bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Triterpenes and sterols from Ziziphus spina-christi, cytotoxicity evaluation in vitro and in silico
Authors: Adam Ibrahim Abdurrahman , Omoboyowa Damilola , Irshad Rimsha , Wang Yan
Published: May 2024

Aim
This study aimed to discover active anti-cancer components from Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf.
Methods
Multiple chromatography techniques were used to isolate pure compounds. The structures of isolates were determined by feasible spectroscopic techniques and comparing the data with reported ones. All obtained compounds were evaluated in vitro against four cell lines (three cancer cell lines MCF7, H460, and HeLa, and a normal cell line BJ). Besides, in silico pharmacokinetics and drug-likeness prediction of all compounds were performed. Moreover, all isolated compounds were performed for docking study by an essential receptor of breast cancer HER-2, to figure out the interactions.
Results
Seven compounds (1‒7) were obtained, including five triterpenoid derivatives, lupeol (1), betulinaldehyde (3), betulin (4), betulinic acid (5), and 2-O-E-p-coumaroyl alphitolic acid (6), along with two sterol derivatives, β-sitosterol (2) and β-sitosterol glycoside (7). Among them, 4 and 6 were isolated for the first time from Z. spina-christi. 1 and 5 were found to be active on cancer cell lines, but also cytotoxic for normal cell line BJ. 3 and 4 were reported for the first time to be active and non-cytotoxic. compound 7 was identified as a hit compound with a docking score of -8.420 kcal/mol and two H-bond interactions with ASP 863 residue of the binding site. Remarkably, all compounds met more than three of Lipinski’s rule of five (RO5). Notably, all compounds were within the normal range for QPPMDCK, QPlogBB, and QPPCaco, except 6 was observed to be above ‒5. Compound 7 was identified as a hit compound interacting with a key protein in breast cancer, HER-2. Validation of the docking procedure by MM/GBSA showed that 6 (‒53.435 kcal/mol)) has the highest free binding energy.
Conclusions
This study suggests compounds from Z. spina-christi could be potent HER-2 inhibitors and experimentally verified as lead compounds in search of HER-2 antagonists for breast cancer.
Efficacy of prebiotic, probiotic and synbiotic administration in improving growth in children aged 0-59 months living in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Khouma Marietou , Diallo Mamadou , Sow Doudou , Djigal Aicha , Diop Ndeye Sokhna , Allen Stephen , Faye Babacar
Published: May 2024

Background
Poor growth is one of the major obstacles to human development, affecting millions of children under the age of 5 years, particularly those living in low- and middle-income countries. The objective of this review was to evaluate the efficacy of administering pre-, pro- or synbiotics on the growth of children aged 0–59 months living in LMICs.
Methods
Google scholar, Pubmed, clinical trial.org and Science Direct databases were searched in April 2023 for randomised controlled trials of pre-, pro- or synbiotics that evaluated growth in under fives in LMICs. The primary outcome were weight and height gain. Secondary outcomes were head circumference, body mass index gain and Z score. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to calculate mean differences for continuous outcomes. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation criteria was used to assess certainty of the evidence.
Results
Eight trials involving 1375 children under 5 years of age were identified. Meta-analysis of 6 RCTs (n = 991 children) revealed a significant difference in favor of the experimental group (n = 579) compared the control group (n = 412) for weight gain: (MD = 0.33 kg, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.55); low-certainty evidence. Sub-group analysis revealed that, pre-, pro, or synbiotics may be more effective in malnourished that healthy children (p = 0.003). Meta-analysis of height gain for 4 RCTs (n = 845) found that there was no significant difference between the experimental group (n = 496) and the control group (n = 349) (MD = 0.31 cm; 95% CI -0.36 to 0.98); low-certainty evidence. In sub-group analysis, prebiotics had a greater impact on height gain than synbiotics (p = 0.03). In the only study reporting an increase in head circumference (n = 32 children), this was not improved by the administration of synbiotics. However, administration of synbiotics to undernourished children significantly improved BMI gain.
Conclusion
The evidence for the administration of pre-, pro- or synbiotics on the growth of children in LMICs is weak. Administration of pre-, pro- or synbiotics may improve weight gain and synbiotics may improve BMI, particularly in malnourished children. Further research is needed due to the small number of studies, short duration of administration and small sample size.
Research on gesture segmentation method based on FCN combined with CBAM-ResNet50
Authors: ZHAO Hongtu , LIANG Menghua , LI Hao
Published: May 2024

As a key step of gesture recognition, gesture segmentation can effectively reduce the impact of complex backgrounds on recognition results and improve the accuracy of gesture recognition. The gesture segmentation algorithm based on image processing is easily affected by the complex backgrounds in the image, resulting in poor gesture segmentation effect and low precision. To improve the effect of gesture segmentation under complex backgrounds, this paper proposes a gesture segmentation method based on FCN combined with the CBAM-ResNet50 network model. The trunk network of FCN is proposed as a new ResNet-50 framework. CBAM attention mechanism is introduced into the residual structure to enhance the extraction ability of multi-scale context information. And we achieve deep feature and shallow feature extraction and fusion by combining expansion convolution and enhancing the parameters of the convolutional layer, so as to improve the precision of gesture segmentation. In addition, the methods of data preprocessing and loading pre-training weights are used to enhance the model’s robustness and performance and expedite the training time. In the experiments, the NUS-II gesture data set with a complex background was used for testing. The average recognition rate of gesture pixels was 97.41% and gesture IoU was 94.54%. The experimental results show that the proposed method has a good effect on gesture segmentation for gesture images with complex backgrounds.
Characterization of Wastewater Quality and Denitrification Potential of Domestic Wastewater
Authors: Khanh Nguyen Quoc , Chuang Shun-Hsing
Published: May 2024

