bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integration mot alla odds?: En longitudinell kohortstudie av östjudars barn i Sverige, 1880–1920
Authors:   Department of History, Carlsson Carl Henrik ,   The Hugo Valentin Centre, Uppsala University
Published: December 2024

I denna bok undersöks integrationen av barnen till alla så kallade östjudar (födda i det ryska tsarimperiet) som bodde i Sverige år 1880. Denna invandrargrupp var till viss del stigmatiserad och föremål för östjudefobi, ett slags selektiv antisemitism.

Det svårmätbara fenomenet integration har brutits ner i olika områden: social, ekonomisk och politisk inkludering. Ett antal longitudinella delstudier har utförts. Samtliga 857 barn har i folkbokföringsmaterial följts till vuxen ålder.

Drygt hälften av barnen lämnade Sverige, de flesta för USA där boendemönstret mer kom att likna det för judar generellt än svenska emigranters i allmänhet. Bland de kvarvarande skedde en påtaglig omflyttning från landsortsstäder till Stockholm och Göteborg. Inom dessa två städer skedde också en ganska stor omflyttning från mindre till mer välbärgade stadsdelar. Denna geografiska rörlighet var ett uttryck för en ekonomisk och social mobilitet,

Nästan alla av barnens fäder var 1880 sysselsatta inom handelssektorn, men bara ungefär hälften av barnen som vuxna. Det fanns också en uppåtgående socioekonomisk rörlighet, i synnerhet för de män som blev kvar i Sverige. Många gjorde klassresor.

Få konverterade till kristendomen, men många, framför allt män, gifte sig med kristna partners, däremot nästan ingen med någon från de gamla svensk-judiska släkterna.

En av delundersökningarna visar att 21 procent av de män som blev kvar i Sverige bytte bort sina släktnamn, framför allt de slaviskt klingande. Detta skiljer sig från förhållandena i exempelvis Tyskland där främst typiskt ”judiska namn” byttes bort.
Mobile money and financial inclusion in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors:   University of Warsaw, Faculty of Economic Scinces, University of Cape Town, School of Economics, Grzybowski Lukasz , Lindlacher Valentin ,   TU Dresden, Mothobi Onkokame ,   University of Witwatersrand
Published: December 2024

In this paper, we utilize survey data collected in 2017 from 12,735 individuals across nine Sub
Saharan African countries. We merge the survey data with geographic information related
to the proximity of mobile network towers and banking facilities, based on the geo-locations
of the respondents. Our estimation approach comprises a two-stage model. In the first stage,
consumers make choices between adopting a feature phone or a smartphone. In the second
stage, they make decisions regarding the use of mobile money services. Our findings reveal
that network coverage significantly influences the adoption of mobile phones. Moreover, we
observe that mobile money services are more favored by younger and relatively wealthier
individuals for sending money, while older individuals and those with lower incomes tend
to use mobile wallets for receiving money. Consequently, mobile money services facilitate
younger migrant workers residing in areas with better infrastructure in providing support to
their older relatives in less developed regions.
Spis powszechny z 2021 r. a Karaimi
Authors: Abkowicz Mariola
Published: December 2024

Poczynając od pierwszego spisu powszechnego, który został przeprowadzony w Imperium Rosyjskim w 1897 roku, wiemy, że oficjalne statystyki z Karaimami sobie nie radzą. Według danych z 2002 r. w Polsce zamieszkiwało nas 44, w 2011 identyfikację karaimską podało 346 osób, a co się wydarzyło w roku 2021?
Karaimi w Wenecji… nad Młynówką
Authors: Dubiński Adam J.
Published: December 2024

Spotkania międzykulturowe mniejszości narodowych i etnicznych w Polsce są ważnym elementem integracji i budowania społeczności opartej na wzajemnym szacunku i zrozumieniu. Mają one na celu promowanie dialogu, umożliwienie wymiany doświadczeń oraz prezentację bogactwa kulturowego poszczególnych grup. Dzięki takim inicjatywom możliwe jest tworzenie przestrzeni, w której mniejszości mogą pielęgnować swoje dziedzictwo kulturowe, a jednocześnie czuć się częścią większej, zróżnicowanej społeczności polskiej.
Molecular Characterization of Streptococcus spp. Isolated from Milk, Feces and Farm Environment of Mastitic Dairy Cows
Authors: Hoque Md Nazmul , Rahman Monira , Sultana Taniya , Rahman Md Morshedur , Siddique Naim , Islam Md Sayedul , Hasan Mehedi Mahmudul , Rahman Abu Nasar Md Aminoor , Das Ziban Chandra
Published: December 2024

