bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lactation physiokinetics—using advances in technology for a fresh perspective on human milk transfer
Authors: Francis Jimi , Flynn Paul , Naowar Maisha , Indic Premananda , Dickton Darby
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Though the nature of breastfeeding is critical, scant information is available on how the action of the milk transfer from mother to infant is regulated in humans, where the points of dysfunction are, and what can be done to optimize breastfeeding outcomes. While better therapeutic strategies are needed, before they can be devised, a basic scientific understanding of the biomechanical mechanisms that regulate human milk transfer from breast to stomach must first be identified, defined, and understood.

Methods

Combining systems biology and systems medicine into a conceptual framework, using engineering design principles, this work investigates the use of biosensors to characterize human milk flow from the breast to the infant's stomach to identify points of regulation. This exploratory study used this framework to characterize Maternal/Infant Lactation physioKinetics (MILK) utilizing a Biosensor ARray (BAR) as a data collection method.

Results

Participants tolerated the MILKBAR well during data collection. Changes in breast turgor and temperature were significant and related to the volume of milk transferred from the breast. The total milk volume transferred was evaluated in relation to contact force, oral pressure, and jaw movement. Contact force was correlated with milk flow. Oral pressure appears to be a redundant measure and reflective of jaw movements.

Discussion

Nipple and breast turgor, jaw movement, and swallowing were associated with the mass of milk transferred to the infant's stomach. More investigation is needed to better quantify the mass of milk transferred in relation to each variable and understand how each variable regulates milk transfer.
Classification models for Tobacco Mosaic Virus and Potato Virus Y using hyperspectral and machine learning techniques
Authors: Chen Haitao , Han Yujing , Liu Yongchang , Liu Dongyang , Jiang Lianqiang , Huang Kun , Wang Hongtao , Guo Leifeng , Wang Xinwei , Wang Jie , Xue Wenxin
Published: October 2023

Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) and Potato Virus Y (PVY) pose significant threats to crop production. Non-destructive and accurate surveillance is crucial to effective disease control. In this study, we propose the adoption of hyperspectral and machine learning technologies to discern the type and severity of tobacco leaves affected by PVY and TMV infection. Initially, we applied three preprocessing methods – Multivariate Scattering Correction (MSC), Standard Normal Variate (SNV), and Savitzky-Golay smoothing filter (SavGol) – to corrected the leaf full-length spectral sheet data (350-2500nm). Subsequently, we employed two classifiers, support vector machine (SVM) and random forest (RF), to establish supervised classification models, including binary classification models (healthy/diseased leaves or PVY/TMV infected leaves) and six-class classification models (healthy and various severity levels of diseased leaves). Based on the core evaluation index, our models achieved accuracies in the range of 91–100% in the binary classification. In general, SVM demonstrated superior performance compared to RF in distinguishing leaves infected with PVY and TMV. Different combinations of preprocessing methods and classifiers have distinct capabilities in the six-class classification. Notably, SavGol united with SVM gave an excellent performance in the identification of different PVY severity levels with 98.1% average precision, and also achieved a high recognition rate (96.2%) in the different TMV severity level classifications. The results further highlighted that the effective wavelengths captured by SVM, 700nm and 1800nm, would be valuable for estimating disease severity levels. Our study underscores the efficacy of integrating hyperspectral technology and machine learning, showcasing their potential for accurate and non-destructive monitoring of plant viral diseases.
Mini-drone assisted tree canopy sampling: a low-cost and high-precision solution
Authors: Liu Zhi , Yan Yuanyuan , Pang Jiayin , Guo Qi , Guan Junze , Gu Jiacun
Published: October 2023

The collection of tree canopy samples in forest ecosystems has been challenging for researchers and managers during the past decades. Various methods, including pole pruner, tree climber, shooter, throw-line launcher, hydraulic lift (e.g., tower crane) and UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle)-based devices, have been used, however, they are limited by sampling height restrictions, safety hazards to a climber, low retrieving accuracy, high equipment costs, and transportation inconvenience. This study proposed a novel method for collecting tree canopy samples using a portable mini-drone. The mini-drone is operated to pull a traction line across the target branch, drag the retrieving rope to the selected cutting point of the branch, and carry the equipped wire saw or chain saw to cut the canopy sample off. Through on-site testing and field trials, this method was feasible for lower- and middle-canopy sampling (up to 30 meters tall) across most temperate broad-leaved and coniferous tree species. This technique would have great potential in plantation and old-growth forests. Adopting this low-cost mini-drone technique, researchers can collect tree canopy samples safely and efficiently, leading to improvements in relevant physiological and ecological studies focusing on functional traits of branches, leaves, and seeds.
How the availability and adequacy of social support affect the general mental health of Swedish police officers
Authors: Hansson Jonas , Padyab Mojgan
Published: October 2023

