bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physiological and metabolomic analyses provide insights into the cadmium tolerance of Sophora tonkinensis
Authors: Chen Hao , Huang Su-Hua , Tang Dan-Feng , Liang Ying , Qin Shuang-Shuang , Quan Chang-qian , Wei Gui-Li , Wei Kun-Hua , Wei Fan
Published: June 2023

Sophora tonkinensis is an important medicinal plant native to China and Vietnam, growing in stony mountains and calcareous or sandstone hill slopes. Cadmium negatively affects the quality of S. tonkinensis, indirectly threatening human health. To elucidate the physiological and metabolic mechanism of S. tonkinensis in response to Cd stress, we conducted a hydroponic greenhouse experiment and measured the growth parameters of S. tonkinensis treated with 0, 20, 40, 60, and 80 µmol L− 1 Cd. Furthermore, metabolite changes in S. tonkinensis roots were investigated using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. We identified 380 differential metabolites, and significant differences were detected in the varieties and quantities of amino acids, organic acids, fatty acids, and ketones, which have significant impact on S. tonkinensis stress response to Cd, under different Cd concentrations. S. tonkinensis resisted the stress induced by 40 µmol L− 1 Cd by upregulating lysine, arginine, histidine, glycine, sarcosine, tryptophan, D-proline, DL-serine, cellobiose, linoleic, indole, cytosine, and genistein contents and downregulating betaine, leucine, citrate, oleic, trehalose, and daidzein contents. Linoleic, palmitic, citrate, maackiain, isomaltose, and cinnavalininate contents were upregulated, and L-phenylalanine, sarcosine, indole acetate, and cytosine were downregulated in response to 80 µmol L− 1 Cd stress. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that the isoflavonoid biosynthesis pathway was significantly enriched, indicating its important role in the Cd resistance of S. tonkinensis. This study provides important information for understanding the tolerance and accumulation mechanisms of S. tonkinensis in response to Cd stress, which will contribute to the breeding of medicinal plant.
Clinical data, survival, and prognosis of 426 cases of oropharyngeal cancer: A retrospective analysis
Authors: Li Jiancheng , Zhuo Feng , Wang Xuji , Guo Yun , Jiang Lina
Published: June 2023

Objective: To determine factors influencing survival and prognosis of HPV-related and non-related oropharyngeal cancer.
Methods: Subjects were determined from the three hospitals in Anhui province of China between 2015 and 2020. Paraffin-embedded specimens from participants’ tissues were analyzed, and the subjects were classified as P16+ and P16– cases using immunohistochemical staining for P16 protein.
Results: 426 patients with oropharyngeal cancer were recruited in this study, 108 cases were found to be P16+. The subjects were treated with the three regimens: surgery/radiotherapy/chemotherapy (SRCT), radiotherapy/chemotherapy (RCT), surgery/chemotherapy (SCT). There were no statistically significant differences in the survival rates within the P16+ or P16– groups between the three treatment regimens (P > 0.05). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates for P16+ and P16– groups were statistically different (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that age, physical health status, smoking, and alcohol abuse were independent risk factors affecting the prognosis of P16+ cases, while pathological grading and TNM staging were independent risk factors affecting the P16– cases.
Conclusion: The etiology, pathogenesis, survival status, and prognostic factors of HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer are very different from those of traditional oropharyngeal cancer. Thus, HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer could be classified as a separate type of disease. This distinction could be of great significance for treatment, prevention, and prognostication of oropharyngeal cancer.
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease as risk factors for Chronic Kidney Disease: A Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Chen Maohua , Nian Qichun , Zheng Xinlei
Published: June 2023

Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are two significant global public health concerns. Recent reports suggest that NAFLD may increase the risk of developing CKD. However, the specific causal relationship between these two conditions has not been thoroughly investigated. Methods In this study, we analyzed genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data of CKD and NAFLD. We identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with these diseases as instrumental variables (IVs) at a genome-wide significance level (P < 1.0 × 10− 5) at first. Then, for Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, we primarily used the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method, while employing the MR-Egger, weighted model, simple model, and weighted median methods for quality control. We also conducted sensitivity analysis to ensure the robustness of the results. Results Our MR analysis revealed a significant association between genetically predicted NAFLD and an increased risk of CKD using the IVW method (OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.89–1.00;P = 0.049). However, we found no evidence to support a causal relationship between CKD on NAFLD (IVW:P = 0.467). Conclusion Based on our findings, there is a causal relationship between NAFLD and CKD. Further investigations are necessary to elucidate the impact of these two diseases, as our results do not support a causal effect of CKD on NAFLD.
Fe-dope Nickel Selenide @Tri-Nickel Diselenide heterostructure with efficient and stable water splitting for hydrogen production
Authors: Luo ZhongKe , Tong LongZhi , Lin Zhiping , Amin R. S. , Ren Junna , El-Khatib K. M. , Wang Chao
Published: June 2023

