bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
NOVEL NANOMATERIALS FOR HEPATOBILIARY DISEASES TREATMENT AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES
Authors:   Azerbaijan Medical University, Baku, Azerbaijan, Huseynov Elchin
Published: April 2024

Hepatobiliary diseases are serious universal health concerns that affects the liver and is responsible for around 2 million deaths annually. The limitations of standard drug-delivery systems, such as unequal and nonspecific drug distribution, which result in adverse effects on healthy tissues and a reduction in drug bioavailability, make successful therapy difficult even when choices for surgery and medicine are available. With the liver's distinct physiological and anatomical features, nanotechnology offers a potential approach to targeted medication delivery, making it a prime target for nanomedicine. In the context of liver illnesses, a number of nanomaterial categories, such as polymer, inorganic and multifunctional nanoparticles (NPs), have been investigated as possible agents for targeting this organ. Nanomaterials can be specifically targeted to liver tissue or hepatocytes by surface modification and functionalization, increasing the delivery of medications and reducing their adverse effects. Although there are many advantages to using nanomaterials, their toxicity and stability can cause problems for living things, including inflammation and protein adsorption. Notwithstanding the difficulties associated with the creation of nanoparticles, further study and development hold much promise for the use of nanotechnology to the targeted treatment of liver disorders. The nanomaterials used to address liver diseases nanozymes, Nano-based oligonucleotide, Lipid-based nanostructures and nanoemulsions and Extracellular Vesicles are first discussed in this study. Additionally, the ways in which nanomaterials target liver illness are examined. This study concludes with a discussion of the present issues and potential future avenues for this line of inquiry.
NANOBIOMATERIALS/BIOINKS BASED SCAFFOLDS IN 3D BIOPRINTING FOR TISSUE ENGINEERING AND ARTIFICIAL HUMAN ORGANS
Authors:   Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Science and Technology, The University of Georgia, Tbilisi, Georgia, Salahshour Peyman
Published: April 2024

Bioinks are combinations of live cells and biomaterials that are sometimes blended with tissue factor or other biomolecules for the purpose of extrusion if the desired effect is desired. The term “bioprinting” refers to a relatively new method that involves the application or depositing of biomaterial solutions or bioinks in order to produce three-dimensional (3D) constructions that have topologies and mechanical/biological qualities that are similar to those of genuine human tissue or organs. Printed structures are widely used in tissue engineering to heal or repair damaged tissues or organs, as well as in vitro tissue modeling to test and validate newly created medications and vaccinations before being administered to patients. Supporting and directing cell development toward its native surroundings. When it comes to the formation of biological structures, one of the most important challenges is to ensure that specific physicochemical and biological signals are present in a harmonious manner in order to regulate the activity of cells. Additionally, in order to stimulate stem cell differentiation toward certain tissues, exact arrays of stimuli must be established. The introduction of bioactive material with a nanoscale can control the destiny of cells, contributing to their differentiation and enabling the biofabrication of useful structures. Using nano-composite bio-ink, it is possible to create scaffolds that are instructive for cells or cells can be high quality images onto the media. In addition, the addition of nano into 3D printed configurations may make it possible for these structures to be manipulated by a range of external physical stimuli, thereby providing an additional instrument for usage in healthcare applications. With that being said, there is an interest in the development of biological systems that have functionalities such as motion, shape alteration or sensing. In this study, we emphasize how the use of nano-biomaterials in bioprinting techniques results in strategies for tissue regeneration that show promise.
Un si grand soleil, une série très « Sud de France » ?
Authors: Jullia Patricia , Marty Frédéric
Published: April 2024

Se fondant sur une recherche collective en cours à propos des séries quotidiennes réalisées localement. Cette contribution traite de l’enjeu territorial de la série Un si grand soleil (France 2) à travers notamment plusieurs entretiens et une analyse du contenu de la série et de la presse quotidienne locale. Après avoir évalué comment le contexte de production locale fait du territoire un outil créatif, puis de la série un outil de placement du territoire et inversement, les auteurs spécifient les mises en scène du territoire à l’intersection des intentions de France Télévisions et des collectivités territoriales. À travers ce questionnement, il s’agit d’analyser l’hybridation entre l’espace diégétique de la série et les mises en récit territorialisantes qui en découlent.
Real time employees overtime predictor model
Authors: Stearns Shaun , Gang Isaac K.
Published: April 2024

Employers often struggle with a cost-efficient way to schedule workers and handle overtime. Paying employees overtime is a very inefficient and expensive way to keep a department going. In this paper, we will analyze data from New York City public workers to explore what factors influence the amount of overtime workers have accumulated. We are particularly interested in the factors that predict an increase in overtime and how to possibly adapt them. To accurately answer these questions, we use RStudio to analyze the predictor variables that would impact overtime for each New York City borough. We further analyzed the differences in overtime per Borough using ANOVA. Follow-up tests were performed using pairwise comparisons; differences per borough were corrected for multiple comparisons using Scheffe's method. After thorough analysis, we perform multiple regressions on each Borough.
Using SAE-Baja project in attracting and empowering women in engineering/technology: A case of success at Northern Kentucky University (NKU) and Cincinnati State Technical and Community College (CSTCC)
Authors: Sadat-Hossieny Morteza , Torres Mauricio , Sadat-Hossieny Sabira , Decker Zane
Published: April 2024

