bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does Good Corporate Governance contribute to Tax Aggressiveness in the Banking Sector
Authors: Novitasari Sofia , Aldian Idrayahya Esa , Wahyuningtiyas Dicka , Anjelita Shera , Amrulloh Amri
Published: June 2024

This study aims to determine how much influence good corporate governance is measured by the gender of the board of commissioners, the quality of external auditors and institutional ownership on tax aggressiveness. This research was conducted on banking companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2020-2022. This study used quantitative methods with purposive sampling techniques with a total sample number of 69. The analysis methods used in this study are classical assumption test and multiple linear regression analysis with SPSS Statistics 22 tool. The results of this study show that the gender of the board of commissioners, the quality of external auditors and institutional ownership do not affect tax aggressiveness. The limitations of this study include limited independent variables, auditor quality measurement is not optimal, supporting theory references are limited, and many companies do not provide complete information, so the research sample is reduced. Researchers suggest adding independent variables, avoiding dummy variables in measuring the quality of external auditors, as well as increasing the research period for stronger analysis.
Analisis Efektivitas Penggunaan E-Learning Management System Berbasis Moodle dalam Pembelajaran Siswa
Authors: Afrianti Rahayu Diah , Surya Laksana Mugi
Published: June 2024

Penelitian ini mengkaji tentang pengaruh penggunaan sistem manajemen pembelajaran “LMS” terhadap siswa. Berbasis Moodle untuk pembelajaran siswa. Penelitian ini menggunakan metodologi Systematic Literature Review (SLR) untuk mengumpulkan, menganalisis, dan mengevaluasi data dari berbagai jurnal yang relevan untuk mengetahui dampak Moodle terhadap proses pembelajaran. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa Moodle sebagai LMS dapat meningkatkan hasil belajar, engagement, dan partisipasi siswa. Selain itu, penelitian ini menemukan bahwa mengintegrasikan Moodle dengan metode pembelajaran tatap muka diperlukan untuk menciptakan interaksi sosial yang efektif. Hasil ini memberikan wawasan berharga bagi praktisi pendidikan dan pengambil kebijakan dalam mengoptimalkan pemanfaatan teknologi pendidikan. Oleh karena itu, penelitian ini memberikan kontribusi signifikan terhadap pemahaman kita tentang bagaimana LMS, dan Moodle khususnya, dapat digunakan untuk mendukung kebutuhan pendidikan yang terus berkembang.
Specialpedagogisk forskning med förskollärarstudenter som medforskare och medförfattare: en pilotstudie
Authors: Lindblom Anne , Falk Marika
Published: June 2024

Förskollärarutbildningen har en viktig uppgift i att ge studenter möjligheter att utveckla sina förmågor att kritiskt granska forskning och omsätta den i det praktiska arbetet i sitt kommande yrke. Den beprövade erfarenhet som finns hos förskollärare på fältet kompletterar och informerar forskningen. Inom det specialpedagogiska forskningsfältet finns behov av forskning i och om förskolan. I syfte att konstruera en modell för specialpedagogisk forskning med förskollärarstudenter som medforskare och medförfattare gjordes en pilotstudie utifrån en intervjuuppgift knuten till verksamhetsförlagd utbildning under termin två på förskollärarprogrammet vid Karlstads universitet. I artikeln presenteras utvecklingen av modellen samt resultat utifrån forskningsfrågorna i relation till Healys modell för forskningsbaserad utbildning.
Barns rättigheter som tvärvetenskapligt kunskapsfält i svensk lärarutbildning
Authors: Olsson Åsa , Broman Anders , Thelander Nina
Published: June 2024

Blivande lärare i Sverige ska enligt styrdokument ha förmåga att beakta barns rättigheter enligt FN:s konvention om barnets rättigheter. Syftet med artikeln är att undersöka vilken position kunskapsfältet för barns rättigheter har inom svensk lärarutbildning. Forskningsprojektet har varit riktat mot lärarutbildningarnas utbildningsvetenskapliga kärna, UVK, som ingår i samtliga lärarprogram i Sverige. Studien omfattar en enkät skickad till 317 kurs- och programansvariga lärarutbildare för UVK-kurser med svarsfrekvensen 49 %. Dessutom genomfördes en dokumentstudie av 362 utbildnings- och kursplaner vid tolv lärosäten. Det sammantagna resultatet av enkätundersökningen och dokumentstudien ger en delvis motsägelsefull bild. En överväldigande majoritet av lärarutbildare anser att kunskaper om barns rättigheter är mycket viktigt för blivande lärare och att kunskapsområdet bör vara centralt i all lärarutbildning. Men trots detta och trots tydliga formuleringar i Högskoleförordningen så saknas i stor utsträckning konkreta mål- och innehållsbeskrivningar med anknytning till barns rättigheter i de aktuella kursplanerna. Med stöd av tidigare forskning menar vi att barns rättigheter bör tydliggöras som ett didaktiskt område inom ramen för en övergripande hållbarhetsdidaktik i svensk lärarutbildning. Vidare bör utgångspunkten för undervisningen vara de frågor som är aktuella och som upplevs som viktiga för lärarstudenter, utan att man förlorar rättighetsaspekter. Slutligen krävs det att ämnesövergripande tematiska studier i större utsträckning möjliggörs inom lärarprogrammen.
Komplementära granskningskriteriers betydelse för hur doktorsavhandlingars kvalitet beskrivs: En analys av fakultetsopponenters sammanfattande kommentarer av doktorsavhandlingar 2000-2015
Authors: Abraham Getahun Yacob , Börebäck Maria Kristina
Published: June 2024

