bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Los riesgos fiscales en la política económica de México
Authors:   Universidad de Guadalajara/Jalisco/México, Huerta Villalobos María Magdalena , Alcantar López Cristian Omar ,   Universidad de Guadalajara/Jalisco/México, Flores Ortega Gerardo ,   Universidad de Guadalajara/Jalisco/México
Published: February 2025

La atención de los riesgos fiscales en un país establecen la seguridad financiera del mismo, tanto a corto como a largo plazos, puesto que la determinación y prevención de los riesgos fiscales se ven reflejados en las variaciones que existen respecto a las variables fiscales que se establecen entre lo planeado contra lo que ocurre en realidad, lo anterior a partir de los problemas macroeconómicos, las situaciones internas y las contingencias de pago que se puedan presentar, dentro de estas se encuentra el crecimiento real del producto interno bruto (PIB), la inflación, las variaciones referentes al tipo de cambio y las tasas de interés, así como los precios de los commodities y el precio del petróleo. Los resultados de lo anterior pueden generar contingencias que maximizan la incertidumbre al presentar la inestabilidad económica respecto a la modificación de las variables esperadas. Por lo anterior, el objetivo principal de este documento es presentar de qué manera la política economía en México contempla los riesgos fiscales.
Transparencia financiera y académica, una primacía en la gobernanza universitaria de Sonora, México
Authors:   Universidad de Guadalajara/Jalisco/México, Modesto Barrón Wilson , González Velasquez Leticia María ,   Universidad de Guadalajara/Jalisco/México, Claire Torres Ingrid Georgina ,   Universidad de Guadalajara/Jalisco/México
Published: February 2025

El presente artículo realiza un bagaje de fundamentos clásicos y contemporáneos de la transparencia, mencionando a los defensores de la transparencia en las universidades públicas; se desarrolló una investigación en las principales universidades públicas del estado de Sonora considerando dos enfoques, financiero y académico; los resultados demuestran que la mayoría de las universidades no cumplen con la normatividad de la ley de transparencia al no difundir la información financiera o información pública de oficio, en donde deben transparentar el uso de los recursos públicos.
La Universidad Estatal de Sonora desempeña con un 88% en el aspecto financiero de las obligaciones que tiene como sujeto obligado, y en el enfoque académico destaca el Instituto Tecnológico de Sonora con el mayor puntaje de 2.44; se tiene fuertes limitaciones en la transparencia de la comunidad docente en el programa de las asignaturas, el perfil del docente y el horario de permanencia, de la misma manera se encuentra en esa situación los servicios de la comunidad estudiantil en cuanto a los trámites, las actividades extracurriculares, las cuotas y los costos, por otro lado, la información no se encuentra actualizada y está incompleta.
Los sistemas tributarios en la economía global: evidencia de América del Norte (tlcan)
Authors:   Universidad de Guadalajara/Jalisco/México, Corona Pacheco Cesar , Corona Dueñas José  Asunción ,   Universidad de Guadalajara/Jalisco/México, Mora Pérez Cesar Omar ,   Universidad de Guadalajara/Jalisco/México
Published: February 2025

El presente documento hace una descripción del sistematributario de los países que conforman el tratado de libre comercio de América del Norte: Estados Unidos, Canadá y México. Para dicho análisis se tomaron en cuenta las potestades de cada sistema, los impuestos aplicados y el nivel fomento y promoción que dichos países realizan para generaruna cultura fiscal, además se mencionan como, desde la perspectiva de la globalización económica, existen algunos retos que en condiciones muy particulares cada sistema enfrenta y que en la actualidad son de gran importancia para el desarrollo económico de dichos países. La importancia de realizar comparaciones de los sistemas nos permitirá entender las deficiencias de los mismos y cómo se puede brindar más poder tributario a los Estados, otro aspecto sobre este trabajo es la importancia que tiene la internacionalización del derecho tributario, lo que impacta fuertemente en la política fiscal de los gobiernos antes mencionados. Entre los hallazgos más importantes se encuentra el hecho de que el número de contribuyentes en México es mucho menor que el de los otros países que conforman el bloque, razón por la cual las tasas impositivas son más altas, lo que repercute directamente en el bolsillo del contribuyente.
Enhancing Literacy and Numeracy Through Traditional Music-Based Learning in the 7th Batch of the Program Kampus Mengajar at UPTD SD Inpres Beiposo, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia
Authors: Pulu Febryanto Blasius Keka , Fikri Kanzul , Bupu Hermania
Published: February 2025

