bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Methods of teaching shooting in fire training classes in educational institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation
Authors: Blagodatin Anatoly  Borisovich , Logachev Oleg Vladimirovich , Urakov Dmitrii Igorevich
Published: February 2025

The subject of the study is the method of teaching shooting to cadets of educational institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. Shooting training is one of the key components of fire training in the system of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation. In today's society, where the crime rate and the threat of terrorism continue to be relevant, the importance of training law enforcement officers is becoming more and more obvious. Effective mastery of shooting skills not only helps to increase the professionalism of employees, but also plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of citizens and maintaining law and order. In this regard, the shooting training methodology in educational institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation requires special attention, careful study and continuous improvement and adjustment in accordance with the changes taking place in the country and in the world.  Within the framework of the conducted research, methods of comparative analysis, observation, synthesis, deduction, survey, questionnaire and others were used. The relevance of the study is due to the growing requirements for professional training of law enforcement officers in a modern society where firearms skills are becoming critically important for ensuring personal and public safety. The study covers key aspects, including the basics of shooting, the organization of the educational process and the evaluation of results, which makes its contribution to improving fire training especially significant for improving the professionalism and readiness of employees to perform official tasks. The authors have attempted to identify the main problematic issues of shooting training and formulated recommendations for improving the shooting performance of cadets, which is a key element of their professional training. The application of these recommendations, according to the authors, will contribute to optimizing the learning process of cadets of educational institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.
Shugendō: Pilgrimage and Ritual in a Japanese Folk Religion
Authors: Gill Andrea
Published: February 2025

The religion of Shugendō has no shrines and it has no temples. It only has the liminality of the mountains; a space that is viewed in Japan as being ground that only gods, demons, and ghosts may set foot on. But the Yamabushi are not human, gods, or even demons. Instead they are believed to be living Buddhas, rare people that, through practice in the secluded mountains, have become privy to sacred knowledge that has awakened them to their internal Buddha nature, to borrow the words of Kukai, “in this very lifetime”. One of the defining features of Shugendō is the relationship that is formed between man, gods, and nature in the context of the sacred mountain (Grapard, 1994). Another feature found strongly in Shugendō is the role that the Yamabushi play in the communities surrounding their sacred mountains.
Post-Conflict Cultural Revival and Social Restructuring in Northern Uganda
Authors: Cagney Erin
Published: February 2025

In northern Uganda, cultural revival has become a major topic of concern after the decades-long civil conflict that displaced 1.9 million people. During that time, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) abducted an estimated 20,000 children and adults as mercenaries, porters, and sex slaves, and killed and mutilated thousands of others. The LRA wreaked general havoc on the entire northern population, contributing to the ensuing psychological and physical traumas that accompany such an experience. In the chaos and devastation of the protracted conflict, many cultural practices have fallen to the wayside, including dances, songs, folktales, marriage rites, social norms and rules, and the practice of wang’oo - nightly fireside meetings with extended family members. Wang’oo is seen by many to be the social, cultural, political, and ideological backbone of Luo society. Its discontinuation has led to the prolonged absence of other practices and has contributed to the general sense of social breakdown. In this thesis, I propose that the post-conflict reconstruction era in northern Uganda has opened up a space for social restructuring, including adding and discontinuing practices by certain groups (i.e., the youth or the cultural institution) and I will discuss how this restructuring has been problematized, namely by elders. Though some cultural revival projects are carried out by foreigners, here I focus on the Acholi opinion of cultural revival. I will explore how some cultural practices have changed over the course of the war and how reviving wang’oo is understood to help those affected by the conflict to find some sense of healing and closure. Such help, in the view of wang’oo proponents, includes resolving some of the tension between those who experienced the conflict differently and empowering communities to form their own economic endeavors and demand better services from their government. My analysis is based on original fieldwork carried out over the course of seven months in 2010. I conducted focus group discussions, individual interviews with women’s groups, politicians, religious leaders, traditional dance groups, and many others. I also observed multiple cultural events, including wang’oo and traditional dance as well as carried out two projects that involved the youth experience of culture in the post-conflict setting. All names have been changed to protect the confidentiality of participants, except where permission was explicitly given.
Hagiographic and Hymnic Representations of Women, Dress, and Identity in the Early Christian East
Authors: Bledsoe Jenny
Published: February 2025

In the early Christian East, as now, dress indicated conformity or nonconformity to social norms, projecting and sometimes concealing the individual’s gender and religious identities in a social context and indicating their position in the Church hierarchy. In the vitae of female saints Pelagia of Antioch, Anastasia, and Mary of Egypt and the hymns of Ephrem the Syrian, dress also functioned as a textual device to illustrate fundamental changes in the life of the individual Christian and, especially in the case of Ephrem, to convey theological truths about virginity and the relationship between Christ and humanity to an audience of believers. Texts such as the hagiographies and hymns explored in this article were not merely enjoyable for readers or listeners. Rather, such texts were used in liturgy or at least closely associated with ecclesiastical life, and thus they were instructive of the proper ways in which the authors thought ordinary Christians ought to live.
Respiration and Carbon Dioxide Accumulation in Soil Microcosms
Authors: Murphy Jasity
Published: February 2025

