bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating Career Perceptions in the Tourism Industry: Evidence from Uzbekistan
Authors: Akhmedova Shakhzoda , Kamolova Sitora , Noriyeva Mekhribon , Ibragimov Khsuen
Published: December 2024

The study aims to analyze the perception of Uzbek residents when pursuing a career in the tourism industry. A sample of 80 students from “Silk Road” International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage completed a questionnaire rating the significance of several factors influencing their choice of career. The survey was analyzed in the SPSS model with the ordinal logistic regression method. As results reveal more than 46% of members are interested in the tourism sphere, especially in travel and tour operation majors. Also, the opportunity to travel and explore new countries is the key reason for choosing the tourism industry, as they believe in the positive effect of digital transformation and the implementation of sustainability. However, 44% are worried about the stability and security of their tourism career and they considered a specific career role within the tourism industry. These insights assist the government to enhance the quality of education in universities, mitigate some challenges, attract more qualified employees, and widen the opportunities that specifically involve travel opportunities.
Validation of Monilinia fructicola Putative Effector Genes in Different Host Peach (Prunus persica) Cultivars and Defense Response Investigation
Authors: Landi Lucia , D’Ortenzio Annamaria Lucrezia , Makau Sarah Mojela , De Miccolis Angelini Rita Milvia , Romanazzi Gianfranco
Published: December 2024

Monilinia fructicola is the most common and destructive brown rot agent on peaches. Knowledge of gene expression mediating host–pathogen interaction is essential to manage fungal plant diseases. M. fructicola putative virulence factors have been predicted by genome investigations. The pathogen interaction with the host was validated. Five M. fructicola isolates were inoculated on two cultivars (cv.s) of peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] ‘Royal Summer’ and ‘Messapia’ with intermediate and late ripening periods, respectively. The expression pattern of 17 candidate effector genes of M. fructicola with functions linked to host invasion and fungal life, and seven peach genes involved in the immune defense system were monitored at 0, 2, 6, 10, and 24 h-post inoculation (hpi). All fungal isolates induced similar brown rot lesions on both cv.s whereas the modulation of effector genes was regulated mainly at 2, 6, and 10 hpi, when disease symptoms appeared on the fruit surface, confirming the involvement of effector genes in the early infection stage. Although differences were observed among the fungal isolates, the principal component investigation identified the main differences linked to the host genotype. The salicylic acid and jasmonate/ethylene signaling pathways were differently modulated in the host independent from the fungal isolate used for inoculation. On plants susceptible to brown rot, the pathogen may have adapted to the host’s physiology by modulating its effectors as weapons.
Advancing Building and Construction Higher Education: The Online Real-Time Block Model's Impact on Professional Skills, Gender Equity, and Industry Relevance
Authors: Izadyar Nima , Li Le , Chen Shuo , O'Brien Darryl
Published: December 2024

Traditional In-Person Semester-Length (IP-SL) courses often struggle with inherent time constraints, lack of flexibility, and geographic limitations, which collectively delay effective learning and accessibility for students. Moreover, the extended duration of the Semester-Length (SL) structure may lead to decreased student focus due to lengthy engagement with multiple subjects simultaneously, increased stress levels, and limited opportunities for timely feedback and assessment. This study evaluates the Online Real-Time Block Model (ORT-BM) as a solution to these issues, focusing on its ability to enhance gender equity and industry relevance while addressing the building industry's demand for a skilled and diverse workforce. Building surveying professionals must stay current with rapidly evolving building codes, regulations, and sustainability practices; however, the rigid structure of IP-SL courses often hinders this, resulting in graduates being less prepared to meet industry needs. Conducting a comparative analysis of a case study: the Bachelor of Building Surveying program at an Australian higher education institution, the research compares three teaching models: IP-SL (2016–2018), In-Person Block Model (IP-BM, 2019–2020), and ORT-BM (2020–2023) using Student Evaluation of Units (SEU) data. The findings indicate that ORT-BM significantly improves student satisfaction, supports gender equity by providing flexible learning options, and enhances accessibility. Furthermore, SEU results quantitatively demonstrate that ORT-BM's innovative strategies and utilization of digital tools have the potential to align building and construction education with rapidly evolving industry standards while addressing gender imbalances. Future research may explore developing hybrid models to optimize cognitive load further, improve accessibility, and enhance flexibility.
Wireless Accelerometer Architecture for Bridge SHM: From Sensor Design to System Deployment
Authors: Bono Francesco Morgan , Polinelli Alessio , Radicioni Luca , Benedetti Lorenzo , Castelli Dezza Francesco , Cinquemani Simone , Belloli Marco
Published: December 2024

