bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Types of vegetables shape composition, diversity, and co-occurrence networks of soil bacteria and fungi in karst areas of southwest China
Authors: Wei Xiaoliao , Fu Tianling , He Guandi , Zhong Zhuoyan , Yang Mingfang , Lou Fei , He Tengbing
Published: July 2023

Background

Microorganisms are of significant importance in soil. Yet their association with specific vegetable types remains poorly comprehended. This study investigates the composition of bacterial and fungal communities in soil by employing high-throughput sequencing of 16 S rRNA genes and ITS rRNA genes while considering the cultivation of diverse vegetable varieties.

Results

The findings indicate that the presence of cultivated vegetables influenced the bacterial and fungal communities leading to discernible alterations when compared to uncultivated soil. In particular, the soil of leafy vegetables (such as cabbage and kale) exhibited higher bacterial α-diversity than melon and fruit vegetable (such as cucumber and tomato), while fungal α-diversity showed an inverse pattern. The prevailing bacterial phyla in both leafy vegetable and melon and fruit vegetable soils were Proteobacteria, Acidobacteriota, Actinobacteriota, and Chloroflexi. In leafy vegetable soil, dominant fungal phyla included Ascomycota, Olpidiomycota, Mortierellomycota, and Basidiomycota whereas in melon and fruit vegetable soil. Ascomycota, Mortierellomycota, Basidiomycota, and Rozellomycota held prominence. Notably, the relative abundance of Ascomycota was lower in leafy vegetable soil compared to melon and fruit vegetable soil. Moreover, leafy vegetable soil exhibited a more complex and stable co-occurrence network in comparison to melon and fruit vegetable soil.

Conclusion

The findings enhance our understanding of how cultivated soil bacteria and fungi respond to human disturbance, thereby providing a valuable theoretical basis for soil health in degraded karst areas of southwest China.
Investigation of phytotherapeutic potential of herbal mixtures and their effects on salbutamol induced cardiotoxicity and hyperlipidemia in rabbits
Authors: Liaqat Nida , Jahan Nazish , Rahman Khalil ur , Tahseen Iqra , Anwar Tauseef , Qureshi Huma
Published: July 2023

Background

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the major cause of deaths all over the world. The high level of blood cholesterol and oxidative stress are major risk factors for heart diseases. The phytotherapeutics have attracted attention as potential agents for preventing and treating oxidative stress associated diseases. The objective of present study was to evaluate the synergetic cardio-protective and antilipidemic potential of medicinal plants viz. Coriandrum sativum, Piper nigrum and Cactus grandiflorus. Cardio-protective and anti-lipidemic potential of herbal mixture was evaluated against salbutamol induced cardiotoxicity in rabbits. For this purpose, rabbits were divided into six groups as normal control, salbutamol control, curative and standard drug curative.

Results

Salbutamol significantly (p < 0.05) increased the level of serum cardiac biomarkers (ALT, CK-MB, AST and LDH) and lipids (LDL, triglycerides, cholesterol) in rabbits. The prior and post administration of herbal mixture significantly (p < 0.05) lowered the elevated level of serum cardiac biomarkers and lipids equal to normal control. Gross pathological examination revealed that heart of salbutamol control animals became hardened, congested and were enlarged than preventive and curative groups. The phytotherapeutic analysis of medicinal plants revealed the presence of phenols, tannins, alkaloids and steroids.

Conclusion

The results showed that this herbal mixture has strong cardio-protective and anti-lipidemic potential.
Effects of Physical Activity Interventions on Strength, Balance and Falls in Middle-Aged Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Adams Michael , Gordt-Oesterwind Katharina , Bongartz Martin , Zimmermann Samuel , Seide Svenja , Braun Volker , Schwenk Michael
Published: July 2023

Background

Weak lower body strength and balance impairments are fundamental risk factors for mobility impairments and falls that can be improved by physical activity (PA). Previous meta-analyses have focused on these risk factors in adults aged ≥ 65 years. Yet, the potential of PA for improving these risk factors in middle-aged populations has not been systematically investigated. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to examine the effect of general and structured PA on lower limb strength, postural balance and falls in middle-aged adults.

Methods

A computerized systematic literature search was conducted in the electronic databases MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science and Cochrane Library. PA intervention types were classified according to the ProFaNE taxonomy. Randomized controlled trials exploring the effects of PA on strength (e.g., leg press one-repetition-maximum), balance (e.g., single limb stance) and falls (e.g., fall rates) in adults aged 40–60 years were systematically searched and included in a network analysis. Moderator analyses were performed for specific subgroups (age, sex, low PA). The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) Scale.

Results

Out of 7170 articles screened, 66 studies (median PEDro score 5) with 3387 participants were included. Strong, significant effects on muscle strength were found for strength (SMD = 1.02), strength–aerobic (SMD = 1.41), strength–endurance (SMD = 0.92) and water-based (SMD = 1.08) training (52 studies, I2 = 79.3%). Strength training (SMD = 1.16), strength–aerobic (SMD = 0.98) and 3D training (SMD = 1.31) improved postural balance (30 studies, I2 = 88.1%). Moderator analyses revealed significant effects of specific intervention types on certain subgroups and subdomains of strength and balance. No studies were found measuring falls.

