bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Barreras y Percepciones sobre el Acceso a la Evidencia en el Manejo del Dolor Lumbar Crónico: Encuesta Online a Fisioterapeutas en Centros Clínicos de Ecuador
Authors: Díaz Guevara Patricio Hernán , Montero Merino Zenaida Milena , Argenzio Goncalvez, María Karina , Ortíz  Dávila Anabel Stephanny , Villacis  Pérez Marilyn Estefania
Published: February 2025

Este estudio transversal utilizó una encuesta en línea con 13 preguntas cerradas tipo Likert para evaluar la percepción del acceso a la evidencia científica, las barreras, y el tipo de contenido que los fisioterapeutas en Ecuador utilizan. La encuesta fue creada por los investigadores y validada por tres expertos. Se obtuvieron 98 respuestas válidas de fisioterapeutas que trabajan en centros públicos y privados de diversas provincias de Ecuador.
Los resultados mostraron que el 62.2% de los fisioterapeutas considera siempre importante el uso de información basada en evidencia. Sin embargo, la frecuencia de acceso a bases de datos es baja, con el 50% accediendo mensualmente a ellas. La mayoría (84.2%) utiliza PubMed o Medline, mientras que otros recursos como CINAHL/PEdro y Cochrane/Scopus son utilizados en menor medida. En cuanto a las barreras, el 41.8% considera que el trabajo interfiere con el acceso a evidencia, mientras que el 37.8% señala que la falta de dinero es una barrera frecuente. Además, el 46.9% menciona que otras responsabilidades dificultan el acceso a evidencia y el 30.6% cree que las creencias del paciente son un obstáculo. Un 34.7% encuentra difícil mantenerse al día con la literatura científica actual y un 37.8% considera que los fisioterapeutas de generaciones anteriores son una barrera.
En resumen, estos hallazgos sugieren que es necesario mejorar el acceso y uso regular de la evidencia científica. Para ello, se recomienda proporcionar mejor calidad en la formación y recursos a los fisioterapeutas, además de facilitar el acceso a bases de datos y estrategias para superar las barreras que limitan la implementación de prácticas basadas en evidencia.
RESENHA
Authors: Silva Luis Carlos Cesar da , Castro Ronival Alves , Lima Henrique Carneiro , Moura Rafael Gomes , Luz Gardenio Maranhão
Published: February 2025

O livro Tropas e Boiadas, de Hugo de Carvalho Ramos, é uma obra marcante da literatura regionalista brasileira, publicada em 1917. Com uma linguagem apreciada e rica em regionalismos, Ramos retrata o sertão goiano do início do século XX, destacando sua cultura, cotidiano e desafios. Uma obra que aborda a vida árdua dos tropeiros e vaqueiros, trabalhadores que simbolizam a resistência e a conexão com a natureza em um ambiente hostil. Além disso, explora o misticismo e a espiritualidade apresenta no sertão, elementos que enriquecem a narrativa e reforçam a complexidade cultural da região. Ramos utiliza uma linguagem descritiva que aproxima o leitor do universo sertanejo, revelando a singularidade desse espaço geográfico e social. Tropas e Boiadas não é apenas uma narrativa literária, mas também um registro histórico e cultural que preserva as tradições, lendas e expressões do interior brasileiro. A obra se destaca por sua contribuição à valorização da diversidade cultural e ao fortalecimento da identidade regional, evidenciando a relevância do sertão na formação do Brasil.
How Did It Get Here? First Record of Trochamminita ⁠irregularis, a Cosmopolitan Estuarine Organic-Cemented Agglutinated Foraminifer, in South-West Western Australia
Authors: Tremblin Clément Mathieu , Walker Jett Kaleva
Published: February 2025

The cosmopolitan organic-cemented agglutinated foraminifer Trochamminita irregularis previously identified in Australian salt marshes of the Gippsland Lakes in Victoria and Little Swanport Estuary in Tasmania, has been recognised for the first time in Western Australia in the Hay River connected to Wilson Inlet, in the south-west of the State. The irregular test and chamber shapes may be related to the species mode of living restricted to the upper-marsh or river-margin environments in organic-rich sediment associated with filamentous rhizomes/stolons of marsh vegetation. Morphological variation may also be due to highly variable seasonal to daily environmental changes ranging from tidal variation, salinity changes (within a hyposaline range) and variable river flow. Trochamminita’s fragmented global distribution could likely be attributed to attachment to migratory waterbirds dispersing it along major flyways such as the East Australasian Flyway where Australia acts as one of the main foraging and breeding ground for these birds. The discovery of the species in the Hay River allows some preliminary investigations of the micro-living habitat of Trochamminita and its potential means of dispersion. Molecular and more in-depth ecological studies on living T. irregularis are required to more fully understand this global and ecologically significant marsh indicator species.
Possible improvements in the estimation of IT-LFS through integration with the Registers System
Authors: Iorio Antonella , Martini Alessandro
Published: February 2025

