bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Formativno vrednovanje u nastavi stranih jezika
Authors: Jelić Andrea-Beata , Šute Josipa , Markić Ivan
Published: March 2023

Formativno vrednovanje odvija se tijekom učenja i poučavanja, a usmjereno je na uočavanje snaga i manjkavosti te unaprjeđenje oba procesa. Ključna je suradnja učenika i nastavnika (Martišković, 2019). Formativno je vrednovanje rjeđe zastupljeno od sumativnog iako su nastavnici svjesni njegove važnosti. Na primjeru nastavnika španjolskog kao stranog jezika cilj je bio steći uvid u njihovo poimanje formativnog vrednovanja, nastavnu praksu te samoprocjenu kompetencija za njegovo provođenje. Rezultati ukazuju da su sudionici istraživanja upoznati s pojmom formativnog vrednovanja i prepoznaju njegove prednosti, ali nisu svjesni svih njegovih dimenzija. Ono je zastupljeno u okviru propisanih elementa vrednovanja (ne i svih domena), ali nastavnici smatraju da ne posjeduju znanja i vještine za njegovu primjenu. Zaključno, nastavnicima, ali i učenicima potrebno je dodatno usavršavanje u ovom području na razini inicijalnog i cjeloživotnog obrazovanja u smislu razvoja motivacije i vještina samovrednovanja i vršnjačkog vrednovanja.
Education-Based Family Empowerment in Diabetic Foot Ulcer Early Detection Using Ipswich Touch Test of Knowledge and Skills
Authors: Sentana Aan Dwi , Sumartini Ni Putu , Mardiatun Mardiatun , Supinganto Agus
Published: March 2023

Identifying patients with diabetes mellitus who experience an impaired sensation that ultimately causes Diabetic Foot Ulcer (DFU) is a necessary action. One of the efforts to prevent diabetic foot is to identify, which can be done by family members of the patient at home, but this has not been done. The aim is to determine the effect of education-based family empowerment in the early detection of Diabetic Foot Ulcers using the Ipswich Touch Test on knowledge and skills at the Mataram City Health Center. The design used a pre-experimental design with a pre-post one-group test. The sample was 45 respondents given family empowerment interventions through coaching in educational programs four times a week for two weeks. The results of family knowledge before being given the intervention were mostly lacking, as many as 36 people (86.7%), while after being given the intervention, all respondents got good knowledge, as many as 45 people (100% and p-value = 0.000 < = 0.005 coaching with p = 0.000 and skills All of the skill families before being given the intervention had poor skills as many as 45 people (100%) and after being given the intervention all respondents got good skills as many as 45 people (100%) p = 0.000 < = 0.005. So it can be concluded that education-based family empowerment in early detection of diabetic foot ulcers using the Ipswich touch test on knowledge and skills.
Determinants of Adolescent Women Early Marriage
Authors: Hidayati Nafisah Anna , Suprapti Suprapti , Aryani Hening Ryan , Tarsikah Tarsikah
Published: March 2023

Teenage pregnancy can increase the maternal mortality rate (MMR) because the reproductive organs are immature, leading to many birth complications. One of the triggers of teenage pregnancy is early marriage caused by several factors. This study analyzes the determinants of early marriage incidence in adolescent girls. The research sample was 60 respondents in Dau District, Malang Regency. The research method used descriptive quantitative with a total sampling technique. Data were collected with questionnaires distributed door to door and were analyzed using percentages. The results showed that most respondents had junior high school education (63%). In contrast, in the category of early teens, psychological changes occurred at that time, one of which was the period of seeking self-identity. Sociocultural factors in the moderate category (61.7%) affect early marriage, where there is still a hereditary tradition. Economic factors in the moderate category (75%) affect early marriage. There is still an arranged marriage with his brother because the property owned does not fall to someone else. Mass media factors in the moderate category (66.7%) affect early marriage. Pornographic photos and videos seen by chance will upload curiosity to see them. Moreover, the belief factor in the excellent category (71.7%) affects early marriage, and there is a view and belief that adolescent maturity is judged by marital status. Thus, it still relatively high several factors that cause early marriage. Health workers and the government will pay more attention and recognize the pattern of early marriage factors from each region so they can later make the proper regulations or counseling on target.
The Effect of Giving Cookies Based Local Food on The Body Weight of Stunting Toddlers With Underweight
Authors: Sulistiowati Endah , Chandradewi AASP , Sofiyatin Reni , Darawati Made
Published: March 2023

