bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
INDIKATOR MAKRO BERKELANJUTAN MELALUI EKONOMI KOLABORATIF, RISK SHARING & KEADILAN DISTRIBUSI
Authors: Setianingrum Any
Published: October 2023

Bunga, inflasi, dan nilai tukar menjadi indikator utama ekonomi makro konvensional saat ini. Apakah indikator tersebut dapat mendukung arah pencapaian pengentasan kemiskinan, produktivitas dan pertumbuhan, serta keadilan distribusi sumber daya dan pendapatan? Tulisan ini bertujuan untuk merumuskan indikator-indikator ekonomi makro yang dapat menemukan arah pencapaian pengentasan kemiskinan, produktivitas dan pertumbuhan, serta keadilan distribusi sumber daya dan pendapatan. Metode yang digunakan dalam penyusunan makalah ini adalah pendekatan kualitatif eksploratif melalui teknik analisis konten terhadap data sekunder, yang bersumber dari temuan penelitian empiris yang telah penulis lakukan di bidang ekonomi, keuangan, perbankan dan filantropi Islam sejak 2013 sampai dengan tahun 2021, serta diperkuat studi literatur dari berbagai hasil penelitian sebelumnya. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa produktivitas masyarakat, nilai tambah/nilai guna di sektor riil, serta distribusi pendapatan melalui aktivitas jual beli, sewa, bagi hasil, dan kontrak sosial, yakni zakat-infak-sedekah, atau kegiatan filantropi pada umumnya, adalah merupakan titik sentral perekonomian. Hasil penelitian juga menunjukkan bahwa tingkat bunga, baik tinggi maupun rendah tidak dapat menjadi instrumen yang berkelanjutan dalam mencapai pertumbuhan dan keadilan distribusi sumber daya ekonomi. Hasil tersebut sejalan dengan hasil penelitian yang membuktikan bahwa tingkat keberadaan CSR sejalan dengan umur daur hidup perusahaan, dan filantropi dapat menjaga keberlangsungan usaha. Hasil penelitiannya lainnya juga memperkuat temuan tersebut, bahwa krisis ekonomi global yang terjadi berulang selalu ditandai inflasi dan tingkat suku bunga tinggi. Oleh karena itu, indikator tingkat zakat, ekonomi kolaboratif, dan pembagian risiko lebih substantif dalam menjelaskan sejauh mana pencapaian ekonomi, keadilan distribusi, dan pengentasan kemiskinan telah tercapai secara nyata. Indikator alternatif tersebut juga lebih esensial sebagai target dan program dalam kebijakan ekonomi.
PENANGANAN STUNTING DI KABUPATEN PANDEGLANG DENGAN PENDEKATAN PERUBAHAN PERILAKU EKONOMI MASYARAKAT
Authors: Ismail Verni Y
Published: October 2023

Stunting merupakan gangguan pertumbuhan linear pada anak yang memiliki dampak jangka panjang yang dapat mengganggu produktivitas SDM di masa mendatang. Stunting tidak hanya berdampak negatif pada individu itu sendiri, dalam jangka panjang juga akan mempengaruhi berbagai indikator ekonomi negara. Kabupaten Pandeglang merupakan salah satu kabupaten dengan kondisi stunting yang cukup memprihatinkan dibandingkan dengan kabupaten dan kota lain di Banten. Studi ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis perilaku sosial ekonomi rumah tangga di Kabupaten Pandeglang, berdasarkan indikator prevalensi ketidakcukupan konsumsi pangan, skala pengalaman kerawanan pangan, dan situasi ketersediaan air minum layak dan sanitasi layak. Metode yang digunakan adalah metode analisis deskriptif dan literature review. Penelitian deskriptif menggunakan data pada populasi di Kabupaten Pandeglang Periode 2018 – 2020. Data ini diperlukan sebagai landasan yang digunakan untuk menyusun program penanganan intervensi gizi sensitif di Kabupaten Pandeglang. Hasil studi tentang prevalensi konsumsi pangan menunjukkan bahwa sebagian besar masyarakat Kabupaten Pandeglang masih kekurangan asupan buah dan sayur, sementara untuk PMT dan TTD ibu hamil sudah berjalan dengan cukup baik. Tercatat hanya dua pertiga balita yang mengkonsumsi PMT yang diberikan. Kondisi PDRB per kapita penduduk di Kabupaten Pandeglang terendah kedua di Provinsi Banten, sementara untuk porsi penduduk miskin di Kabupaten Pandeglang adalah yang tertinggi di Provinsi Banten. Studi juga menunjukkan bahwa situasi ketersediaan air dan akses masyarakat Pandeglang terhadap kebutuhan air telah terpenuhi dengan baik, sementara penangan tinja balita yang tidak aman masih tinggi. Disampaikan juga rekomendasi untuk memperbaiki kehidupan ekonomi dan pendidikan masyarakat agar perilaku ekonomi masyarakat Kabupaten Pandeglang lebih baik sehingga kejadian stunting terminimalisir.
TUJUAN PEMBANGUNAN BERKELANJUTAN DAN ISU KESENJANGAN GENDER DI INDONESIA
Authors: Handayani Titik
Published: October 2023

