bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cruces y cenotafios en las carreteras: identidad cultural salvadoreña a través de las creencias y costumbres funerarias
Authors: Flores Esmeralda
Published: November 2024

El objetivo de este ensayo es fortalecer la identidad cultural salvadoreña, destacando las creencias funerarias del uso de cruces y cenotafios colocadas en las carreteras tras morir un familiar o ser querido, generalmente por un accidente de tránsito. Para ello, se revisaron textos, artículos e investigaciones vinculadas al tema, luego se analizaron estos y sus implicaciones en la construcción de este ensayo. También se realizó una visita al Museo Nacional de Antropología David J. Guzmán para recabar datos museográficos vinculados a la identidad salvadoreña.
A RELAÇÃO ENTRE O EXCESSO DE TELAS NA PRIMEIRA INFÂNCIA COM O ATRASO NO DESENVOLVIMENTO NEUROMOTOR
Authors: Silva Ianne Mota , Oliveira Jadielma Maria , Pereira Maria Izabel Sales , Melo Cíntia
Published: November 2024

Introduction: Early childhood is a crucial period for the development and improvement of motor, cognitive, and social skills, which are fundamental for functional independence and adequate child development. However, prolonged and excessive exposure to digital technologies among children in this age group has become increasingly common, raising important questions about the possible negative effects that increased screen time can have on children's motor and cognitive development. Objectives: Investigate how excessive use of digital devices can negatively impact neuromotor development in early childhood. Methodology: This is an Integrative Literature Review, conducted in the PubMed, SciELO, and BVS databases, including articles published in the last 5 years. The selection of studies was carried out in three stages: screening of titles, reading of abstracts, and full reading of the selected articles. Results and discussion: The results indicate that exceeding one hour of screen time per day can cause impairments in children's motor, cognitive, and social development, in addition to increasing the risk for Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) and affecting improvements in communication and daily life skills. Final considerations: Prolonged use of screens in children under 6 years of age is related to motor, cognitive and social development, highlighting the importance of guiding parents and caregivers on the moderate use of electronic devices and encouraging activities that promote healthy child development.
INCLUSÃO NO ENSINO SUPERIOR: O PAPEL DOS NÚCLEOS DE ACESSIBILIDADE E INCLUSÃO NO BRASIL
Authors:   Carmen Lucia Arruda de Figueiredo D’Agostini, Parenti Vanessa Cristina
Published: November 2024

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Accessibility and Inclusion Centers (NAIs) in Brazilian universities through a bibliographic review. Inclusion in higher education is a growing demand, and NAIs play a fundamental role in promoting accessibility and retention of students with disabilities. A systematic review methodology was used, consulting the Google Scholar and CAPES Journal Portal databases, with a time frame from 2019 to 2024. For the article search, the following descriptors were refined: "Accessibility and Inclusion Center," "inclusion in higher education," and "disability in higher education." Five articles were analyzed, revealing that although NAIs have promoted advances in inclusion, challenges such as lack of resources and teacher training still undermine their effectiveness. It is concluded that, to improve inclusion in higher education, it is necessary to strengthen the work of NAIs, ensuring greater financial support and continuous training for the professionals involved.
Combatting Cybersecurity Threats on Social Media: Network Protection and Data Integrity Strategies
Authors: Yousef Zaidieh Ashraf jalal
Published: November 2024

The rise of social media has transformed global communication, but it has also introduced significant cybersecurity threats, including identity theft, phishing, malware distribution, and data breaches. These challenges not only compromise individual users but also pose risks to businesses and governments. This research explores the prevalent cybersecurity threats on social media and proposes an integrated framework to enhance network protection and data integrity. The framework combines both technical solutions such as encryption, multi-factor authentication, and AI-based threat detection and non-technical strategies like user education, platform policies, and collaborative efforts among stakeholders. By synthesizing findings from a comprehensive literature review, this study identifies the most common cyber threats and assesses their impacts on users, businesses, and society at large. The research highlights the importance of proactive measures, including real-time monitoring, secure data practices, and user behavior modification, to mitigate these risks. Additionally, the study emphasizes the need for greater collaboration between platform providers, governments, and users to create a safer digital environment. The proposed framework is flexible and applicable across various social media platforms, providing a holistic approach to combatting evolving cyber threats. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on social media cybersecurity, offering practical recommendations for improving security and maintaining the integrity of online networks.
Developing Parallel Requirements Prioritization Machine Learning Model Integrating with MoSCoW Method
Authors: Ali Fadlallah Kawthar Ishag , M. Sharif Mahir , Yahia Eldow Moawia Elfaki
Published: November 2024