Conclusions

Structured PA interventions in middle-aged adults improve strength and balance outcomes related to functional impairments and falls. Strength training increases both strength and balance and can be recommended to prevent age-related functional decline. However, the interpretability of the results is limited due to considerable heterogeneity and the overall low methodological quality of the included studies. Long-term trials are needed to determine the preventive potential of PA on strength, balance and falls. This meta-analysis may inform guidelines for tailored training during middle age to promote healthy aging.

Prospero registration: CRD42020218643.
Monitoring aerobic capacity in cancer survivors using self-reported questionnaires: criterion validity and responsiveness
Authors: Weemaes Anouk T.R. , Meijer Renske , Beelen Milou , van Hooff Martijn , Weijenberg Matty P. , Lenssen Antoine F. , van de Poll-Franse Lonneke V. , Savelberg Hans H.C.M. , Schep Goof
Published: July 2023

Background

Evaluating the criterion validity and responsiveness of the self-reported FitMáx©-questionnaire, Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) and Veterans Specific Activity Questionnaire (VSAQ) to monitor aerobic capacity in cancer survivors.

Methods

Cancer survivors participating in a 10-week supervised exercise program were included. The FitMáx©-questionnaire, DASI, VSAQ and a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) were completed before (T0) and after (T1) the program. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated between VO2peak estimated by the questionnaires (questionnaire-VO2peak) and VO2peak measured during CPET (CPET-VO2peak), at T0 to examine criterion validity, and between changes in questionnaire-VO2peak and CPET-VO2peak (ΔT0-T1) to determine responsiveness. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed to examine the ability of the questionnaires to detect true improvements (≥ 6%) in CPET-VO2peak.

Results

Seventy participants were included. Outcomes at T1 were available for 58 participants (83%). Mean CPET-VO2peak significantly improved at T1 (Δ1.6 mL·kg− 1·min− 1 or 8%). Agreement between questionnaire-VO2peak and CPET-VO2peak at T0 was moderate for the FitMáx©-questionnaire (ICC = 0.69) and VSAQ (ICC = 0.53), and poor for DASI (ICC = 0.36). Poor agreement was found between ΔCPET-VO2peak and Δquestionnaire-VO2peak for all questionnaires (ICC 0.43, 0.19 and 0.18 for the FitMáx©-questionnaire, VSAQ and DASI, respectively). ROC analysis showed that the FitMáx©-questionnaire was able to detect improvements in CPET-VO2peak (area under the curve, AUC = 0.77), when using a cut-off value of 1.0 mL·kg− 1·min− 1, while VSAQ (AUC = 0.66) and DASI (AUC = 0.64) could not.

Conclusion

The self-reported FitMáx©-questionnaire has sufficient validity to estimate aerobic capacity in cancer survivors at group level. The responsiveness of the FitMáx©-questionnaire for absolute change is limited, but the questionnaire is able to detect whether aerobic capacity improved. The FitMáx©-questionnaire showed substantial better values of validity and responsiveness compared to DASI and VSAQ.
Palynology of the genus Lagerstroemia (Lythraceae) in Thailand
Authors: SAENSOUK SURAPON , SAENSOUK PIYAPORN
Published: July 2023

Abstract. Saensouk S, Saensouk P. 2023. Palynology of the genus Lagerstroemia (Lythraceae) in Thailand. Biodiversitas 24: 3222-3229. Pollen morphology of Lagerstroemia (Lythraceae) from Thailand was poorly reported. This study aimed to study the pollen morphology of 17 species of the genus Lagerstroemia in Thailand by applying acetolysis under a light microscope and scanning electron microscope. Pollen of the genus Lagerstroemia in Thailand was described with the distinctive features of the pollen morphology, i.e., size, shape, exine sculpturing, the character of the aperture, polar, and symmetry. All pollen grains were monad with and polar view length of 43.83±2.84 µm, and equatorial view length of 26.33±2.05 µm. The shape of pollens was prolate spheroidal, subspheroidal, spheroidal, and subprolate. The pollens in this study were recognized as bilateral, radial, and sub-radial symmetries. All pollen grains were apolar and polar. The aperture of all pollen species in this study was reported with tricolpate and tricolporate. Exine sculpturing was exine sculpturing and scabrate-granulate. The pollen morphology of this study can be divided into groups based on shape, exine sculpturing, the character of the aperture, polarity, and symmetry. Pollen sizes of all species were medium size. The pollen ofall species from Thailand are reported as Lagerstroemia indica-type.The pollen morphology in this study cannot be used for species identification. Pollen of 16 Lagerstroemia species were studied here for the first time.
Antibacterial activity of lactic acid bacteria from various freshwater fish species against pathogenic bacteria in caged red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.)
Authors: THI QUACH VAN CAO , DUNG TRAN QUOC , HIEN HA NGỌC , TRUNG NGUYEN BAO , DUNG TU THANH , THUY NGUYEN PHUONG
Published: July 2023

