bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification of key miRNAs as regulatory biomarkers of gonadotropins leading to infertility in males
Authors: Oohayyed N. A. , Mohammed M. M. , Al-Rahim A. M. , Al Chalabi R. N. , Shaban S. A. , Suleiman A. A. J. 
Published: November 2023

Introduction. Infertility is a highly fatal reproductive system disorder that affects the ability of a couple to reproduce. Over the past decades, a drastic uplift has been recorded in infertility cases among males ranging from 20 to 70 % indicating spermatogenesis impairment.Aim: to identify key microRNAs (miRNAs) as regulatory biomarkers of gonadotropins involved in dysregulation of fertility-related genes to propose potential therapeutic strategies that would combat the action of oncogenic miRNAs (oncomiRs).Materials and Methods. Interaction analysis was performed between miRNAs and fertility-related genes namely luteinizing hormone choriogonadotropin receptor (LHCGR), gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRHR), follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) to identify key miRNAs as regulatory biomarkers of gonadotropins leading to infertility in males.Results. A total of 10, 13, 31 and 18 strong and potential binding sites were predicted for miRNAs-LHCGR, miRNAs-GnRHR, miRNAs-FSHR, and miRNAs-CFTR respectively employing miRWalk (comprehensive genetic database including miRNA targets) followed by identification of 6, 18, 55 and 17 significant interactions through RNA22. Subsequently shortlisted miRNAs and messenger RNA (mRNA) regions were subjected to Vfold-Pipeline and RNAComposer individually for 3D structure prediction. Additionally molecular docking was carried out between miRNAs and mRNAs models that discovered potential and stable interactions elucidating miR-6880-FSHR(R2) as a highly stable complex with least binding affinity (-566.3) and high confidence score (0.999).Conclusion. Hence this study proposes key oncomiRs as a diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target to bring about a promising treatment strategy against male factor infertility. However wet lab investigations are required for further validations of proposed study.
Cytotoxicity Effects of Formulated Mangosteen Rind and Grape Seed Extract Against Vero Cells, Breast Cancer and Colon Cancer
Authors: Sekar Sasikala  , Vijayapriya Subramanian  , Kalaivani Ashok Chandrasekar  
Published: November 2023

Globally, cancer causes millions of deaths in addition to significant social and economic consequences. Even in cases when the level of tolerated therapy has not been reached to suppress the death rate and shorten the duration of survival for metastatic cancer patients, novel therapeutic strategies are being employed, including medications, biological molecules, and immune-mediated therapies. Traditional medical practices relied heavily on plant-derived natural compositions to treat a variety of illnesses. When science-based "modern" medicine first appeared, it was carefully studied if there was any scientific basis for using natural remedies derived from plants to cure ailments. Scientists continued, however, to search for the scientific foundations of medical plants, herbal remedies, and functional foods. Finding therapeutic plant-based active principles has led to significant advancements in the identification and use of natural chemicals for the treatment of many ailments in recent decades. Mangosteen rind extract and grape seed extract, both high in antioxidants, were mixed as a formulation to explore the cytotoxic effects on breast and colon cancer. The cytotoxicity of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 (breast cancer) and HT-29 (colon cancer) was investigated and compared to the standard (Doxorubicin). The findings of the cytotoxicity assays show that the addition of Mangosteen and grape seed extract to MTT assays gradually improved the inhibition of MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and HT-29 cells. Mangosteen and grape seed extract treatment boosted the fraction of cells undergoing apoptosis in MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and HT-29 cancer cell lines. Thus, the invitro study results of compounded mangosteen and grape seed extract revealed that they are effective anti-cancer, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and antioxidant agents.
Can a lipophilic statin improve the treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in patients with hypertension and obesity?
Authors: Vasyuk Yu. A. , Shupenina E. Yu. , Namazova G. A. , Zavyalova A. I. 
Published: November 2023