Requirements Prioritization (RP) is an attempt to rank the requirements based on the value added to the business. It is a preprocessingstep in software implementation as well as a prevalent need thing to get customer satisfaction, decrease the risk of requirements volatility, develop cost-effective software, and maintain the level of quality in the software system. Many research focusing on prioritizing the requirements using one or several criteria like time, dependency, and scalability. However, all of them concern with sequential prioritization only. To the best of our knowledge no work focused on parallel ranking in prioritization, which permit the simultaneous requirements implementation that reducing the implementation time. In this study we developed a new requirements prioritization for determine the requirements priority level in parallel format using Random Forest classifier based MoSCoW method (RF-MM). When we applied our prioritization model on to (Testcase MIS system with priority) industrial dataset. the total implementation time were equal to 76.0 seconds when ranking in sequential format; whereas the total time were equal to 33 seconds in parallel ranking.  Hence, the parallel ranking capable of reducing implementation time to more than half.
Machine Learning: A survey of requirements prioritization: A Review Study
Authors: Ali Fadlallah Kawthar Ishag , Yahia Eldow Moawia Elfaki
Published: November 2024

In any software systems, the requirements prioritization considered as pivotal task. This paper aims to explain and discuss the works done on requirements prioritization based Machine learning along with the dependency-aware requirements prioritization. Machine learning has become of attention to scientists, researchers, and users because of the existence of vast data and deep learning algorithms that can analyze massive sets of data. The basic algorithms are used for dependency learning calculation, resolve the stakeholder’s conflicts, classify requirements, and scalability improvement. This paper will present a brief background and comprehensive presentation of a number of machine learning techniques for requirements prioritization and those concerning the requirement dependency in its simple, complex, and Hybrid form. There are a number of papers, articles, and research papers that deal with requirements prioritization, few of them handling the dependency. This paper will present a brief background for several requirements prioritization based on machine learning. then make a comparison and discussion of a number of selected techniques in terms of algorithm type, issues addressed, and evaluated data level. method that handling the dependency regarding of strengths and weakness.
The prevalence of lymphedema in Canada: An update.
Authors: Keast David , Towers Anna , Letellier Marie-Eve , Damji Alisha
Published: November 2024

It is vitally important to know the prevalence and impact of a condition to justify the allocation of health care resources. Chronic edema/lymphedema continues to be poorly recognized and poorly treated. Even within the lymphedema community, some basic questions still need to be answered. How do we define lymphedema? What diagnostic methods should be used? What volume differences? We have no accepted international guidance on this. In estimating prevalence, do we only include stages 2 and 3, ignoring those in earlier stages who might only have limb swelling and/or feel heaviness at the end of the day? For the purposes of the current exercise, we have only considered those with established chronic edema/ lymphedema; however, those with early signs also need preventive advice and treatment.
Developing new biomarkers and treatments for breast cancer-related lymphedema.
Authors: Kwan Jennifer
Published: November 2024

Dr. Jennifer Kwan MD PhD FRCPC is a Radiation Oncologist–Clinician Scientist and Assistant Professor in Radiation Oncology at the University of Toronto. Her interests include breast radiation oncology and managing side effects of cancer treatment in the Adult Radiation Late Effects Clinic at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre.
Ameliyatlarda Yabancı Cisim Unutulmasına ve Cerrahi Sayım Tutarsızlığına İlişkin Belirlenen Risk Faktörleri: Sistematik İnceleme
Authors: Erkan Hamide Nur , Soyer Er Özlem
Published: November 2024

Amaç: Bu incelemede, ameliyatlarda yabancı cisim unutulması (YCU) ve cerrahi sayım tutarsızlığı (CST)’na ilişkin risk faktörlerinin incelenmesi amaçlandı.
Gereç ve Yöntem: Araştırmaya YCU ve CST’yi inceleyen ve çalışma kriterlerine uyan literatürdeki tüm çalışmalar dahil edildi. Literatür taraması, “ameliyathane”, “risk faktörleri”, “yabancı cisim unutulması”, “sayım tutarsızlığı” anahtar kelimeleri Türkçe ve İngilizce kullanarak, Aralık 2022 öncesi yıl sınırlaması olmadan Web of Science, Scopus, Pubmed/MEDLINE ve Google Akademik veri tabanları taranarak yapıldı. İncelemeler sonucunda toplam 3.074 makaleye erişildi. Tekrar eden 364, tam metin erişilemeyen 1.386, bağlantı hatası vermesi nedeniyle tamamen ulaşılamayan 35 adet makale çıkarıldı. Konuyla ilgili olmayan çalışmalar, sistematik derlemeler, derlemeler, yayın dili İngilizce dışında olan makaleler, çocuk hastalarla yürütülen çalışmalar, kitap bölümleri, tezler olmak üzere toplam 1.289 adet makale kapsam dışı bırakıldı. Konu ile ilgili kalan 26 adet makale incelemenin örneklemini oluşturdu. Araştırmaların raporlanmasında PRISMA kontrol listesi kullanıldı.
Bulgular: Ameliyatlarda unutulan yabancı cisimler büyük çoğunlukla spanç ve havlu malzemeleriydi. YCU veya CST gelişen cerrahi türü/cerrahi alanlar ise karın, pelvis ve vajinal boşlukları içeren ameliyatlardı. Artan kanama, ekip üyeleri arasında zayıf iletişim ve iletişim hataları, acil ameliyatlar, araç ve ekipman arızası YCU ve CST ile ilişkili diğer risk faktörleri olarak bulundu.
Sonuç: Yabancı cisim unutulması ve CST ile ilgili risk faktörlerinin; hastanın fazla kanamasının olması, ekip iletişiminde yaşanan sorunlar, jinekolojik ameliyatlar, ekipman arızası ve sayımın yapılmamasına ilişkin durum olduğu belirlendi.
Employee Training and Delivery of Services at the Postal Corporation of Kenya
Authors: Ngii Mutuku Irene , Wainaina Lawrence , Wambua Phillip P.
Published: November 2024