This paper introduces a framework to perform Operational Modal Analysis (OMA) for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) by presenting the development and validation of a low-power, solar-powered Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) tailored for bridge structures. The system integrates accelerometers and temperature sensors for dynamic structural assessment, all interconnected through the energy efficient MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) messaging protocol. The paper delves into the details of sensor selection, calibration, and the design considerations necessary to address the unique challenges associated with bridge structures. Special attention is given to the solar-powered aspect, allowing for extended deployment periods without the need for frequent maintenance or battery replacements. To validate the proposed system, a comprehensive field deployment was conducted on an actual bridge structure. The collected data were transmitted through MQTT messages and analyzed by means of operational modal analysis (OMA). Comparative studies with traditional wired systems underscore the advantages of the solar-powered wireless solution in terms of sustainability, scalability, and ease of deployment. Results from the validation phase demonstrate the system’s capability to provide accurate and real-time data needed to assess the health state of the monitored asset. The paper concludes with insights into the practical implications of adopting such a solar-powered WSN, emphasizing its potential to revolutionize bridge health monitoring by offering a cost-effective and energy-efficient solution for long-term infrastructure resilience.
Niños, niñas y adolescentes de circuito, la infancia de la que nadie habla
Authors: Delgado Hernández Karla Iroazem
Published: December 2024

El presente documento es una aproximación para comprender el fenómeno de los niños, niñas y adolescentes de circuito en Ciudad Juárez, a través de la descripción de las condiciones estructurales que no permiten la visibilización y, por tanto, la adecuada atención a su condición, fomentando ciclos de exclusión, marginación, pobreza y estigmatización social.
Trabajo de campo: anécdotas y reflexiones desde la novatez
Authors: Sierra Daniel Alberto
Published: December 2024

El presente ensayo muestra tres anécdotas cortas que exponen diversas circunstancias que enfrentan los investigadores principiantes, para que de esta manera, los investigadores principiantes puedan sentirse identificados y tal vez hasta aliviados de no ser los únicos que han pasado por tal o cual circunstancia o han tenido dudas respecto a su inmersión en el campo y puedan despejar dudas y ganar seguridad para la próxima inmersión al campo.
¿Cuántos dijo?
Authors: Pineda Jaimes Servando
Published: December 2024

Numeralia
En busca del bienestar animal en Ciudad Juárez: Dos manifestaciones del animalismo.
Authors: Sandoval-Cervantes Iván
Published: December 2024

La importancia de los animales no-humanos ha ido incrementando en los últimos años y se puede ver en las actitudes y posiciones de personas que se identifican como “animalistas”. El término animalista es difícil de definir porque abarca una gran diversidad de actitudes y creencias. En general, cuando alguien se identifica como animalista quiere decir que siente “amor a los animales” y busca promover el bienestar animal. Pero, ¿qué, exactamente, es el bienestar animal? En este breve ensayo analizo lo qué quiere decir ser animalista en Ciudad Juárez, y luego identifico, a grandes rasgos, dos vertientes del animalismo en la ciudad. Este análisis forma parte de un proyecto etnográfico más extenso que busca analizar el animalismo en México.
El papel de personas significativas en el desarrollo de la resiliencia
Authors: Herrera Varela Bertha
Published: December 2024

Dadas las condiciones de violencia en que viven las ciudades de México hoy en día, es más fácil para los jóvenes construirse un imaginario de violencia que de paz; de fracaso que de éxito; de continuar con la misma vida que vivieron sus padres que de romper con el padrón y creer que pueden tener un mejor futuro. El riesgo de que un joven sea violento aumenta cuando ha tenido alguna experiencia de violencia en su vida como el haber sido abusado, ser integrante de una pandilla, usar drogas o portar un arma.
Presentación: Matices fronterizos de los derechos humanos
Authors: Medina Parra Rosa Isabel
Published: December 2024

El presente trabajo constituye una reﬂexión multidisciplinaria sobre la situación que priva en algunos grupos en situación de vulnerabilidad en materia de derechos humanos, cuya aproximación destaca por ser una visión académica femenina, articulada en la frontera norte de México.
Análisis de la satisfacción laboral en el sector hotelero
Authors: Contreras-Félix Rita Patricia , Pérez-Hernández Lucero , Hinojosa-López Jessica Ivonne
Published: December 2024

El propósito de esta investigación es evaluar los factores que influyen en la satisfacción laboral de los colaboradores del sector hotelero, además de analizar las diferencias a partir del sexo, generaciones de nacimiento y categoría de hotel, así como comparar los niveles de satisfacción intrínseca y extrínseca. Se utilizó una metodología cuantitativa con alcance correlacional. La muestra estuvo conformada por 126 colaboradores de hoteles. Se utilizó la técnica de encuesta autoadministrada mediante el instrumento S20/23 de Meliá y Peiró (1998). Los resultados indican una correlación entre los elementos intrínsecos y extrínsecos de la satisfacción laboral, destacando que no se encontraron diferencias generacionales y por sexo en las percepciones de satisfacción, y en cuanto a la categoría de hotel sólo el factor de supervisión mostró diferencias.
Marco metodológico para la gestión sistémica del conocimiento
Authors: Rodas-Osollo Jorge , Olmos-Sánchez Karla
Published: December 2024

