bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MENINGKATKAN MOTIVASI BELAJAR BAHASA INGGRIS BAGI SISWA/I SDI YAYASAN ANWARUL JAM’IYYAH DI DESA LENGGAHSARI
Authors: Fitriyanti Dea , Danapriatna Nana , Fakhran Al Ramadhan Muhammad
Published: January 2024

In this modern era, technological advancement necessitates individuals to master English as an international language. Therefore, it is imperative for formal education to initiate English language learning from an early age within the classroom, enabling students to easily follow English lessons in junior high school. This study was conducted at SDI Yayasan Anwarul Jam’iyyah with the aim of enhancing students' understanding of English and instilling motivation regarding the importance of learning the language. The applied method was Community Education. The results indicate that students at SDI Yayasan Anwarul Jam’iyyah exhibit high levels of motivation and enthusiasm towards learning English in the classroom. This research contributes significantly to strengthening students' grasp of the English language and paves the way for deeper learning at the secondary school level. Learning English is not only an obligation but also an enjoyable experience for students.
PELATIHAN PENULISAN KREATIF DALAM MENINGKATKAN KETERAMPILAN DI DESA SINDANGSARI
Authors: Sari Veni Tiyas , Khadijah Siti , Marginingsih Ria
Published: January 2024

Writing activities are basically good activities for children to do. By writing, children's creativity can be increased and a child is like immersing himself in the creative process which means the child creates something which also means asking questions, experiencing doubts and confusion until finally finding a solution. And when the creative process is increasingly practiced, it becomes easier for children to transfer their skills to other fields that also require creative solutions, such as school and other activities. From the results of observations of junior high school children and adolescents in the village of Sindangsari, Cabangbungin District, Bekasi Regency. has a high interest in reading short stories and is quite interested in trying to write stories, but there are still some children who have minimal interest in reading and writing, therefore the writer is interested in helping them develop their abilities and express feelings through writing stories in the service of the writer's KKN It is hoped that it can attract children's interest and motivation to write by using an approach that emphasizes the importance of the learning process for students, namely Story Telling or Reading stories, and Writing Training.
PEMANFAATAN LIMBAH KEMASAN AIR MINERAL SEBAGAI MEDIA TANAM DENGAN METODE WICK SYSTEM
Authors: Wijaya Ferdi , Prihhartini Sya’baningrum , Irham Irham
Published: January 2024

Kegiatan pengabdian masyarakat ini bermitra dengan pihak Pemerintah Desa setialaksana untuk pemanfaatan limbah rumah tangga seperti sampah kemasan air mineral masih belum begitu baik. Sampah sampah tersebut hanya dibiarkan begitu saja, padahal semua itu dapat membantu mengatasi permasalahan ketika musim kemarau. Secara umum, pelaksanaan teknis pengelolaan sampah terpadu 3R (reuse, reduce, recycle) yaitu menggunakan kembali sampah secara langsung, mengurangi segala sesuatu yang menyebabkan timbulnya sampah, dan memanfaatkan kembali sampah sehingga bisa lebih berguna untuk lingkungan dan masyarakat. program Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat (PkM) memberikan pelatihan pemanfaatan botol plastik bekas menjadi media tanam di Desa Setialaksana, Kecamatan Cabngbungin, Kabupaten Bekasi dengan sasaran ibu-ibu di wilayah tersebut Kegiatan ini bertujuan untuk memberikan kegiatan yang bersifat edukatif tentang penanganan sampah sekaligus sebagai upaya untuk merangsang kreativitas dan pemberdayaan masyarakat dalam mengolah sampah plastik menjadi produk yang bernilai fungsional (Roidah, I. S. 2014). Metode yang digunakan dalam pelaksanaan Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat (PkM) ini adalah metode eksperimentatif yaitu dengan melakukan berbagai eksperimen untuk mendapatkan materi pelatihan yang tepat sasaran. Hasil kegiatan kemudian disusun menjadi sebuah artikel ilmiah dengan metode kualitatif yang bersifat deskriptif.
PELATIHAN PEMBUKUAN DIGITAL MENGGUNAKAN APLIKASI BUKU WARUNG BAGI UMKM DI DESA KARANGJAYA
Authors: Sari Mayang Permata , Fajarwati Diana , Supratno Setyo
Published: January 2024

The digital bookkeeping training program is an effort to develop businesses to better manage their business finances. Development in a business needs to be done by utilizing technology from traditional to digital methods. This digital bookkeeping training can help MSMEs record their financial books easily using the BukuWarung application. The BukuWarung application can make it easier for MSMEs to carry out bookkeeping and recording of their business finances. Because it contains various features that make business activities easier, can reduce the cost of using paper, the risk of human error and loss of physical evidence because data is stored on a smartphone, and there is financial report analysis. So, business actors no longer need to record manually. The training was carried out with one of the MSMEs in Karangjaya village, namely Kedai Syabil, which is a food shop in Kobakrengas hamlet. This activity produces MSME players who are aware of the importance of financial bookkeeping in a business, and becomes a motivation for business development in carrying out bookkeeping every day in their business.
PENINGKATAN KEMAHIRAN BAHASA INGGRIS MELALUI PEMBELAJARAN KOSAKATA UNTUK ANAK-ANAK SD DI DESA SETIALAKSANA
Authors: Khasanah Putri Uswatun , Prihhartini Sya’baningrum , Irham Irham
Published: January 2024