The literature shows that many efforts have been made to draw female students to STEM in general and engineering careers in particular. The importance of ensuring that engineering is a gender-neutral field and addressing the existing obstacles for females in the field are well documented. The objective of this report is to chronicle the method by which a student organization, such as Baja SAE Club, can be used as a catalyst for the involvement and empowerment of women in engineering and higher education. Additionally, the report highlights the collaborative efforts between the University and the local community college and the effectiveness of this collaboration in strengthening this cause.
Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo energy forecast
Authors: Llaugel Felipe , Ridley Dennis , Cespedes Amparo
Published: April 2024

Energy time series data for Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo is analyzed and forecast by the moving window spectral method to capture cyclical components and effects. The historical record is 217 months from March 2001 to March 2019. A model is fitted to 205 historical observations from March 2001 to March 2018. The forecast period is 12 months from April 2018 to March 2019. The two overlapping 12 actual and forecast months are compared.
Implementasi Metode Marr-Hilderth Operator Untuk Mendeteksi Batas Tepi Pantai
Authors: Sitorus Merida Christina
Published: April 2024

Changes in the shape of the waterfront greatly impact the tourism business, which causes a reduction in domestic and foreign visitors to visit. One way to make it easier to obtain information about changes in the shoreline is to utilize the information contained in a coastal image. Edge detection is the first step of image segmentation to obtain information in an image. The edge contains from points that have a difference with the others. This study describes how to apply the Marr-Hilderth Operator method to detect image edges. Edge detection is the initial process to obtain information in images and characterize object boundaries, then edges can be used in the process of segmentation and identification of objects in images. The benefit of the detection of coastal boundaries is carried out to provide information to tourist area entrepreneurs regarding changes in the shape of the beach, so that the effects can be minimized as early as possible and make it easier for tourism object managers to obtain information about changes in the shape of the beach.
Introducing e-government in public administration in Ghana
Authors: Boni P.
Published: April 2024

This paper discusses the development of egovernment or the introduction of computerbased information systems into publicadministration in a developing country like Ghana. The writer argues that the most significant part of the effort to develop and utilize the computerbased information systems or e-government is not the acquisition of the hardware and software tools, but rather the management of the resultant socioorganizational changes, a process which necessarily requires radical changes. Theseamount to transformation, most often beyond the abilities of only information systems specialists to plan and control. In certain instances, these are even beyond the capacity of the public administration institutions themselves.
Re-denomination of the Cedi: Essential Issues and Challenges
Authors: Adjei P. O.
Published: April 2024

In the last quarter of 2006, Ghana decided to redenominate its currency, the cedi, in July 2007. This generated a lot of arguments and debates in the country. The exercise was seen as waste of scarce resources. Many people did not even understand the term. It is therefore important to attempt a write up that perhaps will try to answer some of the questions on the re-denomination of the cedi. The study takes a look at what re-denomination is all about and the extent to which some countries had redenominated their currency over the years. A review was made of similar exercises in Zimbabwe, Turkey and Romania in recent times. The conditions needed for a smooth redenomination and the prevailing economic conditions in Ghana are analyzed here. The paper also looks at the history of re-denomination in Ghana and the way forward for a smooth exercise.
Cultura Digital en los Escenarios de la Educación Andragógica
Authors: Aguilar Ayarit Morela
Published: April 2024

En este artículo expone una experiencia innovadora en la cultura digital; la importancia de la andragogía para la educación universitaria; la implementación y el uso de la tecnología de información y comunicación (Tic´s); resumo la investigación “Estrategias didácticas apoyadas en el blog educativo para la optimización del proceso de enseñanza, dirigida a docentes de la, UNESR. Que fue de tipo descriptiva; diseño de campo; modalidad proyecto factible; población y muestra de 40 docentes; técnica la encuesta e instrumento un cuestionario constituido por veintitrés ítems, con escala tipo Likert; validez en el juicio de expertos; confiabilidad apoyada en el Alfha de Cronbach; con resultados registrados en cuadros y gráficos estadísticos de frecuencia absoluta y porcentual. Concluyendo que existen debilidades que afectan al proceso de enseñanza; se recomendó incorporar la tecnología y las estrategias didácticas apoyadas en blog educativo para que el proceso de enseñanza fluya adecuadamente en el aula, contribuyendo con el aprendizaje de los participantes
Capacitación a servidores públicos para perfeccionar la estrategia de desarrollo local en Matanzas
Authors: León Reyes Yenisey , González Paris Evelyn , Miranda Lorenzo Yadney Osmaida , Quintana Gazmuri Yoleidy
Published: April 2024