Based on Indonesian nutritional status survey  report in 2021 the incidence of underweight (weight according to age) nationally in 2021 is 17.0%, an increase of 8% from 2019, for the West Nusa Tenggara provincial level at 23.0%, it ranks 26th out of 34 provinces, and at the regency level in 2021, Dompu regency is 10.9% while at the Puskesmas level, East Dompu health center contributes 19.11%. The purpose of study is to analyze effect of giving cookies-based local food on the body weight of stunting toddlers with underweight. This research was conducted in O'O Village, Dompu regency, with data collection and intervention carried out from 4 May to 8 May, 2022. This type of research is a Quasi-Experimental study with one group pre-and post-test design. The sample that meets the inclusion requirements is as many as 21 people. Four stars cookies are given for five days, one pack per day containing six pieces. The analysis used the paired T-test. The results showed that there was an average toddler weight gain of 0.45 kg during the intervention, and statistically, with different trials, there was a significant difference (p<0.05). Although there are significant results from this study, this study has a weakness in the number of intervention days, which is too short, so that to get a body weight that is by the recommended dietary allowances (RDA) has not been achieved, and it is necessary to increase the number of administrations to meet the requirements for giving supplemental feeding program.
Tourism sustainable competitiveness indicator for ASEAN bloc: A random forest approach
Authors: Soh Ann-Ni , Puah Chin-Hong , Arip Mohammad Affendy
Published: March 2023

This study aims to reveal the tourism performance among ASEAN countries by creating a tourism sustainable competitiveness indicator (TSCI). This study introduces an ensemble random forest approach in developing an integrative framework that incorporates tourism, sustainability and competitiveness. It demonstrates the management of multi-faceted tourism development with the constructed indicator. Six main enablers have been identified for TSCI indicator, including policy and regulatory environment, environmental sustainability, socio-cultural sustainability, economic sustainability, infrastructure, and intellectual capital and innovation. As a benchmarking tool for policymakers, organisations, and tourism-related authorities in the implementation of policies and business or marketing strategic planning, the sustainable competitiveness indicator for tourism identified the factors that affect the sustainability and competitiveness of tourism. This indicator enhances the tourism value chains in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc, as well as it offers significant assistance to the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan of 2025. Especially in the context of regionalization, which proceeds along the same trajectory as tourism, it is becoming increasingly significant in building areas of cooperation in the connected Southeast Asian region. Thus, measuring the performance level of the tourism economy is a critical agenda that is worthy of receiving concern as a means of accomplishing sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Caffeic acid phenethyl ester improves oxidative organ damage in rat model of thermal trauma.
Authors: Gurel A , Armutcu F , Hosnuter M , Unalacak M , Kargi E , Altinyazar C
Published: March 2023

Severe burn injuries cause functional impairment in distant internal organs. Although this mechanism is not clear, it is possible that free radical toxicity plays an important role. Research in animals and clinical studies have shown that there is a close relationship between a lipid peroxidative reaction and secondary pathological changes following thermal injury. It has been demonstrated that antioxidant treatment prevents oxidative tissue damage associated with thermal trauma. This study was designed to determine the possible protective effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) treatment against oxidative damage in the kidney and lung induced by thermal injury. Rats were decapitated either 1, 3 or 7 days after burn injury. CAPE was administered intraperitoneally immediately after thermal injury. Kidney and lung tissues were taken for the determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) level, myeloperoxidase (MPO), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and xanthine oxidase (XO) activities. Severe skin thermal injury caused a significant decrease in SOD and CAT activities, as well as significant increases in MDA level, XO and MPO activities in tissues during the postburn period. Treatment of rats with CAPE (10 micromol/kg) significantly elevated the decreased SOD and CAT activities, while it decreased MDA levels and MPO as well as XO activity.
Syrian Arabic negators' structural and social variation: Evidence from a supralocal-negation variety
Authors: Habib Rania
Published: March 2023

This study empirically investigates the structural and social variation of five negators, maa ‘not’, muu ‘not’, laʔ ‘no’, laa ‘no/imperative not’, and wa-laa ‘(and) no/not/imperative not’, in the naturally occurring Syrian Arabic speech of 72 speakers. It quantitatively analyzes the frequency of all possible grammatical/pragmatic functions and/or following structural contexts for each negator; whether certain negators favor certain functions/contexts; and whether generational, sex, and/or age differences exist. The findings show correlation between certain negators and certain functions/contexts. The most frequent negator, maa, occurs most frequently in four contexts, yet shows encroachment on muu’s contexts. The differences in laʔ’s, laa’s, and wa-laa’s functions/contexts, despite some similarities, and ability to operate independently support treating them separately. Sex, age, and/or generational differences emerged as statistically significant regarding the use of some negators. The generational differences of children using more laʔ and adults more laa reflect societal norms that disfavor children giving commands or sounding authoritative yet allow emphatic/assertive negation with the more forcefully sounding laaʔ. The findings have implications for teachers and learners of Arabic regarding implementing these negators in real-life interactions. They also show that negators may have unexpected meanings and functions and may occur favorably in contexts where they are unexpected.
From emotion to politics: A sociolinguistic analysis of the Moroccan Ultras’ chants
Authors: Miller Catherine , Caubet Dominique , Ziamari Karima
Published: March 2023