Denna artikel beskriver hur fakultetsopponenter motiverar avhandlingars kvalitet i populärvetenskapliga sammanfattningar som publicerats i tidskriften Pedagogisk forskning i Sverige under perioden 2000-2015. I artikeln fokuseras granskningskriterier som gäller relevans, förståelse av forskningsfältet, presentation av texten och dess kommunicerbarhet, originalitet och bidrag samt självständighet, vilka alla kompletterar de grundläggande granskningskriterierna. I artikel fokuseras hur dessa granskningskriterier kommer till uttryck och används när fakultetsopponenter beskriver en avhandling som de har granskat. Syftet är att tydliggöra hur dessa granskningskriterier framställs när fakultetsopponenter lyfter fram vad som är betydelsefullt i avhandlingarna. Studien omfattar 59 sammanfattande texter från 60 olika disputationstillfällen. Avsikten är att bidra till en djupare förståelse av dessa granskningskriterier och hur de kommer till uttryck, till nytta för doktorander, handledare och fakultetsopponenter.
Spelar forskning om skolor någon roll?
Authors: Seiser Anette Forssten
Published: June 2024

Att utbildningen i skolan ska vila på vetenskaplig grund finns sedan 2010 inskrivet i den svenska skollagen. Det har bidragit till att det idag pågår flera olika statliga satsningar för att öka tillgången till utbildningsvetenskaplig forskning, vilket har förbättrat lärares och skolledares möjligheter att tillämpa forskningsbaserade kunskaper i sitt yrkesutövande. Satsningarna är välkomna eftersom den forskning som görs är fortsatt blygsam i jämförelse med den som görs inom andra områden, så som sjukvård och teknik. Samtidigt som satsningar på utbildningsvetenskaplig forskning är välkomna är det också berättigat att fundera på om den forskning som görs spelar någon roll för det arbete som sker i våra skolor runtom i landet. I den docentföreläsning som jag gav den 18 oktober 2023 valde jag att reflektera kring denna frågeställning och att understryka att forskningens betydelse för skolors inre liv kan och bör öka. Vidare presenterade jag egna genomförda skolutvecklingsstudier, som då fick representera exempel på hur den utbildningsvetenskapliga forskningen kan spela roll för skolors inre liv samtidigt som skolors angelägna frågor och dilemman påverkar forskningen. Den här artikeln bygger på min docentföreläsning.
Traumatisme d’après-guerre : confl its mentaux et stratégies discursives. Étude sémio-pragmatique d’Un désir fou de danser d’Élie Wiesel
Authors: Kamiński Paweł
Published: June 2024

The question of Holocaust survivors and Jewish identity are at the heart of Elie Wiesel’s fiction and nonfiction, where the author looks to emphasise characters’ psychological struggles with demons of the past. The aim of this paper is to approach A Mad Desire to Dance from a semio-pragmatic point of view in order to examine persuasive strategies which involve readers participating in the narrative discourse and identifying the nature of protagonist’s psychological disorders. The analysis, related to Holocaust studies, shows that the construction of the novel influences readers so that they can sympathize with characters whose personal life is deeply affected by a post-war trauma.
An acute microglial metabolic response controls metabolism and improves memory
Authors: Drougard Anne , Ma Eric H , Wegert Vanessa , Sheldon Ryan , Panzeri Ilaria , Vatsa Naman , Apostle Stefanos , Fagnocchi Luca , Schaf Judith , Gossens Klaus , Völker Josephine , Pang Shengru , Bremser Anna , Dror Erez , Giacona Francesca , Sagar  , Henderson Michael X , Prinz Marco , Jones Russell G , Pospisilik J. Andrew
Published: June 2024

Chronic high-fat feeding triggers chronic metabolic dysfunction including obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes. How high-fat intake first triggers these pathophysiological states remains unknown. Here, we identify an acute microglial metabolic response that rapidly translates intake of high-fat diet (HFD) to a surprisingly beneficial effect on metabolism and spatial / learning memory. High-fat intake rapidly increases palmitate levels in cerebrospinal fluid and triggers a wave of microglial metabolic activation characterized by mitochondrial membrane activation and fission as well as metabolic skewing towards aerobic glycolysis. These effects are detectable throughout the brain and can be detected within as little as 12 hours of HFD exposure. In vivo, microglial ablation and conditional DRP1 deletion show that the microglial metabolic response is necessary for the acute effects of HFD.
13
C-tracing experiments reveal that in addition to processing via β-oxidation, microglia shunt a substantial fraction of palmitate towards anaplerosis and re-release of bioenergetic carbons into the extracellular milieu in the form of lactate, glutamate, succinate, and intriguingly, the neuro-protective metabolite itaconate. Together, these data identify microglia as a critical nutrient regulatory node in the brain, metabolizing away harmful fatty acids and releasing the same carbons as alternate bioenergetic and protective substrates for surrounding cells. The data identify a surprisingly beneficial effect of short-term HFD on learning and memory.
Vglut2-based glutamatergic signaling in central noradrenergic neurons is dispensable for normal breathing and chemosensory reflexes
Authors: Chang Yuan , Lusk Savannah , Chang Andersen , Ward Christopher S , Ray Russell S
Published: June 2024