To meet the increasing demand for clean energy, environmentally friendly and efficient transition metal selenides (TMSes) electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are being developed. There is an urgent need for a rational design of bifunctional non-precious metal catalysts with advanced structure and superior composition. In water splitting for the production of clean hydrogen energy, transition metal selenides have promising applications. We prepared a catalyst by a two-step hydrothermal method, the crystal structure of the catalysts can be easily adjusted by adjusting the concentration of the selenizing agent, when the concentration of the selenizing agent is 0.6 mmol, a phase transition occurred, and forming NiSe@Ni3Se2 heterostructure, reaching a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at an overpotential of 214 mV with a low Tafel slope of 41 mV dec−1. When the concentration of selenide was increased to 0.6 mmol, the prepared FNS/0.6 demonstrated excellent HER performance. At 10 mA cm-2 current density, the overpotential was only 156 mV. Moreover, the monolithic hydrolysis electrolyzer assembled with FNS/0.6 as the anode and cathode electrodes showed a low cell voltage of 1.7 V at a current density of 10 mA cm-2, and almost no attenuation was observed after a 72 h stability test. The excellent electrocatalytic performance of the prepared catalysts was attributed to the formation of nickel-selenide heterostructures and the synergistic effect of two-dimensional Fe-doped MOF, which provide abundant active sites. This study provides a good idea for the development of high activity and high stability catalysts.
Striking adrenal glands enlargement in a patient with 21-hydroxylase deficiency during stress: a case report
Authors: Zheng Chengcheng , Zhao Lianling , Chen Tao
Published: June 2023

Background:
Adrenal cortex cells proliferate to produce sufficient cortisol in response to stress by activating the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis. In humans, such morphological changes are too mild to be observed. 21-hydroxylase deficiency was the most common type of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), and chronically elevated adrenocorticotropic hormone level stimulated by cortisol insufficiency can result in adrenal cortex hyperplasia. Here, we report a case of a remarkable enlargement of the bilateral adrenal glands in a short period of time due to the acute stress in a patient with 21-hydroxylase deficiency. It allows doctors to recognize how great potential the adrenal glands have to secrete compensated adrenocortical glucocorticoids in response to certain stress from the perspective of adrenal alteration in morphology and function.
Case Description:
A 40-year-old man was received chest computed tomography (CT) scan for determining the acute respiratory infection, then significant bilateral adrenal glands enlargement was found accidentally, which the adrenal glands volume was 2.5 times than the past glands six years before. Nonclassical 21-hydroxylase deficiency was diagnosed by genetic testing, and impaired adrenocortical function was determined by a corticotropin stimulation test. The re-examined CT showed that the adrenal glands had returned to the baseline within a month without any treatment. The bilateral adrenal enlargement in the short term was explained by a physiological response to the acute stress, after excluding other pathological causes.
Conclusions:
For bilateral adrenal enlargement, in addition to adrenal tumors, infections and autoimmune diseases, physiological adrenal hyperplasia under acute stress should also be considered, especially in patients with adrenocortical dysfunction.
Simplified Algorithms for Order-Based CoreMaintenance
Authors: Guo Bin , Sekerinski Emil
Published: June 2023

Graph analytics attract much attention from both research and industry communities. Due to its linear time complexity, the $k$-core decomposition is widely used in many real-world applications such as biology, social networks, community detection, ecology, and information spreading. In many such applications, the data graphs continuously change over time. The changes correspond to edge insertion and removal. Instead of recomputing the $k$-core, which is time-consuming, we study how to maintain the $k$-core efficiently. That is, when inserting or deleting an edge, we need to identify the affected vertices by searching for more vertices. The state-of-the-art order-based method maintains an order, the so-called $k$-order, among all vertices, which can significantly reduce the searching space. However, this order-based method is complicated to understand and implement, and its correctness is not formally discussed.In this work, we propose a simplified order-based approach by introducing the classical Order Data Structure to maintain the $k$-order, which significantly improves the worst-case time complexity for both edge insertion and removal algorithms. Also, our simplified method is intuitive to understand and implement; it is easy to argue the correctness formally. Additionally, we discuss a simplified batch insertion approach.The experiments evaluate our simplified method over 12 real and synthetic graphs with billions of vertices. Compared with the existing method, our simplified approach achieves high speedups up to 7.7x and 9.7x for edge insertion and removal, respectively.
Beneficial effect of fingolimod in a Lafora disease mouse model by preventing reactive astrogliosis-derived neuroinflammation and brain infiltration of T-lymphocytes.
Authors: Rubio Teresa , Campos-Rodríguez Ángela , Sanz Pascual
Published: June 2023

Lafora disease (LD; OMIM#254780) is a rare, devastating, and fatal form of progressive myoclonus epilepsy that affects young adolescents and has no treatment yet. One of the hallmarks of the disease is the accumulation of aberrant poorly branched forms of glycogen (polyglucosans, PGs) in the brain and peripheral tissues. The current hypothesis is that this accumulation is causative of the pathophysiology of the disease. Another hallmark of LD is the presence of neuroinflammation. We have recently reported the presence of reactive glia-derived neuroinflammation in LD mouse models and defined the main inflammatory pathways that operate in these mice, mainly TNF and IL-6 signaling pathways. In addition, we described the presence of infiltration of peripheral immune cells in the brain parenchyma, which could cooperate and aggravate the neuroinflammatory landscape of LD. In this work, we have checked the beneficial effect of two compounds with the capacity to ameliorate neuroinflammation and reduce leukocyte infiltration into the brain, namely fingolimod and dimetylfumarate. Our results indicate a beneficial effect of fingolimod in reducing reactive astrogliosis-derived neuroinflammation and T-lymphocyte infiltration, which correlated with the improved behavioral performance of the treated Epm2b-/- mice. On the contrary, dimethylfumarate, although it was able to reduce reactive astrogliosis, was less effective in preventing neuroinflammation and T-lymphocyte infiltration and in modifying behavioral tests.
PdM (M=Fe, Co, Ni) Bimetallic Nanowires Enhances Oxygen Reduction Catalysis in Acid Medium
Authors: Yu Dan , Dong Seng , Liu Qian , jia weiyi , Gao Faming , wang yatao
Published: June 2023