In 2011, the political events of the “Arab Spring” that spread in almost all Arab countries shed light on what were perceived as new actors, new forms, and new voices of youth political expression. Among the new actors, groups of football fans, known as Ultras, came to the forefront. The sociolinguistic aspects of their cultural productions have so far attracted little academic attention apart from a few papers dealing with emblematic songs that recently became popular protest chants. This paper aims at investigating a few characteristic linguistic features present in numerous Moroccan Ultras songs, such as language mixing and affrication, and comparing them with more general youth language practices. Do Ultras’ performances contribute to the generalization of certain youth traits as well as to the diffusion of a more global aesthetic and masculine ethos? The emotional aspect of the Ultras’ culture makes them “natural” candidates for expressing the people’s discontent, thus pointing to similarities between political slogans and Ultras songs.
Мифологемы русских сказок: ярусность мира /
MYTHOLOGEMES OF THE RUSSIAN FAIRY TALES: LAYERING OF THE WORLD
Authors: Denisova I. M.
Published: March 2023

В статье на материалах русских сказок (с частичным привлечением белорусских) рассматривается вопрос об отражении ими одной из широко распространенных в традиционных обществах культурно‑исторических универсалий — представления о вертикальном структурировании мироздания, разделении его на три основные мифологические яруса. Дан краткий обзор мнений ученых о зарождении и развитии подобного мировоззрения, на отдельных примерах демонстрируется неоднозначность этой проблематики. В русских сказках отмечаются следы подобной мировоззренческой системы, однако, в силу их особой традиционности и общей специфики жанра, в них в большей степени законсервировались относительно ранние этапы ее становления. На это указывает преимущественное противопоставление в них двух миров — земного и подземного, наибольшая разработанность их образности и частичное перенесение ее на «небесный ярус» или на вершину горы. Анализируются детали мотива подъема героя по дереву/стеблю на «близкое небо». В ходе анализа образов светил отмечены мотивы, в которых явно выражены следы универсальных мифологем о творении мира. Ставится вопрос о семантике образа золота и предметов из него по русской сказке. Рассматриваются также сказочные мотивы, отражающие представления о трех сферах мироздания через соответствующие образы животного мира.

The article, based on the Russian and partly Belorussian fairy tales, examines a question of vertical structuring of the Universe and its division into three mythological layers (tiers) — the universal idea widespread in traditional societies and reflected in the mentioned fairy tales. The article represents a brief review of scholar’s opinions on this idea and demonstrates the ambiguity of the topic. The Russian fairy tales show the traces of such worldview system; however, its relatively early stages have been preserved in tales to a greater extent due to their special traditionalism and the specificity of this genre. This is indicated by predominant opposition of two worlds, terrestrial and underground, by the greatest elaboration of their imagery and by its partial transfer to the “sky layer (tier)” or to the top of the mountain. The author analyses the details of the motif of the hero’s ascent along the tree/stalk. By analyzing the portrays of the heavenly bodies the author highlights the motifs representing the traces of the universal mythologemes of world creation. The article raises the question about the semantics of gold and golden objects in Russian fairy tales and considers the motifs reflecting the ideas of the three layers of the world through the respective animal characters.
Myristate induces mitochondrial fragmentation and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy through mitochondrial E3 ubiquitin ligase MUL1
Authors: Vásquez-Trincado César , Navarro-Márquez Mario , Morales Pablo E. , Westermeier Francisco , Chiong Mario , Parra Valentina , Espinosa Alejandra , Lavandero Sergio
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases, especially metabolic-related disorders, are progressively growing worldwide due to high-fat-containing foods, which promote a deleterious response at the cellular level, termed lipotoxicity, or lipotoxic stress. At the cardiac level, saturated fatty acids have been directly associated with cardiomyocyte lipotoxicity through various pathological mechanisms involving mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and ceramide production, among others. However, integrative regulators connecting saturated fatty acid-derived lipotoxic stress to mitochondrial and cardiomyocyte dysfunction remain elusive.

Methods: Here, we worked with a cardiomyocyte lipotoxicity model, which uses the saturated fatty acid myristate, which promotes cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and insulin desensitization.

Results: Using this model, we detected an increase in the mitochondrial E3 ubiquitin ligase, MUL1, a mitochondrial protein involved in the regulation of growth factor signaling, cell death, and, notably, mitochondrial dynamics. In this context, myristate increased MUL1 levels and induced mitochondrial fragmentation, associated with the decrease of the mitochondrial fusion protein MFN2, and with the increase of the mitochondrial fission protein DRP1, two targets of MUL1. Silencing of MUL1 prevented myristate-induced mitochondrial fragmentation and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.