This article is written to report the result of the writer’s Community Service Program. There are many elementary schools in Desa Setialaksana that does not make English Language a mandatory subject in their school. Whereas in reality, the importance of the English language as the standard language in many sectors has made it necessary for people to learn it especially from a younger age. To handle this situation, a short educational program was made to introduce the English language to the children in Desa Setialaksana. The target of this program was the 3rd grade students in SD Negeri Setialaksana 02. The program itself was held three times over the course of two weeks, during which the children learned basic English vocabulary and engaged in various games to hold their interest. Through this program, the students got to acquire some new basic English vocabularies which helped in introducing them to the English language. The program was able to reach its goal for the students became interested to learn the English language.
PELATIHAN EMPATI UNTUK PENCEGAHAN PERILAKU BULLYING PADA SISWA SEKOLAH DASAR
Authors: Syifa Maulidia Nur , Purwantini Lucky , Nadhirah Qintharah Yuha
Published: January 2024

Community service carried out at SDN 06 Bantarjaya regarding empathy training to prevent bullying behavior in elementary school students which aims to train and increase insight into empathetic behavior to be more respectful of fellow students in order to avoid bullying behavior. This program was implemented in accordance with the results of observations where at the time of observation there was still a lack of empathetic behavior between students, both between students and students with other school members. This activity was carried out from August to September 2023, using the method of presenting material about bullying and empathy, role playing, and the final activity was watching a video about bullying behavior, then students were given a piece of paper to write down what experiences they had while watching the video. The result of this activity is an increase in understanding about empathetic behavior and a change in students' empathetic behavior towards their fellow students.
PENINGKATAN PEMBELAJARAN KREATIF MELALUI PENGENALAN DAN PENGADAAN PEMBUATAN ALAT PERMAINAN EDUKATIF BAGI GURU PAUD
Authors: Gunawan Maya Regita , Ekasari Agustina , Rahmawati Rafika
Published: January 2024

APE is a game tool designed and created to be a learning resource for young children to gain learning experience. And this experience is very useful in improving aspects of children's development, both physical (motor), emotional, social, language, cognitive and moral. This program for introducing and procuring educational game equipment (APE) aims to provide insight and knowledge about APE for early childhood teachers in Sumberreja Village. This activity was carried out in the form of introducing and providing educational game equipment (APE) for teachers. The target participants for this program are TKA Miftahul Huda pre-school teachers, totaling 2 people. This activity lasted for two and a half hours. The conclusion is that the introduction and provision of APE production has had a positive impact on early childhood teachers themselves, namely that they can increase their knowledge and insight regarding APE for early childhood. And you can also tell preschool teachers about teaching materials that are easy to make, and suitable for children whose development is less than that of children their age and young children who get bored easily when learning. And it can also increase children's interest in learning because APE is very interesting for young children.
PENINGKATAN PARTISIPASI MASYARAKAT DALAM PERENCANAAN DAN PEMBANGUNAN INFRASTRUKTUR DESA JAYALAKSANA
Authors: Hartomi Hartomi , Sopandi Andi , Irham Irham
Published: January 2024

Community service activities related to increasing community participation in infrastructure planning and development aim to find out and analyse community participation in infrastructure development and see the supporting factors for community participation in the implementation of development in Jayalaksana Village, Cabang Bungin District. The methods used are community education and training. Meanwhile, the data collection techniques used in this research are direct observation and implementation of the programme at the location and documentation. The results of this service activity show that the participation of the Jayalaksana Village community in infrastructure development is quite good, because the community provides assistance in the form of thoughts, and labour. This shows that some community members know and are active in a series of community service activities carried out to minimise damage to village infrastructure due to littering by some people. There are several things that influence the community in participating, the existence of socialisation, opportunity, and leader factors.
Discourse and Racism in "Hidden Figures"
Authors: Zahra Nur Rachmatiya Rosa , Rasiah Rasiah
Published: January 2024

This research aims to describe discourse and racism in the Hidden Figures movie using discourse and racism theory based on Dijk’s approach. The results showed that the ten aspects of Dijk's theory of discourse and racism could be found in several characters such as speech, expressions, and actions that refer to the use of discourse and racism in the Hidden Figures movie. Two aspects of discourse and racism are most dominantly depicted in this movie, namely aspects of nonverbal structure and aspects of syntax. In the nonverbal structure aspect, the visible form of racism is the depiction of facial expressions such as anger, annoyance, and dislike as well as body movements refusing to interact for a long time with black people. Discourse and racism in the Hidden Figures movie also display racist behavior towards black people as a reflection of a system of prejudice, namely negative emotional reactions and stereotypes, namely judgments or assumptions based on groups and people's characteristics. This is illustrated by the experiences of Katherine, Dorothy, and Mary regarding the separation of public facilities such as toilets, libraries, and education.
Design and engineering of bispecific antibodies: insights and practical considerations
Authors: Madsen Andreas V. , Pedersen Lasse E. , Kristensen Peter , Goletz Steffen
Published: January 2024

Bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) have attracted significant attention due to their dual binding activity, which permits simultaneous targeting of antigens and synergistic binding effects beyond what can be obtained even with combinations of conventional monospecific antibodies. Despite the tremendous therapeutic potential, the design and construction of bsAbs are often hampered by practical issues arising from the increased structural complexity as compared to conventional monospecific antibodies. The issues are diverse in nature, spanning from decreased biophysical stability from fusion of exogenous antigen-binding domains to antibody chain mispairing leading to formation of antibody-related impurities that are very difficult to remove. The added complexity requires judicious design considerations as well as extensive molecular engineering to ensure formation of high quality bsAbs with the intended mode of action and favorable drug-like qualities. In this review, we highlight and summarize some of the key considerations in design of bsAbs as well as state-of-the-art engineering principles that can be applied in efficient construction of bsAbs with diverse molecular formats.
In situ correction of various β-thalassemia mutations in human hematopoietic stem cells
Authors: Yang Yinghong , He Lina , Xie Yingjun , Zhu Lifen , Wu Jianfeng , Fan Yong , Yang Yi , Sun Xiaofang
Published: January 2024

β-thalassemia (β-thal) is the most common monogenic disorder caused by various mutations in the human hemoglobin β (HBB) gene and affecting millions of people worldwide. Electroporation of Cas9 and single-guide RNA (sgRNA)–ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex-mediated gene targeting in patient-derived hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), followed by autologous transplantation, holds the promise to cure patients lacking a compatible bone marrow donor. In this study, a universal gene correction method was devised to achieve in situ correction of most types of HBB mutations by using validated CRISPR/sgRNA–RNP complexes and recombinant adeno-associated viral 6 (rAAV6) donor-mediated homology-directed repair (HDR) in HSCs. The gene-edited HSCs exhibited multi-lineage formation abilities, and the expression of β-globin transcripts was restored in differentiated erythroid cells. The method was applied to efficiently correct different mutations in β-thal patient-derived HSCs, and the edited HSCs retained the ability to engraft into the bone marrow of immunodeficient NOD-scid-IL2Rg−/− (NSI) mice. This study provides an efficient and safe approach for targeting HSCs by HDR at the HBB locus, which provides a potential therapeutic approach for treating other types of monogenic diseases in patient-specific HSCs.
Co-culturing with Streptococcus anginosus alters Staphylococcus aureus transcriptome when exposed to tonsillar cells
Authors: Bastakoti Srijana , Pesonen Maiju , Ajayi Clement , Julin Kjersti , Corander Jukka , Johannessen Mona , Hanssen Anne-Merethe
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Improved understanding of Staphylococcus aureus throat colonization in the presence of other co-existing microbes is important for mapping S. aureus adaptation to the human throat, and recurrence of infection. Here, we explore the responses triggered by the encounter between two common throat bacteria, S. aureus and Streptococcus anginosus, to identify genes in S. aureus that are important for colonization in the presence of human tonsillar epithelial cells and S. anginosus, and further compare this transcriptome with the genes expressed in S. aureus as only bacterium.

Methods

We performed an in vitro co-culture experiment followed by RNA sequencing to identify interaction-induced transcriptional alterations and differentially expressed genes (DEGs), followed by gene enrichment analysis.

Results and discussion

A total of 332 and 279 significantly differentially expressed genes with p-value < 0.05 and log2 FoldChange (log2FC) ≥ |2| were identified in S. aureus after 1 h and 3 h co-culturing, respectively. Alterations in expression of various S. aureus survival factors were observed when co-cultured with S. anginosus and tonsillar cells. The serine-aspartate repeat-containing protein D (sdrD) involved in adhesion, was for example highly upregulated in S. aureus during co-culturing with S. anginosus compared to S. aureus grown in the absence of S. anginosus, especially at 3 h. Several virulence genes encoding secreted proteins were also highly upregulated only when S. aureus was co-cultured with S. anginosus and tonsillar cells, and iron does not appear to be a limiting factor in this environment. These findings may be useful for the development of interventions against S. aureus throat colonization and could be further investigated to decipher the roles of the identified genes in the host immune response in context of a throat commensal landscape.
Current barriers and recommendations on the diagnosis of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy: a Delphi study
Authors: Çavuşoğlu Yüksel , Başarıcı İbrahim , Tüfekçioğlu Omaç , Özpelit Ebru , Özdemir Elif , Sivrikoz İlknur Ak , Altay Hakan , Değertekin Muzaffer , Dinçer İrem , İkitimur Barış , Kahveci Gökhan , Bozkurt Murat Fani , Erkılıç Metin , Kaya Gamze Çapa , Beksaç Meral , Salihoğlu Ayşe , Tokgözoğlu Lale
Published: January 2024

Objectives

This study has been conducted to investigate the non-invasive diagnostic journey of patients with a transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (aTTR-CM) in Turkey, identify the challenges and uncertainties encountered on the path to diagnosis from the perspectives of expert physicians, and develop recommendations that can be applied in such cases.

