bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
STRUKTUR MIKROANATOMI GINJAL MENCIT (Mus Musculus L.) BETINA SETELAH PAPARAN EKSTRAK ETANOL DAUN MIMBA (Azadirachta indica A. Juss)
Authors: Septiva Elsa Billah , Sitasiwi Agung Janika , Isdadiyanto Sri
Published: February 2025

Neem leaves (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) contain organic compounds such as alkaloids, steroids, flavonoids, triterpenoids, saponins and tannins which have any potency as traditional medicinal. This study aimed to examine the ethanolic extract of Neem leaves on kidney microanatomy in mice (Mus musculus L.). Completely Random Design consists of 4 treatments, 5 replications, namely K (aquadest), P1, P2 and P3 (Treated by dosages 8.4; 11.2 and 14 mg/kg BB/day). The treatments were given orally with volume 0.2 mL for 21 days. Kidney organ was isolated, weighed and made by histological processed with a 5 Î¼m incision thickness using the paraffin method with Hematoxylin-Eosin staining. Observation of preparations were carried out to calculate glomerular diameter, Bowmanâ€™s capsule diameter and Bowmanâ€™s space diameter. The data were analyzed using ANOVA test at 95% confidence level and continued with DMRT test. The analysis results showed that there was significant affect (p<0.05) on exposure ethanolic extract of Neem leaves to the glomerular and Bowman's capsule diameter but didnâ€™t show significantly affect (p>0.05) to the Bowman's space diameter, changes in kidney weight and drinking consumption of mice. It could be concluded that the exposure of ethanolic extract of Neem leaves in a period of 21 days is still safe to use as traditional alternative medicine.
 
Keywords: Glomerular diameter, kidney weight, Neem leaves
STRUKTUR TUBULUS SEMINIFERUS MENCIT (Mus musculusL.) SETELAH PAPARAN EKSTRAK ETANOL DAUN MIMBA (Azadirachta Indica A.Juss)
Authors: Avycena Sarifudin , Sitasiwi Agung Janika , Mardiati Siti Muflcihatun
Published: February 2025

Neem leaves are one of the traditional medicinal plants (Azadirachta indica A Juss). Neem leaves contain an activecomposition as an antifertility such as azadirachtin, flavonoids, saponins, nembeen and nimbidin. SpermatogenicIndex of male mice (Mus musculus L) after being given ethanol extract from the leaves of the mimba (Azadirachtaindica A. Juss). This study used a completely randomized design (CRD) with 2 control groups (aquades) andtreatment (giving the leaves of the mangosteen ethanol extract at a dose of 14 mg / KgBB / day) with 15 replications.The treatment was given orally with a volume of 0.2 ml for 21 days. The 22 days of the testes were isolated, weighedand made histological preparations using a paraffin method with a thickness of 5 μm, and staining of HematoxylinEosin (HE). Observation of seminiferous tubule structure and measurement of seminiferous tubule diameter wascarried out in 4 fields of view. The Spermatogenic Index values (SI) was determined by the number of phases ofeach field specified in the seminiferous tubules. Data were analyzed by t test with a confidence level of 95%. Theresults of the analysis showed not significant different on body weight, testicular weight and diameter of theseminiferous tubules. Spermatogenic Index observations showed that the control group had a dominant fase of 5while the treatment group had dominant fase of 4.The research concluded that the administration of mimba leavesethanol extract was recommended as an antifertility of male animals.
Keywords: Neem; seminiferous Tubules; Spermatogenic Index
PENGAMATAN KADAR SENYAWA POLISIKLIK AROMATIK HIDROKARBON (PAH): BENZO (a) PYRENE, BENZO (a) ANTHRACENE, BENZO (b) FLUORANTHENE, DI-BENZO (a,h) ANTHRACENE, DAN BENZO (g,h,i) PERYLENE DALAM AIR LAUT DI TELUK JAKARTA
Authors: Edward
Published: February 2025

Measurement of the concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) compounds Benzo(a) Pyrene, Benzo(a)Anthracene, Benzo(b)Fluoranthene, Di-benzo(a,h)Anthracene, and Benzo(g,h,i) Perylene in seawater in Jakarta Bay was conducted in July-August 2015. The purpose of this study is to determine the level of pollution of five PAH compounds in seawater in their relation to the protection of marine organisms. Seawater samples were taken by using a water sampler at 23 research stations. The station position is determined by using the Geographical Position System (GPS). All samples were analyzed by using Gas Chromatography. The results showed that the concentration of the five PAH compounds in seawater in the western parts of Jakarta Bay was higher than the middle and the eastern parts. The content of the five PAHs compounds is still in accordance with the safe threshold value for marine organism life.
Bidens pilosa L.: BOTANI, MANFAAT DAN BIOAKTIVITASNYA
Authors: Silalahi Marina , Silalahi Mercy , Nababan Ratna Kristiani
Published: February 2025

