Control Values Research Articles

Neurosteroid [3α,5α]3-hydroxypregnan-20-one inhibition of chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in alcohol-preferring rat brain neurons, microglia, and astroglia.

Neuroimmune dysfunction in alcohol use disorder (AUD) is associated with activation of myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88)-dependent Toll-like receptors (TLR) resulting in overexpression of the chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2). MCP-1 overexpression in the brain is linked to anxiety, higher alcohol intake, neuronal death, and activation of microglia observed in AUD. The neurosteroid [3α,5α][3-hydroxypregnan-20-one (3α,5α-THP) has been reported as an inhibitor of MyD88-dependent TLR activation and MCP-1 overexpression in mouse and human macrophages and the brain of alcohol-preferring (P) rats. We investigated how 3α,5α-THP regulates MCP-1 expression at the cellular level in P rat nucleus accumbens (NAc) and central amygdala (CeA). We focused on neurons, microglia, and astrocytes, examining the individual voxel density of MCP-1, neuronal marker NeuN, microglial marker IBA1, astrocytic marker GFAP, and their shared voxel density, defined as intersection. Ethanol-naïve male and female P rats were perfused 1 h after IP injections of 15 mg/kg of 3α,5α-THP, or vehicle. The NAc and CeA were imaged using confocal microscopy following double-immunofluorescence staining for MCP-1 with NeuN, IBA1, and GFAP, respectively. MCP-1 intersected with NeuN predominantly and IBA1/GFAP negligibly. 3α,5α-THP reduced MCP-1 expression in NeuN-labeled cells by 38.27 ± 28.09% in male and 56.11 ± 21.46% in female NAc, also 37.99 ± 19.53% in male and 54.96 ± 30.58% in female CeA. In females, 3α,5α-THP reduced the MCP-1 within IBA1 and GFAP-labeled voxels in the NAc and CeA. Conversely, in males, 3α,5α-THP did not significantly alter the MCP-1 within IBA1 in NAc or with GFAP in the CeA. Furthermore, 3α,5α-THP decreased levels of IBA1 in both regions and sexes with no impact on GFAP or NeuN levels. Secondary analysis performed on data normalized to % control values indicated that no significant sex differences were present. These data suggest that 3α,5α-THP inhibits neuronal MCP-1 expression and decreases the proliferation of microglia in P rats. These results increase our understanding of potential mechanisms for 3α,5α-THP modulation of ethanol consumption.

Dementia-associated Dyslipidemia Study

Introduction: As age advances, the risk of several noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease,dyslipidemia, etc increases. Dementia is among the most common diseases of older adults and accounts for significant diseaseburden globally. Dyslipidemia is especially common in older adults with diabetes. In the current study, the aim was to assessif patients with dementia have dyslipidemia and if so, whether the frequency was different in age-matched control group.Material and methods: A total of 836 subjects over the age of 60 years were screened and of these, 536 (67.12 ± 4.5 years) subjectswho met the diagnostic criteria for diagnosis of dementia (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV) were enrolled for the study. Atotal of 32 cognitively normal subjects above the age of 60 years, but without cardiovascular risk factors (65.12 ± 3.5 years) wereselected as controls. Selected patients underwent lipid profile assessment apart from detailed neuropsychological, neurological,and radiological examination. The frequency of dyslipidemia among cases and control was compared. Results: Totalserum cholesterol, very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in patients with dementia were234.56 ± 22.5 mg/dL, 136.58 ± 11.3 mg/dL, 35.5 ± 3.5 mg/dL, respectively, while high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was 28.7 ± 7.8mg/dL. Corresponding values in the healthy controls were: Total cholesterol (TC) = 156.36 ± 12.5 mg/dL, LDL = 86.15 ± 12.3mg/dL, VLDL = 25.5 ± 3.5 mg/dL, HDL = 37.7 ± 1.8 mg/dL. Comparison of means using paired t-test showed all biochemicalvalues (TC, LDL, VLDL, HDL) differed from controls (p < 0.0001). Out of 536 cases with dementia, 157 (29%) had deranged lipidprofile. Patients of Alzheimer's disease (AD) with comorbid diabetes and hypertension were more likely to have dyslipidemiacompared to AD patients without these two comorbidities (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The current study indicates that patientswith dementia have a high frequency of dyslipidemia, and the frequency is higher compared to healthy controls (p ≤ 0.05)

