bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the themes for Quality Assurance at Secondary Level in Punjab: A Document Analysis
Authors: Shahzad Mubbsher , Lodhi Dr. Huma
Published: October 2023

Quality assurance (Q.A.) in education is the process of ensuring that educational programs and services meet established standards and expectations. This study aimed to explore themes for quality assurance in secondary schools at the Punjab level to enhance and evaluate the quality assurance process. In order to support in-depth realities, the exploration study is grounded in the interpretivism research paradigm. Data were collected by using the document analysis technique on quality assurance standards documents implemented in different countries around the world; In-depth qualitative analysis was performed with the use of NVivo 12 software. The study's various themes have been confirmed via the use of numerous methods, including Coding Nodes, Word Trees, Word Tag Clouds, and Treemaps. Documents from eleven countries were selected to achieve the study’s objective; the most updated and relative themes were extracted and presented diagrammatically and in tabular form. A total of twelve themes were found through a thematic analysis process. Twelve themes were explored and named 1)assessment;2)community involvement; 3)curriculum; 4)early childhood education;5)school environments; 6)school ethos and value;.7)Facilities for schools;8)H)school administration and management, 9)school quality management and improvement. 10)School Mission, Vision, and Objectives ,11)Teacher Standards,12)Student Standards This research study is applicable at the secondary school level in the quality assurance process. The research finding highlighted the most relevant themes/factors used in quality assurance process; to enhance or evaluate the quality assurance practices. The outcome of this research study bridges the gap in the existing literature by offering empirical knowledge on the school quality assurance process at the secondary school level. This is the first research done in an Asian setting to focus specifically on quality assurance and its associated themes and processes. This study may eventually improve educational standards and student performance.
Role of Teacher for the Successful Implementation Activity Based Curriculum
Authors: Nageen Sobia , Hussan Khawaja Hisham ul , Akmal Farhana
Published: October 2023

The study aimed to evaluate the role of teachers in implementing activity-based curriculum, which is essential for successful education. A qualitative approach was used to collect data from a sample of five public school teachers in the Sahiwal district, through semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis. The findings revealed that teachers' ability to apply essential teaching skills is critical for successful activity-based teaching. However, the study identified several barriers to effective implementation, including inadequate training, poor planning, teacher stagnation, limited resources, lengthy course content, and overcrowded classrooms. The study recommends that teachers should receive proper training to master the necessary skills for activity-based teaching, and mechanisms should be established to monitor and evaluate their practices. Additionally, guidebooks should be prohibited, class sizes should be limited to 30 students, and special funding should be allocated to support activity-based curriculum. Adequate teacher training from institutions is necessary for the successful implementation of this curriculum.
English for nurse anesthetists in Indonesia: The needs analysis
Authors: Susandi Ni Kadek Ary
Published: October 2023

ESP is a language teaching approach that targets the current and future academic or work needs of students, focusing on language, skills, discourse, and genres needed to meet the needs through specific teaching and learning methodologies (Anthony, 2015). Thus, the most prominent feature in the design of ESP course is the syllabus based on the students' needs analysis (Basturkmen, 2010). This study aimed to find out the needs of students and lecturers in the Diploma IV of Nursing Anesthesiology also nurse anesthetists in hospitals to design the ESP syllabus for students of Nursing Anesthesiology course in Indonesia. The needs analysis was conducted by distributing a set of questionnaires to all participants. The collected data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and further analyzed based on the comprehensive concept of needs analysis by (Dudley-Evans, T., & St John, 1998). The results revealed that the skills most needed in the target career are speaking and listening. In addition, all the twenty-four topics listed in the questionnaire were regarded as important, including some materials on cultural topics. Based on these findings, it is necessary to develop the ESP course for Indonesian nurse anesthetists with the integration of some cultural materials to help the students developing their communication skills to achieve effective cross-cultural communication in their current academic and future career as nurse anesthetists. English educators teaching this ESP course are recommended to have a fair knowledge about nurse anesthetist and anesthesia-related topics and implement a suitable teaching method emphasizing on teaching effective cross-cultural communication.
Translation techniques used and its shift in Stranger Things movie
Authors: Arbain Arbain
Published: October 2023

The use of inappropriate translation techniques can cause distortion and a shift in meaning from the source language to the target language. In addition, the limited space for writing words in subtitles is a challenge for a translator. This study reviewed the use of translation techniques for expressions of fear that were realized in the form of sentences and the shifts that occured as a result of using these techniques. The data were the subtitles of the film Stranger Things season 1. To analyze the data, the researcher used a qualitative content analysis model (Santosa, 2021). In this study, the researcher used the theory of translation techniques (Molina & Albir, 2002). All data were expressions of fear in both English (SL) and Indonesian (TL). In addition, in analyzing the data, the researcher was assisted by two translation experts in analyzing the use of techniques and shifts that occurred in the translation data. In this study, the most widely used technique was established equivalent. With this technique, the translation results sounded natural in the target language. However, the use of reduction and discursive creation techniques distorted the meaning. Specifically, discursive creation distorted meaning in the target language; meanwhile reduction techniques caused a reduction of information. Furthermore, this study found that there was a shift in the function of commanding speech into asking speech due to the use of inappropriate translation techniques.
Identifying The Economic Potential And Improving The Competitiveness Of Lontong Artisans
Authors: Murti Agung Bayu , Wahyuningdyah Erma Tri
Published: October 2023