Central noradrenergic (NA) neurons are key constituents of the respiratory homeostatic network. NA dysfunction is implicated in several developmental respiratory disorders including Congenital Central Hyperventilation Syndrome (CCHS), Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and Rett Syndrome. The current unchallenged paradigm in the field, supported by multiple studies, is that glutamate co-transmission in subsets of central NA neurons plays a role in breathing control. If true, NA-glutamate co-transmission may also be mechanistically important in respiratory disorders. However, the requirement of NA-derived glutamate in breathing has not been directly tested and the extent of glutamate co-transmission in the central NA system remains uncharacterized. Therefore, we fully characterized the cumulative fate maps and acute adult expression patterns of all three Vesicular Glutamate Transporters (
Slc17a7
(Vglut1),
Slc17a6
(Vglut2), and
Slc17a8
(Vglut3)) in NA neurons, identifying a novel, dynamic expression pattern for Vglut2 and an undescribed co-expression domain for Vglut3 in the NA system. In contrast to our initial hypothesis that NA derived glutamate is required to breathing, our functional studies showed that loss of Vglut2 throughout the NA system failed to alter breathing or metabolism under room air, hypercapnia, or hypoxia in unrestrained and unanesthetized mice. These data demonstrate that Vglut2-based glutamatergic signaling within the central NA system is not required for normal baseline breathing and hypercapnic, hypoxic chemosensory reflexes. These outcomes challenge the current understanding of central NA neurons in the control of breathing and suggests that glutamate may not be a critical target to understand NA neuron dysfunction in respiratory diseases.
Eugenol mimics exercise to promote skeletal muscle fiber remodeling and myokine IL-15 expression by activating TRPV1 channel
Authors: Huang Tengteng , Chen Xiaoling , He Jun , Zheng Ping , Luo Yuheng , Wu Aimin , Yan Hui , Yu Bing , Chen Daiwen , Huang Zhiqing
Published: June 2024

Metabolic disorders are highly prevalent in modern society. Exercise mimetics are defined as pharmacological compounds that can produce the beneficial effects of fitness. Recently, there has been increased interest in the role of eugenol and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) in improving metabolic health. The aim of this study was to investigate whether eugenol acts as an exercise mimetic by activating TRPV1. Here, we showed that eugenol improved endurance capacity, caused the conversion of fast-to-slow muscle fibers, and promoted white fat browning and lipolysis in mice. Mechanistically, eugenol promoted muscle fiber-type transformation by activating TRPV1-mediated CaN signaling pathway. Subsequently, we identified IL-15 as a myokine that is regulated by the CaN/nuclear factor of activated T cells cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc1) signaling pathway. Moreover, we found that TRPV1-mediated CaN/NFATc1 signaling, activated by eugenol, controlled IL-15 levels in C2C12 myotubes. Our results suggest that eugenol may act as an exercise mimetic to improve metabolic health via activating the TRPV1-mediated CaN signaling pathway.
DNL343 is an investigational CNS penetrant eIF2B activator that prevents and reverses the effects of neurodegeneration caused by the Integrated Stress Response
Authors: Yulyaningsih Ernie , Suh Jung H. , Fanok Melania H. , Chau Roni , Solanoy Hilda , Takahashi Ryan , Bakardjiev Anna I. , Becerra Isabel , Benitez N. Butch , Chiu Chi-Lu , Davis Sonnet S , Dowdle William E. , Earr Timothy , Estrada Anthony A. , Gill Audrey , Ha Connie , Haddick Patrick C. G. , Henne Kirk R. , Larhammar Martin , Leung Amy Wing-Sze , Maciuca Romeo , Memarzadeh Bahram , Nguyen Hoang N. , Nugent Alicia , Osipov Maksim , Ran Yingqing , Rebadulla Kevin , Roche Elysia , Sandmann Thomas , Wang Jing , Lewcock Joseph W. , Scearce-Levie Kimberly , Kane Lesley A. , Sanchez Pascal E.
Published: June 2024

The integrated stress response (ISR) is a conserved pathway in eukaryotic cells that is activated in response to multiple sources of cellular stress. Although acute activation of this pathway restores cellular homeostasis, intense or prolonged ISR activation perturbs cell function and may contribute to neurodegeneration. DNL343 is an investigational CNS-penetrant small molecule ISR inhibitor designed to activate the eukaryotic initiation factor 2B (eIF2B) and suppress aberrant ISR activation. DNL343 reduced CNS ISR activity and neurodegeneration in a dose-dependent manner in two established
in vivo
models – the optic nerve crush injury and an eIF2B loss of function (LOF) mutant – demonstrating neuroprotection in both and preventing motor dysfunction in the LOF mutant mouse. Treatment with DNL343 at a late stage of disease in the LOF model reversed elevation in plasma biomarkers of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration and prevented premature mortality. Several proteins and metabolites that are dysregulated in the LOF mouse brains were normalized by DNL343 treatment, and this response is detectable in human biofluids. Several of these biomarkers show differential levels in CSF and plasma from patients with vanishing white matter disease (VWMD), a neurodegenerative disease that is driven by eIF2B LOF and chronic ISR activation, supporting their potential translational relevance. This study demonstrates that DNL343 is a brain penetrant ISR inhibitor capable of attenuating neurodegeneration in mouse models and identifies several biomarker candidates that may be used to assess treatment responses in the clinic.
Rapid bacterial evaluation beyond the colony forming unit in osteomyelitis
Authors: Sun Qi , Huynh Kimberley , Muratovic Dzenita , Gunn Nicholas J , Zelmer Anja R , Solomon Lucian Bogdan , Atkins Gerald J , Yang Dongqing
Published: June 2024