Streptococci are the primary cause of mastitis, significantly impacting the dairy industry economically. This study aimed to explore the molecular epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance, and virulence characteristics of Streptococcus spp. isolated from the milk, feces, and environment of dairy cows with mastitis. Sixty (60) samples (milk = 20, feces = 20 and soil = 20) from cows with clinical mastitis (CM) were purposively collected and examined. Samples were enriched in Luria Bertani broth (LB) and Streptococcus spp. was isolated on Modified Edwards Medium and confirmed by ribosomal (16S rRNA) gene sequencing. Twenty-two (36.67%) of the samples were positive for Streptococcus spp. (milk = 40.90%, feces = 31.82% and soil = 27.28%) by cultural and molecular examination. Phylogenetic analysis revealed 59.5, 30.5, 6.0% and 4.0 % of the Streptococcus isolates as S. uberis, S. agalactiae, S. hyovaginalis and S. urinalis, respectively. The milk samples had higher prevalence (42.75%) of S. uberis mastitis than feces (36.80%) and soil (20.45%) samples. Likewise, S. agalactiae was prevalent in 51.5%, 37.60% and 10.90% milk, feces and soil samples, respectively. The draft assembly sizes of G2M6 and G6M1 were 1,960,858 and 2,303,841 base pair (bp), respectively. The strains were typed as S. uberis sequence type 155 (ST155) and S. agalactiae sequence type 58 (ST58). The G2M6 genome contained 367 SEED subsystem features, 45 antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), and 160 virulence and virulence-related genes, whereas the G6M1 genome possessed 378 SEED subsystem features, 41 ARGs and 178 virulence genes. One plasmid replicon such as IncY of 4,012 bp, was identified in the G6M1 genome (with 95% identity and 60% coverage) while G2M6 genome harbored none. Genome completeness analysis using BUSCO revealed the presence of 100% complete BUSCOs in the hybrid assembly of both genomes. Streptococcus spp. associated with bovine mastitis exhibit a variety of genomic traits and harbor an array of ARGs and virulence genes. Further investigation is needed to identify specific traits that govern virulence fitness in the pathophysiology of mastitis.
J. of Sci. and Tech. Res. 6(1): 01-12, 2024
Substitution of Chemical Fertilization using PGRs Evident in Growth and Yield of Tomato
Authors: Hassan Jahidul , Sultana Hasina , Gomasta Joydeb , Kayesh Emrul
Published: December 2024

The excessive utilization of synthetic fertilizers and chemicals poses a significant threat to both environment and human well-being. A pot experiment was done between December 2022 and April 2023 using a factorial randomized complete block design, which involved combining fertilizers and plant growth regulators (PGRs). The objective was to decrease the utilization of artificial fertilizers through the application of PGRs. The experiment involved applying fertilizers at 80, 90, 100 and 110% of the recommended doses. The recommended doses consist of 12 grams (g) of urea, 10 g of TSP, 5 g of MoP, 3 g of gypsum, 0.5 g of zinc sulphate, and 0.5 g of boric acid per plant. Furthermore, PGRs including gibberellic acid (GA3), naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), 4-chlorophenoxy acetic acid (4-CPA), and salicylic acid (SA) were applied at a concentration of 50 ppm. The results showed that there were no significant differences in growth and yield-contributing features when the fertilizer dose was increased from 80% to 110% of the recommended amount. Nonetheless, there were significant differences compared to the control group. However, PGRs showed significant variability in the morphological and reproductive responses of tomatoes under the conditions being researched. The GA3 treatment resulted in significantly greater plant height, base diameter, number of branches and leaves per plant, canopy spread, and internode length. Moreover, GA3 at 50 ppm produced the highest number of flowers and fruits/plant, with a single fruit weighing 67.83 g and a total fruit production of 6.61 kg/plant of tomato. Among the other PGRs, salicylic acid showed statistical equivalence to GA3 treatment. Nonetheless, there was a notable decrease in both vegetative and reproductive features, including yield, when NAA and 4-CPA were used. The interaction between fertilizers and PGRs showed that combining GA3 and SA with any of the tested fertilizer rates resulted in statistically distinct and improved vegetative and reproductive responses. However, the combination of fertilizer with NAA and 4-CPA produced highly unsatisfactory outcomes. Therefore, GA3 at 50 ppm and SA at 50 ppm can effectively be employed as substitute of synthetic chemical fertilizers in tomato cultivation.
J. of Sci. and Tech. Res. 6(1): 53-64, 2024
Elucidating the Effects of Formalin as Food Preservative on Hematological Profile and Fertility of Swiss Albino Mice
Authors: Hasan Md Tanvir , Akter Saima , Roy Dipu , Habiba Umme , Khatun Fahima , Hoque Md Nazmul , Talukder Anup Kumar , Rahman Abu Nasar Md Aminoor , Haider Md Golam , Islam Md Taimur
Published: December 2024

In Bangladesh, the use of formalin as a food preservative has recently expanded significantly. With this backdrop, the study was attempted to discover changes in the fertility, gross structure, and histoarchitecture of the male reproductive system and hematology in Swiss albino mice as a result of formalin use. Up until experimental week 24, four groups of four mice each were given normal drinking water mixed with formalin at doses of 1%, 5%, 10%, and 20%, respectively, orally. A control group of mice (n=4) were given normal drinking water only. After 24 weeks of treatment, the testicular weight, sperm concentration, morphology, gonadosomatic index (GSI), and hematological profile were evaluated. Testicular histological changes were also evaluated. Formalin-treated mice had significantly lower testes weight, GSI, and sperm count (P<0.05) than the control group. In formalin-treated mice, hematocrit value (HCT) and hemoglobin (Hb) concentration were dramatically reduced; percentage of morphologically healthy epididymal sperm also reduced significantly. In the formalin-treated animals, histopathology indicated degenerative alterations in seminiferous tubules, a lower number of spermatogenic cells, the buildup of spermatozoa with exudates in the tubular lumen, and the displacement of the seminiferous tubule from the basement membrane. According to the findings, formalin has a negative impact on hematological profile and reproductive health of male mice.
J. of Sci. and Tech. Res. 6(1): 73-81, 2024
Nutritive, Polyphenolic, and Antioxidative Properties of Locally Produced Cereals and Pseudograins
Authors: Rupa Anjum Zerin , Akhter Kazi Turjaun , Rahim Abu Torab M A
Published: December 2024

