Negative Growth Research Articles

MORFOMETRI KEPITING BAKAU (Scylla paramamosain) DI KAWASAN MANGROVE PANTAI PULAU SANTEN BANYUWANGI

Mangrove crab (Scylla paramamosain) is one of crab species that live in mangrove area. The purpose of this research was to obtain the morphometric and alometric of mangrove crab in mangrove area in santen island Banyuwangi. The sample of this research were taken by used transek methode by divide the area in to 3 stations. The first station was located in upper course of mangrove, the second station in down stream of mangrove, and the third station in the middle of mangrove zone. This research was measure about carapac length (CL), carapac width (CW), abdoment leng (AL), abdoment width (AW), hand bite length (HBL), hand bite width (HBW), frontal length (FL), and frontal width (FW). The alometric was observed about relation of morphometric measurement and bodymass in female and male of crab. The result of this research showed 3 species from all of the stations. But the focus of measurement was in one species called Scylla paramamosain. The result of male morphometric measurement minimal CL: 6,5 cm, CW: 8,5 cm, AL: 4 cm, AW: 1,5 cm, HBL: 10 cm, HBW: 1,5 cm, FL: 1 cm, FW: 2 cm, Body mass: 200 gram. Maximum CL: 9 cm, CW: 10 cm, AL: 4 cm, AW: 2 cm, HBL: 8,25 cm, HBW: 2,75 cm, FL: 1,5 cm, FW: 3 cm, Body mass: 500 gram. Al though in female measurement minimal CL: 5 cm, CW: 7,5 cm, AL: 3 cm, AW: 2,5 cm, HBL: 2 cm, HBW: 1,5 cm, FL: 1 cm, FW: 2 cm, Body mass: 200 gram. Maximum CL: 7,5 cm, CW: 11 cm, AL: 3 cm, AW: 5 cm, HBL: 4 cm, HBW: 5 cm, FL: 2 cm, FW: 4 cm, Body mass: 300 gram. The alometric result of male crabs was 0,98, that means negative alometric because it was less than 3 point. The negative alometric also happen in female crabs. The conclusion of the measurement is produce a negative growth pattern in male and female crabs

Analysis of composition and molecular characterization of mycobiota occurring on surface of cheese ripened in Dossena's mine

Accurate identification of the fungal community spontaneously colonizing food products, aged in natural and not controlled environments, provides information about potential mycotoxin risk associated with its consumption.Autochthonous mycobiota colonizing cheese aging in Dossena mines, was investigated and characterized by two approaches: microbial isolations and metabarcoding. Microbial isolations and metabarcoding analysis were conducted on cheese samples, obtained by four batches, produced in four different seasons of the year, aged for 90 and 180 days, by five dairy farms. The two approaches, with different taxonomical resolution power, highlighted Penicillium biforme among filamentous fungi, collected from 58 out of 68 cheeses, and Debaryomyces hansenii among yeasts, as the most abundant species (31 ÷ 65%), none representing a health risk for human cheese consumption. Shannon index showed that the richness of mycobiota increases after 180 days of maturation. Beta diversity analysis highlighted significant differences in composition of mycobiota of cheese produced by different dairy farms and aged for different durations. Weak negative growth interaction between P. biforme and Aspergillus westerdijkiae by in vitro analysis was observed leading to hypothesize that a reciprocal control is possible, also affected by natural environmental conditions, possibly disadvantageous for the last species.

Siberian Pine and Larch Response to Warming-Drying Climate in the Southern Boundary of Their Range

