bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pengembangan Aplikasi Sistem Informasi Sarana Umum di Wilayah Kota Kediri Berbasis Android untuk Meningkatkan Akses Sarana Umum bagi Masyarakat Kota Kediri dan Pendatang
Authors: Benni Agung Nugroho
Published: December 2023

Sarana di wilayah Kota Kediri banyak macamnya dan tersebar di penjuru Kota Kediri sehingga masyarakat Kota Kediri dan pendatang seringkali bingung dan tidak tahu dimanakah harus mencari sarana yang dimaksud dan bagaimana menuju ke sarana itu. untuk mengetahui sarana yang dimaksud orang akan bertanya kepada orang lain ataupun mencari di internet dimana hasil yang diberikan terkadang tidak sesuai/kurang tepat atau bahkan tidak tepat. Untuk mempercepat masyarakat Kota Kediri dan pendatang dalam mencari sarana umum di wilayah Kota Kediri caranya adalah dengan memberikan informasi sarana umum tersebut dalam âgenggamanâ mereka dalam bentuk aplikasi Android yang akan mereka bawa kemanapun mereka pergi. Dengan terdapatnya informasi sarana umum di tangan mereka (masyarakat) maka akan memudahkan masyarakat untuk menuju sarana umum yang dimaksud dengan melihat rute dan penanda lokasi sarana umum yang ditampilkan oleh aplikasi menggunakan layanan Google Map. Informasi sarana umum akan selalu up to date dikarenakan aplikasi juga dapat memperbaharui data lokasi sarana umum dengan mengambil data terbaru dari server melalui jaringan internet dimana data di dalam server akan selalu diperbaharui oleh kontributor yang telah dipercaya.
Pembelajaran Chord Gitar Berbasis Android
Authors: Moh. Rizal Bahri  , Ellya Nurfarida  , Herwin Zakiyah
Published: December 2023

Perangkat Android yang memiliki teknologi tinggi dengan kemampuan seperti komputer atau biasa disebut smartphone memiliki pengguna yang banyak. Hampir tiap aktifitas perangkat ini tidak pernah ditinggal. Banyak fitur yang terdapat pada smartphone, salah satunya fitur yang dimiliki hampir semua handphone adalah game atau aplikasi pembelajaran lain, dari bnyaknya kalangan yang suka bermain gitar tetapi ribet dalam belajar dan mengetahui kunci-kunci gitar apa saja dan harus membawa kesana kemari buku panduan kunci gitar, belum juga hal yang di tampilakan hanyalah sebuah gambar dan tulisan. Berdasarkan kondisi diatas dibuatlah Pembelajaran Chore Gitar Berbasis Android yang bisa dengan mudah menerapaknnya dengan adanya gambar, suara, lagu, dan video yang sudah dilengkapi dengan kunci gitar dan suara dari kunci tersebut. Diharapkan aplikasi ini bisa membantu dalam pembelajaran gitar dan menggantikan peran pengguna untuk belajar kunci gitar lebih menyenangkan.
Interactive Digital Storybook for Increasing Children Reading Interest of Indonesian Folklore
Authors: Mohammad Farid Naufal  , Selvia Ferdiana Kusuma
Published: December 2023

Reading is very important for children but now children reading interest are decreasing, especially in Indonesian folklore. It happened because Indonesian folklore is written in traditional storybook version. If it continues to happen then children in the future will not know the histories of Indonesia. One way to increase children reading interest is introducing pictured storybook, but the traditional pictured storybook are not sufficient to increase children reading interest. In a growing era we can create a more interesting pictured storybook with implementing interactive digital storybook on android devices. Interactive means that children can interact to move the animated storybook characters. We assume that children interaction with interactive digital storybook can increase their enthusiasms in reading Indonesian folklore. To prove our hypothesis we conducted an experiment to 30 children. In the experiment, the children will read interactive digital storybook and traditional storybook after that we will see their responds. The result shows that interactive digital storybook can increase children reading interest of Indonesian folklore.
Pembuatan Game Kluyuran di Kediri Berbasis Android Dan C#
Authors: Ashafidz Fauzan Dianta
Published: December 2023

Minat masyarakat begitu besar terhadap permainan game sangat disayangkan apabila dalam pengembangan game sebagian besar hanya dikembangkan oleh developer game dari luar negri, sedangkan dalam pembuatan game sendiri tidaklah cukup sulit untuk dipelajari. Selain itu jarang sekali game yang dibuat mengambil tema mengenai lingkungan Negara Indonesia, sehingga memberi kesan bahwa hal yang berhubungan Negara Indonesia kurang menarik untuk dijadikan tema pada game. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah membuat Game Kluyuran Di Kediri Berbasis Android dan C# adalah permainan yang bergenre arcade dengan tampilan background lingkungan Kota Kediri. Game tersebut dapat menghasilkan game menarik untuk anak-anak yang dapat memberikan wawasan lebih luas tentang Kota Kediri. Game Kluyuran Di Kediri ini dibuat dengan menggunakan bahasa pemrograman C#. Untuk tool yang digunakan dalam pembuatan game ini menggunakan Unity dan CorelDraw. Fitur yang didapat pada aplikasi ini dapat meningkatkan rasa keingintahuan masyarakat terhadap lingkungan Kota Kediri sehingga pengguna dapat menumbuhkan kreatifitas untuk mengolah informasi tentang wisata alam dan tempat rekreasi yang berada Kediri.
Aplikasi Electronic Voting Berbasis Web Untuk Inu-Kirana Dan Putra-Putri Batik Kabupaten Kediri
Authors: Fadelis Sukya
Published: December 2023