Developing a simulation model requires precision in the parameters of the wastewater quality components. This study investigated the fractions of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total nitrogen (TN) in influent and effluent at a domestic wastewater treatment plant in Taiwan. As per the COD categorization, raw wastewater includes 12.6% readily biodegradable COD and 45.6% slowly biodegradable COD that can participate in the denitrification process. Meanwhile, up to 62.8% ammonia nitrogen was present in wastewater, according to the TN classification. As a result, when using raw wastewater as a carbon source, the optimal COD/NO3-N was 6, indicating a low denitrification efficiency (merely 50% compared to 95% for acetate as a carbon source). The abundance of slowly biodegradable COD coupled with the denitrification rate of 0.73 mg N/g VSS.hr was approximately half the denitrification rate of readily biodegradable COD (1.67 mg N/g VSS.hr). Furthermore, this study has also shown the potential to use slowly biodegradable carbon sources in the denitrification process by contributing to improving the reduction efficiency by more than 50% when applying both carbon sources.
Contribution of wind and water erosion in the agricultural and pastoral areas of northern China based on 137Cs tracer technology
Authors: Jiang hongtao , Guo Chunrong , Li Xiaojia , Zhang Wanfeng , Du Pengfei , Guo Qiankun , Wang Yousheng , jing Wang
Published: May 2024

This study focuses on the important ecological challenges facing agricultural and pastoral areas in northern China: soil wind and water erosion, both of which contribute significantly to soil degradation. Understanding the relative impacts of these erosion types is crucial for effective erosion control measures. We explored the ratio of soil wind erosion to water erosion in an agro-pastoral zone based on topographic and geomorphic conditions using the 137Cs tracer method. The study showed that cropland is the land type that has suffered the most severe erosion in the region in recent decades. Specifically, on gentle slopes (6–8°), the rate of water erosion exceeded the rate of wind erosion by a factor of about eight, while on steeper slopes (10–15°) this trend was more pronounced, with the rate of water erosion exceeding the rate of wind erosion by a factor of about 27. This result was verified by the measured data in the previous study area. Taken together, water erosion dominates in the agricultural and pastoral areas of northern China, while wind erosion takes second place. Future erosion prevention strategies should prioritize hydraulic erosion control measures on sloping cropland. In addition, it is crucial to promote research on the compound mechanism of wind and water erosion to adopt more effective erosion control measures and ensure the sustainable development of the ecological environment in the region.
A Standardized M3Cs clinical validity framework for microRNA data in microRNA databases with application to MicroRNA Childhood Cancer Catalog (M3Cs) version 2.0
Authors: Rashed Wafaa M. , Abdel-Razek Ahmed H. , Rezk Mohamed A. , Rezk Ahmed A. , Soudy Mohamed , Shawky Sherif M. , Hassan Mohamed Kamel , Matboli Marwa
Published: May 2024

The rapid expansion of miRNA research as cancer biomarkers has spurred the development of user-friendly miRNA-disease databases. However, integrating these bioinformatics tools into clinical practice requires innovative approaches. Digital innovation (DIN) represents the innovative link to integrate proposed ‘M3Cs standardized clinical validity framework’ in digital miRNA-disease databases. Our team diligently adhered to the standard workflow of DIN, following each step of the process: Initiate, Develop, Implement, and Exploit. Here we describe a framework for the accurate and standardized clinical validity categorization of miRNAs in databases and validate it by application to the MicroRNA Childhood Cancer Catalog version 2.0 (M3Cs V.2.0) as the product of DIN. The framework provides a semiquantitative measurement for the strength of evidence of a miRNA-disease relationship that correlates to a qualitative classification: "Strong”, “Moderate”, “Limited”, "No Known Trait/Trait subtype Relationship” or "Contradictory Evidence”. Classifications derived from this framework are reviewed and confirmed or adjusted based on clinical expertise of appropriate disease experts. To our knowledge, this is the first catalog to connect miRNAs data with the clinical impact as a validated tool in childhood cancer. We believe that widespread adoption of this framework will lead to improved analysis, interpretation, and integration of miRNA data toward clinical utility.
A causal relationship between bone mineral density and breast cancer risk: a Mendelian randomization study based on East Asian population
Authors: Cheng Ziyang , Xu Hui , Wang Xin , Teng Tao , Li Bin , Cao Zhong , Li Zhichao , Zhang Jiayi , Xuan Jin , Zhang Fengyi , Chen Yaxin , Li Yujie , Wang Wenbo
Published: May 2024