Kesetaraan gender merupakan aspek penting dalam agenda Tujuan Pembangunan Berkelanjutan. Berbagai upaya untuk mencapai kesetaraan gender saat ini masih dihadapkan dengan berbagai permasalahan dan tantangan. Tulisan ini bertujuan mendeskripsikan isu dan permasalahan kesetaraan gender di Indonesia, dengan menganalisis posisi dan capaian Indeks Kesenjangan Gender dibanding dengan negara-negara lain. Sumber data yang digunakan adalah publikasi World Economic Forum yaitu Global Gender Gap Report, maupun Gender Inequality Index yang dikembangkan oleh United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),dan Indeks Kesetaraan Gender hasil perhitungan Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS). Analisis menunjukkan bahwa berdasarkan Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI) maupun Gender Inequality Index (GII) posisi Indonesia masih tertinggal dibandingkan dengan negara-negara lain, bahkan peringkatnya menurun 7 peringkat. Skor GGGI posisi Indonesia berada di urutan 85 dari 146 negara di tahun 2018 menjadi 92 dari 149 negara pada tahun 2022. Sedangkan skor GII, Indonesia berada di urutan 103 dari 162 negara di tahun 2018 dan menurun menjadi urutan 110 dari 191 negara pada tahun 2021. Di tingkat Asia Tenggara, skor GGGI maupun skor GII menduduki urutan ke-enam dari 10 negara, dibawah Filipina Singapura, Laos, Vietnam, dan Thailand. Skor GII, juga berada di urutan ke enam. dengan skor sebesar 0,444, artinya hasil pembangunan masih terkendala oleh kesenjangan gender sekitar 44,4 persen pada tahun 2021.Tingginya kesenjangan gender disebabkan oleh kontribusi dimensi kesehatan, khususnya tingkat kematian ibu melahirkan yang masih tinggi. Dari dimensi ekonomi partisipasi perempuan dalam angkatan kerja juga lebih kecil dibanding laki-laki, demikian pula partisipasi perempuan dalam politik juga relatif rendah. Permasalahan lain dari kesetaraan gender di tingkat nasional adalah disparitas capaian indeks kestaraan gender antar provinsi. Provinsi di wilayah Jawa Bali menunjukkan kesetaraan yang relatif lebih baik dibanding dengan provinsi-provinsi di wilayah timur Indonesia. Mengingat bahwa persoalan mendasar dari kesenjangan gender berasal dari akar budaya, maka strategi yang harus dilakukan adalah melalui internalisasi nilai-nilai kesetaraan, bukan hanya pada tingkat negara,birokrasi, tetapi juga pada tingkat lembaga pendidikan, keluarga, dan masyarakat dengan lebih proakif.
KEBERHASILAN DAN TANTANGAN PENURUNAN KASUS STUNTING DI INDONESIA: UPAYA MENCAPAI TARGET SDGS
Authors: Widayatun
Published: October 2023

Reducing cases of stunting among children under five years is an indicator of the success of the SDGs, especially goal 2. Various policies and programs to reduce stunting cases of children under five years are still being implemented, but the prevalence is still high. This article discusses the challenges faced by the governments of Indonesia to reduce stunting among children under-five years in achieving the SDGs using published secondary data. Data include RISKESDAS 2013 and 2018, SSGI 2021, policy documents, previous studies, and other pertinent documents. Important findings from this paper are (1) the reduction in the prevalence of stunting in Indonesia has not met the targets mandated in the RPJMN (2) efforts to reduce stunting under-fives face the challenge of the gap between stunting cases between regions and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic which has hampered the accelerated reduction of stunting. The results of this paper show the need for more innovative management of the stunting program using an approach adapted to the socio-cultural characteristics of the community.
INVESTIGATION OF CYTOTOXIC AND APOPTOTIC EFFECTS OF PRANGOS HEYNIAE H. DUMAN & M. F. WATSON EXTRACTS ON HEPG2 CELLS
Authors: ARZUK Ege , ALBAYRAK Gökay , ERGÜÇ Ali , ATIŞ Ecrin , TAN İclal , BAYKAN Şüra
Published: October 2023

Objective: This study aims to investigate the anticancer potential of Prangos Heyniae H. Duman & M. F. Watson root extracts against human hepatoma cells, and examine the molecular mechanisms potentially involved in extract-induced cytotoxicity.
Material and Method: HepG2 cells were treated with chloroform, n-hexane, or methanol extracts from roots of P. heyniae to investigate the possible effects on cell viability. Following the determination of IC50 values by the MTT test, n-hexane, and methanol extracts were excluded because of their selectivity indices. The chemical characterization of chloroform extract was performed by HPLC to understand the chemical composition-bioactivity relationship. Alterations induced by chloroform extract on mitochondrial membrane potential and caspase-3 activation were further investigated. In addition, cell viability was measured in the presence of different selective inhibitors of pathways to define the type of cell death pathway contributing to cytotoxicity.
Result and Discussion: Chloroform extract but not n-hexane or methanol extracts led to strong and selective inhibition of cell viability on HepG2 cells. In addition, cytotoxicity increased by chloroform extract was only restored in the presence of a pan-caspase apoptosis inhibitor. Also, treatment of HepG2 cells with chloroform extract impaired mitochondrial membrane potential and led to significant caspase-3 activation. Oxypeucedanin, isoimperatorin, and osthole were detected as the major components of the chloroform extract. These results represent that apoptosis may be involved in the anticancer effect of coumarin and furanocoumarin derivatives in chloroform extract.
Teaching English for Student Flourishing
Authors: Sugiono Sugiono
Published: October 2023