La tecnología desempeña un papel fundamental, influyendo en todos los aspectos de nuestra vida y marcando el comienzo de una era de transformación digital y cognitiva; aquellos que se adaptan a esta ingresan en la Era Cognitiva, donde la Inteligencia Artificial y las Tecnologías de la Información brindan soporte en la toma de decisiones. No obstante, esta transición puede generar ansiedad debido a la necesidad de implementar cambios organizacionales y tecnológicos rápidos y a menudo inadecuados, propiciados por una simplificación excesiva de dominios complejos para que sean más accesibles a la IA y las TI. Este artículo presenta el marco metodológico KMoS-SSA como una herramienta integradora que fusiona la Gestión del Conocimiento con el Enfoque Sistémico para desarrollar soluciones efectivas en dominios complejos. Este enfoque integral reconoce la importancia del conocimiento tácito de los especialistas y ofrece una vía adecuada para enfrentar desafíos asociados con la transformación digital y cognitiva.
Análisis del Gasto y Pobreza Energética en la Vivienda de Interés Social. Caso de estudio en Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua
Authors: Alba Gómez Liliana Karina , Rogel Villalba Erika Anastacia
Published: December 2024

En México, se estima que aproximadamente un 40 % de los hogares se encuentra en condición de pobreza energética. Esta se refiere a la situación económica que experimentan familias que destinan más del diez por ciento de sus ingresos al pago de servicios relacionados con energía para enfriar o calentar su vivienda. Esta problemática la padecen miles de familias en Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, debido a su clima extremo en diferentes épocas del año. El objetivo de esta investigación es generar una reflexión teórica metodológica del gasto y costo de la energía del diseño de la vivienda de interés social a través del análisis de un caso de estudio que se tomará como referencia. Los resultados esperados son la proyección de los posibles escenarios de reconversión de la vivienda mediante materiales aislantes, la mejor inversión y la tasa de retorno posible, con el fin de brindar una respuesta a esta problemática.
Influence of Depression on Health Behavior (Daily Smoking, Binge Drinking, Walking, Skipping Breakfast) among Korean Adults: Based on the KNHANES
Authors: Jeong Su Yeon
Published: December 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the influence of depression on health behaviors (daily smoking, binge drinking, walking, skipping breakfast) among Korean adults. Methods: The data for the study were obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2022). the final sample consisted of 26,732 cases after excluding missing data. Multivariate logistic regression, Cross-tabulation analysis were used for data analysis. Results: After adjusting for covariates, depression was significantly associated with 2.51 increase in the odds of smoking daily and 1.85 increase in the odds of binge drinking and 1.74 increase in the odds of skipping breakfast five or more days a week. Depression was significantly associated with 30.0% decrease (adjusted odds ratio=0.70) in the odds of walking at least 30 minutes a day, five or more days a week. Conclusions: The study found that depression negatively affects all major health behaviors (daily smoking, binge drinking, walking, skipping breakfast). Our findings suggest that managing depression is a crucial factor in promoting physical health, and it is important to target individuals with depression in physical health promotion programs.
The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Proportion of People Diagnosed with Hypertension among Daegu Citizens
Authors: Jin Soo-Hee
Published: December 2024

Objectives: Daegu Metropolitan City was a region that experienced the pandemic in the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, and the rate of physical activity practice decreased significantly compared with other metropolitan cities in 2020. In 2023, when it transitioned to an endemic, the proportion of people diagnosed with hypertension (standardized) increased the most among metropolitan cities. Methods: Using data from the Community Health Survey in Daegu, we examined changes in the proportion of people diagnosed with hypertension before and after the COVID-19 pandemic and changes according to sociodemographic characteristics. Results: The proportion of people diagnosed with hypertension, adjusted for gender, age, obesity, income, and occupation, was not different in 2019 and 2020 compared to 2018, and was likely to be higher in 2021, 2022, and 2023. The proportion of people diagnosed with hypertension was higher among men and women, ages in the 30s, 40s, and 50s, and income level in the 2 million won, 3 million won, and 4 million won and occupation in simple labor, others (students, housewives, unemployed) after the COVID-19 outbreak (2019-2023) than before the COVID-19 outbreak (2015-2019). In particular, there was a significant increase among women, 30s, 3 million won, and those in simple labor.Conclusions: In this study, the proportion of people diagnosed with hypertension increased significantly compared to before the outbreak of COVID-19, not only in vulnerable groups but also in younger age groups and high-income groups. In the physical activity aspect alone, the reason is interpreted as the result of the discontinuation of intense exercise, which can prevent hypertension by stimulating the cardiovascular system. Therefore, public health intervention is needed for vulnerable groups and maintain an intensity of exercise that can prevent hypertension. There is also a need to prepare to prevent a pandemic of chronic diseases from being caused by new infectious diseases.
The Choice of a Construction Arrangement for Cable Lines with a Voltage of 10 kV According to the Criterion of the Minimum Expected Cost
Authors: Vysotski M. E.
Published: December 2024