Examination of bacteria/host cell interactions is important for understanding the aetiology of many infectious diseases. The colony forming unit (CFU) has been the standard for quantifying bacterial burden for the past century, however, this suffers from low sensitivity and is dependent on bacterial culturability in vitro. Our data demonstrate the discrepancy between the CFU and bacterial genome copy number in an osteomyelitis-relevant co-culture system and we confirm diagnosis and quantify bacterial load in clinical bone specimens. This study provides an improved workflow for the quantification of bacterial burden in such cases.
Attentional modulation of secondary somatosensory and visual thalamus of mice
Authors: Petty Gordon H , Bruno Randy M
Published: June 2024

Each sensory modality has its own primary and secondary thalamic nuclei. While the primary thalamic nuclei are well understood to relay sensory information from the periphery to the cortex, the role of secondary sensory nuclei is elusive. We trained head-fixed mice to attend to one sensory modality while ignoring a second modality, namely to attend to touch and ignore vision, or vice versa. Arrays were used to record simultaneously from the secondary somatosensory thalamus (POm) and secondary visual thalamus (LP). In mice trained to respond to tactile stimuli and ignore visual stimuli, POm was robustly activated by touch and largely unresponsive to visual stimuli. A different pattern was observed when mice were trained to respond to visual stimuli and ignore touch, with POm now more robustly activated during visual trials. This POm activity was not explained by differences in movements (i.e. whisking, licking, pupil dilation) resulting from the two tasks. Post hoc histological reconstruction of array tracks through POm revealed that subregions varied in their degree of plasticity. LP exhibited similar phenomena. We conclude that behavioral training reshapes activity in secondary thalamic nuclei. Secondary nuclei respond to the same behaviorally relevant, reward-predicting stimuli regardless of stimulus modality.
Fast burst fraction transients convey information independent of the firing rate
Authors: Naud Richard , Wang Xingyun , Friedenberger Zachary , Payeur Alexandre , Shin Jiyun N. , Béïque Jean-Claude , Richards Blake A. , Drüke Moritz , Larkum Matthew E. , Doron Guy
Published: June 2024

Theories of attention and learning have hypothesized a central role for high-frequency bursting in cognitive functions, but experimental reports of burst-mediated representations
in vivo
have been limited. Here we used a novel demultiplexing approach by considering a conjunctive burst code. We studied this code
in vivo
while animals learned to report direct electrical stimulation of the somatosensory cortex and found two acquired yet independent representations. One code, the event rate, showed a sparse and succint stiumulus representation and a small modulation upon detection errors. The other code, the burst fraction, correlated more globally with stimulation and more promptly responded to detection errors. Bursting modulation was potent and its time course evolved, even in cells that were considered unresponsive based on the firing rate. During the later stages of training, this modulation in bursting happened earlier, gradually aligning temporally with the representation in event rate. The alignment of bursting and event rate modulation sharpened the firing rate response, and was strongly associated behavioral accuracy. Thus a fine-grained separation of spike timing patterns reveals two signals that accompany stimulus representations: an error signal that can be essential to guide learning and a sharpening signal that could implement attention mechanisms.
A novel clustered-based detection method for shilling attack in private environments
Authors: Gunes Ihsan
Published: June 2024

The topic of privacy-preserving collaborative filtering is gaining more and more attention. Nevertheless, privacy-preserving collaborative filtering techniques are vulnerable to shilling or profile injection assaults. Hence, it is crucial to identify counterfeit profiles in order to achieve total success. Various techniques have been devised to identify and prevent intrusion patterns from infiltrating the system. Nevertheless, these strategies are specifically designed for collaborative filtering algorithms that do not prioritize privacy. There is a scarcity of research on identifying shilling attacks in recommender systems that prioritize privacy. This work presents a novel technique for identifying shilling assaults in privacy-preserving collaborative filtering systems. We employ an ant colony clustering detection method to effectively identify and eliminate fake profiles that are created by six widely recognized shilling attacks on compromised data. The objective of the study is to categorize the fraudulent profiles into a specific cluster and separate this cluster from the system. Empirical experiments are conducted with actual data. The empirical findings demonstrate that the strategy derived from the study effectively eliminates fraudulent profiles in privacy-preserving collaborative filtering.
Mammalian lures monitored with time-lapse cameras increase detection of pythons and other snakes
Authors: McCampbell Marina , Spencer McKayla , Hart Kristen , Link Gabrielle , Watson Andrew , McCleery Robert
Published: June 2024

Background

Enhancing detection of cryptic snakes is critical for the development of conservation and management strategies; yet, finding methods that provide adequate detection remains challenging. Issues with detecting snakes can be particularly problematic for some species, like the invasive Burmese python (Python bivittatus) in the Florida Everglades.

Methods

Using multiple survey methods, we predicted that our ability to detect pythons, larger snakes and all other snakes would be enhanced with the use of live mammalian lures (domesticated rabbits; Oryctolagus cuniculus). Specifically, we used visual surveys, python detection dogs, and time-lapse game cameras to determine if domesticated rabbits were an effective lure.