Scientific rationale for the indicators of biological urine monitoring in adolescents in Kazan City

BACKGROUND: Biomonitoring is crucial for assessing the level of pollution in a population, identifying risks and studying the impact of changes in technology. Knowledge of the reference values of trace elements in biological material is critical in comparing exposed with non-exposed groups and accurate. The control values of trace elements are crucial for ensuring public health and occupational safety. AIM: To study and analyze concentrations of priority chemical pollutants in the urine of adolescents aged 14–17 years in three zones in Kazan City and determine reference values for this age group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The concentration of elements in urine of 276 adolescents aged 14–17 years was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The upper 95 percentiles and their confidence intervals (RV95) were determined, which established the upper limit of the current background exposure to adolescents for 12 biomarkers, interpreted as “conditional” reference values for this age group. The following reference values for adolescents in Kazan City were obtained: Al, 12.80 µg/L; Cr, 1.02 µg/L; Mn, 3.53 µg/L; Hg, 0.65 µg/L; Cu, 110.91 µg/L, and Ni, 8.72 µg/L. In adolescents, the highest level of exceedance over background values was observed in zones 1 and 2 (Kirovsky and Privolzhsky Districts): Al exceeded by 1.4 times, Cr by 1.3 times in zone 1 (Kirovsky District), Mn by 1.5 times, Hg by 1.3 times, and Cu by 1.14 times in zone 2 (Privolzhsky district).The results are of interest for further analysis and identification of interrelations in the territory of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, where exposure levels may vary between regions or separate subgroups living in the same territory. CONCLUSION: Research in the field of biomonitoring in Kazan established the levels of exposure to toxic elements among the studied population and provided means for comparing exposure for further research by population groups by age, sex, and ethnicity. Moreover, biomonitoring results can be used to determine research priorities, measure exposure trends over time, and verify effectiveness of individual measures to combat pollution and other measures in the field of the environment and public health. The study presents modern technologies for assessing exposure to chemical pollutants using human biomonitoring methods and demonstrates its advantages.

Neuropeptide Y is involved in the regulation of the frequency and strength of rat atrium spontaneous contraction

BACKGROUND: The relevance of the problem increases due to the established cardioprotective effect of neuropeptide Y in pathological conditions such as hypertension, heart failure, and its possible therapeutic use in cardiovascular diseases. AIM: Study of the effect of neuropeptide Y on the frequency of spontaneous activity and amplitude-time parameters of the myocardium contraction of the rats’ right atrium during different periods of postnatal ontogenesis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The experiments used 73 white outbred rats of 7 days (n=23), 21 days (n=25) and 100 days (n=25) of age. Using the classical strain-gauge method, the parameters of isometric contraction of isolated rat atrial myocardium were determined with the addition of a non-selective Y-receptor agonist. The isometric contraction curve was processed using the Chart 8.0 program. Statistical processing of the results was performed in MS Excel and IBM SPSS Statistics 2020. The significance of the differences was calculated using the Student’s t test. Data were presented as mean ± error of mean (M±m); n was the number of atrial myocardium preparations used. Changes were considered statistically significant at p 0.05. RESULTS: Neuropeptide Y at a concentration of 10–7 M reduces the frequency of spontaneous activity of the right atrium strips of rats with a preserved sinus node in 7, 21 and 100-day-old animals by 8.1%, 15% (p=0.038) and 7.9% (p=0.046) respectively in comparison with the control value. The amplitude of isometric contraction of the atrial myocardium in 7-day-old animals decreases by 12.4% (p=0.041), the duration of contraction decreases in 21-day-old animals by 12% (p=0.040), and in 100-day-old animals does not change compared to control. CONCLUSION: Neuropeptide Y reduces the frequency of spontaneous activity, increases the contraction duration, reduces the isometric contraction amplitude of rat myocardial strips in early postnatal ontogenesis.

