bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Restricted mean survival time approach versus time-varying coefficient Cox model for quantifying treatment effect when hazards are non-proportional
Authors: Gu Tianyuan , Chen Zhaojin , Soon Yu Yang , Wee Joseph , Tai Bee-Choo
Published: November 2024

Background
Although the Cox time-varying coefficient (TVC) model has been developed to address non-proportional hazard (PH), its use remains underexplored. Instead, the restricted mean survival time (RMST) has been widely used in non-PH settings to quantify treatment effects using life expectancy ratio (LER) and life expectancy difference (LED).
Methods
This study explores a novel extension of the Cox TVC model under non-PH to generate LER and LED to enable a direct comparison with RMST. An intensive simulation study was conducted to compare the performance of RMST based on flexible parametric survival model with 3 knots and 1 df to the Cox TVC model under PH and non-PH assumptions. The survival time t was assumed to follow the Gompertz distribution with various censoring patterns generated from the Uniform distribution. Both methods were evaluated via a randomised clinical trial of nasopharyngeal cancer exhibiting increasing treatment benefit.
Results
Intensive simulations showed Cox TVC outperformed RMST under non-PH in terms of bias and coverage, with higher power observed when there was crossing of curves and high censoring. In real-world data, the RMST produced slightly larger LED and LER estimates than Cox TVC. Cox TVC has the advantage of assessing treatment effect at different milestones and detecting earlier difference when estimating using hazard ratio (HR).
Conclusion
Overall, Cox TVC is a viable option for summarising treatment effect using LED and LER under non-PH conditions. It would be beneficial to complement the reporting by providing estimates of HR at specific milestone to detect early differences.
Arginine Maillard Reaction Products Recovered Damaged Immune Cells
Authors: Ding Yanan , Rao Pingfan , Zhou Jianwu , Wang Huiqin , Wang Ruiyang , Ke Lijing , Gao Guanzhen
Published: November 2024

Instant noodle has been an initiating point for food industry in many countries, and it continues to be a beloved convenient food in the world. However, some products cause discomfort after consumption despite full compliance in both ingredients and processing methods. It has not only resulted in serious consumer misunderstanding but also affect the industry as well. A simple solution possibly lies in nowhere but its soup which uses Maillard reaction products as flavoring agents. Arginine-glucose MRPs (Arg-Glc MRPs) have been demonstrated to be antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, which can be useful to remove food caused discomfort. Here we show that Arg-Glc MRPs neither produced significant cytotoxicity nor caused oxidative stress in RAW264.7 macrophages. In APPH-induced oxidative damage model they remarkably reduced cytoplasmic ROS and O2·−, and restored the polarization of cytoplasmic membrane potential and mitochondrial membrane potential while enhancing the phagocytic function of normal cells and oxidatively damaged cells. Those in vitro results indicate that usage of Arg-Glc MRPs in the soup can be a promising solution to discomfort problems.
Isolation and alkali treatment of novel natural fiber from Chinese burr stalk for sustainable polymer composites and versatile applications
Authors: Rao H Jeevan , Melnikov Andrey , Fakhr Elias Abou , Pulikkalparambil Harikrishna , Spitas Christos
Published: November 2024

Plant-based natural fibers are strongly recognized as a sustainable substitute for synthetic materials. Nevertheless, the quest for sustainable raw materials with outstanding characteristics is challenging, as the availability of most natural fibers is confined to regions. The Chinese burr (CB) stands out as a robust plant that thrives across various soils and climates. This research focuses on harvesting fibers from Chinese burr stalks and evaluating their attributes through Compositional analysis, SEM, EDAX, FTIR, AFM, and TGA analyses. The CB fibers underwent an alkali treatment of 5% and 15% of NaOH concentration to improve their quality. The study found that treating CB fibers with 5% alkali solution reduced their carbon composition by ca. 29.83% and increased their oxygen content by 6.5% in comparison to the raw fibers. Additionally, this treatment stripped away amorphous elements on the fiber surface, which doubled the char yield from 7% to 14.4%. The alkali process also boosted the thermal resistance of the CB fibers (enhancing the decomposition temperature from 300 to 310°C). It altered the weight loss characteristics (from 4.4 to 5%) relative to the raw CB fibers which decomposed at 344°C with a weight loss of 8.6%. These experimental results underscore the potential of CB fibers as an effective substitute for manmade fibers in polymer composite applications.
Domestic violence among women attending primary health care centers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: Effects on their mental and physical well-being
Authors: Wali Razaz Mohammed , Allhybi Abdulaziz , Alqerafi Ahmed Abdulaziz , Sagim Renad A , Hawsawi Tahani Habib , Malibari Waleed Mohammed
Published: November 2024