Kampus Mengajar (Campus Teaching program) is one of the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Mandiri (Freedom of Learning Independent Campus) programs that aims to help improve literacy, numeracy, technology adaptation, and school administration. The main objective of the Kampus Mengajar is to prepare students with various skills and expertise through collaboration with teachers to develop innovative, creative, and interesting learning methods, while providing a positive impact on the teaching and learning process. The presence of this program provides an opportunity for students throughout Indonesia to improve their soft skills and hard skills. The purpose of the study was to find out about improving numeracy literacy through traditional music-based music art learning in the Kampus Mengajar batch 7 at UPTD SDI Beiposo, the obstacles faced and efforts to improve Literacy and Numeracy through traditional music-based music art learning in the Kampus Mengajar batch 7 at UPTD SDI Beiposo. This study uses a qualitative approach with data collection techniques using observation, interview and documentation techniques. Based on the data that has been taken, it shows that increasing numeracy literacy through traditional music-based music art learning in the 7th batch of the Kampus Mengajar at UPTD SDI Beiposo is in the form of creating a literacy and cultural festival program, creating songs for learning interests and memorizing multiplication, practicing traditional songs and music and reactivating extracurricular arts activities. The evaluation results show an increase in the average score of students in the Asesmen Kompetensi Minimum/AKM (Minimum Competency Assessment) Literacy and Numeracy post-test. This program has positive implications for increasing literacy and numeracy at UPTD SDI Beiposo. Teacher involvement, innovative, creative learning methods through traditional music-based music art learning, and support from parents are supporting factors for the success of the program.
Tabaquismo y cigarrillos electrónicos entre estudiantes de salud y deporte, Valledupar, 2023
Authors: Muegues Salas Angel Alexis , Chamat Torres María Daniela , Altamar Méndez Yeni Abigail , Ávila Guzmán Katherine Viviana
Published: February 2025

El presente trabajo de investigación está enfocado en el consumo de tabaco y uso de cigarrillo electrónico en jóvenes universitarios de la Facultad de la ciencia de la salud y del deporte de la Fundación Universitaria del Área Andina en el año 2023. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo determinar cuáles son los determinantes relacionados con el uso tabaco y cigarrillos electrónicos ya que es la mayor causa de enfermedades crónicas que genera enormes costos económicos a las personas, a sus familias y la sociedad en su conjunto, logrando un alto impacto sobre el deterioro dental, daños metabólicos, tos frecuente, aumento de flema, disminución del buen estado físico y problemas respiratorios. El inicio del hábito tabáquico a los 18 años afecta al 90 % de los consumidores diarios. Tanto los jóvenes fumadores como los adultos corren un riesgo equiparable de padecer enfermedades graves como cáncer, problemas cardiovasculares o enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica
Analisys of Kinetic Curves of Mass Change During the Interaction of Active Gases with Certain Metals and Compounds with Simultaneous Evaporation of the Product of Reaction
Authors:   Georgian Technical University, Tbilisi, Nakhutsrishvili Irakli , Adamia Zurab ,   Tbilisii State University, Georgia, Loria Lasha ,   Tbilisii State University, Georgia
Published: February 2025

The influence of the secondary process of evaporation of the reaction product on the kinetics of interaction of gases (O2
, Cl2
,
NH3
, H2
O and N2
H4
vapors) with the surface of some metals (Cr, Pb, Si, Ge) and compounds (BN, SiO2
, SiC) is discussed.
Also is considered the case when the growth of the scale is preceded by the process of gas etching of the metal surface. A
general equation is given that describes the scale growth-evaporation kinetic (sample mass change - time) curves during the
interaction of gases with the surface of metals and compounds. Special cases of parabolic, cubic and fourth degree processes
are discussed. The kinetics of nitridation of the surface of single-crystaline germanium by ammonia and hydrazine vapors was
studied in detail. By evaporating the nitride formed on the germanium surface, a film of germanium oxyntride is deposited on
a substrate located in the cold zone of the reactor.
Power Spectra of JWST images of Local Galaxies: Searching for Disk Thickness
Authors: Elmegreen Bruce , Adamo Angela , Bajaj Varun , Duarte-Cabral Ana , Calzetti Daniela , Cignoni Michele , Correnti Matteo , Gallagher John S. , Grasha Kathryn , Gregg Benjamin , Johnson Kelsey E. , Linden Sean T. , Messa Matteo , Ostlin Goran , Pedrini Alex , Ryon Jenna
Published: February 2025

JWST/MIRI images have been used to study the Fourier transform power spectra (PS) of two spiral galaxies, NGC 628 and NGC 5236, and two dwarfs, NGC 4449 and NGC 5068, at distances ranging from 4 to 10 Mpc. The PS slopes on scales larger than 200 pc range from −0.6 at 21μm to −1.2 at 5.6μm. These slopes for one-dimensional PS are consistent with the PS slopes observed elsewhere using HI and dust emission. They are likely related to turbulence, but they may also be viewed as a hierarchical distribution of objects having a size-luminosity relation and size distribution function. There is no evidence for a kink or steepening of the PS at some transition from two-dimensional to three-dimensional turbulence on the scale of the disk thickness. This lack of a kink could be from large positional variations in the PS depending on two opposite effects: local bright sources that make the slope shallower and exponential galaxy profiles that make the slope steeper. The sources could also be confined to a layer of molecular clouds that is thinner than the HI or cool dust layers where PS kinks have been observed before. If the star formation layers observed in the mid-infrared here are too thin, then the PS kink could also be hidden in the broad tail of the JWST point spread function.
APPLICATION OF NON-PREEMPTIVE PRIORITY SCHEDULING METHOD FOR WORK ORDER SCHEDULING SYSTEM
Authors: Suratun Suratun , Ginting Novita Br , Syarif Zulkarnaen Noor , Gofur Ryan Abdul
Published: February 2025