Teaching for student flourishing is part of social justice education, which highlights positive changes in society through education. It opens a space for teachers, English language teachers in particular, to accommodate different backgrounds and characteristics of students, from which it gives them opportunities to flourish. However, teaching within this perspective is not that easy. The English teachers face a number of problematic challenges during the teaching learning activities. They need to find the ways to overcome these challenges. This paper aims to determine the challenges faced by the English teachers and gives some insights on how to surmount the problems. It employs a qualitative study, and argues that the English teachers have some challenges in teaching English for a flourishing life of students. They need to concern identifying the challenges and figure out the ways to solve it.
‘El Ajuar de Ana de Austria, Infanta de Espana, Reina de Francia’: An Introduction to Anne of Austria's Trousseau
Authors: Lussier Suzanne
Published: October 2023

In October 1615, the fourteen-year-old Infanta Anne of Austria began a journey that brought her from her native Spain to the court of France where she would become the wife of the French King Louis XIII and later the mother of Louis XIV, the Sun King. According to royal tradition, Anne's father, King Philip III of Spain, bestowed her with a wedding trousseau which included magnificent garments, jewellery, furniture, silverware and perfumes. The transcription of the trousseau was published in Spanish in 1949 and translated into English by this author. This article looks at the gowns, accessories, and linens listed in the royal inventory and refers to portraits of the young princess and other members of the Spanish Royal family. It examines an understudied archival source and contributes to the existing studies of dress as a marker of royal identity and as a tool in the political alliances through royal marriages.
Üniversitelerde Çalışan Akademisyenlerin Terör Kaygısının Ölçülmesi: Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi ve Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi Örneği
Authors: YILMAZ Vedat , ÇİÇEK Çağlar
Published: October 2023

Terör kavramı genel itibari ile birden fazla kişinin bir araya gelerek bir örgüt çerçevesinde cebir, şiddet, tehdit gibi yollarla korku ve panik ortamı yaratarak siyasal bir amaca ulaşmak amacıyla güvenlik kuvvetlerine veya sivillere yönelik yapılan ses getirici eylemler şeklinde tanımlanabilir. 1970’ li yılların sonuna doğru Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Devleti’nin karşı karşıya kaldığı ve uzun yılladır mücadele ettiği terör olgusu başta ekonomik, sosyal, coğrafi, beşerî ve siyasal hayat olmak üzere birçok alanı etkilemiştir. Terör ve terör eylemleri maalesef birçok alanda ve coğrafi bölgede etki bırakmıştır. Terör eylemlerinin geçmişte yoğun yaşandığı Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi’nde, her alanda hissedilen terör gerçeği, kamu görevlilerinin özelde ise bu bölgede çalışan akademisyenlerin çalışma hayatına da sirayet etmiştir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, tarihsel olarak Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi’nde kurulmuş olan en köklü üniversitelerden biri olan Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi ile yeni kurulmuş olan Bitlis Eren Üniversitesi örnekleri üzerinden Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi’nde görev yapmakta olan akademisyenlerin terör kaygısının ölçülmesi hedeflenmiştir. Bu kapsamda belirtilen üniversitelerde görev yapmakta olan akademisyenlerin terör kaygısını ölçmek için anket tekniği yöntemi kullanılarak yüz yüze anket uygulaması yapılmıştır. Anket sonuçları SPSS 22 paket programı kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Yapılan analiz neticesinde Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi'nde görev yapmakta olan akademisyenlerin; terör kaygılarının olup olmadığı, terör kaygılarının var olması halinde sebepleri, imkânları olması halinde başka bir bölgede görev yapmayı tercih edip etmeyecekleri gibi konulara cevap aranmıştır.
Azerbaycan’da Devlet Yönetiminin Yeniden Yapılanması ve Kamu Personel Rejimi
Authors: REHİMLİ Recep
Published: October 2023

Azerbaycan Cumhuriyeti bağımsızlığını kazandıktan sonra ülkede modern dünyada kabul görmüş demokratik devlet yönetim sistemlerine uygun olarak ulus devlet inşası yönünde reformların uygulanmasına ihtiyaç duyulmuştur. Yetmiş yıl varlığını sürdüren eski Sovyet devlet aygıtının yerine bağımsız Azerbaycan'ın devlet yönetim sistemi oluşturulmuştur. Makalede, Azerbaycan'ın devlet yönetim sistemi kapsamlı bir şekilde analiz edilmiş, reformların uygulanması için kabul edilen “Devlet Programları” ve bunun sonucunda elde edilen başarılar incelenmiştir. Uygulanan reformlar neticesinde Azerbaycan'da sivil toplum gelişmiş, hukuk devleti inşası güçlendirilmiş, devlet hizmetlerinin kalitesi ve erişilebilirliği artmıştır. Bu reformlar sonucunda Azerbaycan'da kamu yönetiminde mecburiyetten yaratıcı yaklaşıma, zorunlu yönetimden düzenlemeye, teftişten izleme ve değerlendirmeye, memur-vatandaş temaslarında dijital çözümlere geçiş sağlanmış, kamu-özel ve devlet-vatandaş arasındaki ilişkiler daha da gelişmiş ve hükümetin uzun vadeli vizyonu oluşturulmuştur. Kamu hizmetlerinin geliştirilmesi amacıyla kurulan ASAN, ABAD, DOST ve diğer merkezlerde tek durak sisteminin uygulanması vatandaş memnuniyetini artırmıştır. Makalede ayrıca “Devlet Gulluğu Hakkında” isimli Azerbaycan Cumhuriyeti Kanunu ve bu kanunda yapılan değişiklikler, memurların değerlendirilmesine ilişkin yeni kurallar, Azerbaycan Cumhuriyeti'nde kamu personel sisteminin geliştirilmesine yönelik 2019-2025 yılları arasını kapsayan strateji ve Azerbaycan'ın 2030 yılına kadar sosyo-ekonomik kalkınmaya dair ulusal öncelikleri tahlil edilmiştir. Söz konusu yasal düzenlemeler çerçevesinde kamu yönetiminde personel potansiyelinin geliştirilmesi alanında kurumsal reformların uygulanmasına ilişkin mevcut sorunlar incelenmiş ve onların çözümü ile ilgili önerilerde bulunulmuştur.
WORLD RELIGION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Authors: Tikhute Vishal
Published: October 2023

