bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Academic Supervision and Organizational Culture on Teacher Performance
Authors: Lastri Syahli , Sudarno Sudarno , Sudrajat Ajat
Published: October 2023

Every educational institution has the same goal to improve the quality of education. Teacher performance is one of the important factors in efforts to improve the quality of education, which can be influenced by academic supervision and organizational culture. In fact, the existing problem in the schools so far is that teacher performance is still not optimal. There are still teachers who are incompetent in learning and there are still a number of teachers who cannot maximize their teaching. Hence, the study aims to determine and analyze the effect of academic supervision and organizational culture on teacher performance. The research method is field research with a quantitative approach. The research sample is public junior high school teachers who are civil servants at the Pasir Penyu District in Indragiri Hulu. The research instrument used is a questionnaire. Data collection techniques are observation, interview, and questionnaire. Data analysis techniques consist of quantitative and qualitative analyses. The research results reveal that academic supervision and organizational culture have a significant effect on teacher performance at public junior high schools in Pasir Penyu District with a positive effect direction. Thus, academic supervision and organizational culture factors support each other in maximizing teacher performance.
Implementation of Character Education in Learning Quality Through School Culture in Pangkalan Kerinci
Authors: Juliana Juliana , Zarkasih Zarkasih , Warsihna Jaka
Published: October 2023

This paper investigates the implementation of character education in learning quality through school culture in Pangkalan Kerinci. It is common that more attention should be paid to the moral character of our youth. Such pleas are prevalent in the mass media and in professional forums and are usually justified by data reflecting juvenile delinquency. The research uses a qualitative descriptive approach by involving various stakeholders as participants, including teachers, students, and school administrators. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observations, and document analysis by focusing on the role of school culture in building character education. The research results indicate that the school culture in Pangkalan Kerinci plays an essential role in building character education and learning quality. The findings reveal that schools in the region implemented values-based pedagogical strategies and extracurricular activities, which encouraged positive student behavior and academic achievement. In addition, the collaboration between school staff and parents is proven essential in reinforcing students' character development. The study highlights the importance of a supportive school culture, which supports and nurtures character education and improves learning outcomes.
Profile of Students' Cognitive Learning Outcome Completeness in Biotechnology Learning Through Kahoot-Assisted Game Tournament Teams
Authors: R.A Radif Nur , Minarti Ipah Budi , W.H Eny Hartadiyati , Setiyono Risno
Published: October 2023

Biotechnology material is closely related to the use of biological sciences to support everyday life so the learning process should be implemented in a fun teaching and learning method to enhance students' understanding. The Teams Game Tournament learning model is an appropriate model to create a fun teaching and learning atmosphere for students because based on its implementation the learning is set in the form of a tournament among the students. In terms of its implementation, the Teams Game Tournament that is assisted by Kahoot will further enhance the learning attractiveness. The purpose of the study was to find out the profile of students' cognitive learning outcome completeness in biotechnology learning through the Kahoot-assisted Teams Game Tournament. The research type was a pre-experimental design with a one-shot case study research design. The research subjects involved 36 students of class XII IPA 3 of SMA Islam Sultan Agung 1 Semarang. The research results indicate that students complete biotechnology learning using the Kahoot-assisted Teams Game Tournament model. It is seen from the average score of 84.4, which is above the KKM score of 77. In addition, it is corroborated by data analysis, which indicates that the value of Sig. (2-tailed) is 0.002 <0.05 = α, and tcount > ttable.
The Effect of the Joyful Learning Method on the Third-Grade Students' Learning Outcomes in Mathematics
Authors: Habeahan Selani Julia , Silaban Patri Janson , Ambarawati Nova Florentina , Lumbangaol Rumiris , Tanjung Darinda Sofia
Published: October 2023

Students who have learning difficulty in mathematics learning subjects indicate unsatisfactory learning results and incomplete scores with KKM. The quantitative research method is a research method that is based on positive philosophy used to study the research instruments, and the data analysis is quantitative or statistical in order to test the hypotheses that have been set. The research method used is an experimental research method. The students' mathematics learning outcomes before being given treatment obtained an average value of 50.80. The result of the normality test was 0.128. Hence, it can be concluded that the pretest learning outcomes are normally distributed. The students’ mathematics learning outcomes after being given treatment obtained an average score of 72.69. The normality test result was 0.117. Hence, it can be concluded that the post-test learning outcomes are normally distributed. It can be proven that a correlation coefficient value of 0.846 is in the powerful interference category. The results of the T-test to find out whether the hypothesis is accepted or rejected are seen from the tcount 9,118 ≥ ttable 1,692, which means that there is an effect of Joyful Learning on students’ learning outcomes. Thus, Ha was accepted and Ho was rejected.
The Effect of Genre-Based Approach on Students' Proficiency in Writing Recount Text at Islamic Boarding Schools
Authors: Kusuma Dian , Rini Setia
Published: October 2023