Background
Breast cancer (BC) poses significant burdens on women globally. While past research suggests a potential link between bone mineral density (BMD) and BC risk, findings remain inconsistent. Our study aims to elucidate the causal relationship between BMD and BC in East Asians using bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) and reverse MR analyses.
Methods
Genetic association data for bone mineral density T-scores (BMD-T) and Z-scores (BMD-Z) (Sample size = 92,615) and breast cancer from two different sources (Sample size1 = 98,283; Sample size2 = 79,550) were collected from publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with BMD-T and BMD-Z as phenotype-related instrumental variables were used, with breast cancer as the outcome. As the primary means of causal inference, the inverse variance weighted (IVW) approach was employed. Heterogeneity analysis was conducted using Cochran's Q test, while MR-Egger regression analysis was implemented to assess the pleiotropic effects of the instrumental variables. Sensitivity analyses were performed using methods such as MR-Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode to analyze the robustness and reliability of the results. The MR-PRESSO method and the RadialMR were used to detect and remove outliers. The PhenoScanner V2 website was utilized to exclude confounding factors shared between BMD and BC. Then, the meta-analysis method was applied to combine the MR analysis results from the two BC sources. Finally, a reverse MR analysis was conducted.
Results
The results of the IVW method were consolidated through meta-analysis, revealing a positive correlation between genetically predicted BMD-T (OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.13–1.33, P < 0.001) and BMD-Z(OR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.09–1.26, P < 0.001)with increased BC risk.The MR-Egger regression suggested that neither of these causal relationships was affected by heterogeneity or horizontal pleiotropy. The sensitivity analyses supported the IVW results, indicating the robustness of the findings. Reverse MR analysis showed no causal relationship between BC and BMD.
Conclusion
Our MR study results provide evidence for a causal relationship between BMD and BC risk, which suggests the significance of BMD screening in detecting and preventing BC.
Characterization and Expression Analysis of MADS-box gene AGL8 in Cotton: Insights into gene function differentiation in plant growth and stress resistance
Authors: Wang Zhicheng , Cao Yuefen , Jiang Yurong , Ding Mingquan , Rong Junkang
Published: May 2024

Background
AGAMOUS-LIKE 8 (AGL8) belongs to the MADS-box family, which plays an important role in transcriptional regulation, sequence-specific DNA binding and other biological processes and molecular functions. As a representative of polyploid plants, cotton genome contain multiple AGL8 genes. However, their differentiation in function is still unclear.
Methods and Results
This study conducted a comprehensive genomic analysis of AGL8 genes. Cotton AGL8s were subdivided into four subgroups (Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4) based on phylogenetic analysis, and different subgroups of AGL8s showed different characteristics, including structure and conserved motifs. In the promoter region of GhAGL8 genes, we successfully predicted cis-elements that respond to phytohormone signal transduction and stress response of plants. Based on transcriptome data and real-time quantitative PCR validation, the results indicated that three genes, GH_D07G0744, GH_A03G0856 and GH_A07G0749, were highly induced by MeJA, SA, and ABA, which indicated that they function in plant resistance to abiotic and biological stresses.
Conclusions
The information from gene structure, number and types of conserved domains, tissue-specific expression levels, and expression patterns under different treatments indicates the differentiation of sequence and function in cotton AGL8 genes. Different AGL8s play a role in vegetative growth, reproductive development, and plant stress resistance.These results laid a foundation for further study of GhAGL8s in cotton.
RETRACTED: Mechanical overloading induces chondrocyte apoptosis via lysosomal acidification loss and TRPML1 hyperactivation
Authors: Yao Hanyu , Ooi Hon Son , Lan Yujian , Yi Chizhe , Su Yiming
Published: May 2024

The authors have requested the removal of their preprint from Research Square, due to current circumstances that make preprinting challenging at this time. The author's request does not imply errors or misconduct.
COVID-19 Risk Perceptions in Japan: A Cross Sectional Study
Authors: Chiba Asako , Nakata Taisuke , Nguyen Thuy Linh , Takaku Reo
Published: May 2024

We conducted a large-scale online survey in February 2023 to investigate the perceptions of infection and fatality risks from COVID-19 in Japan. Univariate analysis comparing perceived and actual risk suggests prevalence of overestimation as well as non-negligible underestimation of COVID-19 risks in Japan. Multivariate logistic regression analysis reveals that age, income and educational levels, health status, information sources, and experiences related to COVID-19 are associated with the subjective assessments of infection and fatality risks. Given that risk perceptions are closely correlated with daily socio-economic activities and well-being, it is important for policymakers and public health experts to understand how to communicate COVID-19 risks to the public effectively.
Machine learning applied to global scale species distribution models (SDMs)
Authors: Fuster-Alonso Alba , Mestre-Tomás Jorge , Baez Jose Carlos , Pennino Maria Grazia , Barber Xavier , Bellido Jose María , Conesa David , López-Quílez Antonio , Steenbeek Jeroen , Christensen Villy , Coll Marta
Published: May 2024

