bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Profili ricostruttivi della nuova disciplina dei contratti pubblici (D.Lgs. n. 36/2023)
Authors: Manfrellotti Raffaele
Published: December 2023

Il lavoro esprime alcune riflessioni sul nuovo codice dei contratti pubblici. Pre- messa una considerazione generale del sistema delle fonti instauratosi a seguito dell'entrata in vigore del d. lgs. n. 36 del 2003, il lavoro si sofferma sulle finalità dell'atto quali desumibili dai principi generali posti da esso, anche in rapporto alla problematica della causa contrattuale, per soffermarsi poi su alcuni ambiti nei quali è apparsa particolarmente significativa la novità rispetto al codice previgente: ci si è soffermati, in particolare, sul ruolo del RUP e della digitalizzazione. L'analisi si conclude con una disamina del possibile impatto della nuova disciplina nell'ambito del processo amministrativo.
Le procedure negoziate e l'esclusione automatica delle offerte anomale, è davvero una accelerazione e una semplificazione del sistema?
Authors: Zoppolato Maurizio
Published: December 2023

Il nuovo Codice dei contratti pubblici (D.Lgs. 36/2023) rende definitivo il regime emergenziale dell'affidamento dei contratti pubblici sotto soglia, con vistose limi- tazioni alla concorrenza. Da una disamina che muove da dati certi, emerge che la lunghezza dell'affidamento e della esecuzione dei contratti pubblici in Italia non dipende dalla durata delle gare, né dal contenzioso in materia, bensì da lentezze nel passaggio da una fase all'altra, soprattutto nella progettazione. In tal quadro, il Codice sacrifica la concorrenza per perseguire una celerità procedimentale negli affidamenti che non rappresenta un reale fattore; con possibili scompensi di si- stema, anche in termini di (dis-)incentivi agli investimenti.
Testo Unico servizi pubblici locali: nuova trasparenza e accountability delle scelte
Authors: Ballabio Andrea , Bellaera Francesca , Berardi Donato , Casarico Francesca
Published: December 2023

L'atteso riordino della disciplina dei servizi pubblici locali di rilevanza economica ha riportato all'attenzione il dibattito sull'equilibrio tra concorrenza, politiche in- dustriali e regole. Il Testo Unico ha il pregio di aver in parte sistematizzato le di- sorganiche e stratificate previsioni normative e di avere enucleato i princìpi sui quali orientare le azioni in materia: il necessario punto di partenza sul quale inne- stare nuovi percorsi per sostenere lo sviluppo dei servizi pubblici locali. I servizi pubblici a rete necessitano di una governance chiara e di una iniezione di compe- tenze e managerialità: un approccio industriale per stare al passo con le sfide dell'economia circolare e della transizione energetica. Per tradurre efficacemente i princìpi occorre capire come concretamente verranno esercitate le funzioni da parte dei diversi soggetti coinvolti.
La programmazione del personale sanitario in ambito territoriale: una revisione sistematica della letteratura e analisi del contesto italiano in base al PNRR e DM77/2022
Authors: Martini Lorena , Apuzzo Luigi , Pandolfi Daniele , Gabutti Irene , Mantoan Domenico
Published: December 2023

Introduzione. Un'efficace programmazione delle professioni sanitarie è un tassello fondamentale della capacità delle organizzazioni sanitarie e del sistema sanitario di trasformarsi e di raggiungere i propri obiettivi strategici. I professionisti sono considerati la risorsa di maggior rilievo per un adeguato funzionamento del sistema sanità. Obiettivi. Indagare i trend per la pianificazione di personale sanitario (PPS) in ambito territoriale e analizzare il contesto sanitario italiano in seguito all'adozione del PNRR e del DM77/2022. Materiali e metodi. Questa è una revisione sistematica della letteratura. Risultati. Tutti i Paesi nel mondo stanno studiando nuovi metodi per la PPS nel contesto territoriale. Discussioni e conclusioni. La revisione evidenzia la presenza di numerosi approcci e tecniche per effettuare la programmazione, che risulta complessa ed eterogenea, con studi che tendono a definire cornici concettuali di riferimento. Il nostro Paese sta compiendo grandi sforzi nel rafforzare il sistema sanitario territoriale, dando indirizzi comuni per la costituzione delle case e degli ospedali di comunità.
The restoration of the Theatre of Arts Academy in Tirana - Acoustic analysis and design of the new Orchestra pit
Authors: Secchi Simone , Amodeo Veronica , Capanni Fabio , Renzi Riccardo , Tronchin Lamberto
Published: December 2023

The origin of the Theatre of Arts Academy of Tirana dates back to the early 20th Century, based on the design of the Italian architect Gherardo Bosio. It was almost abandoned in the last 20 years and only recently a complete renovation has been undertaken, including the extension of the Orchestra pit. Measurements were carried out at different points in the platea, in the gallery and in the lodges, using both balloon bursting and sine sweep convolution technique. The results of the measurements achieved in each of the areas with the two different techniques were compared with each other and with the reference values given by literature. According to the measurements, the Theatre appears to be rather dull, but is nevertheless listed as one of the best theatres in Albania. Acoustic measurements (monaural and binaural IRs) were then used to calibrate the 3D simulation model and to elaborate the new acoustic design of the Theatre, the most important part of which concerns the reopening of the Orchestra pit, which had been closed and unused for the past decades. The paper briefly reports the history of the Theatre and the most important outcomes of measurements and simulations.
The function of the First Ancient Theatre of Larissa within the soundscape of the contemporary urban fabric
Authors: Chourmouziadou Kalliopi
Published: December 2023