The preparation of platinum-free electrocatalysts with ideal oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity is of great significance for cost-effective fuel cells. Herein, we developed a facile method for prepared Pd-based (PdFe, PdCo, PdNi, and Pd) nanowires (PdM NWs) with diameter about 10 nm and length above microns. The mass activity of the series of Pd-based catalysts followed the descending order: PdNi NWs/C > commercial Pt/C > PdCo NWs/C > PdFe NWs/C > pure Pd NWs/C. The optimal half-wave (E1/2) of PdNi NWs/C (839 mV) is positive shift 138 and 25 mV compared with pure Pd NWs/C (701 mV) and commercial Pt/C (814 mV), respectively. The mass activity (MA) of PdNi NWs/C only dropped 28 % after 10000 potential cycles between 0.6-1.1 V versus RHE in acid medium. This work provides a promising and reliable strategy to synthesize high performance Pd-based electrocatalyst, which is promising alternative to expensive Pt-based electrocatalysts for fuel cells.
Destalking chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) varieties through induced mutation for dry chilli processing industry.
Authors: Ajjappalavara Prabhudeva , D. Satish , Allolli Tejappa , M. Abdul Kareem , Gollagi Sanganabasava , T. Shantappa , H.P. Maheswarappa , Biradar Irangouda , h.m pallavi
Published: June 2023

Mutation breeding experiment was initiated during 2012-13 with an objective of inducing variability in ‘GPM00-120-S-1’ (Byadgi Dabbi segment a popular chilli cultivar in Karnataka, India) an advanced breeding line. In 0.4 per cent of EMS treated M3population, a plant with soft and deciduous fruit character was identified and selfed seeds were used to grow a larger number of plants in M4generation. Two kinds of plants were observed in M4generationviz.,soft flesh (named as non persistent calyx , NPC-4) and normal flesh (normal flesh with erect type named as NPC-3 and normal flesh with pendent type named as NPC-5) with deciduous fruits. All the three putative mutants were selected and further advanced by pure line selection method until they reach the homozygosity. The homozygous lines were then evaluated for yield, quality and response to incidence of pest and diseases along with check variety for four years from 2017-2021. Molecular characterization was also done using SSR marker. The lines exhibited stability for the trait of deciduous fruits and high yield over the seasons and over the checks. The newly developed stalk less chilli varieties with novel traits may not only reduces the cost of harvest crop but also improves the quality of the chilli powder and other products.
Clinical course of anorexia-cachexia according to type of first-line chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer
Authors: Mitsunaga Shuichi , Okada Mao , Ohba Akihiro , Satake Tomoyuki , Watanabe Kazuo , Sasaki Mitsuhito , Imaoka Hiroshi , Okusaka Takuji , Ikeda Masafumi
Published: June 2023

Purpose Anorexia-cachexia is characterized by weight and appetite loss, systemic inflammation, fatigue, and muscle weakness. Differences between various chemotherapy regimens might affect the clinical course of anorexia-cachexia in pancreatic cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the timing of anorexia-cachexia onset among various chemotherapy regimens for advanced pancreatic cancer.Methods This retrospective observational study enrolled patients who underwent first-line chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer. Anorexia-cachexia was defined as weight loss ≥ 5%, appetite loss, and fulfilling at least two of the following conditions: fatigue, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-Performance Status ≥ 1, or any one of the following: albumin < 3.2 g/dL, C-reactive protein > 0.5 mg/dL, and hemoglobin < 12 g/dL. Anorexia-cachexia was evaluated every 4 weeks until disease progression. The hazard ratios (HRs) of time to anorexia-cachexia between two groups were evaluated using a Cox regression hazard model.Results Anorexia-cachexia was observed in 35 of 150 evaluable patients, 29 of whom (89.5%, 29/35) experienced anorexia-cachexia within the first 12 weeks of commencing chemotherapy. Compared to patients receiving gemcitabine (GEM) (n = 49), time to anorexia-cachexia was longer in patients receiving GEM + nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-PTX) (n = 46; HR, 0.275; 95%CI, 0.097–0.729), but not in patients receiving modified FOLFIRINOX (a 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin and irinotecan combination) (n = 42; HR, 0.931; 95%CI, 0.427–2.108).Conclusions Anorexia-cachexia showed early onset in patients receiving first-line chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer. Development of anorexia-cachexia was less with GEM + nab-PTX as compared to modified FOLFIRINOX.
A database on the socioeconomic and behavioral impact in Sri Lanka through multiple waves of COVID-19
Authors: Ilangarathna Gayanthi Anuradha , Ramanayake Lakshitha , Senarath Neranjan , Weligampola Harshana , Dedunupitiya Wathsala , Wijesiri Thanuja , Rathnaweera Pabodha , Godaliyadda Roshan , Herath Vijitha , Ekanayake Janaka , Yatigammana Sakunthala , Rathnayake Anuruddhika , Pinnawala Mallika , Maheswaran Muthucumaru , Thilakaratne Ganga , Dharmarathne Samath
Published: June 2023