The thawing of permafrost leads to liberation of soil organic matter and microbial component resulting in significant effect on the carbon cycle. Changes in permafrost soils upon the global climate warming would significantly impact microbial soil activity. Currently, not a great deal is known about what happens to the microbial community after the permafrost thaws. The activity of microbial community was determined in microcosms experiment using respirometry. To assess the CO2 fluctuations during permafrost thawing a titration experiment was performed. Based on calculations using the respirometric equation it was found that CO2 production increases with temperature, core depth, ion amendments and duration of time.
Wybrane zastosowania metod funkcjonalnej analizy danych w ekonomii
Authors:   AGH University of Krakow, Rydlewski Jerzy Piotr
Published: February 2025

Głównym celem publikacji jest zaprezentowanie zainteresowanemu Czytelnikowi możliwości, jakie daje funkcjonalna analiza danych zastosowana do zagadnień ekonomicznych.

Aby zrealizować ten cel, w rozdziale drugim opisano, czym są dane funkcjonalne. Następnie w rozdziałach trzecim i czwartym zaprezentowano pewne narzędzia służące do analizy tego typu danych. Zdefiniowano głębię, głębię dla danych funkcjonalnych oraz głębię lokalną. Pokazano, jak można wykrywać pewne typy odstających obserwacji funkcjonalnych. Zaprezentowano outliergram służący do wykrywania funkcjonalnych obserwacji odstających ze względu na kształt oraz funkcjonalny wykres pudełkowy, którego koncepcja jest rozszerzeniem klasycznego wykresu pudełkowego na dane funkcjonalne. W kolejnych rozdziałach pokazano na przykładach, jak zastosować zaprezentowane uprzednio koncepcje statystyczne do badania wybranych zagadnień ekonomicznych.

W rozdziale piątym zastosowano funkcjonalną analizę danych w próbie optymalizacji lokalnej polityki proekologicznej. Skoncentrowano się na analizie trajektorii charakteryzujących zanieczyszczenia powietrza. Takie podejście pozwoliło na badanie różnych kształtów krzywych obrazujących zanieczyszczenia. Rozważano wpływ miejskiej polityki proekologicznej na dobrobyt społeczny. Takie postępowanie umożliwia badanie różnicy rozkładów empirycznych charakteryzujących zanieczyszczenie powietrza przed wprowadzeniem i po wprowadzeniu nowych regulacji prawnych.

{W centrum rozważań ekonomicznych znajduje się analiza przyczynowości. Wynika to z faktu, że przeprowadzona z powodzeniem analiza przyczynowości dla zjawisk socjoekonomicznych pozwala na pokazanie zależności pomiędzy badanymi zjawiskami. W sytuacji gdy łańcuch przyczynowo-skutkowy nie jest łatwy do zaobserwowania, narzędzia, jakie daje funkcjonalna analiza danych, mogą się okazać pomocne w znalezieniu zadowalających rozwiązań. W rozdziale szóstym tej książki przedstawiono propozycje oparte na koncepcji przyczynowości w sensie Rubina, które pozwalają na przeprowadzenie sensownej analizy przyczynowości dla zjawisk wyrażonych w postaci funkcyjnej. Takie nowatorskie podejście umożliwia otrzymanie pewnych nowych ciekawych rezultatów.

W rozdziale siódmym oraz w podanej na końcu książki literaturze zainteresowany Czytelnik znajdzie inne zastosowania proponowanej metodologii. Trzeba w tym miejscu podkreślić, że skorzystanie z podejścia oferowanego przez funkcjonalną analizę danych wymaga korzystania z wystarczająco bogatych baz danych.
Maturation and detoxification of synphilin-1 inclusion bodies regulated by sphingolipids
Authors: Cao Xiuling , Wu Xiang , Zhao Lei , Zheng Ju , Jin Xuejiao , Hao Xinxin , Winderickx Joris , Liu Shenkui , Chen Lihua , Liu Beidong
Published: February 2025

Due to proteostasis stress induced by aging or disease, misfolded proteins can form toxic intermediate species of aggregates and eventually mature into less toxic inclusion bodies (IBs). Here, using a yeast imaging-based screen, we identified 84 potential synphilin-1 (SY1) IB regulators and isolated the conserved sphingolipid metabolic components in the most enriched groups. Furthermore, we show that, in both yeast cells and mammalian cells, SY1 IBs are associated with mitochondria. Pharmacological inhibition of the sphingolipid metabolism pathway or knockout of its key genes results in a delayed IB maturation and increased SY1 cytotoxicity. We postulate that SY1 IB matures by association with the mitochondrion membrane, and that sphingolipids stimulate the maturation via their membrane-modulating function and thereby protecting cells from SY1 cytotoxicity. Our findings identify a conserved cellular component essential for IB maturation and suggest a mechanism by which cells may detoxify the pathogenic protein aggregates through forming mitochondrion-associated IBs.
Dual-specific autophosphorylation of kinase IKK2 enables phosphorylation of substrate IκBα through a phosphoenzyme intermediate
Authors: Borar Prateeka , Biswas Tapan , Chaudhuri Ankur , Rao Pallavi T , Raychaudhuri Swasti , Huxford Tom , Chakrabarti Saikat , Ghosh Gourisankar , Polley Smarajit
Published: February 2025