Abstract. Quach VCT, Tran QD, Ha NH, Nguyen BT, Tu TD, Nguyen PT. 2023. Antibacterial activity of lactic acid bacteria from various freshwater fish species against pathogenic bacteria in caged red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.). Biodiversitas 24: 3373-3383. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are a big challenge for many aquaculture countries around the world. The search for new solutions, such as probiotics to replace antibiotics in aquaculture, attracts the interest of many scientists. The investigation was accomplished by isolating Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) inhibiting Streptococcus agalactiae and Aeromonas hydrophila, which cause swollen eyes and hemorrhagic skin disease in caged red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) in Vinh Long province. The findings isolated 37 isolates of LAB from the intestines of catfish, red tilapia, and tilapia. Using the diffusion well method, the results showed that 13/37 (35.14%) and 18/37 (48.65%) isolates were inhibitory against S. agalactiae and A. hydrophila, respectively. The research found that eight isolates were inhibitory to two species of S. agalactiae and A. hydrophila, especially isolate CT6.2, which has the strongest inhibition (10.5 mm inhibition zone diameter). Our finding revealed that the isolates CT6.2 and RP6 demonstrate the highest antagonistic activity against S. agalactiae and A. hydrophila at a density of 108 CFU/mL after incubation at 35°C, pH = 5-6 for 48-60 h. Using PCR techniques and 16S rRNA gene sequencing combined with morphological and biochemical characteristics, the LAB isolates in the findings belong to the genera Lactobacillus and Pediococcus, being 99.35% and 99.02% similar to Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus pentosaceus, respectively. This is the first report on the antimicrobial activity of LAB against S. agalactiae and A. hydrophila in caged red tilapia in the Mekong Delta.
Diversity of insect carried-fungi in chili (Capsicum annuum) crop at Banyumas District, Central Java Province, Indonesia
Authors: SUROTO AGUS , MUGIASTUTI ENDANG , TARJOKO TARJOKO , OKTAVIANI EKA , BAHRUDIN MUHAMMAD
Published: July 2023

Abstract. Suroto A, Mugiastuti E, Tarjoko, Oktaviani E, Bahrudin M. 2023. Diversity of insect carried-fungi in chili (Capsicum annuum) crop at Banyumas District, Central Java Province, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 24: 3394-3406. This study aimed to determine the species of fungal pathogens that have the potency to be carried by various insects in endemic areas of chili (Capsicum annuum L.) disease and locations with high populations of chili insect vectors in the Banyumas District. The insect samples were collected from three chili planting locations in Banyumas District (Karanglewas, Sumbang, and Sokaraja Sub-districts) from March to November 2022. The following methods carried out the research: (i) determining the sampling location, (ii) insect sampling and identification, (iii) isolation and purification of fungal pathogen carried by insects, (iv) pathogenicity test, (v) identification of fungal pathogens based on morphology characters. The exploration of 13 villages in 3 (three) sub-districts of Banyumas District found 60 insects collected from healthy and diseased chili plants. Totally, six genera of fungi were isolated and identified, namely Fusarium, Pythium, Curvularia, Penicillium, Geotrichum, and Phytophthora. This is preliminary research on the interaction between plants, microbes, and insects. Understanding these aspects is essential, not only from an ecological perspective but also for improving the genetic quality of crops as well as for integrated pest management.
How can past sea level be evaluated from traces of anthropogenic layers in ancient saltpans?
Authors: Bechor Benny , Avnaim-Katav Simona , Mischke Steffen , Miko Slobodan , Hasan Ozren , Grisonic Maja , Rossi Irena Radić , Herut Barak , Taha Nimer , Porat Naomi , Sivan Dorit
Published: July 2023

Footprints of human activities identified in the sedimentary sequence of submerged historical saltpans can reveal the history of the site and can indicate the relative sea level during its operational period. Saltpans are man-made constructions used continuously for salt production in the Mediterranean at least for the last 2000 years. The east Adriatic coast contains many such submerged remains, preserved and well-dated by historical archives. Sedimentological, microfossil and geochemical analyses of the sediments from cores drilled in the saltwork area at Brbinj, Dugi Otok, Croatia, enable the reconstruction of various past environmental conditions. The current study aims to: a) identify the anthropogenic unit in the sedimentary sequence deposited over time, b) determine its age, and c) use it as past sea-level limiting points. Basal units made ofterra rossasoil materials were identified in the sedimentary records. These layers are located -120 ±7 cm below mean sea level next to the separation wall and -125 ±7 cm and -135 ±7 cm, respectively, in the inner pools, most likely representing a man-made pavement. Theterra rossalayer is overlaid by a unit rich in faunal remains dominated by euryhaline foraminifera and ostracod species such asAmmonia venetaandCyprideis torosa, representing the saltworks unit. The flooding of the saltpans by the rising sea is manifested by the deposition of an upper sedimentary unit dominated by remains of marine species. The base and the top of the saltwork unit are dated by Optically Stimulated Luminescence to 1040±50 CE and to 1390±30 CE, respectively. The study presents a new approach for obtaining footprints of human activities in ancient, submerged saltpans, by identifying and dating the indicative anthropogenic layers and using these for the reconstruction of paleo sea-level. The described method can be applied all around the Mediterranean.
Criação e implementação do Colégio Universitário da Fundação Universidade do Maranhão (1968-1980)
Authors: Castellanos Samuel Luis Velázquez , Oliveira Wilson Raimundo de , Castro César Augusto
Published: July 2023

