trend as the storage time increases. The pollen germination rates were recorded at 1.63% for stored pollen at six days and 15.27% for fresh pollen. The highest fruit and seed set rates were obtained from crossing with pollen stored for one day. The fruit set decreased below 10% as of the 5th day, and the seed numbers decreased 1.8 times compared to one day of storage. No germination was observed in seeds obtained from crosses with pollen stored for 5 or 6 days. A positive correlation was found between seed number and pollen germination rate. The study concluded that successful crossing could be made with pollen stored at +4°C for up to 3 days.
Screening of Inhibitory Effects Lanosterol on Butyrylcholinesterase, Acetylcholinesterase and Carbonic Anhydrase Enzymes
Authors: ÜÇ Eda Mehtap
Published: November 2023

In this study, for the first time, the antiglaucoma and anticholinergic properties from lanosterol were appraised and researched using different bioanalytical methods and compared with standards. Lanosterol is the compound from which entire fungal and animal steroids are derived. Moreover, is a tetracyclic triterpenoid. Lanosterol is a component in over-the-counter ophthalmic products to prohibit cataracts. The inhibition effects of lanosterol were tested against the butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), carbonic anhydrase I and II (CA I and II) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which are associated with some global diseases like Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and glaucoma. Lanosterol were trialed for the inhibition of BChE, AChE, hCA I and II enzymes and indicated efficient inhibition profiles with Ki values in the range of 61.77±22.32 nM against hCA I, 101.11±49.74 nM against hCA II, 2.03±1.21 nM against acetylcholinesterase and 8.39±2.92 nM against butyrylcholinesterase.
Inhibition effect of Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (GRGDS) and Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) Bioactive Peptides on Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Activity Purified from Human Serum
Authors: ADANAŞ Resul , TÜRKOĞLU Vedat , BAŞ Zehra
Published: November 2023

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE, EC 3.4.15.1) is a physiological target for researching new antihypertensive drugs, as it is a substantial enzyme in the regulation of blood pressure. Herein, ACE was purified from human serum with affinity chromatography. Vmax and KM values were found as 60.98 (µmol/min)/mL and 0.34 mM, respectively. The effects of Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (GRGDS) and Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) bioactive peptides on purified ACE were researched. Also, captopril, a specific ACE inhibitory, was used as a reference inhibitor. Bioactive peptides, GRGDS and RGD, demonstrated the inhibitory effect on purified ACE with IC50 values of 46.39 µM and 456.46 µM, respectively. Ki values and kind of inhibition for GRGDS and RGD by the Lineweaver-Burk chart were found. The kind of inhibitory for these bioactive peptides was calculated as reversible-competitive inhibitory. Ki values for GRGDS and RGD were obtained as 93.28 µM and 435.67 µM, respectively. The IC50 value of captopril was designated as 1.57 nM. The inhibitory kind of captopril was designated as reversible non-competitive inhibitory and the Ki value was 0.99 nM. In this study, it was concluded that RGD and GRGDS bioactive peptides have the potential to be utilized as ACE inhibitors.
Self-Adjoint Sturm-Liouville Dynamic Problem via Proportional Derivative
Authors: GÜLŞEN Tuba , ACAR Mehmet
Published: November 2023

The concept of a conformable derivative on time scales is a relatively new development in the field of fractional calculus. Traditional fractional calculus deals with derivatives and integrals of non-integer order on continuous time domains. However, time scale calculus extends these concepts to more general time domains that include both continuous and discrete points. The conformable derivative on time scales has several properties that make it advantageous in certain applications. For example, it satisfies a chain rule and has a simple relationship with the conformable integral, which facilitates the development of differential equations involving fractional order dynamics. It also allows for the analysis of systems with both continuous and discrete data points, making it suitable for modeling and control applications in various fields, including physics, engineering, and finance. In this study, the Sturm-Liouville problem and its properties are examined on an arbitrary time scale using the proportional derivative, a more general form of the fractional derivative. Important spectral properties such as self-adjointness, Green formula, Lagrange identity, Abel formula, and orthogonality of eigenfunctions for this problem are expressed in proportional derivatives on an arbitrary time scale.
Determination of Carbon Footprint at Institutions of Higher Education: The Case of the Iğdır University
Authors: TIRINK Sevtap , AYKAÇ ÖZEN Hülya
Published: November 2023

University campuses are centers of living where all kinds of sociocultural activities take place and where students spend most of their time throughout their education life. As a result of these activities, it is inevitable that atmospheric greenhouse gas levels in campuses will increase. One of the most common approaches for determining greenhouse gas emissions is the "carbon footprint". Carbon footprint is an indirect representation of the carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere as a result of the activities of an organization or individual. This article deals with the calculation stages of the carbon footprint resulting from the activities of Iğdır University Şehit Bülent Yurtseven campus and suggestions for reducing it. The calculations include various activities of the campus, and they contain generally accepted emission scopes. DEFRA guidance was used in the carbon footprint calculation of the campus and the base year for the calculation was 2022. The carbon footprint of Iğdır University in 2022 was calculated as 3679.66 tCO2e/year and 1.27x10-3 tCO2e/m2 on annual and area basis, respectively. These emissions are caused by factors such as natural gas consumption, electricity consumption, transport, water consumption and waste amount. The largest emission source is natural gas consumption (37%), followed by emissions from minibus transportation (31%). In conclusion, universities have an important role to play in identifying innovative approaches to measuring, controlling, and reducing carbon footprints by bringing together people with different skills and experience, advanced research facilities and resources. This article is thought to contribute to the literature in determining the process of preparing a university's greenhouse gas inventory, the possibilities of the university to achieve carbon neutrality and emission reduction strategies through the example of Iğdır University.