In recent years, due to the increasing difficulties in maintaining high response rates and ensuring good representativeness of the collected samples, quality problems in surveys are getting more frequent. The impact on the final estimates is in terms of bias and lack of consistency between the different estimates. In recent decades, many NSIs have started to use administrative data, usually processed and organized in statistical registers, integrating them into statistical processes, with the aim of improving the quality of the output.
Availability of data coming from registers is increasing in the last years in Italy and it will improve even more in the next future.
The Registers should be exploited in statistical processes and in different phases: as frames for sample selections, to draw auxiliary variables needed in the estimation and to enrich the set of available information, through record linkage.
In this paper we focus on the evaluation of possible improvements on the accuracy in the IT-LFS exploiting the integration of auxiliary information coming from the ISTAT system of statistical registers. The Registers System (SIM) will be able to provide information about sex, age, citizenship, education level, employment signals and household structure for the resident population.
This more reliable information could be used through calibration in both the phases of estimation: treatment of total no response and final calibration.
For the no response treatment it would be possible to define constraints in a more flexible framework while, in the final calibration step, additional information about education level and employment signals coming from the register could be useful to improve different aspects of quality of the LFS estimates.
This experimental study is relevant to evaluate the possible improvements of the estimates and to collect evidences for introducing these changes in the next future.
The results show that with the proposed innovations the survey problems (MRT, bias) are addressed by improving the quality of the estimates.
Couples’ fertility differentials by education: do stepchildren make a difference?
Authors: Trimarchi Alessandra , Toulemon Laurent
Published: February 2025

A growing number of studies has explored both partners’ education as determinant of couples’ fertility, acknowledging the fact that the decision to have a child is couple based. Still, those studies have solely focused on children born to the couple, without considering stepchildren. As a result, in studying couples’ birth rates by educational pairing, previous studies did not account for the complexity of family composition, which also affects partners’ decision to have a common child. In this paper, we aim at tackling family complexity and its association with education. Using Generations and Gender Surveys (GGS) data of 14 European countries, we analyse the association between educational pairing and couples’ fertility based on different definitions of couples’ children. Applying standard fertility analysis, overall results show a decline in childlessness among younger cohorts when stepchildren are considered, with strong educational difference. We found that among the younger cohorts, highly educated homogamous couples have less often stepchildren (born from one partner before the union) and remain less often without shared children. Stepchildren, instead, are more common among low educated couples, and among the heterogamous couples. We also found diversity among heterogamous couples: there are fewer stepchildren when one partner is highly educated, stepchildren more often come from the woman, especially when she is low educated.
Measuring socio-economic deprivation at sub-municipal level through the integration of census and administrative data
Authors: Carbonetti Giancarlo , Biasciucci Flavio , Cutillo Andrea , Mazziotta Matteo , Quondamstefano Valeria , Tamburrano Maria Tiziana , Tronu Debora
Published: February 2025

The integration of permanent population and housing census data with administrative sources offers an exceptional opportunity to produce detailed indicators of demographic, social, and economic phenomena down to the sub-municipal level. This approach, which combines accurate, timely, renewable, and geocoded data, enables in-depth analysis of key phenomena and allows for tracking their evolution across time and space.
The Italian National Institute of Statistics (Istat) has recently launched a project to measure socio-economic deprivation at the sub-municipal level. Leveraging existing databases, a series of individual indicators were developed to assess deprivation across four dimensions: economic status, employment, education, and housing. These indicators are synthesized into the Socio-Economic Deprivation Index of population (SED-Index), calculated at the enumeration area level. The availability of data at this level provides significant potential for analysis and supports policymakers in identifying areas with higher socio-economic deprivation within municipalities.
A clustering approach for determining stratification variables in SBS surveys
Authors: Bombelli Ilaria , Sacco Giorgia , Guandalini Alessio
Published: February 2025

Many Structural Business Statistics (SBSs) surveys, according to European Regulations, must move from considering the Legal Unit (LU) as unit of interest towards considering the Enterprise (ENT) as such. This transition is not trivial, as many NSIs still need to provide estimates at a LU level, for comparability through the time.
Consequently, to modify and enhance the standard sample design based on LU to address this shift, it could be required to investigate an alternative stratification of the sample. To address this task, we propose to use a clustering algorithm, i.e., the K-prototype, to obtain groups of ENT and assess the variables' importance in the clustering result.
The algorithm is applied to several input datasets, obtained by sub-setting the ASIA ENT 2021 register, which includes all enterprises carrying on economic activities. The input datasets include ENT working on different sections of the statistical classification of economic activities in the European Community (NACE) and ENT included in the target population of the Community Innovation Survey (CIS) carried out by ISTAT. The clustering is applied separately to each aforementioned dataset. From the clustering result, we assess the variables’ importance and identify the variables that mostly influence the obtained partition.
The most influential variables are used to build the new stratification of the ENT, hence they contribute to a new definition of the strata. The proposed stratification is used to allocate a sample of the same dimension as the one extracted with the current stratification. From the sample, we estimate some of the survey’s target variables and their coefficient of variation (CV). The CVs are compared with the ones resulting from the current stratification. The comparison reveals that the efficiency of the estimates is preserved. In addition, the new stratification allows for reducing the number of strata and therefore also the processing time is limited.
Liminality and Bachelardian Space in Herbert Mason's Gilgamesh
Authors: Capps David
Published: February 2025

This paper explores Herbert Mason’s rendition of Gilgamesh as a work that navigates the loss of friendship, and self in terms of Gaston Bachelard’s concept of ‘poetic space.’ In the first section the paper foregrounds the relationship between Enkidu and Gilgamesh in terms of Hegelian recognition. It argues that this recognition informs both the depth of their friendship and Gilgamesh’s sense of loss upon Enkidu’s demise. In the second section, using the work of Victor Turner, the paper develops a notion of Gilgamesh as a figure undergoing a liminal passage as he searches for immortality. In the concluding section, it shows that Bachelardian spaces underlie Mason’s poetic representation of Gilgamesh as a liminal figure.
Linguistic Contextuality: Deixis, Performance, Materiality
Authors: Finbloom Aaron
Published: February 2025

