bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Knowledge And Awareness Of Working Women In Purchasing Brunei Halal Frozen Food Brand For Family Meal Preparation
Authors: Johari Nabilah , Pengiran Hashim Pengiran Norkhairiah , Mohd Salleh Hamzah
Published: January 2025

This pilot study investigates the knowledge, awareness, and usage patterns of Brunei Halal frozen food products among working women in Brunei Darussalam. A cross-sectional survey was administered to a sample of 100 working women, aged between 18 and 50 years, using a snowball sampling technique. The study aimed to assess participants' understanding of the Brunei Halal frozen food brand, their awareness of halal certification, and the frequency of product usage for family meal preparation. The findings reveal that while respondents are generally aware of the brand’s halal certification and purchasing locations, there is a significant gap in their knowledge of the full range of products available. This highlights the need for enhanced communication strategies by Brunei Halal to improve consumer education. Participants also exhibited varying levels of awareness regarding the product's benefits, with some expressing uncertainty about its nutritional value and ingredients. Despite these gaps, the study found that marketing channels such as advertisements, social media, and promotions are effective in raising awareness, although there is room for improvement in consumer engagement and product education. Furthermore, purchasing patterns indicated that while Brunei Halal products are used occasionally, the frequency of their use for meal preparation is inconsistent, with cultural preferences for fresh, home-cooked meals being a significant influencing factor. The study concludes that Brunei Halal must refine its communication strategies to increase consumer confidence and product usage, particularly through clearer product information and more targeted educational initiatives. These efforts could significantly improve both the understanding and adoption of Brunei Halal frozen food products among working women in Brunei.
Halal Supply Chain strategy in the Leather Industry using the Quadruple Helix Model
Authors: H. Mawardi , Norhiza Fitra , M Ag. Zulkifli , Adzkia Mohammad Dzaky , Abdul Hamid Abu Bakar , Nurainun Tengku
Published: January 2025

The Muslim population represents a significant market for halal products, contributing to both the global and Indonesian economies. The leather product industry is an important sector in the Indonesian economy. Indonesia has the largest cattle population in the world and is one of the leading producers of cow leather products on the international market. Business actors in Indonesia process raw leather products into several products for local and global use, which form a supply chain strategy. However, the leather product industry, based on the cattle population in Indonesia, also faces a number of challenges. To face this challenge, it is important to strengthen institutions in the supply chain for halal leather product products by making several strategic assumptions and implementing the Strategic Assumption Surfacing and Testing method. Data collection in this study was done through interviews with experts on Quadruple Helix, including academics, government, associations, and industrial players. This research succeeded in identifying strategic assumptions related to strengthening institutions in the supply chain for halal leather products in Indonesia. There are 20 strategic assumptions divided into four parts. Thus, decision-makers can consider various strategies to increase halal certification considering their level of importance and certainty. Apart from that, this research has also selected 11 main strategic assumptions, which are the main focus of the research. Further research is recommended to validate selected assumptions with stakeholders for implementing the pilot project in Indonesia.
An Experimental Study on the Topography Effects on the Seismic Response of Combined Piled Raft Foundation
Authors: Panahpour Hassan , Akhlaghi Tohid , Hajialilue-Bonab Masoud
Published: January 2025

The effect of topography on the amplification of seismic forces has been considered in regulations, and they have deemed the use of the seismic force amplification coefficient in the design of adjacent earth-retaining structures necessary. However, the impact of settlement-reducing or anti-sliding piles under the building foundation on the applied acceleration to the foundation is generally not addressed in regulations, and it is necessary to carefully examine this issue for the optimal design. This study sought to empirically assess the impact of using piles as Combined Piled Raft Foundation (CPRF) positioned on the top of slopes, with different slope angles, on the seismic behavior of slopes, scaled at 1/25th, through shaking table experiments. Six sinusoidal waves were created as input motions to simulate a range of earthquake scenarios, applied to the models to collect data for analyzing the seismic response of the system. No.161 Firouzkooh sand was utilized as the soil in this investigation. The amplification factor (AF) of various locations was used to examine the seismic response of the system. The findings underscore the importance of the amplification factor as a critical parameter in evaluating the seismic response of foundations situated on slope crests. Additionally, Implementing CPRF and longer piles had a mitigating effect on accelerations at most points and improved the seismic response of the slopes, reducing amplification factor and led to less damages. Furthermore, the slope angle was shown to significantly influence the seismic response, with steeper angles generally resulting in higher amplifications at the slope crest.
Kekerasan Verbal Orang Tua Pada Anak Usia Dini
Authors: Sartika Dewi , Dhieni Nurbiana , Yetti Elindra
Published: January 2025

