bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of Interactive Media Scratch-Based Educational Games on Environmental Conservation Materials in Elementary Schools
Authors: Maola Putri Sofiatul , Irianto Dede Margo
Published: December 2023

This study aims to develop interactive media Scratch-based educational games on grade V environmental conservation material in elementary schools and measure the feasibility of the media. This research used the D&D (Design and Development) method with the ADDIE model research design, which consists of 5 stages (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation). Data feasibility collection was done through the validation of material experts and media experts, as well as response questionnaires given to teachers and students. The data analysis technique used descriptive analysis techniques, which include qualitative and quantitative data. The results of the feasibility test from the material validator got a percentage score of 91.67%, which belongs to very feasible category; the media validator got a result of 92.5%, which belongs to very feasible category. The teacher response questionnaire obtained a result of 97.5%, with a very feasible category, and the student response questionnaire obtained a result of 95.75%, which belongs to very feasible category. Based on the resulting research, the interactive media developed, namely Scratch media, was very feasible to be used as a digital technology-based learning media innovation in elementary schools.
Role of Brick Tea Trade in the Formation of the Unitary Multi-Ethnic Country of China
Authors: Liu Zhiyang
Published: December 2023

In the Chinese history, no commodity has had a greater impact upon both China and the world other than tea. In the formation of the unitary multi-ethnic country of China, the brick tea trade ran through every stage of the country’s history since the Tang and Song Dynasties as a commercial activity through which the Central Plains dynasties exchanged tea from the Han regions for horses and other commodities from nomads in the northern grasslands and Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Throughout the trick tea trade that continued for one thousand years, all ethnic groups were involved, consciously or passively, in the production, processing, transport and marketing of the tea, and collaborated in all trading chains and links, thus creating the largest trading activity in the history of China or even the world and exerting a significant influence on the formation of the unitary multi-ethnic country of China as a result.
Makarnalık Yerel Buğday Genotiplerinin (Triticum durum L.) Bazı Tarımsal Özellikler Bakımından Karakterizasyonu
Authors: AKTAŞ Hüsnü , DURMAZ Abdurrahman
Published: December 2023

Bu çalışma, 2019-2020 buğday yetiştirme sezonunda Mardin ili Artuklu İlçesi yağışa dayalı şartlarında Augmented Deneme Desenine göre planlanarak Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgesine özgü 80 adet yerel makarnalık ve 10 adet standart çeşit kullanılarak yürütülmüştür. Deneme, her blokta 20 adet yerel genotip ve 10 adet kontrol çeşit olacak şekilde düzenlenmiştir. Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgesine özgü bu yerel makarnalık çeşitlerin karakterizasyonunun amaçlandığı çalışmada; yerel buğday çeşitlerinin ve kontrol çeşitlerinin alınan gözlemleri sırasıyla tane verimi 229 kg/da- 371 kg/da; biyolojik verimleri 1313 kg/da –1218 kg/da; bin tane ağırlıkları 42.9 g – 40.15 g, başaklanma gün sayısı 117.8 gün-111 gün; protein oranı % 18.02 - % 14.94 arasında değişmiştir. Elde edilen verilere göre, yerel buğday çeşitlerinin bitki boyu, biyolojik verim, tanede protein oranı bakımından kontrol çeşitlerinden daha yüksek değerlere sahip olduğu tespit edilirken, tane verimi bakımından ise kontrol çeşitlerin daha yüksek değerlere sahip olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Yerel çeşitlerin, modern ıslah çeşitlerine göre daha geç başaklandığı ve yeşil kalma süresinin daha uzun olduğu gözlemlendiği çalışmada, yerel çeşitlerin daha çok kışlık gelişme tabiatına sahip özellikler taşıdığı, özellikle tanede protein oranın ve biyolojik verimin artırılması çalışmalarında gen kaynağı olarak kullanılabilecek çok sayıda potansiyel yerel çeşit olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Elde edilen verileri GGE biblot analiz metodolojisine göre değerlendirilmiş, yapılan değerlendirmede, tane verimi (TV), başakta tane sayısı (BSTS), başakta tane ağırlığı bakımından ST8 (kontrol) G80 (yerel) genotipleri en yüksek değerlere sahip olmuşlardır. Yerel genotipler bin tane ağırlığı (BTA), peduncle uzunluğu (PU), bitki boyu, tanede protein oranı (TPO), biyolojik verim (BV) ve başaklanma gün sayısı (BGS) bakımından daha yüksek değerlere sahip olurken, bu özellikler açısından G8 (yerel) en yüksek değerlere sahip olmuştur. İncelenen özellikler bakımından geniş bir varyasyona sahip olduğu tespit edilen bu yerel çeşitlerinin korunması ve gelecek kuşaklara aktarılması konusunun önemli olduğu ve aynı zamanda ulusal ve uluslararası buğday ıslah programlarında kullanılabilecek yararlı özelliklere sahip olduğu tespit edilmiştir.
Evaluation of Wild Annual Sunflower Species for Some Morphological, Phenological, and Agronomic Characters under Field Conditions
Authors: ÖNEMLİ Fadul , ÖNEMLİ Gürkan
Published: December 2023

