bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trends in Licensure Examination Success Among Psychology and Teacher Education Graduates
Authors: Quendangan Magno , Garcia Rizaldy , Balbin Samuel
Published: May 2024

The study delved into identifying trends in the licensure examination pass rates at Rizal Technological University, Philippines, for the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LEPT) from 2010 to 2019 and the Psychometrician Licensure Examination (PLE) from 2014 to 2019. Since data mining was used in this study, there was no data collection using a specific instrument. The study used the quantitative trend analysis method, which typically focuses on counting or gauging and requires acquiring and analyzing numerical data. The results of the study show that pass rates have changed over time. The results of this study's examination of the ten-year duration in the LEPT suggest that results have varying percentages, comparable to the outcomes of the study's review of the six-year period in the PLE. The study's findings indicate that the retakers' performance significantly impacted the outcomes of both exams. The General Weighted Average (GWA) of the licensure test years included in this study falls below the passing rate of 75% in the areas tested for both license examinations. Professional Education is the area that requires the most emphasis for LEPT, whereas Industrial Psychology is the area that requires the most attention for PLE. The study's findings help explain the dynamics of licensure examination patterns and provide insight into how policymakers, educators, and industry leaders may work together to improve pass rates.
Mengenal Reog dan Warok Dalam Kebudayaan Masyarakat Ponorogo
Authors: Pramudita Nicolas Gerardus Dimas
Published: May 2024

Ponorogo is one of the districts in Indonesia which has a very specific inheritance, namely the socalled Reog and Warok arts. Both are parts of performance art. Reog is a form of colosal dance, which came up to retell the legend of Ponorogo. Its performance is not just intended fo entertaining me society but also a sebagai sarana sinidiran. It depends on which version is taken out. On the other hand, Warok is a cultural fenomena exists within the Ponorogo society. From time to time the Warok tradition has endured an altered meaning depends on the influence of time and religious doctrine.
Ritus Lodong Ana’ dalam Masyarakat Lamaholot dan Sakramen Baptis
Authors: Lio Zakeus Daeng
Published: May 2024

For the ethnic society of Lamaholot, East Flores, a baby is a gift of Lera Wulan Tana Ekan (God), therefore the people have to perform a special ritual called Lodong Ana’. The ritual is performed with double intentions, namely for thanking the almighty God spiritually and for incorporating the baby into the society socio-culturally. As any common ethnic ritual of agricultural society around the globe, the Lodong Ana’ rite is performed with its various symbols representing the society and prayers uttered by the kepala adat (ethnic chief). This ritual has some similarities with the Sacrament of Baptism in the Catholic Church. This article, then, tries to describe parallelism between the two. The writer argues that the dialogue between the two rites is of paramount importance, particularly for the people of Lamaholot who are Catholics. The constructive and critical dialogue is mostly possible, which can contribute for strengthening the bond of family life in the society at large as well as Christian community as people of God with its local flavour.
Upacara Wuad Wa’i di Manggarai, Flores, dalam Perspektif Evangelisasi
Authors: Tamur Martin
Published: May 2024

Being a migrant people is not a new phenomenon at all in the world of today. People are relatively easy moving from one place to the other, leaving their birthplace for studying, working, and for a betterment of life. Manggarainese of West Flores is one ethnic group of these migrant peoples, leaving their region and province to another islands in Indonesia, such as Bali, Jawa, Sulawesi, Kalimantan, even crossing the border to Malaysia, to become TKIs (Tenaga Kerja Indonesia, Indonesian workers) abroad. The article describes an important rite performed for the would be migrants, either for their further study or for some work. The rite is called Wuad Wa’i, which is basically a kind of ‘mission rite’: thanking God (Mori Kraeng, Mori Jari Agu Dedek/ Pencipta) for his divine providence as well as imploring his guidance for the faithfuls. The main intention of the rite is actually to support the would be migrant: offering him/her some advise for the success in the near future and reminding him/her of their being Christian. It is culturally and spiritually very important, because he/she will be living among people of other faiths, who are mostly the majority. The writer is suggesting that it might be also possible to give the Wuad Wa’i rite the spirit of new evangelization, particularly, in reminding the would be migrant not only to become a successful student or worker but also to be witness of Christian faith to his/her new neighbours, whatever the new environment would be like.
Levd Liv Live – eit sjølvetnografisk blikk på Gjenklangfestivalen
Authors: Tuastad Lars
Published: May 2024

The article explores Gjenklang, an organization dedicated to support artists affiliated with music therapy in the field of mental health, substance abuse and correctional services. Since 2020, Gjenklang has annually arranged a three-day festival at the rock club Hulen. Through the lenses of autoethnography as methodological approach, Gjenklangfestivalen is contextualised within the broader landscape of music therapy and examined as a cultural phenomenon. Stories from the three-day Gjenklangfestivalen along with theories of ritual, forms the basis for the problem formulation: How can Gjenklangfestivalen be understood in light of ritual theory, and what implications might this have for music therapy in the fields of mental health, substance abuse and correctional services? This is discussed through three distinct perspectives: Gjenklangfestivalen as a community of health performance, Gjenklangfestivalen as a community of feelings, and Gjenklangfestivalen as a community of activism. In conclusion Gjenklangfestivalen is claimed to be a significant and innovative addition to the field of music therapy and the culture life. However, further research about music therapy festivals is needed providing expanded arenas for Lived Life Live experiences.
Access to Justice in Contemporary Society – A Holistic Approach
Authors: Prishima  , Gayathri Ramanya
Published: May 2024