Kekerasan verbal orang tua pada anak usia dini masih kerap terjadi. Orang tua perlu menyadari bahwa penggunaan agresi verbal dalam mendidik anak tidak dibenarkan karena berakibat menghambat perkembangan anak. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah menganalisa hasil temuan jurnal yang terkait dengan penyebab, bentuk, dampak dan upaya pencegahan kekerasan verbal anak usia dini. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian adalah studi literatur dengan menggunakan buku dan penelitian terdahulu sebagai sumber data primer maupun sekunder. Hasil dari penelusuran literatur didapatkan bahwa penyebab kekerasan verbal adalah tekanan sosial, pola asuh yang keras, ingin mendisiplinkan anak, rendahnya pemahaman, bahkan stress yang dialami orang tua selama pandemi Covid-19. Selanjutnya, bentuk kekerasan verbal yang sering dialami anak adalah seperti adanya ancaman, ejekan, bentakan, merendahkan, menuduh, mengisolasi, bahkan mengeksploitasi anak. Kekerasan verbal sangat mempengaruhi perkembangan sosial emosional dan kognitif anak. Anak cenderung tertutup, merasa rendah diri, merasa bersalah, kesulitan meregulasi emosi, depresi, timbul keinginan untuk bunuh diri, kerusakan otak seperti gangguan memori dan masalah akademik. Untuk itu diperlukan upaya dalam mencegah kekerasan verbal sedini mungkin yakni adanya pola komunikasi dengan bahasa yang positif dan metode disiplin positif sebagai dasar mendisiplinkan anak tanpa kekerasan.
Pengaruh Literasi Terhadap Kemampuan Baca Tulis Awal Anak Usia Dini di TK Yaa Bunayya Kota Bima
Authors: Sari Wiwin , Irwan Irwan , Lukman Lukman
Published: January 2025

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji pengaruh literasi terhadap kemampuan baca tulis awal Anak Usia Dini di Tk Yaa Bunayya Kota Bima, metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah metode kuantitatif dengan rancangan eksperimen. Sampel pada penelitian ini adalah 42 anak yang dibagi menjadi dua kelompok secara acak, yaitu kelompok kontrol dan kelompok eksperimen. Instrumen pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah tes kemampuan baca tulis awal yang dikembangkan oleh peneliti berdasarkan indikator kemampuan membaca dan menulis awal pada Anak Usia Dini. Tes ini mencakup identifikasi bunyi, pemahaman bunyi huruf, kemampuan membaca suku kata dan kata sederhana, serta kemampuan menulis huruf dan kata sederhana. Analisis data yang dilakukan meliputi. Statistik deskriptif untuk mengambarkan karakteristik sampel yang peneliti, uji asumsi dasar yang terdiri dari uji normalitas, uji beda menggunakan t-independent untuk mengetahui perbedaan skor kemampuan baca tulis awal antara kelompok kontrol dan eksperimen setelah perlakuan, uji hipotesi. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa terdapat perbedaan yang signifikan pada kemampuan baca tulis awal antara kelompok kontrol dan kelompok eksperimen. Kelompok eksperimen yang memperoleh perlakuan pembelajaran literasi menunjukan peningkatan kemampuan baca tulis awal yang lebih tinggi secara signifikan dibandingan kelompok kontrol.
PENERAPAN MODEL PEMBELAJARAN PROBLEM BASED LEARNING TERHADAP PENINGKATAN KEMAMPUAN PEMECAHAN MASALAH MATEMATIS SISWA
Authors: Nurhasyima Nurhasyima , Irfan Ade , Musriandi Riki
Published: January 2025

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui rata-rata N-Gain kemampuan Pemecahan masalah matematis siswa dengan model pembelajaran Problem Based Learning dan juga untuk mengetahui perbedaan peningkatan kemampuan pemecahan masalah matematis siswa dengan menggunakan model pembelajaran Problem Based Learning dengan model pembelajaran konvensional. Jenis dan Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah penelitian kuantitatif dengan metode kuasi eksperimen dengan desain two group pre-test dan post-test. Sampel penelitian terdiri dari 3 kelas XII IPS dengan Teknik pengambilan sampel berupa purposive sampling di SMA Negeri 1 Peukan Bada, yang berlokasi di Jln. Blang Ajun No. 3, Kec. Peukan Bada, Kab. Aceh Besar. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa Uji Independent sample t-Test pada kelas eksperimen dan kelas kontrol, diperoleh nilai signifikansi sebesar 0,000, yang berarti 0,05 Artinya terdapat peningkatan kemampuan pemecahan masalah matematis siswa menggunakan model pembelajaran problem based learning dan untuk uji One Sampel T-Test Pada kelas eksperimen, diperoleh nilai signifikan sebesar 0,590 0,05. Dengan kriteria pengujian apabila signifikan 0,05 maka Ho diterima dan Ha ditolak artinya terdapat perbedaan peningkatan kemampuan pemecahan masalah matematis siswa menggunakan model pembelajaran problem based learning dengan model pembelajaran konvensional. Penelitian ini dapat dijadikan salah satu metode alternatif yang efektif untuk meningkatkan kemampuan pemecahan masalah matematis siswa.
Ensino de atendimento de enfermagem aeromédica na graduação em Enfermagem: Desenvolvimento de uma tecnologia educacional
Authors: Rodrigues Marcelo dos Santos , Ferreira Ilma Pastana
Published: January 2025