Cereals and pseudograins are known for their bioactive components and hence used as functional food worldwide. Recently, locally grown cheena, kaon, quinoa, and chia are available in Bangladeshi markets. The study aimed to determine the macronutrients, polyphenols, and flavonoids contents of selected cereals (bajra, zob, cheena, and kaon) and pseudograins (quinoa and chia) along with their antioxidant properties. Cheena (13.48%) and kaon (13.55%) showed higher protein content among cereals, whereas chia of commercial and local sources showed high quantities of protein (22.40% and 22.35%, respectively) among pseudograins. A high amount of carbohydrate was found in kaon and quinoa (64.57% and 59.79%, respectively), whereas chia contained a high amount of fat (20.88 to 29.77%) and dietary fiber (31.46% to 36.85%). Locally grown bajra exhibited a markedly higher concentration of total phenolics (135.75±0.33 mg/g GAE dw) and total flavonoids (17.44±0.05 mg/gm QE dw) compared to other foods studied. Regarding antioxidant activity determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and half-maximal inhibitory (IC50) values, chia from Dinajpur field showed the best results. Therefore, cereals and pseudograins studied and reported here could provide utilizable nutritional and functional bioactive polyphenolic components that may have the potential in the nutritional management of noncommunicable diseases.
 J. of Sci. and Tech. Res. 6(1): 89-98, 2024
Establishment of a Suitable Protocol for Clonal Propagation of Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) and Creating its Advanced Lines using Gamma-Ray
Authors: Islam Mohammed Rafiqul , Jahan Mustari Taslim , Islam Md Aminul
Published: December 2024

A suitable protocol was developed for in vitro clonal propagation of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni from shoots tip and nodal explant. Experiments were conducted to standardize the culture media composition with plant hormone for multiple shoot proliferation and rooting for obtaining plantlets with uniform characteristics like the mother plant in terms of growth and habits. The best response towards multiple shoot regeneration was observed from nodal explants on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal media fortified with 3.0 mg/L Benzyl amino purine (BAP). In this combination, an average of 14 shoots were regenerated from the shoot tip and 16 shoots were regenerated from nodal explant. Multiple shoots were increased up to two to three times higher when they were sub-culture in the same media combination. Plantlets produced profuse rooting within 10 to 16 days after transfer to MS supplemented with different concentrations of Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), Alpha naphthyl acetic acid (NAA) and Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) (0.5-2.5 mg/l). Best root development was obtained in MS containing 1.5 mg/l IBA. Rooted plantlets were transferred to soil for hardening. About 90% of plantlets were successfully established to the field condition. For the induction of the mutation, radio sensitivity tests were performed by determining lethal dose-50 (LD50) after irradiating the explants by gamma ray. The LD50 was 45 gray (Gy) for shoot tip explants whereas 55 gray (Gy) for nodal explants. Some morphological changes occurred in the treated explants which is significant for induction of mutation.
 J. of Sci. and Tech. Res. 6(1): 99-107, 2024
Effects of Gestational Exposure to Potassium Bromate as Food Additive on Reproductive and Immunological Parameters in Mouse Offspring
Authors: Miah Mohammad Alam , Mondol Partho Prothim , Rahman Md Mahbubur , Rahman Md Hashibur , Mustari Afrina , Begum Jahan Ara
Published: December 2024

Potassium bromate (KBrO3) is used as a food additive because of its high oxidizing characteristics, which have been linked to carcinogenic and mutagenic effects. The study looked into how KBrO3 exposure during gestation affected the growth, reproductive performance, and immune cells of parental mice and their F1 generation. Thirty Swiss Albino mice (Mus musculus) aged 27±3 days were collected from ICDDR'B in Dhaka, with 10 males and 20 females. When the mice reached 45 days of age, they were randomly separated into two groups, each with ten females and five males. Group A mice served as the untreated control, while group B mice were given KBrO3 at 400 mg/liter in drinking water. Body weights were obtained at 2-week intervals. The results revealed that KBrO3 reduced growth in both male and female parental mice. The KBrO3-treated group showed considerably reduced amounts of estradiol, testosterone, and T4 (P<0.01). Male mice treated with KBrO3 showed significant (P<0.05) reductions in sperm count and motility. The KBrO3-treated mice offspring weighed less and grew slowly. Neutrophil counts were somewhat higher in mice born in the KBrO3-treated group. The F1 offspring of mice in this group had decreased sperm count, motility, and testis weight (P<0.05). Testosterone and estradiol levels were lower in F1 mice born from the KBrO3 group than in F1 mice from the control group. The findings of the study suggested that KBrO3 may have multigenerational effects on growth and reproduction. However, more research on KBrO3 is required to get clear understanding of its mechanism.
J. of Sci. and Tech. Res. 6(1): 109-116, 2024
Value of Serum MACC-1 as a New Diagnostic Biomarker in Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Yesmin Mst Shaila
Published: December 2024

Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death among females. The current study is one of the initial studies to evaluate the diagnostic value of novel serum metastasis-associated in colon cancer-1 (MACC-1) markers in BC patients. Various other serum biomarkers have been used for the diagnosis of BC but this marker proved a good sensitivity and/or specificity. This cross-sectional study included 48 BC patients (Group-I) and 48 normal healthy controls (Group-II). Study subjects demographic, pathologic, and clinical information were recorded. Random blood samples were collected from the antecubital vein after aseptic precaution with 0.5% chlorhexidine gluconate. About 4.0 mL of venous blood was collected into a red screw-capped tube. Serum MACC-1 was assessed by a double-antibody sandwich ELISA method by using the commercially available kit in the Department of Laboratory Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. In this study, serum MACC-1 levels were significantly elevated (P<0.0001) in BC patients compared to the control group. The mean serum MACC- 1 was elevated in BC patients (55.21±14.75 pg/mL) compared with healthy controls (38.19±11.42 pg/mL) (P<0.0001). Also, the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.98, signifying a good discriminatory ability of serum MACC-1 marker for BC patients. At the cut-off value of optimal cut-off value (38.35 pg/mL), the sensitivity and the specificity of serum MACC-1 were 96.7% and 92.5%, respectively. The median age was 46.3 years in BC patients and 40.2±8.4 years in the control group (P<0.0001). Therefore, this study showed that serum MACC-1 can be a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of BC.
J. of Sci. and Tech. Res. 6(1): 169-174, 2024
Synthesis of Gamma Irradiated Cobalt Oxide Nanoparticles for Visible Light- Induced Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue Dye
Authors: Manir Md Serajum , Islam Md Rabiul , Mamun Md Al , Rahman Md Motinur , Mortuza Md Firoz , Alam Abu Kashem Md Moshiul
Published: December 2024

This research focuses on synthesizing and characterizing cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanoparticles using an ionizing radiation technique. The precursor cobalt (III) hydroxide, Co(OH)3 was chemically synthesized from cobalt (II) nitrate hexahydrate, [Co(NO3)2·6H2O] as a solution precipitation technique in an alkali medium. The Co(OH)3 precursor was then exposed to a 60Co gamma radiation source at a dose of 30 kGy with a dose rate of 10 kGy/hr to obtain Co3O4 nanoparticles. The synthesized Co3O4 nanoparticles were subjected to various characterization techniques. Fourier-Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic analysis of raw Co(NO3)2·6H2O, Co(OH)3 precursor, and Co3O4 nanoparticles revealed distinctive absorption peaks for the Co3O4 nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction analysis exhibited different characteristic diffraction angles (2θ) values, lattice spacing, and crystal size for the Co3O4 nanoparticles. SEM images of raw Co(NO3)2·6H2O, Co(OH)3 precursor, and Co3O4 nanoparticles displayed distinguishable surface morphologies. Additionally, the thermogravimetric analysis provided insight into the decomposition behaviour of the Co(OH)3 precursor. The characterization data indicated that the ionizing radiation-synthesized Co3O4 nanoparticles possessed similar properties to those synthesized using conventional methods. Furthermore, the ionizing radiationsynthesized Co3O4 nanoparticles demonstrated an efficient photo-catalytic effect in the degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye. Therefore, this study shows the successful synthesis and characterization of Co3O4 nanoparticles using an ionizing radiation technique, highlighting their potential application in photo-catalysis for the degradation of MB dye.
J. of Sci. and Tech. Res. 6(1): 175-185, 2024
Acoustic abundance estimation for Critically Endangered North Atlantic right whales in Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts, USA
Authors: Garcia ML , Tolkova I , Madhusudhana S , Rahaman A , Baker CS , Mayo CA , Hudak CA , Klinck H
Published: December 2024

With an estimated 372 individuals remaining, Critically Endangered North Atlantic right whales Eubalaena glacialis (henceforth, NARWs) embody New England’s foremost marine conservation challenge. Every year, a large portion of the NARW population visits Cape Cod Bay (CCB), Massachusetts, USA, a critical foraging area. Traditionally, aerial surveys have documented the abundance and distribution of NARWs in CCB. In this work, we demonstrate abundance estimation through passive acoustic monitoring, utilizing recordings from an array of 5 marine autonomous recording units (MARUs) deployed from February to June 2019. We first trained, validated, and applied a deep-learning-based detector for NARW upcall vocalizations, achieving a precision of 0.857 and recall of 0.896. Next, we matched duplicate detections across the MARU array through time-difference-of-arrival association. Lastly, after calibrating acoustic cue counts to concurrent aerial surveys conducted by the Center for Coastal Studies, we estimated daily NARW abundance in CCB across the foraging season. We demonstrated diel and seasonal patterns in acoustic phenology consistent with prior studies. Upcall rates were higher at night, particularly just after sunset, than during daylight hours. We observed low presence of NARWs in late February, with presence rising in early March, peaking in late March and early April, and ultimately decreasing through mid-May. While many sources of uncertainty limit the precision of abundance estimates, PAM offers a cost-effective, generalizable, and largely automated approach for detecting NARW abundance trends applicable to both conservation management and ecological studies.
Frequency-independent damping models for a high-rise building with simultaneous horizontal and vertical seismic motions
Authors: Nakamura Naohiro , Mogi Yoshihiro , Ota Akira , Nabeshima Kunihiko
Published: December 2024