La preparación de los servidores públicos constituye una tarea priorizada por la dirección del país, en este contexto se convierte en una herramienta esencial de trabajo, y en un reto para la Administración Pública fundamentado por los recientes cambios constitucionales y vinculado a la necesidad de la elaboración y gestión de las Estrategias de Desarrollo Local. El objetivo: Gestionar la capacitación de los servidores públicos del gobierno de Matanzas para la elaboración de la estrategia de desarrollo local del territorio. Se utilizan métodos y técnicas: analítico-sintético, inductivo-deductivo, método sistémico, entrevista, tormenta de ideas, dinámica de grupo, revisión bibliográfica y documental. Como resultados destacan la necesidad de capacitar a los servidores públicos de Matanzas para que sean capaces de utilizar las estrategias de desarrollo local como instrumento de gobernabilidad, en función de la obtención de resultados integrales que tributen a la satisfacción de los intereses de la sociedad matancera.
Gigapan® Photogrammetry For Outcrop Description, 3d Modeling, And 3d Printing
Authors: Liles Preston , Pearson Logan , Barnett Samantha , Simpson Dakota , Fitzpatrick David , Larson Erik , Testa Maurice
Published: April 2024

The collection of 3D information on geological media is fundamental for field geology, however it can be both time consuming and expensive. This report proposes a new method for the collection of 3D information of outcrops using simple to use and inexpensive technology. GigaPan® systems can be used to take high resolution images of outcrops and these images then be either left in 2D for additional description of the outcrop in the lab, or they can be processed in Autodesk 3ds Max® to create realistic 3D models of the outcrops which can then be 3D printed. The collection of this data can allow for maximization of field time and may allow for additional analysis and descriptions in the lab. The ability to visit or revisit an outcrop without physically going there has implications for facilitating collaborative research projects and improving the learning outcomes of students.
Evaluation Of Measurement Data Across Eight GIS Basemaps Using Drumlins: Combining Basemaps Is Optimal
Authors:   St. Lawrence University, Wambach Gretchen , Stewart Alexander ,   St. Lawrence University
Published: April 2024

Choosing the best basemap for landform data collection and analysis is fundamental for accurate measurements and usability. Different types of basemaps may affect how we perceive relief through a map (Phillips et al., 1975); thereby, affecting the precision of data collected. This project collected length and azimuth data of 60 drumlins in Western, NY from four different, ArcGIS online (AGOL)-provided basemaps, as well as two parallel-to-strike and two perpendicular-to-strike hillshades (n=4). Testing the mean length (1,662m, ±529) and azimuth (171°, ±0.3) data for uniformity across basemaps determined if any basemap is more or less reliable for data collection. The Terrain map and 351° hillshade showed the lowest statistic values (t(59) = 1.84, p = .007, R2 = 0.4116). This was due to a poor direction of shading that caused visual loss of the drumlin tails. The least number of difference occurred between the USGS Topographic map and the USA Topographic map (t(59) = -0.01, p = .992, R2 = 0.9412), maps married in creation. The more traditional USGS/USA Topographic map is better for measurements of length and orientation due to the more established outline of landforms and less visual variability. Combining hillshade and topographic maps, however, can create an optimal representation of landforms for remote data collection. Choosing, or better yet, creating the correct basemap for an intended result can ensure readability and useability. It is essential that the creation of useful basemaps can keep up with the data being collected from advancing remote-sensing technologies.
The hypothesis of Nostradamus using cryptographic methods to arrange quatrains in the "Prophecies".
Authors: Razumov Il'ya Kimovich
Published: April 2024

Despite the extensive bibliographical material, scientific study of the life and work of Nostradamus has only relatively recently begun. Currently, it includes a detailed examination of the predictor's biography and historical-philological commentaries on the quatrains. The unordered arrangement of the quatrains is one of the main problems hindering the understanding of the prophecies. In particular, it has been discovered that many quatrains describe presumed future events through comparison with the past, and therefore cannot be adequately understood without a reasoned arrangement by dates. Although Nostradamus himself unequivocally states in an epistle to King Henry II that the quatrains should be arranged using the biblical chronology he provided, with a reference point determined by the retrograde movements of planets (1606 year, as shown by prof. Brind'Amour), discussions of such cryptographic approaches were absent in Nostradamus literature until now. This work presents, for the first time, a detailed argument for the hypothesis that Nostradamus used a modified «scytale» algorithm to encrypt the correct sequence of quatrains and assign them certain dates. It is shown that the predictor indeed employed cyclically repeating biblical chronologies placed in the epistle to King Henry II for this purpose. The final date of the prophecies turns out to be the year 2242, close to the end of the 6000 years in the Jewish calendar (2240 AD) and the completion of the cycle of planetary epochs in the astrological concept of Abraham ibn Ezra (2241 AD), which aligns well with existing historical research. The results of the analysis indicate that although the «Prophecies» were published in parts, they form a coherent work following a strict plan. Consequently, the obtained results are relevant to the history of cryptography in Europe and have significant implications for a correct understanding of Nostradamus' texts.
Cambiar algo para que nada cambie. La reforma decorativa de las elecciones primarias obligatorias en Perú
Authors: Santoro Ignacio
Published: April 2024