Discussion: These data establish a novel connection between cardiomyocytes and lipotoxic stress, characterized by hypertrophy and fragmentation of the mitochondrial network, and an increase of the mitochondrial E3 ubiquitin ligase MUL1.
Synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial activities of a heteroscorpionate derivative platinum complex against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Nam-Cha Syong H. , Domínguez-Jurado Elena , Tinoco-Valencia Selena L. , Pérez-Tanoira Ramón , Morata-Moreno Noelia , Alfaro-Ruiza Rocío , Lara-Sánchez Agustín , Esteban Jaime , Luján Rafael , Alonso-Moreno Carlos , Seguí Pedro , Ocaña Alberto , Gónzalez Ángel López , Aguilera-Correa John J. , Pérez-Martínez Francisco C. , Alarcón Milagros Molina
Published: March 2023

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the species with the greatest clinical importance and greatest impact on public health. In fact, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is considered a pandemic pathogen, being essential to develop effective medicines and combat its rapid spread. This study aimed to foster the translation of clinical research outcomes based on metallodrugs into clinical practice for the treatment of MRSA. Bearing in mind the promising anti-Gram-positive effect of the heteroscorpionate ligand 1,1’-(2-(4-isopropylphenyl)ethane-1,1-diyl)bis(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazole) (2P), we propose the coordination of this compound to platinum as a clinical strategy with the ultimate aim of overcoming resistance in the treatment of MRSA. Therefore, the novel metallodrug 2P-Pt were synthetized, fully characterized and its antibacterial effect against the planktonic and biofilm state of S. aureus evaluated. In this sense, three different strains of S. aureus were studied, one collection strain of S. aureus sensitive to methicillin and two clinical MRSA strains. To appraise the antibacterial activity, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC), and minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) were determined. Moreover, successful outcomes on the development of biofilm in a wound-like medium were obtained. The mechanism of action for 2P-Pt was proposed by measuring the MIC and MBC with EDTA (cation mediated mechanism) and DMSO (exogenous oxidative stress mechanism). Moreover, to shed light on the plausible antistaphylococcal mechanism of this novel platinum agent, additional experiments using transmission electron microscopy were carried out. 2P-Pt inhibited the growth and eradicated the three strains evaluated in the planktonic state. Another point worth stressing is the inhibition in the growth of MRSA biofilm even in a wounded medium. The results of this work support this novel agent as a promising therapeutic alternative for preventing infections caused by MRSA.
Association between serum uric acid and phase angle in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Hu Yezi , Liu Jie , Jin Hui
Published: March 2023

Background

The purpose of this analysis was to investigate the associations between serum uric acid and phase angle in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods

In this retrospective cross-sectional study, we included 200 type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients treated during 2018–2019 at Zhongda Hospital Southeast University. Phase angle (PhA) and other body composition indicators were measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). All patients underwent routine clinical examinations on the day of hospitalization, and the basic information and clinical symptoms of these patients were recorded.

Results

Serum uric acid (UA) was significantly associated with PhA (p <0.001). Overall, in the crude model and minor, all adjusted models (crude model, Models I–II), the phase angle increased as the tertiles of serum uric acid increased. In the minor adjusted model (Model I, adjustment for age and duration) fully adjusted model (Model II, adjustment for age, duration, Lpa, BMI, and WHR), the adjusted β for participants in tertiles of serum uric acid were 0.26 (95% CI: 0.05–0.46) and 0.32 (95% CI: 0.11–0.54), respectively, compared with those in the lowest tertile 1.

Conclusion

There was a nonlinear relationship between serum uric acid and PhA in T2DM patients, and the phase angle increased as uric acid increased within a certain range, and this effect disappeared when uric acid exceeded a certain value.
Emerging role of substance and energy metabolism associated with neuroendocrine regulation in tumor cells
Authors: Liu Yingying , Gu Renjun , Gao Murong , Wei Yangwa , Shi Yu , Wang Xu , Gu Yihuang , Gu Xin , Zhang Hongru
Published: March 2023

Cancer is the second most common cause of mortality in the world. One of the unresolved difficult pathological mechanism issues in malignant tumors is the imbalance of substance and energy metabolism of tumor cells. Cells maintain life through energy metabolism, and normal cells provide energy through mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation to generate ATP, while tumor cells demonstrate different energy metabolism. Neuroendocrine control is crucial for tumor cells’ consumption of nutrients and energy. As a result, better combinatorial therapeutic approaches will be made possible by knowing the neuroendocrine regulating mechanism of how the neuroendocrine system can fuel cellular metabolism. Here, the basics of metabolic remodeling in tumor cells for nutrients and metabolites are presented, showing how the neuroendocrine system regulates substance and energy metabolic pathways to satisfy tumor cell proliferation and survival requirements. In this context, targeting neuroendocrine regulatory pathways in tumor cell metabolism can beneficially enhance or temper tumor cell metabolism and serve as promising alternatives to available treatments.
Effects of aging and macrophages on mice stem Leydig cell proliferation and differentiation in vitro
Authors: Shao Jingjing , Wang Jiexia , Wen Xin , Xie Jiajia , Huang Fu , Guan Xiaoju , Hao Xinrui , Duan Ping , Chen Congde , Chen Haolin
Published: March 2023

Background

Testosterone plays a critical role in maintaining reproductive functions and well-beings of the males. Adult testicular Leydig cells (LCs) produce testosterone and are generated from stem Leydig cells (SLCs) during puberty through adulthood. In addition, macrophages are critical in the SLC regulatory niche for normal testicular function. Age-related reduction in serum testosterone contributes to a number of metabolic and quality-of-life changes in males, as well as age-related changes in immunological functions. How aging and testicular macrophages may affect SLC function is still unclear.

