bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Bifidobacterium-dominated fecal microbiome in dairy calves shapes the characteristic growth phenotype of host
Authors: Zhuang Yimin , Liu Shuai , Gao Duo , Xu Yiming , Jiang Wen , Chen Tianyu , Xiao Jianxin , Wang Jingjun , Hou Guobin , Li Sumin , Zhao Xinjie , Huang Yanting , Li Shangru , Zhang Siyuan , Li Mengmeng , Wang Wei , Li Shengli , Cao Zhijun
Published: July 2024

The dominant bacteria in the hindgut of calves play an important role in their growth and health, which could even lead to lifelong consequences. However, the identification of core probiotics in the hindgut and its mechanism regulating host growth remain unclear. Here, a total of 1045 fecal samples were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing from the 408 Holstein dairy calves at the age of 0, 14, 28, 42, 56, and 70 days to characterize the dynamic changes of core taxa. Moreover, the mechanisms of nutrient metabolism of calf growth regulated by core bacteria were investigated using multi-omics analyses. Finally, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in mice were conducted to illustrate the potential beneficial effects of core bacteria. Four calf enterotypes were identified and enterotypes dominated byBifidobacteriumandOscillospiraceae_UCG-005were representative. The frequency of enterotype conversion shifted from variable to stable. The close relationship observed between phenotype and enterotype, revealing a potential pro-growth effect ofBifidobacterium, might be implemented by promoting the use of carbohydrate, activating the synthesis of volatile fatty acids, amino acids and vitamin B6, and inhibiting methane production in the hindgut. The FMT results indicated the beneficial effect ofBifidobacteriumon host growth and hindgut development. These results support the notion that theBifidobacterium-dominated fecal microbiome would be an important driving force for promoting the host growth in the early life. Our findings provide new insights into the potential probiotic mining and application strategies to promote the growth of young animals or improve their growth retardation.
Cr doping-induced ferromagnetism in SnTe thin films
Authors: Liu Shanshan , Zhang Enze , Li Zihan , Zhang Xiaoqian , Liu Wenqing , Narayan Awadhesh , Chen Zhi-Gang , Zou Jin , Xiu Faxian
Published: July 2024

Transition-metal doped topological insulators have been widely explored since the observation of quantum anomalous Hall effect (QAHE). Subsequently, the magnetic (Pb,Sn)(Te,Se) was predicted to possibly possess a high-temperature QAHE state. However, the fundamental understanding of Cr-doping-induced ferromagnetism in this system remains unclear. Here, we report the stable ferromagnetism in the high-crystalline Cr-doped SnTe films. Upon Cr doping, the magnetoconductance unveils a crossover from weak antilocalization to weak localization. Further increasing the Cr concentration to Cr0.17Sn0.83Te introduces a strong ferromagnetism with a Curie temperature of ~140 K. We detected a sizable spin moment ms = 2.28 ± 0.23 μB/Cr and a suppressed orbital moment ml = 0.02 μB/Cr. Cr dopants prefer to substitute the Sn sites and behave as divalent cations, as indicated by the experimental results and density function theory calculations. The controllable growth of magnetic SnTe thin films provides enlightenment towards the high-temperature QAHE in magnetic TCIs for the desired dissipationless transport in electronics.
Refining the optimal CAF cluster marker for predicting TME-dependent survival expectancy and treatment benefits in NSCLC patients
Authors: Li Kai , Wang Rui , Liu Guo-Wei , Peng Zi-Yang , Wang Ji-Chang , Xiao Guo-Dong , Tang Shou-Ching , Du Ning , Zhang Jia , Zhang Jing , Ren Hong , Sun Xin , Yang Yi-Ping , Liu Da-Peng
Published: July 2024

The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a pivotal role in the onset, progression, and treatment response of cancer. Among the various components of the TME, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key regulators of both immune and non-immune cellular functions. Leveraging single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA) data, we have uncovered previously hidden and promising roles within this specific CAF subgroup, paving the way for its clinical application. However, several critical questions persist, primarily stemming from the heterogeneous nature of CAFs and the use of different fibroblast markers in various sample analyses, causing confusion and hindrance in their clinical implementation. In this groundbreaking study, we have systematically screened multiple databases to identify the most robust marker for distinguishing CAFs in lung cancer, with a particular focus on their potential use in early diagnosis, staging, and treatment response evaluation. Our investigation revealed that COL1A1, COL1A2, FAP, and PDGFRA are effective markers for characterizing CAF subgroups in most lung adenocarcinoma datasets. Through comprehensive analysis of treatment responses, we determined that COL1A1 stands out as the most effective indicator among all CAF markers. COL1A1 not only deciphers the TME signatures related to CAFs but also demonstrates a highly sensitive and specific correlation with treatment responses and multiple survival outcomes. For the first time, we have unveiled the distinct roles played by clusters of CAF markers in differentiating various TME groups. Our findings confirm the sensitive and unique contributions of CAFs to the responses of multiple lung cancer therapies. These insights significantly enhance our understanding of TME functions and drive the translational application of extensive scRNA sequence results. COL1A1 emerges as the most sensitive and specific marker for defining CAF subgroups in scRNA analysis. The CAF ratios represented by COL1A1 can potentially serve as a reliable predictor of treatment responses in clinical practice, thus providing valuable insights into the influential roles of TME components. This research marks a crucial step forward in revolutionizing our approach to cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Staging of post-settlement growth in the nudibranch Hypselodoris festiva
Authors: Hayashi Makiko , Nakano Hiroaki
Published: July 2024