Este estudo apresenta um modelo de aprendizagem para o ensino da assistência aeromédica baseado em uma abordagem metodológica com ampla revisão de literatura e desenvolvimento de tecnologia educacional, criando um curso optativo sobre assistência aeromédica e um e-book como instrumento de apoio ao ensino com foco na prática pedagógica envolvida. Tem como objetivo desenvolver uma tecnologia educacional no formato de sequência didática sobre os cuidados de Enfermagem Aeromédica nos cursos de graduação em enfermagem. Trata-se de um estudo de desenvolvimento metodológico, com revisão integrativa da literatura. Foi elaborado um curso opcional de 30 horas, que ainda precisa ser validado com uma matriz de competências sobre atendimento aeromédico baseada na Portaria MS-GM 2.048, de 5 de novembro de 2002, que trata da Política Nacional de Atendimento a Urgências e na Resolução COFEN 656/2020 que regulamenta a atuação do enfermeiro na assistência direta e na gestão do Atendimento Pré-Hospitalar Móvel e Inter-Hospitalar em veículo aéreo. O RIL apontou a necessidade de criação de uma tecnologia educacional para o ensino aeromédico, considerando que não foi identificado na literatura um instrumento voltado para graduandos de enfermagem. Vale ressaltar que a metodologia como um todo favoreceu a construção do sentido da aprendizagem e a reflexão crítica como base para a transformação. Conclui-se a criação de uma disciplina optativa e a elaboração de um e-book sobre cuidados de enfermagem aeromédica.
Manejo de la extracción dental en pacientes con tratamiento antiplaquetario: Revisión de la literatura
Authors: Pérez Velastegui Christian Andrés , Astudillo Pacheco Pablo Andrés , Cazar Almache Marcelo Enrique
Published: January 2025

Objetivo: Detallar el correcto tratamiento dental para pacientes que reciben terapia antiplaquetaria durante las extracciones dentales, analizando la bibliografía científica para definir protocolos y acciones hemostáticas que reduzcan los riesgos de sangrados y sucesos tromboembólicos. Metodología: Se llevó a cabo un análisis riguroso de la bibliografía referente al tratamiento quirúrgico en pacientes que reciben terapia antiplaquetaria, examinando investigaciones publicadas en años recientes. Se analizaron los protocolos de uso más frecuente, las estrategias clínicas para interrumpir o mantener la medicación y las técnicas hemostáticas utilizadas. Resultados: Al analizar la información resalta dos estrategias fundamentales: la interrupción y la persistencia de la terapia antiplaquetaria. La investigación indica que interrumpir el tratamiento puede disminuir el peligro de hemorragias, sin embargo, incrementa considerablemente el peligro de sucesos tromboembólicos, como un infarto de miocardio o un accidente cerebrovascular. Por otro lado, mantener la terapia antiplaquetaria, en combinación con medidas hemostáticas locales como suturas, ácido tranexámico y esponjas de colágeno, facilita la gestión eficiente del sangrado posoperatorio, sin diferencias notables en relación a los pacientes que interrumpen el tratamiento. Conclusiones: Es habitual mantener la terapia antiplaquetaria durante intervenciones dentales menores, como las extracciones, siempre que se utilicen las medidas hemostáticas correctas. Este método reduce los peligros tromboembólicos y facilita un control efectivo de la hemorragia.
Brain activation during volitional control of breathing
Authors: Šmejkal V , Druga R , Tintěra J
Published: January 2025

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to demonstrate the brain activation during volitional control of breathing in nine healthy human subjects. This type of breathing was induced by acoustic stimuli dictating the respiratory frequency. During the period of dictated breathing not only the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, but also the parietal lobes were bilaterally activated. The frontal lobe was activated bilaterally in all subjects, with frequent activation of Brodmann areas 4 and 6. In the parietal lobe, activation could mostly be demonstrated in gyrus postcentralis and the same was true for area 22 in the temporal lobe.
Humoral and cellular immune responses in gluten-treated suckling or hand-fed rats.
Authors: Kozáková H , Štěpánková R , Tučková L , Šinkora M , Jelínková L , Tlaskalová-Hogenová H
Published: January 2025

We analyzed the immune response to gliadin in suckling rats and rats hand-fed with an artificial milk formula, an animal model of gluten enteropathy. Animals of both groups were intragastrically given either gliadin or albumin (control animals) or gliadin from birth till day 55. When compared to the controls, spleen lymphocytes from both groups of gliadin-treated rats cultivated in vitro exhibited a significant increase of spontaneous 3H-thymidine incorporation. Moreover, the proliferation of spleen and mesenteric lymph node (MLN) lymhocytes from both groups of gliadin-treated suckling and hand-fed rats was specifically increased by the in vitro gliadin challenge. Spleen B cells from gliadin-treated rats spontaneously produced higher amounts of gliadin-specific antibodies than those from the controls, however, in vitro stimulation by gliadin caused no further increase in antibody production. Apoptotic DNA fragmentation in MLN cells was higher in gliadin-treated rats than in albumin-treated ones, independently of the milk diet during the suckling period.
Somatotropin has no effect on the quantity of guanine nucleotide binding proteins Gqalpha/G11alpha in goat adipose tissue in vivo.
Authors: Krbeček V , Kovářů H , Škarda J , Barth T , Velek J , Žižkovský V
Published: January 2025

The decapeptide QLNLKEYNLV corresponding to the C-terminus of Gq/G11alpha guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G-proteins) was synthesized by the solid-phase method and conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin. The rabbits were immunized with these conjugates and an antiserum that reacted specifically with the alpha subunit of Gq/G11 proteins was used in this study. The antiserum exhibited no cross-reactivity with the alpha subunits of stimulatory (Gs) or inhibitory (Gi) G-proteins associated with adenylate cyclase. Immunoblots with the antiserum showed that it specifically recognized the Gq/G11 alpha-proteins in cholate extracts of adipose tissue membranes of goats. Treatment of young castrated male goats with bST had no effect on the quantity of Gq/G11 alpha-subunits in adipose tissue and the results thus obtained did not support the idea that the bST signal in adipose tissue is transmitted via Gq/G11 alpha-proteins.
Ozone-induced micronuclei frequency in rat alveolar type II cells.
Authors: Chorvatovičová D , Hoet PHM , Tátrai E , Kováčiková Y
Published: January 2025

