bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Foliar Fertilization on BRRI dhan28 To Reduce Soil Application of Nitrogenous Fertilizer
Authors: Mohona M A J , Hasan M A , Chowdhury A K M M B , Hafiz M H R , Islam M R , Sharmin S
Published: September 2024

The experiment was conducted at the research farm of Crop Physiology and Ecology Department, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU), Dinajpur during November 2019 to June 2020 to find out the effect of foliar fertilization on the performance of rice var. BRRI dhan28 and to estimate how much nitrogenous fertilizer can be saved by foliar fertilization without yield reduction. The experiment was laid out following split plot design with three replications. Four levels of foliar fertilization (F0 – No foliar fertilization, F1 – Foliar fertilization with 2% KNO3, F2 - Foliar fertilization with 2% DAP and F3 - Foliar fertilization with 1% American NPKS) were placed in the main plot treatments whereas three nitrogen fertilizer levels (N50 -50% of the recommended nitrogen fertilizer, N75 – 75% of the recommended nitrogen fertilizer and N100 – 100% of the recommended nitrogen fertilizer) were placed randomly in the sub-plots. Foliar fertilization with KNO3, DAP (Di-ammonium phosphate) and American NPKS significantly increased the grain yield (t ha−1) compare to control (F0) but KNO3 and American NPKS performed better than DAP. Foliar fertilization with KNO3 and American NPKS could save 25% of recommended nitrogen fertilizer but foliar fertilization with DAP could not save nitrogen fertilizer applied in soil for getting comparable grain yield found in F0N100. Foliar fertilization of KNO3 and American NPKS with recommended nitrogen fertilizer applied in soil could increase 11.8 and 12.5% grain yield, respectively compare to F0N100.
Bangladesh Agron. J. 2024, 26(2): 77-85
Growth and Yield Performance of Mustard and Rapeseed Varieties as Influenced by Different Sowing Techniques
Authors: Aziz K M T , Razia S , Ali M H , Hasanuzzaman M , Sourav T A , Masum S M
Published: September 2024

An experiment was conducted at the Agronomy field, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, from November 2013 to February 2014 to investigate mustard and rapeseed varieties' growth and yield performances influenced by different sowing techniques. The experiment was laid out in a factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. The four varieties were BARI Sarisha-11, BARI Sarisha-13, BARI Sarisha-15, SAU Sarisha 2 (V1, V2, V3, and V4 respectively) and sowing techniques included broadcasting, line Sowing, raised bed, system of mustard intensification (SMI) (S1, S2, S3, and S4 respectively). Results showed that the highest plant height (143.58 cm) was achieved at the combination of BARI Sarisha-11 and the raised bed technique (V1S3) at harvest. Though the highest leaf number varied in different varieties, it was produced by the SMI technique. BARI Sarisha-15 and the SMI techniques produced the highest number of primary branches, though BARI Sarisha-11 produced the maximum secondary branches with the same technique. BARI Sarisha-11 performed best at all the DAS regarding dry matter accumulation (g) and the values resulting in 1.07, 11.44, 21.3, and 25.87g. SMI also proved to be the best, except for 30 DAS. The highest seed yield (3.74 t ha−1 and 3.80 t ha−1) was obtained using BARI Sarisha-11 and SMI techniques, respectively. The highest biological yields (12.80 t ha−1 and 12.86 t ha−1) were obtained by BARI Sarisha-11 and SMI technique, respectively. However, the maximum harvest index (34.84% and 32.45%) and highest oil percentages (40.65% and 41.38%) were obtained by BARI Sarisha-15 and line sowing, respectively. As such the var. BARI Sarisha-11 could be expected good yield following the SMI technique
Bangladesh Agron. J. 2024, 26(2): 86-99
Factor Affecting Work Efficiency of Pick Tower Department Employees in Lotus Distribution Center, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Authors: Jangkhum Thanatchon , Prommatat Taweerat
Published: September 2024

The purpose of this study is to Factor Affecting Work Efficiency of Pick Tower Department Employees in Lotus Distribution Center Khon Kaen. The Sample is Pick Tower Department Employees in Lotus Distribution Center, Khon Kaen. The instrument used was a questionnaire consisting of 80 people by accidental sampling. The average of Item-Objective Congruence Index (IOC) was 0.78 and the Reliability index was 0.83. The statistics used for data analysis were percentage, mean, standard deviation and Stepwise Multiple Regression statistics. The findings disclosed as follows: (1) Motivating elements in terms of job responsibilities, supervisors grant employees autonomy and confidence in carrying out their duties, which has an impact on work productivity. (2) The policy and administration supporting factors consist of an organization-wide executive meeting where policies and work practices are explained, as well as employee participation in operation planning. With respect to the conditions of employment, A secure workplace exists. Orderly and orderly Convenient for business Having adequate and suitable equipment required to perform the task will have an impact on the task's efficacy with the significance level .05.
Aplicação da ferramenta PDCA: Um estudo de caso no setor de telefonia da secretaria municipal de saúde do nordeste do Brasil
Authors: Martins Daniel Nícolas Campos , Abilio Douglas , Teles Weber de Santana , Silva Max Cruz da , Silva Marcelo dos Santos , Vasconcelos Junior Leonardo Araújo , Andrade Mariamália Newton , Oliveira Fernanda Kelly Fraga , Andrade Ádamo Newton Marinho , Silva Ana Paula Barreto Prata
Published: September 2024