Bidens pilosa belonging Asteraceae has been long used by humans as food and traditional medicine. This study aims to explain the relationship between utilization and bioactivity of B. pilosa. The method writing this article is a literature study of the benefits and bioactivity of B. pilosa which is published online on google scholar. The keywords used in the article search were B. pilosa, uses of B. pilosa and bioactivity of B. pilosa. The literature was synthesized so that it explains comprehensively the benefits and bioactivity of B. pilosa. Bidens pilosa by local communities used to treat malaria, diabetes mellitus, inflammation, hypertension, anti-inflammatory, cancer, immune modulation, and anti-bacterial. The bioactivity of B. pilosa such as anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, anti-microbial, anti-diabetic mellitus, immunomodulators, anti-hypertension, anti-malarial, hepatoprotective and analgesic. The bioactivity of B. pilosa as anti-cancer and anti-malaria is related to the phenyl-1,3,5-heptatriyne content. Antioxidant B. pilosa is related to the content of polyphenols and quercetin 3,3 -dimethyl ether 7-O-b-D-glycopyranoside. Bidens pilosa has the potential to be developed as a nutraceutical, which is a food ingredient that provides health effects.
AKTIVITAS PROTEOLITIK BAKTERI LOKAL YANG DI ISOLASI DARI TEMPAT PENANGKARAN BUAYA
Authors: Mamangkey Jendri , Suryanto Dwi
Published: February 2025

Indonesia has an ecological diversity which can be used as significantly potential habitat for local bacteria. One of such environments is crocodile breeding where research on proteolytic bacteria is still minimal. Proteolytic bacteria are a type of bacteria which can produce protease enzymes. This research was performed aiming to find selected proteolytic bacteria that can produce protease enzymes. Pour plate method using skim milk agar media was employed to isolate the bacteria. Bacteria isolates were selected based on qualitative and quantitative tests. Current research results discovered 6 bacteria isolates which had proteolytic ability after the qualitative test. Among those 6 isolates, 3 (FB2, THB1b, and THB6a) were able to hydrolyze skim milk media with the fastest incubation time of 18 hours. Meanwhile, based on quantitative test, 1 isolate produced the highest protease activity, which is FB2 isolate with 958 U/mL having a total of 12.05 cells/mL. Based on this research report, FB2 isolate collected from crocodile feces (FB) has the potential to be utilized in protease enzymes application in the environment.
REVIEW: SELEDRI (Apium graveolens L.): BOTANI, EKOLOGI, FITOKIMIA, BIOAKTIVITAS, DAN PEMANFAATAN
Authors: Wakhidah Anisatu Z.
Published: February 2025

Apium graveolens indeed is well known for its use extensively. Not only used as a flavoring ingredient but also used as drinks and for medicinal purposes. Based on that background, it is necessary to document the various uses of celery in several regions of the world, the phytochemical compounds are contained in celery, and the bioactivity of the compounds in these plants. It aims to find out all the benefits of celery so that a scientific basis is obtained regarding what diseases can be cured with celery so that this species is used as modern medicine. The results showed that celery has been widely used by the world's population from its original region of Macronesia to North Africa, Europe to the western Himalayas, and spread to America, Asia, and Africa, parts of India, Iran, and also China. Phytochemicals in celery include β-pinene, camphene, cumene, limonene, α-thuyene, α-pinene, β-phellendrene, p-cymene, ˠ-terpinene, sabinene and terpinolene, apiin, mannitol, apigenin, potassium, phytosterols. These compounds act as an anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer effect, anti-spasmodic, liver protective activity, anti-oxidant activity, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. Meanwhile, the illness that can be cured include hypertension and heart disease, cholesterol, rheumatism, gout, fever, shortness of breath, constipation, menstrual problems, kidney stones, diabetes mellitus, and stroke. Thus, since there are scientific studies that prove the effectiveness of its chemical compounds, celery can be used as an alternative medicine to treat various diseases.
Pengaruh Paparan Ekstrak Biji Klabet (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) Terhadap Kadar Hemoglobin, Indeks Hepatosomatik dan Kadar Protein Hepar Tikus Putih (Rattus norvegicus L.)
Authors: Adawiyah Putri Rofiatul , Sitasiwi Agung Janika , Kasiyati Kasiyati
Published: February 2025

Fenugreek is one of the herbal plants whose seeds contain flavonoid antioxidant compounds, essential amino acids and minerals but their effect on liver function has not been tested. This study consisting of 4 treatment groups, namely P0 (white rats were given aquadest), P1 (white rats were given fenugreek seed extract at dose of 500 mg/kg BW), P2 (white rats were given fenugreek seed extract at dose of 1000 mg/kg BW), and P3 (white rats given fenugreek seed extract at dose of 1500 mg/kg BW). Statistical analysis test used Kruskal Wallis and continued with Mann Whitney test. The results showed that the administration of fenugreek seed extract on the highest hepatosomatic index was found in research rats treated with a dose of 500 mg/kg BW, the highest hemoglobin levels were found in research rats treated with a dose of 1500 mg/kg BW and the highest liver protein levels were found in research rats. treated with a dose of 500 mg/kg BW. The conclusion of this study was that exposure to fenugreek seed extract was able to maintain liver function by showing the value of hepatosomatic index, hemoglobin and liver protein levels in white rats.
Pengaruh Media Tanam terhadap Pertumbuhan Tanaman Pakcoy (Brassica rapa L.) secara Hidroponik
Authors: Anggriyanti Putri Bohoka Sri , Ahmad Jusna K. , Kumaji Syam S.
Published: February 2025