The effect of ozone, a ubiquitous air pollutant, was tested on cultured pulmonary epithelial type II cells isolated from rats. After 40-hour culture, the cells were exposed for 6 h to 400 ppb of ozone or air. The number of micronucleated cells was counted after the exposure. In each group, 17 000 cells were evaluated. The number of micronucleated cells was significantly increased in the ozone-exposed group (12.24 per 1000 cells) compared to the control group (5.00 per 1000 cells). The results showed the mutagenic effect of ozone exposure on alveolar type II cells, manifested in the increased frequency of their micronuclei.
SECURITY PATROLLING ROBOT
Authors:   Electronics and Communication Ahalia School of Engineering and Technology Palakkad, Kerala, India, P Athira , K Shaheer ,   Electronics and Communication Ahalia School of Engineering and Technology Palakkad, Kerala, India, Sahadevan Kavya ,   Electronics and Communication Ahalia School of Engineering and Technology Palakkad, Kerala, India, Balamurugan Dr. V. ,   HOD, Dept. of Electronics and Communication Ahalia School of Engineering and Technology Palakkad, Kerala, India, Venu Alida ,   Electronics and Communication Ahalia School of Engineering and Technology Palakkad, Kerala, India, Khan Vijitha ,   Assistant Professor Dept. of Electronics and Communication Ahalia School of Engineering and Technology Palakkad, Kerala, India
Published: January 2025

A security patrolling robot for automated
surveillance in both indoor and outdoor settings is
presented in this research. To identify and react to
unwanted movements, illegal access, and other security
risks, the robot makes use of sensors, cameras, and realtime data processing. Even in low light, it can negotiate
complicated routes with ease because to its night vision
and obstacle-avoidance capabilities. The patrolling robot
is versatile for a range of security applications, including
office buildings, warehouses, and restricted areas,
because it may function independently or under remote
control. Its real time monitoring features improve
security by delivering live video feeds and instant alerts,
allowing for timely response.
Long-Term Patient Outcomes: The Role of Sustained Treatment Efficacy in Myasthenia Gravis
Authors: Barrell Amanda , George Juliet
Published: January 2025

There have been great advances in the field of generalised myasthenia gravis (gMG) in recent years, but many patients remain dissatisfied with their disease state despite being on treatment. There is a growing consensus among specialists that minimising symptom burden, with sustained treatment efficacy, is the best way to improve outcomes.

gMG is a chronic autoimmune disorder, characterised by fluctuating muscle weakness. Traditional treatments focus on immunosuppression, but patients often face challenges with efficacy and side effects, including corticosteroid complications. Up to 20% of patients do not respond to ​standard treatments and still experience symptoms.

In this key opinion leader article, Carlos Casasnovas, Bellvitge University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain; Kristl Claeys, Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium; and John Vissing, Copenhagen Neuromuscular Centre, Rigshospitalet, Denmark, share their expert knowledge on the past, present, and future of gMG management. Speaking to EMJ in October and November 2024, they discussed how ongoing symptoms can have an important impact on the daily activities and quality of life of affected patients, the challenges of achieving sustained treatment efficacy with traditional approaches, and how emerging novel therapies may help address this critical unmet medical need.
History of the Saransk House of Science and Technology Russian Union of Scientific and Engineering Public Associations
Authors:   Saransk House of Science and Technology of the Russian Union of Scientific and Engineering Public Associations, Saransk, Russia, Zyuzin Alexey M.
Published: January 2025

The history of Saransk House of Science and Technology of the Russian
Union of Scientific and Engineering Public Associations — from historical
roots to the present day — is covered. The structure of SDNiT is presented,
which is a large educational, consulting and information institution with
a wide range of services and activities. It tells about the programs implemented by SDNiT in the field of occupational safety, fire, industrial, environmental, energy and road safety; conferences, seminars, round tables
and competitions, the most important among which are “Engineer of the
Year” and “Hope of Russia”. Emphasis was made on educational projects,
which have become bright pages in the modern biography of SDNiT. It was
noted that themain objectives of SDNiT are further expansion of activities
related to participation in the development of human resources potential
of the Republic of Mordovia, introduction of advanced forms of work and
integration into the research and innovation infrastructure of the republic.
Sergey Alexandrovich Tokarev and the Intellectual Landscape of Soviet Yakutia: A Historical and Hermeneutic Reconstruction
Authors: Romanova Ekaterina N. , Stepanova Lena B.
Published: January 2025

This article is devoted to the Yakut period in the biography of the famous scientist S. A. Tokarev. The Archive of the Yakut Scientific Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences contains a corpus of a few ego-documents related to the period of collaboration between Professor Sergei A. Tokarev and the Yakut Institute (1935-1959), the personal fund of the repressed ethnographer and orientalist Gavriil V. Ksenofontov and the historian Vasilii N. Chemezov. The study employs the methodology of “new biographical history” (social personal history), through which the formation of S. A. Tokarev’s individual scientific strategy during the period of early Soviet society’s construction is traced. The intellectual biography is reconstructed in the historical and hermeneutic space of the studied era, which allows the authors to reveal the social context of the historical narrative in which S. A. Tokarev’s scientific worldview was formed. The new interpretation of the scientists’ biography highlights the moment when the academic northern studies commenced in Moscow and the development of regional ethnography in Siberia, while S. A. Tokarev was actively involved in the scientific discourse between the «center» and the «periphery» on both sides of the complex integration process.
SERGEY A. TOKAREV’S CONCEPTUAL IDEAS ON THE SOCIAL ORGANIZATION OF THE YAKUTS IN THE 17th CENTURY AND THE MODERN HISTORIOGRAPHY
Authors: Borisov Andrian A. 
Published: January 2025