Police work is stressful. A protective function against work stress and harm to mental health is social support, either within or outside work. This cross-sectional study analyzes the associations of quantitative (availability) and qualitative (adequacy) aspects of social support with general mental health among Swedish police officers. A total of 728 officers responded to a national survey. Bivariate analyses (t-test and chi square) identified continuous and categorical variables (respectively) statistically significantly associated with sex and social support. Pearson correlation coefficient was provided to indicate the associations between general mental health and different types of social support. Sex-stratified logistic regression modeling calculated crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and assessed the relationships between different types of social support, sociodemographic variables and general mental health. The findings show that low adequacy of attachment is associated with poorer mental health among female officers, although female officers also reported higher availability of both social interaction and attachment compared to male officers. We found an association between low work-related social support and poorer mental health among single male police officers. Moreover, police officers who worked shifts, were younger, had less work experience, and/or had no children reported higher availability of attachment, whereas older police officers reported higher adequacy of social interaction compared to younger police officers. Variation in the quantity and quality of close social relationships seems to be important to mental health. Police organizations need to be aware of this in their efforts to make the work environment more supportive. Social support might create an environment where officers feel more comfortable discussing their mental health concerns and seeking assistance.
Sustainable luxury purchase behavior in the Post-Pandemic Era: a grounded theory study in China
Authors: Yang Huaxia , Su Xiaoyan , Shion Kojo
Published: October 2023

Despite the increasing sustainable practices from the luxury industry, research show little evidence on consumers’ reactions toward sustainable luxury. This paper aims at understanding changes in consumers’ consumption behavior toward sustainable luxury fashion products in the Post-Pandemic Era. We use exploratory qualitative research conducted by semi-structured in-depth interviews involving luxury consumers in China based on grounded theory. With the help of Nvivo12, the interview data is coded and analyzed to identify the influencing attitude and intention of sustainable luxury fashion in China in the Post-Pandemic Era. The findings show that hedonic value, uniqueness value, social value, functional value (practicality, quality, and value for money), health value and sustainable value affect purchase intention toward sustainable luxury in the Post-Pandemic Era. A theoretical model is built to systematically analyze the determinants of purchase behavior. This study will contribute to the literature on sustainable luxury fashion behaviors by performing in-depth interviews in the Post-Pandemic Era. Besides, the findings provide guidance for industries to make customer-based sustainable strategies when practicing sustainable development in luxury fashion in China.
The mental condition of Polish adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine
Authors: Wójtowicz-Szefler Małgorzata , Grzankowska Izabela , Deja Monika
Published: October 2023

Recently, the experience of the COVID-19 global pandemic has significantly affected the mental condition of entire societies by increasing anxiety and stress resulting from its sudden and completely unexpected nature. In Poland, apart from the pandemic, there is an ongoing threat of an armed conflict just across the border, which can constitute direct and indirect threats to physical and mental health. Each of these situations is unusual and difficult. It is also in sharp contrast to the developmental needs of children and adolescents. It especially violates the principal need of this developmental period, which is to grow up in a predictable as well as physically and emotionally safe environment. The purpose of the conducted research was to assess the psychological condition of Polish adolescents, whose social situation is difficult, in order to take appropriate preventive measures based on this assessment. The study was conducted using the “Who are You?” Scale of Transparency Anxiety and the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS), as well as a researcher-made survey containing questions about well-being in relation to the pandemic, distance learning and the ongoing war in a neighbouring country. Approval was obtained from the Bioethics Committee to conduct the projected research. The study included 945 adolescents aged 11 to 15 (M = 13.10; SD = 1.11) making a representative sample of adolescents from 14 regions in Poland. The results of the research and analyses show that the adolescents under study have a medium level of intensity of neuroticism, with the highest levels occurring in adolescents aged 14. Moreover, the adolescents manifest relatively lower symptoms of anxiety and depression as well as concern about the pandemic and the war in Ukraine than expected.
C3PO: a crop planning and production process ontology and knowledge graph
Authors: Darnala Baptiste , Amardeilh Florence , Roussey Catherine , Todorov Konstantin , Jonquet Clément
Published: October 2023

Vegetable crop farmers diversify their production by growing a range of crops during the season on the same plot. Crop diversification and rotation enables farmers to increase their income and crop yields while enhancing their farm sustainability against climatic events and pest attacks. Farmers must plan their agricultural work per year and over successive years. Planning decisions are made on the basis of their experience regarding previous plans. For the purpose of assisting farmers in planning decisions and monitoring, we developed the Crop Planning and Production Process Ontology (C3PO), i.e., a representation of agricultural knowledge and data for diversified crop production. C3PO is composed of eight modules to capture all crop production dimensions and complexity for representing farming practices and constraints. It encodes agricultural processes and farm plot organization and captures common agricultural knowledge. C3PO introduces a representation of technical itineraries, i.e., sequences of technical farming tasks to grow vegetables, from soil identification and seed selection to harvest and storage. C3PO is the backbone of a knowledge graph which aggregates data from heterogeneous related semantic resources, e.g., organism taxonomies, chemicals, reference crop listings, or development stages. C3PO and its knowledge graph are used by the Elzeard enterprise to develop knowledge-based decision support systems for farmers. This article describes how we built C3PO and its knowledge graph—which are both publicly available—and briefly outlines their applications.
Augmented Reality in Primary Education: An Active Learning Approach in Mathematics
Authors: Volioti Christina , Orovas Christos , Sapounidis Theodosios , Trachanas George , Keramopoulos Euclid
Published: October 2023