Sea slugs of the family Chromodorididae (Nudibranchia, Gastropoda, Mollusca) have garnered attention by researchers and hobbyists alike for their bright and variable color patterns. However, the chromodorid life cycle has yet to be fully elucidated as there exist no reports of their rearing in the laboratory. Here, we report the rearing of Hypselodoris festiva from eggs to adults, where we categorized their post-settlement growth patterns from juvenile to adult stages. Body coloration appeared around 36 days, and organogenesis of vital adult organs began within 42 days after hatching. The anus of H. festiva was observed to change from a ventral to dorsal position during juvenile growth. Individuals reached sexual maturity after six months post-hatching, with successful mating and spawning observed ex situ. This study outlines comprehensive rearing methods and life cycle staging that could be applied to other chromodorid species. We propose H. festiva as a model organism for chromodorid research, with this research contributing to the progress of developmental and evolutionary research on sea slugs.
Circular dichroism of relativistically–moving chiral molecules
Authors: Whittam Mitchell R. , Zerulla Benedikt , Krstić Marjan , Vavilin Maxim , Holzer Christof , Nyman Markus , Rebholz Lukas , Fernandez-Corbaton Ivan , Rockstuhl Carsten
Published: July 2024

Understanding the impact of the relativistic motion of a chiral molecule on its optical response is a prime challenge for fundamental science, but it also has a direct practical relevance in our search for extraterrestrial life. To contribute to these significant developments, we describe a multi–scale computational framework that combines quantum chemistry calculations and full–wave optical simulations to predict the chiral optical response from molecules moving at relativistic speeds. Specifically, the effect of a relativistic motion on the transmission circular dichroism (TCD) of three life–essential biomolecules, namely, B–DNA, chlorophyll a, and chlorophyll b, is investigated. Inspired by previous experiments to detect interstellar chiral molecules, we assume that the molecules move between a stationary observer and a light source, and we study the rotationally averaged TCD as a function of the speed of the molecule.We find that the TCD spectrum that contains the signatures of the molecules shifts with increasing speed to shorter wavelengths, with the effects already being visible for moderate velocities.
Effect of nystagmus on VEP-based objective visual acuity estimates
Authors: Quanz Elisabeth V. , Kuske Juliane , Stolle Francie H. , Bach Michael , Heinrich Sven P. , Hoffmann Michael B. , Al-Nosairy Khaldoon O.
Published: July 2024

In order to determine the effect of nystagmus on objective visual acuity (VA) estimates, we compared subjective (VApsych) and objective (VEP, VAVEP) VA estimates in participants with nystagmus. For this purpose, 20 participants with nystagmus (NY) caused by idiopathic infantile nystagmus, albinism, achiasma or acquired nystagmus were recruited in this study. Estimates of BCVA (best corrected visual acuity) were determined psychophysically (VApsych; FrACT, Freiburg visual acuity test) and electrophysiologically (VAVEP; EP2000) according to ISCEV (International Society of Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision) guidelines. For each participant the eye with the stronger fixation instability [Nidek microperimeter (MP-1), Nidek Instruments] was included for further analysis. VApsych vs VAVEP were compared via paired t-tests and the correlation of the difference between VApsych and VAVEP (∆VA) vs the degree of fixation instability was tested with Pearson correlation (r). We found VAVEP to be better than VApsych [by 0.12 Logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution (logMAR); mean ± standard error (SE) of VAVEP vs VApsych: 0.176 ± 0.06 vs. 0.299 ± 0.06, P = 0.017] and ∆VA to be correlated linearly with the degree of fixation instability (r2 = 0.21,p = 0.048). In conclusion, on average we report a small VA overestimation, around 1 line, for VAVEP compared to VApsych in NY. This overestimation depended on the magnitude of the fixation instability. As a rule of thumb, a reduction of the fixation probability in the central 4° from 100 to 50% leads on average to a VAVEP overestimation of around 0.25 logMAR, i.e. 2.5 lines.
Detection of Wuchereria bancrofti infection in mosquitoes in areas co-endemic with Brugia malayi in Balasore district, Odisha, India
Authors: Abraham Philip Raj , Ramalingam Balasubramaniyan , Mohapatra Priyadarshini , Krishnamoorthy Kaliannagounder , Hoti Sugeerappa Laxmanappa , Kumar Ashwani
Published: July 2024