During the process of urban development in Greece a part of the first ancient theatre of Larissa was revealed. Today, after several expropriations and support frameworks, the theatre is fully excavated and partly reconstructed. Recently, an International Open Ideas Competition was launched for the urban regeneration of the surrounding area and the enhancement of the theatre's value and function. This paper presents the historic information of the theatre, it describes its evolution through the centuries, responding to the city's development, it investigates its acoustics based on previous measurements, noise maps, land use and the contemporary soundscape. Moreover, it discusses the competition axes and urban design approaches aiming to identify the effect of the application of design proposals to the theatre's function and future use.
Simulazione acustica di spazi antichi: problematiche e soluzioni
Authors: Martellotta Francesco
Published: December 2023

La ricostruzione acustica di spazi antichi, esistenti in condizioni molto diverse o non più esistenti, sta diventando un'attività sempre più diffusa in diversi campi di ricerca. La disponibilità di diversi software ha portato la simulazione acustica fuori dai laboratori specializzati e ha permesso a un pubblico molto più ampio di sfruttare le loro potenzialità. Tuttavia, come qualsiasi altro strumento di simulazione, l'affidabilità dei risultati deve essere attentamente valutata in quanto dipende da una serie di fattori relativi alla corretta conoscenza del processo di simulazione e delle caratteristiche dell'edificio da simulare.
Storia concettuale della S.P.P. e dell'A.S.P.
Authors: Elia Ciro
Published: December 2023

In questo articolo si descrivono le origini, le motivazioni e gli sviluppi della Scuola di Psicoterapia Psicoanalitica di e dell'Associazione di Studi Psicoanalitici di Milano dal-la loro fondazione ad oggi. In particolare, si illustra l'evoluzione del pensiero della Scuola e dell'Associazione dalle origini ad oggi nel solco del pensiero dei loro comuni Maestri Gaetano Benedetti e Johannes Cremerius).
La musica all'interno della relazione analitica: quando i bambini cantano
Authors: Morselli Cinzia
Published: December 2023

A volte i bambini cantano in seduta. Perché? Allo stesso tempo, non tutti i bambini lo fanno. Perché? Nel tentativo di dare una risposta a queste domande si ripercorre lo sviluppo dal livello embrionale quando ai ritmi corporei si aggiungono i suoni della voce materna che diventano una sorta di pre-concezione dell'oggetto materno, pri-mario. A volte, l'incontro con tale oggetto dopo la nascita è problematico. È così che possono verificarsi problemi nello sviluppo, in particolare nell'area linguistica. Ven-gono presentati due casi clinici: un bambino con una diagnosi di autismo ed un ra-gazzino adolescente con una difficoltà ad usare espressivamente il linguaggio e la propria voce. In entrambi la musica ed il canto in particolare hanno avuto un ruolo importante nel lavoro analitico.
Penolakan Konsep Time Value of Money dalam Ekonomi Islam untuk Menjaga Pertumbuhan Ekonomi Tetap Produktif
Authors: Asnaini Asnaini , B Idwal , Yuningsih Ayu
Published: December 2023

This study aims to reveal that the concept of time value of money in Islamic economics is as a rejection of the practice of interest (usury) or economics that ignores the real sector. The study used qualitative methods of content analysis with secondary data. The results revealed that Islamic economics rejects the concept of time value of money. Money is money, not a commodity. Money should always be positioned as a medium of exchange regardless of changes or additional time. Time cannot be the cause for the increase in the value of money in the past that exists in the present. Additions that are allowed are additional because of both business and social transactions. Additions due to loan contracts that position money as a commodity are strictly prohibited (haram) because they lead to interest (usury) instead of profit (profit). If this happens, it will seriously endanger economic growth. The economy became uncompetitive and the principles in Islamic economics were not fulfilled.
Towards the next generation of species delimitation methods: an overview of Machine Learning applications
Authors: Salles Matheus , Domingos Fabricius
Published: December 2023

