bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An update on the taxonomy and functional properties of the probiotic Enterococcus faecium SF68
Authors: Franz C.M.A.P. , Pot B. , Vizoso-Pinto M.G. , Arini A. , Coppolecchia R. , Holzapfel W.H.
Published: April 2024

Enterococcus faecium SF68 (SF68) is a well-known probiotic with a long history of safe use. Recent changes in the taxonomy of enterococci have shown that a novel species, Enterococcus lactis, is closely related with E. faecium and occurs together with other enterococci in a phylogenetically well-defined E. faecium species group. The close phylogenetic relationship between the species E. faecium and E. lactis prompted a closer investigation into the taxonomic status of E. faecium SF68. Using phylogenomics and ANI, the taxonomic analysis in this study showed that probiotic E. faecium SF68, when compared to other E. faecium and E. lactis type and reference strains, could be re-classified as belonging to the species E. lactis. Further investigations into the functional properties of SF68 showed that it is potentially capable of bacteriocin production, as a bacteriocin gene cluster encoding the leaderless bacteriocin EntK1 together with putative Lactococcus lactis bacteriocins LsbA, and LsbB-like putative immunity peptide (LmrB) were found located in an operon on plasmid pF9. However, bacteriocin expression was not studied. Competitive exclusion experiments in co-culture over 7 days at 37 °C showed that the probiotic SF68 could inhibit the growth of specific E. faecium and Listeria monocytogenes strains, while showing little or no inhibitory activity towards an entero-invasive Escherichia coli and a Salmonella Typhimurium strain, respectively. In cell culture experiments with colon carcinoma HT29 cells, the probiotic SF68 was also able to strain-specifically inhibit adhesion and/or invasion of enterococcal and L. monocytogenes strains, while such adhesion and invasion inhibition effects were less pronounced for E. coli and Salmonella strains. This study therefore provides novel data on the taxonomy and functional properties of SF68, which can be reclassified as Enterococcus lactis SF68, thereby enhancing the understanding of its probiotic nature.
The Question of Language in Contemporary Ukrainian Cinema
Authors: Vidaud Anthelme
Published: April 2024

Since the 2000s, various laws have sought to impose Ukrainian in film production. If until 2014, due to decades of Russification, it was not uncommon to see a Ukrainian film shot in Russian, the Ukrainian language has become increasingly dominant in national cinema. The law of 2017 demanding Ukrainian directors to shoot in the official state language has aroused questions and different positions among the film community: while some have tried to resist it, arguing a lack of realism and an artificial use of a standardized Ukrainian language in the context of a predominantly bilingual society, most filmmakers have been able to find creative solutions, by getting in tune with a society that is becoming more and more Ukrainian-speaking, or by resorting to surzhyk, a vernacular mixing Ukrainian and Russian. Apart from Slavic languages, minority languages such as Crimean Tatar have also found their place in contemporary Ukrainian cinema.
Revisionary notes on the genus Diplonevra Lioy (Diptera: Phoridae) and a new key to species from China
Authors: LIU GUANG-CHUN , DISNEY R. HENRY L.
Published: April 2024

The Chinese species of Diplonevra are reviewed; two new species, D. pilisparsa sp. nov. and D. nudisetalis sp. nov. are described; D. biflagella Lee et al. is synonymized with D. taigaensis Michailovskaya; a revised key to Chinese species based on males is presented.
Assessing the Performance of Conveyance System of Jato Small-Scale Irrigation Scheme of Wayu-Tuka District, East Wallaga Zone, Oromia, Ethiopa
Authors: Asefa Abera , Adeba Dereje , Mosisa Gemechu
Published: April 2024

The performance assessment of a small-scale irrigation project plays a vital role in evaluating its effectiveness and addressing potential shortcomings in achieving desired outcomes. This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the Jato small-scale irrigation project, assessing its performance based on various criteria and indicators. The study evaluates the project's infrastructure maintenance and system efficiency. The designed command area of the scheme is seventy-five (75 ha) but the current irrigated area of the scheme is sixty (60ha) only. To achieve the objectives, primary and secondary data were collected. To gather both primary and secondary data, data-gathering techniques include surveys, interviews, field observations, and meteorological data. Before, during, and after an irrigation event, while farmers were carrying out their regular irrigation practices, several field characteristics were measured and/or observed. These data included the type of crop, irrigation water discharge in the canal, and field size. A survey concerning the availability of water was also carried out among farmers. CROPWAT 8.0 Software was used to organize the crop pattern of the study area along with other relevant data, including soil, climate, rain crop, and crop pattern. Water flow measurement results of the Jato small-scale irrigation scheme at the head, middle, and tail of the lined & unlined main canal were found to be 53.6l/s, 45.4 l/s, and 29.9l/s respectively. The average water flow measurement result of the scheme is 43l/s which reduced from required flow by 18.15l/s. From the analyses of the water balance indicators, the canal conveyance efficiency, canal conveyance loss, application efficiency, and overall efficiency were found to be 70%, 30%, 70%, and 50% respectively. The overall average main canal conveyance efficiency and water conveyance loss were below the recommended values. The studies have shown that the effective infrastructure, irrigation ratio, and water surface elevation ratio of the scheme were found to be 66.7%, 80%, and 66% respectively. However, there were certain areas for improvement identified, such as the need for better coordination among project stakeholders and enhanced maintenance practices to ensure the long-term functionality of irrigation infrastructure.
Importance of the Immature Platelet Fraction in the Etiological Diagnosis of Thrombocytopenia
Authors: Meskini Mohammed , Bazi Kenza , Yahyaoui Hicham , Ameur Mohamed , Chakour Mohamed
Published: April 2024