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a crippling and disfiguring parasitic condition. India accounts for 55% of the world’s LF burden. The filarial parasite Wuchereria bancrofti is known to cause 99.4% of the cases while, Brugia malayi accounts for 0.6% of the issue occurring mainly in some pockets of Odisha and Kerala states. The Balasore (Baleswar) district of Odisha has been a known focus of B. malayi transmission. We employed molecular xenomonitoring to detect filarial parasite DNA in vectors. In six selected villages, Gravid traps were used to collect Culex mosquitoes and hand catch method using aspirators was followed for collection of mansonioides. A total of 2903 mosquitoes comprising of Cx. quinquefasciatus (n = 2611; 89.94%), Cx. tritaeniorhynchus (n = 100; 3.44%), Mansonia annuliferea (n = 139; 4.78%) and Mansonia uniformis (n = 53; 1.82%) were collected from six endemic villages. The species wise mosquitoes were made into 118 pools, each with a maximum of 25 mosquitoes, dried and transported to the laboratory at VCRC, Puducherry. The mosquito pools were subjected to parasite DNA extraction, followed by Real-time PCR using LDR and HhaI probes to detect W. bancrofti and B. malayi infections, respectively. Seven pools (6.66%) of Cx. quinquefasciatus, showed infection with only W. bancrofti while none of the pools of other mosquito species showed infection with either W. bancrofti or B. malayi. Although the study area is endemic to B. malayi, none of the vectors of B. malayi was found with parasite infection. This study highlights the ongoing transmission of bancroftian filariasis in the study villages of Balasore district of Odisha and its implications for evaluating LF elimination programme.
Towards pharmacokinetic boosting of phenoxymethylpenicillin (penicillin-V) using probenecid for the treatment of bacterial infections
Authors: Wilson Richard C. , Riezk Alaa , Arkell Paul , Ming Damien , Armiger Ryan , Latham Victoria , Gilchrist Mark J. , Märtson Anne-Grete , Hope William W. , Holmes Alison H. , Rawson Timothy M.
Published: July 2024

In the face of increasing antimicrobial tolerance and resistance there is a global obligation to optimise oral antimicrobial dosing strategies including narrow spectrum penicillins, such as penicillin-V. We conducted a randomised, crossover study in healthy volunteers to characterise the influence of probenecid on penicillin-V pharmacokinetics and estimate the pharmacodynamics against Streptococcus pneumoniae. Twenty participants took six doses of penicillin-V (250 mg, 500 mg or 750 mg four times daily) with and without probenecid. Total and free concentrations of penicillin-V and probenecid were measured at two timepoints. A pharmacokinetic model was developed, and the probability of target attainment (PTA) calculated. The mean difference (95% CI) between penicillin-V alone and in combination with probenecid for serum total and free penicillin-V concentrations was significantly different at both timepoints (total: 45 min 4.32 (3.20–5.32) mg/L p < 0.001, 180 min 2.2 (1.58–3.25) mg/L p < 0.001; free: 45 min 1.15 (0.88–1.42) mg/L p < 0.001, 180 min 0.5 (0.35–0.76) mg/L p < 0.001). There was no difference between the timepoints in probenecid concentrations. PTA analysis shows probenecid allows a fourfold increase in MIC cover. Addition of probenecid was safe and well tolerated. The data support further research into improved dosing structures for complex outpatient therapy and might also be used to address penicillin supply shortages.
Tag-free indoor fall detection using transformer network encoder and data fusion
Authors: Khan Muhammad Zakir , Usman Muhammad , Ahmad Jawad , Rahman Muhammad Mahboob Ur , Abbas Hasan , Imran Muhammad , Abbasi Qammer H.
Published: July 2024

This work presents a radio frequency identification (RFID)-based technique to detect falls in the elderly. The proposed RFID-based approach offers a practical and efficient alternative to wearables, which can be uncomfortable to wear and may negatively impact user experience. The system utilises strategically positioned passive ultra-high frequency (UHF) tag array, enabling unobtrusive monitoring of elderly individuals. This contactless solution queries battery-less tag and processes the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and phase data. Leveraging the powerful data-fitting capabilities of a transformer model to take raw RSSI and phase data as input with minimal preprocessing, combined with data fusion, it significantly improves activity recognition and fall detection accuracy, achieving an average rate exceeding $$96.5\%$$

96.5
%

. This performance surpasses existing methods such as convolutional neural network (CNN), recurrent neural network (RNN), and long short-term memory (LSTM), demonstrating its reliability and potential for practical implementation. Additionally, the system maintains good accuracy beyond a 3-m range using minimal battery-less UHF tags and a single antenna, enhancing its practicality and cost-effectiveness.
Additive positive effect of warming and elevated nitrogen deposition on Sphagnum biomass production at mid-latitudes
Authors: Oishi Yoshitaka
Published: July 2024

Global warming and increased atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition can adversely impact Sphagnum moss populations and ecological functions in peatlands. Based on the anticipated increases in temperature and N levels at global scale, we investigated the effects of simultaneous warming and N treatment on growth and ecophysiological activity of Sphagnum papillosum, a predominant moss at mid-latitudes, utilizing a growth chamber experiment. Warming treatments increased the maximum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) of S. papillosum while decreasing the stable carbon isotope ratio. However, warming treatment alone did not cause significant changes in the biomass increase from that of the control. Regarding N treatment, the low N treatment decreased Fv/Fm under the current temperature but did not affect the biomass increase. In contrast to these results, a simultaneous warming and high N treatment significantly enhanced the biomass production compared to that of the control, exhibiting additive effect of warming and high N treatment on Sphagnum biomass production. These responses were attributed to the improved photosynthetic performances by warming and N treatment. The results of this study contribute to the prediction of Sphagnum responses to warming and changes in N deposition.
Modelling reveals the effect of climate and land use change on Madagascar’s chameleons fauna
Authors: Mondanaro Alessandro , Di Febbraro Mirko , Castiglione Silvia , Belfiore Arianna Morena , Girardi Giorgia , Melchionna Marina , Serio Carmela , Esposito Antonella , Raia Pasquale
Published: July 2024