Methods

This study employed a three-round modified Delphi method and included 10 cardiologists and five nuclear medicine specialists. Two hematologists also shared their expert opinions on the survey results related to hematological tests during a final face-to-face discussion. A consensus was reached when 80% or more of the panel members marked the “agree/strongly agree” or “disagree/strongly disagree” option.

Results

The panelists unanimously agreed that the aTTR-CM diagnosis could be established through scintigraphy (using either 99mTc-PYP, 99mTc-DPD, or 99mTc-HMPD) in a patient with suspected cardiac amyloidosis (CA) without a further investigation if AL amyloidosis is ruled out (by sFLC, SPIE and UPIE). In addition, scintigraphy imaging performed by SPECT or SPECT-CT should reveal a myocardial uptake of Grade ≥2 with a heart-to-contralateral (H/CL) ratio of ≥1.5. The cardiology panelists recommended using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and a detailed echocardiographic scoring as a last resort before considering an endomyocardial biopsy in patients with suspected CA whose scintigraphy results were discordant/inconclusive or negative but still carried a high clinical suspicion of aTTR-CM.

Conclusion

The diagnostic approach for aTTR-CM should be customized based on the availability of diagnostic tools/methods in each expert clinic to achieve a timely and definitive diagnosis.
Identification of pyroptosis-associated genes with diagnostic value in calcific aortic valve disease
Authors: Yu Chenxi , Zhang Yifeng , Yang Ling , Aikebaier Mirenuer , Shan Shuyao , Zha Qing , Yang Ke
Published: January 2024

Background

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is one of the most prevalent valvular diseases and is the second most common cause for cardiac surgery. However, the mechanism of CAVD remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of pyroptosis-related genes in CAVD by performing comprehensive bioinformatics analysis.

Methods

Three microarray datasets (GSE51472, GSE12644 and GSE83453) and one RNA sequencing dataset (GSE153555) were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Pyroptosis-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the calcified and the normal valve samples. LASSO regression and random forest (RF) machine learning analyses were performed to identify pyroptosis-related DEGs with diagnostic value. A diagnostic model was constructed with the diagnostic candidate pyroptosis-related DEGs. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to estimate the diagnostic performances of the diagnostic model and the individual diagnostic candidate genes in the training and validation cohorts. CIBERSORT analysis was performed to estimate the differences in the infiltration of the immune cell types. Pearson correlation analysis was used to investigate associations between the diagnostic biomarkers and the immune cell types. Immunohistochemistry was used to validate protein concentration.

Results

We identified 805 DEGs, including 319 down-regulated genes and 486 up-regulated genes. These DEGs were mainly enriched in pathways related to the inflammatory responses. Subsequently, we identified 17 pyroptosis-related DEGs by comparing the 805 DEGs with the 223 pyroptosis-related genes. LASSO regression and RF algorithm analyses identified three CAVD diagnostic candidate genes (TREM1, TNFRSF11B, and PGF), which were significantly upregulated in the CAVD tissue samples. A diagnostic model was constructed with these 3 diagnostic candidate genes. The diagnostic model and the 3 diagnostic candidate genes showed good diagnostic performances with AUC values >0.75 in both the training and the validation cohorts based on the ROC curve analyses. CIBERSORT analyses demonstrated positive correlation between the proportion of M0 macrophages in the valve tissues and the expression levels of TREM1, TNFRSF11B, and PGF.

Conclusion

Three pyroptosis-related genes (TREM1, TNFRSF11B and PGF) were identified as diagnostic biomarkers for CAVD. These pyroptosis genes and the pro-inflammatory microenvironment in the calcified valve tissues are potential therapeutic targets for alleviating CAVD.
Profiling endogenous adrenal function during veno-venous ECMO support in COVID-19 ARDS: a descriptive analysis
Authors: Baumgartner Clemens , Wolf Peter , Hermann Alexander , König Sebastian , Maleczek Mathias , Laxar Daniel , Poglitsch Marko , Domenig Oliver , Krenn Katharina , Schiefer Judith , Kautzky-Willer Alexandra , Krebs Michael , Hermann Martina
Published: January 2024

Background

Prolonged critical illness is often accompanied by an impairment of adrenal function, which has been frequently related to conditions complicating patient management. The presumed connection between hypoxia and the pathogenesis of this critical- illness- related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI) might play an important role in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Since extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is frequently used in ARDS, but data on CIRCI during this condition are scarce, this study reports the behaviour of adrenal function parameters during oxygenation support with veno-venous (vv)ECMO in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ARDS.