The complex concept which touches almost every aspect of human life that binds people together into a right and fair relationship is what is defined as justice. The constitution of India furnished innumerable constitutional articles that assures humans and citizens the right to access to justice. It is crucial to preserve and protect the belief among the citizens that are legal system is not biased to a particular sector of a community in reality the diminished zones of the society find it impossible to seek justice and injustice is laid down open across the country. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar faded Article 32 was the heart and soul of the Indian constitution is delivered the right to individual to move to Supreme Court to seek justice when they feel that their right have been done delete deprived. This paper fundamentally scrutinizes the causes due to which access to justice is not in the immediate approach to people of the country. The paper further discusses landmark judgements and methods that has upheld the right to access to justice which have emphasized the importance of legal aid and the obligation of the government to ensure citizens with right to injustice and free trial. The study also analyses the effectiveness of contemporary modes of access to justice which is complying of constitutional philosophy or preamble. The Authors also surmises other alternative ways through which citizens can get immediate access the justice in the light of constitution.
Bioresursu ilgtspējas vērtējums. Latvijas piemēri
Authors:   , Dzalbs Arnis
Published: May 2024

Promocijas darbā izvērtēta bioresursu ilgtspēja. Izmantojot gan teorētiskas, gan praktiskas metodes, noteikts bioresursu un atjaunojamo energoresursu ieviešanas potenciāls un tirgus briedums. Darba gaitā izstrādāts unikāls dzīves cikla modelis lauksaimniecības auksto piegādes ķēžu ilgtspējas analīzei Latvijā esošai smiltsērkšķu plantācijai un analizēti pieejamie siltumnīcefekta gāzu aprēķinu rīki. Veikta bioresursos bāzētu termoiepakojumu tirgus potenciāla apzināšana un būvniecības materiālu izveide no mežizstrādes atlikumiem laboratorijas apstākļos.
KRIZA IDENTITETA MLADIH, ANARHIZAM I ODBOJNA ULOGA RADA
Authors: Miliša Zlatko
Published: May 2024

Današnje adolescente, kao nikada ranije, obilježava konfuzija identiteta i uloga u društvu što stvara krizu identiteta, a to je potrebno dovesti u vezu s preferencijama mlade generacije. Vrijednosti su usmjeravajući, pokretački i regulacijski čimbenik u odgoju mladih, a pojavnost skeptične generacije generira krizu odgoja. Iz toga proizlazi da mladi ţive u društvu krize i (socijalnih) rizika koje nisu oni stvorili, ali postaju njihove žrtve. Zanemarivanjem vrijednosti i potreba mladih stvara se bumerang generacija koja buntom obezvređuje autoritete. Anarhizam ima za cilj dokidanje svih oblika dominacije (izvanjskih) autoriteta. U radu se analizira poveznica između krize identiteta mladih i anarhističke paradigme odnosa prema radu. Odbojna uloga rada potencijalno vodi konfliktnim stanjima u psihodruštvenom ekvilibriju krize identiteta. Anarhisti nude koncept napuštanja države i autoriteta uopće, što ima dalekosežne sociopedagogijske konsekvence. Paradoks suvremenog društva vidljiv je u zahtjevima da mladi budu odani principima etike rada (upornost, štedljivost, materijalna neovisnost i samostalnost), dok su oni permanentno na marginama društva. Zaključuje se da je posljedica takvog društvenog stanja današnja bumerang i skeptična generacija, a konfuzija uloga izazvala je već i u ranijim razdobljima reakciju prepoznatljivu po anarhističkom buntu i osporavanju svih autoriteta i pokušaju rušenja društvenih institucija. Iz toga proizlazi da fermentirano nezadovoljstvo mlade/izigrane generacije ima potencijal da u Europi ponovi društvene nerede i do potencijalno još rizičnijih oblika destrukcije kod mlade generacije.
POVEZANOST PERCIPIRANE KOMUNIKACIJE U OBITELJI SA ZADOVOLJSTVOM OBITELJSKIH ODNOSA
Authors: Gregorović Belaić Zlatka
Published: May 2024

Nekvalitetna komunikacija u obitelji, posebice u odnosu adolescenata (i mladih) i roditelja, predstavlja rizični faktor za razvoj poremećaja u ponašanju mladih. Neki od elemenata rizika u komunikaciji, mogu se promatrati kroz površno komuniciranje, neprestano slanje „ti“ poruka, slanje nejasnih poruka ili poruka upućenih trećoj osobi (koja nije prisutna), međusobno okrivljavanje i omalovažavanje, prekidanje razgovora, vikanje, skretanje s važnih tema, izbjegavanje razgovora o osjećajima i, najvažniji element rizika, nedostatak slušanja i sl. (Bašić i Ferić, 2000). Nerijetko se komunikacija povezuje sa zadovoljstvom obitelji te se ističe kao ključ za potpuni razvoj članova obitelji (Ljubetić i sur., 2020). Cilj rada je prikazati neke rezultate istraživanja kojim se nastojala ispitati percepcija obiteljske komunikacije i zadovoljstva obitelji te međusobna povezanost ta dva konstrukta. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 528 ispitanika, a podaci su prikupljeni tijekom 2019./2020. i 2021./2022. akademske godine metodom online ankete na prigodnom uzorku. U istraživanju su korištene dvije podskale: Podskala obiteljske komunikacije i Podskala zadovoljstva obitelji iz FACES IV instrumenta (Olson, 2010). Dobiveni rezultati pokazuju da članovi obitelji međusobnu komunikaciju procjenjuju kvalitetnom te da su općenito zadovoljni životom u obitelji. Rezultati istraživanja su potvrdili značajnu razliku u procjeni kvalitete komunikacije majke i njihove djece (mladih), pri čemu su majke procijenile višom. Utvrđena je i značajna povezanost između komunikacije i zadovoljstva obitelji.
SEKSUALNO ZLOSTAVLJANJE I ISKORIŠTAVANJE DJECE U HRVATSKOJ
Authors: Kovčo Vukadin Irma
Published: May 2024

