bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of the combination of biochar and organic fertilizer on soil properties and agronomic attributes of soybean (Glycine max L.)
Authors: Ngui Marianus Evarist , Lin Yong-Hong , Wei I-Lang , Wang Chia-Chung , Xu Ya-Zhen , Lin Ying-Hong
Published: September 2024

This research aimed to investigate the impacts of a combination of rice husk biochar and organic fertilizer on the physical and chemical properties of soil, the population of soil bacteria, the relative chlorophyll content of leaves, the development of soybean root nodules, and yield components under strongly acid soil conditions. A greenhouse and pot experiment was designed using a randomize complete block design with factorial 2 × 3 treatments and three replications. The experimental treatments comprised two rates of biochar (35 and 70 g/pot) and three rates of organic fertilizer (70, 105, and 140 g/pot). After 100 days of amendment of strongly acidic soils, the results showed that application of treatments B35F70 and B70F140 increased soil pH by 16.80% compared to the control group (CK). On the other hand, treatments B35F140 and B70F105 resulted in an increase of soil electrical conductivity by 66.67% compared to CK. In addition, after 100 days of amendment with treatments B35F105, B35F105, B35F140, B70F105, B70F70, B70F70, and B35F140, organic matter, available phosphorous (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn), organic matter, available phosphorous (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn), significantly increased when compared to the control group (CK). Treatment B35F140 increased relative leaf chlorophyll content and soybean seed weight per plant by 60.76% and 100.56%, respectively when compared to the CK. Furthermore, treatment B35F70 produced 125% more root nodules than CK. Moreover, each amended strongly acid soil resulted with a significant upsurge in total soil bacteria compared to the CK. Overall, statistics proved that a combination of biochar and organic fertilizer improved soil properties and soybean agronomic attributes.
Field and DNA-barcode based surveys reveal evidence of rare endemic fishes in the Rufiji River Basin
Authors: Saiperaki Jackson L. , Materu Silvia F. , Mkenda Prisila A. , Ligate Elly J. , Rumisha Cyrus
Published: September 2024

Endemic fish species have long supported the livelihoods of local communities in the Rufiji River Basin (RRB). However, destructive fishing practices have led to a concerning decline in endemic fish stocks. To assess these changes, this study employed key informant interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), and fishery surveys to assess the historical and contemporary distribution of endemic fishes within the RRB. DNA barcoding was also used to verify species identities. Out of 37 reported fish species, 33 species (54.55% endemic and 45.45% exotic to RRB) were confirmed through DNA barcoding and morphological characteristics. About 5 species including, Heterobranchus longifilis, Citharinus congicus, Labeo congoro, Mormyrus longirostris, and Labeobarbus leleupanus were rarely found in the field, despite being classified as Least Concern by IUCN. Additionally, five species that were reported to be present in the RRB by experienced fishers were not captured during sampling. This highlights the need for validation of the existence of such species through eDNA metabarcoding. Moreover, due to the rarity of some species in the area, their IUCN assessment should be revisited.
“Antimicrobial utilization in a paediatric intensive care unit in India: A step towards strengthening antimicrobial stewardship practices"
Authors: Singh Madhusudan Prasad , Gaikwad Nitin Rewaram , Keche Yogendra Narayanrao , Jindal Atul , Dhaneria Suryaprakash , Gurunthalingam Meenalotchini Prakash
Published: September 2024

Antimicrobials are frequently used in critically ill children admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). The antimicrobial use data from Indian PICUs is limited using standard metrics such as Days of therapy (DOT). This study aimed to determine the baseline trend of antimicrobial use in PICU of a tertiary care teaching hospital of Raipur district of Chhattisgarh, India using standard metrics with the goal of developing facility-wide antibiotic policy and strengthening the antimicrobial stewardship activities. This active surveillance was conducted over a period of 18 months, from November 1, 2019, to March 21, 2021, in patients aged one month to 14 years who were admitted for ≥ 48 hours to the PICU at a tertiary care teaching hospital of Raipur District. Data on patient characteristics, antimicrobial indications, antimicrobial prescription information, and clinical outcomes were collected using pre-designed data abstraction forms. The descriptive statistic was used to represent the results. The antimicrobial consumption was analyzed according to the WHO AWaRe Class (Access, Watch, and Reserve groups) of antibiotics. The antimicrobial consumption was expressed as DOT/1000 patient-days (PD). A total of 216 patients were surveyed during the study period. The average number of antimicrobials prescribed per hospitalisation was 2.60 (range: 1–12), with 97.22% administered via parenteral route. Overall, DOT/1000-PD was 1318. The consumption of Watch Group antimicrobials was highest with 949 DOT/1000-PD, followed by Access (215) and Reserve Group (154), respectively. Ceftriaxone (208 DOT/1000 PD) was the most commonly prescribed antimicrobial agent, followed by Vancomycin (201), Meropenem (175), Piperacillin-Tazobactam (122) and Colistin (91). The patients who were escalated (28.24%) from empirical antimicrobial therapy had longer median PICU stay (8 days) compared those who were de-escalated (23.6%). Targeted therapy was given in 10.2% patients. The overall mortality rate was 14.35% and was higher (29.3%) in patients in whom empirical therapy was escalated compared to those who were de-escalated or continued. The study established a benchmark for antimicrobials use in the PICU and highlighted priority areas for antimicrobial stewardship intervention to enhance de-escalation rates, enhance targeted therapy, and reduce the overuse of antimicrobials especially belonging to the reserve group.
Parity and post-reproductive mortality among U.S. Black and White women: Evidence from the Health and Retirement Study
Authors: Elman Cheryl , O’Rand Angela M. , London Andrew S.
Published: September 2024