Work order allocation is one of the problems experienced by PT Indomobil Trada Nasional. Companies need tools to make it easier to allocate work orders effectively, namely an optimal work order scheduling system. Work order allocation data for the last three months was 3,817, with 15 technicians. This work order exceeds the company's target, namely to have a difference of 1.2 work orders per technician daily. These work orders have a priority order in their processing. The work order scheduling method used in this research is the non-preemptive priority scheduling method. The non-preemptive priority scheduling method is used because it can determine which work orders are in the queue and ready to be allocated according to the priority order without disturbing work orders that are being worked on when new work orders arrive. The work order scheduling system that was built provides adequate scheduling time and produces a smaller average waiting time, namely 12.97 minutes.   The average waiting time in the scheduling system without priority non-preemptive scheduling is 52.18, and the difference in average waiting time for the 34 existing work orders is 39.12 minutes. Applying the non-preemptive priority scheduling method helps companies allocate work orders optimally.
The Past Shapes the Present: How Visual Learning Guides Visual Perception and Memory
Authors:   , Xu Luzi
Published: February 2025

The visual world around us contains an overwhelming amount of information, yet our perceptual system can only process a fraction of it at any given moment, and even less is retained in working memory. To efficiently achieve our behavioral goals, we must optimize the effectiveness of visual perception and memory. Luckily, the visual environment around us is often stable and highly structured, characterized by recurring regularities (e.g., books typically appear on the desks rather than on the floor) and repeated stimuli (e.g., our own faces). This dissertation investigates whether and how visual learning affects visual perception and memory. Specifically, we looked at the effects of the learning of regularities (i.e., the extraction of distributional probabilities of stimuli in space or time, termed as ‘statistical learning’) and repeated stimuli (repetition of certain stimuli across time, termed as ‘visual repetition’) respectively. Chapter 1 demonstrated that statistical learning influences awareness, enabling faster conscious detection of frequently occurring visual objects compared to infrequent ones. Chapter 2 revealed that statistical learning enhances visual working memory performance, but only when the learned regularity is relevant to the task. Specifically, learning that an object frequently appears at a location does not improve memory recall, whereas learning that an object is frequently probed at a location does. Chapter 3 showed that passively viewed objects are encoded into working memory more efficiently when they later become task relevant. Chapter 4 further demonstrated that repeated exposure to target stimuli shifts observers' reliance from effortful short-term memory to long-term memory, thereby reducing the need for frequent (re)checks of the target stimuli. Overall, this dissertation showed that statistical learning optimizes the efficiency of perception and memory by prioritizing probable targets over improbable ones; in addition, visual repetition leads to the buildup of memory traces for future targets and an increased reliance on long-term memory. These findings improve our understanding of how past visual experiences shape visual perception and memory of the present.
Shifting the Paradigms of International Agricultural Subsidies Regulation to Advance the Human Right to Food
Authors: Makore Shelton T. Mota , Osode Patrick C.
Published: February 2025

The regulation of agricultural subsidies under the auspices of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) remains an acrimonious and challenging issue perplexing government policy-makers, trade practitioners and academic commentators at large. Central to this challenge is the view that the extant multilateral trade regulation rules governing agricultural subsidies under the ‘twin’ instruments, the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) and the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM), are, in terms of their formulation, unable to accommodate or, better still, promote the indisputably critical policy objective of food security, and by extension the realisation of the human right to food. This argument is compelling given that the extant international agricultural subsidies regulatory regime has not responded well to the pursuit of liberal trade in agriculture without compromising the legitimate food security concerns that WTO member states may have. This article proposes a pragmatic humanising approach to international agricultural subsidies regulation accommodative of sustainability concerns such as the realisation of the human right to food. It offers recommendations on how best to infuse international agricultural subsidies regulation with pertinent equitable and sustainable food sovereignty norms to promote the realisation of the human right to food, especially in developing countries.
Tracing the History of a Doublet from the Kunstmuseum Den Haag Collection: Seventeenth, Eighteenth or Nineteenth Century?
Authors: Salinas César Rodríguez , Gaibor Art Proaño , Joosten Ineke , Hohé Madelief
Published: February 2025

Material analysis of a purported late sixteenth- to early seventeenth-century Italian doublet from the Fashion and Costume collection of the Kunstmuseum Den Haag in the Netherlands revealed discrepancies in its material composition, indicating a different timeframe. This paper summarizes research carried out on this doublet, initially identified as one of the earliest surviving complete doublets from the early seventeenth century. Through scientific material analysis (X-ray imaging, liquid chromatography (UHPLC-PDA-HMRS) and electron microscopy (SEM-EDX)) of the velvet, lining and the decorative elements, combined with an extensive literature review, the object as it is now was determined to have been likely constructed or transformed in the early nineteenth century. It may have originated as a woman's or man's doublet or made from original ciselé velvet for historical representations in theatres or masquerade festivities popular in the nineteenth century.
Using Geocomputation and R as a Methodological Tool: Re-Creating Spatial Structures of the Irish Republican Army in Early Twentieth-Century Ireland
Authors: Kavanagh Jack
Published: February 2025