Background
Domestic violence (DV) is a global public health issue and a violation of human rights, affecting one-third of women worldwide. DV impacts women's mental, physical, and sexual wellness, and it has immediate and sometimes catastrophic effects on their health and well-being. Adverse effects on women's physical, mental, and behavioral health may persist even after the violence has stopped. The objective of the study is to assess the impact of DV on the well-being of Saudi women attending National Guard Primary Health Care centers.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted in the National Guard Primary Health Care Clinics in the western region of Saudi Arabia from 2022 to 2023. A convenience sampling method was used. The study employed the NorVold Domestic Abuse Questionnaire (NorAQ) to measure the extent of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse among women. In total, 1,813 female participants between the ages of 18 and 65 who met the inclusion criteria were included and completed the questionnaire. SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 24.0 was used to analyze the data.
Results
The study included 1,813 Saudi women with a mean age of 32.2 years. A significant association (p < 0.05) was found between different types of abuse and poor overall health. Women who reported psychological abuse were 56% less likely to report good health than those who did not experience psychological abuse. Similarly, 52% of the physically abused women were less likely to have good health, while 41% of the sexually abused women were less likely to report good health.
Conclusion
This study sheds light on the profound and often hidden impact of domestic violence (DV) on the lives of women who visit primary healthcare centers in Jeddah. It reveals just how widespread DV is and the serious toll it takes on women's mental, physical, and social health, echoing findings from research around the world. The study also shows that factors like education, income, and social status significantly influence health outcomes, highlighting the need for a comprehensive approach to tackling DV.
TaWI12 may be involved in pistillody and leaf cracking in wheat
Authors: Guo Yuhuan , Zhang Yan , Li Yuhao , Wu Yichao , Liao Mingli , Peng Zhengsong , Yang Zaijun , Zhou Yonghong
Published: November 2024

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a crucial staple crop upon which human sustenance relies. Consequently, investigating the developmental mechanisms of pistils and stamens in wheat is profoundly significant for enhancing wheat characteristics and boosting productivity. In this study, we cloned TaWI12 from common wheat and observed a significant resemblance among the three homoeologs of TaWI12. The open reading frames (ORFs) of TaWI12-4A, TaWI12-4B and TaWI12-4D were 408 bp, 417 bp and 417 bp, respectively, and encoded 135, 138 and 138 amino acids, respectively. The phylogenetic tree revealed a high degree of homology between the protein sequences of TaWI12 and the wound-induced proteins of Hordeum vulgare (KAE4994568) and Aegilops tauschii (XP_020196548). To clarify the characteristics and functions of TaWI12 homoeologs, we obtained transgenic positive plants of Arabidopsis thaliana, and observed significant filament shortening and decrease. Simultaneously, we used the CRISPR/Cas9 system to generate mutant plants via the modification of three homoeologs of TaWI12 in wheat. We noticed two distinct phenotypic differences in the knockout mutant. First, we observed the different degrees of homologous conversion of stamens to pistils in the single mutant TaWI12-4D. Second, we observed leaf cracking in both the single mutant TaWI12-4A and the double mutants TaWI12-4A and TaWI12-4D. Our findings further revealed that TaWI12 plays an important role in flower development, which is important for revealing the molecular mechanisms of pistil and stamen development in wheat and has important application value for high-yield wheat breeding.
Rotation errors in path integration indicate Alzheimer’s disease tau pathology: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Colmant Lise , Quenon Lisa , Huyghe Lara , Ivanoiu Adrian , Gerard Thomas , Lhommel Renaud , Coppens Pauline , Salman Yasmine , Malotaux Vincent , Dricot Laurence , Kunz Lukas , Axmacher Nikolai , Lefèvre Philippe , Hanseeuw Bernard
Published: November 2024

Background
Early Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis is crucial for preventive therapy development. Standard neuropsychological evaluation does not identify clinically normal individuals with brain amyloidosis, the first stage of the pathology, defined as preclinical Alzheimer’s disease. Spatial navigation assessment, in particular path integration, appears promising to detect preclinical symptoms, as the medial temporal lobe plays a key role in navigation and is the first cortical region affected by tau pathology.
Methods
We have conducted a cross-sectional study. We related the path integration performance of 102 individuals without dementia, aged over 50, to amyloid and tau pathologies, measured using positron emission tomography. We included 73 clinically normal individuals (18 with brain amyloidosis, 55 without) and 29 individuals with mild cognitive impairment (19 with brain amyloidosis, 10 without). We fitted linear mixed models to predict the path integration performances according to amyloid status or tau pathology in the medial temporal lobal, adjusting for age, gender, cognitive status, education, and video game experience. We decomposed the error into rotation and distance errors.
Results
We observed that clinically normal adults with brain amyloidosis (preclinical Alzheimer’s disease) had spatial navigation deficits when relying only on self-motion cues. However, they were able to use a landmark to reduce their errors. Individuals with mild cognitive impairment had deficits in path integration that did not improve when a landmark was added in the environment. The amyloid status did not influence performance among individuals with mild cognitive impairment. Among all individuals, rotation, but not distance, error increased with the level of tau pathology in the medial temporal lobe.
Conclusion
Our results suggest that path integration performance in an environment without external cues allows identifying individuals with preclinical Alzheimer’s disease, before overt episodic memory impairment is noticeable. Specifically, we demonstrated that poor angular estimation is an early cognitive marker of tau pathology, whereas distance estimation relates to older ages, not to Alzheimer’s disease.
Trial registration:
Eudra-CT 2018-003473-94
A QoS-Aware Uplink Resource Allocation Scheme for LTE-A/5G HetNets
Authors: Garbazza Itagildo E. , Silva Ederson R. , Guardieiro Paulo R.
Published: November 2024