Methods

SLCs and macrophages were purified from adult and aged mice via FACS using CD51 as a marker protein. The sorted cells were first characterized and then co-cultured in vitro to examine how aging and macrophages may affect SLC proliferation and differentiation. To elucidate specific aging effects on both cell types, co-culture of sorted SLCs and macrophages were also carried out across two ages.

Results

CD51+ (weakly positive) and CD51++ (strongly positive) cells expressed typical SLC and macrophage markers, respectively. However, with aging, both cell types increased expression of multiple cytokine genes, such as IL-1b, IL-6 and IL-8. Moreover, old CD51+ SLCs reduced their proliferation and differentiation, with a more significant reduction in differentiation (2X) than proliferation (30%). Age matched CD51++ macrophages inhibited CD51+ SLC development, with a more significant reduction in old cells (60%) than young (40%). Crossed-age co-culture experiments indicated that the age of CD51+ SLCs plays a more significant role in determining age-related inhibitory effects. In LC lineage formation, CD51+ SLC had both reduced LC lineage markers and increased myoid cell lineage markers, suggesting an age-related lineage shift for SLCs.

Conclusion

The results suggest that aging affected both SLC function and their regulatory niche cell, macrophages.
A first step to assess suspended microplastics in a freshwater wetland from the coastal region of Ecuador
Authors: López Carlos , Soto Luz Marina , Acosta Vanessa , Santana-Piñeros Ana María , Cruz-Quintana Yanis , Gomes-Barbosa Luciana , Stamou Georgia , Karpowicz Maciej , Michaloudi Evangelia , Domínguez-Granda Luis , Steinitz-Kannan Miriam
Published: March 2023

Introduction: La Segua is an important wetland in Ecuador, recognized as a Ramsar site and of great ecological relevance. Currently, La Segua is threatened by human pressures and unsustainable landscape use associated with agriculture and aquaculture. This study is the first approach to the occurrence of suspended microplastics (SMPs) in an Ecuadorian lentic waterbody and the estimated potential threat of these on the filter and suspension feeders in aquatic food webs.

Methods: Surface water samples were collected at 16 sampling points in the wetland to analyze the occurrence, concentration, and horizontal distribution of Suspected Suspended Microplastics (SSMPs) and zooplankton.

Results and discussion: SSMPs were found in all sampling sites, and concentrations were between 313 and 490 particles/liter. Fragments were the most abundant category, followed by fibers, films, and pellets. The highest concentration of SSMPs was found in sampled sites on the east coast and in the middle of the wetland. The frequency and concentration of categories of SSMps found in surface water largely reflect the reality of local human activity around the La Segua wetland. Only rotifers and copepod nauplii were found in the zooplankton. The SSMMPs to zooplankton ratio varied between 0.3 and 441 particles/individuals.The SSMPs/zooplankton ratio indicates that fish and other filter and suspension feeders of aquatic food webs could be more likely to feed on suspended microplastics than natural food items around the wetland. SSMPs indicate that microplastics may represent.
Scientists’ attitudes about citizen science at Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites
Authors: L’Astorina Alba , Davis Cathlyn , Pugnetti Alessandra , Campanaro Alessandro , Oggioni Alessandro , Bergami Caterina
Published: March 2023

A profound transformation, in recent decades, is promoting shifts in the ways ecological science is produced and shared; as such, ecologists are increasingly encouraged to engage in dialogues with multiple stakeholders and in transdisciplinary research. Among the different forms of public engagement, citizen science (CS) has significant potential to support science-society interactions with mutual benefits. While many studies have focused on the experience and motivations of CS volunteers, scarce literature investigating the perspectives of researchers is available. The main purpose of this paper is to better understand scientists’ attitudes about CS in the context of its potential to support outcomes that extent beyond more traditional ones focused on promoting science knowledge and interest. We surveyed the scientific community belonging to the International Long-Term Ecological Research (ILTER) network because ILTER is of interest to multiple stakeholders and occurs over long time scales. Via an online questionnaire, we asked ILTER scientists about their willingness to participate in different types of public engagement, their reasons for participating in CS, the associated barriers, and any impacts of these efforts on them. Our findings show that many ILTER scientists are open to participating in CS for a wide range of reasons; the dominant ones involve deeper public engagement and collaboration. The barriers of greatest concern of these respondents were the lack of institutional support to start and run a CS project and the difficulty of establishing long-term stable relationships with the public. They reported impacts of CS activities on how they pursue their work and acknowledged the benefit of opportunities to learn from the public. The emerging picture from this research is of a community willing and actively involved in many CS projects for both traditional reasons, such as data gathering and public education, and expanded reasons that activate a real two-way cooperation with the public. In the ILTER community, CS may thus become an opportunity to promote and develop partnerships with citizens, helping to advance the science-society interface and to rediscover and enhance the human and social dimension of the scientific work.
PredDSMC: A predictor for driver synonymous mutations in human cancers
Authors: Wang Lihua , Sun Jianhui , Ma Shunshuai , Xia Junfeng , Li Xiaoyan
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Driver mutations play a critical role in the occurrence and development of human cancers. Most studies have focused on missense mutations that function as drivers in cancer. However, accumulating experimental evidence indicates that synonymous mutations can also act as driver mutations.