Rapid and high-fidelity phosphorylation of two serines (S32 and S36) of IκBα by a prototype Ser/Thr kinase IKK2 is critical for fruitful canonical NF-κB activation. Here, we report that IKK2 is a dual specificity Ser/Thr kinase that autophosphorylates itself at tyrosine residues in addition to its activation loop serines. Mutation of one such tyrosine, Y169, located in proximity to the active site, to phenylalanine, renders IKK2 inactive for phosphorylation of S32 of IκBα. Surprisingly, auto-phosphorylated IKK2 relayed phosphate group(s) to IκBα without ATP when ADP is present. We also observed that mutation of K44, an ATP-binding lysine conserved in all protein kinases, to methionine renders IKK2 inactive towards specific phosphorylation of S32 or S36 of IκBα, but not non-specific substrates. These observations highlight an unusual evolution of IKK2, in which autophosphorylation of tyrosine(s) in the activation loop and the invariant ATP-binding K44 residue define its signal-responsive substrate specificity ensuring the fidelity of NF-κB activation.
Personalization in Digital Marketing: Leveraging Machine Learning for E-Commerce
Authors: Ali Chreesk Sabah M. , Zeebaree Subhi R. M.
Published: February 2025

In the era of digital transformation, machine learning (ML) techniques have revolutionized personalized marketing, enabling businesses to enhance customer engagement through data-driven strategies. This paper presents a systematic review of ML applications in digital marketing and e-commerce, focusing on customer segmentation, recommendation systems, and targeted advertising. Specifically, it explores the role of collaborative filtering, deep learning, reinforcement learning, and hybrid AI models in improving personalization and predictive analytics.
The findings indicate that deep learning-based models, such as neural networks and transformers, significantly enhance personalization accuracy, while reinforcement learning optimizes real-time bidding and dynamic pricing strategies. Hybrid recommendation systems outperform traditional methods by combining user behavior data with contextual insights to improve ad targeting and customer retention.
Beyond theoretical insights, this study provides practical implications for marketers, data scientists, and e-commerce businesses, enabling them to optimize AI-driven personalization strategies for increased conversion rates and customer loyalty. However, challenges such as data privacy concerns, algorithmic biases, and high computational costs remain barriers to widespread adoption. Future research should focus on developing ethical AI frameworks to ensure fairness and transparency in automated personalization.
OptiFlexSort: A Hybrid Sorting Algorithm for Efficient Large-Scale Data Processing
Authors: Abuba Nelson Seidu , Baagyere Edward Yellakuor , Nakpih Callistus Ireneous , Wiredu Japheth Kodua
Published: February 2025

Efficient sorting of massive datasets is a cornerstone of data-intensive applications, yet traditional sorting algorithms often face scalability challenges as data volumes grow exponentially. This study introduces OptiFlexSort, a novel hybrid sorting algorithm designed to enhance scalability while maintaining the inherent efficiency of Quicksort. OptiFlexSort incorporates an optimized last-element pivot selection strategy, leveraging median-of-three considerations to improve pivot quality, and an adaptive partitioning mechanism that dynamically adjusts partition sizes based on data distribution characteristics, using a threshold-based approach to balance partition efficiency.
To evaluate its performance, comprehensive experiments were conducted on randomly generated integer datasets ranging from 1,000 to 1 million elements. Implemented in Python, OptiFlexSort was benchmarked against established algorithms, including Merge Sort, Heapsort, Radix Sort, and external merge sort implementations (STXXL and TPIE). Each test was repeated twenty times to ensure statistical consistency. The results demonstrate that OptiFlexSort achieves a 10-15% improvement in execution time over Merge Sort and Heapsort across all dataset sizes. For datasets of 50,000–100,000 elements, its performance was statistically indistinguishable from Radix Sort, with differences of less than 2%. For datasets exceeding 200,000 elements, OptiFlexSort achieved a 5-8% reduction in execution time. Notably, for datasets exceeding hundreds of thousands of elements, it outperformed advanced external merge sort implementations, highlighting its robustness and scalability.
This study contributes to the field of sorting algorithm design by presenting a highly efficient, scalable, and adaptive solution tailored to the demands of modern big data applications and large-scale data processing. OptiFlexSort represents a significant step forward in addressing the challenges posed by exponentially growing datasets, offering a practical and efficient solution for large-scale data processing. While the algorithm excels on uniformly distributed integer datasets, future work will explore its adaptability to other data types and distributions, further broadening its applicability.
Evaluation of the Relationship Between Ottoman Economic Thought and Political Economy in Practice
Authors: Çamlı Ahmet Yavuz , Alkan Yaşar
Published: February 2025

It is a state governed within the framework of Islamic law with its Ottoman institutions and functioning. Thought, policy and implementation processes were built in this direction. In a research on the Ottoman, Islamic law, period limitation and conditions must be taken into consideration. In this regard, this study aims to reveal how the reflection of economic thought in the field of political economy is adopted in practice. Different policies and activities can be seen in the period from its establishment until its destruction. . It has been determined that economic policies that are very different from today's conditions are reflected in practice. Traditionalism, provisionism and fiscalism, which are the basic principles of economic thought, lead to a completely human-oriented construction of political economy. Among those who emphasize this best, the reaya-sipahi relationship and the foundation system have been particularly highlighted in the light of current research and comments.
Cumhuriyet Döneminde İlkokul Tarih ve Sosyal Bilgiler Ders Kitaplarında Tarih Düşüncesinin Epistemolojik Analizi
Authors: Şimşek Ahmet , Çakmakcı Emre
Published: February 2025