Active learning, a student-centered approach, engages students in the learning process and requires them to solve problems using educational activities that enhance their learning outcomes. Augmented Reality (AR) has revolutionized the field of education by creating an intuitive environment where real and virtual objects interact, thereby facilitating the understanding of complex concepts. Consequently, this research proposes an application, called “Cooking Math”, that utilizes AR to promote active learning in sixth-grade elementary school mathematics. The application comprises various educational games, each presenting a real-life problem, particularly focused on cooking recipes. To evaluate the usability of the proposed AR application, a pilot study was conducted involving three groups: (a) 65 undergraduate philosophy and education students, (b) 74 undergraduate engineering students, and (c) 35 sixth-grade elementary school students. To achieve this, (a) the System Usability Scale (SUS) questionnaire was provided to all participants and (b) semi-structured interviews were organized to gather the participants’ perspectives. The SUS results were quite satisfactory. In addition, the interviews’ outcomes indicated that the elementary students displayed enthusiasm, the philosophy and education students emphasized the pedagogy value of such technology, while the engineering students suggested that further improvements were necessary to enhance the effectiveness of the learning experience.
Privacy-Preserving Techniques in Cloud/Fog and Internet of Things
Authors: Lee Cheng-Chi , Gheisari Mehdi , Shayegan Mohammad Javad , Ahvanooey Milad Taleby , Liu Yang
Published: October 2023

Recently, wireless networks have been developed using cloud infrastructure and software-based networks [...]
Sustained Suppression of Gorlin Syndrome-Associated Basal Cell Carcinomas with Vismodegib or Sonidegib: A Case Series
Authors: Wescott Raquel , Samlowski Wolfram
Published: October 2023

Nevoid basal-cell carcinoma syndrome (Gorlin syndrome) is characterized by numerous cutaneous basal cell carcinomas mediated by mutations in the hedgehog pathway. Vismodegib or sonidegib represent promising treatment options. We identified 10 Gorlin patients who were treated with sonidegib (n = 6) or vismodegib (n = 4) between March 2012 and March 2022. We analyzed the activity, toxicity, and duration of the response to oral hedgehog inhibitors. The number of new tumors that developed prior to treatment or after treatment as well as the time of response and durability of responses were assessed. All patients achieved a complete remission. With a 30.7 ± 48.4-month median follow-up, the drug treatment significantly reduced the number of new basal cell cancers from a mean of 28.3 ± 24.6 prior to treatment to a mean of 1.4 ± 2.0 during treatment (p = 0.0048). The median time to develop a new basal cell cancer was 47.3 months. Three patients eventually developed localized recurrences. After resection, ongoing treatment suppressed the development of additional lesions. One patient developed numerous new drug-resistant basal cell cancers and died of acute leukemia. Six patients required treatment modifications for toxicity. Sustained hedgehog inhibitor treatment can suppress the progression of both new and existing basal cell carcinomas for an extended period. Drug administration schedule adjustments improved tolerance without altering efficacy, potentially contributing to a prolonged response duration.
Systematic Review of Nomograms Used for Predicting Pathological Complete Response in Early Breast Cancer
Authors: Antonini Marcelo , Pannain Gabriel Duque , Mattar André , Ferraro Odair , Lopes Reginaldo Guedes Coelho , Real Juliana Monte , Okumura Lucas Miyake
Published: October 2023

Pathological complete response (pCR) is an important surrogate outcome to assess the effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Nomograms to predict pCR have been developed with local data to better select patients who are likely to benefit from NAC; however, they were never critically reviewed regarding their internal and external validity. The purpose of this systematic review was to critically appraise nomograms published in the last 20 years (2010–2022). Articles about nomograms were searched in databases, such as PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane. A total of 1120 hits were found, and seven studies were included for analyses. No meta-analysis could be performed due to heterogeneous reports on outcomes, including the definition of pCR and subtypes. Most nomograms were developed in Asian centers, and nonrandomized retrospective cohorts were the most common sources of data. The most common subtype included in the studies was triple negative (50%). There were articles that included HER2+ (>80%). In one study, scholars performed additional validation of the nomogram using DFS and OS as outcomes; however, there was a lack of clarity on how such endpoints were measured. Nomograms to predict pCR cannot be extrapolated to other settings due to local preferences/availability of NAC. The main gaps identified in this review are also opportunities for future nomogram research and development.
Graphic Novels and Comics in Undergraduate and Graduate Medical Students Education: A Scoping Review
Authors: Consorti Fabrizio , Fiorucci Sara , Martucci Gianfranco , Lai Silvia
Published: October 2023