Methods

A total of 11 patients undergoing vvECMO due to COVID-19 ARDS at the Medical University of Vienna, who received no concurrent corticosteroid therapy, were retrospectively included in this study. We analysed the concentrations of cortisol, aldosterone, and angiotensin (Ang) metabolites (Ang I–IV, Ang 1–7, and Ang 1–5) in serum via liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry before, after 1 day, 1 week, and 2 weeks during vvECMO support and conducted correlation analyses between cortisol and parameters of disease severity.

Results

Cortisol concentrations appeared to be lowest after initiation of ECMO and progressively increased throughout the study period. Higher concentrations were related to disease severity and correlated markedly with interleukin-6, procalcitonin, pH, base excess, and albumin during the first day of ECMO. Fair correlations during the first day could be observed with calcium, duration of critical illness, and ECMO gas flow. Angiotensin metabolite concentrations were available in a subset of patients and indicated a more homogenous aldosterone response to plasma renin activity after 1 week of ECMO support.

Conclusion

Oxygenation support through vvECMO may lead to a partial recovery of adrenal function over time. In homogenous patient collectives, this novel approach might help to further determine the importance of adrenal stress response in ECMO and the influence of oxygenation support on CIRCI.
A mutual comparison of pregnancy outcomes between different conception modes: a propensity score matching based retrospective cohort study
Authors: Sun Chang-Fa , Sheng Jian-Zhong , Huang He-Feng
Published: January 2024

Background

Assisted reproductive technology (ART) has been reported to have negative effects on maternal and neonatal health. Ovulation induction (OI) was reported to be associated with alteration of epigenetic modification of mice embryos, and extinguishing the influence of ovulation induction and in vitro operations on maternal and neonatal health will bring benefits for reducing side effects. The present study aimed to determine whether ovulation induction alone and ART are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and whether ART could induce a higher risk than ovulation induction alone.

Methods

A total of 51,172 cases with singleton live birth between Jan 2016 and May 2019 at the International Peace Maternal and Child Health Hospital were included in this study. Conception modes documented during registration were classified into natural conception (NC), OI, and ART. Pregnancy outcomes of the three groups with balanced baseline characteristics by propensity score matching were compared. The relative risks of maternal and neonatal outcomes were calculated by logistic regression analysis.

Results

Compared with natural conception, infertility treatments are associated with gestational diabetes (OI: OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.31-2.27; ART: OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.26-2.20), preeclampsia/eclampsia (OI: OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.03-3.36; ART: OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.26-3.92). Even if gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, and placental problems were adjusted, infertility treatments are associated with birth before 37 weeks (OI: OR 1.99, 95% CI 1.28-3.12; ART: OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.08-2.69), low birth weight (OI: OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.23-3.91; ART: OR 1.90, 95% CI 1.05-3.45), and SGA (OI: OR 2.42, 95% CI 1.20-4.87; ART: OR 2.56, 95% CI 1.28-5.11). ART but not OI is associated with a higher risk of birth before 34 weeks (OR:3.12, 95% CI 1.21-8.05). By comparing the OI group with the ART group, we only found that ART could induce a higher ratio of placental problems (5.0%, 26/518 vs 2.1%, 11/519, p<0.05).

Conclusion

Both OI and ART are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. ART induced comparable negative effects with OI on gestational complications, birth weight, and premature birth (<37 weeks). However, ART resulted in a higher risk of placental problems than group NC and OI. The incidence of birth before 34 weeks of gestation in the ART group tends to be higher than in the OI group, but not statistically significant. The side effects of ART may originate from OI.
Competition or cooperation? Research on the spatial game relationship of regional carbon emission efficiency
Authors: Chen Weiguo , Chen Xiangtang , Weng Erxuan , Dong Yufeng , Sun Yi , Zou Liping
Published: January 2024

The gradient differences of economic development and industrial structure differences in Jing-Jin-Ji Region are significant. The ability of Jing-Jin-Ji Region to pay for environmental protection is imbalanced. The above two situations make it difficult to achieve coordinated pollution reduction and carbon reduction governance. Accurately measuring carbon emission efficiency and thoroughly analyzing the cooperation and competition relationship of regional carbon emission reduction based on fully considering stakeholders are of great significance for the joint construction, prevention and control of regional ecological environment. The research is also of great significance for promoting high-quality economic development and ensuring effective protection of the regional ecological environment. This study combines game theory and DEA theory to measure the carbon emission efficiency of the Jing-Jin-Ji Region, and then uses spatial game theory to analyze the average degree of being attacked, anti-attack ability, strongest attacker, and optimal partner for the carbon emission efficiency of different DMUs. The study concluded that: 1) Xicheng District and Hedong District have higher carbon emission efficiency, while Mentougou District, Fengtai District, Changping District, Fangshan District, Shijingshan District, Pinggu District and Yanqing County have the lowest carbon emission efficiency. 2) From an analysis of the degree of being attacked, it can be observed that economically developed areas experience a higher average degree of being attacked compared to economically underdeveloped areas. In regions with lower economic development, the influence of the local government on reducing carbon emissions is not significant, whether acting independently or in collaboration. Regions with contrasting industrial structures could be ideal partners, and areas with higher carbon emission efficiency could collaborate with regions with lower carbon emission efficiency to achieve greater reduction potential.
Diversity and distribution patterns of soil macroarthropod communities in the Nianchu River Basin, Tibet, China
Authors: Wang Zhuang-Zhuang , Zhang Peng , He Kai , Zhu Shi-Ying , Pu Bu
Published: January 2024

Introduction

The study of how soil fauna interact with soil ecosystems is an important research field. At present, there has been little research on the diversity and distribution patterns of soil macroarthropods and on the relationship between soil fauna and environmental factors in Tibet.

