bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic top-down biasing implements rapid adaptive changes to individual movements
Authors: Tian Lucas Y , Warren Timothy L , Mehaffey William H , Brainard Michael S
Published: September 2023

Complex behaviors depend on the coordinated activity of neural ensembles in interconnected brain areas. The behavioral function of such coordination, often measured as co-fluctuations in neural activity across areas, is poorly understood. One hypothesis is that rapidly varying co-fluctuations may be a signature of moment-by-moment task-relevant influences of one area on another. We tested this possibility for error-corrective adaptation of birdsong, a form of motor learning which has been hypothesized to depend on the top-down influence of a higher-order area, LMAN (lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior nidopallium), in shaping moment-by-moment output from a primary motor area, RA (robust nucleus of the arcopallium). In paired recordings of LMAN and RA in singing birds, we discovered a neural signature of a top-down influence of LMAN on RA, quantified as an LMAN-leading co-fluctuation in activity between these areas. During learning, this co-fluctuation strengthened in a premotor temporal window linked to the specific movement, sequential context, and acoustic modification associated with learning. Moreover, transient perturbation of LMAN activity specifically within this premotor window caused rapid occlusion of pitch modifications, consistent with LMAN conveying a temporally localized motor-biasing signal. Combined, our results reveal a dynamic top-down influence of LMAN on RA that varies on the rapid timescale of individual movements and is flexibly linked to contexts associated with learning. This finding indicates that inter-area co-fluctuations can be a signature of dynamic top-down influences that support complex behavior and its adaptation.
Complementary CRISPR screen highlights the contrasting role of membrane-bound and soluble ICAM-1 in regulating antigen-specific tumor cell killing by cytotoxic T cells
Authors: Herzfeldt Ann-Kathrin , Gamez Marta Puig , Martin Eva , Boryn Lukasz Miloslaw , Baskaran Praveen , Huber Heinrich J , Schuler Michael , Park John E , Swee Lee Kim
Published: September 2023

Cytotoxic CD8 +T lymphocytes (CTLs) are key players of adaptive anti-tumor immunity based on their ability to specifically recognize and destroy tumor cells. Many cancer immunotherapies rely on unleashing CTL function. However, tumors can evade killing through strategies which are not yet fully elucidated. To provide deeper insight into tumor evasion mechanisms in an antigen-dependent manner, we established a human co-culture system composed of tumor and primary immune cells. Using this system, we systematically investigated intrinsic regulators of tumor resistance by conducting a complementary CRISPR screen approach. By harnessing CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) and CRISPR knockout (KO) technology in parallel, we investigated gene gain-of-function as well as loss-of-function across genes with annotated function in a colon carcinoma cell line. CRISPRa and CRISPR KO screens uncovered 187 and 704 hits, respectively, with 60 gene hits overlapping between both. These data confirmed the role of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and autophagy pathways and uncovered novel genes implicated in tumor resistance to killing. Notably, we discovered that ILKAP encoding the integrin-linked kinase-associated serine/threonine phosphatase 2 C, a gene previously unknown to play a role in antigen specific CTL-mediated killing, mediate tumor resistance independently from regulating antigen presentation, IFN-γ or TNF-α responsiveness. Moreover, our work describes the contrasting role of soluble and membrane-bound ICAM-1 in regulating tumor cell killing. The deficiency of membrane-bound ICAM-1 (mICAM-1) or the overexpression of soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1) induced resistance to CTL killing, whereas PD-L1 overexpression had no impact. These results highlight the essential role of ICAM-1 at the immunological synapse between tumor and CTL and the antagonist function of sICAM-1.
Within-host diversity improves phylogenetic and transmission reconstruction of SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks
Authors: Torres Ortiz Arturo , Kendall Michelle , Storey Nathaniel , Hatcher James , Dunn Helen , Roy Sunando , Williams Rachel , Williams Charlotte , Goldstein Richard A , Didelot Xavier , Harris Kathryn , Breuer Judith , Grandjean Louis
Published: September 2023

Accurate inference of who infected whom in an infectious disease outbreak is critical for the delivery of effective infection prevention and control. The increased resolution of pathogen whole-genome sequencing has significantly improved our ability to infer transmission events. Despite this, transmission inference often remains limited by the lack of genomic variation between the source case and infected contacts. Although within-host genetic diversity is common among a wide variety of pathogens, conventional whole-genome sequencing phylogenetic approaches exclusively use consensus sequences, which consider only the most prevalent nucleotide at each position and therefore fail to capture low-frequency variation within samples. We hypothesized that including within-sample variation in a phylogenetic model would help to identify who infected whom in instances in which this was previously impossible. Using whole-genome sequences from SARS-CoV-2 multi-institutional outbreaks as an example, we show how within-sample diversity is partially maintained among repeated serial samples from the same host, it can transmitted between those cases with known epidemiological links, and how this improves phylogenetic inference and our understanding of who infected whom. Our technique is applicable to other infectious diseases and has immediate clinical utility in infection prevention and control.
Fluorescein-based sensors to purify human α-cells for functional and transcriptomic analyses
Authors: Kahraman Sevim , Shibue Kimitaka , De Jesus Dario F , Kim Hyunki , Hu Jiang , Manna Debasish , Wagner Bridget , Choudhary Amit , Kulkarni Rohit N
Published: September 2023