Prema procjenama relevantnih međunarodnih institucija, svake godine milijuni djece diljem svijeta postaju žrtvama spolnog zlostavljanja i iskorištavanja. Prema posljednjim globalnim podacima, 18% djevojčica i 7,6% dječaka do 18-te godine dožive seksualnu viktimizaciju u svijetu. Europski i hrvatski podaci se također kreću u navedenim okvirima. Prvi korak u odgovornoj društvenoj reakciji na problem seksualne viktimizacije djece (nakon postavljanja adekvatnog zakonskog okvira) je praćenje problema na nacionalnoj razini. Stoga je cilj ovog rada bio utvrditi: 1. opseg seksualnog zlostavljanja i iskorištavanja djece u Hrvatskoj, 2. sudsku praksu sankcioniranja počinitelja, 3. značajke djela i počinitelja te 4. trajanje postupka. Analizirani su podaci o kaznenim djelima spolnog zlostavljanja i iskorištavanja djece prema podacima Državnog zavoda za statistiku u razdoblju od 2013. do 2021. godine. Analiza pokazuje kako počinitelji ovih kaznenih djela čine manji dio ukupnog broja počinitelja te kako je najčešće kazneno djelo Spolna zlouporaba djeteta mlađeg od 15 godina. Počiniteljima ovih delikata suci uglavnom izriču bezuvjetne kazne zatvora, te se kazna zatvora najčešće izriče u trajanju od 6 do 12 mjeseci. Jedna trećina počinitelja kaznena djela čini u stjecaju, manji dio u sudioništvu te je jedna petina počinitelja prethodno osuđivana. Počinitelji su dominantno muškarci sa završenim srednjoškolskim obrazovanjem hrvatskog državljanstva koji su neoženjeni. Postupak od prijave do pravomoćne presude najčešće traje godinu dana i dulje. Rezultati analize ukazuju na dodatna pitanja koja bi bilo vrijedno istražiti.
THE RISKS OF ACTIVITIES OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN: FEATURES, CAUSES, PREVENTION
Authors: Chumicheva Raisa , Zvereva Olga
Published: May 2024

The article reveals the concept of "risk" in psychological and pedagogical research. The authors consider different interpretations of the concept of the word risk. The features of risky actions of preschool children in the educational environment are described. The authors write about the preventive activity in the preschool educational environment as a prevention of the occurrence of risky actions in preschool children. The "risk" is determined by individual personality characteristics, which are determined by the age, gender and social factors, which determines both risky behavior and risky activities. In the article, the authors consider the manifestations of children's activity that lead to risk, pose a danger to children due to their age and psychological characteristics. The motives of risks are considered. In the article special attention is paid to digital technologies in the development of preschool children, the advantages and disadvantages are considered. For our study, this position is very significant in determining risk because it is associated with risky activities of children. It is in a situation when it is uncertain for them and they have to make a choice and assess their capabilities, in which a certain risk is inherent. If a child has low self-esteem under the wrong or harsh influence of an adult, the hour will come when the child will risk trying his strength or opportunities to resist the community with a risky activity. Parents and teachers face a significant task: creating effective conditions for the prevention of reducing stressful situations for a child in the family and educational organizations. The main types of preventive activities in the preschool educational situation are presented. The purpose of the research and research methods are described.
KOCKANJE SREDNJOŠKOLACA I STUDENATA: UČESTALOST, POVEZANA PONAŠANJA KOJA VODE KA ZAVISNOSTI I PORODIĈNE VARIJABLE OD INTERESA
Authors: Stojanović Goran , Damjenić Bratić Mirjana , Jorgić Draženko
Published: May 2024

Cilj ovog rada je identifikovati učestalost kockanja, vrste igara na sreću koje su danas popularne kod srednjoškolaca i studenata, kao i povezanost učestalosti kockanja sa upotrebom alkohola, cigareta i vejpa, kao i sa ponašanjem roditelja u vezi sa kockanjem i kvalitetom porodičnih odnosa. U istraţivanju su učestvovali srednjoškolci III i IV razreda i studenti različitih godina studija Univerziteta u Banjoj Luci i Istočnom Sarajevu iz većine gradova i opština Republike Srpske. Za realizaciju ovog cilja korišćeni su e-upitnik o opštim socio-demografskim podacima i aktivnostima kockanja, te porodičnim varijablama od interesa (Stojanović, Damjenić, Damjenić Bratić i Jorgić, 2022). Anketiranje je bilo usmjereno na formalne oblike igara na sreću, odnosno one igre koje se nude od sluţbeno registrovanih prireĎivača na području Republike Srpske. Rezultati na 2700 ispitanika (80.3% učenika srednjih škola i 19.7% studenata) pokazuju da je više od dvije trećine ispitanika nekada u toku ţivota kockalo, te da je učestalost kockanja pozitivno povezana sa upotrebom alkohola, cigareta, vejpa, te učestalošću kockanja oba roditelja i finansijskim statusom porodice. Pored toga, pronaĎena je negativna veza sa doţivljajem kvaliteta odnosa sa porodicom. Rezultati ukazuju na to da se kockanje ne moţe sprečavati niti liječiti kao izolovano problematično ponašanje u adolescenciji, već jedino u kontekstu povezanih ponašanja i odnosa sa salijentnim društvenim grupama.
ULOGA INFORMACIONIH TEHNOLOGIJA U VASPITNO-OBRAZOVNOM PROCESU
Authors: Lajšić Helena
Published: May 2024