This paper investigates the effectiveness of teaching recount texts using a genre-based approach on Islamic boarding school students. The research adopts a quantitative approach with a pre-experimental method, specifically the One-Group Pre-test-Post-test Design. The sample consists of 10 students from Class VIII of MTs SA Miftahul Huda Pabelan, which was selected based on specific criteria. The data were analyzed using the Paired Sample Test, which resulted in a significance value (Sig.) of 0.000. Based on the predetermined criteria, a significance value below 0.05 leads to the rejection of the null hypothesis (H0) and acceptance of the alternative hypothesis (Ha). In addition, there is a significant difference in the average scores between the Pre-test and Post-test, which were a pre-test mean score of 58.6 and a post-test mean score of 68.6. These findings indicate the effectiveness of the genre-based approach in improving students' skills to write recount texts in the boarding school context. In conclusion, the genre-based approach is effective in enhancing students' writing skills in the recount texts in the boarding school based on the findings.
Tafonomide Uniformitarianizm, Middle-Range Teori ve aktüalistik çalışmalar
Authors: GÜMRÜKÇÜ USLU Merve
Published: October 2023

Biyolojik antropolojide geçmişteki statik ve dinamikler arasındaki ilişkiyi nedensellik çerçevesinde anlamak, geçmiş hakkında anlamlı açıklamalar yapmak için oldukça önemlidir. Birçok bilim insanının yaptığı gibi biyolojik antropologlar da geçmişi teoriler ile açıklamaya çalışırlar. Bu çalışmada geçmişi anlamak için üzerinde durulan paradigmalar olarak uniformitarianizmin ve middle-range teorinin biyolojik antropolojideki ve özellikle tafonomideki yerine ve önemine değinilecektir.
Comparison of Bacterial Diversity in Water Samples of Aquaculture, Aquaponic and Hydroponic System
Authors: Arif Ayesha , Kousar Safina , Aslam Sumaira , Hafeez Muaza , Ambreen Faiza , Tayyab Komal , Andleeb Sadia
Published: October 2023

Aquaponics is the production of aquatic organisms using less water while hydroponic is the production of vegetables and plants without soil. Microbial diversity in these culture systems includes bacteria, protists, fungi, and archaea. Among microbes, bacteria are a pivotal and crucial aspect of aquaponic, aquaculture, and hydroponic system, acts as the bridge connecting the waste of fish to the fertilizer for plants. Current research aims to compare the bacterial diversity in water samples of aquaculture, aquaponics, and hydroponic systems. For this purpose, water samples were taken from aquaculture, aquaponic, and hydroponic system. Aliquots of the samples were used for the isolation of bacterial species based on standard procedures. Colonies were purified after isolation by membrane filtration by twice subculturing using the method of streaking plate. Potential bacterial isolates were characterized and identified up to the specie level by following standard microbiological techniques. Different bacterial species were isolated from water samples during the study include Aeromonas spp., Bacillus spp., Nitrosomnas spp., Nitrobacter spp., Psuedomonas spp., Acinetobacter spp., Enterobacter spp., Streptomyces spp., Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus spp. Bacillus spp. present in all these systems. Nitrosomnas spp. and Psuedomonas spp., show similarity in an aquaponic and hydroponic system. Enterobacter spp., Streptomyces spp., shows similarity in aquaculture and hydroponic system. It is observed that the water was full of beneficial and pathogenic bacteria which exhibited potential impact on the cultured fish and plant species.
EVALUASI PELAKSANAAN PELAYANAN KTP ELEKTRONIK PADA DINAS KEPENDUDUKAN DAN CATATAN SIPIL KABUPATEN POLEWALI MANDAR PROVINSI SULAWESI BARAT
Authors: Hindi St. Asmarani
Published: October 2023

Penelitian ini berfokus pada permasalahan berupa hasil capaian dari rekam data bagi penduduk yang belum melakukan perekaman sebanyak 49.908 warga dari yang seharusnya 303.684 orang yang terbagi ke dalam16 kecamatan. Padahal urgensitas perekaman E-KTP menjadi hal yang wajib dipenuhi sebagai dokumen penting untuk menunjang berbagai kepentingan. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui, menganalis, mengkaji dan mendeskripsikan faktor pendukung dan faktor penghambat implementasi pelaksanaan pelayanan serta upaya mengatasi hambatan dalam pelaksanaan pelayanan KTP Elektronik yang dilakukan oleh Dinas Kependudukan dan Catatan Sipil Kabupaten Polewali Mandar, Provinsi Sulawesi Barat. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah pendekatan kualitatif dengan teknik pengumpulan data berupa wawancara, observasi dan dokumentasi yang selanjutkan akan diolah menjadi data penelitian. Kemudian penelitian dilakukan dengan memperoleh informasi menggunakan model operasionalisasi konsep menggunakan teori evaluasi kebijakan oleh Peter H Rossi dan Howard E Freeman dalam Mulyadi (2016:113). Temuan yang diperoleh penulis dalam penelitian ini yaitu evaluasi pelayanan Dinas Kependudukan dan Catatan Sipil dalam pelaksanaan pelayanan KTP elektronik sudah berjalan dengan baik. Dalam pelaksanaan pelayanan KTP elektronik sudah berjalan dengan baik. Faktor-faktor penghambat pelaksanaan pelayanan KTP elektronik yaitu masyarakat kekurangan informasi, kebersediaan masyarkat masih kurang, sarana dan prasarana yang kurang mendukung sedangkan faktor pendukungnya yaitu kerja sama tim Dinas Kependudukan dan Pencatatan Sipil yang cukup baik sehingga masyarakat ikut mendukung program KTP elektronik. Adapun upaya yang dilakukan untuk mengatasi hambatan dalam pelaksanaan pelayanan KTP elektronik yaitu memaksimalkan penggunaan sarana dan prasarana yang ada, melibatkan seluruh pihak untuk mensosialiasikan KTP elektronik dan memberikan pelayanan yang membuat masyrakat merasa nyaman.