Species delimitation is the process of distinguishing between populations of the same species and distinct species of a particular group of organisms. Various methods exist for inferring species limits, with most of them being rooted in Coalescent Theory. Their primary goal is to identify independently evolving lineages that should represent separate species. Coalescent models have improved species delimitation by enabling explicit testing of hypotheses regarding evolutionary independence among lineages. However, they have some limitations, especially regarding complex evolutionary scenarios, large datasets, and varying genetic data types. In this context, machine learning (ML) can be considered as a promising analytical tool, and clearly provides an effective way to explore dataset structures when species-level divergences are hypothesised. In this review, we examine the use of ML in species delimitation and provide an overview and critical appraisal of existing workflows. We also provide simple explanations on how the main types of ML approaches operate, which should help researchers and students interested in the field. While current ML methods designed to infer species limits are analytically powerful, they also present specific limitations and should not be considered as definitive alternatives to traditional coalescent methods for species delimitation. For instance, there are clear limitations regarding the utilisation of simulated data, especially in supervised and deep learning approaches, and the type of data representation used by each ML approach. We then discuss the strengths and weaknesses of existing pipelines, propose best practices for the use of ML methods in species delimitation, and offer insights into potential future applications. Generative adversarial networks and domain adaptation techniques, for instance, could be used to partially address the misspecification issue related to simulating genetic data. Besides, integrating ML methods into the hypothesis testing process, alongside available coalescent-based methods, could enable a more comprehensive exploration of evolutionary models and parameters, improving the accuracy and biological interpretability of species delimitation analyses. Additionally, we suggest guidelines for enhancing the accessibility, effectiveness, and objectivity of ML in species delimitation processes, aiming to offer a transformative perspective on this subject.
The Essence of Religious Conversion in the Perspective of Alfred North Whitehead's Philosophy of Processes
Authors: Yunus Muhammad Yunus , Syamsuddin Mohammad Mukhtasar , Maharani Septiana Dwiputri
Published: December 2023

This study aims to understand the essence of religious conversion from the perspective of Alfred North Whitehead's process philosophy. This type of research is library research. Data sources come from books and journal articles. The collected data is then analyzed by the method of philosophical hermeneutics with elements of personal description and reflection. The study found the following: (1) Religious conversion in the holistic model is a religious change that takes place over time and not a single event. Conversions are influenced by various interrelated variables. (2) In the meaning system model, religious conversion is understood as a change in the meaning system resulting from strong pressure from input factors and weak system elements to resist pressure. (3) Conversion career aproach sees religious conversion as a radical change in individual religion influenced by social, institutional, individual and contingency factors. Religious conversion is one form of an individual's religious participation during this phase of life. Based on the three explanations of religious conversion according to the three paradigms above, this study concludes that the essence of religious conversion from the perspective of process philosophy is the formation of human self-religiosity. The formation of self-religiosity through religious conversion involves two things, namely, datum and subjective aim. Datum is the whole variable selected through the process of prehence, while the subjective aim is the self-image desired by the individual who is forming himself. Religious conversion is a result of human nature as a being that continues to "be." the implication of this finding is the importance of formulating conversion ethics so that the phenomenon of religious conversion does not lead to social disharmony.
DIGITAL MARKETING IN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OF MICRO, SMALL, MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (MSMES) DAPURMAMIMA
Authors: PUSPITA Rani , RAHAYU Cindy
Published: December 2023

In the digital era, every activity should be carried out in a practical and integrated way through the use of technology. Mastery of theory and science must be balanced with mastery of technology and information. Therefore, efforts are made to fulfill and improve the quality of Human Resources (HR). Therefore, it is necessary to hold an activity to provide a solution that can improve the quality of human resources in MSMEs, especially in the culinary sector. This activity aims to improve the quality of Dapurmamima MSMEs with business and technology support, increasing sales which can be used by partners in the culinary sector such as Tumpeng. The method used in this activity is mentoring and training by BINUS University PKM members for Dapurmamima MSME partners. This research goal is that partners will have a new marketing strategy through digital marketing by utilizing social media and business training to increase the competitiveness of Dapurmamima MSMEs. There are four parts to the results of this research, including increasing knowledge about digital marketing for MSMEs, being able to manage a team well, then being able to create a social media platform, and creating a website domain for the needs of increasing MSME business.
İlahiyat Fakültesi Arapça Hazırlık Sınıfı Öğrencilerinin Öğretim Yılı Başında Arapçaya ve Arapça Dersine Dair Düşünce, Beklenti ve Hedefleri (Tekirdağ Namık Kemal Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi Örneği)
Authors: Arpaçukuru Osman , Çeliktaş Hasan Sabri
Published: December 2023

Bu araştırmanın konusu ilahiyat fakültesi Arapça hazırlık sınıfı öğrencilerinin öğretim yılı başında Arapçaya yaklaşımlarını tespit etmektir. Arapçaya yaklaşımları düşünce, beklenti ve hedef kategorilerinde ele alınmıştır. Öğrencilerin özellikle sene başında Arapçaya yaklaşımlarını belirlemedeki amaç, henüz bu eğitimi almadan öğrencilerin nasıl bir yaklaşımla derslere başladıklarını ortaya çıkarmaktır. Araştırma sonunda elde edilecek sonuçların Arapça eğitimi ve öğretiminin iyileştirilmesi yönünde, bu dersi veren öğretim elemanlarına alana ilişkin bir veri sağlayacağı umulmaktadır. Araştırmada nicel araştırma yöntemlerinden tarama deseni kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın örneklemini, Tekirdağ Namık Kemal Üniversitesi İlahiyat Fakültesi’nde 2020-2021 eğitim öğretim yılında Arapça hazırlık eğitimi alan 126 öğrenci oluşturmaktadır. Veriler, yukarıda belirlenen üç kategoride toplamda 18 sorudan oluşan Likert tipi yapılandırılmış görüşme formu ile toplanmıştır. Verilerin analizinde SPSS programından yararlanılmıştır. Araştırmanın sonunda öğrencilerin sene başında Arapça dersine karşı yaklaşımlarına düşünceler ve beklentiler kategorileri hedefler kategorisine göre yüksek oranda olumlu yanıt verdiği görülmüştür. Bu durum öğrencilerin sene başında Arapça hazırlık sınıfına yüksek motivasyonla geldiği şeklinde yorumlanmıştır.
An aptamer and Au/Si CCA based SERS sensor for ultra-sensitive detection of Vimentin during EMT in gastric cancer
Authors: Cheng Lingling , Xu Jianlin , Yuan Hua , Zhao Qihao , Yue Wei , Ma Shuang , Lu Weimin
Published: December 2023

Introduction: In this study, a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensor based on a functionalized Au/Si cap-cone array (Au/Si CCA) was constructed using the identity-release strategy to detect Vimentin changes during epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in gastric cancer (GC).