Pancreatic α-cells secrete glucagon, an insulin counter-regulatory peptide hormone critical for the maintenance of glucose homeostasis. Investigation of the function of human α-cells remains a challenge due to the lack of cost-effective purification methods to isolate high-quality α-cells from islets. Here, we use the reaction-based probe diacetylated Zinpyr1 (DA-ZP1) to introduce a novel and simple method for enriching live α-cells from dissociated human islet cells with ~95% purity. The α-cells, confirmed by sorting and immunostaining for glucagon, were cultured up to 10 days to form α-pseudoislets. The α-pseudoislets could be maintained in culture without significant loss of viability, and responded to glucose challenge by secreting appropriate levels of glucagon. RNA-sequencing analyses (RNA-seq) revealed that expression levels of key α-cell identity genes were sustained in culture while some of the genes such as DLK1, GSN, SMIM24 were altered in α-pseudoislets in a time-dependent manner. In conclusion, we report a method to sort human primary α-cells with high purity that can be used for downstream analyses such as functional and transcriptional studies.
Allosteric regulation of kinase activity in living cells
Authors: Godbole Shivani Sujay , Dokholyan Nikolay V
Published: September 2023

The dysregulation of protein kinases is associated with multiple diseases due to the kinases' involvement in a variety of cell signaling pathways. Manipulating protein kinase function, by controlling the active site, is a promising therapeutic and investigative strategy to mitigate and study diseases. Kinase active sites share structural similarities, making it difficult to specifically target one kinase, and allosteric control allows specific regulation and study of kinase function without directly targeting the active site. Allosteric sites are distal to the active site but coupled via a dynamic network of inter-atomic interactions between residues in the protein. Establishing an allosteric control over a kinase requires understanding the allosteric wiring of the protein. Computational techniques offer effective and inexpensive mapping of the allosteric sites on a protein. Here, we discuss the methods to map and regulate allosteric communications in proteins, and strategies to establish control over kinase functions in live cells and organisms. Protein molecules, or ‘sensors,’ are engineered to function as tools to control allosteric activity of the protein as these sensors have high spatiotemporal resolution and help in understanding cell phenotypes after immediate activation or inactivation of a kinase. Traditional methods used to study protein functions, such as knockout, knockdown, or mutation, cannot offer a sufficiently high spatiotemporal resolution. We discuss the modern repertoire of tools to regulate protein kinases as we enter a new era in deciphering cellular signaling and developing novel approaches to treat diseases associated with signal dysregulation.
CryoEM structures of the human CLC-2 voltage-gated chloride channel reveal a ball-and-chain gating mechanism
Authors: Xu Mengyuan , Neelands Torben , Powers Alexander S , Liu Yan , Miller Steven D , Pintilie Grigore D , Bois J Du , Dror Ron O , Chiu Wah , Maduke Merritt
Published: September 2023

CLC-2 is a voltage-gated chloride channel that contributes to electrical excitability and ion homeostasis in many different tissues. Among the nine mammalian CLC homologs, CLC-2 is uniquely activated by hyperpolarization, rather than depolarization, of the plasma membrane. The molecular basis for the divergence in polarity of voltage gating among closely related homologs has been a long-standing mystery, in part because few CLC channel structures are available. Here, we report cryoEM structures of human CLC-2 at 2.46 – 2.76 Å, in the presence and absence of the selective inhibitor AK-42. AK-42 binds within the extracellular entryway of the Cl–-permeation pathway, occupying a pocket previously proposed through computational docking studies. In the apo structure, we observed two distinct conformations involving rotation of one of the cytoplasmic C-terminal domains (CTDs). In the absence of CTD rotation, an intracellular N-terminal 15-residue hairpin peptide nestles against the TM domain to physically occlude the Cl–-permeation pathway. This peptide is highly conserved among species variants of CLC-2 but is not present in other CLC homologs. Previous studies suggested that the N-terminal domain of CLC-2 influences channel properties via a “ball-and-chain” gating mechanism, but conflicting data cast doubt on such a mechanism, and thus the structure of the N-terminal domain and its interaction with the channel has been uncertain. Through electrophysiological studies of an N-terminal deletion mutant lacking the 15-residue hairpin peptide, we support a model in which the N-terminal hairpin of CLC-2 stabilizes a closed state of the channel by blocking the cytoplasmic Cl–-permeation pathway.
CryoEM structures of the human CLC-2 voltage gated chloride channel reveal a ball and chain gating mechanism
Authors: Xu Mengyuan , Neelands Torben , Powers Alexander S. , Liu Yan , Miller Steven D. , Pintilie Grigore , Du Bois J. , Dror Ron O. , Chiu Wah , Maduke Merritt
Published: September 2023