The global biodiversity crisis is generated by the combined effects of human-induced climate change and land conversion. Madagascar is one of the World’s most renewed hotspots of biodiversity. Yet, its rich variety of plant and animal species is threatened by deforestation and climate change. Predicting the future of Madagascar’s chameleons, in particular, is complicated by their ecological rarity, making it hard to tell which factor is the most menacing to their survival. By applying an extension of the ENphylo species distribution model algorithm to work with extremely rare species, we find that Madagascar chameleons will face intense species loss in the north-western sector of the island. Land conversion by humans will drive most of the loss, and will intersect in a complex, nonlinear manner with climate change. We find that some 30% of the Madagascar’s chameleons may lose in the future nearly all their habitats, critically jeopardizing their chance for survival.
Revealing reaction intermediates in one-carbon elongation by thiamine diphosphate/CoA-dependent enzyme family
Authors: Kim Youngchang , Lee Seung Hwan , Gade Priyanka , Nattermann Maren , Maltseva Natalia , Endres Michael , Chen Jing , Wichmann Philipp , Hu Yang , Marchal Daniel G. , Yoshikuni Yasuo , Erb Tobias J. , Gonzalez Ramon , Michalska Karolina , Joachimiak Andrzej
Published: July 2024

2-Hydroxyacyl-CoA lyase/synthase (HACL/S) is a thiamine diphosphate (ThDP)-dependent versatile enzyme originally discovered in the mammalian α-oxidation pathway. HACL/S natively cleaves 2-hydroxyacyl-CoAs and, in its reverse direction, condenses formyl-CoA with aldehydes or ketones. The one-carbon elongation biochemistry based on HACL/S has enabled the use of molecules derived from greenhouse gases as biomanufacturing feedstocks. We investigated several HACL/S family members with high activity in the condensation of formyl-CoA and aldehydes, and distinct chain-length specificities and kinetic parameters. Our analysis revealed the structures of enzymes in complex with acyl-CoA substrates and products, several covalent intermediates, bound ThDP and ADP, as well as the C-terminal active site region. One of these observed states corresponds to the intermediary α–carbanion with hydroxymethyl-CoA covalently attached to ThDP. This research distinguishes HACL/S from related sub-families and identifies key residues involved in substrate binding and catalysis. These findings expand our knowledge of acyloin-condensation biochemistry and offer attractive prospects for biocatalysis using carbon elongation.
Characteristics of the vegetable oil debate in social-media and its implications for sustainability
Authors: Candellone Elena , Aleta Alberto , Ferraz de Arruda Henrique , Meijaard Erik , Moreno Yamir
Published: July 2024

The global production and consumption of vegetable oils have sparked wide-ranging and often emotive discussions on sustainable development, especially on social media. Here we analyze over 20 million tweets related to vegetable oils to explore the key factors shaping public opinion. Coconut, olive, and palm oils dominate social media discourse not proportionally to their global production. Olive and palm oil discussions remarkably correlate with Twitter’s (now X) growth, while coconut shows more bursts of activity. Discussions around coconut and olive oils primarily focus on health, beauty, and food, while palm oil draws attention to pressing environmental concerns. Virality is related to environmental issues and negative connotations. In the context of the Sustainable Development Goals, this study highlights the multifaceted nature of the vegetable oil debate and its disconnection from scientific discussions. Our research sheds light on the power of social media in shaping public perception, providing insights into sustainable development strategies.
An innovative Schiff-base colorimetric chemosensor for the selective detection of Cu2+ ions and its applications
Authors: Kumar Ram , Singh Bholey , Gahlyan Parveen , Verma Abhishek , Bhandari Mamta , Kakkar Rita , Pani Balaram
Published: July 2024

A Schiff-base colorimetric chemosensor has been synthesized for the selective detection of Cu2+ ions and its potential application in the detection of Cu2+ in the solid state and in real water samples has also been demonstrated.
Harnessing the power of thermosensitive liposomes with gold nanoprisms and silica for controlled drug delivery in combined chemotherapy and phototherapy
Authors: Rubio-Camacho Marta , Cuestas-Ayllón Carlos , Torres-Herrero Beatriz , Martínez-Tomé María José , de la Fuente Jesús M. , Mateo C. Reyes
Published: July 2024

Strategies used to obtain multifunctional nanoformulations for controlled drug delivery in combined chemotherapy and phototherapy.
The effect of Fc region affinity of protein-based antibody-recruiting molecules on antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity
Authors: Tagawa Hiroshi , Saeki Riku , Yamamoto Chihaya , Tanito Kenta , Tanaka Chihiro , Munekawa Shoki , Nii Teruki , Kishimura Akihiro , Murakami Hiroshi , Mori Takeshi , Katayama Yoshiki
Published: July 2024

We report that novel protein-based Fc-binding antibody recruiting molecules (Fc-ARMs) with HER2-specific affibodies induce ADCC, but are less effective than conventional IgG-mediated ADCC and require further affinity improvement.
Enhanced electrical properties of BNKT–BMN lead-free ceramics by CaSnO3 doping and their bioactive properties
Authors: Tawee Lalita , Boothrawong Narongdetch , Thammarong Suwanan , Sriprapha Phanrawee , Boontakam Waraporn , Sweatman Denis Russell , Chandet Nopakarn , Randorn Chamnan , Rujijanagul Gobwute
Published: July 2024

