bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantification of stone artefacts assemblages in Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors: Phillipps Rebecca , Holdaway Simon J , Barrett Matthew , Middleton Stacey , Emmitt Joshua
Published: November 2024

Many of the popular models of pre-European Māori settlement rely on the quantification of stone artefact abundance when made from different raw materials. Relative proportions of these materials provide the basis for inferences about mobility, trade and exchange, and social interactions. However, a number of methods for calculating artefact abundance exist with these reflecting different aspects of artefact completeness, fragmentation, and artefact assemblage formation. Using examples of artefact assemblages made from basalt, chert, and obsidian, from two sites in Te Ika-a-Māui, Aotearoa (North Island, New Zealand), different methods of calculating raw material proportions are explored including those based on frequency, size, and the technology of flake production. Measures of stone artefact assemblage completeness are then considered using artefact size distributions and comparisons with the Weibull and fractal power law distributions. We emphasise the differing goals of abundance measure calculations and the assumptions their uses entail.
Exploratory and integrative study of Māori kurī (Canis familiaris) at the NRD archaeological site in Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors: Kramer Robyn T. , Greig Karen , Campbell Matthew , Pillay Patricia , Allen Melinda , King Charlotte , Buckley Hallie , Bataille Clément , Hudson Beatrice , Hawkins Stuart , Barr David , Reid Malcolm , Stirling Claudine , Matisoo-Smith Lisa , Kinaston Rebecca
Published: November 2024

This multidisciplinary study analyzes kurī skeletal remains from the Northern Runway Development (NRD) archaeological site (AD 1400-1800) to develop an “osteo-history” and help us better understand 1) human-dog interactions; 2) the role kurī played in early Māori societies; and 3) to potentially use kurī as a proxy for human behavior at the site. We combine dental analysis with stable isotope analyses of bone and tooth dentine to investigate the kurī diet. Additionally, we use strontium isotope and mitogenomic analyses to explore the migration histories of the kurī and, by proxy, the humans they lived among at the NRD site during the late pre-contact period in Aotearoa. Through our exploratory investigation of the kurī skeletal remains, we found evidence of extensive interaction spheres with nearby and potentially distant communities. Furthermore, the kurī were healthy, demonstrated minimal tooth wear, and they subsisted heavily on a protein-rich, marine diet. This study demonstrates that variability is present in the origins, diet, health, and treatment of kurī at a single locality. Because of this, we believe it is important to include kurī in future archaeological investigations in Aotearoa to help build our foundational understanding of variability across sites and regions.
The Kealakekua Region: Salubrious core, political centre
Authors: Hommon Robert J.
Published: November 2024

Archaeological, ethnohistoric, and oral traditional resources pertaining to the region around Kealakekua Bay on the Kona coast of Hawai‘i Island offer unsurpassed perspectives on ancient Hawaiian society and the nature and emergence of the Hawaiian primary states. Supported by abundant marine resources and highly productive agricultural lands of the vast rain-fed Kona Field System, the region’s communities, probably among those that founded the 2,000 km2 Kona District, became a centre of the island’s peripatetic royal court and of the annual four-month Makahiki festival. Much that we know of this court, this festival, the residents of Kealakekua Region, and the larger Hawaiian world at the moment of contact with the non-Polynesian world comes from dozens of graphic depictions and written eyewitness accounts of the only sustained Hawaiian sojourn of Captain Cook’s last expedition (1779). These resources are augmented by decades of subsequent accounts of Hawaiian scholars, residents, and visitors. Analyses of archaeological evidence of the eighteenth century intensification of the Kona Field System and traditional histories evincing the coeval emergence of the Hawai‘i Island primary state offer an opportunity to test hypotheses linking the two processes.
The Significance of Religious Ritual in Ancient Hawai‘i
Authors: McCoy Mark
Published: November 2024

A volume in honour of Patrick Kirch’s intellectual contribution to the archaeology of Hawai‘i would be incomplete without a discussion of his wide-ranging scholarship on the topic of traditional Hawaiian religion. In this paper, I focus on themes that we can see throughout his career. The first is the incorporation of the study of heiau (temples), shrines, and other sacred sites described in ethnohistory within the historical context of the development of Hawaiian society. The second is his contribution to the interpretation of architecture and ritual practices through close attention to details such as orientation, elaboration, and offerings. The final theme is best captured in the Hawaiian concept of mālama, meaning to take care of, preserve, or protect these sites. Finally, I summarise some of the future directions in research that are now possible thanks to Kirch’s contributions to the field.
Current Perspectives on Hawai‘i’s Stone Tool Economies
Authors: Mills Peter , Lundblad Steven
Published: November 2024