Objective/context: In 2019, promoted by President Martín Vizcarra, the Congress of the Republic of Peru sanctioned a law on mandatory primary elections for voters and political parties. However, the regulation was not implemented, given that it was suspended by the Legislative Branch for the general elections in 2021 and the regional elections in 2022. Methodology: This paper studies the reform process of mandatory, simultaneous, and open primaries (PASO, for its acronym in Spanish) in Peru and its counter-reform based on its suspension on two occasions (2021 and 2022). Twenty-three key actors were interviewed for this research, including congresspersons, ministers, electoral officials, and researchers, in addition to the revision of secondary sources and newspapers of legislative sessions. Conclusions: The paper concludes that PASO were a “decorative” reform, i.e., a law passed without the intention of implementing it. Its sanction was the product of a reformist coalition between civil society and the President of the nation, where the objectives of increasing popular support for President Vizcarra and the need to improve the legitimacy of the political system converged. The reform was resisted by congresspersons who formed two counter-reformist coalitions that suspended the PASO on two occasions. Originality: The research shows that these counter-reform coalitions are intrinsically linked to the atomization and personalization of the Peruvian party system, characterized by hyper-personalism and a lack of party structures. In addition, it generates theoretical contributions to studying the processes of reforms and counter-reforms in the context of institutional weakness.
Differential increase of hippocampal subfield volume after socio-affective mental training relates to reductions in diurnal cortisol
Authors: Valk Sofie L. , Engert Veronika , Puhlman Lara , Linz Roman , Caldirou Benoit , Bernasconi Andrea , Bernasconi Neda , Bernhardt Boris C. , Singer Tania
Published: April 2024

The hippocampus is a central modulator of the HPA-axis, impacting the regulation of stress on brain structure, function, and behavior. The current study assessed whether three different types of 3-months mental Training Modules geared towards nurturing a) attention-based mindfulness, b) socio-affective or c) socio-cognitive skills may impact hippocampal organization by reducing stress. We evaluated mental training-induced changes in hippocampal subfield volume and intrinsic functional connectivity, by combining longitudinal structural and resting-state fMRI connectivity analysis in 332 healthy adults. We related these changes to changes in diurnal and chronic cortisol levels. We observed increases in bilateral cornu ammonis volume (CA1-3) following the 3-months compassion-based module targeting socio-affective skills (
Affect
module), as compared to socio-cognitive skills (
Perspective
module) or a waitlist cohort with no training intervention. Structural changes were paralleled by relative increases in functional connectivity of CA1-3 when fostering socio-affective as compared to socio-cognitive skills. Furthermore, training-induced changes in CA1-3 structure and function consistently correlated with reductions in cortisol output. Notably, using a multivariate approach, we found that other subfields that did not show group-level changes also contributed to changes in cortisol levels, suggesting that circuit-level changes within the hippocampal formation are linked to diurnal stress markers. Overall, we provide a link between a socio-emotional behavioural intervention, changes in hippocampal subfield structure and function, and reductions in cortisol in healthy adults.
The rules of sex and strain: deciphering the chemical language of inbred and wild mouse conspecific scents
Authors: Nagel Maximilian , Niestroj Marco , Bansal Rohini , Fleck David , Lampert Angelika , Stopkova Romana , Stopka Pavel , Ben-Shaul Yoram , Spehr Marc
Published: April 2024

In most mammals, conspecific chemosensory communication relies on semiochemical release within complex bodily secretions and subsequent stimulus detection by the vomeronasal organ (VNO). Urine, a rich source of ethologically relevant chemosignals, conveys detailed information about sex, social hierarchy, health and reproductive state, which becomes accessible to a conspecific via vomeronasal sampling. So far, however, numerous aspects of social chemosignaling along the vomeronasal pathway remain unclear. Moreover, since virtually all research on vomeronasal physiology is based on secretions derived from inbred laboratory mice, it remains uncertain whether such stimuli provide a true representation of potentially more relevant cues found in the wild. Here, we combine a robust low-noise VNO activity assay with comparative molecular profiling of sex- and strain-specific mouse urine samples from two inbred laboratory strains as well as from wild mice. With comprehensive molecular portraits of these secretions, VNO activity analysis now enables us to (
i
) assess whether and, if so, how much sex- / strain-selective “raw” chemical information in urine is accessible via vomeronasal sampling; (
ii
) identify which chemicals exhibit sufficient discriminatory power to signal an animal’s sex, strain, or both; (
iii
) determine the extent to which wild mouse secretions are unique; and (
iv
) analyze whether vomeronasal response profiles differ between strains. We report both sex- and, in particular, strain-selective VNO representations of chemical information. Within the urinary ‘secretome’, both volatile compounds and proteins exhibit sufficient discriminative power to provide sex- and strain-specific molecular fingerprints. While total protein amount is substantially enriched in male urine, females secrete a larger variety at overall comparatively low concentrations. Surprisingly, the molecular spectrum of wild mouse urine does not dramatically exceed that of inbred strains. Finally, vomeronasal response profiles differ between C57BL/6 and BALB/c animals, with particularly disparate representations of female semiochemicals.
The antigenic landscape of human influenza N2 neuraminidases from 2009 until 2017
Authors: Catani João Paulo Portela , Smet Anouk , Ysenbaert Tine , Vuylsteke Marnik , Bottu Guy , Mathys Janick , Botzki Alexander , Cortes-Garcia Guadalupe , Strugnell Tod , Gomila Raul , Hamberger John , Catalan John , Ustyugova Irina V. , Farrell Timothy , Stegalkina Svetlana , Ray Satyajit , LaRue Lauren , Saelens Xavier , Vogel Thorsten U.
Published: April 2024

