We apply techniques in natural language processing, computational linguistics, and machine-learning to investigate papers in hep-th and four related sections of the arXiv: hep-ph, hep-lat, gr-qc, and math-ph. All of the titles of papers in each of these sections, from the inception of the arXiv until the end of 2017, are extracted and treated as a corpus which we use to train the neural network Word2Vec. A comparative study of common n-grams, linear syntactical identities, word cloud and word similarities is carried out. We find notable scientific and sociological differences between the fields. In conjunction with support vector machines, we also show that the syntactic structure of the titles in different sub-fields of high energy and mathematical physics are sufficiently different that a neural network can perform a binary classification of formal versus phenomenological sections with 87.1% accuracy, and can perform a finer five-fold classification across all sections with 65.1% accuracy.
Active-targeting nanomedicines have been widely employed in cancer treatment for increasing therapeutic index. However, the limited permeability caused by the binding site barrier (BSB) and size hindrances compromises their clinical antitumor efficacy in patients. Herein, learning from the liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of bio-macromolecules, we report phase-separating glycopeptides (HEP) from polyhistidine (PHis) grafted hyaluronic acid (HA), which can sense the tumor extracellular pH and concomitantly overcome size and BSB dilemmas for enhanced tumor penetration. HEP aggregates into nanodroplets in solution at neutral pH. Upon reaching the acidic extracellular environment of tumors, the pH-responsive PHis triggers a phase separation, converting the coacervate nanodroplets into monomeric glycopeptides. This enables HEP conjugated with the platinum prodrug (HEPPt) to deeply penetrate into tumors by overcoming the BSB effect arising from the interaction between nanodroplets and Cluster of Differentiation 44 (CD44), as well as resolving the size challenges. Moreover, HEPPt in monomeric states exhibits promoted cellular uptake after pH-triggered phase separation, attributed to the transmembrane effect of exposed PHis. Subsequently, the rapid release of Pt(II), triggered by tumor intracellular reducing environment, exerts excellent antitumor activity. The phase-separating glycopeptides represent a promising platform for improving tumor penetration and intracellular delivery of therapeutic agents.
Abstract Intraocular lens (IOL) is a crucial implant for cataract therapy. Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) is the most common postoperative complication after IOL implantation, which is the abnormal hyperplasia of the residual lens epithelial cells (LECs) after IOL implantation in cataract surgery. It is reported that the cellular microenvironment in the lens capsule changes after surgery, such as the elevated secretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and a decrease in pH due to undesired cell proliferation. In this study, MMP-2 and pH-triggered drug delivery polysaccharide multilayer coating was designed and introduced onto the IOL surface for obtaining the cellular microenvironment-sensitive drug-eluting intraocular implant. The methacrylated heparin (HEP-MA) was synthesized and used to layer-by-layer self-assemble with the doxorubicin-loaded chitosan nanoparticles on the IOL surface. The matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) sensitive peptide with cysteine contained in both ends (GCRD-GPQGIWGQ-DRCG) was then used to crosslink the polysaccharide multilayer via the Michael addition reaction between sulfhydryl group in cysteines and double bonds in methacrylate groups. The multilayer construction and subsequent cross-linking were validated through ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometer (UV–Vis) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). After modification, the IOL material surface becomes more hydrophilic while the optical properties were well maintained. The MMP-2 and pH-sensitive drug sustained-release coating were successfully obtained on the IOL surface via such design. The enzyme-triggered cell proliferation inhibition was realized in the in vitro experiments. In an animal model, significant up-regulation of MMP-2 was observed in the aqueous humor after cataract surgery. The multi-functionalized polysaccharide-coated IOL implanted in the animal eye via cataract surgery effectively inhibits PCO formation while it keeps good in vivo biosafety.
In the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), overstimulation of inflammatory factors can trigger a coagulation cascade, increase the risk of intestinal micro-thrombosis and lead to microcirculation disorders. However, prevention of microcirculation pathways has not received enough attention. Heparin is commonly used in anticoagulant therapy, but oral delivery does not have an excellent anticoagulant effect. To improve the stability of heparin (HEP) in the gastrointestinal tract, zein/tea polyphenol nanospheres with a core-shell structure (EGNs@Z) were developed for oral administration of heparin (HEGNs@Z). The Zein shell has pH-responsive properties and is effective in preventing premature dissolution of heparin. At the same time, EGCG nanospheres (EGNs) play an anti-inflammatory role, jointly improve the vicious cycle between inflammation and microthrombosis. The results of SEM, TEM and FTIR showed that EGNs successfully encapsulated heparin and formed zein shells on the surface of microspheres with a thickness of 50-100 nm. In vitro simulated digestion experiments showed that zein shells prevented the breakdown of microspheres and heparin in a simulated gastric environment, whereas EGNs and HEP were slowly degraded and released in a simulated intestinal environment. Coagulation analysis showed that HEGNs@Z was effective in delaying clotting time. A mouse model of acute colitis has also shown that HEGNs@Z robust promotes colonic epithelial regeneration, inhibits malignant microcirculation, and reduces bleeding risk. These findings reveal that this orally bioavailable multifunctional material may provide a novel, effective and convenient treatment for inflammatory bowel disease.
