bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Criminal liability for smuggling of «special»" items: legislative realities and perspectives (on the example of forest smuggling)
Authors: Movchan Roman
Published: March 2023

Purpose. Solving the issue of firstly, the expediency of singling out a separate rule on forest smuggling, and secondly, the correctness of its location among criminal offenses in the field of economic activity, which should further help to form scientifically based recommendations on the directions of development of legislation on criminal liability for smuggling “special” items. To achieve the declared goals, a methodology was chosen, the tools of which made it possible to objectively investigate the decision of the legislator under consideration. In particular, philosophical, general scientific and specifically scientific methods were used during the coverage of the relevant issues. For example, the method of system-structural analysis was used both in the study of the connections of the analyzed criminal law prohibition with the legal system of Ukraine in general, and with other norms of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The comparativist method made it possible to compare relevant provisions of domestic and foreign criminal legislation. Based on the results of writing this article, recommendations were formulated aimed at improving the criminal legislation in terms of countering the smuggling of "special" objects, in particular the smuggling of forest. The scientific novelty is that it was proved for the first time that at the current stage of the development of criminal legislation, it is expedient to allocate a separate norm on smuggling of "special" items, which should be the regulation of liability for smuggling of wood. Practical significance. The conclusions and suggestions formulated in the article can be used in the rule-making activities for the improvement of the criminal legislation of Ukraine regarding countering the investigated criminal offenses, by the developers of the project of the new CC, as well as in scientific research activities and the educational process - as a basis for further scientific studies of the problems of criminal responsibility for committing smuggling.
The concept of «legal understanding» in the arsenal of scientific categories of general theory and philosophy of law
Authors: Kelman Mykhailo , Syvulia Tatiana
Published: March 2023

Purpose. To analyze the peculiarities of approaches to legal understanding through the prism of various criteria, which will make it possible to determine its essence and significance. Legal understanding is a meaningful system, since the answer to the question about the essence of law is also the answer to the question about the content (purpose) of law. Methodology. In this sense, quite reasonable questions arise: how can one create law on the basis of comprehending a huge set of social phenomena without imagining at least the signs of this law, without even basic knowledge about it (here, by the way, one's own life experience should be eliminated as an obstacle to objectivity), how can one find the optimal method by which one can at least come close to understanding the essence of law that one is looking for? Let's assume that before cognizing the subject matter, i.e., law, we managed to identify the means of cognition in the form of scientific methods. Again, the question arises: how are these methods discovered? After all, in order to find them, one needs some other method, and to find the latter, one needs the next, and so on ad infinitum. The only way out of this circle is to identify some "obvious" properties of the subject. The methodological basis of the study is a system of conceptual approaches, general scientific and special legal methods, as well as methods of scientific knowledge: anthropological, idealistic, need-based research, systemic, communicative approaches, and such methods as historical and legal, comparative legal, etc. Results. In the course of the study, the author proves that three things are necessary for the study of the concept of legal understanding: knowledge of law (intellectual element), activity (volitional element), and - undoubtedly - consciousness (spiritual element). After all, only the spiritual identifies the first two. Only the spiritual component fills the "legal light", content, purpose, spirit of the law, legal connection, and guarantees them from turning into a formal scheme at best, and criminal law chaos at worst, and law itself is not law. Practical significance. Without exaggeration, the problem of understanding law can be classified as "eternal". Since the emergence of professional legal activity and up to now, there has not been and probably is not a single lawyer who would not think about the question of what law is and would not try to answer it.
Justice as the determining principle of criminal law
Authors: Lutskyi Roman , Kaniuka Irina
Published: March 2023

Purpose. The purpose of the article is to determine the essence and features of the concept of justice as a defining principle of criminal law. The relationship between form and matter (compliance of law with such categories as justice, equality, freedom, humanism) is the component that characterizes the essential basis of criminal law in relation to the regulation of social relations. Methodology. In order to achieve the set goal, a comprehensive analysis of the available information regarding the analyzed problem was carried out and conclusions and proposals were formed on their basis. The following methods of scientific knowledge were used during the research: dialectical, systemic-structural, terminological, systemic-functional, historical, normative-dogmatic, generalization method. Originality. As a result of the conducted research, it was established that the term «justice as a defining principle of criminal law» expresses the essential basis of criminal jurisprudence and is its main theoretical component. Scientific novelty. Systematization and generalization of the levels of theoretical and legal understanding of the concept of «justice as a defining principle of criminal law» was carried out for the first time. Practical significance. The understanding of the concept of justice as a principle of criminal law is not something rigid, defined. What is considered fair today, that is, determined by this principle, may be rejected tomorrow. In the norms of criminal legislation, the implementation of this principle must «keep up with the times» and correspond to the realities of life. Of course, a big step forward has been made in resolving the contradictions that have arisen. In addition, research results can be used in law-making and human rights protection activities regarding the implementation of current criminal legislation during wartime. Research results can be used in law-making and human rights protection activities regarding the implementation of current criminal legislation during wartime.
Percepcija, ponašanje i znanje ispitanika o čajevima odabranih vrsta aromatičnog i ljekovitog bilja u cilju detoksikacije organizma
Authors: Dorbić Boris , Bačić Tina , Friganović Emilija
Published: March 2023