Methods: The periodic structure of Au/Si CCA, which can form “hot spots” with high density and regular arrangement, is a substrate with excellent performance. Au/Si CCA was functionalized with aptamers as the capture substrate, and Au nanocubes (AuNCs) were modified with 5-carboxyfluorescein (5-FAM) labelled complementary strand as SERS probe. The capture substrate and SERS probe were assembled by hybridization, and the SERS signal intensity of 5-FAM was greatly enhanced. The binding of Vimentin to the aptamer resulted in a broken connection between the SERS sensor Au/Si CCA array and AuNCs, which resulted in a decrease in the signal intensity of 5-FAM. The identity-release strategy requires only a simple step of reaction to achieve rapid detection of target proteins, which has clinical practicability.

Results: Using this protocol, the concentration of Vimentin in GES-1 cells could be successfully detected, and the detection limit was as low as 4.92 pg/mL. Biological experiments of Vincristine, Oncovin (VCR)-treated GES-1 cells effectively mimicked the EMT process, and Vimentin changes during EMT could be accurately detected by this method.

Discussion: This study provides a selective, ultra-sensitive and accurate assay for Vimentin detection, which may provide a means for the future detection of EMT process in GC.
Decentralized autonomous organization design for the commons and the common good
Authors: Van Vulpen Paul , Jansen Slinger
Published: December 2023

The current internet economy is characterised by a historically unprecedented bundling of private sector power over infrastructures. This situation is harmful for overcoming problems where collective action is needed, such as for governing digital commons. Organisations that run on collectively owned decentralised infrastructure are able to overcome this centralisation of power. These common decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs) could help in fostering digitally enabled collective action. However, currently we have no clear view of how a DAO designed for commons governance would operate and be governed. By creating a conceptual prototype of a DAO governing a common, we provide a clear path of how common DAOs should mature and which tools are needed to create them. In this research, we created a governance framework for common DAOs by combining 16 works on technology for commons governance. The framework reveals that common DAO governance consists of three areas: 1) Governance structure, 2) Enabling technology, and 3) Community governance. We provide governance mechanisms that together describe an implementation of Ostrom’s common governance principles in a DAO. This work is a synthesis of previous research on technology for collective action. The proposed framework aids in standardising DAO governance for the common good and may contribute to a large scale roll-out of commons DAOs.
CONNECTED: leveraging digital twins and personal knowledge graphs in healthcare digitalization
Authors: Carbonaro Antonella , Marfoglia Alberto , Nardini Filippo , Mellone Sabato
Published: December 2023

Healthcare has always been a strategic domain in which innovative technologies can be applied to increase the effectiveness of services and patient care quality. Recent advancements have been made in the adoption of Digital Twins (DTs) and Personal Knowledge Graphs (PKGs) in this field. Despite this, their introduction has been hindered by the complex nature of the context itself which leads to many challenges both technical and organizational. In this article, we reviewed the literature about these technologies and their integrations, identifying the most critical requirements for clinical platforms. These latter have been used to design CONNECTED (COmpreheNsive and staNdardized hEalth-Care plaTforms to collEct and harmonize clinical Data), a conceptual framework aimed at defining guidelines to overcome the crucial issues related to the development of healthcare applications. It is structured in a multi-layer shape, in which heterogeneous data sources are first integrated, then standardized, and finally used to realize general-purpose DTs of patients backed by PKGs and accessible through dedicated APIs. These DTs will be the foundation on which smart applications can be built.
Fast but transient recovery of aquatic and terrestrial communities after a large dam removal
Authors: Dézerald Olivier , Roussel Jean-Marc , Lanoë Elven , Beauverger Thibaut , Bazin Alan , Rodríguez-Pérez Héctor , Dufour Simon , Bernez Ivan , Piscart Christophe
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Ecological restoration through dam removals receives increasing attention from scientists, environmental managers and policy makers. However, most dam removal projects focus on small structures (< 10 m in height) and on few ecosystem compartments at a time (e.g. river morphology, reservoir sedimentation, aquatic invertebrates, terrestrial vegetation), but rarely aquatic and riparian ecosystems simultaneously.

Methods

We explored the joint taxonomic recovery (temporal patterns in α- and β-diversity) of three communities after the removal of the Vezins dam (36 m in height; Sélune River, France): aquatic benthic invertebrates, riparian invertebrates, and the riparian vegetation. These communities were monitored yearly, during three years after the dam removal, on sites located within (n = 3; restored sites) and outside (n = 3; two upstream and one downstream; non-impounded sites) the former reservoir.