Thrombocytopenia is defined as a platelet count of less than 150 G/L in the blood. It can be of central or peripheral origin. Newly-formed immature platelets are called reticulated platelets (RP) and are expressed as the immature platelet fraction or IPF. This automated hematological parameter enables us to distinguish between peripheral and central thrombocytopenia in a simple, quick, easily reproducible and non-invasive way. In the present study, our aim was to evaluate the clinical utility of the IPF and its ability to differentiate between central and peripheral thrombocytopenia. In this prospective study, we collected 50 cases of thrombocytopenia in our series. The IPF and all other CBC parameters were measured using the Sysmex XN-1500 analyser. Based on the clinical context and myelogram findings, the subjects in our study were separated into a central thrombocytopenia group and a peripheral thrombocytopenia group. We then assessed variations in IPF between the two groups. The mean IPF in the peripheral thrombocytopenia group was significantly higher than that in the central thrombocytopenia group (15.71 ± 12.02% vs. 5.51 ± 3.04%; p<0.001) and this difference persisted regardless of platelet count. We also established a sensitivity and specificity ROC curve, which showed that the IPF had excellent diagnostic value for differentiating between central and peripheral thrombocytopenia, with an area under the curve of 0.914. We also defined a discriminative cut-off value of 8.5% with a sensitivity of 77.8% and a specificity of 86.4% for defining the origin of thrombocytopenia. Thus, an IPF value above 8.5% points to peripheral thrombocytopenia with increased platelet regeneration. In conclusion, the results of our study have enabled us to formulate recommendations for improving the diagnostic strategy for thrombocytopenia using the immature platelet fraction or IPF.
Organizational Knowledge and Knowledge Management - A New Framework
Authors: Sen Atul
Published: April 2024

The transition of firms from the Resource-based view (RBV) to the Knowledge-based view (KBV) where knowledge is viewed as the principal resource for value creation and sustainable competitive advantage created a renewed interest among researchers to understand knowledge per se, and the concept of organizational knowledge. This interest has further been fueled by the advent of the concept of Knowledge Management (KM). With some discussions on knowledge, this paper presents a new framework for organizational knowledge and the knowledge flow within the firm. The author has pointed out that most of the research on KM has been with the firm as a business organization (where the focus is on short-term return on investment) and that is the reason many KM initiatives often stop at IT-based initiatives or fail, and fuel the fear that KM is simply just another fad. Many KM models and frameworks present KM best practices without addressing the contextual differences between organizations. In this paper, the author has presented a knowledge perspective of four different types of organizations based on their knowledge manipulation activities and suggests that KM programs need to be custom designed to cater to the different needs of the different types of organizations. The author has also suggested a new KM framework based on the dynamics of knowledge that organizations are facing today. The author developed the two frameworks during the implementation of KM initiatives at the Defence Research & Development Laboratory, Hyderabad, a premier research institution under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, during the years 1999 to 2003.
Offensive Patterns Analysis of Thai Nation Team in Volleyball Women’s Nations League 2022
Authors: Luangtrongkit Suriyon , Kongtongkum Pitirat , Rangubhet K.
Published: April 2024

Effective offensive patterns are crucial for volleyball athletes, enabling quick and forceful attacks to strategically place the ball and impact the game. This study aimed to analyze the offensive strategies and outcomes of the Thai national team during the 2022 Women's Volleyball Nations League (VNL), comparing them with the opposing teams. Using a specific match model from the 13 matches and 51 sets held between May 31 and July 14, 2022, a total of 3,151 attack results were examined. Results were reported through means, standard deviations, percentages, and independent sample t-test statistical analysis for inter-group differences. The findings revealed that the Thai team predominantly utilized the curve ball spike (C) as the most aggressive offensive pattern (10.31±3.43), constituting 37.44% per match. The team's offensive performance showed a high score for successful attacks (ACE) at 35.08±10.75, equivalent to 28.79% per match. Comparative analysis indicated statistically significant differences in three offensive patterns at a 0.05 significance level. Notably, the Thai team excelled in the 3-meter ball spike (3M) at 24.38±8.00 (20.01% per match), fast spike (A) at 10.31±3.43 (8.46% per match), and dummy (X) at 6.23±3.81 (5.11% per match). However, there was no statistical difference in attack outcomes between the Thai team and the opponents. The Thai team's preference for the curve ball spike (C) constituted 37.44% per match, with a corresponding 28.79% success rate in attack scores (ACE). Notably, the 3M, A, and X offensive patterns exhibited significant differences between the Thai team and their opponents, while attack results showed no statistical variance.
Effects of Dexmedetomidine on Oxidative Stress, Inflammatory Response, Coagulation Function and Hemodynamics in Patients Undergoing Hysterectomy
Authors: Ou Liao , Xian-jie Zhang , Juan Chen
Published: April 2024