The CSO additive enhanced the electrical and mechanical properties of 0.99BNKT–0.01BMN ceramics. Biological tests on x = 0.02CSO samples showed moderate apatite formation in the SBF test and good cell viability in the cytotoxicity test.
Cellulose carbamates via transcarbamoylation/transurethanization of methyl carbamates in superbase–acid conjugate ionic liquids
Authors: Todorov Aleksandar R. , Dryś Magdalena , Gazagnaire Eva , Podder Manisha , Kilpeläinen Ilkka
Published: July 2024

Herein, we present a sustainable homogeneous protocol for cellulose carbamoylation with methyl N-substituted carbamates in the presence of superbase ionic liquids.
Polymerization of EDOT functionalized star-shaped pentaerythritol and study of the structure and conducting properties of polymers
Authors: Samad Rana Abdel , Gohier Frédéric , Daffos Barbara , Taberna Pierre-Louis , Cougnon Charles
Published: July 2024

Pentaerythritol-based conducting polymers envisioned as an ultimate solution to obtain highly nanostructured conducting polymers with textural and conducting properties controllable by the monomer concentration in the polymerization bath.
Metal–organic framework derivatives with gradient structures via multidimensional assembly engineering for tunable efficient microwave absorption
Authors: Zhang Zhe , Cui Jiewu , Yu Dongbo , Zhang Pengjie , Zhang Yong , Ma Song , Sun Wei , Liang Xiaohui , Wu Yucheng
Published: July 2024

Multidimensional assembly strategy facilitates the preparation of MOF-derived Co-doped carbon-based composites assembled with 1D nanowires/rods and 0D nanobubbles to enhance and optimize microwave attenuation.
An improved BRISK‐FREAK‐based algorithm combined with LSD algorithm for complex pointer meter identification
Authors: Xu Zhiniu , Wu Xiaonan , Liu Yuxuan , Zhao Lina , Zhao Lijuan , Song Shipeng , Cui Ruilei
Published: July 2024

To locate and read the complex pointer meter dial for the images with uneven illumination, blurred dial, and tilted dial, this paper firstly proposes an improved BRISK‐FREAK algorithm for dial position. Then, combined with the Line Segment Detector (LSD) algorithm, an automatic identification method for complex pointer meter is proposed. The dial of a large number of SF6 complex pressure pointer meter images are located and the results reveal that the proposed improved BRISK‐FREAK algorithm has good adaptability under strong interference. The computational speed of the proposed algorithm is 33% and 17% higher than the Scale‐Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) algorithm and the Binary Robust Invariant Scalable Keypoints (BRISK) algorithm respectively. The positioning success rate of the proposed algorithm is 40%, 64%, and 32% higher than that of the SIFT, Oriented FAST and Rotated BRIEF (ORB) and BRISK algorithms respectively. The reading success rate of the proposed method is 94.5%, which is 19.5%, 39.9% and 14.8% higher than that of the methods based on the ORB, SIFT and BRISK algorithms respectively. It is particularly suitable for application in the actual substations to realize the identification of complex pointer meters.
PCOS in women with infertility and role of determinant genes of steroid hormones
Authors: Ikhtiyarova G.A. , Dustova N.Q. , Oripova F.Sh. , Tosheva I.I. , Olimova N.I. , Qurbonova Z.Sh.
Published: July 2024

We observed 125 women: group 1 - 45 women with primary PCOS and infertility; group 2 - 46 women with infertility and PCOS in preparation for ART; group 3 26 conditionally healthy women. Based on the foregoing, we presented the data of our own studies on the assessment of the state, the genes of steroid hormones (CYP17A1-rs743572, CYP19A1-rs247015) based on the analysis of laboratory data. CY17A1 polymorphism in patients with PCOS, it can be said that the GG mutant genotype was statistically significantly more common in patients compared to the control group. When dividing PCOS patients, they were divided into groups and compared with the control group, MS+ PCOS patients had a lower level of the mutant form (GG) genotype compared to the control group, but in MS- PCOS patients compared to the control group, the mutant gene was determined more.
Awareness of patients with metabolic syndrome about the role of the main components of this syndrome, their application to doctors and following recommendations
Authors: Badritdinova Matluba , Nurilloeva Shakhodat , Naimov Dilshod , Yazmuradov Farkhod , Atoeva Muniskhon
Published: July 2024

Development of proposals and recommendations for reducing the risks of metabolic syndrome among the population based on multicomponent analysis and development of an innovative program for non-drug treatment and prevention of metabolic syndrome, including a software product. The survey was conducted among the unorganized population of the city of Bukhara. At the same time, to study the dynamics of distribution and levels of the main components of MS, 2 groups of people were examined. The first group - 797 people were examined in 2006 (materials of a population study of the inhabitants of Bukhara). After 15 years, 702 more people were examined under the same program (with additions). Both times, the research program included the identification of the main components of MS. The presented data showed that among the examined groups there is a significant underestimation of arterial hypertension, as well as overweight and obesity as risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. The high frequency of arterial hypertension and overweight among the category of patients who consider increased weight to be an insignificant risk factor, and in other cases, which are not a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, indicates an urgent need to increase public awareness of risk factors. There is a lack of public awareness about the metabolic syndrome, its main components and the harm they cause to health. At the same time, the attitude of the population to their health and the fulfillment of the corresponding prescriptions of doctors require the development of new methods and methods for primary and secondary prevention. There is a direct relationship to patient awareness of an objective assessment of health status, and on the other hand, to the state of the main metabolic ingredients. The most inadequate attitude takes place among young people.
ABO Blood Type and Urinary Bladder Cancer: Phenotype, Genotype, Allelic Association with a Clinical or Histological Stage and Recurrence Rate
Authors: Milas Ivan , Kaštelan Željko , Petrik Jószef , Bingulac-Popović Jasna , Čikić Bojan , Šribar Andrej , Jukić Irena
Published: July 2024