Resource constraints in Long Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-A)/5G heterogeneous networks pose significant challenges to maintaining high-quality and real-time data transmission. Quality of Service (QoS) is crucial for ensuring user satisfaction across both real-time (RT) and non-real-time (NRT) applications. This paper proposes a novel scheduling and resource allocation scheme that employs a Smoothed Round-Robin (SRR) algorithm to classify traffic into real-time (RT) and non-real-time (NRT) classes. A power-constrained resource allocation method based on Deep Q-learning (DQL) is then applied to manage these traffic classes. Furthermore, we propose a handover mechanism that utilizes the Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment (WASPAS) method to address mobility and inter-cell interference challenges. Simulation results demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed scheme compared to existing solutions, showcasing improvements in delay, throughput, fairness index, call drop rate, and packet loss rate. This research presents a novel, efficient approach to QoS-aware resource allocation in LTE-A/5G HetNets.
A comprehensive assessment of the association between dyslipidaemia and primary biliary cholangitis using Mendelian randomization
Authors: Fang Sa , Li Qiaoxia , Guo Xuegang , Shi Yupeng , Yu Tianlei
Published: November 2024

Background & Aims: Some observational studies found that dyslipidaemia is a risk factor for primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). However, it remains unclear whether dyslipidaemia is causative for PBC. This Mendelian randomization (MR) study aimed to explore the causal role of lipid, lipoprotein particles, lipid metabolites, and lipid-lowering drug on PBC risk.
Methods:
We employed single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with major lipids, lipoprotein particles, and lipid metabolites and genes encoding lipid-lowering drug targets from the summary online GWAS data as instrumental variables. Summary-level data for PBC were obtained from the study of Cordell et al. and FinnGen database. Then two sample and drug-target MR analysis were performed.
Results: The results of MR analyses found that genetically predicted LDL-C, TG, Apo-A1, Apo-B, lipoprotein particles concentrations were not significantly associated with the risk of PBC (all p > 0.05), excepting HDL-C (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.04-1.63; p=0.023). Three metabolites including tetradecanedioate (OR, 0.574; 95% CI, 0.354-0.932, p = 0.025), 1-arachidonoylglycerophosphoinositol (OR, 0.271; 95% CI, 0.089-0.821, p = 0.021), and hexadecanedioate (OR, 0.515; 95% CI, 0.291-0.911; p =0.023) was associated with lower risk of PBC in Cordell dataset. Drug-targeted MR analyses revealed that ABCG5/ABCG8 was associated with lower risk of PBC in both Cordell (OR, 0.642; 95% CI, 0.431-0.956; p= 0.029) and FinnGen dataset (OR, 0.365; 95% CI, 0.154-0.867; p= 0.022).
Conclusions: This study showed that HDL-C, lipid metabolites, including hexadecanedioate, tetradecanedioate, and 1-arachidonoylglycerophosphoinositol, had causal effect with PBC risk. Targeting ABCG5/ABCG8 may reduce PBC risk which are independent with LDL-C reduction.
Application of Enzyme-Assisted Extraction on the brown seaweed Fucus vesiculosus Linnaeus (Ochrophyta, Fucaceae) to produce extracts for a sustainable agriculture.
Authors: Choulot Manon , Jabbour Chirelle , Burlot Anne-Sophie , Jing Lun , Welna Maja , Szymczycha-Madeja Anna , Guillard Cécile Le , Michalak Izabela , Bourgougnon Nathalie
Published: November 2024

The agricultural sector plays a crucial role in sustaining population growth and ensuring our well-being. However, as this sector faces numerous challenges due to environmental conditions and the increasing population, it is essential to identify natural alternatives that promote sustainable farming practices and protect the environment. Seaweed-based extracts have gained popularity in agriculture because of their numerous benefits for plant growth and health. This study focuses on Fucus vesiculosus Linnaeus, a prevalent brown seaweed species found along the Brittany coast. The research involved comparing Enzyme-Assisted Extraction (EAE) with conventional aqueous extraction methods for the purpose of determining the effectiveness of EAE in producing enriched extracts that could have an interesting agricultural application. The results indicates that enzymatic extraction of Fucus vesiculosus significantly increased the content of neutral sugars by 34% and reducing sugars by 21% in the extracts, compared to conventional aqueous extraction (WE). Regarding Plant Growth Regulators, the levels of Isopentenyladenosine (iPR) and Cis zeatin (cZ) were enhanced by 6 times and 28 times, respectively, when using EAE instead of WE. Additionally, the total phenolic content was notably higher in EAE extracts, showing a twofold increase over WE extracts. Furthermore, the various extracts demonstrated superior antioxidant activity compared to raw Fucus vesiculosus powder. Thus, this study confirms that EAE is an effective method for enriching Fucus vesiculosus extracts with various compounds that can play a vital role in agriculture.
Comprehensive Analysis of Elastic-Plastic Behaviour in Hybrid Metal Matrix Composites with Varied Reinforcement Geometry
Authors: Mieczkowski Grzegorz
Published: November 2024