The relationship between religion and politics continues to be an important theme in political philosophy. In many developing countries, religion has a huge impact on human development. The public domain data of UNDP and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) were analyzed to describe linkages between religion and the human development index (HDI) across 182 nations. The secondary data on religious majority in each country and HDI ranks for year 2018 were compiled and analyzed. Descriptive statistics was used to present the results. The analysis found that religion and human development were closely interconnected. The majority of the population was Christian. All Christian-majority countries were placed in medium to very high human development rankings. Buddhist-majority countries had high to very high human development. The Jewish majority population living in Israel was also had very high human development. While most of the low human development countries had the Islamic majority population.
Pathophysiology of bradykinin and histamine mediated angioedema
Authors: Lima Hermenio , Zheng Jiayue , Wong Dennis , Waserman Susan , Sussman Gordon L.
Published: October 2023

Angioedema is characterized by swelling localized to the subcutaneous and submucosal tissues. This review provides an overview of angioedema, including the different types, triggers, and underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms. Hereditary and acquired angioedema are caused by dysregulation of the complement and kinin pathways. In contrast, drug-induced and allergic angioedema involve the activation of the immune system and release of vasoactive mediators. Recent advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of angioedema have led to the development of targeted therapies, such as monoclonal antibodies, bradykinin receptor antagonists, and complement inhibitors, which promise to improve clinical outcomes in patients with this challenging condition. To accurately diagnose and manage angioedema, an understanding of this condition's complex and varied pathophysiology is both necessary and critical.
Structural identification of catalytic His158 of PtMAC2p from Pseudozyma tsukubaensis, an acyltransferase involved in mannosylerythritol lipids formation
Authors: Nakamichi Yusuke , Saika Azusa , Watanabe Masahiro , Fujii Tatsuya , Morita Tomotake
Published: October 2023

Mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs) are extracellular glycolipids produced by the basidiomycetous yeast strains. MELs consist of the disaccharide mannosylerythritol, which is acylated with fatty acids and acetylated at the mannose moiety. In the MEL biosynthesis pathway, an acyltransferase from Pseudozyma tsukubaensis, PtMAC2p, a known excellent MEL producer, has been identified to catalyze the acyl-transfer of fatty acid to the C3′-hydroxyl group of mono-acylated MEL; however, its structure remains unclear. Here, we performed X-ray crystallography of recombinant PtMAC2p produced in Escherichia coli and homogeneously purified it with catalytic activity in vitro. The crystal structure of PtMAC2p was determined by single-wavelength anomalous dispersion using iodide ions. The crystal structure shows that PtMAC2p possesses a large putative catalytic tunnel at the center of the molecule. The structural comparison demonstrated that PtMAC2p is homologous to BAHD acyltransferases, although its amino acid-sequence identity was low (<15%). Interestingly, the HXXXD motif, which is a conserved catalytic motif in the BAHD acyltransferase superfamily, is partially conserved as His158-Thr159-Leu160-Asn161-Gly162 in PtMAC2p, i.e., D in the HXXXD motif is replaced by G in PtMAC2p. Site-directed mutagenesis of His158 to Ala resulted in more than 1,000-fold decrease in the catalytic activity of PtMAC2p. These findings suggested that His158 in PtMAC2p is the catalytic residue. Moreover, in the putative catalytic tunnel, hydrophobic amino acid residues are concentrated near His158, suggesting that this region is a binding site for the fatty acid side chain of MEL (acyl acceptor) and/or acyl-coenzyme A (acyl donor). To our knowledge, this is the first study to provide structural insight into the catalytic activity of an enzyme involved in MEL biosynthesis.
Efficacy and safety of early ultrafiltration in patients with acute decompensated heart failure: a meta-analysis
Authors: Chen Shuai , Wang Hongqi , Ning Bin
Published: October 2023

Objective

The objective of this study is to investigate the efficacy and safety of early ultrafiltration in patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, Cochrane Library, and EMbase databases from inception to April 2023 to identify randomized controlled trials that compared the efficacy and safety of early ultrafiltration and conventional diuretics in patients with acute decompensated heart failure. Two investigators independently screened all eligible studies and extracted relevant data. The primary outcomes of interest were changes in body weight and creatinine levels, as well as the rate of readmission and mortality within 30 days. Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.4 software.

Results

This meta-analysis included eight studies and found that early ultrafiltration was effective in reducing body weight in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (RR = 1.45, 95% CI: 0.54–2.35, P = 0.002), but it also increased serum creatinine (RR = 0.1, 95% CI: 0.03–0.17, P = 0.003). However, it did not reduce the 30-day rehospitalization rate or mortality rate (30-day rehospitalization rate: RR = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.62–1.14, P = 0.28; Mortality: RR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.57–1.44, P = 0.67).

Conclusion

Although early ultrafiltration is more effective in reducing body weight in patients with acute decompensated heart failure, it is associated with an increase in serum creatinine levels and does not reduce the rate of readmission or mortality within 30 days.