This article explores how geocomputational processes can be utilised to re-create historical spatial boundaries using Irish historical data. For this study, a series of spatial objects representing Irish Republican Army (IRA) brigades in County Limerick during 1921 were re-created in R using the Military Service Pension Collection (MSPC), one of the largest archival projects released by the Military Archives of Ireland. Using density equalising projections via cartograms, a series of analyses of the demography of the IRA was undertaken using these internal boundaries. County Limerick along the western seaboard of Ireland was chosen as a case study, as it represents a mixed urban/rural environment outside of the three major population centres on the island of Ireland: Cork, Dublin and Belfast. By deploying a geocomputational approach via the programming language R, this article provides a roadmap for historians and humanities scholars in general to reproduce these findings and spatial boundaries for future research.
IMPLEMENTASI PEMBELAJARAN AQIDAH AKHLAK UNTUK MENDIDIK KETAATAN SISWA TERHADAP PERINTAH GURU
Authors: Sutikno Vitha Shelia Ardhiansyah , Bahrodin Ariga
Published: February 2025

Dalam Aqidah bertujuan sebagai membentuk keimanan kepada Allah S.W.T. dan mengajarkan manusia mengenai prinsip dasar agama islam, sedangkan Akhlak merupakan perilaku dan etika yang baik. Penelitian ini menerapkan pendekatan kualitatif, berjeniskan Case Study (Studi Kasus). Pada Sumber data terdapat 2 yaitu Sumber data primer yang bernarasumberkan Kepala Madrasah, Guru Mata Pelajaran Aqidah Akhlak, dan 2 Siswa kelas III. Sedangkan Sumber data sekunder raport siswa, buku, jurnal tertulis, foto-foto, rekaman lisan pada kegiatan penelitian. Teknik pengumpulan data dengan melakukan kegiatan observasi, wawancara, dan dokumentasi. Teknik analisis data dengan melakukan reduksi data, penyajian data, penarikan kesimpulan, dan verifikasi/kesimpulan. Teknik pengecekan keabsahan data dengan menggunakan trianggulasi sumber dan trianggulasi data. Hasil dari penelitian yaitu upaya guru dalam mendidik ketaatan siswa terhadap perintah guru dengan: Penerapan pembelajaran Aqidah Akhlak, Penerapan 5S, Kegiatan pembiasaan pagi hari, dan Permograman buku SKUA.
Feminity & Nature in Moana Movie: An Analysis of Ecofeminism
Authors: Artini Komang , Rasiah Rasiah , Putra Ansor
Published: February 2025

The study focused on how femininity and nature are portrayed in the Moana movie. The research method used is descriptive qualitative, where data is collected by watching films critically to achieve desired results, taking screenshots and taking notes, and identifying and classifying to support the analysis. Researchers found several aspects of the relationship between femininity and nature in the film Moana after conducting an analysis. Twenty-one data points were identified and classified into three main data groups to support the analysis process carried out by the researcher. One of the important discoveries in this movie is that nature is portrayed as a mother, the same as a woman who will not be angry for no reason. This is reflected in the character of Te Fiti, which also represents motherhood and interconnectedness with nature. Nature is portrayed as a mother, and the film depicts the entire relationship between Moana and nature.
Persuasive Language in Pauline Hanson's Speech
Authors: Nabilah Nurjihan , Sofian Nur Israfyan
Published: February 2025

The objective of this research is to describe and find out the kinds of linguistic tools for influence and persuasion used in Pauline Hanson's speech using McPheat’s theory. This research used a qualitative descriptive method where the data refers to the speech, and the source of data is written words and utterances in speech. The data were collected by watching the video and the transcript of the speech and selecting the related tools for persuasion. The data were analyzed by presenting, describing, interpreting, and concluding the data. The results show that her speech to the Senate was a highly persuasive speech that had a significant impact on Australian politics. Hanson used a variety of linguistic tools to persuade her audience, especially using someone's name lost performative, reframing, cause-effect relationship, tag questions, presupposition, and embedded commands. Her speech was particularly persuasive because it appealed to a sense of grievance and frustration that many Australians were feeling at the time. Many Australians were concerned about the country's high immigration rate, the loss of jobs to overseas workers, the increasing diversity of Australian society, and also the sensitive issue of Islam and its teachings. Her speech gave voice to these concerns and offered a simple solution: reduce immigration and Islamic teachings and return to a more traditional Australian identity.
Indoor radon risk assessment in education buildings from kindergarten to high school in Campania region
Authors: Ambrosino Fabrizio , La Verde Giuseppe , Oliva Roberta , Hanfi Mohamed Y. , Sarno Antonio , Pugliese Mariagabriella
Published: February 2025