Aim. To evaluate the effect of pleiotropic (anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic) effects of a lipophilic statin (atorvastatin) in the treatment of heart failure (HF) with preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (HFpEF)Material and methods. This observational study included 80 patients with HFpEF; 40 of them received atorvastatin 20-80 mg/day in addition to a standard treatment. 40 patient who refused of the statin treatment or had intolerance of the drug received only the standard treatment. The follow-up period was 12 months and included 5 visits. At the visits, the general condition of patients was evaluated; electrocardiography and echocardiography were performed at rest and during dosed physical exercise (PE); anthropometry was analyzed; and office blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and parameters of systolic and diastolic LV function were recorded.Results. Among the patients included into the study, women aged 60-70 years prevailed who had pronounced obesity (n=46; 57.5% with class II–II obesity), severe arterial hypertension (AH) (n=65; 81.2% with grade 3 hypertension), dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease. The administration of atorvastatin in addition to standard therapy was associated with regression of HF symptoms and increased PE tolerance; these effects were more pronounced after 6 months of observation. Furthermore, during a 12-month follow-up, significant multidirectional changes in LV global longitudinal strain were noted; in the main group, the LV global longitudinal strain increased indicating an improvement in the LV systolic function while in the control group, it decreased reflecting early, preclinical manifestations of HF progression. A diastolic stress test in combination with a cardiopulmonary stress test was performed in 64 patients with HFpEF at enrollment and at 6 and 12 months of follow-up. When the load reached 50 W in the atorvastatin treatment group after 12 months, a significant increase in tissue Doppler velocity parameters was revealed, specifically in e’ septal and e’ lateral. This led to a significant decrease in the E / e’ ratio while in the control group, no time-related changes in these parameters were noted. Similar changes were also detected at higher levels of PE.Conclusion. Long-term use of the lipophilic statin (atorvastatin) in addition to a standard therapy was associated with regression of clinical manifestations of HFpEF, provided preservation of the systolic function, and some improvement in the LV diastolic function both at rest and during dosed PE.
Oriental Studies at the Institute of International Relations and World History of Nizhny Novgorod University: Achievements, Problems and Prospects (2013—2021)
Authors: Grigorieva Svetlana 
Published: November 2023

The article is devoted to the analysis of the current level of development of oriental studies in a regional university on the example of the Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod. The expansion of the international relations of the Russian Federation with the countries of the East in various fields in the context of globalization, the development of the tourism business has significantly increased the demand for specialists with knowledge of oriental languages, history and culture of Asian and African countries in the labor market. In this regard, in recent years, the interest of applicants to those universities that can offer relevant and promising areas of study has sharply increased. The area of training orientalists is expanding significantly at the expense of regional universities that respond to the challenges of the time, actively participating in the process of training specialists in the field of oriental studies. The purpose of this study is the formation and development of oriental studies at UNN, identifying the features of teaching and scientific work, problems and prospects facing university teachers. The methods of scientific research were general philosophical — analysis, synthesis, as well as comparative historical and comparative genetic methods. As a result of the study, the authors note that theoretical and practical oriental studies at the Institute of International Relations have now achieved certain success, which finds expression in the preparation of generalized collective works and monographs, scientific articles in domestic and foreign publications, collections of articles and conference proceedings by the staff of the UNN; the release of educational and methodological literature that provides the educational process; regular defense of candidate and doctoral dissertations on oriental studies; initiating and holding international and all-Russian scientific conferences. Special attention is paid to the linguistic training of orientalists, which includes the possibility of studying Chinese, Arabic, Turkish, Armenian and Korean languages. Teaching is carried out using a variety of formats and teaching methods, taking into account the characteristics of the modern generation of students, which allows to achieve high quality training of specialists, develop creative and communication skills, and form the originality of thinking of graduates. An important means of popularizing and deepening knowledge about the East are student clubs that are successfully functioning at IMOMI. UNN has created all the necessary conditions for the training of graduates-orientalists who are competitive in the labor market.
SPHÈRE DÉCISIONNELLE EN SITUATION DE CRISE
Authors: El Kortbi Imane , Nekhass Houssame , Yassine Fatima-Ezzahra , Charia Zakaria , Alaoui Fennane Moulay Maati , Lahiala Abdelfattah 
Published: November 2023