The article discusses the outstanding contribution of S. A. Tokarev (1899–1985) to the study of the Yakuts’ social organization in the 17th century employing a modern theoretical and methodological approach. Although the researcher generally worked within the strict framework of the formational approach commonly accepted in Soviet historiography, sometimes he managed to go beyond it in an effort to be objective. This was possible due to his deep knowledge of not only ethnographic materials, but also of Russian written sources of the 17th century. He studied huge arrays of cursive columns from the funds of the Siberian Prikaz and the Yakut Voivode’s Hut, stored in the central archives, and used them in a comparative analysis with other sources. The original concept of the social organization of the Yakuts in the 17th century that he developed in the 1930s and subsequently revised in his major works in the 1940–1950s, made an outstanding contribution to Russian historiography, supplemented it with new data and offered a holistic view of the historical and ethnographic realities of the Yakut late medieval society. However, S. A. Tokarev’s intention to remain on reliable historical ground, based on specific documentary sources of the 17th century, provoked substantial criticism. His research was cast in a continuous search for the closest scientific definitions to the categories of social organization of the Yakuts, which he identified. He used the entire toolkit of theoretical approaches and research methods and his experience, based on the best traditions of Russian historical and ethnographic science. Modern achievements of Yakut studies of historical knowledge confirm the scientific significance and relevance of the main conclusions and observations of S. A. Tokarev.
Sap flow of pecan trees in a US Southeastern orchard
Authors: Zhang Gengsheng , Leclerc Monique Y. , Wells Lenny
Published: January 2025

Sap flow methods are widely used to estimate water use through transpiration in orchards. This study reports for the first time on pecan tree sap flow properties observed in a micro-irrigated orchard in the southeastern US in 2022 and 2023. This new information regarding sap flow properties of Southeastern pecan trees sheds some insight on how pecan water use responds to environmental conditions. The daily peak in the sap flow density occurs either before or after the peak in diurnal solar radiation. The latter peaks before that of air temperature and vapor pressure deficit while the peaks of air temperature and vapor pressure deficit occur later than that of solar radiation. Seasonally, the largest sap flow density occurred during both the growth stage of early nut sizing in May-July and the growth stage of nut sizing and early kernel filling in July-August. The sap flow density in 2022 was higher than that in 2023 mainly due to higher vapor pressure deficit that year. While a single anticlockwise loop of hysteresis occurred in the sap flow diurnally varying with solar radiation in 2023, a twin loop of hysteresis of sap flow to solar radiation was observed in 2022. The twin loop happened since the sap flow peak occurred earlier than that of solar radiation, possibly attributed to high morning vapor pressure deficit that year. A single clockwise loop hysteresis was present in both years in the response of sap flow to air temperature and vapor pressure deficit. The hysteretic strength of the sub-diurnal sap flow density against the vapor pressure deficit for the Southeastern pecan is quantified using a hysteresis index. The index is correlated positively with vapor pressure deficit. This suggests that the drier the air, the greater difference for pecan tree sap flow (or transpiration) in the afternoon to be smaller than that in the morning at the same vapor pressure deficit.
Exploring a novel approach for computing topological descriptors of graphene structure using neighborhood multiple M-polynomial
Authors: Kekana Tumiso , Aremu Kazeem Olalekan , Aphane Maggie
Published: January 2025

Graphene, composed of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice pattern, has been the focus of extensive research due to its remarkable properties and practical applications. Topological indices (TIs) play a crucial role in studying graphene's structure as mathematical functions mapping molecular graphs to real numbers, capturing their topological characteristics. To compute these TIs, we employ the M-polynomial approach, an efficient method for deriving degree-based descriptors of molecular graphs. In this study, we analyze the neighborhood multiple M-polynomial of graphene's structure and use it to derive eleven neighborhood multiple degree-based TIs. These TIs allow us to predict various properties of graphene theoretically, bypassing the need for experiments or computer simulations. Furthermore, we showcase various numerical and graphical representations emphasizing the intricate connections between TIs and structural parameters. These computations were further employed to analyze the Quantitative Structure-Property Relationship (QSPR) between TIs and the mechanical properties of graphene, such as Young's Modulus, Poisson's Ratio, Shear Modulus, and Tensile Strength. The results showed strong correlations between neighborhood multiple TIs and Poisson's Ratio and Shear Modulus, underscoring their predictive power for these mechanical properties. These findings highlight the effectiveness of neighborhood multiple degree-based TIs in characterizing and predicting the mechanical properties of graphene structures, providing valuable insights for future applications in material science.
PPARGC1A regulates transcriptional control of mitochondrial biogenesis in early bovine embryos
Authors: Idrees Muhammad , Haider Zaheer , Perera Chalani Dilshani , Ullah Safeer , Lee Seo-Hyeon , Lee Seung Eun , Kang Sung-Sik , Kim Sung Woo , Kong Il-Keun
Published: January 2025