Informaciono komunikaciona sredstva postaju punopravni dio ţivota djece i mladih, podrazumijevaju se kao dio njihovog životnog prostora. Sveobuhvatno, informaciono komunikaciona tehnologija postaje punopravni dio njihovih života, i to kako sa aspekta privatnih djelatnosti, tako i sa profesionalnog aspekta. Prirodan tok koji se nameće, jeste neizbježnost implementacije računarske filozofije u vaspitno- nastavne procese. Proces osavremenjavanja postojećih tehnologija znatno brţe se odvija u proizvodnim oblastima ali se očekuje da vaspitne ustanove, škole i fakulteti prate inovativne procese i da edukuju mlade u skladu sa potrebama društva i privrede. Svjetski su prihvaćeni novi standardi u oblasti obrazovanja, koji su značajno modifikovali staromodna shvatanja i koncepte nastave. Uvođenje informaciono-komunikacionih tehnologija u obrazovanje dovodi do novog i zanimljivog načina prenošenja nastavnog sadrţaja djeci, učenicima i studentima. Poimanje znanja se mijenja, pa savremeno vaspitanje i obrazovanje iziskuje transformaciju tradicionalnog oblika reprodukcije znanja u model aktivne izgradnje znanja gdje su nastavnici i učenici partneri u zajedničkom djelovanju upravljanja informacijama, analiziranju i pretvaranju u korisno znanje.
Use of a new low-profile coronary stent graft for the treatment of intracranial carotid blow-out
Authors: Altunbulak Halil Ibrahim , Altunbulak Ahmet Yasir , Balci Sinan , Berker Mustafa , Arat Anil
Published: May 2024

A 50-year-old male patient with a history of transcranial surgery and subsequent radiotherapy for a pituitary adenoma presented with repetitive pulsatile nasal bleeding. A right cavernous segment pseudoaneurysm was discovered on the angiogram, and the patient failed the balloon occlusion test. A Papyrus (Biotronik, Berlin, Germany) stent graft, which is approved for coronary interventions, was successfully deployed over a coaxial guiding system during the emergent treatment of the false aneurysm. The patient tolerated the procedure well and nasal bleeding did not recur after the procedure. At one-year angiographic follow-up, the stent graft was patent and there was no evidence of recanalization of the false aneurysm.
H1 restricts euchromatin-associated methylation pathways from heterochromatic encroachment
Authors: Harris C Jake , Zhong Zhenhui , Ichino Lucia , Feng Suhua , Jacobsen Steven E
Published: May 2024

Silencing pathways prevent transposable element (TE) proliferation and help to maintain genome integrity through cell division. Silenced genomic regions can be classified as either euchromatic or heterochromatic, and are targeted by genetically separable epigenetic pathways. In plants, the RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) pathway targets mostly euchromatic regions, while CMT DNA methyltransferases are mainly associated with heterochromatin. However, many epigenetic features - including DNA methylation patterning - are largely indistinguishable between these regions, so how the functional separation is maintained is unclear. The linker histone H1 is preferentially localized to heterochromatin and has been proposed to restrict RdDM from encroachment. To test this hypothesis, we followed RdDM genomic localization in an h1 mutant by performing ChIP-seq on the largest subunit, NRPE1, of the central RdDM polymerase, Pol V. Loss of H1 resulted in NRPE1 enrichment predominantly in heterochromatic TEs. Increased NRPE1 binding was associated with increased chromatin accessibility in h1, suggesting that H1 restricts NRPE1 occupancy by compacting chromatin. However, RdDM occupancy did not impact H1 localization, demonstrating that H1 hierarchically restricts RdDM positioning. H1 mutants experience major symmetric (CG and CHG) DNA methylation gains, and by generating an h1/nrpe1 double mutant, we demonstrate these gains are largely independent of RdDM. However, loss of NRPE1 occupancy from a subset of euchromatic regions in h1 corresponded to the loss of methylation in all sequence contexts, while at ectopically bound heterochromatic loci, NRPE1 deposition correlated with increased methylation specifically in the CHH context. Additionally, we found that H1 similarly restricts the occupancy of the methylation reader, SUVH1, and polycomb-mediated H3K27me3. Together, the results support a model whereby H1 helps maintain the exclusivity of heterochromatin by preventing encroachment from other competing pathways.
Alzheimer’s disease linked Aβ42 exerts product feedback inhibition on γ-secretase impairing downstream cell signaling
Authors: Zoltowska Katarzyna Marta , Das Utpal , Lismont Sam , Enzlein Thomas , Maesako Masato , Houser Mei CQ , Franco María Luisa , Özcan Burcu , Moreira Diana Gomes , Karachentsev Dmitry , Becker Ann , Hopf Carsten , Vilar Marçal , Berezovska Oksana , Mobley William , Chávez-Gutiérrez Lucía
Published: May 2024

