bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Tracer Study of the Master of Management at Universitas Trisakti, Indonesia
Authors: Risqiani Renny , Nalurita Febria , Leon Farah Margaretha , Kurniawati Kurniawati , Fikri Amir , Walidaeni Ihsanul
Published: July 2023

This study aims to determine the profile of alumni of the Master of Management Study Program, Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Trisakti. The respondents to this study were Master of Management alumni from the Faculty of Economics and Business at Universitas Trisakti who graduated in 2020–2021. The type of research used is descriptive research with a quantitative approach. The data used are primary data collected through surveys by distributing questionnaires to respondents. The data is processed using SPSS software. There were 261 graduates of the Master of Management Faculty of Economics and Business Universitas Trisakti Master of Management Study Program for 2020–2021, but only 201 completed the complete tracer study. Questionnaires were distributed directly to alumni or alumni users whose whereabouts were known. The results of the study show that alumni stated that the majors taken were under the field of work. Overall, graduates were able to get their first job in less than six months. Alumni receive academic guidance, participate in research projects, and have the opportunity to become part of professional scientific networks. Graduates can communicate, work with teams, develop themselves, and utilize information technology. The results of the implementation of this tracer study can be used as material for evaluating and improving the leadership of MM FEB Trisakti University regarding graduate profiles and the abilities that graduates must have, both soft and hard, to be competitive in the world of work.
PEMBELAJARAN PROSES MENCIPTA TARI BAGI GURU MGMP SENI BUDAYA DI TINGKAT SMA DI KOTA DENPASAR
Authors: Mudiasih Ni Wayan , Iriani Ni Wayan , Widyarto Rinto
Published: July 2023

Abstrak: Para guru seni budaya SMAN di Denpasar belum sepenuhnya memahami dan mengetahui tentang penciptaan baik teori dan praktek, sehingga banyak para siswa saat mendapat tugas tersebut harus mencari guru pelatih diluar sekolah dan harus membayarnya. Fenomena ini penting diantisipasi dan dicarikan solusinya, agar eksistensi penciptaan tari dapat dilakukan dengan mudah. Untuk itu perlu pembelajaran kelompok Guru Seni Budaya dalam Musyawarah Guru Mata Pelajaran (MGMP). Hal ini agar dapat mempermudah proses mencipta tari dan mampu memberikan pembelajaran teori dan praktek mencipta tari kreasi baru/kontemporer.Metode dekriptif dan pelaksanaannya menggunakan metode eksperimen imitasi, matematika, karakter dan transisi. Guru seni budaya ini diberikan pembelajaran langsung untuk mencipta tari yang selanjutnya dapat memberikan pembelajaran kepada peserta didik tingkat SMA, agar dapat meningkatkan kemampuan mencipta tari. Pembelajaran ini disambut antusias oleh segenap peserta dan menghasilkan 2 model karya tari kreasi dan kontemporer.

Kata Kunci:Pembelajaran, Mencipta, Tari, dan MGMP
Scottish Women’s and Gender History and Women Historians in Scotland: Past, Present and Future Directions
Authors: Barclay Katie , Mason Rebecca
Published: July 2023

The Royal Historical Society’s G ender Equality report in 2018, as well as a number of smaller surveys, suggests that while women now make up a significant proportion of those studying advanced degrees in history, they remain under-represented both in academic institutions (especially at higher levels) and in journals and similar high-esteem publications. Women’s and gender history has been one subfield where this is not the case; if both men and women have written on this topic, women have largely dominated the field and women’s and gender history remains a significant site where women’s authoritative knowledge has been prized and their leadership recognised. This special issue celebrates Scottish women’s and gender history as a domain of history where questions of power and authority, inclusion and exclusion, work, labour and knowledge production have already been considered through a gendered lens. Our authors bring case studies from a diverse range of time periods and historical contexts, but they share a commitment to central questions of how women—throughout history and as historians—have produced space for their authoritative knowledges and practices, how these might be nurtured or constrained, and the ongoing implications for gender equality.
SISTEM TELEMONITORING KESEHATAN BERBASIS IOT
Authors: Kamajaya Leonardo , Pracoyo Agus , Palupi Lucky Nindya , Hidayat Arief Rahman
Published: July 2023