Autonomous military systems beyond human control: putting an empirical perspective on value trade-offs for autonomous systems design in the military

AbstractThe question of human control is a key concern in autonomous military systems debates. Our research qualitatively and quantitatively investigates values and concerns of the general public, as they relate to autonomous military systems, with particular attention to the value of human control. Using participatory value evaluation (PVE), we consulted 1980 Australians about which values matter in relation to two specific technologies: an autonomous minesweeping submarine and an autonomous drone that can drop bombs. Based on value sensitive design, participants were tasked to enhance the systems with design features that can realize values. A restriction (limited budget) in each design task forced participants to make trade-offs between design options and the values that these options realize. Our results suggest that the ‘general public’ has diverse and nuanced stances on the question of human control over autonomous military systems. A third of participants that is opposed to autonomous military systems when asked directly, selected different combinations of design features realizing varying degrees of human control. Several contextual factors, technology-specific concerns, and certain values seemed to explain these different choices. Our research shows that a focus on human control might overlook other important values that the general public is concerned about, such as system reliability, verifiability, and retrievability.

A quantitative study on emotional appetite, mindful eating, and risky behaviors in male substance use disorder patients

ABSTRACT Background and Objective To evaluate the emotional appetite, eating awareness and risky behaviors of patients with substance use disorder. Method A total of 292 individuals were enrolled in this study; 142 individuals with a substance use disorder and 150 healthy individuals. Our sample was male. The Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ), Emotional Appetite Questionnaire (EAQ) and Risky Behaviors Scale (RBS) were used. p < .05 was considered statistically significant. Results The results showed that the levels of smoking, emotional appetite, irregular eating habits, school dropout, antisocial behaviors and substance use increased in individuals with a substance use disorder (p < .05). In contrast, there was no significant difference in disinhibition, focus, eating control, eating discipline, mindfulness and interference values related to eating awareness (p > .05). Conclusions This study highlights the effects of substance use disorders on emotional eating and risk behaviors, but not mindful eating. However, more studies are needed.

Locomotion gait control of snake robots based on a novel unified CPG network model composed of Hopf oscillators

Snake robots with limbless structure and rich locomotion gaits have been designed and built for wide application in various fields including military reconnaissance, pipeline operation, disaster search and rescue, etc. However, the problem how to flexibly and smoothly control switch and change of different locomotion gaits is still facing enormous challenges. A novel unified design rule of the CPG network model composed of improved Hopf oscillators is proposed, based on which a variety of different network structures can be created by designing connection distances and coupling weights among all oscillator units. Through the relationships between the control parameters of the Hopf oscillator, decoupling of the bifurcation parameters is achieved to solve inconsistent output waveform amplitude when the bifurcation parameters are not completely equal. Furthermore, five typical movement modes of biological snake are designed and smooth switch between different locomotion gaits is realized. A control system is constructed based on the Robot Operating System (ROS) and a prototype of snake robot is built, and the effectiveness of the proposed CPG model in controlling locomotion gaits was verified through simulations and experiments. The CPG modeling approach has important theoretical significance and practical instructive value for motion planning and gait control of snake robots in complex environments.