Purpose: Service delivery is an essential aspect for an organization to gain competitive advantage, since service delivery deals with how a service or a product is delivered to the client and whether it’s fairly or unfairly done hence determining prosperity or downfall of organization. A sure way of realizing full potential of an organization is use relevant human resource development mechanisms appropriately. Human resource development mechanisms describe an organization’s strategies of investing in activities and programs that are intended to develop competence, skills, and knowledge of employees. The study aimed to examine possible association between employee training efforts and service delivery in Postal Corporation of Kenya in Nairobi.
Methods: The study is anchored on SERVIQAL model and it deployed a positive research philosophy paradigm and quantitative research design, targeting a population of 400 respondents comprising 300 employees and 100 clients, 40% sample size is obtained from target population translating to 160 respondents.
Results: Key finding of the study was that employee training is a significant determinant of service delivery at Postal Corporation of Kenya. As such, the corporation’s efforts at enhancing the capacity of its employees were established to be significantly linked to the quality of the corporation’s services. 
Conclusion: The study recommends deliberate planning and enhancement of the employees’ skills and knowledge to ensure continued competitiveness of the corporation.
Measuring proximity tourism in Spain after the pandemic. An Origin-Destination Matrix approach
Authors: Sciortino Caterina , Venturella Ludovica , De Cantis Stefano
Published: November 2024

This work aims to provide more clarity around the concept of proximity tourism giving an overview of how tourist flows changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The concept of proximity changed over the years in different ways. Indeed, if in the past it was understood only on a geographical or physical level, today it makes sense to talk about the different typologies of proximity such as cultural, political, and social. The economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the growing importance of domestic tourism. We use an Origin-Destination (O/D) Matrix approach, considering trips made to Spain in the three years 2019-2021. The idea is to build three matrices containing the coefficients of attraction. This is the first time that this methodology is used on Spanish data to understand the dynamic behind the different Spanish regions in terms of tourism proximity. This study is relevant in terms of political decision-makers and can bring to stimulate tourism within the national territory and encourage local mobility. Proximity tourism is a different way of doing tourism than foreign travel because it allows for greater sustainability in line with the needs of the time, turns out to be a different way of vacationing, and supports local destinations that are often vulnerable.
From the mountains to the sea: what tourism for Calabria?
Authors: Tebala Domenico , Rodolfi Alessandra
Published: November 2024

Calabrian tourism is predominantly coastal, but this work aims to analyze, through a multidimensional analysis at municipal level, whether Calabrian tourism, especially on the supply side, diversifies between mountains, hills and sea. To describe the phenomenon, we chose to use the Istat classifications of Italian municipalities which are based on geo-morphological or urban settlement characteristics, measured for statistical purposes only. Municipalities are assigned a series of attributes, corresponding to some physical and/or anthropological characteristics, in particular the altimetric zones and coastal zones. The altimetric zones are homogeneous zones deriving from the aggregation of contiguous municipalities based on altimetric threshold values. They are divided into "mountain area", "hill area" and "plain area". Furthermore, to consider the moderating action of the sea on the climate, the first two altimetric zones were divided, respectively, into internal mountains and internal hills and, if these were bathed by the sea or close to it, coastal mountains and coastal hill. Coastal areas are defined based on the degree of proximity to the coast and are represented by municipalities located on the coast or having at least 50% of the surface at a distance from the sea less than 10 km, to which are added the enclaves (non-coastal municipalities surrounded by adjacent coastal municipalities). The rest of the municipalities are classified as non-coastal areas. Since the objective of the work is to analyze Calabrian tourism from the mountains to the sea, a new classification is proposed as a synthesis of the previous ones, i.e. mountain, hill and coast where the coastal areas represent the coast while the non-coastal areas are divided into mountains and hill. To describe the tourism potential municipal, 22 indicators have been identified at municipal level divided into 3 macro areas: tourist offer, flows and determinants, presence of farmhouses and bed and breakfasts, employment in the tourism sector. To have an even more complete picture of the phenomenon, a focus was also developed on the municipalities classified as "non-tourist" based on tourist density, i.e. those municipalities where there are no accommodation facilities and/or with zero tourist flows. For this purpose, big data deriving from Tripadvisor reviews were analyzed.
Multidisciplinary Research Addressing Emerging Global Challenges of Ensuing Decade: A Review
Authors: -Nafeez Fatimah Bint-e , Maqsood Amna , Wajid Kashf , Mahroof Sammia , Rasheed Shamaila
Published: November 2024