Neste trabalho estuda-se o processo de criação e implementação do Colégio Universitário da Fundação Universidade do Maranhão (1968-1980), sua trajetória e os movimentos que o conformaram enquanto Colégio de Aplicação. Abordam-se mudanças sociais na sociedade maranhense que interferem nas estratégias político-educacionais que exigem indagar os processos de escolarização, as tentativas de modernização deste ensino a nível estadual e o papel ocupado pela Universidade Federal e pelo Colégio Universitário num equilíbrio de tensões entre estratégias e táticas. Usa-se a história cultural como pressuposto teórico-metodológico para cruzar e analisar as representações sobre dita instituição via jornais, documentos oficiais e arquivo escolar. Conclui-se que o funcionamento do Colégio de Aplicação ficou comprometido pela falta do espaço/tempo dedicados à imposição da ordem escolar, reestruturando-se só a partir de 1980 segundo professores e técnicos da universidade.
Manuscripts and Philological Studies in Indonesia
Authors: Nugraha Zainal Arifin
Published: July 2023

This essay is based on the fact that Indonesia is a country with abundant presence of ancient manuscripts. The manuscript is an ancient cultural heritage that contains various things about life in the past. Research on a manuscript aims to determine the history and culture of a nation and then to find the relevance of it with the present live. Furthermore, it can also be used in the future. Nowadays, the manuscript is one of the ten objects of Indonesian cultural advancement that has been set in the constitution, Article 5 Law Number 5 of 2017 concerning the Advancement of Culture. Therefore, it deserves to get more attention from many parties.
Quantitative Evaluation on Fusion Behavior of Rejuvenator and Aged Asphalt Based on Multi-scale Experiments
Authors: Yin Peng , Pan Baofeng , Li Zihan
Published: July 2023

The application of recycled asphalt not only alleviated the accumulation of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) but also reduced the consumption of resources, which had a significant economic and social benefit. However, the utilization of RAP was still a great challenge for the application of recycled asphalt; one of the important reasons for this was the lack of quantitative analysis on the fusion behavior and fusion degree between rejuvenator and aged asphalt. To refine and propose the quantitative evaluation index of the fusion degree of rejuvenator and aged asphalt, the recycled asphalt was prepared in this study using a self-developed rejuvenator, and it was analyzed by various tests. The results showed that the addition of rejuvenator decreased and then increased the viscous activation energy and complex modulus index value, and the fusion degree also exhibited a similar variation trend. The increasing of carbonyl index and sulfoxide index indicated the fusion degree was increased with the incorporation of rejuvenator. Furthermore, the higher the rejuvenator dosage, the faster the wetting speed, and the higher the wetting work, which was more conducive to improving the fusion degree. The average optical density and integrating optical density in the recycled asphalt gradually decreased, and the fusion degree gradually increased. Moreover, the morphological parameter values of recycled asphalt were positive correlation with rejuvenator dosage. Finally, the calculation results of the principal component analysis model and grey relation analysis model found that the wetting work was more suitable for quantitative analysis of fusion behavior than other evaluation indexes. The findings of this research provide a potential guideline for evaluating the performance of recycled asphalt, which may improve the way of using recycled asphalt.
Concurrent Implicit Adaptation to Multiple Opposite Perturbations
Authors: Bernier Pierre-Michel , Puygrenier Alice , Danion Frederic R.
Published: July 2023

Simultaneous adaptation to opposite visuomotor perturbations is known to be difficult. It has been shown to be possible only in situations where the two tasks are associated with different contexts, being either a different colored background, a different area of workspace, or a different follow-through movement. However, many of these elements evoke explicit mechanisms that could contribute to storing separate (modular) memories. It remains to be shown whether simultaneous adaptation to multiple perturbations is possible when they are introduced in a fully implicit manner. Here, we sought to test this possibility using a visuomotor perturbation small enough to eliminate explicit awareness. Participants (N = 25) performed center-out reaching movements with a joystick to five targets located 72° apart. Depending on the target, visual feedback of cursor position was either veridical (one target) or could be rotated by +5 or −5° (two targets each). After 300 trials of adaptation (60 to each target), results revealed that participants were able to fully compensate for each of the imposed rotations. Moreover, when veridical visual feedback was restored, participants exhibited after-effects that were consistent with the rotations applied at each target. Questionnaires collected immediately after the experiment confirmed that none of the participants were aware of the perturbations. These results speak for the existence of implicit processes that can smoothly handle small and opposite visual perturbations when these are associated with distinct target locations.
Film as the “Skin of History”
Authors: Amad Paula
Published: July 2023