The article considers the issue of choosing the optimal construction arrangement  of cable lines with a voltage of 10 (20, 35) kV with cross-linked polyethylene insulation. The options for using three or single-core cables laid in a triangle or in a plane are analyzed. The methodological basis of the work is the principle of minimizing the expected costs, taking into  account both capital investments and annual costs, including losses of electrical energy in cables. Within the framework of the study, a nomogram of economic intervals was scheduled, which makes it possible to determine the optimal cable core sections and boundary conditions for the use of threeand single-core cables, depending on the calculated current load. It is shown that with the existing nomenclature of three-core cables with a maximum core cross-section up to 630 mm2, single-core cables can be economically feasible only with a core cross-section of 800 mm2  and above. It has been discovered that the expected costs for laying single-core cables in the plane with two-way grounding of screens always turn out to be higher than when laying a triangle.  This effect is due to an increase in both capital costs and power losses in cable screens. To increase the efficiency of cable lines, it is proposed to expand the range of three-core cables by including cables with the maximum possible core cross-section. This will make possible to increase  the range of current loads in which the use of three-core cables will be economically justifiable. The results presented in the article can be used in the design of new cable lines, the analysis of  the effectiveness of existing ones, as well as in the modernization and reconstruction of urban medium-voltage cable networks.
Justification of the Use of Biogas for Power Generation in the Republic of Belarus
Authors: Zelianukha A. V. , Tsyhanava H. A. , Belskaya H. V. , Khrypovich H. A.
Published: December 2024

Развитие биогазовых технологий в Республике Беларусь происходит в рамках энергетического строительства и формирования сырьевой базы, что определяется особенностями экономического развития. В настоящее время биогаз получают по двум основным технологиям сбраживания отходов – с использованием влажной технологии переработки органических отходов животноводства и сухой технологии конверсии твердых бытовых отходов.  К первой категории можно отнести 16 биогазовых заводов общей мощностью 21,219 МВт, основным сырьем для которых являются органические отходы животноводства, отличающиеся высокой влажностью. Главным оборудованием на этих заводах являются биореакторы. Ко второй категории биогазовых комплексов можно отнести 21 биогазовую установку  с газопоршневыми агрегатами общей установленной мощностью 32,463 МВт. Основным сырьем для них являются твердые бытовые отходы, из которых производят свалочный газ. Дополнительное оборудование – когенерационные установки – в обеих технологиях позволяет повысить энергоэффективность выработки биогаза. По результатам оценки теоретического и технически возможного потенциала биогаза из отходов животноводства при сохранении численности поголовья скота в сельскохозяйственных организациях на уровне начала 2023 г. имеется возможность ежегодного замещения в топливном балансе республики 1325 и 982 млн м3 природного газа соответственно. В последние несколько лет появилась настоятельная потребность переориентации производственной деятельности биогазовых комплексов вследствие ввода в строй Белорусской АЭС. Изменение энергетической структуры страны внесло существенные коррективы в функционирование альтернативной энергетики, включая производство биогаза, в первую очередь по его целевым показателям. Вопросы производства альтернативной энергии в новых условиях остаются актуальными, поскольку электрическую и тепловую энергию, произведенную из биогаза, можно и следует использовать для функционирования оборудования, подогрева воды, обезвоживания получаемого биогумуса, других локальных целей. Остаются высокоактуальными экологические преимущества биогазовых технологий – эффективное управление органическими отходами крупных животноводческих ферм, которое позволяет существенно снизить загрязнение почв, поверхностных и грунтовых вод, атмосферного воздуха органическими загрязнителями вблизи животноводческих комплексов. В Республике Беларусь возникла  необходимость   изменения   производственной   деятельности   биогазовых  комплексов, что обусловлено в первую очередь появлением в энергобалансе страны атомной энергии, вырабатываемой на Белорусской АЭС.
A brief historical essay on the establishment of the Nizhny Novgorod Scientific Research Institute for Occupational Hygiene and Pathology and its work in 1929−1945
Authors: Kolesov S.A. , Umnyagina I.A.
Published: December 2024

The monograph provides a historical overview of the background and the history of the emergence of the Federal Budgetary Scientific Institution «Nizhny Novgorod Research Institute for Hygiene and Occupational Pathology» of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing. The main milestones of its formation, actions to create a system of health centers at enterprises in the Nizhny Novgorod region, the beginning of work at the «big chemistry» plants, in the defense industry and at the construction of GAZ, as well as the selfless labour of the team during the Great Patriotic War are studied and described.

Archival documents were used while writing and designing the book, as well as data and illustrations from open sources.

This publication is addressed to doctors — occupational pathologists and hygienists, historians of medicine, students of medical universities and all persons interested in the development of the health care system in the Nizhny Novgorod region.
Difference in vaginal microbiota composition between infertile and fertile patients: A prospective study
Authors: Chen Pei-Chen , Chen Shih-Fen , Tung Hung Wei , Lin Yu Ying , Chen Pao-Chu
Published: December 2024