Patrick Kirch’s publication of Feathered Gods and Fishhooks in 1985 emphasized the value of sourcing stone tools to delineate precontact interaction spheres and the evolution of social complexity in Hawai‘i. Throughout the 1990s, however, published sourcing studies included just over 200 specimens, limiting our ability to generate well-substantiated conclusions related to stone tool production over nearly a millennium of Hawaiian prehistory. Recent geochemically based analyses of archaeological basalt and volcanic glass in Hawai‘i include over 21,000 samples of basalt and volcanic glass. We present a review of this expansive data set. Findings point to regionally divergent patterns in production and distribution, and other basalt sources that could rival the well-known Mauna Kea Adze Quarry in their extent of interisland distribution.
Mid-Holocene Social Networks in Far Eastern New Guinea
Authors: Swadling Pamela
Published: November 2024

Stylistic and distributional studies of prehistoric stone mortars and pestles are used to examine what connections existed during the mid-Holocene within Far Eastern New Guinea, and beyond to the Huon Peninsula and West New Britain. The finds from Far Eastern New Guinea demonstrate strong stylistic similarities with those found mainly on the Huon Peninsula and associated islands. How such cultural links were established may be due in large part to the existence of the New Guinea Coastal Current. All finds with provenance come from areas suitable for subsistence agriculture. Those with complex shapes and/or decoration come from areas capable of producing an agricultural surplus. Clusters of such finds, especially those on the Trobriand, Woodlark and Misima islands, and on the mainland at Cape Rodney to Cloudy Bay, Central Province, and Tufi, Oro Province, mark the location of important social and economic foci in the mid-Holocene.
The Field of War: LiDAR Identification of Earthwork Defences on Tongatapu Island, Kingdom of Tonga
Authors: Parton Phillip Anthony , Clark Geoffrey , Reepmeyer Christian , Burley David
Published: November 2024

Warfare and conflict are associated with complex societies in in Polynesia where competition and coercion were common in island chiefdoms. In prehistoric Oceania, Tonga was unique for an Archaic state that under the Tu'i Tonga dynasty established control over an entire archipelago from A.D. 1200 to A.D. 1799 prior to a prolonged period of warfare. Lidar data was used to identify earthwork fortifications over the entirety of Tongatapu and to examine the conflict landscape using lidar-derived attributes in tandem with archaeological and historical information. The distribution of earthwork defences indicates a complex history of conflict and political machinations across Tongatapu beginning with the Tu’i Tonga chiefs at Lapaha, but resulting in a mid-19th century civil war ending with a new royal dynasty. Fortifications offer important evidence of social-political change, and the heritage condition of earthwork defences, many of which are under threat from development, was assessed with lidar.
On the Identification of Opportunistic Hammer-Dressing Tools from the Pacific
Authors: Swieton Matt
Published: November 2024

Roger Duff’s (1977) typology of Polynesian adze heads has become a referential guide for archaeological research in the Pacific, as demonstrated by contemporary efforts to quantitatively scrutinize the validity of Duff’s morphological types (Shipton et al. 2016).  Although discussions of morphologically distinct adze head types occasionally point out technological idiosyncrasies, an exclusively technological approach to adze head production is virtually non-existent in the New Zealand literature. This paper uses a replicative approach to hammer-dressing tools, a common manufacturing method in Pacific adze technology, to create an analogue for a previously misidentified tool type recovered from the early New Zealand site of Shag River Mouth.
Evaluating the Effect of Honey as a Natural Remedy for the Management of Sore Throat
Authors: Hamza Muhammad , Anjum Zahin , Rameesha  , Fatima  , Fatima Memoona , Ayesha  , Aisha  , Sadaf
Published: November 2024

Background: Sore throat is the most common condition in patients suffering with tonsillitis, allergies, sinus drainage as well as viral or bacterial infections. Conventional treatments of sore throat include antibiotics, lozenges and pain relievers but now-a-days, there is an increasing trend to use natural remedies, because of the side effects of antibiotics such as antibiotic resistance. This systematic review examines the effectiveness of honey as a natural therapy for the management of sore throat.

Objective: The main objective of the study was to systematically review the supporting evidence regarding the use, effectiveness and potential mechanism of honey as natural remedy for managing the sore throat.

Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted from databases like, Google Scholar, PubMed, as well as Science Direct, to collect relevant studies regarding the use of honey as a remedy for the management of sore throat. The search was conducted using keywords like "sore throat," "honey," "pharyngitis," "anti-inflammatory," and "antimicrobial." Studies including comparative effectiveness with other natural remedies were also considered.

Results: Studies demonstrates that honey exert a significant impact to relieve symptoms of sore throat such as soothing the tissue irritation as well as pain reduction. Honey has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties that ultimately contributes to its effectiveness in managing the viral and bacterial infections. Many studies also highlight the role of honey in coating the throat as well as promoting the hydration.