This study presents a comprehensive analytical-numerical approach to determining the elastic-plastic properties of Hybrid Metal Matrix Composites (HMMC), contrasting with prior research that primarily emphasizes elasticity. Using the finite element method (FEM) and elasticity and plasticity theory, we determined key parameters, including Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, yield strength, and ultimate tensile strength. The method, which also accounts for strain-hardening behaviour via the Hollomon model, enables precise simulation of HMMC with randomly distributed reinforcement particles of varying shapes and sizes, offering a realistic representation of the composite microstructure. Verification against literature confirms the accuracy of the approach in reflecting both elastic and plastic behaviour, providing essential insights into the material's full mechanical response, particularly yield strength and strain-hardening properties, aspects rarely explored in-depth in existing studies on HMMC.
Causal associations of epigenetic age acceleration and telomeres with the risk of epilepsy: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Wei Xueying , Zeng Jiao , Peng Shang , Liu Ying , Duan Kui , Wang Jifeng , Zhang Min , Cheng Yongran , Wang Mingwei , Ye Lan , Xu Zucai , Feng Zhanhui
Published: November 2024

Background: With the global aging of demographic, the risk of epilepsy among seniors is increasing, and its pathogenesis may be closely related to aging. Epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) and telomere length are deemed to be very precise indicators of aging. This research employs Mendelian randomization (MR) to explore the possible causal relationships among EAAs, telomeres, and epilepsy.Methods This study made use of open-source GWAS data from individuals of the European lineage for a dual-directional MR analysis. We explored the interactions between four well-established epigenetic clocks (HannumAA, GrimAA, PhenoAA, IEAA) and telomeres in epilepsy. In our, the causal relationships among EAAs, telomere length, and epilepsy were explored via using five MR analytical methods. Multiple analyses, including heterogeneity analysis, pleiotropy analysis and sensitivity analysis, were performed to guarantee the reliability of the findings.Results The study demonstrates substantial causal impact on PhenoAA and epilepsy. (IVW method: OR 1.070, 95% CI 1.019–1.124, P = 0.006; Weighted Median method: OR 1.075, 95%CI 1.011–1.143, P = 0.019). Conversely, Epilepsy has connection to the growth of PhenoAA (IVW method: OR 1.239, 95%CI 1.030–1.490, P = 0.022). At the same time, the results also find a significant causal association between epilepsy and HannumAA (IVW method: OR 1.188, 95% CI 1.032–1.367, P = 0.0157; Weighted Median method: OR 1.240, 95%CI 1.017–1.512, P = 0.032). Sensitivity analysis, heterogeneity analysis, and pleiotropy analysis were performed for quality control of the aforementioned results.Conclusion MR analysis demonstrates a significant correlation between increased PhenoAA with epilepsy occurrence, suggesting that aging could elevate the likelihood of developing epilepsy. Additionally, epilepsy's strong association of epilepsy with both PhenoAA and HannumAA implies that it might also accelerate aging through distinct biological mechanisms. This bidirectional relationship highlights the complex interplay between aging and epilepsy.
Reinforcement Learning-Based Government Bailout Strategies for Interbank Risk Contagion: A High-Dimensional Space Processing Approach
Authors: Chen Yijun , Yan Huanlan , Ding Zhijun
Published: November 2024

The interbank business connections form a complex network structure, facilitating risk contagion channels that require governments to promptly provide necessary bailouts. Since the assets of each bank continuously change as the contagion evolves, determining the optimal bailout strategy throughout the entire contagion process becomes a dynamic problem. In order to consider not only the current contagion risks but also the subsequent evolution of the contagion, this paper introduces Reinforcement Learning (RL) to find the global optimal solution during the contagion process. However, when applying RL to the bailout problem, its reward function is difficult to design and can also lead to inefficient exploration and unstable strategies due to the high dimensionality of the task space caused by the large number of banks. To address these problems, this paper proposes a proximal policy optimization algorithm with high-dimensional space processing (HDSP-PPO), which enhances the reward signal by combining immediate and final rewards, constructs an action candidate set to accelerate action exploration efficiency, and improves the stability of the policy in unseen states through spatial decomposition and low-dimensional representation of the state. Finally, we developed a multi-agent interbank lending network system with realistic data and simulated the risk contagion. Through experiments in the contagion environment, it is validated that the HDSP-PPO can obtain a better global strategy than optimization algorithms and is superior to other mainstream reinforcement learning algorithms in terms of solution quality, convergence, and stability.
Familial Aggregation of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Aging Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus of Chinese Families
Authors: Yang Yu , Yingzi Chen , Peng Du , Congqing Miao , Dechuan Lu , Yingshuo Zhong
Published: November 2024

Recent studies demonstrated that diabetes can result in cognitive impairment. And genetic factors may play pivotal role in the pathogenesis. This study aims to describe the familial aggregation of MCI in T2DM of Chinese families. We enrolled 114 families with at least two T2DM siblings for aggregation analysis. Our data show that MCI in the probands is significantly associated with the presence of MCI in the siblings, and this was independent of other well-known risk factors such as duration of diabetes and glycemic status. Our study demonstrated the presence of familial aggregation of MCI in T2DM families.
Study on the law and mechanism of cement-based material grouting on water quality of water-bearing sand layer based on indoor experiments
Authors: Zheng Haobo , Qian Ziwei , Gao Guowen , He Shenyang
Published: November 2024