Multidisciplinary research is the hallmark in 21st century and a way forward towards holistic sustainability. Ancient philosophers viz; Aristotle, Socrates, Confucius, Al-Farabi, Sigmund Freud, Jabar-bin-Hayan, Benjamin Bloom, Karl Marx and Friedrich Nietzsche laid foundations of philosophies based on their intellectual multidisciplinary knowledge approach. The promising impact of multi-scientific disciplines demonstrate the importance of diverse academic and research domains. In fact, every discipline is interrelated and interdependent to each other with a minute hairline difference. MDR unites scientists globally from distinct academic backgrounds to address pressing challenges of next decade, but no doubt cooperation is crucial in scientific study as it stimulates innovation, creativity, and systematic conception. Present review emphasizes importance of transdisciplinary research in diverse meta-problems, tackling future challenges and multi-faceted complexities. Emerging technology has made it possible for scientists and scholars from various purviews around the world to collaborate on projects and research without being at the same location. The most significant recommendation of this article highlights the future scope of transdisciplinary approach by inclusion of collaborative research meeting sustainable development goals (SDG’s) through multi research, thereby aligning researchers and scientists towards internationalization.
As novas tecnologias como premissa contemporânea da sustentabilidade e a sociedade de risco
Authors: Fornasier Mateus de Oliveira , Viero da Silva Fernanda , Paiva Knebel Norberto Milton
Published: November 2024

Este artigo objetiva entender os riscos e possibilidades na busca por sustentabilidade a partir do desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias Objetivos específicos: a) compreender as premissas e dimensões da sustentabilidade; b) estudar e comparar conceitos como “quarta revolução industrial”, “sociedade de risco” e “indústria 4.0”; c) avaliar como as tecnologias disruptivas contemporâneas acarretam riscos inerentes de modo paralelo a contribuições para com a sustentabilidade; d) debater acerca do papel do Direito na sistemática de possíveis alternativas regulatórias para a tecnologia. Metodologia: método de procedimento hipotético-dedutivo, com abordagem qualitativa e técnica de revisão bibliográfica.
Overcompliance e de-risking: riscos e peculiaridades da reabilitação reputacional em empresas que contratam com o Poder Público
Authors: Justino de Oliveira Gustavo , Castro Carvalho André , Teixeira Moreira Matheus
Published: November 2024

Este artigo analisa o processo de reabilitação reputacional de pessoas jurídicas envolvidas em escândalos corporativos, sobretudo empresas que contratam com o Poder Público e firmaram acordos de leniência no passado por problemas de corrupção. A hipótese a ser confirmada é que o excesso de cautela reputacional por parte de algumas áreas de compliance, materializado por fenômenos como overcompliance e de-risking, pode produzir vicissitudes durante procedimentos de análise de riscos e due diligence conduzidos por pessoas jurídicas que travam (ou costumavam travar) relações comerciais com as lenientes. Para tanto, este artigo está dividido em três partes. No primeiro capítulo, são tecidos comentários gerais acerca dos riscos reputacionais decorrentes de escândalos de corrupção e do lugar ocupado pelo compliance nesse contexto. No segundo capítulo, abordam-se reveses inerentes a práticas de compliance promovidas em um cenário de excesso de cautela reputacional. Por fim, o terceiro capítulo destina-se à análise específica da reabilitação reputacional em empresas que contratam com a Administração, trazendo parâmetros para se compreender as particularidades desse fenômeno e medidas concretas para se mitigar o impacto reputacional.
Revisiting some r-Fibonacci sequences and Hessenberg matrices
Authors: da Fonseca Carlos M. ,   Kuwait College of Science and Technology,   Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Informatics, Technical University of Sofia, Saraiva Paulo ,   Faculty of Economics, University of Coimbra,   Department of Mathematics, University of Coimbra,   CeBER-Centre for Business and Economics Research, Shannon Anthony G. ,   Warrane College
Published: November 2024

The relationship between different generalizations of Fibonacci numbers and matrices is common in the literature. However, the basic relation of such sequences with Hessenberg matrices is often not properly explored. In this work we revisit some classic results and present some applications in recent contexts.
FABP4-mediated lipid accumulation and lipolysis in tumor-associated macrophages promote breast cancer metastasis
Authors: Yorek Matthew , Jiang Xingshan , Liu Shanshan , Hao Jiaqing , Yu Jianyu , Avellino Anthony , Liu Zhanxu , Curry Melissa , Keen Henry , Shao Jianqiang , Kanagasabapathy Anand , Kong Maying , Xiong Yiqin , Sauter Edward R , Sugg Sonia L , Li Bing
Published: November 2024

A high density of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) is associated with poorer prognosis and survival in breast cancer patients. Recent studies have shown that lipid accumulation in TAMs can promote tumor growth and metastasis in various models. However, the specific molecular mechanisms that drive lipid accumulation and tumor progression in TAMs remain largely unknown. Herein, we demonstrated that unsaturated fatty acids (FAs), unlike saturated ones, are more likely to form lipid droplets in murine macrophages. Specifically, unsaturated FAs, including linoleic acids (LA), activate the FABP4/CEBPα pathway, leading to triglyceride synthesis and lipid droplet formation. Furthermore, FABP4 enhances lipolysis and FA utilization by breast cancer cell lines, which promotes cancer cell migration in vitro and metastasis in vivo. Notably, a deficiency of FABP4 in murine macrophages significantly reduces LA-induced lipid metabolism. Therefore, our findings suggest FABP4 as a crucial lipid messenger that facilitates unsaturated FA-mediated lipid accumulation and lipolysis in TAMs, thus contributing to the metastasis of breast cancer.
Foxtrot migration and dynamic over-wintering range of an Arctic raptor
Authors: Pokrovsky Ivan , Curk Teja , Dietz Andreas , Fufachev Ivan , Kulikova Olga , Rößler Sebastian , Wikelski Martin
Published: November 2024