Objective To investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine on oxidative stress, inflammatory response, coagulation function and hemodynamics in patients undergoing hysterectomy. Methods 92 patients who underwent hysterectomy in our hospital from January to September 2023 were selected as subjects. According to the difference in anesthesia, 46 patients were in the control group and 46 in the dexmedetomidine group. Patients in the control group received midazolam anesthesia, and patients in the dexmedetomidine group received dexmedetomidine anesthesia. The changes of oxidative stress, inflammatory response, coagulation function and hemodynamics were compared between T0 (before anesthesia), T1 (10 min after anesthesia), T2 (after extubation) and T3 (24 h after surgery). Results At T0, there was no significant difference in T-AOC, GSH-Px, MBP, MCP-1, AT III, FDP, MAP and SpO2 between the two groups (P>0.05). At the time of T1, T2 and T3, the two groups of patients T-AOC, GSH-Px were all lower than T0 (P<0.05), MBP and MCP-1 were all higher than T0 (P<0.05). The levels of T-AOC and GSH-Px in the dexmedetomidine group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The levels of MCP-1 was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05). At the T1 and T2, ATIII levels was lower than T0 (P<0.05), and FDP levels was higher than T0 (P<0.05). At the time of T3, the levels of ATIII and FDP in the dexmedetomidine group recovered to the normal level of T0. There was no significant change in MAP and SpO2 at each time in the dexmedetomidine group (P>0.05). Conclusion Dexmedetomidine can more effectively alleviate the oxidative stress response in patients with hysterectomy, reduce the symptoms of inflammation in patients, improve the coagulation status of patients and have less influence on hemodynamics, and have high clinical value.
A DFT/TD-DFT Study of the Influence of Anchoring Group and Internal Acceptor of Benzocarbazole-based D-A´-π-A Dyes for DSSCs
Authors: Etabti Hanane , Fitri Asmae , Benjelloun Adil , Benzakour Mohammed , Mcharfi Mohammed
Published: April 2024

Great attention is being shifted to Dye-sensitized solar cells because of their structural and electronic tunability, high performance, and low cost compared to conservative photovoltaic devices. In this work, the DFT/B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) and TD-DFT/mPW9PW91/6-31G(d,p) levels of theory are applied to the theoretical study of a new class of benzocarbazole-based D-A´-π-A dyes for their potential use in DSSCs. The influence of the internal acceptor on the optoelectronic properties is studied for the dyes. The optoelectronic and photovoltaic properties as HOMO, LUMO, Egap maximum absorption wavelength (λmax), vertical excitation energies (Eex), oscillator strength (f), light harvesting efficiency (LHE), open circuit voltage (Voc), injection force (ΔGinject), were evaluated and discussed in order to compare their performance as DSSC sensitizers. The theoretical results show that all dyes exhibit excellent optoelectronic properties, such as a lower Egap(1.733 eV to 2.173 eV), a significant λmax(631.48 nm to 754.40 nm), a sufficient value of Voc (0.461 V to 0.880 V) and high LHE (0.853 eV to 0.968 eV). In particular M4 with 2,5-dihydropyrrolo [3,4-c]pyrrole-1,4-dithione as auxiliary acceptor has the potential to be used as a sensitizer for DSSCs, due to its red-shifted absorption spectrum (λmax= 754.40 nm), and small energy gap (Egap=1.733 eV). Indeed, this study may help chemists to synthesize efficient dyes for DSSC.
Financial Development and Real Gross Domestic Product in Rwanda
Authors: Karekezi Jean , Owolabi Sunday , Ogbebor Peter , Nduka Moseri
Published: April 2024

Real gross domestic product as a macro-economic indicator measures the value of economic output after adjustment for price changes. In this regard, due to the role played by financial development in economic growth, financial intermediation has been regarded as an important factor in boosting gross domestic product in the both developed economies and developing economies. The study investigated the effect of financial development on Real Gross Domestic Product in Rwanda. The study adopted ex post facto design. Time series data were collected from 2011-2022 and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) was deployed. Findings revealed that financial liberalization, domestic credit to private sector, monetary policy rate, market capitalization and all share index jointly and significantly influenced real gross domestic product (Adj. R2 = 78.65%, p = 0.009028 < 0.05, F-stat = 9.108778) in Rwanda. The study concluded that financial development enhanced real gross domestic product in Rwanda. It was recommended that the government of Rwanda should improve on real gross domestic product by improving financial development through more liberalization of the financial sector, expansion of domestic credit to the private sector, market capitalization, all share index and use of monetary policy rate as effective channel of monetary transmission mechanism in the economy.
Comparative Study of Joint Estimation of State of Charge (SOC) and State of Health (SOH) of Lithium-ion Batteries Based on Different Tree Models
Authors: Dong Yuqi , Zhang Guiling , Li Ran
Published: April 2024