Species Distribution Models (SDMs) have been widely applied in ecology to analyze the historical and future patterns of marine species' distributions. With the increasing impact of climate change in recent decades, understanding potential shifts in species distributions has become a crucial challenge. Research on alterations in spatial and temporal distributions has revealed an increasing focus on developing different statistical approaches for global-scale and long-term forecasts. One promising approach is Bayesian Additive Regression Trees (BART), a non-parametric machine learning tool based on a sum-of-trees model that could be useful for addressing ecological problems. The goal of this study is to apply BART on a global scale and use it to estimate and predict possible present and future habitats of marine species under different climate change scenarios. Here we show an application of BART focused on the functional group of marine turtles, analyzing their historical and future distributions both individually and as a taxonomic group, their relationship with environmental variables, and BART's capacity to predict long-term distributions at global scales. Furthermore, to assess the capabilities of BART, we conduct a simulation study under two distinct scenarios: 1) simulating a hypothetical cosmopolitan species distribution and 2) simulating a hypothetical persistent species distribution. Our results show that BART is a promising approach to predict the potential distribution of our target species, as well as their relationship with key environmental variables, on a global scale.
Seismic fragility assessment of existing Italian overpass bridges
Authors: d'Aragona Marco Gaetani , Recupero Antonino , Prota Andrea
Published: May 2024

This study introduces a three-dimensional refined finite element model that is suitable for dynamic analysis of existing overpass bridges with Multi-Span Simply-Supported scheme. The proposed modeling approach allows to realistically reproduce the bridge behavior under seismic loadings via a proper simulation of the expected behavior and failure modes of each bridge component, as well as their mutual interaction. Two different Limit States, as well as a definition of system-level collapse, are introduced depending on the behavior of the bridge components and the interaction between the superstructure and the substructure. The proposed modeling approach is adopted to generate Limit State fragility curves adopting a stochastic approach based on cloud analysis which entails the use of real recorded ground motions for a reference bridge, designed and constructed in southern Italy in the 1970s. The results show that the proposed simulation approach is suitable to realistically reproduce the complex behavior of this type of bridge providing significant insights into their vulnerability.
PPMs, PGPB and Microalgae as Three Distinct Biofertilizers on Lettuce Health
Authors: ŞEN Nurgül KITIR
Published: May 2024

The utilization of biofertilizers has emerged as a promising approach in modern agriculture to enhance crop productivity and quality while promoting environmental sustainability. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of three distinct biofertilizers, namely Potential Plant Probiotic Microorganisms (PPMs), Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB), and Microalgae, on the health on lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var.Crispa). The experiment was conducted in a controlled environment of a high tunnel greenhouse at Gebze Technical University. The study encompassed a comprehensive analysis of various growth parameters, including plant height, stem diameter, leaf count, plant weight, root length, and chlorophyll content related with plant health. Our findings demonstrate that the application of PPMs, PGPB, and Microalgae biofertilizers significantly improved lettuce yield and quality compared to traditional fertilization methods. Moreover, these biofertilizers positively influenced soil and plant health, contributing to enhanced microbial diversity and soil structure. Additionally, our study highlights the environmental and economic benefits associated with biofertilizer usage, paving the way for sustainable agricultural practices. Overall, this research underscores the potential of PPMs, PGPB, and Microalgae biofertilizers as effective alternatives in lettuce cultivation, offering promising prospects for future agricultural innovations and practices.
Development of an m6A subtype classifier to guide precision therapy for patients with bladder cancer
Authors: Zhang Ganghua , Yang Jingxin , Fang Jianing , Yu Rui , Yin Zhijing , Chen Guanjun , Tai Panpan , He Dong , Cao Ke , Jiang Jiaode
Published: May 2024

Purpose: Bladder cancer (BLCA) is a highly heterogeneous tumor. We aim to construct a classifier from the perspective of N6-methyladenosine methylation (m6A) to identify patients with different prognostic risks and treatment responsiveness for precision therapy.
METHODS: Data of gene expression profile, mutation, and clinical characteristics were mainly obtained from the TCGA-BLCA cohort. Unsupervised clustering was performed to construct m6A subtypes. The tumor microenvironment (TME) landscapes was explored by using ssGSEA, ESTIMATE, and MCPcounter algorithms. K-M survival curves and Cox regression analysis were used to demonstrate significance of m6A subtypes in predicting prognosis. pRRophetic, oncoPredict and TIDE algorithms were used to evaluate responsiveness to antitumor therapy. A classifier of m6a subtypes was finally developed based on random forest and artificial neural network (ANN).
RESULTS: The two m6A subtypes have significantly different m6A-related gene expression profiles and mutational landscapes. TME analysis showed a higher level of stromal and Inhibitory immune component in subtype B compared with subtype A. The m6A subtype is a clinically independent prognostic predictor of BLCA, subtype B have a poorer prognosis. Drug sensitivity analysis showed that subtype B have lower IC50 values and AUC values for cisplatin and docetaxel. Efficacy assessment showed significantly poorer radiotherapy efficacy and lower immunotherapy responsiveness in subtype B. We finally constructed an ANN classifier to accurately classify BLCA patients into two m6A subtypes.
CONCLUSION: Our study developed a classifier for identifying subtypes with different m6A characteristics, and BLCA patients with different m6A subtypes have significantly different prognosis and responsiveness to antitumor therapy.
Improving eSource Site Start-Up Practices
Authors: Cramer Amy E. , King Linda S. , Buckley Michael T. , Casteleyn Peter , Ennis Cory , Hamidi Muayad , Rodrigues Gonçalo M. C. , Snyder Denise C. , Vattikola Aruna , Eisenstein Eric L.
Published: May 2024