Trees’ growth and areal responses to changing climate are primarily expected within the edges of the species range. Here, we compared the responses of Siberian pine (Pinus sibirica Du Tour), a moisture-sensitive species, and drought-resistant larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) at the southern part of their ranges in the Siberian Mountains (the Tannu-Ola Ridge). We study the species’ growth and proportion in the forests from forest-steppe to treeline ecotone along the elevation gradient. These studies are based on radial growth index (GI) analysis and GI dependence on the climate variables. We used satellite time series to detect the land cover changes (areas of larch and Siberian pine, as well as shrubs and birch). We compared trees’ GI before and after warming “restart” in the late 1990s. Generally, GI dependence on the air temperature was negative at elevations below c. 1600 m a.s.l., whereas GI dependence on the moisture variables (precipitation, vapor pressure deficit, and soil moisture) was positive for both species. Above 1600 m, increasing air temperatures stimulated species growth, whereas the influence of moisture variables was negative (for larch) or neutral (for Siberian pine). After the warming restart, the GI of both conifers increased in moisture-sufficient high elevations and treeline ecotone, whereas within low elevations (<1300 m), the GI was stagnant or suppressed. Both species’, especially Siberian pine, negative growth dependence on air temperature and positive dependence on the moisture variables strongly increased since the warming restart. We found a risen growth dependence of both species on the soil-stored water during the previous year (September–October), which smoothed moisture stress at the beginning of the growing season. Yet both species’ growth also suffered as a result of early spring warms. We found that larch is migrating in both uphill and downhill directions, while Siberian pine is migrating uphill only. Forests loss occurred at low elevations (<1300 m), whereas forest and shrub gain occurred at high (>2000 m) ones. The upper boundary of the forests and shrubs is migrating uphill at rates of about 0.8 and 0.3 m/y, respectively. We observed a decrease in Siberian pine proportion in the forests, whereas areas of larch and birch strongly increased (by 150% and 100%, respectively), which indicates the retreat of Siberian pine from its southern habitat. We suggested afforestation of the areas of Siberian pine mortality by the drought-tolerant larch species.

DIPG-68. FLAG-003, A NOVEL, DUAL-ACTION THERAPEUTIC, DEMONSTRATES IN-VITRO ACTIVITY AGAINST DIFFUSE INTRINSIC PONTINE GLIOMA (DIPG)

Abstract BACKGROUND FLAG-003 is a novel, rationally-designed, CNS-penetrant, dual-acting agent that inhibits receptor tyrosine kinase activity and microtubule polymerization. Preclinical studies in glioblastoma (GBM) demonstrated decreased cell viability, reduced tumor volumes, decreased microvessel density, and increased survival. Remarkably, using an orthotopic DIPG model, all mice treated with FLAG-003 at 275 mg/day/orally displayed tumor regression, tumor reduction and increased survival. Given the significant preclinical activity against DIPG, as well as the known heterogeneity of DIPG, we evaluated the efficacy of FLAG-003 in vitro against a panel of DIPG cell lines. METHODS Eight DIPG cell lines hosted at the Center for Patient Derived Models (CPDM) were selected based on genomic and growth characteristics. Cells were plated on 384-well plates; 24 hours after plating, cells were dosed with 1nM to 50uM (12 step log curve) FLAG-003. Three technical replicates were performed per step. Controls consisted of positive kill control Staurosporine, negative growth control of 0.5% DMSO, or no DMSO for baseline growth. ONC201, a small molecule antagonist of DRD2/3 currently in clinical trials for DIPG, was used as a comparator. We also evaluated two GBM patient-derived models. RESULTS FLAG-003 demonstrated efficacy in all DIPG and GBM cell lines tested with IC50 less than 100nM. FLAG-003 was more potent compared to ONC201 in all models evaluated. CONCLUSIONS Single agent FLAG-003 demonstrated activity against a panel of DIPG cell lines. As next steps, we are exploring the efficacy of this drug in orthotopic DIPG PDX models. Continued development of FLAG-003 as a potential therapeutic candidate for DIPG patients is warranted and underway.

Revisiting the resource curse: Does volatility matter?

AbstractCountries with abundant natural resources often possess greater wealth, yet the impact of these resources on economic growth remains unclear. This paper examines how natural‐resource abundance and its volatility impact economic growth. It questions whether natural resources themselves are a curse or if the negative growth effects are due to the volatility of natural‐resource revenues. The study also investigates how volatility of natural resources affects key economic growth channels, such as investment, human capital, and institutional quality. Using the standard panel model and panel smooth transition regression (PSTR), the paper analyzes data from 125 countries (1988–2020). Results show that natural‐resource abundance boosts economic growth, contradicting the resource‐curse theory. However, the growth impact is non‐linear and varies with natural‐resource volatility. Countries with high volatility face up to a 22 percentage point annual GDP growth loss compared with those with low volatility, suggesting that volatility and poor government responses drive the resource‐curse paradox, not the abundance of resources per se.