Recent seismic analyses indicate that the structural damping ratio should be considered frequency-independent, for safe and accurate estimations. In response, damping models like the Wilson–Penzien (WP) damping model, that is one of the modal damping, provide frequency independence across all modes; however, these models require considerable computational resources, especially for large-scale models. While Rayleigh damping is computationally efficient, it maintains a nearly constant damping ratio only within a limited frequency range. To address these limitations, several alternative damping models have been introduced, such as uniform (UN), causal hysteretic (CH), and extended Rayleigh (ER). We use the factor Wξ to represent the frequency range where the damping ratio remains approximately constant, defined as the ratio of maximum to minimum frequencies (fmax/fmin), within a specified tolerance of the target damping ratio. For Rayleigh damping, Wξ = 3.7, while the CH and ER models achieve Wξ values greater than 20. Although the UN model achieves a high Wξ, it demands large computational resources in the implicit analyses, commonly used for seismic response studies. In this study, we address the simultaneously inputting horizontal and vertical seismic motion into a large-scale dynamic analysis model of a high-rise building. In this analysis, horizontal, vertical, and local beam vibration modes spanning a wide frequency range appeared. Considering that these modes require the same damping ratio, damping models with Wξ values of 50 or higher are desirable. However, this threshold considerably exceeds Wξ values achievable with the existing models, rendering these models unsuitable for the intended application. Therefore, we propose and validate the efficiency of two new damping models (ER-W and CH19) that meet this requirement by improving existing models. Using these damping models, it is possible to analyze the horizontal and vertical modes and local vibration modes of the beam, assuming a simultaneous horizontal and vertical input to a high-rise building.
FTO in health and disease
Authors: Benak Daniel , Sevcikova Anezka , Holzerova Kristyna , Hlavackova Marketa
Published: December 2024

Fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) protein, a key enzyme integral to the dynamic regulation of epitranscriptomic modifications in RNAs, significantly influences crucial RNA lifecycle processes, including splicing, export, decay, and translation. The role of FTO in altering the epitranscriptome manifests across a spectrum of physiological and pathological conditions. This review aims to consolidate current understanding regarding the implications of FTO in health and disease, with a special emphasis on its involvement in obesity and non-communicable diseases associated with obesity, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. It also summarizes the established molecules with FTO-inhibiting activity. Given the extensive impact of FTO on both physiology and pathophysiology, this overview provides illustrative insights into its roles, rather than an exhaustive account. A proper understanding of FTO function in human diseases could lead to new treatment approaches, potentially unlocking novel avenues for addressing both metabolic disorders and malignancies. The evolving insights into FTO’s regulatory mechanisms hold great promise for future advancements in disease treatment and prevention.
Pinniped response to diadromous fish restoration in the Penobscot River Estuary
Authors: Leach Lauri , Stevens Justin R. , Cammen Kristina
Published: December 2024

Successful conservation of pinnipeds in the northwest Atlantic has led to increasing populations of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) and gray seals (Halichoerus grypus) in the Gulf of Maine. Within this region, habitat restoration and diadromous fish conservation in the Penobscot River have also been top priorities for the past decade. To understand the overlap between the regional recovery of pinnipeds and the aggregative response of pinnipeds to increasing forage fish, we assessed how counts, distribution, and behavior of seals in the Penobscot River Estuary have changed over time from 2012 to 2020 and determined whether those changes were related to changes in fish biomass that are occurring as the result of diadromous fish restoration. We did not see increased counts of hauled-out seals, but consistent with regional harbor seal phenology, hauled out seal counts were highest in late spring and declined throughout the summer and into the fall. The number of swimming harbor and gray seals, analyzed as a proxy for changes in behavior, showed a stronger annual trend with an increase throughout the study period. Fish biomass was negatively associated with total number of hauled out seals and swimming gray seals but positively associated with swimming harbor seals. We also documented the potential displacement of harbor seals when gray seals are present. Together, these results begin to provide insights into how regional conservation and local restoration efforts interact to affect multiple trophic levels in an ecosystem. Continued monitoring of predator-prey interactions, along with diet and movement studies, will further elucidate seal aggregative response to increasing prey species in this system and the potential impact of recovering predator populations on restored prey populations. Knowledge gained regarding pinniped response to increasing fish biomass has important implications for other systems with ongoing conservation measures that aim to improve habitat, decrease exploitation, or recover protected species. Studies like these can be critical for finding paths forward to reconcile the potentially competing objectives of marine mammal protection and fish restoration.
The association between blood metals and cardiovascular diseases: findings from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2020
Authors: Li Bin , Liu Haiyue , Mishra Devrakshita , Yuan Zhen , Zhang Yizhi , Zhang Longzhen , Huang Yanshu , Zhang Ye , Lin Ju , Chen Jianyou , Liu Zuheng
Published: December 2024

Objectives

Previous studies have examined the relationship between cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and blood metal levels. However, fewer studies have investigated the role of the combinations of blood metals on CVDs. In the current study, our aim is to explore the roles of specific blood metals and further develop a model to differentiate between healthy participants and CVD patients using database from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).

Methods

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2011 to 2020 were collected and utilized in the present study. Demographic characteristics and examination results were gathered and analyzed to compare CVD and non-CVD participants. Logistic regression and random forest analyses were employed to determine the odds ratios and the effects of various blood metals on CVDs.