Drought stimulus enhanced stress tolerance in winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) by improving physiological characteristics, growth, and water productivity

The impact of drought events on the growth and yield of wheat plants has been extensively reported; however, limited information is available on the changes in physiological characteristics and their effects on the growth and water productivity of wheat after repeated drought stimuli. Moreover, whether appropriate drought stimulus can improve stress resistance in plants by improving physiological traits remains to be explored. Thus, in this study, a pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of intermittent and persistent mild [65%–75% soil water-holding capacity (SWHC)], moderate (55%–65% SWHC), and severe drought (45%–55% SWHC) stress on the growth, physiological characteristics, yield, and water-use efficiency (WUE) of winter wheat. After the second stress stimulus, persistent severe drought stress resulted in 30.98%, 234.62%, 53.80%, and 31.00% reduction in leaf relative water content, leaf water potential, photosynthetic rate (Pn), and indole-3-acetic acid content (IAA), respectively, compared to the control plants. However, abscisic acid content, antioxidant enzyme activities, and osmoregulatory substance contents increased significantly under drought stress, especially under persistent drought stress. After the second rehydration stimulus (ASRR), the actual and maximum efficiency of PSII and leaf water status in the plants exposed to intermittent moderate drought (IS2) stress were restored to the control levels, resulting in Pn being 102.56% of the control values; instantaneous WUE of the plants exposed to persistent severe drought stress was 1.79 times that of the control plants. In addition, the activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, catalase, and glutathione reductase, as well as the content of proline, under persistent mild drought stress increased by 52.98%, 33.47%, 51.95%, 52.35%, and 17.07% at ASRR, respectively, compared to the control plants, which provided continuous antioxidant protection to wheat plants. This was also demonstrated by the lower H2O2 and MDA contents after rehydration. At ASRR, the IAA content in the IS2 and persistent moderate drought treatments increased by 36.23% and 19.61%, respectively, compared to the control plants, which favored increased aboveground dry mass and plant height. Compared to the control plants, IS2 significantly increased wheat yield, WUE for grain yield, and WUE for biomass, by 10.15%, 32.94%, and 33.16%, respectively. Collectively, IS2 increased grain growth, yield, and WUE, which could be mainly attributed to improved physiological characteristics after drought-stimulated rehydration.

A highly sensitive on-site duplex genotyping method dRPG for simultaneous detection of SARS-CoV‑2 key mutations with single nucleotide resolution

Genotyping is an important part in nucleic acid detections, showing great application values in precise medicine, molecular breeding, pathogen detection, and food safety control. Multiplexing is an essential requirement by genotyping, but poses challenges on developing on-site genotyping methods. By combining the highly specific recognition and the multi-target distinguishing ability of the Argonaute protein from Pyrococcus furiosus (PfAgo) with the exponential amplification capacity of recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), this study has established a novel duplex genotyping method suitable for on-site detection, the duplex RPA-PfAgo Genotyping (dRPG). The method can simultaneously detect two key mutations of SARS-CoV-2, L452R and E484Q, with single nucleotide resolution. The entire detection procedure can be completed within 1.5 hours, and the sensitivity is one copy per reaction for both mutations. This study reports the first multiplex genotyping that combines PfAgo with RPA, and meets the accuracy, sensitivity, and simplicity requirements of on-site genotyping. The dRPG method is expected to serve as an effective tool for long-term tracking of SARS-CoV‑2 mutations, and provides a technological repository for on-site multiplex genotyping of important nucleic acid targets.

Sacral Magnetic Neuromodulation with Intermittent Theta Burst Waveform Enhances Overactive Bladder: In Vivo Study

BackgroundThe current treatment options for overactive bladder (OAB) continue to pose challenges for refractory cases and may involve invasive procedures. To assess the potential benefit of non-invasive repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (rPMS) on sacral roots using intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) as treatment option for OAB. The study involved a total of 33 rats, which were divided into three different experimental phases. Materials and methodsTo induce bladder overactivity rats were pretreated with a continuous transvesical infusion of 0.5% acetic acid (AA). During bladder infusion, the intravesical pressure was recorded using cystometrography (CMG) to investigate the effects of AA pretreatment and the therapeutic intervention of acute sacral rPMS using iTBS. ResultsPre-application of rPMS with iTBS at a 100% intensity significantly extended the mean first voiding time (Tv) in normal healthy rats to 132%. Acute rPMS iTBS at a 100% intensity resulted in a significant increase of the inter-contraction interval (ICI) to 121%. An AA model was established with continuous saline infusion after 0.5% AA treatment and resulted in significant reductions of Tv to 42% and ICI to 56% of the corresponding control values. Subsequently, rPMS iTBS at a 100% intensity on the sacral nerve effectively inhibited AA-induced bladder overactivity and significantly increased the ICI to 167%∼222%. No significant changes in maximum bladder pressure (Pmax) were found. ConclusionsSacral nerve rPMS with iTBS demonstrated the ability to suppress AA-induced bladder overactivity. This promising modality could be developed as an alternative approach to enhance bladder continence in OAB syndrome patients.