Pod detoksikacijom se smatraju metabolički procesi u kojima se otrovne tvari u organizmu pretvaraju u manje otrovne. Prema namjeni detoksikacija se može podijeliti na terapijsku, kozmetičku i preventivnu. U novije vrijeme potrošači su razvili svijest o djelotvornosti različitih biljnih vrsta za liječenje mnogobrojnih bolesti. Većina čajeva od ljekovitog i aromatičnog bilja pripravlja se kao oparak ili infuz. U ovom radu se kroz teoretski dio opisuju glavne biološke, kemijske i ljekovite karakteristike odabranih vrsta aromatičnog i ljekovitog bilja koje se kao čaj mogu koristiti za detoksikaciju organizma (peršin, stolisnik, maslačak, menta, ružmarin, kadulja, šipak, kopriva). Cilj anketnog istraživanja bio je ispitati ponašanja, percepcije i znanja ispitanika o čajevima odabranih vrsta aromatičnog i ljekovitog bilja za detoksikaciju organizma. Anketno istraživanje je provedeno tijekom druge polovice 2020. godine na uzorku od 50 ispitanika. Rezultati anketnog istraživanja su pokazali da najveći postotak ispitanika vrlo često konzumira čajeve od paprene metvice, pasje ruže i kadulje. Ista situacija je utvrđena i u slučaju kada se radi o korištenju čajeva isključivo u svrhu detoksikacije organizma. I u pogledu ocjene općeg dojma (boja, miris, okus) ispitanici više vole klasičnije-komercijalnije tipove čajeva (šipak, paprena metvica i kadulja). Također, ispitanici imaju najviše saznanja o biološkim, kemijskim i ljekovitim karakteristikama gore navedenih vrsta.
Cáncer de colon metastásico derecho vs izquierdo y su comportamiento clínico molecular
Authors: Bayas Huilcapi Melani Berenice , Bayas Huilcapi Grace Vanessa
Published: March 2023

El tercer lugar de los cánceres más frecuentes en varones lo ocupa el de colón, es el segundo en mujeres, posee una incidencia de 45 casos/100000 habitantes por año, surge entre la quinta y séptima década de la vida, en Ecuador dentro de todas las neoplasias se localiza en el quinto puesto y su comportamiento molecular varia si la patología es derecha siendo representada por tumores MSI alto y el oncogén BRAF mutado, mientras que a nivel izquierdo se encuentran variaciones CIN (oncogenes KRAS y NRAS). Cetuximab, panitunumab, bevacizumab y afflibercept. Son fármacos biológicos que permiten controlar las patologías colónicas de tipo avanzadas. Objetivo: Describir el comportamiento clínico molecular de esta patología tanto en su lado derecho como el izquierdo. Metodología: Se presenta una investigación con enfoque cuantitativo, de tipo observacional y descriptivo, diseño no experimental, corte transversal y retrospectivo, la población son pacientes del servicio de Oncología del HTMC. Resultados: De los 106 pacientes que cumplieron con criterios de inclusión el 57% fue de sexo masculino y el 43% femenino, de éstos el 55% tuvo neoplasia del colon derecho y el 45% del colón izquierdo. Conclusiones: La anorexia, astenia, náuseas/vómitos y anemia fueron los síntomas más frecuentes del cáncer de colon en estadio IV del lado derecho son, y del lado izquierdo fueron el dolor abdominal, rectorragia y distensión abdominal. Mientras que respecto mutación de oncogenes en ambos lados del colon en mayor proporción se encontró un KRAS no mutado.
Assessing the Nexus among Energy Consumption, Foreign Direct
Investment and Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Olanrele Iyabo , Awode Segun
Published: March 2023

This study examines the dynamic relationship among energy consumption, foreign direct investment, and economic growth in Sub-Sahara Africa. Beyond assessing the tripartite causal relationship, the study investigates the extent of impacts among energy consumption, foreign direct investment, and economic growth using the Generalised Method of Moments. The study utilises data from 42 Sub-Saharan African countries spanning 1991 to 2018. Findings from the study show that a percentage increase in energy consumption engenders economic growth by 1.3 percent. Conversely, economic growth increases energy consumption by 0.004 percent. Also, there is a significant one-way causality running from foreign direct investment (FDI) to economic growth. The link between energy consumption and FDI were not statistically significant in both directions. The study advocates that government in Sub-Saharan Africa should ensure more energy access to enhance economic growth.
Effect of Monetary Policy Rate on Market Interest Rates in
Nigeria: A Threshold and NARDL Approach
Authors: Awopegba Oluwafemi , Afolabi Joseph , Adeoye Lydia , Akpokodje Godwin
Published: March 2023

