bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cristina Paravano. Massinger’s Italy: Re-Imagining Italian Culture in the Plays of Philip Massinger. New York: Routledge, 2023.
Authors: Lovascio Domenico
Published: June 2024

This review considers Cristina Paravano's Massinger’s Italy: Re-Imagining Italian Culture in the Plays of Philip Massinger.
Katherine Gillen, Adrianna M. Santos, and Kathryn Vomero Santos, eds. The Bard in the Borderlands: An Anthology of Shakespeare Appropriations of Shakespeare / Appropriations en La Frontera. Vol. 1. ACMRS Press. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2023.
Authors: Mejia LaPerle Carol
Published: June 2024

This review considers The Bard in the Borderlands: An Anthology of Shakespeare Appropriations of Shakespeare / Appropriations en La Frontera edited by Katherine Gillen, Adrianna M. Santos, and Kathryn Vomero Santos.
Editorial
Authors: Kelly Erin E.
Published: June 2024

This editorial for issue 27.1 (June 2024) of Early Theatre offers news and information to readers.
Female political discourse in the Albanian parliament in democracy and communism
Authors: Limaj Elona
Published: June 2024

This study delves into the transformation of women’s political discourse in Albania amidst significant political and technological shifts in recent decades. Its objective is to systematize the understanding of women’s political discourse within the Albanian parliament, examining its evolution across various historical-political periods and the influence of modern information processes in democratic Albania. Utilizing theoretical methodologies, the research scrutinizes political discourse as a dynamic facet of political communication, with a particular focus on its gender dimensions and its impact on political engagement. The analysis spans several eras: the communist regime, the initial formation of democracy, and the current democratic consolidation phase. It employs a comparative approach to highlight distinct and common features of women’s political discourse across these periods. The study identifies contemporary challenges in female political communication within the Albanian parliament and proposes strategies for their improvement, emphasizing the need to enhance the role of women in Albania’s socio-political sphere. Key lexemes indicative of different historical and political contexts are analyzed to understand the influence of regime shifts on political discourse. The study differentiates between the concepts of political discourse and political communication, offering nuanced insights into these areas. This material reveals the intersection of political, social, and cultural changes in Albania as seen through women’s political discourse. It demonstrates how shifts in political regimes and societal norms have redefined political communication, particularly for women, highlighting their growing involvement and impact in Albania’s political arena. The conclusions provide a comprehensive view of Albania’s evolving socio-political landscape, underlining the increasing significance of women in shaping the nation’s future.
Commemorating history, historicising commemoration
Authors: Koneczniak Grzegorz
Published: June 2024

This essay offers a combination of historical, editorial and commemorative approaches to the process of historicising the practices of remembering the Easter Rising in Ireland. Considered one of the most defining historical moments that has shaped the present-day Ireland and its relationships with Great Britain, the Easter Rebellion of 1916 was remembered in a series of events comprised within the framework of the “Decade of Centenaries” programme of celebrations. The history of the Easter Rising, spoken and unspoken, was symbolically re-enacted in various commemorative forms and via multiple media: television, radio, theatre, internet and many more cultural institutions. The study deals with crucial interconnected problems concerning the ephemerality of commemoration treated as a historical moment whose aim is to remember the defining historical event and which, paradoxically, itself becomes history. The  importance of editorial and typographical considerations, as studied on the basis of selected commemorative texts and media,are important in the way in which commemoration functions and seeks unity in terms of shaping the perceptions of historical events in Ireland. Yet, the editorial, typographic and graphic dimensions of such texts may also question the discourse of practices or, at least, signal inconsistencies. The methodology applied here is that of a case study and comparative examination. Following the temporal confrontative procedure employed in one of the previous coauthored articles (see Koneczniak & Koneczniak, 2022), the research cases involve two historical moments: the analysis conducted and described during the exact commemorative moment, that is, the precise one hundredth anniversary of the Easter Rising, and the state found almost five years after the remembrance series, at the beginning of 2021. The comparative basis involves the same research materials, and it focuses on determining changes in the access to the original commemorative materials available in 2016 and linked to the celebration of the 1916 Rising.
Teletrabajo transfronterizo y Seguridad Social: conexión problemática.
Authors: García de Cortázar y Nebreda Carlos
Published: June 2024

El autor examina las nuevas formas de trabajo, especialmente el teletrabajo transfronterizo, que se han desarrollado a partir a de la epidemia del COVID. Recuerda la problemática de la determinación de la legislación aplicable en materia de Seguridad Social para más de un millón y medio de fronterizos que tuvieron que reconvertirse en teletrabajadores. Explica cómo, en todo momento, se intentó que se mantuviera el statu quo en materia de Seguridad Social para evitar un caos administrativo que podría ser propiciado por el cambio sustancial de la situación de los extrabajadores fronterizos que hasta el advenimiento de la pandemia cotizaban en el Estado de empleo y que al pasar a ejercer como teletrabajdores desde su domicilio, podían quedar acogidos a la Seguridad Social del Estado de residencia. Se analiza asimismo el Acuerdo Marco relativo a la Aplicación del apartado 1 del artículo 16 del Reglamento (CE) 883/2004. Finalmente presenta una serie de recomendaciones para evitar que el teletrabjo transfronterizo se ralentice como consecuencia de una aplicación demasiado conservadora de las normas de conflicto de la coordinación de la Seguridad Social por parte de los Estados y las Instituciones europeas.
Wpływ technologii rzeczywistości wirtualnej i rozszerzonej na obraz i schemat ciała w perspektywie fenomenologicznej
Authors: Gunia Artur
Published: June 2024