Extensive mitochondrial replication during oogenesis and its role in oocyte maturation and fertilization indicate that the amount of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) may play a significant role in early embryonic development. Early embryos express peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator alpha (PPARGC1A/PGC-1a), a protein essential for mitochondrial biogenesis. This study investigated the role of PGC-1α from a single-cell zygotic stage to day-8 bovine blastocyst and the effect of PGC-1a knockdown (KD) on embryo mitochondria and development. PGC-1α KD via siRNA injection into single-cell zygotes does not substantially affect embryonic cleavage up to the morula stage but considerably reduces blastocyst development (18.42%) and hatching than the control (32.81%). PGC-1α regulates transcription of the gene encoding mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), and immunofluorescence analysis indicated significantly lower TFAM expression in the 16-cell KD embryos and day-8 KD blastocysts. Reduction in NRF1 protein’s nuclear localization in bovine blastomeres was also observed in PGC-1α-KD embryos. Furthermore, to understand the effect of PGC-1α-KD on the mitochondrial genome, we found a low mtDNA copy number in PGC-1α-KD day-8 bovine blastocysts. Several genes related to mitochondrial functioning, like ND1, ND3, ND5, ATPase8, COI, COII, and CYTB, were significantly downregulated in PGC-1α-KD embryos. Moreover, high mitochondrial depolarization (ΔΨm) and abnormal lipid depositions were observed in the PGC-1α KD blastocysts. SIRT1 is the upstream regulator of PGC-1α, but SIRT1 activation via Hesperetin does not affect PGC-1α-KD embryonic development considerably. In conclusion, PGC-1α plays a critical role in early embryo mitochondrial functioning, and any perturbation in its expression significantly disrupts early embryonic development.
Vaginal microbiome distinction in women with HPV+, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, and cervical cancer, a retrospective study
Authors: Li Yuanyue , Wu Xiaomei
Published: January 2025

Introduction

The vaginal microbiota is a complex and dynamic micro-ecosystem that plays a pivotal role in protecting the host from various pathogens. Previous studies have investigated the diversity of the vaginal microbiome and its association with health outcomes, particularly the development of HPV-related disorders. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the vaginal microbiota, HPV infection, cervical intraepithelial neoplasias (CINs), and cervical cancers in 69 women.

Methods

DNA was extracted from vaginal samples, followed by HPV genotyping through PCR and sequenced of the16S rRNA gene.

Results

Our results revealed that Lactobacillus was the predominant bacterium across all groups, with prevalence rates of 60.2% in women with HPV+, 63.9% in CINI, 97.7% in CINII, 52.0% in CINIII, 36.9% in cervical cancer, and 70.9% in NILM (normal cytology). Additionally, an elevated proportion of Gardnerella was identified as a high-risk bacterium associated with HPV infection, potentially contributing to the progression of cervical lesions. High-risk HPV genotypes, particularly HPV16, 52, and 33, were found to be more prevalent among women with HPV+, CIN, and cervical cancer. We also observed significantly higher alpha diversity in the vaginal microbiome of women with HPV+ and CIN, as indicated by increased Sobs, Shannon, Ace, and Chao indices, compared to the NILM group.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that HPV infection and its associated pathological conditions are closely linked to alterations in the vaginal microbiome. This underscores the need for further research to unravel the intricate relationship between HPV genotype infections and vaginal microbiota, which could pave the way for new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
The anti-staphylococcal activity (planktonic and biofilm) of Cnestis ferruginea is due to benzoquinone, the oxidation product of hydroquinone
Authors: Panda Sujogya Kumar , Reynders Michelle , Kipanga Purity N. , Luyten Walter
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Cnestis ferruginea is used frequently in African traditional medicine for treating infectious diseases. Previous bioassay-guided purification has identified hydroquinone as the major bio-active compound in the aforementioned plant, responsible for its antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. While the phenol hydroquinone can be directly extracted from the plant, it may undergo (reversible) oxidation under mild conditions to yield benzoquinone, a compound with known antimicrobial activity against i.a. S. aureus.

Methods

We, examined whether hydroquinone or its oxidation product, benzoquinone, is the active compound against bacteria such as S. aureus. To achieve this we performed broth microdilution (planktonic) and biofilm activity tests against two different strains of S. aureus. The inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of benzoquinone and hydroquinone under various circumstances were compared, assessing their stability, and examining their effectiveness against two strains of S. aureus (Rosenbach and USA 300) in both planktonic and biofilm environments.

Results

Benzoquinone demonstrated antibacterial activity against S. aureus Rosenbach and USA 300 with IC50 of 6.90 ± 2.30 mM and 7.72 ± 2.73 mM, respectively, while the corresponding values for hydroquinone were 15.63 ± 2.62 mM and 19.21 ± 4.84 mM, respectively. However, when oxidation was prevented by the addition of antioxidants such as ascorbic acid or glutathione, hydroquinone lost its antibacterial property, while benzoquinone retained activity. Comparing conditions in which hydroquinone could convert into benzoquinone against conditions in which this conversion was inhibited, showed that hydroquinone alone did not inhibit bacterial growth of S. aureus, while benzoquinone alone did.