Results

Time-lapse game cameras detected almost 40 times more snakes (n = 375, treatment = 245, control = 130) than visual surveys (n = 10). We recorded 21 independent detections of pythons at treatment pens (with lures) and one detection at a control pen (without lures). In addition, we found larger snakes, and all other snakes were 165% and 74% more likely to be detected at treatment pens compared to control pens, respectively. Time-lapse cameras detected almost 40 times more snakes than visual surveys; we did not detect any pythons with python detection dogs.

Conclusions

Our study presents compelling evidence that the detection of snakes is improved by coupling live mammalian lures with time-lapse game cameras. Although the identification of smaller snake species was limited, this was due to pixel resolution, which could be improved by changing the camera focal length. For larger snakes with individually distinctive patterns, this method could potentially be used to identify unique individuals and thus allow researchers to estimate population dynamics.
Evaluation of alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase ratio and high-density lipoprotein for predicting neonatal adverse outcomes associated with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
Authors: Fan Xizhenzi , Li Xia , Yu Tianxiao , Jiao Ruifen , Song Wenhui , Su Achou , Li Mingwei , Guo Qing
Published: June 2024

Background

To determine the association between lipid metabolism and intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), and explore the value of maternal alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase (ALT/AST) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in predicting adverse neonatal outcomes in women with ICP.

Methods

A total of 147 pregnant women with ICP admitted to The Fourth Hospital of Shijiazhuang and 120 normal pregnant women in the same period were selected in this study. The Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-square tests were used to compare the differences in clinical data. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between ALT/AST and the occurrence of adverse pregnancy outcomes in patients with ICP. The combined predictive value of ALT/AST and HDL was determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Results

Among 147 women with ICP, 122 women had total bile acid (TBA) levels of 10–39.9 µmol/L, and 25 had TBA ≥ 40 µmol/L. There was significantly lower gestational age in patients with severe ICP than in those with mild and control groups (all p < 0.05), and the weight of newborns in the maternal ICP group was significantly lower than in the control group (p < 0.05). Increasing TBA levels was associated with higher AST, ALT, ALT/AST, and lower HDL level (all p < 0.05). Meanwhile, higher levels of ALT/AST was positively associated with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 4.019, 95% CI [1.757–9.194, p = 0.001] and cardiac injury [AOR = 3.500, 95% CI [1.535–7.987], p = 0.003]. HDL was a significant protective factor for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and cardiac injury [AOR = 0.315, 95% CI [0.126–0.788], p = 0.014; AOR = 0.134 (0.039–0.461), p = 0.001]. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) for prediction of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia by ALT/AST combined with HDL was 0.668 [95% CI [56.3–77.3%], p = 0.002], and the sensitivity and specificity were 47.1% and 84.0%, respectively. To predict neonatal cardiac injury, the AUC value was 0.668 [95% CI [56.4–77.1%], p = 0.002], with sensitivity and specificity were 41.2% and 87.1%, respectively.

Conclusions

The levels of higher ALT/AST and lower HDL were significantly associated with the risk of ICP-related adverse neonatal outcomes. Moreover, ALT/AST combined with HDL has moderate clinical value in predicting the adverse outcomes of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and cardiac injury.
Rohingya Refugee Education in Malaysia: An Analysis of Current Standards and Challenges
Authors: Lee Hyunjung , Hoque Md Mahmudul
Published: June 2024

The Rohingyas, the longest-standing stateless refugees in Malaysia, are continuously denied access to formal education. The UN Refugee Agency and local non-government organizations run learning centers that offer non-formal education to Rohingya children. Existing literature highlights that, in the absence of formal openings, alternative educational programmes remain the main provider of refugee education in Malaysia. This study, using the Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies' five-domain framework, examines the educational standards provided to Rohingya refugees in Malaysia. The findings suggest that most learning centers lack financial, human, and infrastructural resources. Lack of opportunity for secondary schooling makes primary education less worth it. Moreover, prevailing cultural and religious norms make it challenging for Rohingya children (especially girls) to access educational opportunities outside the community. National examinations and academic accreditation for learning are inaccessible to refugees, including Rohingyas. This paper deliberates on some immediate and long-term measures that can potentially address these issues. However, all actors, including UNHCR and the Malaysian government, must collaborate towards formulating a sustainable solution to this critical problem.
Microbial Contamination and Nutritional Evaluation of Poultry Feeds in Abidjan District Farms
Authors: Djoman Christelle Suzanne , Akpa Eric Essoh , Goualié Bernadette Gblossi , Djeneba Ouattara Hadja , Samagassi Lamine , N’Guessan Delphine Yevi
Published: June 2024

This study aims to evaluate the biochemical and microbial quality of poultry feeds  in farms of the Abidjan district. Thus, 164 samples of industrial feeds and farmer-formulated feeds  were  collected   in  Bingerville, Yopougon, Port-Bouet, Anyama and Songon  areas for microbiological and biochemical analysis. The microbiological analysis consisted of isolation and identification of  bacterial and fongical flora  potentially pathogenic for  the animal. The biochemical analysis was aimed to evaluate the nutritional composition of these feeds.  Results showed that among these samples, 15 (10.33%), 91 (55.48%) and 48 (29.26%) were positive  respectively for Salmonella sp., E. coli and  Aspergillus sp. Moreover, biochemical analysis showed low feeds moisture rate levels ranging from 7.52 ± 0.16% to 12.14 ± 0.05%.  Feeds formulated by farmers had low content in ash, protein and lipid with proportions ranging from 4.30 ± 0.15% to 11.61 ± 0.24%, 9.30 ± 0.24% to 15.81 ± 0.20% and 2.07 ± 0.02% to 3.68 ± 0.11% respectively when compared to commercial feeds.
In conclusion, the study shows a poor hygienic quality of the feeds used in modern poultry husbandry in the Abidjan district.  However, the content of analyzed feeds content are mostly in conformity with the recommended standards.
Investigation into the Effects of Storage on Mineral and Nutritional Content of Fresh and Cured Kolanut (Cola nitida)
Authors: Onifade Gbenga Samuel , Olowookere Dele Ayorinde , Malomo Sunday Abiodun
Published: June 2024