This essay examines the philosophical-linguistic question of how does the context of an utterance impact its meaning and performance? In exploring this question the paper weaves a complicated story around the marginal linguistic phenomena of deixis to eventually argue that much of language may indeed be contextual. The paper offers a nuanced distinction between the function of writing vs speech to show how these differences imply that a singular utterance would differ in linguistic function depending on its context (written or spoken). It examines a post-structuralist trajectory around the performativity of language as found through Austin, Derrida, Butler, and Sedgwick and concludes with a few outliers whose radical accounts of temporality and embodiment provide innovative grounds of thinking through the contextual. This essay aims to open a framework for language to function contextually and argues for more marginalized accounts of language (materiality, media, embodiment, performance) to enter into semantic considerations.
ЖИЗЗАХ ВОҲАСИНИНГ ХV–ХVI АСРЛАРГА ОИД СИРЛАНГАН КУЛОЛЛИК ИДИШЛАРИ
Authors: Пардаев Мухторқул , Ҳасанбоев Тўрақул
Published: February 2025

Ушбу мақолада Жиззах воҳаси архелогиясида жуда кам ўрганилган сўнгги ўрта асрлар мод-дий-маданиятига тааллуқли сирланган сопол идишлар турлари, техник-типологик хусусият-лари, уй-рўзғор хўжалигидаги вазифалари Қалиятепа материаллари орқали тадқиқ қилинган.Таъкидлаш лозимки, ўрганилаётган воҳанинг сиёсий ва ижтимоий-иқтисодий тарихи масалала-ри бўйича мавжуд ёзма манбалар, этнографик маълумотлар асосида бир қатор илмий асарлар,мақолалар яратилган. Лекин яқин ўтмишга қадар XIV–XV–XVI асрларга оид археологик объек-тларда қазув тадқиқотлари ниҳоятда кам ўтказилгани, ушбу давр моддий-маданиятини илмийжиҳатдан ўрганишга деярли эътибор берилмагани сабабли, нафақат Жиззах воҳасининг, балкиРеспубликамиз бошқа вилоятларининг сирланган, гулдор сопол идишлари борасидаги тадқиқот-лари умуман талаб даражасида бўлмади. Жиззах вилояти Жиззах шаҳри ҳудудида жойлашганқадимги шаҳар ёдгорлиги Қалиятепа шаҳристонида очилган турар жойлар маданий қатламла-ридан топилган сирланган сопол идишлар мажмуасига доир изланишлар қуйидаги натижаларниберди: сирланган идишлар ўз техник-типологик хусусиятларига кўра жиззахлик маҳаллий кулол– ҳунармандлар томонидан ясалган; мазкур идишлар ўз функцияларига кўра: ўчоқбоши, ошхона(дастурхон) ва умумий овқатланиш турларига бўлинган; гулдор идишларнинг умумий шакли, ор-наментацияси, бўёқлар ранги, нақшларига асосан муқоясавий таҳлиллар ишлаб чиқилган. Кенгмуқоясавий, қиёсий таҳлиллар асосида мазкур Қалиятепа шаҳристонидаги комплекслар XV–XVIасрлар билан даврланган.
О НЕКОТОРЫХ ПОДХОДАХ К ИЗУЧЕНИЮ ПАМЯТНИКОВ АРХЕОЛОГИИ И ВОПРОСОВ ДРЕВНЕЙ ИСТОРИИ
Authors: Сагдуллаев Анатолий
Published: February 2025

В продолжение темы, затронутой в рецензии Г. А. Кошеленко на книгу Л. М. Сверчкова «Курганзол – крепость Александра на юге Узбекистана» (Кошеленко, 2015. С. 206–212), на примере других публикаций автора указанной книги, в том числе и в соавторстве, в статье рассматриваются проблема объективности в исторических исследованиях, методы интерпретации археологических данных и изложение собственных взглядов в качестве истины, а также обращено внимание на настойчивые попытки доказать, что сложные вопросы древней истории можно решать порой, основываясь на догадках.Все это получило отражение в неудачной попытке определения языка носителей Джейтунской, Кельтеминарской и других культур на основе археологических материалов, в необоснованном подходе к решению проблем исторической географии эпохи бронзы и вопросов миграции племенного союза гутиев в Маргиану и Бактрию, переселения народа долины Тарима в Бандыханский оазис (Южный Узбекистан).Отдельно рассмотрены результаты повторных исследований памятников Бандыхана и Кызылтепа, в том числе характеристика хронологии и периодизации археологических комплексов, истории формирования и развития фортификации Кызылтепа и Бандыхана II. Отмечено, что авторы новых работ раскопок оборонительных стен городища Кызылтепа и крепости Бандыхан II не проводили, поэтому их выводы относительно истории фортификации данных памятников остаются голословными, характеристика некоторых других проблем археологии эпохи поздней бронзы и раннего железа требует научной аргументации и сравнительного анализа.
К ИСТОКАМ СЛОЖЕНИЯ И РАЗВИТИЯ ИЗВЕСТНОЙ РИШТАНО-ФЕРГАНСКОЙ ШКОЛЫ КЕРАМИСТОВ (ПО МАТЕРИАЛАМ АРХЕОЛОГИЧЕСКИХ КОМПЛЕКСОВ)
Authors: Мирзаахмедов Джамалиддин , Султанова Мунира , Мирзаахмедов Сирожиддин
Published: February 2025