CLC-2 is a voltage-gated chloride channel that contributes to electrical excitability and ion homeostasis in many different mammalian tissues and cell types. Among the nine mammalian CLC homologs, CLC-2 is uniquely activated by hyperpolarization, rather than depolarization, of the plasma membrane. The molecular basis for the divergence in polarity of voltage gating mechanisms among closely related CLC homologs has been a long-standing mystery, in part because few CLC channel structures are available, and those that exist exhibit high conformational similarity. Here, we report cryoEM structures of human CLC-2 at 2.46 – 2.76 Å, in the presence and absence of the potent and selective inhibitor AK-42. AK-42 binds within the extracellular entryway of the Cl
−
-permeation pathway, occupying a pocket previously proposed through computational docking studies. In the apo structure, we observed two distinct apo conformations of CLC-2 involving rotation of one of the cytoplasmic C-terminal domains (CTDs). In the absence of CTD rotation, an intracellular N-terminal 15-residue hairpin peptide nestles against the TM domain to physically occlude the Cl
−
-permeation pathway from the intracellular side. This peptide is highly conserved among species variants of CLC-2 but is not present in any other CLC homologs. Previous studies suggested that the N-terminal domain of CLC-2 influences channel properties via a “ball-and-chain” gating mechanism, but conflicting data cast doubt on such a mechanism, and thus the structure of the N-terminal domain and its interaction with the channel has been uncertain. Through electrophysiological studies of an N-terminal deletion mutant lacking the 15-residue hairpin peptide, we show that loss of this short sequence increases the magnitude and decreases the rectification of CLC-2 currents expressed in mammalian cells. Furthermore, we show that with repetitive hyperpolarization WT CLC-2 currents increase in resemblance to the hairpin-deleted CLC-2 currents. These functional results combined with our structural data support a model in which the N-terminal hairpin of CLC-2 stabilizes a closed state of the channel by blocking the cytoplasmic Cl
−
-permeation pathway.
Collaborative Making
Authors: Goldthorpe Charlotte Mary
Published: September 2023

The purpose of this paper is to understand how collaborative making is used as not only a means of production, but an exercise in storytelling. Through dialogue between craftspeople, skills are developed, shared, and maintained. Craft practice is communicated, and memories are preserved. This paper explores how, through a case study of producing an artefact from start to finish, collaborative making leads to creating more than just an object, but also a connection between all involved. ‘Watch’ is part of a wider doctoral study in which nine artefacts were made from collected stories of lost love and then through encounters with several craftspeople. The paper considers the relationships between crafts­people and how we work together to develop hybrid skills by utilising traditional practice to create new ways of crafting.
Building Tiny house from waste
Authors: Komazec Ksenija , Vaara Elsa , Brun Géraldine , Larsson Stig , Tobiasson Helena
Published: September 2023

This paper contributes to the understanding of how critical reflection can be applied to sustainability. This was accomplished by tracing the progression of a tiny-house project over time and the associated activities, which involved sourcing secondhand and discarded materials. We are a group of researchers and practitioners who worked together to explore and challenge the established norms of sustainability in housing practices: who is building, what is being built, with what materials, and through which processes. The use of discarded materials as resources for building a tiny house came to be decisive in shaping a platform for inclusion and sustainable practices. While the most common practice of building involves buying the materials needed at a lumber yard, working with discarded and secondhand materials requires time and flexibility. Tools play a central role in adapting random waste to specific purposes, a process that also demands skills in handling tools creatively. Additionally, gathering, organizing, and cleaning are activities that should be given special attention when working with these types of materials. In this paper, we explain how we reinjected waste materials into the production chain and how our work contributes to sustainable development from environmental and social perspectives. The argument for sustainability in our research revolves around exploring processes that include more groups in society and alternative ways of organizing the resources available.
Re-hackling flax before spinning
Authors: Ekstedt Bjersing Marie
Published: September 2023

Flax is a traditional plant used to make textiles. Flax, like all natural fibres, is a material with variations. Knowledge of a crafting process can be obtained by studying artefacts and all available documentation and by being present in a craft tradition and society of spinning. A craftsperson will make many small decisions during their work. How do we gain knowledge about handling materials, and how do we preserve the intangible skills relevant to a craft? This performance article aims to make visible specific knowledge of material, tools and working methods for re-hackling flax. The text and performance illustrate the perspective of a reflecting craftsperson. By asking questions about the work process, critical decisions regarding crafts will be highlighted. This approach will help preserve and transmit craft skills within flax processing.
Valuation Mechanisms of Fine European Tapestries in the International Auction Market
Authors: Radermecker Anne-Sophie
Published: September 2023