Background Previous research on connection between the ABO blood group and bladder cancer has been based on determining the ABO phenotype. This specific research is extended to the molecular level, providing more information about particular ABO alleles.

Aim To investigate the impact of the ABO blood group genotype or phenotype as a risk factor for urinary bladder cancer.

Materials and Methods In the case–control study, we included 74 patients who underwent surgery for a urinary bladder tumor at the Urology Clinic, Clinical Hospital Centre Zagreb, in 2021 and 2022. The control group comprised 142 asymptomatic and healthy blood donors. ABO genotyping to five basic alleles was done using a polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers. We compared ABO phenotypes, genotypes, and alleles between patients and the healthy controls and investigated their distribution according to the clinical and histological stage and recurrence rate.

Results No statistically significant difference was found among the groups, nor for the observed disease stages in terms of the phenotype and genotype. At the allele level, the results show a significantly lower proportion of malignancy in O1 (p < 0.001), A1 (p < 0.001), and B (p = 0.013), and a lower proportion of metastatic disease in A2 (0%, p = 0.024). We also found significantly higher proportions of high-grade tumors in patients with O1 (71.4%, p < 0.001), A1 (70.1%, p = 0.019), of nonmuscle invasive tumors in patients with O1 (55.1%, p < 0.001), O2 (100%, p = 0.045), and recurrent tumors in patients with O1 (70.2%, p < 0.001) and A1 (74.2%, p = 0.007) alleles.

Conclusion We did not find an association between the ABO blood group genotype or phenotype as a genetic risk factor for urinary bladder cancer. However, an analysis at the allelic level revealed a statistically significant association between certain alleles of the ABO blood group system and urinary bladder tumors, clinical or histological stage, and recurrence rate, respectively.
An investigation on the impact of temperature variation over the performance of formamidinium tin iodide perovskite solar cell using SCAPS simulation
Authors: Afrin Poroma , Farjana Kanize , Vumije Anjon , Uddin Md. Nasir
Published: July 2024

The primary goals of this project are to analyze the structure and assess the photovoltaic performance of n-i-p structured formamidinium tin iodide (FASnI3) perovskite solar cells at different operating temperatures to inspect the impact of operating temperature on device performance using a Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator (SCAPS). The simulated device structure is Au/spiro-OMeTAD/P3HT/FASnI3/PCBM/TiO2/FTO, whereas spiro-OMeTAD and TiO2 serve as the hole transport layer and electron transport layer, respectively. SCAPS simulation has been performed at 200, 300, 400, 500, and 600 K operating temperatures, and corresponding current density vs voltage (J–V) characteristics have been studied in addition to the photovoltaic metrics, such as open circuit voltage (VOC), short circuit current density (JSC), fill factor (FF), and power conversion efficiency (PCE). The thickness fluctuation and doping concentration variation of the absorber layer and the electron affinity variation and thickness variation of the Hole Transport Layer (HTL) and Electron Transport Layer (ETL) under temperature variation were also examined analytically. It has been found that there is an inverse relationship between temperature and power conversion efficiency (PCE). The extended thickness of the absorber layer enhances the PCE and JSC. Temperature variations in the thickness of the ETL and HTL have a minimal effect on the PCE and JSC of the device. At standard room temperature (300 K operating temperature), the solar cell parameters are found to be a short-circuit current density (JSC) of 17.93 mA/cm2, open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 1.06 V, fill factor (FF) of 67.46% and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 17.93%.
Fungi associated with seeds of the invasive grass Nassella trichotoma (serrated tussock) in its native range as prospective biological control agents
Authors: Angeletti Bárbara , Anderson Freda E. , Loydi Alejandro
Published: July 2024

Context The South American grass Nassella trichotoma (serrated tussock) is widely distributed in central Argentina and one of the most damaging invasive species in Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. In Australia, it is a weed of national significance. Aims Our aim was to characterise the fungi able to colonise N. trichotoma seeds buried at a site in south-western Buenos Aires province, Argentina, and measure their impact on seed survival and germination. Methods We tested the germination of healthy seeds at the beginning of the experiment (control). We buried 10 mesh bags containing 100 disinfected N. trichotoma seeds each, during 3 months in spring and autumn. At the end of each experiment, the contents of five of the bags were counted and classified as germinated, healthy, damaged, or disintegrated. Germination tests were then conducted with seeds of the latter three categories. The remaining seeds were used for recording fungal signs/symptoms, and the isolation of fungi. Key results We identified and described a diverse group of fungi associated with the seeds and a seasonal variation in the specific composition. Seeds showing fungal signs and/or symptoms germinated less than the control. Conclusions This is the first study on fungi associated with seeds of this species in the native range, which can affect their survival and longevity. Implications It is expected that studies on the seed microbiome may help us understand the differences in behaviour of the plant between ranges, and test the enemy-release hypothesis.
Evaluation of reference genes and expression patterns of CONSTANS-LIKE genes in Tetrastigma hemsleyanum under different photoperiods
Authors: Zhao Gang , Liu Wenling , Lin Guowei , Wen Jing
Published: July 2024