В публикации обобщаются материалы археологических исследований и этнографических источниковпо одной из наиболее известных и не разработанных в литературе школе Риштанской керамическойпродукции. На основе археологических находок из верхних горизонтов Арка и Шахристана Бухары,культурных слоев вокруг Мавзолея Шайхантаур в Ташкенте, а также многочисленных образцов Риштан-ской и риштаноидной посуды из музейных коллекций Узбекистана рассматриваются истоки, характер-ные особенности и причины ее широкого и быстрого распространения на керамических рынках СреднейАзии во второй половине XIX в. По результатам наших исследований, как по техническим характеристи-кам изготовления, так и художественным стилевым показателям вновь зародившаяся школа Риштанскойпродукции по цветовой гамме была совершенно отлична от старой, традиционной – «кадыма». Это, пре-жде всего, касалось глухой бирюзовой или белой поливы, хорошо покрывавшей как внутреннюю, так ивнешнюю, вплоть до поддона, поверхность изделий. Орнаментация кобальтом и марганцем наносиласьна внешнюю поверхность чаш, оставляя свободной внутреннюю. Блюда имели приземистую форму,удобную для еды руками густых форм пищи (плова). Но общим являлось обязательное проставление наподдонах схематических псевдокитайских марок. Исходя из представленных материалов, зарождение,быстрое и широкое распространение продукции Риштанской школы мастеров являлось инновационнымпринятием форм и цветовой гаммы, стиля дорогой китайской фарфоровой посуды и, прежде всего, села-донов, даже обломкам которых в Бухаре приписывалась чудодейственная сила оберега. Благодаря высо-ким оценкам знатоков и любителей образцы Риштанской и риштаноидной керамической продукции издругих городов Ферганской долины почти всегда вводились в состав экспонатов Туркестанского отделана Всероссийских и Международных выставках, неоднократно награждаясь премиями и медалями и, втом числе, на Всемирной выставке в Париже в 1900 г.
ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF AMENDMENTS OF THE TAXLEGISLATION OF THE AZERBAIJAN REPUBLIC ON VOLUNTARYCOMPLIANCE
Authors: Shahzada MADATOVA
Published: February 2025

In this article, the package of amendments made in the tax legislation in order to prevent the difficulties in the economic field of the country in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic and to minimize the harmful consequences is evaluated by Mamdani FIS and Matlab software package was used. The model being investigated includes 4 inputs, 10 IF − THEN rules and a single-output. In order to ensure accuracy, taxpayers and neutral experts on economic and tax relations were involved as experts, and their opinions were studied, cross- sectioned, analyzed at the two-tier level, and based on this, a final evaluation has been made.
ECONOMIC COOPERATION FOR GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT ANDSUSTAINABILITY
Authors: Khusrav NOZIRI
Published: February 2025

It is a source of great honour and joy to contribute to the 8th Edition of ECO Economic Journal being revived through the dedicated efforts of the Economic Scientific ResearchInstitute (the ESRI) after almost a 10-year interval. Endorsed by the ECO Member States in2009, the Journal was meant to provide a forum for theoretical background andmethodological research on social and economic issues related to our region with specialfocus on sustainable development and economic growth, dynamics in the fields of trade andconnectivity, communications, industry, energy, environment, minerals, agriculture,tourism, human resources, etc.The intervening period has witnessed a number of major regional and global developments, including economic and financial crises, political stress, wars and disputes characterized by widespread tensions and destabilization as well as natural disasters, most notably COVID-19. The pandemic appeared to bear devastating impacts on humans, taking a significant toll on lives, livelihoods, healthcare systems, societies and economies. COVID- 19’s undermining effects on regional and global development efforts resulted in rising inflation, disruptions in value chains and increased poverty across the globe.
THE INNOVATIVE IMPACT OF DIGITALIZATION ON THEDEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN AZERBAIJAN
Authors: Liudmyla CHVERTKO  , Iryna KYRYLIUK
Published: February 2025

The purpose of the study is to generalize the theoretical and practical principles of the digital transformation of tourism and to substantiate the prospects of using digital innovations to optimize the development of the tourism sphere of Azerbaijan in the conditions of modern challenges. During the research, dialectical and abstract-logical methods, methods of system approach, comparison, observation, analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, etc. were used.It is substantiated that the existing tourism potential in the country and the state policy aimed at supporting this industry and improving the efficiency of tourism industry entities create prerequisites for its growth and contribute to strengthening the country's position on the world tourism market. It has been proven that modern challenges, determined by trends in innovative development and the COVID-19 pandemic, significantly affect the development of tourism and its digitalization. The further development of tourism in Azerbaijan depends on the consolidated efforts of government bodies, the public, and businesses; to determine the need to develop complex and systemic measures, as well as algorithms for their implementation. The continuation of the digital transformation of the tourism sphere and the active use of innovative resources is a promising direction for economic development.
DEVELOPMENT OF TRANSPORT CORRIDORS AND THEIRINFLUENCE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ECONOMY OF THEREPUBLIC OF TAJIKISTAN
Authors: Radjab RADJABOV
Published: February 2025