Conclusion: Honey is an easily available product in the household, having anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory as well as antioxidant properties. Studies shows that honey is a best remedy to reduce the fever, pain, as well as oropharyngeal congestions. Moreover, there is no resistance of side effects on the intake of honey, thereby considered a safe treatment method. However, the consistency and quality of honey, dosage variations, as well as limited large-scale clinical trials highlights that there is a still need to conduct various researches
Justification for access to legal information by rural women: A case study of Malava Sub County, Kenya
Authors: Emily Lugasi Emily , Otike Japheth , Bosire Emily B
Published: November 2024

Rationale of Study – In the constitution of Kenya 2010 and the Access to Information Act 2016, every citizen is accorded the right of access to information required for the exercise or protection of any right or fundamental freedom. No study has been done in Kenya to understand from the social justice context the extent to which legal information impacts their lives. This study examined the socio-economic realities of rural women of Malava intending to investigate how life realities impacted their access to social justice and secondly, understand how they perceived legal information.Methodology – The study was modelled on the Social Justice Theory and took a case study design where face-to-face interviews were used to gather qualitative data from 85 respondents sampled from all 7 wards of the study area.Findings – It emerged from the study that owing to the social economic realities faced by the rural women, they were not able to access legal information meaningfully and this limited their chances of accessing social justice.Implications – It is recommended that the legal department of the County Government of Kakamega spearheads access to information initiatives that will go a long way in enabling rural women to receive information through various mediums such as radio, women groups forums and public awareness programs. This paper also recommends that the Kenya National Library Service in Kakamega promotes public legal education in the rural areas of Kakamega county.Originality – The study was original research conducted Kakamega County in Kenya.
Predictors of Web Search Effectiveness from the Perspective of Library and Information Science Students
Authors: Tella Adeyinka , Oyeniran Saheed , Sanya Ibironke Ebenezer
Published: November 2024

Rationale of Study – This study is an empirical analysis of the determinants of library and information science students’ Web search effectiveness at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. Three hypotheses on the correlation between the determinants were tested to reveal their relationships.Methodology – A total enumerative method was used where all the 146 third and fourth undergraduate students of the Department of Library and Information Science participated in the study. Through a survey approach, a questionnaire was used to collect data. Collected data was analysed using percentages, correlation and multiple regression analysis methods.Findings – The results of the study demonstrate that factors such as Internet and computer self-efficacy, information literacy skills, use of Boolean operators, and use of appropriate search terms significantly correlate with and determine Web search effectiveness among Library and Information Science students at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria.Implications – The findings in this study imply that without user being Internet and computer self-efficacious, possessing information literacy skills, using Boolean operators and appropriate search terms, effective Web search may be a daunting task and not achievable.Originality – This research is an original idea from the authors which has not been published anywhere by any scholarly communication outlet.
Importance of human resources management practices in enhancing knowledge retention in the crossborder mergers of the telecommunications industry in Lesotho
Authors: Tseole Tahleho , Ngulube Patrick
Published: November 2024

Rationale of Study – The purpose of the current study is to investigate how human resources management practices may be used to improve knowledge retention in the cross-border mergers of the telecommunications industry in Lesotho.Methodology – This was a single quantitative case study that used questionnaires for data collection. Data were gathered from 14 staff members who were available during the merger process as well as 14 other staff members who left the organisation because of the merger, thus making a total of 28 staff members from whom data were collected.Findings – The study's findings show some inconsistencies regarding whether HRMPs are adopted and used at ETL. While the majority of participants thought certain HRMPs did exist, a sizeable number thought HRMPs were adopted. Furthermore, the study results also showed that employees are not compensated for sharing knowledge.Implications – The proposed framework may be used as a yardstick for policy development on using HRMPs to improve knowledge retention for all organisations going through cross-border mergers and acquisitions (CBM&As) in all industries.Originality – The study recommends a framework for retaining knowledge using HRMPs in CBM&A. However, the framework is not restricted to the telecommunications industry; it may be used by all organisations undergoing M&A in various industries
Using open access institutional repository policy to improve content in four Tanzanian public universities
Authors: Shangwe Mbughuni Anna , P. Mtega Wulystain , W. Malekani Andrew
Published: November 2024

Rationale of Study – This study investigated how OAIR policy can be used to improve OAIR contents. Specifically, the study sought to determine the level of awareness of the OAIR policy among academic staff members in the selected universities, examine the use of OAIR policy in the collection of OAIR contents in the selected universities, and find out how the OAIR policy can be used to improve the growth of OAIR content.Methodology – Systematic random and purposive sampling procedures were used to obtain the study sample. The sample size included 413 academic staff and eight key informants. Quantitative and qualitative data were obtained from a structured questionnaire, interview and secondary data. Data were analysed by using SPSS version 22 and content analysis.Findings – Key findings revealed that 46.2 per cent of the respondents were aware of the OAIR policy. The findings also revealed that 45.5 per cent indicated that OAIR policy directs them to submit their scholarly publications in OAIRs and also specify the types of content to be held in OAIRs.Implications – Therefore, the study concluded that OAIRs policy forms the vital components that have a positive influence on the growth of content in OAIRs without a policy, OAIRs may remain virtually empty. Therefore, creating awareness of OAIR policy and emphasising more in the area of submission of content would enhance the growth of OAIR content.Originality – This is an original study on how OAIR policy can be used to improve OAIR contents in four public universities in Tanzania.
The Opportunities and Challenges of Integrating Information Literacy as a Credit-Bearing Module into First-Year Academic Programmes
Authors: Alugumi Samuel Ndou Alugumi Samuel Ndou , Nomusa Zimu-Biyela Acquinatta
Published: November 2024