The general objective of this research is the existence of targeted strategies and policies related to efforts to increase competitiveness so that lontong craftsmen, especially Kampung Lontong MSEs in Kupang Krajan Surabaya, are able to compete and enter the Surabaya City culinary industry supply chain so as to increase economic growth in Surabaya City.In this study, the Asset-Process-Performance (APP) approach is used as the basis for developing a conceptual framework. The APP approach emerged as an idea that integrates various resources which then undergo a process and then produce performance as a unified measure of competitiveness (Momaya, 1998; Shee, 2002).The research method used is descriptive research using a survey. Descriptive research can be interpreted as a process of solving the problem being investigated by describing the state of the subjects and objects of research at the present time based on the facts that appear or how they are.The population in this study were all lontong craftsmen in Kampung Lontong RW 6 Kupang Krajan Village, namely 30 craftsmen and 17 people who were willing and able to be interviewed.The results showed that to increase competitiveness in terms of Assets is the need for training for entrepreneurs to increase their competence by mastering financial management and human resource management, while in terms of Process is to collaborate with academics in utilizing the results of research and development in orderly administration of human resources and organization even though the scale of business is still MSEs, include themselves and their employees when there is training and improve the ability to cooperate with lontong entrepreneurs in the fulfillment of material supply and marketing, finally in terms of Performance is the need for integration of the role of entrepreneurs, government and academics in research and development of technological innovation and new products.
Aerial release of Aedes aegypti male mosquitoes using an unmanned aerial vehicle: a novel control strategy
Authors: Valdez-Delgado Kenia Mayela , Ríos-Delgado Jana Celina , Nettel-Cruz José Asunción , Angulo-Kladt Roberto , Villarreal-Treviño Cuauhtemoc
Published: October 2023

Objective. To development of a methodology for the chilling, handling, transport, and release of male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, reared in insectary conditions to release in the field with unmanned vehicles to compete sexually with wild males in the field. Materials and methods. A population of Ae. aegypti from different areas in Tapachula, Chiapas, was used. Laboratory tests were conducted: Effect of temperature and cooling time on the knockdown, recovery of males, and copulatory success. Results. The chilling temperature of 3 ± 1ºC for 30 min, was used as a knockdown temperature before handling, packing, transportation, and aerial release. The males subjected to the entire process, including the semi-field aerial release test, showed normal sexual behavior activity, obtaining 100% of females inseminated. Conclusion. These results present the feasibility of applying a new control methodology using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) as support for the sterile insect release technique (SIT), use of Wolbachia or both, in male Ae. aegypti, for the design of strategies to control their populations.
Perceptions, knowledge, and practices of breastfeeding in indigenous regions of Mexico during Covid-19 pandemic
Authors: Del Carmen Morales-Domínguez Magdalena , Bonvecchio-Arenas Anabelle , Lozada-Tequeanes Ana Lilia , Unar-Munguía Mishel , Haycock-Stuart Elaine , Smith Pam
Published: October 2023

Objective. To explore the perceptions, knowledge, and practices of breastfeeding in the context of Covid-19 of pregnant and postpartum women, midwives, and health providers in an indigenous region of Chiapas, Mexico. Materials and methods. Qualitative thematic analysis study involving semi-structured interviews (n = 46) with pregnant women (n = 19), postpartum women (n = 6), health providers (n = 10, i.e., doctors/nurses), and midwives (n = 11). Results. Among mothers, 47% (n = 11) did not know if Covid-19 is transmitted through breastfeeding. They mentioned that they would stay away from their newborns if infected. Health providers and midwives have not received education or any supporting material on the value of breastfeeding during Covid-19 infection. Conclusion. Breastfeeding mothers’ promotion and counseling remain poor in indigenous communities and have worsened during the Covid-19 pandemic. Breastfeeding training among health providers and midwives should be provided or strengthened even more in emergency situations.
Metodología de elaboración del Plan para la Implementación y Monitoreo de la Política Nacional de Recursos Humanos en Salud del Paraguay
Authors: Guillou-Maudet Michelle , Caballero-García Cristina , Candia-Campos Lorena , Mora-Escobar Gladys , Komjati-de Miño Rebeca
Published: October 2023