Objectives:
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was diverse and disproportionate among nations and population segments. The impacts of the disease and the containment strategies adopted are broad and cut across multiple facets of life, society, and the economy, which are intimately interlinked. To ascertain the socioeconomic impact and human behavior changes due to the pandemic and the containment strategies adopted a large household survey was conducted covering all the provinces in Sri Lanka.
Data description:
We conducted a cross-sectional Household survey covering all 9 provinces, including 20 districts in Sri Lanka from August 2021 to September 2021. This dataset consists of the data collected from 3020 households, on the impact of the pandemic through three distinctly identified pandemic waves in Sri Lanka. The questionnaire was designed to capture COVID-19 impact in 2 primary sections (socioeconomic impact and behavioral impact) which were further divided into 8 sub-sections: educational impact, impact on mobility, access to health services, economic impact, human interactions, food consumption, religious and cultural, and psychological impact. This dataset will enable researchers and policymakers to analyze the impact of the pandemic through a multifaceted perspective enabling a more holistic approach to decision-making.
Cortical Dynamics of Perception as Trains of Coherent Gamma Oscillations, with the Pulvinar as Central Coordinator
Authors: Farineau Jean P.
Published: June 2023

Synchronization of spikes carried by the visual streams is strategic for the proper binding of cortical assemblies, hence for the perception of visual objects as coherent units. Perception of a complex visual scene involves multiple trains of gamma oscillations, coexisting at each stage in visual and associative cortex. Here, we analyze how these trains are managed, so that the perception of each visual object can emerge despite this complex interweaving of cortical activations. After a brief review of structural and temporal facts, we analyze how these oscillations are made coherent for all elements related to the same visual object. We continue with the propagation of these gamma oscillations within the sensory chain. The dominant role of the pulvinar as cortical coordinator is the common thread running through this step-by-step description. Cortical mechanisms are analyzed in the context of visual perception, although the present considerations are not limited to this sense. An experiment is described, with the aim of assessing the validity of the elements developed here. An initial set of results is provided, together with a proposed method to go further in this investigation.
Impact of population based indoor residual spraying in combination with mass drug administration on malaria incidence and test positivity in a high transmission setting in north eastern Uganda
Authors: Ronald Mulebeke , Humphrey Wanzira , Geertruyden Van , Yeka Adoke
Published: June 2023

Background: Mass drug administration (MDA) and indoor residual spraying (IRS) are potent malaria burden reduction tools. The impact of combining MDA and IRS is not well documented. We evaluated the impact of MDA+IRS compared to IRS alone at a high transmission site in Eastern Uganda.
Methods: A quasi-experimental study was implemented in Toroma and Kapujan subcounties in north eastern Uganda. Both subcounties received four rounds of IRS using primiphos-methyl (Acttellic SC300) six to eight months apart from December 2016 to December 2018. Eligible residents of Kapujan simultaneously received MDA using dihydroartemesinin-piperaquine (DHA-PQ). Health facility data was used to monitor malaria case incidence rate and test positivity rates.
Results: In the MDA+IRS arm, malaria incidence dropped by 83% (IRR: 0·17 (0·16– 0·18); p<0·001) in children under 5 year and by 78% (IRR: 0·22 (0·22– 0·23); p<0·001) in persons aged ≥ 5 years from the pre-intervention to the intervention period. In the IRS arm malaria incidence dropped by 47% (IRR: 0·53 (0·51, 0·56); p<0·001) in children under 5 years and by 71% 0·29 (0·28, 0·30); p<0·001) in persons aged ≥5 years. A drastic drop occurred immediately after the intervention after which cases slowly increased in both arms. Malaria test positivity rate (TPR) dropped at a rate of 21 (p=0·003) percentage points per 1000 persons in the MDA+IRS arm compared to the IRS arm. There was a mean decrease of 60 (p-value, 0·040) malaria cases among children under five years and a mean decrease in TPR of 16·16 (p-value, 0·001) in the MDA+IRS arm compared to IRS arm.
Interpretation: MDA significantly reduced malaria burden among children <5 years however the duration of this impact needs to be further investigated.
Funding:Pilgrim Africa, Government of Uganda Ministry of Health
Intraoperative transillumination of the lateral parapatellar area during lateral release in total knee arthroplasty can preserve blood supply in patella: a pilot study
Authors: Karimov Murodulla , Madrakhimov Sarvar
Published: June 2023