Background: eSource software that copies patient electronic health record data into a clinical trial electronic case report form holds promise for increasing data quality while reducing data collection, monitoring and source document verification costs. Integrating eSource into multicenter clinical trial start-up procedures could facilitate the use of eSource technologies in clinical trials.
Methods: We conducted a qualitative integrative analysis to identify eSource site start-up key steps, challenges that might occur in executing those steps, and potential solutions to those challenges. We then conducted a value analysis to determine the challenges and solutions with the greatest impacts for eSource implementation teams.
Results: There were 16 workshop participants: 10 pharmaceutical sponsor, 3 academic site, and 1 eSource vendor representatives. Participants identified 36 Site Start-Up Key Steps, 11 Site Start-Up Challenges, and 14 Site Start-Up Solutions for eSource-enabled studies. Participants also identified 77 potential impacts of the Challenges upon the Site Start-Up Key Steps and 70 ways in which the Solutions might impact Site Start-Up Challenges. The most important Challenges were: (1) not being able to identify a site eSource champion and (2) not agreeing on an eSource approach. The most important Solutions were: (1) vendors accepting electronic data in the FHIR standard, (2) creating standard content for eSource-related legal documents, and (3) creating a common eSource site readiness checklist.
Conclusions: Site start-up for eSource-enabled multi-center clinical trials is a complex socio-technical problem. This study’s Start-Up Solutions provide a basic infrastructure for scalable eSource implementation.
RS-YOLO: A YOLO-Based Method for Small Object Detection in Remote Sensing
Authors: Ao Dun , Zhao Wentao , Zhang Yu , Lei Fei
Published: May 2024

Since the objects are usually small and densely distributed, the current mainstream algorithms have poor performance in the task of object detection in remote sensing, and are prone to produce missed detection and false detection. Moreover, remote sensing images(RSI) contain complex background noise, which further exacerbates this phenomenon. To settle these problems, this paper proposes a novel small object detection model in remote sensing, named RS-YOLO. In order to suppress the background noise and enhance the attention to small objects, by integrating Biformer, a dynamic attention mechanism, we construct an improved backbone network. Then, an efficient neck structure based on Gather-and-Distribute(GD) mechanism is introduced to enhance the feature fusion capability of the model. In addition, in order to fully utilize shallow features, we simplify the deep layer structure to reduce its competitiveness in the label assignment process. The strategy simultaneously improves the accuracy and speed of the model. Moreover, we combine Inner-IoU and CIoU loss functions as the new bounding box regression(BBR) loss function, which enhances the localization performance and robustness of the model, and speeds up the training time. Finally, on AI-TOD and DIOR datasets, the mean Average Precision (mAP) of our proposed RS-YOLO reaches 56.3\% and 74.2\% respectively, which exceeds the baseline model and other mainstream algorithms.
The Mms22-Rtt107 axis dampens the DNA damage checkpoint by reducing the stability of the Rad9 checkpoint mediator
Authors: Zhao Xiaolan , Wan Bingbing , Guan Danying , Li Shibai , Chwat-Edelstein Tzippora
Published: May 2024

The DNA damage checkpoint is a highly conserved signaling pathway induced by genotoxin exposure or endogenous genome stress. It alters many cellular processes such as arresting the cell cycle progression and increasing DNA repair capacities. However, cells can downregulate the checkpoint after prolonged stress exposure to allow continued growth and alternative repair. Strategies that can dampen the DNA damage checkpoint are not well understood. Here, we report that budding yeast employs a pathway composed of the scaffold protein Rtt107, its binding partner Mms22, and an Mms22-associated ubiquitin ligase complex to downregulate the DNA damage checkpoint. Mechanistically, this pathway promotes the proteasomal degradation of a key checkpoint factor, Rad9. Furthermore, Rtt107 binding to Mms22 helps to enrich the ubiquitin ligase complex on chromatin and target the chromatin-bound form of Rad9. Finally, we provide evidence that the Rtt107-Mms22 axis operates in parallel with the Rtt107-Slx4 axis, which displaces Rad9 from chromatin. We thus propose that Rtt107 enables a bifurcated “anti-Rad9” strategy to optimally downregulate the DNA damage checkpoint.
Simulating Institutional Change for Governing Natural Common-Pool Resources: An Agent-Based Model Approach
Authors: Mohammadi Maede , Gharakhani Sasan
Published: May 2024

Many local communities rely on natural Common-Pool Resources (CPRs) for their economic well-being. However, these resources often suffer from overexploitation due to the tragedy of the commons. Despite this challenge, evidence shows that local inhabitants can effectively govern CPRs through institutional rules. However, the specific mechanisms driving the emergence and changes in CPR governance still require further exploration. Agent-Based Models (ABMs) offer valuable insights into these dynamics by bridging the micro and macro levels of analysis. In this study, researchers employed the grammar of institutions (ADICO) to systematically model the mechanisms of emergence, institutional changes, and user strategies in CPR governance. The results demonstrate that self-governing institutions, which enforce rules by detecting cheaters and excluding them from resource extraction, outperform open-access arrangements. Furthermore, the study reveals that more complex institutional changes lead to weaker governance performance, while stricter rule enforcement results in higher resource stock levels but lower user payoffs. Lastly, the study suggests that reducing costs imposed on users is vital to prevent resource overexploitation. These findings enhance our understanding of the mechanisms behind successful CPR governance and can inform policy decisions aimed at promoting sustainable resource utilization.
JEL classification: Q57, Q50, C63
Enhanced YOLOv8 Ship Detection Empower UnmannedSurface Vehicles for Advanced Maritime Surveillance
Authors: HAIJOUB Abdelilah , HATIM Anas , HAMMIA Slama , ELOUALKADI Ahmed , CHOUGDALI Khalid , ARIOUA Mounir
Published: May 2024