Results

Results showed a fast recovery of the three ecological communities, as patterns in α-diversity between restored and non-impounded sites were not necessarily different from each other 1.5 years after complete reservoir dewatering. The mean number of species or morphospecies (± standard deviation) reached up to 28.2 ± 5.2, 17.0 ± 2.3 and 77.5 ± 11.2 for the aquatic invertebrates, and the riparian vegetation and invertebrates, respectively. Relative to the sampled area, the riparian invertebrates were the most diversified of all ecological communities with > 500 taxa (i.e., pooling all sites and years). In addition, in some restored sites, α-diversity kept increasing over time while species turnover (β-diversity) remained high after three years for all ecological communities suggesting a transient recovery (i.e., still facing temporal changes in species diversity and composition). This recovery was mediated by the identity of the ecological community as inter-annual changes in α- and β-diversity of the riparian vegetation were less pronounced compared to those of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates. This recovery depended also on site-specific features as the most distant restored site from the former dam had more time for recovery following the slow reservoir dewatering and through increased sedimentation in the downstream site.

Discussion

Differential patterns of recovery in α- and β-diversity found in this study are discussed in light of species functional traits and ecosystem functioning.
Carbon balance of forest management and wood production in the boreal forest of Quebec (Canada)
Authors: Giasson Louis-Alexandre , Thiffault Evelyne , Lebel Luc , Carle Jean-François
Published: December 2023

Management of boreal forests can increase terrestrial carbon sinks and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the atmosphere. A case study was conducted in the boreal balsam fir forests of Quebec (Canada), a commercially important region for forestry, to identify optimal management and wood production solutions that contribute to reducing GHG emissions to the atmosphere. Scenarios were based on a steady level of harvest and silvicultural activities over time and a stable flow of wood products to markets. Scenarios included: increases and decreases in the volume of harvested timber; the transition of harvesting activities from clearcuts (the most common practice in the region) to partial cuts; and changes in the rate of natural regeneration (the usual mode of regeneration) vs. plantations. All scenarios provided a carbon sink regardless of the time frame. Compared with other scenarios, reducing harvest levels increased the forest carbon sink in the short (10 to 20 years) and medium (20 to 50 years) terms. Also, for a similar harvest level, the increased use of partial cutting and planting increased the forest carbon sink. In the long term (over 50 years), strategies with low harvesting levels resulted in lower ecosystem carbon sequestration, even though they still had the lowest cumulative emissions. Nevertheless, higher harvesting levels could not be justified because the long-term increase in the forest ecosystem carbon sink could not offset higher emissions from wood products, particularly from short-lived paper products. Sensitivity analyses showed that improving sawmill efficiency and thus increasing the proportion of long-lived products was an important factor that can greatly reduce emissions. On the other hand, transportation distances between forest stands and sawmills had a relatively marginal impact on the overall carbon balance of forest management and wood production scenarios.
The impact of a blended multidisciplinary training for the management of obstetric haemorrhage in Mbeya, Tanzania
Authors: Mbwele Bernard , Twaha Amani , Maksym Kasia , Caputo Matthew , Mkenda Delfina D. , Halpern Helen , Berney Sylvia , Kaminyoge Elias A. , Kaminyoge Mpoki S. , Kaler Mandeep , Sobhy Soha , Hillman Sara L.
Published: December 2023

Background

The Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) in Tanzania is 78 times higher than that of the UK. Obstetric haemorrhage accounts for two-thirds of these deaths in Mbeya, Tanzania. A lack of healthcare providers' (HCPs') competencies has been the key attribute. This study measured the impact on HCP's competencies from a blended training programme on obstetric haemorrhage.

Methods

A “before and after” cohort study was undertaken with HCPs in 4 hospitals in the Mbeya region of Tanzania between August 2021 and April 2022. A multidisciplinary cohort of 34 HCPs (doctors, nurses, midwives, anaesthetists and radiologists) were enrolled on a blended face-to-face and virtual training course. The training was delivered by a multidisciplinary team (MDT) from London, UK, assisted by local multidisciplinary trainers from Mbeya, Tanzania and covered anaesthetic, obstetrics, haematology and sonographic use.

Results

There were 33 HCP in the cohort of trainees where 30/33 (90.9%) of HCPs improved their Anaesthesia skills with a mean score improvement of 26% i.e., 0.26 (−0.009 −0.50), 23 HCPs (69.7%) improved obstetric skills 18% i.e., 0.18 (−0.16 to 0.50), 19 (57.6%), (57.6%) improved competences in Haematology 15%.i.e., 0.15 (−0.33 to 0.87), 20 out of 29 HCPs with ultrasound access (68.8%) improved Sonographic skills 13%.i.e., 0.13 (−0.31 to 0.54). All 33 HCPs (100%) presented a combined change with the mean score improvement of difference of 25% i.e., 0.25 (0.05–0.66). The deaths attributed to obstetric haemorrhage, the mortality rate declined from 76/100,000 to 21/100,000 live births. Actual number of deaths due to obstetric haemorrhage declined from 8 before training to 3 after the completion of the training.