There is an increasing use of graphic novels and comics (GnCs) in medical education, especially—but not only—to provide students with a vicarious learning experience in some areas of clinical medicine (palliative care, difficult communication, and rare diseases). This scoping review aimed to answer questions about how GnCs are used, the theories underlying their use, and the learning outcomes. Twenty-nine articles were selected from bibliographic databases and analyzed. A thematic analysis revealed four many themes: learning outcomes, students’ reactions, theories and methods, and use of GnCs as vicarious learning. GnCs can support the achievement of cognitive outcomes, as well as soft skills and professionalism. The reactions were engagement and amusement, but drawing comics was also perceived as a protected space to express concerns. GnCs proved to be a possible way to provide a vicarious experience for learning. We found two classes of theories on the use of GnCs: psychological theories based on the dual concurrent coding of text and images and semiotics theories on the interpretation of signs. All the studies but two were single arm and observational, quantitative, qualitative, or mixed. These results suggest that further high-quality research on the use of GnC in medical training is worthwhile.
High-Efficiency Sine-Wave Current Pulses Charging Method in Wireless Power-Transfer System Applications
Authors: Chang Yong-Dong , Chuang Ying-Chun , Huang Yi-Shun
Published: October 2023

There has been extensive discourse surrounding energy storage equipment and technologies for sustainable energy solutions. To address the need for prolonging the operational lifespan of energy storage equipment, this research introduces a high-efficiency charging method that integrates wireless power-transfer (WPT) technology. In the proposed LLC-S charger, the diodes of the receiver side rectify the incoming power while generating interleaved sinusoidal wave current pulses for charging two lead-acid battery energy storage systems (BESSs). This approach offers the advantage of providing rest intervals for BESSs and mitigating the impact of electrochemical reactions, thus promoting their overall durability. To validate the proposed charger, two 60 V/14 Ah BESSs as storage equipment within the solar power system are utilized for the charging tests. The results revealed that the utilization of sine-wave current pulses for charging enabled soft switching at both the transmitter and receiver sides, resulting in an overall average efficiency exceeding 80%. Experimental data derived from a prototype with a maximum output power of 1391 W during charging demonstrated that BESSs could be fully charged in a mere 1.61 h, achieving an impressive efficiency of 98%. These findings substantiate the feasibility and effectiveness of utilizing sine-wave current pulses for charging.
The Approach to Finding Locations for Wind Farms Using GIS and MCDA: Case Study Based on Podlaskie Voivodeship, Poland
Authors: Amsharuk Artur , Łaska Grażyna
Published: October 2023

This article presents an approach to locating wind farms based on open-source data, GIS software (QGiS v.3.32 Lima), and multicriteria decision-making methods such as AHP, TOPSIS and Borda. The article aims to check the availability of the most suitable sites for wind farms in Podlaskie Voivodeship, Poland. After the site-selection process, 704 plots were selected after three stages of exclusion (technical–natural, social, and economic). These plots cover a total area of 32.50 km2, about 0.16% of the region’s area. The results show that Podlaskie Voivodeship has the most considerable clustering of suitable sites for wind farm construction in three districts, with a total area of 21.53 km2. The first district is in the southwestern part of the region, with an area of 14.84 km2; the second district is in the southeastern part of the region, with an area of 5.59 km2; and the third district is in the northern part of the region, with an area of 1.1 km2. A selected area of 32.50 km2 for wind farms and single turbines could increase the power capacity by 62% with 131.5 MW. The GIS and multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) methodology is repeatable and can be used for further research in other voivodeships in Poland and other countries. International and Polish investors and renewable energy sources (RESs) developers can use the research results to select new locations for investments that fit their strategy in the local market.
Extraction of Urban Road Boundary Points from Mobile Laser Scanning Data Based on Cuboid Voxel
Authors: Wang Jingxue , Dong Xiao , Liu Guangwei
Published: October 2023

The accuracy of point cloud processing results is greatly dependent on the determination of the voxel size and shape during the point cloud voxelization process. Previous studies predominantly set voxel sizes based on point cloud density or the size of ground objects. Voxels are mostly considered square in shape by default. However, conventional square voxels are not applicable to all surfaces. This study proposes a method of using cuboid voxels to extract urban road boundary points using curb points as road boundary points. In comparison with conventional cubic voxels, cuboid voxels reduce the probability of mixed voxels at the road curb, highlight two geometric features of road curb voxels (i.e., normal vector and distribution dimension), and improve the accuracy of road curb point extraction. In this study, ground points were obtained using cloth simulation filtering. First, the cuboid-based voxelization of ground points was performed. Then, taking the voxel as a unit, two geometric features, namely, the normal vector of the voxel and the linear dimension of the point distribution in the voxel, were calculated. According to these geometric features, the voxels that met the conditions were regarded as candidate road curb voxels, and the points in them as candidate road curb points. Afterward, filtering was applied using the intensity value to eliminate the bottom points of fences, street trees, and other ground objects in the candidate road curb points. Finally, noise points were eliminated according to the clustering results of the density based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) algorithm. In this study, point cloud data obtained by the SSW vehicle-mounted mobile mapping system and three-point cloud datasets in the IQmulus & TerraMobilita competition dataset were used to experimentally extract road curbs. Results showed that this method could effectively extract road curb points as the precision of the four groups of data results was over 90% and the quality coefficient reached over 75%.
An Enzymatic Strategy for the Selective Methylation of High-Value-Added Tetrahydroprotoberberine Alkaloids
Authors: Zhao Wanli , Liu Manyu , Liu Kemeng , Liu Hanqing , Liu Xiufeng , Liu Jihua
Published: October 2023