Methods: Here, we proposed a computational method called PredDSMC to accurately predict driver synonymous mutations in human cancers. We first systematically explored four categories of multimodal features, including sequence features, splicing features, conservation scores, and functional scores. Further feature selection was carried out to remove redundant features and improve the model performance. Finally, we utilized the random forest classifier to build PredDSMC.

Results: The results of two independent test sets indicated that PredDSMC outperformed the state-of-the-art methods in differentiating driver synonymous mutations from passenger mutations.

Discussion: In conclusion, we expect that PredDSMC, as a driver synonymous mutation prediction method, will be a valuable method for gaining a deeper understanding of synonymous mutations in human cancers.
Vaccinating women previously treated for human papillomavirus-related cervical precancerous lesions is highly cost-effective in China
Authors: Zou Maosheng , Liu Hanting , Liu Huan , Wang Mengjie , Zou Zhuoru , Zhang Lei
Published: March 2023

Background

The 2021 Chinese Expert Consensus on the Clinical Application of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine recommended vaccination for women who previously received ablative or excisional treatment for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL). This study evaluates the cost-effectiveness of HPV vaccination in women previously treated for cervical precancerous lesions.

Methods

We used a Markov model to simulate the disease progression of both low- and high-risk HPV subtypes. We followed a cohort of 100,000 women aged 18-45 years who received treatment for cervical precancerous lesions for a lifetime (80 years). We used the Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratios (ICER) with a 5% discount rate to measure the cost-effectiveness of nine vaccination strategies, including a combination of HPV bivalent (HPV-2), quadrivalent (HPV-4) and nonavalent vaccine (HPV-9), each with three vaccination doses (one-, two- and three-dose). We conducted one-way sensitivity analysis and probabilistic sensitivity analysis. We followed the CHEERS 2022 guidelines.

Results

Compared to the status quo, the nine vaccination strategies would result in $3.057-33.124 million incremental cost and 94-1,211 incremental quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) in 100,000 women previously treated for cervical precancerous lesions. Three vaccination strategies were identified on the cost-effectiveness frontier. In particular, ICER for one-dose HPV-4 vaccination was US$10,025/QALY compared to the status quo (no vaccination); ICER for two-dose HPV-4 vaccination was US$17,641//QALY gained compared to one-dose HPV-4 vaccination; ICER for three-dose HPV-4 vaccination was US$27,785/QALY gained compared with two-dose HPV-4 vaccination. With a willingness-to-pay of three times gross domestic product per capita (US$37655), three-dose HPV-4 vaccination was the most cost-effective vaccination strategy compared with the lower-cost non-dominated strategy on the cost-effectiveness frontier. A probabilistic sensitivity analysis confirmed a 99.1% probability of being cost-effective. If the cost of the HPV-9 is reduced to 50% of the current price, three-dose HPV-9 vaccination would become the most cost-effective strategy.

Discussion

Three-dose HPV-4 vaccination is the most cost-effective vaccination strategy for women treated for precancerous cervical lesions in the Chinese setting.
A new hope? Possibilities of therapeutic IgA antibodies in the treatment of inflammatory lung diseases
Authors: Bohländer Fabian
Published: March 2023

Inflammatory lung diseases represent a persistent burden for patients and the global healthcare system. The combination of high morbidity, (partially) high mortality and limited innovations in the last decades, have resulted in a great demand for new therapeutics. Are therapeutic IgA antibodies possibly a new hope in the treatment of inflammatory lung diseases? Current research increasingly unravels the elementary functions of IgA as protector against infections and as modulator of overwhelming inflammation. With a focus on IgA, this review describes the pathological alterations in mucosal immunity and how they contribute to chronic inflammation in the most common inflammatory lung diseases. The current knowledge of IgA functions in the circulation, and particularly in the respiratory mucosa, are summarized. The interplay between neutrophils and IgA seems to be key in control of inflammation. In addition, the hurdles and benefits of therapeutic IgA antibodies, as well as the currently known clinically used IgA preparations are described. The data highlighted here, together with upcoming research strategies aiming at circumventing the current pitfalls in IgA research may pave the way for this promising antibody class in the application of inflammatory lung diseases.
Adaptive immune response to BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine in immunocompromised adolescent patients
Authors: Bader Guy , Itan Michal , Edry-Botzer Liat , Cohen Hadar , Haskin Orly , Mozer-Glassberg Yael , Harel Liora , Munitz Ariel , Mandelblit Nufar Marcus , Gerlic Motti
Published: March 2023