The human body plays a significant and even crucial role in cognition. This aspect was emphasised by Maurice Merleau-Ponty in his phenomenology. He showed that cognition is possible through the human body. However, it does not have to be limited to the biological body, thus many external objects can be inscribed in corporeality, thanks to which cognition is also possible, consisting in finding a relationship with the physical world. His intuitions presented in Phenomenology of Perception resulted in numerous concepts in the cognitive sciences, such as embodied cognition. Many years later, an analysis of the body’s functionality is presented by Shaun Gallagher, who makes a phenomenological distinction between body schema and body image. The body schema refers to the processes that constantly regulate body posture and the ability to move, i.e. sensory-motor processes, functioning without reflective awareness or the need for perceptual monitoring, while the body image concerns the subject’s perceptual experience of his own body, conceptual understanding of corporeality and the subject’s emotional attitude towards his own body. The division proposed by Gallagher is interesting because it allows us to ask whether, under the impact of various technological solutions, the body schema and image change themselves. In this chapter, an analysis will be shown of how the impact of technologies such as virtual reality and augmented reality expands the subject’s sense of corporeality, thus affecting and changing human cognition.
Czy przyjaciele w ujęciu Arystotelesa chcą największych dóbr dla przyjaciół? Na kanwie Etyki nikomachejskiej VIII 7 1159a 5-12
Authors: Smolak Maciej
Published: June 2024

The subject of this article is the analysis of NE VIII 7 1159a 5-12, where Aristotle considers the aporia: do friends never wish the greatest goods to friends? The author concludes that Aristotle’s solution to the problem is flexible enough because it is suitable to all types of friends, while preserving the difference between aretological and utilitarian or hedonistic friends in their way of wishing good things to their friends.
Spacer filozofa
Authors: Wójcik Anna I.
Published: June 2024

This text presents the most important ideas forming the intellectual background of wandering in nature - both in natural landscapes and in the designed garden compositions of Confucian scholars. The text discusses the issues against the broader background of ideas about time and space in garden philosophy. The main categories applicable to the philosophical artistic culture of Confucianism and Daoism in China are discussed.
Cask of Amontillado Digital Escape Room
Authors: Cowley Tabitha , Short Cecil R.
Published: June 2024

This instructional session centered on cultivating students’ critical thinking and problem-solving abilities while enhancing comprehension of Edgar Allan Poe's (1846) "The Cask of Amontillado." Conducted within a 10th-grade classroom setting, the session empowered students to discern and engage with the text's pivotal themes and concepts through an immersive digital escape room experience. This article elaborates on the preparatory activities that preceded the escape room and the instructional approach employed during the escape room activity. The activity served as a formative assessment within a broader unit addressing short stories.
Digital Escape Room
Authors: Short Cecil R.
Published: June 2024

Scheduled during the final two weeks of a practicum internship, this asynchronous online lesson for preservice teachers focuses on Flow Theory and provides first-hand experience with agentic instruction to deepen students’ pedagogical understandings and promote future implementation of such practices. Applying principles of inquiry-based learning and digital escape room design, students are tasked with completing the digital escape room to rescue their instructor who has been trapped in a digital world by his jealous colleagues. Delivered through the Canvas learning management system, students seemingly enjoy the activity, despite occasionally struggling, and some students plan their own digital escape rooms as a result of this activity.
Efficacy of a Remote Play-Based Intervention for Children With Prader-Willi Syndrome
Authors: Dimitropoulos Anastasia , Doernberg Ellen A. , Gordon Rachel A. , Vargo Kerrigan , Nichols Evelyn , Russ Sandra W.
Published: June 2024

The current study examines the efficacy of an 8-week pretend play intervention targeting social-cognitive abilities in children with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), ages 6-9. PWS is a rare disorder associated with various social, emotional, and cognitive challenges linked to pretend play impairments, and for which interventions are sparse. Nineteen children were quasi-randomized to receive the intervention or be part of a waitlist control group. Participants who received the intervention (n = 10) demonstrated significant improvements in various components of pretend play, most notably in organization of play, which may generalize to broader social-cognitive gains. These findings provide evidence of the intervention’s efficacy in enhancing pretend play skills and related social-cognitive abilities during this critical period of development for children with PWS.
How is a Therapist like a Modeler?
Authors: Plutynski Anya
Published: June 2024

Abstract: This paper argues that the process of modeling in science and the process of encountering and working with a client in clinical psychotherapy overlap. In briefer terms: what makes a good therapist is much like what makes a good scientific modeler. Both modeling and psychotherapy are iterative processes, requiring careful observation, generation and testing of hypotheses. Both processes also face similar epistemic and pragmatic trade-offs. Heuristics and biases can shape both practices, for better and worse. Implications are considered for both training in clinical psychotherapy, and for larger debates concerning evidence-based methods in assessment of mental health care, and categorical v. dimensional approaches to diagnosis.
Power-over-fiber-based optical wireless communication systems towards 6G
Authors: Pinto F. B. F. , Carneiro de Souza L. , Andrade T. P. V. , Lima E. S. , Silva L. G. , Portelinha F. M. , Lee Anderson E. , Cerqueira S. Arismar
Published: June 2024