Human H3N2 influenza viruses are subject to rapid antigenic evolution which translates into frequent updates of the composition of seasonal influenza vaccines. Despite these updates, the effectiveness of influenza vaccines against H3N2-associated disease is suboptimal. Seasonal influenza vaccines primarily induce hemagglutinin-specific antibody responses. However, antibodies directed against influenza neuraminidase (NA) also contribute to protection. Here, we analyzed the antigenic diversity of a panel of N2 NAs derived from human H3N2 viruses that circulated between 2009 and 2017. The antigenic breadth of these NAs was determined based on the NA inhibition (NAI) of a broad panel of ferret and mouse immune sera that were raised by infection and recombinant N2 NA immunization. This assessment allowed us to distinguish at least 4 antigenic groups in the N2 NAs derived from human H3N2 viruses that circulated between 2009 and 2017. Computational analysis further revealed that the amino acid residues in N2 NA that have a major impact on susceptibility to NAI by immune sera are in proximity of the catalytic site. Finally, a machine learning method was developed that allowed to accurately predict the impact of mutations that are present in our N2 NA panel on NAI. These findings have important implications for the renewed interest to develop improved influenza vaccines based on the inclusion of a protective NA antigen formulation.
Knockdown of PHOX2B in the retrotrapezoid nucleus reduces the central CO2 chemoreflex in rats
Authors: Cardani Silvia , Janes Tara A. , Betzner William , Pagliardini Silvia
Published: April 2024

PHOX2B is a transcription factor essential for the development of different classes of neurons in the central and peripheral nervous system. Heterozygous mutations in the PHOX2B coding region are responsible for the occurrence of Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome (CCHS), a rare neurological disorder characterised by inadequate chemosensitivity and life-threatening sleep- related hypoventilation. Animal studies suggest that chemoreflex defects are caused in part by the improper development or function of PHOX2B expressing neurons in the retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN), a central hub for CO
2
chemosensitivity.Although the function of PHOX2B in rodents during development is well established, its role in the adult respiratory network remains unknown. In this study, we investigated whether reduction in PHOX2B expression in chemosensitive neuromedin-B (NMB) expressing neurons in the RTN altered respiratory function. Four weeks following local RTN injection of a lentiviral vector expressing the short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting
Phox2b
mRNA, a reduction of PHOX2B expression was observed in
Nmb
neurons compared to both naïve rats and rats injected with the non-target shRNA. PHOX2B knockdown did not affect breathing in room air or under hypoxia, but ventilation was significantly impaired during hypercapnia. PHOX2B knockdown did not alter
Nmb
expression but it was associated with reduced the expression of both
Task2
and
Gpr4
, two CO
2
sensors in the RTN. We conclude that PHOX2B in the adult brain has an important role in CO
2
chemoreception and reduced PHOX2B expression in CCHS beyond the developmental period may contribute to the impaired central chemoreflex function.
The French flag problem revisited: Creating robust and tunable axial patterns without global signaling
Authors: Kremser Stephan , Vercelli Gabriel , Gerland Ulrich
Published: April 2024

Wolpert’s French flag problem conceptualizes the task of forming axial patterns with broad regions in multicellular systems. Wolpert described two different solutions to his problem, the balancing model and thresholding of a morphogen gradient, both of which require global, long-range signaling between cells. Since global signaling becomes challenging in large multicellular systems, we computationally explore alternative solutions, which use only local cell-cell signaling and are simple enough to potentially be implemented in natural or synthetic systems. We employ cellular automata rules to describe local signal processing logics, and search for rules capable of robust and tunable axial patterning with evolutionary algorithms. This yields large sets of successful rules, which however display only few types of behavior. We introduce a rule alignment and consensus procedure to identify patterning modules that are responsible for the different behaviors. With these modules as building blocks, we then construct local schemes for axial patterning, which function also in the presence of noise and growth, and for patterns with a larger number of different regions. The regulatory logic underlying these modules could therefore serve as the basis for the design of synthetic patterning systems, and as a conceptual framework for the interpretation of biological mechanisms.
Cardiac afferent signals can facilitate visual dominance in binocular rivalry
Authors: Veillette John P. , Gao Fan , Nusbaum Howard C.
Published: April 2024