Rationale of Study – This study aimed first to establish the level of knowledge about IL content of the existing IL programmes and to explore the perceptions regarding opportunities and challenges of integrating IL as a credit-bearing module into first-year level academic programmes at the UNIVEN.Methodology – This study adopted a convergent research design using both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The purposive sampling technique was used to include eight deans of schools and six information librarians. In contrast, stratified random sampling was adopted for selecting adopter and non-adopter academics within the eight schools in UNIVEN. Online Google Form questionnaires, and interview guides were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data, respectively.Findings – The findings reveal that adopter academics have some knowledge regarding the IL programmes as they have endorsed the offered IL content. Notwithstanding the challenges of limited resources, results suggest that integrating the IL programme into the academic programmes improves students' academic literacy skills.Implications – This study acknowledges the need for IL programmes to be integrated into all first-year-level academic programmes. There is a need to develop strong IL institutional policies that take cognisance of contextual conditions, including indigenous languages.Originality – This study is the first of its kind to be conducted at UNIVEN. It is envisaged that findings might strengthen the IL programme at UNIVEN.
ИССЛЕДОВАНИЯ ПО ПЕРЕРАБОТКЕ ОХЛАЖДЕННЫХ ТВЕРДЫХ ШЛАКОВ
Authors:   Кабинета Министров РУз главный специалист,  Ташкент, Узбекистан, Юсупов Урал Саъдуллаевич , Хасанов Абдурашид Салиевич ,   Заместитель главного инженера по науке и инновациям Алмалыкского АО «КМК», Алмалык, Узбекистан
Published: November 2024

В данной статье кратко рассмотрены шлаки Медеплавильного завода Алмалыкского горно-металлургического комбината, некоторые их свойства, минерология, потери в них сульфида меди и частиц золота в сульфидном виде. В таблицах показана эффективность измелчения их с рудами Ёшлика флотационнным методом. В результате обогащения более 90% меди из шлаков и руды было переведено в концентрат.
Challenges of the Modern Technical Translation and Maritime Education
Authors: Mikeladze Tamila , Rodinadze Svetlana , Bezhanovi Zurab
Published: November 2024

Thirst for innovation and novelties is an integral part of establishment and development of the modern society, providing sharing of experience via effective communication means.
Lightning-fast development of informational technologies of the XX century totally removed the existed boundaries and multicultural relations between the nations, informational exchange and share of consciousness is a common lifestyle of Euro Atlantic space.
Translation is a major mediator for correct perception of information. In line with the rise of the volume of information, amount of new words, word combinations and/or phrases especially in marine technical fields, is constantly increasing.
Thus, the aim of the presented paper is to detect peculiarities of maritime technical terminology with the purpose of its adequate translation provision and appropriate application within the frame of maritime education and training.
The Study of Migration Influence on the Labor Market Structure and Employment in Georgia
Authors: Tchanidze Ketevan , Katsadze Irakli
Published: November 2024

The present work is aimed at the study of impact of migration on labor marker structure and employment. Migration is a complex, multifaceted and very painful issue for our country. There is two forms of the migration - internal and external, both with its own peculiarities, aims and results.Both may be discussed in positive and negative contents, but taking into account a small scale of population in Georgia, external migration has more negative than positive sides and threats on the sustainable demographic development of the country. To identify the internal migration impact, we have used the official statistic information from National Statistics Office of Georgia, also the research materials of the scientific-research grant projects and the Neoclassical theory of migration. We have discussed as well the impact of the external migration on the demographic development of the country and on the employment structure. There are given particulars of the different types of migrants, and the accent is made on Seafarers, specifically are seafarers migrants or not. Research in regard of the seafarers is made on basis of the information of Maritime Transport Agency of Georgia, according which is shown growth of the seafarers employment. Works of Georgian migration and demography researchers are used within the frame of the research.
The Use of Wind Turbines in Ports and Sea Vessels
Authors: Kurshubadze Tsiuri , Bekirishvili Makvala
Published: November 2024

The technical result of the research of presented wind turbine is simplification and rise of the practical application of its main body – the rotor construction, which shall be achieved via transformation of wind shifting movement into rotating movement is implemented by rotor blades, which present bent or inclined shape plates and during rotation, these plates are not influenced with decelerating resistance of surrounding air.The technical novelty of the turbine construction is presented with the following features: each profile blade of the rotor presents concave arc placed eccentrically towards its rotative axis, and the rotor may be equipped with one, two or more wings.
Importance of GHS in Seafarers Education
Authors: Kurshubadze Nino
Published: November 2024

