bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Features of Designing a Portfolio of Financial Instruments Based on the Evaluation of Beta-Coefficients
Authors: Vlasov D. , Sinchukov Aleksandr
Published: February 2024

The article focuses on a variant of the development of the classical portfolio theory based on coefficients. The role of beta coefficients in financial decisionmaking is analyzed, and a portfolio optimization option is presented in the form of a linear programming problem with respect to the price shares of financial instruments acting as variables. Special attention is paid to the mathematical approaches underlying portfolio theory. Such approaches include statistical analysis to assess the expected profitability and coefficients of various financial instruments, as well as optimization methods to determine the optimal balance between the profitable and risky characteristics of the portfolio. Due to the choice of various options for the value of the beta coefficient of the portfolio, the fundamental possibility of designing optimal portfolios taking into account investment goals, risk level and desired profitability is demonstrated. Three investment strategies have been formulated based on the inclusion in the portfolio of financial instruments with high coefficient values; inclusion in the portfolio of financial instruments with low coefficient values and inclusion in the portfolio of financial instruments with average coefficient values. Based on real financial data, the differences in financial results resulting from the choice of each of these strategies are demonstrated. From a methodological point of view, the material of the article can be useful for improving the content of mathematical disciplines related to the quantitative justification of financial decisions.
Risk factors of self-medication with antibiotics for acute pharyngitis
Authors: Porzak Mikołaj , Dacka Michał , Sobczyk Mateusz , Sodolska Alicja , Żuraw Daria , Jasiński Kacper , Oleksa Paulina , Porzak Robert , Kubicka-Dębiec Magdalena
Published: February 2024

Background: Self-medicating with antibiotics is prevalent in low- and middle-income nations. This research sought to assess the perspectives on antibiotic usage and self-medication in case of acute pharyngitis, as well as the factors linked to self-medication among patients of a family doctor's clinic in Lublin, Poland.

Methods: A original, fully anonymous survey was conducted among patients of a family doctor's clinic in Lublin. The descriptive statistics of answers in questionnaires and Automatic Linear Modeling Regression (LINEAR) was applied to point out the most significant predictors of the antibiotics misuse.

Results: A response number of 262 participants was obtained. About 15,6% (41/262) respondents had self-medicated during the last year due to acute pharyngitis symptoms. We have identified the following important risk factors of anti-health behaviours connected with self-medication: frequent occurrence of symptoms of acute pharyngitis, frequent receiving antibiotics on prescription, frequent diagnosing a bacterial cause of sore throat, higher sensitivity to pain and lower education level. Surprisingly our research shows that women present lower sensitivity to pain than men in case of pain connected with acute pharyngitis.

Conclusion: There is a need for greater attention paid to the education of the patients presenting the aforementioned risk factors. Education should focus on the risks to the patients connected with antimicrobial resistance.
Disruptions, Redundancy Strategies, and Performance of Small Firms: Evidence from Uganda
Authors: Kundu Amrita , Anderson Stephen J. , Ramdas Kamalini
Published: February 2024

We study the impact of firm-specific business disruptions on the performance of small emerging market firms and test the effectiveness of building in redundancies to buffer against disruptions. Managerial disruptions result in the absence of the entrepreneur-owner, whereas operational disruptions lead to a shortage of critical resources, for example, inventory or electricity. We propose the use of relational redundancy—that is, the availability of a trusted and capable person with whom the entrepreneur-owner has an existing relationship, who can manage the business in his or her absence—to recover from managerial disruptions. We also examine whether resource redundancy—for example, maintaining safety stock or electricity backup—helps recover from operational disruptions. In the absence of publicly available data, we hand-built a panel data set by interviewing 646 randomly selected small firms over four time periods in Kampala, Uganda. We find that disruptions are highly prevalent and have a statistically and economically significant effect on firm performance. When a firm faces multiple exogenous and severe disruptions in a six-month period, its monthly sales decrease by 13.8% (p = 0.013), and its sales growth decreases by 18.8 percentage points (p = 0.070). Importantly, we find that both managerial and resource redundancies can help firms build resilience against the negative impact of disruptions. In some cases, firms with high levels of redundancy are able to completely overcome the negative effect of disruptions on sales and sales growth. We discuss implications for entrepreneurs, policymakers, and large multinationals that buy from or sell to small emerging market firms.

This paper was accepted by Charles Corbett, operations management.

Funding: This research was supported by grants from: Deloitte Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (DIIE), the John A. and Cynthia Fry Gunn Faculty Scholar award, London Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stanford Institute for Innovation in Developing Economies (SEED), and STARS Foundation.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4978 .
Patient-support techniques for treating patients with learning disabilities
Authors: Fenesan Stephanie , Hare Jennifer , Kerr Bryan
Published: February 2024

There are many techniques that can, with simple adjustments, be used for patients with learning disabilities. A number of techniques may be familiar to dentists as those which are applied to anxious or paediatrics patients. There is a lack of focused articles clearly describing specific techniques that can be used for individuals with learning disabilities and how these can be adapted to help enable dental assessment and treatment. This article aims to inform general dental practitioners of patient-support techniques that may be used or adapted for individuals with learning disabilities.