O ciclo Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) é um método que tenciona o adiantamento continuado de processos, produtos e serviços de uma empresa, facultando a estipulação de possibilidades, potencialização dos procedimentos e garantia dos insumos e incumbências ofertada a clientela. O objetivo deste estudo é a diminuição no tempo de atendimento nas ordens de serviço (OS) que chegam ao setor de telefonia em uma Secretaria Municipal de Saúde (SMS) do Nordeste do Brasil. A metodologia aplicada foi uma revisão narrativa da literatura referente a ferramenta PDCA de abordagem qualitativa, e quantitativa com fins da redução do tempo de atendimento das ordens de serviço. Após essa análise, foram tomadas ações de modo a corrigir as falhas encontradas. No final, houve como resultado a diminuição em 81% no tempo de atendimento nas ordens de serviço fazendo com que, dessa forma, não haja acúmulo de solicitações e o setor de telefonia da SMS seja mais bem reconhecido perante os seus usuários. Conclui-se à importância da aplicação da ferramenta PDCA na análise feita para a redução no tempo de atendimento nas ordens de serviços no setor de telefonia da SMS, porém, mesmo após essas ações terem sido executadas, os resultados encontrados foram positivos em sua maioria, mas ainda assim, existem ações que deverão ser refeitas e novamente analisadas dentro da ferramenta PDCA para que se chegue a um resultado otimizado em que todas as falhas são corrigidas.
Makkan Arabic in the digital age: A sociolinguistic analysis of the representation of fricative, stop, and sibilant variation in WhatsApp text messages
Authors: Abdulaziz Azhari Hanadi , Loureiro-Rodríguez Verónica , Fidan Acar Elif
Published: September 2024

This study examines Makkan Arabic speakers’ orthographic representation of standard and colloquial variants in their WhatsApp text messages. In particular, we examine the role that speaker gender, speaker age, gender composition of conversations, and topic of discussions play in Hadari Makkans’ representation of standard and colloquial variants of the variables (th), (dh), and (Dh). Statistical analyses reveal that women favor colloquial variant stops [t] and [d], while men exhibit a preference for standard variants [θ] and [ð], particularly when conversing with other men. For (Dh), however, both women and men favor the standard variant [ðˤ]. Age also plays a role in the distribution of variants, with speakers favoring standard variants as they age. The use of fricatives [θ] and [ð] also increases when participants discuss formal topics, which suggests an implicit association between standard language and formality, despite the inherent informality of WhatsApp interactions. This study provides insights into how phonological variation is orthographically represented within a written genre designed to mimic spontaneous conversation and enriches the broader discourse on Arabic language variation and digital communication.
Investigating language ideologies and attitudes toward dubbing Disney movies into Arabic
Authors: Soliman Nouran Tarek
Published: September 2024

This study analyzes the online discussions surrounding the dubbing of Disney movies into two Arabic varieties: Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and Egyptian Colloquial Arabic (ECA). The objective is to uncover the language ideologies and attitudes taken by Disney Facebook commenters and verbal-guise technique (VGT) participants online. Dubbing Disney movies into these two varieties has sparked numerous debates on social media, particularly on Facebook. The study employed stance-taking to analyze the metalinguistic comments made by Facebook users about the use of these two Arabic varieties in the context of Disney. A VGT experiment was conducted on Disney excerpts to complement the results. The findings provided valuable insights into how Arab social media users’ stances are influenced by their ideologies and attitudes. Lastly, the VGT experiment provided another perspective on how Arabs evaluate MSA and ECA in the context of Disney movies and how they express their indirect language attitudes. The findings showed the differences in language attitudes between Maghreb, Mashreq, and Arab Peninsula countries. The language attitudes of Mashreq and Peninsula countries were closer to each other than to those of the Maghreb countries. Moreover, ECA competes with MSA in prestige and pleasantness. MSA is seen as the thread that connects the Arab World and is admired for its connection with the Arab heritage, religion, and education. However, it is less favored for its rigidity, unintelligibility, and unnaturalness as a spoken variety. Finally, ECA is favored for its simplicity, humor, closeness, familiarity, intimacy, naturalness, and entertainment.
Pengaruh Kompensasi dan Lingkungan Kerja Terhadap Kepuasan Kerja Karyawan Pada CV. Karya Geni, Mayangan, Kota Pasuruan
Authors: Aisy Richadatul , Sutikno Bambang , Oktafiah Yufenti
Published: September 2024