Bu çalışmada Cumhuriyetin kuruluşundan günümüze kadar ilkokullarda okutulan Tarih ve Sosyal Bilgiler ders kitaplarına yansıyan tarih düşüncesindeki değişim ve dönüşüm incelenmiştir. Nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden tarihsel araştırma modeli çerçevesinde doküman incelemesi tekniğiyle veriler toplanmıştır. Toplanan verilerin betimsel analizi yapılmıştır. Bu analizlerle 1930’lardan günümüze kadarki tarih ders kitaplarında tarih kavramı çerçevesinde benimsenen söylemlerdeki değişim ve süreklilik ortaya konulmaya çalışılmıştır. Araştırmadan elde edilen bulgulara göre ilkokulda tarih konulu ders kitaplarında tarih düşüncesi, 1932’den beri genelde pozitivist izler taşıyan, milli bir bakışla kurgulanmıştır. 1936 yılı dışında, kronolojik bir bakış açısıyla tarih içeriği sunulmuştur. Kitaplarda, dün, bugün ve gelecek arasında bağlantıyı kavratmaya yönelik “değişim ve süreklilik algısı”na ilişkin örneklere sıklıkla rastlanmıştır. Bu da ilerlemeci bir tarih algısını desteklemiştir. Diğer yandan incelenen ders kitaplarında görsel unsurlar yıllar geçtikçe daha yoğun ve bağlamsal yer almıştır. 1969 sonrasında Sosyal Bilgiler dersi çerçevesinde yer bulan ilkokulda tarih konularının yıllara göre yoğunluğundaki düşüş de dikkat çekici bulunmuştur.
Ready‐to‐Use Free‐Standing Super‐Powder Made with Complex Nanoparticles for SERS
Authors: Haddadnezhad MohammadNavid , Jung Insub , Oh Myeong Jin , Park Sungho
Published: March 2024

This study presents a straightforward and efficient synthetic approach for producing high‐yield, ready‐to‐use, free‐standing super‐powder. The synthesis protocol demonstrates versatility, enabling the creation of assemblies from various nanoparticle morphologies and compositions without the need for specific substrates. Au nanorings are employed as building blocks for fabricating the super‐powder, which can be used in surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The distinctive aspect ratio of the ring nanoframes allows the formation of densely packed columnar assemblies on the substrate, aligning the exposed gaps perpendicular to the laser beam. This arrangement significantly enhances the charge separation among nanorings, leading to a highly focused near‐field that is applicable to SERS analysis. The SERS detection feasibility of this powder in both pre‐ and post‐contamination conditions is demonstrated. Using a wide range of building blocks, encompassing various shapes (for instance, rods, hexagons, cubes, cuboctahedrons, elongated dodecahedrons, triangular rings, double‐rings, elongated dodecahedra frames, cuboctahedra frames, and double‐walled frames), the generalizability of the process for synthesizing super‐powders with diverse morphologies is substantiated.
Photothermal Mineralization of Polyolefin Microplastics via TiO2 Hierarchical Porous Layer‐Based Semiwetting Air‐Plastic‐Solid Interfaces
Authors: Zhao Jiaqi , Miao Peng , Zhang Xuerui , Wang Pu , Li Zhenhua , Wu Li‐Zhu , Shi Run , Zhang Tierui
Published: March 2024

Photo‐mineralization of microplastics under mild conditions has emerged as a promising solution to plastic waste disposal. However, the inadequate contact between oxygen, water‐insoluble polyolefin microplastics, and photocatalysts remains a critical issue. In this study, a TiO2 hierarchical porous layer (TiO2‐HPL) photocatalyst is presented to establish air‐plastic‐solid triphase interfaces for the photothermal mineralization of polyolefins. The wettability of the TiO2‐HPL‐based triphase interface is finely controlled from plastophobic to plastophilic. High‐resolution imaging and finite element simulation demonstrate the significance of a semiwetting state in achieving multidirectional oxygen diffusion through the hierarchical pore structure while maintaining sufficient contact between the plastic phase and photocatalysts. For low‐density polyethylene, the TiO2‐HPL achieves a photothermal mineralization rate of 5.63 mmol g−1 h−1 and a conversion of 26.3% after 20 h of continuous irradiation. Additionally, the triphase photocatalytic system with semiwetting gas‐plastic‐solid interfaces shows good universality for various polyolefin reagents and products, illustrating its potential in achieving efficient photothermal mineralization of non‐degradable microplastics.
Breaking Fundamental Limitation of Flow‐Induced Anisotropic Growth for Large‐Scale and Fast Printing of Organic Single‐Crystal Films
Authors: Sheng Fangming , Deng Wei , Ren Xiaobin , Liu Xinyue , Meng Xinghan , Shi Jialin , Grigorian Souren , Jie Jiansheng , Zhang Xiujuan
Published: March 2024