Background
Dysbiosis of the vaginal microbiota, characterized by loss of Lactobacillus spp. (classified into five community state types: CSTs, I-V) dominance, is associated with female infertility. In this research, while the role of CST I, CST II, CST III, and CST V has gained considerable attention, studies focusing on CST IV are limited. This prospective study aimed to analyze the differences in the composition of vaginal microbiota, with a particular focus on CST IVA and CST IVB, between fertile and infertile females.
Results
The vaginal microbiota of 15 infertile females and seven fertile females were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequence method. The composition of the vaginal microbiota in infertile females differed from that in fertile females. Particularly, the percentages of several bacterial species, including Lactobacillus spp. and Oscillospira spp., were significantly lower in infertile females than in fertile females. The percentages of Lactobacillus spp. in the infertile and fertile females were 31.54% and 42.32%, respectively. Analyzing the differences in the abundance of CST IV between the two study groups revealed that the percentage of CST IV was higher in infertile females (29.75%) than in fertile females (21.61%). Further analysis demonstrated that CST IVA was significantly more prevalent in infertile females, constituting 7% of the total vaginal microbiota count, compared with only 0.94% in fertile females. The growth rate of Prevotella spp. in CST IVA was significantly higher in infertile females (95.18%) than in fertile females (69.77%). However, no differences in the abundance of CST IVB were observed between the two study groups.
Conclusions
Prevotella spp. in CST IVA were more prevalent in infertile females, potentially creating an unfavorable environment for sperm and resulting in unexplained infertility. Oscillospira was more abundant in fertile females, indicating a healthy vaginal microbiota.
A computational-based new treatment strategy with three-armed RCT on Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children
Authors: Zhong Chengliang , Liu Qingyuan , Guo Shengxuan , Sun Deyang , Wang Boyang , Hu Siyuan , Li Xinmin , Zhao Weibo , Ding Ying , Yuan Bin , Liu Jing , Xiang Long , Li Nan , Xue Zheng , Li Yan , Teng Yiqun , Yi Rongsong , Li Shao , Ma Rong
Published: December 2024

Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) is a common type of pneumonia among school-aged children and adolescents. Jinzhen Oral Liquid (JZOL) and Azithromycin(AZ) are commonly used treatments in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western medicine, respectively. There are several clinical and basic research reports on their solo effect against MPP, enabling their combined treatment to become possible. However, the mechanisms and specific pharmacodynamics of their combined therapy remain unclear. In this study, we conducted a mechanistic analysis of the combination of JZOL and AZ based on network target, elucidating their modular network regulatory mechanisms. The modular mechanisms involve four modules, including hormone response, cell differentiation and migration, signal transduction, oxygen and hypoxia response, centered by TNF signaling pathway-mediated regulation. Under the instruction of computational analysis, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, three-armed, parallel-controlled, multicenter clinical study of different doses of JZOL combined with AZ for the treatment of MPP in children. The objective of clinical research is to evaluate the synergistic effect of different doses of JZOL combined with AZ in the treatment of children with MPP, shortening the course of disease and improving prognosis, while observing the safety of clinical application. At the study endpoint, the median time to clinical recovery showed statistically significant differences (The double-dose group lasts for 5 days, the regular-dose group lasts for 6 days, and the placebo group lasts for 8 days), which were also observed between groups for time to complete fever remission, time to relief of cough/phlegm, effective rate of chest X-ray improvement, and rate of healing of TCM symptoms. Different doses of JZOL combined with AZ have shown the effects of shortening the course of the disease, relieving the symptoms, and improving the prognosis. The research program composed of computational prediction and clinical trials can significantly accelerate the research and development process and identify more effective treatment with good safety, which is worthy of clinical promotion.
Trial registration:Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR1800019007
Myocardial dysfunction is linked to endothelial dysfunction in JIA patients: a study of novel aortic circumferential strain
Authors: Shafie Eman Shafik , Mostafa Fatma ElZahraa , AbdelWanis Mohamad Samir , Gales Mira M. , AbdelMassih Antoine Fakhry , Essam Rana
Published: December 2024

Background:
Accelerated vascular stiffness and myocardial dysfunction in juvenile idiopathic arthritis have been established. However, the relationship between these two conditions remains under investigated in the literature. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is any correlation between the extent of vascular and myocardial involvement in JIA patients.
Methodology:
For this purpose, 22 JIA patients and an equivalent number of controls were investigated by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery and aortic circumferential strain (ACS) for the measurement of vascular function, in addition to 3D speckle tracking echocardiography and global longitudinal strain (GLS) for left ventricular function. The degree of inflammation in JIA patients was estimated via the JADAS-10 score.
Results:
Both ACS and FMD were impaired in cases compared with controls (median value in cases 15 vs. 21 in controls); similarly, GLS was significantly reduced in cases (median value 17) compared with controls (22). There was a significant correlation between ACS and GLS, indicating an intimate relationship between both conditions. Impaired vascular relaxibility was associated with increased JADAS scores, suggesting a negative effect of inflammation on accelerated vascular degeneration.
Conclusion:
There is currently an increasing body of evidence that cardiovascular disease partly results from low-grade inflammation, and there are also speculations that subtle myocardial dysfunction results from vascular involvement with impaired coronary relaxibility. We believe that this study adds more evidence to the latter. More studies involving more patients, notably at the molecular level, are needed to validate these results and to further understand their mechanisms.
Time-correlation Transduction in Strong-field Quantum Electrodynamics
Authors: li zairui , Sims Wesley , Shariatdoust Mirali , Howell Gabriel , Searles Thomas , Sun Linshan , Carbajo Sergio
Published: December 2024