Objetivo. Presentar la metodología de elaboración del Plan para la Implementación y Monitoreo de la Política Nacional de Recursos Humanos en Salud (PNRHS) del Ministerio de Salud Pública y Bienestar Social (MSPBS) del Paraguay y los resultados de su aplicación. Material y métodos. La PNRHS abarca seis estrategias y 25 líneas de acción cuya ejecución es preciso monitorear y evaluar. La metodología, dividida en siete fases y cuatro instrumentos, implicó un principio de co-construcción que involucra, a través de la Dirección Nacional Estratégica de Recursos Humanos en Salud (DNERHS) del MSPBS, a los actores relacionados con los recursos humanos en salud (RHS). Se realizó un análisis de los factores facilitadores y obstaculizadores que se podrían potenciar o mitigar. Resultados. Para cada estrategia se definieron indicadores, actividades, metas y medios de verificación y se ordenaron las líneas de acción para programar la ejecución. Se creó un Comité Nacional para la implementación y monitoreo de la PNRHS, entre cuyas funciones se incluyen la integración en mesas intersectoriales temáticas y procesos de validación. Conclusión. Los desafíos principales radican en la capacidad de aminorar los obstáculos y en la continuidad de las acciones, lo que requiere la permanencia de un respaldo político en cada institución representada en el Comité y una fuerte capacidad de convocatoria y coordinación por parte del MSPBS.
Effects of citicoline and atorvastatin administration on the regenerative capacity of the distal segment of the transected sciatic nerve in conditions of delayed nerve repair
Authors: Bolandghamat Samira , Behnam-Rassouli Morteza , Mahdavi-Shahri Nasser , Moghimi Ali
Published: October 2023

Background:The reduced organ function following delayed nerve repair highlights the need for pharmacological interventions. In this regard, many chemical agents have been administered after nerve injury, but their functional outcomes are still not satisfactory. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of the administration of citicoline and atorvastatin, throughout a delayed nerve repair period, on the regenerative capacity of the distal end of the transected sciatic nerve.
Methods:The sciatic nerve of male rats (250-300 g) was transected and the animals were intraperitoneally administrated citicoline (200 mg/kg, n=5), atorvastatin (5 mg/kg, n=5), citicoline + atorvastatin and vehicles (control groups 1 and 2, n=5) for 1 month. In the sham group (n=5), the sciatic nerve was only exposed. After 1 month, the transected nerve was repaired. Fourteen weeks after surgical repair, morphometric and electron microscopic evaluations were performed on the nerve.
Results:In the present study, improvement in the structural (fiber diameter, axon diameter, and myelin thickness, etc.) and ultrastructural (degree of myelin destruction) indices of the distal segment of the nerve was observed in the citicoline and atorvastatin groups compared to the control groups (P< 0.01). Also, the nerve structural and ultrastructural indices in the citicoline + atorvastatin group were better than each of the citicoline and atorvastatin groups.
Conclusions:The results of this study showed that the administration of citicoline and atorvastatin leads to maintaining the regeneration capacity of the distal part of the nerve in the condition of delayed nerve repair.
Coal Consumption, Ecological Footprint and Economic Growth: New Evidence from Top Eighteen Coal Countries
Authors: Rasheed Shahida , Adeneye Yusuf
Published: October 2023

This study investigates the relationship between coal consumption, ecological footprint, and economic growth in 18 coal-dependent nations between 1980 and 2015. Using the pooled mean group (PMG) and dynamic fixed effect (DFE) of the panel ARDL estimation technique, the study finds that in developed coal-dependent nations, coal consumption has a positive relationship with economic growth in the short run. However, in the long run, a negative relationship with economic growth was found. Correspondingly, both short-run and long-run demonstrate a positive effect of coal consumption on economic growth in developing countries. In addition, the study finds that in both developed and developing countries, ecological footprint has a positive relationship with economic growth in the long run only. The robust analysis using the three-stage least square (3SLS) reviews bi-directional relationships between coal consumption, ecological footprint, and economic growth, particularly in developed, developing and ecological deficit countries. In contrast, the study finds no evidence of a bi-directional relationship between coal and GDP in ecological surplus countries. Our findings confirm the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis in developed countries but not in developing countries. Based on the above results we provide a set of policy recommendations.
A hybrid model for point and interval forecasting of agricultural price based on decomposition-ensemble and KDE
Authors: Zhang Dabin , Zhang Xuejing , Hu Huanling , Zhang Boting , Ling Liwen
Published: October 2023

Accurate and reliable price forecasting of agricultural products is significant for promoting the production and distribution of agricultural products, optimizing resource allocation and improving market efficiency. Due to the non-stationary feature in agricultural price, based on decomposition integration and kernel density estimation(KDE), this paper proposes a hybrid model for agricultural price forecasting that can quantify the uncertainty of potential forecasts by converting traditional point forecasts into interval forecasts. Firstly, the price sequence is decomposed through variational modal decomposition (VMD) determined by energy entropy (EE); secondly, K-means clustering is used to reconstruct the intrinsic modal functions (IMFs) into low-frequency components and high-frequency components, forecasted by different methods. In addition, adaptive kernel density estimation (AKDE) is established through dynamic window and whale optimization algorithm (WOA), which is used to construct prediction interval with the residual signal obtained by VMD. Finally, to validate the superiority of the proposed model, comparative experiments with three different datasets are conducted. The results show that prediction performance of the proposed model is better than other models in both point forecasts and interval forecasts, and it can provide more accurate uncertainty information to agricultural participants.
Collision dynamics modelling and testing of compliant buffering adsorption system under microgravity environment
Authors: Miao Yunfei , Tian Wei , Liao Wenhe , Duan Jinjun , Ye Jiaxuan
Published: October 2023