Global harmonized system (GHS), relating to hazard chemicals, is a process of making regulations among countries uniform to the extent possible so as to benefit an industry to export its product to several countries with one communication system.
On one side, the system is helpful to develop communication as labeling and material safety data sheets, and on the other side is helpful for personal in the industry (including manufacturer, chemical carrier, Ports, Terminals, Ships, laboratories) to properly handle chemicals with covering all safety rules.
Such international guidelines are believed to be the most reliable information so that USERS of hazard chemicals is confident enough in handling, storage, segregation, disposal and using.
The current article has two goals. Firstly, is to extend the awareness and understanding the main principles of GHS system, their guidelines, and how the hazard chemicals are being classified, communicated as labels, symbols, pictograms, hazardous / precautionary statements and material safety data sheets. Secondly, is to establish the importance of implementing of GHS in curricular of bachelor students of maritime specialization, significance of increasing their awareness, knowledge and understanding in hazardous communication and understanding of hazard identification and risk management of different cargos, which is the part of ISM code and MSC 286(86) requirements.
Vitamin D status in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa
Authors: Kola I , Van Blydenstein S A , Kola M , Kooverjee S , Omar S
Published: November 2024

Background. There has been a growing interest in nutritional/lifestyle factors, including vitamin D, that may affect chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Most data are from Caucasian populations and temperate climates, with minimal African data.
Objectives. The primary objective was to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) ≤20 ng/mL) and insufficiency (25(OH)D 21 - 29 ng/mL) among patients with COPD. Secondary objectives were to investigate the association between vitamin D and demographic/lifestyle factors, lung function parameters, markers of COPD severity and corticosteroid use.
Methods. A prospective, cross-sectional study of 76 patients with COPD was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa. Patients were interviewed regarding demographic/lifestyle factors, COPD severity markers and corticosteroid therapy. The most recent spirometry result was recorded. Blood samples were taken for measurement of calcium, alkaline phosphatase and vitamin D levels. Patients were stratified according to vitamin D status (deficiency and non-deficiency (25(OH)D >20 ng/mL, i.e. combined insufficiency and adequate levels)), and statistical analysis was performed to assess for associations.
Results. The sample included 72% males and 63% black African patients. The prevalences of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency were 48% (95% confidence interval (CI) 42 - 54) and 35% (95% CI 30 - 41), respectively. A Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnoea score ≥2 was associated with a relative risk of 1.34 (95% CI 1.05 - 1.7) for vitamin D deficiency in univariate analysis. In multivariate regression analysis, only sunlight exposure (<1 hour/day) was an independent predictor of vitamin D deficiency (odds ratio 2.4; 95% CI 1.3 - 4.5).
Conclusion. There was a high prevalence of suboptimal vitamin D levels in this COPD sample population. A higher mMRC score was associated with an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency, while low sunlight exposure was the only independent predictor of vitamin D deficiency.
Perceptions comparées de parents d’enfants doués et doublement exceptionnels quant à l’intensité de leurs difficultés parentales au Québec
Authors: Brault-Labbé Anne , Cloutier Audrey , Caouette Anne-Marie , Bolduc Denis , Morin Marie-Kristine , Boudreault Élisabeth , Brassard Audrey
Published: November 2024

Bien que la douance intellectuelle constitue une condition favorable chez l’enfant sur le plan développemental, certains enfants doués rencontrent des difficultés particulières et parfois importantes (p. ex., faible motivation et décrochage scolaire, difficultés relationnelles) en fonction de facteurs personnels et environnementaux. Parmi ces enfants, ceux qui présentent une douance associée à un trouble neurodéveloppemental (double exceptionnalité; 2e) tendent à rencontrer plus de difficultés. Or, aucune étude ne semble avoir vérifié si cette différence trouve son équivalent dans le vécu parental, les difficultés des parents d’enfants doués et 2e demeurant peu étudiées. Cette étude quantitative vise à décrire et comparer l’intensité perçue des difficultés rencontrées par 259 parents d’enfants doués et 2e au Québec, dans cinq volets de leur expérience (exercice de leur rôle parental, gestion des particularités de l’enfant, vécu familial, accompagnement du vécu scolaire de l’enfant, vécu social). Les particularités émotionnelles de l’enfant, l’accès à des programmes scolaires adaptés et le soutien des instances décisionnelles semblent être les plus grandes sources de difficultés pour les deux groupes de parents. Des analyses comparatives révèlent que les parents d’enfants 2e vivent significativement plus de difficultés que les parents d’enfants doués pour certains aspects de l’exercice du rôle parental, du vécu familial, de l’accompagnement scolaire de l’enfant, ainsi que face à certaines caractéristiques de l’enfant. Aucune différence n’est cependant observée quant au vécu social. Les résultats mettent en lumière l’importance de mieux comprendre l’expérience méconnue de ces parents de même que les cibles à prioriser dans le soutien à leur offrir.
Fabrication of high-performance inverted perovskite solar cells based on dual modification strategy
Authors: Zhang Xiao-Chun , Wang Li-Kun , Shang Wen-Li , Wan Zheng-Hui , Yue Xin , Yang Hua-Yi , Li Ting , Wang Hui ,   School of Physics and Electronic Techonlogy, Liaoning Normal Unversity, Dalian 116029, China,   School of Microelectronics, Xidian University, Xi’an 710071, China,   Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, China,   Dalian University of Science and Technology, Dalian 116025, China
Published: November 2024