Inu-Kirana and Putra-Putri Batik Kediri an event activity held by the Kediri district government, especially the Department of Culture and Tourism aims to empower Kediri Tourism Kediri and batik conservation through tourism ambassador and the ambassador Batik Kediri. Inu-Kirana for election are held every 2 years while the Son-Daughter Batik elections are held once every year. In the selection of Inu-Kirana and Putra-Putri Batik Kediri still use some social media as a means to determine the winner of many participants, so the need for a system that can handle the problems in determining the winner. Work began with data collection information about Inu-Kirana and Putra-Putri Batik and manufacture of a series of processes of registration and the electoral process. A series of trials conducted to test the correctness of the application and suitability of the application to the needs of event organizers. In the end, the application is successfully used as a medium of registration and election Inu-Kirana and Putra Putri Batik Kediri and can be exploited further.
Aplikasi Data Pokok Pendidikan Kota Kediri Dengan Mengimpletasian CSS Bootstrap
Authors: Rinanza Zulmy Alhamri
Published: December 2023

Dinas Pendidikan Kota Kediri mempunyai tugas pokok melaksanakan urusan pemerintahan daerah dibidang pendidikan sesuai dengan kebijakan Walikota. Saat ini telah tersedia aplikasi ata Pokok Keendidian dari Keentrian Pendidikan, namun hanya bisa diakses operator sekolah. Dinas Pendidikan Kota Kediri bermaksud melaksanakan amanat Undang – Undang Keterbukaan Informasi dan memberikan akses kepada masyarakat sehingga perlu membangun “Aplikasi Data Pokok Pendidikan Kota Kediri Dengan Mengimplementasikan CSS Boostrap”. Metodologi penelitian meliputi pencarian dan pengumpulan data, analisa kebutuhan, perancangan sistem, implementasi dan pengujian. Aplikasi dibuat menggunakan bahasa pemrograman PHP dengan basis data pendukungnya menggunakan MySQL. Aplikasi Data Pokok Pendidikan dapat menampilkan hasil laporan jumlah siswa dalam bentuk grafik dan tabel. Aplikasi ini juga dapat melakukan proses perpindahan pada guru dan siswa. Untuk menelitian selanjutnya aplikasi tersebut perlu ditambahkan fitur penyimpanan data nilai dan informasi pekerja atau staff pada masing – masing sekolah.
Diagnosa Penyakit dengan Gejala Demam Menggunakan Learning Vector Quantization (LVQ)
Authors: Dian Eka Ratnawati  , Marji Marji
Published: December 2023

Terdapat beberapa penyakit dengan gejala demam yang sulit untuk dibedakan yaitu Demam tifoid (tifus), Demam berdarah dengue (DBD), dan Malaria. Kesulitan dalam mendeteksi lebih awal ketiga penyakit ini karena memiliki gejala klinis yang hampir sama. Pada penelitian ini menggunakan metode Learning Vector Quantization (LVQ)  dalam melakukan klasifikasi terhadap ketiga penyakit tersebut. Hal ini karena kehandalan metode ini dalam melakukan klasifikasi. Hasil dari ujicoba terhadap data pada suatu rumah sakit menunjukkan bahwa metode ini mampu melakukan prediksi terhadap penyakit dengan gejala demam ingga mencapai akurasi 100%.
Aplikasi Ruang Tugas Dengan Deteksi Kemiripan Teks Pada Dokumen Tugas Menggunakan Cosine Similarity
Authors: Prismadana Tazkia Aulia
Published: December 2023

Dalam konteks pendidikan tinggi, salah satu permasalahan yang dihadapi oleh dosen adalah pengecekan kemiripan teks pada dokumen yang diunggah oleh mahasiswa. Praktik plagiat sering kita jumpai di kalangan mahasiswa. Sebagai contoh adalah saat pengumpulan tugas maupun membuat makalah terkait bidang ilmu masing-masing yang diberikan oleh dosen. Sebagian besar mahasiswa mencontoh proposal tugas akhir, jurnal milik orang lain, maupun sumber lain di internet tanpa mengambil inti dari dokumen yang dikutip dan diolah menjadi kata-kata sendiri. Oleh karena itu, perlu adanya sistem dengan Pengembangan Aplikasi Untuk Mendeteksi Kemiripan Teks Pada Dokumen Menggunakan Cosine Similarity. Sistem ini dirancang dan diimplementasikan menggunakan Metode Cosine Similarity dengan data yang diambil dari pengamatan terhadap artikel maupun studi kepustakaan. Hasil dari penelitian ini adalah aplikasi ruang tugas yang dapat memberikan hasil pengecekan kemiripan teks dengan akurasi tinggi dan waktu yang lebih efisien dibandingkan dengan metode manual.
Viruses in chronic rhinosinusitis: a systematic review
Authors: Kumar Nitish , Brar Tripti , Kita Hirohito , Marks Lisa A. , Miglani Amar , Marino Michael J. , Lal Devyani
Published: December 2023

Background

Unlike acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) which is mostly viral in etiology, the role of viruses in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) remains unclear. Viruses may play a role in initiation, exacerbations or perpetuate chronic inflammatory responses in the sinonasal mucosa. Research needs to characterize whether viruses are part of the normal sinonasal microbiome, colonizers or pathogenic.