Pada penelitian ini terdapat permasalahan yang berkaitan dengan kepuasan kerja karyawan yang kurang diperhatikan seperti pemberian kompensasi yang tidak sesuai dan tidak adil serta lingkungan kerja yang tidak kondusif. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh kompensasi dan lingkungan kerja terhadap kepuasan kerja karyawan Pada CV Karya Geni, Mayangan, Kota Pasuruan.  Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif yang dikuantitatifkan dengan menyebar kuisioner dan wawancara. Teknik pengambilan sampel dalam penelitian ini menggunakan teknik sensus atau seluruh populasi dengan jumlah 35 orang. Hasil penelitian memperlihatkan jika (1) terdapat pengaruh secara signifikan antara variabel kompensasi dan lingkungan kerja terhadap kepuasan kerja karyawan dengan nilai signifikansi 0,000 < 0,05. (2) kompensasi memiliki pengaruh secara signifikan terhadap kepuasan kerja karyawan dengan nilai signifikansi 0,001 < 0,05. (3) lingkungan kerja memiliki pengaruh secara signifikan terhadap kepuasan kerja karyawan dengan nilai signifikansi 0,000 < 0,05 (4) kompensasi dan lingkungan kerja mempunyai pengaruh sebesar 76,8% pada kepuasan kerja karyawan dan sisanya 23,2% dijelaskan oleh variabel lain yang tidak dimasukkan dalam model.
Worldviews and Judicial Decision Making at the U.S. Supreme Court
Authors: Lohse Paul
Published: September 2024

The Attitudinal Model asserts that U.S. Supreme Court justices decide cases based on their political ideologies. Many judicial politics scholars regard this model as the most powerful in predicting how the justices will vote on a case. There exist many attempts to define political ideologies. The least complex definition is that they are systems of ideas.Political ideologies, nonetheless, are not the only system of ideas. Worldviews are another, and their impact on political decision making remains largely unexplored. This exploratory paper examines the affect that the personal worldviews of the justices have on their court rulings using a qualitative analysis. To assess the impact of worldview, this study categorized ten justices into five dimensions of worldview articulated by Anthropologist Clyde Kluckhohn with personal memoirs written by the justices. This study then sought linkages with the justices’ categorizations and their decisions in significant cases. Some interesting connections were discovered.
Extractive American Politics: Considering Democratic Costs
Authors: Reinke Grace
Published: September 2024

In this era of climate change, reliance on extraction as a source of value creation has come increasingly into question. Concerns about externalities are central points of contestation. Similarly, political economists have long traced how extractive industries tend toward corruption, undercutting democracy along the way. However, systems that deplete natural resources are not the only extractive force shaping American democracy. Rather I argue that extraction also exists as a political ethos that prioritizes the accumulation of private profit over the needs of communities. I theorize a system of extraction that relies on the siphoning of collective resources into private coffers through policy regimes. Crucially, this process need not be explicitly tied to material practices of extracting. Creating lucrative tax rewards for firms or the transferal of public utility management to private-sector actors, for example, removes social resources that might otherwise be collectively managed, harming democratic institutions in the process.
Low CD46 expression on activated CD4+ T cells predict improved Th1 cell reactivity to calcitriol in majority of patients with allergic eosinophilic asthma and healthy donors
Authors: Stichova Julie , Slanina Peter , Chovancova Zita , Baros Jan , Litzman Marek , Litzman Jiri , Vlkova Marcela
Published: September 2024

Background

Previous research showed that the intracellular complement system, with CD46 as its central molecule, regulates the Th1 response associated with IFN-γ production and transition to a type 1 regulatory response (Tr1) characterized by IL-10 production. This transition can be influenced by a vitamin D (calcitriol), favouring a shift towards Tr1 cells and increased IL-10 production, as described in some autoimmune diseases.

Objective

It is unknown whether calcitriol modulates CD46-induced Th1 response towards regulatory type 1 T cells (Tr1) in allergic eosinophilic asthma and its value in relation to reducing inflammatory response.

Methods

CD4+ T cells from 58 patients with allergic eosinophilic asthma (AEA) and 49 healthy donors (HDs) were stimulated with αCD3/αCD46/IL-2 or αCD3/αCD46/IL-2/Calcitriol in vitro for 60 h and analyzed by flow cytometry. IFN-γ and IL-10 levels in cell culture supernatants were measured using ELISA.

Results

CD4+ T cells from patients with AEA demonstrated elevated CD46 expression in both the non-activated state and under stimulation conditions with αCD3/αCD46/IL-2 or αCD3/αCD46/IL-2/Calcitriol. Moreover, CD46 expression in AEA patients fluctuated with the pollen season, showing a significant increase during period of low pollen exposure. Calcitriol further induced CD4+Tr1 cells from in vitro generated CD4+Th1 cells in both HDs and AEA patients. However, in both cohorts were individuals (HDs: 35/49, AEA: 40/58) who responded to calcitriol with a more pronounced regulatory response. The calcitriol-induced regulatory effect manifested by a stronger surface decrease of CD46 on activated CD4+ T cells (by 40% in HDs and by 26% in AEA), accompanied by a significant inhibition of IFN-γ and increased IL-10 production (by 31% in HDs and by 85% in AEA). These individuals were termed as the CD46D group. Contrary to this, calcitriol induced an increase in CD46 expression at the CD4+ T cell surface in a minor group of HDs (14/49), and AEA patients (18/58), who were termed as the CD46I group. In CD46I group, CD4+ T cells produced less IFN-γ in comparison with CD46D group (by 33% in HDs and by 43% in AEA) and were unable to upregulate IL-10 production following stimulation with αCD3/αCD46/IL-2/Calcitriol.