CPD/Clinical Relevance: Dental professionals should be able to make reasonable adjustments to their practice to better support individuals with learning disabilities who access dental care.
Performing Indigeneity through the Musical Piece “Miti Sunai” on Yonaguni Island, Okinawa
Authors: Kuan Yuan-Yu
Published: February 2024

Abstract: Dunan, now known as Yonaguni Island, has a complex political history, stretching from its annexation by the Ryūkyū Kingdom in 1510 to its current marginalization as Japan’s westernmost point. Located near Taiwan, its people have faced international, national, and prenational tensions that have influenced their cultural identity as well as their music and performing arts. This article examines these tensions by focusing on the recurrence of “Miti Sunai,” one of the island’s oldest musical pieces. I propose that “Miti Sunai” serves as a sonic reflection of Dunan Indigeneity, capturing the fluctuations between historical events and contemporary shifts and narrating the island’s intricate sociopolitical stories.
Variations on Time: Reading Paolo Virno Reading Ernst Bloch
Authors: Menozzi Filippo
Published: February 2024

Abstract: This essay discusses the concept of nonchronological time through the philosophies of Paolo Virno and Ernst Bloch, mostly focusing on Virno’s Déjà vu and the End of History , originally published as Il Ricordo del Presente in 1999. In this work, Virno formulates the thesis that capitalism is the first social form that historicizes the metahistorical and nonchronological invariant that defines human life. An important element in Virno’s argument is what he presents as a more radical reinterpretation of Ernst Bloch’s idea of the “contemporaneity of the non-contemporary.” Virno translates Bloch’s notion of  ungleichzeitigkeit  as coexistence of potentiality and act, or labor-power and commodity. In many respects, Bloch and Virno could be aligned as thinkers of a nonchronological time of possibility in the tradition of historical materialism. However, Virno’s engagement with Bloch seems to be missing central aspects of Bloch’s original formula. Unlike Virno, Bloch’s philosophy does not limit the nonchronological to temporal anteriority or heterogeneity; on the contrary, Bloch’s theory of time uncovers the nonlinear dialectical contradictions between unfinished pasts and open-ended futures.
The Weather in Tsai: Slow Cinema and Slow Violence
Authors: Padmanabhan Lakshmi
Published: February 2024

Abstract: Recent critical thinking on anthropogenic climate change has mourned cinema’s ability to capture the slow violence of large-scale environmental degradation and foresee a future of environmental disaster that is unchecked because it remains invisible to aesthetic representation. This essay argues that the rise of slow cinema aesthetics, particularly the affective mode of anxiety that it cultivates through the chronic violence of the long take, is one aesthetic approach within contemporary cinema to mediate slow violence. This argument is developed through a close reading of Tsai Ming-liang’s film, I Don’t Want to Sleep Alone (2006), paying particular attention to the representations of ambient toxicity, the exhausting forms of reproductive labor on display, and the queer forms of intimacy that are cultivated throughout.
江西吉水方言连-介词“做(伴)”: 的功能和语义演变
Authors: 李 桂兰
Published: February 2024

摘要: 江西吉水方言的“做”有普通话“和”的介词和连词功能，可引出协同对象、言谈对象、比较对象和并列对象。连-介词“做”的功能一般可以用“做伴(/嘙/得)”替换。文章以“做”为代表观察“做”及双音节形式的功能后指出，“做”是“做伴”语音弱化的结果，伴随介词“做伴[ʦɿ31–51 phon512–20]”源于相伴义动词“做伴[ʦɿ31–33 phon512]”，即在突显协同对象的连谓结构中，动词前的“做伴”发展出伴随介词功能，并发展出其他功能。考察发现，连-介词“做”及双音节形式也见于吉水周边的赣方言、吴方言和徽语，汉语方言中广泛存在相伴义动词发展出连-介词功能这种现象。① ABSTRACT: Similar with he or ken in Mandarin, ʦɿ 31-512 (做) of Jishui dialect in Jiangxi functions as comitative, animate directional and comparative preposition as well as coordinator, which can be substituted by the disyllabic functional words ʦɿ31–51 phon512–20 (做伴), ʦɿ31–51 pho20 (做嘙) or ʦɿ31–51 te20 (做得). This paper explores the functions of ʦɿ 31-512 as well as its disyllable and explores their semantic sources and pathway of semantic changes. It claims that the comitative ʦɿ 31-51 p h on 512-20 originates from verb ʦɿ 31-33 p h on 512meaning accompany , and it is reanalyzed with tonal change in the situation where ʦɿ 31-33 p h on 512 acts as the first verb with a prominent animate object of a serial verb construction. Then, on the one hand, the comitative ʦɿ 31-51 p h on 512-20 undergoes erosion into ʦɿ 31-51 p h o 512-20 or even into ʦɿ 3-512, and the latter one constitutes a compound disyllabic with suffix te 0. On the other hand, the disyllabic and monosyllabic comitatives are extended into other situations with other kinds of verb where they are reanalyzed into animate directional and comparative prepositions. Simultaneously, the comitatives are grammaticalized into coordinators, when the two participants make similar contributions to an event and hold equal status. Then it reveals that cognates of the preposition and coordinator ʦuo (做) or its compounds spread widely around Jishui dialect in Jiangxi as well as some Wu and Hui dialects, and it is common for verbs meaning accompany to develop into comitatives and coordinators.
Echeloned Saturation and Forcing Axioms
Authors: Garti Shimon
Published: February 2024

Abstract: We show that under the failure of Chang’s conjecture and the assumption that Martin’s axiom holds and the continuum is above ω 2, there are no weakly Laver ideals over ℵ 1. This gives an answer to a question of Paul Larson’s. Likewise, we prove that under Baumgartner’s axiom there is no Laver ideal over ℵ 2. This statement generalises Larson’s result at ℵ 1 under Martin’s axiom.
"From god astraye went": William Forrest's Contra-Reformation "Legend of Theophilus"
Authors: Wort Oliver
Published: February 2024