Using textile arts (fine European tapestries) as a case study, we demonstrate the potential of hedonic regression to better understand buyers’ willingness to pay for these works at auction. Once highly valued, this medium offers unique characteristics that differ in part from paintings and affect buyers’ purchasing behaviors differently. Based on a dataset of 602 wall-hangings sold at Christie’s and Sotheby’s over the last decade, our empirical findings suggest that local place branding, aesthetics (antiqueness, ornamental effects), and material quality are crucial price determinants of textile arts.
The becoming of boats
Authors: Falck Tori
Published: September 2023

Reconstruction is an essential tool for gaining knowledge of shipwrecks in maritime archaeology. This paper examines some theoretical and practical consequences of viewing vessels not as finished objects but as things that are continuously being made during their lifetime. This is done by proposing perspectives on things that uphold their biography as an essential characteristic. To illustrate this, the 16th-century shipwreck Bispevika 16 (Oslo harbour) will be an example of a vessel showing minor and significant technical changes throughout its life. Its most manifest change is the addition of an outer layer of carvel planks on the lapstrake-built hull. This makes this vessel one of a growing number of archaeologically known converted lapstrake-built vessels in Northern Europe.
Sommelier craft
Authors: Scander Henrik
Published: September 2023

This performance study focuses on sommeliers, delving into what constitutes their work and the process of achieving this title. Sommeliers are wine specialists tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that beverages are served properly in combination with food. Similar to other craft persons, the sommelier’s craft is connected to their knowledge of the products, primarily wine and other beverages, and the products’ relation to different foods. The art of tasting is an acquired knowledge, an embodied craft, a central professional competence to determine the quality of beverages. Other elements of sommelier knowledge are communication with guests, a social craft, and how to move in relation to the room, a spatial craft, both of which are based on the influence of different contexts. This study highlights the complexity of aesthetic judgements that sommeliers make through their embodied, social and spatial craft practices while decanting wine and serving it to a guest. It uses a video-reflexive ethnography to emphasise the aesthetics of the sommelier craft. The decanting is carried out in line with the guidelines of the International Sommelier Association. Simultaneously, some judgements in the performance must be articulated verbally to emphasise the complexity of the different crafts in relation to the importance of understanding the complexity in adopting the service to the situation. Social, embodied and spatial craft practices, in relation to the sommelier, show how aesthetic judgements are developed into a willingness to understand people and satisfy guests. This is achieved by 'cognitive planning’, which entails working diligently and preparing to enhance the efficiency of the craft, and by ‘situational adjustments’ that occur in real time to improve and optimise the guest's experience.
Material-economic aspects of wooden pole fence-buildings
Authors: Svantesson Björn
Published: September 2023

This paper examines different aspects of wooden pole fence-buildings through two different perspectives. In the first part of the article, the material-economic conditions and the nature of the crafts involved in the building technique is examined through a sloyd-theoretical perspective. By comparing approaches and methods of the wooden pole fence building-technique with those of domestic sloyd rather than architecture, an attempt is made at understanding the techniques epistemological nature. The versatile nature of the building technique is emphasized, and its regenerative qualities highlighted. The second part takes a closer look at the craft procedures involved in the making of a wooden pole fence-building through a processual reconstruction of a small barn based on a filmed documentation of the building process from the 1930s. Through practical experiments, attempts are made to understand and recreate the craft procedures documented in the film. Questions about the selection of wood for the barn and how material conditions affect the craft procedures are discussed. A filmed documentation of three of the procedures of the reconstruction gives an insight into the process.
Changes in Craft Education
Authors: Urdziņa-Deruma Māra
Published: September 2023

In Latvia, the aim, content, and name of the subject of craft education have changed several times. The most recent transformation to “craft education” has been made following the general education reform, which has been gradually implemented since 2020. This study aims to investigate how the purpose and content of craft learning in Latvian comprehensive schools have changed as a result of this reform in comparison to the previous period. A qualitative study was carried out by analysing normative documents and interviewing design and technology teachers (N = 9) with at least 10 years of experience. The document analysis shows that the goal of teaching craft education has shifted from using craft as an opportunity to improve the quality of the living environment through creative involvement in techniques to producing valuable objects for oneself and society through the design process. The most significant change in the content is that craft is taught through the design process. Moreover, every pupil learns all the techniques; previously, students chose textile or woodwork and metalwork techniques from grade 5. According to the interviews, the skills acquired in each technique are at a lower level compared to the previous period, as the number of hours allocated to each technique does not allow pupils to pay in-depth attention to the tasks. The products made by the students have also become more straightforward. Finally, more time is spent on idea generation, planning, and evaluation.
Innovation in Estonian heritage-based knitting
Authors: Jõeste Kristi
Published: September 2023