Methods

Systematic review of the English literature was conducted. Following databases were searched with an initial search conducted in November 2021 and then updated through June 2023: Ovid Medline (1946 to present), Ovid Embase (1988 to present), Scopus (2004 to present) and Web of Science (1975 to present). MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) terms included: viruses, virus diseases, sinusitis, and rhinovirus. Keywords: virus, viral infection*, sinusitis, rhinovirus, chronic rhinosinusitis, CRS, respiratory virus, respiratory infection*, and exacerbat*. A supplementary search was conducted through September 2023: Ovid Medline (1946 to present), Epub Ahead of Print, In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations and Ovid MEDLINE(R) Daily. Keywords used were: virus, viral infection*, sinusitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, CRS, respiratory virus, respiratory infection*, and exacerbat*.

Results

Thirty studies on viruses in CRS met inclusion criteria for full review. These included 17 studies on prevalence of virus in CRS, 5 examining probable causes of host susceptibility to viral infections in CRS, and 8 studies examining pathological pathways in viral association of CRS. The prevalence of viruses in nasal specimens of CRS subjects was higher as compared to controls in most studies, though a few studies showed otherwise. Rhinovirus was the most common virus detected. Studies showed that viruses may be associated with persistent hyper-responsiveness in the sinonasal mucosa, susceptibility to bacterial infections, upregulation of genes involved in the immune response and airway remodeling as well as CRS exacerbations. Presence of viruses was also associated with worse symptom severity scores in CRS subjects.

Conclusion

Most data show higher presence of viruses in nasal and serum samples of CRS subjects as compared to controls but their exact role in CRS pathophysiology in unclear. Large studies with longitudinal sampling at all disease phases (i.e., prior to disease initiation, during disease initiation, during disease persistence, and during exacerbations) using standardized sampling techniques are needed to definitively elucidate the role of virus in CRS.
Portfolio optimization and valuation capability of multi-factor models: an observational evidence from Dhaka stock exchange
Authors: Kabir Md. Ahsan , Liping Yu , Sarker Sanjoy Kumar , Nahiduzzaman Md. , Borman Tanmay
Published: December 2023

The main goal of this study is to examine the return explanation strengths of the Carhart four-factor, the Fama–French three-factor, and the single-factor models in the context of the Bangladeshi stock market. We, therefore, reveal the risk-adjusted returns, test the valuation capability of multi-factor models, and estimate optimal portfolio weights of stocks listed in DSE under the DSE30 index. Our findings demonstrate that large capitalization firms that have low or medium book-to-market (B/M) ratios produce more concentrated returns than their counterparts, resulting in greater earnings per unit of total, systematic, and downside risks. Furthermore, we discover that each factorial value has an impressive capacity to explain the market excess returns; however, the influence of factor values on the cross-section of stock returns is somewhat contradictory. In particular, the momentum factor is unable to describe the cross-section excess returns, whereas the risk premium, size, and value factors have a significant impact on the cross-section excess returns. Finally, we find that a large-cap firm with a low B/M ratio is suitable for risk-seeking investors; in contrast, a small-cap firm with a low B/M ratio is appropriate for lower risk tolerance investors. Moreover, our empirical outcomes have noteworthy implications for private companies, investors, and policymakers.
Design of 3D-printed prostheses for reconstruction of periacetabular bone tumors using topology optimization
Authors: Zhu Jiazhuang , Hu Jianping , Zhu Kunpeng , Ma Xiaolong , Wang Yongjie , Xu Enjie , Huang Zhen , Zhu Yurun , Zhang Chunlin
Published: December 2023

Background: Prostheses for the reconstruction of periacetabular bone tumors are prone to instigate stress shielding. The purpose of this study is to design 3D-printed prostheses with topology optimization (TO) for the reconstruction of periacetabular bone tumors and to add porous structures to reduce stress shielding and facilitate integration between prostheses and host bone.

Methods: Utilizing patient CT data, we constructed a finite element analysis (FEA) model. Subsequent phases encompassed carrying out TO on the designated area, utilizing the solid isotropic material penalization model (SIMP), and this optimized removal area was replaced with a porous structure. Further analyses included preoperative FEA simulations to comparatively evaluate parameters, including maximum stress, stress distribution, strain energy density (SED), and the relative micromotion of prostheses before and after TO. Furthermore, FEA based on patients’ postoperative CT data was conducted again to assess the potential risk of stress shielding subsequent to implantation. Ultimately, preliminary follow-up findings from two patients were documented.

Results: In both prostheses, the SED before and after TO increased by 143.61% (from 0.10322 to 0.25145 mJ/mm3) and 35.050% (from 0.30964 to 0.41817 mJ/mm3) respectively, showing significant differences (p < 0.001). The peak stress in the Type II prosthesis decreased by 10.494% (from 77.227 to 69.123 MPa), while there was no significant change in peak stress for the Type I prosthesis. There were no significant changes in stress distribution or the proportion of regions with micromotion less than 28 μm before and after TO for either prosthesis. Postoperative FEA verified results showed that the stress in the pelvis and prostheses remained at relatively low levels. The results of follow-up showed that the patients had successful osseointegration and their MSTS scores at the 12th month after surgery were both 100%.