The realization of accurate State of Health (SOH) and State of Charge (SOC) estimation is a prerequisite to ensure the safe use of energy storage batteries, which helps to further improve the energy utilization efficiency effectively. Data-driven methods are efficient, accurate, and do not rely on accurate battery models, which is a hot direction in battery state estimation research. However, the relationships between variables in the lithium-ion battery dataset are mostly nonlinear, which largely affects the prediction of the model. In addition, the model also has a series of defects, such as large computation, strong data dependence, and long consumption time. In this paper, a joint online estimation method of battery SOC-SOH based on tree modeling algorithm is proposed to solve the above problems. Based on NASA battery sample data, this study explores the changing law between SOC and discharge voltage and temperature under different State of Health (SOH). Subsequently, a combination of RFR, GBDT and XGBoost tree modeling algorithms are used for battery SOC-SOH estimation based on the above variation rules. The experimental results show that the R2 scores of the XGBoost algorithm in predicting both SOC and SOH are more than 0.995, indicating its good adaptability and feasibility.
Nutrient Use Efficiency and Grain Quality of Malt Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Varieties in Response to Nitrogen Fertilizer in, Southeastern Ethiopia
Authors: Shimelis Fasil , Kefale Demelash
Published: April 2024

The expansion of brewing industries in Ethiopia has been inducing a growing demand for the supply of malt with optimum kernel protein content. However, the supply has been constrained by the unavailability of sufficient volumes of acceptable quality of malting barley grain to meet the ever-increasing demand. In this regard, field experiments were conducted in the southeastern Ethiopian highlands to evaluate the combined effects of six fertilizer levels (0, 11.5, 23, 34.5, 46, and 57.5) N kg ha-1 and three malt barley varieties (Fanaka, Ibon and Holker) on the yield, quality and nutrient use efficiency of malting barley. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Application of 11.5, 23, 34.5, 46 and 57.5 N kg ha-1 increased the grain yields by 1010.3, 1065.9, 1288.1, 1421.3, and 1777.6 kg ha-1 and economic benefits by 31 ETB, 30.4 ETB, 32.9 ETB, 33.16 ETB and 33.38 ETB respectively, for each increment of on N fertilizer, when compared to the control treatment. The production of malting barley with improved yield, optimum kernel protein concentrations and enhanced economic benefit was attained through 57.5 and 46 N kg ha-1 as first and second option respectively in the study area. Thus, to improve the likelihood of acceptance of malting barley by malting industries, growers are recommended to select low-protein containing varieties and decide application of N fertilization based on soil test results.
Amino Acid Ionic Liquid Coated Magnetic Core Fe3O4@SiO2 Nanoparticles Coupled with UV Spectrophotometry for the Separation /Analysis Congo Red
Authors: Bakheet Almojtaba , Zhu Xia
Published: April 2024

Congo red has strong tinting strength, low price that it was used in meat dyeing. Amino acid ionic liquids (AAILs) containing amino acid cations or anions are synthesized from natural amino acids, which has the characteristics of low toxicity. Nowadays, Fe3O4@SiO2@AAIL composites has seemly not been reported for the separation/analysis of congo red. In this work, Fe3O4@SiO2@AAIL nanoparticles were used as magnetic solid phase adsorbents in combination with UV spectrophotometry for separation of congo red.
Comorbid Word Reading and Mathematics Computation Difficulty at Start of First Grade
Authors: Fuchs Lynn S. , Fuchs Douglas , Cho Eunsoo , Barnes Marcia A. , Koponen Tuire , Espinas Daniel R.
Published: April 2024