This paper reports two implementations of power-over-fiber (PoF) solutions applied to radio-over-fiber (RoF) and optical wireless communication (OWC) systems, in the context of an industrial environment. We employ a conventional 62.5-µm multimode fiber (MMF) to deliver optical power to different communication links based on RoF, free-space optics (FSO), and visible light communication (VLC) technologies aiming beyond 5G (B5G) and 6G applications. First, a 3.5-GHz 5G New Radio (5G NR) signal is transmitted throughout a 20-km single-mode optical fiber (SMF) link using RoF technology. Regarding the PoF system, a 5-W optical power is transmitted through a 100-m MMF link. A photovoltaic power converter (PPC) and a DC/DC converter are employed to convert the power from the optical to the electrical domain and adjust the voltage level, respectively, with the purpose of energizing a remote RoF module. The attainable optical and electrical power transmission efficiencies (OPTE and PTE) are 80% and 19%, respectively. Posterior, a second PoF system is implemented to power a hybrid RoF/FSO/VLC B5G system, comprising a 200-m MMF and an additional DC/DC converter. Over 10.5 W of optical power is transmitted to feed an electrical amplifier (EA) and a white LED from the VLC link. In this configuration, we achieve 78% and 18.5% of OPTE and PTE, respectively. Furthermore, a performance investigation based on the root mean square error vector magnitude (EVMRMS) metric is conducted to evaluate the signal using the implemented PoF systems and a conventional electrical power supply. In the first implementation, a throughput of 600 Mbps is achieved with 100-MHz bandwidth without performance degradation, when compared to the conventional-powered RoF system, whereas, in the second implementation, 60-Mbps throughput is achieved when employing the FSO and VLC technologies simultaneously, demonstrating the applicability and potential of the PoF technique for B5G and 6G industrial communications.
Flexible solid immersion meniscus lens (SIMlens) approach for enhancing biological imaging of cleared samples
Authors: Feng Wenyang , Zhao Fang , Zhong Fenghe , Zhao Yuxuan , Fei Peng
Published: June 2024

Tissue-clearing techniques have revolutionized the field of biological imaging by rendering biological specimens transparent and enabling inside optical detection. Light-sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) is a powerful tool for three-dimensional imaging of large biological samples. Combining tissue-clearing techniques with LSFM has advanced the efficient 3D visualization of these samples. A crucial challenge with LSFM is the requirement for the objective to operate within the clearing reagent, which can cause aberrations. To address this issue, we introduce a novel, to our knowledge, approach for the flexible design of the solid immersion refractive meniscus lens (SIMlens), facilitating the use of air objectives with cleared samples. Compared to the previous SIMlens, this method not only eliminates aberrations but also offers customized options for enhancing the numerical aperture and working distance of the objective lens, achieving at least a 10% improvement. We have demonstrated the feasibility of this new method using mouse brain samples.
Personal Health Record implementation in rural primary care: A descriptive exploratory study using RE-AIM framework
Authors: Davis Selena , Smith Mindy A. , Burton Lindsay , Rush Kathy L.
Published: June 2024

Demand is emerging for personal health records (PHRs), a patient-centric digital tool for engaging in shared decision-making and healthcare data management. This study uses a RE-AIM framework to explore rural patients and providers’ perceptions prior to and following implementation of a PHR. Health care providers and their patients were recruited from early-adopter patient medical home clinics and a local patient advisory group. Focus groups were used to explore patient and provider pre-implementation perceptions of PHRs and post-implementation provider perspectives. Patients were invited through participating clinics to use the PHR. An implementation process evaluation was conducted. Multiple methods and data sources were used and included pre-/post-intervention patient surveys, provider interviews, and PHR/EHR administrative data. Both patient and provider focus groups described PHRs as providing a comprehensive health story and enhanced communication. Patients prioritized collection of health promotion data while providers endorsed health-related, clinical data. Both groups expressed the need for managing expectations and setting boundaries on PHR use. The evaluation indicated Reach: 16% of targeted patients participated and an additional 127 patients used the PHR as a tool during the COVID-19 pandemic. Effectiveness: Patient satisfaction with use was neutral, with no significant changes to quality of life, self-efficacy, or patients’ activation. Adoption: 44% of eligible clinics participated, primarily those operated publicly versus privately, in smaller communities, and farther from a regional hospital. Implementation: Despite system interoperability expectations, at time of roll out, information exchange standards had not been reached. Additional implementation complications arose from the onset of the pandemic. One clinic on-boarded additional patients resulting in a rapid spike in PHR use. Maintenance: All clinics discontinued PHR within the study period, citing several key barriers to use. RE-AIM offers a valuable process evaluation framework for a comprehensive depiction of impact, and how to drive future success. Interoperability, patient agency and control, and provider training and support are critical obstacles to overcome in PHR implementation.
Improved serodiagnosis of Trypanosoma vivax infections in cattle reveals high infection rates in the livestock regions of Argentina
Authors: Bontempi Iván Alejandro , Arias Diego Gustavo , Castro Graciela Verónica , Peverengo Luz María , Díaz Genaro Francisco , Allassia Martín , Greif Gonzalo , Marcipar Iván
Published: June 2024