Contact collision has always been a very important and difficult problem in the fields of aerospace and mechanical engineering. The dynamics modelling and test of the impact collision process of the flexible buffering adsorption mechanism to a thin-walled plate under low-speed conditions in microgravity environment were studied. A multi-rigid-flexible coupling dynamics model of the entire system including the compliant buffering adsorption subsystem and the thin-walled plate subsystem was proposed by applying transfer matrix method for multibody systems, which has the advantages of not requiring the global dynamics equation of the system, low order of the system matrix, and high programming. The dynamics model of the thin-walled plate subsystem was modeled as a combination of mass-less beams and lumped mass to describe its flexible vibration characteristics. A nonlinear spring damping model is used to simulate the continuous collision force between the compliant buffer absorption subsystem and the thin-walled plate subsystem. Combined with the topology diagram of the system dynamics model, the overall transfer equation of the system is derived. A microgravity horizontal impact test platform was designed and established. Finally, the correctness and effectiveness of the proposed method were verified through the comparison of simulation and test results.
Building Trust and Partnership: Findings from A Needs Assessment of Military and Veteran Caregiving Families in Utah
Authors: Kalvesmaki Andrea , Bouldin Erin D. , Harrison Emily , Pugh Mary Jo
Published: October 2023

Identifying caregivers and their needs is a growing concern as overall, populations are aging and more care is provided at home rather than in clinical settings. Youth caregivers are underrecognized generally in the U.S. yet have become a priority to identify in Veteran caregiving families. However, little is known about this group and military and Veteran families may not readily self-identify due to stigma or fear of repercussions. A group of researchers affiliated with the Department of Veteran Affairs teamed with a community partner to conduct a needs assessment and town hall to better understand the caregiving needs of military and Veteran families in Utah, using a community-based research partnership approach. The largest area of need reported was special needs care for a child with disabilities younger than 18 (40%), followed by special needs care for a family member with disabilities 18 years or older (30%) and caregiver support for an older/senior family member (30%). A third of families indicated children aged 11 or younger and children aged 12–18 supporting caregiving activities at home. Many families reported multiple, overlapping needs In the town hall, families discussed the needs assessment and provided more detail on needs and family contexts. The results of the study are being used to design a caregiving support program hosted by the community partner and are informing a research strategy to better understand military and Veteran caregiving needs nationally.
Association Between the Early or Late Onset of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus with Neonatal Adverse Outcomes: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Reis Fabiana Vieira Duarte de Souza , Filho Carlos Izaias Sartorão , Sobrevia Luis , Prudencio Caroline Baldini , Bologna Bruna , Iamundo Luana Favaro , Takano Luis , Avramidis Raissa Escandiussi , de Oliveira Rafael Guilen , Rudge Marilza Vieira Cunha , Barbosa Angelica Mércia Pascon
Published: October 2023

Background
The significance of timing in diagnosing hyperglycemia during pregnancy and its association with adverse outcomes for the newborn is controversial. The literature has been evolving in standardizing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) diagnosis and terminology. we aimed to investigate the association between early-onset GDM and adverse outcomes in newborns and neonates, comparing it with the late-onset GDM model.
Methods
It was a retrospective cohort study at the Perinatal Diabetes Research Center-Assis affiliated nucleus from Botucatu Medical School-UNESP, Brazil, between 2016–2019. The group composition were, early-onset concerning participants with fasting glucose ≥ 92 mg/dL and < 126 mg/dL before 20 weeks of gestation or late-onset participants with negative first-trimester screening and positive 75g-OGTT at 24–28 weeks. The maternal baseline characteristics included: pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI; Kg/m2); the pregnancy weight gain (Kg) calculated by the difference between final pregnancy weight (36 gestational weeks or more) and pre-pregnancy maternal weight and classified according to the pre-pregnancy BMI (8). In addition, the perinatal outcomes evaluated in this study were: gestational age (GA), birth weight (BW), and BW status according to GA as adequate, large or small, Apgar scores at the first and 5th minutes.
Results
Eight hundred eighty pregnant women were selected, 203 (23.07%) presenting GDM were eligible from December 2016 to December 2021. According to the timing onset of GDM, 89 (43.84%) were in the early-onset group and 114 (56.16%) in the late-onset group. the FPG values at the first trimester were higher in the early-onset group. The 75grams-OGTT values were higher in the late-onset group. The final BMI was higher in the late-onset group. A univariate linear regression was performed in order to determining relation between late-onset according different outcomes (Table 3), no significant relation was detected.
Conclusions
Pregnants with early-onset of GDM showed higher BMI during pregnancy, but there was no difference between the early or late-onset of GDM concerning neonatal adverser outcomes.
Electrophysiological and Behavioral Responses of Lygus hesperus Knight (Hemiptera: Miridae) to Host Plant Volatiles
Authors: Hetherington Matthew , Brunet Johanne , Nieto Diego , Ramirez Ricardo A. , Wenninger Erik J. , Guédot Christelle
Published: October 2023