Advanced organic electronic technologies have put forward a pressing demand for cost‐effective and high‐throughput fabrication of organic single‐crystal films (OSCFs). However, solution‐printed OSCFs are typically plagued by the existence of abundant structural defects, which pose a formidable challenge to achieving large‐scale and high‐performance organic electronics. Here, it is elucidated that these structural defects are mainly originated from printing flow‐induced anisotropic growth, an important factor that is overlooked for too long. In light of this, a surfactant‐additive printing method is proposed to effectively overcome the anisotropic growth, enabling the deposition of uniform OSCFs over the wafer scale at a high speed of 1.2 mm s−1 at room temperature. The resulting OSCF exhibits appealing performance with a high average mobility up to 10.7 cm2 V−1 s−1, which is one of the highest values for flexible organic field‐effect transistor arrays. Moreover, large‐scale OSCF‐based flexible logic circuits, which can be bent without degradation to a radius as small as 4.0 mm and over 1000 cycles are realized. The work provides profound insights into breaking the limitation of flow‐induced anisotropic growth and opens new avenues for printing large‐scale organic single‐crystal electronics.
Evaluating health utility score through direct and indirect methods in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis
Authors: Chitsuthipakorn Wirach , Pracharktam Narissara , Phetpong Juthaporn , Kowatanamongkon Patlada , Mongkolkul Kittichai , Snidvongs Kornkiat
Published: March 2024

Introduction

EuroQol‐5‐dimensions‐5‐levels (EQ‐5D‐5L), visual analog scale (VAS), time trade‐off (TTO), and standard gamble (SG) are used for the assessment of Health Utility Scores (HUS) of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). This study aimed to determine the overall HUS of CRS, the factors which influence the HUS, and the preferable method.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was conducted. Patients with primary CRS were recruited. Clinical and socioeconomic data together with HUS were assessed. Four HUS scores determined from the four different methods were compared.

Results

A total of 335 patients were enrolled. The overall HUS, as measured by EQ‐5D‐5L, VAS, TTO, and SG, was 0.88 ± 0.14, 0.79 ± 0.17, 0.89 ± 0.15, and 0.86 ± 0.16, respectively. The multivariable linear regression revealed that each increasing 22‐item sinonasal outcome test (SNOT‐22) score predicted a reduction of 0.002 to 0.003 in HUS (all methods, p < 0.01). Patients who scheduled for endoscopic sinus surgery had 0.06 to 0.11 HUS lower than other groups in EQ‐5D‐5L and VAS (all p < 0.05). Higher endoscopy score, age, presence of comorbid airway diseases, and lower education correlated with lower HUS (p < 0.05). Given the HUS results and regression models, the EQ‐5D‐5L is likely the preferable choice.

Conclusion

The overall HUS of CRS was approximately 0.79–0.89. High SNOT‐22 score and those who failed medications, presence of comorbid AR/asthma, increased age, high endoscopy score, and low education negatively impacted HUS. Our data suggest that EQ‐5D‐5L is a preferable method for measuring HUS in patients with CRS.
Plants as a cost‐effective source for customizable photosynthetic wound dressings: A proof of concept study
Authors: González‐Itier Sergio , Miranda Miguel , Corrales‐Orovio Rocío , Vera Constanza , Veloso‐Giménez Valentina , Cárdenas‐Calderón Camila , Egaña José Tomás
Published: March 2024

Oxygen is essential for tissue regeneration, playing a crucial role in several processes, including cell metabolism and immune response. Therefore, the delivery of oxygen to wounds is an active field of research, and recent studies have highlighted the potential use of photosynthetic biomaterials as alternative oxygenation approach. However, while plants have traditionally been used to enhance tissue regeneration, their potential to produce and deliver local oxygen to wounds has not yet been explored. Hence, in this work we studied the oxygen‐releasing capacity of Marchantia polymorpha explants, showing their capacity to release oxygen under different illumination settings and temperatures. Moreover, co‐culture experiments revealed that the presence of these explants had no adverse effects on the viability and morphology of fibroblasts in vitro, nor on the viability of zebrafish larvae in vivo. Furthermore, oxygraphy assays demonstrate that these explants could fulfill the oxygen metabolic requirements of zebrafish larvae and freshly isolated skin biopsies ex vivo. Finally, the biocompatibility of explants was confirmed through a human skin irritation test conducted in healthy volunteers following the ISO‐10993‐10‐2010. This proof‐of‐concept study provides valuable scientific insights, proposing the potential use of freshly isolated plants as biocompatible low‐cost oxygen delivery systems for wound healing and tissue regeneration.
Immunomodulation in allergic rhinitis: Insights from Th2 cells and NLRP3/IL‐18 pathway
Authors: Hu Xiaoyan , Liu Shuang , Jing Zhang , He Yuxiao , Qin Gang , Jiang Liang
Published: March 2024