Background.
Intraoperative patellofemoral maltracking/instability is often corrected by lateral retinaculum release. Due to the fact, that the medial parapatellar approach dissects medial genicular arteries, forced lateral release can also cause excision of lateral vessels, which leads to total devascularization of the patella and obviously devastating patellar complications. In this study, we evaluated the possibility of precise intraoperative localization of the lateral genicular arteries (aa. superior et inferior genicularis lateralis) by an orthopaedic surgeon using the transillumination method.
Methods.
12 patients underwent cemented TKA with patella-friendly Zimmer Biomet NexGen Legacy Posterior Stabilized prostheses (without patellar resurfacing), 7 right knees and 5 left knees. The mean age of patients in the study group was 66.636 ± 7.003 years. The minimal follow-up period was 13 months (mean – 16,363 ± 2,5 months). Functional outcomes were assessed using Knee Society and a specific patellar questionnaire - Kujala Score. Intraoperative detection of insufficient patellar stability and/or patellar maltracking was based on the no-thumb technique. In pre- and postoperative period X-ray investigation, standard standing X-ray and Merchant view were used to evaluate implant position and patellofemoral congruency.
Results.
In this study, ten out of twelve knee joints (83.3%) had at least one artery visible by the proposed method in the lateral parapatellar area. Five out of ten knee joints had more than one artery that could be visualized and identified as an arterial vessel. In postoperative Doppler ultrasound sonography, we found at least 1 artery, namely the superior lateral genicular artery in all 12 patients, 8 out of 12 patients had also an inferior genicular artery. Postoperative Knee Society score showed significant improvement from a mean 51.181 ± 3,868 to a mean 88,727 ± 3,663. Mean hospital length of stay is 8.545 ± 1.863 days. X-ray assessment using standard anteroposterior, lateral and Merchant skyline views showed appropriate implant positioning and patellofemoral congruency. The mean Kujala score in the postoperative period (3 and 6 months) was 67.3 ± 6.75 and 75.6 ± 6.42 perspectively.
Conclusions.
Using the proposed transillumination method can help preserve the lateral blood supply to the patella and to avoid devascularized patella-related complications
Trial registration:
This study was retrospectively approved by the Republican Ethical Committee. Trial registration number 3/3-1757 on 5 of May 2023.
Community perception of the autodissemination of pyriproxyfen for controlling malaria vectors in south-eastern Tanzania
Authors: Tarimo Felista , Dillip Angel , Kosia Efraim , Lwetoijera Dickson
Published: June 2023

Background
The efficacy of the autodissemination of pyriproxyfen to control malaria vectors has been demonstrated under semi field environment in Tanzania. However, the information on how best communities should be engaged for its routine and large-scale adoption are lacking. This study assessed the community’s level of knowledge, perceptions, acceptability on the autodissemination approach, and the perceived risks and safety of pyriproxyfen on the environment.
Methods
This was a concurrent mixed methods study, comprised of a community-based survey of 400 household representatives and eight focus group discussions (FGDs). The study was conducted in two villages in Mlimba district in south-eastern Tanzania between June and August 2022. For the quantitative data, descriptive statistics were applied using R software, while inductive approach was used for qualitative data analysis, using Nvivo software.
Results
Knowledge on autodissemination approach was found to be relatively low among the surveyed community members (36%, n = 144). Nevertheless, when the approach was explained to them, the envisioned community support was relatively high (97%, n = 388). One of the major perceived benefits of the autodissemination approach was the reduction of malaria transmitting mosquitoes and associated malaria transmission. Environmental impact of pyriproxyfen on non-target organisms and health risk to children were among of the major concerns. When provided with information on how it works and its safety, 93.5% (n = 374) of the survey respondents said that they would allow the PPF-contaminated pots to be placed around their homes. Similarly, participants of the FGDs were receptive towards the autodissemination approach, but emphasized on the need for raising awareness among community members before related field trials.
Conclusion
This study indicates a low knowledge but high support for scaling up of the autodissemination approach as a complementary tool for malaria control in rural Tanzania. Our findings suggest that community sensitization activities are required to improve the community’s acceptability and trust of the approach before prior to respective field trials.
Multiscale Nonlinearity of Error Growth in High-Resolution Forecasts for Mesoscale Convective Systems
Authors: Ono Kosuke , Inatsu Masaru
Published: June 2023

In this study, the nonlinearity in a weather forecast, defined as the extent to which the initial opposite-sign state vector does not keep the same magnitude and opposite direction in a forecast time, was examined in an environment containing a multiscale convective system. A pair of 18-h forecast experiments with initial perturbations of different signs was conducted for a heavy rainfall event in western Japan on 13 August 2021. Despite the initially different signs, the perturbations at a given forecast time had the same sign, which was emphasized by the low-pass filter. This result suggested that the nonlinearity was found not only on the convective scale but also on the meso-α scale. An additional forecast experiment with the initial perturbation only for water vapor applied in a limited area indicated that this meso-α scale nonlinearity originated from the asymmetry of water vapor perturbations to avoid supersaturation in the wet environment. The nonlinearity was propagated by large-scale gravity waves emitted from the perturbed convective areas. This explanation was supported by a pair of forecast experiments with dry and moisture perturbation areas on a scale larger than that of convection, in which the state vectors kept the opposite sign at a given forecast time.
Phlorizin Prolongs the Lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans by insulin/SIR-2.1 Regulation
Authors: Zhang Xiaohan , Wang Xinxin , Pei Yang , Zhang Ye , Wang Yurong , Liu Qingdai , Sun Zhenou , Wang Hao
Published: June 2023