The evolution of maritime surveillance is sig-nificantly marked by the incorporation of Artificial In-telligence and machine learning into Unmanned SurfaceVehicles (USVs). This paper presents a an AI methodfor detecting and tracking unmanned surface vehicles,specifically leveraging an enhanced version of YOLOv8,fine-tuned for maritime surveillance needs. Deployedon the NVIDIA Jetson TX2 platform, the system fea-tures an innovative architecture and perception mod-ule optimized for real-time operations and energy effi-ciency. Demonstrating superior detection accuracy witha mean Average Precision (mAP) of 0.99 and achievingan operational speed of 17.99 FPS, all while maintain-ing energy consumption at just 5.61 joules. The remark-able balance between accuracy, processing speed, and energy efficiency underscores the potential of this sys-tem to significantly advance maritime safety, security,and environmental monitoring.
Real-Time Cloud Computing of GNSS Measurements from Smartphones and Mobile Devices for Enhanced Positioning and Navigation
Authors: Olcina Jorge Hernández , Julián Ana Belén Anquela , Furones Ángel Esteban Martín
Published: May 2024

In recent years, Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSSs) have become integral to our daily lives because of their precise positioning and navigation capabilities. Widespread use of smartphones equipped with GNSS receivers results in the generation of a huge amount of positioning data. Therefore, real-time cloud computing has emerged as a promising approach to effectively leverage this wealth of location information. In this study, we developed an Android application that captures raw GNSS data from smartphones, leverages cloud computing resources, calculates the position of the device, and returns the computed solution to the user. Integration of cloud-based processing not only conserves the device resources but also enables real-time position calculation, paving the way for enhanced location-based applications and services.
Dolutegravir Disrupts Mouse Blood-Brain Barrier by Inducing Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress
Authors: Huang Chang , Qu Qing Rui , Hoque Md. Tozammel , Bendayan Reina
Published: May 2024

Background
Dolutegravir (DTG) - based antiretroviral therapy is the contemporary first-line therapy to treat HIV infection. Despite its efficacy, mounting evidence has suggested a higher risk of neuropsychiatric adverse effect (NPAE) associated with DTG use with a limited understanding of the underlying mechanisms. Our laboratory has previously reported a toxic effect of DTG comparable to efavirenz in disrupting the blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity in vitro and in vivo. The current study aimed to investigate, in vitro, the potential mechanisms involved in DTG toxicity.
Methods
Primary cultures of mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells were used as a robust rodent BBB cell model. The cells were treated with DTG at therapeutic relevant concentrations (2500, 3500, 5000 ng/ml) for 3–48 h with or without the presence of three endoplasmic reticulum (ER) sensor inhibitors (GSK2606414, 4µ8c, 4PBA). RNA-sequencing, qPCR, western blot analysis and cell stress assays (Ca2+ flux, H2DCFDA, TMRE, MTT) were performed.
Results
Our initial Gene Ontology (GO) analysis of RNA-Sequencing data revealed an enriched transcriptome signature of ER stress pathway in DTG treated cells. We further demonstrated that therapeutic concentrations of DTG significantly activated the ER stress sensor proteins (PERK, IRE1, p-IRE1) and downstream ER stress markers (eIF2α, p-eIF2α, Hspa5, Atf4, Ddit3, Ppp1r15a, Xbp1, spliced-Xbp1). In addition, DTG treatment resulted in a transient Ca2+ flux, an aberrant mitochondrial membrane potential, and a significant increase in reactive oxygen species in primary cultures of mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells. Furthermore, we found that prior cell treatment with 4PBA (a broad-spectrum ER stress inhibitor) significantly rescued DTG-induced downregulation of tight junction proteins (Zo-1, Ocln, Cldn5), whereas GSK2606414 (a PERK inhibitor) elicited the greatest protective effect on DTG-induced elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines (Il6, Il23a, Il12b, Cxcl1, Cxcl2).
Conclusions
The current study provides valuable insights into DTG toxicological cell mechanisms, which may serve as a potential explanation of DTG-associated NPAEs in the clinic.
Effect of random noise behaviour on the properties of forcing nonlinear Maccari’s model structures
Authors: Alhazmi Hadil , Bajri Sanaa A. , El-Shewy E. K. , Abdelrahman Mahmoud A.E.
Published: May 2024

This article analyses and examine the nonlinear Maccari’s equations with noise term using the powerful sub-equation mathematical approach. Several significant solitary and rational solutions have been provided. These solutions are crucial in a number of fields, such as superfluid, optical fibre communication, and space-confined plasma waves. The effects of model parameters on the obtained solutions features have been discussed. The randomness parameter affects the envelope, soli-tonic structures, and energy properties. It was reported that by raising the random parameter, Brownian isolated driving shock waves with random amplitude were produced. Finally, the method described here may be applied to many nonlinear systems and new energy trends in natural science.
AMS Subject Classification (2010): 34A34, 60G05, 60H15, 35Q60
Unraveling Developmental Dynamics and Triterpene Saponin Biosynthesis in Panax notoginseng Stem Apices by Single-Cell Transcriptomics
Authors: Liu Mei , Yang Lifang , Guo Junda , Wang Hanye , Yu Saiying , Wang Panpan , Yang Ye , Huang Luqi , Cui Xiuming , Liu Yuan
Published: May 2024