The purpose of this analysis was to describe cognitive processes associated with comorbid difficulty between word reading (WR) and mathematics computation (MC) at the start of first grade among children selected for WR and MC delays. A sample of 234 U.S. children (mean age 6.50 years, SD = 0.31) was assessed on WR, MC, core cognitive processes (phonological processing, rapid automatized naming, verbal counting [VC]), and domain-general cognitive processes (working memory, oral language, nonverbal reasoning, attentive behavior). Structural equation modeling was used to predict a latent Comorbidity factor, which modeled shared variance between WR and MC, and to identify processes associated with that Comorbidity factor. Results identified each of the core cognitive processes, especially VC, and each of the domain-general cognitive processes, especially working memory, as explaining shared variance between WR and MC. Implications for understanding comorbid difficulty at the start of first grade and designing coordinated first-grade interventions are discussed.
The COVID-19 Pandemic, Adolescent Media Use, and Mental Health: Comparing Relationships Among Adolescents From South Korea and the United States
Authors: Cingel Drew P. , Shawcroft Jane , Lee Hye Eun
Published: April 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic had a detrimental impact on adolescent mental health, but few studies have explicitly compared adolescents’ mental health across countries, nor have they explored how different uses of media by adolescents in different countries may serve as protective or detrimental factors. To explore these associations, we use data collected from 958 South Korean adolescents and 1,253 United States (U.S.) adolescents in spring 2022 (ages 14–18). U.S. adolescents scored higher on anxiety and loneliness, relative to South Korean adolescents, and U.S. adolescents’ social media use frequency related positively to these variables. Conversely, South Korean adolescents’ social media use frequency was not related to anxiety or depression, and was negatively related to loneliness. Thus, social media use appears to relate detrimentally to U.S. adolescents’ mental health but relates in a more protective way to South Korean adolescents’ mental health. We discuss differential social media use and country differences to contextualize these findings.
Validity Evidence for an Observational Fidelity Measure to Inform Scale-Up of Evidence-Based Interventions
Authors: Buckley Pamela R. , Combs Katie Massey , Drewelow Karen M. , Hubler Brittany L. , Lain Marion Amanda
Published: April 2024

As evidence-based interventions are scaled, fidelity of implementation, and thus effectiveness, often wanes. Validated fidelity measures can improve researchers’ ability to attribute outcomes to the intervention and help practitioners feel more confident in implementing the intervention as intended. We aim to provide a model for the validation of fidelity observation protocols to guide future research studying evidence-based interventions scaled-up under real-world conditions. We describe a process to build evidence of validity for items within the Session Review Form, an observational tool measuring fidelity to interactive drug prevention programs such as the Botvin LifeSkills Training program. Following Kane’s (2006) assumptions framework requiring that validity evidence be built across four areas (scoring, generalizability, extrapolation, and decision), confirmatory factor analysis supported the hypothesized two-factor structure measuring quality of delivery (seven items assessing how well the material is implemented) and participant responsiveness (three items evaluating how well the intervention is received), and measurement invariance tests suggested the structure held across grade level and schools serving different student populations. These findings provide some evidence supporting the extrapolation assumption, though additional research is warranted since a more complete overall depiction of the validity argument is needed to evaluate fidelity measures.
Life with and without its antithesis
Authors: Strathern Marilyn
Published: April 2024

The impetus for this reflection on well-being comes from the way the sustainability of life itself seems under threat from climate change. The terms of debate, what is meant by ‘life’, are ripe for re-imagining. When anthropologists take the contemporary valorisation of life as obscuring social realities of a destructive kind, they promote a certain kind of antithesis; attempts to re-balance a positive with a negative emphasis re-valorise the positive tenor that life carries. What is in turn occluded in such valorisations are other ways of assessing destruction and rupture. This contribution returns to the old adage about death as the regeneration of life in order to discuss ethnographic materials (from old Melanesia) best served by dismantling the antithetical structure. Death does not just emerge as a part of everyday life but as something for and with which people must actively work in order for there to be any future at all. This gives their sense of misfortune and bodily affliction a very particular resonance. Perhaps, too, such a sense challenges assumptions about just what is taken on board in evaluations of sustainability.
Understanding the Characteristics of Students’ Behavioral Processes in Solving Computational Thinking Problems Based on the Behavioral Sequences
Authors: Guo Qing , Li Huan , Zhu Sha
Published: April 2024

Previous research has not adequately explored students’ behavioral processes when addressing computational thinking (CT) problems of varying difficulty, limiting insights into students’ detailed CT development characteristics. This study seeks to fill this gap by employing gamified CT items across multiple difficulty levels to calculate comprehensive behavioral sequence quality indicators. And then, through latent profile analysis, we identified four distinct latent classes of behavioral process. We then examined the in-game performance differences among these classes, uncovering each class’s unique attributes. Class 1 students consistently demonstrated high-quality, efficient behavioral sequences regardless of item difficulty. In contrast, class 2 students applied significant cognitive effort and trial-and-error strategies, achieving acceptable scores despite low behavioral sequence quality. Class 3 students excelled in simpler items but faltered with more complex ones. Class 4 students displayed low motivation for challenging items, often guessing answers quickly. Additionally, we investigated the predictive value of students’ performance in gamified items and their behavioral process classes for their external CT test scores. The study finally elaborated on the theoretical implications for researchers and the practical suggestions for teachers in CT cultivation.
Expression of PVT-1 and miR-29a/29b as reliable biomarkers for liver cirrhosis and their correlation with the inflammatory biomarkers profile.
Authors: Khalaf Shaza E. , Abdelfattah Shima N. , Khaliefa Amal K. , Daoud Sahar A. , Yahia Enas , Hasona Nabil A.
Published: April 2024

Background & Aims

The liver is a vital organ responsible for numerous metabolic processes, which can be significantly impacted by long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs). These ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules have been shown to play a crucial role in regulating gene expression, and their dysregulation has been implicated in numerous liver disorders. Our study aimed to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of plasmacytoma variant translocation-1 (PVT-1), microRNA-29a/29b (miR-29a/miR-29b), and inflammatory biomarkers [ interleukine-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), and insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1)] as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for liver cirrhosis. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms by which lncRNAs and miRNAs influence liver metabolism is of paramount importance in developing effective treatments for liver-related diseases.