Results

A total of 23,448 participants were included and analyzed. Participants were divided into CVD (n = 2,676, 11.41%) and Non-CVD (N = 20,772, 88.59%) groups. A significant difference in the increased odds ratio of CVDs and higher blood Lead levels was found in the logistic analysis [OR (95% CI) = 13.545 (8.470–21.662) P < 0.001]. Although this significance blunted in the adjusted model, blood lead levels could be identified as the most important score through the random forest model in distinguishing cardiovascular diseases. In addition, the odds ratio of CVDs in logistic regression was 1.029 (95% CI: 1.022–1.035) for participants with higher blood cadmium levels (p < 0.001). The odds ratio increased [OR (95% CI) = 1.041 (95% CI: 1.032–1.049) P < 0.001] after the necessary adjustments were made for the gender, age, BMI, race and education background. In addition, blood selenium seems to be a protective factor of CVDs as the odds ratios were 0.650 and 0.786 in the crude and adjusted models, respectively. Additionally, the AUC was 0.91 in the predivtive model made by using the data of clinical indices and blood metals.

Conclusions

In summary, blood metals may play an important role in the onset and progression of CVDs, and they can be used to develop a predictive model for CVDs, which might be beneficial for the identification and early diagnosis of CVDs.
The past and current role of pupil’s effort and physical tests in Norwegian physical education teacher’s assessment
Authors: Tremoen Tora , Sørensen Arne , Lagestad Pål
Published: December 2024

Assessment practice is an important part of a physical education (PE) teachers work and can contribute positively to motivating pupils towards learning and developing lifelong pleasure in movement. In 2020, a new curriculum, “the Knowledge Promotion” 2020 (LK20) was introduced in Norwegian schools. This study aims to investigate physical education teachers’ assessment practice relating to the view of effort and testing in PE, after the introduction of LK20. Nine in depth interviews were conducted with nine PE teachers from seven upper secondary schools in Norway. The data were analyzed using NVivo 12 and meaning condensation. The findings show that the informants use effort differently and to a greater extent related to pupil using their skills to help fellow pupils improve. Furthermore, the informants experience effort as a greater and more important part of the assessment with LK20, than with the previous curriculum. Furthermore, the analysis suggests that the use of physical tests may have decreased. The findings indicate that there has been a change in the informants’ assessment practice in line with the curriculum’s intention, with less focus on skills and more on effort. However, the findings indicates that PE teachers have much freedom in their assessment, and points towards a need for more follow-up and professional development for PE teachers.
A comparison between the ocean and offshore photovoltaic production system into microgrids: benefits and limits
Authors: Chayma Saad , Aymen Flah , Alkuhayli Abdulaziz , Ullah Rahmat , El-Bayeh Claude Ziad
Published: December 2024

The current work offers a detailed comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of microgrids concerning the developments of photovoltaic (PV) production installed near the shore and those installed offshore. As demand for renewable energy increases, integrating offshore and marine photovoltaic systems offers a promising approach to increase energy production while minimizing land use. This study explores the inherent advantages of offshore photovoltaic systems, including higher energy production due to the cooling effect of water, reduced reliance on land, and the ability to tap into sustained marine solar resources. On the other hand, this paper also addresses challenges associated with these systems, such as: B. Increased installation complexity, vulnerability to harsh ocean conditions, and potential impacts on marine ecosystems. The results in this paper show good performance for both offshore and floating PV systems, except that the offshore PV system excels over the other system by 3.13% in energy production. Moreover, the difference in the annual efficiency of the two PV systems reached 0.55%. These values are considered low because both systems are installed in water, given that both systems benefit from lower temperature and solar irradiation values. Nevertheless, these two systems equally present their own unique challenges including, but not limited to, operational and maintenance cost increase, effect on marine ecology and the technical hindrances on installation and grid interconnectivity. The aim of this review is to disentangle the achievements made regarding the current state of the art in floating photovoltaic technologies. When dealing with performance metrics, two solutions are examined in order to demonstrate the feasibility of providing the energy needs in an ecological way.
Tumor microenvironment in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Li Chenxi , Dong Xiaodan , Li Bo
Published: December 2024

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a highly aggressive and malignant tumor of oral cavity with a poor prognosis and high mortality due to the limitations of existing therapies. The significant role of tumor microenvironment (TME) in the initiation, development, and progression of OSCC has been widely recognized. Various cells in TME, including tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), T lymphocytes, tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and dendritic cells (DCs), form a complicated and important cellular network to modulate OSCC proliferation, invasion, migration, and angiogenesis by secreting RNAs, proteins, cytokines, and metabolites. Understanding the interactions among cells in TME provides the foundation for advanced clinical diagnosis and therapies. This review summarizes the current literature that describes the role of various cellular components and other TME factors in the progression of OSCC, hoping to provide new ideas for the novel OSCC treatment strategies targeting the complicated cellular network and factors that mediate the interactive loops among cells in TME.
Efficacy analysis of rituximab in treating patients with primary membranous nephropathy dependent on calcineurin inhibitors
Authors: Li Zhuo , Zhao Tingting , Zhang Shasha , Huang Jing , Wang Honggang , Sun Yujiao , Wang Rong , Chen Bing
Published: December 2024

Background

This study evaluated the efficacy of rituximab (RTX) in primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) patients with incomplete remission and drug dependence after long-term use of calmodulin inhibitors (CNIs). It aims for complete clinical and immunological remission, and cessation of CNI dependence.