In the context of the 2024 Italian National Radon Action Plan requiring the monitoring of workplaces, work activities, and buildings with public access, 222Rn activity concentrations in 67 schools in the Campania region (Italy) —kindergartens, primary schools, secondary schools and high schools—were measured using passive detectors over a year. The information collected for evaluation involved the construction materials used, the covering of walls and floors, the intended use of the rooms, and the type of people exposed, whether students, teachers, or administrative staff. Annual effective dose (AED), lung cancer cases (LCC), and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) for these three people categories were estimated. The average 222Rn activity concentration was 262 Bq/m3 in kindergartens (std. dev. = 158 Bq/m3), 292 Bq/m3 for both primary and secondary schools (std. dev. = 189 Bq/m3 and 213 Bq/m3, respectively), and 150 Bq/m3 (std. dev. = 205 Bq/m3) in high schools. The difference between schools built of tuff and those of concrete was statistically different, with average activity of 276 Bq/m3 vs. 144 Bq/m3. As expected, the floor level had a considerable impact, with the activity concentration reducing as the distance from the ground floor increased. The average AED ranged between 2.2 mSv (kindergarten) and 1.1 mSv (high school) for students and between 1.3 mSv and 0.6 mSv for teachers. AED for administrative staff was estimated to be 2.5 mSv on average. The highest AED corresponded to the highest LCC and ELCR for administrative staff, estimated at 45 per million people and 8.6%, respectively. Such a proposed approach could be used to implement a risk management system in accordance with the principles of radiation protection and prevention of harm to human health.
Discovery of triazole derivatives for biofilm disruption, anti-inflammation and metal ion chelation
Authors: Hong Shuang , Lu Hongzhi , Tian Dawei , Chang Yue , Lu Qi , Gao Feng
Published: February 2025

In the face of bacterial hazards to human health and resistance to multiple antibiotics, there is an urgent need to develop new antibiotics to meet the challenge. In this paper, the triazolyl heterocyclic (3-amino-1,2,4-triazole, D) was synthesised efficiently using thiourea as starting material. Finally, the end product E was obtained by aldehyde-amine condensation reaction and the structures of all compounds were determined by spectral analysis. In vitro antimicrobial activity showed that E10 had a MIC of 32 μg/mL against the tested Escherichia coli and 16 μg/mL against the tested Staphylococcus aureus strain. Meanwhile, E10 has a good anti-biofilm effect. Antibacterial mechanism studies have shown that E10 has a good membrane targeting ability, thus disrupting cell membranes, leading to leakage of intracellular proteins and DNA and accelerating bacterial death. In terms of anti-inflammation, E10 dose-dependently inhibits the levels of inflammatory factors NO and IL-6, which deserves further exploration in the treatment of asthma. The study of metal ion removal capacity showed that the synthesised triazole derivatives have high capacity to remove heavy metals Pb2+, Cd2+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Fe3+,Cr3+ and Al3+ in the range of 42%–60%.
Synergistic antifungal effects and mechanisms of amantadine hydrochloride combined with azole antifungal drugs on drug-resistant Candida albicans
Authors: Li Xiuyun , Zhi Yuanyuan , Duan Ximeng , Chen Xu , Cui Min , Zheng Shicun
Published: February 2025

Introduction

The increasing resistance of Candida albicans (C. albicans) to conventional antifungal drugs poses a great challenge to the clinical treatment of infections caused by this yeast. Drug combinations are a potential therapeutic approach to overcome the drug- resistance of C. albicans. This study explored the synergistic effects of amantadine hydrochloride (AMH) combined with azole antifungal drugs against drug-resistant C. albicans in vitro and in vivo.

Methods

The in vitro sensitivity of Candida spp. to drugs was determined by the microdilution method. The effect of drugs on the efflux pump activity of C. albicans was determined by the rhodamine 6G tracer method. The egg yolk agar plate method was used to determine the activity of extracellular phospholipase, a C. albicans virulence factor. The Galleria mellonella model of C. albicans infection was used to test the in vivo efficacy of the combination therapy.

Results

In vitro experiments showed that combinations of AMH with azole antifungal drugs had synergistic antifungal effects on planktonic cells of drug-resistant C. albicans, with fractional inhibitory concentration index values of <0.5. The in vivo synergistic effects and mechanism of drug combinations with AMH were further studied using fluconazole (FLC) as a representative azole antifungal drug. In vivo, G. mellonella larvae were used to evaluate the antifungal efficacy of AMH +FLC. AMH + FLC treatment increased the survival rate of larvae infected with drug-resistant C. albicans and reduced tissue invasion. Studies of the mechanism of synergy showed that AMH inhibited drug efflux pump activity in drug-resistant C. albicans, and that AMH + FLC synergistically inhibited early biofilms and the extracellular phospholipase activity of drug-resistant C. albicans.

Conclusion

This study provides strong evidence that combinations of non-antifungal drugs and antifungal drugs can effectively overcome drug-resistant C. albicans infection. Both AMH and FLC are FDA-approved drugs, eliminating concerns about safety. Our findings provide a foundation for further clinical antifungal research.
Establishment and validation of a dual qPCR method for the detection of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in bloodstream infections
Authors: Yu Lin , Kou Xianglan , Liu Ze , Guan Chushi , Sun Baoqing
Published: February 2025

Objective

Bloodstream infections(BSIs) caused by carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) have a high mortality rate due to the high levels of drug resistance. There is an urgent need to establish a sensitive and accurate detection method to rapidly detect CRAB in BSIs.

Methods

A new method was developed based on fluorescence quantitative PCR (qPCR) targeting the specific region of 16sRNA and OXA-23 gene from CRAB. The parameters were evaluated and optimized. This qPCR method was further applied in the detection of AB from 30 clinical specimens.