Conclusion

This comprehensive blended training on anaesthetic surgical, haematological, and sonographic management of obstetric haemorrhage delivers a significant positive impact on the detection, management and outcomes of obstetric haemorrhage.
CAR-T cell immunotherapy for ovarian cancer: hushing the silent killer
Authors: Nasiri Fatemeh , Farrokhi Khadijeh , Safarzadeh Kozani Pouya , Mahboubi Kancha Maral , Dashti Shokoohi Setareh , Safarzadeh Kozani Pooria
Published: December 2023

As the most lethal gynecologic oncological indication, carcinoma of the ovary has been ranked as the 5th cause of cancer-related mortality in women, with a high percentage of the patients being diagnosed at late stages of the disease and a five-year survival of ~ 30%. Ovarian cancer patients conventionally undergo surgery for tumor removal followed by platinum- or taxane-based chemotherapy; however, a high percentage of patients experience tumor relapse. Cancer immunotherapy has been regarded as a silver lining in the treatment of patients with various immunological or oncological indications; however, mirvetuximab soravtansine (a folate receptor α-specific mAb) and bevacizumab (a VEGF-A-specific mAb) are the only immunotherapeutics approved for the treatment of ovarian cancer patients. Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has achieved tremendous clinical success in the treatment of patients with certain B-cell lymphomas and leukemias, as well as multiple myeloma. In the context of solid tumors, CAR-T therapies face serious obstacles that limit their therapeutic benefit. Such hindrances include the immunosuppressive nature of solid tumors, impaired tumor infiltration, lack of qualified tumor-associated antigens, and compromised stimulation and persistence of CAR-Ts following administration. Over the past years, researchers have made arduous attempts to apply CAR-T therapy to ovarian cancer. In this review, we outline the principles of CAR-T therapy and then highlight its limitations in the context of solid tumors. Ultimately, we focus on preclinical and clinical findings achieved in CAR-T-mediated targeting of different ovarian cancer-associated target antigens.
Artificial intelligence-based spatio-temporal vision sensors: applications and prospects
Authors: Li Zhixue , Sun Hongwei
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Advances in machine vision and mobile electronics will be accelerated by the creation of sophisticated optoelectronic vision sensors that allow for sophisticated picture recognition of visual information and data pre-processing. Several new types of vision sensors have been devised in the last decade to solve these drawbacks, one of which is neuromorphic vision sensors, which have exciting qualities such as high temporal resolution, broad dynamic range, and low energy consumption. Neuromorphic sensors are inspired by the working principles of biological sensory neurons and would be useful in telemedicine, health surveillance, security monitoring, automatic driving, intelligent robots, and other applications of the Internet of Things.

Methods: This paper provides a comprehensive review of various state-of-the-art AI vision sensors and frameworks.

Results: The fundamental signal processing techniques deployed and the associated challenges were discussed.

Discussion: Finally, the role of vision sensors in computer vision is also discussed.
Concern regarding H3-subtype avian influenza virus
Authors: Yu Jiantao , Yao Qiucheng , Liu Jing , Zhou Yan , Huo Miaotong , Ge Ye
Published: December 2023

The H3-subtype of avian influenza virus (AIV) is one of the most frequently detected low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV) subtypes in birds and fowls, causing substantial economic loss to the poultry industry. Most importantly, besides poultry, mammals could also be infected with it, such as swines, canines, equines, felines, and humans, posing a serious public health threat. This allows the virus to persist widely in poultry and wild birds for a long time, where it may mix with other subtypes, providing conditions for viral recombination or reassortment. Currently, the monitoring of H3-subtype AIV is inadequate, and there is a lack of effective prevention and control measures for H3-subtype AIV. Here, the epidemiology, phylogeny, and genetic variation of H3-subtype AIV were analyzed, and nonsynonymous and synonymous substitution rates (dN/dS) were calculated. Through these steps, we aimed to clarify the current epidemiological feature and evolutionary characteristics of H3-subtype AIV, and provide an operative reference for future scientific control of H3-subtype AIV.
Misfolding of fukutin-related protein (FKRP) variants in congenital and limb girdle muscular dystrophies
Authors: Esapa Christopher T. , McIlhinney R. A. Jeffrey , Waite Adrian J. , Benson Matthew A. , Mirzayan Jasmin , Piko Henriett , Herczegfalvi Ágnes , Horvath Rita , Karcagi Veronika , Walter Maggie C. , Lochmüller Hanns , Rizkallah Pierre J. , Lu Qi L. , Blake Derek J.
Published: December 2023

Fukutin-related protein (FKRP, MIM ID 606596) variants cause a range of muscular dystrophies associated with hypo-glycosylation of the matrix receptor, α-dystroglycan. These disorders are almost exclusively caused by homozygous or compound heterozygous missense variants in the FKRP gene that encodes a ribitol phosphotransferase. To understand how seemingly diverse FKRP missense mutations may contribute to disease, we examined the synthesis, intracellular dynamics, and structural consequences of a panel of missense mutations that encompass the disease spectrum. Under non-reducing electrophoresis conditions, wild type FKRP appears to be monomeric whereas disease-causing FKRP mutants migrate as high molecular weight, disulfide-bonded aggregates. These results were recapitulated using cysteine-scanning mutagenesis suggesting that abnormal disulfide bonding may perturb FKRP folding. Using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, we found that the intracellular mobility of most FKRP mutants in ATP-depleted cells is dramatically reduced but can, in most cases, be rescued with reducing agents. Mass spectrometry showed that wild type and mutant FKRP differentially associate with several endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident chaperones. Finally, structural modelling revealed that disease-associated FKRP missense variants affected the local environment of the protein in small but significant ways. These data demonstrate that protein misfolding contributes to the molecular pathophysiology of FKRP-deficient muscular dystrophies and suggest that molecules that rescue this folding defect could be used to treat these disorders.
Advancing early relational health: a collaborative exploration of a research agenda
Authors: Dumitriu Dani , Lavallée Andréane , Riggs Jessica L. , Frosch Cynthia A. , Barker Tyson V. , Best Debra L. , Blasingame Brenda , Bushar Jessica , Charlot-Swilley Dominique , Erickson Elizabeth , Finkel Morgan A. , Fortune Bryn , Gillen Leah , Martinez Marty , Ramachandran Usha , Sanders Lee M. , Willis David W. , Shearman Nikki
Published: December 2023