Recent developments in high-power ultrafast optical technology and emerging theoretical frameworks in strong-field quantum electrodynamics (SF-QED) are unveiling nuanced differentiations between the semi-classical and full quantum mechanical descriptions of physical systems. Here we present a computational investigation of a novel technique for attosecond optical sensing through time correlation transduction (TCT) by investigating high-harmonic generation (HHG) as a representative SF-QED process. TCT is an experimental method to capture photon-electron interactions at higher harmonic orders by temporarily correlating the emitted and driving photon fields. This approach enables resolving the dynamical behavior of optically-driven strong-field phenomena in quantum materials such as Two-dimensional Materials and Dirac Semimetals down to 10 attosecond temporal resolution to discover a full quantum explanation. Predicting and measuring the transition between perturbative and non-perturbative regimes with attosecond resolution can deepen the understanding of SF-QED such as HHG. As such, we find that TCT is a powerful method to pave the way toward the functional characterization of quantum matter.
Conserved Function of Drg GTPases to Promote Protein Synthesis in the Ribosome
Authors: Jin Hong , Hawk Christopher
Published: December 2024

Translation is regulated temporally and spatially to ensure proteins are synthesized at the right time and place in the cell. Temporary halting of ribosomal movement along an mRNA during translation (leading to a "paused" ribosome) allows the cell to synchronize protein production in response to internal cues, external signals, subcellular localization, and other regulatory mechanisms. Furthermore, how the cell distinguishes between a functional physiological pause and a harmful pathological stall remains a fundamental question in biology. Here, we report the discovery of a new class of GTPases, Developmentally Regulated GTP-binding (Drg) proteins, that promote protein biosynthesis in the halted ribosome in an evolutionarily conserved manner. We show that the essential bacterial Obg GTPases are distant homologs of eukaryotic and archaeal Drg proteins that are critical for proteostasis. Through in vivo cross-species complementation of cells where ribosomes are induced to pause or stall, we demonstrate the conserved function of Drg proteins to enhance translation in the ribosome in a GTPase-dependent manner. Our data show that bacterial Obg rescues cellular growth and translation in both Saccharomyces cerevisiae and human cells lacking their endogenous Drgs. Furthermore, the presence of Obg-GTP stimulates peptidyl transfer, the key catalytic function of the ribosome, suggesting a possible molecular mechanism underlying their conserved cellular function. This discovery shows that the Drg protein is a new general translation factor that directly affords cells from the three domains of life a new level of regulation.
Spatio-temporal analysis of land surface temperature and land cover changes in Prešov city using downscaling approach and machine learning algorithms
Authors: Uhrin Anton , Onačillová Katarína
Published: December 2024

In recent decades, global climate change and rapid urbanisation have aggravated the urban heat island (UHI) effect, affecting the well-being of urban citizens. Although this significant phenomenon is more pronounced in larger metropolitan areas due to extensive impervious surfaces, small and medium-sized cities also experience UHI effects, yet research on UHI in these cities is rare, emphasizing the importance of Land Surface Temperature (LST) as a key parameter for studying UHI dynamics. Therefore, this paper focusses on the evaluation of LST and land cover (LC) changes in the city of Prešov, Slovakia, a typical medium-sized European city that has recently undergone significant LC changes. In this study, we use the relationship between Landsat-8/-9 derived LST and spectral indices NDBI, NDVI, NDWI derived from Landsat-8/-9 and Sentinel-2 to downscale LST to 10 m. Two machine learning (ML) algorithms, Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Random Forest (RF), are used to assess image classification and identify how different types and LC changes in selected years 2017, 2019, 2023 affect the pattern of LST. The results show that several decisions made during the last decade, such as the construction of new urban fabrics and roads, caused the increase of LST. The LC change evaluation, based on the RF classification algorithm, achieved overall accuracies of 93.2% in 2017, 89.6% in 2019, and 91.5% in 2023, outperforming SVM by 0.8% in 2017 and 4.3% in 2023. This approach identifies UHI-prone areas with higher spatial resolution, helping urban planning mitigate the negative effects of increasing urban LSTs.
Identification of Defect in Friction Stir Welding Processed Material Using Microwave Non-Destructive Evaluation and Image Processing
Authors: A Arunkumar , R Vimal Samsingh , S Esther Florence , B Sakthi Abirami , V Shravan P
Published: December 2024

Manufacturers are looking intently for more rapid Friction Stir Welding (FSW), speeds in a manufacturing environment to improve quantity. The variable regions increase as welding speed increases, potentially leading to an increase in the number of defects. Consequently, it's essential to use an effective inspection method that uses non-destructive evaluation (NDE) to identify the surface defect origins. In the current proposal, a novel microwave-based non-destructive evaluation is utilized, employing an open-ended rectangular waveguide probe to detect defects in samples processed via FSW. The “Skin effect” approach is employed at microwave frequencies (8–12 GHz) for identifying potential external defects in welded samples. Further research indicated that the suggested interpolation image processing technique accurately identifies defects present within welded samples. This proposed microwave non-destructive evaluation model successfully predicted defects with a minimum deviation of 1mm.
Orchestrating Improbable Chemistries: Structural Snapshots of B12-Dependent Methionine Synthase's Catalytic Choreography
Authors: Koutmos Markos , Mendoza Johnny , Yamada Kazuhiro , Castillo Carmen , Wilhelm Catherine
Published: December 2024