Amyloid β (Aβ) peptides accumulating in the brain are proposed to trigger Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, molecular cascades underlying their toxicity are poorly defined.Here, we explored a novel hypothesis for Aβ42 toxicity that arises from its proven affinity for γ-secretases. We hypothesized that the reported increases in Aβ42, particularly in the endolysosomal compartment, promote the establishment of a product feedback inhibitory mechanism on γ-secretases, and thereby impair downstream signaling events.We show that human Aβ42 peptides, but neither murine Aβ42 nor human Aβ17-42 (p3), inhibit γ-secretases and trigger accumulation of unprocessed substrates in neurons, including C-terminal fragments (CTFs) of APP, p75 and pan-cadherin. Moreover, Aβ42 treatment dysregulated cellular homeostasis, as shown by the induction of p75-dependent neuronal death in two distinct cellular systems.Our findings raise the possibility that pathological elevations in Aβ42 contribute to cellular toxicity via the γ-secretase inhibition, and provide a novel conceptual framework to address Aβ toxicity in the context of γ-secretase-dependent homeostatic signaling.
Mitochondrial respiration atlas reveals differential changes in mitochondrial function across sex and age
Authors: Sarver Dylan C , Saqib Muzna , Chen Fangluo , Wong G William
Published: May 2024

Organ function declines with age, and large-scale transcriptomic analyses have highlighted differential aging trajectories across tissues. The mechanism underlying shared and organ-selective functional changes across the lifespan, however, still remains poorly understood. Given the central role of mitochondria in powering cellular processes needed to maintain tissue health, we therefore undertook a systematic assessment of respiratory activity across 33 different tissues in young (2.5 months) and old (20 months) mice of both sexes. Our high-resolution mitochondrial respiration atlas reveals: (1) within any group of mice, mitochondrial activity varies widely across tissues, with the highest values consistently seen in heart, brown fat, and kidney; (2) biological sex is a significant but minor contributor to mitochondrial respiration, and its contributions are tissue-specific, with major differences seen in the pancreas, stomach, and white adipose tissue; (3) age is a dominant factor affecting mitochondrial activity, especially across most brain regions, different fat depots, skeletal muscle groups, eyes, and different regions of the gastrointestinal tract; (4) age effects can be sex- and tissue-specific, with some of the largest effects seen in pancreas, heart, adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle; and (5) while aging alters the functional trajectories of mitochondria in a majority of tissues, some are remarkably resilient to age-induced changes. Altogether, our data provide the most comprehensive compendium of mitochondrial respiration and illuminate functional signatures of aging across diverse tissues and organ systems.
Base editing of Ptbp1 in neurons alleviates symptoms in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Böck Desiree , Wilhelm Maria , Mumenthaler Jonas , Carpanese Daniel Fabio , Kulcsár Peter I , d'Aquin Simon , Cremonesi Alessio , Rassi Anahita , Häberle Johannes , Patriarchi Tommaso , Schwank Gerald
Published: May 2024

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a multifactorial disease caused by irreversible progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons (DANs). Recent studies have reported the successful conversion of astrocytes into DANs by repressing polypyrimidine tract binding protein 1 (PTBP1), which led to the rescue of motor symptoms in a chemically-induced mouse model of PD. However, follow-up studies have questioned the validity of this astrocyte-to-DAN conversion model. Here, we devised an adenine base editing strategy to downregulate PTBP1 in astrocytes and neurons in a chemically-induced PD mouse model. While PTBP1 downregulation in astrocytes had no effect, PTBP1 downregulation in neurons of the striatum resulted in the expression of the DAN marker tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in non-dividing neurons, which was associated with an increase in striatal dopamine concentrations and a rescue of forelimb akinesia and spontaneous rotations. Phenotypic analysis using multiplexed iterative immunofluorescence imaging further revealed that most of these TH-positive cells co-expressed the dopaminergic marker DAT and the pan-neuronal marker NEUN, with the majority of these triple-positive cells being classified as mature GABAergic neurons. Additional research is needed to fully elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the expression of the observed markers and understand how the formation of these cells contributes to the rescue of spontaneous motor behaviors. Nevertheless, our findings support a model where downregulation of neuronal, but not astrocytic, PTBP1 can mitigate symptoms in PD mice.
Metagenomic insight into taxonomic composition, environmental filtering and functional redundancy for shaping worldwide modern non-lithifying microbial mats
Authors: Viladomat Jasso Mariette , García-Ulloa Manuel , Zapata-Peñasco Icoquih , Eguiarte Luis E. , Souza Valeria
Published: May 2024

Modern microbial mats are relictual communities mostly found in extreme environments worldwide. Despite their significance as representatives of the ancestral Earth and their important roles in biogeochemical cycling, research on microbial mats has largely been localized, focusing on site-specific descriptions and environmental change experiments. Here, we present a global comparative analysis of non-lithifying microbial mats, integrating environmental measurements with metagenomic data from 62 samples across eight sites, including two new samples from the recently discovered Archaean Domes from Cuatro Ciénegas, Mexico. Our results revealed a notable influence of environmental filtering on both taxonomic and functional compositions of microbial mats. Functional redundancy appears to confer resilience to mats, with essential metabolic pathways conserved across diverse and highly contrasting habitats. We identified six highly correlated clusters of taxa performing similar ecological functions, suggesting niche partitioning and functional specialization as key mechanisms shaping community structure. Our findings provide insights into the ecological principles governing microbial mats, and lay the foundation for future research elucidating the intricate interplay between environmental factors and microbial community dynamics.
Sucrose rinse modulates the salivary behavior of carbonic anhydrase VI and its buffering capacity: a longitudinal study in 4 to 6.5-year-old children
Authors: Souza Thayse Rodrigues de , Zancope Bruna Raquel , de Sousa Emerson Tavares , Parisotto Thais Manzano , Rocha Marques Marcelo , Nobre dos Santos Marinês
Published: May 2024