New gene sources are needed for adaptation to climatic changes, resistance to the regeneration of diseases and pests, and achieving high heterosis in sunflower breeding. Wild species are the most important gene sources for sunflower breeding studies. For breeding studies, it is necessary to know the morphological, Phenological, and agronomic characteristics of these genotypes in field conditions. The aim of this research was to determine these components of annual wild sunflower (Helianthus) species under field conditions in the 2012 and 2013 growing seasons for new gene sources. In this research, H. agrestis, H. annuus (4 different genotypes), H. anomalus, H. argophyllus, H. bolanderi, H. debilis (ssp. debilis, ssp. cucumerifolius, ssp. silvestris, ssp. tardiflorus and ssp. vestitus subspecies), H. deserticola, H. exilis, H. neglectus, H. niveus (ssp. niveus, ssp. canescens and ssp. tephrodes subspecies) H. petiolaris (ssp. petiolaris (2 different genotypes) and ssp. fallax subspecies), H. porteri, and H. praecox (ssp. praecox (2 different genotypes), ssp. hirtus, and ssp. runyani subspecies) were used as material. In this study, determined characters on annual wild sunflower genotypes were plant height, primary branches number, secondary branches number per primary branches, plant spreading diameter, the number of days from planting to first flowering, the number of days from planting to 50 % flowering, the number of days from planting to the end of flowering, the number of days of the flowering period, main stem diameter, head diameter, 1000 seeds weight, and seed yield. Year factor had a significant effect on these characters except plant height. Genotype had a significant effect on all characters in both years except seed width in 2013. In both years, the highest values for seed yield, 100 seed weight, head diameter, and main stem diameter were obtained in wild H. annuus genotypes while H. argophyllus had the highest values for plant height and primary branches number, and the highest days numbers from planting to first and 50% flowering. In the first and second growing seasons; values of the genotypes changed between 61.33 and 325.67 cm for plant height, between 0.73 and 101.20 g for thousand seed weight, between 97 and 223 days for the time from planting to 50% flowering, between 50 and 171 days for the flowering period, between 5.0 and 800.70 units for the number of plant heads, between 1.57 and 233.20 g for plant grain yields.
InDel Variations of PRL and GHR Genes Associated with Litter Size in Pirlak sheep breed
Authors: ATAY Sude , YURDAGÜL Kadriye Gül , BİLGİNER Ümit , KARSLI Taki , DEMİR Eymen
Published: December 2023

Numerous molecular genotyping methods are available to analyse local livestock populations at molecular level in which traditional Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) guided by specific oligonucleotides is a fast and cost-effective method to investigate single genes. Until today, many genes which are of major effects on litter size have been reported in sheep. Genetic variations in these genes shaping the expression profile at DNA level may lead to differences in litter size among the sheep breeds. This is the first attempt to investigate insertion/deletion (inDel) variations in Prolactin (PRL) intron 2 and Growth Hormone Receptor (GHR) intron 3 and intron 4 genes in Pirlak sheep breed via traditional PCR technique. A total of 100 unrelated animals sampled from representative herds reared in Antalya were genotyped based on absence/presence of 23 base pairs (bp) length inDel in which three genotypes (II, ID, and DD) were detected in all loci. I and D allele frequency were 0.421 and 0.579, respectively in terms of PRL-intron 2 locus. I / D allele frequencies were found as 0.599 / 0.401 and 0.372 / 0.628 in GHR intron 3 and intron 4, respectively. The lowest II (0.181) and DD (0.177) genotype frequencies were detected in GHR-intron 4 and GHR-intron 3 loci, respectively. The lowest (0.177 for DD) and highest (0.448 for ID) genotype frequencies were detected in GHR intron 3 locus across the population. Significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) was detected only in PRL-intron 2 locus. The results of the present study confirm that Pirlak breed conserves sufficient genetic variation in PRL and GHR gene regions which could be utilized in selection strategies in order to increase litter size in the future.
Genetic Diversity of Kırklareli Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) Populations in Thrace Region of Turkey: Identification of Mitochondrial COI and ND5 Gene Regions
Authors: GÖZE İlknur , ÖZDİL Fulya
Published: December 2023

The main goal of genetic resource conservation is to keep as much genetic diversity as possible within each species. In this respect, some difficulties in the protection of honey bee gene resources make it necessary to reveal the genetic structures of the subspecies and the genetic relationships between the subspecies. In this study, Kırklareli honey bee populations which were officially registered as an ecotype of Turkey’s honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) gene resources by the Republic of Turkey, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, were examined in the COI and ND5 genes of mitochondrial DNA. The restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) together with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to define Apis mellifera populations. A total of 117 worker bee samples were used which were collected from mostly the Kırklareli province. A newly found single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), G→A transition in the COI gene region formed a novel NcoI restriction site resulting in a new haplotype. This new haplotype has been abbreviated as haplotype C. As a result of the COI/SspI digestion, the previously reported C haplotype was determined. No restriction was found with the treatment of COI/StyI enzyme. On the other hand, as a result of ND5/AluI restriction, 2 restriction site and previously reported haplotype C was obtained in all of the studied samples. No restriction was screened with ND5/FokI and ND5/HincII enzymes in the whole samples, only a reported uncut B haplotype was observed. Within this study, novel genetic information has been revealed for the Kırklareli honey bee ecotype registered as the Thrace honey bee of Turkey’s honey bee gene resources. Moreover, detailed studies with larger sample sizes should be conducted to characterize the origin and the subspecies of Kırklareli honey bees in detail. It is thought that this study will be useful in the identification and registration of the Kırklareli honey bees to be carried out in the future, and also in the creation of a database.
PURSUING SUSTAINABILITY: ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNICATION AND THE COMMUNITY'S ROLE IN ENHANCING BANJARMASIN'S RIVER ECOSYSTEMS
Authors: Waluyo Bambang Dwi , Buwono Achmad Bayu Chandra
Published: December 2023

