bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PERANCANGAN SECURITY SISTEM SMART HOME BERBASIS IOT MENGGUNAKAN ESP32 CAM DAN SENSOR PIR (PASSIVE INFRARED SENSOR) MELALUI APLIKASI BLYNK
Authors: Mukti M. Zulhelmi , Nandika Reza , Susanti Endang
Published: November 2024

Seiring dengan berkembangnya ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi, seringkali terjadi permasalahan yang mengancam keamanan rumah. Permasalahan tersebut bermula dari tingkat keamanan yang tidak memenuhi standar keamanan rumah. Oleh karena itu, teknologi yang mampu memberikan informasi mengenai kondisi rumah secara langsung sangat diperlukan. Pada penelitian ini penulis tertarik untuk membuat suatu alat yang dapat memantau kondisi rumah dan memberikan notifikasi kepada pemilik rumah jika ada orang yang masuk ke dalam rumah dan dapat mengontrol lampu menggunakan ponsel. Alat ini menggunakan mikrokontroler ESP32 CAM dan sonor PIR untuk mendeteksi pergerakan orang di dalam rumah, serta akan mengontrol 2 buah lampu yang dapat dikontrol menggunakan ponsel melalui aplikasi BLYNK. Pada aplikasi BLYNK pengguna dapat melihat kondisi rumah saat ini, dan akan diambil gambar kondisi rumah serta notifikasi jika ada yang masuk ke dalam rumah dan terdeteksi oleh sensor PIR.
Chapter 13 Imperial Concepts of Russian Information Policy
Authors: Vyzdryk Vitaliy
Published: November 2024

The ideology of the «Russkiy mir» as an informational component of Russian aggression against Ukraine was born in the 1990s, at the initial stage it has a theoretical, even utopian character, and manifested itself in an aggressive form at the beginning of the 21st century. This ideology has a supranational character, its sphere of cultural realization includes Ukraine, Belarus (sometimes Moldova and Kazakhstan). It opposes the collective West, identifies itself as a spiritual center, imbued with a narrative about common history, culture and religion, acts as a tool for the popularization of the Russian language and culture, where a special role is assigned to the Russian Orthodox Church. The Russian government is increasingly using ideological propaganda as a weapon to increase anti-Western sentiment among its citizens and intimidate its Western neighbors.

The Russian Federation spends enormous resources on supporting and spreading pro-Russian narratives among Europeans through a network of international exchanges and ties with universities, local right-wing, left-wing or simply pro-Russian mass media, political parties, the Russian church, a number of experts from universities, think tanks or simply journalists who position themselves as experts on Russia / Ukraine issues.
Chapter 7. THE FORTRESS THAT DIDN'T CAPITULATE. BREST ON THE BUG IN THE POLISH CAMPAIGN IN 1939
Authors: Ostanek Adam Adrian
Published: November 2024

Brześć nad Bugiem, as the city was officially named during the Second Polish Republic, although it was not one of the largest cities in Poland at that time, it occupied an important place in the country's civil and military structures, and also occupied an important place in the state security system. For this reason, after the German aggression on September 1, 1939, the city became an object of air raids, as well as a point that the enemy wanted to capture as quickly as possible. The Soviet aggression on September 17, 1939 meant that Brest and its fortress became one of the important directions of attack of the Red Army.

The main purpose of this study is to present the military operations carried out during the Polish campaign, the goal of which was the Brest Fortress. The soldiers of the Polish Army located there put up fierce resistance to the Wehrmacht and eventually, without capitulating, withdrew from the Fortress when its defense became pointless. In parallel to this goal, the situation in the city in the period between the outbreak of the war and the approach of German and later Soviet troops to the city will be shown.
Chapter 6. WAR OPERATIONS OF THE RED ARMY IN SOUTH-EASTERN POLAND IN SEPTEMBER 1939
Authors: Włodarkiewicz Wojcech
Published: November 2024

The article shows the state of preservation of sources and the state of research on the given topic. Against this background, the potential of the Polish Army in south–eastern Poland in 1939 was presented, constituting 20% of the potential of the Polish Army. The next part of the article is an analysis of military operations in the region until 16 September, and then the war preparations of the USSR and the course of aggression against Poland on the example of the actions of the Red Army in Lviv, Tarnopol and Stanisławów provinces and the Polish reaction to the aggression of the Soviet Union.
A Systematic Literature Review of EFL/ESL Teachers' Emotional Experiences
Authors: Şahin Yıldırım A. Beyza , Toköz Fatma
Published: November 2024

There is a growing body of literature regarding language teachers’ emotions and their impact on teaching practices. However, the connection between their emotional experiences and their impact on teaching remains substantial. Evidently, integrative research methods are necessary to provide a more dynamic perspective on this complex subject. Thus, this study is based on the concept that emotions are complex and dynamic aspects of language teachers and learners during the learning and teaching stages. It is also motivated by the interest in conducting systematic literature reviews, the dynamic shift in language teaching, and the focus on a complex research phenomenon. On this basis, this study builds on 14 research articles conducted over the last ten years concerning teacher emotions. The study also used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis checklist. The findings suggest that further research is needed to explore the variation among language teachers’ emotions in different contexts and their impact on teaching practice. This study also provides insights into professional identity, professional development, and fostering emotional connections between teachers and students.
PENYULUHAN PENTINGNYA PENGETAHUAN MASYARAKAT TENTANG PENYEDIAAN AIR BERSIH DALAM MENCEGAH TERJADINYA STUNTING
Authors: Tsani Azzahra Dinda
Published: November 2024