Bovine trypanosomosis, caused by Trypanosoma vivax, currently affects cattle and has a significant economic impact in sub-Saharan Africa and South America. The development of new diagnostic antigens is essential to improve and refine existing methods. Our study evaluated the efficacy of two recombinant antigens in detecting specific antibodies in cattle. These antigens are derivatives of an invariant surface glycoprotein (ISG) from T. vivax. A fraction of a previously described antigen (TvY486_0045500), designated TvISGAf, from an African strain was evaluated, and a new ISG antigen from an American isolate, TvISGAm, was identified. The two antigens were expressed as fusion proteins in Escherichia coli: TvISGAf was fused to the MBP-His-tag, and TvISGAm was obtained as a His-tag fused protein. An ELISA evaluation was conducted using these antigens on 149 positive and 63 negative bovine samples. The diagnostic performance was enhanced by the use of a combination of both antigens (referred to as TvISG-based ELISA), achieving a sensitivity of 89.6% and specificity of 93.8%. Following the validation of the TvISG-based ELISA, the seroprevalence of T. vivax infection in 892 field samples from cattle in the central region of Argentina was determined. The mean seroprevalence of T. vivax was 53%, with variation ranging from 21% to 69% among the six departments studied. These results support the use of the TvISG ELISA as a valuable serological tool for the detection and monitoring of T. vivax infection in cattle. Furthermore, we report for the first time the seroprevalence of T. vivax in Argentina, which highlights the widespread endemic nature of the disease in the region. In order to effectively manage the increasing spread of T. vivax in the vast livestock production areas of South America, it is essential to implement consistent surveillance programs and to adopt preventive strategies.
Standardized approach to the conservative surgery of hepatic cystic echinococcosis: A prospective study
Authors: Trigui Aymen , Fendri Sami , Saumtally Mohammad Saad , Akrout Amira , Trabelsi Jihen , Daoud Rahma , Toumi Nozha , Ketata Salma , Boujelbene Wael , Mzali Rafik , Dziri Chadli , Ben Amar Mohamed , Boujelben Salah
Published: June 2024

Objective

Surgery is the mainstay of hepatic cystic echinococcosis (HCE). The conservative surgery of HCE carries a non-negligible risk of recurrence and significant morbidity, dominated by Deep Surgical Site Infections (DSSI). To address these issues, we have improved and standardized this technique, which could reduce complications and achieve better postoperative outcomes.

Patients and methods

We conducted a prospective study from June 2017 to June 2022 involving of patient operated using a standardized open technique for uncomplicated HCE at Habib Bourguiba University Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia. The aim was to obtain results at least similar to radical management in terms of DSSI. Patients with large cystobiliary fistulas or patients with complicated cysts were excluded.

Results

Fifty patients with 106 cysts were operated using the standardized technique comprising of liver mobilization, intraoperative ultrasound, systematic methylene blue injection to detect cystobiliary fistulas and omentoplasty. The median age of the patients was 44(semi-interquartile range: 16) years. The main symptom described by the patient was pain in 43 cases (86%). An abnormal liver test was found in 20 cases (40%). On imaging studies, the cyst had a median size of 7.4(3.0) cm. Cyst of the hepatic dome accounted for 38 cases (35.8%) with most cysts being situated in the right hemi-liver. Visual inspection of the cavity and Methylene blue testing allowed for the discovery of 57 cysts (53.7%) that had cystobiliary fistulas that were sutured. Omentoplasty was performed in 77 cysts (72.6%). Postoperatively, only 2 cases (1.9%) developed a DSSI in the form of an external bile leak with resolved with conservative management. No case of recurrence was found after a median follow-up of 24 months.

Conclusion

The standardized conservative surgical technique, in selected patients, shows promise in reducing DSSI rates and overall morbidity, and achieve as equally good result as radical management.
The anti-tumor activity of tangeretin in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by inhibiting GLI2-mediated transcription of GPNMB
Authors: Yang Dong , Zhang Quan , Kuang Haoyong , Liu Jian , Wu Sen , Wei Li , Yao Wenjian
Published: June 2024