Kata kunci: Pelayanan Publik, KTP Elektronik.
STRATEGI PENINGKATAN KEEFEKTIFAN MAL PELAYANAN PUBLIK PADA PENYELENGGARAAN PELAYANAN ADMINISTRASI KEPENDUDUKAN DI KABUPATEN SUMEDANG MENGGUNAKAN ANALISIS SOAR DAN MATRIKS QSPM
Authors: Nababan Wiranata , Situmorang Elsa Gustini Vinsensia
Published: October 2023

Mal Pelayanan Publik adalah inovasi yang dihadirkan untuk menghubungkan dan mendekatkan  pemerintah daerah  dalam memberikan pelayanan kepada masyarakat. Penyelenggaraan pelayanan administrasi kependudukan di Mal Pelayanan Publik adalah usaha untuk mempermudah, mempercepat agar masyarakat dapat memperoleh pelayanan. Program dan inovasi yang dihadir di Mal Pelayanan Publik sangat mendukung tuntutan dan kebutuhan masyarakat di Kabupaten Sumedang akan tetapi disisi lain terdapat hambatan dan kendala yaitu Masih terbatasnya sumber daya aparatur yang mampu mengoperasikan Informasi dan Teknologi, terbatasnya sarana dan prasana loket untuk pelayanan admnistrasi kependudukan, masih adanya masyarakat yang belum paham penggunaan pelayanan secara online dan yang belum memiliki smartphone, mengatasi masih ada masyarakat yang belum mengetahui syarat untuk membuat dokumen kependudukan di Mal Pelayanan Publik lambatnya pengiriman oleh pihak PT. POS menjadi keluhan masyarakat dan dampak dari pandemi pada pembatasan pelayanan, sehingga ditetapkan kuota harian . Adapun tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk menemukan strategi dalam mengatasi hambatan dan meningkatkan keefektifan Mal Pelayanan Publik Kabupaten Sumedang pada penyelenggaraan pelayanan administrasi kependudukan. Dalam menjawab permasalahan penelitian ini menggunakan analisis SOAR (Stavros, 2010) dan analisis QSPM (David, 2009) untuk menentukan strategi prioritas. Penelitian ini menggunakkan penelitian kualitatif dengan teknik pengumpulan data berupa wawancara dan menyebarkan angket kepada pemangku kepentingan. Hasil dan kesimpulan bahwa alternatif strategi yang menjadi prioritas diperuntukan pada peningkatan kualitas sumber daya aparatur.

 

Kata Kunci : Mal Pelayanan Publik, Strategi, Metode SOAR, Pelayanan Administrasi Kependudukan
Relationship of Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index and Neutrophil-Lymphocyte ratio with Disease Recurrence and Progression risk in Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer
Authors: Gültekin Mehmet Hamza , Caglar Ufuk , Esmeray Abdullah , Erbin Akif , Yanaral Fatih , Baykal Murat , Ozgor Faruk , Sarilar Omer , Akbulut Fatih
Published: October 2023

Objective: Some systemic inflammatory response-based biomarkers are promising for predicting prognosis of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients and can contribute to the risk classification without any significant cost. We aimed to evaluate the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) for the prediction of recurrence and progression risk in patients with NMIBC. Material and Methods: The study included a retrospective analysis of 211 patients who underwent transurethral resection of bladder (TURB) in a tertiary referral center between 2015 and 2019. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the cut-off value. The Kaplan-Meier curves and the log-rank test were constructed to evaluate the recurrence-free and progression-free survival rates according to different levels of inflammatory markers. The multivariate regression analysis was undertaken to estimate the independent prognostic factors. Results: The optimal cut-off value of SII was found to be 568 in the ROC analysis. According to the multivariate analysis, the SII value, number of tumors at the time of initial TURB, and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) recurrence classification were statistically significant parameters in predicting recurrence. While tumor size, NLR, and SII achieved statistically significant levels in the univariate analysis, they didn’t have significance in the multivariate analysis. Conclusion: The SII, number of tumors, and EORTC recurrence classification are prognostic parameters that can be used in the assessment of recurrence. However, inflammatory parameters do not have the same predictive ability in the prediction of the progression rate.
Assessment of Hematological Parameters in the Diagnosis Brucella Epididymorchitis: Comparison of Brucella Epididymorchitis and Non-Brucella Epididymorchitis
Authors: Bulut Dilek , Coşkun Çağrı , Aydın Uğur
Published: October 2023