Sensory signals from the body’s visceral organs (e.g. the heart) can robustly influence the perception of exteroceptive sensations. This interoceptive-exteroceptive interaction has been argued to underlie self-awareness by situating one’s perceptual awareness of exteroceptive stimuli in the context of one’s internal state, but studies probing cardiac influences on visual awareness have yielded conflicting findings. In this study, we presented separate grating stimuli to each of subjects’ eyes as in a classic binocular rivalry paradigm – measuring the duration for which each stimulus dominates in perception. However, we caused the gratings to “pulse” at specific times relative to subjects’ real-time electrocardiogram, manipulating whether pulses occurred during cardiac systole, when baroreceptors signal to the brain that the heart has contracted, or in diastole when baroreceptors are silent. The influential “Baroreceptor Hypothesis” predicts the effect of baroreceptive input on visual perception should be uniformly suppressive. In contrast, we observed that dominance durations increased for systole-entrained stimuli, inconsistent with the Baroreceptor Hypothesis. Further, we show that this cardiac-dependent rivalry effect is preserved in subjects who are at-chance discriminating between systole-entrained and diastole-presented stimuli in a separate interoceptive awareness task, suggesting that our results are not dependent on conscious access to heartbeat sensations.
Stratification of viral shedding patterns in saliva of COVID-19 patients
Authors: Park Hyeongki , Yoshimura Raiki , Iwanami Shoya , Kim Kwang Su , Ejima Keisuke , Nakamura Naotoshi , Aihara Kazuyuki , Miyazaki Yoshitsugu , Umeyama Takashi , Miyazawa Ken , Morita Takeshi , Watashi Koichi , Brooke Christopher B. , Ke Ruian , Iwami Shingo , Miyazaki Taiga
Published: April 2024

Living with COVID-19 requires continued vigilance against the spread and emergence of variants of concern (VOCs). Rapid and accurate saliva diagnostic testing, alongside basic public health responses, is a viable option contributing to effective transmission control. Nevertheless, our knowledge regarding the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 infection in saliva is not as advanced as our understanding of the respiratory tract. Here we analyzed longitudinal viral load data of SARS-CoV-2 in saliva samples from 144 patients with mild COVID-19 (a combination of our collected data and published data). Using a mathematical model, we successfully stratified infection dynamics into three distinct groups with clear patterns of viral shedding: viral shedding durations in the three groups were 11.5 days (95% CI: 10.6 to 12.4), 17.4 days (16.6 to 18.2), and 30.0 days (28.1 to 31.8), respectively. Surprisingly, this stratified grouping remained unexplained despite our analysis of 47 types of clinical data, including basic demographic information, clinical symptoms, results of blood tests, and vital signs. Additionally, we quantified the expression levels of 92 micro-RNAs in a subset of saliva samples, but these also failed to explain the observed stratification, although the mir-1846 level may have been weakly correlated with peak viral load. Our study provides insights into SARS-CoV-2 infection dynamics in saliva, highlighting the challenges in predicting the duration of viral shedding without indicators that directly reflect an individual’s immune response, such as antibody induction. Given the significant individual heterogeneity in the kinetics of saliva viral shedding, identifying biomarker(s) for viral shedding patterns will be crucial for improving public health interventions in the era of living with COVID-19.
In mice, discrete odors can selectively promote the neurogenesis of sensory neuron subtypes that they stimulate
Authors: Hossain Kawsar , Smith Madeline , Santoro Stephen W.
Published: April 2024

In mammals, olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) are born throughout life, presumably solely to replace neurons lost
via
turnover or injury. This assumption follows from the hypothesis that olfactory neurogenesis is strictly stochastic with respect to neuron subtype, as defined by the single odorant receptor allele that each neural precursor stochastically chooses out of hundreds of possibilities. This hypothesis is challenged by recent findings that the birthrates of a fraction of subtypes are selectively diminished by olfactory deprivation. These findings raise questions about how, and why, olfactory stimuli are required to promote the neurogenesis of some OSN subtypes, including whether the stimuli are generic (e.g., broadly activating odors or mechanical stimuli) or specific (e.g., discrete odorants). Based on RNA-seq and scRNA-seq analyses, we hypothesized that the neurogenic stimuli are specific odorants that selectively activate the same OSN subtypes whose birthrates are accelerated. In support of this, we have found, using subtype-specific OSN birthdating, that exposure to male and musk odors can accelerate the birthrates of responsive OSNs. Collectively, our findings reveal that certain odor experiences can selectively “amplify” specific OSN subtypes, and that persistent OSN neurogenesis may serve, in part, an adaptive function.
Modeling Hereditary Diffuse Leukoencephalopathy with Axonal Spheroids using microglia-sufficient brain organoids
Authors: Wong Wei Jie , Zhu Yi Wen , Wang Hai Ting , Qian Jia Wen , Li Ziyi , Song Li , Liu Zhao Yuan , Guo Wei , Zhang Shuang Yan , Su Bing , He Fang Ping , Wang Kang , Ginhoux Florent
Published: April 2024