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is characterized by nasal symptoms such as rubbing and sneezing, often triggered by allergen exposure. The purpose of this study is to dissect the roles of NLRP3‐mediated immune modulation and macrophage pyroptosis in modulating T cell differentiation within the context of ovalbumin (OVA)‐induced AR in mice. OVA‐induced AR was established in mice, evaluating nasal symptoms, macrophage infiltration, cytokine levels, and T cell differentiation. Manipulations using NLRP3−/−, ASC−/− mice, clodronate liposome treatment, and NLRP3 inhibitor MCC950 were performed to assess their impact on AR symptoms and immune responses. Following OVA stimulation, increased nasal symptoms were observed in the OVA group along with augmented GATA3 expression and elevated IL‐4 and IL‐1b levels, indicative of Th2 polarization and cellular pyroptosis involvement. NLRP3−/− and ASC−/− mice exhibited reduced CD3+ T cells post OVA induction, implicating cellular pyroptosis in AR. Macrophage depletion led to decreased IgE levels, highlighting their involvement in allergic responses. Further investigations revealed enhanced macrophage pyroptosis, influencing Th1/Th2 differentiation in AR models. IL‐18 released through NLRP3‐mediated pyroptosis induced Th2 differentiation, distinct from IL‐1b. Additionally, MCC950 effectively mitigated AR symptoms by modulating Th2 responses and reducing macrophage infiltration. This comprehensive study unravels the pivotal role of NLRP3‐mediated immune modulation and macrophage pyroptosis in Th1/Th2 balance regulation in OVA‐induced AR. Targeting NLRP3 pathways with MCC950 emerged as a promising strategy to alleviate AR symptoms, providing insights for potential therapeutic interventions in AR management.
Experimental investigation on the rock breaking mechanism of electrode bit by high‐voltage electric pulses
Authors: Liu Weiji , Zhang Youjian , Zhu Xiaohua , Hu Hai
Published: March 2024

Because of the low rate of penetration (ROP) and high cost of traditional rotary rock breaking, it is important to explore some unconventional new rock breaking methods. High‐voltage electrical pulse (HVEP) drilling has attracted much attention because of its advantages such as environmental protection, good borehole wall quality, and high rock breaking efficiency. This paper independently designs and builds a complete indoor experimental platform of HVEP electric breakdown, and selects the self‐designed classic coaxial type and cross‐type electrode bits to carry out laboratory experiments of HVEP rock‐breaking, to truly reveal the rock breaking mechanism of HVEP drilling and further promote its industrial application. The influence of the anode structure of electrode bit, liquid insulation medium, drilling fluid circulation condition, and pulse voltage on rock breaking mechanism are investigated. The findings indicate that the bottom‐hole morphology of the rock sample is related to the electrode bit structure. The S‐type electrode bit has a certain discharge blind area, which is not conducive to the rock breaking of HVEP. With the increase of pre‐charging voltage, the effective discharge rate (EDR) of both electrode bits increases gradually, trending towards 100% as the pre‐charging voltage grows. Under non‐circulating working conditions, greater conductivity of liquid medium results in a lower EDR of electrode bits. In all kinds of liquid media, under low voltage (pre‐charging voltage <15 kV), the single pulse penetration depth (SPPD) under the non‐circulating working condition is larger than that of the circulating condition, in contrast, at a higher voltage (pre‐charging voltage >15 kV), the SPPD under the circulating condition is larger than that the non‐circulating condition. To further observe the generation of plasma channel and the rock damage characterization of HVEP, this paper also establishes a three‐dimensional numerical model of dynamic electrical breakdown of red sandstone to reproduce the generation of plasma channel, which can be mutually confirmed by indoor experimental results. The research results are essential for a deeper understanding of the rock breaking mechanism by electric pulse and for providing some theoretical guidance for the industrial application of electric pulse drilling technology.
Testing for galactic cosmic ray warming hypothesis using the notion of block‐exogeneity
Authors: Triacca Umberto
Published: March 2024

In this article, we consider the notion of block‐exogeneity and establish a characterization of it. We use this characterization to propose a procedure to test for block‐exogeneity in a trivariate system. The proposed procedure has been applied to test the so‐called galactic cosmic ray warming hypothesis. The galactic cosmic ray warming hypothesis suggests the existence of an indirect solar influence on Earth's climate. Our results seem to imply that this hypothesis does not hold. In particular, we find that the global temperature is block‐exogenous with respect to both sunspot numbers (a measure of the solar activity) and galactic cosmic rays. This implies that the supposed indirect causal link from solar activity to temperature (through cosmic rays), postulated by the galactic cosmic ray warming hypothesis, does not appear to exist.
Compound probiotics microcapsules improve milk yield and milk quality of dairy cows by regulating intestinal flora
Authors: Wu Rina , Chang Shihan , Zhang Henan , Yang Xujing , Gu Ruixia , Wang Shuo , Liu Xiaoyu , Liu Xiaoyan , Bat‐Ochir Munkhdelger , Wu Junrui
Published: March 2024