Advances in tracking technologies have revealed the diverse migration patterns of birds, which are critical for range mapping and population estimation. Population trends are usually estimated in breeding ranges where birds remain stationary, but for species that breed in remote areas like the Arctic, these trends are often assessed in over-wintering ranges. Assessing population trends during the wintering season is challenging due to the extensive movements of birds in these ranges, which requires a deep understanding of the movement dynamics. However, these movements remain understudied, particularly in the mid-latitudes, where many Arctic breeders overwinter, increasing uncertainty in their ranges and numbers. Here, we show that the Arctic breeding raptor Rough-legged buzzard, which overwinters in the mid-latitudes, has a specific wintering strategy. After migrating ca. 1500 km from the Arctic to mid-latitudes, the birds continue to move throughout the entire over-wintering period, traveling another 1000 km southwest and then back northeast as the snowline advances. This continuous movement makes their wintering range dynamic throughout the season. In essence, this movement represents an extension of the quick migration process, albeit at a slower pace, and we have termed this migration pattern ‘foxtrot migration’, drawing an analogy to the alternating fast and slow movements of the foxtrot dance. These results highlight the potential errors in range mapping from single mid-winter surveys and emphasize the importance of this migration pattern in assessing the conservation status of bird species. Understanding this migration pattern could help to correctly estimate bird populations in over-wintering ranges, which is especially important for species that nest in hard-to-reach regions such as the Arctic.
Archaic introgression contributed to shape the adaptive modulation of angiogenesis and cardiovascular traits in human high-altitude populations from the Himalayas
Authors: Ferraretti Giulia , Abondio Paolo , Alberti Marta , Dezi Agnese , Sherpa Phurba T , Cocco Paolo , Tiriticco Massimiliano , Di Marcello Marco , Gnecchi-Ruscone Guido Alberto , Natali Luca , Corcelli Angela , Marinelli Giorgio , Peluzzi Davide , Sarno Stefania , Sazzini Marco
Published: November 2024

It is well established that several Homo sapiens populations experienced admixture with extinct human species during their evolutionary history. Sometimes, such a gene flow could have played a role in modulating their capability to cope with a variety of selective pressures, thus resulting in archaic adaptive introgression events. A paradigmatic example of this evolutionary mechanism is offered by the EPAS1 gene, whose most frequent haplotype in Himalayan highlanders was proved to reduce their susceptibility to chronic mountain sickness and to be introduced in the gene pool of their ancestors by admixture with Denisovans. In this study, we aimed at further expanding the investigation of the impact of archaic introgression on more complex adaptive responses to hypobaric hypoxia evolved by populations of Tibetan/Sherpa ancestry, which have been plausibly mediated by soft selective sweeps and/or polygenic adaptations rather than by hard selective sweeps. For this purpose, we used a combination of composite-likelihood and gene network-based methods to detect adaptive loci in introgressed chromosomal segments from Tibetan WGS data and to shortlist those presenting Denisovan-like derived alleles that participate to the same functional pathways and are absent in populations of African ancestry, which are supposed to do not have experienced Denisovan admixture. According to this approach, we identified multiple genes putatively involved in archaic introgression events and that, especially as regards TBC1D1, RASGRF2, PRKAG2, and KRAS, have plausibly contributed to shape the adaptive modulation of angiogenesis and of certain cardiovascular traits in high-altitude Himalayan peoples. These findings provided unprecedented evidence about the complexity of the adaptive phenotype evolved by these human groups to cope with challenges imposed by hypobaric hypoxia, offering new insights into the tangled interplay of genetic determinants that mediates the physiological adjustments crucial for human adaptation to the high-altitude environment.
Antimicrobial activity of iron-depriving pyoverdines against human opportunistic pathogens
Authors: Vollenweider Vera , Rehm Karoline , Chepkirui Clara , Pérez-Berlanga Manuela , Polymenidou Magdalini , Piel Jörn , Bigler Laurent , Kümmerli Rolf
Published: November 2024

The global rise of antibiotic resistance calls for new drugs against bacterial pathogens. A common approach is to search for natural compounds deployed by microbes to inhibit competitors. Here we show that the iron chelating pyoverdines, siderophores produced by environmental
Pseudomonas
spp., have strong antibacterial properties by inducing iron starvation and growth arrest in pathogens. A screen of 320 natural
Pseudomonas
isolates used against 12 human pathogens uncovered several pyoverdines with particularly high antibacterial properties and distinct chemical characteristics. The most potent pyoverdine effectively reduced growth of the pathogens
Acinetobacter baumannii
,
Klebsiella pneumoniae
and
Staphylococcus aureus
in a concentration- and iron-dependent manner. Pyoverdine increased survival of infected
Galleria mellonella
host larvae, and showed low toxicity for the host, mammalian cell lines, and erythrocytes. Furthermore, experimental evolution combined with whole-genome sequencing revealed reduced potentials for resistance evolution compared to an antibiotic. Thus, pyoverdines from environmental strains have the potential to become a new class of sustainable antibacterials against specific human pathogens.
Visualization of endogenous G proteins on endosomes and other organelles
Authors: Jang Wonjo , Senarath Kanishka , Feinberg Gavin , Lu Sumin , Lambert Nevin A
Published: November 2024