La crise sanitaire comme tout autre crise est un événement inattendu qui a éveillé une série de dysfonctionnent, son apparition et sa propagation n'a pas laisser de temps aux etats de se préparer pour faire face au retombé de cette crise. Le phénomène du covid a dénudé la réalité sur le processus décisionnelle des institutions. C'était le révélateur du disfonctionnement lié au processus de gestion de crise, qui avait pour objectif de prendre les décisions capables de protéger les etats et de diminuer les retombées de la crise en sa globalité. Néanmoins nous ne pouvons pas ignorée la complexité liée au processus de prise de décision qui tire sa complexité de plusieurs facteurs tels que : la qualité de l'information disponible, la diversité des options envisageable et l'incertitude. En situation de crise le processus de prise de décision devin de plus en plus complexe car le facteur « temps » est restreint voir inexistent. Ce qui rend la capacité de prendre les décisions délicates face aux enjeux et l'exitance d'une probabilité d'échec qui n'était guère tolérable en période de crise sanitaire. Conscient de cette complexité les institutions ont constitué une entité que nous pouvons décrire comme étant la sphère décisionnelle, composée du management et de l'expert. Le management apporte une vision globale et perspective stratégique en prenant en considération tous les aspects liés à l'organisation tel que la réputation, l'aspect financier et l'aspect opérationnelle. Tandis que l'expert fournis des information basés sur son expérience et son expertise. Leur avis est donc primordial en situation de crise, qui grâce à leur expertise, les experts sont dotés de la capacité de fournir des recommandations fondées dont le management pourra bénéficier pour élaborer des décisions informées. Ces deux composantes ne peuvent pas opérer séparément et doivent être en capacité de collaborer et coopérer et faire preuves de flexibilité et d'adaptabilité afin d'aboutir à la finalité escomptée : survivre face à la crise. l'intérêt de cette article est d'explorer les composantes de la sphère décisionnelle en période de crise et de démontrer la relation qui doit se former entre le management et l'expert en situation de crise.
INFLUENCIA ISLÁMICO-ANDALUZA EN LA CONSTRUCCIÓN DEL FLAMENCO COMO GÉNERO MUSICAL.
Authors: Llorent-Bedmar Vicente , Cortés-Vázquez Macarena 
Published: November 2023

El flamenco es considerado el estilo musical que más identifica al pueblo español. Surge como fruto del mestizaje cultural que se produjo cuando musulmanes, judíos, gitanos y cristianos convivieron durante siglos en Al-Ándalus, dando lugar al estilo musical que hoy conocemos como género flamenco. Esta investigación tiene como objetivo detectar la presencia de la cultura islámica en la música flamenca desde la perspectiva de la cultura mediterránea. Se ha utilizado una metodología eminentemente cualitativa y se ha efectuado una revisión sistemática de la literatura. A tal efecto se ha empleado la metodología PRISMA. Entre los resultados, encontramos numerosas letras populares del género flamenco que aluden al pueblo islámico y relatan su memoria histórica. Las entonaciones musicales del flamenco guardan en su música el tono oriental y comparten con el islam melodías similares a manifestaciones del pueblo musulmán. Las pinturas antiguas nos han permitido hallar semejanzas entre el posicionamiento corporal de la bailarina de danza del vientre y la bailaora de flamenco. Concluimos afirmando que las influencias islámicas son especialmente relevantes en el origen y posterior consolidación del flamenco como género musical.
Braided-river architecture of the Triassic Swartberg member, Katberg Formation, South Africa: assessing age, fluvial style, and paleoclimate after the end-Permian extinction
Authors: Gibling Martin R. , Jia Ruofei , Gastaldo Robert A. , Neveling Johann , Rochín-Bañaga Heriberto 
Published: November 2023