Abstract: This is a study of William Forrest's "Legend of Theophilus." In the history of devil-compact literature, Theophilus was the ur-Faustus, the preeminent example all across medieval Europe of the foolish man who, for worldly gain, abandoned his soul to the devil. Finished on 27 October 1572, Forrest's version of this tale is a rare example of an English Theophilus legend written in the aftermath of the Reformation rather than in advance of it. This novel context permits Forrest to treat the legend as a critique of Reformation and a defense of Catholic devotion, particularly to the Virgin Mary. Furthermore, as an Elizabethan study in damnation and redemption, Forrest's poem is comparable to Christopher Marlowe's Doctor Faustus , though the two are products of fundamentally different religious milieus. This study ends by reading Forrest's atypical Elizabethan poem alongside Marlowe's more quintessentially Elizabethan play in order to draw out what is most distinctive about both works and the divine economies that animate them.
Two Orders of Magnitude Increase in Dynamic Range of Harmonic-free Vibration Sensing Using Local Transducer and Intensity-based C-OTDR
Authors: Eisermann René , Liehr Sascha , Breithaupt Mathias , Münzenberger Sven , Krenek Stephan
Published: February 2024

A novel fibre-optic transducer is presented that is capable to convert a vibration signal into a spatially changing strain profile. Static loading experiments were performed using swept-wavelength interferometry (SWI) to characterise the distributed strain profile of the sensor. Based on this, the strain response of each fibre section was calculated for coherent optical time domain reflectometry (C-OTDR) as a function of pulse width and spatial sampling interval. The resulting strain response of the sensor spans over two orders of magnitude. With the help of this transducer and using only the intensity information of the C-OTDR, we were able to determine vibration spectra without additional harmonic frequencies for accelerations between 0.01 ms-2 and 0.2ms-2.
Surface-mode induced high birefringence in a low-loss 7-cell photonic bandgap hollow-core fiber
Authors: Yu Fei , Chaochao Shen , Wu Dakun , zhu xinyue , Chen Si
Published: February 2024

In this paper, a low-loss high-birefringence 7-cell photonic-bandgap hollow-core fiber (PBG-HCF) is designed and fabricated based on the method of surface mode engineering. Within a smooth transmission band from 1472 nm to 1560 nm, a minimum attenuation of 39 dB/km is measured where up to 3.29*10^-3 group birefringence is achieved. The windowed Fourier transform (WFT) is applied in the analysis of spectral beating measurement results. The wavelength dependence of group birefringence of fundamental and higher-order modes is resolved.
Differential Artery–Vein Analysis Improves OCTA Classification of Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Yao Xincheng , Abtahi Mansour , Le David , Ebrahimi Behrouz , DADZIE ALBERT , Rahimi Mojtaba , Hsieh Yi-Ting , Heiferman Michael , Lim Jennifer
Published: February 2024

This study investigates the impact of differential artery–vein (AV) analysis in optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) on machine learning classification of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Leveraging deep learning for arterial-venous area (AVA) segmentation, six quantitative features, including perfusion intensity density (PID), blood vessel density (BVD), vessel area flux (VAF), blood vessel caliber (BVC), blood vessel tortuosity (BVT), and vessel perimeter index (VPI) features, were derived from OCTA images before and after AV differentiation. A support vector machine (SVM) classifier was utilized to assess both binary and multiclass classifications of control, diabetic patients without DR (NoDR), mild DR, moderate DR, and severe DR groups. Initially, one-region features, i.e., quantitative features extracted from the entire OCTA, were evaluated for DR classification. Differential AV analysis improved classification accuracies from 78.86% to 87.63% and from 79.62% to 85.66% for binary and multiclass classifications, respectively. Additionally, three-region features, derived from the entire image, parafovea, and perifovea, were incorporated for DR classification. Differential AV analysis further enhanced classification accuracies from 84.43% to 93.33% and from 83.40% to 89.25% for binary and multiclass classifications, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of differential AV analysis in augmenting disease diagnosis and treatment assessment using OCTA.
Peregrine soliton emits dispersive waves within graded-index multimode fibers without higher-order dispersion
Authors: ZHANG LIFU , Shuai YueLei , Deng Zhixiang , Li Haozhe , Gao Yanxia , Fan Dianyuan
Published: February 2024

We investigate the propagation dynamics of the Peregrine soliton, a significant prototype of rogue waves, within the graded-index multimode fibers, in the absence of higher-order dispersion. The Peregrine soliton keeps the approximate evolution trend when propagating within the graded-index multimode fibers to replace the single-mode fibers when preserving the equivalent nonlinear effect. In addition, a series of dispersive waves (also called resonant radiation) can be emitted by the Peregrine soliton, perturbated by the periodic beam oscillation caused by the spatial self-imaging effect within the graded-index multimode fibers. To be more exact, the location of the multiple resonant frequencies can be predicted using the modified quasi-phase-matching conditions, which are verified by the numerically calculated results. We can also manipulate the locations of spectral sidebands and the peak power of dispersive waves by changing the self-imaging parameter of the graded-index multimode fibers. Our findings can provide a deeper comprehension of the propagation characteristic of Peregrine soliton within the graded-index multimode fibers and provide valuable instruction for further rich nonlinear experiments.
CryptoCEN: A Co-Expression Network for Cryptococcus neoformans reveals novel proteins involved in DNA damage repair
Authors: O’Meara Matthew J. , Rapala Jackson R. , Nichols Connie B. , Alexandre A. Christina , Billmyre R. Blake , Steenwyk Jacob L , Alspaugh J. Andrew , O’Meara Teresa R.
Published: February 2024