Hereditary diffuse leukoencephalopathy with axonal spheroids (HDLS) is a rare, fatal, adult-onset neurodegenerative disease that is most often caused by mutations affecting the Colony Stimulating factor-1 Receptor (CSF-1R). To understand how CSF-1R-mutation affects human microglia – the specialized brain-resident macrophages of the central nervous system – and the downstream consequences for neuronal cells, we used a macrophage and forebrain organoid co-culture system based on induced pluripotent stem cells generated from two patients with HDLS, with
CSF-1R
gene-corrected isogenic organoids as controls. Macrophages derived from iPSC (iMacs) of patients exhibited a metabolic shift towards the glycolytic pathway and reduced CSF-1 sensitivity, which was associated with higher levels of IL-1β production and an activated inflammatory phenotype. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that iMacs adopt a reactive state that leads to impaired regulation of neuronal cell populations in organoid cultures, thereby identifying microglial dysregulation and specifically IL-1β production as key contributors to the degenerative neuro-environment in HDLS.
Real-time task parameter selection method of accounting system based on multi-objective optimization and genetic algorithm
Authors: Qin Rongjie , Shahbaz Muhammad
Published: April 2024

The progress of the digital economy has promoted the enterprise accounting system. To accelerate the update and evolution of accounting systems, we propose a parameter selection method based on multi-objective optimization and genetic algorithm. Firstly, this article proposes an accounting feature extraction method based on multimodal information embedding. The dual-branch structure and feature pyramid network are used to realize the feature extraction of the information involved in accounting. Then, this article proposes a multi-objective parameter selection method based on a parallel genetic algorithm. By embedding a genetic algorithm in the process of dual-branch model training, the model’s ability to sense accounting information is improved. Finally, using the above two methods, an accounting system evaluation method upon recurrent Transformer is proposed to improve the financial situation of enterprises. Our experiments have proven that our approach attains a remarkable performance with an 87.6% F-value, 83.5% mAP value, and 83.4% accuracy. These results position our method at an advanced level globally, showcasing its capability to enhance accounting systems.
Combined spatial and frequency dual stream network for face forgery detection
Authors: Zhao Hui , Li Xin , Xu Bingxin , Liu Hongzhe
Published: April 2024

With the development of generative model, the cost of facial manipulation and forgery is becoming lower and lower. Fraudulent data has brought numerous hidden threats in politics, privacy, and cybersecurity. Although many methods of face forgery detection focus on the learning of high frequency forgery traces and achieve promising performance, these methods usually learn features in spatial and frequency independently. In order to combine the information of the two domains, a combined spatial and frequency dual stream network is proposed for face forgery detection. Concretely, a cross self-attention (CSA) module is designed to improve frequency feature interaction and fusion at different scales. Moreover, to augment the semantic and contextual information, frequency guided spatial feature extraction module is proposed to extract and reconstruct the spatial information. These two modules deeply mine the forgery traces via a dual-stream collaborative network. Through comprehensive experiments on different datasets, we demonstrate the effectiveness of proposed method for both within and cross datasets.
Role of Prakruti (Constitution)-wise Pathya (Wholesome) in Disease Prevention for Children: A Narrative Review
Authors: Dwivedi Prakash , Rathi Renu
Published: April 2024

Ayurveda, the Science of Life, not only utilises medications to cure diseases but also employs Anupana, Ahara (diet), and other techniques to preserve a person’s health and manage diseases. Ayurveda places strong emphasis on fundamental dietary principles such as suitable food, combinations of food, cooking techniques, storage, dining environment, hygiene, and manners. Pathya Ahara (Wholesome diet) Kalpana (Ayurvedic Dietetics) is a unique concept. Pathya (Wholesome) refers to that which provides relief to individuals through the use of diet and regimen. The primary goal of discussing Pathya (Wholesome) Ahara Kalpana (Ayurvedic Dietetics) is to highlight the importance of providing proper nutrition based on one’s constitution in preserving physical health and in balancing Dosha, Dhatu, Mala, and Agni to aid in curing various ailments. The term “Pathya” (Wholesome) refers to the diet and lifestyle that are compatible with a person’s channels, constitution, and strength, respectively. The key idea behind Pathya (Wholesome) Ahara (diet) serves as the foundation for both the preventive and therapeutic components of Ayurveda. According to Ashtavidha Ahara Vidhi Visesha Ayatana (Rules regarding Diet), there are various methods for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of paediatric disorders as described in Ayurveda. Therefore, utilising preventive measures can help in maintaining a disciplined lifestyle and promoting a healthy existence.
Итинерарий английского "инкогнито": принц Карл Стюарт в Мадриде (1623)
Authors: Кошелева П.Ю.
Published: April 2024