Lygus hesperus Knight is a polyphagous pest of major concern to numerous cropping systems across western North America. Lygus hesperus exhibits well-documented host preferences which may be used to develop behavioral management strategies for this pest. This study sought to identify plant volatiles that mediate L. hesperus host preferences and assess the potential of those compounds to improve monitoring and management of this pest. Gas chromatography with electroantennographic detection was applied to identify antennally active compounds in headspace extracts from four host plants of varying attractiveness. Y-tube olfactometer assays were then conducted to determine L. hesperus responses to each of these 17 antennally active compounds individually. Six compounds attracted female L. hesperus, and subsequent tests revealed that females were attracted to an equal-parts blend of these six attractive compounds versus clean air, and that this blend was as attractive as flowering Medicago sativa. We then examined L. hesperus attraction to attractive compounds individually and an equal-parts blend of five attractive compounds in the field. An equal-parts blend of five attractive compounds was tested in strawberry, whereas the blend and each individual component were tested in alfalfa. In both field settings, neither the individual compounds nor the blend increased L. hesperus capture rates compared to unbaited control traps. Low attraction in the field could result from a masking effect of background volatiles or the failure to include important compounds in tested blends. It remains important to assess whether the compounds tested in this study may facilitate L. hesperus management in other cropping systems.
WITHDRAWN: Medical Student Perspectives on Safe Use of Non-English Language Skills in Patient Care: Effects of an Educational Intervention to Teach Self-Assessment Tools
Authors: Coto Maria Gabriela Valle , Pena Liset Garcia , Iñiguez Reniell X. , Giraldo Tatiana Betancur , Park Yoon Soo , Ortega Pilar
Published: October 2023

Introduction
The common practices of doctors “getting by” with limited language skills or using multilingual students/staff as ad hoc interpreters endanger care for populations with non-English language preference. We developed a session for medical students to learn to use two validated self-assessment tools: the Interagency Language Roundtable adapted for Healthcare (ILR-H) and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Can-Do Statements.
Methods
All 179 first-year students at an urban medical school attended the session. Students used the ILR-H (a single item scaled from poor 1 to excellent 5) and Can-Do Statements (four items each scaled from novice 1 to distinguished 5) to self-report their skill level in any non-English language (multilingual students) and the minimum language level they believed necessary for safe patient care (all students). We analyzed correlations between ILR-H and Can-Do Statement self-ratings and differences in multilingual vs. monolingual student perspectives.
Results
Overall, 139 respondents (83%) were multilingual. Multilingual students’ mean ILR-H self-rating (2.36 [SD = 1.17]) and Can-Do Statements composite score (3.64 [SD = 2.32]) were strongly correlated (r = .91, p < .001). Post-session, fewer students felt ready to provide language-concordant care (32% [51/158] post vs. 41% [64/158] pre; p < .001). The mean ILR-H level reported by multilingual students as needed for safe patient care was 3.25 (SD = .94), higher than that reported by monolingual English speakers (2.57 [SD = 1.40]; p = .001).
Discussion
Teaching language self-assessment can enhance medical students’ critical awareness of the nuances of communicating with linguistically diverse patients. Future work should evaluate whether teaching self-assessment impacts clinical decision-making around language and interpreter use.
Genetic risk factors for bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy in an Asian population: A genome-wide association study in South Korea
Authors: Min Young Gi , Lee Sung-Yeoun , Lim Ehyun , Kim Dong-Ho , Byun Ja Min , Koh Youngil , Hong Junshik , Shin Dong-Yeop , Yoon Sung-Soo , Sung Jung-Joon , Oh Seog Bae , Kim Inho
Published: October 2023

Bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy (BIPN) poses a challenge in multiple myeloma (MM) treatment. Genetic factors play a key role in BIPN susceptibility, but research has predominantly focused on Caucasian populations. This research explored novel genetic risk loci and pathways associated with BIPN development in Korean MM patients, while evaluating reproducibility of variants from Caucasians. Clinical data and buffy coat samples from 185 MM patients on bortezomib were collected. The cohort was split into discovery and validation cohorts through random stratification of clinical risk factors for BIPN. GWAS was performed on the discovery cohort (n = 74) with Infinium Global Screening Array-24 v3.0 BeadChip (654,027 SNPs). Relevant biological pathways were identified using pathway scoring algorithm (PASCAL). The top 20 SNPs were validated in the validation cohort (n = 111). Previously reported SNPs were validated in the entire cohort (n = 185). Pathway analysis of the GWAS results identified 31 relevant pathways, including immune systems and endosomal vacuolar pathways. Among top 20 SNPs from discovery cohort, 16 were replicated, which included intronic variants in ASIC2 and SMOC2, recently implicated in nociception, as well as intergenic variants or long non-coding RNAs. None of the 17 previously reported SNPs remained significant in our cohort (rs2274578, p = 0.085). This study represents the first investigation of novel genetic loci and biological pathways associated with BIPN occurrence. Our findings, in conjunction with existing Caucasian studies, expand the understanding of personalized risk prediction and disease mechanisms.
LncRNA AP000842.3 Triggers the Malignant Progression of Prostate Cancer by Regulating Cuproptosis Related Axis
Authors: Zhou Gaobo , Chen Chaoqian , Wu Hongjian , Lin Jiao , Liu Hang , Tao Yiran , Huang Bin
Published: October 2023