Level of Cytokines and C3 Complement in the Blood of Rats under Conditions of Chronic Unpredictable Stress of Different Durations.

The parameters of the cytokine profile and functional activity of the complement system in the blood of rats were studied during different time periods of chronic unpredictable mild stress using a model of sequentially alternating low-intensity stress effects for 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks. In the dynamics of observation, a general tendency towards multidirectional fluctuations in the concentration of cytokines was revealed: an increase in IL-10, but a decrease in IL-4 in comparison with the control. Statistically significant changes in the level of IL-10 were noted after 2, 3, and 4 weeks, IL-4 - after 2 and 4 weeks of stress loads. The percentage of lysis of the C3 component in rats gradually increased by the 2nd week of chronic stress, but then decreased and practically did not differ from the control values (intact animals) by the end of the study. These results illustrate the specificity of changes in the indicators of the C component of the complement system and the cytokine profile of the blood reflecting activity of the cellular and humoral components of the immune response in rats exposed to repeated stress factors of different origins and duration.

Boosted Fourier nonlinear filter and boosted even mirror Fourier nonlinear filter for active control of machinery noises

To overcome the limitations of the Fourier nonlinear filter and even mirror Fourier nonlinear filter-based adaptive algorithms for active noise control, this paper introduces boosted Fourier nonlinear filter and boosted even mirror Fourier nonlinear filter algorithms. Weight updating equations for the proposed algorithms are derived. Their performance is compared with Fourier nonlinear filter and even mirror Fourier nonlinear filter. Experimentally recorded bandsawand compressor noises are utilized for the analysis. The analysis is carried out for (a) linear primary and linear secondary paths, and (b) nonlinear primary path and linear secondary path. Visual inspection of residual noises after control and dB values of residual noises are utilized to understand the performance of the developed algorithms.

Effects of Endodontic Irrigants on Shear Bond Strength of Mild Universal Adhesives to Dentin

PurposeThe objective of this in vitro study was to evaluate the shear bond strength (SBS) of several universal adhesives to dentin treated with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), and NaOCl followed by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Materials and MethodsAdhese Universal, Scotchbond Universal, Prime & Bond Elect, Prime & Bond Active, and Optibond XTR were included in the study. SBS values were determined in self-etch mode with no pretreatment of the dentin, after a 20-minute exposure of the dentin to 6% NaOCl, and after a 20-minute exposure to NaOCl followed by a one-minute exposure to 17% EDTA. Experimental groups were repeated using a total-etch technique (except Optibond XTR). ResultsAdhesives in self-etch mode had significantly reduced SBS following dentin exposure to NaOCl (P < .05), while with a total-etch technique, only Prime & Bond Active was affected (P < .05). SBS in self-etch mode when NaOCl exposure was followed by EDTA were equal to or higher than negative control values (P < .05). For total-etch groups, Adhese Universal was negatively affected by NaOCl + EDTA exposure (P < .05). Prime & Bond Elect exhibited lower SBS following NaOCl + EDTA exposure when compared to just NaOCl exposure but was not different from the negative control (P < .05). ConclusionFor the adhesives tested, the use of 17% EDTA following NaOCl exposure negated the negative effects of NaOCl on SBS in self-etch mode. When used in total-etch mode, results varied significantly, with some adhesives performing better or worse depending on the specific testing condition.