Protective immunity against COVID-19 is orchestrated by an intricate network of innate and adaptive anti-viral immune responses. Several vaccines have been rapidly developed to combat the destructive effects of COVID-19, which initiate an immunological cascade that results in the generation of neutralizing antibodies and effector T cells towards the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Developing optimal vaccine-induced anti-SARS- CoV-2 protective immunity depends on a fully competent immune response. Some evidence was gathered on the effects of vaccination outcomes in immunocompromised adult individuals. Nonetheless, protective immunity elicited by the Pfizer Biontech BNT162b2 vaccine in immunocompromised adolescents received less attention and was mainly focused on the antibody response and their neutralization potential. The overall immune response, including T-cell activities, was largely understudied. In this study, we characterized the immune response of vaccinated immunocompromised adolescents. We found that immunocompromised adolescents, which may fail to elicit a humoral response and develop antibodies, may still develop cellular T-cell immunity towards SARS-CoV-2 infections. Furthermore, most immunocompromised adolescents due to genetic disorders or drugs (Kidney and liver transplantation) still develop either humoral, cellular or both arms of immunity towards SARS-CoV-2 infections. We also demonstrate that most patients could mount a cellular or humoral response even after six months post 2nd vaccination. The findings that adolescents immunocompromised patients respond to some extent to vaccination are promising. Finally, they question the necessity for additional vaccination boosting regimens for this population who are not at high risk for severe disease, without further testing of their post-vaccination immune status.
Diversification of cephalic shield shape and antenna in phyllosoma I of slipper and spiny lobsters (Decapoda: Achelata)
Authors: Landeira José María , Deville Diego , Fatira Effrosyni , Zhang Zhixin , Thatje Sven , Lin Qiang , Hernández-León Santiago , Wakabayashi Kaori
Published: March 2023

Slipper (Scyllaridae) and spiny (Palinuridae) lobsters show a complex life cycle with a planktonic larval phase, named phyllosoma. This unique larval form within Achelata (Decapoda) is characterized by a transparent dorsoventrally compressed body and a pair of antennae. This conspicuous morphology has been attributed to adaptive specialization of planktonic life. Early studies suggest that phyllosoma morphology has remained constant over the evolutionary history of Achelata, while recent evidence points out large morphological changes and that diversification of phyllosoma larvae is a consequence of radiation and specialization processes to exploit different habitats. Given the ecological and evolutive significance of phyllosoma, we used shape variation of the first phyllosoma stage (phyllosoma I) and a time-calibrated phylogeny of extant Achelata to study how diversification of phyllosoma I shape occurred along with the evolutionary history of Achelata. Our results show a conserved phyllosoma I with a pear-shaped cephalic shield and large antennae in spiny lobsters and older groups of slipper lobsters, yet highly specialized phyllosoma I with wide rounded cephalic shield and short antennae in younger groups of slipper lobsters. Analyses revealed two bursts of lineage diversification in mid and late history without a slowdown in recent times. Both bursts preceded large bursts of morphological disparity. These results joined with the allopatric distribution of species and convergence of phyllosoma I shapes between largely divergent groups suggest that diversification involves nonadaptive radiation processes. However, the correlation of a major direction of shape with the maximum distribution depth of adults and the occurrence of the second burst of diversification post-extinction of competitors within Achelata presuppose some ecological opportunities that might have promoted lineage and morphological diversification, fitting to the characteristic components of adaptive radiations. Therefore, we conclude that diversification of Achelata presents a main signature of nonadaptive radiation with some components of adaptive radiation.
Ocean monitoring, observation network and modelling of the Gulf of Mexico by CIGOM
Authors: Herguera Juan Carlos , Peters Edward M. , Sheinbaum Julio , Pérez-Brunius Paula , Herzka Sharon Z. , Licea-Navarro Alexei , Ocampo-Torres Francisco , Aguirre-Macedo M. Leopoldina , Vidal-Martínez Victor M. , García-Nava Hector , Salgado Tomas , Romero-Centeno Rosario , Zavala-Hidalgo Jorge , Pardo-López Liliana , Gracia Adolfo
Published: March 2023

The tragic accident of the Macondo platform operated by British Petroleum (BP) unleashed in 2010 one of the largest oil spills in history, lasting over three months, spilling nearly 500 million liters of oil in one of the most biodiverse ocean regions. This accident revealed the technological deficiencies for the control of a spill in deep waters of the hydrocarbon industry. Simultaneously it showed important gaps in knowledge to predict the propagation and fate of the large volumes of hydrocarbons at depth and on the surface ocean and, more importantly, on their impact on the great ecosystem of the Gulf of Mexico. The necessity to understand and predict the transport, fate and ecosystem-level impacts of large oil spills in the southern Gulf of Mexico, a key region for oil exploration and extraction, led policymakers, scientists, and industry representatives from PEMEX (the Mexican oil company) to jointly launch an ocean observation project (2015-22) aimed to provide a multi-layered environmental baseline, develop a modern monitoring and computational modeling capacity and promote scientific understanding of the marine environment throughout the Mexican Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The initiative, led by the Research Consortium for the Gulf of Mexico (CIGoM), brought together more than 300 multidisciplinary researchers from more than a two dozen institutions in Mexico and abroad, including the Centre for Scientific Research and Higher Education of Ensenada (CICESE) as the leading institution, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the Centre for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (CINVESTAV) in Mérida, the Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC), and the Centre for Engineering and Industrial Development (CIDESI). Financial support was provided by the National Council for Science and Technology and the Ministry of Energy Hydrocarbon Fund.
Measuring the blue economy in the EU: The Polish experience
Authors: Kwiatkowski Jakub M. , Zaucha Jacek
Published: March 2023