Methods

The data collection for soil macroarthropods and soil samples was conducted using the plum blossom five-point sampling method. Subsequently, the gathered data were meticulously organized and analyzed through a blend of ecological and statistical approaches.

Results

In total, 2880 soil macroarthropods were captured from 19 plots in the Nianchu River Basin, and the soil macroarthropod Hill numbers was at its lowest in spring. Sea buckthorn forest habitats had the highest Hill numbers. We found that Carabidae, Lycosidae, and Formicidae were always dominant species during seasonal changes in the Nianchu River Basin. Among the four different habitat types studied, Carabidae always appeared across the four studied habitat types and was one of the most significant taxa. The niche range of soil macroarthropods was wetland habitat > farmland habitat > sea buckthorn forest habitat > grassland habitat, and their community within sea buckthorn forest habitats was stable. The niche breadth of soil macroarthropods was the largest in summer, and the community was stable. Soil temperature and soil water content were the most important factors affecting the alpha diversity of soil macroarthropods, while altitude and soil temperature were the most important factors affecting their beta diversity.

Discussion

In summary, the results provide a comprehensive overview of the seasonal and habitat dynamics of soil macroarthropods in the Nianchu River Basin; it is strongly believed that the research carried out in this paper can contribute valuable information toward further research on the soil fauna diversity and ecological functions in this area and provide a strong scientific basis for the protection and sustainable development of the Nianchu River Basin ecosystem.
MicroRNA biomarkers in leprosy: insights from the Northern Brazilian Amazon population and their implications in disease immune-physiopathology
Authors: Cáceres-Durán Miguel Ángel , Pinto Pablo , Magalhães Leandro , de Souza Tatiane Piedade , Gobbo Angelica , Barreto Josafá Gonçalves , da Silva Moises Batista , Fagundes da Costa Patrícia , Salgado Claudio Guedes , Ribeiro-dos-Santos Ândrea
Published: January 2024

Leprosy, or Hansen’s Disease, is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae that affects millions of people worldwide. Despite persistent efforts to combat it leprosy remains a significant public health concern particularly in developing countries. The underlying pathophysiology of the disease is not yet fully understood hindering the development of effective treatment strategies. However, recent studies have shed light on the potential role of microRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding RNA molecules that can regulate gene expression, as promising biomarkers in various disease, including leprosy. This study aimed to validate a set of nine circulating miRNAs to propose new biomarkers for early diagnosis of the disease. Hsa-miR-16-5p, hsa-miR-106b-5p, hsa-miR-1291, hsa-miR-144-5p, and hsa-miR-20a-5p showed significant differential expression between non-leprosy group (non-LP) and leprosy group (LP), accurately discriminating between them (AUC > 0.75). In addition, our study revealed gender-based differences in miRNA expression in LP. Notably, hsa-miR-1291 showed higher expression in male LP, suggesting its potential as a male-specific biomarker. Similarly, hsa-miR-16-5p and hsa-miR-20a-5p displayed elevated expression in female LP, indicating their potential as female-specific biomarkers. Additionally, several studied miRNAs are involved in the dysregulation of apoptosis, autophagy, mitophagy, cell cycle, and immune system in leprosy. In conclusion, the validation of miRNA expression highlights several miRNAs as potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and provides new insights into the pathogenesis of the disease.
Genome-wide identification, evolution, and expression analysis of the NAC gene family in chestnut (Castanea mollissima)
Authors: Cao Fei , Guo Chunlei , Wang Xiangyu , Wang Xuan , Yu Liyang , Zhang Haie , Zhang Jingzheng
Published: January 2024

The NAC gene family is one of the most important transcription factor families specific to plants, responsible for regulating many biological processes, including development, stress response, and signal transduction. However, it has not yet been characterized in chestnut, an important nut tree species. Here, we identified 115 CmNAC genes in the chestnut genome, which were divided into 16 subgroups based on the phylogenetic analysis. Numerous cis-acting elements related to auxin, gibberellin, and abscisic acid were identified in the promoter region of CmNACs, suggesting that they play an important role in the growth and development of chestnut. The results of the collinear analysis indicated that dispersed duplication and whole-genome-duplication were the main drivers of CmNAC gene expansion. RNA-seq data of developmental stages of chestnut nut, bud, and ovule revealed the expression patterns of CmNAC genes. Additionally, qRT-PCR experiments were used to verify the expression levels of some CmNAC genes. The comprehensive analysis of the above results revealed that some CmNAC members may be related to chestnut bud and nut development, as well as ovule fertility. The systematic analysis of this study will help to increase understanding of the potential functions of the CmNAC genes in chestnut growth and development.
Investigating the shared genetic architecture between hypothyroidism and rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Peng Zhifang , Huang Weiping , Tang Mengjun , Chen Binbin , Yang Renqi , Liu Qing , Liu Chaoshui , Long Panpan
Published: January 2024