In this paper, we investigated the effects of different conditions on the extraction rate of Hericium erinaceus protein (HEP), determined the optimal extraction process for alkaline extraction of Hericium erinaceus (HE) protein, and explored the effects of ultrasound-assisted pH-shift treatment on HEP activity. In this study, the extraction rate of HEP demonstrated an initial increase followed by a decline with the rising pH concentration. It also exhibited a gradual increase that plateaued with the increment in the material-liquid ratio, extraction time, and extraction temperature. The response surface methodology was employed to determine the optimal conditions for the traditional alkaline extraction of HE protein, which were identified as an extraction temperature of 66°C, an extraction pH of 12.5, and a material-liquid ratio of 1:25. Furthermore, ultrasound-assisted pH-shift treatment significantly enhanced the sodium taurocholate binding, sodium glycoconjugate binding, and cholesterol inhibitory ability of HEP at a sonication time of 31 min, a sonication temperature of 40°C, and an ultrasound intensity of 30 W/L. This study offers a theoretical foundation for advancing green and efficient protein modification technologies and serves as a crucial basis for the industrial application of functional edible and medicinal fungal protein products.
[Summary generated by ChatGPT]
Overview:
This double issue of Babylonia focuses on the training of second language (L2) teachers in Switzerland, offering a comparative, critical, and visionary look at teacher education. As new teacher education colleges (HEP/PH) were being established across Switzerland, the journal examines what it means to train teachers for a multilingual, multicultural society.
Key Contributions:
The editorial stresses that while English has gained ground as a global lingua franca, Switzerland must still prioritize competence in national languages for social cohesion. The issue gathers contributions under three themes: visions, realities, and discussions.
Michael Byram advocates for the development of “European language teachers,” emphasizing education over mere training. Erika Werlen introduces the "Europe-Teacher" model developed in the Upper Rhine region. Antonie Hornung discusses competencies needed for teaching in linguistically and culturally diverse settings. Italian contributors (Quartapelle and Minardi) review evolving L2 teacher education models in Italy.
Ida Bertschy presents a synthesis of teacher training profiles at 14 Swiss pedagogical institutions. Further contributions examine the theory–practice gap (Margonis-Pasinetti), curriculum design (Grünblatt), and bilingual vocational education (Jansen O’Dwyer & Nabholz).
Practical projects like "bi.li" (bilingual learning in vocational schools) illustrate innovation in action, while articles from trainees and institutions reflect on identity, intercultural competence, and democratic values in teacher education.
Conclusion:
This issue marks a pivotal moment in Switzerland’s teacher education reform. It emphasizes the need for future L2 teachers to be not only linguistically proficient but also interculturally sensitive, reflective, and engaged in democratic education. Babylonia positions itself as both a resource and platform for shaping the educators of tomorrow.
Language and Literature, Special aspects of education
Babylonia came to life in 1991 through the hard work of a group of humanists committed to building a multilingual, multicultural, open and tolerant society through the teaching and learning of foreign languages. Thirty-four years later, Babylonia is still with us, and its editorial team is still committed to holding constructive dialogues between researchers and educators, and the promotion of language teaching adapted to individual needs and particularities. We do this by keeping an eye on societal developments and being a platform for discussing their influence on language teaching and learning - the present issue is a fine example of this.
Yet, for over 30 years, Babylonia has also had to fight for its livelihood. It has been thirty-four years now that members of the editorial team have invested their time producing quality issues - and most of them do this voluntarily.
An issue of Babylonia represents hundreds of hours of work: brainstorming topics, choosing the most promising abstracts, writing articles and introductions, proofreading and editing, translating, layout, distributing.
Artificial intelligence will be able to help us with some of this work, but, for the time being at least, we're betting on human intelligence to provide critical and informed input to our thinking and practice.