As one of the most modern cities in South Kalimantan, Banjarmasin has emerged as a popular place to visit for residents of the surrounding rural regions. Is it true that the city of Banjarmasin has developed into a secure location from an economic, social, and environmental standpoint? This paper attempts to look at the cognitive behavior of the people of Banjarmasin in regard to the messages that were communicated by the Sahabat Sungai community. This is done by attempting to understand the strategies that were carried out by the Sahabat Sungai community through environmental communication. Aside from that, we also need to pay attention to the ways in which residents living near the river in Banjarmasin are attempting to address the deteriorating conditions along the river.
Regularization of the Solution of a Nonlinear Integral Equation of the First Kind
Authors: Choyubekov S. , Choyubekova A.
Published: December 2023

Integral equations, the main branch of mathematics, are widely used in physics, engineering, mechanics, control theory and other fields. Related to the application of integral equations, new fields are developing, such as economics, some sections of biology, etc. The theory of integral equations mainly developed in the late nineteenth-early twentieth century, starting with Vito Volterra (1982, 1986), Eric Ivar Fredholm (2010), David Hilbert, Erhard Schmidt, etc. scientists began to study it. Nevertheless, within the framework of mathematical concepts that existed before the first half of the twentieth century, such problems were considered incorrect because a small change in the given functions led to a greater change in the desired functions. The Volterra equation of the first kind is an integral equation that has an exact solution only in some cases. The limit of integration has been carried out in very small quantities on non-classical linear and nonlinear integral equations with variable limits and the construction of solutions in these works is based on numerical methods. Therefore, for the so-called non-classical Volterra integral equations, it is relevant to determine the conditions that ensure the uniqueness and regularization of their solutions. In this paper, the uniqueness of the solution of the non-classical nonlinear integral Volterra equation of the first kind is resolved. The aim of the study is to solve the non-classical Volterra integral equation of the first kind, that is, to determine the conditions that ensure the uniqueness of the solution of the nonlinear non-classical Volterra integral equation of the first kind. The proposed methods can be used for the study of integral, integral-differential equations such as the Volterra integral equation of the first kind, as well as for the qualitative study of some applied processes in physics, ecology, medicine, geophysics, and the theory of control of complex systems.
Anatomical Structure of the Calyx Transverse Section of Some Species of the Hedysarum L. Genus (Fabaceae) From Central Asia
Authors: Umetaliev M.
Published: December 2023

This research investigates the anatomical structure of the calyx transverse section of 11 species of the Hedysarumgenus from Central Asia. The analysis revealed that all species exhibit a more or less smooth or slightly convoluted upper surface and a lower surface with varying degrees of tuberculation. Regarding the mesophyll structure of the calyx, the studied species are mainly divided into two groups: in H. pumilum, H. severtzovii, H. micropterum, and H. wrightianum, the mesophyll is differentiated into lower palisade and upper spongy layers, which is considered an adaptive and progressive feature for the calyx; in other species, an undifferentiated mesophyll is observed, regarded as a primitive trait. Furthermore, the formation of large and giant idioblasts is characteristic of all studied species, located on the lower side of the calyx (directly beneath the lower epidermis), along with a 2-4-layered chlorenchyma beneath the upper epidermis, representing adaptive features.
Pathogenic Networks and Natural Thinning of Stands
Authors: Rogozin M.
Published: December 2023

In pine cultures on an area of 0.66 hectares, 345 trees that had fallen away by the age of 59 and 1436 pathogenic zones were studied using biolocation. The cells of their networks have sides with distance fluctuations of 69-845 cm, and north-south and west-east in the Hartman network, the distances between the zones are 360±5 and 390±6 cm, and in the Kurri network 262±2.7 and 295±3 cm. The cells can be triangular, and one side is longer than the other by a maximum of 4 times. In the Hartman network, 0.55 m zones alternate through two 0.3 m zones. There are three gradations of zone sizes in the Kurri network: 0.33 m, 1 and 2 m. The most important zone is 1 m. To the west-east, it alternates through two zones of 0.33 and 2 m, and in the adjacent row of cells it is always located diagonally, where their number is fixed to four. Hartman zones damage the stem cambium cells within a radius of 29 cm, Kurri zones — 44 cm, as a result, trees gradually die off. For the first time, a “point of early death” with a diameter of 14 cm was found inside these zones, where trees probably died before the age of 10 and therefore left no traces. According to these points, 14 places were found in the rows of crops where, with a high probability, trees simply did not take root. In general, 90.7% of trees fell off in pathogenic zones, in depression belts of other geoactive zones and inside death points, and only 9.3% died due to a small feeding area. This destroys the old paradigm and narratives of forestry with the justification of the fall of trees due to intraspecific competition, which we previously carried out detailed calculations do not confirm, and at an average age competition determines the fall of only about 10% of trees.
Foreign Experience of Punishment Execution in the Form of Imprisonment for Women
Authors: Zagrebelnaya P.
Published: December 2023