Background

Carbonic anhydrase VI (CA VI) is crucial in regulating oral pH and predicting susceptibility to dental caries. The hypothesis posits that caries activity may alter the CA VI function, diminishing its capacity to regulate pH effectively and potentially exacerbating cariogenic challenges. This 1-year cohort study sought to investigate the enzymatic activity of salivary CA VI and buffering capacity following a 20% sucrose rinse in 4 to 6.5-year-old children.

Method

This research involved 46 volunteers categorized into three groups based on their caries status after follow-up: caries-free (CFee), arrested caries (CArrested), and caries active (CActive). Children underwent visible biofilm examination and saliva collection for salivary flow rate, buffering capacity, and CA VI analyses before and after a 20% sucrose rinse.

Results

A reduction in the buffering capacity was observed after sucrose rinse in all groups. The CA VI activity decreased significantly in CFee and CArrested groups after sucrose rinse, although it did not change in the CActive group. An improvement in the buffering capacity and salivary flow rate was found at follow-up when compared with the baseline. After 1-year follow-up, buffering capacity and salivary flow rate increased in all groups, whilst the CA VI activity reduced only in CFree and CArrested children.

Conclusion

Sucrose rinse universally reduces the salivary buffering capacity, while caries activity may disrupt CA VI activity response during a cariogenic challenge. After a year, increased salivary flow enhances buffering capacity but not CA VI activity in caries-active children.
Genomic insights into CKX genes: key players in cotton fibre development and abiotic stress responses
Authors: Hamid Rasmieh , Jacob Feba , Ghorbanzadeh Zahra , Khayam Nekouei Mojtaba , Zeinalabedini Mehrshad , Mardi Mohsen , Sadeghi Akram , Kumar Sushil , Ghaffari Mohammad Reza
Published: May 2024

Cytokinin oxidase/dehydrogenase (CKX), responsible for irreversible cytokinin degradation, also controls plant growth and development and response to abiotic stress. While the CKX gene has been studied in other plants extensively, its function in cotton is still unknown. Therefore, a genome-wide study to identify the CKX gene family in the four cotton species was conducted using transcriptomics, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and bioinformatics. As a result, in G. hirsutum and G. barbadense (the tetraploid cotton species), 87 and 96 CKX genes respectively and 62 genes each in G. arboreum and G. raimondii, were identified. Based on the evolutionary studies, the cotton CKX gene family has been divided into five distinct subfamilies. It was observed that CKX genes in cotton have conserved sequence logos and gene family expansion was due to segmental duplication or whole genome duplication (WGD). Collinearity and multiple synteny studies showed an expansion of gene families during evolution and purifying selection pressure has been exerted. G. hirsutum CKX genes displayed multiple exons/introns, uneven chromosomal distribution, conserved protein motifs, and cis-elements related to growth and stress in their promoter regions. Cis-elements related to resistance, physiological metabolism and hormonal regulation were identified within the promoter regions of the CKX genes. Expression analysis under different stress conditions (cold, heat, drought and salt) revealed different expression patterns in the different tissues. Through virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS), the GhCKX34A gene was found to improve cold resistance by modulating antioxidant-related activity. Since GhCKX29A is highly expressed during fibre development, we hypothesize that the increased expression of GhCKX29A in fibres has significant effects on fibre elongation. Consequently, these results contribute to our understanding of the involvement of GhCKXs in both fibre development and response to abiotic stress.
Incidence and Screening of Retinopathy of Section Prematurity in Africa: A Systematic Review
Authors: Mutua Elizabeth Ndunge , Kasamani Bernard Shibwabo
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) significantly contributes to the statistics of blindness among babies born prematurely. Population-based studies of the disease in Africa is scanty with many African countries lacking screening guidelines. Aim: To review the current statistics of ROP in Africa and present a summary of the incidence as well as the disease screening criteria within Africa. Materials and Methods: An in-depth literature search was done on various databases following the guidelines provided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Metaanalyses (PRISMA) checklist for systematic review protocols. Some keywords guiding the search were “ROP,” “Retinopathy,” and “screening.” The International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) registration (522296) was done, and databases were screened from inception up to December 2023 via African Journals Online (AJOL), Science Direct, Embase, Web of Science, Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PubMed, Ovid, and Medline. The inclusion criteria were English language studies about disease screening published from inception up to December 2023. Studies that did not include the number of babies screened or ROP screening criteria used, case studies, and duplicated studies were excluded. The Anatomical Quality Assessment tool (AQUA) was applied to confirm any bias and for reporting study results. Results: A total of 15 articles were included, with sample sizes ranging from 33 to 424 participants. Two countries (Kenya and South Africa) have national screening guidelines, while for the rest of the countries in Africa, ROP is screened as per on the agreement of the ophthalmologists at each hospital. Conclusion: The present review highlights the fact that ROP is the leading cause of blindness globally, yet there is little research being done on the statistics and screening of the disease. Many countries in Africa do not have national screening guidelines for the disease, which is a great challenge.
Clinical Profile and Outcome of Patients using Botulinum Toxin for Cosmetic Purposes: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Subramaniam Reshmi , Vasanth Vani , Chandrasekhar BS , Ashraf Asida Mohamed , Babu Ashwini , Latha Neetha
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Botulinum toxin injection has become ubiquitous in the treatment of wrinkles. It is less invasive and easy to perform, with almost immediate effects. Although it is the most common non surgical cosmetic procedure performed in many parts of the world, accurate figures of its increasing trend in India need to be unraveled as well. Aim: To analyse the clinical profile, outcomes, indications, and nature of revisits among patients seeking Botulinum toxin injections for cosmetic indications. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at a tertiary care centre, Department of Dermatology, Cutis Academy of Cutaneous Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, for six months between November 2018 and April 2019 among 80 consecutive patients who received Botulinum toxin injection A for cosmetic purposes. The collected data included age, gender, indication, the number of units of Botulinum toxin used, and the profile of patients seeking revisits. The data was recorded and analysed using Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) version 23.0. Results: The average age for treatment among females was 38 years, while among males, it was 35.5 years. Females, comprising 61 (76%), outnumbered men by a factor of three. The single most common indication for Botulinum toxin injection among females was Crow’s feet, accounting for 26 (43%), and among females below 40 years, it was Masseter hypertrophy in 13 (21%). The most common indication among men was Glabellar line correction in 10 (53%). Other indications included the Nefertiti lift, Marionette lines, Popply chin, Brow lift, and Gummy smile. Women revisited the clinic three times more often than men. Among women, Crow’s feet correction was the most common reason for revisits. The number of units of Botulinum toxin needed was found to be higher in males for Glabellar lines and in older individuals for Masseter Hypertrophy. Conclusion: Women are more receptive to cosmetic facial Botulinum toxin injections and revisit more frequently than men. Adverse effects were mild and self-limiting. Upper-face Botulinum toxin injections appear to be the preferred indication in both genders. More epidemiological studies detailing the profile of patients seeking aesthetic Botulinum toxin injections are needed to better understand patients’ needs and concerns, offer preprocedure counselling, manage their expectations, and provide customised services.
Study on Constraints and Problems Faced by the Farmers in Marketing of Broiler in Shahdara, Delhi NCR
Authors: Saini Mansi , Kumar Sanjay
Published: May 2024