Grouting in mining operations can potentially cause environmental pollution. The significant volume of slurry used in grouting can adversely affect groundwater quality, potentially resulting in groundwater pollution. In light of this, researching the pattern and mechanism of the impact of common grouting materials on regional groundwater quality is crucial. Based on the hydrogeological conditions of the study area, a dynamic seepage reaction system was established. Three sets of constant-flow, long-duration percolation tests were conducted for the ungrouted control (W), cement slurry (C), and cement-sodium silicate slurry (CS) groups. The leachate from each group was thoroughly analyzed to determine the water quality. The study found: (1) The hydration reactions of the phases present in the slurry have a significant influence on the nature and degree of ionic contamination in the liquid phase of the leachate. (2) After grouting, the leachate exhibited high initial concentrations of most ions. However, as infiltration progressed, the concentrations of these ions decreased significantly. Additionally, the concentration trend of some ions in the grouted leachate samples has a differentiated pattern. Cement grouted resulted in the contamination of metal ions, such as Ca2+, whereas CS grouted led to high levels of SO2- 4 contamination. (3) After grouting, the leachate was alkaline, with elevated total hardness and total dissolved solids, and exhibited reducing properties. The hydrochemical type of the leachate underwent significant changes after the grouting process. As the percolation continued, the hydrochemical characteristics of the leachate gradually shifted towards that of the control group. (4) The ionic concentrations in the leachate exhibit a trend of attenuation or rebound under percolation action, generally showing a dynamic recovery towards the control group concentrations. The degradation trends of the main pollutants for both types of grout largely conform to an exponential decay model.
Tritrophic interactions in a changing climate: a seed-feeding moth and its larval ectoparasitoids along an elevational gradient
Authors: Randall Martin
Published: November 2024

Anthropogenic climate change is having measurable effects on the phenology and distribution of organisms, with many species moving polewards or to higher elevations. Temperature-driven elevational range shifts can vary between species and therefore interactions within multitrophic systems are expected to alter along elevational gradients, however there is limited empirical evidence to test this hypothesis. The tritrophic interactions between the seed-feeding moth Coleophora alticolella, its larval ectoparasitoids and its host plant, the rush Juncus squarrosus, were surveyed along the same elevational gradient in northern England in 1977 and 1978, and again in 2019 and 2021. Spatio-temporal changes in these trophic levels over the intervening forty-year period were more complex than a simple synchronous upslope shift of the whole system. Seed production by J. squarrosus greatly increased at equivalent elevations since 1977/1978. Floret production by inflorescences was significantly higher than expected from recent temperature changes. Seed capsule ripening was also greater at higher elevations in the warmer summers of 2019 and 2021. The elevational limit of C. alticolella distribution and the elevation of peak larval densities both rose more than the change in the isotherm recorded for this area since 1977. The rate of larval parasitisation was greater at equivalent sites in 2019 and 2021 than previously and the structure of the ectoparasitoid community on C. alticolella larvae had changed. The ectoparasitoids also occurred at higher elevations but their elevational gains were less than for their host. Implications for insect conservation: Understanding the impact of climate-related changes on insects is currently of major importance for insect conservation. In addition to assessing the effect of these changes on an individual species, this study shows that measuring longer-term changes within a multitrophic system across a spatial dimension can reveal additional insights for conservation and management strategies.
Codon usage bias analysis in the chloroplast genomes of diatoms within the family Thalassiosiraceae and Skeletonemataceae
Authors: Yao Huiying , Xu Yi , Lan Yanhong , Xiang Dongyou , Jiao Pengrui , Xu Hui , Qiao Dairong , Cao Yi
Published: November 2024

Diatoms, as the important primary producers in the ocean, play a crucial role in the marine carbon cycle. Despite their crucial role in marine biogeochemical cycles and carbon sequestration, detailed analyses of codon usage patterns in diatom chloroplast genomes have been limited. This study investigates the codon usage bias (CUB) in the chloroplast genomes of 12 representative diatoms within the family Thalassiosiraceae and Skeletonemataceae. In the present research, codon composition and factors influencing CUB were analyzed. The comprehensive research into the proliferation of the chloroplast genome unveils a distinct preference for A and T(U) in the codon usage of diatom chloroplast genomes, with significant variations in GC content across different codon positions. Our results also reveal that the chloroplast genes of these diatoms exhibit specific codon usage biases, with some codons being preferentially utilized over others. Meanwhile, six optimal codons are shared among the chloroplast genomes of 12 diatom species: UUU, GGA, CGA, AAU, CAU and UAU. Based on the effective number of codons (ENC) and relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) results, we propose that natural selection is the predominant mechanism contributing to the CUB. Moreover, the Ka/Ks ratios of 265 orthologous coding genes also indicate that these chloroplast genomes were predominantly subjected to purifying selection during the evolutionary process. Our study reveals the pattern of CUB in diatoms and provides valuable information for future genetic engineering of microalgae. These findings may also inform strategies for enhancing CO2 fixation by diatoms and offer perspectives on microalgal adaptation to environmental changes.
Comprehensive structural variant haplotype panel of 943 Han Chinese from long-read whole-genome sequencing
Authors: Gong Tingting , Zhou Yulu , Huang Yechao , Zhao Junfan , Gong Jiao , Li Jinxi , Peng Qianqian , Wang Sijia , Jin Li , Fan Shaohua
Published: November 2024