Monitoring kesehatan sangat diperlukan bagi manusia untuk menjaga kesehatan tetap dalam kondisi prima. Terdapat beberapa monitoring kesehatan yang perlu dilakukan yaitu monitoring kadar oksigen, detak jantung, tekanan darah dan suhu tubuh. Telemonitoring merupakan metode monitoring kesehatan jarak jauh dengan memanfaatkan fitur IoT. Sehingga sistem telemonitoring kesehatan ini dapat mempermudah monitoring kesehatan dimanapun dan kapanpun. Untuk itu kami kembangkan sistem telemonitoring kesehatan dengan kemampuan dapat mengukur kadar oksigen, detak jantung, tekanan darah dan suhu tubuh dengan dilengkapi fitur IoT dan kecerdasan buatan. Sistem telemonitoring yang kami kembangkan ini menggunakan sensor MAX30100 untuk mengukur kadar oksigen dan detak jantung, sensor MPX5500DP untuk mengukur tekanan darah, sensor MLX90614 untuk mengukur suhu tubuh, menggunakan ESP32 sebagai mikrokontroler yang dilengkapi fitur IoT serta memanfaatkan metode logika fuzzy sebagai metode kecerdasan buatan yang bertujuan untuk diagnosa awal penyakit yang diderita oleh manusia sesuai dengan hasil dari pengukuran. Dengan pembuatan sistem telemonitoring kesehatan ini diharapkan dapat mempermudah manusia dalam telemonitoring kesehatan secara praktis dan efisien.
Resource availability governs polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) accumulation and diversity of methanotrophic enrichments from wetlands
Authors: Kim Yujin , Flinkstrom Zachary , Candry Pieter , Winkler Mari-Karoliina H. , Myung Jaewook
Published: July 2023

Aquatic environments account for half of global CH4 emissions, with freshwater wetlands being the most significant contributors. These CH4 fluxes can be partially offset by aerobic CH4 oxidation driven by methanotrophs. Additionally, some methanotrophs can convert CH4 into polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), an energy storage molecule as well as a promising bioplastic polymer. In this study, we investigate how PHA-accumulating methanotrophic communities enriched from wetlands were shaped by varying resource availability (i.e., C and N concentrations) at a fixed C/N ratio. Cell yields, PHA accumulation, and community composition were evaluated in high (20% CH4 and 10 mM NH4+) and low resource (0.2% CH4 and 0.1 mM NH4+) conditions simulating engineered and environmental settings, respectively. High resource availability decreased C-based cell yields, while N-based cell yields remained stable, suggesting nutrient exchange patterns differed between methanotrophic communities at different resource concentrations. PHA accumulation was only observed in high resource enrichments, producing approximately 12.6% ± 2.4% (m/m) PHA, while PHA in low resource enrichments remained below detection. High resource enrichments were dominated by Methylocystis methanotrophs, while low resource enrichments remained significantly more diverse and contained only a minor population of methanotrophs. This study demonstrates that resource concentration shapes PHA-accumulating methanotrophic communities. Together, this provides useful information to leverage such communities in engineering settings as well as to begin understanding their role in the environment.
Pan-cancer and single-cell analysis reveal the prognostic value and immune response of NQO1
Authors: Shen Liping , Jiang Shan , Yang Yu , Yang Hongli , Fang Yanchun , Tang Meng , Zhu Rangteng , Xu Jiaqin , Jiang Hantao
Published: July 2023

Background: Overexpression of the NAD(P)H: Quinone Oxidoreductase 1 (NQOI) gene has been linked with tumor progression, aggressiveness, drug resistance, and poor patient prognosis. Most research has described the biological function of the NQO1 in certain types and limited samples, but a comprehensive understanding of the NQO1’s function and clinical importance at the pan-cancer level is scarce. More research is needed to understand the role of NQO1 in tumor infiltration, and immune checkpoint inhibitors in various cancers are needed.

Methods: The NQO1 expression data for 33 types of pan-cancer and their association with the prognosis, pathologic stage, gender, immune cell infiltration, the tumor mutation burden, microsatellite instability, immune checkpoints, enrichment pathways, and the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) were downloaded from public databases.

Results: Our findings indicate that the NQO1 gene was significantly upregulated in most cancer types. The Cox regression analysis showed that overexpression of the NQO1 gene was related to poor OS in Glioma, uveal melanoma, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma, and adrenocortical carcinoma. NQO1 mRNA expression positively correlated with infiltrating immune cells and checkpoint molecule levels. The single-cell analysis revealed a potential relationship between the NQO1 mRNA expression levels and the infiltration of immune cells and stromal cells in bladder urothelial carcinoma, invasive breast carcinoma, and colorectal cancer. Conversely, a negative association was noted between various drugs (17-AAG, Lapatinib, Trametinib, PD-0325901) and the NQO1 mRNA expression levels.