CONSTANS-LIKE (COL) genes are a key signalling molecule that regulates plant growth and development during the photoperiod. Our preliminary experiments showed that the photoperiod greatly influence the formation of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum root tubers. In this study, we examined the oscillation patterns and expression characteristics of COL genes in leaves of T. hemsleyanum under different photoperiod conditions. Six genes were selected as candidate reference genes for further analyses: (1) 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA); (2) α-tubulin (TUBA); (3) 30S ribosomal RNA (30S rRNA); (4) TATA binding protein (TBP); (5) elongation factor 1α (EF-1α); and (6) RNA polymerase II (RPII). The geNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper software programs were used to evaluate expression stability. Two ThCOL genes were screened in the T. hemsleyanum transcriptome library, and their expression patterns under different photoperiod conditions were analysed using quantitative reverse transcription PCR. The genes EF-1α, TUBA, and 18S rRNA were used to analyse the expression profiles of CONSTANS genes (ThCOL4 and ThCOL5) under different photoperiods. The expression peaks of ThCOL4 and ThCOL5 appeared at different times, demonstrating that their oscillation patterns were influenced by the photoperiod. We speculate that these two ThCOL genes may be involved in different biological processes.
Foot-shift and disyllabification in the history of Chinese
Authors: Zhuang Huibin , Zhao Pusong , Feng Shengli
Published: July 2024

This paper argues that the Chinese language has undergone a foot-shift from the Old Chinese monosyllabic foot to a
Modern Chinese disyllabic foot. It will be shown that the natural simplification of Old Chinese syllables has caused the
foot-shift, resulting in disyllabification. The disappearance of bimoraic feet in Old Chinese has resulted from the loss of
consonantal codas, including codas of consonant clusters, which has led to the disappearance of heavy syllables, as well as
super-heavy syllables. In other words, this foot-shift can be explained as a compensatory transformation of a heavy Old Chinese
dimoraic monosyllable to a pair of light monomoraic disyllables. One way of understanding this evolution is that disyllabification
of feet in Modern Chinese is a compensatory mechanism to maintain foot complexity.
Editorial: Community Based Tourism and Hospitality for Urban and Rural Development Successes, Potentials and Challenges in the Sub-Saharan African Region
Authors: Moswete Naomi , Lenao Monkgogi
Published: July 2024

This collection of case studies examines the role, significance, and challenges of community-based tourism (CBT) development in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Highlighting practical instances of urban and rural communities engaged in communally owned tourism ventures, this special collection reflects on the tourism industry's impact on the socio-economic landscape of SSA.

Information

© CAB International 2024
Tourism Development in Sri Lanka: A Case Study of Sustainable Practices in a Small Island Developing State (SIDS)
Authors: Pathirana M.T. , Scott N. , Sarah G.
Published: July 2024

This case study investigates the influence of geopolitics on sustainable tourism development in Sri Lanka, emphasizing the complexities arising from global power struggles. It explores how political factors such as competition for maritime dominance, unrest, and regional development shape economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainability. By analyzing stakeholder’s perspectives and integrating political factors into the Triple Bottom Line framework, the study offers insights into navigating challenges and harnessing opportunities for sustainable tourism amidst geopolitical dynamics.

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© The Authors 2024
Defining Legal Personhood
Authors: Arstein-Kerslake Anna
Published: July 2024

This chapter introduces the concept of legal personhood as well as the right to legal personhood. Legal theory, moral philosophy, and human rights law are used to explore the definition of ‘legal personhood’. ‘Legal capacity’ and ‘equal recognition before the law’, terms frequently used in human rights law, are also explored. It is established that the terms ‘legal capacity’ and ‘legal personhood’ can be used interchangeably because they both include recognition before the law (standing) as well as legal actions (agency). It is also established that they are both elements of the overarching right to equal recognition before the law. The differences in the use of these terms in common law and civil law jurisdictions are also discussed. In addition, a history of the right to legal personhood (via the right to equal recognition before the law) throughout UN human rights instruments is provided. The chapter aims to provide clarity regarding the definition and meaning of the right to legal personhood, and related terms, in order to provide the foundation for the analyses that take place across the various chapters in this book.
Human Rights Law and the Individual
Authors: Arstein-Kerslake Anna
Published: July 2024

The chapter explores the role of the individual in international human rights law. It starts by examining the original intention of human rights law to regulate the state and then explores its conflicting role in challenging state sovereignty via such regulation while also being predicated on state sovereignty because of the heavy reliance on states exercising their sovereignty to enter into human rights treaties. The chapter also highlights how human rights law is evolving to increasingly attach directly to the individual and argues that the right to legal personhood attaches directly to the individual, and states should not be able to choose to derogate from the right—in other words, the right to legal personhood must not be subservient to state sovereignty. States should not be able to exercise their sovereignty to deny legal personhood to certain groups. To develop this argument, the chapter covers the history of state sovereignty, including its political origins and use to legitimise colonialism and imperialism. Finally, it suggests that individuals may be ready to move beyond the prioritisation of state sovereignty and towards an understanding of certain individual rights and responsibilities that take precedence—such as the right to legal personhood.
Legal Personhood and Marginalised Groups
Authors: Arstein-Kerslake Anna
Published: July 2024