Objective: To analyze the parameters that can facilitate the differential diagnosis of brucella epididymorchitis (BEO) and non-brucella epididymorchitis (NBEO) and to facilitate early diagnosis. Material And Methods: The data of 23 BEO patients and 80 NBEO patients, who applied in a tertiary center in eastern Turkey, where brucellosis is common, were retrospectively analyzed. Age, hemogram parameters (white blood cell (WBC)), neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil, basophil, platelet, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), mean platelet volume (MPV), red blood cell distribution width (RDW), biochemical parameters (aspartate transaminase and alanine aminotransferase), inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and procalcitonin), urine culture, and scrotal doppler ultrasound findings were analyzed retrospectively and were compared between BEO and NBEO groups. Results: In the comparison of the BEO and NBEO groups, there was a significant difference between the two groups in WBC count, neutrophil count, monocytes count, NLR, MLR, MPV, and procalcitonin levels (p = 0.035, p = 0.007, p = 0.003, p = 0.005, p = 0.01, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: The NLR may be promising for use in the early diagnosis of BEO. The MPV also drew attention as parameters that can be evaluated
Does Depth of Anesthesia Effect Clinical Results of Patients Who Underwent Radical Cystectomy in Accordance with Eras Protocols?
Authors: Emir Nalan Saygı , Karacaer Fatma Çıtak
Published: October 2023

Objective: To investigated whether low and high MAC (Minimum Aleveolar Concentration) level of anesthesia have an effect on the depth of anesthesia, clinical results paremeters in patients underwent radical cystectomy in accordance with ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) protocols Material and Methods: Retrospective data of 41 patients underwent radical cystectomy between 2019-2022 were collected, 35 of them were included. The patients were divided in two groups: Group H (1 MAC, n:18) and Group L (0.5 MAC, n:17). All patients were prepared and managed in line with ERAS protocols. Perioperative and early postoperative parameters including depth of anesthesia which was followed by PSI (Pneumonia Severity Index) and SR (Supression Ratio), preoperative and postoperative 24th hours Mini Mental Test results, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) unit admission and duration and complications were compared. Results: The mean age of the patients (61 and 65 years, in the Group H and L, respectively) were similar (p=0.234) in both groups. PSI was found to be significantly lower in Group H at the 60th, 120th minutes and fascia closure (p=0.004, p=0.001, and p=0.000 respectively). PSI <25 duration was significantly higher in group H (139.0±186.7 and 17.6±54.8 in group H and L, respectively, p=0.001). The duration of SR>0 was significantly higher in Group H (p=0.000). Both anesthesia (474 min) and surgery (432 min) times were significantly higher in Group H (p=0.013 and 0.029 respectivelly). Nausea and vomiting at 12 hours postoperatively was also common in Group H (p=0.008). The rest of parameters that compared were similar, including the minimental test. Conclusion: The MAC values did not significantly affect perioperative and early postoperative outcomes. While high MAC level MAC level generates a deeper anesthesia, low MAC level seems an effective alternative providig a lower inhalation anestesia agent consumption.
Could Renal Tumour Scoring Systems Predict Tumour Aggressivity?
Authors: Özkan Arif , Çilesiz Nusret Can , Kalkanli Arif , Gezmiş Cem Tuğrul , Aydin Memduh
Published: October 2023

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score (RNS), Padua score (PS), Centrality (C)-index and tumour aggressivity in T1 renal tumours and to question whether these scoring systems would provide information about the pathology of renal tumours to manage clinical judgement rather than the anatomy of tumour. Material and Methods: We evaluated 83 patients with stage 1 (T1N0M0) clear cell renal cell carcinoma (cRCC) according to preoperative radiological and pathological staging. Patients were divided according to pathological results of cRCC into two groups: Patients with Fuhrman grade 1 or 2 (FG1-2) (Non-aggresive group (NAG)) and patients with FG3-4 and/or TNM Stage 3 (Aggressive group (AG)). RNS, PS and C-index scores were calculated for each patient. Finally,the relationship between nephrometry scores and pathological aggressivity were compared. Results: The mean RNS was calculated as 7.3±2.4. Total RNS was significantly higher in AG (9.2±1.2) than in NAG (6±2.2) (p<0.001). RNS was an independent predictor of pathological aggressive disease (p<0.001). The cut off value of RNS at the highest area under curve was 8 (p<0.001). The mean PS was calculated as 8.1±1.6. PS was also an independent predictor of pathological aggressive disease (p<0.001). The cut off value of PS at the highest area under curve was 8 (p<0.001). The mean C-index score of AG (1.4 ± 0.4) was significantly lower (p<0.001) than NAG (2.7±2.0). C-index is significant in predicting pathological aggressiveness (p<0.001). Conclusions: Our results suggested that higher RNS and PS scores, lower C-index scores were associated with tumour aggressivity of renal tumours.
Paraganglioma of Urinary Bladder: A Case Report
Authors: Bıçak Tuğcem , Özekinci Selver , Bıçak Yekta , Dağgülli Mansur
Published: October 2023

The majority of bladder lesions are papillary and/or flat-appearing urothelial neoplasms. Neoplasms besides urothelial tumors are very rare. Paragangliomas are rare catecholamine-releasing tumors of sympathetic ganglion or chromaffin cell origin. Approximately 10% of paragangliomas occur in the non-adrenal region, of which 10% are seen in the bladder and constitute 0.05% of all bladder tumors. In a 42-year-old female patient, a 50x43 mm solid mass protruding into the lumen on the left anterolateral aspect of the bladder was observed with necrotic center and increased vascularity on the periphery. The specimens of the TUR material obtained from an external center and our hospital were examined by pathology and diagnosed as paraganglioma. Because of its rarity and confusion with urothelial carcinoma, paraganglioma should always be kept in mind when dealing with bladder tumors.
Current Challenges, Future Opportunities and Potential Impact of Expanded
Administrative Decentralization in Lebanon
Authors: Kachar Simon A.
Published: October 2023

This paper examines policies and their implementation in the
context of Expanded Administrative Decentralization in Lebanon
through different approaches and perspectives.