Why did the notoriously antimontage film theorist André Bazin champion Nicole Védrès’s Paris 1900 (1947), a kaleidoscopic film de montage compiled from scraps of archival film, including footage of a death recorded live? How did archival films and death on film together mediate for Bazin the fatal coupling of “total war” and “total History,” and why were archival films seen by others to raise urgent questions of historical philosophy? This essay explores the intensified historical consciousness that developed around archival films and the representability of death after the Second World War. Reinserting documentary as the missing key to Bazin’s so-called realist film theory, I argue that Bazin found in Paris 1900 a new archive-inflected and essayistic model of film’s historicity whose full potential continues to be realized in the explosion of archival filmmaking today.
In search of a modern character of a doctor: what examples to learn from the greats? Part I
Authors: Rodionova Yu. V.
Published: July 2023

At present, additional courses are increasingly being introduced into the postgraduate medical education program, which contain discussions on the personal qualities of a doctor and the functions of the medical profession. To that end, certain moral and ethical reference points are selected from the biographies of physicians of the "past", which are elevated to an ideal and repeated in every biographical article without proper professional evaluation. There is a mythologization of the image of a doctor among the professional community and the reason for this trend, in part, lies in the false idea that the history of medicine can be written without specialized knowledge and without the tools that historians use when analyzing biographical information.

The article provides a general overview of the development of medical knowledge, which was influenced not only by political and economic, but also by religious factors. A specialized approach used by historians in the analysis of biographical information is considered. A different view is offered on the potential of interpreting the image of a doctor, evaluating the activities of physicians of the past and forming examples for doctors of the future that would be in demand in modern professional education.
Pore structure and cushioning properties of wastepaper-pulp-reinforced starch-based foams
Authors: Zheng Jinbao , Li Chen , Gao Shan
Published: July 2023

Foamed plastics do not readily degrade, but degradable starch foam has uneven pores and poor mechanical properties. To improve the cushioning performance of starch foams, a sustainable starch-based packaging cushioning material is prepared through microwave foaming using waste corrugated paper fibers as the reinforcement material. The effects of different fiber contents on the structure and cushioning properties of starch-based foams are studied, and the possibility of replacing petroleum-based foams is discussed through comparisons with conventional cushioning materials. The results indicate that the pore structure of starch-based foaming materials can be controlled by changing the fiber dosage, and a small or excessive amount of fiber is not conducive to the uniform foaming of starch-based composite foams. When 3 g of wastepaper fiber (17.6% by weight of starch) is added, the average diameter of the starch-based foam pores is small, the pore size distribution is relatively uniform, the minimum buffer coefficient is 4.38 and the mechanical properties are closer to those of expanded polystyrene. A peak acceleration of 942.89 m/s2 is obtained from the packaging parts with starch-based foaming materials after drop testing, which reduces the impact load by nearly 50% compared with that of packaging without a cushioning liner. This has the potential to become a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based packaging foams.
Structure and properties of steels for manufacture of core catcher vessel of nuclear reactor
Authors: Nikulin S. A. , Rogachev S. O. , Belov V. A. , Shplis N. V. , Komissarov A. A. , Turilina V. Yu. , Nikolaev Yu. A.
Published: July 2023

The Russian new nuclear reactors are provided with a special core catcher vessel device (cc-vessel) designed to minimize the consequences of a severe beyond design basis accident at a nuclear power plant, when the reactor pressure vessel collapses and the core melts. For manufacture of the cc-vessel structural elements, low-carbon unalloyed or low-alloyed steels are used. When a severe beyond design basis accident develops, the cc-vessel’s body is subjected to extreme temperature and force loads, which can lead to degradation of the structure, loss of strength and failure of the entire cc-vessel. To calculate the strength characteristics of the cc-vessel, which ensure its safe and reliable operation, the detailed data are required on the structure and mechanical properties of low-carbon steels at high temperatures and after extreme thermal actions simulating the development of a severe beyond design basis accident. The paper analyzes data on the structure and mechanical properties (tensile strength, crack resistance, toughness and cyclic strength) of a number of low-carbon steels under extreme temperature and force actions, including conditions simulating the development of a severe beyond design basis accident at a nuclear power plant, in order to select the material for the design of cc-vessel of nuclear reactor. New data on the structure, mechanical properties, and thermal diffusivity in a wide temperature range of a Cr – Mo steel (Russian Standard – 15KhM) as a candidate structural material for the manufacture of the cc-vessel body are presented. The low content of manganese and alloying with molybdenum and vanadium in 15KhM steel provides a finer grained structure and eliminates the steel’s tendency to temper brittleness.
The role of Bak-mediated dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential in radiosensitivity of Bax-negative human prostate cancer cells
Authors: Akudugu John , Serafin Antonio
Published: July 2023

In the radiotherapy of localised cancers, susceptibility of tumour and normal cells to undergo radiation-induced programmed cell death is an important prognostic factor. Mitochondria-mediated cell death is often preceded by dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential. This study investigates whether human prostate cancer cells would preferentially die via the mitochondria-mediated pathway after photon and neutron irradiation. Bax-negative human prostate cancer cells were irradiated with p(66)/Be neutrons or 60Co -rays, in the absence or presence of an inhibitor of Bak translocation to mitochondria. Dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential was assessed using the DePsipherTM kit. Cell survival was assessed using the colony forming assay. The dose response for the dissipation of mitochondria membrane potential was clearly dependent on radiation type, and the presence of the Bak inhibitor during irradiation almost completely abolished this process. This was paralleled by a significant enhancement in radioresistance in the presence of the inhibitor. These data indicate that, in Bax-negative tumours, Bak availability may lead to significant increases in the radiosensitivity, and can result in an enhanced therapeutic benefit. Keywords: prostate cancer; radiotherapy; mitochondrial membrane potential; Bak
Monitoring of pulmonary function in people dwelling and working in and near cement factory area
Authors: Putti Nandan , Qureshi Asmath , Sarma Latha , KA Mohit Chilana
Published: July 2023