Conclusion

Our results suggest the potential existence of a key for stratifying individuals suitable for calcitriol treatment in the context of low serum vitamin D levels. After validation in clinical studies, this key could be used as an adjunctive therapy not only for patients with allergic eosinophilic asthma, but also for other diseases.
Cyber-biological convergence: a systematic review and future outlook
Authors: Elgabry Mariam , Johnson Shane
Published: September 2024

The introduction of the capability to “program” a biological system is referred to as Engineered biology and can be compared to the introduction of the internet and the capability of programming a computer. Engineered biology is supported by a digital infrastructure that includes data, data storage, computer-dependent laboratory equipment, internet-connected communication networks, and supply chains. This connectivity is important. It can improve workflows and enhance productivity. At the same time and unlike computer programs, biological systems introduce unique threats as they can self-assemble, self-repair, and self-replicate. The aim of this paper is to systematically review the cyber implications of engineered biology. This includes cyber-bio opportunities and threats as engineered biology continues to integrate into cyberspace. We used a systematic search methodology to review the academic literature, and supplemented this with a review of opensource materials and “grey” literature that is not disseminated by academic publishers. A comprehensive search of articles published in or after 2017 until the 21st of October 2022 found 52 studies that focus on implications of engineered biology to cyberspace. The search was conducted using search engines that index over 60 databases–databases that specifically cover the information security, and biology literatures, as well as the wider set of academic disciplines. Across these 52 articles, we identified a total of 7 cyber opportunities including automated bio-foundries and 4 cyber threats such as Artificial Intelligence misuse and biological dataset targeting. We highlight the 4 main types of cyberbiosecurity solutions identified in the literature and we suggest a total of 9 policy recommendations that can be utilized by various entities, including governments, to ensure that cyberbiosecurity remains frontline in a growing bioeconomy.
Comprehensive insights into UTIs: from pathophysiology to precision diagnosis and management
Authors: Sujith Swathi , Solomon Adline Princy , Rayappan John Bosco Balaguru
Published: September 2024

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the second most common infectious disease, predominantly impacting women with 150 million individuals affected globally. It increases the socio-economic burden of society and is mainly caused by Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter spp., and Staphylococcus spp. The severity of the infection correlates with the host factors varying from acute to chronic infections. Even with a high incidence rate, the diagnosis is mainly based on the symptoms, dipstick analysis, and culture analysis, which are time-consuming, labour-intensive, and lacking sensitivity and specificity. During this period, medical professionals prescribe empirical antibiotics, which may increase the antimicrobial resistance rate. Timely and precise UTI diagnosis is essential for addressing antibiotic resistance and improving overall quality of life. In response to these challenges, new techniques are emerging. The review provides a comprehensive overview of the global burden of UTIs, associated risk factors, implicated organisms, traditional and innovative diagnostic methods, and approaches to UTI treatment and prevention.
Association between thyroid function and prognosis of severe COVID-19 among patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection: a retrospective cohort study in China
Authors: Yang Yaling , Qian Lifang , Wu Chenwei , Xu Xinyue , Qu Duoduo , Zhou Lihua , Liu Jia , Zhu Qin , Wang Chunhong , Zhao Xiaolong
Published: September 2024

Objective

This study aims to examine the thyroid hormone profile and its association with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Methods

This retrospective cohort study enrolled patients admitted to a tertiary hospital due to SARS-CoV-2 infection between February 18 and May 18, 2022. Clinical data were collected retrospectively from the electronic medical record system. Based on the thyroid function, patients were divided into five groups: normal, non-thyroid illness syndrome (NTIS), hypothyroidism, thyrotoxicosis, and unclassified. The association between thyroid function and severe COVID-19 was detected using multivariable logistic regression and restricted cubic splines analysis.

Results

This study included 3,161 patients, with 7.7% of them developing severe COVID-19. 44.9% of the patients had normal thyroid function, 36.5% had NTIS, 6.7% had hypothyroidism, and 1.0% had thyrotoxicosis on admission. After adjusting for age, sex, and relevant clinical characteristics, NTIS and hypothyroidism were associated with increased risks of severe COVID-19 (odds ratio [OR] 2.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.59-3.56 and OR 2.29, 95% CI 1.23-4.26, respectively), compared to normal thyroid function group. Among patients with NTIS or hypothyroidism, higher levels of total triiodothyronine (TT3) are associated with lower risks of severe COVID-19 (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.64-0.82, for every 0.1nmol/L increase in TT3 level).