Population health research finds women’s mortality risk associated with childlessness, low parity (one child), and high parity (6+ children) in a U-shaped pattern, although U.S. studies are inconsistent overall and by race/ethnicity. Parity, however, is contingent on women’s biophysiological likelihood of (in)fecundity as well as voluntary control practices that limit fertility. No studies have empirically examined infecundity differentials among women and their potential contribution to the parity–post-reproductive mortality relationship or the race/ethnic-related mortality gap. We examine 7,322 non-Hispanic Black and White women, born 1920–1941, in the Health and Retirement Study, using zero-inflation methods to estimate infecundity risk and parity by race/ethnicity. We estimate proportional hazards models [t0 1992/1998, t1 2018] to examine associations of infecundity risk, parity, early-life-course health and social statuses, and post-reproductive statuses with all-cause mortality. We find Black women’s infecundity probability to be twice that of White women and their expected parity 40% higher. Infecundity risk increases mortality risk for all women, but parity–post-reproductive mortality associations differ by race/ethnicity. White women with one and 5+ children (U-shaped curve) have increased mortality risk, adjusting for infecundity risk and early-life factors; further adjustment for post-reproductive health and social status attenuates all parity-related mortality risk. Black women’s parity–post-reproductive mortality associations are not statistically significant. Black women’s post-reproductive mortality risk is anchored in earlier-life conditions that elevate infecundity risk. Results suggest a need to focus upstream to better elucidate race/ethnic-related social determinants of reproductive health, infecundity, parity, and mortality.
An in silico molecular docking and simulation study to identify potential anticancer phytochemicals targeting the RAS signaling pathway
Authors: Azmal Mahir , Paul Jibon Kumar , Prima Fatema Sultana , Talukder Omar Faruk , Ghosh Ajit
Published: September 2024

The dysregulation of the rat sarcoma (RAS) signaling pathway, particularly the MAPK/ERK cascade, is a hallmark of many cancers, leading to uncontrolled cellular proliferation and resistance to apoptosis-inducing treatments. Dysregulation of the MAPK/ERK pathway is common in various cancers including pancreatic, lung, and colon cancers, making it a critical target for therapeutic intervention. Natural compounds, especially phytochemicals, offer a promising avenue for developing new anticancer therapies due to their potential to interfere with these signaling pathways. This study investigates the potential of anticancer phytochemicals to inhibit the MAPK/ERK pathway through molecular docking and simulation techniques. A total of 26 phytochemicals were screened from an initial set of 340 phytochemicals which were retrieved from Dr. Duke’s database using in silico methods for their binding affinity and stability. Molecular docking was performed to identify key interactions with ERK2, followed by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to evaluate the stability of these interactions. The study identified several phytochemicals, including luteolin, hispidulin, and isorhamnetin with a binding score of -10.1±0 Kcal/mol, -9.86±0.15 Kcal/mol, -9.76±0.025 Kcal/mol, respectively as promising inhibitors of the ERK2 protein. These compounds demonstrated significant binding affinities and stable interactions with ERK2 in MD simulation studies up to 200ns, particularly at the active site. The radius of gyration analysis confirmed the stability of these phytochemical-protein complexes’ compactness, indicating their potential to inhibit ERK activity. The stability and binding affinity of these compounds suggest that they can effectively inhibit ERK2 activity, potentially leading to more effective and less toxic cancer treatments. The findings underscore the therapeutic promise of these phytochemicals, which could serve as a basis for developing new cancer therapies.
Characterization and applications of iron oxide nanoparticles synthesized from Phyllanthus emblica fruit extract
Authors: Fatima Easha , Arooj Iqra , Shahid Hamna , Aziz Abida
Published: September 2024

Nanotechnology is a treasure trove of diversified themes which are endowed with broad applications. Herein, iron oxide (Fe2O3) nanoparticles were synthesized using Phyllanthus emblica aqueous fruit extract. The UV-Visible spectrum exhibited a surface plasmon resonance peak at 295nm. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy provided insight into the functional groups responsible for capping. X-ray diffraction analysis authenticated the crystalline nature of nanoparticles, while energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy divulged that iron and oxygen comprised 54% of the nanoparticles’ weight. Scanning electron microscopy established irregular morphology and agglomeration of nanoparticles. The Fe2O3 nanoparticles validated potent antimicrobial activity against 11 bacterial and 1 fungal isolates. The biggest zone of inhibition (23mm) was measured against S. enterica, whereas the smallest zone of inhibition (12mm) was documented against C. albicans and E. coli. The values for minimum inhibitory concentration ranged between 10 and 15μg/ml for all microbes. Nevertheless, no synergy was exhibited by the nanoparticles with any of the selected antibiotics (Fractional Inhibitory Concentration Index > 1). The photocatalytic dye degradation capability of Fe2O3 nanoparticles was assessed and the observations implied a significant increase in degradation of methyl red although, not of methylene blue. Furthermore, the nanoparticles were in possession of substantial antioxidant (34–38%) and anti-inflammatory (31–38%) capacities. Consequent upon the robust activities of P. emblica-mediated nanoparticles, these can be scrutinized for biomedical and environmental implementations in future.
Psycho-social problems among older people residing in community of Chitwan, Nepal—A cross-sectional study
Authors: Poudyal Sunita , Sharma Kalpana , Subba Hem Kumari , Subba Ramesh
Published: September 2024

Background

Older people are vulnerable to various psycho-social problems such as depression, anxiety, insomnia, dementia, and loneliness that have profound impact on overall health and their quality of life and higher use of health services. Prevention and treatment of psychological problems in this risk group is critical for improving their quality of life.