We would like to thank the sponsors who have supported us for over 30 years (in particular the Swiss Federal Office of Culture), our institutional partners (Institut de plurilinguisme and CeDiLE), and the institutions that see the importance of supporting human work: In 2024, the HEP Vaud, the PHZH, the PHZG, the BCUL and the Canton of Ticino. In 2025, the PHZH, the PH Bern, the BCUL, and the Oertli Foundation (which is supporting this issue in particular: thank you!).
Our thanks also go to the members who help us with their subscriptions, and to some generous donors – you know who we mean!
As one of our readers said in response to the gradual online availability of our archives (take a peek!), it's “genial that all the wealth disseminated by your journal is now accessible to everyone! ”
A wealth, yes! But it's a wealth we fight for every day - and, we dare to hope, intelligently.
We hope you enjoy reading this issue on a highly topical subject, and that you enjoy delving into our archives for a diachronic understanding of this fantastic Babylonia idea!
Language and Literature, Special aspects of education
Muhammad Kawish, Nimra Naz Siddiqui, Humera Jahan
et al.
Abstract Currently, chemotherapy is one of the most practiced approaches for the treatment of cancers. However, existing chemotherapeutic drugs have poor aqueous solubility, poor selectivity, higher systematic toxicity, and poor target accumulation. In this study, we designed and synthesized a boronic acid/ester-based pH-responsive nano-valve that specifically targets the microenvironment in cancer cells. The nano-valve comprises phenylboronic acid-coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (B-MSN) loaded with polyphenolic compound Rosmarinic acid (ROS-B-MSN). The nano-valve was further coated with lignin (LIG) to achieve our desired LIG-ROS-BMSN nano-valve for targeted chemotherapy against Hep-G2 and NCI-H460 cell lines. The structure and properties of NPs were characterized by Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) in combination with EDX, and Dynamic light scattering (DLS). The outcomes revealed that the designed LIG-ROS-BMSN were in the nanorange (144.1 ± 0.70 nm), had negative Zeta potential (-15.7 ± 0.46 mV) and had a nearly spherical morphology. In vitro, drug release investigations showed a controlled pH-dependent release profile under mild acidic conditions that could enhance the targeted chemotherapeutic response against cancer in mild acidic environments. The obtained LIG-ROS-BMSN nano valve achieved significantly lower IC50 values of (1.70 ± 0.01 μg/mL and 3.25 ± 0.14 μg/mL) against Hep-G2 and NCI-H460 cell lines as compared to ROS alone, which was (14.0 ± 0.7 μg/mL and 29.10 ± 0.25 μg/mL), respectively. The cellular morphology before and after treatment was further confirmed via inverted microscopy. The outcomes of the current study imply that our designed LIG-ROS-BMSN nanovalve is a potential carrier for cancer chemotherapeutics. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
Heparin recently has been discovered as a novel anti-cancer agent. The combinations of heparin with other agents was reported not only to reduce the undesired effects of free heparin and increase the cellular uptake of the delivered molecules, but also is the basis for the design and development of multi-stimulation response systems to improve their killing cancer cell efficiency at the target positions. This study aimed to design a redox and pH dual-responsive anticancer system based on heparin for cisplatin (CPT) therapy. Heparin was first cross-linked with Poloxamer 407 chains via disulfide bridges to form a redox-sensitive system Hep-P407. CPT was then encapsulated into the Hep-P407 system via the complex of Platin and carboxyl groups to form the redox/pH-responsive system CPT@Hep-P407. The obtained Hep-P407 systems were proved and characterized using specific techniques including 1H-NMR, zeta potential, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The dual-responsive behavior to redox and pH of CPT@Hep-P407 was proved through DLS, zeta and in vitro release analysis meanwhile its cytotoxicity was investigated using Resazurin assay. The CPT@Hep-P407 system is expected to be a promising redox/pH-responsive anticancer system based on heparin for CPT therapy.