Methods

Serum samples were collected from 164 participants, comprising 114 cirrhotic patients with varying grades (35 grade I, 35 grade II, and 44 grade III) and 50 healthy controls. PVT-1 and miR-29a/miR-29b expression was analyzed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), while the serum levels of inflammatory biomarkers were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results

The study participants exhibited notable differences in PVT-1 and miR-29a/miR-29b expression. ROC analysis revealed excellent discriminative power for PVT-1 and miR-29a/miR-29b in distinguishing cirrhotic patients from healthy controls.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the promising potential of PVT-1 and miR-29a/miR-29b as early diagnostic biomarkers for liver cirrhosis detection, requiring further validation in larger cohorts. Our findings also reinforce the diagnostic value of circulating inflammatory biomarkers (IL-6, TNF-α, TGF-β, and IGF-1) levels for liver cirrhosis screening.
Design, analysis, and experimental investigations of an asymmetrical under-actuated micro-gripper
Authors: Wu Zhigang , Wang Yu , Chen Min , Ding Bingxiao
Published: April 2024

In this paper, we present a new asymmetrical under-actuated micro-gripper which can perform twisting and gripping operation to the target simultaneously actuated by a single piezoelectric actuator. Two improved hybrid amplification mechanisms were designed integrated with three different flexure hinges to enhance dynamic performances. Kinematics and dynamics models of the micro-gripper including input stiffness, displacement amplification ratio, and natural frequency based on pseudo-rigid-body method and Lagrange’s equations were derived. Proposed models were evaluated by finite element simulation studies. Experimental results shown that our designed micro-gripper possesses good performance in terms of clamping reliability and dynamic response.
This Bloke Who Helps Me With My Tractor, He’s Been the Best Psychologist: The Experience of Seeking Mental Health Support in Rural Australia
Authors: Mutsvairo Brenda , Terry Daniel , Peck Blake
Published: April 2024

Mental illness is difficult to discuss among men due to notions of remaining tough, being a man, and societal expectations. In rural communities this is particularly evident which is further exacerbated by poor health care access. The aim of this study is to understand the lived experiences of men and their significant others when seeking mental health support in rural areas. A qualitative study was conducted using purposeful sampling. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews in rural or regional areas of Australia. Open-ended questions were asked but more questions were developed from the responses given. Data analysis was conducted using thematic analysis. Four key themes emerged. These encompassed triggers and help-seeking caused by stressors such as work, family, and poor physical health, with support seeking from professional or informal supports. The second theme included challenges securing professional support appointments, while the third was centered on access to medication and travel time. Finally, the final theme encompassed relationships being impacted by poor mental health or created insights into the need to seek help. The experiences explored throughout this study highlight that as men are impacted, so too are married or romantic partners and children; however, they are the catalyst for help-seeking. The study further highlights even when men are psychologically prepared to seek help, it may be difficult to do so. Improving access goes beyond mere medical professionals in rural areas and must focus on supporting families and loved ones to support men.
Building your Tailored Business Case for Lifestyle Medicine-A Template for Success
Authors: Mauch Lisa
Published: April 2024

Most healthcare professionals agree on the “why” behind encouraging administrators to embrace Lifestyle Medicine as a means of treating chronic conditions and improving health. It is the “how” that often evades us. How do we build our business case to justify the sustained commitment to this approach to care? Each entity has unique obstacles and opportunities inherent in their business model and organizational culture. Attempts to position Lifestyle Medicine as a fundamental means for reshaping healthcare sometimes fall flat despite the value of the requests. Advance preparation including strategic planning and a well-designed approach can make the difference by addressing barriers and opening doors. Each business case will be unique, but there are critical elements that should be common to every strategic plan. We can identify foundational tactics to substantiate the need for integration of Lifestyle Medicine as a critical part of healthcare institutions and their financial plans. Given the momentum in Lifestyle Medicine as a discipline, recommendations can be based on successful practices in the development of business cases, program pilots, sustained budgets and outcomes that justify expansion.
A Protocol for the Comparison of Telephone and In-Person Interview Modalities: Duration, Richness, and Costs in the Context of Exploring Determinants of Equitable Access to Community Health Services in Meru, Kenya
Authors: Allen Luke N. , Karanja Sarah , Tlhajoane Malebogo , Tlhakanelo John , Macleod David , Bastawrous Andrew
Published: April 2024