Results

The qPCR method established in this study showed high specificity. The method successfully differentiated Acinetobacter baumannii(A. baumanii) from 26 other common pathogens in BSIs and identify the carbapenem resistance gene. The qPCR method shows a limit of detection (LOD) of 3×10-3 ng/μL, and displays good linear relationship between 16sRNA and OXA-23 and excellent repeatability (CV ≤2%). The results for the detection of 30 clinical specimens using this new qPCR method are in complete agreement with those using blood culture and drug susceptibility test.

Conclusion

The qPCR method established in this study has strong specificity, wide linear range, good repeatability, and a lower LOD than PCR (Non-fluorescence quantification). The method provides new technical support for the early clinical diagnosis of CRAB in BSIs.
Visual communication through performance collaborations
Authors: Miettinen Satu , Sarantou Melanie
Published: February 2025

At the intersection of artistic performance, bioart, technology, and visual communication, this article explores how more-than-humans (MTHs) can be visualised, given a voice, and recognised as active collaborators in societal systems. The BioART Laboratory at the University of Lapland conducted a series of textile and digital art studies focussed on fostering shared growth and collaboration between humans and MTHs. This research aimed to investigate how active cooperation between humans and MTHs can be stimulated through visual communication and what roles improvisation, materiality, and digital technologies play in conveying such processes in a post-humanist context. To address these questions, two studies employing arts-based research were drawn from a series of studies conducted in the laboratory between 2021 and 2022. These studies examined the materiality, performative practices, and digital documentation of MTHs, employing photographic layering techniques and biotextiles. The affordances created through collaboration with MTHs for diverse improvisational and performance practices and the use of digital tools and multidimensional approaches were analysed. This analysis established a critical framework grounded in applied learning and self-reflection to better understand the contributions of MTHs to visual communication.
The role of HDAC2 inhibition in cardioprotection against doxorubicin-induced myocardial injury
Authors: Liu Jinsha , Fu Wenwen , Wang Xue , Liang Zuowen , Meng Fanbo
Published: February 2025

Introduction

The molecular mechanisms underlying cardioprotection against doxorubicin (DOX)-induced myocardial injury are poorly understood. Histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) plays a significant role in oxidative stress, apoptosis, and mitochondrial dysfunction and is implicated in many human diseases, This study investigated the relationship between HDAC2 expression and DOX-induced myocardial injury using the in vivo rat model of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity and in vitro experiments with the H9c2 cardiomyocytes.

Methods

The rat model of DOX-induced myocardial injury was established by administering DOX via intraperitoneal injections. HDAC2 expression was suppressed by administering rats with sodium butyrate (SB) via intraperitoneal injections. Echocardiography measurements were performed at baseline and on day 15 post-treatment. The rats were euthanized on day 15 and cardiac tissues were harvested. The cardiac tissue samples were analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin H&E staining, immunohistochemistry, Masson staining, Sirius Red staining, TUNEL staining, and western blotting to determine the status of HDAC2 expression and myocardial apoptosis. In the vitro experiments, H9c2 cells were treated with DOX. HDAC2 expression was suppressed using sodium butyrate or transfected cells with the shRNA knockdown HDAC2 (shHDAC2). The H9c2 cells from different groups were analyzed by Rt-qPCR, CCK-8 cell viability assay, and western blotting to determine the status of HDAC2 expression and cardiomyocyte apoptosis.

Results

DOX treatment induced cardiac dysfunction in rats. The cardiac tissues of the DOX-treated rats and H9c2 cells showed significantly higher levels of HDAC2 compared to the corresponding controls. However, inhibition of HDAC2 significantly mitigated DOX-induced myocardial injury in rats. This suggested a strong association between HDAC2 expression and DOX-induced myocardial injury. In the H9c2 cells, HDAC2 knockdown by shHDAC2 alleviated DOX-induced apoptosis by enhacing AKT phosphorylation. These findings demonstrated that HDAC2 silencing protected against DOX-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Conclusion

Suppressing HDAC2 protected against DOX-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis by activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Therefore, HDAC2 is a promising therapeutic target for mitigating DOX-induced myocardial injury.
High sperm DNA stainability might not be an accurate predictive indicator of male fertility and assisted reproductive technology outcomes
Authors: Shen Liyan , Zhang Ce , Wang Gaigai , Fu Xu , Yang Shenmin , Wang Jiaxiong
Published: February 2025

Background

The clinical need for assisted reproduction continued to increase, so did the need for predictive markers of assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes. Among all the markers, sperm DNA integrity was paid more and more attention in the assessment of male fertility in recent years, but its clinical value remains still in doubt.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study. Couples coming to our reproductive center were retrospectively enrolled, and semen and assisted reproductive technology parameters were assessed. Sperm DNA integrity was analyzed using a flow cytometric method. Statistics were analyzed to investigate the relationship of this on semen quality and ART outcomes.

Results

DNA fragmentation index (DFI) was affected by abstinence days and age, and was a directly correlated with sperm quality parameters (p<0.001). Meanwhile high sperm DNA stainability (HDS) showed an unexplainable negative correlation with abstinence days (p<0.05), age (p<0.001) and body mass index (p<0.01).For sperm quality parameters, HDS showed a similar relevance besides abnormal sperm head morphology (p<0.001). Embryo cleavage and implantation rates were significantly negatively related to DFI in fresh intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles (p<0.01) while HDS showed a positive relationship with high quality embryo rate (p<0.05). For final outcomes, only the live birth rate from fresh intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles was positively correlated with DFI which is meaningless (p<0.05).