Discussion

These results prove that the oxidation product benzoquinone is responsible for the antimicrobial activity previously ascribed to hydroquinone.
Neutralizing gender in role nouns: investigating the effect of ə in written and oral Italian
Authors: Abbondanza Martina , Galimberti Valeria , Bonomi Valeria , Reverberi Carlo , Durante Federica , Foppolo Francesca
Published: January 2025

In languages like Italian, all nouns have grammatical gender, which in most cases can be inferred from word endings. Nouns that refer to people may also convey information about the referent’s gender (i.e., semantic gender), as in the case of transparent gender-marked nouns (e.g., maestro[MASC]/maestra[FEM], ‘male/female school teacher’). Gender remains unspecified in the case of bigender nouns (e.g., cantante[MASC, FEM], ‘singer’), though these may carry gender stereotypical associations (dirigente[MASC, FEM], ‘manager’, typically associated with men). To overcome the binary gender distinction in language, one proposal for Italian gender inclusive language introduces the schwa (ə) as a neutral word-ending (e.g., maestrə). There is still no scientific evidence on the efficacy of gender-neutral forms in promoting Italian speakers’ perceptions of these role nouns as gender-neutral and of their potential to reduce grammatical and/or gender stereotypical associations. Here, we present three rating studies to investigate gender associations of role nouns presented in isolation. In Study 1 (N = 106) bigender and gender-marked role nouns with their canonical grammatical endings were tested; in Study 2 (N = 121) we tested bigender nouns and neutralized nouns ending in -ə in the written modality, while in Study 3 (N = 75) in the auditory modality. Results showed that, ə only partially reduces gender associations of neutralized role nouns. When the neutralized form of the noun evokes the masculine (e.g., direttorə, ‘director’) or when a noun carries a strong stereotypical association, as in the case of stereotypically feminine nouns like casalingə (‘homemaker’), the neutralized form seems ineffective. Furthermore, schwa in the written modality appeared more effective than the auditory modality. We discuss our findings also in light of trade-offs of this proposal from linguistic and sociolinguistic perspectives.
Sustainable evidence-driven school improvement: routines and data use in Estonian schools
Authors: Rääk Katrin , Eisenschmidt Eve
Published: January 2025

Educational systems worldwide seek sustainable school improvement by fostering collaborative organizational routines that support teachers' practises and students' learning outcomes. This study examines how five Estonian schools perceive evidence-driven school improvement in a 3-year school-university partnership program. In each school, the principal and teachers collaborated with an external mentor. Supported by university experts, the school improvement teams worked on projects aimed at enhancing student learning in their schools and fostering a collaborative, evidence-driven school culture. Data was collected through focus group interviews with the school teams and analyzed using thematic content analysis. The findings reveal that schools view data as connected to accountability and decision-making, with considerably less emphasis on instructional improvement. School organizational and teacher-related factors, together with data overload, hindered systematic data use. Notably, the school improvement program's effectiveness was most evident in the final year, with the sustainability of improvement largely dependent on collaborative routines.
Serum-derived small extracellular vesicles as biomarkers for predicting pregnancy and delivery on assisted reproductive technology in patients with endometriosis
Authors: Muraoka Ayako , Yokoi Akira , Yoshida Kosuke , Kitagawa Masami , Bayasula  , Murakami Mayuko , Miyake Natsuki , Sonehara Reina , Nakamura Tomoko , Osuka Satoko , Kajiyama Hiroaki
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Endometriosis can cause of infertility, and evaluation methods for predicting clinical pregnancy outcomes are desired. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) exist in blood and it contains small non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that may reflect disease severity. In this study, we investigated small ncRNAs in serum EVs to identify specific biomarkers for predicting clinical pregnancy.

Methods

Serum samples were collected from 48 patients who underwent assisted reproductive technology (ART). EVs were successfully isolated from serum samples and characterized using nanoparticle tracking assays, electron microscopy, and western blotting of EV’s markers. We performed small RNA sequencing and analyzed microRNA (miRNA) profiles in the infertility patients with and without endometriosis to detect pregnancy-predicting biomarkers.

Results

Candidate miRNAs in serum EVs were selected by comparing patients without endometriosis who became pregnant (n = 13) with those who did not (n = 21). A total of 241 miRNAs were detected; however, no trends separated the two groups. Next, EVs from patients with endometriosis were analyzed and divided into pregnant (n = 4) and non-pregnant (n = 10) cases. Among the 224 candidate miRNAs, miRNA profiles of pregnant women with endometriosis were separated from those of non-pregnant women by receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis (area under the curve [AUC] > 0.8). In patients with endometriosis, serum EVs may be useful for predicting possible pregnancy before infertility treatment. Finally, we used small RNA sequencing of the tissue to demonstrate that pregnancy-predicting miRNAs in serum EVs were produced from endometriosis lesions. Although no predictors were found from miRNAs in serum EVs without endometriosis, miRNAs in serum EVs of patients with endometriosis could provide novel noninvasive biomarkers to predict pregnancy and have potential clinical applicability in ART.

Discussion

Further studies are required to examine the functional importance of these miRNAs to elucidate the pathological mechanisms of endometriosis and pregnancy.
Causal relationship between 412 gut microbiota, 1,400 blood metabolites, and diabetic nephropathy: a randomized Mendelian study
Authors: Cao Bo-Ning , Zhang Cai-Yan , Wang Zhen , Wang Yao-Xian
Published: January 2025

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the causal relationship between microbiota, diabetic nephropathy, and blood metabolites through a randomized Mendelian study.

Methods

In this study, we used 412 microbiota as exposures, 1,400 blood metabolites as intermediaries, and diabetic nephropathy as the outcome. We conducted a two-way Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to explore the causal relationship between microbiota and diabetic nephropathy, followed by mediation analyses and two-step MR to identify potential blood metabolites.