Conclusion

Thyroid hormone profiles of NTIS or hypothyroidism are associated with increased risks of severe COVID-19. The decreased level of TT3 correlated with the increased risk of severe COVID-19 in patients with NTIS or hypothyroidism.
Estimation of abnormal states in shunt capacitor banks using transient disturbance feature extraction
Authors: Zhang Long , Ma Ming , Xiao Wen , Zhong Yunping , Hu Bi , Zhou Wenwen , Zhang Wenhai
Published: September 2024

Shunt capacitor banks are essential for reactive power compensation, ensuring voltage stability, and reducing system losses. These banks consist of multiple units with components in series and parallel. A few component failures do not immediately affect the safe operation of the capacitor bank, but component breakdown can lead to voltage redistribution. Under combined factors such as system overvoltage and equipment aging, and others can trigger an avalanche effect causing capacitor breakdown, resulting in significant safety accident risks. Practical operation experience shows that partial component breakdown generates many transient disturbance signals. Quantitative analysis of these signals can detect capacitor bank anomalies early. This paper proposes the quantitative extraction of transient disturbance characteristics using the Prony algorithm and estimates the phase and number of capacitors that break down to judge capacitor anomalies. The simulation part verifies the theoretical analysis and detection algorithm’s correctness through numerical simulations and PSCAD (Power Systems Computer Aided Design) electromagnetic transient simulations. The numerical simulations consider different signal lengths, noise levels, attenuation coefficients, and oscillation frequencies. In the PSCAD simulation environment, verification models are built under varying sampling frequencies, numbers of breakdown components, signal lengths, and signal-to-noise ratios. These simulation results verify the accuracy of the detection algorithm under different conditions.
The expected solar performance and ramp rate tool: a decision-making tool for planning prospective photovoltaic systems
Authors: Bunn Patrick T. W. , Boeman Leland J. , Lorenzo Antonio T. , Raub Jenika
Published: September 2024

The Expected Solar Performance and Ramp Rate tool (ESPRR) is an open-source interactive web-based application that reliably calculates ramp rate (RR) statistics and an expected power generation time series for prospective photovoltaic (PV) systems. Users create PV systems by defining site parameters. ESPRR uses those parameters with irradiance data from the National Solar Radiation Database (NSRDB) to create a time series of power output from which RR statistics are calculated. This study rigorously evaluates ESPRR’s performance using 5 years of measured power output from a fleet of utility-scale systems and finds that ESPRR calculates stress-case RRs within an error of 0.05 MW/min and 0.42 MW/min for the worst-case RRs. We evaluate the expected AC power output in clear-sky conditions and find an NRMSE of less than 10% and an NMBE of less than 6% for the fleet’s largest system. The NRMSE is 10%–15% of system capacity for non-clear-sky conditions, and the NMBE is about zero. The evaluation shows that ESPRR can estimate PV output and RRs that are representative of operational systems, meaning users can use the results from ESPRR in the decision-making process for designing new systems or when adding systems to an existing fleet. Since only system parameters are required to site a proposed system anywhere on a map, users can site and reposition a fleet of PV systems in a way that reduces significant RRs. As the grid-tied PV capacity continues to increase, the mitigation of significant RRs grows in importance. ESPRR can help developers and utilities create geographically diverse fleets of PV systems that will promote grid reliability and avoid significant RRs. ESPRR source code is available at https://github.com/UARENForecasting/ESPRR.
TimeNorm: a novel normalization method for time course microbiome data
Authors: Luo Qianwen , Lu Meng , Butt Hamza , Lytal Nicholas , Du Ruofei , Jiang Hongmei , An Lingling
Published: September 2024

Metagenomic time-course studies provide valuable insights into the dynamics of microbial systems and have become increasingly popular alongside the reduction in costs of next-generation sequencing technologies. Normalization is a common but critical preprocessing step before proceeding with downstream analysis. To the best of our knowledge, currently there is no reported method to appropriately normalize microbial time-series data. We propose TimeNorm, a novel normalization method that considers the compositional property and time dependency in time-course microbiome data. It is the first method designed for normalizing time-series data within the same time point (intra-time normalization) and across time points (bridge normalization), separately. Intra-time normalization normalizes microbial samples under the same condition based on common dominant features. Bridge normalization detects and utilizes a group of most stable features across two adjacent time points for normalization. Through comprehensive simulation studies and application to a real study, we demonstrate that TimeNorm outperforms existing normalization methods and boosts the power of downstream differential abundance analysis.
Is the tumor cell side of the immunological synapse a polarized secretory domain?
Authors: Biolato Andrea Michela , Filali Liza , Pereira Fernandes Diogo , Moreau Flora , Mgrditchian Takouhie , Hoffmann Céline , Thomas Clément
Published: September 2024

The formation of a lytic immunological synapse (IS) is crucial for cytotoxic lymphocytes to accurately target and effectively eliminate malignant cells. While significant attention has been focused on the lymphocyte side of the IS, particularly its role as a secretory domain for lytic granules, the cancer cell side of the IS has remained relatively underexplored. Recent findings have revealed that cancer cells can rapidly polarize their actin cytoskeleton toward the IS upon interaction with natural killer (NK) cells, thereby evading NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. In this Brief Research Report, we present preliminary findings suggesting that actin cytoskeleton remodeling at the cancer cell side of the IS is associated with the targeted secretion of small extracellular vesicles towards the interacting NK cell. We observed that multivesicular bodies (MVBs) preferentially accumulate in the synaptic region in cancer cells exhibiting synaptic accumulation of F-actin, compared to those lacking actin cytoskeleton remodeling. Extracellular immunofluorescence staining revealed increased surface exposure of CD63 at the cancer cell side of the IS, suggestive of the fusion of MVBs with the plasma membrane. This hypothesis was supported by a pH-sensitive probe demonstrating dynamic trafficking of CD63 to the extracellular region of the IS. Collectively, our data support the notion that cancer cells can engage in targeted secretion of extracellular vesicles in response to NK cell attack, underscoring the need for further research into the potential role of this process in facilitating cancer cell immune evasion.
The Nrf2-HO-1 system and inflammaging
Authors: O’Rourke Sinead A. , Shanley Lianne C. , Dunne Aisling
Published: September 2024