Background

There is still controversy regarding the relationship between hypothyroidism and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and there has been a dearth of studies on this association. The purpose of our study was to explore the shared genetic architecture between hypothyroidism and RA.

Methods

Using public genome-wide association studies summary statistics of hypothyroidism and RA, we explored shared genetics between hypothyroidism and RA using linkage disequilibrium score regression, ρ-HESS, Pleiotropic analysis under a composite null hypothesis (PLACO), colocalization analysis, Multi-Trait Analysis of GWAS (MTAG), and transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS), and investigated causal associations using Mendelian randomization (MR).

Results

We found a positive genetic association between hypothyroidism and RA, particularly in local genomic regions. Mendelian randomization analysis suggested a potential causal association of hypothyroidism with RA. Incorporating gene expression data, we observed that the genetic associations between hypothyroidism and RA were enriched in various tissues, including the spleen, lung, small intestine, adipose visceral, and blood. A comprehensive approach integrating PLACO, Bayesian colocalization analysis, MTAG, and TWAS, we successfully identified TYK2, IL2RA, and IRF5 as shared risk genes for both hypothyroidism and RA.

Conclusions

Our investigation unveiled a shared genetic architecture between these two diseases, providing novel insights into the underlying biological mechanisms and establishing a foundation for more effective interventions.
Elucidating common pathogenic transcriptional networks in infective endocarditis and sepsis: integrated insights from biomarker discovery and single-cell RNA sequencing
Authors: Yi Chen , Zhang Haoxiang , Yang Jun , Chen Dongjuan , Jiang Shaofeng
Published: January 2024

Background

Infective Endocarditis (IE) and Sepsis are two closely related infectious diseases, yet their shared pathogenic mechanisms at the transcriptional level remain unclear. This research gap poses a barrier to the development of refined therapeutic strategies and drug innovation.

Methods

This study employed a collaborative approach using both microarray data and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data to identify biomarkers for IE and Sepsis. It also offered an in-depth analysis of the roles and regulatory patterns of immune cells in these diseases.

Results

We successfully identified four key biomarkers correlated with IE and Sepsis, namely CD177, IRAK3, RNASE2, and S100A12. Further investigation revealed the central role of Th1 cells, B cells, T cells, and IL-10, among other immune cells and cytokines, in the pathogenesis of these conditions. Notably, the small molecule drug Matrine exhibited potential therapeutic effects by targeting IL-10. Additionally, we discovered two Sepsis subgroups with distinct inflammatory responses and therapeutic strategies, where CD177 demonstrated significant classification value. The reliability of CD177 as a biomarker was further validated through qRT-PCR experiments.

Conclusion

This research not only paves the way for early diagnosis and treatment of IE and Sepsis but also underscores the importance of identifying shared pathogenic mechanisms and novel therapeutic targets at the transcriptional level. Despite limitations in data volume and experimental validation, these preliminary findings add new perspectives to our understanding of these complex diseases.
Extracellular matrix remodeling in the tumor immunity
Authors: Du Wei , Xia Xueming , Hu Fan , Yu Jiayun
Published: January 2024

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a significant constituent of tumors, fulfilling various essential functions such as providing mechanical support, influencing the microenvironment, and serving as a reservoir for signaling molecules. The abundance and degree of cross-linking of ECM components are critical determinants of tissue stiffness. In the process of tumorigenesis, the interaction between ECM and immune cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME) frequently leads to ECM stiffness, thereby disrupting normal mechanotransduction and promoting malignant progression. Therefore, acquiring a thorough comprehension of the dysregulation of ECM within the TME would significantly aid in the identification of potential therapeutic targets for cancer treatment. In this regard, we have compiled a comprehensive summary encompassing the following aspects: (1) the principal components of ECM and their roles in malignant conditions; (2) the intricate interaction between ECM and immune cells within the TME; and (3) the pivotal regulators governing the onco-immune response in ECM.
Mariculture may intensify eutrophication but lower N/P ratios: a case study based on nutrients and dual nitrate isotope measurements in Sansha Bay, southeastern China
Authors: Bu Dezhi , Zhu Qingmei , Li Jialin , Huang Jiali , Zhuang Yanpei , Yang Wei , Qi Di
Published: January 2024