The article contains foreign experience in the execution of punishment against women in various countries belonging to different legal families. The main focus is on best practices such as separate housing, rehabilitation and education programs, health and reproductive rights, and support for family ties. The conditions for women in prison should be as close as possible to living conditions in freedom to help them adapt upon release. The issues of gender equality and discrimination in the penitentiary system are discussed. The degree of international cooperation and exchange of experience in the field of execution of punishments is emphasized.
The Influence of Religion on Loneliness in Modern Society
Authors: Rustamova D. , Kamchybekova M.
Published: December 2023

This article explores the issue of the influence of religion on loneliness in modern society. Religion, as a social and cultural phenomenon, plays an important role in the formation of interpersonal connections and social support. But what are the specific mechanisms through which religion influences feelings of loneliness? The article analyzes the role of social networks and communities associated with religion, their ability to provide support, community and meaning in life. The influence of religious beliefs on the formation of moral attitudes that promote close interpersonal connections and reduce loneliness is also examined. The article also discusses specific aspects of the influence of different religions on loneliness. Religious practices such as prayer, ceremonies, and rituals can help relieve loneliness by facilitating a sense of connection with a higher power or entity. However, in the context of different cultural and social contexts, some religious communities may introduce additional pressures and stigma that may increase loneliness. In summary, the article emphasizes that the role of religion in the perception of loneliness is complex and multifaceted. To better understand these relationships, specific cultural, social and individual contexts need to be taken into account. Further research in this area will help to more fully uncover the influence of religion on loneliness and develop appropriate approaches to address this problem in society.
The Use Carbon Composite Material For Replacement of Postresection Bone Defects
Authors: Belokrylov Nikolay , Sotin Aleksandr , Belokrylov Alexei , Antipova Тatiana
Published: December 2023

In studying the use of various implanted materials, the authors found no case reports of carbon composite material for children in the available literature. The boundaries of carbon composite material use are not clear, and indications and contraindications for its applying are not outlined. Therefore, the authors decided to share the initial experience of its use for the replacement of post-resection bone defects for children. The paper presents the results of surgical treatment of 8-16-year-old children with extensive bone defects after resection of pathological tissue with the use of highly porous cellular carbon in isolation and in combination with autografts. During the study, children with damage to long bone segments - tibia, shoulder, and femoral were operated on. The clinical and radiation results of this study have been evaluated based on the Musculo Skeletal Tumor Society Score Scale. 100% of treated patients were rated as good for period from 7 to 12 years after surgery. There were no complications in the operated patients. Full integration of the implantable materials was observed with good clinical and radiological results.
How innovation influence organisational performance among SMEs in Ghana: The mediating role of organisational leadership
Authors: Ofosu Esther , Banahene Jerry , Ofosu-Ampong Kingsley
Published: December 2023

The purpose of the study is to investigate the relationship between organisational leadership, organisational performance and innovation among small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in Ghana. We hypothesize organisational leadership as a mediator between innovation and organisational performance. Thus, we investigated how innovation and organisational leadership directly influence organisational success. The study uses quantitative methodology and adopts a survey approach to collect data from SMEs (n=380) in Ghana. The results indicate that organisational leadership and performance are positively correlated. Further, we found that organisational leadership within SMEs affects the relationship between innovation and organisational performance. By identifying the positive effects of innovation and organisational leadership on organisational performance, this study encourages SMEs to invest in innovation and develop strong leadership capabilities.
Analysis of morbidity in hospitals
Authors: Shlyafer Sofia , Shikina Irina
Published: December 2023

The article presents an analysis of morbidity in hospitals and the average length of stay by disease classes and individual nosology in Russia for the period from 2016 to 2021. The aim of the work was to analyze the indicators of morbidity in hospitals among the adult population of Russia for the period 2016-2021. Statistical and analytical research methods were used in the work. The data on the number of discharged adult patients (18 years and older) from medical organizations providing inpatient care as well as on the number of bed-days discharged were used from the federal statistical observation form № 14 'Information about the activities of units of medical organizations providing care in inpatient settings' for 2016-2021. The morbidity in hospitals rate decreased from 205.5 to 196.0 per 1000 people of the corresponding age, the average duration of stay in a hospital bed decreased from 11.7 to 10.6 days. The downward trend in morbidity in hospital is traceable for almost all classes of diseases. Since 2020, due to the pandemic of the new coronavirus infection COVID-19 and the reprofiling of most hospitals to infectious diseases hospitals, there has been a change in the structure of morbidity in hospital in adult patients by disease class.
PRÁTICA DE ANÁLISE LINGUÍSTICA/SEMIÓTICA DE BASE CRÍTICA: UMA PROPOSTA DIDÁTICO-PEDAGÓGICA COM FOCO NO GÊNERO TIRAS EM QUADRINHOS
Authors: Matzenbacher Pinton Francieli , Steinhorst Camila , Vasques Barreto Taís
Published: December 2023