Background
LncRNAs and miRNAs have significant regulatory roles in prostate cancer (PRAD) through the ceRNA network. Cuproptosis is a unique form of programmed cell death that is involved in various signaling pathways and biological processes related to tumor development. NFAT5, a transcription factor that activates T cells, has been implicated in cuproptosis. In this study, we aimed to determine the mechanism by which NFAT5 is involved in the regulation of ceRNA networks in prostate cancer.
Methods and results
The ceRNA network related to the survival of PRAD related genes was constructed by bioinformatics. Dual-luciferase reporter assay, CCK-8 and other experiments were used to prove the conclusion. The regulatory network of ceRNA was constructed by the differentially expressed lncRNA and miRNA and the mRNA after cuproptosis clustering analysis, and it was found that miR-206/NFAT5 may be an important ceRNA axis in the regulation of PRAD. We found that changes in AP000842.3 and miR-206 expression may affect PRAD proliferation through regulation of NFAT5. Mechanistically, AP000842.3 acts as the ceRNA of miR-206 to regulate the expression of NFAT5. The effects of lncRNA AP000842.3 on the malignant progression of PRAD and NFAT5 were partly dependent on miR-206.
Conclusions
In conclusion, we successfully filtered out that lncRNA AP000842.3, as a ceRNA of miR-206, is involved in regulating the level of cuprotosis-associated transcription factor NFAT5 in PRAD.
Assessment of Salivary Microbiota Profile as a Potential Diagnostic Tool for Pediatric Celiac Disease
Authors: Noruzpour Asal , Gholam-Mostafaei Fahimeh Sadat , Looha Mehdi Azizmohammad , Dabiri Hossein , Ciacci Carolina , Ahmadipour Shokoufeh , Rouhani Pejman , Nejad Mohammad Rostami
Published: October 2023

The association between oral dysbiosis and celiac disease (CD) remains poorly understood, as does the impact of CD-associated dysbiosis on disease development or exacerbation. This study aims to investigate alterations in salivary microbial composition among children with CD. In this cross-sectional study, saliva samples from 12 children with active CD (A-CD group), 14 children with CD on a gluten-free diet, and 10 healthy control children were analyzed using DNA sequencing targeting the 16S ribosomal RNA. Patients with CD exhibited a significant increase (p=0.00) in the Bacteroidetesphylum, while the Actinobacteria phylum showed a significant decrease (P=0.00). Notably, the Rothia genus and R.aeria also demonstrated a significant increase (P=0.00) within the CD group. Additionally, the control group displayed a significant increase (P=0.006) in R.mucilaginosaspecies compared to both CD patient groups.
Distinct bacterial strains were abundant in the saliva of patients with active CD, indicating a unique composition of the salivary microbiome in individuals with CD. These findings suggest that our approach to assessing salivary microbiota changes may contribute to developing noninvasive methods for diagnosing and treating CD.
Research on Heart and Lung Sound Separation Method Based on DAE-NMF-VMD
Authors: sun wenhui , CHEN Fuming , ZHANG Yipeng , CHEN Fenlan
Published: October 2023

Auscultation is the most effective method for diagnosing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. However, stethoscopes typically capture mixed signals of heart and lung sounds, which can affect the auscultation effect of doctors.Therefore, the efficient separation of mixed heart and lung sound signals plays a crucial role in improving the diagnosis of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. In this paper, we propose a blind source separation method for heart and lung sounds based on Deep Autoencoder (DAE), Non-Negative Matrix Factorization (NMF), and Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD).Firstly, DAE is employed to extract highly informative features from the heart and lung sound signals. Subsequently, NMF clustering is applied to group the heart and lung sounds based on their distinct periodicities, achieving the separation of the mixed heart and lung sounds. Finally, Variational Mode Decomposition is used for denoising the separated signals. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method effectively separates heart and lung sound signals and exhibits significant advantages in terms of standardized evaluation metrics when compared to Non-Negative Matrix Factorization methods and DAE-NMF algorithms without denoising.
Interactions between immune cell types facilitate the evolution of immune traits
Authors: Dubovik Tania , Lukačišin Martin , Starosvetsky Elina , LeRoy Benjamin , Normand Rachelly , Admon Yasmin , Alpert Ayelet , Ofran Yishai , G'Sell Max , Shen-Orr Shai S.
Published: October 2023