Elucidating gene function is a major goal in biology, especially among non-model organisms. However, doing so is complicated by the fact that molecular conservation does not always mirror functional conservation, and that complex relationships among genes are responsible for encoding pathways and higher-order biological processes. Co-expression, a promising approach for predicting gene function, relies on the general principal that genes with similar expression patterns across multiple conditions will likely be involved in the same biological process. For Cryptococcus neoformans, a prevalent human fungal pathogen greatly diverged from model yeasts, approximately 60% of the predicted genes in the genome lack functional annotations. Here, we leveraged a large amount of publicly available transcriptomic data to generate a C. neoformans Co-Expression Network (CryptoCEN), successfully recapitulating known protein networks, predicting gene function, and enabling insights into the principles influencing co-expression. With 100% predictive accuracy, we used CryptoCEN to identify 13 new DNA damage response genes, underscoring the utility of guilt-by-association for determining gene function. Overall, co-expression is a powerful tool for uncovering gene function, and decreases the experimental tests needed to identify functions for currently under-annotated genes.
Old tools, new applications: Use of environmental bacteriophages for typhoid surveillance and evaluating vaccine impact
Authors: Hooda Yogesh , Islam Shuborno , Kabiraj Rathin , Rahman Hafizur , Sarkar Himadree , da Silva Kesia E. , Raju Rajan Saha , Luby Stephen P. , Andrews Jason R. , Saha Samir K. , Saha Senjuti
Published: February 2024

Typhoid-conjugate vaccines (TCVs) provide an opportunity to reduce the burden of typhoid fever, caused by Salmonella Typhi, in endemic areas. As policymakers design vaccination strategies, accurate and high-resolution data on disease burden is crucial. However, traditional blood culture-based surveillance is resource-extensive, prohibiting its large-scale and sustainable implementation. Salmonella Typhi is a water-borne pathogen, and here, we tested the potential of Typhi-specific bacteriophage surveillance in surface water bodies as a low-cost tool to identify where Salmonella Typhi circulates in the environment. In 2021, water samples were collected and tested for the presence of Salmonella Typhi bacteriophages at two sites in Bangladesh: urban capital city, Dhaka, and a rural district, Mirzapur. Salmonella Typhi-specific bacteriophages were detected in 66 of 211 (31%) environmental samples in Dhaka, in comparison to 3 of 92 (3%) environmental samples from Mirzapur. In the same year, 4,620 blood cultures at the two largest pediatric hospitals of Dhaka yielded 215 (5%) culture-confirmed typhoid cases, and 3,788 blood cultures in the largest hospital of Mirzapur yielded 2 (0.05%) cases. 75% (52/69) of positive phage samples were collected from sewage. All isolated phages were tested against a panel of isolates from different Salmonella Typhi genotypes circulating in Bangladesh and were found to exhibit a diverse killing spectrum, indicating that diverse bacteriophages were isolated. These results suggest an association between the presence of Typhi-specific phages in the environment and the burden of typhoid fever, and the potential of utilizing environmental phage surveillance as a low-cost tool to assist policy decisions on typhoid control.
Progress interrogating TRPMPZQ as the target of praziquantel
Authors: Marchant Jonathan S.
Published: February 2024

The drug praziquantel (PZQ) has served as the long-standing drug therapy for treatment of infections caused by parasitic flatworms. These encompass diseases caused by parasitic blood, lung, and liver flukes, as well as various tapeworm infections. Despite a history of clinical usage spanning over 4 decades, the parasite target of PZQ has long resisted identification. However, a flatworm transient receptor potential ion channel from the melastatin subfamily (TRPMPZQ) was recently identified as a target for PZQ action. Here, recent experimental progress interrogating TRPMPZQ is evaluated, encompassing biochemical, pharmacological, genetic, and comparative phylogenetic data that highlight the properties of this ion channel. Various lines of evidence that support TRPMPZQ being the therapeutic target of PZQ are presented, together with additional priorities for further research into the mechanism of action of this important clinical drug.
Identification of a potent and selective LAPTc inhibitor by RapidFire-Mass Spectrometry, with antichagasic activity
Authors: Izquierdo Maikel , Lin De , O’Neill Sandra , Webster Lauren A. , Paterson Christy , Thomas John , Aguado Mirtha Elisa , Colina Araújo Enrique , Alpízar-Pedraza Daniel , Joji Halimatu , MacLean Lorna , Hope Anthony , Gray David W. , Zoltner Martin , Field Mark C. , González-Bacerio Jorge , De Rycker Manu
Published: February 2024

Background

Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and leads to ~10,000 deaths each year. Nifurtimox and benznidazole are the only two drugs available but have significant adverse effects and limited efficacy. New chemotherapeutic agents are urgently required. Here we identified inhibitors of the acidic M17 leucyl-aminopeptidase from T. cruzi (LAPTc) that show promise as novel starting points for Chagas disease drug discovery.