Considerando a Prática de Análise Linguística (PAL), inicialmente proposta por Geraldi (1984) e desenvolvida por outros pesquisadores, neste artigo retomamos o ensaio de Barreto (2022) que busca promover a análise da língua de forma situada sócio-historicamente. A partir disso, apresentamos a Prática de Análise Linguística/Semiótica (PAL/S) de base crítica, uma proposta didático-pedagógica com foco em um exemplar de Tiras em Quadrinhos. Para tanto, ancoramo-nos na Análise Crítica de Gênero (ACG), uma abordagem mestiça ancorada na perspectiva de gênero da Sociorretórica (BAZERMAN, 2009), no sistema de estratificação da Linguística Sistêmico-Funcional (HALLIDAY; MATHIESSEN, 2014), na Gramática do Design Visual (KRESS; van LEEUWEN, 2006) e nos conceitos de discurso, hegemonia e poder da Análise Crítica de Discurso (FAIRCLOUGH, 2016).
NEGOCIAÇÕES COM A VOZ DE OUTREM NA ESCRITA ACADÊMICA
Authors: Alves Assis Juliana , Cristina de Assis Thaís
Published: December 2023

Este artigo insere-se no campo dos estudos do letramento acadêmico e toma como objeto de investigação a escrita de estudantes iniciantes de graduação, na modalidade de licenciatura e bacharelado. A pesquisa busca identificar e analisar, em duas versões de resenhas temáticas, a forma como alunos, assumindo a condição de autores, articulam suas vozes com as vozes de outrem, tendo em conta o posicionamento sobre o tema em desenvolvimento que o gênero resenha temática pressupõe. Para isso foram analisadas dez resenhas temáticas produzidas por estudantes, em uma disciplina destinada a contribuir com o processo de letramento acadêmico de alunos ingressantes no ensino superior. Os resultados apontam caminhos para que os estudantes, em sua formação, possam compreender o papel do discurso de outrem na escrita acadêmica.
Interculturalidade e Modernismo
Authors: Dugnani Patricio
Published: December 2023

Resumo: Nesse artigo pretende-se debater sobre uma questão levantada por Carlos Zílio em seu livro a Querela do Brasil, na qual refletia, de maneira crítica, sobre a arte brasileira e sua identidade. Levando em consideração esse mote inicial, será observada a relação entre o modelo estético moderno que vinha se desenvolvendo na Europa, e a proposta modernista da Semana de Arte Moderna de 1922 de adaptação dessa influência, para fugir da visão etnocêntrica que contaminava o imaginário da cultura brasileira. Entendendo a arte, nesse caso, menos pela questão de estilo e mais como como meio de comunicação, busca-se refletir sobre a estratégia da Semana de Arte Moderna de 1922 para adaptar a influência de um modelo cultural externo, como uma possível inspiração para ações interculturais que pudessem se impor sobre a tendência etnocêntrica de introdução de modelos culturais artificiais e importados através do uso dos meios de comunicação.
Biogenic Zinc oxide nanoparticles from Celosia argentea: toward improved antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer activities
Authors: Alghamdi Rana Abdullah , Al-Zahrani Maryam Hassan , Altarjami Lamaia R. , Al Abdulmonem Waleed , Samir Nadia , Said Alaa , Shami Ashjan A. , Mohamed W. S. , Ezzeldien Mohammed
Published: December 2023

Biogenic Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized from Celosia argentea (C. argentea) plant extract. Structural analysis confirms the successful synthesis of biogenic zinc oxide NPs from C. argentea extract. The biogenic ZnO NPs have an average particle size of 21.55 ± 4.73 nm, a semispherical shape, and a specific surface area of about 50 m2/g. The biogenic ZnO NPs have a powerful radical scavenging activity (Ic50 = 91.24 mg/ml) comparable to ascorbic acid (ASC) as a standard (Ic50 = 14.37 mg/ml). The antibacterial efficacy was tested against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria using an agar disc diffusion method. Gram-positive strains with biogenic ZnO NPs have a greater bactericidal impact than gram-negative strains in a concentration-dependent manner. Anticancer activity against Liver hepatocellular cells (HepG2) and Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) was evaluated using a [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] (MTT) assay. The results reflect the concentration-dependent cytotoxic effect of biogenic ZnO NPs against HepG2 cells even at low concentrations (Ic50 = 49.45 μg/ml) compared with doxorubicin (Ic50 = 14.67 μg/ml) and C. argentea extract (Ic50 = 112.24 μg/ml). The cell cycle and gene expression were analyzed to determine the potential anticancer mechanism. The flow cytometric analysis of the cell cycle revealed that biogenic ZnO NPs induce oxidative stress that activates the apoptotic genes NF-κB, CY-C, and P53, leading to cell death. The Celosia argentea improved the antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer activities of ZnO NPs without altering their structural properties. The effect of green synthesis on the bioactivity of biogenic ZnO NPs in vivo is recommended for future work.
Efficacy of moxibustion in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome model rats: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Rao Xiang , Xing Yu , Ji Changchun , Guo Jixing , Li Hong-Bao , Xie Chaoju , Bai Juan , Wang Xuejiao , Li Ying , Zhao Jingyu
Published: December 2023

Objective: To systematically evaluate the efficacy of moxibustion in diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) model rats.

Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, VIP, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases from their inception to June 30, 2023. Relevant animal experiments investigating moxibustion for treating IBS-D in model rats were included. Two independent researchers screened the literature, extracted data, and evaluated the risk of bias in the selected studies. The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software.