Our research team is conducting phenomenological interviews with people who have not been able to access health services in Meru County, Kenya, aiming to explore the barriers they face and their perceptions of how we could modify our community outreach services to improve accessibility. We plan to conduct an embedded study that compares in-person and telephone interview modalities in terms of the richness of the data and the resources required for each modality. This is a qualitative mode comparison study, embedded within a broader project to understand and address the issues that lead to inequitable access to local outreach clinics in Kenya. We will recruit at least 40 people who have been referred to local services but who have not been able to attend. We will conduct in-person interviews with half of these people, and telephone interviews with the other half. We will use random numbers to determine the modality that is used for each participant. All interviews will be conducted in the same month by a team of six research assistants who will use the same topic guide and analytic matrix for each interview. For all interviews conducted in each mode we will record and compare the mean duration; mean number of themes reported by each participant; total number of themes reported; interviewer rating of perceived richness; interviewer rating of perceived ease of building rapport; number of days taken by the team to complete all interviews; and all costs associated with conducting the interviews. The findings will help us to weigh up the relative strengths and weaknesses of each modality for our research context. Given that we are exploring a focused research question in a fairly homogenous population, we anticipate that there may not be a meaningful difference in the number of themes reported.
Who Authors Social Science? Demographics and the Production of Knowledge
Authors: Lockhart Jeffrey W. , King Molly M. , Munsch Christin
Published: April 2024

Author demographics are of key epistemic importance in science—shaping the approaches to and contents of research—especially in social scientific knowledge production, yet we know very little about who produces social scientific publications. We fielded an original demographic survey of nearly 20,000 sociology, economics, and communication authors in the Web of Science from 2016–2020. Our results include not only details about gender and race/ethnicity but also the first descriptive statistics on social science authors’ sexuality, disability, parental education, and employment characteristics. We find authorship in the social sciences looks very different from other measures of disciplinary membership like who holds PhDs or faculty positions. For example, half of the authors in each discipline’s journals say that they are not a member of the discipline in which they published. Moreover, social science authors are considerably less diverse than other measures of disciplinary membership. In sociology, women constitute a majority of PhDs, faculty, and American Sociological Association members; by contrast, men make up a majority of sociology’s authors. Additionally, we include a wide array of descriptive statistics across a range of demographic characteristics, which will be of interest to inequality scholars, science scholars, and social scientists engaged in diversifying their disciplines.
Long-term outcomes of peripheral blood stem cell unrelated donors mobilized with filgrastim
Authors: Stefanski Heather E. , Kuxhausen Michelle , Bo-Subait Stephanie , Kobusingye Hati , Mattila Deborah , Schenfeld Jennifer , Sandschafer Darcie , De Oliveira Brandao Cisio , Burns Linda J. , Shaw Bronwen E. , Pulsipher Michael A. , Miller John P. , Devine Steven M.
Published: April 2024

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation is a life-saving procedure used to treat a variety of devastating diseases. It requires hematopoietic stem cells collected via filgrastim-mobilized peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) or bone marrow (BM) harvest from volunteer unrelated donors (URDs). There is a paucity of safety data regarding donors’ long-term adverse events. This prospective, observational study combined PBSC donors enrolled in the NMDP Investigational New Drug trial and BM donors between 1 July 1999 and 30 September 2015. The primary objective was to describe the long-term incidence of myeloid malignancies. The secondary objectives included describing the long-term incidence of lymphoid malignancies, nonhematologic malignancies, autoimmune disorders, and thrombotic events. A total of 21 643 donors (14 530 PBSCs and 7123 BM) were included. The incidence rate of myeloid disorders per 100 000 person-years in donors of PBSCs was 2.53 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.82-7.84) and in donors of BM, it was 4.13 (95% CI, 1.33-12.8). The incidence rate ratio of PBSCs/BM donors was 0.61 (95% CI, 0.12-3.03; P = .55). The incidence of other malignancies, autoimmunity, and thrombosis did not differ between the donor types. This comprehensive study of the long-term effects of filgrastim in URDs of PBSCs provides strong evidence that donors who receive filgrastim are not at an increased risk of these events compared with BM donors. It also provides reassurance to current donors undergoing stem cell mobilization as well as individuals considering joining stem cell registries, such as NMDP.
The effect of data transformation on low-dimensional integration of single-cell RNA-seq
Authors: Park Youngjun , Hauschild Anne-Christin
Published: April 2024

Background

Recent developments in single-cell RNA sequencing have opened up a multitude of possibilities to study tissues at the level of cellular populations. However, the heterogeneity in single-cell sequencing data necessitates appropriate procedures to adjust for technological limitations and various sources of noise when integrating datasets from different studies. While many analysis procedures employ various preprocessing steps, they often overlook the importance of selecting and optimizing the employed data transformation methods.