Systematic Review Registration

identifier: CRD42023416152.
Invasive imaging modalities in a spontaneous coronary artery dissection: when “believing is seeing”
Authors: Mehmedbegović Zlatko , Ivanov Igor , Čanković Milenko , Perišić Zoran , Kostić Tomislav , Maričić Bojan , Krljanac Gordana , Beleslin Branko , Apostolović Svetlana
Published: October 2023

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare but increasingly recognized cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with recent advancements in cardiac imaging facilitating its identification. However, SCAD is still often misdiagnosed due to the absence of angiographic hallmarks in a significant number of cases, highlighting the importance of meticulous interpretation of angiographic findings and, when necessary, additional usage of intravascular imaging to verify changes in arterial wall integrity and identify specific pathoanatomical features associated with SCAD. Accurate diagnosis of SCAD is crucial, as the optimal management strategies for patients with SCAD differ from those with atherosclerotic coronary disease. Current treatment strategies favor a conservative approach, wherein intervention is reserved for cases with persistent ischemia, patients with high-risk coronary anatomy, or patients with hemodynamic instability. In this paper, we provide a preview of invasive imaging modalities and classical angiographic and intravascular imaging hallmarks that may facilitate proper SCAD diagnosis.
Academic satisfaction among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: the influence of individual, social, and organizational variables
Authors: Testa Silvia , Macagno Alessia , Bertolino Fabrizio , Cacciamani Stefano , Grange Teresa , Perrucci Vittore , Piu Angela , Timpano Giuseppina , Cattelino Elena
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Academic satisfaction (AS) is considered by researchers and educators as a key variable to explain both academic success and the main problems of university students. AS is a complex construct affected by a range of factors, both internal and external to the individual. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of certain individual (motivation and self-regulated learning), social (relationships with other students and with the instructor) and organizational (course organization and class attendance mode) variables on AS during the Covid-19 emergency, when face-to-face learning was replaced with online learning environments.

Methods

We hypothesized a model in which AS would be directly influenced by the social and organizational variables, and indirectly influenced by the social, organizational, and individual variables via the mediation of perceived learning. The study sample comprised 104 students (83.7% female) with a mean age of 26.6 years (SD = 9.8), enrolled on bachelor’s or master’s degree at a Northern Italian University. Participants filled out an online questionnaire, which they were instructed to complete with reference to a single course that they had taken during the second semester of the 2020–21 academic year.

Results

The hypothesized model, tested using a structural equation modelling technique for observed variables, offered an acceptable fit for the data [χ2(3) = 7.569, p = 0.0558; RMSEA = 0.121; CFI = 0.974; SRMR = 0.012]. Perceived learning (R2 = 0.454), was influenced by self-regulated learning (β = 0.243, p < 0.01) and course organization (β = 0.453, p < 0.001); AS (R2 = 0.857) was influenced by relationship with the instructor (β = 0.613, p < 0.001) and course organization (β = 0.221, p < 0.001), as well as by the mediating variable, perceived learning (β = 0.227, p < 0.001). The indirect effects of self-regulated learning and course organization on AS were statistically significant but of low magnitude.

Conclusion

These outcomes point up the active role of students in terms of self-regulated learning and perceived learning and the key role of course organization and the student-instructor relationship in promoting students’ AS during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the learning environment changed abruptly. These findings can usefully inform the work of instructors and instructional designers, including in non-emergency contexts.
Significant floral changes across the Permian-Triassic and Triassic-Jurassic transitions induced by widespread wildfires
Authors: Zhang Peixin , Yang Minfang , Jiang Zhongfeng , Zhou Kai , Xu Xiaotao , Chen Huijuan , Zhu Xuran , Guo Yanghang , Ye Huajun , Zhang Yuchan , Shao Longyi , Lu Jing
Published: October 2023

Wildfires are a major source of perturbations to the Earth’s system and have important implications for understanding long-term interactions between the global environment, climate, and organisms. In this study, current evidence for global warming, wildfires, and floral changes across the Permian-Triassic (P-T) and Triassic-Jurassic (T-J) transitions were reviewed, and their relationships were discussed. Available evidence suggests that global plant community turnover and the decline in plant diversity across the P-T and T-J boundaries were primarily driven by widespread wildfires. The Siberian Large Igneous Province and Central Atlantic Magmatic Province released large amounts of isotopically light CO2 into the atmospheric system, contributing to global warming and increased lightning activity. This ultimately led to an increase in the frequency and destructiveness of wildfires, which have significantly contributed to the deterioration of terrestrial ecosystems, the turnover of plant communities, and the decline in plant diversity. Furthermore, frequent wildfires also constitute an important link between land and ocean/lake crises. Large amounts of organic matter particles and nutrients from the weathering of bedrock after wildfires are transported to marine/lake systems through runoff, contributing to the eutrophication of surface water and the disappearance of aerobic organisms, as well as hindering the recovery of aquatic ecosystems. These wildfire feedback mechanisms provide an important reference point for environmental and climatic changes in the context of current global warming. Therefore, the interplay between global warming, wildfires, and biological changes and their feedback mechanisms needs to be fully considered when assessing current and future risks to the Earth’s surface systems.
A blood-based transcriptomic signature stratifies severe Crohn’s disease and defines potentially targetable therapeutic pathways
Authors: Gonsky Rivkah , Adams Evan , Potdar Alka A. , Botwin Gregory , Biener-Ramanujan Eva , McGovern Dermot P. B. , Braun Jonathan G. , Fleshner Phillip , Targan Stephan R.
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Despite advances in medical therapy, many patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) ultimately require surgery for disease management. Identifying the underlying molecular pathways for subgroup stratification is critical to the improvement of prognostics and therapeutics and to biomarker discovery.