Objective

This study aimed to find out the psycho-social problems among older people residing in community.

Methods

The study was a cross-sectional study design and 388 older people aged 65 years and above residing in different wards of Bharatpur Metropolitan city were selected using probability simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using interview schedule containing geriatric depression scale-15; Geriatric anxiety scale-10, University of California Loss Angels Loneliness Scale (UCLA-20), Anthens Insomnia Scale and Mini-Cog Test. Obtained data were analyzed in SPSS version 20 for windows. Chi-square test was applied to measure the association between psychosocial problems and selected variables.

Result

Findings of the study revealed that the mean age (± SD) of respondents was 72.92 (±7.12) years. Almost all (93.6%) older people had full functioning of activity of daily living and two third (66.5%) had other co-morbid conditions. More than two third (67.0%) of older adults had depression, 60.3% had anxiety, 53.6% had moderate to high level loneliness, 47.2% had insomnia, and 33.3% had dementia. Age, functional dependency, sex, co-morbidity, financial dependence, education and occupation were significantly associated with the psychosocial problems among older people.

Conclusion and recommendation

Psychosocial problems are common among older people residing in community of Chitwan. Hence, there is need to develop and implement health care strategy by local health care planner to prevent, treat and manage the psychosocial problems among this risk groups. Further, health care providers working in geriatric problems or psychosocial health need to conduct regular screening programs for the early diagnosis and treatment of these problems.
Ázsia évszázada? – Recenzió Jong Wha Lee „Ez lenne Ázsia évszázada?” című tanulmánykötetéről
Authors: Pesuth Tamás
Published: September 2024

A 21. században Ázsia országainak egyre növekvő szerepe van a világban. Ez az egyre dominánsabb szerep elsősorban gazdasági, de politikai és katonai téren is tetten érhető. Jong Wha Lee, a Koreai Egyetem közgazdász professzora a tanulmánykötetében Ázsia legfontosabb gazdasági és társadalmi folyamatait elemzi, és olyan gazdaságpolitikai ajánlásokat fogalmaz meg, amelyek hozzásegíthetik az ázsiai országokat ahhoz, hogy a 21. század nyertesei tudjanak lenni. Jong Wha Lee egy olyan új növekedési modell irányába történő elmozdulást tart szükségesnek, amely felöleli a pénzügyi stabilitást, a kiegyensúlyozott gazdasági növekedést, a jövedelmi egyenlőséget és a környezeti fenntarthatóságot.
Prof. Sarah A. Low (Unversity of Illinois), a helyi közösségek klímaváltozással szembeni ellenálló képességéről szóló előadásának összefoglalója
Authors: Hőgye Adél
Published: September 2024

A konferencia megnyitó ünnepségen az első keynote előadást Sarah A. Low professzortól hallhattuk, az egyesült államokbeli Illinoisi Egyetemről, aki 2022 óta vezeti az egyetem Agrár- és Fogyasztói Gazdaságtan tanszékét. Az előadó fokozatát 2009-ben szerezte meg az Illinoisi Egyetemen regionális gazdaságtan és közpolitikai területén. 2008 és 2018 között Washingtonban dolgozott a US Department of Agriculture - Economic Research Service munkatársaként, így kutatásai során volt alkalma átlátni az ország mezőgazdasági folyamatait és támogatni a közpolitikai döntések meghozatalát.
Verseny és együttműködés - Hálózatok és az üzleti környezet szerepe a vállalkozások körében – Összefoglaló a BKIK Akadémia 2024.04.30-án tartott műhelybeszélgetéséről.
Authors: Baranyi Dániel
Published: September 2024

A BKIK Akadémia az üzleti hálózatok és környezet hazai szereplőiről, működéséről szervezett műhelybeszélgetést. Az online platformon megrendezésre kerülő eseményen több hazai kamara és klaszter képviseltette magát. A beszélgetésből kirajzolódott, hogy az egyes hazai térségekben mennyire különbözőek a vállalkozások közötti együttműködést elősegítő intézmények.
Bitcoin, Blockchain and Cryptocurrency: Theoretical and Empirical Perspectives
Authors: Gbadebo Adedeji Daniel
Published: September 2024

The disruptive potential and legal ramifications of these decentralized currencies are causing economies all over the world to struggle as digital assets gain popularity. One prominent decentralized currency with respect to its price development and impressive utilities, is the Bitcoin (BTC) that invented in 2008 by a Satoshi Nakamoto. Previous studies examine different aspects of cryptocurrencies, especially focusing more on empirical examination of historical data to describe price behaviours and the economic implications. They undermine the need for a thorough discussion on the theoretical concepts of cryptocurrencies. The study offers a theoretical perspective on the issues of blockchain, bitcoin and more generally, cryptocurrency. Amongst others, the paper recommends the need for the establishment of a Bitcoin insurance in form of a Decentralised Insurance Product that would assure investors of the safety of funds invested in Bitcoin.
Fibromyalgia case report
Authors: Singh Maneesh
Published: September 2024