Allometry of rostrum and sexual appendages in Hippolyte sapphica morphotypes (Crustacea: Decapoda: Hippolytidae) during the reproductive period

ABSTRACT This study focuses on the post-larval development of Hippolyte sapphica morphotypes, during the late reproductive period. The species is endemic to Central/Eastern Mediterranean and displays morphοtype A with a well-developed rostrum and morphotype B with a short, juvenile-like one. Our results partly confirm the previous findings on the rostral dimorphism, while also providing new, detailed results obtained on pre-ovigerous specimens. In the A-males, two distinct sub-populations were discriminated: the main group with a fast rostral development, and a small one, with a slower rostral growth rate. The rostral growth in A-females was significantly attenuated, without identifiable subgroups. No difference was detected in the negative allometric rostral growth of B-specimens in both sexes. The relative growth of the appendix interna was nearly the same in females of both morphotypes, whereas the growth rate of the appendix masculina was significantly higher in A-males with fast rostral development, attenuated in B-males, and finally being the lowest in A-males with slowly developing rostral. Even within the A-males’ subgroup, a significant partial correlation was detected between the relative growth of the rostrum and that of the appendix masculina. The relationship between growth of the rostrum and sexual appendages raises the question about underlying molecular mechanisms.

Statewise performance of maize in India

The present study “Statewise performance of Maize in India” was undertaken to examine the growth pattern and instability of area, production, productivity and cost of cultivation. The data were collected on area, production, productivity and cost of cultivation of maize grown in India pertaining to the period from 2001-02 to 2020-21 (20 years) was spilt into sub-periods i.e. period I 2001-02 to 2010-11, period II: 2011-12 to 2020-21 and overall period 2001-02 to 2020-21. The results showed that, the compound growth rates for area were positive for all the maize growing states except Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh during period I, for the period II, five states showed negative growth rate except Tamil Nadu. All states are positive during overall period except Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. At overall level the compound growth rate of area of maize was highest in Maharashtra. The compound growth rate of production and productivity was highest in Tamil Nadu. The compound growth rate of cost of cultivation was positive for all the maize growing states. The highest coefficient of variation for area, production and productivity was observed in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu respectively. Whereas, cost of cultivation of maize includes Cost A1, Cost B2 and Cost C2 was highest in Uttar Pradesh. The co-efficient of variation of cost of production was highest in Tamil Nadu. The highest Cuddy Della Valle instability index for area, production and productivity was observed in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Whereas, cost of cultivation of maize includes Cost A1, Cost B2, and Cost C2 was highest in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan, respectively.

Enhancing clinical decision-making: Sysmex UF-5000 as a screening tool for bacterial urinary tract infection in children.

A rapid screening test for urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children is needed to avoid unnecessary cultures and provide prompt reports to make appropriate clinical decisions. We have evaluated for the first time the performance of the Sysmex UF-5000 flow cytometer as a screening tool for UTIs in children. This study included 4445 pediatric patients, with urinary sediment and urine culture data collected from January 2020 to September 2023. The Sysmex UF-5000 analyzer was utilized to measure urine white blood cell (WBC) and bacteria (BACT), with the findings being compared to the culture results. At ≥ 104 colony-forming unit (CFU)/mL, 513 samples were culture-positive (400 samples presented 104-105 CFU/mL, and 113 demonstrated ≥ 105 CFU/mL bacterial growth). Optimal indicators for positive cultures were BACT counts of 92.2/μL (AUC: 0.944) and WBC counts of 40.8/μL (AUC:0.863). False negative rate were 0.9% when using a 7.8 bacteria/μL cut-off and avoiding unnecessary cultures in 28.1%. The UF-5000 has a higher consistency rate for Gram-negative (GN) bacteria (90.3%) than Gram-positive (GP) bacteria (86.8%). For samples with 105 CFU/mL, UF-5000's Bacteria -Information flags showed superior concordance for samples with 104-105 CFU/mL bacteria. Screening pediatric urine cultures with the UF-5000 showed potential application value in identifying negative cultures and significant bacterial growth, although performance may vary depending on the study population. Furthermore, detecting Gram typing aids in guiding early clinical empirical medication, particularly for UTIs caused by GN bacteria.