This study examines the effect of monetary policy rate (MPR) on market interest rates in Nigeria. For parsimony, we develop two indexes called the short-term interest rate (SINT) and Lending interest rate (LINT) to represent deposit and lending rates respectively. The nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) and threshold regression models are adopted. The study uses monthly data from 2002:M1 to 2019:M12. The results of the threshold regression model indicate that the degree of the effect of MPR on SINT and LINT above the estimated threshold of 11 and 13 percent respectively is greater and significant than if MPR were to be below the threshold. Moreover, estimates from the nonlinear ARDL model show that increasing MPR induces a positive effect on short-term and lending interest rates, while a negative effect holds if MPR is decreased. For LINT, the magnitude of the negative effect is little, while for SINT, the effect is statistically insignificant. This depicts the downward stickiness of prices, which supports the argument that the ineffectiveness of MPR only holds when it is adjusted downward. We recommend that the monetary authority should focus on reforming the banking system in ways that remove downward rigidities in the effect of MPR on interest rates in order to engender greater efficiency of monetary policy.
Interest Rate Pass-through in Nigeria: An Asymmetric Cointegration Approach
Authors: Jibrilla Aliyu , Balami Dahiru
Published: March 2023

This paper empirically examines the pass-through of the Central Bank of Nigeria policy rate to commercial banks’ retail rates. The study covers the pre-liberalization (1962M01–1987M07) and post-liberalization (1987M08–2020M09) periods, and emplys asymmetric cointegration and error-correction modelling approach. The empirical results indicate that the pass-through is incomplete during both periods, though, it is larger during the pre-liberalization period. The study further reveals that the banking crises lead to an increase in the lending rate in the long and short run. The effect of the crises on the deposit rate is also positive but only significant in the short run. The empirical analysis demonstrates that all the threshold cointegration tests for the two sample periods exhibit asymmetric behaviour. The retail loan/lending rate adjustment to changes in the policy rate during both periods appears asymmetric with upward rigidity. The finding supports the adverse customer reaction hypothesis, suggesting that banks are more rigid in raising loan rates than reducing them. The results also support customer reaction on the deposit side, showing among others, downward rigidity in deposit rates in both periods. Therefore, the study recommends that the monetary authorities should strengthen monetary operations to ensure efficient transmission of monetary policy rate. There is also a need for measures that can enhance competitiveness in the banking sector and improve the efficacy of the interest rate channel. More commitments to preventing a systemic crisis in the industry and those that can effectively contain unavoidable ones are also desirable.
Constructing Divisia Monetary Aggregates for Nigeria
Authors: Bello Yakubu , Audu Salihu , Ibrahim Hamman , Gambo Ali , Usman Farida , Ejila Solomon , Ubiakwoyibo Ejiro , Okeke Chukwuma , Kalu Jennifer
Published: March 2023

This study computes Divisia monetary aggregates DM1, DM2, and DM3 for Nigeria using the Tornqvist-Theil quantity index for the period 2007M12 to 2020M12 and evaluates the performance of the higher-order aggregate (DM3) with a corresponding higher aggregate of the simple sum broad money supply (M3). Applying the indicators to money demand function the results showed that DM3 performed better than the matching simple sum measure M3 due to its faster convergence rate. This is because the Divisia aggregates contain additional information in the form of user-costs and spending shares that are not considered in the compilation of the traditional measure, information that may be important for the proper execution of monetary policy. It is therefore, recommended that the Divisia broad money index be used as complement to the simple sum broad money supply for policy decisions.
“Religious Humiliation” and Violence: Identity, Politics and Sikh separatism in India
Authors: GUL Umair , YALÇIN Resul
Published: March 2023

Sikh religion originated under the shade of Hinduism and Islam in India. It shaped itself as a distinct category away from “Hinduism”. While the Muslim Rulers of that era tried to contain the influence of Sikhism, the Hindu elites in the 19th and 20th centuries tried to assimilate Sikhs and treated them as a sect within Hinduism. This paper tries to map the quest of Sikhism for maintaining its distinct identity and resisting attempts of assimilation. The Khalistan movement or the Sikh separatism in India is also an attempt to maintain a distinct identity and resist assimilation. Humiliation has been often identified as the immediate cause of violence. This paper will however try to probe the specific notion of “Religious Humiliation” as a cause of violence and also its “cyclic nature”. The paper would present humiliation and violence as both antecedents as well as precedents of each other, thereby feeding into each other. The khalistan movement framed and located its identity in militant Sikhism, encompassing a mythical glorious past, a collective decline, and the urge to rise up.
Heavy metals concentration in the underground waters of rural settlements in Rivne region
Authors: Krupko H. , Sukhodolska I. , Lyko D. , Basaraba I.
Published: March 2023