Results: In total, 21 animal studies comprising 680 model rats were included. The meta-analysis results demonstrated that moxibustion enhanced the threshold capacity of the abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) [standardized mean difference (SMD) = 1.84; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.09, 2.60; p < 0.00001], ameliorated the rate of loose stool (SMD = −4.03; 95% CI: –5.76, −2.30; p < 0.00001), and decreased the colon 5-hydroxytryptamine (SMD = −3.67; 95% CI: –5.33, −2.01; p < 0.00001), serum interleukin-1β (SMD = −3.24, 95% CI: –4.06, −2.41; p < 0.00001), serum tumor necrosis factor-α (SMD = −2.35, 95% CI: –4.12, −0.58; p < 0.00001), and serum substance P (SMD = −5.14, 95% CI: –8.45, −1.83; p = 0.002) concentrations. Moxibustion did not affect the blood calcitonin gene-related peptide level compared to the blank model group (p = 0.15).

Conclusion: Moxibustion modulated the brain-gut interaction, reduced visceral hypersensitivity, inhibited intestinal inflammation, and regulated the immune balance, improving the rate of loose stool and increasing the AWR threshold capacity in IBS-D model rats, achieving good analgesic and antidiarrheal effects. However, these conclusions require further validation due to limitations in the quantity and quality of the included studies.
Investigations on the structural and optoelectronic characteristics of cadmium-substituted zinc selenide semiconductors
Authors: Iqbal Muhammad Aamir , Bakhsh Sunila , Ikram Mujtaba , Sohail Muhammad , Islam Md. Rasidul , Manoharadas Salim , Choi Jeong Ryeol
Published: December 2023

A change in the composition and dopant content of selective atoms in a material leads to their new desired properties by altering the structure, which can significantly improve the performance of relevant devices. By acknowledging this, we focused on characterizing the optoelectronic and structural properties of cadmium-substituted zinc selenide (Zn1-xCdxSe; 0 ≤ X ≤ 1) semiconductors using density functional theory (DFT) within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA), EV-GGA, and mBJ approximations. The results proved the cubic symmetry of the investigated materials at all Cd concentrations (0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1). Although a linear surge in the lattice constant is observed with the change in Cd content, the bulk modulus exhibits a reverse trend. These materials are observed to be direct bandgap semiconductors at all Cd concentrations, with a decrease in electronic bandgap from 2.76 eV to 1.87 eV, and have isotropic optical properties, showing their potential applicability as a blue-to-red display. The fundamental optical properties of the materials, such as optical conductivity, reflectance, refractive index, absorption, and extinction coefficient, are also discussed. These outcomes provide a computational understanding of the diverse applications of Zn1-xCdxSe semiconductors in optoelectronic, photonic, and photovoltaic devices, particularly for a visible-range display.
Meta-transcriptomics for the diversity of tick-borne virus in Nujiang, Yunnan Province
Authors: Wang Juan , Wang Jing , Kuang Guopeng , Wu Weichen , Yang Lifen , Yang Weihong , Pan Hong , Han Xi , Yang Tian , Shi Mang , Feng Yun
Published: December 2023

Ticks, an arthropod known for transmitting various pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, and fungi, pose a perpetual public health concern. A total of 2,570 ticks collected from Nujiang Prefecture in Yunnan Province between 2017 and 2022 were included in the study. Through the meta-transcriptomic sequencing of four locally distributed tick species, we identified 13 RNA viruses belonging to eight viral families, namely, Phenuiviridae, Nairoviridae, Peribunyaviridae, Flaviviridae, Chuviridae, Rhabdoviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, and Totiviridae. The most prevalent viruses were members of the order Bunyavirales, including three of Phenuiviridae, two were classified as Peribunyaviridae, and one was associated with Nairoviridae. However, whether they pose a threat to human health still remains unclear. Indeed, this study revealed the genetic diversity of tick species and tick-borne viruses in Nujiang Prefecture based on COI gene and tick-borne virus research. These data clarified the genetic evolution of some RNA viruses and furthered our understanding of the distribution pattern of tick-borne pathogens, highlighting the importance and necessity of monitoring tick-borne pathogens.
Severe influenza A virus pneumonia complicated with Curvularia lunata infection: Case Report
Authors: Zhang Yanqing , Li Haixia , Chen Ling , Feng Fei , Liu Liping , Guo Qinghong
Published: December 2023

Human infection with Curvularia lunata (C. lunata) is exceptionally rare. A 23-year-old female patient contracted both bacterial and Curvularia lunata infections during influenza A virus infection. Multiple etiological tests were performed repeatedly during hospitalization due to fluctuations in condition. On the 17th day after hospital admission, mold hyphae were discovered in the pathogen culture of the patient’s bronchoalveolar lavage fluid during one of these examinations. The patient was suspected to have a filamentous fungal infection. Consequently, we further obtained sputum samples for fungal culture, which confirmed the diagnosis of Curvularia infection. The patient, in this case, was in a critical condition, experiencing complications of lung abscess, pneumothorax, sepsis, and multiorgan failure. Despite prompt initiation of antifungal therapy including amphotericin B cholesteryl sulfate complex and isavuconazole upon detection of the fungal infection and concurrent administration of active organ function support treatment, the patient’s condition rapidly deteriorated due to compromised immune function. Ultimately, on the 27th day of treatment, the patient succumbed to septic shock and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. This is the first case of Curvularia lunata infection in our hospital. In this paper, we aim to raise awareness of Curvularia lunata infection and to emphasize that the possibility of this fungal infection should be considered in patients with severe pneumonia caused by influenza A virus and that empirical antifungal therapy should be given promptly when the patient has invasive lung damage.
Multidirectional associations between the gut microbiota and Parkinson’s disease, updated information from the perspectives of humoral pathway, cellular immune pathway and neuronal pathway
Authors: Jia Xiaokang , Chen Qiliang , Zhang Yuanyuan , Asakawa Tetsuya
Published: December 2023