Methodology/Principal findings

A RapidFire-MS screen with a protease-focused compound library identified novel LAPTc inhibitors. Twenty-eight hits were progressed to the dose-response studies, from which 12 molecules inhibited LAPTc with IC50 < 34 μM. Of these, compound 4 was the most potent hit and mode of inhibition studies indicate that compound 4 is a competitive LAPTc inhibitor, with Ki 0.27 μM. Compound 4 is selective with respect to human LAP3, showing a selectivity index of >500. Compound 4 exhibited sub-micromolar activity against intracellular T. cruzi amastigotes, and while the selectivity-window against the host cells was narrow, no toxicity was observed for un-infected HepG2 cells. In silico modelling of the LAPTc-compound 4 interaction is consistent with the competitive mode of inhibition. Molecular dynamics simulations reproduce the experimental binding strength (-8.95 kcal/mol), and indicate a binding mode based mainly on hydrophobic interactions with active site residues without metal cation coordination.

Conclusions/Significance

Our data indicates that these new LAPTc inhibitors should be considered for further development as antiparasitic agents for the treatment of Chagas disease.
Interpreting polygenic score effects in sibling analysis
Authors: Fletcher Jason , Wu Yuchang , Li Tianchang , Lu Qiongshi
Published: February 2024

Researchers often claim that sibling analysis can be used to separate causal genetic effects from the assortment of biases that contaminate most downstream genetic studies (e.g. polygenic score predictors). Indeed, typical results from sibling analysis show large (>50%) attenuations in the associations between polygenic scores and phenotypes compared to non-sibling analysis, consistent with researchers’ expectations about bias reduction. This paper explores these expectations by using family (quad) data and simulations that include indirect genetic effect processes and evaluates the ability of sibling analysis to uncover direct genetic effects of polygenic scores. We find that sibling analysis, in general, fail to uncover direct genetic effects; indeed, these models have both upward and downward biases that are difficult to sign in typical data. When genetic nurture effects exist, sibling analysis creates “measurement error” that attenuates associations between polygenic scores and phenotypes. As the correlation between direct and indirect effect changes, this bias can increase or decrease. Our findings suggest that interpreting results from sibling analysis aimed at uncovering direct genetic effects should be treated with caution.
Swimmer’s itch control: Timely waterfowl brood relocation significantly reduces an avian schistosome population and human cases on recreational lakes
Authors: Blankespoor Curtis L. , Blankespoor Harvey D. , DeJong Randall J.
Published: February 2024

Swimmer’s itch (SI) is a dermatitis in humans caused by cercariae of avian and mammalian schistosomes which emerge from infected snails on a daily basis. Mitigation methods for SI have long been sought with little success. Copper sulfate application to the water to kill the snail hosts is the historically employed method, but is localized, temporary, and harmful to many aquatic species. Here, we test an alternative method to control Trichobilharzia stagnicolae, a species well-known to cause SI in northern Michigan and elsewhere in North America. Summer relocation of broods of the only known vertebrate host, common merganser (Mergus merganser), greatly reduced snail infection prevalence the following year on two large, geographically separated lakes in northern Michigan. Subsequent years of host relocation achieved and maintained snail infection prevalence at ~0.05%, more than an order of magnitude lower than pre-intervention. A Before–After–Control–Intervention (BACI) study design using multiple-year snail infection data from two intervention lakes and three control lakes demonstrates that dramatic lake-wide reduction of an avian schistosome can be achieved and is not due to natural fluctuations in the parasite populations. The relevance of reducing snail infection prevalence is demonstrated by a large seven-year data set of SI incidence in swimmers at a high-use beach, which showed a substantial reduction in SI cases in two successive years after relocation began. In addition, data from another Michigan lake where vertebrate-host based intervention occurred in the 1980’s are analyzed statistically and show a remarkably similar pattern of reduction in snail infection prevalence. Together, these results demonstrate a highly effective SI mitigation strategy that avoids the use of environmentally suspect chemicals and removes incentive for lethal host removal. Biologically, the results strongly suggest that T. stagnicolae is reliant on the yearly hatch of ducklings to maintain populations at high levels on a lake and that the role of migratory hosts in the spring and fall is much less significant.
Tip Growth Defective1 interacts with the cellulose synthase complex to regulate cellulose synthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Lampugnani Edwin R. , Persson Staffan , Khan Ghazanfar Abbas
Published: February 2024

Plant cells possess robust and flexible cell walls composed primarily of cellulose, a polysaccharide that provides structural support and enables cell expansion. Cellulose is synthesised by the Cellulose Synthase A (CESA) catalytic subunits, which form cellulose synthase complexes (CSCs). While significant progress has been made in unravelling CSC function, the trafficking of CSCs and the involvement of post-translational modifications in cellulose synthesis remain poorly understood. In order to deepen our understanding of cellulose biosynthesis, this study utilised immunoprecipitation techniques with CESA6 as the bait protein to explore the CSC and its interactors. We have successfully identified the essential components of the CSC complex and, notably, uncovered novel interactors associated with CSC trafficking, post-translational modifications, and the coordination of cell wall synthesis. Moreover, we identified TIP GROWTH DEFECTIVE 1 (TIP1) protein S-acyl transferases (PATs) as an interactor of the CSC complex. We confirmed the interaction between TIP1 and the CSC complex through multiple independent approaches. Further analysis revealed that tip1 mutants exhibited stunted growth and reduced levels of crystalline cellulose in leaves. These findings suggest that TIP1 positively influences cellulose biosynthesis, potentially mediated by its role in the S-acylation of the CSC complex.
Relative strength explains the differences in multi-joint rapid force production between sexes
Authors: Comfort Paul , McMahon John J. , Lake Jason P. , Ripley Nicholas J. , Triplett N. Travis , Haff G. Gregory
Published: February 2024