The study deals with the evaluation of drinking water quality in rural settlements of Hoshcha (Rivne) district of Rivne region. It has been analyzed the concentration of biogenic (copper, zinc) and nonbiogenic (plumbum, cadmium) heavy metals in the water of the wells in the villages of Sadove, Zhalianka, Yuchyn and Tuchyn and artesian wells in the village of Tuchyn during 2012–2018. The research has given fundamental sources of underground waters pollution with heavy metals. It has been revealed that in the water of the wells Cu and Zn concentration does not increase maximum permissible concentrations during the whole period of research. The study demonstrates that water quality of the wells springs is not appropriate to the standard indicators according to the plumbum and cadmium. The authors point out the increasing of maximum permissible Pb concentrations in the wells of the villages of Sadove by 1.02–1.37 times (2012–2014, 2016, 2018) and the village of Tuchyn by 1.17–2.07 times (2012–2018). It has been stated that Cd concentration increases maximum permissible concentration in the wells of the villages of Sadove (by 1.6–3.8 times), Zhalianka (by 1.8–2.5 times), Yuchyn (by 1.3–2.7 times) and Tuchyn (by 1.8–4.5 times). Under the conditions of optimal concentrations biogenic heavy metals are necessary to provide life activities and functions of physiological processes of all organisms. However, continuous consuming of drinking water that is polluted with heavy metals negatively impacts on the organism and may cause acute and chronic diseases. Their impact depends on the concentration of the element, characteristics and intensity of its getting, absorption speed, retention and removal speed, and also human’s general state of health. In the village of Tuchyn according to cuprum, zinc, plumbum and cadmium concentration the water of artesian wells is appropriate to the permissible standards during 2012–2018 and is suitable for consumption and use. It is obviously that the use of deeper underground water horizons provides the inhabitants of the village of Tuchyn with qualitative drinking water. In the water of settlements wells where the increasing of standard Cd and Pb concentrations was observed it should be developed and implemented effective measures to develop the water quality.
Influence of «Bioecofunge-1» biocomposition on the growth and development of tomato plants (Solánum lycopérsicum L.)
Authors: Boyko O. , Tsvigun V. , Vashkevich P
Published: March 2023

The problem of regulation of plant growth and development by physiologically active substances is one of the most pressing problems in modern biology. The widespread use of plant growth regulators (PGR) is an important factor in the effectiveness of crop cultivation technology. A significant achievement is revealing the role of biologically active compounds in the regulation of the most important vital functions of a plant organism, increasing resistance to adverse environmental factors (high and low temperature, drought, soil salinity, diseases, etc.), increasing the yield and quality of agricultural products. Plant growth stimulants are biologically active substances of natural origin that enhance the intensity of metabolic and growth processes in plants and increase crop productivity. A range of scientists has proved the practical application of Basidiomycota in agriculture, namely in creating biocompositions and preparations based on them to stimulate the growth and development of crop plants and protect them against diseases and pests. In this regard, research in the field of biologically active substances used in the production of tomatoes is a necessary step toward the creation of new technology elements for their cultivation — one of the realistic prospects of realizing this crop’s biological resources and productive resources potential. The study aimed to investigate the impact of biocomposition «Bioekofunhe-1» on tomato growth and development. The biocomposition was created based on Basidiomycota and plant components to stimulate productivity and protect against diseases of agricultural plants. Seeds of three varieties of tomatoes were selected for the experiment: Hibryd Tarasenko 6, Lahidnyi and Prydniprovskyi Rozhevyi. Laboratory tests about matching concentrations of biocomposition and determining their impact on the growth processes of tomatoes were done. We proved that the «Bioekofunhe-1» biocomposition stimulates tomato growth and development. We matched its optimal concentration (0.1%) for effects on the growth processes of seedlings of tomato varieties. The application of the «Bioekofunhe-1» biocomposition in that concentration provides increasing the aerial part length of tomato seedlings of all three varieties.
Anesthesia and rare neuromuscular diseases
Authors: Radeka Jovan Z. , Stojanovic Milena Dragisa , Vasilijic Milena N. , Randjelovic Milica Miroslav , Jankovic Radmilo J.
Published: March 2023

Neuromuscular diseases, although rare in the general population, can be present in people who need to undergo surgery and anesthesia. Fortunately, the possibility of early diagnosis, new therapeutic approaches and the application of a multidisciplinary approach have significantly extended the life expectancy of such patients. The presence of such a disorder represents a challenge in anesthesiology practice, both during the preparation for surgery itself, the operative procedure and postoperative recovery in intensive care units. A basic understanding of the main disorders of the disease and their potential interactions with the anesthetic itself and the necessary agents in anesthesiology is necessary in order to reduce the risk of perioperative morbidity and mortality, with the aim of reducing the possibility of complications. Rare muscle diseases are very difficult to classify in a standard way because of the variability of their etiology and pathology. This work focuses on a number of muscle diseases such as Dubowitz syndrome, rhabdomyosarcoma in children, spinal muscular atrophy, Kennedy's disease, Congenital muscular dystrophy of the Ullrich type (UCMD), Sotos syndrome, Polymyositis and Setleis syndrome, Nemaline rod myopathy, Pompe disease, Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD). The medical literature on anesthetic techniques and perioperative complications was reviewed. Given that they can have a very unfavorable effect on the course of general anesthesia in particular and that these diseases can cause very serious, even life-threatening complications, an adequate anesthesiological approach is very important to reduce the possibility of the mentioned complications. A multidisciplinary approach is imperative for such patients before and after surgery, whether it is performed under analgosedation, some type of regional or general anesthesia. The operative procedure itself must be performed in institutions that are adequately equipped to treat such patients and by personnel who have experience in treating them.
An automated system for cattle reproductive management under the IoT framework. Part II: Induction of luteinizing hormone release after gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue delivery with e-Synch
Authors: Ren Yue , Duhatschek Douglas , Bartolomeu C. C. , Laplacette Ana L. , Perez Martin M. , Rial Clara , Erickson David , Giordano Julio O.
Published: March 2023