Stunting adalah masalah gizi kronis pada anak yang dipengaruhi oleh akses air bersih dan sanitasi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan masyarakat tentang pentingnya penyediaan air bersih dalam pencegahan stunting melalui penyuluhan yang dilakukan di daerah X. Metode yang digunakan adalah media presentasi dan diskusi interaktif. Hasil kegiatan menujukan bahwa partisipasi masyarakat cukup aktif, meskipun pemahaman mengenai keterkaitan air bersih dan pencegahan stunting masih minim. Edukasi mengenai praktik higiene dan sanitasi makanan masih diperlukan untuk meningkatkan kesehatan anak. Kegiatan menekankan pentingnya kolaborasi antara pemerintah dan masyarakat dalam upaya mengurangi stunting, serta perlunya program edukasi berkelanjutan untuk meningkatkan kesadaran akan sanitasi dan air bersih. Kesimpulannya, penyuluhan ini merupakan langkah penting dalam mengubah perilaku hidup sehat di masyarakat
Ibalizumab’s Role in Multidrug-Resistant HIV
Authors: Roberts Eleanor
Published: November 2024

Although treatment for HIV has advanced considerably over the decades, there are still people with HIV that is resistant to multiple antiretroviral therapies (ART). Ibalizumab, a humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody that gained orphan status in 2018, is a post-attachment inhibitor whose efficacy for people with multidrug-resistant (MDR) HIV has been demonstrated in Phase II and III trials. The Prospective and Retrospective Observational Study of Multidrug-Resistant Patient Outcomes with and without Ibalizumab in a Real-World Setting: United States (PROMISE-US) is an ongoing study that will investigate long-term efficacy and durability of ibalizumab plus an optimized background regimen (OBR). In the poster discussed here, presented at IDWeek 2024, examination of baseline demographics showed that individuals prescribed ibalizumab (IBA group) had similar mean age, sex, race, and duration since diagnosis of HIV to those on regimens that did not include ibalizumab (non-IBA group). However, mean baseline HIV RNA copies/mL were much higher and CD4+ T cells/mm3 lower in the IBA group compared with the non-IBA group, and highest/lowest at baseline in a subset of IBA group patients who were also prescribed the capsid inhibitor lenacapavir. OBR also differed between groups. These results highlight the HIV-related characteristics of individuals who are more likely to be prescribed ibalizumab.
Impacto de la exposición ambiental prolongada a material particulado (PM2,5) en las tasa de hospitalización y de letalidad por SARS-CoV-2 en Bogotá D. C.
Authors: Corredor Martínez José , Soto Alegría Luisa , Polo Infante Gina , Borbón Ramos Milena , Prieto Alvarado Franklyn Edwin
Published: November 2024

Introducción: la dinámica multifactorial y la heterogeneidad espacial de la morbimortalidad producida por el SARS-CoV-2 requiere explorar factores que permitan la comprensión de este sistema complejo.
Objetivo: explorar la asociación entre los niveles de material particulado PM2,5 y las tasas de hospitalización y de letalidad por SARS-CoV-2.
Metodología: la cobertura espacial de las 17 estaciones de monitoreo de calidad de aire (≈4 km) de Bogotá D.C. fue determinada a través del método de interpolación de Voronoi, basado en distancias euclidianas. Las tasas de letalidad y de hospitalización por SARS-CoV-2 fueron comparadas mediante el test de Kruskal-Wallis en cada región de Voronoi, de acuerdo con los días de la semana (0, 1-3, 4-5, >5) con reporte de concentraciones de PM2,5 >37  µg/m3, categorizado como dañino para la salud según normas nacionales de calidad del aire.
Resultados: en 68,8 % (11) de las regiones consideradas la tasa de hospitalización fue mayor con exposición prolongada a PM2,5 >37 µg/m3. En las regiones de Guaymaral, Las Ferias y Suba se encontró un aumento significativo en las tasas de hospitalización y de letalidad conforme aumentó el número de días de exposición a PM2,5 >37 µg/m3.
Conclusión: al considerar la cobertura de las estaciones de monitoreo de la calidad del aire de Bogotá D.C., se encontró que las zonas con exposición prolongada a PM2,5 >37 µg/m3 tienen mayores tasas de letalidad y de hospitalización por SARS-CoV-2 en Bogotá D.C., como ha sido descrito para otras infecciones respiratorias.
Brote de enfermedad por dengue, Girón (Santander), mayo de 2023
Authors: Redondo Montoya Marilyn , Rodríguez Reyes Andrea Jineth
Published: November 2024