Phlorizin, a natural compound, was studied using C. elegans to explore its potential mechanism for extending lifespan. Results showed that phlorizin mitigated the harmful effects of high temperatures and hydrogen peroxide, reduced oxidative stress, increased antioxidant enzyme activity, and reduced MDA levels. Through network pharmacological analysis, it was determined that the AKT1, INSR and SOD2 signaling pathway plays a key role in the anti-aging effects of phlorizin. Experiments with mutants and transgenic C. elegans showed that phlorizin lifespan extension and antioxidant effects are mainly mediated by insulin and SIR-2.1 pathways that regulate DAF-16 and SKN-1 nuclear translocation and its downstream targets SOD-3 and HSP-16.2. These findings were supported by molecular docking experiments. Overall, this study provides insight into the potential use of phlorizin as an anti-aging agent and highlights the importance of the DAF-16/SOD-3 signaling pathway in mediating its action.
Construction and Significance of Chromium Nitride Pourbaix Diagrams based at 298 K (25 oC)
Authors: Tan Cedric , Krishnan Kannoorpatti
Published: June 2023

Chromium nitrides such as CrN and Cr2N are often used for corrosion and wear resistant applications. Pourbaix diagrams can be used to help gauge the thermodynamic stability of elements and compounds. In this paper, Pourbaix diagrams are constructed for CrN and Cr2N using thermodynamical data for species at 298 K (25oC) and at a concentration of 10− 6 M for aqueous species. These diagrams are useful indicators for the stable regions in which these compounds can be used. The diagrams show that passive Cr2O3 films form on the surfaces where chromium nitride was present. It is argued that the very presence of Cr2O3 films will degrade chromium nitride and make it much less useful as a wear resistant layer. It is further argued that the presence of nitrogen in solid solution is better for the stability of passive films in stainless steels.
WITHDRAWN: Performance Analysis of Personalized Federated Learning Algorithms for Image Classification
Authors: Hosain Md. Tanzib , Abir Mushfiqur Rahman , Jim Jamin Rahman , Zaman Asif , Mridha M. F.
Published: June 2023

Federated learning (FL) has emerged as a promising technique for training machine learning models collaboratively, without the need to share raw data. By enabling decentralized model updates while retaining data locally on individual devices, FL addresses privacy concerns and reduces communication costs. In this study, we assess the efficacy of personalized FL algorithms—FedAvg, APPLE, FedBABU, and FedProto—in a decentralized setting, explicitly focus-ing on the Fashion MNIST dataset with a non-iid data distribution to observe which one performs better for the image classification task. Our experimental results demonstrate that both FedProto and APPLE exhibit nearly equivalent and superior performance compared to FedBABU and FedAvg. Interestingly, we observe that increasing the number of uploads in FedBABU leads to outcomes similar to APPLE and FedProto. However, when the number of uploads is limited, FedBABU performs similarly to FedAvg. These findings highlight the varying performance of personalized FL algorithms under non-iid data distributions , shedding light on their behavior in a distributed environment for image classification tasks. Such insights are invaluable for guiding the development and deployment of FL systems, particularly in scenarios like medical, military, and other confidential image analysis tasks, where data privacy and communication efficiency are paramount considerations.
Associations of the placental metabolome with immune maturation up to one year of age in the Swedish NICE-cohort
Authors: Hartvigsson Olle , Barman Malin , Rabe Hardis , Sandin Anna , Wold Agnes E , Brunius Carl , Sandberg Ann-Sofie
Published: June 2023

Introduction: Allergies and other immune-mediated diseases are thought to result from incomplete maturation of the immune system early in life. We previously showed that infants’ metabolites at birth were associated with immune cell subtypes during infancy. The placenta supplies the fetus with nutrients but may also provide immune maturation signals. Objectives: To examine the relationship between metabolites in placental villous tissue and immune maturation during the first year of life and infant and maternal characteristics (gestational length, birth weight, sex, parity, maternal age, and BMI). Methods: Untargeted metabolomics was measured using a Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrophotometer and subpopulations of T and B cells using flow cytometry at birth, 48 hours, one, four, and 12 months. Random forest modeling showed modest associations (Q2 = 0.2–0.3) between the placental metabolome and kappa-deleting recombination excision circles (KREC) at birth and naïve B cells and memory T cells at 12 months. Results: Weak associations were observed between the placental metabolome and sex and parity. Still, most metabolite features of interest were of low intensity compared to associations previously found in cord blood, suggesting that underlying metabolites were not of placental origin. Conclusions: Our results indicate that metabolomic measurements of the placenta may not effectively recognize metabolites important for immune maturation.
Multidetector Computed Tomography (MDCT) Evaluation of Obstructive Jaundice: A Cross-sectional Study from a Tertiary Hospital of Nepal
Authors: Khadka Sujan , Mahat Asim , Yadav Gopal Kumar , Thapa Priya , Mishra Upama , Bhattarai Manoj , Awale Laligen , Pradhan Anju , Gupta Mukesh Kumar
Published: June 2023