Conclusion: NQO1 expression was significantly associated with prognosis, immune infiltrates, and drug resistance in multiple cancer types. The inhibition of the NQO1-dependent signaling pathways may provide a promising strategy for developing new cancer-targeted therapies.
Wet-grassland breeding bird conservation in Germany: current status and future perspectives
Authors: Maasri Alain , Barkow Andreas , Ludwig Jürgen , Belting Heinrich
Published: July 2023

The decline of wet-grassland breeding bird populations across Europe, and Germany more specifically, continues unabated. In an effort to address this ongoing issue, we conducted a Horizon Scanning survey to identify the current strengths, weaknesses, future opportunities, and threats for wet-grassland breeding bird conservation across both continental and Atlantic biogeographic regions in Germany. We conducted the survey in 2022 and targeted primarily the community of conservation practitioners. We structured the survey with nine simple questions to identify the profile of the participants and collect their expert opinions. Our results confirm established challenges for bird conservation and bring into the spotlight emerging opportunities and threats. Thus, we summarize here the results of this survey and provide recommendations to decision-makers and stakeholders to work collectively towards the recovery of wet-grassland breeding bird populations in Germany and preserve grassland biodiversity for future generations.
Lactobacillus acidophilus impairs the establishment of pathogens in a subgingival multispecies biofilm
Authors: Bueno Manuela Rocha , Dudu-Silva Gustavo , Macedo Tatiane Tiemi , Gomes Aline Paim de Abreu Paulo , Rodrigues Oliveira Braga Arthur , Aguiar Silva Lucas Daylor , Bueno-Silva Bruno
Published: July 2023

The present study evaluated the antibiofilm effects of Lactobacillus acidophilus within a subgingival multispecies biofilm. Lactobacillus acidophilus (La5) at 1 × 102, 1 × 104, and 1 × 106 were included at the beginning of biofilm formation, which lasted 7 days. The biofilms comprised 33 periodontitis-related bacterial species and the Calgary Biofilm device was used. At the end, DNA–DNA hybridization (checkerboard) was performed. A Kruskal–Wallis test followed by a Dunn post hoc test were performed (p ≤ 0.05). La5 at 1 × 104 and 1 × 106 reduced the total counts of biofilm and the proportions of red and green complexes when compared to the control biofilm without La5 (p ≤ 0.05). La5 at 1 × 104 increased the proportions of Actinomyces complex compared to the controls (p ≤ 0.05). Both La5 at 1 × 104 and 1 × 106 decreased levels of 20 and 14 distinct species, respectively, including Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Fusobacterium nucleatum polymorphum, and Parvimonas micra compared to the control (p ≤ 0.05). Only La5 at 1 × 104 reduced the levels of Tannerella forsythia, Fusobacterium periodonticum, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetencomytans compared to the control (p ≤ 0.05). L. acidophilus inhibited establishing periodontic pathogens from red complex such as P. gingivalis and T. forsythia in a subgingival multispecies biofilm.
Out-of-school suspensions in U.S. public schools: relations with chronic teacher absenteeism
Authors: Fabes Richard A. , O'Rourke Holly , Catherine Evandra , Shen Zuchao , McDonald Ashley
Published: July 2023

Out-of-school suspensions (OSSs) put students at risk for an array of negative social and academic outcomes. The rates of the use of OSS vary considerably from one school to another; however, school-level characteristics have not been studied extensively. The purpose of this study was to examine the degree to which chronic teacher absenteeism predicted the overall rates of OSS, as well as racial/ethnic disparities in its use. Although research has established that teachers are one of the most significant school-based factors affecting student success and learning, they need to be present in the classroom for students to derive these benefits. Using a national sample of public schools in the United States, the study's findings confirmed that schools with higher rates of chronic teacher absenteeism also had higher rates of the use of suspension. Moreover, within a school, higher proportions of chronic teacher absence were related to greater disparities in the rates of suspensions for Black students relative to white students. It was concluded that chronic absenteeism represents a significant risk factor that is related to the use of OSS with students in a school.
Conceptualising the education and care workforce from the perspective of children and young people
Authors: Cartmel Jennifer , Irvine Susan , Harrison Linda , Barblett Lennie , Bobongie-Harris Francis , Lavina Leanne , Hadley Fay
Published: July 2023