Here, we introduce the Early Relational Health (ERH) Learning Community's bold, large-scale, collaborative, data-driven and practice-informed research agenda focused on furthering our mechanistic understanding of ERH and identifying feasible and effective practices for making ERH promotion a routine and integrated component of pediatric primary care. The ERH Learning Community, formed by a team of parent/caregiver leaders, pediatric care clinicians, researchers, and early childhood development specialists, is a workgroup of Nurture Connection—a hub geared toward promoting ERH, i.e., the positive and nurturing relationship between young children and their parent(s)/caregiver(s), in families and communities nationwide. In response to the current child mental health crisis and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement promoting ERH, the ERH Learning Community held an in-person meeting at the AAP national headquarters in December 2022 where members collaboratively designed an integrated research agenda to advance ERH. This agenda weaves together community partners, clinicians, and academics, melding the principles of participatory engagement and human-centered design, such as early engagement, co-design, iterative feedback, and cultural humility. Here, we present gaps in the ERH literature that prompted this initiative and the co-design activity that led to this novel and iterative community-focused research agenda, with parents/caregivers at the core, and in close collaboration with pediatric clinicians for real-world promotion of ERH in the pediatric primary care setting.
The nitrogen-dependent GABA pathway of tomato provides resistance to a globally invasive fruit fly
Authors: Li Hao , Zhang Yuan , Li Hu , V. P. Reddy Gadi , Li Zhihong , Chen Fajun , Sun Yucheng , Zhao Zihua
Published: December 2023

Introduction

The primary metabolism of plants, which is mediated by nitrogen, is closely related to the defense response to insect herbivores.

Methods

An experimental system was established to examine how nitrogen mediated tomato resistance to an insect herbivore, the oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis). All tomatoes were randomly assigned to the suitable nitrogen (control, CK) treatment, nitrogen excess (NE) treatment and nitrogen deficiency (ND) treatment.

Results

We found that nitrogen excess significantly increased the aboveground biomass of tomato and increased the pupal biomass of B. dorsalis. Metabolome analysis showed that nitrogen excess promoted the biosynthesis of amino acids in healthy fruits, including γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), arginine and asparagine. GABA was not a differential metabolite induced by injury by B. dorsalis under nitrogen excess, but it was significantly induced in infested fruits at appropriate nitrogen levels. GABA supplementation not only increased the aboveground biomass of plants but also improved the defensive response of tomato.

Discussion

The biosynthesis of GABA in tomato is a resistance response to feeding by B. dorsalis in appropriate nitrogen, whereas nitrogen excess facilitates the pupal weight of B. dorsalis by inhibiting synthesis of the GABA pathway. This study concluded that excess nitrogen inhibits tomato defenses in plant-insect interactions by inhibiting GABA synthesis, answering some unresolved questions about the nitrogen-dependent GABA resistance pathway to herbivores.
Genetic architecture of adult-plant resistance to stripe rust in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) association panel
Authors: Atsbeha Genet , Mekonnen Tilahun , Kebede Mulugeta , Haileselassie Teklehaimanot , Goodwin Stephen B. , Tesfaye Kassahun
Published: December 2023

Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, is a severe disease in wheat worldwide, including Ethiopia, causing up to 100% wheat yield loss in the worst season. The use of resistant cultivars is considered to be the most effective and durable management technique for controlling the disease. Therefore, the present study targeted the genetic architecture of adult plant resistance to yellow rust in 178 wheat association panels. The panel was phenotyped for yellow rust adult-plant resistance at three locations. Phonological, yield, yield-related, and agro-morphological traits were recorded. The association panel was fingerprinted using the genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) platform, and a total of 6,788 polymorphic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used for genome-wide association analysis to identify effective yellow rust resistance genes. The marker-trait association analysis was conducted using the Genome Association and Prediction Integrated Tool (GAPIT). The broad-sense heritability for the considered traits ranged from 74.52% to 88.64%, implying the presence of promising yellow rust resistance alleles in the association panel that could be deployed to improve wheat resistance to the disease. The overall linkage disequilibrium (LD) declined within an average physical distance of 31.44 Mbp at r2 = 0.2. Marker-trait association (MTA) analysis identified 148 loci significantly (p = 0.001) associated with yellow rust adult-plant resistance. Most of the detected resistance quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were located on the same chromosomes as previously reported QTLs for yellow rust resistance and mapped on chromosomes 1A, 1B, 1D, 2A, 2B, 2D, 3A, 3B, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4D, 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, 7A, and 7D. However, 12 of the discovered MTAs were not previously documented in the wheat literature, suggesting that they could represent novel loci for stripe rust resistance. Zooming into the QTL regions in IWGSC RefSeq Annotation v1 identified crucial disease resistance-associated genes that are key in plants’ defense mechanisms against pathogen infections. The detected QTLs will be helpful for marker-assisted breeding of wheat to increase resistance to stripe rust. Generally, the present study identified putative QTLs for field resistance to yellow rust and some important agronomic traits. Most of the discovered QTLs have been reported previously, indicating the potential to improve wheat resistance to yellow rust by deploying the QTLs discovered by marker-assisted selection.
Antiviral activity of chrysin and naringenin against porcine epidemic diarrhea virus infection
Authors: Gong Mengfei , Xia Xuemei , Chen Dishi , Ren Yupeng , Liu Yutong , Xiang Hua , Li Xiaohuan , Zhi Yupeng , Mo Yu
Published: December 2023