Objectives:This study was done to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of MDCT in assessment of obstructive jaundice in reference to surgical or histopathological diagnosis cum to study the MDCT features of various causes of obstructive jaundice.Materials and Methods:We did a cross-sectional study using purposive sampling size of 30 participants with obstructive jaundice at ... We calculated the diagnostic statistics of non-neoplastic and neoplastic type of obstructive jaundice as well as individual etiology of obstructive jaundice detected on MDCT in reference to histopathological/cytopathological and/or surgical diagnosis. The ethical clearance was obtained from the institutional review committee of … (Ref no: Acd/291/075/076-IRC).Results:The sensitivity and the NPV of MDCT for non-neoplastic cause to detect obstructive jaundice were 100% (95% CI 79.41-100.00) and 100% (95% CI 75.29-100.00), while the specificity and the PPV for neoplastic cause to detect obstructive jaundice were 100% (95% CI: 79.41-100.00) and 100% (95% CI: 75.29-100.00). Similarly, the accuracy for either non-neoplastic or neoplastic cause was 96.67% (95% CI: 82.78-99.92). The most common cause for obstructive jaundice was choledocholithiasis (33.34%) followed by cholangiocarcinoma (20%), ampullary carcinoma (13.33%) and choledochal cyst (13.33%). The diagnostic accuracy of individual etiology of common causes of obstructive jaundice ranged from 82.78 to 100%. Biliary obstruction was most frequently observed in the periampullary region (83.33%), followed by the proximal CBD (6.67%), hilar region (6.67%) and intrahepatic region (3.33%).Conclusion:The MDCT could serve as the initial, cost-effective, easily available, and time-efficient imaging modality for diagnosing various causes of obstructive jaundice, with an accuracy ranging from 82.78% to 99.92%. It can differentiate non-neoplastic from neoplastic causes of obstructive jaundice.
Evaluation of survivability predictors in acute kidney injury-affected dogs managed with continuous renal replacement therapy
Authors: Bhat Abid Ali , Nambi A.P. , Chandrasekar M. , Bhavani Sandhya , Kavitha S. , Khan Firdous A.
Published: June 2023

Several survivability predictors have been identified in acute kidney injury (AKI) affected humans managed with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). The aim of this study was to evaluate various blood and urine parameters as survivability predictors in AKI affected dogs managed with CRRT. Twenty dogs that presented with AKI to a veterinary hospital were managed with CRRT. Physical examination, urinalysis, arterial/venous blood gas analysis, and ELISA for analysis of Kidney Injury Molecule-1 (KIM-1) and Cystatin-C (Cys-C) were performed on the first day of presentation (Pre-CRRT). Survivability evaluated on day 21 post-CRRT indicated 12 survivors and 8 non-survivors. Pre-CRRT parameters were compared between survivors and non-survivors using independent t-tests. Of the various parameters analyzed, KIM-1 concentrations and anion gap (AG) were significantly different between survivors and non-survivors. Other parameters such as APACHE III score, Cys-C, renal failure index (RFI), and fractional excretion of sodium (FENa) were not significantly different between survivors and non-survivors. Results of this study suggest that KIM-1 and AG could be employed as survivability predictors in AKI affected dogs managed with CRRT.
KONFLIK PEMEKARAN WILAYAH DI NANGGROE ACEH DARUSSALAM (NAD) PASCA PERJANJIAN HELSINKI
Authors: Hanafi M. Sahlan
Published: June 2023

The purposes of this research are to describe the processes of the emerge of ideas to establish the province of ABAS and explain the factors supporting the idea and to explain the reasons of NAD government to reject the expand of ABAS province. Applying qualitative methods using field observation and media discourse study. It was found that media discourse and the proposal for province expand of ABAS rose pro and contra in all level of society that impacted in horizontal and vertical conflict
MAKNA KULTURAL DAN SOSIAL-EKONOMI TRADISI SYAWALAN
Authors: Anwar Khoirul
Published: June 2023

This article tries to uncover the cultural reason on Syawalan tradition in the village of Morodemak in Bonang, Demak. It also intends to reveal the meaning of the tradition for today’s society. Observations, interviews and examination of secondary data, can be conluded that the tradition of Syawalan in Morodemak is one of traditions that expresses the religious Javanese culture in coastal area. For Morodemak community, tradition of Syawalan is a form of gratitude to God Almighty for the gift of the abundance of seafood as well as an expression of prayer from dangerous things in life that can arise from the sea. Syawalan tradition also has the meaning of caring for nature, especially the sea as well as the meaning of cohesion and communality among fishing communities. In addition to the cultural meanings, traditions Syawalan also have economic and socio-cultural significance for the local governments and communities.
REVITALISASI FUNGSI MASJID SEBAGAI PUSAT EKONOMI DAN DAKWAH MULTIKULTURAL
Authors: Dalmeri Dalmeri
Published: June 2023

This article had the purpose to analyze the functions of the mosque that  is not only as a center of activities of ibadah, but also as the center of da‘wa and Muslim social and economic activities. The orientation of da‘wa that emphasized individual improvement dealing with in the quality of faith have neglected one important dimension of da‘wa, namely the development and empowerment of the Muslims as a whole. Through a qualitative descriptive approach and collecting data through observation and interviews, it was founded that communities which are empowered are not seen as passive recipient of the service, but a community that has a variety of potential and capabilities that can be empowered. Muslim community empowerment activities can be done through mentoring by boasting motivation, increasing awareness, developing knowledge and attitudes to enhance their capabilities, mobilizing productive resources and developing economic and da‘wa activity.
Social Construction of Islam by the Shi’a Community in Pekalongan City, Central Java
Authors: Azzuhri Muhandis , Maskhur Maskhur , Malik Ahmed Abdul , Soimah Farah Farhatus
Published: June 2023