This study evaluated the effects of storage on nutrient contents of fresh and cured kolanuts (Cola nitida). The cured nuts were divided into two groups with first and second groups cured for one and two months, respectively before storage at room temperature (25-27 oC). The samples were then evaluated for their proximate, mineral and vitamin compositions. The results showed that the fresh nuts had higher moisture (68.22 g), copper (2.40 mg) and zinc (35.80 mg) contents than the cured nuts. However, the two-month cured nuts had high amounts of all nutrients but low copper (0.80 mg) and zinc (1.20 mg). The storage process did not significantly (p>0.05) cause any loss in the nutritional contents (crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, ash, carbohydrate, gross energy, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin C, caffeine, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, manganese, iron, copper and zinc) of the stored kola nuts. This indicated that the kolanuts could be cured for up to two months and undergo storage at room temperature while maintaining the qualities like the fresh nuts. This would therefore, encourage the shunning of panic selling of the nuts and preservation of its extracts for the production of functional foods.
Positive Outcome in a Pregnancy with Anti-kell Alloimmunization Treated with Intravenous Immunglobulin and Therapeutic Plasma Exchange Despite Persistence of High Titre Antibody: A Case Report
Authors: Vio Cinzia , Colpo Anna , Collodel Luca , Marson Piero , Gessoni Gianluca
Published: June 2024

Background: Few reports have been published about  the current clinical management of anti-Kell alloimmunization in pregnancy; its low frequency of occurrence means that the few long series published have covered an extensive time period in which different treatment approaches have overlapped. The objective of the present paper is to present our experience in the clinical management of a pregnant woman who was positive for the anti-Kell antibody.
Materials and Methods: The laboratory follow-up included the weekly measurement of the antibody titre, and identification of the paternal and fetal genotype. The clinical management included TPE and IVIG administration. Obstetric monitoring included ultrasonographic monitoring of the fetus.
Case Description:  We report a case of anti-Kell alloimmunization with high antibody titre at first observation.  Testing for fetal DNA circulating in maternal blood confirmed positivity for KEL1 gene. The patient underwent fifteen sessions of TPE after  18 weeks of gestational age, followed by weekly IVIG infusion, which continued until 27 weeks of pregnancy. Anti-Kell titres were measured before and after each TPE session.
The patient had no need for IUBT and delivered by cesarean section at 34 weeks of gestational age.  Pregnancy resulted in a live birth with mild HDFN.
Discussion: HDFN is a potentially lethal complication of alloimmunization, and IUBT is the standard treatment for severe fetal anemia. TPE and IVIG are two alternative treatment modalities described in the literature to avoid or postpone the need for IUBT transfusion. In the case reported, despite any substantial change in antibody titre, pregnancy resulted in a live birth. This result suggests that the use of TPE and IVIG in alloimmunization during pregnancy could be an effective treatment strategy.
Phenol Profiling of Brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) Leaves by LC-MS
Authors: Chauhan B. P. , Solanki Urja B. , Shukla Y. M. , Sakure A. A.
Published: June 2024

Lab experiment was carried out at Department of Agricultural Biotechnology of Anand agricultural university, Anand, Gujarat during 2023-24. Study on phenol profiling was carried out by Liquid Chromatography Mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method. Experimental materials for phenol profiling, fresh leaves of 28 genotypes of brinjal along with parents AB 15-06 (P1) and GRB 5 (P2) selected after three months of transplanting. Total 20 phenolic acids used as standard were; salicylic acid, gallic acid, hydroquinone, esculin hydrate, pyrocatechol, methylumbelliferone, umbelliferon, quercetin, coumaric acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, cinnamic acid, syringaldehyde, fraxetin, 4-hydroxy cinnamaldehyde, aminobenzoic acid, catechin hydrate, sinapic acid and epigallocatechin gallate. Out of Twenty, seven (ferrulic aicd, caffeic acid, epigallocatechin gallate, quercetin, salicylic acid, syringaldehyde, chlorogenic acid) phenolic compounds were found to be present in detectable quantities in brinjal leaves.
1. Abstract
Authors: Cross Morag , Dalland Magnar , Moretti Debora
Published: June 2024

The proposed development at Beaverbank Place, Canonmills, Edinburgh led to the excavation of the remains of the 19th-century Beaverbank Tannery. Accompanying historical research allowed the history of the ownership and tenancies of the buildings and various businesses to be traced from 1807 to 1959. This included the early 19th-century Clark’s Mill linen bleachers and the 1868 tannery built by the Johnston family and later leased by family firms of the Pringles and Walkers. A period of abandonment between 1913 and 1915 was followed by the repurposing of the building as a sawmill and cooperage. Part of the site changed again to become a motor garage in 1928.
The remains can be matched well with historic map evidence and appear to relate predominantly to the late 19th-century tannery structures. Remains were found of approximately 100 tanning pits set out in a grid pattern, with further features related to drainage, paving and other structures. Very little environmental or artefactual evidence was recovered to shed light on specific practices, materials used or materials produced.
There were also scant structural remains that could be related to the earlier linen bleachers and to the later motor garage.
Action as a Window to Perception: Measuring Attention with Mouse Movements
Authors: Johnson Addie , Mulder Ben , Sijbinga Ankie , Hulsebos Lucas
Published: August 2012