Radiological impact of hydrocarbon waste release on drinking water of ughievwen and udu communities, delta state Nigeria

Well water quality has been characterized with constant and continuous changes via the interaction of rock, soil and natural nano-filters which terminates at the aquiferous layer for clean well-water collection. The continuous exploration and production of crude oil has resulted significant increase of unwanted elements such as naturally occurring radionuclides in the water-bed which necessitates this study. The study determines the radionuclides based health impact or hazards associated with drinking water from crude oil exploration/production release in Ughievwen and Udu communities of Delta State, Nigeria. Sixty well water samples (three samples from each community) were collected and analyzed using sodium iodide (Nal (Tl)) detector. The obtained mean values of 238U, 232Th and 40K are 6.91 ± 1.62BqL−1, 4.39 ± 1.47 BqL−1 and 24.54 ± 1.59 BqL−1 respectively. The 238U, 232Th and 40K results showed that the measured values are higher than the world standard (UNSCEAR; WHO) and the control values The mean values of total annual effective dose of different age groups are: 11.08 mSvy−1, 2.54 mSvy−1, 1.93 mSvy−1, 2.52 mSvy−1, 7.03 mSvy−1 and 1.12 mSvy−1 respectively. While the mean committed effective dose of adult is 55.94 mSvy−1. The total annual effective dose, committed effective dose, cancer risks and hereditary effects are all lower than recommended limit (WHO; ICRP; USEPA) and reported scientific values except 11.08 mSvy−1 and 7.03 mSvy−1 that are higher than limit. It is evident from obtained results that the drinking water may not be radiologically safe for use by the public, which necessitates routine monitoring and caution to circumvent increase in radiation and the radiological of the studied communities’ drinking water. This is to avoid long term radiological risk arising from accumulation of such release in the studied communities.

Study of the influence of the extract of pipsissewa on cell cultures

The development of new diuretics of plant origin is an actual direction. Chimaphila umbellata (L.) is a perennial herb with diuretic, astringent, analgesic and other effects; and it can treat various conditions such as edema, dropsy, etc. Pipsissewa herb helps the removal of nitrogenous and chloride salts from the body due to the content of arbutin glycoside, tannins (up to 5 %). The aim. Evaluation of the effect of pipsissewa extract on L929 cell culture. Materials and methods. Cell line L929 (fibroblasts of mouse adipose tissue) was obtained in the low-temperature bank of the Institute of Problems of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Cells were cultured in DMEM medium (Bio West, France) enriched with 10 % FBS (Lonza, Germany) with 1 % antibiotic-antimycotic (Bio West, France), in a CO2 incubator (Thermo Fisher Scientific, USA) at 37 ºС in an atmosphere with 5 % CO2. Determination of the minimum toxic concentration at which the cells remained alive was evaluated by morphological features (shape, monolayer integrity, adhesion to plastic). The study of the effect of pipsissewa extract on various cell functions was determined by the following methods: the ability to preserve morphological integrity - by the phase-contrast microscopy method, energy exchange - by the MTT test method, pinocytotic function - by the neutral red absorption method, migratory function - by the scratch test method, proliferative activity - by the doubling calculation method population Results. It is proposed to use concentrations of 0.05, 0.02, 0.01, 0.005 % of pipsissewa extract for further research. After carrying out the MTT reaction, the transition of MTT to formazan was confirmed microscopically in the negative control (native cells), at PE concentrations of 0.01 % and below, and the absence of a reaction in the positive control (cells killed by ethanol) at PE concentrations above 0.02 %. When recording the parameters of the NP absorption reaction, it was determined that PE at a concentration of 0.02 % and higher sharply suppresses pinocytotic activity, despite the partial preservation of cell adhesion, reducing the concentration by two times no longer affects mitochondria. A concentration of 0.01 % reduces proliferative activity, and at a concentration of 0.005 %, no difference with the control values ​​was found. Conclusions. When studying the assessment of the effect of pipsisewa extract on L929 cell culture, a toxic effect on these cells was established when added to the culture medium at a concentration above 0.01 %. The toxic effect had a threshold effect. Migratory and proliferative functions were the most sensitive, energy, pinocytosis and preservation of morphological integrity of cells were less sensitive