Inverted (p-i-n) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are receiving increasing attention due to their high conversion efficiency and good stability. The main factor restricting the efficiency improvement of inverted perovskite cells is the interface defect between the perovskite layer and the charge transport layers. Therefore, the dual modification strategy of 1, 3-diaminopropane dihydroiodide (PDADI) passivates the interface defects between perovskite films and charge transport layers, improves the quality of perovskite film formation, suppresses non radiative recombination between perovskite films and charge transport layers as well as improved charge carrier transport, and results in a conversion efficiency of 23.19%. Furthermore, the unencapsulated PSCs with PDADI dual modification also exhibit good storage stability, with efficiency remaining at 96% of initial efficiency after 600 hours of storage at a temperature of 25 ℃ and humidity below 20%. Therefore, PDADI dual modification provides an effective strategy for fabricating high-efficiency and stable inverted perovskite solar cells.
Colony demographics shape nest construction in ants
Authors: Rajendran Harikrishnan , Weinberger Roi , Fonio Ehud , Feinerman Ofer
Published: November 2024

The ant nest serves as the skeleton of the ant superorganism. Similar to a skeleton, the nest expands as the colony grows and requires repair after catastrophic events. We experimentally compared nest excavation by colonies seeded from a single mated queen and then allowed to grow for six months, to excavation triggered by a catastrophic event in colonies with fixed demographics. The areas excavated by equal group sizes differed significantly between these conditions: heterogeneous populations in naturally growing colonies as well as cohorts of young ants dig larger areas than old ant cohorts. Moreover, we find that younger ants tend to dig slanted tunnels while older ants dig straight down. This is a novel form of age polyethism, where an ant’s age dictates not only her likelihood to engage in a task but also the way she performs the task. We further present a quantitative model that predicts that under normal growth, digging is predominantly performed by the younger ants while after a catastrophe all ants dig to restore lost nest volume. The fact that the nests of naturally growing colonies exhibit slanted tunnels strengthens this prediction. Finally, our results indicate how a colony’s demographic and physical history are sketched into the current structure of its nest.
Increased listening effort and cochlear neural degeneration underlie behavioral deficits in speech perception in noise in normal hearing middle-aged adults
Authors: Zink Maggie E , Zhen Leslie , McHaney Jacie R , Klara Jennifer , Yurasits Kimberly , Cancel Victoria , Flemm Olivia , Mitchell Claire , Datta Jyotishka , Chandrasekaran Bharath , Parthasarathy Aravindakshan
Published: November 2024

Middle-age is a critical period of rapid changes in brain function that presents an opportunity for early diagnostics and intervention for neurodegenerative conditions later in life. Hearing loss is one such early indicator linked to many comorbidities later in life. However, current clinical tests fail to capture hearing difficulties for ∼10% of middle-aged adults seeking help at hearing clinics. Cochlear neural degeneration (CND) could play a role in these hearing deficits, but our current understanding is limited by the lack of objective diagnostics and uncertainty regarding its perceptual consequences. Here, using a cross-species approach, we measured envelope following responses (EFRs) – neural ensemble responses to sound originating from the peripheral auditory pathway – in young and middle-aged adults with normal audiometric thresholds, and compared these responses to young and middle-aged Mongolian gerbils, where CND was histologically confirmed. We observed near identical changes in EFRs across species that were associated with CND. Perceptual effects measured as behavioral readouts showed deficits in the most challenging listening conditions and were associated with CND. Additionally, pupil-indexed listening effort increased even at moderate task difficulties where behavioral outcomes were matched. Our results reveal perceptual deficits in middle-aged adults driven by CND and increases in listening effort, which may result in increased listening fatigue and conversational disengagement.
An antimicrobial drug recommender system using MALDI-TOF MS and dual-branch neural networks
Authors: De Waele Gaetan , Menschaert Gerben , Waegeman Willem
Published: November 2024

Timely and effective use of antimicrobial drugs can improve patient outcomes, as well as help safeguard against resistance development. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is currently routinely used in clinical diagnostics for rapid species identification. Mining additional data from said spectra in the form of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles is, therefore, highly promising. Such AMR profiles could serve as a drop-in solution for drastically improving treatment efficiency, effectiveness, and costs. This study endeavors to develop the first machine learning models capable of predicting AMR profiles for the whole repertoire of species and drugs encountered in clinical microbiology. The resulting models can be interpreted as drug recommender systems for infectious diseases. We find that our dual-branch method delivers considerably higher performance compared to previous approaches. In addition, experiments show that the models can be efficiently fine-tuned to data from other clinical laboratories. MALDI-TOF-based AMR recommender systems can, hence, greatly extend the value of MALDI-TOF MS for clinical diagnostics. All code supporting this study is distributed on PyPI and is packaged at https://github.com/gdewael/maldi-nn.
Structure of scavenger receptor SCARF1 and its interaction with lipoproteins
Authors: Wang Yuanyuan , Xu Fan , Li Guangyi , Cheng Chen , Yu Bowen , Zhang Ze , Kong Dandan , Chen Fabao , Liu Yali , Fang Zhen , Cao Longxing , Yu Yang , Gu Yijun , He Yongning
Published: November 2024