ABSTRACT
The Triassic Katberg Formation has played a central role in interpreting the end-Permian ecosystem crisis, as part of a hypothesis of aridification, vegetation loss, and sediment release in continental settings. We use drone images of an inaccessible cliff near Bethulie to investigate the Swartberg member, a braided-fluvial body 45 m thick, describing remote outcrop facies to identify geomorphic units and using spatial analysis to estimate their proportions in 2-D sections. Here the Swartberg member comprises three channel belts within shallow valleys, the lowermost of which is ∼500 m wide and incised into lacustrine deposits. The component channel bodies consist mainly of trough cross-bedded sand sheets (48%) and channel-scour fills (28%). Recognizable bars (15%) comprise unit bars with high-angle slipfaces and mounded bar cores (components of mid-channel compound bars), bars built around vegetation, and bank-attached bars in discrete, probably low-sinuosity conduits. Abandoned channels constitute 8% and 16% of flow-parallel and -transverse sections, respectively. When corrected for compaction, the average thalweg depth of the larger channels is 3.9 m, with an average bankfull width of 84 m, scaling broadly with the relief of the bars and comparable in scale to the Platte and South Saskatchewan rivers of North America. The fluvial style implies perennial but seasonably variable flow in a vegetated landscape with a humid paleoclimate. The northward paleoflow accords with regional paleoflow patterns and deposition on a megafan sourced in the Cape Fold Belt, where the Swartberg member represents the avulsion of a major transverse-flowing river.
U-Pb dating of in situ and reworked pedogenic carbonate nodules from below the base of the Swartberg member yielded Anisian to Ladinian ages (Middle Triassic), younger than the previously assumed Early Triassic age and implying that considerable gaps in time exist in the succession. An assessment of the interval spanning the lower to mid Katberg Formation is needed to reevaluate the inferred unidirectional trend in fluvial style, aridification, and fossil distributions in this condensed, disjunct succession.
Sonographic evaluation of axillary lymph node status in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients: A prospective study
Authors: Dawood Shawnam Nasih , Jamal Aska Faruq 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Introduction: Accurate assessment of axillary lymph node status is crucial for breast cancer staging and treatment. Sonography can detect metastatic lymph nodes with varying degrees of sensitivity and specificity, while its routine use in the preoperative assessment of axillary lymph nodes remains controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of pretreatment axillary sonography in our clinical setting and to determine whether sonographic evaluation of the axilla as a tool for regional staging of breast cancer should be performed routinely in all cases.
Materials and Methods: The study recruited 180 women with histologically confirmed invasive breast cancer from September 2021 to December 2022. Axillary ultrasound was performed on all patients to assess lymph node status using predetermined criteria. The ultrasound findings were compared to the histopathology results.
Results: Axillary sonography had 94.1% sensitivity, 87.7% specificity, 95.5% positive predictive value, 96.0% negative predictive value, and 92.4% accuracy in detecting metastatic lymph nodes in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. In comparison to benign axillae, malignant axillae were significantly more likely to meet the lymph node criteria for "lobulated or irregular margin," "round or irregular shape," "focal or eccentric cortical thickening ≥3 mm," "totally replaced cortex," and "nonhilar blood flow" (p = 0.000).
Conclusions: The sonographic assessment of the axilla in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients was satisfactory, with a high accuracy rate (92.4%). Therefore, we encourage the use of this simple method of imaging in this regard.
A Novel Visible-light-driven Z-scheme C3N5/BiVO4 Heterostructure with Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation Performance
Authors: Ma Dongqi , Wang Wuyou , Li Biqing , Wang Qinzheng , Dai Yelan , Zhu Kai , Xu Haocheng , Yuan Cheng , Dong Pengyu , Xi Xinguo 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
As a visible-light response semiconductor materials, bismuth vanadate (BiVO4) is extensively applied in photodegradation organic dyes field. In this study, we synthesized C3N5 nanosheets and coupled with decahedral BiVO4 to construct a Z-scheme C3N5/BiVO4 heterostructures with close interface contact. By introducing C3N5 into BiVO4, the built Z-scheme transfer pathway provides silky channel for charge carrier migration between different moieties and enables photoexcited electrons and holes accumulated on the surface of BiVO4 and C3N5. The accelerated separation of charge carriers ensures C3N5/BiVO4 heterostructures with a powerful oxidation capacity compared with pure BiVO4. Due to the synergistic effect in Z-scheme heterostructure, the C3N5/BiVO4 demonstrated an improved photodegradation ability of rhodamine B (RhB) and methylene blue (MB) that of bare BiVO4.
Using of Christ’s Thorn Jujube Leaves as an Efficient Material for Two Eco-Friendly Applications
Authors: khaled Teba Tariq , Ibrahim Suha Anwer , Abbas Mohammed Nsaif , Zaid Thekra Atta Ibrahim 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Despite the benefits provided by zinc element, there are damages that may result from it in the event of an increase in its percentage in the human body. In this case, its impact will be negative and harmful to health as well as environmental pollution impact. Because this element is a multi-use element in all fields, many activities throw zinc in their waste, which can reach humans through the food chain. Therefore, zinc ions must be removed from polluted aqueous media if they exceed the permissible limits according to international standards. The current paper aims to remove zinc ions from polluted water by means of adsorption technology and to investigate the susceptibility of Christ's thorn jujube (CTJ) leaves [of scientific name Ziziphus spina-christi] as a low-cost natural adsorption medium. The effect of a multi-operating condition that is directly related to the adsorption process was studied within specific ranges to determine the optimal conditions for the treatment process, where the percentage of zinc removal is the highest possible. The study was conducted using a batch-mode unit. The studied operational conditions were represented by the acidity function (pH), the initial zinc ions concentration, the quantity of raw CTJ leaves used, contact time, temperature, and the agitation speed. The obtained results showed that about 77% of zinc ions were recovered and that the percentage of removal is directly proportional to the acidity function (pH), agitation speed, contact time, CTJ dose, and temperature and inversely with the initial zinc ion concentration. The residues of CTJ leaves loaded with zinc ions were investigated for their utilization by studying its use as a type of organic fertilizer for white beans after determining the amount of zinc ions adsorbed by CTJ leaves. The results showed that the mass of bean pods obtained from the soil treated with CTJ leaves loaded with zinc was approximately 9% more than the mass of beans produced from the soil treated with CTJ leaves alone and the untreated soil, where the mass of the resulting crop was approximately equal. Thus, this paper proposed one of the innovative methods of solid waste management and water purification simultaneously in an efficient, economical, and environmentally friendly manner.
Host factor PLAC8 is required for pancreas infection by SARS-CoV-2
Authors: BARCELÓ CARLES , Ibarguen-Gonzalez Lesly , Heller Sandra , DeDiego Marta L , López-García Darío , Gomez-Valero Alba M , Barth Thomas , Gallego Patricia , Fernandez-Cardenas Israel , Alzate-Piñol Sayoa , Crespi Catalina , Mena-Guerrero Julieth , Cisneros-Barroso Eugenia , Ugalde Alejandro , Bretones Gabriel , Steenblock Charlotte , Kleger Alexander 
Published: November 2023