The present investigation was carried out purposefully chosen from the NCR   based on the largest area under broiler chicken consumption during period 2023 conducted at the Broiler farm, Shahdara Delhi NCR to evaluate the constraints and problems faced by the farmers in marketing of Broiler in Shahdara region. The study concluded that marketing of Broiler is more profitable for large farm groups (those with an area of more than 3000m²) to produce broiler chickens. The results indicate that the respondents had a stable economic background, with primary education that allowed them better access to all the resources. To conduct the study chi square and garrett ranking was performed. The most of farmers were selling broiler chicken through channel I (Producer-Wholesaler-Dresser-cum-Retailer-Consumer), when comparing channel II (Producer-Supplier-Wholesaler-Dresser-cum-Retailer-Consumer) to channel III (Producer-Commission Agent-Supplier-Wholesaler-Dresser-cum-Retailer-Consumer). Channel I is the more efficient channel and has more marketing efficiency than Channels II and III.
Social Media Usage, Body Image, and Psychological Well-Being among College Students
Authors: Canonigo Jelyn , Uy Leonora Kyla , Culajara Claire Lynn
Published: May 2024

This study explored the relationship among Social Media Usage, Body Image, and Psychological Well-Being among 350 university students in the Davao Region using a quantitative, descriptive-predictive design with multiple regression analysis. The results revealed high levels of information sharing, social interaction, engagement with current news, collaborative learning, overall appearance evaluations, health fitness influence, and attention to grooming are significant positive predictors of students' psychological well-being. These findings highlight the considerable impact of social media usage and body image perceptions on psychological well-being. Therefore, interventions to enhance students' mental health address social media practices and body image perceptions by promoting healthy usage, fostering positive body image, and providing resources to manage the psychological effects of social media. Additionally, developing comprehensive educational programs and support systems can create a supportive environment that mitigates negative impacts and enhances overall mental health.
Expert Perspectives on Paracetamol for Managing Pediatric Febrile Illness in Indian Settings
Authors: Manjula S  , Krishna Kumar M
Published: May 2024

Objective: To examine expert perspectives on the prescription practices and clinical uses of paracetamol for managing pediatric febrile illness in routine Indian healthcare settings.
Methods: The study utilized multiple-response questionnaires distributed electronically to clinicians via email or online platforms. The survey comprised 30 questions pertaining to current clinical feedback, observations, prescription practices, clinical use of paracetamol, and experiences related to pediatric febrile illness in routine clinical settings. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data.
Results: The study included 341 experts, and the majority (72.43%) identified upper respiratory tract infections as the most common cause of pediatric acute febrile illness. About 50.73% of physicians encountered 40-50% of pediatric patients with fever in outpatient clinics, and seizures were the most commonly reported complication (66%). Oral temperature measurement (53.08%) and digital thermometers (67%) were commonly preferred for fever assessment. Paracetamol (49.56%) and paracetamol with mefenamic acid (42.82%) were the most commonly prescribed antipyretics. Viral infections were cited as the leading cause of fever cases (71%). About 60.41% clinicians reported low incidence of hepatotoxicity due to paracetamol and refrained from prescribing N-acetylcysteine for paracetamol toxicity (63%). Majority (66.57%) of the respondents reported the paracetamol suspension to be satisfactory, with strawberry (31.09%) and mango (32.55%) being the preferred flavors among pediatric patients.
Conclusion: According to the survey results, paracetamol was favored as the first-line antipyretic, with many clinicians opting for combination therapy with mefenamic acid. Viral infections are highlighted as the primary cause of pediatric fevers. The survey also revealed positive perceptions regarding the flavor and packaging of paracetamol suspension.
Diagnosing Health of Agricultural Soil Treated with Urea Fertilizer: A Low Frequency Dielectric Analysis
Authors: Biraris A. S.
Published: May 2024