Tetrahydroprotoberberines (THPBs) are plant-specific alkaloids with significant medicinal value. They are present in trace amounts in plants and are difficult to chemically synthesize due to stereoselectivity and an unfavorable environment. In this study, a selective methylation strategy was developed for the biocatalysis of seven high-value-added THPB compounds using 4’-O-methyltransferase (Cj4’OMT), norcoclaurine 6-O-methyltransferase (Cj6OMT), and (S)-scoulerine 9-O-methyltransferase (SiSOMT and PsSOMT) in engineered E. coli. The methyltransferases Cj4’OMT, Cj6OMT, PsSOMT, and SiSOMT were expressed heterologously in E. coli. Compound 1 (10-methoxy-2,3,9-tetrahydroxyberbine) was synthesized using the recombinant E. coli strain Cj4’OMT and the substrate 2,3,9,10-tetrahydroxyberbine. Compound 2 (9-methoxy-2,3,10-tetrahydroxyberbine) was produced in the recombinant Escherichia coli (E. coli) strain PsSOMT, and compounds 2 and 3 (discretamine) were produced in the recombinant E. coli strain SiSOMT. Compounds 4 (9,10-methoxy-2,3-tetrahydroxyberbine) and 5 (corypalmine) were obtained by co-culturing the recombinant strains Cj4’OMT and SiSOMT with substrate. Compounds 6 (scoulerine) and 7 (isoscoulerine) were produced by co-culturing the substrate with the recombinant strains Cj4’OMT and Cj6OMT. To increase the yield of novel compound 2, the flask culture conditions of the engineered SiSOMT strain were optimized, resulting in the production of 165.74 mg/L of this compound. This study thus presents an enzymatic approach to the synthesis of high-value-added THPBs with minimum environmental wastage.
Computational Investigations on Reaction Mechanisms of the Covalent Inhibitors Ponatinib and Analogs Targeting the Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinases
Authors: Tian Yafeng , Zhang Mi , Heng Panpan , Hou Hua , Wang Baoshan
Published: October 2023

As an important cancer therapeutic target, extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) are involved in triggering various cellular responses in tumors. Regulation of the ERK signaling pathway by the small molecular inhibitors is highly desired for the sake of cancer therapy. In contrast to the routine inhibitors targeting ERKs through long-range non-bonding interactions, Ponatinib, a covalent inhibitor to ERK2 with a macrocyclic structure characterized by the α,β-C=C unsaturated ketone, can form the stable -C(S)-C(H)-type complex via the four-center barrier due to the nucleophilic addition reaction of the thiol group of the Cys166 residue of ERK2 with the C=C double bond of Ponatinib with reaction free-energy barrier of 47.2 kcal/mol. Reaction mechanisms for the covalent binding were calculated using QM/MM methods and molecular dynamics simulations. The interaction modes and the corresponding binding free energies were obtained for the non-covalent and covalent complexation. The binding free energies of the non-covalent and covalent inhibitions are 14.8 kcal/mol and 33.4 kcal/mol, respectively. The mechanistic study stimulated a rational design on the modified Ponatinib structure by substituting the C=C bond with the C=N bond. It was demonstrated that the new compound exhibits better inhibition activity toward ERK2 in term of both thermodynamic and kinetic aspects through the covalent binding with a lower reaction free-energy barrier of 23.1 kcal/mol. The present theoretical work sheds new light on the development of the covalent inhibitors for the regulation of ERKs.
Morphometric Characteristics and Genetic Issr Marker Variability in Rhodiola rosea L. (Crassulaceae) in Different Ecological and Geographic Conditions in the Altai Republic
Authors: Dorogina Olga V. , Kuban Irina N. , Achimova Altynai A. , Williams Natasha , Lashchinskiy Nicolay N. , Zhmud Elena V.
Published: October 2023

Rhodiola rosea L. is a vulnerable species in the Altai Republic (AR) and Russia in general. For the first time on the territory of AR, studies of the adaptive capabilities of the species and genetic differentiation using ISSR markers were carried out in seven cenopopulations (CP) of R. rosea in 2018 and 2020. The research was founded on the notion of conducting a comparative analysis of the morphogenetic structure of Rhodiola rosea populations in various ecological and geographical conditions of AR. The aim of this work is to evaluate the variability of morphometric traits of sexually mature living female R. rosea plants and to conduct a comparative analysis of genetic variability in cenopopulations (CP) both under undisturbed conditions and under stressful conditions of anthropogenic impact (grazing). Of the 8 primers used, HB12 turned out to be the most informative. The percentage of polymorphic loci in the populations between 0 and 88%. Two populations, located in favorable conditions at relatively low absolute altitudes (2000 m above sea level) (masl) in the undisturbed habitats of the Katun and Altai reserves of AR, were characterized by higher polymorphism. The share of polymorphic loci reached 80%. According to the analysis of statistical data, the highest values of morphometric parameters of the aerial parts of R. rosea plants and the highest potential seed productivity were also recorded in these habitats. Representatives of two high-mountain CPs (2400–2500 masl) in the Sailyugemsky National Park (SNP) were characterized by the lowest genetic polymorphism. Their genetic structure is the most homogeneous, since we have not found polymorphic loci. Due to spatial isolation, these individuals are reliably genetically differentiated. In addition, individuals of one type were subjected to stressful anthropogenic impact (grazing). Therefore, the smallest sizes and lowest potential seed productivity were recorded. Our research shows that alpine populations of R. rosea in AR, under conditions of anthropogenic stress, need protection for their gene pool.
Gene Augmentation of CHM Using Non-Viral Episomal Vectors in Models of Choroideremia
Authors: Toualbi Lyes , Toms Maria , Almeida Patrick Vingadas , Harbottle Richard , Moosajee Mariya
Published: October 2023