First, it inspects the available and currently implemented policies
of decentralization in different countries and from different reviews
such as emerging concepts, the rationale for decentralization, the rise
of decentralization, experiences in weak states, poverty alleviation
effect, accountability, municipal innovation, good governance, and
democratization, and economic national, and balanced development.
Then it discusses the results of the research and forms a discussion to
analyze the findings. Then, based on the research and findings through
the study, it presents the implications from different perspectives
regarding infrastructure, demographic, political, economic, and
financial. The role of the ombudsman in a decentralized system is also
discussed. Finally, it answers the two fundamental research questions:
How can expanded administrative decentralization work in Lebanon?
Does Lebanon need expanded administrative decentralization
and why? In conclusion, it is found that decentralization, under
different forms or types, is not an easy concept to implement.
Although Lebanon is in urgent need of decentralization, there are
different basic pillar conditions that need to be implemented, such
as the political will and the conviction that decentralization is a
national and developmental demand, before proceeding with the
undertaking. Many parties, stakeholders, officials, and even people
are still ambivalent as to whether Lebanon needs deconcentration
as a first step or should it directly adopt expanded administrative
decentralization. Although there is a large public voice asking for
decentralization, the reality is that there is a huge lack of awareness
on all levels, and most importantly, goodwill is not a common thread.
A COVID-19 epidemic model with periodicity in transmission and environmental dynamics
Authors: Assan Belthasara , Nyabadza Farai
Published: October 2023

From the beginning of the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), South African data depicted seasonal transmission patterns, with infections rising in summer and winter every year. Seasonality, control measures, and the role of the environment are the most important factors in periodic epidemics. In this study, a deterministic model incorporating the influences of seasonality, vaccination, and the role of the environment is formulated to determine how these factors impact the epidemic. We analyzed the stability of the model, demonstrating that when R0 < 1, the disease-free equilibrium is globally symptomatically stable, whereas R0 > 1 indicates that the disease uniformly persists and at least one positive periodic solution exists. We demonstrate its application by using the data reported by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases. We fitted our mathematical model to the data from the third wave to the fifth wave and used a damping effect due to mandatory vaccination in the fifth wave. Our analytical and numerical results indicate that different efficacies for vaccination have a different influence on epidemic transmission at different seasonal periods. Our findings also indicate that as long as the coronavirus persists in the environment, the epidemic will continue to affect the human population and disease control should be geared toward the environment.
Harnessing dual applications of a novel ascomycetes yeast, Starmerella cerana sp. nov., as a biocatalyst for stereoselective ketone reduction and biosurfactant production
Authors: Kumar Sachin , Verma Nitish Kumar , Basotra Sandal Deep , Sharma Divya , Prasad G. S. , Bhattacharyya Mani Shankar
Published: October 2023

Introduction: New bioresources for catalytic application and fine chemical synthesis are the need of the hour. In an effort to find out new biocatalyst for oxidation-reduction reaction, leading to the synthesis of chiral intermediates, novel yeast were isolated from unique niche and employed for the synthesis of value added compounds.

Methods: To determine the genetic relatedness of the isolated strain, HSB-15T, sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and D1/D2 domains of the 26S rRNA gene sequence was carried out. The distinctive features of the strain HSB-15T were also identified by phenotypic characterization. The isolated strain HSB-15T was employed for the reduction of selected naphthyl ketones to their corresponding alcohols and a biosurfactant was isolated from its culture broth.

Results: The analysis of the ITS and D1/D2 domains of the 26S rRNA gene revealed that strain HSB-15T is closely related to the type strain of Starmerella vitae (CBS 15147T) with 96.3% and 97.7% sequence similarity, respectively. However, concatenated sequences of the ITS gene and D1/D2 domain showed 94.6% sequence similarity. Phenotypic characterization indicated significant differences between strain HSB-15T and its closely related species and consequently, it was identified as a novel species, leading to the proposal of the name Starmerella cerana sp. nov. The strain was able to reduce selected naphthyl ketones to their corresponding alcohols with remarkable efficiency, within a 12-hours. The strain HSB-15T also produced a surfactant in its culture broth, identified as sophorolipid upon analysis.

Discussion: The study explored the potential of the novel strain, HSB-15T, as a whole-cell biocatalyst for the reduction of naphthyl ketones to their corresponding alcohols and also reports its capability to produce sophorolipid, a biosurfactant, in its culture broth. This dual functionality of HSB-15T both as biocatalyst and biosurfactant producer enhances its applicability in biotechnology and environmental science.
Cell type dependent stability and virulence of a recombinant SARS-CoV-2, and engineering of a propagation deficient RNA replicon to analyze virus RNA synthesis
Authors: Wang Li , Guzman María , Muñoz-Santos Diego , Honrubia Jose Manuel , Ripoll-Gomez Jorge , Delgado Rafael , Sola Isabel , Enjuanes Luis , Zuñiga Sonia
Published: October 2023