Background
Structural variations (SVs) are important genomic elements in evolution and disease, yet they remain underutilized in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) due to technical challenges and high cost in their detection and genotyping.
Results
We developed a comprehensive haplotype reference panel incorporating over 35 million variants, including 172,569 SVs, from 943 Han Chinese individuals. Our novel hybrid phasing approach, combining long-read-based and statistical methods, achieved phasing accuracy in unrelated individuals comparable to trio-based phasing, and significantly reduced error rates for both small variants and SVs compared to conventional statistical phasing. The panel enabled a four-fold improvement in high-quality SV imputation and 31% higher SV imputation sensitivity compared to the expanded 1000 Genomes Project panel. GWAS analysis incorporating SVs identified 37 independent SV signals and 99 previously unreported regions across 62 skin-related phenotypes, demonstrating superior performance over GWAS using only short-read sequencing variants. Further analysis using our panel-imputed variants revealed two significantly associated SVs and two novel regions for fingerprint phenotypes, expanding upon findings from the original study that used the 1000 Genomes Project reference panel.
Conclusions
This study presents a comprehensive SV-enriched haplotype reference panel and demonstrates the value of including SVs in GWAS for understanding the genetic architecture of complex traits and diseases.
Layered Double Hydroxides: Sol-Gel Synthesis, Characterization and Application
Authors: Klydziute Gabriele , Gliaudyte Laura , Sokol Denis , Vasiliauskiene Dovile , Yang Thomas Chung-Kuang , Kareiva Aivaras
Published: November 2024

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) belong to a class of layered materials with a general chemical formula of [[MII1-xMIIIx(OH)2]x+(Am-)x/m]·nH2O. The structure of LDH is formed by positively charged metal hydroxide layers [MII1-xMIIIx(OH)2]x+ and negatively charged anions (Am-)x/m in the interlayer space. As a rule, H2O molecules are also present in the interlayer space. A large number of LDHs can be synthesised by varying either the nature of the cations or anions. Consequently, new materials can be obtained with specific properties. LDHs could be used as efficient adsorbents for liquid ions and gas molecules for the removal of anionic toxins (arsenate, chromate, selenite and other) and also toxic metals ions for water purification; as catalyst supports; as catalysts for oxidation, reduction and other reactions; LDHs within inorganic membranes in sensor devices; for anticorrosion protection of metal alloys; as bio-nanohybrids with ability to incorporate large molecules for drug and gens delivery, cosmetics, cancer therapy and biosensing and other. Recently, we developed indirect sol-gel synthesis methods for the fabrication of LDHs. This sol-gel chemistry approach is perfect synthesis method to fabricate substituted with transition and rare earth metals LDHs with specific properties. The Mg2Al1, Mg2-xZnxAl1 and Mg2Al1-xLax LDHs were successfully synthesized by a simple sol-gel synthetic approach. These results are presented and discussed in this study.
Anti-arthritic effects of dibenzylbutane lignans from Litsea cubeba through suppression of MEK-ERK-p90RSK signalling
Authors: Dai Yuanyuan , Feng Kunmiao , Han Ping , Wu Huifen , Shen Hui , Zhang Qiaoyan , Jia Dan , Qin Luping , Han Ting
Published: November 2024

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory polyarthritis leading to irreversible damage to the joints. The roots of Litsea cubeba (Lour.) Pers. (Family Lauraceae) has long been used as Dai Ethnopharmacy folk remedies for rheumatism. Our previous research found that LCA, a new type of dibenzyl butane lignin compound from L. cubeba, inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation by suppressing Akt and MAPK pathways. This study aims to evaluate the anti-arthritic effects of LCA and its synthetic analogue (LCA1), as well as the underlying mechanism. In vitro anti-arthritic effects of LCA and LCA1 were evaluated in TNF-α-stimulated fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) by measuring cell proliferation and the expression of inflammatory factors with MTT assay, flow cytometry and ELISA. Western blotting was used to investigate the mechanism. Additionally, in vivo anti-arthritic effects of the dibenzylbutane lignans were detected in carrageenan-induced air pouch inflammation model in mice and adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) in rats. Results showed that both LCA and LCA1 suppressed inflammatory factors in the air pouch model. LCA markedly suppressed the inflammation, weight loss, and bone erosion in AIA rats. These data suggested that LCA and LCA1 may have therapeutic benefits in RA through regulation of apoptosis and inflammation in vitro and in vivo.
Identification with world citizenship predicts life satisfaction
Authors: Spiteri Glen , Kim Seamus , Lieder Falk
Published: November 2024