Choroideremia (CHM) is an X-linked chorioretinal dystrophy leading to progressive retinal degeneration that results in blindness by late adulthood. It is caused by mutations in the CHM gene encoding the Rab Escort Protein 1 (REP1), which plays a crucial role in the prenylation of Rab proteins ensuring correct intracellular trafficking. Gene augmentation is a promising therapeutic strategy, and there are several completed and ongoing clinical trials for treating CHM using adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors. However, late-phase trials have failed to show significant functional improvements and have raised safety concerns about inflammatory events potentially caused by the use of viruses. Therefore, alternative non-viral therapies are desirable. Episomal scaffold/matrix attachment region (S/MAR)-based plasmid vectors were generated containing the human CHM coding sequence, a GFP reporter gene, and ubiquitous promoters (pS/MAR-CHM). The vectors were assessed in two choroideremia disease model systems: (1) CHM patient-derived fibroblasts and (2) chmru848 zebrafish, using Western blotting to detect REP1 protein expression and in vitro prenylation assays to assess the rescue of prenylation function. Retinal immunohistochemistry was used to investigate vector expression and photoreceptor morphology in injected zebrafish retinas. The pS/MAR-CHM vectors generated persistent REP1 expression in CHM patient fibroblasts and showed a significant rescue of prenylation function by 75%, indicating correction of the underlying biochemical defect associated with CHM. In addition, GFP and human REP1 expression were detected in zebrafish microinjected with the pS/MAR-CHM at the one-cell stage. Injected chmru848 zebrafish showed increased survival, prenylation function, and improved retinal photoreceptor morphology. Non-viral S/MAR vectors show promise as a potential gene-augmentation strategy without the use of immunogenic viral components, which could be applicable to many inherited retinal disease genes.
OXPHOS Organization and Activity in Mitochondria of Plants with Different Life Strategies
Authors: Ukolova Irina V. , Borovskii Gennadii B.
Published: October 2023

The study of the supramolecular organization of the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation system (OXPHOS) in various eukaryotes has led to the accumulation of a considerable amount of data on the composition, stoichiometry, and architecture of its constituent superstructures. However, the link between the features of system arrangement and the biological characteristics of the studied organisms has been poorly explored. Here, we report a comparative investigation into supramolecular and functional OXPHOS organization in the mitochondria of etiolated shoots of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), maize (Zea mays L.), and pea (Pisum sativum L.). Investigations based on BN-PAGE, in-gel activity assays, and densitometric analysis revealed both similarities and specific OXPHOS features apparently related to the life strategies of each species. Frost-resistant winter wheat was distinguished by highly stable basic I1III2IVa/b respirasomes and V2 dimers, highly active complex I, and labile complex IV, which were probably essential for effective OXPHOS adaptation during hypothermia. Maize, a C4 plant, had the highly stable dimers IV2 and V2, less active complex I, and active alternative NAD(P)H dehydrogenases. The latter fact could contribute to successful chloroplast–mitochondrial cooperation, which is essential for highly efficient photosynthesis in this species. The pea OXPHOS contained detergent-resistant high-molecular respirasomes I1–2III2IVn, highly active complexes IV and V, and stable succinate dehydrogenase, suggesting an active energy metabolism in organelles of this plant. The results and conclusions are in good agreement with the literature data on the respiratory activity of mitochondria from these species and are summarized in a proposed scheme of organization of OXPHOS fragments.
RNA-Based Therapeutic Technology
Authors: Mashima Ryuichi , Takada Shuji , Miyamoto Yoshitaka
Published: October 2023

RNA-based therapy has been an expanding area of clinical research since the COVID-19 outbreak. Often, its comparison has been made to DNA-based gene therapy, such as adeno-associated virus- and lentivirus-mediated therapy. These DNA-based therapies show persistent expression, with maximized therapeutic efficacy. However, accumulating data indicate that proper control of gene expression is occasionally required. For example, in cancer immunotherapy, cytokine response syndrome is detrimental for host animals, while excess activation of the immune system induces supraphysiological cytokines. RNA-based therapy seems to be a rather mild therapy, and it has room to fit unmet medical needs, whereas current DNA-based therapy has unclear issues. This review focused on RNA-based therapy for cancer immunotherapy, hematopoietic disorders, and inherited disorders, which have received attention for possible clinical applications.
Correction: Khan et al. Therapeutic Effects of Saponins for the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer by Ameliorating Inflammation and Angiogenesis and Inducing Antioxidant and Apoptotic Effects in Human Cells. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23, 10665
Authors: Khan Muhammad Imran , Karima Gul , Khan Muhammad Zubair , Shin Jin Hyuk , Kim Jong Deog
Published: October 2023