Length-Weight, Length-Length Relationships and Condition Factor of Picarel, Spicara smaris (Linnaeus, 1758) Sampled from Aegean Sea and Black Sea

In this study, length-weight relationship (LWR), length-length relationship (LLR) and condition factor (K) of Spicara smaris (Linnaeus, 1758) collected from Aegean Sea and Black Sea during 2023-2024 fishing season were determined. A total of 116 samples (Aegean Sea N=56, Black Sea N=50) were obtained from commercial fishermen. The mean (±SD) total length and weight of samples varies between 15.47±0.98 cm, 34.82±6.45 g, and 12.35±1.40 cm, 20.01±8.93 g for Aegean and Black Sea, respectively. The slopes (b values) of the total length–weight regressions indicated (-) negative allometric growth to (+) positive allometric growth in localities. In addition, LLRs were calculated by using the linear regression model. LLRs were also highly significant (P

Systematic comparison of genotype imputation strategies in aquaculture: A case study in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) populations

Genotype imputation is an attractive approach to obtain whole genome sequencing (WGS) data at a low cost. However, the availability of imputed WGS data mainly depended on imputation accuracy. Balancing influencing factors to enhance imputation accuracy is crucial, particularly in aquaculture. In the present study, we downloaded 361 whole genome re-sequencing data of Nile tilapia to construct different reference panels for determining the influence of several key factors on imputation accuracy systematically, including the reference panel type, the haplotype phasing and imputation software, the reference panel size, the key individual selection strategies, and the composition of the combined reference panel. Results showed that the imputation accuracy has no significant difference (P = 0.3) using pre-phasing data obtained from Beagle5, Eagle2, and Shapeit4, but Beagle5 has the highest computational efficiency. But for imputation software, both Beagle5 and Impute5 were more suitable for combined and external reference panels with a large reference size, and Minimac4 was suitable for internal reference panels, especially for a small reference size. Furthermore, it would always improve the imputation accuracy by increasing the size of the reference panel, nevertheless, a larger combined reference size does not necessarily result in a higher imputation accuracy. When the number of external individuals increased from 5 to 250, the average imputation accuracy of the combined reference panel descended from 0.942 to 0.899 for Minimac4, which is always higher than the internal reference panel (0.866). Compared with minimizing the average distance to the closest leaf (ADCL) and randomly selecting individuals (RAN), it always had slightly higher accuracy using maximizing the expected genetic relationship (REL) method to select key individuals to construct an internal reference panel for imputation. However, it has zero or negative growth on imputation accuracy when using selection strategies to select internal or external individuals to construct a combined reference panel for imputation. In conclusion, using a combined reference panel provided greater imputation accuracy, but the optimal genotype imputation strategy needs to balance the actual situation carefully and comprehensively. Our work sheds light on how to design and execute the genotype imputation in aquaculture.

Population Structure of Vermiculated Spinefoot (Siganus vermiculatus Valenciennes, 1835) in the Waters of Makassar Strait, Indonesia

Intensive exploitation of vermiculated spinefoot in the Makassar Strait suggests a potential shift in population dynamics. This study aims to examine various biological aspects of the species, such as size distribution, growth patterns, condition factors, sex ratio, gonad maturity, and the size at first gonad maturity. Conducted through a survey method in the waters of the Makassar Strait, the research utilized tickle net fishing gear continuously operated in the area. Findings revealed that male fish had an average length distribution of 18.3 ± 0.325 cm, while female fish measured 19.8 ± 0.496 cm. Both genders exhibited negative allometric growth patterns. The condition factor was 0.999 ± 0.004 for males and 1.001 ± 0.005 for females. The sex ratio appeared unbalanced, with gonad maturity stages ranging from immature to spawning. The size at which males first matured gonads was 21.587 cm, while for females, it was 19.229 cm, indicating faster gonad maturation in females. To ensure sustainability, fishing efforts should target individuals above the size at which gonads first mature.