The mariculture industry has grown rapidly worldwide over the past few decades. The industry helps meet growing food demands and may provide an effective means of carbon sequestration; however, it may harm the marine ecological environment, and the extent of its impact depends on the type of mariculture. Here we focus on the impact of mariculture on the nutrient status and eutrophication in Sansha Bay, which is a typical aquaculture harbor in southeastern China that employs a combination of shellfish and seaweed farming. Nutrient concentrations and dual nitrate isotopes were measured in Sansha Bay during the winter of 2021. The average concentrations of nitrate and phosphate were 31.3 ± 10.5 and 2.26 ± 0.84 µM, respectively, indicating that the water was in a eutrophic state. However, the N/P ratios were relatively low (14.3 ± 2.2). Nitrate isotope measurements were 8.8‰–11.9‰ for δ15N-NO3− and 2.2‰–6.0‰ for δ18O-NO3−. Source analysis based on the nitrate isotope measurements indicates that nitrate in Sansha Bay is derived mainly from the excretion of organisms and sewage discharge from mariculture. The isotopic fractionation model of nitrate assimilation by organisms indicates that surface waters in Sansha Bay experience strong biological uptake of nitrate, which is likely related to seaweed farming in winter. The low N/P ratios may be attributed to excessive nitrogen uptake (relative to phosphorus) during shellfish and seaweed farming, as well as nitrogen removal through sediment denitrification, which is fueled by the sinking of particulate organic matter from mariculture. Overall, our study shows that mariculture activities dominated by shellfish and seaweed cultivation in Sansha Bay may exacerbate eutrophication but reduce N/P ratios in the water column in aquaculture areas.
Laser ultrasonic time-domain synthetic aperture focusing (SAFT) co-overlay software and hardware (COSH) computing system based on ZYNQ
Authors: Tan Junfu , Ni Chenyin , Wu Chanjuan , Ying Kaining , Dai Lunan , Shen Zhonghua
Published: January 2024

The application of laser ultrasonic technology to defect detection is being widely studied. The Synthetic Aperture Focusing Techniques (SAFTs) is one of the imaging algorithms for detecting and imaging internal defects. SAFT based on Delay and Sum (DAS-SAFT) is known for high-quality imaging results. However, it has the disadvantages of the large calculation amount, which severely restricts its application. This work proposes a Co-Overlay Software and Hardware method (SAFT-COSH) based on Zynq, which uses parallelism and pipeline technology on FPGA and can efficiently accelerate DAS-SAFT operations. It can be found that the result obtained by the SAFT-COSH method is similar to the original method. Moreover, the time consumption of the SAFT-COSH system is 1/28 of that of the I9-13900KF CPU used for DAS-SAFT calculation. Finally, it was found by analyzing the time consumption of the DAS-SAFT procedure that the time consumption of SAFT-COSH system is short enough to support real-time 3D defect imaging. Characteristics of high efficiency and low cost in the SAFT-COSH method make it applicable in fields that require fast imaging using SAFT-based methods.
Assessing cognitive biases induced by acute formalin or hotplate treatment: an animal study using affective bias test
Authors: Zhang Yu-Han , Lin Jie-Xuan , Wang Ning , Wang Jin-Yan , Luo Fei
Published: January 2024

Pain, a universal and burdensome condition, influences numerous individuals worldwide. It encompasses sensory, emotional, and cognitive facets, with recent research placing a heightened emphasis on comprehending pain’s impact on emotion and cognition. Cognitive bias, which encompasses attentional bias, interpretation bias, and memory bias, signifies the presence of cognitive distortions influenced by emotional factors. It has gained significant prominence in pain-related research. Human studies have shown that individuals experiencing pain exhibit cognitive bias. Similarly, animal studies have demonstrated cognitive bias in pain-induced states across various species and disease models. In this study, we aimed to investigate the memory bias displayed by rats experiencing acute pain, using the affective bias test (ABT) as a tool and administering either hotplate or formalin to induce acute pain. Our data showed that rats demonstrated a significant preference for the control treatment-related substrate over the substrate associated with formalin treatment (p < 0.001), an indication of the prominent memory bias stimulated by acute formalin injections. However, when exposed to substrates related to hotplate treatment and control treatment, the acute pain induced by the hotplate treatment failed to generate a statistically significant choice bias in rats (p = 0.674). Our study demonstrates that the negative emotions associated with acute pain can be reflected by memory bias in ABT, at least for formalin-induced acute pain. This finding will augment our comprehension of the emotional and cognitive aspects of acute pain.
From brain to spinal cord: neuromodulation by direct current stimulation and its promising effects as a treatment option for restless legs syndrome
Authors: Dirks Christina A. H. , Bachmann Cornelius G.
Published: January 2024

Neuromodulation is a fast-growing field of mostly non-invasive therapies, which includes spinal cord stimulation (SCS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), vagal nerve stimulation (VNS), peripheral nerve stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcutaneous spinal direct current stimulation (tsDCS). This narrative review offers an overview of the therapy options, especially of tDCS and tsDCS for chronic pain and spinal cord injury. Finally, we discuss the potential of tsDCS in Restless Legs Syndrome as a promising non-invasive, alternative therapy to medication therapy.