Abstract

Background Although COVID-19 initially caused great concern about respiratory symptoms, mounting evidence shows that also the pancreas is productively infected by SARS-CoV-2. However, the severity of pancreatic SARS-CoV-2 infection and its pathophysiology are still under debate. Here we investigated the consequences of SARS-CoV-2 pancreatic infection and the role of the host factor Placenta-associated protein (PLAC8)
Methods We analyzed plasma levels of pancreatic enzymes and inflammatory markers in a retrospective cohort study of 120 COVID-19 patients distributed in 3 severity-stratified groups. We studied the expression of SARS-CoV-2 and PLAC8 in the pancreas of deceased COVID-19 patients as well as in non-infected donors. We performed pseudovirus infection experiments in PLAC8 knock-out PDAC cell lines and validated results with SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Results We found that analysis of circulating pancreatic enzymes aided the stratification of patients according to COVID-19 severity and predict outcomes. Interestingly, we found an association between PLAC8 expression and SARS-CoV-2 infection in postmortem analysis of COVID-19 patients. Functional experiments demonstrated the requirement of PLAC8 in SARS-CoV-2 pancreatic infection by pseudovirus. Furthermore, using full SARS-CoV-2 infectious virus inoculum from Wuhan-1 and BA.1 strains, we demonstrated that PLAC8 is necessary for productive infection of PDAC cell lines. Finally, we observed an overlap between PLAC8 and SARS-CoV-2 immunoreactivities of the pancreas of deceased patients.
Conclusion Our data indicate the human pancreas as a SARS-CoV-2 target with plausible signs of injury and demonstrate that the host factor PLAC8 is required for SARS-CoV-2 pancreatic infection, thus defining new target opportunities for COVID-19-associated pancreatic pathogenesis.