The article examines the issue of the development of transport corridors and their impact on the economy in modern conditions. Special attention is given to Tajikistan in Central Asia, the establishment of international transport corridors, and their role in enhancing the efficiency of foreign trade and transit traffic, as well as fostering economic convergence andintegration of countries into the global economic system. The article also examines the necessity of creating international corridors in Tajikistan. An analysis of various modes of transportation in Tajikistan during the period 2000-2021 is conducted, identifying trends in their development. The characteristics of the existing Asian highways of the Republic of Tajikistan, the CAREC corridors, the Europe-Caucasus-Asia (TRACECA) transport corridor, the International Asian Highways of the CAREC, the International Transport Corridors (ITC) of the European Agreement of International Highways passing through the territory of Tajikistan, the Silk Economic Belt the path that unites Tajikistan, China, India, Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan and other countries, the development of the North-South Corridor were discussed in the article. It has been established that the contribution of the ITC to the development of the economy is significantly increasing leading to the generation of micro and macroeconomic benefits, such as creating new job opportunities, offering modern transportation and logistics services, and providing access to new markets and seas for enterprises, as well as through the emergence of positive socio-economic effects associated with the improvement of indicators of transport security and accessibility of the Republic of Tajikistan in the context of economic integration.
Multi-omics analyses and machine learning prediction of oviductal responses in the presence of gametes and embryos
Authors: Finnerty Ryan M , Carulli Daniel J , Hegde Akshata , Wang Yanli , Baodu Frimpong , Winuthayanon Sarayut , Cheng Jianlin , Winuthayanon Wipawee
Published: February 2025

The oviduct is the site of fertilization and preimplantation embryo development in mammals. Evidence suggests that gametes alter oviductal gene expression. To delineate the adaptive interactions between the oviduct and gamete/embryo, we performed a multi-omics characterization of oviductal tissues utilizing bulk RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq), single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq), and proteomics collected from distal and proximal at various stages after mating in mice. We observed robust region-specific transcriptional signatures. Specifically, the presence of sperm induces genes involved in pro-inflammatory responses in the proximal region at 0.5 days post-coitus (dpc). Genes involved in inflammatory responses were produced specifically by secretory epithelial cells in the oviduct. At 1.5 and 2.5 dpc, genes involved in pyruvate and glycolysis were enriched in the proximal region, potentially providing metabolic support for developing embryos. Abundant proteins in the oviductal fluid were differentially observed between naturally fertilized and superovulated samples. RNA-seq data were used to identify transcription factors predicted to influence protein abundance in the proteomic data via a novel machine learning model based on transformers of integrating transcriptomics and proteomics data. The transformers identified influential transcription factors and correlated predictive protein expressions in alignment with the
in vivo
-derived data. Lastly, we found some differences between inflammatory responses in sperm-exposed mouse oviducts compared to hydrosalpinx fallopian tubes from patients. In conclusion, our multi-omics characterization and subsequent
in vivo
confirmation of proteins/RNAs indicate that the oviduct is adaptive and responsive to the presence of sperm and embryos in a spatiotemporal manner.
A single-cell atlas of spatial and temporal gene expression in the mouse cranial neural plate
Authors: Brooks Eric R , Moorman Andrew R , Bhattacharya Bhaswati , Prudhomme Ian S , Land Max , Alcorn Heather L , Sharma Roshan , Pe’er Dana , Zallen Jennifer A
Published: February 2025

The formation of the mammalian brain requires regionalization and morphogenesis of the cranial neural plate, which transforms from an epithelial sheet into a closed tube that provides the structural foundation for neural patterning and circuit formation. Sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling is important for cranial neural plate patterning and closure, but the transcriptional changes that give rise to the spatially regulated cell fates and behaviors that build the cranial neural tube have not been systematically analyzed. Here we used single-cell RNA sequencing to generate an atlas of gene expression at six consecutive stages of cranial neural tube closure in the mouse embryo. Ordering transcriptional profiles relative to the major axes of gene expression predicted spatially regulated expression of 870 genes along the anterior-posterior and mediolateral axes of the cranial neural plate and reproduced known expression patterns with over 85% accuracy. Single-cell RNA sequencing of embryos with activated SHH signaling revealed distinct SHH-regulated transcriptional programs in the developing forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain, suggesting a complex interplay between anterior-posterior and mediolateral patterning systems. These results define a spatiotemporally resolved map of gene expression during cranial neural tube closure and provide a resource for investigating the transcriptional events that drive early mammalian brain development.
Control of ciliary transcriptional programs during spermatogenesis by antagonistic transcription factors
Authors: Wang Weihua , Xing Junqiao , Zhang Xiqi , Liu Hongni , Liu Xingyu , Jiang Haochen , Xu Cheng , Zhao Xue , Hu Zhangfeng
Published: February 2025