The primary aim of this study was to determine whether relative strength explains the differences in the rapid force production (force developed during first 150-, 200-, and 250 ms) of females and males, and to evaluate the relationships between peak force and rapid force production. Sixty-three team sport athletes (females: n = 25, age = 21.5 ± 1.3 years, stature = 166 ± 5 cm, body mass = 60.65 ± 10.04 kg; males: n = 38, age = 21.9 ± 1.1 years, stature = 178 ± 7 cm, body mass = 76.55 ± 12.88 kg) performed a series of isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) trials, with all participants’ data used for correlational analysis. After testing, females and males were divided into 20 strength-matched pairs, based on their relative peak force (peak force ∙ body mass). There were no meaningful differences between sexes for relative force at 150 ms (g = 0.007 [95% CI -0.627, 0.648]), 200 ms (g = -0.059 [95% CI -0.695, 0.588]) and 250 ms (g = -0.156 [95% CI -0.778, 0.473]). Similarly, when expressed as a percentage of peak force there were no meaningful differences in force at 150 ms (g = -0.015 [95.0%CI -0.650, 0.680]), 200 ms (g = -0.099 [95.0%CI -0.714, 0.559]) or 250 ms (g = -0.272 [95.0%CI -0.856, 0.328]) between strength-matched females and males. Based on the correlations, there were very large to nearly perfect relationships (r = 0.77–0.94, p <0.001) between peak force and rapid force production, with peak force explaining 59%, 77% and 89% of the variance in force at 150-, 200- and 250 ms, respectively. When comparing females and males, relative strength (based on body weight or a percentage of peak force) should be considered, and practitioners should be aware of the role of peak force in rapid force production.
Integrated water quality dynamics in Wadi Hanifah: Physical, chemical, and biological perspectives
Authors: Aqel Hazem , Sannan Naif , Al-Hunaiti Afnan , Fodah Ramy
Published: February 2024

The Wadi Hanifah, a crucial aquatic ecosystem, has unfavorable consequences from natural occurrences and human activities. Recognizing the critical need for sustainable water management, this study provides an in-depth evaluation of wadi water quality. A comprehensive assessment was conducted, analyzing physical properties (temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, color, and odor), chemical constituents (nitrogen compounds, ion concentrations, heavy metals), and bacterial diversity. The study found significant temperature fluctuations, particularly in sun-exposed or stagnant water areas. The water exhibited slight alkalinity and variable electrical conductivity and turbidity, indicating differing pollution levels. High ammonia and heavy metal concentrations suggested organic and industrial contamination, respectively. In addition, the prevalent fecal-indicator bacteria pointed to possible sewage or agricultural runoff. The research highlights the complex interplay of natural and anthropogenic factors affecting Wadi Hanifah’s water quality. It emphasizes the need for location-specific environmental management strategies focusing on pollution control and conservation to safeguard the wadi’s ecological health. This study provides vital insights for effective water resource management in Wadi Hanifah, serving as a model for similar ecosystems.
Facial electromyography during exercise using soft electrode array: A feasibility study
Authors: Ibrahim Rawan , Ketko Itay , Scheinowitz Mickey , Hanein Yael
Published: February 2024

The use of wearable sensors for real-time monitoring of exercise-related measures has been extensively studied in recent years (e.g., performance enhancement, optimizing athlete’s training, and preventing injuries). Surface electromyography (sEMG), which measures muscle activity, is a widely researched technology in exercise monitoring. However, due to their cumbersome nature, traditional sEMG electrodes are limited. In particular, facial EMG (fEMG) studies in physical training have been limited, with some scarce evidence suggesting that fEMG may be used to monitor exercise-related measurements. Altogether, sEMG recordings from facial muscles in the context of exercise have been examined relatively inadequately. In this feasibility study, we assessed the ability of a new wearable sEMG technology to measure facial muscle activity during exercise. Six young, healthy, and recreationally active participants (5 females), performed an incremental cycling exercise test until exhaustion, while facial sEMG and vastus lateralis (VL) EMG were measured. Facial sEMG signals from both natural expressions and voluntary smiles were successfully recorded. Stable recordings and high-resolution facial muscle activity mapping were achieved during different exercise intensities until exhaustion. Strong correlations were found between VL and multiple facial muscles’ activity during voluntary smiles during exercise, with statistically significant coefficients ranging from 0.80 to 0.95 (p<0.05). This study demonstrates the feasibility of monitoring facial muscle activity during exercise, with potential implications for sports medicine and exercise physiology, particularly in monitoring exercise intensity and fatigue.
Potential mechanisms and drug prediction of Rheumatoid Arthritis and primary Sjögren’s Syndrome: A public databases-based study
Authors: Wu Li , Wang Qi , Gao Qi-chao , Shi Gao-xiang , Li Jing , Fan Fu-rong , Wu Jing , He Pei-Feng , Yu Qi
Published: February 2024