Eye‐gaze tracking has been shown to deliver valuable information about how people view advertisements and what they pay attention to. However, practical difficulties in its application limit its usability by marketing researchers. Here, we explore the use of mouse tracking to evaluate viewing behavior by determining whether the hand can be trained to follow visual spatial attention and whether visual processing can be estimated by tracking pointing movements made with a computer mouse. In brief, the results of the research are very promising, showing high correlations between the scan paths for the eye and the mouse, as well as high correlations between the percentage of time spent in designated regions of interest for the mouse and the eye. An additional comparison of the data with that of a group who did not use a mouse while viewing the experimental stimuli showed that viewing patterns were not disrupted by mouse use. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A globally convergent wind speed estimator for wind turbine systems
Authors: Ortega Romeo , Mancilla‐David Fernando , Jaramillo Fernando
Published: August 2012

An estimator of the wind speed of a wind turbine coupled to a generator is proposed in this paper. Wind speed enters into the generator dynamics through a highly nonlinear function; hence, we are confronted with a difficult problem of estimation of a nonlinearly parameterized system. To solve this problem, we use the technique of immersion and invariance, recently introduced in the literature. It is assumed that the rotor speed and electrical torque of the generator are measured, which is the case for the machines typically used in this application. The result is of interest for the design of controllers of maximum power extraction, where the knowledge of the wind speed is necessary to express the control objective as a speed tracking problem. Detailed computer simulations are presented to assess the performance of the proposed estimator.Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Metal Nanoparticles Acting as Light‐Activated Heating Elements within Composite Materials
Authors: Maity Somsubhra , Bochinski Jason R. , Clarke Laura I.
Published: August 2012

The photothermal effect of metal nanoparticles embedded in polymeric materials can be used to efficiently generate local heat for in situ thermally processing within an existing material. Fluorescent probes are employed as thermal sensors to allow dynamical measurement of the amplitude and rate of temperature change within the polymer matrix. The efficacy of this technique is demonstrated in polymer nanocomposite samples with different morphological characteristics, namely nanofibrous mats and thin film samples. For similarly thick materials and both types of sample morphology, average temperature increases on the order of ≈100s °C are readily obtained with dilute nanoparticle concentrations under relatively low irradiation intensity. Thus, the in situ photothermal heating approach has great potential for controllably driving a multitude of thermal processes, such as triggering phase transitions, generating site‐specific cross‐linking, or initiating chemical reactions from within a material.
Hemorheological alterations, decreased cerebral microvascular oxygenation and cerebral vasomotion compensation in sickle cell patients
Authors: Waltz Xavier , Pichon Aurélien , Mougenel Danièle , Lemonne Nathalie , Lalanne‐Mistrih Marie‐Laure , Sinnapah Stéphane , Tarer Vanessa , Tressières Benoit , Lamarre Yann , Etienne‐Julan Maryse , Hue Olivier , Hardy‐Dessources Marie‐Dominique , Connes Philippe
Published: August 2012

Sickle cell anemia (SS) is characterized by a reduced cerebral microvascular oxygen saturation (cerebral TOI), which is not associated with hemoglobin concentration. Cerebral TOI has never been studied in sickle cell‐hemoglobin C disease (SC). We focused on the relationships between hemorheological alterations and cerebral TOI in sickle cell patients with no cerebral vasculopathy and on the usefulness of TOI variability to assess the cerebral vasomotion activity. The blood rheological profile, the level of cerebral TOI (spatial resolved spectroscopy) and the cerebral TOI variability, which reflects vasomotion activity, were compared between 20 healthy subjects (AA), 21 SC patients, and 21 SS patients. Cerebral TOI exhibited the following order: AA > SC > SS. The low cerebral TOI in SS patients was related to red blood cell aggregation and deformability properties. The cerebral TOI variability of SS and SC patients was increased above healthy values and vasomotion activity was negatively associated with the reduced cerebral TOI in SS patients. We demonstrated that (1) blood rheology could be involved in the reduced cerebral TOI in SS patients but not in SC patients; (2) vasomotion activity is increased in SS and SC patients to compensate for the reduced cerebral TOI. Am. J. Hematol. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Acute GVHD is a strong predictor of full donor CD3+ T cell chimerism after reduced intensity conditioning allogeneic stem cell transplantation
Authors: El‐Cheikh Jean , Vazquez Alberto , Crocchiolo Roberto , Furst Sabine , Calmels Boris , Castagna Luca , Lemarie Claude , Granata Angela , Ladaique Patrick , Oudin Claire , Faucher Catherine , Chabannon Christian , Blaise Didier
Published: August 2012