It is generally agreed that the blue economy and blue growth play important roles in the global economy; over the last few years, they have been widely discussed at both national and international levels. Nevertheless, there is a lack of consensus on how to measure them, as the accounting methodologies differ between studies, implying divergent results. This article summarizes previous studies by comparing blue economy accounting methodologies and highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. Based on the comparison, a new methodology is proposed, based primarily on micro- and country-specific local data; this new methodology has been applied to measure the size of the blue economy in Poland. The results show that previous analyses have slightly underestimated the size of the blue economy in Poland, despite similarities concerning general dynamics and sectoral structure over time. The study concludes that a trade-off exists between using existing one-size-fits-all methods and country-specific methods, with a more precise, tailored approach being achieved at the expense of the accuracy of cross-country comparisons. Finally, the study highlights that, as there is no unambiguous solution to the problem of the above trade-off, different methods should be used with regard to the choice of method depends on the specific research task to be carried out or policy question to be addressed.
Ecosystem-based assessment of a widespread Mediterranean marine habitat: The Coastal Detrital Bottoms, with a special focus on epibenthic assemblages
Authors: Astruch Patrick , Orts Ameline , Schohn Thomas , Belloni Bruno , Ballesteros Enric , Bănaru Daniela , Bianchi Carlo Nike , Boudouresque Charles-François , Changeux Thomas , Chevaldonné Pierre , Harmelin Jean-Georges , Michez Noëmie , Monnier Briac , Morri Carla , Thibaut Thierry , Verlaque Marc , Daniel Boris
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Coastal detrital bottoms (CDB) are one of the most extensive habitats of the continental shelf worldwide, in the upper levels of the circalittoral zone. Hosting a diverse community structured by sediment grain size, trophic interactions and calcified organisms, CDB exhibit important ecological functions. In the Mediterranean Sea, CDB are constituted by recent elements partly provided by adjacent infralittoral and circalittoral ecosystems. Since the 2010s, the offshore extension of many Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) has resulted in the incorporation of vast areas of CDB, raising the issue of their management. The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) has embraced the concept of an ecosystem-based approach involving taking into account the functioning of marine habitats and their related ecosystem services. The purpose of this paper is to propose an ecosystem-based quality index (EBQI) tested on CDB from the north-western Mediterranean Sea, focusing mainly on epibenthic assemblages.

Methods

The first step has been to define a conceptual model of the CDB functioning, including the main trophic compartments and their relative weighting, then to identify appropriate assessment methods and potential descriptors. Twenty-nine sites were sampled along the coast of Provence and French Riviera (Southern France). Study sites were chosen with a view to encompassing a wide range of hydrological conditions and human pressures.

Results

Very well-preserved sites were found in Provence in areas without trawling and terrigenous inputs, while impacted and low-ES sites were located in the vicinity of urbanized areas. The cover of rhodoliths characterizes the seascape and might be an indicator of the good ES of CDB and reduced human pressure. However, the absence of rhodoliths may also be induced by natural phenomena.

Discussion

The EBQI designed for CDB proved representative and useful for a functional assessment based on epibenthic assemblages. However, some descriptors have shown their limitations and should be further explored. We highlight here the priority of establishing an index corresponding to a societal demand (e.g., European Directives, Barcelona convention) as a basis for a broad and large-scale assessment, for practical reasons. We stress the need to better apprehend the role of the macro-infauna and to extend this index over a wider geographical scale.
Prediction of wave force on netting under strong nonlinear wave action
Authors: Chen Qiu-Pan , Bi Chun-Wei , Zhao Yun-Peng
Published: March 2023

Under the strong nonlinear wave environment, accurate simulation of wave force for aquaculture netting is an effective guarantee for cage design and safety. In this paper, the horizontal wave forces of a nylon square-mesh netting panel were obtained through a series of strong nonlinear regular wave tests, and their nonlinearity was analyzed by amplitude spectrum. Moreover, the Morison equation based on fifth-order Stokes wave theory was used to reasonably predict the wave force on the netting. The results showed that both wave and wave force have strong nonlinearity, especially the latter. The frequency domain characteristics of the test wave and wave force are similar, while the higher frequency components of the test force are more apparent. The predicted wave forces are in good agreement with the test values in time and frequency domain, and zero or higher frequency components of predicted force are more prominent with the increase of wave steepness. When the range of the Keulegan-Carpenter number is 35-120, the average drag and inertia coefficient of the predicted force are 2.4 and 2.1, respectively. The results can provide a more accurate assessment of the nonlinear wave force on aquaculture facilities.