Children are significant stakeholders within education and care settings. Their views can be invaluable in thinking about what matters to conceptualising, assessing and improving quality in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) and Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) settings. As stakeholders, children’s views are rarely listened to by Australian policy makers to assess what constitutes quality and how the quality can be improved. In the process of updating two nationally approved Australian Learning Frameworks (ALFs):Belonging, Being and Becoming:The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia2.0 andMy Time Our Place: Framework for School Age Care in Australia 2.0, children’s responses provided meaningful insights into their perceptions of the practices of the educators. The children’s perspectives were gathered in a combination of research methodologies of talking circles, dialogic drawing, and visual elicitation. Their responses about experiences in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) and Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) contexts were analysed to provide a deeper understanding about the characteristics of their experiences in the settings. The research process delivered information about children’s perspectives about pedagogical principles and practices that describe the Australian children’s education and care workforce and environments. The process of gathering the children’s perspectives is not without limitations, however the information is invaluable in considering the assessment and improvement of quality in children’s services.
Development and validation of prediction models for the prognosis of colon cancer with lung metastases: a population-based cohort study
Authors: Ma Zhenyu , Yang Shuping , Yang Yalin , Luo Jingran , Zhou Yixiao , Yang Huiyong
Published: July 2023

Background

Current studies on the establishment of prognostic models for colon cancer with lung metastasis (CCLM) were lacking. This study aimed to construct and validate prediction models of overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) probability in CCLM patients.

Method

Data on 1,284 patients with CCLM were collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Patients were randomly assigned with 7:3 (stratified by survival time) to a development set and a validation set on the basis of computer-calculated random numbers. After screening the predictors by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and multivariate Cox regression, the suitable predictors were entered into Cox proportional hazard models to build prediction models. Calibration curves, concordance index (C-index), time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to perform the validation of models. Based on model-predicted risk scores, patients were divided into low-risk and high-risk groups. The Kaplan–Meier (K-M) plots and log-rank test were applied to perform survival analysis between the two groups.

Results

Building upon the LASSO and multivariate Cox regression, six variables were significantly associated with OS and CSS (i.e., tumor grade, AJCC T stage, AJCC N stage, chemotherapy, CEA, liver metastasis). In development, validation, and expanded testing sets, AUCs and C-indexes of the OS and CSS prediction models were all greater than or near 0.7, which indicated excellent predictability of models. On the whole, the calibration curves coincided with the diagonal in two models. DCA indicated that the models had higher clinical benefit than any single risk factor. Survival analysis results showed that the prognosis was worse in the high-risk group than in the low-risk group, which suggested that the models had significant discrimination for patients with different prognoses.

Conclusion

After verification, our prediction models of CCLM are reliable and can predict the OS and CSS of CCLM patients in the next 1, 3, and 5 years, providing valuable guidance for clinical prognosis estimation and individualized administration of patients with CCLM.
A new method for evaluating the utilization effect of carbonate gas reservoir reserves
Authors: Yin Xiaohong , Yuan Yongjie , Liu Yuanyuan , Mei Qingyan , Guo Fufeng , Wei Xing , Li Xi
Published: July 2023

After nearly 60 years of development, the carbonate gas reservoirs in Sichuan Basin have entered the middle and late stages of development. Affected by various geological factors such as complex structure, formation water distribution and water invasion intensity, low permeability, fracture development degree, fracture-cavity combination, etc., and the difference of development technical policies, the utilization effect of reserves varies greatly among different gas reservoirs. Moreover, the current indicators for evaluating the utilization effect of reserves are mainly reserve utilization degree, dynamic-static reserve ratio, recovery degree, etc., yet a unified evaluation method has not been formed. In order to effectively evaluate the utilization effect of reserves and improve the development benefit of gas reservoirs, the evaluation of utilization effect of reserves was carried out by comprehensively considering geological characteristics and development technical policies. On this basis, a new method for evaluating the utilization effect of carbonate gas reservoir reserves was formed and applied in specific gas reservoirs. The research results show that: 1) The quality of reserve utilization can accurately evaluate the utilization effect of gas reservoir reserves; 2) By introducing big data analysis technology, comprehensively using ward clustering analysis method and Pearson coefficient to correlate the main influencing factors of reserve utilization effect, a prediction model of reserve utilization effect was established; 3) The WBT Carboniferous gas reservoir was chosen to verify the aforementioned model, and the result shows that the model has high prediction accuracy and strong adaptability, which can accurately evaluate the utilization effect of developed gas reservoir reserves. The model is also applicable to evaluating the utilization effect of undeveloped gas reservoirs. In conclusion, by adopting big data analysis, the established prediction model of reserve utilization effect is suitable for quantitative evaluation and analysis of reserve utilization effect of carbonate gas reservoirs, which can provide a basis for guiding the formulation of reasonable development technical policies and improving the reserve utilization effect for similar types of gas reservoirs.
Macrophage targeted polymeric curcumin nanoparticles limit intracellular survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis through induction of autophagy and augment anti-TB activity of isoniazid in RAW 264.7 macrophages
Authors: Gupta Pramod Kumar , Jahagirdar Priyanka , Tripathi Devavrat , Devarajan Padma V. , Kulkarni Savita
Published: July 2023