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is one of the critical pathogens causing diarrhea in piglets and has caused huge economic losses to the swine industry in worldwide. However, there is currently no effective therapeutic medication available for the treatment of PEDV. Natural compounds are a hot topic for researching and screening antiviral lead compounds due to their abundant sources, varied activities, and low toxicity. In this study, a total of 6 compounds from different plant sources were selected for in vitro anti-PEDV screening, including chrysin, naringenin, soy isoflavone, glycyrrhetinic acid, oleanolic acid, and geniposide. Then two active compounds, chrysin and naringenin, were further evaluated on PEDV infected cells at different stage. And the anti-PEDV mechanism was analyzed by molecule docking and molecular dynamics. The results showed that both chrysin and naringenin showed the most significant anti-PEDV activity by increasing the cell viability and decreasing the virus copy number. Both natural compounds could inhibit viral titer, mRNA and protein levels in the prophylactic and post-viral entry stages of PEDV infection. Furthermore, chrysin and naringenin mainly interacted with viral replicase proteins such as 3CLpro and PLP-2 through hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic forces. The complexes formed by chrysin and naringenin with the two PEDV replication proteases had high stability. These results suggested that chrysin and naringenin may exert antiviral effects by interacting with the virus 3CLpro protein or PLP2 protein, thereby affecting their role in the formation of PEDV non-structural proteins or interfering with virus replication. This study lays the foundation for developing chrysin and naringenin as novel anti-PEDV therapeutic drugs.
The Impact of UFP-512 in Mice with Osteoarthritis Pain: The Role of Hydrogen Sulfide
Authors: Batallé Gerard , Bai Xue , Balboni Gianfranco , Pol Olga
Published: December 2023

The pain-relieving properties of opioids in inflammatory and neuropathic pain are heightened by hydrogen sulfide (H2S). However, whether allodynia and functional and/or emotional impairments related to osteoarthritis (OA) could be reduced by activating δ-opioid receptors (DOR) and the plausible influence of H2S on these actions has not been completely established. In female C57BL/6J mice with OA pain generated via monosodium acetate (MIA), we analyze: (i) the effects of UFP-512 (a DOR agonist), given alone and co-administered with two H2S donors, on the symptoms of allodynia, loss of grip strength (GS), and anxiodepressive-like comportment; (ii) the reversion of UFP-512 actions with naltrindole (a DOR antagonist), and (iii) the impact of UFP-512 on the expression of phosphorylated NF-kB inhibitor alpha (p-IKBα) and the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD-1) and glutathione sulfur transferase M1 (GSTM1); and the effects of H2S on DOR levels in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG), amygdala (AMG), and hippocampus (HIP) of MIA-injected animals. Results showed that systemic and local administration of UFP-512 dose-dependently diminished the allodynia and loss of GS caused by MIA, whose effects were potentiated by H2S and reversed by naltrindole. UFP-512 also inhibited anxiodepressive-like behaviors, normalized the overexpression of p-IKBα in DRG and HIP, and enhanced the expression of SOD-1 and GSTM1 in DRG, HIP, and/or AMG. Moreover, the increased expression of DOR triggered by H2S might support the improved analgesic actions of UFP-512 co-administered with H2S donors. This study proposes the use of DOR agonists, alone or combined with H2S donors, as a new treatment for OA pain.
Diet and Aging: The Role of Polyphenol-Rich Diets in Slow Down the Shortening of Telomeres: A Review
Authors: D’Angelo Stefania
Published: December 2023

The ends of human chromosomes are defended by DNA–protein complexes named telomeres, which inhibit the chromosomes from fusing with each other and from being known as a double-strand break by DNA reparation proteins. Telomere length is a marker of biological aging, and disfunction of telomeres is related to age-related syndromes. Telomere attrition has been shown to be accelerated by oxidative stress and inflammation. Telomere length has been proven to be positively linked with nutritional status in human and animal scientific research as several nutrients influence it through mechanisms that imitate their function in cellular roles including oxidative stress and inflammation. Data reported in this article support the idea that following a low-in-fat and rich-plant polyphenols food diet seems to be able to slow down the shortening of telomeres.