Investigation of Interleukine-1 Beta in Urinary Tract Infection Patients

Objective: The study aims to investigate interleukin -1 beta (IL-1 ) in patients with urinary tract infections in the holy governorate of Karbala. Methods: This study was conducted during the period from October 2023 to February 2024 at Imam Hussein Hospital in the holy city of Karbala and the laboratories of the College of Applied Medical Sciences/University of Kerbala. The current study included collecting urine samples (for use in general urine examination) and blood (using blood directly to measure the complete blood count CBC and serum to measure interleukin -1 beta (IL-1 ) from 70 patients with urinary tract infection (35 patients with positive bacterial growth and 35 patients with negative bacterial growth) in addition to 70 healthy people. The following general criteria were also investigated: age, sex, height, and weight. Results: Eight bacterial species were obtained. From the findings of the study is the increase in concentration of IL-1 in patients with urinary tract infections compared to the control group. The presence of a negative correlation between LBP and IL-1 . Conclusions: Increase the concentration of IL-1 in patients with urinary tract infections. There is a negative correlation in patients with bacterial growth between LBP and IL-1 .

The history of migration in Northeast China in the XX-XXI centuries.

The subject of this article is the analysis of internal migration processes in Northeast China from the 20th century to the beginning of the 21st century. Special attention is paid to the dynamics of migration flows and their significant impact on the demographic situation of the region. The author examines the specific features of internal migration in different provinces: Liaoning with its subprovincial cities demonstrates a net influx of population, while Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces are characterized by a significant net outflow of population. The author explores the causes of these migration processes and their direct impact on the demographic development of the Northeast region of China. This allows us to better understand the significant changes taking place in underdeveloped regions of China and identify the main factors affecting internal migration. The study used statistical analysis of data on migration flows, demographic studies, as well as comparative analysis of data from various provinces of Northeast China to identify key factors affecting internal migration. The scientific novelty of this study lies in a detailed analysis of internal migration processes and their impact on the demographic situation in Northeast China, which has not been studied in depth before. The study revealed that the region is facing serious problems such as resource depletion and insufficient economic growth, which leads to negative population growth. Negative growth is characterized by significant regional imbalance: most prefectural-level cities, with the exception of Shenyang, Dalian and Changchun, show negative population growth. Especially high rates are observed in Suihua and Daxinganlin in Heilongjiang Province. The population of the border areas has decreased by almost a fifth. The findings of the study confirm that the population in Northeast China continues to decline, accompanied by a marked decrease in the birth rate. This steady decline requires effective measures to slow it down. The outflow of population from the northeast is increasing, while the departing population is usually younger and more educated, which leads to an acceleration of the aging process and loss of human capital. The main features of the region's demographic trends are net population outflow and migration, which makes it an excellent example for studying demographic changes in underdeveloped regions.

Biometric indices of eight fish species from the catchment area of Kaptai lake, Bangladesh

Biometric indices viz. i) Length-weight relationships (LWRs), ii) form factor (a0.3) and iii) condition factors (relative KR and Fulton's KF) were presented for 8 fish species collected from Kaptai lake at five sampling points including Rangamati Sadar, Barkal, Naniarchar, Langadu and Kaptai upazila. A total of 3204 individuals belonging to 3 families were measured and weighed between August 2020 to April 2021 by the catch assessment survey with different types of fishing gear (seine net, current net, gill net and lift net). Calculations were made for the parameters a and b of the eq. W = aTLb. The analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) revealed significant differences between stations in LWRs for all species (P < 0.01). The parameter b of the LWRs ranged from 2.34 (Parambassis lala) to 3.34 (Ailia coila) with a mean value of 2.98 (SE: 0.11) and 50% of its fall within the interval 2.9–3.2. Results showed that 3 species showed positive allometric growth (Gonialosa manminna, Ailia coila, and Eutropiichthys vacha), 3 showed negative allometric growth (Gudusia chapra, Chanda baculis, and Parambassis lala), and 2 exhibited isometric growth (Corica soborna, Chanda nama). The findings further indicated that the LWRs of 8 species were highly correlated (r2 > 0.90, P < 0.001). The a3.0 value estimated for eight species varied from 0.0043 to 0.0114. The KR value ranged from 0.26 to 4.97 and KF value ranged from 0.17 to 2.89; showed significant differences of KR and KF between stations for eight species. As per FishBase, a new record for the maximum size of C. soborna and C. baculis was documented as 7.1 cm and 8.1 cm, respectively. This research is the first to provide information on biometric indices for six species (C. soborna, C. nama, C. baculis, P. lala, A. coila and E. vacha) in Kaptai Lake, which may aid in management and conservation throughout the country, including their geographical distribution.