Conclusion: These two types of 3D-printed porous prostheses using TO for periacetabular bone tumor reconstruction offer advantages over traditional prostheses by reducing stress shielding and promoting osseointegration, while maintaining the original stiffness of the prosthesis. Furthermore, in vivo experiments show that these prostheses meet the requirements for daily activities of patients. This study provides a valuable reference for the design of future periacetabular bone tumor reconstruction prostheses.
Alcohol induces neural tube defects by reducing retinoic acid signaling and promoting neural plate expansion
Authors: Edri Tamir , Cohen Dor , Shabtai Yehuda , Fainsod Abraham
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are among the most debilitating and common developmental defects in humans. The induction of NTDs has been attributed to abnormal folic acid (vitamin B9) metabolism, Wnt and BMP signaling, excess retinoic acid (RA), dietary components, environmental factors, and many others. In the present study we show that reduced RA signaling, including alcohol exposure, induces NTDs.

Methods:Xenopus embryos were exposed to pharmacological RA biosynthesis inhibitors to study the induction of NTDs. Embryos were treated with DEAB, citral, or ethanol, all of which inhibit the biosynthesis of RA, or injected to overexpress Cyp26a1 to reduce RA. NTD induction was studied using neural plate and notochord markers together with morphological analysis. Expression of the neuroectodermal regulatory network and cell proliferation were analyzed to understand the morphological malformations of the neural plate.

Results: Reducing RA signaling levels using retinaldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitors (ethanol, DEAB, and citral) or Cyp26a1-driven degradation efficiently induce NTDs. These NTDs can be rescued by providing precursors of RA. We mapped this RA requirement to early gastrula stages during the induction of neural plate precursors. This reduced RA signaling results in abnormal expression of neural network genes, including the neural plate stem cell maintenance genes, geminin, and foxd4l1.1. This abnormal expression of neural network genes results in increased proliferation of neural precursors giving rise to an expanded neural plate.

Conclusion: We show that RA signaling is required for neural tube closure during embryogenesis. RA signaling plays a very early role in the regulation of proliferation and differentiation of the neural plate soon after the induction of neural progenitors during gastrulation. RA signaling disruption leads to the induction of NTDs through the mis regulation of the early neuroectodermal network, leading to increased proliferation resulting in the expansion of the neural plate. Ethanol exposure induces NTDs through this mechanism involving reduced RA levels.
Localization in vivo and in vitro confirms EnApiAP2 protein encoded by ENH_00027130 as a nuclear protein in Eimeria necatrix
Authors: Cai Weimin , Feng Qianqian , Wang Liyue , Su Shijie , Hou Zhaofeng , Liu Dandan , Kang Xilong , Xu Jinjun , Pan Zhiming , Tao Jianping
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Apicomplexan AP2 family of proteins (ApiAP2) are transcription factors (TFs) that regulate parasite growth and development, but little is known about the ApiAP2 TFs in Eimeria spp. ENH_00027130 sequence is predicted to encode a Eimeria necatrix ApiAP2 protein (EnApiAP2).

Methods

The cDNAs encoding full-length and truncated EnApiAP2 protein were cloned and sequenced, respectively. Then, the two cDNAs were cloned into the pET28a(+) expression vector and expressed expressed in Escherichia coli BL21. The mouse polyclonal antibody (pAb) and monoclonal antibody (mAb) against recombinant EnApiAP2 (rEnApiAP2) and EnApiAP2tr (rEnApiAP2tr) were prepared and used to localize the native EnApiAP2 protein in E. necatrix, respectively. Finally, the recombinant pEGFP-C1-ΔNLS-EnApiAP2s (knockout of a nuclear localization sequence, NLS) and pEGFP-C1-EnApiAP2 plasmid were constructed and transfected into DF-1 cells, respectively, to further observe subcellular localization of EnApiAP2 protein.

Results

The EnApiAP2 gene had a size of 5019 bp and encoded 1672 amino acids, containing a conserved AP2 domain with a secondary structure consisting of an α-helix and three antiparallel β-strands. The rEnApiAP2 and rEnApiAP2tr were predominantly expressed in the form of inclusion bodies, and could be recognized by the 6×His tag mAb and the serum of convalescent chickens after infection with E. necatrix, respectively. The native EnApiAP2 protein was detected in sporozoites (SZ) and second generation merozoites (MZ-2) extracts, with a size of approximately 210 kDa. A quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) analysis showed that the transcription level of EnApiAP2 was significantly higher in SZ than in MZ-2, third generation merozoites (MZ-3) and gametocytes (P<0.01). EnApiAP2 protein was localized in the nuclei of SZ, MZ-2 and MZ-3 of E. necatrix. The protein of EnApiAP2 was localized in the nucleus of the DF-1 cells, whereas the ΔNLS-EnApiAP2 was expressed in the cytoplasm, which further confirmed that EnApiAP2 is nucleoprotein.