Classical G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling takes place in response to extracellular stimuli and involves receptors and heterotrimeric G proteins located at the plasma membrane. It has recently been established that GPCR signaling can also take place from intracellular membrane compartments, including endosomes that contain internalized receptors and ligands. While the mechanisms of GPCR endocytosis are well understood, it is not clear how well internalized receptors are supplied with G proteins. To address this gap, we use gene editing, confocal microscopy, and bioluminescence resonance energy transfer to study the distribution and trafficking of endogenous G proteins. We show here that constitutive endocytosis is sufficient to supply newly internalized endocytic vesicles with 20–30% of the G protein density found at the plasma membrane. We find that G proteins are present on early, late, and recycling endosomes, are abundant on lysosomes, but are virtually undetectable on the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, and the medial-trans Golgi apparatus. Receptor activation does not change heterotrimer abundance on endosomes. Our findings provide a subcellular map of endogenous G protein distribution, suggest that G proteins may be partially excluded from nascent endocytic vesicles, and are likely to have implications for GPCR signaling from endosomes and other intracellular compartments.
Neuropeptide Bursicon and its receptor-mediated the transition from summer-form to winter-form of Cacopsylla chinensis
Authors: Zhang Zhixian , Li Jianying , Wang Yilin , Li Zhen , Liu Xiaoxia , Zhang Songdou
Published: November 2024

Seasonal polyphenism enables organisms to adapt to environmental challenges by increasing phenotypic diversity. Cacopsylla chinensis exhibits remarkable seasonal polyphenism, specifically in the form of summer-form and winter-form, which have distinct morphological phenotypes. Previous research has shown that low temperature and the temperature receptor CcTRPM regulate the transition from summer-form to winter-form in C. chinensis by impacting cuticle content and thickness. However, the underling neuroendocrine regulatory mechanism remains largely unknown. Bursicon, also known as the tanning hormone, is responsible for the hardening and darkening of the insect cuticle. In this study, we report for the first time on the novel function of Bursicon and its receptor in the transition from summer-form to winter-form in C. chinensis. Firstly, we identified CcBurs-α and CcBurs-β as two typical subunits of Bursicon in C. chinensis, which were regulated by low temperature (10 °C) and CcTRPM. Subsequently, CcBurs-α and CcBurs-β formed a heterodimer that mediated the transition from summer-form to winter-form by influencing the cuticle chitin contents and cuticle thickness. Furthermore, we demonstrated that CcBurs-R acts as the Bursicon receptor and plays a critical role in the up-stream signaling of the chitin biosynthesis pathway, regulating the transition from summer-form to winter-form. Finally, we discovered that miR-6012 directly targets CcBurs-R, contributing to the regulation of Bursicon signaling in the seasonal polyphenism of C. chinensis. In summary, these findings reveal the novel function of the neuroendocrine regulatory mechanism underlying seasonal polyphenism and provide critical insights into the insect Bursicon and its receptor.
YouTube as a source of information in cardiopulmonary resuscitation for 2020 AHA Resuscitation Guidelines
Authors: Yazla Merve , Şafak Tuba , Aksu Şakir Hakan , Savran Kadiriye , Aydogan Rafet Fatih , Arslan Mustafa , Koçak Abdullah Osman , Katipoğlu Burak
Published: November 2024

Background

The Internet has transformed global information access, particularly through platforms like YouTube, which launched in 1995 and has since become the second largest search engine worldwide with over two billion monthly users. While YouTube offers extensive educational content, including health topics like cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and basic life support (BLS), it also poses risks due to potential misinformation. Our study focuses on evaluating the accuracy of CPR and BLS videos on YouTube according to the latest 2020 American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines. This research aims to highlight inconsistencies and provide insights into improving YouTube as a reliable educational resource for both lay rescuers and healthcare professionals.

Methods

In this cross-sectional observational study, English YouTube videos uploaded between October 21, 2020, and May 1, 2023, were searched using keywords related to CPR and basic life support. Videos were assessed for their source, duration, views, use of human or mannequin models, and mean assessment scores by two emergency medicine physicians. A third physician’s opinion was sought in cases of disagreement. The first assessment evaluated video validity based on specified information criteria, while the second assessed their ability to convey advanced medical information aligned with the 2020 AHA guidelines.