Статья посвящена итинерарию Карла Стюарта, принца Уэльского, в период его путешествия в Испанию в 1623 г. Поездка была предпринята «инкогнито» с целью личной встречи и скорейшего заключения договора о браке принца с инфантой Марией, дочерью Филиппа. Переговоры о матримониальном союзе стали результатом временного сближения Англии и Испании в контексте миротворческой политики Якова 1 Стюарта, однако они продвигались медленно ввиду глубинных политических и религиозных противоречий между двумя странами. Обращение к итинерарию Карла, который предпринял путешествие в Испанию через Францию, а возвратился по морю, отбыв из порта Сантандер, представляет интерес не только с точки зрения изучения системы коммуникаций в Европе раннего Нового времени. «Пространственные» аспекты его пребывания в Испании выявляют характерные особенности политической культуры того времени. Специфика поездки принца заключалась в том, что, проделав часть пути в качестве частного лица, на определенном этапе он был вынужден отказаться от роли «инкогнито». Карл попадает из маргинального в официальное «пространство власти»: посещает выбранные Филиппом IV королевские резиденции и церемониальные мероприятия, призванные продемонстрировать образ Испании как мощной, богатой и просвещенной державы, процветающей под властью Габсбургов. Несмотря на то что «испанский брак» не был заключен, эта поездка, безусловно, повлияла на представления будущего короля Англии об эффективных способах репрезентации абсолютной монаршей власти посредством организации «королевских пространств».
Economic Benefit from Nutrigarden to Farmwomen of Wanaparthy District, Telangana, India
Authors: Bhavani Gottemukkula , Anitha Rondla , Syed Shakir Ali Qayyum Ali
Published: April 2024

Nutri-garden is an important concept that helps to combat malnutrition by producing   diverse kinds of vegetables for rural families. YFA-KVK, Mahabubnagar-I demonstrated the Nutrigarden concept amongst 100 families of three mandals namely Madanapuram Kothkota and Wanaparthy of Wanaparthy district. The present study was taken-up to analyze the economic impact of the Nutrigarden along with perceived constraints faced by the farmwomen. The demonstrations on Nutrigarden improved their understanding in successful adoption of the concept. The total beneficiaries covered were 100 with an area of 1000sq.meters each, which accounts to 10 ha. as a whole. From this said area farm women as a whole were able to generate a total amount of Rs. 30592.09/- from kharif vegetables and Rs. 26604.78/- from rabi vegetables. Therefore, the total income from vegetable was Rs. 57196.87/- from an area 10 ha. Including both the seasons excluding home consumption. Besides, there are few perceived constraints in successful adoption of Nutrigarden. Overall analysis revealed that time consuming, lack of backyard and front yard space availability for Nutrigarden, Unaware of the economic advantage of Nutrigarden and lack of knowledge on pest and disease management were amongst the major constraints as perceived by farmwomen.
Spectroscopic Determination and In vitro Bioequivalence Studies of Different Amoxicillin Capsule Brands
Authors: Vaikosen Edebi N. , Bunu Samuel J. , Kashimawo Adesegun J. , Okuba Ekeneokot O. , Eze Chukwudi V.
Published: April 2024

Amoxicillin is an aminopenicillin antibiotic, used in the treatment of several infections resulting from susceptible Gram-positive and Gram-negative, such as pneumonia, acute otitis media, acne vulgaris, bacterial endocarditis, streptococcal pharyngitis, urinary tract, Lyme borreliosis, Salmonella, Helicobacter pylori, chlamydia, and odontogenic infections. The study aimed to determine the in-vitro bioequivalence of amoxicillin capsules from various brands using physicochemical and spectroscopic parameters. Weight uniformity, friability, disintegration, dissolving tests, and UV spectroscopy were used to determine the in-vitro bioequivalence of different brands of amoxicillin capsules. The weight variation for all the capsules showed compliance with the USP specifications (≤10% weight deviation). All brands complied with the USP/BP specification for the disintegration test, as disintegration time ranged from 7 to 12 minutes. The dissolution profile of the innovator and the generic brands showed a percentage release from 80.81 – 89.11% within 30 minutes. The first-order kinetics, t1/2 and k of amoxicillin released ranged from 16.01 – 27.11 min and 2.56 – 4.33 x 10-2 min-1 respectively. A straight-line graph was obtained as a calibration curve of amoxicillin. UV absorption spectrum showed four distinctive peaks at 240, 275, 320, and 360 nm, with the maximum at 240 nm, while the percentage content of amoxicillin ranged from 90.58 ± 1.38 to 98.74 ± 0.97%.  This result complied with the BP and USP specifications. Hence, there was a strong correlation between the release rate constant, k, and time since values were ≥ 0.8087 compared with the innovator and other brands.
The Influence of Brood Survival Rates on the Behavioral Patterns, Economic Aspects and Resistant Traits of Italian Honeybee Apis mellifera L. Reared on Indian Mustard in Bihar
Authors: Kumar Nagendra , Ghosh Saikat , Teja Katta Subramanya Sai , Balraj G
Published: April 2024

To better understand Apis mellifera foraging behaviour for mustard, this study examined how brood survival rates affected the species behavioural, economic and resistant traits. Out of 10 colonies used for the study, the results showed that 1 colony had a low rate of brood survival, 3 colonies had a medium rate, and 6 colonies had a high rate. In the experiment on scattered brood patterns, poor, medium and excellent brood patterns were found in 1, 2, and 7 colonies, respectively. According to the data on bee activity collected, the majority of bees were observed leaving between the hours of 9:00 and 10:00 and arriving between the hours of 16:00 and 17:00. According to the economic attributes data, colonies with high and moderate brood survival rates had more honey and pollen reserves. According to the hygienic behaviour results, colonies with high and moderate brood survival rates had 100 per cent efficiency while colonies with low brood survival rates had the lowest efficiency at 76 per cent.