In the original publication by Khan et al [...]
Harnessing Deep Convolutional Neural Networks Detecting Synthetic Cannabinoids: A Hybrid Learning Strategy for Handling Class Imbalances in Limited Datasets
Authors: Burlacu Catalina Mercedes , Burlacu Adrian Constantin , Praisler Mirela , Paraschiv Cristina
Published: October 2023

The aim of this research was to develop and deploy efficient deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) frameworks for detecting and discriminating between various categories of designer drugs. These are of particular relevance in forensic contexts, aiding efforts to prevent and counter drug use and trafficking and supporting associated legal investigations. Our multinomial classification architectures, based on Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier-Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectra, are primarily tailored to accurately identify synthetic cannabinoids. Within the scope of our dataset, they also adeptly detect other forensically significant drugs and misused prescription medications. The artificial intelligence (AI) models we developed use two platforms: our custom-designed, pre-trained Convolutional Autoencoder (CAE) and a structure derived from the Vision Transformer Trained on ImageNet Competition Data (ViT-B/32) model. In order to compare and refine our models, various loss functions (cross-entropy and focal loss) and optimization algorithms (Adaptive Moment Estimation, Stochastic Gradient Descent, Sign Stochastic Gradient Descent, and Root Mean Square Propagation) were tested and evaluated at differing learning rates. This study shows that innovative transfer learning methods, which integrate both unsupervised and supervised techniques with spectroscopic data pre-processing (ATR correction, normalization, smoothing) and present significant benefits. Their effectiveness in training AI systems on limited, imbalanced datasets is particularly notable. The strategic deployment of CAEs, complemented by data augmentation and synthetic sample generation using the Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE) and class weights, effectively address the challenges posed by such datasets. The robustness and adaptability of our DCNN models are discussed, emphasizing their reliability and portability for real-world applications. Beyond their primary forensic utility, these systems demonstrate versatility, making them suitable for broader computer vision tasks, notably image classification and object detection.
Temporal Dynamics of CO2 Fluxes over a Non-Irrigated Vineyard
Authors: Badraghi Aysan , Novotná Beáta , Frouz Jan , Krištof Koloman , Trakovický Martin , Juriga Martin , Chvila Branislav , Montagnani Leonardo
Published: October 2023

Some knowledge gaps still remain regarding carbon sequestration in non-irrigated agroecosystems, where plants may experience drought stress during summertime. Therefore, by the combination of the eddy covariance (EC) and soil chamber techniques, we determined the role of a non-irrigated grassed vineyard in carbon sequestration in the Slovak Republic. Based on the EC data, the cumulative net uptake of CO2 (NEE) for the whole growing season was weak and was ca. −97 (g C m−2). This value resulted from −796 (g C m−2) carbon uptake from the atmosphere through photosynthesis (GEE) and 699 (g C m−2) carbon released to the atmosphere through respiration (Reco). Carbon emissions through Reco were considerable and accounted for ca. 88% of GEE, which points out the importance of Reco for managing non-irrigated agroecosystems. Data from the soil chamber indicated that ca. 302 g C m−2 was released by the vineyard through soil respiration (Rsoil) over a growing season, which was constantly lower than Reco and accounted for ca. 44 ± 18% of Reco. This finding implies that the vineyard soil was not a main source of carbon emissions. Rsoil was mainly driven by temperature (exponentially ca. 69–85%). Meanwhile, vapour pressure deficit (VPD) and temperature appeared to be the most important limiting factors for GEE, NEE, and Reco, particularly when they exceeded a certain threshold (e.g., temperature > 17 °C, and VPD > 10 hPa).
First-Principles Study of Adsorption of Pb Atoms on 3C-SiC
Authors: Komorowicz Michal , Skrobas Kazimierz , Czerski Konrad
Published: October 2023

Changes in the atomic and electronic structure of silicon carbide 3C-SiC (β-SiC), resulting from lead adsorption, were studied within the density functional theory. The aim of the study was to analyze the main mechanisms occurring during the corrosion of this material. Therefore, the investigations focused on process-relevant parameters such as bond lengths, bond energies, Bader charges, and charge density differences. To compare the magnitude of the interactions, the calculations were conducted for three representative surfaces: (100, 110, and 111) with varying degrees of lead coverage. The results indicate that chemisorption occurs, with the strongest binding on the hexagonal surface (111) in interaction with three dangling bonds. The adsorption energy rises with increasing coverage, especially as the surface approaches saturation. As a result of these interactions, atomic bonds on the surface weaken, which affects the dissolution corrosion.
Mössbauer and X-ray Diffraction Spectroscopy of High-Iron Bauxites from Kazakhstan
Authors: Shokanov Adilkhan , Vereshchak Mikhail , Manakova Irina , Migunova Anastassiya
Published: October 2023