Methods

Thirty-six patients were enrolled in the study with two groups: drug-dependent and partial remission or immune non-remission group. Both groups underwent RTX therapy with gradual CNI tapering to end CNI dependency and induce complete remission. The primary outcome was overcoming CNI dependency and achieving complete remission after 12 months of RTX therapy. Secondary outcomes included immunological remission and recurrence rates.

Results

The drug-dependent group (20 patients) achieved significant proteinuria reduction compared to the partial remission or immune non-remission group (16 patients) (P=0.016). After 12 months of RTX treatment, all drug-dependent patients overcame CNI dependency (average withdrawal period: 5.3 ± 3.7 months), with complete remission rates increased from 10% to 70.0% and complete immunological remission rates rose from 35.0% to 90.0%. In the partial remission or immune non-remission group, 14 patients discontinued CNI (average period: 4.6 ± 4.5 months), with complete remission rates increasing from 5.0% to 68.8% and complete immunological remission rates from 6.3% to 68.8%. During follow-up, serum albumin increased, and anti-PLA2R antibodies, 24-hour proteinuria, and CD19+ cell numbers reduced, while creatinine remained stable. Three patients relapsed, four encountered adverse events, and no malignancies or other fatal adverse events were reported.

Conclusions

RTX effectively achieves complete clinical and immunological remission in PMN patients dependent on or partially responsive to long-term CNI therapy, reducing recurrence and minimizing prolonged immunosuppressive therapy risks.
Effect of immune checkpoint inhibitor time-of-day infusion on survival in advanced biliary tract cancer: a propensity score-matched analysis
Authors: Zheng Yichen , Shi Fanfan , Sun Lingqi , Guo Jiamin , Ren Tonghui , Ma Ji
Published: December 2024

Background

Circadian rhythms in the immune system and anti-tumor responses are underexplored in cancer immunotherapy. Despite the success of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in treating advanced biliary tract cancers (BTCs), not all patients benefit. This study examined whether the timing of ICI administration affects outcomes in advanced BTC patients.

Methods

We included advanced BTC patients from West China Hospital of Sichuan University who received ≥2 ICI treatments from October 2019 to September 2023, with follow-up until May 2024. Primary outcome was overall survival (OS), with secondary outcomes including progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and adverse events (AEs). Propensity score matching (1:2 ratio, caliper width 0.1) mitigated confounding factors. Cox proportional hazards regression analyzed the impact of ICI timing (post-16:30) on OS and PFS. Chi-square test assessed ORR and AE differences.

Results

Among 221 patients, 51 received ≥20% of ICIs after 16:30; 170 received <20%. Post-matching, 49 late-infusion patients had significantly shorter OS (median 10.1 vs. 14.5 months, HR=1.80, P=0.012) compared to 90 early-infusion patients. Pre-matching, late-infusion patients also had shorter OS (median 9.8 vs. 13.7 months, HR=1.68, P=0.010) and PFS (median 4.9 vs. 8.1 months, HR=1.62, P=0.006). Multivariate analysis confirmed these results. No significant differences were found in ORR (χ^2 = 1.53, P=0.215) or AEs (all P>0.050). Sensitivity analyses supported these findings.

Conclusion

Timing of ICI administration affects efficacy in advanced BTC, with pre-16:30 infusions linked to better survival. Larger, prospective studies are needed to validate these results.
Oxygenation of the Gulf of Mexico thermocline linked to the detachment of Loop Current eddies
Authors: Quintanilla Jose Gerardo , Herguera Juan Carlos , Sheinbaum Julio
Published: December 2024

This study presents oxygen data from the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) deep-water region for the period 2010–2019 collected from six oceanographic cruises and two BioARGO buoys and compares them to historical measurements. These observations link the interannual variability of the oxygen concentrations in the main thermocline waters to the frequency of Loop Current eddy (LCE) detachments. These eddies introduce significant volumes of relatively oxygen-rich waters from the Caribbean into the Gulf’s interior, thereby ventilating the main thermocline waters of the basin. Oxygen concentrations [O2] observed after periods of more than a year without LCE detachments consistently show a significant decrease in [O2] in the GoM thermocline waters. Using the oxygen measurements and altimetry data, we developed a simple box model that reproduces the oxygen variability in the GoM thermocline considering only LCE detachment area and frequency as variables, keeping all other sources of variability constant in the model. Our model successfully reproduces the observed oxygen variability in the main thermocline waters, highlighting the LCE detachment variability as a key process in the ventilation of the GoM mid-depth waters. According to our model, an average detached LCE area of approximately 97,000 km2 per year is needed to maintain oxygen levels in the thermocline waters above 2.6 ml mL L−1 in the upper thermocline and 2.4 ml mL L−1 in the lower thermocline. One further implication of this model is that if the yearly trend of decreasing detachment area of the LCEs continues in future years, oxygen concentrations in the GoM thermocline may continue to fall, potentially leading to unknown consequences for the ecological web structure at these depths.
3D-printed porous titanium versus polyetheretherketone cages in lateral lumbar interbody fusion: a systematic review and meta-analysis of subsidence
Authors: Liu Shu-Xin , Zeng Teng-Hui , Chen Chien-Min , He Li-Ru , Feng An-Ping , Jhang Shang-Wun , Lin Guang-Xun
Published: December 2024