Technologies for automating animal management and monitoring tasks can improve efficiency and productivity of livestock production. We developed the e-Synch system for automated control and monitoring the estrous cycle of cattle through intravaginal hormone delivery and sensing. Thus, our objective was to evaluate luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations after intravaginal instillation of the Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue Gonadorelin with the e-Synch system. This system consists of an intravaginal electronically controlled automated hormone delivery and sensing device integrated with an IoT platform. Lactating Holstein cows with their estrous cycle synchronized were used in two experiments (Exp). In Exp 1, at 48 h after induction of luteolysis, cows (n=5-6 per group) were randomized to receive 100 µg of Gonadorelin through intramuscular (i.m.) injection, 100 µg of Gonadorelin in a 2 mL solution delivered with e-Synch, and an empty e-Synch device. In Exp 2, at 48 h after induction of luteolysis cows (n=6-7 per group) were randomized to receive 100 µg of Gonadorelin i.m., or an intravaginal treatment with e-Synch consisting of 100 or 1,000 µg of Gonadorelin in 2 or 10 mL of solution containing 10% citric acid as absorption enhancer. Circulating concentrations of LH were analyzed with linear mixed models with or without repeated measurements. In Exp 1, cows in the i.m. Gonadorelin treatment had a surge of LH whereas cows in the other two treatments did not have a surge of LH for up to 8 h after treatment. In Exp 2, the 1,000 µg dose of Gonadorelin elicited more LH release than the 100 µg dose, regardless of solution quantity. The overall LH response as determined by area under the curve, mean, and maximum LH concentrations was similar between cows receiving 1,000 µg of Gonadorelin delivered with e-Synch and 100 μg of Gonadorelin i.m. Increasing volume of solution for delivering the same dose of Gonadorelin partially increased LH release only for the 100 µg dose. We conclude that the e-Synch system could be used to automatically release Gonadorelin in a dose and volume that induces a surge of LH of similar magnitude than after i.m. injection of 100 μg of Gonadorelin. Also, the dose of Gonadorelin delivered by e-Synch is more critical than the volume of solution used.
Transcription factors and potential therapeutic targets for pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Yang Liu , Wan Naifu , Gong Fanpeng , Wang Xianfeng , Feng Lei , Liu Guizhu
Published: March 2023

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a refractory and fatal disease characterized by excessive pulmonary arterial cell remodeling. Uncontrolled proliferation and hypertrophy of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs), dysfunction of pulmonary arterial endothelial cells (PAECs), and abnormal perivascular infiltration of immune cells result in pulmonary arterial remodeling, followed by increased pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary pressure. Although various drugs targeting nitric oxide, endothelin-1 and prostacyclin pathways have been used in clinical settings, the mortality of pulmonary hypertension remains high. Multiple molecular abnormalities have been implicated in pulmonary hypertension, changes in numerous transcription factors have been identified as key regulators in pulmonary hypertension, and a role for pulmonary vascular remodeling has been highlighted. This review consolidates evidence linking transcription factors and their molecular mechanisms, from pulmonary vascular intima PAECs, vascular media PASMCs, and pulmonary arterial adventitia fibroblasts to pulmonary inflammatory cells. These findings will improve the understanding of particularly interactions between transcription factor-mediated cellular signaling pathways and identify novel therapies for pulmonary hypertension.
Prognostic value of coronary computed tomography angiography compared to radionuclide myocardial perfusion imaging in patients With coronary stents
Authors: Abazid Rami M. , Romsa Jonathan G. , Warrington James C. , Akincioglu Cigdem , Smettei Osama A. , Bureau Yves , Tzemos Nikolaos , Vezina William C.
Published: March 2023

Objectives

The aim of this study is to compare the prognostic value of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in predicting cardiovascular events in patients with stents.

Design

Retrospective analysis.

Setting

University Hospital, London, Ontario Canada.

Participants

Between January 2007 and December 2018, 119 patients post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) who were referred for hybrid imaging with CTA and 2-day rest/stress SPECT were enrolled.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Patients were followed for any major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) including: All-cause mortality, Non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), Unplanned revascularization, Cerebrovascular accident and hospitalization for arrhythmia or heart failure. We define hard cardiac events (HCE) as: cardiac death, non-fatal MI or unplanned revascularization. We used two cut-off values to define obstructive lesions with CCTA ≥50% and ≥70% in any coronary segment. SPECT scan defined as abnormal in the presence of >5% reversible myocardial perfusion defect.