This is a case of fibromyalgia. Importance of this case lies in making sure the patient has reassurance that this is a real disease and follows non medication therapy.
The Lyon Score: A Novel Reflux Scoring System Based on the Lyon Consensus 2.0 That Associates With Treatment Outcome From Antireflux Therapy
Authors: Gyawali C. Prakash , Marchetti Lorenzo , Rogers Benjamin D. , Chan Walter W. , Wong Ming-Wun , Visaggi Pierfrancesco , Rengarajan Arvind , Carlson Dustin A. , Savarino Edoardo , de Bortoli Nicola , Chen Chien-Lin , Pandolfino John
Published: September 2024

INTRODUCTION:

We explored if a score derived from parameters from esophageal testing could increase confidence in diagnosing conclusive gastroesophageal reflux disease and in predicting outcome.

METHODS:

A prediction score was developed using metrics based on Lyon Consensus 2.0 thresholds extracted from endoscopy and pH-impedance monitoring. The Lyon score was the sum of weighted scores derived from a logistic regression model. The outcome was response to antireflux therapy, defined as 50% reduction in global symptoms on validated questionnaires. An existing database of endoscopy-negative patients with typical reflux symptoms undergoing esophageal testing from 2 centers (Europe and the United States) constituted the developmental cohort, while 2 separate cohorts (Europe and Asia) served as validation cohorts. Receiver operating characteristics analysis determined performance of the Lyon score in predicting treatment response.

RESULTS:

In 281 developmental cohort patients (median age 53 years, 57.7% female), the Lyon score demonstrated an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.819 in predicting 50% symptom improvement (P < 0.001) on receiver operating characteristics, with an optimal threshold of 6.25 (sensitivity 81.2%, specificity 73.4%). Of the individual components, only acid exposure time (AUC 0.799, P < 0.001), mean nocturnal baseline impedance (AUC 0.785, P < 0.001), and reflux episodes (AUC 0.764, P < 0.001) approached the Lyon score performance. The Lyon score segregated treatment response in both the European (AUC 0.908, P < 0.001) and Asian validation cohorts (AUC 0.637, P < 0.001) and outperformed the DeMeester score in sensitivity for predicting outcome in the developmental and Asian validation cohorts.

DISCUSSION:

The novel Lyon score segregates reflux phenotypes and identifies likelihood of symptom response from antireflux therapy.
Expansão da Soja na Região sudoeste do Pará: Explorando Conexões com a Infraestrutura Logística
Authors: Reis Guilherme Ignácio , Escada Maria Isabel Sobral , Ortiz Jussara de Oliveira
Published: September 2024

A partir do final da década de 1990, o cultivo da soja avançou do bioma cerrado para a Amazônia, impulsionado por investimentos governamentais e privados em infraestrutura, como o porto da Cargill em Santarém (2004) e a pavimentação da BR-163 no Pará. Nos municípios de Santarém, Belterra e Mojuí dos Campos, a área de cultivo de soja aumentou de 16 mil ha em 2004 para 75 mil ha em 2020, acompanhando melhorias na infraestrutura de transporte, um fator chave na expansão da soja. Este estudo objetiva caracterizar espacialmente as mudanças nas condições viárias e seu impacto no tempo de viagem das áreas de cultivo até o porto de Santarém entre 2004 e 2020, na região Oeste do Pará. O método incluiu a geração de uma superfície de atrito e a atribuição de velocidades diferenciadas para estimar o tempo de viagem, considerando uso do solo, condições e extensão das estradas e declividade. Os resultados mostraram um aumento significativo na extensão da rede de estradas, de 2.322 km para 5.114 km, e uma redução no tempo médio de viagem de 65 minutos no período seco e 92 minutos no período chuvoso. As maiores reduções no tempo de viagem ocorreram na porção sul da área de estudo, devido à abertura de novas vicinais conectadas à BR-163. No Planalto Santareno, onde houve maior expansão da soja, a redução no tempo de viagem foi menor, refletindo uma rede viária já consolidada em 2004.
Universal vocación a la santidad y «vocaciones especiales ». El dilema de su conceptualización
Authors: Rojas Hernán
Published: September 2024

El problema de una comprensión excepcionalista de la «vocación» pone en evidencia un dilema complejo acerca de la relación entre la universal vocación a la santidad, enunciada por el último concilio ecuménico, y las llamadas «vocaciones especiales». Se postula que existen dos alternativas: se afirma (i) que algunos/as en la Iglesia son llamados/as a una «vocación especial» (p. ej. ministerio ordenado, vida religiosa) fundada en la universal vocación a la santidad que comparten con todos los cristianos, o bien (ii) que la universal vocación a la santidad sólo existe concretada como «vocación especial» que cada persona recibe de Dios. Si bien ambas opciones tienen ventajas y dificultades de plausibilidad teológica y conveniencia pastoral, se justifica la preferencia por la segunda alternativa.
Evaluation of redundancy effect in multimedia learning environment using EEG signals and eye-tracking
Authors: Mutlu Bayraktar Duygu , Özel Pınar , Olamat Ali , Altindis Fatih , Yilmaz Bulent
Published: September 2024