This study aims to determine the effect of the combination of planting media of sorghum dregs compost and husk charcoal on hydroponic growth of pakcoy plants and to determine the combination of planting media that gives the best effect on hydroponic growth of pakcoy plants. This research was conducted at the Gorontalo Agricultural Technology Study Center with the research time starting from July to September 2021. The research method used was the experimental method. Pakcoy seedlings were sown on planting media with a combination of sorghum dregs compost and husk charcoal, then transferred to the NFT system hydroponic pipe installation at 14 days after planting. The results showed that the planting medium had an effect on the growth of pakcoy plants. Based on the results of 5% BNT, it was found that the combination of 50% sorghum dregs compost and 50% husk charcoal (M4) had a significant effect on the growth of pakcoy plants which included plant height, leaf length, leaf width and plant wet weight. The combination of planting media of 50% sorghum dregs compost and 50% husk charcoal (M4) had a significant effect on plant height and leaf number of pakcoy plants. While the combination of planting media with 25% sorghum pulp compost and 75% husk charcoal (M5) had a significant effect on leaf length, leaf width, dry weight and wet weight of pakcoy plants
Sosialisasi serta Edukasi Aplikasi Pengolahan Pangan Fungsional dalam Pencegahan Stunting Di Kecamatan Tanjung Morawa
Authors: Cintya Henni , Satria Denny , Muhammad Mahatir
Published: February 2025

Stunting is the impaired growth and development that children experience from poor nutrition, repeated infection, and inadequate psychosocial stimulation. Stunting is an issue that has a big impact. Infants and toddlers may experience morbidity and death in the near term as a result. Low intellectual and cognitive capacities can be caused over the long term, as well as problems with degenerative diseases and the lowest quality adult human resources. The average prevalence of stunting toddler in Indonesia in 2015-2017 was 31.4%, far above the WHO limit of 20%. Based on this idea, this community service was carried out with the aim of educating mothers with the family walfare movement community (FWMC) about the importance of knowledge on how to process food from natural ingredients such as Moringa leaves and pumpkin into cookies as functional food for stunting prevention in childrens in Tanjung Morawa Regency. This activity received a very good response and high enthusiasm from FWMC and headmans. This activity was attended by 35 participants consisting of 25 mothers and 10 people as headman. Furthermore, an observation survey was conducted by providing questionnaires to measure the level of understanding of food processing from natural ingredients as functional foods for the prevention of stunting in children. Observations showed that arround 96% of mothers after participating in this activity knew what stunting was, the causes, prevention of stunting and how to process food as functional foods that could reduce the prevalence of stunting in Buntu Bedimbar Village, so that they could apply in their respective households for the health.
Video Youtube Hutan Kota sebagai Media Pembelajaran Tentang Pengetahuan Hutan Kota dan Vegetasinya Di Purworejo
Authors: Adinugraha Fajar
Published: February 2025

One of the topics that need to be understood as a student teacher candidate is the taxonomy and morphology of plants including the names of their species. Urban forests provide alternative learning resources that can be created in the form of videos. The video was uploaded on the Youtube channel to help learning during the pandemic, which reduces offline activities. It is hoped that making Urban Forest videos and uploading them to Youtube media will be a solution to urban forest concerns. The purposes of writing the article include: 1) identifying spermatophyta in the urban forest of Purworejo; 2) make an urban forest learning video; 3) analyze students' understanding of urban forests and their vegetation. The method used is urban forest exploration, making videos, as well as pre and post test designs by giving online test questions after watching the video. Making a forest video begins with identifying plants. There are 17 species used in making urban forest videos. The dominant vegetation in the Purworejo urban forest is acacia, teak, and mahogany. A learning video with a duration of 25 minutes 54 seconds uploaded on a personal Youtube channel, namely Fajar Adinugraha Channel with the link https://youtu.be/trPQ2yLBpWw. In its creation, the Pl@ntnet application was used to assist identification with the help of wikipedia. The application of learning videos via youtube was able to increase the score of 28.56 points from the pretest score so that there was a significant difference between the pretest and posttest scores for knowledge of urban forests and their vegetation.
Biomechanical analysis of maxillary posterior three unit bridge supported misial straight implant and distal tilted implant
Authors: Liu Guanqi , Deng Shudan , Chen Xiaoyan , Lin Jiahui , Liu Runheng
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the stress distribution in bone tissue, implant, abutment, screw, and bridge restoration when the mesial implant is placed axially and the distal implant is inserted at varying angles in the posterior maxillary region with free-end partial dentition defects, using three-dimensional finite element analysis.

Materials and methods

Cone-beam computed-tomography were utilized to create 3D reconstruction models of the maxilla. Stereolithography data of dental implants and accessories were used to design a three-unit full zirconia bridge for the maxillary model. The 3D models were imported into ANSYS Workbench 23.0 software for mesh generation and material property definition. Five different distal implant implantation directions were designed: Inner Tilting 30° group, Inner Tilting 17° group, Parallel group, External Tilting 17° group, and External Tilting 30° group. The models consisted of cortical bone, trabecular bone, implants, abutments, central screws, prosthesis screws, and prostheses. Material properties were assumed to be isotropic, homogeneous, and linearly elastic. The maxillary models were subjected to strict fixation restrictions, and the implants were considered fully osseointegrated. Two loading types were set in ANSYS Workbench 23.0: a vertical load of 300N and a lateral load of 300N at a 45°angle to the implant.