Discussion

EnApiAP2 protein encoded by ENH_00027130 sequence was localized in the nucleus of E. necatrix parasites, and relied on the NLS for migration to DF-1 cell nucleus. The function of EnApiAP2 need further study.
The impacts of tobacco control legislation on public view of e-cigarette usage in Macao—The co-word analysis of Macao daily
Authors: Chan Kin-Sun , Xu Jing , Zhang Rui , Pang Patrick Cheong-Iao , Chen Yu , Zhang Heng , Liu Shiyu , Mao Aimei , Pu Guanwen , Au Johnny Ka fai
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Macao has been certified as a “Healthy City” by the World Health Organization, and has been adhering to the principle of combining prevention with proper medical care to build its medical system. As tobacco epidemic is a risk factor leading to a series of non-communicable diseases, the Macao SAR Government has continuously improved tobacco control measures.

Methods

The data for this study were derived from a news report on “e-cigarettes” published in Macao Daily. Co-word analysis and thematic analysis were conducted to analyze the development of tobacco control legislation against e-cigarettes. Co-word analysis examined the association and frequency of keywords, while thematic analysis identified prevalent themes within the data.

Results

The study identified three stages of legislation against e-cigarettes: the pre-implementation stage, the early implementation stage, and the epidemic period. Each stage exhibited distinct characteristics and attention toward specific groups, particularly “teenagers” and “students,” increased significantly. Thematic analysis further highlighted the potential issues of drug use and smuggling associated with e-cigarettes.

Discussion

The findings suggest that the Macao SAR Government should prioritize the development of healthy behaviors among adolescents in the context of e-cigarette control. Additionally, considering regional cooperation to promote the “Healthy Bay Area” could be beneficial. Social media platforms and effective data management should be utilized as tools in these efforts.
Bilingual advantages in foreign language learning: evidence from primary-school pupils with developmental language disorder
Authors: Tribushinina Elena , Mackaaij Megan
Published: December 2023

Introduction

One of the bilingual advantages often reported in the literature on typically-developing children involves advantages in foreign language learning at school. However, it is unknown whether similar advantages hold for bilingual pupils with learning disabilities. In this study, we compare the performance of monolingual and bilingual primary-school children with developmental language disorder (DLD) learning English as a school subject in special education schools in the Netherlands.

Methods

The participants were monolingual (N = 49) and bilingual (N = 22) children with DLD attending Grade 4−6 of special education (age 9–12). The bilingual participants spoke a variety of home languages. The English tests included a vocabulary task, a grammar test and a grammaticality judgement task. The Litmus Sentence Repetition Task and the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test were used as measures of, respectively, grammatical ability and vocabulary size in Dutch (majority/school language). In addition, samples of semi-spontaneous speech were elicited in both English and Dutch using the Multilingual Assessment Instrument for Narratives. The narratives were analysed for fluency, grammatical accuracy, lexical diversity, and syntactic complexity. A questionnaire was used to measure amount of exposure to English outside of the classroom.

Results and discussion

The results for Dutch revealed no differences between monolinguals and bilinguals on the narrative measures, but monolinguals performed significantly better on both vocabulary and grammar. In contrast, bilinguals outperformed monolinguals on all English measures, except grammatical accuracy of narratives. However, some of the differences became non-significant once we controlled for amount of out-of-school exposure to English. This is the first study to demonstrate that foreign language learning advantages extend to bilingual children with DLD. The results also underline the need to control for differences in out-of-school exposure to English when comparing bilingual and monolingual pupils on foreign language outcomes.
Is GPT-4 a reliable rater? Evaluating consistency in GPT-4's text ratings
Authors: Hackl Veronika , Müller Alexandra Elena , Granitzer Michael , Sailer Maximilian
Published: December 2023

This study reports the Intraclass Correlation Coefficients of feedback ratings produced by OpenAI's GPT-4, a large language model (LLM), across various iterations, time frames, and stylistic variations. The model was used to rate responses to tasks related to macroeconomics in higher education (HE), based on their content and style. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the absolute agreement and consistency of ratings in all iterations, and the correlation between the ratings in terms of content and style. The findings revealed high interrater reliability, with ICC scores ranging from 0.94 to 0.99 for different time periods, indicating that GPT-4 is capable of producing consistent ratings. The prompt used in this study is also presented and explained.
Applications with memory load for lexical activation in foreign language learning
Authors: Pichugin Vitaly , Panfilov Alexey , Volkova Elena
Published: December 2023

Investigating effective language learning methods has become increasingly relevant in the modern educational environment. This study aimed to examine the impact of using the mobile applications Duolingo and Memrise on vocabulary expansion, lexical retention, and increasing language confidence among students. A total of 203 students from Kazan Federal University participated in the study and were divided into three groups. Each group was given access to a specific mobile application (Duolingo, Memrise, or traditional teaching methods) for six weeks. The findings indicate that students who used Duolingo demonstrated significantly better outcomes in terms of vocabulary expansion, lexical retention, and increased language confidence compared to the other groups. These results can be valuable for teachers and students aiming to enhance the efficiency of acquiring new language skills. Prospects for further research involve expanding the analysis to include other mobile applications and their influence on the language learning process, as well as considering additional factors. Future studies will provide valuable insights into the influence of mobile applications on language acquisition and identify effective approaches to improve students’ language skills.
Increase in antibiotic resistance in diabetic foot infections among peruvian patients: a single-center cross-sectional study
Authors: Moya-Salazar Jeel , Chamana Jackelina M. , Porras-Rivera Daniela , Goicochea-Palomino Eliane A. , Salazar Carmen R. , Contreras-Pulache Hans
Published: December 2023

Background

Diabetic foot is one of the most significant complications in individuals with diabetes and is closely associated with lower limb amputation. The antibiotic susceptibility patterns of these bacterial isolates play a critical role in guiding effective treatment strategies We aimed to determine the most common bacterial agents causing diabetic foot infections in a tertiary-care hospital in Peru.