Results

During the follow-up period of 7.2 ± 3.4 years. 45/119 (37.8%) patients experienced 57 MACE: Ten deaths (2 cardiac deaths and 8 of non-cardiac deaths), 29 acute coronary syndrome including non-fatal MI (25 required revascularization), 7 hospitalizations for heart failure, 6 cerebrovascular accidents and 5 new atrial fibrillation. 31 HCEs were reported. Cox regression analysis showed that obstructive coronary stenosis (≥50% and ≥70%) and abnormal SPECT were associated of MACE (p = 0.037, 0.018 and 0.026), respectively. In contrast, HCEs were significantly associated with obstructive coronary stenosis of ≥50% and ≥70% with p = 0.004 and p = 0.007, respectively. In contrast, abnormal SPECT was a nonsignificant predictor of HCEs (p = 0.062).

Conclusion

Obstructive coronary artery stenosis on CCTA can predict MACE and HCE. However, abnormal SPECT can only predict MACE but not HCE in patients post-PCI with a follow-up period of approximately 7 years.
Normothermic ex vivo heart perfusion with NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor Mcc950 treatment improves cardiac function of circulatory death hearts after transplantation
Authors: Xu Liwei , Zeng Zifeng , Niu Chuanjie , Liu Deshen , Lin Shaoyan , Liu Xiu , Szabó Gábor , Lu Jun , Zheng Shaoyi , Zhou Pengyu
Published: March 2023

Background

The utilization of donation after circulatory death (DCD) hearts can enlarge the donor pool. However, DCD hearts suffer from serious ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI). Recent studies found that the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome could play a significant role in organ IRI. Mcc950, which is a novel inhibitor of the NLRP3 inflammasome, can be applied to treat various kinds of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, we hypothesized that the treatment of mcc950 could protect DCD hearts preserved with normothermic ex vivo heart perfusion (EVHP) against myocardial IRI via inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome in a rat heart transplantation model of DCD.

Methods

Donor-heart rats were randomly divided into four groups: Control group; Vehicle group; MP-mcc950 group; and MP + PO-mcc950 group. Mcc950 was added into the perfusate of normothermic EVHP in the MP-mcc950 and MP + PO-mcc950 groups, and was injected into the left external jugular vein after heart transplantation in the MP + PO-mcc950 group. Cardiac functional assessment was performed. The level of oxidative stress, inflammatory response, apoptosis, and NLRP3 inflammasome-associated protein of donor hearts were evaluated.

Results

The treatment with mcc950 significantly increased the developed pressure (DP), dP/dtmax, and dP/dtmin of the left ventricular of DCD hearts at 90 min after heart transplantation in both MP-mcc950 and MP + PO-mcc950 groups. Furthermore, mcc950 added into perfusate and injected after transplantation in both MP-mcc950 and MP + PO-mcc950 groups significantly attenuated the level of oxidative stress, inflammatory response, apoptosis, and NLRP3 inflammasome compared with the vehicle group.

Conclusions

Normothermic EVHP combined with mcc950 treatment can be a promising and novel DCD heart preservation strategy, which can alleviate myocardial IRI via inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome.
A content validity and cognitive interview to develop the HARMONI items: Instrument measuring student well-being in West Java, Indonesia
Authors: Susanto Hery , Wedyaswari Miryam , Dalimunthe Karolina Lamtiur
Published: March 2023

Practitioners in education need instrument to measure the skills of well-being. These skills should be taught in school alongside achievement skills to improve the learning process and student outcome. However, most existing well-being instruments are designed for the western population, even though geographic regions and cultural diversities are important to consider to develop well-being instruments. Thus, we use the PROSPER (Positivity, Relationships, Outcomes, Strengths, Purpose, Engagement, Resilience) model as a student well-being framework to develop an instrument named the HARMONI (Hasil yang berproses, Andal berdaya lenting, Relasi yang positif, Makna dalam tujuan, Orientasi sikap positif, Nilai suatu kekuatan, Inisiatif yang melibatkan), which is specified for West Java high school student population. The HARMONI instrument has seven dimensions: Positivity, Relationships, Outcomes, Strengths, Purpose, Engagement and Resilience. The study aims to develop HARMONI items for high school students in West Java. We conducted three activities: item development, expert reviews, and cognitive interviews. In the review process, nine experts in total who are experts in educational psychology, well-being, and psychometry were involved. Based on the reviews, we reduced the items from 556 to 125 items. The calculation of the Content Validity Index of the reviews showed that the items have good content validity (mean I-CVI ranging from 0.96 to 1). Next, cognitive interviews were conducted to analyze participants’ cognitive processes in responding to the items. The participants of the cognitive interviews were 25 senior high school students in West Java, who were selected based on a purposive sampling technique. The result showed that the participants well understood most of the items. However, several items needed to be revised due to problems related to comprehension, retrieval and judgment. The items were improved by changing incomprehensible, vague and ambiguous words, revising the sentence structure and adding more specific cues. A total of 124 items were ready to be used for a psychometric study.
Volute clapboard and clearance of wear-ring effect on the operation characteristics of canned motor pump
Authors: Cheng Ke , Jiang Ting , He Yajing , Wang Xiulan
Published: March 2023