Nrf2 is a master transcriptional regulator of a number of genes involved in the adaptive response to oxidative stress. Among the genes upregulated by Nrf2, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) has received significant attention, given that the products of HO-1-induced heme catabolism have well established antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This is evidenced in numerous models of inflammatory and autoimmune disease whereby induction of HO-1 expression or administration of tolerable amounts of HO-1 reaction products can ameliorate disease symptoms. Unsurprisingly, Nrf2 and HO-1 are now considered viable drug targets for a number of conditions. In recent years, the term ‘inflammaging’ has been used to describe the low-grade chronic inflammation observed in aging/aged cells. Increased oxidative stress is also a key factor associated with aging and there is convincing evidence that Nrf2, not only declines with age, but that Nrf2 and HO-1 can reduce cellular senescence and the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) which is now considered an underlying driver of age-related inflammatory disease. In this review, we describe the role of oxidative stress in ‘inflammaging’ and highlight the potential anti-aging properties of the Nrf2-HO-1 system. We also highlight established and newly emerging Nrf2 activators and their therapeutic application in age-related disease.
Pathogen detection by targeted next-generation sequencing test in adult hematological malignancies patients with suspected infections
Authors: Xu Jin-Hui , Cui Ya-Bin , Wang Li-Jie , Nan Hui-Jie , Yang Pei-Yao , Bai Yan-Liang , Shi Ming-Yue
Published: September 2024

Background

Infections in patients with hematological malignancies (HM) are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Timely and effective empirical anti-infective treatment can reduce the infection-related mortality rate. Targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) offers a rapid diagnostic approach for identifying diverse pathogens in these patients. However, relevant research is still limited to adult patients with HM.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of adult HM patients admitted to our hospital from March 2023 to September 2023, focusing on their clinical characteristics and the results of both tNGS and conventional microbiological tests (CMTs). We evaluated the performance of tNGS and CMTs in pathogenic diagnosis and described the distribution characteristics of pathogens in adult HM patients with infections.

Results

The study included 209 samples collected from 137 patients. Results showed that the overall pathogen detection rate differed significantly between tNGS and CMTs (60.3% vs. 24.4%, p < 0.001). The sensitivity (69.7% vs. 35.9%), negative predictive value (NPV) (48.2% vs. 42.4%), and accuracy (66.5% vs. 56.5%) of pathogen detection were notably superior with tNGS compared to CMTs. Among the 142 samples with clinically diagnosed infections, tNGS combined with CMTs identified a definite or probable microbial etiology in 114 samples (80.3%). Of the 36 samples with concordant positive results from both tNGS and CMTs, 72.2% (26/36) exhibited full or partial agreement. Our study further showed the highest detection rate for viral infections (57.0%), predominantly for Epstein–Barr virus (DNA-V, 18.3%). Followed by bacterial infections (46.5%), the detection rate of Gram-negative bacteria (G+, 35.9%) was higher than that of Gram-positive bacteria (G−, 21.8%) in this study. Klebsiella pneumoniae (G−, 12.7%) had the highest detection rate among these emerging bacteria, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (G−, 10.6%) and Enterococcus faecium (G+, 7.7%). Bacterial-viral coinfections were the most common type of mixed infection (35.5%).

Conclusion

In conclusion, tNGS outperforms CMTs in both sensitivity and pathogen spectrum. Therefore, it can serve as an adjunct to CMTs to facilitate the precise adjustment of anti-infective regimens for adult HM patients. Our findings establish a basis for formulating empirical anti-infective therapy strategies tailored to the pathogen distribution in this patient population.
The correlation between vitamin D and the occurrence of peripheral neuropathy induced by paclitaxel chemotherapy
Authors: Zhang Jialei , Zhang Xiaoling , Wu Jie
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Paclitaxel, a widely used chemotherapeutic agent for various cancers, induces peripheral neuropathy (PIPN) in approximately 80% of patients, severely affecting their quality of life. The role of vitamin D in pain perception has gained attention, but its correlation with PIPN remains unclear.

Methods

This study included 129 cancer patients who received adjuvant paclitaxel chemotherapy from January to June 2023. Neuropathic pain was assessed using the Douleur Neuropathique 4 Questions (DN4) questionnaire, and serum levels of vitamin D and glutathione (GSH) were measured to explore the correlation between vitamin D levels and neuropathic pain induced by paclitaxel chemotherapy.