Innovation is an intentionally introduced significant and positive change to an existent practice. In crafts, innovation is challenging because, by nature, crafts are based on traditions and collective knowledge; they involve practising something the way it has always been practiced. If anything changes, it is copied rapidly by other craftspeople. In this article, I explain innovation in traditional glove-knitting through the concept of transformation of the tradition, and I analyse the case using a method called technique-concept-utility-structure-material (TCUSM), which was introduced by Adhi Nugraha in 2010. According to this method, one must know the tradition thoroughly in order to make conscious and justifiable changes to it. One must compare and explain what is traditional and what is new in one’s products. I combine this method with an artistic autoethnographic approach. Within my personal practice, the most significant change to the original involves combining and borrowing aesthetic elements from other traditional textiles or developing my own combinations of patterns and colours. First, I give a short over­view of the history of embroidered gloves in Estonia, then demonstrate, with the help of explanations and photographs, contemporary gloves, made by me.
Human–Material Dialogues Through the Use of Robotics
Authors: Tvede Hansen Flemming
Published: September 2023

This research investigates and discusses an embodied craft learning situation in an educational context that aims to support students within architecture by applying human–material dialogues when using robotics. Initially, the students were introduced to traditional craftsmanship based on materials and tools in ceramics. Based on the gained experiential knowledge, the same tools and materials were applied and explored on a UR 5 robot. A sensor provided the students with the opportunity to interact with the mate­rial through the robot while it was operating. The learning situation showed the potential to teach the students about robotics based on human–material dialogues and embodiment through making. The sensor enabled the students to use their experiential knowledge to improvise and work intuitively and spontaneously while they were exploring patterning based on the tools attached to the robot and the responsive material.
Crafts and the Origins of Geometry
Authors: Nemirovsky Ricardo , Bunn Stephanie , Silverton Francesca 
Published: September 2023

In this paper, we explore the possible roles of craftwork at the origins of geometry. Since shapes are the characters of geometry, our focus is on crafting shapes. We review two approaches to the nature of making: hylomorphism and hylonoesis. Related to these, we distinguish between ‘shape’ and ‘shaping’. From studies on prehistoric pottery, we explore a conception of ‘shaping’ as thoroughly implicated by the manifold social, biological, and material life of a community. Then we explore the significance of ’shaping’, which animate shapes, immerse them in the vagaries of materiality, and fill them with secrets longing for their open realization; a realization that is at once — inseparably — material and imaginary. We make shapes as they shape our bodies, and then we become capable of imagining and gesturing them.
Editorial. Conference proceedings of the 2nd Biennial International Conference for the Craft Sciences—BICCS 2023
Authors: Almevik Gunnar , Brun Géraldine , Palmsköld Anneli , Saltzman Katarina
Published: September 2023

The papers in this issue comprise the proceedings of the 2nd Biennial International Conference for the Craft Sciences, held 20–22 September 2023 in Mariestad at the Craft Laboratory, affiliated with the Department of Conservation, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Craft is an integral aspect of daily life and work, activated in all the knowledgeable processes of making and transforming ideas into artefacts and services. Craft is commonly anticipated as a form of production, but it may also be practiced as a social and political activity and as a way of knowing and being in the world. Craft is omnipresent and multi-folded. Consequently, craft research is diverse, conducted across and within different disciplines and academic contexts, and operates with distinct perspectives and approaches.
Influence of engaging female caregivers in households with adolescent girls on adopting equitable family eating practices: a quasi-experimental study
Authors: Gulema Hanna , Demissie Meaza , Worku Alemayehu , Assebe Yadeta Tesfaye , Berhane Yemane
Published: September 2023

Background

In patriarchal societies, female caregivers decide on food allocation within a family based on prevailing gender and age norms, which may lead to inequality that does not favor young adolescent girls. This study evaluated the effect of a community-based social norm intervention involving female caregivers in West Hararghe, Ethiopia. The intervention was engaging female caregivers along with other adult influential community members to deliberate and act on food allocation social norms in a process referred to as Social Analysis and Action (SAA).

Method

We used data from a large quasi-experimental study to compare family eating practices between those who participated in the Social Analyses and Action intervention and those who did not. The respondents were female caregivers in households with young adolescent girls (ages 13 and 14 years). The study’s outcome was the practice of family eating together from the same dish. The difference in difference (DID) analysis with the mixed effect logistic regression model was used to examine the effect of the intervention.

Result

The results showed improved family eating practices in both groups, but the improvement was greater in the intervention group. The DID analysis showed an 11.99 percentage points greater improvement in the intervention arm than in the control arm. The mixed-effect regression produced an adjusted odds ratio of 2.08 (95% CI [1.06–4.09]) after controlling selected covariates, p-value 0.033.