Introducción: en mayo de 2023, el municipio de Girón (Santander) se encontraba en brote de dengue, este es el segundo municipio con el mayor número de casos del departamento. Los objetivos del estudio fueron caracterizar y confirmar la existencia del brote, identificar factores de riesgo e implementar medidas de prevención y control.
Metodología: se caracterizó la transmisión del dengue en Girón a partir de los registros del Sistema de Vigilancia en Salud Pública (Sivigila). Para las variables cualitativas, se calcularon medidas de tendencia central y los indicadores definidos en el protocolo del evento. Se elaboró el canal endémico municipal, por medias geométricas de tasas históricas y su intervalo de confianza al 95 % con la metodología descrita por Bortman. Se realizó un análisis geoespacial de los casos de dengue del municipio con las coordenadas geográficas generando mapas de riesgo con Google Earth Pro.
Resultados: hasta la semana epidemiológica 18 de 2023 se habían notificado 229 casos de dengue en el municipio, el 56,0 % (128) eran del sexo masculino y concentran el 62,80 % (144) de casos en el grupo de edad entre 0 a 17 años. La mayor magnitud de la transmisión del dengue se produce en seis (6) barrios de la zona urbana que producen el 34,45 % (72) de los casos notificados y en 68 barrios secundarios de menor magnitud, que completarían un total de 74 barrios que aportan el 65,55 % (137) de los casos de dengue del municipio.
Conclusión: se trató un brote epidémico de dengue, reportado desde la semana epidemiológica 03 del 2023; presentando una alta proporción de casos de dengue con signos de alarma. Se deben considerar las intervenciones de control vectorial en los seis barrios donde se concentran el mayor número de casos. Se dan recomendaciones a la entidad municipal.
Comportamiento de la notificación de gastrosquisis y comportamientos inusuales por residencia, Colombia, 2015-2020
Authors: Castaño Mora Sandra
Published: November 2024

Introducción: la gastrosquisis es un defecto congénito de la pared abdominal secundario al cierre incompleto de los pliegues laterales durante la cuarta semana de gestación. Se ha descrito un incremento de las prevalencias a nivel mundial en los últimos años y su etiología no está ampliamente determinada.
Metodología: estudio descriptivo retrospectivo mediante empleo de registros de notificación individual para gastrosquisis que ingresaron al Sistema de Vigilancia en Salud Pública a través del evento defectos congénitos durante los años 2015 a 2020.
Resultados: la prevalencia de gastrosquisis en Colombia muestra una tendencia al aumento desde el año 2015, pasando de 1,9 a 3,4 casos por cada 10 000 nacidos vivos en 2020. Las condiciones identificadas que pueden considerarse como factor de riesgo son edades maternas tempranas, prematurez, bajo peso al nacer y primera gestación. La mortalidad tiene una tendencia al descenso desde 2017 y frecuentemente se presenta en casos con antecedente de prematurez. Las entidades territoriales que presentan aumento de casos en 2020 con respecto al comportamiento histórico de los años 2015 a 2019 fueron Antioquia, Magdalena, Nariño, Norte de Santander y Cali.
Conclusión: aunque las prevalencias en gastrosquisis en Colombia se encuentran en aumento no superan la prevalencia estimada por el Estudio Colaborativo Latinoamericano de Malformaciones Congénitas (ECLAMC) para población latinoamericana. Los factores de riesgo identificados en los casos notificados pueden ser intervenibles y diagnosticados oportunamente en el marco del acceso a consulta preconcepcional y control prenatal para prevención de mortalidad.
Corpus Linguistics meets Contact Linguistics and Sociolinguistics: multimodal German–Polish digital linguistic corpus
Authors: Jorroch Anna , Prawdzic-Jankowska Irena
Published: November 2024

The objective of this paper is to present procedures of building, tool construction and annotation schemes of bilingual corpus LangGener, which is an innovative compilation of data influenced by contact linguistics and sociolinguistics. The multimodality of the corpus is related to the possibility of viewing the transcription and grammatical and sociolinguistic annotation of recorded original interviews and listening to them, because it contains ‘recordings, transcriptions and annotations’ ( Allwood, 2008 : 207). The corpus is part of the international LangGener project on changes in morphology and syntax in Polish and German in the speech of bilinguals over two generations. It contains seventy-eight hours of material, equating to 679,741 words. The material was collected during fieldwork in Germany and in the former German territories incorporated into Poland in 1945. The article describes the demanding procedures and the complex work on the recorded interviews, the tools used in the project, the annotations of the phenomenon of mutual Polish–German linguistic contact and dialectal remnants. In order to relate the results to the language biographies of the interviewees, sociolinguistic annotation was made in parallel, presenting the modes of acquisition and language use in the speech of bilinguals. The corpus also enables a general typologisation of language contact phenomena for Slavic languages in contact with Germanic languages.
Policy-Guiding Framework for Sustainable Urban and Agricultural Systems
Authors: Kankanala Srivarun , Patel Rahil , Chan Isaac , Zheng Qinmin
Published: November 2024