Results

In this study, 201 English YouTube videos uploaded between October 21, 2020, and May 1, 2023, were evaluated based on search terms related to CPR and BLS, resulting in 95 videos meeting inclusion criteria after excluding 106 due to various reasons. Most included videos were from healthcare professionals (49.5%), followed by anonymous sources (29.5%) and official medical organizations (21.1%). Video durations ranged widely from 43 to 6,019 seconds, with an average of 692 seconds. Videos featuring mannequins predominated (91.6%), followed by those using human subjects (5.3%) or both (3.2%). Healthcare professional and official medical organization videos scoring significantly higher than those of unknown origin (p = 0.001). Video length did not correlate significantly with view counts, although shorter videos under 5 minutes tended to have higher average views.

Discussion

The results presented in this study demonstrated that English-language videos on YouTube related to BLS and CPR, throughout the study period, did not conform to the 2020 AHA guidelines in terms of providing basic information for lay rescuers. Furthermore, healthcare professionals cannot obtain advanced medical knowledge through these videos. We recommend a professional oversight mechanism in health-related videos that does not tolerate such misinformation.
Exploring the value of hybrid capture-based next-generation sequencing technology in the suspected diagnosis of bloodstream infections
Authors: Liu Xinyuan , Gan Zhitao , Lin Zengshun , Lin Xiaojun , Yuan Jianying , Rong Lili , Chen Jiachang , Liu Jun , Li Yingzhen , Hu Chaohui
Published: November 2024

Background

Determining the source of infection is significant for the treatment of bloodstream infections (BSI). The gold standard of blood infection detection, blood cultures, have low positive rates to meet clinical needs. In this study, we investigated the ability of hybrid capture-based next generation sequencing technology to detect pathogens in peripheral blood samples collected from patients with suspected BSI. Blood cultures and capture sequencing assays were also analyzed against the final clinical diagnoses.

Methods

In this study, peripheral blood samples were collected from patients with fever, chills, and suspected BSI at Jinshazhou Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine from March 2023 to January 2024. All samples were tested by three different technologies: plasma capture sequencing technology, white blood cell capture sequencing technology, and blood culture. Relevant clinical diagnostic information was also collected. The performances of the blood cultures were then compared to those of both plasma capture sequencing technology and white blood cell capture sequencing technology.

Results

A total of 98 patients were included in this study. The positive rates of probe capture next generation sequencing (NGS technology) in plasma and white blood cells were 81.63% and 65.31%, respectively, which were both significantly higher than that of the blood culture, which was 21.43% (p < 0.001). Taking blood culture as the standard control, the sensitivity and specificity of plasma capture sequencing were 85.71% and 71.43%, respectively, while the sensitivity and specificity of white blood cell sequencing were 76.19% and 81.82%, respectively. Upon final clinical diagnosis, the clinical agreement rates of the blood cultures, plasma capture sequencing, and white blood cell capture sequencing were 39.80%, 83.67%, and 73.47%, respectively.

Conclusion

Our study demonstrates the high accuracy of probe capture sequencing technology compared to blood cultures in the identification of pathogenic microorganisms in BSI upon final clinical diagnosis. Among the different sample types, white blood cell samples had a lower clinical compliance rate compared to plasma samples, possibly due to the higher host rate in cell samples, which impairs the sensitivity of pathogen detection.
Investigation of Inflation and Wage Dynamics in Nigeria: New Empirical Insights
Authors: Adeniyi Okeowo Idowu , Oladeji Oladoke Sunday , Zekeri Abu , Olasehinde Isaac Oladapo , Abimbola Adenika Oluwasogo
Published: November 2024

The current inflationary pressure in Nigeria is eroding the purchasing power of the salaried workers and the value of the national currency with the proposition that it could worsen the welfare of the citizens despite the abject and extreme poverty that prevails in the country. The paper therefore made an empirical investigation into the inflation and wage dynamics in Nigeria. The variables were tested for unit roots using ADF tests. The unit roots shows that all the variables are non-stationary at levels except the Consumer Price Index of Transportation (CT) and Wages and Salaried Workers as Proportion of Total Employment (WSW). Employee compensation including remittances (COMP), inflation rate (INFR), WSW and Consumer Price Index of Transportation (CT) are stationary at first difference. Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model was used in the methodology. The ARDL long-run result shows that the Consumer Price Index for Food (CF) has the highest impact on the Compensation of Employees (COMP). For every 1 percent change in COMP, CF changes by 19 percent. As INF rises, COMP falls. This is shown by the negative coefficient of INFR. The long-run result also suggests that for every 1 percent change in COMP, CT increases by 9%.The short-run dynamic model showed that a 6% fall in the lag period of inflation level led to a 1% increase in employee compensation and a one-year previous period fall of 30% in WSW, bringing about I% increase in employee compensation. The long-run model showed that the variables are co-integrated which indicates that variation in the short run will be corrected in the long run with 59% speed of adjustment. The study shows that the main drivers of inflation in Nigeria are Consumer Price Index for Food (CF) and Consumer Price Index for Transportation (CT) which directly have negative impact on Employee Compensation (COMP). In line with the above findings, It was recommended that maximum price legislature, demonetisation of currency, exercising great caution in incurring public debt, drastic reduction in government expenditure and adoption of rational wage policy can be a viable macroeconomic policy option.
Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity of Milk Peptides Released during the Growth of Lactobacilli in Milk
Authors: Angadi Viswanatha , K B Suresha , J N Shashikumar
Published: November 2024