Conclusions

The involvement of influential adult community members significantly improves the family practice of eating together in households where adolescent girls are present in our study. The intervention has great potential to minimize household food allocation inequalities and thus improve the nutritional status of young adolescents. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention in different social norm contexts to formulate policy and guidelines for scale-up.
Estrategias para aumentar la donación de órganos y tejidos: visión de actores claves y revisión de la literatura
Authors:   ,   Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Facultad de Medicina, Neira Mora Valeska
Published: September 2023

El trasplante es un tratamiento que se realiza cuando existe una falla irreversible de un órgano. La donación de órganos es un acto voluntario, altruista y gratuito. Tanto en Chile como en el mundo la principal dificultad para realizar un trasplante es la falta de donantes. Pregunta de investigación ¿Cuáles son las estrategias internacionales que han ayudado a aumentar la tasa de donación de órganos? ¿Cuál es la visión de actores claves respecto a las fortalezas y debilidades del proceso de donación de órganos en Chile?. Objetivos: Crear recomendaciones para aumentar el número de donantes de órganos y tejido en Chile. Metodología mixta: Una revisión de la literatura y entrevista semiestructurada. Resultados: Los países con mayor tasa de donación mundial corresponde a España, Estados Unidos y en Latinoamérica lidera Uruguay. Estos países cuenta con leyes que regulan la actividad de donación y trasplante, además de autonomía que les permite realizar un trabajo de regulación y gestión directa. Discusión/Conclusión: No se puede comparar a Chile con los países incluidos en el estudio, pero si observar las actividades exitosas que han realizado. La falta de notificación/pesquisa de posibles donantes es el nodo critico del procesos de donación y trasplante en Chile.
Evaluating the Dietary Gaps and Anthropometric Parameters of the Government School Children Aged 11-14 Years in Accordance with ICMR Standards
Authors: Selvi K Silambu , laavanya J Sai , Nandhini G , Priya P Shanthini , Ekal I Vanthi
Published: September 2023

Introduction: Malnutrition is a major global health crisis that needs immediate attention. Adolescence is a crucial stage where nutrition plays a major role on account of their growth and development. There is a need to assess the nutritional status of Government school children in Tamil nadu to take appropriate policy decisions and implement nutritional interventions. Aim: To assess the dietary gaps of Government school children and compare their anthropometric parameters with Indian Council of Medical Reasearch (ICMR) standards. Also, to associate their daily intake of five food groups with their weight status. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted by the Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre (SRMIST), Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu District, Chennai,Tamil Nadu, India as a part of a nutritional awareness camp in month of March 2022 to examine the eating pattern of school-going children aged 11-14 years, in a Government school of Kalivanthapattu village, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu. Data was collected randomly among 73 school children during a nutritional awareness camp conducted by study Institute. A validated tool was used to identify the dietary gaps in food group intake and the anthropometric parameters were assessed using standard measures and were compared with ICMR and World Health Organisation (WHO) standards to analyse their nutritional status. The acquired data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Results: Out of the 73 children, there were 52 girls and 21 boys and the mean age of the children was 12.09±0.80 years. The dietary gap assessment tool indicated the gross deficiency in the intake of different food groups by the children. The majority of the samples 52 (71.2%) had an average dietary pattern, 9 (12.3%) students were found to have poor dietary habits and only 12 (16.4%) students had a good dietary pattern. Body Mass Index (BMI) assessment indicated that 39 students (53.4%) were normal (-2SD to +1SD) and others were found to be malnourished. A substantial variation in the mean weight of 12-year-old-male students (p-value=0.025) as well as female students (p-value=0.003) was observed when compared to ICMR standards. There was high significant difference between mean height of 13-year-old female students and the mean height as per ICMR standards (p-value=0.004). Conclusion: The dietary intake of Government school children was average and the anthropemetric assessment indicated that many of them were malnourished.
Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma in a Young, Nulliparous Woman: A Case Report
Authors: Subhasri S , Nivedita K , Nasheeha N Noorul , Rajkumar K , Sriram V Sriram
Published: September 2023

Endometrial stromal tumours are tumours of endometrial stromal origin and are classified into Endometrial Stromal Nodule (ESN), Low-Grade Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma (LG-ESS), and High-Grade Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma (HG-ESS). LG-ESS and HGESS are rare tumours, accounting for 1% of uterine malignancies and 10% of uterine sarcomas. These tumours commonly occur in perimenopausal women between the ages of 45 and 50 years. Their incidence is rare in younger women. Endometrial stromal tumours are usually confused with leiomyoma, uterine Leiomyosarcoma (LMS), or other sarcomas. The authors here present a case report of a 28-year-old nulligravid patient who presented with a history of heavy menstrual bleeding and dysmenorrhea for a duration of six months. Ultrasonography of the abdomen and pelvis suggested fibroid with degenerative changes, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) indicated leiomyoma variants such as: i) Stromal Tumours of Uncertain Malignant Potential (STUMP)/ atypical/cellular leiomyoma; ii) myxoid degeneration of leiomyoma. To arrive at a definitive diagnosis, myomectomy was performed considering the woman’s young age and nulliparity. Histopathology allowed for a differential diagnosis of LG-ESS, LMS, and cellular leiomyoma. Consequently, the patient underwent total abdominal hysterectomy with left salphingo opherectomy, right salpingectomy, and preservation of the right ovary. The definitive diagnosis is made by histopathological examination coupled with immunohistochemistry of the hysterectomy specimen. Hysterectomy is the definitive treatment of LG-ESS considering their ability to infiltrate and become malignant.
Immediate Effects of OM Meditation on Heart Rate Variability as a Stress Index During Different Phases of Menstruation: A Quasi-Experimental Pilot Study
Authors: Kanuga Mansha , Patil Satish G , Goudappanavar Sweta , Ruikar Komal
Published: September 2023