An essential prerequisite for evolution by natural selection is variation among individuals in traits that affect fitness1. The ability of a system to produce selectable variation, known as evolvability2, thus greatly affects the rate of its evolution. The immune system belongs to the fastest evolving components of mammalian genomes3, yet the sources of useful variation in immune traits remain largely unknown4,5. Here, we show that a key determinant of the immune system’s evolvability is its organisation into interacting modules represented by different immune cell types. By profiling immune cell variation in bone marrow of 54 genetically diverse mouse strains from the Collaborative Cross6, we found that variation in immune cell frequencies is polygenic and that associated genes are largely involved in quantitative homeostasis through cell-intrinsic functions of proliferation, migration and cell death. However, we also found that many genes influencing the frequency of a particular cell type are not expressed in that specific cell type, but rather in a different immune cell type. Vertebrate evolutionary record shows that genes implicated in this non-cell-intrinsic variation have faced fewer purifying constraints, indicating that they have acted as key determinants in the recent evolvability of immune traits. Our findings suggest that interactions between different components of the immune system provide a phenotypic space where mutations can produce selectable variation without much detriment, offering a solution to the robustness-evolvability conundrum2,7,8 in the context of the immune system.
Based on the RF model, the analysis of the influencing factors of the satisfaction of the highway differential charging policy is analyzed
Authors: 刘 拥华 , Ruikun Duan , 申 科 , Qingxiong Luan
Published: October 2023

In order to solve the problem that the impact of public satisfaction on the evaluation effect is less considered in the evaluation of the implementation effect of differentiated toll collection on expressways. Based on the satisfaction survey questionnaire of differentiated toll road sections in Yunnan Province in 2022, a random forest model (RF) under the two-category experiment was constructed to analyze the influencing factors of the satisfaction of expressway differentiated toll policy. The results show that the random forest model (RF) under the binary classification experiment has good fitting. At the same time, the satisfaction degree of timely and accurate preferential policies is the most important factor affecting the overall satisfaction of expressway differentiated charging policies, and its contribution degree is 20.35%. In addition, the independent effect analysis shows that the overall satisfaction of the differentiated charging method for empty trucks is the highest, and the overall satisfaction of the differentiated charging method for road sections is the lowest.
Effect of replacing soybean meal with dried Bovine blood meal on growth Performance, haematology and serum profile of SASSO birds
Authors: Salifu Abdul-Rahaman S. , Mamadu Halidu Agolisi , Nartey Ebenezer Kofi , Waltia Shirley Shena
Published: October 2023

The rising cost of processed feed has created a demand for more inexpensive feed options for chicken production. In most slaughterhouses, blood is thrown as trash, however, it can be used as a protein source. A study was conducted to assess the effect of replacing soybean meal with dry bovine blood meal on the growth performance and blood profile of SASSO birds. The treatments were as follows: control, 5% dry matter (DM), and 10%DM-DBBM. Chemical analysis revealed that the blood meal content contained 86.76% crude protein, 1.36% ether extract, 1.98% crude fibre, and 8.54% DM ash. Birds fed the 5% DM-DBBM diet had the highest daily DM intake (80.35%). The final weight and daily weight gain increased significantly (P < 0.05) with increasing DBBM levels. Birds fed the 10%DM-DBBM diet exhibited the best feed conversion. All haematological and serum profile parameters studied were within the normal physiological ranges. It was concluded that dried bovine blood meal supplementation of up to 10% had no adverse effects on dry matter intake, daily weight gain, growth performance, and blood parameters of SASSO birds.
Combining machine learning with high-content imaging to infer ciprofloxacin susceptibility in clinical isolates of Salmonella Typhimurium
Authors: Baker Stephen , Tran Tuan-Anh , Srid Sushmita , Reece Stephen , Lunguya Octavie , Jacobs Jan , Puyvelde Sandra Van , Marks Florian , Dougan Gordon , Thomson Nick , Nguyen Binh , Bao Pham The
Published: October 2023

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing public health crisis that requires innovative solutions. Presently we rely on exposing single organisms to an antimicrobial and growth to determine susceptibility; throughput and interpretation hinder our ability to rapidly distinguish between antimicrobial-susceptible and -resistant organisms isolated from clinical samples. Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) is an enteric pathogen responsible for severe gastrointestinal illness in immunocompetent individuals and can also cause invasive disease in immunocompromised people. Despite widespread resistance, ciprofloxacin remains a common treatment, particularly in lower-resource settings, where the drug is given empirically. Here, we exploited high-content imaging to generate deep phenotyping of various S. Typhimurium isolates longitudinally exposed to increasing concentrations of ciprofloxacin. We applied machine learning algorithms to the resulting imaging data and demonstrated that individual isolates display distinct growth and morphological characteristics that clustered by time point and susceptibility to ciprofloxacin, which occurred independently of ciprofloxacin exposure. We used a further set of S. Typhimurium clinical isolates to test the ability of our algorithm to distinguish between ciprofloxacin-susceptible and -resistant isolates. We found that a random forest classifier could accurately predict how the organism would respond to ciprofloxacin without exposure to it or any prior knowledge of ciprofloxacin susceptibility. These results provide the first proof-of-principle for the use of high-content imaging with machine learning algorithms to predict drug susceptibility of clinical bacterial isolates. This technique can be exploited to identify drug-resistant bacteria more rapidly and accurately and may be an important tool in understanding the phenotypic impact of antimicrobials on the bacterial cell in order to identify drugs with new modes of action.
WWOX promotes osteosarcoma development via upregulation of Myc
Authors: Aqeilan Rami , Akkawi Rania , Hidmi Osama , Yahia Ameen Haj , Drier Yotam , Monin Jonathan , Diment Judith , Stein Gary
Published: October 2023