This study intends to identify the establishment of Islamic social construction in the Shi’a community in Pekalongan City. Qualitative research applied in this study gathered from case studies using a phenomenological approach. Data came from in-depth observation, interviews, and documentation. The theory of social construction formulated by Peter L. Berger and Thomas Luckmann became the basic theory of analysis. The results showed that the social construction of Islam in the Shi’a community in Pekalongan City was formed through externalization, objectivization, and internalization. The process of externalization through the dissemination of knowledge of Shi’a teachings, as well as about the specialty of Ahl al-Bayt in the religious authority of Muslims. Objectivization happened according to Shi’a teaching habituation moderately, responding to the plurality of under­standings and social attitudes of the Muslim religion. The internali­zation process went with awareness to not apply the teachings of taqiyyah. In addition, the availability to live in harmony thrives on maintaining the integration of state life in Indonesia. The theoretical implications of this study show that theological inclusivism can form moderate and open religious social understandings and attitudes in the plurality of religious life. However, this study did not examine the role of the Pekalongan City Government in advocating for the benefit of the Shi’a community as a minority group in Pekalongan City which becomes the limitation of this study.
Ancient river fishing utensils in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula: the Miño river basin between the 4th century BC and the 4th century AD
Authors: Casal Fernández Laura
Published: June 2023

This paper presents a brief overview of fishing in Galicia during Antiquity on the basis of fishing equipment—in particular hooks and weights—recovered from several sites of indigenous origin (castros or hill forts) and newly-established Roman settlements around the basin of the Miño river. Although the topic has often passed unnoticed by archaeological research and suffers from a distinct lack of literature to guide future efforts, the more or less recent publication of papers dealing with this topic in depth has facilitated the study of the Galician record, which is supported by literary and iconographic sources as well as ethnographic documents. The latter have proved relevant in this context, as the world of fishing tends to hold on to traditions. The author sets out to establish a correlation between the remains of fishing implements found and the possible fishing gear they would have been attached to.
Using the method of morphological analysis in the teaching of special disciplines in the training of specialists in the field of "Fashion Design"
Authors: Andreeva Varvara Vladimirovna
Published: June 2023

Annotation: the article emphasizes the relevance of improving the quality of training in costume design using creative techniques. The problems encountered by teachers in the process of teaching fashion design and ways to solve them are considered. In particular, the method of morphological analysis is described, which allows teachers of special disciplines to develop students' creative abilities more effectively. It tells about the systematization of the search for new ideas by introducing the "Morphological box" method into the educational process. The importance of the formation of professional competencies for the training of competitive domestic specialists is emphasized. Possible ways of updating tasks and exercises within the framework of the programs of the "Costume Design" direction are proposed.
In silico Studies on Natural Products and Derivatives against Different
Types of Cancer
Authors: Messias Monteiro Alex France , da Silva Fábia Martins , Rodrigues Teresa Carolliny Moreira Lustoza , Ramos Clécio Sousa , Scotti Marcus Tullius , Scotti Luciana
Published: June 2023

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is the second
cause of death worldwide, responsible for almost 10 million deaths and accounting for one
in every six deaths. It is a disease that can affect any organ or tissue with rapid progression
to the final stage, which is metastasis, in which the disease spreads to different regions
of the body. Many studies have been carried out to find a cure for cancer. Early diagnosis
contributes to the individual achieving the cure; however, deaths are increasing
considerably due to late diagnosis. Thus, this bibliographical review discussed several scientific
research works pointing to in silico analyses in the proposition of new antineoplastic
agents for glioblastoma, breast, colon, prostate, and lung cancer, as well as some of
their respective molecular receptors involved in molecular docking simulations and molecular
dynamics. This review involved articles describing the contribution of computational
techniques for the development of new drugs or already existing drugs with biological
activity; thus, important data were highlighted in each study, such as the techniques
used, results obtained in each study, and the conclusion. Furthermore, 3D chemical structures
of the molecules with the best computational response and significant interactions
between the tested molecules and the PDB receptors were also presented. With this, it is
expected to help new research in the fight against cancer, the creation of new antitumor
drugs, and the advancement of the pharmaceutical industry and scientific knowledge
about studied tumors.
Nitidine Chloride Triggers Autophagy and Apoptosis of Ovarian Cancer Cells
through Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway
Authors: Feng Fan , Zhang Jing , Lian Chaoqun , Huang Yinlong , Hu Ping , Cao Yuncheng , Zhang Zhiqiang
Published: June 2023

Objective:

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the eighth most common cancer with high mortality in women
worldwide. Currently, compounds derived from Chinese herbal medicine have provided a new angle for OC
treatment.

Methods:

In this study, the cell proliferation and migration of ovarian cancer A2780/SKOV3 cells were inhibited
after being treated with nitidine chloride (NC) by using MTT and Wound-Healing Assay. Flow cytometry
analysis indicated NC-induced apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells, and AO and MDC staining showed that NC
treatment induced the appearance of autophagosomes and autophagic lysosomes in ovarian cancer cells.

Results:

Through the autophagy inhibition experiment of chloroquine, it was proved that NC significantly further
promoted apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells. Furthermore, NC proved that it could significantly decrease the
expression of autophagy-related genes such as Akt, mTOR, P85 S6K, P70 S6K, and 4E-BP1.

Conclusion:

Therefore, we suggest that NC could trigger autophagy and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells
through Akt/mTOR signaling pathway, and NC may potentially be a target for chemotherapy against ovarian
cancer.