Introduction: Stress alters normal reproductive function, causing menstrual disorders up to infertility in females. Psychological stress is the most common lifestyle factor found to be associated with menstrual disorders among late adolescence and young adults. Yoga-based OM-meditation has been shown to reduce stress, but its effect on managing stress during different phases of menstruation in young females is not known. Aim: To evaluate if short-term practice of OM-meditation could induce a beneficial modulation in Heart-Rate Variability (HRV), a measure of stress index during various phases of the menstrual cycle in young females. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted on 20 healthy young females with a normal menstrual cycle, aged between 18-25 years, and pursuing a medicine course at Shri BM Patil Medical College, Karnataka, India, from March 2020 to December 2021. Meditation group participants (n=10) practiced OM-meditation, while control group participants (n=10) relaxed quietly for 10 minutes. Each subject received an intervention thrice during the menstrual, proliferative, and secretory phases. Data was collected before and immediately after every intervention. Body Mass Index (BMI), Blood Pressure (BP), Heart Rate (HR), and HRV were measured. Distribution of data, within-group and betweengroup analysis was done. ANCOVA (Analysis of covariance) was used to determine the differences between groups. Results: Total 20 participants, n=10 in each, Meditation and control group, mean age of participants was 19.2±0.79 and 19.3±0.82 years, and the mean period of MC was 31.1±2.76 and 30.3±2.4 days in the meditation and control groups, respectively. There was no change in the baseline values of BMI, BP, and HR between the two groups, and they were within the normal range. Between-group analysis (ANCOVA) of HRV spectrum showed that OM-meditation had significantly decreased the LowFrequency (LF) component of HRV (p<0.05) and LF/HF ratio (p<0.05), and increased the High-Frequency (HF) component (p<0.05) of HRV during all three phases of MC. Conclusion: The practice of OM-meditation for 10 minutes reduced sympathetic activity and shifted autonomic balance towards parasympathetic dominance. These changes suggest that OM-meditation can reduce mental stress and optimise autonomic regulation during different phases of MC. However, this needs evaluation in a larger trial.
Knowledge and Perception Regarding Sexual Health among College Students in Malappuram District, Kerala, India: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Gopalamenon Nandini , Ramachandran Remya , Venugopal Aiswarya K
Published: September 2023

Introduction: Good Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) encompasses complete physical, mental, and social well-being in all matters related to the reproductive system. Access to accurate information is crucial for maintaining SRH. Adequate knowledge and perception regarding sexual health play a vital role in reducing Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), teenage or unwanted pregnancies, and empowering individuals against sexual violence. Aim: To evaluate the knowledge and perception of sexual health and associated factors among college students in Perinthalmanna, Malappuram District, Kerala. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 540 students from January to April 2022 among 540 students attending MES Arts and Science College in Perinthalmanna, Malappuram District, Kerala, India. A semistructured questionnaire was used to assess their demographic details, knowledge, and perception regarding sexual health. The Chi-square test and Independent t-test were employed, and multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors, including the students' academic qualification, educational status of their mothers, and prior information on sexual health. Results: The respondents were predominantly male (60.4%), with a mean age of 19.32±1.262 years. The majority (95.4%) were undergraduate students, while 4.6% were postgraduate students. Muslims accounted for the majority of respondents (83%), followed by Hindus (14.6%). More than 90% of the participants were unmarried. Approximately 60% of the respondents’ mothers and 51% of the fathers had a high school education. Out of 540 respondents, 487 (90.2%) reported having obtained information on sexual health. Friends (41.7%) were the most preferred sources of information. The mean score for respondents’ knowledge was 3.79±1.3, and the mean score for perception was 31.26±4.5. Being a postgraduate student (p=0.035), having a higher educational status of the mother (p=0.034), and prior information on sexual health (p<0.001) were significantly associated with higher knowledge. Being a postgraduate student (p=0.02) and having a higher educational status of the mother (p=0.03) were significantly associated with higher perception. A total of 21% of the respondents stated that sex education should be provided according to age appropriateness. Gender-wise differences were observed in the respondents’ opinions regarding the timing of sex education (p=0.024). Conclusion: Good knowledge and positive perception levels were significantly associated with the academic qualification of the study subjects and the educational status of their mothers. However, the respondents’ knowledge regarding fertilisation, pregnancy, and contraceptives was deficient. Therefore, implementing a comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education program in schools and colleges, along with behavioural change communication materials, is urgently needed.
Impact of Nigerian Petroleum Oil Production on Nigerian Economy: Cointegration and Error Correction Model Analysis
Authors: Barguma Wilson Simon , Chama Adana’a Felix , Torsen Emmanuel
Published: September 2023