Results

Under vertical loading, the parallel group exhibited the lowest maximum stress across all implants, crowns, abutments and screws. Greater tilt angles increased abutment stress, with the external tilting 30° group reaching 1,426 MPa (close to titanium alloy’s yield strength). Smaller angles of both external tilting and inner tilting shifted stress to implants from abutment and screw. During lateral loading, the external tilting 30° group showed catastrophic stress escalation (abutment: 8,612 MPa), exceeding titanium’s yield limit. Bone stress remained physiological except for the internal tilting 30° group under lateral loading (142 MPa).

Conclusion

The parallel group demonstrated the least stress accumulation in all components and bone tissues. Internal tilting of the distal implant is biomechanically preferable to external tilting, and a smaller tilt angle is recommended when external tilting is necessary. This study provides valuable reference data for optimizing implant angulation in patients with the loss of three posterior maxillary teeth, potentially reducing long-term complications associated with implant-fixed bridges.
Major heme proteins hemoglobin and myoglobin with respect to their roles in oxidative stress – a brief review
Authors: Sil Rajarshi , Chakraborti Abhay Sankar
Published: February 2025

Oxidative stress is considered as the root-cause of different pathological conditions. Transition metals, because of their redox-active states, are capable of free radical generation contributing oxidative stress. Hemoglobin and myoglobin are two major heme proteins, involved in oxygen transport and oxygen storage, respectively. Heme prosthetic group of heme proteins is a good reservoir of iron, the most abundant transition metal in human body. Although iron is tightly bound in the heme pocket of these proteins, it is liberated under specific circumstances yielding free ferrous iron. This active iron can react with H2O2, a secondary metabolite, forming hydroxyl radical via Fenton reaction. Hydroxyl radical is the most harmful free radical among all the reactive oxygen species. It causes oxidative stress by damaging lipid membranes, proteins and nucleic acids, activating inflammatory pathways and altering membrane channels, resulting disease conditions. In this review, we have discussed how heme-irons of hemoglobin and myoglobin can promote oxidative stress under different pathophysiological conditions including metabolic syndrome, diabetes, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative and renal diseases. Understanding the association of heme proteins to oxidative stress may be important for knowing the complications as well as therapeutic management of different pathological conditions.
NanoAbLLaMA: construction of nanobody libraries with protein large language models
Authors: Wang Xin , Chen Haotian , Chen Bo , Liang Lixin , Mei Fengcheng , Huang Bingding
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Traditional methods for constructing synthetic nanobody libraries are labor-intensive and time-consuming. This study introduces a novel approach leveraging protein large language models (LLMs) to generate germline-specific nanobody sequences, enabling efficient library construction through statistical analysis.

Methods

We developed NanoAbLLaMA, a protein LLM based on LLaMA2, fine-tuned using low-rank adaptation (LoRA) on 120,000 curated nanobody sequences. The model generates sequences conditioned on germlines (IGHV3-301 and IGHV3S5301). Training involved dataset preparation from SAbDab and experimental data, alignment with IMGT germline references, and structural validation using ImmuneBuilder and Foldseek.

Results

NanoAbLLaMA achieved near-perfect germline generation accuracy (100% for IGHV3-301, 95.5% for IGHV3S5301). Structural evaluations demonstrated superior predicted Local Distance Difference Test (pLDDT) scores (90.32 ± 10.13) compared to IgLM (87.36 ± 11.17), with comparable TM-scores. Generated sequences exhibited fewer high-risk post-translational modification sites than IgLM. Statistical analysis of CDR regions confirmed diversity, particularly in CDR3, enabling the creation of synthetic libraries with high humanization (>99.9%) and low risk.

Discussion

This work establishes a paradigm shift in nanobody library construction by integrating LLMs, significantly reducing time and resource demands. While NanoAbLLaMA excels in germline-specific generation, limitations include restricted germline coverage and framework flexibility. Future efforts should expand germline diversity and incorporate druggability metrics for clinical relevance. The model’s code, data, and resources are publicly available to facilitate broader adoption.
Cerebrospinal fluid profiles of targeted metabolomics on neurotransmitters in patients with post-neurosurgical bacterial meningitis
Authors: Mei Zhaojun , Guan Liao , Xu Ziao , Cheng Hongwei , Ye Lei
Published: February 2025

Background

Post-neurosurgical bacterial meningitis (PNBM) is a severe complication in patients receiving neurosurgical treatments. Pathogens and neuroinflammation have been reported to influence metabolites in the microenvironment of the central nervous system. However, information about the relationship between neurotransmitter levels and PNBM is still limited. In this study, we aimed to investigate the diagnostic potential of neurotransmitters for PNBM in the patients with stroke.

Methods

In this study, a total of 66 stroke patients were recruited. Among them, 40 patients were complicated with PNBM. We profiled cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of neurotransmitter precursors and metabolites using the targeted metabolomics method, which contained 26 precursors and metabolites of neurotransmitters, using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS).