Results

This work investigates data transformation approaches used in single-cell clustering analysis tools and their effects on batch integration analysis. In particular, we compare 16 transformations and their impact on the low-dimensional representations, aiming to reduce the batch effect and integrate multiple single-cell sequencing data. Our results show that data transformations strongly influence the results of single-cell clustering on low-dimensional data space, such as those generated by UMAP or PCA. Moreover, these changes in low-dimensional space significantly affect trajectory analysis using multiple datasets, as well. However, the performance of the data transformations greatly varies across datasets, and the optimal method was different for each dataset. Additionally, we explored how data transformation impacts the analysis of deep feature encodings using deep neural network-based models, including autoencoder-based models and proto-typical networks. Data transformation also strongly affects the outcome of deep neural network models.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the batch effect and noise in integrative analysis are highly influenced by data transformation. Low-dimensional features can integrate different batches well when proper data transformation is applied. Furthermore, we found that the batch mixing score on low-dimensional space can guide the selection of the optimal data transformation. In conclusion, data preprocessing is one of the most crucial analysis steps and needs to be cautiously considered in the integrative analysis of multiple scRNA-seq datasets.
Identification and characterization of PAL genes involved in the regulation of stem development in Saccharum spontaneum L.
Authors: Wu Xiaoqing , Cui Zetian , Li Xinyi , Yu Zehuai , Lin Pingping , Xue Li , Khan Abdullah , Ou Cailan , Deng Zuhu , Zhang Muqing , Yao Wei , Yu Fan
Published: April 2024

Background

Saccharum spontaneumL. is a closely related species of sugarcane and has become an important genetic component of modern sugarcane cultivars. Stem development is one of the important factors for affecting the yield, while the molecular mechanism of stem development remains poorly understanding in S. spontaneum. Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) is a vital component of both primary and secondary metabolism, contributing significantly to plant growth, development and stress defense. However, the current knowledge about PAL genes in S. spontaneum is still limited. Thus, identification and characterization of the PAL genes by transcriptome analysis will provide a theoretical basis for further investigation of the function of PAL gene in sugarcane.

Results

In this study, 42 of PAL genes were identified, including 26 SsPAL genes from S. spontaneum, 8 ShPAL genes from sugarcane cultivar R570, and 8 SbPAL genes from sorghum. Phylogenetic analysis showed that SsPAL genes were divided into three groups, potentially influenced by long-term natural selection. Notably, 20 SsPAL genes were existed on chromosomes 4 and 5, indicating that they are highly conserved in S. spontaneum. This conservation is likely a result of the prevalence of whole-genome replications within this gene family. The upstream sequence of PAL genes were found to contain conserved cis-acting elements such as G-box and SP1, GT1-motif and CAT-box, which collectively regulate the growth and development of S. spontaneum. Furthermore, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that SsPAL genes of stem had a significantly upregulated than that of leaves, suggesting that they may promote the stem growth and development, particularly in the + 6 stem (The sixth cane stalk from the top to down) during the growth stage.

Conclusions

The results of this study revealed the molecular characteristics of SsPAL genes and indicated that they may play a vital role in stem growth and development of S. spontaneum. Altogether, our findings will promote the understanding of the molecular mechanism of S. spontaneum stem development, and also contribute to the sugarcane genetic improving.
Artificial selection footprints in indigenous and commercial chicken genomes
Authors: Wu Siwen , Dou Tengfei , Wang Kun , Yuan Sisi , Yan Shixiong , Xu Zhiqiang , Liu Yong , Jian Zonghui , Zhao Jingying , Zhao Rouhan , Wu Hao , Gu Dahai , Liu Lixian , Li Qihua , Wu Dong-Dong , Ge Changrong , Su Zhengchang , Jia Junjing
Published: April 2024

Background

Although many studies have been done to reveal artificial selection signatures in commercial and indigenous chickens, a limited number of genes have been linked to specific traits. To identify more trait-related artificial selection signatures and genes, we re-sequenced a total of 85 individuals of five indigenous chicken breeds with distinct traits from Yunnan Province, China.

Results

We found 30 million non-redundant single nucleotide variants and small indels (< 50 bp) in the indigenous chickens, of which 10 million were not seen in 60 broilers, 56 layers and 35 red jungle fowls (RJFs) that we compared with. The variants in each breed are enriched in non-coding regions, while those in coding regions are largely tolerant, suggesting that most variants might affect cis-regulatory sequences. Based on 27 million bi-allelic single nucleotide polymorphisms identified in the chickens, we found numerous selective sweeps and affected genes in each indigenous chicken breed and substantially larger numbers of selective sweeps and affected genes in the broilers and layers than previously reported using a rigorous statistical model. Consistent with the locations of the variants, the vast majority (~ 98.3%) of the identified selective sweeps overlap known quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Meanwhile, 74.2% known QTLs overlap our identified selective sweeps. We confirmed most of previously identified trait-related genes and identified many novel ones, some of which might be related to body size and high egg production traits. Using RT-qPCR, we validated differential expression of eight genes (GHR, GHRHR, IGF2BP1, OVALX, ELF2, MGARP, NOCT, SLC25A15) that might be related to body size and high egg production traits in relevant tissues of relevant breeds.

Conclusion

We identify 30 million single nucleotide variants and small indels in the five indigenous chicken breeds, 10 million of which are novel. We predict substantially more selective sweeps and affected genes than previously reported in both indigenous and commercial breeds. These variants and affected genes are good candidates for further experimental investigations of genotype-phenotype relationships and practical applications in chicken breeding programs.