The challenges of the 21st century, such as climate change, pandemics, and global inequality, necessitate a degree of cooperation that transcends national interests. While national belonging can positively contribute to life satisfaction, it can also reinforce and highlight divisions between people of different nationalities. We set out to document how people’s identification as national and global citizens, and national pride impact life satisfaction. To this end, we analyzed data from the World Values Survey (WVS) using a sample of 130,078 individuals in developing and developed countries. Using mixed models, we found that global citizenship identification, national citizenship identification, and national pride all robustly predict life satisfaction. Moreover, global citizenship identification moderates the impacts of both national citizenship identification and national pride on life satisfaction, such that individuals with higher global citizenship identification benefit less from national citizenship identification and national pride than those with lower global citizenship identification. Crucially, global citizenship identification is especially beneficial for life satisfaction when national citizenship identification and/or national pride are low.
Determinants of food insecurity: a text mining approach
Authors: Carneiro Bia , Resce Giuliano , Ruscica Giosuè , Eilerts Gary , Caravaggio Nicola , Santangelo Agapito , Tucci Giulia , Pacillo Grazia , Läderach Peter , Coffey Kevin
Published: November 2024

This study applies Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning (ML) to investigate global historical trends in food security. Using USAID’s Famine Early Warning Systems Network’s (FEWS NET) comprehensive reports spanning over two dozen countries, it explores prevalent dimensions such as shocks, outcomes, and coping capacities, offering insights into long-term food security conditions. Results highlight the prevalence of market and climate impacts across the countries and period considered. Based on results from the topic classification, ML models were applied to determine the most important factors that predict food insecurity. The analysis confirmed market shocks as the main predictors of food insecurity, globally. The approach demonstrates the potential for extracting valuable insights from narrative sources that can support decision-making and strategic planning. This integrated approach not only enhances understanding of food security but also presents a versatile tool applicable beyond the context of humanitarian aid.
Die Expression und Lokalisation von Nidogen-1 und -2 im Verlauf der Osteoarthrose
Authors:   , Borisow Ksenia
Published: November 2024

Die Arthrose ist die häufigste Erkrankung der Gelenke und ist vor allem durch eine langsam fortschreitende Degeneration des Knorpels gekennzeichnet, die zur Reduktion des Bewegungsausmaßes und der Belastbarkeit führt. Im Verlauf der Arthrose erfolgt der Ab- und Umbau der Knorpelmatrix, der durch die Expression von Proteasen und die Synthese neuer Moleküle von Chondrozyten gesteuert wird. Auch wenn im Knorpelgewebe keine echten Basalmembranen vorhanden sind, konnten doch alle Hauptbestandteile von Basalmembranen in der komplexen Knorpelmatrix nachgewiesen werden. Unter diesen Hauptbestandteilen sind die Nidogene die bis jetzt am wenigsten erforschten und verstandenen Proteine. Die vorliegende Arbeit untersucht die Expression und Verteilung der beiden Nidogene im menschlichen Gelenkknorpel durch die Anwendung von immunhistochemischen und proteinbiochemischen Analysen. Erstmalig gelang hierbei der Nachweis beider Nidogene in allen Stadien der Arthrose in der gesamten Knorpelmatrix. Die Anreicherung der Proteine in den inter- und territorialen Matrizen suggeriert wichtige biochemische und mechanische Aufgaben wie die Stabilisierung, Vernetzung, Milieu-Erhaltung und Signaltransduktion, die für die Nidogene bereits in anderen Geweben beschrieben wurden. Das vermehrte Vorliegen der Nidogene in den beiden metabolisch aktivsten Zonen des Knorpels, der oberflächlichen Zone und der Tidemark, lässt eine Beteiligung am Matrixumbau in der Arthrose vermuten. Die Proteinmenge im Immunoblot korrelierte positiv mit dem Schweregrad der Arthrose und könnte auf eine protektive oder regenerative Funktion der Nidogene hinweisen. Sowohl die Konzentrationsänderungen der Nidogene mit Zunahme der Degeneration als auch ihre Sensibilität gegenüber Proteinasen, deuten auf differente Bindungspartner der beiden Isoformen hin. Zusammenfassend lassen die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit eine regenerative Rolle der Nidogene im arthrotischen Knorpel vermuten und bieten eine Grundlage für weitere Studien zur Prüfung der Nidogene als potenzielle prognostische Marker für Arthrose.
O Impacto do Estresse Ocupacional na Saúde Mental do Profissional Enfermeiro
Authors: Jesus Santana Alves de , Silva Luciene Albuquerque da , Cruz Ana Carolina de Moraes
Published: November 2024

O estresse ocupacional é um problema crescente na enfermagem, afetando diretamente a saúde mental dos profissionais da área. Este artigo examina as principais fontes de estresse, como longas jornadas de trabalho, alta carga emocional e a pressão por desempenho. A coleta de dados foi realizada a partir de periódicos indexados a Bibliotecas Virtuais em Saúde (BVS): Biblioteca Científica Eletrônica Online (SCIELO), Sistema Online de Busca e Análise de Literatura Médica (MEDLINE), Literatura Latino - Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS), por meio da junção de três Descritores em Ciências da Saúde (DeCS) cruzados com operador booleano. o estresse ocupacional afeta significativamente a saúde mental dos enfermeiros, com 60% dos profissionais apresentando sintomas de ansiedade e depressão. A carga de trabalho excessiva e as demandas emocionais foram identificadas como as principais fontes de estresse, levando a uma alta taxa de burnout (50%). O estresse ocupacional tem um impacto significativo na saúde mental dos profissionais de enfermagem, contribuindo para altos níveis de ansiedade, depressão e burnout. É essencial que instituições de saúde implementem estratégias de apoio e promoção do bem-estar para mitigar esses efeitos
Illusion of stability: An empirical analysis of inflation data manipulation by russia after 2022
Authors: Plastun Alex , Vorontsova Anna , Slyvka Yaroslava , Yatsenko Olha , Huliaieva Liudmyla , Sukhonos Victor , Bilokin Ruslan
Published: November 2024