This study was done to investigate the effect of Nigerian crude oil production against Nigerian economy.Johansen's co-integration concept is employed on thirty-three years (1981-2013) data about annual Gross national income, petroleum production along with petroleum oil exchange. Augumented Dickey-fuller (ADF) test was carried out in level as well as first difference of every sequence. ADF test indicated existence of unit root at the level otherwise at first difference the series were stationary. The trace and eigenvalues of Johansen co-integration indicated single co-integrating equation in the system, hence presence of long-term relationship between the variable. However, since the series are co-integrated, vector-error-correction-model was applied to estimate the long-term coefficient.Crude oil production has a negative coefficient and significant, while crude oil export is significant in predicting difference in Gross national income on the long-term. Contrary to the long-term result there was no short-run causation between Gross national income, petroleum oil production and crude oil exportation in Nigeria.The revealed result of the study attracted recommendation that export of the product should be given keen attention and proper management, that will bring development of other sectors through the income from crude oil exportation which will bring about great growth in economy.
Agroecosystem Sustainability in Forest Dependent Tribal Villages in Odisha, Eastern India
Authors: Nayak B. K. , Mishra M. K. , Upadhyay V. P.
Published: September 2023

The present study was carried out in Niyamgiri hills inhabited by primitive Dongaria tribes in Odisha to assess present state of socioeconomic components of village and efficiency and viability of production systems at the current level of natural resource dependency and to find out the linkage between human community and forest ecosystem. The study area comprises of eight villages where human population varies from 83 to 312 in uphill villages and 76 to 150 in foothill villages. The cultivated area ranges from 3.37% to 18.85% of the total village geographical area with per capita cultivated area  0.117 to 0.329 ha.. The quality of forest has been affected due to absolute dependency on resources which calls for taking appropriate step to enhance forest productivity. All villages depend on rain fed agriculture, natural stream water is used to cultivate paddy in valleys, shifting (Podu) cultivation practiced in uphill areas, mid hill orchards below the Podu area and home garden adjoining habitation. Cereals, pulses and oil seeds are grown together in Podu areas.  Maize is a major cereal as staple food grown in uphill villages. The village productivity of Millets, legumes and paddy is much lower than other settled agriculture areas of the state. The home garden areas are grown with vegetables and cereals especially for domestic use. However,  vegetables like Tomato, Brinjal, Bin, Sweet Potato, Chilly from foothill villages are marketed.  Home garden provides variety of requirements to the tribal community round the year. The production of agriculture sub-system is not sufficient to meet the food requirement of villages and rice distributed to villagers meet this gap. However, crops grown as horticulture products (Jackfruit, Pine apple, Banana, Orange, Mango) and a few Millet crops in the uphill villages like minor Millets, are exported to markets for earning money as these are only assets recorded as high energy valued products. Odisha Millet Mission (OMM) may need to provide interventions to these villages with modern approach to increase Millet productivity including improvements in seed quality and health condition of the tribal community. To ensure sustainability of the traditional cultivation and livelihood system, involving the people of these villages in forest-based activities other than agriculture will lead to protecting the indigenous biodiversity of this region.
Social Justice and Diversity in Zambia: The Role of Civic Education and Teachers
Authors: Chivunda Kaumba , Kabombwe Yvonne , Mwanza Christine , Mupeta Sydney
Published: September 2023

This article explores the role civic education plays in social justice and diversity in Zambia from the civic education teacher’s perspective as well as establish the extent to which teacher’s themselves are actively engaged in social justice and diversity. Predicated on the fundamental role civic education plays in teaching and promoting diversity and social justice, it is highly expected that civic education teachers should be the lodestars in undertaking this activity. It is noted that teachers of civic education can bring about social justice in society; this can be achieved through active participation in local communities and consolidating the teaching of democracy, human rights and promotion of participation within people’s local communities and global level for social justice. Therefore, the teaching for diversification is of great significance in the delivery of Civic Education in Zambia both at teacher training and secondary school level. Anchored on the explanatory design as a methodological bedrock, this study found that teachers where not actively engaged with issues of diversity. The study concludes that there is little to no engagement among teachers in diversity and in bringing about social change especially on matters that affect the wider community. This is partly attributed to the impractical nature in which Civic Education is delivered at secondary school or tertiary level. The study recommends that different approaches to the teaching of civic education must be introduced in the civic education curriculum.