Methods

Clinical and microbiological data were collected from 181 patients diagnosed with diabetic foot infections and positive microbiological culture results. All the samples were analyzed with the Vitek 2 compact system and the cut-off points were defined with the CLSI M100 guide. The data were segregated based on mono-microbial or poly-microbial cultures, bacterial types, and antibiotic susceptibility profiles.

Results

A total of 32 bacterial species were identified, predominantly Gram-negative (63%). The most frequent bacterial agents isolated were Staphylococcus aureus (19.9%), Escherichia coli (12.2%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (8.3%), and Proteus vulgaris (6.6%). These bacteria commonly exhibited resistance to Ampicillin, Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin, Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and Cefuroxime. E. coli showed the highest antibiotic resistance (19 antibiotics), while Gentamicin, Tobramycin, and Levofloxacin demonstrated the highest sensitivity against the most prevalent bacteria. Gram-negative bacteria also exhibited notable antibiotic-susceptibility to Meropenem, Piperacillin/tazobactam, and Amikacin. Regarding the presence of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase, 54 isolates tested positive, with 35 (64.8%) and 14 (42.4%) of these being S. aureus and E. coli.

Conclusions

Bacterial agents causing diabetic foot infections pose a constant concern, particularly due to the increasing antibiotic resistance observed. This difficulty in treating the condition contributes to a higher risk of amputation and mortality. Further research on bacterial susceptibility is necessary to determine appropriate dosages for pharmacological treatment and to prevent the overuse of antibiotics.
Musclin prevents depression-like behavior in male mice by activating urocortin 2 signaling in the hypothalamus
Authors: Ataka Koji , Asakawa Akihiro , Iwai Haruki , Kato Ikuo
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Physical activity is recommended as an alternative treatment for depression. Myokines, which are secreted from skeletal muscles during physical activity, play an important role in the skeletal muscle-brain axis. Musclin, a newly discovered myokine, exerts physical endurance, however, the effects of musclin on emotional behaviors, such as depression, have not been evaluated. This study aimed to access the anti-depressive effect of musclin and clarify the connection between depression-like behavior and hypothalamic neuropeptides in mice.

Methods

We measured the immobility time in the forced swim (FS) test, the time spent in open arm in the elevated-plus maze (EPM) test, the mRNA levels of hypothalamic neuropeptides, and enumerated the c-Fos-positive cells in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), arcuate nucleus (ARC), and nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) in mice with the intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of musclin. Next, we evaluated the effects of a selective corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) type 1 receptor antagonist, selective CRF type 2 receptor antagonist, melanocortin receptor (MCR) agonist, and selective melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) agonist on changes in behaviors induced by musclin. Finally we evaluated the antidepressant effect of musclin using mice exposed to repeated water immersion (WI) stress.

Results

We found that the i.p. and i.c.v. administration of musclin decreased the immobility time and relative time in the open arms (open %) in mice and increased urocortin 2 (Ucn 2) levels but decreased proopiomelanocortin levels in the hypothalamus. The numbers of c-Fos-positive cells were increased in the PVN and NTS but decreased in the ARC of mice with i.p. administration of musclin. The c-Fos-positive cells in the PVN were also found to be Ucn 2-positive. The antidepressant and anxiogenic effects of musclin were blocked by central administration of a CRF type 2 receptor antagonist and a melanocortin 4 receptor agonist, respectively. Peripheral administration of musclin also prevented depression-like behavior and the decrease in levels of hypothalamic Ucn 2 induced by repeated WI stress.

Discussion

These data identify the antidepressant effects of musclin through the activation of central Ucn 2 signaling and suggest that musclin and Ucn 2 can be new therapeutic targets and endogenous peptides mediating the muscle−brain axis.
The influence of farmland distribution on the performance of the agglomeration bonus
Authors: Drechsler Martin
Published: December 2023

Coordination incentives like the agglomeration bonus have been proposed to induce the spatial agglomeration of biodiversity conservation efforts and counter the loss and fragmentation of species habitats. Most theoretical and empirical analyses of the agglomeration bonus make unrealistic assumptions about the spatial structure of landholdings. This paper presents a spatially explicit agent-based simulation model to explore how the spatial structure of landholdings affects the performance of the agglomeration bonus. It turns out that if the number of land parcels per landowner is large and their land is spatially cohesive, a higher proportion and agglomeration of conserved land parcels can be achieved for the given budget, implying a higher level of cost-effectiveness. This also has implications for the cost-effective design of coordination incentives. The observed effects are especially high if the conservation costs vary strongly in space.
Evaluation method of sustainable development of plateau lakeside cities under the perspective of new development philosophy and its empirical research
Authors: Luo Yi , Jia Tingfang , Li Anlin , Yang Kun , Pei Xingfang , Peng Changqing , Chen Rixiang , Li Dingpu , Wang Qingqing
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is another binding target indicator system proposed by the United Nations after the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Scientific monitoring of the state of sustainable development of cities can provide a reference for the progress of the implementation of the SDGs, and also provide research support for the successful achievement of the sustainable development of cities around the world.