Tangeretin (Tan), a citrus flavonoid, possesses a strong anti-tumor efficacy in various human cancers. However, the precise role of Tan in the development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis was performed to observe the Tan-related genes in Tan-treated TE-1 cells. The direct relationship between GLI family zinc finger 2 (GLI2) and the promoter of glycoprotein non-metastatic melanoma protein B (GPNMB) was predicted by bioinformatics analysis and validated by luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. Cell survival after Tan treatment was assessed by CCK8 assay. Gene expression levels were evaluated by a qRT-PCR, western blot, or immunofluorescence method. Cell migration and invasion were detected by wound-healing and transwell assays. The function of Tan in vivo was examined using xenograft studies. Our data indicated anti-migration and anti-invasion functions of Tan in ESCC cells in vitro. Tan also diminished tumor growth in vivo. Mechanistically, Tan diminished the expression and transcriptional activity of GLI2 in ESCC cells. Silencing of GLI2 resulted in decreased expression of GPNMB by inhibiting GPNMB transcription via the binding site at the GPNMB promoter at position +(1539–1550). Moreover, Tan down-regulated GPNMB expression in ESCC cells, and re-expression of GPNMB reversed anti-migration and anti-invasion functions of Tan in ESCC cells. Our findings uncover anti-migration and anti-invasion effects of Tan in ESCC cells by down-regulating GPNMB by suppressing GLI2-mediated GPNMB transcription, providing new evidence that Tan can function as a therapeutic agent against ESCC.
Seasonality and relative abundance within an elasmobranch assemblage near a major biogeographic divide
Authors: Roskar Grace , Morley James W. , Buckel Jeffrey A.
Published: June 2024

Nearshore waters are utilized by elasmobranchs in various ways, including foraging, reproduction, and migration. Multiple elasmobranch species have been previously documented in the nearshore waters of North Carolina, USA, which has a biogeographic break at Cape Hatteras on the Atlantic coast. However, comprehensive understanding of the elasmobranch community in this region is still lacking. Monthly year-round trawling conducted along two ocean transects (near Cape Lookout and Masonboro Inlet in 5 to 18 m depth) in Onslow Bay, North Carolina provided the opportunity to examine the dynamics and seasonal patterns of this community using a multivariate approach, including permutational multivariate analysis of variance and nonparametric BIO-ENV analysis. From November 2004 to April 2008, 21,149 elasmobranchs comprised of 20 species were caught, dominated by spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) and clearnose skate (Rostroraja eglanteria). All species exhibited seasonal variation in abundance, but several key species contributed the most to seasonal differences in species composition within each transect. Spiny dogfish was most abundant in the winter at both locations, comprised mainly of mature females. Although clearnose skate was caught in all seasons, the species was most abundant during the spring and fall. Atlantic sharpnose (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae) was one of the most abundant species in the summer, and two distinct size cohorts were documented. Temperature appeared to be the main abiotic factor driving the community assemblage. The extensive year-round sampling provided the ability to better understand the dramatic seasonal variation in species composition and provides new information on the relative abundance of several understudied elasmobranch species that may be of significant ecological importance. Our results underscore the importance of inner continental shelf waters as important elasmobranch habitat and provide baseline data to examine for future shifts in timing and community structure at the northern portion of the biogeographic break at Cape Hatteras.
A field realistic model to assess the effects of pesticides residues and adulterants on honey bee gene expression
Authors: El Agrebi Noëmie , De Smet Lina , Douny Caroline , Scippo Marie-Louise , Svečnjak Lidija , de Graaf Dirk C. , Saegerman Claude
Published: June 2024

While studies on the sublethal effects of chemical residues in beeswax on adult honey bees are increasing, the study protocols assessing the impacts on honey bee brood in realistic conditions still need to be investigated. Moreover, little is known about the residue’s effect on gene expression in honey bee brood. This study reports the effects of chlorpyriphos-ethyl, acrinathrin and stearin worker pupae exposure through contaminated or adulterated beeswax on the gene expression of some key health indicators, using a novel in vivo realistic model. Larvae were reared in acrinathrin (12.5, 25, 10 and 100 ppb) and chlorpyriphos-ethyl (5, 10, 500 and 5000 ppb) contaminated or stearin adulterated beeswax (3, 4, 5, 6 and 9%) in newly formed colonies to reduce the influence of external factors. On day 11, mortality rates were assessed. Honey bee pupae were extracted from the comb after 19 days of rearing and were analysed for the gene expression profile of four genes involved in the immune response to pathogens and environmental stress factors (Imd, dorsal, domeless and defensin), and two genes involved in detoxifications mechanisms (CYP6AS14 and CYP9Q3). We found no linear relation between the increase in the pesticide concentrations and the brood mortality rates, unlike stearin where an increase in stearin percentage led to an exponential increase in brood mortality. The immune system of pupae raised in acrinathrin contaminated wax was triggered and the expression of CYP6AS14 was significantly upregulated (exposure to 12.5 and 25 ppb). Almost all expression levels of the tested immune and detoxification genes were down-regulated when pupae were exposed to chlorpyrifos-contaminated wax. The exposure to stearin triggered the immune system and detoxification system of the pupae. The identification of substance-specific response factors might ultimately serve to identify molecules that are safer for bees and the ecosystem’s health.
Identification of antibiotic induced persister cells in Streptococcus agalactiae
Authors: Greve Nanna Boll , Slotved Hans-Christian , Olsen John Elmerdahl , Thomsen Line Elnif
Published: June 2024