In agricultural soils, understanding how urea contamination influences electrical properties is crucial. This study explores the influence of urea contamination on the low-frequency (100 Hz - 1 MHz) dielectric properties of agricultural soil originating from Kasare Village in the western Dhule district, India. Soil samples were treated with varying urea concentrations (0 mg, 50 mg, and 150 mg) and subjected to analysis using an LCR meter. The dielectric constant, impedance, dielectric loss, and admittance of the soil were measured. We observed an increase in the dielectric constant with rising urea content, suggesting an intensification of polarization within the soil matrix. Conversely, impedance and admittance are found to exhibit opposing trends, with impedance decreasing and admittance increasing as urea concentration elevates. Dielectric loss also demonstrate a positive correlation with the amount of urea present. This investigation aims to elucidate the interplay between soil composition and dielectric properties under varying urea concentrations, providing valuable knowledge applicable to agricultural and environmental disciplines.
Effect of Gladiolus (Gladiolus spp.) Intercropping with Coriander, Fenugreek and Dill on Growth, Yield and Quality
Authors: Bose Anagha , Singh Devi , Pandey Avanish
Published: May 2024

A field experiment was carried out in SHUATS, Prayagraj during rabi season (2023). The experiment was laid out in RBD, comprising eight treatment combinations where gladiolus as main crop and fenugreek, coriander and dill as intercrops. The experimental results concluded that the treatment T5- gladiolus + coriander was found higher result of plant height (107.37cm), number of leaves (7.55), number of florets per spike (17.55), rachis length (41.33 cm), spike length (85.88 cm), Floret diameter (8.76 cm), durability of spike (14.22 days), corm yield (2348.33 kg) and minimum days to spike emergence (64.78 days). Among the different treatments studied, the highest gross return (521067 Rs/ha.), net return (316857.07 Rs/ha.), benefit cost ratio (2.55) was obtained in T8- gladiolus + coriander + fenugreek + dill crop. Cultivating coriander, fenugreek, and dill individually resulted in higher herbage yield and intercropping Gladiolus with these herbs enhanced in higher yield as compared to the sole cropping system.
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Ursodeoxycholic Acid in Various Treatment Approaches for Canine Liver Dysfunction: A Comparative Study
Authors: Verma Prashant , Arora Niddhi , Kalita Jyoti Chanda , Prasad Amit , Mrigesh Meena , Singh Anand Kumar , Goswami Rashmi , Nayal Kalicharan
Published: May 2024

Liver dysfunction in dogs presents significant challenges to veterinary practice, with clinical symptoms ranging from modest to severe. For the development of optimised treatment strategies, this study was conducted at the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, G.B.P.U.A. & T. Pantnagar, U.S. Nagar (Uttarakhand) from September 2021 to April 2022 in dogs diagnosed with hepatic dysfunction. The study involved a therapeutic trial on dogs with liver impairment. 18 dogs diagnosed with hepatic dysfunction were divided into three groups, i.e., B, C, and D. Each group received different therapeutic protocols, and changes in hematobiochemical profiles were observed and compared before and after treatment. Dogs in Group B received urosdeoxycholic acid, Group C received ursodeoxycholic acid and silymarin while Group D received ursodeoxycholic acid and L-ornithine Ornithine L-aspartate. Haematological and biochemical parameters were evaluated at presentation and after 21 days of treatment. Urosdeoxycholic acid demonstrated efficacy in improving biochemical parameters, with additional benefits observed when combined with L-Ornithine, L-Aspartate, or Silymarin. Group D exhibited the most significant improvement, suggesting the effectiveness of combination therapy. These findings underline the importance of regular monitoring and appropriate therapeutics in managing hepatic dysfunction in dogs, with combination therapies offering enhanced recovery through hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.
Character Association and Path Coefficient Analysis Studies for Yield and Yield Related Components in Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]
Authors: Kumar Amit , Singh Raghvendra Pratap , Kumar Tejendra , Kumar Pramod , Kumar Bablesh
Published: May 2024

The present investigation entitled “Character association and path coefficient analysis studies for yield and yield related components in okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench]” was carried out during the summer season of 2020-2021 at Horticulture Research Centre, Department of Horticulture, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut. Ninety-five genotypes of okra with twelve traits were evaluated in the present study. The study revealed that the maximum fruit yield per plant had exhibited a highly significant and positive correlation with a number of fruits per plant, number of nodes per plant, number of seeds per fruit, weight of 100 seeds, fruit length, number of primary branches per plant, fruit diameter, and plant height at genotypic and phenotypic levels. Fruit yield per plant was shown to be negatively correlated with internode length.The positive direct effect on fruit yield per plant was exerted by the number of fruits per plant followed by internode length, days to 50 percent flowering, number of seeds per fruit,number of primary branches per plant, number of nodes per plant, fruit diameter, and fruit length at both genotypic and phenotypic levels. Therefore, direct selection of these traits would be beneficial for improvement in okra.