While the impact of urban expansion on climate is well-studied in existing literature, its effect on crop yields remains relatively unexplored. In developing regions, where both metropolitan growth and agricultural activity are vigorous, the expansion of cities leads to a significant loss of crop yields. Although past investigations have utilized machine learning to predict crop yield loss, the topic has not been thoroughly examined in the context of urban expansion. To address these concerns, this paper introduces URBAN, a novel hybrid deep learning model combining U-Net and Bi-LSTM architectures, providing spatial-temporal predictions of global crop yields from segmented geospatial urban extent maps. These predictions achieved an MAE of 0.3689, an RMSE of 0.6887, and an MSE of 0.4743, indicating high-accuracy analyses of adverse urban expansion. Currently, metropolitan authorities implement various policies to influence city growth, attempting to preserve rural practices. With the predictive capabilities of URBAN, such policy-makers may recognize areas of harmful urban land growth, developing more informed, focused, and effective limitations to sustain fundamental agrarian institutions.
FIVE PRIMARY FUNDAMENTAL CONSTANTS FOR EXPRESSING THE ENTIRE SET OF PHYSICAL LAWS, SECONDARY CONSTANTS AND PARAMETERS OF THE UNIVERSE.
Authors: Kosinov Mykola
Published: November 2024

The divergent views of Duff, Okun and Veneziano on the number of fundamental constants in nature are examined from a new perspective. It is shown that the problem of the minimum number of dimensional fundamental constants can be solved by choosing the fundamental constants of the electron as the primary and independent constants. Three dimensional constants of the electron (me, re, te) and two dimensionless constants, the fine structure constant “alpha” and the large Weyl number (D0 = 4.16561... x 10^42), are proposed as a complete basis for independent fundamental constants. Numerous examples have shown that the fundamental constants (me, re, te, α, Do) are the primary basis for both physical constants and parameters of the Universe. The parameters of the Universe, physical constants, and large Weyl-Eddington-Dirac numbers originate from the primary fundamental constants (me, re, te, α, Do). Five fundamental constants (me, re, te, α, Do) are sufficient to express the entire set of observable physical laws. Veneziano's statement about the non-fundamental status of the constants G, ћ is confirmed. Duff's statement about the non-fundamental status of all three constants G, ћ, c is confirmed. Duff's statement about the zero number of dimensional fundamental constants in Nature is not confirmed.
Aproximación a la Muestra Continua de Vidas Laborales como fuente estadística en estudios de Economía Social
Authors: Gallego Borrás Álvaro
Published: November 2024

Con el objetivo de ampliar la información sobre fuentes estadísticas de Economía Social, este estudio realiza una aproximación a la Muestra Continua de Vidas Laborales (MCVL) realizando dos análisis de contenido sobre las 13 publicaciones que, hasta la fecha, han utilizado la muestra para el estudio de la Economía Social. 
Como principales resultados, se destaca que la muestra se ha utilizado principalmente con el objetivo de resaltar aspectos diferenciales de la Economía Social, tratando de medir su impacto en la igualdad de género, la calidad del empleo, la cohesión social o la cohesión territorial. Además, se ha observado que los principales filtros utilizados han sido directos, identificando rápidamente personas empleadas en entidades de la Economía Social. Sin embargo, para una delimitación más exacta del ámbito de la Economía Social en la muestra, es necesario recurrir a filtros indirectos.
El desarrollo territorial del movimiento cooperativo vasco a la luz de la salida de Orona y ULMA del Grupo Mondragon
Authors: De la Fuente Miguel
Published: November 2024

En este artículo se contextualiza brevemente nuestra propuesta de una Socio-Historia del movimiento cooperativo vasco, centrándonos en la emergencia de un nuevo ciclo histórico. El trabajo analiza las evidencias de ese nuevo ciclo haciendo especial hincapié en como los cambios sociales y la estrategia de construcción territorial del Grupo Mondragon han transformado la identidad cooperativa. Las recientes salidas de los Grupos Orona y Ulma de la Corporación Cooperativa Mondragon se han estudiado como una más de estas evidencias, y el resultado último de las tranformaciones de las transformaciones vinculadas a la territorialización de Mondragón y a la erosión de la identidad cooperativa.
Optimizing nitrogen removal in advanced wastewater treatment using biological aerated filters
Authors: Li Juan , Niu Ziru , Li Lei , Zhou Shuting
Published: November 2024

Reducing total nitrogen (TN) presents a significant challenge for numerous wastewater treatment facilities. In order to address this issue, the current study employed a biological aerated filter for the treatment of wastewater containing low nitrogen concentrations. Both lab-scale and pilot-scale biofilters were constructed to investigate the denitrification performance and maximum denitrification load. The findings indicated that the anaerobic denitrification process of established biofilm adhered to pseudo-first-order kinetics. The results of batch testing and continuous-flow experiments confirmed that the minimum hydraulic retention time (HRT) required for mature biofilm was determined to be 0.5 h. The optimal operating parameters were found to be as follows: influent NO3−-N concentration of 25 mg/L, HRT of 0.5 h, resulting in effluent TN levels below 1 mg/L. Under these conditions, the denitrifying load for the lab-scale I-BAF system was calculated to be 1.26 kg (TN)/(m3·d). Furthermore, it was observed that the maximum denitrifying load could reach 2.2 kg (TN)/(m3·d) when the influent NO3−-N concentration was increased to 50 mg/L while maintaining an HRT of 0.5 h. For the mature biofilter, the appropriate HRT ranged from 2 h to 0.5 h. Microbial diversity analysis revealed that the genus Enterobacter was dominant in all denitrification systems, followed by Comamonas and Rhodococcus. The operational parameters described in the paper could be recommended for a full-scale wastewater treatment facility.
Metabolic syndrome among type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Charkos Tesfaye Getachew , Lemi Hunde , Arero Godana , Getnet Menberu
Published: November 2024

Introduction

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients was inconsistent in Ethiopia. Therefore, we aimed to pool the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients using a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched for relevant articles from January 2023 to January 2024. In addition, a manual search was conducted using published articles’ reference lists. The random-effects model was used to pool prevalence from individual studies. All analysis was performed using R software.