Cobalamin (vitamin B12) and its derivatives play an essential role in biological methylation, with cobalamin-dependent methionine synthase (MS) serving as a canonical example. MS catalyzes multiple methyl transfers within a single, dynamic multi-domain architecture that has proven challenging to study, hampering efforts to elucidate its catalytic mechanism(s). Utilizing a thermostable MS homolog and non-native cobalamin cofactors, we have captured crystal structures of transient conformational states of MS, including those directly involved in folate demethylation and homocysteine methylation. These snapshots reveal the mechanistic significance of five-coordinate, His-off methylcobalamin in homocysteine methylation and highlight the crucial role of the folate-binding domain and interdomain linkers in orchestrating the intricate structural rearrangements required for catalysis. This expanded conformational ensemble, including the unexpected capture of novel 'Cap-on' conformations, underscores the remarkable plasticity of MS, exceeding previous estimations. Our findings provide crucial insights into the catalytic mechanism of MS, laying the foundation for harnessing cobalamin's biocatalytic potential and elucidating how nature exploits protein dynamics to facilitate complex transformations.
Application-Centric Congestion Control
Authors: De Vleeschauwer Danny , Chang Chia-Yu , De Schepper koen , Papagianni Chrysa
Published: December 2024

Modern networked applications typically establish multiple connections to one or more servers to ensure that the virtual objects with which the user interacts are kept up to date. Since these connections usually share a common bottleneck, a congestion control algorithm is utilized to determine the throughput that can be sustained across each connection. As users need to interact in real-time with these virtual objects, the transport layer should guarantee low latency, for which the recently proposed ''Low Latency Low Loss Scalable throughput (L4S)'' standards offer a solution. By default, L4S allocates an equal capacity share to each connection. In this paper, we extend L4S to enable the application to decide how the available bottleneck capacity should be shared between its maintained connections, while guaranteeing low latency.
Head and Neck Tumor Organoid Grown under Simplified Media Conditions Model Tumor Biology and Chemoradiation Responses
Authors: Li Weilin , Nishino Michiya , Reed Eric , Akshinthala Dipikaa , Pasha Hamdan , Anderson Erik S. , Huang Ling , Hebestreit Hannah , Monti Stefano , Gomez Ernest D. , Jalisi Scharukh M. , muthuswamy Senthil K.
Published: December 2024

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a prevalent and often fatal malignancy associated with significant treatment-related toxicity. There is an urgent need for a preclinical model to assess therapeutic options and guide clinical decision-making. To define conditions for establishing patient-derived organoid (PDO) models that faithfully recapitulate morphological, histopathological, and genomic characteristics of HNSCC patients and can predict radiation and chemotherapy responses in patients, PDOs were generated from a group of HNSCC patients. The morphological, histological, mutational, and biological characteristics and treatment responses were evaluated. We demonstrate that the PDOs closely resemble resected tumors from which they were derived with respect to histopathology, differentiation state markers, p16 status, and mutation profiling. We observe patient-to-patient variation in cell proliferation rates. Additionally, they exhibit differential responses to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which were examined using a cell viability assay. This methodology offers potential for drug screening in a pre-clinical context with the potential to mirror clinical outcomes. Our WNT-free growth conditions maintained the differentiation status of PDOs and enabled rapid assessment of drug response and the development of new models to identify new treatment options for head and neck cancer patients.
Five Social Dynamics Influencing Cholera risks in the City of Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo: A qualitative Study
Authors: Maisha Felicien Masanga , Mbasa Ndemo Mumbere , Ulikuwe Kennedy , Kahatwa Serge , Mulligan Connie , Morris Glenn , Bardosh Kevin
Published: December 2024

Background: Cholera remains a major (and increasing) global public health problem. Goma, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has been a major cholera hotspot in Africa since 1994 and is currently experiencing one of the largest outbreaks in the world. This article contributes to the existing scholarship on cholera risk by utilizing a variety of qualitative research methods.
Methods: Data were collected between 2021 and 2022 using in-depth interviews, narrative interviews, key informant interviews, transect walks and a participatory mapping workshop, in six areas of Goma. Local understanding of cholera risk stretched across five categories.
Results: First, specific social groups were at increased risk based on age and gender (children, women, elderly), health status (chronic diseases, exposure to cholera treatment centers [CTC]), occupational risks (fishermen, markets) and socio-economic status (impoverished households, refugees, prisoners). Second, cholera risks were framed in relation to broader events such as conflict, population growth, climate change, and volcanic eruptions. Third, the lack of water infrastructure prompted use of unsafe drinking water from Lake Kivu and surrounding lakes. Accessibility of chlorinated water sources was impacted by social connection and cost. Fourth, cholera risk was ascribed to challenges with care seeking and treatment, such as homecare practices, transportation, and substandard practices at CTCs; and issues with implementation of prevention strategies, including vaccination campaigns. Finally, public health outreach practices were viewed as sources of risk by an overemphasis of emergency response teams and insufficient empowerment of communities.
Conclusion: We offer new empirical perspectives on the range of factors that contribute to cholera risk in Goma. These factors should be addressed by implementing diverse strategies, rather than focusing on rapid response interventions. Specifically, development of a safe and reliable water system to treat the chronic nature of cholera infection in the DRC should be prioritized.
Support Vector Machines for Optimal Channel Decoding
Authors: Rovella Gastón De Boni , Benammar Meryem , Benaddi Tarik , Méric Hugo
Published: December 2024