Background
Panax notoginseng is often regarded as the foremost blood-nourishing herb due to its rich content of triterpene saponins, which possess various pharmacological activities. The transcriptional regulatory mechanisms governing stem apex development and the expression of its major component, triterpene saponins, remain poorly understood.
Results
In this study, we constructed a single-cell transcriptome atlas of stem apices, and the cells were divided into seven major cell types, comprising a total of 14 subclusters. Subsequently, we analyzed the developmental trajectory patterns and gene expression features of stem apices and inferred relevant transcription factors associated with stem apex development. We discovered potential key transcription factors, PTI5 and IDD12, involved in the early development of stem apices. Additionally, we investigated the expression and regulation of the triterpene saponin synthesis pathway in stem apices.
Conclusions
Therefore, the aim of this study is to elucidate the developmental trajectory of P. notoginseng stem apices and identify key transcription factors, opening a new avenue for future research of Panax genus.
An Investigation of GNSS RO Data Pattern for Climate Change Monitoring and Analysis over Africa
Authors: Sa’i Ibrahim Usman , Aleem Kamorudeen , Musa Tajul Ariffin , Youngu Terwase Tosin , Obadaki Yusuf , Anom Wan Aris , Nasara Mohammed Abdu
Published: May 2024

Climate change monitoring and analysis is a critical aspect that involves the consideration of both spatial and temporal dimensions. Improved spatial distribution of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) ground-based Continuous Operating Reference (COR) stations can lead to enhanced results when coupled with a continuous flow of data over time. In Africa, a significant number of COR stations do not operate continuously and lack collocation with meteorological sensors essential for climate studies. Consequently, Africa faces challenges related to inadequate spatial distribution and temporal data flow from GNSS ground-based stations, impacting climate change monitoring and analysis. This research delves into the pattern of GNSS Radio Occultation (RO) data across Africa, addressing the limitations of the GNSS ground-based data for climate change research. The spatial analysis employed Ripley's F, G, K, and L-functions, along with calculations of nearest neighbour and Kernel density. The analysis yielded a Moran's P-value of 0.001 and a Moran's I-value approaching 1.0. For temporal analysis, the study investigated the data availability period of selected GNSS RO missions. Additionally, it examined seasonal temperature variations from May 2001 to May 2023, showcasing alignment with findings from other researchers worldwide, Hence, this study suggests the utilization of GNSS RO missions/campaigns like METOP and COSMIC owing to their superior spatial and temporal resolution.
Push-Pull Carbazole-Based Dyes: Synthesis, Strong Ultrafast Nonlinear Optical Response, and Effective Photoinitiation for Multiphoton Lithography
Authors: Stavrou Michalis , Zyla Gordon , Ladika Dimitra , Dumur Frederic , Farsari Maria , Gray David
Published: May 2024

The present work reports on the ultrafast nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of a series of D-π-Α and D-A push-pull carbazole-based dyes and establishes a correlation between these properties and their efficiency for potential photonic and optoelectronic applications, such as multiphoton lithography (MPL). The ultrafast NLO properties of the studied dyes are determined by two distinct experimental techniques, Z-scan and pump-probe optical Kerr effect (OKE), employing 246 fs laser pulses at 515 nm. The results indicate that chemical functionalization of the carbazole moiety with various strong electron-donating and/or electron-withdrawing groups, such as benzene, styrene, 4-bromostyrene, nitrobenzene, trimethyl isocyanurate, methyl, and indane-1,3-dione, can result in a controlled and significant enhancement of the NLO absorptive and refractive responses. In the context of potential applications, the efficiency of carbazole-based organic materials as photoinitiators (PIs) for MPL applications is demonstrated. The fabricated woodpile microstructure using chemically functionalized carbazole as a PI demonstrates improvements in both resolution and MPL efficiency compared to that using unfunctionalized carbazole as a PI. This attributed to efficient charge transfer resulting from chemical functionalization, which leads to a substantial increase (approximately one order of magnitude) in the values of the imaginary part of the second-order hyperpolarizability (Imγ) and the two-photon absorption cross section (σ). The achieved resolution of 280 nm is comparable to that obtained with other widely used PIs in MPL applications. Additionally, owing to strong NLO refraction and Kerr signal of the studied functionalized carbazole, they also exhibit promise as candidates for all-optical switching applications in telecommunications, optical computing, data processing, etc.
Network Pharmacology Approach: Analysing Pathways in Breast Cancer
Authors: Bobade Ishwari , Badhe Pravin , Mali Prof. Prashant
Published: May 2024