The human gastrointestinal tract is inhabited by a diverse range of microorganisms, collectively known as the gut microbiota, which form a vast and complex ecosystem. It has been reported that the microbiota-gut-brain axis plays a crucial role in regulating host neuroprotective function. Studies have shown that patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) have dysbiosis of the gut microbiota, and experiments involving germ-free mice and fecal microbiota transplantation from PD patients have revealed the pathogenic role of the gut microbiota in PD. Interventions targeting the gut microbiota in PD, including the use of prebiotics, probiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation, have also shown efficacy in treating PD. However, the causal relationship between the gut microbiota and Parkinson’s disease remains intricate. This study reviewed the association between the microbiota-gut-brain axis and PD from the perspectives of humoral pathway, cellular immune pathway and neuronal pathway. We found that the interactions among gut microbiota and PD are very complex, which should be “multidirectional”, rather than conventionally regarded “bidirectional”. To realize application of the gut microbiota-related mechanisms in the clinical setting, we propose several problems which should be addressed in the future study.
COVID-19 vaccination and corneal allograft rejection- a review
Authors: Allen Natalie E. , Zhang Jie , McGhee Charles N. J.
Published: December 2023

Aim

To provide a comprehensive literature review on the perceived correlation between COVID-19 vaccination and corneal allograft rejection, and to characterize risk factors, time course, graft outcomes and proposed immunological basis.

Methods

A literature review was conducted in August 2023 using 4 electronic databases: PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE and Scopus. Articles were sourced using key words associated with COVID-19 vaccination and corneal graft. All articles were screened for relevance by abstract review. Duplicates and articles related to COVID-19 infection were excluded. No time limits were set. Additional literature searches regarding cause of corneal graft rejection, rates of graft rejection associated with other vaccines and the cellular mechanism of rejection were also performed.

Results

262 articles were identified from the literature search. 37 papers were included in the analysis based on defined inclusion criteria. This consisted of systematic reviews (n=6), review articles (n=5), retrospective studies (n=3), case series (n=8), letter to the editor (n=1) and case reports (n= 14). The majority of reported allograft rejections were in penetrating keratoplasties. Risk factors for COVID-19 vaccination associated rejection were previous allograft rejection episodes, repeat grafts and penetrating keratoplasty. Most reported rejection episodes were mild and resolved with treatment. Notably, several studies reported nil increase in corneal allograft rejection episodes over the COVID-19 vaccination period. Rejection episodes are associated with a broad spectrum of other vaccines and the complete pathophysiology is undetermined.

Conclusion

Corneal allograft rejection appears to be a rare complication of COVID-19 vaccination most frequently observed in high-risk corneal transplants. The true extent of this correlation remains controversial; however, clinician awareness of this risk is essential to its mitigation. Patient counselling around symptom monitoring following vaccination and discussion around topical steroid prophylaxis may be prudent.
Promising antimalarial hits from phenotypic screens: a review of recently-described multi-stage actives and their modes of action
Authors: Luo Annie-Peiyuan , Giannangelo Carlo , Siddiqui Ghizal , Creek Darren J.
Published: December 2023

Over the last two decades, global malaria cases caused by Plasmodium falciparum have declined due to the implementation of effective treatments and the use of insecticides. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused major disruption in the timely delivery of medical goods and diverted public health resources, impairing malaria control. The emergence of resistance to all existing frontline antimalarials underpins an urgent need for new antimalarials with novel mechanisms of action. Furthermore, the need to reduce malaria transmission and/or prevent malaria infection has shifted the focus of antimalarial research towards the discovery of compounds that act beyond the symptomatic blood stage and also impact other parasite life cycle stages. Phenotypic screening has been responsible for the majority of new antimalarial lead compounds discovered over the past 10 years. This review describes recently reported novel antimalarial hits that target multiple parasite stages and were discovered by phenotypic screening during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their modes of action and targets in blood stage parasites are also discussed.
Pyrimidine salvage in Toxoplasma gondii as a target for new treatment
Authors: Elati Hamza A. A. , Goerner Amber L. , Martorelli Di Genova Bruno , Sheiner Lilach , de Koning Harry P.
Published: December 2023