SCARF1 (scavenger receptor class F member 1, SREC-1 or SR-F1) is a type I transmembrane protein that recognizes multiple endogenous and exogenous ligands such as modified low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) and is important for maintaining homeostasis and immunity. But the structural information and the mechanisms of ligand recognition of SCARF1 are largely unavailable. Here, we solve the crystal structures of the N-terminal fragments of human SCARF1, which show that SCARF1 forms homodimers and its epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domains adopt a long-curved conformation. Then, we examine the interactions of SCARF1 with lipoproteins and are able to identify a region on SCARF1 for recognizing modified LDLs. The mutagenesis data show that the positively charged residues in the region are crucial for the interaction of SCARF1 with modified LDLs, which is confirmed by making chimeric molecules of SCARF1 and SCARF2. In addition, teichoic acids, a cell wall polymer expressed on the surface of gram-positive bacteria, are able to inhibit the interactions of modified LDLs with SCARF1, suggesting the ligand binding sites of SCARF1 might be shared for some of its scavenging targets. Overall, these results provide mechanistic insights into SCARF1 and its interactions with the ligands, which are important for understanding its physiological roles in homeostasis and the related diseases.
Semantic relatedness proactively benefits learning, memory, and interdependence across episodes
Authors: Bennion Kelly A , Phong Jade , Le Mytien , Cheng Kunhua , Wahlheim Christopher N , Antony James W
Published: November 2024

Over the past century of memory research, the interplay between initial and later-learned information in determining long-term memory retention has been of central interest. A likely candidate for determining whether initial and later memories interfere with or strengthen each other is semantic relatedness. Relatedness has been shown to
retroactively
boost initial memory and increase the interdependence between earlier and more recent experiences in memory. Here, we investigated the converse relationship of how relatedness
proactively
affects later memory for paired associates. In five experiments (
N
= 1000 total), we varied the relatedness between initial and later cues, initial and later targets, or both. Across experiments and conditions, relatedness profoundly benefited later-learned memories – in some conditions, low relatedness reliably produced proactive interference (versus a control condition) while high relatedness produced proactive facilitation within the same experiment. Additionally, relatedness also accelerated learning and increased interdependence between initial and later-learned pairs. In sum, we demonstrate the robust effects of relatedness in scaffolding memory for recently learned information and creating strong integrative links with prior experiences.
Impact of the clinically approved BTK inhibitors on the conformation of full-length BTK and analysis of the development of BTK resistance mutations in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Joseph Raji E , Wales Thomas E , Jayne Sandrine , Britton Robert G , Fulton D Bruce , Engen John R , Dyer Martin JS , Andreotti Amy H
Published: November 2024

Inhibition of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) has proven to be highly effective in the treatment of B-cell malignancies such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), autoimmune disorders and multiple sclerosis. Since the approval of the first BTK inhibitor (BTKi), Ibrutinib, several other inhibitors including Acalabrutinib, Zanubrutinib, Tirabrutinib and Pirtobrutinib have been clinically approved. All are covalent active site inhibitors, with the exception of the reversible active site inhibitor Pirtobrutinib. The large number of available inhibitors for the BTK target creates challenges in choosing the most appropriate BTKi for treatment. Side-by-side comparisons in CLL have shown that different inhibitors may differ in their treatment efficacy. Moreover, the nature of the resistance mutations that arise in patients appears to depend on the specific BTKi administered. We have previously shown that Ibrutinib binding to the kinase active site causes unanticipated long-range effects on the global conformation of BTK (Joseph, R.E., et al., 2020, https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.60470). Here we show that binding of each of the five approved BTKi to the kinase active site brings about distinct allosteric changes that alter the conformational equilibrium of full-length BTK. Additionally, we provide an explanation for the resistance mutation bias observed in CLL patients treated with different BTKi and characterize the mechanism of action of two common resistance mutations: BTK T474I and L528W.
Full-length direct RNA sequencing uncovers stress-granule dependent RNA decay upon cellular stress
Authors: Dar Showkat A , Malla Sulochan , Martinek Vlastimil , Payea Matthew J , Lee Christopher T , Martin Jessica , Khandeshi Aditya J , Martindale Jennifer L , Belair Cedric , Maragkakis Manolis
Published: November 2024