Methods

We purified CD3+ T cells from the paired blood and mucosa samples of 100 CD and 17 non-inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) subjects requiring surgery. Longitudinal samples (n = 49) were collected 4–13 months postoperatively.

Results

Transcriptional profiling at the time of surgery revealed two CD patient subgroups: the CD-PBT subgroup, which was clustered tightly with non-IBD subjects, and the CD-PBmu(cosal) subgroup, which shifted from peripheral toward a mucosal-like expression profile. The CD-PBmu subgroup was characterized by differential gene expression, elevated genetic transcriptional risk score (TRS), and a distinct T-cell subset composition associated with perianal-penetrating/stricturing disease, post-surgical recurrence, and immunoreactivity to multiple microbial antigens. CD-PBmu subtyping was validated in a CD cohort in whom anti-TNF therapy had been unsuccessful. The CD-PBmu subgroup, in contrast to the CD-PBT subgroup, was distinguished by decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine/chemokine and adhesion molecule expression postoperatively. For clinical translation, we identified a CD-PBmu 42-gene classifier associated with a TRS signature, clinical severity markers, and underlying protein kinase signaling pathways to identify therapeutic targets.

Discussion

The CD-PBmu signature holds potential for future investigation to improve accuracy in identifying a subset of patients with severe CD who may benefit from early initiation of therapeutics to defined molecular pathways.
Cargoes of exosomes function as potential biomarkers for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection
Authors: Wang Nan , Yao Yongliang , Qian Yingfen , Qiu Dewen , Cao Hui , Xiang Huayuan , Wang Jianjun
Published: October 2023

Exosomes as double-membrane vesicles contain various contents of lipids, proteins, mRNAs and non-coding RNAs, and involve in multiple physiological processes, for instance intercellular communication and immunomodulation. Currently, numerous studies found that the components of exosomal proteins, nucleic acids or lipids released from host cells are altered following infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Exosomal contents provide excellent biomarkers for the auxiliary diagnosis, efficacy evaluation, and prognosis of tuberculosis. This study aimed to review the current literatures detailing the functions of exosomes in the procedure of M. tuberculosis infection, and determine the potential values of exosomes as biomarkers to assist in the diagnosis and monitoring of tuberculosis.
Age-induced changes in anti-tumor immunity alter the tumor immune infiltrate and impact response to immuno-oncology treatments
Authors: Sitnikova Suzanne I. , Walker Jennifer A. , Prickett Laura B. , Morrow Michelle , Valge-Archer Viia E. , Robinson Matthew J. , Wilkinson Robert W. , Dovedi Simon J.
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Immuno-oncology (IO) research relies heavily on murine syngeneic tumor models. However, whilst the average age for a cancer diagnosis is 60 years or older, for practical purposes the majority of preclinical studies are conducted in young mice, despite the fact that ageing has been shown to have a significant impact on the immune response.

Methods

Using aged (60-72 weeks old) mice bearing CT26 tumors, we investigated the impact of ageing on tumor growth as well as the immune composition of the tumor and peripheral lymphoid organs.

Results

We found many differences in the immune cell composition of both the tumor and tumor-draining lymph node between aged and young mice, such as a reduction in the naïve T cell population and a decreased intratumoral CD8/Treg ratio in aged animals. We hypothesized that these differences may contribute to impaired anti-cancer immune responses in aged mice and therefore assessed the anti-tumor efficacy of different IO therapies in aged mice, including both co-stimulation (using an anti-OX40 antibody) and immune checkpoint blockade (using anti-PD-L1 and anti-CTLA-4 antibodies). Whilst aged mice retained the capacity to generate anti-tumor immune responses, these were significantly attenuated when compared to the responses observed in young mice.

Discussion

These differences highlight the importance of age-related immunological changes in assessing and refining the translational insights gained from preclinical mouse models.
RNA interference-mediated knockdown of genes involved in sugar transport and metabolism disrupts psyllid Bactericera cockerelli (Order: Hemiptera) gut physiology and results in high mortality
Authors: Arad Neda , Paredes-Montero Jorge R. , Mondal Mosharrof Hossain , Ponvert Nathaniel , Brown Judith K.
Published: October 2023

Introduction

The causal agent of zebra chip of potato and vein-greening diseases of tomato is "Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum" (CLso), a fastidious bacterium transmitted by the potato psyllid. In the absence of disease-resistant cultivars, disease management has relied on minimizing vector population size to reduce CLso transmission, which requires frequent insecticide applications. There is growing interest in the use of RNA interference (RNAi) technology to supplant traditional insecticides with biopesticides. This requires knowledge of genes essential for insect livelihood whose knockdown leads to significant mortality or other phenotypes. Such candidate genes can be evaluated by reverse genetics approaches to further corroborate predicted gene function.

Methods

Here, five potato psyllid genes involved in sugar homeostasis in the potato psyllid gut, α-glucosidase1 (AGLU1), aquaporin2 (AQP2), facilitated trehalose transporter1 (TRET1), Trehalase1 (TRE1), and Trehalase2 (TRE2), were investigated as candidates for effective gene silencing. Potato psyllid dsRNAs were designed to optimize knockdown of gene targets. Third instar PoP nymphs were given a 48-hr ingestion-access period (IAP) on individual or groups of dsRNA in 20% sucrose. Mortality was recorded 0, 3, 5, 7, and 9 days post-IAP. Gene knockdown was analyzed 9 days post-IAP by quantitative real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction amplification.