Results

A total of nine articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis. The participants’ average age was 59.8 ± 3.84 years old. The pooled prevalence of MetS in T2DM patients was 53% (95% CI: 47–58). A significant heterogeneity was found across the included studies (P < 0.001, I2 = 92%). Based on diagnostic criteria, the prevalence of MetS in T2DM patients was 49% (95% CI: 43–56), 57% (95% CI: 47–67), 57% (95% CI: 43–77), and 44% (95% CI: 20-58) based on IDF, NCEP-ATP II, 2009 harmonized, and WHO criteria. By gender, the prevalence of MetS in T2DM patients was 48% (95% CI: 28–68) for females and 32% (95% CI: 17–49) for males.

Conclusion

This study found that over half of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Ethiopia are affected by metabolic syndrome, with a higher prevalence observed in females compared to males. The NCEP-ATP II and 2009 harmonized criteria consistently yielded similar prevalence rates of metabolic syndrome. These findings highlight the importance of educating T2DM patients on preventing and managing cardiovascular disease and its related complications.
Loss of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase 2, transferrin, and transferrin receptor proteins in the temporal cortex of Alzheimer’s patients postmortem is associated with abnormal iron homeostasis: implications for patient survival
Authors: Sabbir Mohammad Golam
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Iron is crucial for brain function, but excessive iron is neurotoxic. Abnormally high brain iron accumulation is one of the pathogenic factors in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Therefore, understanding the mechanistic basis of iron dyshomeostasis in AD is vital for disease mitigation. Calcium, another essential bioelement involved in cell signaling, also exhibits dysregulated homeostasis in AD. Calcium ion (Ca2+) signaling can influence iron homeostasis through multiple effectors. Our previous studies identified Ca2+/calmodulin (CAM)-dependent protein kinase kinase 2 (CAMKK2) as a regulator of transferrin (TF)-bound iron trafficking through the TF receptor (TFRC). Given CAMKK2’s high expression in brain cells, it was hypothesized that abnormal CAMKK2-TF/TFRC signaling may underlie excessive iron deposition in AD brains. This study aims to retrospectively investigate CAMKK2, TF, TFRC proteins, and iron content in temporal cortex tissues from AD patients and cognitively normal (CN) individuals, postmortem.

Methods

Postmortem temporal cortex tissues from 74 AD patients, 27 Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients, and 17 CN individuals were analyzed for CAMKK2, TF, and TFRC protein levels by Western blotting. Additionally, prefrontal/temporal cortex tissues from 30 CN individuals of various ages were examined for age-related effects. Iron content in cortical tissues was measured using a colorimetric assay.

Results

CAMKK2, TF, and TFRC levels were significantly decreased in AD patients’ temporal cortices compared to CN individuals, independent of age or postmortem interval-related changes. PD patients’ also exhibited similar reductions in CAMKK2/TF/TFRC levels. The increased iron content in AD brains was significantly correlated with reduced TF/TFRC protein levels.

Discussion

Building on the previous identification of CAMKK2 as a regulator of TF/TFRC trafficking and iron homeostasis, the findings from this study suggest that downregulation of CAMKK2 in AD cortices may disrupt TF/TFRC signaling and contribute to iron overloading and neurodegeneration through iron-induced toxicity. The decreased levels of TF/TFRC and increased iron in AD brains may result from enhanced clearance or post-trafficking degradation of TF/TFRC due to CAMKK2 downregulation. Restoring CAMKK2 levels in the AD brain could offer a novel therapeutic approach to reestablish iron homeostasis. Further studies are needed to explore the pathways linking CAMKK2 and iron dysregulation in AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Characteristics of lower respiratory tract pathogens in critically ill patients with heatstroke: a retrospective multi-center study
Authors: Ma Aijia , Jin Xinyang , Wang Yucong , Wang Lietao , Shi Lvyuan , Wan Dingyuan , Wu Qin , He Min , Tang Zhuo , Li Jiajin , Wang Jian , Yang Guangwei , Zhang Zhongwei , Yang Jing , Wang Bo
Published: November 2024