Existence of cilia in the last eukaryotic common ancestor (LECA) raises a fundamental question in biology: how the transcriptional regulation of ciliogenesis has evolved? One conceptual answer to this question is by an ancient transcription factor regulating ciliary gene expression in both unicellular and multicellular organisms, but examples of such transcription factors in eukaryotes are lacking. Previously, we showed that an ancient transcription factor XAP5 is required for flagellar assembly in
Chlamydomonas
. Here, we show that XAP5 and XAP5L are two conserved pairs of antagonistic transcription regulators that control ciliary transcriptional programs during spermatogenesis. Male mice lacking either XAP5 or XAP5L display infertility, as a result of meiotic prophase arrest and sperm flagella malformation, respectively. Mechanistically, XAP5 positively regulates the ciliary gene expression by activating the key regulators including FOXJ1 and RFX families during the early stage of spermatogenesis. In contrast, XAP5L negatively regulates the expression of ciliary genes via repressing these ciliary transcription factors during the spermiogenesis stage. Our results provide new insights into the mechanisms by which temporal and spatial transcription regulators are coordinated to control ciliary transcriptional programs during spermatogenesis.
Lung image segmentation with improved U-Net, V-Net and Seg-Net techniques
Authors: Turk Fuat , Kılıçaslan Mahmut
Published: February 2025

Tuberculosis remains a significant health challenge worldwide, affecting a large population. Therefore, accurate diagnosis of this disease is a critical issue. With advancements in computer systems, imaging devices, and rapid progress in machine learning, tuberculosis diagnosis is being increasingly performed through image analysis. This study proposes three segmentation models based on U-Net, V-Net, and Seg-Net architectures to improve tuberculosis detection using the Shenzhen and Montgomery databases. These deep learning-based methods aim to enhance segmentation accuracy by employing advanced preprocessing techniques, attention mechanisms, and non-local blocks. Experimental results indicate that the proposed models outperform traditional approaches, particularly in terms of the Dice coefficient and accuracy values. The models have demonstrated robust performance on popular datasets. As a result, they contribute to more precise and reliable lung region segmentation, which is crucial for the accurate diagnosis of respiratory diseases like tuberculosis. In evaluations using various performance metrics, the proposed U-Net and V-Net models achieved Dice coefficient scores of 96.43% and 96.42%, respectively, proving their competitiveness and effectiveness in medical image analysis. These findings demonstrate that the Dice coefficient values of the proposed U-Net and V-Net models are more effective in tuberculosis segmentation than Seg-Net and other traditional methods.
The impacts of climate change on the global range of Culicoides punctatus (Meigen, 1804) with notes on its status in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Al-Malki Esam S.
Published: February 2025

Biting midges, particularly Culicoides species, pose significant health risks to humans and animals due to their biting behavior and ability to transmit diseases. Understanding their behavior and distribution patterns is crucial for predicting and controlling the spread of viral infections. This study employs species distribution modeling to assess the environmental suitability and potential future distribution of Culicoides punctatus, a species known for causing allergic reactions in horses and acting as a vector for bluetongue virus (BTV) and African horse sickness virus (AHSV). Species occurrence records for C. punctatus were collected from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), and environmental data representing climate variables were obtained from WorldClim. The data were used to develop species distribution models and predict the potential distribution of C. punctatus in the Old World under different emission scenarios. The results indicate that C. punctatus has a wide occurrence across the Old World, with the highest number of records in Europe. The species distribution models highlight the influence of climate on the distribution of C. punctatus, suggesting that climate change could impact its range and potentially expand regions with endemic viral infections. The study emphasizes the need for proactive measures to monitor and manage the spread of viral infections associated with Culicoides midges. The integration of geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing technology has facilitated high-throughput analysis techniques, eliminating the need for invasive experiments and enabling the remote assessment of species’ habitats, land cover changes, and meteorology. Species distribution modeling, a powerful tool in ecological research, has been employed to predict the potential distribution of C. punctatus and assess its vulnerability to climate change. This study contributes to our understanding of the ecological implications of climate change on Culicoides midges and the associated viral infections. It provides valuable insights for designing effective management strategies, conservation efforts, and mitigation measures to minimize the impact of biting midges on human and animal health. Further research and monitoring are necessary to continuously update and refine these models in the face of changing environmental conditions.
Captive-rearing changes the gut microbiota of the bumblebee Bombus lantschouensis native to China
Authors: Zhou Feng , Sun Shuning , Song Xinge , Zhang Yuying , Li Zhuanxia , Chen Jiani
Published: February 2025

Bumblebees play crucial roles as pollinators in both natural agricultural and ecological systems. Their health and overall fitness are significantly affected by the gut microbiota, which can maintain intestinal homeostasis in hosts by regulating their nutritional metabolism. However, information about the diversity of the gut microbiota and related functional changes during artificial rearing of native species is currently limited. This study investigated the dynamic remodeling of gut microbiota in the Chinese native bumblebee Bombus lantschouensis under captive rearing, supported by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of bacterial DNA. The typical microbial community composition of the bumblebee was detected in the gut of wild B. lantschouensis, with species of genus Gilliamella and Snodgrassella identified as the dominant strains. Conversely, the microbiota of the captive-reared group showed increased diversity and decreased abundance of certain species of microorganisms. The populations of Bifidobacterium, Saccharibacter, and Lactobacillus, including Firm-4 and Firm-5, were dramatically increased after captive-rearing and became the dominant bacteria, while Gilliamella and Snodgrassella were strikingly reduced. Notably, this study found that pathogenic bacteria appeared in the intestines of wild-caught B. lantschouensis and disappeared when the host was reared under captive conditions. This study shows microbial community changes in bumblebees and facilitates the study of physiological metabolism in the commercial rearing of insects.
The relationship of ulnar variance with pathologies detected by magnetic resonance imaging in patients with chronic or subacute wrist pain
Authors: Poçan Süheyl , Karakaş Levent
Published: February 2025

Background

This study aims to determine whether ulnar variance (UV) types are associated with chronic or subacute ulnar-side wrist pain using 3 Tesla (T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and to investigate potential relationships between UV, clinical data, and MRI-detected findings.