Results

The individual or stacked dsRNA combinations resulted in 20-60% and 20-40% knockdown, respectively, while subsequent psyllid mortality ranged from 20-40% to >60% for single and stacked dsRNA combinations, respectively. Reverse genetics analysis showed that simultaneous knockdown of the five selected candidate genes with predicted functions in pathways involved in sugar-homeostasis, metabolism, and -transport yielded the highest mortality, when compared with single or combinations of targets.

Discussion

Results confirmed the functions afforded by psyllid gut genes responsible for osmotic homeostasis and sugar metabolism/transport are essential for livelihood, identifying them as potentially lucrative RNAi biopesticide targets and highlighted the translational relevance of targeting multiple nodes in a physiological pathway simultaneously.
What data are needed to detect wildfire effects on coastal ecosystems? A case study during the Thomas Fire
Authors: Kramer Sasha J. , Bisson Kelsey M. , Mitchell Catherine
Published: October 2023

Wildfires are growing in frequency and severity worldwide, with anthropogenic climate change predicted to worsen the effects of wildfires in the future. While most wildfire impacts occur on land, coastal fires can also affect the ocean via smoke production and ash deposition. The impacts of wildfires on marine ecology and biogeochemistry have been studied infrequently, as it is difficult to conduct fieldwork rapidly and safely during unpredictable natural disasters. Increasingly, remote sensing measurements are used to study the impacts of wildfires on marine ecosystems through optical proxies. Given the optical impacts of smoke and in-water ash, these measurements may be limited in their scope and accuracy. Here, we evaluate the potential and limitations of remote sensing data collected from MODIS-Aqua to describe the effects of wildfires on optics and phytoplankton observations. Using samples collected in the Santa Barbara Channel (California, USA) during the Thomas Fire in December 2017, we found that MODIS-Aqua data were unsuited for interpreting ecosystem effects during a wildfire. Our results identified a persistent overestimation of chlorophyll-a concentration from MODIS-Aqua compared to in situ measurements. Optical models applied to in situ radiometry data overestimated the absorption by colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) during the wildfire. Satellites will remain an important tool to measure the impacts of wildfires on marine ecosystems, but this analysis demonstrates the importance of in situ sampling to quantify the impacts of wildfires on ocean ecology and biogeochemistry due to the difficulty of interpreting remote sensing data during these events.
Diagnosis of mycobacterium avium complex infection utilizing metagenomics next-generation sequencing: a case report
Authors: Li Hongli , Wei Luqing , Li Fenge
Published: October 2023

Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex (MAC) is a type of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) and is associated with underlying pulmonary diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, chronic aspiration or recurrent pneumonia, inactive or active tuberculosis, pneumoconiosis, and bronchogenic carcinoma. The risk factors for NTM-PD include host, drug, and environmental factors. In this report, we present the case of a 61-year-old man who developed bilateral lung nodules and was experiencing severe hemoptysis. The repeat acid-fast bacilli test performed on both sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples showed a negative result, as did the GeneXpert test. We employed metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) to analyze the lung nodule and BALF samples collected from the patient. Both samples tested positive for MAC within 3 days. In addition, traditional MAC culture, conducted for 2 months, confirmed the growth of MAC in the patient’s BALF. Then, the patient was treated accordingly. Following treatment, a high-resolution chest computed tomography scan revealed a significant reduction in lung nodules of the patient after 2 months. These results indicate that MAC-associated lung nodules were responsible for the patient’s symptoms, emphasizing the need for vigilance in diagnosing MAC infection in the patient without predisposing conditions. Furthermore, these results highlight the potential utility of mNGS as a promising rapid diagnostic tool for MAC infection and its potential role in the diagnosis of NTM disease.
Biotic countermeasures that rescue Nannochloropsis gaditana from a Bacillus safensis infection
Authors: Humphrey Brittany , Mackenzie Morgan , Lobitz Mia , Schambach Jenna Y. , Lasley Greyson , Kolker Stephanie , Ricken Bryce , Bennett Haley , Williams Kelly P. , Smallwood Chuck R. , Cahill Jesse
Published: October 2023

The natural assemblage of a symbiotic bacterial microbiome (bacteriome) with microalgae in marine ecosystems is now being investigated as a means to increase algal productivity for industry. When algae are grown in open pond settings, biological contamination causes an estimated 30% loss of the algal crop. Therefore, new crop protection strategies that do not disrupt the native algal bacteriome are needed to produce reliable, high-yield algal biomass. Bacteriophages offer an unexplored solution to treat bacterial pathogenicity in algal cultures because they can eliminate a single species without affecting the bacteriome. To address this, we identified a highly virulent pathogen of the microalga Nannochloropsis gaditana, the bacterium Bacillus safensis, and demonstrated rescue of the microalgae from the pathogen using phage. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing showed that phage treatment did not alter the composition of the bacteriome. It is widely suspected that the algal bacteriome could play a protective role against bacterial pathogens. To test this, we compared the susceptibility of a bacteriome-attenuated N. gaditana culture challenged with B. safensis to a N. gaditana culture carrying a growth-promoting bacteriome. We showed that the loss of the bacteriome increased the susceptibility of N. gaditana to the pathogen. Transplanting the microalgal bacteriome to the bacteriome-attenuated culture reconstituted the protective effect of the bacteriome. Finally, the success of phage treatment was dependent on the presence of beneficial bacteriome. This study introduces two synergistic countermeasures against bacterial pathogenicity in algal cultures and a tractable model for studying interactions between microalgae, phages, pathogens, and the algae microbiome.
Characterization of Rongchang piglets after infection with type 2 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus strains differing in pathogenicity
Authors: Zhang Wenli , Ma Wenjie , Pan Yu , Wang Xinrong , Wang Mengjie , Zhang He , Gao Junxin , Zhang Hongliang , Tian Zhijun , Li Changwen , Chen Hongyan , Xia Changyou , Wang Yue
Published: October 2023