This paper explores the perceived resilience of russia’s economy under severe sanctions, investigating the potential falsification of economic data to demonstrate the growth. The hypothesis is that the relationship between the official inflation rate and the FMCG deflator index during 2019–2021 significantly differs from that of 2022–2024. Statistical methods, such as correlation analysis, Granger causality tests, and differences tests (e.g., t-tests and Wilcoxon tests), are used along with vector autoregressive (VAR) models and robust linear regressions. The study covers the pre-invasion period (2019–2021) and the post-invasion period (2022–2024), focusing on indicators like the official inflation rate, inflation expectations, CPI, and the FMCG deflator index. Findings reveal a shift from a direct to an inverse correlation between official inflation and the FMCG deflator post-2022, suggesting data manipulation. Pre-2022 models predict inflation 2-3 times higher than both post-2022 models and official statistics, raising concerns about the reliability of russia’s economic data. Further research should explore indirect metrics, such as electricity production and cargo shipments, for additional evidence of data falsification.
AcknowledgmentsAlex Plastun gratefully acknowledges financial support from the New Europe College (NEC), the Center for Advanced Study, and Sumy State University.Anna Vorontsova gratefully acknowledges financial support from Sumy State University.
Japanese Literature Students` Perspective on Weeaboo Who has an Imaginary Couple Waifu/Husbando
Authors: Hermawan Daniel , Marciu Rendi
Published: November 2024

The phenomenon of waifu/husbando, originating from Japanese pop culture, permeated society and became a compelling subject of interest. The research delved into the perspectives of people who had a relationship with fictional characters. Data collection was done through interviews with eight students in Japanese Literature across Java Island. The research drew upon insights and data to unravel the societal perceptions surrounding waifu/husbando enthusiasts. The research applied a qualitative approach, so the analysis produced descriptive data in the form of words. The findings highlight a nuanced form of discrimination and labeling. Contrary to common assumptions, the prejudice faced by those with waifu/husbando connections is not rooted in a mere appreciation for fictional characters but extends to a broader bias against anime enthusiasts. Individuals who proudly profess their love for anime by adopting waifu/husbando are often stigmatized with the label of weeaboo,  illustrating a broader societal bias against this subculture. The distinction between these two categories sheds light on the complex interplay of societal attitudes towards fantasy relationships rooted in different cultural realms. The research contributes to a deeper understanding of the intricate dynamics surrounding waifu/husbando culture and challenges prevailing stereotypes by emphasizing the role of broader societal biases against anime enthusiasts.
Expressive Speech Act of British and American Culinary Review: A Cross-Cultural Pragmatics Study
Authors: Kharismi Annisa , Subiyanto Agus
Published: November 2024

The research was conducted to uncover how American and British high school students utilize expressive speechacts for each other’s culinary representation. It examined the linguistic and cultural manifestations in which reviewers communicated their personal opinions and attitudes toward food. The research applied a descriptivequalitative approach using Searle’s theory of the illocutionary point of speech act, which comprised the pragmatical characteristics focusing on the spoken form expression from both cultures. The data were collected from two video blogs from a YouTube channel called ‘Jolly’, with the title “British high-school students try American biscuits and gravy for the first time” and “Americans eat British comfort food for the first time” by using listening and note-taking techniques on the expressive speech act that occurred from the transcript of the video blog. The results show that both American and British high school students have expressive speech acts of surprise, preference, and disbelief. Yet, the unique traits of both cultures can be noticed in the way Americans express disgust while the British express humor.
Critical Discourse Analysis on Representation of Arab Spring in the Movie Alephia 2053
Authors: Rarasati Indah , Zawawi Mohammad
Published: November 2024

The research aimed to find out the representation of the Arab Spring and described the forms of social dimensions in the movie entitled Alephia 2053. It a movie telling the story of an Arab country in the future that still adhered to a monarchical system of government. The story in Alephia 2053 had similarities to events in Arab countries. The reality was the chaos that occurred in Arab countries a few years ago, known as the Arab Spring. The research was designed applying a descriptive qualitative research method with Norman Fairclough’s critical discourse analysis approach. The data analysis technique used was to analyze the data descriptively using Norman Fairclough’s perspective of Critical Discourse Analysis theory. The research finding reveals that the Arab Spring’s representation in the movie Alephia 2053 is in the form of a government coup and the democracy slogan action. The finding also indicates social dimensions as (a) in the text dimension, eleven words are fought for and contain forms of representation, relationships, and identity; (b) in discursive practice, three data contents support evidence of the ideological words; (c) in sociocultural practices, there are relations, social, and cultural processes in the form of information, in the form of binary opposition between the regime, state officials and the people which describes three levels of sociocultural practices, namely situational, institutional, and social levels.