Generalised morality and contemporary fertility dynamics across European regions

ABSTRACT This study focuses on the concept of generalised morality (GM), a cultural trait measured with the values of respect, obedience, generalised trust and control. Since GM drives economic prosperity and the way nations organise their welfare, we investigate how it matters for contemporary fertility trends. We consider the period between 2000 and 2014, when divergent fertility trends in Europe arose and the Great Recession took place. Using Eurostat and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) data for 177 regions in 23 European countries, we demonstrate that GM plays a moderating role with educational expansion and when there is a global shock – here the Great Recession.

Analysis of the Variation in Antioxidant Activity and Chemical Composition upon the Repeated Thermal Treatment of the By-Product of the Red Ginseng Manufacturing Process.

Steamed ginseng water (SGW) is a by-product of the repeated thermal processing of red ginseng, which is characterized by a high bioactive content, better skin care activity, and a large output. However, its value has been ignored, resulting in environmental pollution and resource waste. In this study, UHPLC-Q-Exactive-MS/MS liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and multivariate statistical analysis were conducted to characterize the compositional features of the repeated thermal-treated SGW. The antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and OH) and chemical composition (total sugars, total saponins, and reducing and non-reducing sugars) were comprehensively evaluated based on the entropy weighting method. Four comparison groups (groups 1 and 3, groups 1 and 5, groups 1 and 7, and groups 1 and 9) were screened for 37 important common difference markers using OPLS-DA analysis. The entropy weight method was used to analyze the weights of the indicators; the seventh SGW sample was reported to have a significant weight. The results of this study suggest that heat treatment time and frequency can be an important indicator value for the quality control of SGW cycling operations, which have great potential in antioxidant products.

Return to the Mental Interpretation of the Nature of Life

Bringing consciousness into the realm of the mind and returning the mind to the essence of life, the core is how to place the self of life. It is necessary to provide answers within the realm of the central intelligence of life and explore its natural realization in order to overcome the difficulty of consciousness. Firstly, in our view, consciousness is merely a common interpretation of the state of the mind, which is essentially integrated into life and contained in life traits. Therefore, the interpretation of the mind should be projected onto the characteristics of life itself and project onto phenomena. Understanding the mind also requires solving some basic problems and establishing interpretation norms: firstly, the basis of argument is to establish three classification concepts for objects in the sense of structure function: non self energy system, self energy system, and quasi self energy system, in order to determine a sphere of existence for life and the central intelligence of life, and to explain the available effects and spiritual phenomena of the mind; Secondly, in order to overcome the problem of the use of names for the detriment of the meaning of the word, issues such as mind and intelligence, mind and brain in mental understanding were distinguished, and the real-life experiences of consciousness were questioned. The problems in the understanding of mind such as mind and intelligence, mind and brain, and traces the reality of what happens to consciousness. Then, a summary statement was made on the occurrence and evolution of life, as well as the spiritual phenomena that arise with the supply and use effect of the mind. From the perspective of availability, based on the biological value of life control, the sense of dependence on motion, the functionality of memory, image and image flow editing, and self reflection and self illumination, the possible abilities of the mind were stated.