Results

We found that 14 biomarkers were downregulated but 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) was upregulated in the CSF of PNBM patients. Among the biomarkers, D-glutamine (AUC=1.000), Boc-D-Tyr-OH (AUC=0.9447), L(+)-arginine (AUC=0.9418), and DOPAC (AUC=0.9173) had strong diagnostic efficiency for PNBM. Bioinformatic analysis showed that tyrosine metabolism, butanoate metabolism, histidine metabolism, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, and tryptophan metabolism might be involved in the pathogenesis of PNBM. After reviewing previous studies, we found a probable diverse pathophysiological alteration between PNBM and community-acquired bacterial meningitis.

Conclusions

In summary, we identified downregulated levels of D-glutamine, Boc-D-Tyr-OH, L(+)-arginine, and phenprobamate, and an upregulated level of DOPAC in CSF to have strong diagnostic efficiencies. The results also offered potential targets for the treatment of PNBM.
Novel device therapies in heart failure: focus on patient selection
Authors: Balgobind Amrita , Asemota Daniel , Rodriguez Emily , Wattanachayakul Phuuwadith , Fudim Marat , Alvarez Villela Miguel
Published: February 2025

The increasing prevalence of heart failure (HF) has led to advancements in therapeutic strategies, including the development of new pharmacological treatments and the expansion of guideline recommendations across the spectrum of left ventricular ejection fractions. Despite these advancements, the full benefits of guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) are often limited by various barriers that result in incomplete implementation or suboptimal responses. For patients who cannot tolerate or only partially respond to GDMT, therapeutic options remain limited. This gap is particularly significant for those with contraindications to heart replacement therapies (HRT), such as left ventricular assist device (LVAD) or heart transplant. In light of these potential limitations, this review article proposes categorizing HF patients into four distinct phenoprofiles based on their tolerance to GDMT and candidacy for HRT. Considering these HF phenoprofiles may guide treatment decisions regarding the selection and use of novel device-based HF therapies. Furthermore, we summarize data on commercially available and emerging device-based HF therapies, evaluating their clinical utility, mechanisms of action, and selection criteria based on current evidence. Finally, we describe clinical cases across various proposed HF phenoprofiles to illustrate how these HF profiles can guide the use of novel device-based therapies to achieve clinical stability, improve GDMT tolerance, or serve as a bridge to, or be used in tandem with HRT in select patients.
Empowering pediatric, adolescent, and young adult patients with cancer utilizing generative AI chatbots to reduce psychological burden and enhance treatment engagement: a pilot study
Authors: Hasei Joe , Hanzawa Mana , Nagano Akihito , Maeda Naoko , Yoshida Shinichirou , Endo Makoto , Yokoyama Nobuhiko , Ochi Motoharu , Ishida Hisashi , Katayama Hideki , Fujiwara Tomohiro , Nakata Eiji , Nakahara Ryuichi , Kunisada Toshiyuki , Tsukahara Hirokazu , Ozaki Toshifumi
Published: February 2025

Background

Pediatric and adolescent/young adult (AYA) cancer patients face profound psychological challenges, exacerbated by limited access to continuous mental health support. While conventional therapeutic interventions often follow structured protocols, the potential of generative artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots to provide continuous conversational support remains unexplored. This study evaluates the feasibility and impact of AI chatbots in alleviating psychological distress and enhancing treatment engagement in this vulnerable population.

Methods

Two age-appropriate AI chatbots, leveraging GPT-4, were developed to provide natural, empathetic conversations without structured therapeutic protocols. Five pediatric and AYA cancer patients participated in a two-week intervention, engaging with the chatbots via a messaging platform. Pre- and post-intervention anxiety and stress levels were self-reported, and usage patterns were analyzed to assess the chatbots’ effectiveness.

Results

Four out of five participants reported significant reductions in anxiety and stress levels post-intervention. Participants engaged with the chatbot every 2–3 days, with sessions lasting approximately 10 min. All participants noted improved treatment motivation, with 80% disclosing personal concerns to the chatbot they had not shared with healthcare providers. The 24/7 availability particularly benefited patients experiencing nighttime anxiety.

Conclusions

This pilot study demonstrates the potential of generative AI chatbots to complement traditional mental health services by addressing unmet psychological needs in pediatric and AYA cancer patients. The findings suggest these tools can serve as accessible, continuous support systems. Further large-scale studies are warranted to validate these promising results.
Perspectives from science teacher educators on the potential contribution of Sámi traditional knowledge to sustainable development
Authors: Melis Claudia , Kvivesen Mona , Munkebye Eli
Published: February 2025

Introduction

This study investigates how Sámi traditional knowledge is integrated in science teacher education in Norway, and what teacher educators declare about its potential contribution to sustainable development.

Methods

Data was collected through an anonymous electronic survey and analyzed by means of both qualitative and quantitative methods. Thirty-nine respondents from 15 teacher education institutions in Norway participated in the study.