The present study is carried out to evaluate the antibacterial peptides released during the growth of lactobacilli in milk. Among 8 isolates of lactobacilli and yoghurt cultures used for study, the yoghurt culture released the maximum quantity of peptides (90 ± 1.25 µg/ml). When tested for antibacterial activity only yoghurt culture filtrate showed the antibacterial potential. Further, yoghurt culture lysate was prepared, which was used to treat the milk to bring in proteolysis. The supernatant obtained after centrifugation of this treated milk was used to partially purify peptides by gel filtration using Sephadex G-50. One of the three fractions (F2) showed antibacterial activity against test organisms, E. coli, Salmonella sp. and Shigella dysentriae. The peptide fraction was incorporated into curd samples inoculated with different lactic cultures and spiked with E. coli to determine antibacterial activity. It was found that peptide showed a bacteriostatic effect on E. coli, and the viable count of it was almost reduced by two log cycles when compared with the control.
Pharmaceutical Residues in Fishes and Macro Invertebrates around the Wastewater Treatment Plant Site at the University Teaching Hospital of Yaoundé, Cameroon
Authors: E. Tchadji Mayoudom , O. Fossi Tankoua. , Ahidjo Nene , E Tembe Fokunang , M. Mbwe Mpoh , P. Moanono , C. Boudem , F. L. Kengne , S. Zebaze Togouet , C. Fokunang Ntungwen
Published: November 2024

Introduction: Hospital effluents are one of the main sources of dissemination of pharmaceutical residues in hydro system. Worldwide, analyses of these effluents have revealed the presence of various pharmaceuticals. Very few studies assessing the contamination of solid matrices by pharmaceutical residues have been carried out in Africa, specifically in Cameroon.
Objectives: The study aimed to detect pharmaceutical residues in solid environmental matrices at sites around the discharge of the effluent from the Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital.
Methods: Four hundred and fifty-nine (459) macro invertebrates and twenty (20) Nile tilapia were collected in three sampling sites before and beyond the wastewater treatment plant of the Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital. The specimens were conserved in a cooler prior to freeze drying and grinding. The powders were sent for analysis at the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University in South Africa. The analysis was carried out using an ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer.
Results: A total of ninety-nine pharmaceutical residues related to seventeen pharmacological classes were detected in all samples of macro invertebrates (72) and Nile tilapia (55 for fish viscera and 58 for fish flesh) collected. Antibiotics  were the most represented (23.2 %), followed by anti-inflammatory (18.2 %), and anti-parasitics (9.1 %). More than half (53.6 %) of the drug residues detected in the fish samples were of the anti-inflammatory (21,71 %), antihypertensive (17,67 %) and antibiotic (13,13 %) classes. The number of drug residues detected in the macroinvertebrates before the treatment plant (41) was smaller than those detected after the treatment plant (67).
Conclusion: Five therapeutic classes (antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, antihypertensive, antiparasitics and hormones) were mostly represented.These results are in line with the importance of considering diet of fishes and/or humans as an exposure pathway based on the great similarity in pharmaceutical composition between macroinvertebrates and Nile tilapia.
A Computer Aided System for Reservoir Rock Classification
Authors: Susi Abdunaser O. , Saad Elhusain S. , Daoub Ahmed M. , Abuajila Rajab N.
Published: November 2024

This study is mainly aimed to know the reservoir rocks among core specimens that are obtained during the stage of drilling of exploration oil and gas wells by the processing of the image digitally using a Computer-Aided System.
This computerized method has been conducted using two programming languages; Python and Matlab. The Python program is used to segment rock images and classify the extracted features, whereas the MATLAB language has been used to extract intensity features from segmented images. The database used in this project has been collected from two sources, one of them from the Sarier formation (the biggest Libyan oil field) while the second source was from the internet. The images used in this study are sedimentary rocks images, which include sandstone, limestone, and dolomite.
As a result, this study has reached that the system, which was used here is capable of classifying rocks and can be used to classify oil rocks or any other type of rocks. Also, it can be used near the well due to certain conditions such as the absence of experts due to the lack of enough database, the study has only introduced the preliminary results as proof of the concept.
Assessment of Character Association in Pole Type French Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Genotypes
Authors: Mangi Vittal , Evoor Shashikanth , Jawadagi Raveendra S. , Biradar A. P. , Reddy Sanjeevreddy G. , Patil M. D.
Published: November 2024

The present investigation was carried out at Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Vijayapura during Rabi 2022-23. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with two replications. To study the association studies in 32 pole type French bean genotypes. The correlation studies revealed that pod yield per plant was found positively and significantly associated with number of pods per plant (rg=0.668 and rp=0.620), pod length  (rg= 0.526 and rp =0.431), average 10 pod weight (rg= 0.657 and rp = 0.660), number of pods per cluster (rg=0.373 and   rp= 0.344) and number of clusters per plant (rg =0.365 and rp= 0.345) at both genotypic and phenotypic level. The direct selection for these traits would be rewarding for improvement of pod yield per plant in pole type French bean.