To address the issues of probiotic activity loss during storage and feeding, as well as the limited efficacy of single probiotics, a solution was devised by embedding a mixture of Bacillus coagulans SN‐8 (SN‐8) and Saccharomyces boulardii SN‐6 (SN‐6) in a gel. The initial step involved screening the probiotic microcapsules' preparation method and wall material. Using sodium alginate and β‐cyclodextrin as composite wall material and chitosan as the outer coating material allowed for an embedding rate of 82.11% in composite probiotic microcapsules prepared by the air atomization method. Next, in vitro, simulated digestion experiments were conducted to determine the number of viable bacteria and the release rate of the microcapsules. The results showed that compared to the free strain, the mixed probiotic microcapsules retained a survival rate of 67.5% after 3 h of simulated gastric juice exposure and 70.56% after 42 days of storage at 4°C. This demonstrated higher survival rates and storage stability. The prepared probiotic microcapsules were then administered to dairy cows. 16S rDNA gene sequencing showed that consumption of the microcapsules reduced the number of harmful bacteria, such as Paeniclostridium, in the intestinal tract of dairy cows while accelerating the growth of beneficial bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium. In particular, this resulted in a significant improvement in the lactation performance of the cows, with a 4.5% increase in milk fat content, a 92.5% increase in milk protein content, and a 3.5% increase in milk urea nitrogen content (6.75 mL/dL). In conclusion, probiotic microcapsules can effectively regulate intestinal flora, improving milk production, and quality in dairy cows.
Doubly sequenceable groups
Authors: Javaheri Mohammad
Published: March 2024

Given a sequence in a finite group with , let be the sequence of consecutive quotients of defined by and for . We say that is doubly sequenceable if there exists a sequence in such that every element of appears exactly twice in each of and . We show that if a group is abelian, odd, sequenceable, R‐sequenceable, or terraceable, then it is doubly sequenceable. We also show that if is an odd or sequenceable group and is an abelian group, then is doubly sequenceable.
Pediatric palliative care for metabolic diseases: 20‐year epidemiological survey of outpatients at a Brazilian quaternary hospital
Authors: Spolador Gustavo Marquezani , Bueno Clarissa , Polastrini Rita Tiziana Verardo , Zoboli Ivete , Henrique Ana Cristina , Freitas Elaine , do Nascimento Andréa Gislene , Pugliese Camila , Kok Fernando , Barbosa Silvia Maria de Macedo
Published: March 2024

The interface between pediatric palliative care (PPC) and inborn metabolic diseases (IMD) remains incipient, though these conditions fill the state of art of complex chronic diseases, eligible to this health approach. We analyzed the medical records of PPC clinic during the years 2001 to 2021 and the IMD outpatients. We established a parallel with the world scientific literature concerning the epidemiology of PPC and IMD. Among outpatients, 14% were diagnosed with IMD, which were referred to the PPC service earlier compared to Non‐IMD cases. The Group 3 (complex molecules) was the most frequent (64.7%), following by Group 1 representing by small molecules (21.6%), the latter having a lower median age at diagnosis when compared to the former (0.7 vs. 5.2 years, p = 0.001). The sphingolipidoses were the pathologies most frequent in our cohort, in line with what was observed in the literature. There were no differences between IMD groups in terms of diagnosis and PPC referral age, however in Non‐IMD conditions, the age of diagnosis were earlier than IMD. Nevertheless, IMD group showed lower age of referral to PPC. The IMD comprises large fraction of outpatients in the PPC setting, thus further studies are needed in this field.
Predictable Synthesis of 3D Polymer Networks Using Crystal Component‐Linking
Authors: Anan Shizuka , Kokado Kenta , Sada Kazuki
Published: March 2024

Controlled synthesis of 3D polymer networks presents a significant challenge because of the complexity of the polymerization reaction in solution. In this study, a polymerization system that facilitates the prediction of a polymer network structure via percolation simulations is realized. The most significant difference between general percolation simulations and experimental polymerization systems is the mobility of the molecules during the reaction. A crystal component‐linking method that connects the precisely arranged monomer as a supramolecular crystalline state to imitate the simple percolation theory is adopted. The percolation simulation based on the crystal structure of the arranged monomers is used to accurately calculate the gelation point, gel fraction, degree of swelling, and atomic formula, which correspond with the experimental results. This suggests that the network structures polymerized via the crystal component‐linking method can be predicted precisely by a simple percolation simulation. Further, the percolation simulation predicts the structures of the loop, branched polymer, and crosslinking point, which are difficult to measure experimentally. The polymerization of precisely‐arranged immobilized monomers in supramolecular structures is promising in synthesizing precisely controlled polymer networks.
Nutrition, endocannabinoids, and the use of cannabis: An overview for the nutrition clinician
Authors: Russell Lindsey , Condo Kayla , DeFlorville Tiffany
Published: March 2024

The endocannabinoid system (ECs) is composed of multiple signaling compounds and receptors within the central and peripheral nervous system along with various organs, including the gut, liver, and skeletal muscle. The ECs has been implicated in metabolism, gut motility, and eating behaviors. The ECs is altered in disease states such as obesity. Recent studies have clarified the role of the gut microbiome and nutrition on the ECs. Exogenous cannabinoid (CB) use, either organic or synthetic, stimulates the ECs through CB1 and CB2 receptors. However, the role of CBs is unclear in regard to nutrition optimization or to treat disease states. This review briefly summarizes the effect of the ECs and exogenous CBs on metabolism and nutrition. With the increased legalization of cannabis, there is a corresponding increased use in the United States. Therefore, nutrition clinicians need to be aware of both the benefits and harm of cannabis use on overall nutrition status, as well as the gaps in knowledge for future research and guideline development.
When rationality meets intuition: A research agenda for software design decision‐making
Authors: Pretorius Carianne , Razavian Maryam , Eling Katrin , Langerak Fred
Published: March 2024