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) affects the production and health of pigs and causes severe economic losses to the swine industry worldwide. Different pig breeds have been reported to have different levels of susceptibility to PRRSV, and different PRRSV strains may also influence the infectivity and pathogenicity of the virus. In this study, the susceptibility of Rongchang pigs (a prominent local pig breed in China) to PRRSV infection was thoroughly investigated. Rongchang piglets were exposed to two PRRSV strains: HuN4 (highly pathogenic PRRSV) and SD53-1603 (moderately virulent NADC30-like PRRSV). We observed that Rongchang pigs infected with HuN4 displayed significant clinical manifestations, including fever, reduced body weight, and interstitial pneumonia lesions. Routine blood tests revealed that HuN4-infected pigs exhibited slightly decreased levels of red blood cells, hemoglobin, reticulocytes, and a notable increase in monocytes than control pigs. Additionally, the Rongchang pigs exhibiting severe clinical signs presented a higher neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and a lower lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio. In contrast, SD53-1603 infection did not cause considerable harm to Rongchang pigs, only resulting in slightly elevated leukocytes and lymphocytes. Furthermore, these two PRRSV strains elicited divergent cytokine responses, such that SD53-1603 infection induced higher levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ, whereas HuN4 infection upregulated IL-1β. These dissimilarities in clinical symptoms, pathological changes, viremia, cytokine expression, and routine blood indices between HuN4 and SD53-1603 infections are critical in understanding the mechanisms of PRRSV infection and developing rational prevention and control strategies against PRRSV.
Immune-related gene-based model predicts the survival of colorectal carcinoma and reflected various biological statuses
Authors: Kang Zhengchun , Chen Bingchen , Ma Xiuzhu , Yan Feihu , Wang Zhen
Published: October 2023

Bakcground: Prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) varies due to complex genetic–microenviromental interactions, and multiple gene-based prognostic models have been highlighted.

Material and Method: In this work, the immune-related genes’ expression-based model was developed and the scores of each sample were calculated. The correlation between the model and clinical information, immune infiltration, drug response and biological pathways were analyzed.

Results: The high-score samples have a significantly longer survival (overall survival and progression-free survival) period than those with a low score, which was validated across seven datasets containing 1,325 samples (GSE17536 (N = 115), GSE17537 (N = 55), GSE33113 (N = 90), GSE37892 (N = 130), GSE38832 (N = 74), GSE39582 (N = 481), and TCGA (N = 380)). The score is significantly associated with clinical indicators, including age and stage, and further associated with PD-1/PD-L1 gene expression. Furthermore, high-score samples have significantly higher APC and a lower MUC5B mutation rate. The high-score samples show more immune infiltration (including CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, M1/M2 macrophages, and NK cells). Enriched pathway analyses showed that cancer-related pathways, including immune-related pathways, were significantly activated in high-score samples and that some drugs have significantly lower IC50 values than those with low score.

Conclusion: The model developed based on immune-related genes is robust and reflected various statuses of CRC and may be a potential clinical indicator.
Interrelated effects of age and parenthood on whole-brain controllability: protective effects of parenthood in mothers
Authors: Jamalabadi Hamidreza , Hahn Tim , Winter Nils R. , Nozari Erfan , Ernsting Jan , Meinert Susanne , Leehr Elisabeth J. , Dohm Katharina , Bauer Jochen , Pfarr Julia-Katharina , Stein Frederike , Thomas-Odenthal Florian , Brosch Katharina , Mauritz Marco , Gruber Marius , Repple Jonathan , Kaufmann Tobias , Krug Axel , Nenadić Igor , Kircher Tilo , Dannlowski Udo , Derntl Birgit
Published: October 2023

Background

Controllability is a measure of the brain’s ability to orchestrate neural activity which can be quantified in terms of properties of the brain’s network connectivity. Evidence from the literature suggests that aging can exert a general effect on whole-brain controllability. Mounting evidence, on the other hand, suggests that parenthood and motherhood in particular lead to long-lasting changes in brain architecture that effectively slow down brain aging. We hypothesize that parenthood might preserve brain controllability properties from aging.

Methods

In a sample of 814 healthy individuals (aged 33.9 ± 12.7 years, 522 females), we estimate whole-brain controllability and compare the aging effects in subjects with vs. those without children. We use diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to estimate the brain structural connectome. The level of brain control is then calculated from the connectomic properties of the brain structure. Specifically, we measure the network control over many low-energy state transitions (average controllability) and the network control over difficult-to-reach states (modal controllability).

Results and conclusion

In nulliparous females, whole-brain average controllability increases, and modal controllability decreases with age, a trend that we do not observe in parous females. Statistical comparison of the controllability metrics shows that modal controllability is higher and average controllability is lower in parous females compared to nulliparous females. In men, we observed the same trend, but the difference between nulliparous and parous males do not reach statistical significance. Our results provide strong evidence that parenthood contradicts aging effects on brain controllability and the effect is stronger in mothers.