Background

Cage subsidence frequently complicates lumbar fusion procedures, including lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF), potentially leading to recurrent pain, impaired fusion, and accelerated degeneration of adjacent segments. A critical factor influencing cage subsidence is the selection of material. Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and three-dimensional printed titanium (3D-Ti) cages are commonly used in LLIF procedures, each offering distinct advantages. However, these materials possess inherent property differences that may translate into divergent settling rates. To contribute to this discourse and offer insights, this systematic review and meta-analysis aims to compare the rates of cage subsidence between 3D-Ti and PEEK cages in LLIF.

Methods

A meticulous systematic search that employs distinct MeSH terms was conducted in major electronic databases (MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane) up to December 20, 2023. The quality of inclusion was measured using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for non-randomized trials. The primary outcome measure was cage subsidence, while the secondary outcome involved evaluating subsidence within each treatment segment using the Marchi classification.

Results

The review included 265 patients (441 segments) from three studies. All with NOS ratings exceeding 5 stars. In the analysis, 189 segments (42.9%) underwent LLIF with 3D-Ti cages, while 252 segments (57.1%) participated in LLIF with PEEK cages. Overall, the cage subsidence rate was significantly lower with 3D-Ti compared to PEEK (p < 0.00001, OR = 0.25; 95% CI 0.14 to 0.44). Specifically, the 3D-Ti group exhibited a markedly lower subsidence rate, categorized by grade I, II, and III, compared to the PEEK group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the incidence of severe subsidence was significantly reduced in the 3D-Ti group compared to the PEEK group (p = 0.0004, OR = 0.17; 95% CI 0.07 to 0.46).

Conclusion

The study concludes that the subsidence rate associated with 3D-Ti cages in LLIF is notably lower than that observed with PEEK cages, underscoring the potential advantages of 3D-Ti cages in mitigating cage subsidence.
Isolation of a Methanobrevibacter gottschalkii strain from an Eastern Gray Kangaroo
Authors: Volmer James G. , Evans Paul N. , Soo Rochelle M. , Hugenholtz Philip , Tyson Gene W. , Morrison Mark
Published: December 2024

Methanogenic archaea are a group of microorganisms found in the gastrointestinal tract of various herbivores and humans; however, the quantity (intensity) of methane emissions during feed digestion varies. Macropodids, such as the Eastern Gray Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus), are considered to be low methane-emitting animals, but their gut methanogenic archaea remain poorly characterized. Characterizing methanogens from animals with low methane emissions offers the potential to develop strategies and interventions that reduce methane emissions from livestock. In this study, we describe a novel strain of Methanobrevibacter gottschalkii (EGK), the first Methanobrevibacter isolate from a marsupial host. Comparative analyses with other M. gottschalkii genomes revealed a high degree of gene conservation, along with strain-specific differences in genes related to membrane transport, xenobiotic metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, and the metabolism of cofactors and vitamins. Notably, the M. gottschalkii EGK genome contains multiple copies of large proviral elements, likely acquired through integration events in this strain. M. gottschalkii EGK is the first isolated representative of Methanobrevibacter from a low methane-emitting animal, providing a valuable reference genome to identify metabolic targets for methane mitigation.
Whole genome analysis, detoxification of ochratoxin a and physiological characterization of a novel Bacillus velezensis MM35 isolated from soil
Authors: Xu Fengru , Tang Mengmeng , Yang Zhihao , Liao Chengshui , Yu Zuhua , Guo Rongxian , Shang Ke , Chen Songbiao , Yang Ke , Li Jing , Ding Ke , Jia Yanyan
Published: December 2024

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a significant global contaminant that poses severe challenges to food safety and public health. This study aims to isolate the OTA-degrated probiotics and evaluate genetic and biological characteristic. Here, The degradation rate of a new strain named Bacillus velezensis MM35 isolated from soil was the highest (87.10% within 48 h), and its culture supernatant was the main component of OTA degradation (63.95%) by high performance liquid chromatography. Further investigation revealed that the extracellular enzyme that degrades OTA in the culture supernatant of MM35 may be a small molecule enzyme with certain heat resistance. Genome-wide analysis showed that MM35 contains a cluster of carboxypeptidases encoding OTA-degrading potential, and had good metabolic and catalytic synthesis ability, and strong application potential in the synthesis and degradation of carbohydrates and proteins. A variety of secondary metabolites with antibacterial properties, such as non-ribosomal peptide synthetase and terpenoids, were identified in its metabolites. Consistent with the predicted results, MM35 showed various enzyme production characteristics such as cellulase and xylanase. Furthermore, MM35 could inhibit the growth of a variety of pathogenic bacteria, and showed high co-aggregation ability to Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium. In addition, MM35 has certain tolerance to harsh environments such as strong acid, bile salt, and high temperature. Additionally, the adhesion rate of MM35 was 5.4%, and the invasion rate was 2.1% in IPEC-J2 cells. In summary, the data suggest MM35 isolated strain has high OTA degradation efficiency, antibacterial activity and intestinal colonization, which provided a new way for the treatment of OTA contamination in food and feed industries.