In the multimedia learning environment, presenting texts in different formats at the same time revealed the redundancy effect. This study aimed to evaluate cognitive load by recording brain signals and eye movements while texts were presented in different formats. For this purpose, two different multimedia learning environments in which printed text and narration were presented together and solo narration were designed, respectively. An experimental study was conducted by dividing 20 of 40 participants into two different multimedia environments. This study ensured the main perspectives of building up a learning profile structure depending on learners' cognitive profile by providing two different multimedia designs for redundancy effect via participants' brain topographies and eye movements. The findings suggested that the redundancy group demonstrated elevated cognitive load, especially in the frontal and parietal regions, as seen by heightened theta, beta, and gamma wave activity. Conversely, the non-redundancy group exhibited enhanced processing efficiency with less cognitive strain.
PROBLEMS OF SCHOOL EDUCATION IN THE URALS IN 1909–1913 IN THE COVERAGE OF THE LIBERAL PRESS
Authors:   Nosov Magnitogorsk State Technical University, Magnitogorsk, Russian Federation, Korobkov Y. D. , Korolev N. S. ,   Chelyabinsk State Institute of Culture, Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation
Published: September 2024

Based on a study of materials from the liberal Ural periodical press, the article examines various aspects of autocratic policy in the field of education in the Ural region during the years of industrial boom (1909–1913). The main focus is placed on the indirect restriction of access to education for children from low social standing due to the high cost of education; the chronic shortage of schools and the lack of necessary conditions for the educational process, especially in rural areas; the strictest regulation of school and extracurricular life of students; and forms of student protest against the tightening of the rules of education and violation of their rights. In the course of our study, we came to the conclusion that the protests performed by students were academic in nature and limited to the educational space – they did not address the socioeconomic and political problems of the local, regional, and national (Russian) levels. Despite the growing need for educated personnel and the efforts of the authorities in this direction, newspaper materials show that these measures were insufficient to increase literacy levels and were of a pronounced protective nature, aimed at educating young people in the spirit of loyalty to the existing regime
THE ROLE OF MASS MEDIA IN THE POLITICAL LIFE OF THE CHELYABINSK REGION IN THE 1990s IN THE CONTEXT OF INFORMATION SECURITY OF MODERN RUSSIA
Authors:   South Ural State Humanitarian Pedagogical University, Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation, Samokhina A. V. , Khudoborodov A. L. ,   South Ural State Humanitarian Pedagogical University, Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation
Published: September 2024

In the global informatization era, which began to develop in Russia in the 1990s, mass media acquire a decisive importance. The media became more influential due to its role as a serious component of political pressure, including the aim of forming a new democratic consciousness among the people. Throughout the perestroika period and the 1990s, a new model of interaction between the authorities and the media was formed, which continues to operate steadily today. The peculiarity of the modern period lies in the ever-increasing role of the media and its influence on the information security of Russia. From this point of view, it is important for us to draw lessons, both positive and negative, from the experience of the transitional period and the «vaccination» that Russian citizens received in the 1990s when organizing the activities and function of the media. The purpose of the article is to study the role of the media in the political life of one of the major regions of Russia – the Chelyabinsk region in the 1990s. Comparative, chronological, and systemic research methods were used to this end. The historical development and the role of the media of the transition period in Russia, in particular, the interaction of the media with the authorities of the region, as well as the influence of the media on reformatting the consciousness of the population of the region with the key role of the media in this process were analyzed. The formulated conclusions and practical recommendations will allow these scientific results to improve the model of interaction between regional authorities and the media in the framework of ensuring the national interests of modern Russia.
Wartości i przekonania. Ile etyki jest w etykach stosowanych?
Authors: Rotengruber Przemysław
Published: September 2024

The measure of the usefulness and credibility of applied ethics is its ability to counteract conflicts dividing social and professional groups. To achieve this goal, representatives of applied ethics must meet a basic condition by providing an epistemological justification of the claim to the validity of the judgments they formulate. Yet it is here that they encounter obstacles recognized (earlier) by ethical philosophers and sociologists of knowledge. The problem is not only the variety of moral challenges that an individual faces, but also the way in which their moral attitude is influenced by the group to which they belong. This article attempts to resolve both of these difficulties in a way that is consistent with the goals of applied ethics.
Clinico-Genetic Profiles of Seven Patients With PINK1-Related Parkinson’s Disease: A Case Series From a Tertiary Care Centre in India and a Review of the Literature
Authors: Gunasekaran Aravind , Holla Vikram V , Phulpagar Prashant , Kamath Sneha D , Kamble Nitish , Yadav Ravi , Muthusamy Babylakshmi , Pal Pramod Kumar
Published: September 2024

Objective Recessive variants in the PINK1 gene are known causes of early-onset Parkinson’s disease (EOPD). To describe the clinical features and genetic profiles of patients with PINK1-related Parkinson’s disease (PARK-PINK1) mutations.Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of the demographic, clinical and genetic details of patients from our database carrying biallelic PINK1 variants.Results A total of 7 patients whose median age at onset was 33 years (range: 20–49) were recruited. All had asymmetrical onset, tremors were present in 4 patients, abnormal posturing was present in 2 patients, and slowness was present in 1 patient. The parkinsonism phenotype was noted in 6 patients (with dystonia in four) and isolated dystonia in one. Among the 6 patients with parkinsonism, five had rest tremors, all had good levodopa responses, and four had motor fluctuations with choreiform dyskinesia. Exome sequencing revealed biallelic pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants, five of which were novel.Conclusion PARK-PINK1 presents as an EOPD with tremor-predominant phenotype, good levodopa-responsiveness, early motor fluctuation and dyskinesia. We describe five novel variants in PINK1 gene.
Eminent Red Sea water hydrogen generation via a Pb(ii)-iodide/poly(1H-pyrrole) nanocomposite photocathode
Authors: Alkallas Fatemah Homoud , Elsayed Asmaa Mahmoud Mohamed Abd , Trabelsi Amira Ben Gouider , Alrebdi Tahani Abdullah , Rabia Mohamed , Kusmartsev Fedor V.
Published: September 2024