The negative mycorrhizal growth response of host plants to Acaulospora cf. morrowiae irrespective of soil P availability

Acaulospora is one of the dominant genera of AMF associated with waterlogged vegetation, and its dominance was also revealed in the roots of a lowland rice variety indigenous to Southern Thailand. In a preliminary finding, the isolated Acaulospora showed growth suppression of lowland japonica Nipponbare rice, even in high phosphorus (P) soil. The isolated Acaulospora was identified to species level and assigned as Acaulospora cf. morrowiae Phattalung 1. The mycorrhizal growth response (MGR) of an upland indica rice and maize to A. cf. morrowiae was further tested under low and high P conditions. AMF colonization rates were high, over 70%, in both cases, with perfect arbuscule and vesicle formation; however, growth depression of the host plants was markedly observed. Reduced nutrient accumulation in both shoots and roots of host plants was noted, as depicted by nutrient profiling. To further substantiate the negative MGR to inoculation of A. cf. morrowiae, a standardized in vivo bioassay was performed using maize seedlings in a sand and perlite mixture, ensuring low P with 20 mg kg−1 P in the form of insoluble CaH2PO4. Shoot and root growth of maize seedlings were reduced at 23.7 and 36.1%, respectively, by the inoculation of AMF. The nutrient-parasitic nature of this AMF results from unproportioned drainage of photosynthates, indicating an unbalanced primary/nutrient trade-off system between symbionts. The overall associative merits or demerits of A. cf. morrowiae cannot be ruled out without thorough investigations considering several ecological perspectives and its fitter survival and dominance in waterlogged soils.

Preschool Teacher Demand in China by 2050: A Prediction Analysis of the Impact of Negative Population Growth

Preschool Teacher Demand in China by 2050: A Prediction Analysis of the Impact of Negative Population Growth

Vortex-shedding modes of a streamwise and transversely rotating sphere undergoing vortex-induced vibrations

We investigate the vortex-shedding modes of a streamwise and transversely rotating sphere undergoing vortex-induced vibration (VIV). At Reynolds number Re = 500, we have conducted direct numerical simulations for reduced velocities U∗=6,8, and 11, considering dimensionless streamwise (αx) and transverse (αz) rotation rates set at αx,z=1. At αx=1, the vortex-shedding mode exhibits twisted spiral-like structures, while at αz=1, ring-like structures form through the stretching and twisting of hairpins. For αx=1, the dimensionless circulation (Γx) decreases with increasing U∗, showing negative growth at U∗=6. Conversely, for αz=1, Γx remains negative except at U∗=8, where counterclockwise vortex rotation results in positive circulation. At αz=1, VIV is periodic for U∗=6 and 8 but intermittent at U∗=11. Phase analysis using the Hilbert transform reveals anti-phase synchronization in the phase between the sphere's displacements and the vortex force coefficient (ΔϕV) and phase slip in the phase between the sphere's displacements and the total force coefficient (ΔϕT) along the y direction for αx=1. At αz=1, phase slip with distinct phase-locking epochs is observed along the z direction for all U∗ cases. Pre-lock-in behavior with phase slip is also noted for U∗=11 along the y direction.