Indian cement industry is the second largest in the world. With growing industrialization more and more people are involved in industrial occupation, who are prone to serious health hazards. In the present study we focus on pulmonary function tests (PFT) the changed values correlating with the duration of stay and type of occupation in the cement factory area. A base line demographic and patient data of work and stay was taken with the help of questionnaires designed as data collection form. Patients were sent for pulmonary function test which was done by an experienced PFT technician. Mean age of study subjects was found out to be 40.54 years (± 8.91). The different occupations of subjects staying in the said areas can be summarized as 8 house wives, 22 technicians, 4 hospital workers, 6 mine workers, 6 security personnel and 3 drivers. Mean duration of work and stay was found out to be 13.08 years (± 10.55) and 16.78 years (± 13.32) respectively. The mean forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) was found out to be 71.28 (± 20.74) whereas peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was found to be 68.1 (± 17.20). 6 subjects had a history of asthma, 13 had dust allergy, 18 had shortness of breath functional class (FC) - grade III, and 2 patients working in mines had silicosis. There was a negative correlation between duration of stay and FEV1, PEFR with a co-efficient of correlation being -0.4 (p-value 0.29) & -0.43 (p-value 0.1) also the duration of work and FEV1, PEFR with a co-efficient of correlation being -0.51 (p-value 0.4) & -0.3 (p-value 0.7). Key words: Cement factory; pulmonary function tests; forced expiratory volume; peak expiratory flow rate; occupational lung diseases.
ANALYSIS OF THE ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY OF AUTOMATED TESTING IMPLEMENTATION IN SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
Authors: Masalimov T. R. , Sayfullina S. F.
Published: July 2023

The article considers the main factors influencing the effectiveness of the implementation of automated testing in software development teams. A method is proposed for assessing the need to automate manual testing (test cases) based on checklists and a decision tree previously presented in other works. Factors related to the availability of specialists necessary for automation, their qualifications and the availability of automation tools in the company were added to the checklist and decision tree. Also, a method for assessing the economic efficiency of introducing test automation based on the analysis of the return of investment ratio is presented.
Influence of photons of the near-ultraviolet radiation on the growth and development of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L. ssp. vulgaris var. saccharifera Alef.) in a closed agrobiotechnosystem
Authors: Latushkin V. V. , Zelenkov V. N. , Kosobryukhov A. A. , Novikov V. B. , Putilina L. N. , Ivanova M. I. , Vernik P. A. , Gavrilov S. V.
Published: July 2023

Relevance and methodology. In order to determine the effect of near-ultraviolet radiation with a wavelength of 380 nm on the growth and development of a sugar beet hybrid plant, Smena was grown for 82 days under LED lighting with phytolamps and under conditions of increased UV-A intensity of the light range (an increase in the UV/PPFD ratio (0.027) compared with the control (0.0075) while maintaining the ratio of the remaining sites spectrum). The study was carried out on the basis of the digital software package "Synergotron" with a controlled internal environment.Results. An increase in the share of UV-A in the illumination spectrum leads to a significant change in the biometric indicators of plants – the aboveground biomass increases by 2.2 times compared to the control, and the mass of the underground part (root crops), on the contrary, decreases by 86.9%. At the same time, the share of root crops in the total biomass of plants decreases from 60% in the control to 30%. The morphological structure of the leaf apparatus changes: the proportion of petioles increases significantly compared to leaf blades (64.8% of petioles in aboveground biomass, whereas in the control 30%). Probably, an increase in the share of UV-A in the spectrum can favorably affect the cultivation of leaf forms of beets and other root crops. UV-A radiation leads to a change in the chemical composition of root crops, in particular, a decrease in the accumulation of dry substances (by 1.58%) and a decrease in sugar content (by 1.8%). An increase in the proportion of UV-A in the irradiation spectrum changes the parameters of chlorophyll fluorescence and contributes to an increase in the maximum quantum yield of Fv/Fm, non-photosynthetic quenching of NPQ fluorescence and a decrease in the real quantum yield of photosynthesis Y(II), as well as the electron transport rate (ETR).
Biological features and elements of the technology of seed production of marigolds (Tagetes patula L.) in the conditions of the Southern Urals
Authors: Shishkina E. V. , Aliluev A. V. , Sirota S. M.
Published: July 2023