Cells react to stress by triggering response pathways, leading to extensive alterations in the transcriptome to restore cellular homeostasis. The role of RNA metabolism in shaping the cellular response to stress is vital, yet the global changes in RNA stability under these conditions remain unclear. In this work, we employ direct RNA sequencing with nanopores, enhanced by 5’ end adaptor ligation, to comprehensively interrogate the human transcriptome at single-molecule and nucleotide resolution. By developing a statistical framework to identify robust RNA length variations in nanopore data, we find that cellular stress induces prevalent 5’ end RNA decay that is coupled to translation and ribosome occupancy. Unlike typical RNA decay models in normal conditions, we show that stress-induced RNA decay is dependent on XRN1 but does not depend on deadenylation or decapping. We observed that RNAs undergoing decay are predominantly enriched in the stress granule transcriptome while inhibition of stress granule formation via genetic ablation of G3BP1 and G3BP2 rescues RNA length. Our findings reveal RNA decay as a key determinant of RNA metabolism upon cellular stress and dependent on stress-granule formation.
Reversion to sensitivity explains limited transmission of resistance in a hospital pathogen
Authors: Tracy Kevin C , McKaig Jordan , Kinnear Clare , Millar Jess , King Aaron A , Read Andrew F , Woods Robert J
Published: November 2024

Bacterial pathogens that are successful in hospital environments must survive times of intense antibiotic exposure and times of no antibiotic exposure. When these organisms are closely associated with human hosts, they must also transmit from one patient to another for the resistance to spread. The resulting evolutionary dynamics have, in some settings, led to rising levels of resistance in hospitals. Here, we focus on an important but understudied aspect of this dynamic: the loss of resistance when the resistant organisms evolve in environments where the antibiotic pressure is removed. Based on prior data, we hypothesize that resistance arising in the context of strong selection may carry a high cost and revert to sensitivity quickly once the selective pressure is removed. Conversely, resistant isolates that persist through times of no antibiotic pressure should carry a lower cost and revert less quickly. To test this hypothesis, we utilize a genetically diverse set of patient-derived, daptomycin-resistant
Enterococcus faecium
isolates that include cases of both
de novo
emergence of resistance within patients and putatively transmitted resistance. Both of these sets of strains have survived periods of antibiotic exposure, but only putatively transmitted resistant strains have survived extended periods without antibiotic exposure. These strains were then allowed to evolve in antibiotic free laboratory conditions. We find that putatively transmitted resistant strains tended to have lower level resistance but that evolution in antibiotic-free conditions resulted in minimal loss of resistance. In contrast, resistance that arose
de novo
within patients was higher level but exhibited greater declines in resistance
in vitro
. Sequencing of the experimentally evolved isolates revealed that reversal of high level resistance resulted from evolutionary pathways that were frequently genetically associated with the unique resistance mutations of that strain. Thus, the rapid reversal of high-level resistance was associated with accessible evolutionary pathways where an increase in fitness is associated with decreased resistance. We describe how this rapid loss of resistance may limit the spread of resistance within the hospital and shape the diversity of resistance phenotypes across patients.
Comprehensive analysis of transcriptomics and radiomics revealed the potential of TEDC2 as a diagnostic marker for lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Huang Qian , Zhang Peng , Guo Zhixu , Li Min , Tao Chao , Yu Zongyang
Published: November 2024

Background

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a widely occurring cancer with a high death rate. Radiomics, as a high-throughput method, has a wide range of applications in different aspects of the management of multiple cancers. However, the molecular mechanism of LUAD by combining transcriptomics and radiomics in order to probe LUAD remains unclear.

Methods

The transcriptome data and radiomics features of LUAD were extracted from the public database. Subsequently, we used weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and a series of machine learning algorithms including Random Forest (RF), Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) logistic regression, and Support Vector Machines Recursive Feature Elimination (SVM-RFE) to proceed with the screening of diagnostic genes for LUAD. In addition, the CIBERSORT and ESTIMATE algorithms were utilized to assess the association of these genes with immune profiles. The LASSO algorithm further identified the features most relevant to the expression levels of LUAD diagnostic genes and validated the model based on receiver operating characteristic (ROC), precision-recall (PR), calibration curves and decision curve analysis (DCA) curves. Finally, RT-qPCR, transwell and cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) based assays were performed to assess the expression levels and potential functions of the screened genes in LUAD cell lines.

Results

We screened a total of 214 modular genes with the highest correlation with LUAD samples based on WGCNA, of which 192 genes were shown to be highly expressed in LUAD patients. Subsequently, three machine learning algorithms identified a total of four genes, including UBE2T, TEDC2, RCC1, and FAM136A, as diagnostic molecules for LUAD, and the ROC curves showed that these diagnostic molecules had good diagnostic performance (AUC values of 0.989, 0.989, 989, and 0.987, respectively). The expression of these diagnostic molecules was significantly higher in tumor samples than in normal para-cancerous tissue samples and also correlated significantly and negatively with stromal and immune scores. Specifically, we also constructed a model based on TEDC2 expression consisting of seven radiomic features. Among them, the ROC and PR curves showed that the model had an AUC value of up to 0.96, respectively. Knockdown of TEDC2 slowed down the proliferation, migration and invasion efficiency of LUAD cell lines.

Conclusion

In this study, we screened for diagnostic markers of LUAD and developed a non-invasive radiomics model by innovatively combining transcriptomics and radiomics data. These findings contribute to our understanding of LUAD biology and offer potential avenues for further exploration in clinical practice.