Antibiotic persistence is a phenomenon, where a small fraction of a bacterial population expresses a phenotypic variation that allows them to survive antibiotic treatment, which is lethal to the rest of the population. These cells are called persisters cells, and their occurrence has been associated with recurrent disease. Streptococcus agalactiae is a human pathobiont, able to cause invasive infections, and recurrent infections have been reported to occur in both newborns and adults. In this study, we demonstrated that S. agalactiae NEM316 can form persister cells when exposed to antibiotics from different classes. The frequency of persister cell formation was dependent on bacterial growth phase and the class of antibiotics. The ability to form persister cells in response to penicillin was shown to be a general trait among different clinical S. agalactiae isolates, independent of sero- and sequence-type. Taken together, this study shows the existence of antibiotic tolerant S. agalactiae persister cells, which may explain why this bacterial species frequently persists after treatment of invasive infection and can be associated with recurrent disease.
Bridging the gap: Navigating the impact of dietary supplements on abdominal aortic aneurysm progression- A systematic review
Authors: Amirsardari Zahra , Khalili Asal , Behnoush Amir hossein , Agahi Sadaf , Amirsardari Fatemeh , Kohansal Erfan , Sadeghipour Parham
Published: June 2024

Background

Vitamins D, E, A, B, C, and Omega-3 play crucial roles in modulating inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways, both implicated in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) development. Recent research has explored the potential impact of dietary supplements on AAA progression. The systematic review aims to assess interventional studies investigating the effects of various dietary supplements on the development and severity of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Method

A systematic search using relevant keywords related to abdominal aortic aneurysm and dietary supplements was conducted across four databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science). Quality assessment for animal studies employed SYRCLE and the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool for randomized control trials. The study protocol is registered in PROSPERO under the registry code CRD42023455958.

Results

Supplementation with Omega-3, Vitamins A, C, D, E, and the Vitamin B family exhibited positive effects in AAA progression. These supplements contributed to a reduction in AAA diameter, elastin degradation, inflammatory responses, and reactive oxygen species. Additional supplements such as Zinc, methionine, and phytoestrogen also played roles in mitigating AAA progression.

Conclusion

The findings of this study underscore the potential role of dietary supplements in the progression of AAA. Predominantly based on animal studies, the results indicate that these supplements can limit AAA progression, primarily evidenced by their ability to mitigate inflammatory processes and oxidative stress pathways.
Exploring the role of interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 in the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder
Authors: Sarmin Nisat , Roknuzzaman A. S. M. , Sarker Rapty , Rashid Mamun-or- , Hasan Ahasanul , Qusar M. M. A. Shalahuddin , Kabir Eva Rahman , Islam Md. Rabiul , Mahmud Zobaer Al
Published: June 2024

Background

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a highly prevalent neuropsychiatric disorder. Recently, there has been a growing interest in investigating the association between pro-inflammatory cytokines and the pathogenesis of OCD. However, studies targeting interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in OCD are limited. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore the potential role of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6 in the pathophysiology and development of OCD.

Methods

This study recruited 58 OCD patients and 30 age-sex-matched healthy controls (HCs). A qualified psychiatrist diagnosed OCD patients and assessed HCs based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Health Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) criteria. We measured the severity of OCD using the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS). Serum IL-1β and IL-6 levels were measured using ELISA kits following the appropriate methods.

Results

The results showed that serum IL-1β levels were significantly elevated in OCD patients compared to HCs (23.68±1.65 pg/ml vs. 15.75±1.02 pg/ml; p = 0.002). Similarly, OCD patients exhibited significantly higher serum IL-6 levels than HCs (44.97±0.73 pg/ml vs. 37.04±0.35 pg/ml; p<0.001). We observed both cytokines were positively correlated with the Y-BOCS scores in OCD patients (IL-1β: r = 0.380, p = 0.015; IL-6: r = 0.324, p = 0.026) which indicates their role in disease pathophysiology.

Conclusion

These results suggest that serum IL-1β and IL-6 levels may be associated with the pathophysiology of OCD. Also, these cytokines levels in blood samples can serve as early risk assessment tools for the development of OCD. We recommend further studies in a large and homogeneous population to support these findings.
A new hybrid machine learning model for predicting the renewal life of patents
Authors: Kumar Ashit , Ranjan Pritam , Koley Arnab , Danish Shadab
Published: June 2024

In almost every country, patents need to be renewed multiple times after they are granted. A patentee assesses the value of the patent and then pays a renewal fee to keep it active for another stipulated period. The factors that characterize the value of a patent is subjective. This paper aims to address the research gap of building an accurate model for predicting the renewal life (often considered as a substitute for the patent value) of Indian patents, and identification of significant factors that influence the renewal life. This study uses an extensive data set collected from the Indian Patent Office for all granted patents filed between 1995 and 2005. The popular statistical and machine learning algorithms do not result in accurate predictive models, because the patent renewal life distribution (at least for the Indian patents) shows unusual spikes at the two extreme values, which makes the modeling task more challenging. We propose a new two-stage hybrid model by combining an efficient multi-class classifier and a binomial regression model for predicting the complex renewal data distribution. We conducted a comparative analysis of the proposed model with several state-of-the-art machine learning and statistical models. The results show that the proposed hybrid model gives 90% accuracy as compared to the best competitor which gives only 40% accuracy.
Age-related experiences of diverse older women living with HIV: A scoping review protocol informed by intersectionality
Authors: Kokorelias Kristina , Brown Paige , Walmsley Sharon , Zhabokritsky Alice , Su Esther , Sirisegaram Luxey
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Older women living with HIV often go unnoticed due to societal biases and stigmas. Despite a rise in cases among older women, there is limited research on the psychosocial factors impacting their experiences. Aging complexities compounded by HIV and menopause affect these women’s health, while factors like mental health impact, changing support networks, and ageism with HIV stigma influence their well-being. Existing studies mostly compare older HIV-positive individuals without considering gender and intersectional identities, limiting understanding of their unique experiences. The scarcity of research addressing age-related differences from diverse perspectives delays the development of tailored treatments and interventions.