Methods

Although the indicator system proposed by the United Nations has drawn a vision of global sustainable development and given an evaluation framework and methodology, it fails to and is unlikely to encompass the rich connotations of China's new development philosophy. Therefore, this study takes the new development philosophy as the fundamental guideline, refers to the SDGs assessment system, and constructs a theoretical and methodological framework for assessing the sustainable development of plateau lakeside cities from the five dimensions of "innovation, coordination, greenness, openness, and sharing", and carries out empirical investigation in the research area of Kunming City, a typical plateau lakeside city.

Methods

It is found that the sustainable development level of Kunming is at a medium level, with a relatively fast development speed, but the growth momentum has slowed down; the development level of each dimension is relatively low, with a slow development speed, showing a fluctuating upward trend; the change in the level of coordinated development shows two states of low and medium coordination, showing a steady increase; the contribution of the five philosophies of relevance is sorted as: "Openness>Sharing>Green>Coordination>Innovation", and openness is the most important factor affecting the sustainable development level of plateau lakeside cities.

Discussion

This study demonstrates the need to enhance the level of sustainable development of cities by exploring their internal trade-offs and potential internal contributions.
How green credit affects corporate environmental information disclosure: evidence from new energy listed companies in China
Authors: Geng Limin , Yin Wenxin , Wu Xiaoxia , Lu Xueyuan , Zhang Can
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Environmental information disclosure is an important means to protect the ecological environment, and global climate change puts forward higher requirements for corporate environmental information disclosure. New energy companies play an important role in addressing climate change and environmental information disclosure, and should strengthen environmental information disclosure and actively participate in ecological environmental protection.

Methods

This paper selected Chinese new energy listed companies as the research sample to investigate the impact of green credit on corporate environmental information disclosure, and proposed and empirically tested the hypothesis on the mechanism of the effect of green credit on environmental information disclosure.

Results

The regression results indicated that green credit can effectively improve the quality of corporate environmental information disclosure, and this conclusion is still significantly valid after robustness test; The impact mechanism tests showed that green credit can change the level of corporate environmental information disclosure by controlling company size. This paper also tested the heterogeneity and adjustment effects, showing that the relationship between green credit and environmental information disclosure are affected by multiple factors.

Discussions

Combining the research of this paper and previous research results, it is found that the positive impact of green credit on corporate environmental information disclosure has been confirmed by academic research and practical verification. However, the implementation effect of green credit policy will be affected by the economic level, regional differences, and the comprehensive impact from companies, financial institutions and government departments.
Biological analysis of the potential pathogenic mechanisms of Infectious COVID-19 and Guillain-Barré syndrome
Authors: Gao Hongyu , Wang Shuning , Duan Hanying , Wang Yushi , Zhu Hui
Published: December 2023

Background

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a medical condition characterized by the immune system of the body attacking the peripheral nerves, including those in the spinal nerve roots, peripheral nerves, and cranial nerves. It can cause limb weakness, abnormal sensations, and facial nerve paralysis. Some studies have reported clinical cases associated with the severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and GBS, but how COVID-19 affects GBS is unclear.

Methods

We utilized bioinformatics techniques to explore the potential genetic connection between COVID-19 and GBS. Differential expression of genes (DEGs) related to COVID-19 and GBS was collected from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. By taking the intersection, we obtained shared DEGs for COVID-19 and GBS. Subsequently, we utilized bioinformatics analysis tools to analyze common DEGs, conducting functional enrichment analysis and constructing Protein–protein interaction networks (PPI), Transcription factors (TF) -gene networks, and TF-miRNA networks. Finally, we validated our findings by constructing the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves.

Results

This study utilizes bioinformatics tools for the first time to investigate the close genetic relationship between COVID-19 and GBS. CAMP, LTF, DEFA1B, SAMD9, GBP1, DDX60, DEFA4, and OAS3 are identified as the most significant interacting genes between COVID-19 and GBS. In addition, the signaling pathway of NOD-like receptors is believed to be essential in the link between COVID-19 and GBS.
Mulibrey nanism and immunological complications: a comprehensive case report and literature review
Authors: Gazzin Andrea , Pala Francesca , Bosticardo Marita , Niemela Julie , Stoddard Jennifer , Biasin Eleonora , Quarello Paola , Carli Diana , Ferroni Francesca , Delmonte Ottavia M. , Montin Davide , Rosenzweig Sergio D. , Licciardi Francesco , Notarangelo Luigi D.
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Mulibrey nanism (MUL) is a rare disorder caused by TRIM37 gene variants characterized by growth failure, dysmorphic features, congestive heart failure (CHF), and an increased risk of Wilms’ tumor. Although immune system impairment has been documented in MUL, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood.