This retrospective multicenter study was conducted across 83 intensive care units (ICUs) in 16 cities in Sichuan, China. Critically ill patients diagnosed with heatstroke and lung infections were included in the study. Specimens from the lower respiratory tract were collected for microbiological testing, and the characteristics of the pathogens were described. A total of 462 patients diagnosed with heatstroke-related pulmonary infections were included, 134 patients (29.0%) tested positive for respiratory pathogens. The most frequently isolated strain was Klebsiella pneumoniae (34.3%), followed by Escherichia coli (28.4%), Staphylococcus aureus (20.9%). The results revealed that in the hyperthermic resistance group, there was a higher proportion of Pseudomonas aeruginosa [14(34.1%) vs 11(11.8%), p=0.002] and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia [4(9.8%) vs 1(1.1%), p=0.030] compared to the hyperthermic control group. And a higher proportion of Staphylococcus aureus [27(29.7%) vs 1(2.3%), p<0.001], were obtained during the earlier stages with elevated temperatures. Patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae (38.3 ± 1.9°C), Staphylococcus aureus (38.5 ± 2.2°C), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (38.7 ± 1.9°C) exhibited a higher temperature environment. Our study provides crucial insights into the lower respiratory tract pathogenesis of heatstroke patients, identifying key pathogens and their temperature-dependent characteristics, thus providing a foundation for future empirical treatment strategies in heatstroke.
Altered gut microbiome in convalescent patients with coronavirus disease 2019
Authors: Lee Kyoung Hwa , Kim Yeong Ouk , Dho So Hee , Yong Jen J. H. , Oh Hyun-Seok , Lee Je Hee , Yang Seung-Jo , Cha Inseong , Chun Jongsik , Lee Eun Hwa , Jeong Su Jin , Woo Wonjin , Choi Jae-Phil , Han Sang Hoon , Choi Gloria B. , Huh Jun R. , Kim Lark Kyun , Song Young Goo
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) alters the gut microbiome. This study aimed to assess the association between the disease severity of COVID-19 and changes in stool microbes through a seven-month follow-up of stool collection.

Methods

We conducted a multicentre, prospective longitudinal study of 58 COVID-19 patients and 116 uninfected controls. Differences in the gut microbiota were analysed using 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. The first stool samples were collected at an early convalescent phase of COVID-19, and the second sample was collected at least seven months after COVID-19 infection.

Results and discussion

At the order level, Eubacteriales and Bifidobacteriales decreased, while Bacteroidales and Burkholderiales increased in the COVID-19 group compared to the controls. Alpha diversity also decreased in COVID-19 patients compared to controls, with imperfect recovery of the gut microbiome after seven months. The compositional change in the gut microbiome between the early and late convalescent phases was largest in the moderate and severe groups. The severity of COVID-19 was the most influential clinical variable for microbiome composition (Sum of Sqs = 0.686, P = 0.006), and its effect persisted even after partialling out other effects such as antibiotic use and age. Thus, our study indicates a possible interaction between respiratory viral infection and the composition of the gut microbiota community, warranting future mechanistic and prospective longitudinal studies. Additionally, we were able to detect microbiome changes in patients who were re-infected with SARS-CoV-2. Notably, the dominant bacteria in the re-infected group were Lachnospiraceae and Faecalimonas umbilicata, compared to the one-time infected group.
The prognostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in adult carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infection: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Wang Zhongjie , Li Renhua , Yuan Zhe , Zhang Zuli , Qian Keli
Published: November 2024

Background

Systemic inflammatory indicators such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) can effectively predict the prognosis of various inflammatory diseases. However, its prognostic effect on patients with carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) infection is little known. The objective of this study was to investigate the risk factors for mortality associated with CRKP infection and the clinical value of NLR in predicting prognosis in these patients.

Methods

A total of 190 inpatients with CRKP infection from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023 were enrolled in this study, namely, 73 fatal cases and 117 survival cases in hospital. The medical data and examination results of these patients were collected. A logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between the NLR on the day of CRKP infection onset and all-cause mortality in hospital.

Results

The overall mortality rate of patients with CRKP infection was 38.42% (73/190). Of the 190 patients, 91 were co-infected with carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii/carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRAB/CRPA). Multifactor regression analysis confirmed that carbapenem exposure in the past 14 days, central line insertion, and chronic Foley catheter requirement were independent risk factors for carbapenem-resistant bacteria co-infection. The multivariate analysis shows that admission to an ICU, co-infection with CRAB/CRPA, and higher NLR were independent risk factors for the mortality in hospital, while appropriate treatment within 3 days was an independent protective factor. The area under the curve (AUC) of the NLR was 0.696, and the cutoff value of the NLR was 10.73.

Conclusions

The NLR on the day of CRKP infection onset, admission to an ICU, and co-infection with CRAB/CRPA were identified as independent risk factors for all-cause mortality of patients with CRKP infection, while appropriate treatment within 3 days was recognized as an independent protective factor. The NLR serves as a conveniently accessible and independent prognostic biomarker for patients with CRKP infection.
Improved influenza A whole-genome sequencing protocol
Authors: Goraichuk Iryna V. , Risalvato Jacquline , Pantin-Jackwood Mary , Suarez David L.
Published: November 2024