Máy đào rãnh hẹp có ưu thế trong việc thi công theo tuyến các công trình hạ ngầm đường dây cáp điện lực, cáp viễn thông, các đường ống kỹ thuật,… Máy có thể đào được rãnh sâu với chiều rộng hẹp vừa đủ để đặt các đường ống hoặc cáp ngầm với khối lượng đất cần đào là nhỏ nhất, tiết kiệm năng lượng, tăng năng suất và rút ngắn thời gian thi công. Các máy đào rãnh hẹp đồng bộ trong nước hiện nay được nhập khẩu có giá thành cao. Giải pháp phù hợp để chế tạo máy trong điều kiện Việt Nam là thiết kế chế tạo thiết bị công tác và lắp trên máy cơ sở của máy làm đất có sẵn. Tuy nhiên, tốc độ và phương pháp điều khiển tốc độ di chuyển của máy cơ sở chưa phù hợp theo yêu cầu của máy đào rãnh hẹp. Bài báo này trình bày phương pháp điều chỉnh tốc độ máy cơ sở có sẵn phù hợp với máy đào rãnh hẹp bằng cách điều chỉnh công suất nguồn thuỷ lực dẫn động cơ cấu di chuyển mà vẫn đảm bảo tính nguyên bản của máy. Các điều kiện làm việc cần phải kiểm tra và mạch thủy lực với ba chế độ làm làm việc của cơ cấu di chuyển đáp ứng yêu cầu điều chỉnh đã được đề xuất. Áp dụng phương pháp đề xuất cho máy đào rãnh hẹp ĐRH-01 lắp trên máy cơ sở của máy xúc lật MS500, tốc độ chậm có thể điều chỉnh được trong một khoảng rộng 0-10 m/ph. Công suất của cơ cấu xích đào đã được tăng thêm đến 72,7% do nhận được từ phần công suất dư của cơ cấu di chuyển.
Cascade prediction aims to estimate the popularity of information diffusion in complex networks, which is beneficial to many applications from identifying viral marketing to fake news propagation in social media, estimating the scientific impact (citations) of a new publication, and so on. How to effectively predict cascade growth size has become a significant problem. Most previous methods based on deep learning have achieved remarkable results, while concentrating on mining structural and temporal features from diffusion networks and propagation paths. Whereas, the ignorance of spread dynamic information restricts the improvement of prediction performance. In this paper, we propose a novel framework called Physics-informed graph convolutional network (PiGCN) for cascade prediction, which combines explicit features (structural and temporal features) and propagation dynamic status in learning diffusion ability of cascades. Specifically, PiGCN is an end-to-end predictor, firstly splitting a given cascade into sub-cascade graph sequence and learning local structures of each sub-cascade via graph convolutional network , then adopting multi-layer perceptron to predict the cascade growth size. Moreover, our dynamic neural network, combining PDE-like equations and a deep learning method, is designed to extract potential dynamics of cascade diffusion, which captures dynamic evolution rate both on structural and temporal changes. To evaluate the performance of our proposed PiGCN model, we have conducted extensive experiment on two well-known large-scale datasets from Sina Weibo and ArXIv subject listing HEP-PH to verify the effectiveness of our model. The results of our proposed model outperform the mainstream model, and show that dynamic features have great significance for cascade size prediction.
Motivated by recent advancements in antimuon cooling, we consider Higgs boson production at µ+µ+ colliders. The leading-order W+W− fusion process present at, e.g., µ+µ− colliders does not occur since both intial-state particles carry the same charge. Nevertheless, Higgs production is possible via a higher-order process mediated by a photon or Z boson. We find that at high energies, the associated cross secction grows as (log s)3 with the center-of-mass energy √s, as opposed to the log s growth of the leading-order process at µ+µ− colliders. Thus, the higher-order cross section with polarized beams can become about half as large as the leading-order process at µ+µ− colliders at O(10) TeV energies, despite its naive suppression. When calculating the higher-order cross section, collinear photon emissions make direct computations using event generators difficult. We therefore treat these emissions by splitting the phase-space into the sum of a non-collinear region calculable using event generators, and a collinear region approximated by a parton distribution function for the photon. Furthermore, since the same process can occur at any high-energy lepton collider, this large cross section needs to be considered also for Higgs production at µ+µ− and e+e− colliders.
CP violation is one of the problems of the physics beyond the Standard Model. It can happen in both the quark and the lepton sectors. In the present paper, following the work arXiv:1602.07437 [hep-ph], this problem is re-considered in the lepton sector (neutrino subsector) within an extended Standard Model with an $A_4$ flavour discrete symmetry with a new and more convenient parametrization. As a result, a perturbative mixing matrix is derived. Then, the Dirac CP violation phase \(\delta_{CP}\equiv \delta\) and the Jarlskog invariant \(J_{CP}\equiv J\) are analytically obtained from theoretically derived equations leading to the solutions \(\delta= \pm {1\over 2}\pi\) . Between the two solutions, the solution \(\delta=-{1\over 2}\pi\) (i.e., \({3\over 2}\pi\)) is more preferable as it is more consistent with the experimental data for the inverted ordering of the neutrino masses for the gobal fit [PDG] or the normal ordering [T2K, NO\(\nu\)A]). A relation between $\delta$ and $J$ is also given in terms of new parameters. The maximum value of Jarlskog invariant \(|J^{max}|\) is found in the range $0.0237 < |J^{max}| < 0.034$, covering the 2022-2023 global fit values [PDG]: \(|J_{PDG}^{max}|= 0.0336\pm 0.0006 ~(\pm 0.0019)\) at \(1\sigma ~(3\sigma\)). Other values of J can be determined by the ralation \(J (\delta)\) and approximated by Fig. 2. between two solutions.