The development of a photocathode based on a Pb(ii)-iodide/poly(1H-pyrrole) porous spherical (PbI2/P1HP PS) nanocomposite has been successfully achieved in the efficient production of H2 gas from Red Sea water. The distinguishable spherical and porous shapes of these nanocomposites are characterized by a minimum surface measuring approximately 25 nm. This structural configuration, coupled with the nanocomposite’s substantial light absorbance, results in a modest bandgap of 2.4 eV. This turns the nanocomposite into a highly promising candidate for renewable energy applications, particularly for H2 gas generation from natural sources like Red Sea water. The economic viability of the PbI2/P1HP PS nanocomposite, relying on a glass substrate, mass production, and straightforward fabrication techniques, adds to its promising profile for H2 gas evolution. The photocathode exhibits significant potential for H2 gas production, with a notable current density (J
ph) value of 1.0 mA·cm−2 in a three-electrode cell configuration. The IPCE reaches 3.1%, reflecting the successful evolution of 24 µmol·h−1 10 cm2 of the photocathode. Importantly, the use of natural Red Sea water as an electrolyte underscores a key feature for H2 gas production: utilizing freely available natural resources. This aspect holds considerable promise for industrial applications, emphasizing the environmentally sustainable nature of the photocathode.
Sociolinguistic monitoring and L2 speakers of English
Authors: Pflaeging Jana , Mackay Bradley , Schleef Erik
Published: September 2024

This study contributes to a growing body of research on the social meanings of linguistic variation with particular interest in the cognitive processes governing their emergence. Our research follows in the tradition of Labov et al.’s (2011) work on the sociolinguistic monitor, a cognitive mechanism hypothesized to track quantitative linguistic variation and prompt social evaluations (Labov et al. 2011. Properties of the sociolinguistic monitor. Journal of Sociolinguistics 15(4). 431–463). Previous research shows that L1 English listeners are sensitive to frequency variation, but it is unclear whether this also applies to L2 listeners. This study thus replicates Labov et al.’s (2011) original experiment in a context where English is primarily acquired through L2 instruction. To test the generality of sociolinguistic monitoring, we investigate L2 listeners’ sensitivity to quantitative differences in sociolinguistic variation (ing) as well as proficiency-based variation. Since participants were L1 speakers of (Austrian) German, we tested evaluations of varying realizations of /θ/ ([θ]/[s]), /d/ ([d]/[t]), and /w/ ([w]/[v]). Experiments included 135 participants, who rated several versions of newscaster test passages regarding professionalism. Our data shows that both sociolinguistic and proficiency-based variation are monitored and evaluated by L2 listeners, albeit to different extents. This supports the assumption that the focus of the monitoring process is socially meaningful variation that includes L1 sociolinguistic but also L2 proficiency-based features.
Creativity, paradigms and morphological constructions: evidence from Dutch pseudoparticiples
Authors: Norde Muriel , Trousdale Graeme
Published: September 2024

Pseudoparticiples follow phonotactic, morphological, and syntactic rules for regular participles, but they are special in that they lack corresponding verbal forms. This article offers a constructionist account of two types of pseudoparticiples in Dutch, i.e., those with a nominal base and the prefix ont- or be-, e.g., ontkoeid ‘de-cowed’ or bedauwd ‘bedewed’. Their properties raise interesting questions regarding the nature of morphological creativity, back-formation, and the establishment of new schemas or paradigms. Using data from the nlTenTen14 corpus, we consider constraints on the formation of verbal paradigms from such pseudoparticiples, and what this tells us about the nature of morphological creativity. Our corpus data suggest substantial differences between be- and ont-pseudoparticiples in terms of frequency distributions, productivity, and syntactic behavior. Drawing on concepts from cognitive linguistics generally and Construction Morphology in particular, this article addresses the usefulness of the distinction between full and partial sanction as a means to explain the variation (i) within the pseudoparticiple sets and (ii) between regular and pseudoparticiples. We also suggest some revisions to the notions of E- and F-creativity to account for differences between the be- and ont- sets.
Comprehensive analysis of NOTCH pathway with tumor environment in pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Authors: Wang Yu , Yin Xin , Chen Xin , Chen Xiaoli , He Xingkang
Published: September 2024

Objectives

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) ranks among the most prevalent malignant neoplasms, and multiple pathways are involved in its pathogenesis, including the NOTCH pathway. However, the variable biological functions of the pathway in PAAD are controversial.

Methods

RNA-seq data for PAAD was analyzed using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Genotype-Tissue Expression databases. Utilizing Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression analyses, we examined the prognostic significance. The tumor microenvironment and immunotherapy responses were investigated using ssGSEA, ESTIMATE, and TIDE models. Functional enrichment analysis was used to explore gene functions.