Engineering of reverse genetics systems for newly emerged viruses allows viral genome manipulation, being an essential tool for the study of virus life cycle, virus-host interactions and pathogenesis, as well as for the development of effective antiviral strategies. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an emergent human coronavirus that has caused the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The engineering of a full-length infectious cDNA clone and a fluorescent replicon of SARS-CoV-2 Wuhan-Hu-1, using a bacterial artificial chromosome, is reported. Viral growth and genetic stability in eleven cell lines were analyzed, showing that both VeroE6 cells overexpressing transmembrane serin protease 2 (TMPRSS2) and human lung derived cells resulted in the optimization of a cell system to preserve SARS-CoV-2 genetic stability. The recombinant SARS-CoV-2 virus and a point mutant expressing the D614G spike protein variant were virulent in a mouse model. The RNA replicon was propagation-defective, allowing its use in BSL-2 conditions to analyze viral RNA synthesis. The SARS-CoV-2 reverse genetics systems developed constitute a useful tool for studying the molecular biology of the virus, the development of genetically defined vaccines and to establish systems for antiviral compounds screening.
Single-cell sequencing and transcriptome analyses in the construction of a liquid–liquid phase separation-associated gene model for rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Tai Jiaojiao , Wang Linbang , Yan Ziqiang , Liu Jingkun
Published: October 2023

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disabling autoimmune disease that affects multiple joints. Accumulating evidence suggests that imbalances in liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) can lead to altered spatiotemporal coordination of biomolecular condensates, which play important roles in carcinogenesis and inflammatory diseases. However, the role of LLPS in the development and progression of RA remains unclear.

Methods: We screened RA and normal samples from GSE12021, GSE55235, and GSE55457 transcriptome datasets and GSE129087 and GSE109449 single-cell sequencing datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus database to investigate the pathogenesis of LLPS-related hub genes at the transcriptome and single cell sequencing levels. Machine learning algorithms and weighted gene co-expression network analysis were applied to screen hub genes, and hub genes were validated using correlation studies.

Results: Differential analysis showed that 36 LLPS-related genes were significantly differentially expressed in RA, further random forest and support vector machine identified four and six LLPS-related genes, respectively, and weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified 396 modular genes. Hybridization of the three sets revealed two hub genes, MYC and MAP1LC3B, with AUCs of 0.907 and 0.911, respectively. Further ROC analysis of the hub genes in the GSE55457 dataset showed that the AUCs of MYC and MAP1LC3B were 0.815 and 0.785, respectively. qRT-PCR showed that the expression of MYC and MAP1LC3B in RA synovial tissues was significantly lower than that in the normal control synovial tissues. Correlation analysis between hub genes and the immune microenvironment and single-cell sequencing analysis revealed that both MYC and MAP1LC3B were significantly correlated with the degree of infiltration of various innate and acquired immune cells.

Conclusion: Our study reveals a possible mechanism for LLPS in RA pathogenesis and suggests that MYC and MAP1LC3B may be potential novel molecular markers for RA with immunological significance.
The roles of T cells in psoriasis
Authors: Zhang Peng , Su Yuwen , Li Siying , Chen Hui , Wu Ruifang , Wu Haijing
Published: October 2023

Psoriasis is a recurring inflammatory skin condition characterized by scaly, red patches on the skin. It affects approximately 3% of the US population and is associated with histological changes such as epidermal hyperplasia, increased blood vessel proliferation, and infiltration of leukocytes into the skin’s dermis. T cells, which are classified into various subtypes, have been found to play significant roles in immune-mediated diseases, particularly psoriasis. This paper provides a review of the different T lymphocyte subtypes and their functions in psoriasis, as well as an overview of targeted therapies for treating psoriasis.
CXCL17 binds efficaciously to glycosaminoglycans with the potential to modulate chemokine signaling
Authors: Giblin Sean P. , Ranawana Sashini , Hassibi Shyreen , Birchenough Holly L. , Mincham Kyle T. , Snelgrove Robert J. , Tsuchiya Tomoko , Kanegasaki Shiro , Dyer Douglas , Pease James E.
Published: October 2023

Introduction

CXCL17 is a mucosally secreted protein, and the most recently identified human chemokine, an assignment based on protein fold prediction and chemotactic activity for leukocytes. However, these credentials have been the subject of much recent discussion and no experimental evidence has been presented regarding the definitive structure of CXCL17. In this study, we evaluated the structural and chemoattractant credentials of CXCL17 to better characterize this molecule, and gain deeper insights into its functional role as a glycosaminoglycan (GAG) binding protein.

Methods

In the absence of structural information, in silico modeling techniques assessed the likelihood of CXCL17 adopting a chemokine fold. Recombinant CXCL17 was synthesized in mammalian and prokaryotic systems. Modified Boyden chamber and real-time chemotaxis assays assessed the ability of CXCL17 to promote chemotaxis of murine splenocytes, human neutrophils, and CXCR1 transfectants. The efficacy of CXCL17 binding to GAGs was quantified with solid-phase assays and bio-layer interferometry techniques

Results

All modeling efforts failed to support classification of CXCL17 as a chemokine based on its predicted conformation. Recombinant CXCL17 was observed to dimerize as a function of concentration, a characteristic of several chemokines. Contrary to a previous report, CXCL17 was not chemotactic for murine splenocytes, although it was a low-potency chemoattractant for human neutrophils at micromolar concentrations, several orders of magnitude higher than those required for CXCL8. As anticipated owing to its highly basic nature, CXCL17 bound to GAGs robustly, with key C-terminal motifs implicated in this process. While inactive via CXCR1, CXCL17 was found to inhibit CXCR1-mediated chemotaxis of transfectants to CXCL8 in a dose-dependent manner.