Results

According to the respondents, most science courses explicitly mentioned Sámi traditional knowledge. The most common Sámi topics taught in science in kindergarten education, were the seasons, preparing traditional food, constellations and reflecting about how traditional knowledge can contribute to sustainability. For primary school teacher education, the most common Sámi topics were the constellations, conflicts with building of windmills parks in traditional reindeer grazing areas, traditional use of plants and seasons. The self-declared level of knowledge on Sámi traditional knowledge was rather low and the majority of respondents expressed the intention to improve their competence by reading or attending courses. The thematic analysis of the answers to the question about how Sámi traditional knowledge could contribute to sustainable development, identified four main Sámi themes: traditional use of resources, view of nature, local knowledge versus Sámi traditional knowledge, and social sustainability. Our results confirmed that teaching Sámi traditional knowledge poses a significant challenge for science teacher educators, both as consequence of their perceived knowledge and the limited amount of time available for teaching. Some respondents found the subject not relevant for the students, whereas other were challenged by its sensitivity or by the availability of culture bearers. The contrast between traditional knowledge and western science as different views of knowledge was also mentioned.

Discussion

Based on teacher educators’ perspectives, we propose that adopting a Two-Eyed Seeing approach in science teaching could promote critical thinking, by enabling a reflection on our resource utilization and on our human-nature relationship. Some of the challenges associated with lack of time and knowledge could be addressed by promoting further education for science teacher educators, building a network of knowledge bearer that could be invited in the teacher courses, or reevaluating the courses content to make place for Sámi themes. This would also promote decolonization and inclusion of the Sámi people, thus contributing to several aspects of sustainability.
Quality of care and challenges in medical convoy transfers during Hajj season 2023: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Alsaleh Ghadah , Khan Anas , Alabdulatif Lamis , Alhazmi Jumana , Althobaiti Amira
Published: February 2025

Background

The Hajj pilgrimage, a significant spiritual journey for Muslims, occurs annually in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, attracting millions of participants from diverse backgrounds worldwide. This surge in pilgrims poses substantial challenges for healthcare services, as many face health risks due to physical exertion, dehydration, and exposure to infectious diseases. The unique healthcare demands during Hajj necessitate a thorough understanding of the quality of care provided and the challenges faced by medical convoys.

Objectives

This study aims to assess the quality of care provided by medical convoys to medical conditions transferred to secondary or tertiary healthcare facilities during the Hajj season in 2023, while also examining the difficulties and challenges encountered by healthcare providers throughout the trip.

Methods and materials

This observational retrospective cross-sectional study involved 295 patients transferred from Makkah and Madinah hospitals to Arafat via a specialized medical convoy service during the 2023 Hajj season. Data were collected from electronic patient data sheets, documenting demographic characteristics, comorbidities, clinical diagnoses, transfer details, and the Risk Score for Transported Patients (RSTP). Ethical approval was obtained under IRB log Number: 23-452E from the Research Ethics Committee at King Fahad Medical City.

Results

Among the 295 patients, the majority were males with an average age of 63.16 years. The most common nationalities were Asian (48.1%) and African (28.5%). Significant comorbidities included hypertension (34.2%) and diabetes mellitus (33.2%). RSTP indicated that 96.6% of patients had scores below 6. Nearly half were discharged within 72 h post-transfer, while a small percentage experienced deterioration or mortality. Most patients (58.3%) did not receive any medications or anesthesia, although 31.2% were administered analgesics. Common diagnoses included fractures (15.3%) and heat stroke (10.5%). Univariate logistic regression analysis revealed significant associations between higher RSTP and factors such as older age, presence of arrhythmias, need for respiratory support, lower Glasgow Coma Scale scores, total score, and blood pressure.

Conclusion

This study highlights the diverse demographic characteristics and significant comorbidities of patients transferred during the Hajj season, indicating the need for tailored healthcare strategies that address the complexities of managing these patients. The strong association between higher RSTP scores and factors such as older age and arrhythmias underscores the importance of enhanced monitoring during transport. It is crucial to develop protocols that ensure patient safety and optimize outcomes in future healthcare delivery during Hajj.
Effect of fat distribution on left ventricular structure and function in different sexes: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Li Hang , Yin Guangjiao , Zhang Yanfang , Wang Ziwei , Lv Fang , Li Rui , Qin Juanjuan , Ye Xujun
Published: February 2025

Background

Although there is an interaction between sex, body fat distribution, and cardiac structure and function, these relationships have not been fully elucidated yet. This study aims to reveal the causal relationship between genetic determinants of fat distribution pattern and function of the left ventricular structure in different sexes.

Methods

Genetic variants for waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and body mass index (BMI) were selected from genome-wide association studies conducted in European samples. The dataset for left ventricular (LV) parameters was obtained from over 35,000 European samples in the UK Biobank Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance sub-study. Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was employed to explore causal relationships.

Results

After adjusting for BMI, WHR shows a positive causal relationship with LV hypertrophy and a significant negative causal relationship with LV volume and diastolic function. In further subgroup analysis, we only found similar results in WHR among the female population (FWHR), while in the male population, there was no significant causal relationship between MWHR and LV hypertrophy and diastolic function. Additionally, in our MR analysis, no causal relationship was found between WHR and LVEF.