Results

There is a causal relationship between microbiota and diabetic nephropathy. Specific bacteria and metabolites, such as Escherichia coli str. K-12 substr. MG1655, Listeria monocytogenes 10403S, g_Adlercreutzia, g_Haemophilus, g_Bacteroides, and Escherichia coli CFT073, and metabolites like pyrraline, glycocholenate sulfate, alpha-ketoglutarate, tetradecadienoate (14:2), Cys-gly oxidized, methylsuccinate, and various others, were identified. Escherichia coli str. K-12 substr. MG1655 is positively related to alpha-ketoglutarate levels, while alpha-ketoglutarate levels and Sphingomyelin (d18:1/18:1, d18:2/18:0) are negatively related. The bacterial microbiota involved in fatty acid oxidation is associated with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) progression, positively correlated with glycocholenate sulfate levels, and negatively correlated with the phosphate linoleyl-tetraenyl-glycerol (18:2 to 20:4) ratio. Additionally, Listeria monocytogenes 10403S is positively correlated with N-acetyl-isoputreanine and negatively correlated with X-12462. Anaerobic fermentation-related bacteria were positively related to N-acetylcarnitine and 5-acetylamino-6-formyluracil and negatively correlated with 5-acetamino-6-amino-3-methyluracil (X-24243). Escherichia coli CFT073 was positively associated with X-16580. Interactions between Bacillus species and metabolites such as d18:1/18:1, d18:2/18:0, 2-aminophenol sulfate, and cholate were negative when compared to tetradecadienoate (14:2). g_Adlercreutzia is positively correlated with N-delta-acetylornithine, methylsuccinate, and N-acetyl-isoputreanine but negatively correlated with N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylgalactosamine. g_Haemophilus was positively associated with arachidoylcarnitine but negatively correlated with X-24531. The results were heterogeneous and multi-efficacious.

Conclusions

For the first time, MR analysis provides supportive evidence for a bidirectional causal relationship between microbiota and diabetic nephropathy and identifies specific genes associated with the disease. The results suggest that probiotic therapy may play a significant role in preventing diabetic nephropathy and improving the quality of life and survival rates of affected patients. Furthermore, this study provides additional evidence of a causal relationship between specific microbiota, diabetic nephropathy, and blood metabolites.
Case Report: A 3’ splice site variation in RORB exon 3 associated with idiopathic generalized epilepsy in a child
Authors: Shi Dandan , Li Nannan , Fan Caifang , Luo Qiang
Published: January 2025

The RORB (Retinoic Acid Receptor-related orphan receptor β) gene plays a crucial role in neurodevelopment and is strongly associated with bipolar disorder, cognitive function, and Alzheimer’s disease. Recently, RORB has also emerged as a novel potential gene involved in generalized epilepsy and absence seizures. However, due to the complexity of RORB gene function, reports on pathogenic variations of RORB genes are still lacking. In this study, we present a case of a 5-year-old epilepsy patient. Through trio whole-exome sequencing, a heterozygous variant was identified at the splice site of 3’ end of exon 3 in the RORB gene (chr9:77249546, NM_006914.3: c.94-1G>A). This c.94-1G>A variant disrupts normal mRNA splicing, leading to the premature termination of the RORB protein. According to ACMG guidelines, this variant is classified as “likely pathogenic”. Additionally, we provide a comprehensive summary of previously reported pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in RORB, contributing to the growing body of evidence linking this gene to epilepsy. Our findings offer valuable insights into the role of RORB in epilepsy pathogenesis, and the splice site variant identified in this study further expands the mutational spectrum of the RORB gene.
Assessing the effects of diabetes mellitus on the monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio and the QuantiFERON-TB gold plus assays for tuberculosis treatment monitoring: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Ranaivomanana Paulo , Razafimahefa Arimanitra , Ndiaye Mame , Razafimahatratra Crisca , Ramamonjisoa Haja , Herindrainy Perlinot , Raherison Mamy , Raherinandrasana Antso Hasina , Rakotonirina Julio , Hoffmann Jonathan , Ratovoson Rila , Rakotosamimanana Niaina
Published: January 2025

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an important risk factor for the development of active tuberculosis (TB). QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT-P), white blood cell count (WBC) assays and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) reflect the inflammatory reactions associated with TB and offer the potential to monitor TB treatment to allow a better management of the disease. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of DM on the respective performances of QFT-P and WBC assays in their capacities to monitor the treatment of drug-sensitive pulmonary TB (TBP). The QFT-P and WBC were prospectively compared between TB patients with and without DM at inclusion (D0), at the end of treatment (M6) and two months after the end of treatment (M8). After laboratory measurement of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), the patients were categorized into two groups: the TBP (n=43) and the TBDM (n=30) groups. The TBDM patients were characterized by an elevated Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific QFT-P IFN-γ response after TB treatment compared to the TBP group (p<0.001 and p<0.05, respectively, after TB1 and TB2 antigens stimulation). A significantly higher proportion of positive QFT-P tests was observed in the TBDM group compared to the TBP group (91.3% vs 64.1%) at the end of the treatment (p=0.03). MLR analysis showed a decrease of MLR value after TB treatment for both diabetic and nondiabetic TB patients (p<0.001 and p<0.05). These data reflected from immune-host based tests used to monitor the TB treatment, seemed to further suggest that TB with concomitant DM is associated with a persistent inflammatory response after TB treatment.