Discussion

In summary, despite finding little evidence for chemokine-like structure and function, CXCL17 readily bound GAGs, and could modulate chemotactic responses to another chemokine in vitro. We postulate that such modulation is a consequence of superior GAG binding, and that C-terminal fragments of CXCL17 may serve as prototypic inhibitors of chemokine function.
Low levels of peripheral blood activated and senescent T cells characterize people with HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorders
Authors: Kundura Lucy , Cezar Renaud , Pastore Manuela , Reynes Christelle , Deverdun Jérémy , Le Bars Emmanuelle , Sotto Albert , Reynes Jacques , Makinson Alain , Corbeau Pierre
Published: October 2023

Background

HIV infection induces a 75% increase in the risk of developing neurocognitive impairment (NCI), which has been linked to immune activation. We therefore looked for immune activation markers correlating with NCI.

Method

Sixty-five people aged 55-70 years living with controlled HIV-1 infection were enrolled in the study and their neurocognitive ability was assessed according to the Frascati criteria. Fifty-nine markers of T4 cell, T8 cell, NK cell, and monocyte activation, inflammation and endothelial activation were measured in their peripheral blood. White matter hyperintensities (WMH) were identified by magnetic resonance imaging. Double hierarchical clustering was performed for the activation markers and 240 patients including the 65 whose neurocognitive performance had been evaluated.

Results

Thirty-eight percent of volunteers presented NCI. Twenty-four percent of them were asymptomatic and fourteen percent had a mild disorder. Strikingly, activated (HLA-DR+) as well as senescent (CD57+CD28-CD27±) T4 cells and T8 cells were less prevalent in the peripheral blood of participants with NCI than in participants without the disorder. Accordingly, the percentage of HLA-DR+ T4 cells was lower in volunteers with periventricular and deep WMH. The double hierarchical clustering unveiled six different immune activation profiles. The neurocognitive performances of participants with two of these six profiles were poor. Here again, these two profiles were characterized by a low level of T4 and T8 cell activation and senescence.

Conclusion

Our observation of low circulating levels of activated and senescent T cells in HIV-1 patients with NCI raises the interesting hypothesis that these lymphocytes may be recruited into the central nervous system.
tidytcells: standardizer for TR/MH nomenclature
Authors: Nagano Yuta , Chain Benjamin
Published: October 2023

T cell receptors (TR) underpin the diversity and specificity of T cell activity. As such, TR repertoire data is valuable both as an adaptive immune biomarker, and as a way to identify candidate therapeutic TR. Analysis of TR repertoires relies heavily on computational analysis, and therefore it is of vital importance that the data is standardized and computer-readable. However in practice, the usage of different abbreviations and non-standard nomenclature in different datasets makes this data pre-processing non-trivial. tidytcells is a lightweight, platform-independent Python package that provides easy-to-use standardization tools specifically designed for TR nomenclature. The software is open-sourced under the MIT license and is available to install from the Python Package Index (PyPI). At the time of publishing, tidytcells is on version 2.0.0.
Constraining CMIP6 estimates of Arctic Ocean temperature and salinity in 2025-2055
Authors: Langehaug Helene Reinertsen , Sagen Hanne , Stallemo A. , Uotila Petteri , Rautiainen L. , Olsen Steffen Malskær , Devilliers Marion , Yang Shuting , Storheim E.
Published: October 2023

Global climate models (CMIP6 models) are the basis for future predictions and projections, but these models typically have large biases in their mean state of the Arctic Ocean. Considering a transect across the Arctic Ocean, with a focus on the depths between 100-700m, we show that the model spread for temperature and salinity anomalies increases significantly during the period 2025-2045. The maximum model spread is reached in the period 2045-2055 with a standard deviation 10 times higher than in 1993-2010. The CMIP6 models agree that there will be warming, but do not agree on the degree of warming. This aspect is important for long-term management of societal and ecological perspectives in the Arctic region. We therefore test a new approach to find models with good performance. We assess how CMIP6 models represent the horizontal patterns of temperature and salinity in the period 1993-2010. Based on this, we find four models with relatively good performance (MPI-ESM1-2-HR, IPSL-CM6A-LR, CESM2-WACCM, MRI-ESM2-0). For a more robust model evaluation, we consider additional metrics (e.g., climate sensitivity, ocean heat transport) and also compare our results with other recent CMIP6 studies in the Arctic Ocean. Based on this, we find that two of the models have an overall better performance (MPI-ESM1-2-HR, IPSL-CM6A-LR). Considering projected changes for temperature for the period 2045-2055 in the high end ssp585 scenario, these two models show a similar warming in the Mid Layer (300-700m; 1.1-1.5°C). However, in the low end ssp126 scenario, IPSL-CM6A-LR shows a considerably higher warming than MPI-ESM1-2-HR. In contrast to the projected warming by both models, the projected salinity changes for the period 2045-2055 are very different; MPI-ESM1-2-HR shows a freshening in the Upper Layer (100-300m), whereas IPSL-CM6A-LR shows a salinification in this layer. This is the case for both scenarios. The source of the model spread appears to be in the Eurasian Basin, where warm waters enter the Arctic. Finally, we recommend being cautious when using the CMIP6 ensemble to assess the future Arctic Ocean, because of the large spread both in performance and the extent of future changes.
Case report: Cyclophosphamide pulse therapy for chronic recalcitrant erythema nodosum leprosum
Authors: Machado Gustavo U. , Amparo Thiago , Bulhões Flávia , Machado Paulo R. L.
Published: October 2023