Conclusions

This study indicates that the fat distribution pattern has unique effects on the structure and function of the LV, and these effects vary by sex. This study provides evidence for a causal relationship between fat distribution and LV structure and function across both sexes.
Causal inference of inflammatory proteins in infertility: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Chen Peng , Ni Sha , Ou-Yang Ling
Published: February 2025

Background

Infertility affects 8-12% of couples globally, manifesting as a complex reproductive disorder with varied causes, negatively impacting emotional, physical, and social well-being. Inflammation is implicated in many diseases, including male and female infertility.

Methods

This study employed Mendelian randomization (MR) with two-sample, bidirectional, and mediation approaches to explore the relationship between circulating inflammatory proteins and infertility. Causal analysis was conducted using inverse variance-weighted (IVW) and MR-Egger regression, supplemented by enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network exploration, and drug signature analysis.

Results

Our findings identified a significant positive correlation between C-X-C motif chemokine 6 (CXCL6) and male infertility, positioning CXCL6 as a potential therapeutic target or biomarker. No causal links were detected between circulating inflammatory proteins and female infertility post-FDR adjustment. Minor mediation effects were observed for metabolites such as androstenediol monosulfate, arachidonoylcholine, and serum phosphate to glycerol ratio. Cytokine-related pathways emerged as significant in both male and female infertility. Gene-drug interaction analysis highlighted the need for further investigation of pioglitazone in treating female infertility.

Conclusion

This study establishes a potentially causal relationship between CXCL6 and male infertility, suggesting its potential as a drug target or molecular biomarker. The integrative approach combining causal inference with molecular pathway and drug interaction analysis opens new avenues for understanding and treating infertility.
Dynamics and interactions of soil moisture and temperature during degradation and restoration of alpine swamp meadow on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau
Authors: Ma Guankui , Zhang Yongkun , Li Hang , Yang Yongsheng , Li Runjie
Published: February 2025

Soil temperature (ST) and soil moisture (SM) are two fundamental land surface variables that directly or indirectly affect the processes and functions of alpine ecosystems. To clarify dynamics and interactions of SM and ST during degradation and restoration of alpine swamp meadow, four successional stages of alpine swamp meadow (non-degraded, NG; Kobresia humilis-dominated degraded, DG1; bare soil/weed-type degraded, DG2; artificially restored, RE) were selected to measure SM and ST at 10, 20 and 30 cm depths with 30-minute time interval in 2021 and 2022. Results showed that: (1) With the degradation and restoration of alpine swamp meadow, SM at 10 cm depth decreased at first, and then increased significantly (p < 0.05), which was attributed to the role of vegetation coverage and soil organic carbon in soil evaporation and water holding capacity, respectively; (2) ST at various depths did not respond to diverse degradation and restoration stages of alpine swamp meadow (p > 0.05); (3) The relationships between ST and SM varied with seasons, with positive and negative linear correlation in spring and summer, and positive exponential correlation in autumn and winter (p < 0.01). The study of SM and ST at different degradation and restoration stages of alpine swamp meadow will provide theoretical support for the research of related ecological processes and functions of such ecosystem.
SARS-CoV-2 spike peptide analysis reveals a highly conserved region that elicits potentially pathogenic autoantibodies: implications to pan-coronavirus vaccine development
Authors: Diaz Marilyn , Mikulski Zbignew , Leaman Dan , Gandarilla Angel , Da Silva Nathalia , Verkoczy Annie , Zhang Jinsong , Verkoczy Laurent
Published: February 2025

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, while subsiding, continues to plague the world as new variants emerge. Millions have died, and millions more battle with the debilitating symptoms of a clinical entity known as long Covid. The biggest challenge remains combating an ever-changing variant landscape that threatens immune evasion from vaccine and prior infection-generated immunity. In addition, the sequelae of symptoms associated with long Covid almost certainly point to multiple pathologies that range from direct damage to organs during infection to a potential role for infection-induced autoreactive antibodies in promoting autoimmune-like conditions in these patients. In this study, a peptide scan of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was done to detect novel, highly conserved linear epitopes that do not elicit autoantibodies. We identified eight predicted linear epitopes capable of eliciting anti-spike IgG antibodies. Immunizations alternating peptide conjugated to KLH with the full trimer yielded the highest antibody levels, but homologous immunization with some of the peptides also yielded high levels when an additional immunization step was added. Of all regions tested, the stem helix adjacent to the heptad repeat 2 (HR2) region also elicited high levels of autoreactive antibodies to known autoantigens in common systemic autoimmune disorders such as lupus and scleroderma and may contribute to the long Covid syndrome seen in some patients. Implications to vaccine design are discussed.
Proposed research classification criteria for Lyme disease in infection associated chronic illness studies
Authors: Fallon Brian A. , Kuvaldina Mara , Zubcevik Nevena , DeBiasi Roberta , Mulkey Sarah B. , Chiu Charles , Chow Felicia , Paolino Kristopher , Lai Randy , Putrino David , Proal Amy , Pavlicova Martina , Aucott John
Published: February 2025

Background

Research on patients with persistent symptoms despite prior treatment for Lyme disease can be challenging to interpret given the diversity of criteria selected to characterize Lyme disease and to define the syndrome of those with persistent symptoms. Because most research studies only include patients with well-documented prior Lyme disease, the generalizability of the study results is limited, excluding the larger group of patients often seen in community practice who do not meet these stringent enrollment criteria. Researchers at the Lyme and other Tick-borne Diseases Clinical Trials Network (LTD-CTN) recognized early on that a research classification system was needed to facilitate the design of studies that are more inclusive. This paper presents a proposed research classification system.