In this work, we investigate channel decoding techniques based on machine learning, and more specifically, on Support Vector Machines (SVM). Existing SVM-based decoders suffer from a scalability problem, characterized by the exponential growth of both the number of classifiers required to decode and the size of the training dataset as a function of the code dimension. This phenomenon, often referred to as the curse of dimensionality, renders existing SVM approaches impractical for larger codes. To address this limitation, we introduce a novel bit-wise SVM decoding strategy coupled with a noiseless optimization framework, which significantly reduces the computational burden. Specifically, for a code of length $n$ and dimension $k$, our approach decreases the number of SVM classifiers from an exponential dependence to a linear in $k$, while the required training dataset is minimized to a single noiseless codeword per class. We formulate the resulting optimization problem and derive its analytical solution. Moreover, we demonstrate that, under specific conditions, the solution of the optimization process produced by the proposed framework is equivalent to the optimal Maximum Likelihood (ML) decoding rule when applied to transmissions over Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN) channels.
InTraSeq: A Multimodal Assay that Uncovers New Single-Cell Biology and Regulatory Mechanisms
Authors: Beausoleil Sean , Ariss Majd , Huang Linglin , Ding Xiaokai , Sheth Shivani , Levy Tyler , Fisher Jeremy , Loebelenz Jean , Arlotta Keith , Dixon Karen , Polakiewicz Roberto , Kuchroo Vijay
Published: December 2024

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has revolutionized cell biology by enabling the profiling of transcriptomes at a single-cell resolution, leading to important discoveries that have advanced our understanding of cellular and tissue heterogeneity, developmental trajectories, and disease progression. Despite these important advances, scRNA-seq is limited to measuring the transcriptome providing a partial view of cellular function. To address this limitation, multimodal scRNA-seq assays have emerged, allowing for the simultaneous measurement of RNA expression and protein. Intracellular Transcriptomic and Protein Sequencing (InTraSeq), a novel multimodal scRNA-seq technology described here, enables the concurrent measurement of mRNA, surface markers, cytoplasmic proteins, and nuclear proteins within individual cells through oligo-barcoded antibodies. This method offers a comprehensive approach to studying cellular function by combining RNA and protein profiling from the same sample and utilizing a relatively simple protocol. The InTraSeq method enables researchers to expand their view of critical intracellular protein expression including post-translational modifications (PTMs) and transcription factors, allowing for the identification of novel cellular subtypes and states that may be obscured by RNA-based analyses alone. This is particularly valuable in understanding the heterogeneity of cell populations and identifying distinct functional states. In this report, we used InTraSeq to characterize the complex cellular states and regulatory mechanisms during Th17 cell differentiation. We simultaneously profiled RNA and protein expression in over 85,000 cells, capturing transcriptional changes, changes in protein expression and the dynamics of signaling pathways at a high resolution. Our results revealed novel insights into Th17 cell differentiation, including the identification of key regulatory factors and their target genes. By simultaneously measuring mRNA, extra and intra-cellular proteins, signaling proteins, and PTMs, InTraSeq offers a comprehensive understanding of cellular processes and enables the identification of novel regulatory mechanisms.
Selection is more important than complementarity in global grasslands
Authors: Wang Yonghui , Ma Wenhong , Miao Bailing , Zhang Bin , Yang Huping , Dai Xinxin , Jia Xinhui , Jiang Lin
Published: December 2024

A central question concerning biodiversity loss is how it impacts ecosystem functions and services. Experiments manipulating species diversity often show the complementarity effect, stemming from niche differentiation or facilitation among species, contributes dominantly to ecosystem functions. The selection effect, resulting from the increased likelihood of species-diverse communities containing high-performance species, plays a limited role. However, the applicability of these findings to natural ecosystems remains unclear. By partitioning the two effects and further separating them into dominant-species and subordinate-species components, we found that the selection effect was significant in enhancing natural grassland functions (plant biomass production and community coverage), and better predicted functions than the complementarity effect. In natural grasslands, the selection effect was largely driven by dominant species and independent from community-wide species diversity, while the complementarity effect was largely driven by subordinate species and positively associated with species diversity. Our results suggest that the selection effect may play a more important role in driving the functioning of natural ecosystems, which may be underestimated in biodiversity experiments.