Methods

This retrospective study included patients who presented with ulnar-side wrist pain for at least one month and underwent 3T MRI between January 2020 and October 2023. All demographic and clinical data, wrist radiography, and MRI images were obtained from computerized records. The patients were classified as having neutral-UV, negative-UV, and positive-UV.

Results

In total, 272 patients were included in the analysis. Mean age was 40.57 ± 13.18 years and 63.60% (n = 173) of the subjects were female. Neutral UV was detected in 147 (54.04%) patients, negative UV in 106 (38.97%), and positive UV in 19 (6.99%). Patients in the negative-UV group were significantly younger than those in the neutral-UV and positive-UV groups (p = 0.013); however, the sex distribution was similar in all groups (p = 0.653). All patients with ulnar impingement were in the negative-UV group, whereas all subjects with ulnar impaction were in the positive-UV group (p < 0.001). Finally, triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) ruptures were significantly more common in the positive-UV group (p = 0.023).

Conclusion

There is a significant relationship between UV changes and ulnar impingement syndrome, ulnar impaction syndrome, and TFCC tears, which can be easily detected by MRI. The previously reported relationships between UV, sex, and other pathologies were not supported by our findings.
Cardiac Failure Secondary to Idiopathic Hypoparathyroidism: A Case Report
Authors: Harale Mansi , Yekkaluru Sreevidya , Basvaraj Anita
Published: February 2025

Hypoparathyroidism causes low calcium levels due to insufficient Parathyroid Hormone (PTH). This can lead to cardiovascular issues, including arrhythmias and rarely, hypocalcaemic cardiac failure. In cardiac failure, calcium dysregulation impairs contractility and increases myocardial stress. Hypoparathyroidism-induced hypocalcaemic cardiac failure is an exceptionally rare cause of heart failure, often unresponsive to standard treatments. This report highlights a case of a young female with undiagnosed idiopathic hypoparathyroidism who developed acute cardiac complications postoperatively after an appendectomy. Sixteen hours postsurgery, she experienced sudden onset breathlessness, with her oxygen saturation dropping to 50%. A chest X-ray showed bilateral homogeneous opacities consistent with pulmonary oedema. She was intubated, placed on invasive mechanical ventilation, and required pressor support before being transferred to the medicine unit. Initial Electrocardiography (ECG) findings were unremarkable. On the second day, carpal spasm was observed, prompting serum calcium testing, which revealed significantly low levels, as did serum PTH. Subsequent ECG demonstrated changes associated with hypocalcaemia, including a short PR interval and prolonged QT interval. Echocardiography indicated left ventricular hypokinesia with an ejection fraction of 25-30%, although cardiac enzymes were normal. N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels were elevated, and arterial blood gas analysis showed metabolic alkalosis and hypokalemia. The hypocalcaemia was aggravated by metabolic alkalosis due to gastric drainage. A diagnosis of heart failure secondary to hypocalcaemia from idiopathic hypoparathyroidism was established after excluding other aetiologies. Treatment focusing on heart failure management and calcium correction led to significant clinical improvement, and the patient was successfully extubated. This case highlights the importance of measuring serum calcium in all patients presenting with heart failure, as hypocalcaemia is a treatable cause. A comprehensive evaluation of endocrine and metabolic factors is essential in young patients with unexplained heart failure for accurate diagnosis and effective management.
Effect of Pathogenicity of Seed Borne Chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) Anthracnose Disease on Chilli Fruit
Authors: Mullal Sumayya , K. Vishwanath,
Published: February 2025

The current study was conducted at AICRP on Seed (Crops), National Seed Project, University of Agricultural Sciences, Gandhi Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Bangalore, Karnataka. To evaluate the pathogenicity, four different kinds of seeds were used viz., T1: Naturally infected seed sample, T2: Artificially inoculated seed sample, T3: Apparently healthy seed sample and T4: Surface sterilized apparently healthy seed sample. For inoculation of chilli fruits, pinprick method was used and treated seeds were used for sowing in poly house. From the present study, it was observed that plant height at 60, 90 DAT and at harvest was maximum in surface sterilized seed sample (35.25 cm, 60.50 cm and 63.25 cm, respectively) and minimum was recorded in naturally infected seed sample (24.50 cm, 37.00 cm and 37.00 cm, respectively). Significantly higher number of fruits per plant was recorded in apparently healthy seed sample (18.75) which was on par with number of fruits per plant obtained in surface sterilized apparently healthy seed sample (18.00). Surface sterilized seed sample showed highest fruit length (15.25 cm), fruit diameter (5.10 cm), fruit weight (9.60g) and maximum fruit yield (172 g/plant). Whereas, least value for fruit length (6.00 cm), fruit diameter (3.50 cm), fruit weight (5.75 cm) and fruit yield (35.98 g/plant) were recorded in naturally infected seed sample. Therefore, early seed health detection and suitable seed treatment before sowing would help in monitoring the yield loses caused by Colletotrichum capsici in chilli.
A Small Wave Missed in Wide Complex Tachycardia
Authors: Li Yi , Liu Tong , Lu Zhibing
Published: May 2024

This case report describes a patient in their 60s with intermittent palpitation, weakness, and irregular cardiac rhythm.
Time for a Kids Progress Administration
Authors: Halfon Neal , Russ Shirley Ann , Counts Nathaniel Z.
Published: May 2024