This chapter explores the human right to legal personhood and its application to marginalised groups. It begins by defining ‘marginalisation’ and exploring intersectionality, which occurs when an individual or group is experiencing marginalisation based on two intersecting factors, such as race and gender. It then explores the universality of human rights law and, therefore, the universality of the right to legal personhood. The chapter describes the historical development of right in disability and gender focused treaties and explores how the right can be applied in other contexts. It also explores the normative impacts of legal personhood on equality, more generally. Finally, it highlights again the jurisdictional limitations—especially for social groups that challenge national borders or identity, such as migrant groups, stateless peoples, and indigenous groups, and emphasises that legal personhood can be a powerful tool in addressing social justice issues. It calls for a closer examination of how certain groups are denied this right and advocates for recognising it as a fundamental foundation for social equality and human rights.
Family Mourning After War and Disaster in Twentieth-Century Britain
Authors: Foster Ann-Marie
Published: July 2024

Across the twentieth century, after war and disaster, families were left to make sense of deaths of their members, and navigate newfound grief. This book is concerned with those who died in war or disaster in Britain across the first four decades of the twentieth century and their memorial legacy. The families of these dead were often denied access to a body, and choice over burial rights, all while dealing with an increased amount of death-based bureaucracy. The domestic memorials that they created took on additional meaning because of this lack of agency elsewhere. Family reactions to these mass death events tell a history which emphasizes how families were able to push against memorial narratives and create ephemera and objects to help mourn. Although the ways that these families were bereaved took place in different circumstances, the ways that families grieved were recognizable to one another. They drew on common memorial practices, augmented to take on special meaning after sudden death. This memorial material provided a vehicle for families to navigate their loss, but also to communicate the memory of the dead both externally, through donation to museums, and linearly, through ancestral lines. How this nuance was internally articulated inside and outside of the family created powerful memory cultures, which grew apart as the century continued.
Conclusion
Authors: Foster Ann-Marie
Published: July 2024

The conclusion provides an overview of the main arguments of the book. Bereaved families negotiated state, official, and social conventions, against a backdrop of public interest, to carve out a space to remember their dead. Throughout the early twentieth century, in times of crisis, the state assumed family responsibilities for dealing with death. In response, families merged ephemera and domestic memorials to create memorial legacies for the dead. In part, the history of memorial items is a history of collections and their role in mass memory formation. Many items owned by mining families were destroyed in the interwar period; however, families whose loved ones died in war had the opportunity to donate their domestic memorials to museums. A hundred years on, families of disaster dead claimed their ancestors through social media sites, but were not given access to the mass memory building platforms the families of the war dead were.
Aesthetics After Modernism
Authors: Costello Diarmuid
Published: July 2024

Aesthetics after Modernism argues for the ongoing relevance of aesthetics to art after modernism. The author shows that even what are typically taken to be the hardest of hard cases engage us in recognisably aesthetic ways and so remain amenable to aesthetic analysis. The book traces the artworld’s rejection of aesthetic theory to Clement Greenberg’s success in co-opting the discourse of aesthetics, notably Immanuel Kant’s aesthetics, to underwrite his own formalism about modernist art. Not only has this led to Kant being tarred with the brush of Greenbergian formalism; it has also led critics and theorists of later art to miss the resources of the aesthetic tradition, perhaps especially Kant, for capturing what is distinctive about our cognitive relation to the kinds of art that most interest them. There is a tendency to assume that Kant’s aesthetics cannot speak to the more conceptual aspects of our interactions with art. The author traces the legacy of Greenberg’s modernism and formalism for later art criticism and theory, before offering an interpretation of Kant’s theory of art that seeks to show otherwise. The book takes Conceptual Art as a test case: here is a form of art that often claims to forgo sensible properties altogether. But if Kant’s aesthetics can accommodate our cognitive relation to art with no sensible features relevant to its appreciation as art, then it should in principle withstand the challenge of any form of art.
The Afterlife of Medium-Specificity II
Authors: Costello Diarmuid
Published: July 2024

Chapter 4 considers Krauss’s appeal to Stanley Cavell on ‘automatism’ to underwrite her own critique of what she call the ‘post-medium condition’, the widespread belief that specific artistic media are no longer relevant to grasping the value of art. Against this, Krauss argues that even artists working outside traditionally sanctioned media are best understood as inventing their own medium. The author questions whether Krauss can get what she needs for this understanding of artistic media from Cavell. While Cavell’s account makes sense of artists reinventing convention, by reanimating existing artistic media in previously unexpected ways, it could not make sense of artists inventing entirely new media ex nihilo, especially media that could then only be practiced by one. The chapter draws on Krauss’s essays on Kentridge, Coleman, and Ruscha to make this case. The chapter concludes by considering whether Krauss’s understanding of artistic media might still be coherent, independently of its claims on Cavell.