Results

We identified NOTCH2, JAG1, NOTCH4, and DLL3 as high-priority members of the NOTCH pathway that modulates PAAD. Elevated NOTCH2 and JAG1 levels were markedly linked to reduced overall survival (OS), while increased NOTCH4 and DLL3 levels were significantly related to extended OS. Immune analyses showed that NOTCH-based scores were closely related to the immune microenvironment. NOTCH scores were not only closely correlated with tumor-infiltrating immune cells, but also with immunologically activated and immune checkpoint gene expression. The high NOTCH score group had a higher proportion of tumor-infiltrating immune cells and had better responses to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

Conclusions

These data indicate that NOTCH2, JAG1, NOTCH4, and DLL3 could function as efficient prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in PAAD, and patients with a high NOTCH score may have a significant response to immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment.
Late Bronze Age crops from Çine-Tepecik, western Anatolia: insights into farming and political economy in the lands of Arzawa
Authors: Maltas Tom , Günel Sevinç
Published: September 2024

A dearth of published archaeobotanical data from the Late Bronze Age of western Anatolia limits our understanding of agricultural production in this key area. Recent excavations at Çine-Tepecik provide insights into farming and the political economy in the kingdom of Mira within the lands of Arzawa. Archaeobotanical assemblages indicate that farming was structured to meet both domestic and institutional consumption; the former utilising a wide range of crop species while the latter focused on cereals. Plant remains provide further evidence for a ‘hybrid’ suite of farming practices across western Anatolia and contribute to debate around the spread of broomcorn millet cultivation.
Jacques Maritain and Psychoanalysis
Authors: Manderfield Bradford W.
Published: September 2024

In the 1950s the French Catholic philosopher Jacques Maritain set out to analyze a method within psychology that is often neglected today, the method of psychoanalysis developed by the neurologist Sigmund Freud at the end of the 19th century. This method presupposes that psychological problems generally result from problematic memories that have been repressed. Psychoanalysis enables one to recover the memories that have been lost and thereby restore one's health, what Maritain terms functional liberation. Maritain also accounts for the potential dangers of the analytic method, which demands the lowering of reason and placing oneself into the hands of another. This article takes into account the dangers outlined by Maritain and others. Nevertheless, I argue that the analytic method involves a symbiosis between the conscious and unconscious that curtails as much as possible the harmful effects that may follow such a treatment. According to Maritain, “crises and agony” may accompany Freud's method but with salutary psychological results. The accompaniment of the analyst with the patient through agonistic memories comports with the Christian view of the person and relationship that remains undervalued in Maritain's work.
Baicalein Inhibits Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury through SIRT6-Mediated FOXA2 Deacetylation to Promote SLC7A11 Expression
Authors: Fang Cuini , Liu Xirong , Zhang Fuxiu , Song Tao
Published: September 2024

Ischemic stroke (IS) poses a serious threat to patient survival. The inhibition of ferroptosis can effectively alleviate ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, suggesting potential targets in the ferroptosis pathway for the treatment of IS. In this study, MCAO/R mice and OGD/R-induced HT22 cell were constructed. It was found that baicalein decreased ROS, MDA, and Fe2+levels, upregulated GSH levels, and enhanced the expression of ferroptosis-related proteins (GPX4 and SLC7A11), downregulated the expression of proapoptotic proteins (Bax, cytochromec, and cleaved caspase-3), and upregulated the expression of an antiapoptotic protein (Bcl-2), ameliorating cerebral I/R injury. In animal and cell models, Sirtuin6 (SIRT6) is downregulated, and Forkhead boxA2 (FOXA2) expression and acetylation levels are abnormally upregulated. SIRT6 inhibited FOXA2 expression and acetylation. Baicalein promoted FOXA2 deacetylation by upregulating SIRT6 expression. FOXA2 transcriptionally inhibits SLC7A11 expression. In conclusion, baicalein inhibited apoptosis and partially suppressed the role of ferroptosis to alleviate cerebral I/R injury via SIRT6-mediated FOXA2 deacetylation to promote SLC7A11 expression.
Glucocorticoids Rapidly Modulate Ca
V
1.2-Mediated Calcium Signals through Kv2.1 Channel Clusters in Hippocampal Neurons
Authors: Wan Di , Lu Tongchuang , Li Chenyang , Hu Changlong
Published: September 2024

The precise regulation of Ca
2+
signals plays a crucial role in the physiological functions of neurons. Here, we investigated the rapid effect of glucocorticoids on Ca
2+
signals in cultured hippocampal neurons from both female and male rats. In cultured hippocampal neurons, glucocorticoids inhibited the spontaneous somatic Ca
2+
spikes generated by Kv2.1-organized Ca
2+
microdomains. Furthermore, glucocorticoids rapidly reduced the cell surface expressions of Kv2.1 and Ca
V
1.2 channels in hippocampal neurons. In HEK293 cells transfected with Kv2.1 alone, glucocorticoids significantly reduced the surface expression of Kv2.1 with little effect on K
+
currents. In HEK293 cells transfected with Ca
V
1.2 alone, glucocorticoids inhibited Ca
V
1.2 currents but had no effect on the cell surface expression of Ca
V
1.2. Notably, in the presence of wild-type Kv2.1, glucocorticoids caused a decrease in the surface expression of Ca
V
1.2 channels in HEK293 cells. However, this effect was not observed in the presence of nonclustering Kv2.1S586A mutant channels. Live-cell imaging showed that glucocorticoids rapidly decreased Kv2.1 clusters on the plasma membrane. Correspondingly, Western blot results indicated a significant increase in the cytoplasmic level of Kv2.1, suggesting the endocytosis of Kv2.1 clusters. Glucocorticoids rapidly decreased the intracellular cAMP concentration and the phosphorylation level of PKA in hippocampal neurons. The PKA inhibitor H89 mimicked the effect of glucocorticoids on Kv2.1, while the PKA agonist forskolin abrogated the effect. In conclusion, glucocorticoids rapidly suppress Ca
V
1.2-mediated Ca
2+
signals in hippocampal neurons by promoting the endocytosis of Kv2.1 channel clusters through reducing PKA activity.
A Novel Directed Seed-Based Connectivity Analysis Toolbox Applied to Human and Marmoset Resting-State FMRI
Authors: Okuno Takuto , Hata Junichi , Kawai Chino , Okano Hideyuki , Woodward Alexander
Published: September 2024