Objectives

The study aims to comprehensively explore the age-related experiences of older women with HIV through three sub-questions that address (1) Key experiences, medical and social challenges, and strengths; (2) Impact of intersectional identities on their experiences; and (3) Gaps and limitations in current research.

Methods

Utilizing a scoping review approach, the study seeks to map existing literature, employing a theoretical framework rooted in Sex- and Gender-Based Analysis Plus (SGBA+). Articles focusing on the age-related experiences of older women living with HIV aged 50 and above will be included. The study selection process will involve two independent reviewers screening articles based on pre-established inclusion criteria. Data extraction and synthesis will follow, analyzing the influence of sex, gender, and other identities on experiences.

Discussion

The study’s comprehensive approach aims to bridge gaps in understanding older women’s HIV experiences, emphasizing intersectionality. While limited to English-language peer-reviewed articles, this review seeks to offer valuable insights for healthcare, policy, and research, potentially fostering positive change in the lives of diverse older women living with HIV.
In vitro and in silico study on the seeds of Veitchia merrillii on trematode worms
Authors: Athaillah Farida , Hambal Muhammad , Vanda Heni , Frengki Frengki , Sari Wahyu Eka
Published: June 2024

Background and Aim: The potential of plants as anthelmintics is very large, but there is still very little research conducted in the search for effective, safe, easily obtained, and affordable anthelmintic candidates. Palem putri (Veitchia merrillii) is an ornamental plant that is interesting to study because it is included in the areca nut group which is reported to have strong abilities as anthelmintics. The study aims to evaluate the anthelmintic efficacy of Veitchia merrillii against trematode worms such as Paramphistomum spp. and Fasciola hepatica.

Materials and Methods: This research employs both in vitro and computational techniques. An anthelmintic in vitro test was carried out on Paramphistomum spp. worms at concentrations of 10%, 25%, and 40% (gr/v), assessing mortality index as the observable outcome, followed by a histopathological investigation of the deceased worms for tissue and cellular damage evaluation. Seventeen compounds from V. merrillii seeds were studied in silico for their anthelmintic activity against F. hepatica worms using the quantitative structure-activity relationship technique, molecular docking, and Lipinski’s rule analysis for orally administered medication.

Results: About 25% and 40% extracts of V. merrillii damaged the tegument organs in the worms. Seventeen compounds in V. merrillii seed extract, on average, yielded a higher anthelmintic index on F. hepatica than praziquantel. Eleven of the 17 compounds exhibit stronger affinity than praziquantel, with routine and gallic acid being the top two ligands (ΔGbinding values: −11.65 kcal/mol and −11.07 kcal/mol, respectively). According to Lipinski’s rule analysis, only routine compounds cannot be orally administered.

Conclusion: The seeds of V. merrilli have potential as an anthelmintic agent for Paramphistomum spp. at concentrations of 25%–40% (gr/v).

Keywords: Molecular docking, QSAR, Trematoda, Veitchia merillii.
Molecular identification of Entamoeba spp. in humans and cattle in Baghdad, Iraq
Authors: Al-Dabbagh Sahad M. K. , Alseady Haider H. , Alhadad Enas J.
Published: June 2024

Background and Aim: A total of 10% of the global population succumbs to amoebiasis yearly, equating to 50,000–100,000 recorded fatalities. It is closely associated with contaminated food and water supplies due to human feces. The disease’s pathophysiology remains a subject of ongoing debate among experts. Some experts attribute the role of the host’s conditions, parasite species and strain, and infection intensity in eliciting clinical symptoms. The aim of this study was to perform molecular identification of Entamoeba species isolated from humans and cattle.

Materials and Methods: Stool samples from three hundred patients and one hundred cattle were collected from different regions, age groups, and sexes in Baghdad for microscopic examination. One hundred randomly chosen patient and cattle stool samples underwent microscopic examination and conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the 18S rRNA gene. Phylogenetic tree analyses were performed for Entamoeba species identification.

Results: The infection rate in humans differed significantly (p < 0.05) between age groups and genders, totaling 38%. The infection rate in cattle, determined by conventional PCR, differed significantly (p < 0.05) between age groups and genders, amounting to 58%. Ten PCR products with positive results were sequenced and deposited in GenBank database. Sequence analysis detected that Eight sequences belong to E. histolytica ( OM268853.1, OM268854.1, OM268855.1, OM268857.1, OM268858.1, OM268860.1, OM268861.1, and OM268862.1) and two sequences belong to E. dispar (OM268856.1 and OM268859.1) in humans, while 10 sequences (ON724165.1 to ON724174.1) belongs to E. histolytica in cattle.

Conclusion: The increased susceptibility of cattle to E. histolytica suggests a considerable role in human infection and substantial public health risks. Further research should be conducted on the many virulence factors such as HM1:IMSS strain, cysteinprotease (Cp1), Gal/lectin, etc. of E. histolytica and E. dispar.