Anticancer potential of four triterpenoids against NCI-60 human tumor cell lines

BackgroundThe burden of cancer incidences and mortality is rapidly increasing worldwide resulting in an increased demand for new therapies. Secondary metabolites extracted from medicinal plants have significantly contributed toward discovery of new cancer therapies some of which are in clinical use. In this study, anticancer potential of four triterpenoids, namely oleanonic acid (EK-2), 3-epi-oleanolic acid (EK-8), 1,2,3,22,23-pentahydroxy-2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyl-6,10,14,18-tetracosatetraene (EK-4) and 2,3,22,23-tetrahydroxy-2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyl-6,10,14,18-tetracosatetraene (EK-9), extracted from Ekebergia capensis Sparrm root bark was evaluated.ResultsWe employed CLC-Pred to initially evaluate cytotoxicity of previously isolated compounds in silico where predictions revealed high probability of bioactivity. The compounds were then submitted to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Developmental Therapeutics Program, for bioactivity evaluation against NCI-60 human tumor cell lines. The four compounds demonstrated a range of potencies at a concentration of 10 µM. The results revealed that EK-9 was the most potent with mean growth percent of 32.84 and cases of lethality (negative growth percent) against two leukemia cell lines (HL-60 (TB) and RPMI-8226) and HT29 (colon cancer) and SK-MEL-5 (melanoma). This molecule was further evaluated in a five-dose assay where notable growth inhibition against leukemia cells, HL-60 (TB), RPMI-8226 and K-562 was observed with growth inhibitory activity (GI50) values of 3.10, 3.74 and 5.07 µM, respectively. In addition, total growth inhibition was observed at 11.2 μM and 18.9 μM for HL-60 (TB) and RPMI-8226 cells, respectively, partly accounting for the negative growth percent.ConclusionThe study has demonstrated anticancer properties of the four triterpenoids with compound EK-9 being the most potent overall having selective bioactivity in leukemia and breast cancer cells. Further studies focusing on elucidating its mechanism of action will be useful in exploration of the therapeutic potential of triterpenoids in general.

ANALISIS PENDAPATAN ASLI DAERAH DAN DANA ALOKASI UMUM TERHADAP BELANJA MODAL MELALUI PERTUMBUHAN EKONOMI SEBAGAI VARIABEL MODERASI

This research aims to analyze the influence of Regional Original Income and General Allocation Funds on Capital Expenditures through Economic Growth as a moderating variable in Regencies/Cities in East Java Province in 2013-2022. The type of research used in this research is quantitative and the data used is secondary data. The data used was obtained from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS). This research uses panel data regression techniques with moderating variables (Moderating Regression Analysis) using the Eviesw program. The results of this research show that Regional Original Income has a negative and significant impact on capital expenditure and the General Allocation Fund has a positive and significant impact on capital expenditure. And Economic Growth was not able to moderate Regional Original Income towards Capital Expenditures with negative and insignificant results but Economic Growth was able to moderate the General Allocation Fund towards Capital Expenditures in East Java Province with positive and significant results.

Reframing policy responses to population aging in Iran

Iran is aging rapidly and is expected to see negative population growth rates later this century. This change is generating significant concern for policymakers, whose response is to seek ‘demographic solutions’ to these issues: raise the fertility rate, decrease the divorce rate, and promote marriage among young people. Part of these policies has entailed curtailing access to free family planning services. This ‘call and response’ approach is unlikely to succeed in its stated aim, as it over-simplifies the real challenges of population aging as well as the multiple dimensions of population change. Such policies derive from simple representations of demographic change, most notably using the old-age dependency ratio. Using a microsimulation model, this paper suggests that increasing Iran’s currently low female labor force participation and translating educational gains into rising productivity is a more effective means of responding to the challenges of population aging, even under low fertility conditions. The advancement on previous such microsimulation exercises lies in the fact that this study explicitly considers the comparison between raising fertility and increasing female economic empowerment to offset population aging in a setting characterized by an overt pronatalist policy system. In tandem with reforming stressed institutional systems (such as the pension system), releasing the full potential of Iran’s existing (and future) human capital—especially of its women—is a far more effective policy direction than fertility-promoting policies.