Results

The results showed a negative correlation between vitamin D deficiency and the occurrence of neuropathic pain (Spearman correlation coefficient of −0.324, P < 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed that the area under the vitamin D curve for neuropathic pain was 0.681. Furthermore, after paclitaxel chemotherapy, there was a significant decrease in GSH levels in the serum of patients, with a more pronounced decline in the vitamin D-deficient group.

Discussion

The findings of this study indicate that higher levels of vitamin D are negatively associated with the occurrence of paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain, suggesting that vitamin D might protect against oxidative stress. This discovery is significant for clinical treatment as it may help physicians better understand the mechanisms of pain during paclitaxel therapy and provide new strategies for the prevention and treatment of such pain. It also suggests that modulating vitamin D levels could reduce the neurotoxicity of paclitaxel, thereby improving patients’ quality of life and treatment compliance.
Comparison of antimicrobial activities and resistance mechanisms of eravacycline and tigecycline against clinical Acinetobacter baumannii isolates in China
Authors: Chen Xiandi , Li Yitan , Lin Yingzhuo , Guo Yingyi , He Guohua , Wang Xiaohu , Wang Mingzhen , Xu Jianbo , Song Mingdong , Tan Xixi , Zhuo Chao , Lin Zhiwei
Published: September 2024

Tigecycline (TGC) is currently used to treat carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) infections, while eravacycline (ERV), a new-generation tetracycline, holds promise as a novel therapeutic option for these infections. However, differences in resistance mechanism between ERV and TGC against A. baumannii remain unclear. This study sought to compare the characteristics and mechanisms of ERV and TGC resistance among clinical A. baumannii isolates. A total of 492 isolates, including 253 CRAB and 239 carbapenem-sensitive A. baumannii (CSAB) isolates, were collected from hospitalized patients in China. The MICs of ERV and TGC against A. baumannii were determined by broth microdilution. Genetic mutations and expressions of adeB, adeG, adeJ, adeS, adeL, and adeN in resistant strains were examined by PCR and qPCR, respectively. The in vitro recombination experiments were used to verify the resistance mechanism of ERV and TGC in A. baumannii. The MIC90 of ERV in CRAB and CSAB isolates were lower than those of TGC. A total of 24 strains resistant to ERV and/or TGC were categorized into three groups: only ERV-resistant (n = 2), both ERV- and TGC-resistant (n = 7), and only TGC-resistant (n = 15). ST208 (75%, n = 18) was a major clone that has disseminated in all three groups. The ISAba1 insertion in adeS was identified in 66.7% (6/9) of strains in the only ERV-resistant and both ERV- and TGC-resistant groups, while the ISAba1 insertion in adeN was found in 53.3% (8/15) of strains in the only TGC-resistant group. The adeABC and adeRS expressions were significantly increased in the only ERV-resistant and both ERV- and TGC-resistant groups, while the adeABC and adeIJK expressions were significantly increased and adeN was significantly decreased in the only TGC-resistant group. Expression of adeS with the ISAba1 insertion in ERV- and TGC-sensitive strains significantly increased the ERV and TGC MICs and upregulated adeABC and adeRS expressions. Complementation of the wildtype adeN in TGC-resistant strains with the ISAba1 insertion in adeN restored TGC sensitivity and significantly downregulated adeIJK expression. In conclusion, our data illustrates that ERV is more effective against A. baumannii clinical isolates than TGC. ERV resistance is correlated with the ISAba1 insertion in adeS, while TGC resistance is associated with the ISAba1 insertion in adeN or adeS in A. baumannii.
Identification and molecular detection of the pathogen of Phalaenopsis leaf yellowing through genome analysis
Authors: Tsao Wei-Chin , Li Yi-Hsuan , Tu Yi-He , Nai Yu-Shin , Lin Tsung-Chun , Wang Chih-Li
Published: September 2024

Moth orchids (Phalaenopsis spp.) are globally popular ornamental flowers. However, effective management strategies for Phalaenopsis leaf yellowing remain elusive, making the disease a challenging obstacle affecting moth orchids at various growth stages. This disease manifests as collar rot, leaf yellowing, leaf abscission, and eventually, plant death. The lack of effective management strategies is likely attributed to a limited understanding of the disease pathogenesis and pathogen dissemination pathways. Fusarium phalaenopsidis sp. nov. was established in this study to stabilize the classification status of Phalaenopsis leaf yellowing pathogens using molecular and morphological features. The genome of the holotype strain was sequenced and assembled, revealing its genome structures. Analyses of virulence-related elements, including transposon elements, secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters, effectors, and secreted carbohydrate-active enzymes, shed light on the potential roles of three fast core chromosomes in virulence. Two species-specific primers were designed based on unique gene sequences of two virulence-related proteins through comparative genomics and BLAST screening. The specificity of these primers was validated using isolates of F. phalaenopsidis, non-target species in the Fusarium solani species complex, other Fusarium species complexes, and saprophytic fungi. These results are intended to accelerate the identification of the pathogens, facilitate the study of disease pathogenesis, and pave the way for elucidating pathogen dissemination pathways. Ultimately, they aim to contribute to the formulation of effective control strategies against Phalaenopsis leaf yellowing.
Molecular epidemiology of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing-Klebsiella species in East Tennessee dairy cattle farms
Authors: Gelalcha Benti D. , Mohamed Ruwaa I. , Gelgie Aga Edema , Kerro Dego Oudessa
Published: September 2024

Introduction

The rising prevalence of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella species (spp.) poses a significant threat to human and animal health and environmental safety. To address this pressing issue, a comprehensive study was undertaken to elucidate the burden and dissemination mechanisms of ESBL-Klebsiella spp. in dairy cattle farms.