Chronic recalcitrant erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) or type 2 reaction (T2R) is a severe condition found in approximately 50% of multibacillary leprosy subjects. T2R is associated with important morbidities and may lead to several disabilities, not only due to nerve damage but also due to the prolonged use of corticosteroids, thalidomide, or immunosuppressors. We describe here four leprosy patients with chronic recalcitrant ENL treated with cyclophosphamide pulse therapy. All subjects had been on prednisone and thalidomide therapy for at least 30 months but showed inflammatory activity when doses were reduced. Pulse therapy with 1.0 g of cyclophosphamide was used every 4–6 weeks for a minimum of three applications. After pulse therapy, all cases presented total or partial regression of symptoms, and we were able to taper thalidomide and prednisone doses, with better control of ENL, avoiding further hospital admissions and disabilities. No side effects were observed during or after infusion therapy. Cyclophosphamide pulse therapy may be useful and safe to control chronic recalcitrant ENL.
Case report: Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria presenting with hemorrhagic esophageal varices
Authors: Du Runsen , Zheng Lihua , Liu Peng , Zhao Yaheng , Yang Yan , Zhang Lei , Zhao Zengren
Published: October 2023

We report the case of a female who was cured of hemorrhagic esophageal varices caused by paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) through transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) treatment. PNH complicated by portal vein and visceral veins thrombosis without hepatic veins is extremely rare, and as such, it is easy to incorrectly treat due to lack of awareness. Hemorrhagic esophageal varices due to PNH with PVT have been reported in one case in 1974, and here, we report the second.
The diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis: advancements in new technologies and machine learning algorithms
Authors: Shi Yi , Zhang Chengxi , Pan Shuo , Chen Yi , Miao Xingguo , He Guoqiang , Wu Yanchan , Ye Hui , Weng Chujun , Zhang Huanhuan , Zhou Wenya , Yang Xiaojie , Liang Chenglong , Chen Dong , Hong Liang , Su Feifei
Published: October 2023

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) poses a diagnostic challenge, particularly impacting vulnerable populations such as infants and those with untreated HIV. Given the diagnostic intricacies of TBM, there’s a pressing need for rapid and reliable diagnostic tools. This review scrutinizes the efficacy of up-and-coming technologies like machine learning in transforming TBM diagnostics and management. Advanced diagnostic technologies like targeted gene sequencing, real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), miRNA assays, and metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) offer promising avenues for early TBM detection. The capabilities of these technologies are further augmented when paired with mass spectrometry, metabolomics, and proteomics, enriching the pool of disease-specific biomarkers. Machine learning algorithms, adept at sifting through voluminous datasets like medical imaging, genomic profiles, and patient histories, are increasingly revealing nuanced disease pathways, thereby elevating diagnostic accuracy and guiding treatment strategies. While these burgeoning technologies offer hope for more precise TBM diagnosis, hurdles remain in terms of their clinical implementation. Future endeavors should zero in on the validation of these tools through prospective studies, critically evaluating their limitations, and outlining protocols for seamless incorporation into established healthcare frameworks. Through this review, we aim to present an exhaustive snapshot of emerging diagnostic modalities in TBM, the current standing of machine learning in meningitis diagnostics, and the challenges and future prospects of converging these domains.
Unveiling the intricate causal nexus between pancreatic cancer and peripheral metabolites through a comprehensive bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Sun Rong , Xu Haoyu , Liu Feng , Zhou Bin , Li Minli , Sun Xiangdong
Published: October 2023

Aim: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a devastating malignancy characterized by its aggressive nature and poor prognosis. However, the relationship of PC with peripheral metabolites remains not fully investigated. The study aimed to explore the causal linkage between PC and peripheral metabolite profiles.

Methods: Employing publicly accessible genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data, we conducted a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. The primary analysis employed the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method. To address potential concerns about horizontal pleiotropy, we also employed supplementary methods such as maximum likelihood, weighted median, MR-Egger regression, and MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO).

Results: We ascertained 20 genetically determined peripheral metabolites with causal linkages to PC while high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) particles accounted for the vast majority. Specifically, HDL particles exhibited an elevated PC risk while VLDL particles displayed an opposing pattern. The converse MR analysis underscored a notable alteration in 17 peripheral metabolites due to PC, including branch chain amino acids and derivatives of glycerophospholipid. Cross-referencing the bidirectional MR results revealed a reciprocal causation of PC and X-02269 which might form a self-perpetuating loop in PC development. Additionally, 1-arachidonoylglycerophosphocholine indicated a reduced PC risk and an increase under PC influence, possibly serving as a negative feedback regulator.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest a complex interplay between pancreatic cancer and peripheral metabolites, with potential implications for understanding the etiology of pancreatic cancer and identifying novel early diagnosis and therapeutic targets. Moreover, X-02269 may hold a pivotal role in PC onset and progression.