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) are the most common systemic autoimmune diseases, and they are increasingly being recognized as occurring in the same patient population. These two diseases share several clinical features and laboratory parameters, but the exact mechanism of their co-pathogenesis remains unclear. The intention of this study was to investigate the common molecular mechanisms involved in RA and pSS using integrated bioinformatic analysis. RNA-seq data for RA and pSS were picked up from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Co-expression genes linked with RA and pSS were recognized using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis. Then, we screened two public disease–gene interaction databases (GeneCards and Comparative Toxicogenomics Database) for common targets associated with RA and pSS. The DGIdb database was used to predict therapeutic drugs for RA and pSS. The Human microRNA Disease Database (HMDD) was used to screen out the common microRNAs associated with RA and pSS. Finally, a common miRNA–gene network was created using Cytoscape. Four hub genes (CXCL10, GZMA, ITGA4, and PSMB9) were obtained from the intersection of common genes from WGCNA, differential gene analysis and public databases. Twenty-four drugs corresponding to hub gene targets were predicted in the DGIdb database. Among the 24 drugs, five drugs had already been reported for the treatment of RA and pSS. Other drugs, such as bortezomib, carfilzomib, oprozomib, cyclosporine and zidovudine, may be ideal drugs for the future treatment of RA patients with pSS. According to the miRNA–gene network, hsa-mir-21 may play a significant role in the mechanisms shared by RA and pSS. In conclusion, we identified commom targets as potential biomarkers in RA and pSS from publicly available databases and predicted potential drugs based on the targets. A new understanding of the molecular mechanisms associated with RA and pSS is provided according to the miRNA–gene network.
Zientziak bizidunontzat
Authors: Sarobe Egiguren Aitziber , Mentxakatorre Odriozola Jon , Apraiz Itxaso
Published: February 2024

Egun bizi dugun krisi ekologiko globalaren garaian, biodibertsitatearen eta gure ingurune naturalaren zaintzak berebiziko garrantzia dute. Izan ere, orain gutxi izandako pandemiak inoiz baino argiago erakutsi digu, bizitzaren amaraunean, gainerako bizidunekiko dugun menpekotasuna. Azken horrek, gainera, sozio-ekonomiaren eremuan, eta, beraz, diziplinartekotasunean kokatzen gaitu. Hori dela eta, artikulu honetan, gaur-geroko egunetarako Giza eta Ingurumen Hezkuntzaren nondik norakoak aurkeztuko ditugu, eta osasun edo orekarako hezkuntzak mundu mailako markoan duen tokia. Horretarako, lehenik eta behin, osasunaren esanahi holistikoaz, komunitatearen adiera zabalaz eta gizakiaren antropologia filosofikoaz azalpenak emango dira. Bigarrenez, Euskal Herriaren izaera natural eta kulturalari erreparatuko diogu, aurretik egindako formulazioa bertan kokatu eta bideak irekitzeko. Ondoren, Modernitatearen krisiaren ezaugarriak aztertuko dira, horren aurrean bizitza osorako konpetentzietan oinarritutako eta Garapen Jasangarrirako Helburuen arabera eratutako mundu mailako hezkuntzak daukan egitekoa azaltzeko. Azkenik, Euskal Autonomia Erkidego eta Nafarroako Foru Erkidegoetako hezkuntza curriculumek tokiko begiradari irekitako bideak aurretik esandakoari zer aukera ematen dioten azalduko dugu. Horrekin guztiarekin gaur-gero osasuntsurako hezkuntzaren oinarria jarriko da, euskal begiradaz.
Zuzendaritza taldeen lidergo estiloa
Authors: Arce Alonso Ander , Garay Ruiz Urtza , Camino Esturo Edorta
Published: February 2024

Eskola Txikiak euskal hezkuntza sistemaren barruan ezaugarri bakarrak dituen eskola mota bat dira, baina gainerako ikastetxeen hezkuntza -eskaera eta -erronka berak dituzte. Zuzendaritza taldearen lidergoa beharrezkoa da egungo eta etorkizuneko eskariei aurre egiteko, eta lidergo eraldatzailea eredu gomendagarrien artean aurkeztu ohi da. Azterlan honen helburua Bizkaiko Eskola Txikien zuzendaritza taldearen lidergo estiloa ezagutzea da, eta generoak, graduondoko ikasketek edo lanpostuan emandako esperientzia-urteek eraginik duten baloratzea. Emaitzek erakusten dutenez, zuzendaritza taldeak bere burua eraldatzailetzat jotzen du estilo nagusi gisa, eta gertutik jarraitzen dio estilo transakzionala, bi estilo hauek lotura zuzenen eta gogorrak erakusten dutelarik. Lidergo pasiboari dagokionez, honen ausentzia nabaritu dute, eta korrelazio negatiboa eta ahula du beste bi estiloekin. Generoari, prestakuntzari eta lanpostuko esperientziari dagokienez, ez dira alderik aurkitu taldeen artean. Horrelako faktorerik ez dagoenez, aurkikuntzek aukera ematen dute landa eskolen ezaugarri batzuei buruz hausnartzeko (antolaketa, tamaina, barne-harremanak, etab.), zuzendaritza taldearen lidergo estiloan eragina izan dezaketelako.
Smart tourism destinations:
Authors: Homann Zilli Bruno , Pereira Melise de Lima , Souza Wellyngton Fernando Leonel de , Silva Gutemberg Cardoso da
Published: February 2024