Influenza A virus poses significant public health challenges due to its high mutation rate and zoonotic potential. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is crucial for monitoring and characterizing these viruses. Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) and Illumina next-generation sequencing platforms are commonly used, with ONT being advantageous for its long-read capabilities, portability, and unique ability to access raw data in real-time during sequencing, making it suitable for rapid outbreak responses. This study optimizes the ONT Ligation Sequencing Influenza A Whole Genome protocol by refining RT-PCR kits, primers, and purification methods, and evaluating automation for high-throughput processing. The alternative RT-PCR kits, combined with alternative primers, significantly improved read depth coverage and reduced short, untargeted reads compared to the original ONT protocol. The improvement was particularly evident in the minimum read depth coverage of polymerase segments, which often face challenges with achieving uniform coverage, displaying higher coverage at the 5’ and 3’ termini, and lower coverage in the central regions. This optimized protocol for targeted influenza A WGS not only enhances sequencing quality and efficiency, but is applicable to all NGS platforms, making it highly valuable for studying influenza adaptation and improving surveillance. Additionally, this protocol can be further refined and adapted for the sequencing of other pathogens, broadening its utility in various pathogen monitoring and response efforts.
Development and validation of prediction models for death within 6 months after cardiac arrest
Authors: Lu Jianping , Zeng Yuqi , Lin Nan , Ye Qinyong
Published: November 2024

Background

Even in patients with a successful return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), outcomes after cardiac arrest (CA) remain poor, with some eventually succumbing after several months of treatment. There is a need for early assessment of outcomes in patients with ROSC after CA. Therefore, we developed three models for predicting death within 6 months after CA using early post-arrest factors, performed external validation, and compared their efficiency.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, 199 patients aged 18–80 years who experienced either in-hospital cardiac arrest or out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and achieved ROSC were included as the training set. Patients were divided into an “alive” group (95 cases) and a “dead” group (104 cases) according to their survival status 6 months after CA. Demographic data, medical history, and laboratory results were collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify risk factors. A risk prediction model was constructed using random forest methods, support vector machine (SVM), and a nomogram based on factors with P < 0.1 in the multivariate logistic analyses. An additional 42 patients aged 18–80 years who experienced CA with ROSC were included as the validation set. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC), decision, and calibration curves were used to assess model performance.

Results

Duration of cardiac arrest, lactate level after ROSC, secondary infections, length of hospital stay, and ventilator support were the top five risk factors for death within 6 months after CA (P < 0.1) in sequence. The random forest model [average area under the ROC curve (AUC), training set = 0.991, validation set = 0.703] performed better than the SVM model (AUC, training set = 0.905, validation set = 0.636) and the nomogram model (AUC, training set = 0.893, validation set = 0.682). Decision curve analysis indicated that the random forest model provided the best net benefit. The calibration curve indicated that the prediction for death within 6 months after CA by the random forest model was consistent with actual outcomes. The AUC of the prediction model constructed using random forest, SVM, and nomogram methods was 0.991, 0.893, and 0.905, respectively.

Conclusions

The prediction model established by early post-arrest factors performed well, which can aid in evaluating prognosis within 6 months after cardiac arrest. The predictive model constructed using random forest methods exhibited better predictive efficacy.
Evaluation on nature-connected environment in building embedded landscape: theory, detection, and case design
Authors: Zhong Shu , Ren Jiao
Published: November 2024

Introduction

A nature-connected environment is important for constructing building infrastructures in a sustainable city. However, its realistic application is rarely utilized in urban planning, primarily due to a lack of accurate regression of emotional perceptions of nature connectedness against existing landscape metrics.

Method

In this study, Changsha was selected as the study area, targeting 50 urban parks as plots, with 165 left unselected for prediction. Twenty pedestrians were randomly approached to assess their emotional perceptions of nature connectedness. Self-reported data were used to evaluate positive and negative emotion scores (Cronbach α: 0.803) and the emotional nonparametric relation index (ENRI) (Pearson correlation in retest: R square = 66.37%).

Results

Three machine-learning algorithms (random forest, AdaBoost, and gradient boosting trees [GBT]) were compared, with GBT being selected (R square: 76.49 ‒ 88.64 %) for further comparison with multivariate linear regression (MLR). Principal component analysis was used for verification, and the GBT algorithm surpassed MLR in regression performance. The green view index (GVI) in large and open green spaces was found to correlate with perceptions of positive emotions (parameter estimate [PE]: 0.02 ‒ 0.13). Conversely, large areas of green and blue spaces with low GVI on the flat plane were found to evoke negative emotions (PE: -0.13 and -0.04, respectively).

Discussion

Artificial intelligence was used for describing cases of design using our findings. For the purpose to evoke positive emotion of visitors, building embedded landscape can be designed in distant view with large tree canopies in closer view. Large area of green and blue spaces should not be recommended no matter whether buildings background the view.
Peripheral immune characteristics and subset disorder in reproductive females with endometriosis
Authors: Lin Kai-Rong , Li Pei-Xian , Zhu Xiao-hong , Mao Xiao-fan , Peng Jia-Li , Chen Xiang-Ping , SiTu Cui-Yao , Zhang Li-Fang , Luo Wei , Han Yu-Bin , Yu Si-Fei
Published: November 2024