Breast cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer in women. However, the efficacy and utility of the available drug therapies are limited. The objective of the present study was to determine the genes and molecular pathways associated with breast cancer by using computational tools. In this study, we used text mining and GeneCodis to mine genes which were highly related to breast cancer. Protein‑protein interaction (PPI) analysis was performed by using STRING and Cytoscape. In this present study, about 166 entries were taken from uniport database of breast cancer. After deleting the duplicate genes only 7 genes were selected for the gene ontology analysis. GO analysis showed that there were 80 pathways related to the Biological Process (BP) and 10 KEGG pathways obtained. Using STRING database three key target proteins were obtained(BRCA1, BRCA2 and RBBP6 ).To visualize the interaction between the target proteins Cytoscape 3.7.1 software were used. The degree and betweenness were measured using centiscape app. In conclusion, investigating candidate medications that target the genes or pathways relevant to breast cancer using in silico text mining and pathway analysis technologies.
La metafísica de la “actividad poética” de Santo Tomás en Osvaldo Lira
Authors: Miró i Comas Abel
Published: May 2024

En el presente trabajo, se quiere explicitar de qué modo la doctrina de Osvaldo Lira acerca de la “actividad poética” encuentra un sólido fundamento en la Metafísica de Santo Tomás de Aquino. Al mismo tiempo, se quiere señalar cómo, en aras a la coherencia interna del sistema, sería preferible no interpretar –como hace Lira– la persona a la manera de Cayetano, quien termina reduciéndola al orden de la naturaleza substancial, sino más bien a modo de ente personal, cuyo constitutivo formal es el acto de esse, como propone Eudaldo Forment.
To the research of the age identification of an adult
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Manukyan Viktoria
Published: May 2024

The article is devoted to the problem of studying the age identification of an adult. The aim of the paper is to study age identification in the periods of early and middle adulthood in relation to subjective age and markers of psychological well-being. Hypothesis: age identification is based on comparing oneself with peers and attitude to age periods close to the age of a respondent; it is characterized by qualitative, typological differences, has a connection with subjective age. The results of two studies conducted on different age groups are presented: the group of early adulthood (N=70, 19–26 years; average age 23.6 years) and the group of middle adulthood (N=60, 27–46 years; average age 34 years). As the main method of age identification research, the method of semantic differential with the next scales was used: strength, activity, evaluation, complexity, orderliness. In the group of early adulthood, the categories “I”, “Peer”, “Childhood”, “Adulthood” were offered for evaluation, in the group of middle adulthood — “I”, “Peer”, “Youth”, “Old Age”. Subjective and ideal age (questionnaire), indicators of psychological well-being (a short version of the C.Riff scale in the adaptation of E.G.Tro shikhina) and life satisfaction (questionnaire of E.Diener in the adaptation of D.A.Leontiev, E.N.Osin) were also measured. Results: with the help of factor analysis, age identification patterns were identified in each of the age groups. They differ by the degree of awareness, the significance of age characteristics in the structure of self-identification and the degree of consistency. In early adulthood, the relationship between the patterns of age identification, chronological and subjective age is not traced, to a greater extent, subjective adulthood is influenced by professional status (job availability). In middle adulthood, multiple significant relationships were revealed, confirming the possibility of studying the content aspects of age identification using a semantic differential.
Features of the experience of loneliness among adults due to their personal characteristics
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Murtazina Inna
Published: May 2024

The presented article is devoted to the study of the associations between the parameters of loneliness and the personal characteristics of adults. The main parameters of loneliness are: the general experience of loneliness, dependence on communication, as well as acceptance of loneliness and a positive attitude towards it. Among the personal characteristics, we considered the personality factors included in the Big Five model and sociotropy, which is a cognitive strategy reflecting a person’s focus on creating positive relationships with others and a general focus on society. The purpose of the study was to identify the presence and nature of the relationship between loneliness, the Big Five personality factors and sociotropy. It has been hypothesized that orientation to society and a high level of neuroticism are positively associated with the experience of loneliness, its rejection. Self-sufficiency, openness to experience and conscientiousness are associated with a positive attitude to loneliness, its resourcefulness. The study involved 131 people aged 18 to 55 years (M=31 years; SD=9.85), 26 men and 105 women. The following methods were used: the Differential Questionnaire for the Experience of Loneliness (K.N.Osin, D.A.Leontiev), the Sociotropy — Self-Sufficiency Questionnaire (O.Yu. Strizhitskaya et al.), Bulgarian version of the Social and Emotional Loneliness Scale for Adults (SELSA-S), Five-Factor Personality Trait Inventory NEO FFI P.T.Costa, R.R.McCrae, adapted by V.E.Orel, A.A.Rukavishnikov. Mathematical processing was performed on the basis of IBM SPSS 23.0 software. The results obtained confirmed the existence of associations between the parameters of loneliness and personal characteristics. Social uncertainty and neuroticism contributed to increased feelings of lack of emotional closeness or connection with people, as well as feelings of loneliness and isolation. In turn, an increase in the indicator of attachment, on the contrary, helped to reduce the overall experience of loneliness. Attachment and dependence on the opinions of others could increase the aversion to loneliness and the tendency to seek companionship at any cost. Self-sufficiency and openness to experience contribute to the acceptance of loneliness and a more positive attitude towards this phenomenon. In addition, openness to experience, active imagination, preference for variety, mental flexibility, independence in judgment and evaluation, as well as sociability, activity, energy and optimism helped reduce the experience of emotional and social loneliness.