By analyzing the tourist demand of destinations and understanding the changes occurring in the tourism sector for various reasons, it becomes possible to elucidate tourists' desires, evaluate their perception regarding the products and services offered, and identify the need for adaptation on the part of business owners and public managers. In this perspective, this study aims to address the following question: how can measurement indicators of tourist experience be used in a research instrument to contribute to the evaluation of tourist demand in the destination of Curitiba, Paraná - Brazil? To answer this, the objectives are as follows: to analyze the demand profile, travel information, and tourist experience in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. This research is exploratory and descriptive in nature, employing a quantitative approach. The results demonstrate that comprehending tourists' profiles and evaluating their experience at the destination is crucial for strategic planning within the tourism sector. This enables efforts to be directed toward the formulation of public policies. The study provided pertinent insights into the tourist demand experience in Curitiba, furnishing valuable input for the development of effective strategies within the tourism industry. This enhances the city's tourist offerings and ensures positive visitor experiences.
Instrumento de avaliação da percepção de seguridade de pedestres no espaço urbano baseado no método AHP
Authors: Reis Rodrigues Lara , Amorim Ribeiro Rochele
Published: February 2024

Para tornar a caminhada mais atrativa no espaço urbano, é importante se atentar à percepção de seguridade, a qual pode ser experimentada independentemente da taxa real de criminalidade, estando associada a características do ambiente construído, bem como a particularidades do pedestre, como o gênero, por exemplo. Assim, o objetivo desta pesquisa é definir um instrumento de avaliação da percepção de seguridade de pedestres no espaço urbano, utilizando aspectos e medidas de planejamento previamente selecionados. Como métodos, têm-se: (i) a estruturação do instrumento, adaptando o método AHP; e (ii) divulgação e aplicação em formulário eletrônico. Como resultados, obtêm-se: (i) hierarquia de priorização de aspectos: circulação de pessoas (0,32), fiscalização (0,26), atratividade do espaço urbano (0,22) e manutenção viária (0,21); (ii) aspectos com diferentes pesos entre os gêneros feminino e masculino; e (iii) relato de 53,33% dos homens e 76,19% das mulheres como inseguros ao caminhar. A contribuição deste artigo está em subsidiar o planejamento sobre o que deve ser priorizado no espaço urbano visando cidades perceptivelmente mais seguras para pedestres, principalmente para as mulheres.
PECULIARITIES OF THE ACCUMULATION OF GLUCOFRUCTANS IN THE ABOVE-GROUND PART OF THE SPECIES OF THE GENUS ALLIUM (AMARYLLIDACEAE)
Authors: Vasfilova Evgenia Samuilovna , Vorob'eva Tatjana Andreevna
Published: February 2024

The specifics of the accumulation of fructose-containing carbohydrates (glucofructans) in the above-ground parts of Allium L. species were studied. High molecular weight glucofructans (polyfructans) were present in significant amounts (6.9–10.1%) during the spring regrowth period in the leaves of A. jesdianum Boiss. & Buhse and A. victorialis L. During active growth and budding, their content dropped sharply (up to 0–3.6%). In A. victorialis, at the end of the growing season, the amount of polyfructans in the leaves of the second generation increased markedly (up to 9.7–11.8%). Since the leaves of this species are preserved under the snow all winter, fructans, probably, have a protective function, increasing their resistance to low temperatures.

In all the studied species, polyfructans were accumulated in the underground part in much greater quantities than in the leaves, except for A. victorialis, where their content in the aboveground and underground parts was similar in the same phenophases, or in the leaves they were contained in larger quantities.

The content of low molecular weight glucofructans (oligofructans) in leaves at the beginning of the growing season varied from 2.9 to 11.7% in different species. During the period of active growth and budding their content increased significantly up to 4.6–18.9%. The leaves of A. aflatunense B. Fedtsch., A. jesdianum, A. hollandicum R.M. Fritsch, A. rosenbachianum Regel, belonging to the subgenus Melanocrommyum (Webb & Berthel.) Rouy, and A. victorialis, belonging to the subgenus Anguinum (G.Don ex W.D.J.Koch) N.Friesen, are the richest in oligofructans. In A. obliguum L. and A. saxatile M. Bieb., belonging to the subgenus Polyprason Radić, the content of oligofructans in the leaves was significantly lower than in the previous species.

Considerable amounts of fructans were accumulated in the inflorescences of A. victorialis and A. obliquum.
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF KHELLACTONE AND OTHER COUMARINS IN PHLOJODICARPUS SIBIRICUS (APIACEAE)
Authors: Olennikov Daniil Nikolaevich , Chirikova Nadezhda Konstantinovna
Published: February 2024

Phlojodicarpus sibiricus (Fisch.) Koso-Pol. is a medicinal plant of the Apiaceae family, the underground organs of which accumulate various groups of coumarins, including simple coumarins, furocoumarins and angular dihydropyranocoumarins in the form of esters of kellactone (3′,4′-dihydroxy-3′,4′-dihydroseselin), which are the dominant group of secondary metabolites. Known methods for the analysis of rhizomes and roots of P. sibiricus determine the content of individual compounds (visnadin, dihydrosamidin), which does not allow obtaining complete information about the presence of coumarin compounds in the plant. In the present study, a method of quantitative analysis of coumarins was developed. It includes preliminary hydrolysis of raw materials in aqueous potassium hydroxide, which leads to deacylation of esterified derivatives of kellactone and lomatin, without affecting glycosides of simple coumarins, followed by analysis of hydrolysis products (sum of kellactones, lomatin, 6′-O-apiosyl skimmin) by HPLC. The developed technique is characterized by high analysis speed, satisfactory validation characteristics, and accuracy. Approbation of the technique was carried out on samples of rhizomes and roots of P. sibiricus collected in three regions of Siberia (Zabaikalsky Krai, Buryatia Republic, Sakha (Yakutia) Republic). The total content of coumarins in plant materials from the studied populations was 12.70–74.03 mg/g. The method can be used for quality analysis and standardization of P. sibiricus rhizomes and roots.