The monitoring of chimerism is a standard procedure to assess engraftment and achievement of full donor lymphoid cells after reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) stem cell transplantation (Allo‐SCT). However, there is no consensus on when and how often to monitor post‐transplant chimerism. We retrospectively analyzed our experience regarding the impact of acute graft versus host disease (GVHD) for the prediction of allograft chimerism. One‐hundred‐and‐fifteen patients transplanted between 2001 and 2010 were identified. This group included 57 females and 58 males with a median age of 50 years (range: 26–68). Patients evaluated in this study were adult patients with hematologic malignancies, who received transplants from an HLA‐matched sibling donor or matched unrelated donor (MUD) at allele level so‐called 10/10, and received the RIC regimen including fludarabine/busulfan and anti‐thymoglobulin (ATG). Mixed T‐cell chimerism was defined as between 5 and 94% recipient cells, and full chimerism was defined as the presence of more than 95% donor T‐cell chimerism (TCC). Full donor TCC was achieved in 93 patients (81%) at a median of 77 days (range: 30–120) post‐transplant. The cumulative incidence of Grade 2–4 GVHD in our population was 25% (95% CI 17–34). The analysis of the population of patients with acute GVHD grade ≥2 showed that at day 120 after Allo‐SCT they all had a total full donor TCC. On the other hand, 78 (68%) patients without acute GVHD grade ≥2 presented with mixed chimerism (p = 0.002) on day 120 post‐transplant. Interestingly, patients who received ATG 5 mg/kg obtained a higher probability of complete chimerism compared with those receiving 2.5 mg/kg (p = 0.03). In conclusion, our study demonstrates that acute GVHD was predictive of full donor TCC after RIC Allo‐SCT. Therefore, our data may challenge the concept of the frequent or close monitoring of donor chimerism in some patients with ongoing acute GVHD. However, chimerism testing could represent an attractive modality for minimal residual disease detection or for impeding relapse warranting further prospective studies. Am. J. Hematol. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Describing Ovarian Cycles, Pregnancy Characteristics, and the Use of Contraception in Female White‐Faced Marmosets, Callithrix geoffroyi
Authors: MUSTOE AARYN C. , JENSEN HEATHER A. , FRENCH JEFFREY A.
Published: August 2012

Endocrine data and characteristics of nonconceptive ovarian cycling and pregnancy are limited within the genus Callithrix to the common marmoset (C. jacchus) and Wied's black tufted‐ear marmoset (C. kuhlii). This article presents patterns of urinary pregnanediol‐3‐glucuronide (PdG) excretion, as determined by enzyme immunoassay, throughout the course of ovarian cycling and pregnancy in white‐faced marmosets (C. geoffroyi). Furthermore, characteristics of reproductive parameters including litter size, duration of gestation, maternal age, and information about ovarian cycling following administration of contraceptives are also described. A steep increase in PdG, an indication of ovulation, characterizes normative ovarian cycles, with peak‐to‐peak intervals between cycles being 27.82 ± 1.49 days in length. PdG excretion (μg/mg Cr) across pregnancy peaked during the 1st and 2nd trimesters (1st = 20.71 ± 2.98, 2nd = 21.16 ± 2.60) and declined gradually to near preconception levels over the 3rd trimester until parturition (3rd = 5.74 ± 1.60). Gestation lasted 148.55 ± 1.89 days. Most pregnancies (82.8%) resulted in an immediate postpartum ovulation (PPO) of 17.45 ± 2.22 days with 58.3% of PPOs resulting in conception. No differences in PdG excretion during the 1st trimester between full pregnancies and miscarriages were found, and pregnancy characteristics such as litter size, duration of gestation, and maternal age were not associated with PdG concentrations. Administration of cloprostenol resulted in shorter peak‐to‐peak cycle durations, but ovulation was detectable with similar concentrations of peak PdG to a normal nonconceptive cycle. Conversely, medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) injections resulted in little to no PdG excretion across the ovarian cycle. Both methods of contraception providing effective prevention of conception. Overall, these results show that strong similarities in reproductive parameters persist within the genus Callithrix and to a lesser extent across the Callitrichidae family. Am. J. Primatol. 74:1044‐1053, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cortical Networks for Ethologically Relevant Behaviors in Primates
Authors: KAAS JON H. , GHARBAWIE OMAR A. , STEPNIEWSKA IWONA
Published: August 2012

Parietal–frontal networks in primate brains are central to mediating actions. Physiological and anatomical investigations have shown that the parietal–frontal network is consistently organized across several branches of primate evolution that include prosimian galagos, New World owl and squirrel monkeys, and Old World macaque monkeys. Electrical stimulation with 0.5‐sec trains of pulses delivered via microelectrodes evoked ethologically relevant actions from both posterior parietal cortex (PPC) and frontal motor cortex (FMC). Reaching, grasping, defensive, and other complex movement patterns were evoked from domains that had a characteristic organization in both FMC and PPC. Although a PPC domain (e.g. reaching) may be connected with other PPC domains (e.g. grasping and defensive), its connections with FMC are preferential for a matching domain (reaching). Similarly, electrical stimulation of a PPC domain and concurrent optical imaging of FMC, showed activation patterns consistent with the preferential connectivity of PPC and FMC domains. The evidence for similar arrangements of interconnected functional domains in PPC and FMC of members of three major branches of the primate radiation suggests that the parietal–frontal networks emerged early in the evolution of primates. The small size of PPC in the close relatives of primates including lagomorphs, rodents, and tree shrews, suggests a limited involvement of PPC in motor behavior before archaic primates emerged. However, functional domains may have evolved in motor cortex before the emergence of archaic primates. Am. J. Primatol. 75:407‐414, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.