Canned Motor Pump (CMP) is widely used in petroleum, chemical, electric power, aerospace engineering, and military manufacturing industries due to its good sealing performance. In the structure of canned motor pump, the rotor of the motor and the impeller of the pump are fixed on the same shaft. Therefore, balancing the axial force and the radical force of the rotor is a key task for its reliable operation. The numerical simulation study of CMP is carried out in this paper, aiming to improve the pump efficiency and balance the axial force and radial force. The internal flow and rotor force characteristics of CMP under different radial clearances of front or back wear-rings and different volute partitions are studied. The results show that with the increase of wear-ring gap, external performances decline, and the front wear-ring gap contributed the largest influence. Under the working conditions of 0.6QBEP and 0.8QBEP, front wear-rings contributed the largest influence to axial force, and the degree of influence decreases with the rate of flow increase. Radial clearances of front or back wear-rings have less impact on the radial force of the impeller. Adding clapboard for volute has a greater impact on the value and direction of radial force, and it can promote the balance of radial force. However, the effectiveness value will decrease. The research in this paper can provide theoretical basis and reference for performance prediction and hydraulic optimization of CMP.
Predictors of sequence capture in a large-scale anchored phylogenomics project
Authors: Nunes Renato , Storer Caroline , Doleck Tenzing , Kawahara Akito Y. , Pierce Naomi E. , Lohman David J.
Published: March 2023

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have revolutionized phylogenomics by decreasing the cost and time required to generate sequence data from multiple markers or whole genomes. Further, the fragmented DNA of biological specimens collected decades ago can be sequenced with NGS, reducing the need for collecting fresh specimens. Sequence capture, also known as anchored hybrid enrichment, is a method to produce reduced representation libraries for NGS sequencing. The technique uses single-stranded oligonucleotide probes that hybridize with pre-selected regions of the genome that are sequenced via NGS, culminating in a dataset of numerous orthologous loci from multiple taxa. Phylogenetic analyses using these sequences have the potential to resolve deep and shallow phylogenetic relationships. Identifying the factors that affect sequence capture success could save time, money, and valuable specimens that might be destructively sampled despite low likelihood of sequencing success. We investigated the impacts of specimen age, preservation method, and DNA concentration on sequence capture (number of captured sequences and sequence quality) while accounting for taxonomy and extracted tissue type in a large-scale butterfly phylogenomics project. This project used two probe sets to extract 391 loci or a subset of 13 loci from over 6,000 butterfly specimens. We found that sequence capture is a resilient method capable of amplifying loci in samples of varying age (0–111 years), preservation method (alcohol, papered, pinned), and DNA concentration (0.020 ng/μl - 316 ng/ul). Regression analyses demonstrate that sequence capture is positively correlated with DNA concentration. However, sequence capture and DNA concentration are negatively correlated with sample age and preservation method. Our findings suggest that sequence capture projects should prioritize the use of alcohol-preserved samples younger than 20 years old when available. In the absence of such specimens, dried samples of any age can yield sequence data, albeit with returns that diminish with increasing age.
Effects of environment and metacommunity delineation on multiple dimensions of stream fish beta diversity
Authors: Stoczynski Lauren , Scott Mark C. , Bower Luke , Peoples Brandon K.
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Beta diversity represents changes in community composition among locations across a landscape. While the effects of human activities on beta diversity are becoming clearer, few studies have considered human effects on the three dimensions of beta diversity: taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic. Including anthropogenic factors and multiple dimensions of biodiversity may explain additional variation in stream fish beta diversity, providing new insight into how metacommunities are structured within different spatial delineations.

Methods

In this study, we used a 350 site stream fish abundance dataset from South Carolina, United States to quantify beta diversity explainable by spatial, natural environmental, and anthropogenic variables. We investigated three spatial delineations: (1) a single whole-state metacommunity delineated by political boundaries, (2) two metacommunities delineated by a natural geomorphic break separating uplands from lowlands, and (3) four metacommunities delineated by natural watershed boundaries. Within each metacommunity we calculated taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic beta diversity and used variation partitioning to quantify spatial, natural environmental, and anthropogenic contributions to variations in beta diversity.

Results

We explained 25–81% of the variation in stream fish beta diversity. The importance of these three factors in structuring metacommunities differed among the diversity dimensions, providing complementary perspectives on the processes shaping beta diversity in fish communities. The effect of spatial, natural environmental, and anthropogenic factors varied among the spatial delineations, which indicate conclusions drawn from variation partitioning may depend on the spatial delineation chosen by researchers.