The bauxite ores of Kazakhstan were analyzed using Mössbauer spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and an X-ray fluorescence analysis. Experimental data on the structural–phase composition of bauxites were obtained, and the features of the iron-bearing minerals within them were revealed. The studied bauxites were high in iron. The magnetic part of bauxite was mainly represented by aluminohematite with a concentration of CAl = 3.34–5.73 at.%, alongside goethite in small amounts. The predominant phase in the bauxite samples was the alumina-bearing mineral gibbsite with a well-crystallized monoclinic lattice. The main siliceous mineral of bauxite is kaolinite, which showed distorted octahedral positions in a number of samples. Siderite amounts were found to vary in the range of 0–15 at.% in the present iron-bearing minerals. Ilmenite was also present in the bauxite of some deposits; anatase was found in all bauxites and was the final product of ilmenite decomposition in the weathering crust.
Degree of Standardisation in Ceramic Gingival Systems
Authors: Hernández Alejandra Díaz , Martín Casado Ana María , Gómez-Polo Miguel , Viñuela Alicia Celemín , Gómez-Polo Cristina
Published: October 2023

No gingival shade guide exists that can be used as a ‘gold standard’ in gingival shade selection. This research, therefore, aimed to determine whether comparable results in subjective gingival shade selection can be achieved using basic gingival colours produced by distinct manufacturers. It also aimed to explore how coverage of the colour space is affected by mixing these basic colours to create additional shades. To achieve these objectives, the basic gingival colours of three ceramic systems (Heraceram, Kulzer, Madrid, Spain; Vita VM9, Vita Zahnfabrik, Bad Säckingen, Germany; IPS Style, Ivoclar, Schaan, Liechtenstein) were analysed. The colour systems were expanded by creating porcelain gingival samples, whose colours were obtained by mixing the basic colours, altering each mixture by increments of 10%, and respecting the numerical order used by manufacturers to identify the colours. The colour coordinates of the basic and additional colours were recorded using spectrophotometry, and the intra- and inter-system colour differences were calculated using the Euclidean (ΔEab) and CIEDE2000 (ΔE00) formulae. None of the basic colours in the three systems, despite their similar nomenclature, were found to be interchangeable (the colour differences exceeded the gingival acceptability threshold: ΔE00 2.9 units). The expanded gingival colour systems, with mixtures altered by 10% increments, notably increased the gingival colour space covered by the original systems. The authors concluded that there are clear differences between the basic gingival colours produced by distinct manufacturers using the same nomenclature. Ceramic samples produced by mixing basic gingival colours are a resource with the potential to improve subjective gingival shade matching.
Development of Porous MoO2 Pellet Target for 99Mo/99mTc Generator
Authors: Hu Xiangrong , Suzuki Tatsuya
Published: October 2023

Technetium-99m(99mTc) is used worldwide in 85% of nuclear medicine diagnostic imaging procedures. We developed porous MoO2 pellets as an alternative to reactor-based targets in an (n,γ) reaction for producing Technetium-99m (99mTc) in nuclear medicine. The pellets, formed through a manufacturing process involving mixing, sintering, eluting, and drying, offer advantages such as selective dissolution and improved yield. This research offers a potential solution for stable 99mTc production, focusing on porous molybdenum dioxide (MoO2) as a target material due to its insolubility in water. Using potassium molybdate (K2MoO4) as a pore former, we developed porous MoO2 pellets that facilitate efficient technetium extraction and target recycling. This approach offers control over pore formation and shows promise in addressing supply challenges and enhancing 99mTc production.
A Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study of In- and Cross-Plane Thermal Conductivity of Bilayer Graphene
Authors: Mohammadi Rafat , Ghaderi Mohammad Reza , Hajian Ebrahim
Published: October 2023

Efficient thermal management of modern electronics requires the use of thin films with highly anisotropic thermal conductivity. Such films enable the effective dissipation of excess heat along one direction while simultaneously providing thermal insulation along the perpendicular direction. This study employs non-equilibrium molecular dynamics to investigate the thermal conductivity of bilayer graphene (BLG) sheets, examining both in-plane and cross-plane thermal conductivities. The in-plane thermal conductivity of 10 nm × 10 nm BLG with zigzag and armchair edges at room temperature is found to be around 204 W/m·K and 124 W/m·K, respectively. The in-plane thermal conductivity of BLG increases with sheet length. BLG with zigzag edges consistently exhibits 30–40% higher thermal conductivity than BLG with armchair edges. In addition, increasing temperature from 300 K to 600 K decreases the in-plane thermal conductivity of a 10 nm × 10 nm zigzag BLG by about 34%. Similarly, the application of a 12.5% tensile strain induces a 51% reduction in its thermal conductivity compared to the strain-free values. Armchair configurations exhibit similar responses to variations in temperature and strain, but with less sensitivity. Furthermore, the cross-plane thermal conductivity of BLG at 300 K is estimated to be 0.05 W/m·K, significantly lower than the in-plane results. The cross-plane thermal conductance of BLG decreases with increasing temperatures, specifically, at 600 K, its value is almost 16% of that observed at 300 K.