Toxoplasmosis is a common protozoan infection that can have severe outcomes in the immunocompromised and during pregnancy, but treatment options are limited. Recently, nucleotide metabolism has received much attention as a target for new antiprotozoal agents and here we focus on pyrimidine salvage by Toxoplasma gondii as a drug target. Whereas uptake of [3H]-cytidine and particularly [3H]-thymidine was at most marginal, [3H]-uracil and [3H]-uridine were readily taken up. Kinetic analysis of uridine uptake was consistent with a single transporter with a Km of 3.3 ± 0.8 µM, which was inhibited by uracil with high affinity (Ki = 1.15 ± 0.07 µM) but not by thymidine or 5-methyluridine, showing that the 5-Me group is incompatible with uptake by T. gondii. Conversely, [3H]-uracil transport displayed a Km of 2.05 ± 0.40 µM, not significantly different from the uracil Ki on uridine transport, and was inhibited by uridine with a Ki of 2.44 ± 0.59 µM, also not significantly different from the experimental uridine Km. The reciprocal, complete inhibition, displaying Hill slopes of approximately -1, strongly suggest that uridine and uracil share a single transporter with similarly high affinity for both, and we designate it uridine/uracil transporter 1 (TgUUT1). While TgUUT1 excludes 5-methyl substitutions, the smaller 5F substitution was tolerated, as 5F-uracil inhibited uptake of [3H]-uracil with a Ki of 6.80 ± 2.12 µM (P > 0.05 compared to uracil Km). Indeed, we found that 5F-Uridine, 5F-uracil and 5F,2’-deoxyuridine were all potent antimetabolites against T. gondii with EC50 values well below that of the current first line treatment, sulfadiazine. In vivo evaluation also showed that 5F-uracil and 5F,2’-deoxyuridine were similarly effective as sulfadiazine against acute toxoplasmosis. Our preliminary conclusion is that TgUUT1 mediates potential new anti-toxoplasmosis drugs with activity superior to the current treatment.
A lack of retrieval practice effects in children's recognition and recall memory of novel words during storybook reading
Authors: Knabe Melina L. , Bredemann Catherine A. , Vlach Haley A.
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Retrieval practice enhances adults' long-term memory over restudying. However, it is less clear whether young children also benefit from retrieval practice. This study assessed whether retrieval practice could support children's novel word learning in the context of storybook reading.

Method

In Experiments 1–3, preschoolers (N = 167, RangeAge = 26–68 months) were presented with 10 novel word-object pairs across four consecutive storybook readings. Half of the children were read the storybook four times (i.e., SSSS), whereas the other half of the children were read the storybook once and were then asked to retrieve the novel words during the subsequent three readings (i.e., STTT). Children's recall and recognition memory for the novel words was tested after a 5-min delay.

Results and discussion

Results revealed that although children had high retrieval success during learning, retrieval practice did not provide an advantage over re-reading for children's recall (Experiment 1), even when additional mapping and retrieval opportunities were provided (Experiment 2); that is, children who engaged in retrieval practice did not outperform children who re-read the storybooks. A retrieval practice effect also did not emerge in children's recognition memory of novel words (Experiment 3). Taken together, this study suggests that retrieval practice may only benefit young children under specific learning conditions. Future research should therefore consider characteristics of the learner and broader learning context to explain developmental differences in retrieval practice effects.
Minor alleles of FTO rs9939609 and rs17817449 polymorphisms confer a higher risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia, but not coronary artery disease in a Chinese Han population
Authors: Zhang Youjin , Chen Lvlin , Zhu Junchen , Liu Hao , Xu Luying , Wu Yang , He Chuan , Song Yongyan
Published: December 2023

Background

Relationships of the polymorphisms in fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta gene (PPARD) with metabolic-related diseases remain to be clarified.

Methods

One thousand three hundred and eighty-one subjects were enrolled. Metabolic-related diseases including obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, hyperuricemia, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and coronary artery disease (CAD) were defined based on diagnostic criteria. FTO rs9939609 and rs17817449, and PPARD rs2016520 and rs2267668 polymorphisms were genotyped by using polymerase chain reaction-restricted fragment length polymorphism method.

Results

Patients with T2DM or dyslipidemia had a higher frequency of AA, AT or AA + AT genotypes as well as A allele of FTO rs9939609 polymorphism than those free of T2DM or dyslipidemia (P ≤ 0.04 for all). Patients with T2DM or dyslipidemia had a higher frequency of GG, GT or GG + GT genotypes as well as G allele of FTO rs17817449 polymorphism than those free of T2DM or dyslipidemia (P ≤ 0.03 for all). Multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that FTO rs9939609 and rs17817449 polymorphisms were independently associated with T2DM as well as dyslipidemia after adjustment for age, sex, smoking and other metabolic diseases. FTO rs9939609 and rs17817449 polymorphisms were not associated with obesity, hyperhomocysteinemia, hyperuricemia, hypertension and CAD. Obese or T2DM carriers of the AA or AT genotype of the FTO rs9939609 polymorphism had a higher prevalence of dyslipidemia compared to non-obese or non-T2DM carriers of the AA or AT genotype (P = 0.03 for both). Among the carriers of GG or GT genotype of the FTO rs17817449 polymorphism, the prevalence of dyslipidemia in obese patients was higher than that in non-obese subjects (P < 0.01). PPARD rs2016520 and rs2267668 polymorphisms were not correlated with any of the metabolic-related diseases in the study population.

Conclusion

Minor alleles of FTO rs9939609 and rs17817449 polymorphisms confer a higher risk of T2DM and dyslipidemia, and the risk is further increased among obese individuals. PPARD rs2016520 and rs2267668 polymorphisms are not associated with metabolic-related diseases.