Pathogenesis of endometriosis (EN) is still unknown, but growing evidence suggests that immune regulation may be important, and the pattern of peripheral immune changes in reproductive women with EN has yet to be fully explored. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive and systematic analysis of immune cell subsets within T cells, B cells, NK cells, and γδ T cells in peripheral blood (PB) samples from women with EN, women with uterine fibroids (UF) but without EN (UF-alone), and healthy controls using multi-parameter flow cytometry. Our findings revealed that UF, a common comorbidity of EN, exhibited similar peripheral immune features to EN, particularly in T cell and B cell immunity. Compared to healthy controls, we constructed the peripheral immune profile of EN. This profile highlighted that the immunopathogenic factors in EN predominantly relate to the immune disorder of B cells and their subsets, as well as the functional abnormalities within immune cell subsets of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and γδ T cells. Moreover, using the random forest (RF) machine-learning method, we developed a diagnostic model that can effectively identify the patients with EN from healthy controls. The immune factors identified within this model could be pivotal for unraveling the immune pathogenic mechanisms of EN. Our study is the first to present a comprehensive depiction of the circulating immune features in EN, although the detailed roles and underlying mechanisms of these immune factors in the context of EN require further investigation.
Gut microbiota as a biomarker and modulator of anti-tumor immunotherapy outcomes
Authors: Yan Jiexi , Yang Lu , Ren Qingmiao , Zhu Chan , Du Haiyun , Wang Zhouyu , Qi Yaya , Xian Xiaohong , Chen Dongsheng
Published: November 2024

Although immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have significantly improved cancer treatment, their effectiveness is limited by primary or acquired resistance in many patients. The gut microbiota, through its production of metabolites and regulation of immune cell functions, plays a vital role in maintaining immune balance and influencing the response to cancer immunotherapies. This review highlights evidence linking specific gut microbial characteristics to increased therapeutic efficacy in a variety of cancers, such as gastrointestinal cancers, melanoma, lung cancer, urinary system cancers, and reproductive system cancers, suggesting the gut microbiota’s potential as a predictive biomarker for ICI responsiveness. It also explores the possibility of enhancing ICI effectiveness through fecal microbiota transplantation, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics, and dietary modifications. Moreover, the review underscores the need for extensive randomized controlled trials to confirm the gut microbiota’s predictive value and to establish guidelines for microbiota-targeted interventions in immunotherapy. In summary, the article suggests that a balanced gut microbiota is key to maximizing immunotherapy benefits and calls for further research to optimize microbiota modulation strategies for cancer treatment. It advocates for a deeper comprehension of the complex interactions between gut microbiota, host immunity, and cancer therapy, aiming for more personalized and effective treatment options.
LRMAHpan: a novel tool for multi-allelic HLA presentation prediction using Resnet-based and LSTM-based neural networks
Authors: Mi Xue , Li Shaohao , Ye Zheng , Dai Zhu , Ding Bo , Sun Bo , Shen Yang , Xiao Zhongdang
Published: November 2024

Introduction

The identification of peptides eluted from HLA complexes by mass spectrometry (MS) can provide critical data for deep learning models of antigen presentation prediction and promote neoantigen vaccine design. A major challenge remains in determining which HLA allele eluted peptides correspond to.

Methods

To address this, we present a tool for prediction of multiple allele (MA) presentation called LRMAHpan, which integrates LSTM network and ResNet_CA network for antigen processing and presentation prediction. We trained and tested the LRMAHpan BA (binding affinity) and the LRMAHpan AP (antigen processing) models using mass spectrometry data, subsequently combined them into the LRMAHpan PS (presentation score) model. Our approach is based on a novel pHLA encoding method that enables the integration of neoantigen prediction tasks into computer vision methods. This method aggregates MA data into a multichannel matrix and incorporates peptide sequences to efficiently capture binding signals.

Results

LRMAHpan outperforms standard predictors such as NetMHCpan 4.1, MHCflurry 2.0, and TransPHLA in terms of positive predictive value (PPV) when applied to MA data. Additionally, it can accommodate peptides of variable lengths and predict HLA class I and II presentation. We also predicted neoantigens in a cohort of metastatic melanoma patients, identifying several shared neoantigens.

Discussion

Our results demonstrate that LRMAHpan significantly improves the accuracy of antigen presentation predictions.
Precision cut lung slices: an innovative tool for lung transplant research
Authors: Kollareth Denny Joseph Manual , Sharma Ashish K.
Published: November 2024

Lung ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), a common complication after lung transplantation (LTx), plays a crucial role in both primary graft dysfunction (PGD) and chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) thereby adversely impacting the clinical outcomes in these patient cohorts. Lung IRI is characterized by several molecular events including immune cell infiltration, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, calcium overload, inflammation and various forms of cell death pathways. Currently, no therapeutic agents are available to clinically prevent lung IRI. While animal and cell culture models are highly valuable in understanding the pathophysiology of lung IRI, they may not completely recapitulate the complexity of human lung tissue pathology. This limitation necessitates the requirement for developing innovative preclinical human research tools that can supplement available scientific modalities. Emerging evidence suggests that precision-cut lung slices (PCLS) have become an indispensable tool in scientific research to study lung biology in an ex vivo tissue system. Recent studies using PCLS have investigated lung diseases including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer. Although PCLS can be successfully employed to determine the deleterious events in the pathogenesis of lung IRI, including cell-cell interactions as well as hallmarks of inflammation and oxidative stress-dependent pathways, detailed studies employing PCLS to decipher these molecular events in post-LTx injury are currently limited. This review focuses on the applicability and unexplored potential of PCLS as a powerful tool in lung IRI research for understanding the pathophysiology and consequent development of new therapeutic modalities.