Relevance. One of the priority areas of research at Heterosis Selection LLC is the creation of varieties and the development of regional agricultural technology for growing seed material of flower crops. The article represents the results of the study of intravarietal variability according to 7 structural features of marigolds (Tagetes patula L.) cv. Elena Prekrasnaya under the conditions of the Southern Urals. To develop a methodology of seed production of marigolds in the conditions of the Southern Urals, it is necessary to study a complex of morphological features and identify those that more fully contribute to the preservation and maintenance of the variety.Results. As a result of the study of intravarietal variability, it was found that the most stable traits of the variety of marigolds cv. Elena Prekrasnaya are the height of the plant, the diameter of the inflorescence, and the number of seeds in the inflorescence. Efficient selection when obtaining original seeds of marigolds cv. Elena Prekrasnaya will be when focusing on the signs of plant height and inflorescence diameter. In order to obtain high-quality seeds in the industrial seed production of marigold in the conditions of the Southern Urals, it should be kept in mind that in the period from August 20 to September 1, half of the potential seed yield ripens – 49.4%. The greatest uniformity of seed ripening (37.3% of the total yield) was noted on September 1. The harvesting of inflorescences during this period provided the production of seeds with high sowing qualities.
Use of water-soluble microfertilizers for growing meteor table variety watermelon
Authors: Galichkina E. A. , Nadezhdkin S. M. , Makarenkov D. A.
Published: July 2023

Relevance. In connection with the introduction of various types of chelated microfertilizers into production, it is necessary to develop new elements of varietal technology for the cultivation of melons and gourds in order to obtain stable yields in the arid conditions of the Volgograd Trans-Volga region. These studies will be relevant in this period of time.Material and technique. The object of research is watermelon, variety Meteor. We studied the types and methods of using chelate microfertilizers: Helaton Extra, Chelate B, Chelate Fe. Fertilizers were used for soaking seeds before sowing and for foliar treatment of plants during the growing season.Results. During the research period of 2019-2021, new forms of microfertilizers were studied. As a result of the research, new preparations for different methods of processing had a positive effect on the growth and development of table watermelon plants. The evaluation of the results obtained showed a positive effect of new microfertilizers on the germination energy and seed germination. The maximum growth of lashes was recorded when seeds were soaked before sowing: Helaton Extra preparation and foliar feeding of plants during the growing season with microfertilizer boron chelate. The best results of increasing the leaf surface were obtained in variants with the use of Helaton Extra microfertilizer for soaking seeds and treating plants on vegetative organs. Accordingly, the highest yield was obtained when using Helaton Extra fertilizer for seed treatment before sowing and spraying plants during the growing season. The output of marketable products was noted at a fairly high level. The average weight of the fetus in all studied variants ranged from 5.9 kg to 7.8 kg. The length of the growing season in all variants increased slightly. Comparative analysis of growth processes and productivity of watermelon variety Meteor when using new forms of water-soluble fertilizers for seed soaking and foliar treatment of plants showed greater efficiency from their use.
Infection control practices of medical practitioners at a large urban public hospital in South Africa during the SARS-COV-2 Pandemic
Authors: Marx Michelle , Ter Morshuizen Byron , Venter Michelle , Dawood Tahir
Published: July 2023

Background: Infection prevention and control (IPC) preparation and how it relates to the use and reuse of personal protective Equipment (PPE), as well as behavioural changes among doctors has been an area of interest for researchers since the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome outbreaks. The aim of this study is to describe the role of IPC practices of doctors at a large urban public hospital in South Africa during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic of 2020.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was performed on doctors from the general medical and surgical disciplines of the hospital. All levels of staff were interviewed using an anonymous voluntary self-administered questionnaire administered over a 4-week period.

Results: We determined that the majority of the participants (87.5%) were involved in the care of COVID-19 patients. Internal Medicine participants were more likely to work in a respiratory ward compared to their surgical counterparts. Of the surveyed sample, 90.4% indicated that they received formal IPC training during the COVID-19 pandemic. Contrasting this, only half (52.9%) felt prepared to apply these principles when working with COVID-19 patients. Almost all respondents (90.0%) surveyed reported using PPE. Of the respondents using PPE, 94.4% were reusing their PPE. From the total sample population, 95.2% reported implementing behavioural changes.

Conclusion: Although the majority of doctors surveyed were involved in the care of COVID-19 patients, almost half did not feel prepared to deal with COVID-19 patients despite training being made available. The study also showed a disparity in behavioural changes by health professionals in the medical and surgical departments. The study highlights the importance of targeted ongoing IPC training across departments.
Machine Learning Analysis of Social Media Posts Written in Natural Language May Enhance Suicidal Ideation Detection in Romanian Adults with Major Depression
Authors: MD, PhD Eduard P. Drima
Published: July 2023