Conclusions

HDS might not be an appropriate marker for male fertility and further studies are needed to identify the efficiency of SDF in clinical practice.
Morphological description and DNA barcoding research of nine Syringa species
Authors: Zhang Meiqi , Zhai Xiaoou , He Lianqing , Wang Zhen , Cao Huiyan , Wang Panpan , Ren Weichao , Ma Wei
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Syringa plants are highly valued for their ornamental qualities. However, traditional morphological identification methods are inefficient for discriminating Syringa species. DNA barcoding has emerged as a powerful alternative for species identification, but research on Syringa DNA barcodes is still limited.

Methods

This study employed a multi-locus strategy, combining the nuclear ITS2 region with chloroplast genome regions psbA-trnH, trnL-trnF, and trnL to evaluate the effectiveness of Syringa DNA barcodes. The assessment involved genetic distance analysis, BLAST searches in NCBI, sequence character analysis, and phylogenetic tree construction, examining both individual and combined sequences.

Results

The genetic distance analysis showed that the sequence combination of ITS2 + psbA-trnH + trnL-trnF exhibited a variation pattern where most interspecific genetic distances were greater than intraspecific genetic distances. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test results indicated that, except for psbA-trnH, the interspecific differences of the ITS2 + psbA-trnH + trnL-trnF sequence were greater than those of all single and combined sequences. BLAST analysis revealed that the identification rate for nine Syringa species using ITS2 + psbA-trnH + trnL-trnF could reach 98.97%. The trait-based method also demonstrated that ITS2 + psbA-trnH + trnL-trnF could effectively identify the nine Syringa species. Furthermore, the neighbor-joining (NJ) tree based on ITS2 + psbA-trnH + trnL-trnF clustered each of the nine Syringa species into distinct clades.

Discussion

The study ultimately selected the barcode ITS2 + psbA-trnH + trnL-trnF, with an identification rate of 93.6%, as the optimal barcode for identifying nine species of Syringa trees. This combination proved to be highly effective in discriminating Syringa species, highlighting the potential of DNA barcoding as a reliable tool for species identification in Syringa. Future research could focus on expanding the sample size and exploring additional genetic markers to further enhance the accuracy and applicability of DNA barcoding in Syringa species identification.
CAR‐T cells in the treatment of multiple myeloma: an encouraging cell therapy
Authors: Yu Tong , Jiao Jian-Hang , Wu Min-Fei
Published: February 2025

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignant disease of plasma cells that accounts for approximately 10% of all hematological malignancies and is characterized by a clonal proliferation of malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow. Numerous therapeutic strategies, including proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulators, monoclonal antibodies against CD38 and autologous stem cell transplantation, have prolonged the median survival of MM patients. Nevertheless, almost all MM patients suffer disease relapses due to drug resistance and eventually die from MM or MM-related complications. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a novel immunotherapy strategy for MM and has shown encouraging results in several clinical trials. However, the use of CAR T-cell therapy for the treatment of MM is still associated with several difficulties, including antigen escape, poor persistence, an immunosuppressive microenvironment, cytokine release syndrome, immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome, CAR T-cell-associated encephalopathy syndrome, cytopenia, and infections. In this review, we describe in detail the target antigens of CAR T cells in MM. We also comprehensively discuss recent innovations in the development of CAR T cells to improve clinical efficacy and strategies to overcome the limitations of CAR T-cell therapy in MM.
Regulation of the immune microenvironment by SUMO in diabetes mellitus
Authors: Zhuo Yuting , Fu Shangui , Qiu Yue
Published: February 2025

Post-translational modifications such as SUMOylation are crucial for the functionality and signal transduction of a diverse array of proteins. Analogous to ubiquitination, SUMOylation has garnered significant attention from researchers and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various human diseases in recent years, such as cancer, neurological lesions, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, and so on. The pathogenesis of diabetes, particularly type 1 and type 2 diabetes, has been closely associated with immune dysfunction, which constitutes the primary focus of this review. This review will elucidate the process of SUMOylation and its impact on diabetes mellitus development and associated complications, focusing on its regulatory effects on the immune microenvironment. This article summarizes various signaling pathways at both cellular and molecular levels that are implicated in these processes. Furthermore, it proposes potential new targets for drug development aimed at the prevention and treatment of diabetes mellitus based on insights gained from the SUMOylation process.
Association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and anti-apolipoprotein A-1 antibody in children
Authors: Vuilleumier Nicolas , Pagano Sabrina , Lorthe Elsa , Lamour Julien , Nehme Mayssam , Juillard Catherine , Barbe Remy , Posfay-Barbe Klara M. , Guessous Idris , Stringhini Silvia ,   SEROCoV-KIDS study group, L’Huillier Arnaud G.
Published: February 2025

Background and aims

Autoantibodies against apolipoprotein A-1 (AAA1) are elicited by SARS-CoV-2 infection and predict COVID-19 symptoms persistence at one year in adults, but whether this applies to children is unknown. We studied the association of SARS-CoV-2 exposure with AAA1 prevalence in children and the association of AAA1 seropositivity with symptom persistence.