Osteosarcoma (OS) is an aggressive bone tumor that primarily affects children and adolescents. This malignant tumor is highly aggressive, associated with poor clinical outcomes, and metastasizes mainly to the lungs. Due to its rarity and biological heterogeneity, limited studies of its molecular basis exist, thus hindering the development of effective therapies. WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX) spans one of the most active and common fragile sites that is frequently altered in human OS. The combined deletion of Wwox and Trp53 using Osterix1-Cre transgenic mice has been shown to accelerate OS development. In this study, we generated a traceable OS mouse model, SKO-Trp53 or DKO-Wwox/Trp53, expressing a tdTomato reporter. By tracking tomato expression at different time points, we detected the early presence of tdTomato-positive cells in the bone marrow (BM) mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) of non-OS bearing mice, young BM (yBM). We found that DKO yBM cells, but not SKO yBM cells, exhibited tumorigenic traits both in vitro and in vivo. Molecular and cellular characterization of these DKO yBM cells revealed their resemblance to OS tumor cells. Interestingly, one of the observed significant transcriptomic changes in DKO yBM was the upregulation of Myc and its target genes, as compared to SKO yBM cells. Intriguingly, Myc-chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-Seq) revealed increased enrichment on Myc targets, which were upregulated in DKO yBM cells. Restoration of WWOX in DKO-yBM cells reduced Myc protein levels. As a prototype target, we demonstrated upregulation of MCM7, a known Myc target, in DKO yBM relative to SKO yBM. Inhibition of MCM7 expression using Simvastatin resulted in reduced proliferation and tumor cell growth of DKO yBM cells. Our findings revealed BM-MSCs as a platform to study OS and Myc and its targets as WWOX effectors and early molecular events during osteosarcomagenesis.
Clinical effectiveness/child-patient and parent satisfaction of two topical fluoride treatments for caries: a randomised clinical trial
Authors: Maldupa Ilze , Innes Nicola , Viduskalne Ilona , Brinkmane Anda , Senakola Egita , Krumina Karina , Uribe Sergio E.
Published: October 2023

Knowledge gaps exist regarding optimal silver diammine fluoride (SDF) regimens and the efficacy of new products for arresting dental caries in young children. We evaluated the effectiveness of 38%-SDF(SDI-RivaStar), Tiefenfluorid(TF) comparing with Placebo(P), all in conjunction with behavioural modification(BM), in preventing major complications (endodontic/extractions/pain) —a patient-centred outcome— due to early childhood caries over 12 months in children under 71-months. A six-arm, patient/parent-blinded, superiority, placebo-controlled randomised control trial at the university clinic in Riga, Latvia, from 1/9/20-31/8/22 (Protocol registration ISRCTN17005348). The trial tested six protocols, using three compounds (P/SDF/TF) under two regimes: annual and biannual (P1/P2/TF1/TF2/SDF1/SDF2) for major complications. Secondary outcomes included minor complications and parental satisfaction. All groups received BM. 373/427 randomised children (87.3%) completed the study. SDF2 had a significantly lower rate and risk of major (21.5%, OR=0.28, 95%CI[0.11, 0.72], p<0.05) and minor complications (OR=0.16 (95%CI [0.05, 0.50], p=0.002). Overall satisfaction was 96%(p>0.05). SDF biannual application with BM effectively prevented major complications of early childhood caries and was well accepted by children and their parents. Trial registration number: ISRCTN17005348, principal investigator: Ilze Maldupa, registration date: 30/06/2021.
Efficient mesophyll-derived protoplast manipulation system as a versatile tool for characterization of genes responding to multiple stimuli in mulberry
Authors: Zhou Hong , Lei Yali , Hou Zhiwei , Yuan Jianglian , He Ningjia
Published: October 2023

Versatile protoplast manipulation systems have been established in a variety of plant species for gene functional studies, especially on physiological perceptions and responses to hormones, metabolites, environmental stimuli. However, efficient protoplast-based systems are still lacking for the economically important woody plant mulberry, of which functional genomics research is hindered by its long life cycle and recalcitrance to genetic transformation. In this study, we set up sterile cultures for a hybrid mulberry resource and established an efficient protocol for isolating mesophyll-derived protoplast via optimizing the starting materials and maceration conditions. With sufficient viable protoplasts, polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated transient gene expression has been carried out and a transformation efficiency of nearly 50% was achieved through optimizing the incubation strategy. The transient gene expression system was validated by subcellular localization assays of the mulberry nuclear marker gene MaHTR6 and chloroplast marker gene MaTRX. Subsequently, the system was used for functional characterization of putative mulberry cytokinin response factors (MaCRFs) in response to phytohormone and environmental stimuli. Combined the established system with RT-qPCR to test the CRFs transcriptional regulation, we found that among the three MaCRFs, conserved with Arabidopsis CRF2, MaCRF1 turned out to function primarily as a response factor to cytokinin and auxin. While MaCRF2 and MaCRF3 respond not only to phytohormones but also to environmental stresses. In summary, we have established an efficient mesophyll-derived protoplast manipulation system in mulberry, thereby facilitating transient function analysis of genes in response to multiple external stimuli.