Detecting suicidal ideation in adults with major depression is crucial for timely intervention and prevention of self-harm. As suicide is influenced by various biological, socio-cultural and psychological factors, traditional screening methods have accuracy and efficiency limitations. In certain cultures, societal stigma and marginalization can compel individuals with depression to conceal their suffering. Such individuals often turn to online social media platforms and share their experiences with peers under the protection of anonymity. Our research explored the potential of machine learning detection of suicidal ideation among Romanian adults with major depression that contributed to a web-based depression support forum. A trained algorithm (C4.5 decision tree) analyzed 125 posts fed to on a free access online support forum over 5 years (2014 – 2018) and classified them based on suicidal ideation content. 32 texts (25%) were identified as having a high probability of suicidal ideation content. 65% of the authors were male, with a mean age of 36.7±10.3 years and an average duration of illness of 3.4±1.4 years. Texts indicating positive suicidal ideation were generally shorter and elicited more general responses but fewer professional responses compared to those without suicidal ideation content. The study's main limitations include the relatively small number of classified texts, the absence of prospective information and the lack of qualitative evaluation of the excerpts' content. As socio-demographic and linguistic actuarial results were comparable to data reported by real life studies, we may consider basic text mining techniques as a screening tool that is able to detect suicidal ideation in texts written in unstructured Romanian language.
Vacuum Pressure Impregnation Performance of Flame Retardant for Larch (Larix kaempferi) Depending on Grooving Type
Authors: Jang Eun-Suk , Kang Xiao Jia , Jo Seok-Un , Kang Chun-Won , Park Hee-Jun
Published: July 2023

Due to wood’s susceptibility to fire, it is crucial to treat wood-based materials with flame retardants, especially in construction applications. This study investigated the effectiveness of various grooving types, including transverse, longitudinal, both transverse and longitudinal, and surface grooving, in enhancing larch's vacuum pressure impregnation process. The results revealed that transverse grooving provided a slightly greater impregnation advantage than longitudinal grooving. Moreover, exceptional impregnation performance was observed in larch samples subjected to both longitudinal and transverse grooving and surface grooving, exhibiting a remarkable improvement of 214,7 % compared to untreated larch.
Offline Handwritten Chinese Character Using Convolutional Neural Network: State-of-the-Art Methods
Authors: Zhong Yingna , Daud Kauthar Mohd , Nor Ain Najiha Binti Mohamad , Ikuesan Richard Adeyemi , Moorthy Kohbalan
Published: July 2023

Given the presence of handwritten documents in human transactions, including email sorting, bank checks, and automating procedures, handwritten characters recognition (HCR) of documents has been invaluable to society. Handwritten Chinese characters (HCC) can be divided into offline and online categories. Online HCC recognition (HCCR) involves the trajectory movement of the pen tip for expressing linguistic content. In contrast, offline HCCR involves analyzing and categorizing the sample binary or grayscale images of characters. As recognition technology develops, academics’ interest in Chinese character recognition has continuously increased, as it significantly affects social and economic development. Recent development in this area is promising. However, the recognition accuracy of offline HCCR is still a sophisticated challenge owing to their complexity and variety of writing styles. With the advancement of deep learning, convolutional neural network (CNN)-based algorithms have demonstrated distinct benefits in offline HCCR and have achieved outstanding results. In this review, we aim to show the different HCCR methods for tackling the complexity and variability of offline HCC writing styles. This paper also reviews different activation functions used in offline HCCR and provides valuable assistance to new researchers in offline Chinese handwriting recognition by providing a succinct study of various methods for recognizing offline HCC.
Eccentric Connectivity Index of Nanosheets and Nanotube of SiO2
Authors: Greeni A. Berin , Jancy S.
Published: July 2023

Chemical graph theory is a field related to Chemistry which is used to predict the behavior of chemical structures. The current trend in Chemical graph theory is evaluating topological indices. They are the numerical descriptors of the molecular structures derived from their corresponding molecular graph. These indices are studied and used in drugs, pharmaceutical research, and other fields. In this paper, the eccentric connectivity index is computed for nanosheets and nanotubes of SiO2.
RETRACTED: Urbanization and Plant Diversity in Residential Gardens: a Case Study in Rize, Turkey
Authors: DOĞAN Tuba Gül , DEMİRCİ Sena , EROĞLU Engin , KAYA Sertaç , MERAL Alperen , BAŞARAN Nermin
Published: July 2023

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Modern analogs for ammonia flux from hydrothermal features to the Archean atmosphere
Authors: Felix Joseph
Published: July 2023

The isotopic composition of nitrogen in the rock record provides valuable evidence of reactive nitrogen sources and processing on early earth, but the wide range of δ15N values (-10.2 to + 50.4‰) leads to ambiguity in defining the early Precambrian nitrogen cycle. The high δ15N values have been explained by large fractionation associated with the onset of nitrification and/or fractionation produced by ammonia-ammonium equilibrium and air-water flux in alkaline paleolakes. Previous flux sensitivity studies in modern water bodies report alkaline pH is not a prerequisite and temperature can be the dominate parameter driving air-water flux. Here, I use the chemical and physical components of 1022 modern hydrothermal features to provide evidence that air-water NH3 flux produced a significant source of fixed nitrogen to early Earth’s atmosphere and biosphere. With regard to the modeled average NH3 flux (2.1 kg N m− 2 yr− 1) and outlier removed average flux (1.2 kg N m− 2 yr− 1), the Archean earth’s surface would need to be 0.0092, and 0.017% hydrothermal features, respectively, for the flux to match the annual amount of N produced by biogenic fixation on modern earth. Air-water NH3 flux from hydrothermal features may have played a significant role in supplying bioavailable nitrogen to early life.