Features of Bone Mineral Density, Calcium-Phosphorus Metabolism and Bone Remodeling in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Introduction. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease with variable clinical manifestations associated with multiple autoantibodies formation and deposition of immune complexes, and other immune processes. Despite significant advances in treatment, the disease remains disabling, in particular, due to increased bone fragility and low-energy fractures. The study of bone remodeling in patients with SLE should help to improve the therapy and quality of their treatment. The aim of the study. To investigate the features of bone mineral density, calcium-phosphorus metabolism and bone remodeling in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Materials and methods. The study involved 123 women with SLE aged 21-51 years. The comparison group (CG) consisted of 25 women without SLE in premenopausal status of the appropriate age. The control group included 25 practically healthy women. In order to study bone mineral density (BMD), dual-energy X-ray densitometry (DXA) of the lumbar spine was performed using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometer. For the study of calcium-phosphorus metabolism (CPM), total calcium (Ca), ionized Ca, phosphorus (P) in blood and Ca, P, creatinine in daily urine, as well as parathyroid hormone (PTH) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D in serum were determined. Markers of bone remodeling (osteocalcin, procollagen type 1 amino-terminal propeptide (P1NP) and isomerized C-terminal telopeptide (β-crosslaps) in serum were measured. To achieve the stated goal, the first step included the determination of bone damage prevalence in patients with the diagnosed SLE; the second step was directed towards the characterization the particular bone condition in patients with SLE based on the results of BMD, CPM indices and markers of bone remodeling assessment. Results and discussion. According to the results of DXA of the lumbar spine, 88 (71.54 %) women of the SG and only 8 (32.00 %) women of the CG had a decrease in BMD (p &lt; 0.001). According to the mean values, the studied CPM indices of the SG patients, CG and control group wemen exposed no significant differences. Similarly, no significant differences were detected in the mean values of urinary phosphorus and in between blood PTH values in SG, CG, and control. The level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D was significantly lower in SG (15.14 ± 0.80 ng/ml) than in CG (19.62 ± 0.46 ng/ml) and control (22.38 ± 1.34 ng/ml) p &lt; 0.05. The mean value of osteocalcin in woman with SLE was significantly lower than in CG and control (11.81 ± 0.49 ng/ml versus 18.61 ± 0.75 ng/ml and 19.28 ± 1.88, p &lt; 0.001). No significant difference were detected in between the mean values of P1NP in SG, CG and control. The mean values of β-cross laps were significantly higher in patients with SLE (0.51 ± 0.02 ng/ml) compared to GC (0.26 ± 0.02 ng/ml) and control (0.28 ± 0.02 ng/ml), p &lt; 0.001. Conclusions. Bone mineral density, calcium-phosphorus metabolism and bone remodeling in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus have peculiarities as follows: a significant decrease in bone mass in 71.54 % of patients, namely 18, 70 % - grade I osteopenia, 21.14 % - grade II osteopenia, 14.63 % - grade III osteopenia; 17.07 % - osteoporosis, increased calcium excretion, vitamin D deficiency, decreased osteoblastic and enhansed osteoclastic functions.

Judicial leadership matters (yet again): the association between judge and public trust for artificial intelligence in courts

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly expanding in myriad industries and systems. This study sought to investigate public trust in using AI in the criminal court process. While previous research has identified factors that influence trust in AI, such as perceived accuracy and transparency of algorithms, less is known about the role of influential leaders—such as judges—in shaping public trust in new technology. This study examined the relationship between locus of control, anthropomorphism, cultural values, and perceived trust in AI. Participants completed a survey assessing their perceptions of trust in AI in determining bail eligibility, bail fines and fees, sentencing length, sentencing fines and fees, and writing legal documents (e.g., findings and disposition). Participants were more likely to trust AI performing financial calculations rather than determining bail eligibility, sentence length, or drafting legal documents. Participants’ comfort with AI in decision-making also depended on their perceptions of judges’ trust in AI, and they expressed concerns about AI perpetuating bias and the need for extensive testing to ensure accuracy. Interestingly, no significant association was found with other participant characteristics (e.g., locus of control, anthropomorphism, or cultural values). This study contributes to the literature by highlighting the role of judges as influential leaders in shaping public trust in AI and examining the influence of individual differences on trust in AI. The findings also help inform the development of recommended practices and ethical guidelines for the responsible use of AI in the courts.