A benzothiazole-based derivative aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorescent ‘turn-on’ probe named 2-(2-((4-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborolan-2-yl)benzyl)oxy)phenyl)benzo[<i>d</i>]thiazole (probe <b>BT-BO</b>) was developed and synthesized successfully for detecting hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) in living cells. The synthesis method of probe <b>BT-BO</b> is facile. Probe <b>BT-BO</b> demonstrates a well-resolved emission peak at 604 nm and the ability to prevent the interference of reactive oxygen species (ROS), various metal ions and anion ions, and good sensitivity. Additionally, the probe boasts impressive pH range versatility, a fast response time to H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and low cytotoxicity. Finally, probe <b>BT-BO</b> was applied successfully to image A549 and Hep G2 cells to monitor both exogenous and endogenous H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>.
Agnieszka Maher, Karolina Miśkiewicz, Justyna Rosicka-Kaczmarek
et al.
Some potentially probiotic strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeast that inhabit the digestive tract of humans are known to detoxify xenobiotics, including acrylamide (AA). The objective of the subsequent research was to evaluate the AA-detoxification capability of LAB and yeast isolated from various sources. Namely, the effect of AA was tested on the growth of LAB and yeast strains, as well in the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Subsequently, the AA-binding ability of LAB and yeast was investigated in various environments, including the pH, incubation temperature, cell density, and with inanimate cells. The ability of selected LAB and yeast to reduce the genotoxicity of AA was tested on Caco-2 and Hep-G2 cell lines. The results showed that all tested strains exhibited strong resistance to AA at concentrations of 5, 10, and 50 µg/mL. Also, AA was detected in the intracellular and membrane extracts of tested strains. The most effective binding strain was <i>Pediococcus acidilactici</i> 16 at pH = 5, cell density = 10<sup>9</sup> CFU/mL, and incubation temperature = 37 °C (87.6% of AA removed). Additionally, all tested strains reduced the genotoxicity of AA, with the greatest reduction observed at the highest concentration of 50 µg/mL. The phenomena of detoxification by potentially probiotic strains could reduce the toxic and harmful effects of AA exposure to humans every day.
Igor D. Zlotnikov, Alexander A. Ezhov, Natalya G. Belogurova
et al.
Rhodamine 6G (R6G) and 4-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole (NBD) linked through a spacer molecule spermidine (spd), R6G-spd-NBD, produces a fluorescent probe with pH-sensitive FRET (Förster (fluorescence) resonance energy transfer) effect that can be useful in a variety of diagnostic applications. Specifically, cancer cells can be spotted due to a local decrease in pH (Warburg effect). In this research, we applied this approach to intracellular infectious diseases—namely, leishmaniasis, brucellosis, and tuberculosis, difficult to treat because of their localization inside macrophages. R6G-spd-NBD offers an opportunity to detect such bacteria and potentially deliver therapeutic targets to treat them. The nanogel formulation of the R6G-spd-NBD probe (nanoparticles based on chitosan or heparin grafted with lipoic acid residues, Chit-LA and Hep-LA) was obtained to improve the pH sensitivity in the desired pH range (5.5–7.5), providing selective visualization and targeting of bacterial cells, thereby enhancing the capabilities of CLSM (confocal laser scanning microscopy) imaging. According to AFM (atomic force microscopy) data, nanogel particles containing R6G-spd-NBD of compact structure and spherical shape are formed, with a diameter of 70–100 nm. The nanogel formulation of the R6G-spd-NBD further improves absorption and penetration into bacteria, including those located inside macrophages. Due to the negative charge of the bacteria surface, the absorption of positively charged R6G-spd-NBD, and even more so in the chitosan derivatives’ nanogel particles, is pronounced. Additionally, with a pH-sensitive R6G-spd-NBD fluorescent probe, the macrophages’ lysosomes can be easily distinguished due to their acidic pH environment. CLSM was used to visualize samples of macrophage cells containing absorbed bacteria. The created nanoparticles showed a significant selectivity to model <i>E. coli</i> vs. <i>Lactobacillus</i> bacterial cells, and the R6G-spd-NBD agent, being a mild bactericide, cleared over 50% <i>E.coli</i> in conditions where <i>Lactobacillus</i> remained almost unaffected. Taken together, our data indicate that R6G-spd-NBD, as well as similar compounds, can have value not only for diagnostic, but also for theranostic applications.