Estimating the direction of functional connectivity (FC) can help further elucidate complex brain function. However, the estimation of directed FC at the voxel level in fMRI data, and evaluating its performance, has yet to be done. We therefore developed a novel directed seed-based connectivity analysis (SCA) method based on normalized pairwise Granger causality that provides greater detail and accuracy over ROI-based methods. We evaluated its performance against 145 cortical retrograde tracer injections in male and female marmosets that were used as ground truth cellular connectivity on a voxel-by-voxel basis. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was calculated for each injection, and we achieved area under the ROC curve of 0.95 for undirected and 0.942 for directed SCA in the case of high cell count threshold. This indicates that SCA can reliably estimate the strong cellular connections between voxels in fMRI data. We then used our directed SCA method to analyze the human default mode network (DMN) and found that dlPFC (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) and temporal lobe were separated from other DMN regions, forming part of the language-network that works together with the core DMN regions. We also found that the cerebellum (Crus I-II) was strongly targeted by the posterior parietal cortices and dlPFC, but reciprocal connections were not observed. Thus, the cerebellum may not be a part of, but instead a target of, the DMN and language-network. Summarily, our novel directed SCA method, visualized with a new functional flat mapping technique, opens a new paradigm for whole-brain functional analysis.
Estrous Cycle-Dependent Modulation of Sexual Receptivity in Female Mice by Estrogen Receptor Beta-Expressing Cells in the Dorsal Raphe Nucleus
Authors: Murakawa Tomoaki , Kogure Lisa , Hata Kakuma , Hasunuma Kansuke , Takenawa Satoshi , Sano Kazuhiro , Ogawa Sonoko
Published: September 2024

The sexual receptivity of female mice, shown as lordosis response, is mainly regulated by estradiol action on estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and beta (ERβ), depending on the day of the estrous cycle. Previous studies revealed that ERα in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH) plays an essential role in the induction of lordosis on the day of estrus (Day 1). However, the mechanisms of the transition to nonreceptive states on the day after estrus (Day 2) are not completely understood. In the present study, we investigated the possible role of ERβ, which is highly expressed in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), in lordosis expression. We found that ERβ-Cre female mice, which were ovariectomized and primed with estradiol and progesterone to mimic the estrous cycle, showed high levels of lordosis on Day 2 when ERβ-expressing DRN (DRN-ERβ+) neuronal activity was chemogenetically suppressed. This finding suggests that excitation of DRN-ERβ+neurons is necessary for the decline of lordosis on Day 2. Fiber photometry recordings during female–male behavioral interactions revealed that DRN-ERβ+neuronal activation in response to male intromission was significantly more prolonged on Day 2 compared with Day 1. Chemogenetic overstimulation of DRN-ERβ+neurons induced c-Fos expression in brain areas known to be inhibitory for lordosis expression, even though they did not express anterogradely labeled fibers of DRN-ERβ+cells. These findings collectively suggest that DRN-ERβ+neuronal excitation serves as an inhibitory modulator and is responsible for the decline in receptivity during nonestrus phases.
The Effect of Congruent versus Incongruent Distractor Positioning on Electrophysiological Signals during Perceptual Decision-Making
Authors: Wongtrakun Jaeger , Zhou Shou-Han , Bellgrove Mark A. , Chong Trevor T.-J. , Coxon James P.
Published: September 2024

Key event-related potentials (ERPs) of perceptual decision-making such as centroparietal positivity (CPP) elucidate how evidence is accumulated toward a given choice. Furthermore, this accumulation can be impacted by visual target selection signals such as the N2 contralateral (N2c). How these underlying neural mechanisms of perceptual decision-making are influenced by the spatial congruence of distractors relative to target stimuli remains unclear. Here, we used electroencephalography (EEG) in humans of both sexes to investigate the effect of distractor spatial congruency (same vs different hemifield relative to targets) on perceptual decision-making. We confirmed that responses for perceptual decisions were slower for spatially incongruent versus congruent distractors of high salience. Similarly, markers of target selection (N2c peak amplitude) and evidence accumulation (CPP slope) were found to be lower when distractors were spatially incongruent versus congruent. To evaluate the effects of congruency further, we applied drift diffusion modeling to participant responses, which showed that larger amplitudes of both ERPs were correlated with shorter nondecision times when considering the effect of congruency. The modeling also suggested that congruency's effect on behavior occurred prior to and during evidence accumulation when considering the effects of the N2c peak and CPP slope. These findings point to spatially incongruent distractors, relative to congruent distractors, influencing decisions as early as the initial sensory processing phase and then continuing to exert an effect as evidence is accumulated throughout the decision-making process. Overall, our findings highlight how key electrophysiological signals of perceptual decision-making are influenced by the spatial congruence of target and distractor.