Methods

Criteria used in published clinical research on previously treated Lyme disease were reviewed. Clinical expertise was provided by principal investigators in the LTD-CTN. Further input was obtained from a diverse panel of stakeholders in the field, including clinicians, academic researchers, and patient advocates. This classification system was developed based on feedback collected from all these sources.

Results

The new research classification system proposes criteria for Lyme disease at different levels of diagnostic certainty: well-defined, probable, possible, and uncertain. Criteria for ascertainment for each classification level and additional factors to be considered in patient selection for research are described.

Conclusion

The proposed research classification system should improve the quality and generalizability of clinical research by providing clear case definitions for enrollment of a more diverse group of patients with sequelae from Lyme disease.
Severe Chlamydia psittaci pneumonia complicated by deep vein thrombosis: a case report
Authors: Zhang Anbing , Huang Ting , Lao Xiaoli , Ma Jun , Xia Xiuqiong , Liang Jianping
Published: February 2025

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the legs is a rare but clinically important complication of Chlamydia psittaci pneumonia. We report a case of a 51-year-old man who was admitted to the hospital with fever, cough, and dyspnea. Next-generation sequencing confirmed the diagnosis of Chlamydia psittaci pneumonia. His D-dimer level was elevated on admission, and ultrasound confirmed DVT in the legs. The patient was treated with intravenous doxycycline for the infection and rivaroxaban as an anticoagulant. His condition gradually improved and he was discharged after making a full recovery. In this paper, we explore the potential association between Chlamydia psittaci infection and venous thrombosis, as well as clinical management strategies.
Abnormality-aware multimodal learning for WSI classification
Authors: Dang Thao M. , Zhou Qifeng , Guo Yuzhi , Ma Hehuan , Na Saiyang , Dang Thao Bich , Gao Jean , Huang Junzhou
Published: February 2025

Whole slide images (WSIs) play a vital role in cancer diagnosis and prognosis. However, their gigapixel resolution, lack of pixel-level annotations, and reliance on unimodal visual data present challenges for accurate and efficient computational analysis. Existing methods typically divide WSIs into thousands of patches, which increases computational demands and makes it challenging to effectively focus on diagnostically relevant regions. Furthermore, these methods frequently rely on feature extractors pretrained on natural images, which are not optimized for pathology tasks, and overlook multimodal data sources such as cellular and textual information that can provide critical insights. To address these limitations, we propose the Abnormality-Aware MultiModal (AAMM) learning framework, which integrates abnormality detection and multimodal feature learning for WSI classification. AAMM incorporates a Gaussian Mixture Variational Autoencoder (GMVAE) to identify and select the most informative patches, reducing computational complexity while retaining critical diagnostic information. It further integrates multimodal features from pathology-specific foundation models, combining patch-level, cell-level, and text-level representations through cross-attention mechanisms. This approach enhances the ability to comprehensively analyze WSIs for cancer diagnosis and subtyping. Extensive experiments on normal-tumor classification and cancer subtyping demonstrate that AAMM achieves superior performance compared to state-of-the-art methods. By combining abnormal detection with multimodal feature integration, our framework offers an efficient and scalable solution for advancing computational pathology.
Effects and potential pathways of goose astrovirus infection on gosling hepatic lipid metabolism
Authors: Yin Chao , Shi Yun , Li Haiqin , Lu Zhihua , Gao Xiaona , Hu Guoliang , Guo Xiaoquan
Published: February 2025

Introduction

The adverse effects of goose astrovirus (GoAstV) on avian growth and health have been widely reported previously, while the stress reactions and corresponding mechanism of gosling liver responding to GoAstV infection remain not entirely clear.

Methods

One-day-old goslings inoculated subcutaneously with 2 × 10−6 TCID50 of GoAstV were employed as an experimental model, and the potential effects and pathways of GoAstV infection on gosling liver functions were investigated by combining the morphological, biochemical and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) techniques.

Results

Structural and functional impairments were found in gosling livers post the virus infection, as characterized by the histological alterations in liver index and morphology of hepatic cord and sinuses, as well as the abnormal expression patterns of the cellular antioxidant, inflammation and apoptosis-related genes. RNA sequencing analysis were performed to investigate the underlying mechanism. Results showed that the analysis of screened 1949 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were mainly enriched in GO terms related to organic immune defense and substance metabolism, and their corresponding KEGG pathways represented by PPAR signaling pathway, intestinal immune network for IgA production, and fatty acid metabolism and degradation, suggesting that the functions of avian immunity and lipid metabolism were greatly changed after the GoAstV infection. Finally, the lipid deposition in gosling hepatocytes were further demonstrated by the subsequent Oil red O staining, biochemical detection of serum TG and HDL-C, and the gene expression analysis including PPARα, PPARγ, ACSBG2, ACSL5, CPT1A and PCK1.

Discussion

Though limitations exist, the findings of this study are helpful to expand our understanding about the negative effects of GoAstV on goslings, and provide us with new clues for the salvaging of GoAstV-induced liver dysfunctions in poultry industry.