Keywords: cattle, Entamoeba spp., human, phylogenetic, sequence analyses.
Review of leptospirosis in dogs from Mexico: Epidemiology, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment
Authors: Andrade-Silveira Estefanía , Ortega-Pacheco Antonio , Jiménez-Coello Matilde , Cárdenas-Marrufo María
Published: June 2024

Leptospirosis, classified by the World Health Organization as an emerging and neglected disease, is caused by the zoonotic pathogen Leptospira interrogans. This review aims to outline the Mexican epidemic of L. interrogans in dogs, including diagnosis and prevention methods. This review article searched articles from the publishers Wiley, Springer, PubMed, Redalyc, SciElo, and Elsevier. Among the 200 Mexican articles concerning Leptospira epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and vaccination, those that failed to meet the set inclusion criteria were excluded. The worldwide study of L. interrogans has focused on this bacterium. In Mexico, up-to-date information on canine prevalence, diagnosis, and vaccine use is scarce. Flow cytometrically detected Salmonella serovars differ from those in current vaccines, emphasizing the importance of broadening vaccine serovar coverage.

Keywords: dog, Leptospira, leptospirosis, Mexico and diagnosis, prevalence, prevention, treatment, vaccine.
Fecal and Serum Granulocyte Protein Levels in Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Their Relation to Disease Activity
Authors: Ekoff Helena , Rydell Niclas , Hellström Per M. , Movérare Robert
Published: June 2024

INTRODUCTION:

Neutrophilic calprotectin (CP) and myeloperoxidase (MPO), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) are suggested proxy markers for gut inflammation. However, there are insufficient supporting data for MPO, NGAL, and EDN.

METHODS:

In a cross-sectional investigation including adult patients, we studied the ability of CP, MPO, NGAL, and EDN, measured in fecal and serum samples, to differentiate between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and to predict disease activity.

RESULTS:

Fifty-nine patients had ulcerative colitis (UC), 38 had Crohn's disease, and 100 patients had IBS. The protein concentrations were higher in patients with IBD in the fecal samples (P < 0.001) and the serum samples (P < 0.01), and they correlated weakly (rs ≤0.38) between the sample sources. Fecal EDN was higher in patients with Crohn's disease compared with UC (1.79 vs 0.50 mg/kg, P = 0.016). The neutrophilic proteins were superior to EDN in the fecal samples for differentiating between patients with IBD and IBS. Fecal MPO (cutoff: 0.86 mg/kg) had the highest sensitivity (74.7%) and specificity (84.6%). Combining fecal CP and MPO increased the sensitivity to 82.3% (specificity: 73.6%). NGAL (cutoff: 196.9 μg/L) showed the best discriminating performance in serum (sensitivity: 62.9%; specificity: 68.0%). Serum NGAL (cutoff: 272.4 μg/L) predicted active disease in UC (Partial Mayo Score ≥2) with a sensitivity and specificity of 57.1% and 83.3%, respectively.

DISCUSSION:

Fecal MPO and serum NGAL are promising novel biomarkers, in addition to fecal CP, for differentiating between IBD and IBS. Serum NGAL may also predict disease activity in patients with UC.
Affordances de tecnologias digitais para a aprendizagem de Português Língua Adicional
Authors: Gomes Junior Ronaldo Corrêa , Leroy Henrique Rodrigues
Published: June 2024

Como destacam Bulla e Kuhn (2020), embora o Português Língua Adicional (PLA) se relacione a diversas áreas, o trabalho em conjunto com outras disciplinas dentro da área de Letras ainda não alcançou o engajamento que deveria. Uma análise das agendas de pesquisa na área indica uma escassez de estudos dedicados a compreender o papel das tecnologias digitais no processo de ensino e aprendizagem, o que revela a carência de investigações nesse campo (Marques; Wojciechowski, 2021). Diante disso, o objetivo desta investigação foi o de analisar experiências de aprendizagem de PLA mediadas por tecnologias digitais. Para isso, buscamos (a) investigar experiências de aprendizagem de PLA mediadas por tecnologias digitais de candidatos ao Programa de Estudantes – Convênio de Graduação (PEC-G) na Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG); (b) identificar as affordances dessas tecnologias para a aprendizagem de PLA; e (c) avaliar os possíveis impactos dessas experiências nas percepções dos aprendizes. Dez estudantes aceitaram participar de entrevista narrativas, que foram gravadas, transcritas e analisadas para identificar unidades significativas e criar categorias com base na regularidade dos dados. A análise revelou que as affordances mais salientes são: usar aplicativos de aprendizagem de línguas; usar aplicativos de tradução; assistir a vídeos e filmes; e interagir via aplicativos de mensagens instantâneas. Os dados indicam como a tecnologia digital contribuiu não apenas para a aprendizagem da língua portuguesa, mas também para a integração dos estudantes nas comunidades local e acadêmica. Além disso, essas experiências demonstram ter impactado a percepção dos aprendizes de diversas maneiras, fazendo com que se sentissem mais apoiados, familiarizados, confortáveis, seguros, autônomos, integrados e proficientes.