Discussion

Our study highlights the importance of considering human effects on metacommunity structure, quantifying multiple dimensions of beta diversity, and careful consideration of user-defined metacommunity boundaries in beta diversity analyses.
Pollutant accumulation in road mitigation tunnels for amphibians: A multisite comparison on an ignored but important issue
Authors: White Katie J. , Petrovan Silviu O. , Mayes William M.
Published: March 2023

Underpasses or road tunnels are increasingly installed to reconnect habitats and ensure safe wildlife passage, thus preventing habitat fragmentation caused by roads and mortality from collisions with vehicles. In the UK, such underpasses are regularly implemented for amphibians and especially the protected great crested newt, Triturus cristatus. However, roads are also a key source of environmental pollutants including trace metals, road salt, petroleum and diesel hydrocarbons and these might impact road mitigation structures where amphibians are funnelled to, yet the extent and implications of such pollutants are almost never quantified in relation to this aspect, despite the recognised sensitivity of amphibians to chemical pollutants. Sediments were analysed from four amphibian road mitigation tunnel sites across the UK and compared to natural soil formations at local reference sites to determine whether contaminants were indeed accumulating within the tunnels. Three potential contaminants (copper, lead, and total petroleum hydrocarbons) were found in greater concentrations in the underpass sediments than respective reference sites at three of four locations, while one (zinc) was found in greater concentrations at all four studied underpasses compared to reference sites. Aggregated sediment pH value was significantly greater in the underpass sediment than the respective reference sites at all four study sites and in several instances the contaminants reached values that exceeded the thresholds of environmental concern. Despite the large geographic area covered and the significant site differences the absolute values of potential pollutants in tunnels were similar across sites, thus suggesting similar pollution sources and pathways. These results suggest road tunnels installed for ecological mitigation could be a significant pathway for pollutants from road surfaces to amphibians and it is recommended that focussed monitoring and maintenance of the underpasses is enacted given that their short or long-term impacts on amphibians are currently unknown. Potential management options could include regular jet-washing of the underpasses, or alternatively, pre- or post-implementation modifications of mitigation designs should aim to minimise the pollution pathway from road surfaces.
Pixel-level multimodal fusion deep networks for predicting subcellular organelle localization from label-free live-cell imaging
Authors: Wei Zhihao , Liu Xi , Yan Ruiqing , Sun Guocheng , Yu Weiyong , Liu Qiang , Guo Qianjin
Published: March 2023

Complex intracellular organizations are commonly represented by dividing the metabolic process of cells into different organelles. Therefore, identifying sub-cellular organelle architecture is significant for understanding intracellular structural properties, specific functions, and biological processes in cells. However, the discrimination of these structures in the natural organizational environment and their functional consequences are not clear. In this article, we propose a new pixel-level multimodal fusion (PLMF) deep network which can be used to predict the location of cellular organelle using label-free cell optical microscopy images followed by deep-learning-based automated image denoising. It provides valuable insights that can be of tremendous help in improving the specificity of label-free cell optical microscopy by using the Transformer–Unet network to predict the ground truth imaging which corresponds to different sub-cellular organelle architectures. The new prediction method proposed in this article combines the advantages of a transformer’s global prediction and CNN’s local detail analytic ability of background features for label-free cell optical microscopy images, so as to improve the prediction accuracy. Our experimental results showed that the PLMF network can achieve over 0.91 Pearson’s correlation coefficient (PCC) correlation between estimated and true fractions on lung cancer cell-imaging datasets. In addition, we applied the PLMF network method on the cell images for label-free prediction of several different subcellular components simultaneously, rather than using several fluorescent labels. These results open up a new way for the time-resolved study of subcellular components in different cells, especially for cancer cells.
Genetic diversity assessment of the indigenous goat population of Benin using microsatellite markers
Authors: Whannou Habib Rainier Vihotogbe , Spanoghe Martin , Dayo Guiguigbaza-Kossigan , Demblon Dominique , Lanterbecq Deborah , Dossa Luc Hippolyte
Published: March 2023

Improved knowledge of the diversity within and among local animal populations is increasingly necessary for their sustainable management. Accordingly, this study assessed the genetic diversity and structure of the indigenous goat population of Benin. Nine hundred and fifty-four goats were sampled across the three vegetation zones of Benin [i.e., Guineo-Congolese zone (GCZ), Guineo-Sudanian zone (GSZ), and Sudanian zone (SZ)] and genotyped with 12 multiplexed microsatellite markers. The genetic diversity and structure of the indigenous goat population of Benin were examined using the usual genetic indices (number of alleles Na, expected and observed heterozygosities He and Ho, Fixation index FST, coefficient of genetic differentiation GST), and three different methods of structure assessment [Bayesian admixture model in STRUCTURE, self-organizing map (SOM), and discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC)]. The mean values of Na (11.25), He (0.69), Ho (0.66), FST (0.012), and GST (0.012) estimated in the indigenous Beninese goat population highlighted great genetic diversity. STRUCTURE and SOM results showed the existence of two distinct goat groups (Djallonké and Sahelian) with high crossbreeding effects. Furthermore, DAPC distinguished four clusters within the goat population descending from the two ancestry groups. Clusters 1 and 3 (most individuals from GCZ) respectively showed a mean Djallonké ancestry proportion of 73.79% and 71.18%, whereas cluster 4 (mainly of goats from SZ and some goats of GSZ) showed a mean Sahelian ancestry proportion of 78.65%. Cluster 2, which grouped almost all animals from the three zones, was also of Sahelian ancestry but with a high level of interbreeding, as shown by the mean membership proportion of only 62.73%. It is therefore urgent to develop community management programs and selection schemes for the main goat types to ensure the sustainability of goat production in Benin.