This Viewpoint proposes the creation of a Kids Progress Administration housed under the US Department of the Treasury to address children’s long-term health and well-being.
Opioid Treatment for Adults With and Without Systemic Autoimmune/Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases: Analysis of 2006–2019 United States National Data
Authors: Huang Yinan , Bruera Sebastian , Agarwal Sandeep Krishna , Suarez‐Almazor Maria E. , Bazzazzadehgan Shadi , Ramachandran Sujith , Bhattacharya Kaustuv , Bentley John P. , Yang Yi
Published: May 2024

Objectives

This study compared opioid prescribing among ambulatory visits with systemic autoimmune/inflammatory rheumatic diseases (SARDs) or without and assessed factors associated with opioid prescribing in SARDs.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study used the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey between 2006 and 2019. Adult (≥18 years) visits with a primary diagnosis of SARDs, including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, or systemic lupus erythematosus were included in the study. Opioid prescribing was compared between those with vs without SARDs using multivariable logistic regression accounting for the complex survey design and adjusting for predisposing, enabling, and need factors within Andersen's Behavioral Model of Health Services Use. Another multivariable logistic regression examined the predictors associated with opioid prescribing in SARDs.

Results

Annually, an average of 5.20 million (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.58–6.82) visits were made for SARDs, whereas 780.14 million (95% CI 747.56–812.72) visits were made for non‐SARDs. The SARDs group was more likely to be prescribed opioids (22.53%) than the non‐SARDs group (9.83%) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.65; 95% CI 1.68–4.18). Among the SARDs visits, patient age from 50 to 64 (aOR 1.95; 95% CI 1.05–3.65 relative to ages 18–49) and prescribing of glucocorticoids (aOR 1.75; 95% CI 1.20–2.54) were associated with an increased odd of opioid prescribing, whereas private insurance relative to Medicare (aOR 0.50; 95% CI 0.31–0.82) was associated with a decreased odds of opioid prescribing.

Conclusion

Opioid prescribing in SARDs was higher compared to non‐SARDs. Concerted efforts are needed to determine the appropriateness of opioid prescribing in SARDs.
Artificial Receptor in Synthetic Cells Performs Transmembrane Activation of Proteolysis
Authors: Søgaard Ane Bretschneider , Løvschall Kaja Borup , Montasell Mireia Casanovas , Cramer Clara Bakkegaard , Marcet Pere Monge , Pedersen Andreas Bøtker , Jakobsen Josefine Hammer , Zelikin Alexander N.
Published: May 2024

The design of artificial, synthetic cells is a fundamentally important and fast‐developing field of science. Of the diverse attributes of cellular life, artificial transmembrane signaling across the biomolecular barriers remains a high challenge with only a few documented successes. Herein, the study achieves signaling across lipid bilayers and connects an exofacial enzymatic receptor activation to an intracellular biochemical catalytic response using an artificial receptor. The mechanism of signal transduction for the artificial receptor relies on the triggered decomposition of a self‐immolative linker. Receptor activation ensues its head‐to‐tail decomposition and the release of a secondary messenger molecule into the internal volume of the synthetic cell. Transmembrane signaling is demonstrated in synthetic cells based on liposomes and mammalian cell‐sized giant unilamellar vesicles and illustrates receptor performance in cell mimics with a diverse size and composition of the lipid bilayer. In giant unilamellar vesicles, transmembrane signaling connects exofacial receptor activation with intracellular activation of proteolysis. Taken together, the results of this study take a step toward engineering receptor‐mediated, responsive behavior in synthetic cells.
A General Cyanine‐Based Platform for Designing Robust Dual‐Channel Near‐Infrared Fluorescent and Photoacoustic Probes
Authors: Wu Pingzhou , Qu Zheng , Zhang Jie , Ren Xiaojie , Wang Dongqing , Huang Chen , Cheng Ke , Qi Junyang , Shi Heng , Gan Shenglong , Wei Wenyu , Zhang Yachao , Lee Chun‐Sing , Wang Lidai , Sun Hongyan
Published: May 2024

The creation of versatile platforms for developing dual‐channel near‐infrared fluorescent (NIRF) and photoacoustic (PA) probes, especially those engineered to minimize channel crosstalk, is crucial for precise biomarker detection. However, such platforms remain scarce. To bridge this gap, this study introduces an innovative cyanine‐based platform, CySN. The CySN platform showcases remarkable wavelength‐shifting properties, including large fluorescent modality shift (68 nm) and PA modality shift (145 nm) after the decaging reaction. These substantial changes lead to an exceptionally high ratiometric NIRF change of 603‐fold and ratiometric PA change of 261‐fold. Leveraging the CySN platform, dual‐channel NIRF/PA probes have been successfully developed for detecting both small molecule biomarker (H2O2) and enzyme biomarker (esterase). These probes demonstrate the ability to detect their targets through dual‐channel NIRF/PA detection with high sensitivity and selectivity in vitro. Furthermore, the probes effectively harness NIRF signals to image target analytes in living cells. Notably, the probes demonstrate the capability to accurately diagnose tumors by detecting tumor markers (H2O2 and esterase), revealing a 3.6 to 7‐fold ratiometric PA enhancement over normal tissue. Therefore, the CySN platform holds the potential to further advance the development of dual‐channel NIRF/PA probes for biomolecule detection in disease diagnosis.