Methods

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 and AAA1 serologies were examined in 1031 participants aged 6 months to 17 years old from the prospective SEROCOV-KIDS cohort and recruited between 12.2021 and 02.2022. Four SARS-CoV-2 serology-based groups were defined: “Infected-unvaccinated (I+/V-)”, “Uninfected-vaccinated (I-/V+)”, “Infected-Vaccinated (I+/V+)”, and “Naïve (I-/V-)”. Reported outcomes were collected using online questionnaires. Associations with study endpoints were assessed using logistic regression.

Results

Overall, seropositivity rates for anti-RBD, anti-N, and AAA1 were 71% (736/1031), 55% (568/1031), and 5.8% (60/1031), respectively. AAA1 showed an inverse association with age but not with any other characteristics. The I+/V- group displayed higher median AAA1 levels and seropositivity (7.9%) compared to the other groups (p ≤ 0.011), translating into a 2-fold increased AAA1 seroconversion risk (Odds ratio [OR]: 2.11, [95% Confidence Interval (CI)]: 1.22-3.65; p=0.008), unchanged after adjustment for age and sex. AAA1 seropositivity was independently associated with a 2-fold odds of symptoms persistence at ≥ 4 weeks (p ≤ 0.03) in the entire dataset and infected individuals, but not ≥ 12 weeks.

Conclusions

Despite the limitations of the study (cross-sectional design, patient-related outcomes using validated questionnaires), the results indicate that SARS-CoV-2 infection could elicit an AAA1 response in children, which could be independently associated with short-time symptoms persistence.
The neuroanatomy of Broca's aphasia
Authors: Pracar Alexis L. , Biondo Nicoletta , Dronkers Nina F. , Ivanova Maria V.
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Broca's aphasia, a condition characterized by nonfluent speech and difficulty with language production, results from focal brain damage and is most often caused by stroke. Although traditionally linked to lesions in Broca's area (Brodmann areas 44 and 45 in the left inferior frontal gyrus), recent evidence suggests that the neuroanatomy of Broca's aphasia is far more complex, implicating a broader network of cortical and subcortical regions. This study aimed to delineate the specific cortical and white matter features that, when damaged, lead to persistent Broca's aphasia.

Methods

39 chronic cases of Broca's aphasia and 41 cases of stroke survivors whose language functions returned to within normal limits (WNL) were included. Lesion analyses and disconnection mapping were conducted using the Brainnetome Atlas and the Lesion Quantification Toolkit (LQT).

Results

Results highlighted the critical role of the left insula, particularly its hypergranular and dorsal granular regions, which showed 99.2% and 93.6% lesion overlap, respectively, in Broca's aphasia cases. These regions, along with portions of the motor cortex and the parietal and temporal lobes, contribute to speech production and language processing. Importantly, the traditionally defined Broca's area showed minimal overlap, challenging the conventional understanding of its role in chronic Broca's aphasia. In addition to cortical regions, white matter tract analysis revealed complete disconnection of key pathways, including the arcuate fasciculus, extreme capsule, and middle longitudinal fasciculus. The corticospinal tract and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFOF) were also heavily disrupted, suggesting that damage to both cortical areas and their structural connections contributes to the hallmark symptoms of Broca's aphasia.

Discussion

These findings emphasize the distributed nature of the neural network underlying Broca's aphasia, extending beyond traditional Broca's area to include multiple cortical regions and their associated white matter tracts. The study provides new insights into the structural basis of language impairment, offering a more nuanced understanding of Broca's aphasia.
A review of plume dispersion and measurement techniques applicable to marine cloud brightening
Authors: Hernandez-Jaramillo Diana C. , Kelaher Brendan , Harrison Daniel P.
Published: February 2025

Rising sea surface temperatures are causing more frequent and intense coral bleaching events, threatening the long-term survival of coral reefs globally. Marine Cloud Brightening (MCB) is a proposed intervention that could be applied globally or regionally to cool sea surface temperatures and reduce the risk and severity of coral bleaching. The effectiveness and logistical feasibility of this technique depends on what fraction of the sea salt aerosols are incorporated into clouds after being emitted from a seawater spraying operation at the ocean surface. Here, we review the literature on the dispersion of MCB sea salt aerosols from a point source within the marine boundary layer. We focus our consideration on the processes, mechanisms, and current ability to predict the horizontal and vertical evolution of the plume from its generation at surface level to its downwind dispersion and mixing to cloud height. Overall, we found that in the more than three decades since the MCB concept was first proposed there have been eight studies investigating this aspect of MCB, which is crucial to informing engineering systems design, marine logistics, and assessing the overall potential effectiveness of MCB. To date, only one study has validated the modeling of the aerosol dispersion using empirical experiments and only a few studies have considered non-passive processes such as the negative buoyancy associated with the evaporative cooling of the water droplets, as well as particle scavenging due to coagulation and deposition. Priority areas for future research are identified as far-field dispersion of the MCB plume and estimations of the portion of MCB aerosol reaching cloud base.