Methods

Fifty-seven Klebsiella species were isolated on CHROMagar™ ESBL plates and confirmed with MADLI-TOF MS and whole genome sequenced from 14 dairy farms.

Results and discussion

Six families of beta-lactamase (bla) (blaCTX−M, blaSHV, blaTEM, blaOXY, blaOXA, and blaSED) were detected in ESBL-Klebsiella spp. genomes. Most (73%) of isolates had the first three types of beta-lactamase genes, with blaSHV being the most frequent, followed by blaCTX−M. Most (93%) isolates harbored two or more bla genes. The isolates were genotypically MDR, with 26 distinct types of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and point mutations in gyrA, gyrB, and parC genes. The genomes also harbored 22 different plasmid replicon types, including three novel IncFII. The IncFII and Col440I plasmids were the most frequent and were associated with blaCTXM−27 and qnrB19 genes, respectively. Eighteen distinct sequence types (STs), including eight isolates with novel STs of K. pneumoniae, were detected. The most frequently occurring STs were ST353 (n = 8), ST469 (n = 6), and the novel ST7501 (n = 6). Clusters of ESBL-Klebsiella strains with identical STs, plasmids, and ARGs were detected in multiple farms, suggesting possible clonal expansion. The same ESBL variant was linked to identical plasmids in different Klebsiella STs in some farms, suggesting horizontal spread of the resistance gene. The high burden and dual spread mechanism of ESBL genes in Klebsiella species, combined with the emergence of novel sequence types, could swiftly increase the prevalence of ESBL-Klebsiella spp., posing significant risks to human, animal, and environmental health. Immediate action is needed to implement rigorous surveillance and control measures to mitigate this risk.
Swimtrans Net: a multimodal robotic system for swimming action recognition driven via Swin-Transformer
Authors: Chen He , Yue Xiaoyu
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Currently, using machine learning methods for precise analysis and improvement of swimming techniques holds significant research value and application prospects. The existing machine learning methods have improved the accuracy of action recognition to some extent. However, they still face several challenges such as insufficient data feature extraction, limited model generalization ability, and poor real-time performance.

Methods

To address these issues, this paper proposes an innovative approach called Swimtrans Net: A multimodal robotic system for swimming action recognition driven via Swin-Transformer. By leveraging the powerful visual data feature extraction capabilities of Swin-Transformer, Swimtrans Net effectively extracts swimming image information. Additionally, to meet the requirements of multimodal tasks, we integrate the CLIP model into the system. Swin-Transformer serves as the image encoder for CLIP, and through fine-tuning the CLIP model, it becomes capable of understanding and interpreting swimming action data, learning relevant features and patterns associated with swimming. Finally, we introduce transfer learning for pre-training to reduce training time and lower computational resources, thereby providing real-time feedback to swimmers.

Results and discussion

Experimental results show that Swimtrans Net has achieved a 2.94% improvement over the current state-of-the-art methods in swimming motion analysis and prediction, making significant progress. This study introduces an innovative machine learning method that can help coaches and swimmers better understand and improve swimming techniques, ultimately improving swimming performance.
GABAergic dysfunction in postmortem dorsolateral prefrontal cortex: implications for cognitive deficits in schizophrenia and affective disorders
Authors: Hughes Hannah , Brady Lillian J. , Schoonover Kirsten E.
Published: September 2024

The microcircuitry within superficial layers of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), composed of excitatory pyramidal neurons and inhibitory GABAergic interneurons, has been suggested as the neural substrate of working memory performance. In schizophrenia, working memory impairments are thought to result from alterations of microcircuitry within the DLPFC. GABAergic interneurons, in particular, are crucially involved in synchronizing neural activity at gamma frequency, the power of which increases with working memory load. Alterations of GABAergic interneurons, particularly parvalbumin (PV) and somatostatin (SST) subtypes, are frequently observed in schizophrenia. Abnormalities of GABAergic neurotransmission, such as deficiencies in the 67 kDA isoform of GABA synthesis enzyme (GAD67), vesicular GABA transporter (vGAT), and GABA reuptake transporter 1 (GAT1) in presynaptic boutons, as well as postsynaptic alterations in GABAA receptor subunits further contribute to impaired inhibition. This review explores GABAergic abnormalities of the postmortem DLPFC in schizophrenia, with a focus on the roles of interneuron subtypes involved in cognition, and GABAergic neurotransmission within presynaptic boutons and postsynaptic alterations. Where available, comparisons between schizophrenia and affective disorders that share cognitive pathology such as bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder will be made. Challenges in directly measuring GABA levels are addressed, emphasizing the need for innovative techniques. Understanding GABAergic abnormalities and their implications for neural circuit dysfunction in schizophrenia is crucial for developing targeted therapies.