As society's reliance on software systems escalates over time, so too does the cost of failure of these systems. Meanwhile, the complexity of software systems, as well as of their designs, is also ever‐increasing, influenced by the proliferation of new tools and technologies to address intended societal needs. The traditional response to this complexity in software engineering and software architecture has been to apply rationalistic approaches to software design through methods and tools for capturing design rationale and evaluating various design options against a set of criteria. However, research from other fields demonstrates that intuition may also hold benefits for making complex design decisions. All humans, including software designers, use intuition and rationality in varying combinations. The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive overview of what is known and unknown from existing research regarding the use and performance consequences of using intuition and rationality in software design decision‐making. To this end, a systematic literature review has been conducted, with an initial sample of 3909 unique publications and a final sample of 26 primary studies. We present an overview of existing research, based on the literature concerning intuition and rationality use in software design decision‐making and propose a research agenda with 14 questions that should encourage researchers to fill identified research gaps. This research agenda emphasizes what should be investigated to be able to develop support for the application of the two cognitive processes in software design decision‐making.
Development of membrane protein‐based vaccine against lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) using immunoinformatic tools
Authors: Salauddin Md. , Kayesh Mohammad Enamul Hoque , Ahammed Md. Suruj , Saha Sukumar , Hossain Md. Golzar
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Lumpy skin disease, an economically significant bovine illness, is now found in previously unheard‐of geographic regions. Vaccination is one of the most important ways to stop its further spread.

Aim

Therefore, in this study, we applied advanced immunoinformatics approaches to design and develop an effective lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV) vaccine.

Methods

The membrane glycoprotein was selected for prediction of the different B‐ and T‐cell epitopes by using the immune epitope database. The selected B‐ and T‐cell epitopes were combined with the appropriate linkers and adjuvant resulted in a vaccine chimera construct. Bioinformatics tools were used to predict, refine and validate the 2D, 3D structures and for molecular docking with toll‐like receptor 4 using different servers. The constructed vaccine candidate was further processed on the basis of antigenicity, allergenicity, solubility, different physiochemical properties and molecular docking scores.

Results

The in silico immune simulation induced significant response for immune cells. In silico cloning and codon optimization were performed to express the vaccine candidate in Escherichia coli. This study highlights a good signal for the design of a peptide‐based LSDV vaccine.

Conclusion

Thus, the present findings may indicate that the engineered multi‐epitope vaccine is structurally stable and can induce a strong immune response, which should help in developing an effective vaccine towards controlling LSDV infection.
Regulation and function of transposable elements in cancer genomes
Authors: Lee Michael , Ahmad Syed Farhan , Xu Jian
Published: March 2024

Over half of human genomic DNA is composed of repetitive sequences generated throughout evolution by prolific mobile genetic parasites called transposable elements (TEs). Long disregarded as “junk” or “selfish” DNA, TEs are increasingly recognized as formative elements in genome evolution, wired intimately into the structure and function of the human genome. Advances in sequencing technologies and computational methods have ushered in an era of unprecedented insight into how TE activity impacts human biology in health and disease. Here we discuss the current views on how TEs have shaped the regulatory landscape of the human genome, how TE activity is implicated in human cancers, and how recent findings motivate novel strategies to leverage TE activity for improved cancer therapy. Given the crucial role of methodological advances in TE biology, we pair our conceptual discussions with an in-depth review of the inherent technical challenges in studying repeats, specifically related to structural variation, expression analyses, and chromatin regulation. Lastly, we provide a catalog of existing and emerging assays and bioinformatic software that altogether are enabling the most sophisticated and comprehensive investigations yet into the regulation and function of interspersed repeats in cancer genomes.
Prospects of molecular hydrogen in cancer prevention and treatment
Authors: Zhou Wenchang , Zhang Jie , Chen Wankun , Miao Changhong
Published: March 2024

Gas signaling molecules, including carbon monoxide (CO), nitric oxide (NO), and hydrogen sulfide (H2S), have been shown to have cancer therapeutic potential, pointing to a new direction for cancer treatment. In recent years, a series of studies have confirmed that hydrogen (H2), a weakly reductive gas, also has therapeutic effects on various cancers and can mitigate oxidative stress caused by radiation and chemotherapy, reducing tissue damage and immunosuppression to improve prognosis. Meanwhile, H2also has immunomodulatory effects, inhibiting T cell exhaustion and enhancing T cell anti-tumor function. It is worth noting that human intestinal flora can produce large amounts of H2daily, which becomes a natural barrier to maintaining the body’s resistance to diseases such as tumors. Although the potential anti-tumor mechanisms of H2are still to be investigated, previous studies have shown that H2can selectively scavenge highly toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inhibit various ROS-dependent signaling pathways in cancer cells, thus inhibiting cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. The ROS scavenging ability of H2may also be the underlying mechanism of its immunomodulatory function. In this paper, we review the significance of H2produced by intestinal flora on the immune homeostasis of the body, the role of H2in cancer therapy and the underlying mechanisms, and the specific application of H2to provide new ideas for the comprehensive treatment of cancer patients.