Methods

We present a case of MUL with progressive lymphopenia and review similar cases from the literature.

Results

Our patient presented with prenatal onset growth restriction, characteristic dysmorphic features, and Wilms’ tumor. She developed progressive lymphopenia starting at 10 years of age, leading to the initiation of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) replacement therapy and infection prophylaxis. Genetic analysis detected a likely pathogenic variant on the maternal allele and copy number loss on the paternal allele in TRIM37. Subsequently a cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was conducted revealing signs of pericardial constriction raising concerns for intestinal lymphatic losses. The cessation of IVIG therapy did not coincide with any increase in the rate of infections. The patient exhibited a distinct immunological profile, characterized by hypogammaglobulinemia, impaired antibody responses, and skewed T-cell subsets with an altered CD4+/CD8+ ratio, consistent with previous reports. Normal thymocyte development assessed by artificial thymic organoid platform ruled out an early hematopoietic intrinsic defect of T-cell development.

Discussion

The immunological profile of MUL patients reported so far shares similarities with that described in protein-losing enteropathy secondary to CHF in Fontan circulation and primary intestinal lymphangiectasia. These similarities include hypogammaglobulinemia, significant T-cell deficiency with decreased CD4+ and CD8+ counts, altered CD4+/CD8+ ratios, and significantly modified CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell phenotypes toward effector and terminal differentiated T cells, accompanied by a loss of naïve CD45RA+ T lymphocytes. In MUL, CHF is a cardinal feature, occurring in a significant proportion of patients and influencing prognosis. Signs of CHF or constrictive pericarditis have been evident in the case reported here and in all cases of MUL with documented immune dysfunction reported so far. These observations raise intriguing connections between these conditions. However, further investigation is warranted to in-depth define the immunological defect, providing valuable insights into the pathophysiology and treatment strategies for this condition.
De novo genome and transcriptome assembly of Kelletia kelletii, a coastal gastropod and fisheries species exhibiting a northern range expansion
Authors: Daniels Benjamin N. , Andrasz Cassidy L. , Zarate Nicholas , Lee Andy , López Cataixa , Anderson Paul , Toonen Robert J. , Christie Mark R. , White Crow , Davidson Jean M.
Published: December 2023

Understanding the genomic characteristics of non-model organisms can bridge research gaps between ecology and evolution. However, the lack of a reference genome and transcriptome for these species makes their study challenging. Here, we complete the first full genome and transcriptome sequence assembly of the non-model organism Kellet’s whelk, Kelletia kelletii, a marine gastropod exhibiting a poleward range expansion coincident with climate change. We used a combination of Oxford Nanopore Technologies, PacBio, and Illumina sequencing platforms and integrated a set of bioinformatic pipelines to create the most complete and contiguous genome documented among the Buccinoidea superfamily to date. Genome validation revealed relatively high completeness with low missing metazoan Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs (BUSCO) and an average coverage of ∼70x for all contigs. Genome annotation identified a large number of protein-coding genes similar to some other closely related species, suggesting the presence of a complex genome structure. Transcriptome assembly and analysis of individuals during their period of peak embryonic development revealed highly expressed genes associated with specific Gene Ontology (GO) terms and metabolic pathways, most notably lipid, carbohydrate, glycan, and phospholipid metabolism. We also identified numerous heat shock proteins (HSPs) in the transcriptome and genome that may be related to coping with thermal stress during the sessile life history stage. A robust reference genome and transcriptome for the non-model organism K. kelletii provide resources to enhance our understanding of its ecology and evolution and potential mechanisms of range expansion for marine species facing environmental changes.
Healing wounds, defeating biofilms: Lactiplantibacillus plantarum in tackling MRSA infections
Authors: Dubey Ashish Kumar , Sharma Mohini , Parul  , Raut Sachin , Gupta Pawan , Khatri Neeraj
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are well-known hospital-borne infections and are a major contributing factor to global health concerns of antimicrobial resistance due to the formation of biofilms. Probiotics are known to assist in the healing of wounds through immunomodulation and also possess anti-pathogen properties via competitive inhibition. The probiotic bacterium, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum MTCC 2621 and its cell-free supernatant (Lp2621) have previously been reported to have antibacterial, excellent antioxidant, and wound healing activity in in vitro conditions and wounds contaminated with S. aureus in mice.

Methods

In the current study, we evaluated its anti-MRSA, biofilm inhibition and eradication efficacy, immunomodulatory activity in THP-1 cells, and wound healing potential in wounds contaminated with MRSA infection in mice.

Results

In agar well diffusion assay, Lp2621 showed anti-MRSA activity and revealed dose-dependent inhibition and eradication of biofilm by crystal violet assay as well as by Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy (CLSM) analysis. Further, Lp2621 showed immunomodulatory activity at varied concentrations as measured by IL-6 and IL-10 gene expression in THP-1 cells. Similar findings were observed in serum samples of mice after treatment of excision wound contaminated with MRSA infection by Lp2621 gel, as evident by expression of IL-6 (pro-inflammatory) and IL-10 (anti-inflammatory) cytokines.

Conclusions

Overall, our results show that Lp2621 has potent anti-MRSA and antioxidant properties and can prevent and eliminate biofilm formation. It also showed promise when applied to mice with MRSA-infected wounds.