Rapid emergence of antibiotic resistance in tuberculosis has left us with limited resources to treat and manage multi drug resistant (MDR) cases of tuberculosis, prompting the development of novel therapeutics. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) perturbs the host protective pathways for its survival, therefore host directed therapeutic (HDT) interventions offer an attractive alternative strategy. Curcumin (CMN), the principle curcuminoid from Curcuma longa is known to have anti-TB activity against MDR strains of MTB in macrophages. We discovered that treatment of CMN induced autophagy in uninfected and MTB infected macrophages which was evident by conversion of LC3-I to LC3-II and degradation of p62. Inhibition of autophagy by a pharmacological inhibitor 3-MA resulted in significant inhibition of intracellular killing activity of CMN, suggesting the involvement of autophagy in intracellular clearance of MTB. Moreover, annexin v-FITC/PI staining data suggested induction of apoptosis in uninfected and MTB infected macrophages post CMN treatment. This finding was further corroborated by up-regulated expression of pro-apoptotic proteins, Bax, cleaved caspase-3 and PARP and diminished expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 as evaluated by immunoblotting. Using GFP-MTB H37Rv and Lysotracker Red staining we demonstrated co-localization of GFP-MTB H37Rv containing phagosome to lysosome after CMN treatment, indicating enhanced phagosome lysosome fusion. Due to poor bioavailability of CMN, its clinical use is limited, therefore to overcome this issue, CMN was encapsulated in Poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) shell, resulting in polymeric CMN nano particles (ISCurNP). Flow cytometric evaluation suggested >99% uptake of ISCurNP after 3h of treatment. In BALB/c mice, oral dose of ISCurNP resulted in 6.7-fold increase in the bioavailability compared to free CMN. Moreover, ISCurNP treatment resulted in significant decrease in the intracellular survival of MTB H37Rv through induction of autophagy. Adjunct action of ISCurNP and CMN in combination with isoniazid (INH) revealed >99% decrease in intracellular survival of MTB in macrophage as compared to ISCurNP, CMN or INH alone. In conclusion, our findings suggest the role of ISCurNP as novel host directed formulation to combat both sensitive and MDR strains of MTB by induction of autophagy.
Stable isotopes infer the diet and habitat of the enigmatic pygmy right whale (Caperea marginata) off southern Australia
Authors: Dedden Adelaide V. , Kemper Catherine M. , Truong Gary , McCurry Matthew R. , van Ruth Paul D. , Rogers Tracey L.
Published: July 2023

In the Southern Hemisphere, baleen whales generally undertake migrations between productive feeding grounds at high latitudes and breeding grounds at lower latitudes. Pygmy right whales (Caperea marginata) (PRW) are the smallest and most enigmatic baleen whale, that likely forgo long-distance migrations, and instead inhabit temperate and subantarctic waters year-round. Previous research has relied on limited data from sighting and stranding records to infer the habitat use and diet of PRWs, however the absence of long-term and consistent data has left uncertainty surrounding these parameters. We utilized bulk stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) in baleen from Australian PRWs (n = 14) to infer their diet and habitat use. Stable isotope values from 1980–2019 were then matched to remote sensed data from known upwelling regions (where they likely feed) to examine if their dietary patterns are related to changes in food web dynamics. We found that PRWs remained in mid-latitude waters year-round and showed no evidence of feeding in Antarctic waters. Rather, their isotopic record suggests they remain between coastal waters off southern Australia and the Subtropical Convergence, feeding on krill and copepods. Additionally, there was a weak positive relationship between PRW nitrogen stable isotope values and sea surface temperature (SST) from the eastern Great Australian Bight (GAB) and Bonney Upwelling. This suggests seasonal changes in their diet is possibly correlated to oceanographic changes which drive food-web dynamics in these regions. Unlike larger species of baleen whales that migrate further to highly productive waters in the Southern Ocean to meet their energetic demands, the small PRW, who only reach 6.5m, may sustain both feeding and breeding requirements at mid-latitudes. This is the first study to analyze long-term dietary and movement patterns of the PRW, providing an important contribution to our understanding of the species.
The successful use of a submersible ultrasound to confirm pregnancy on free swimming bull sharks, Carcharhinus leucas, in a provisioned shark site
Authors: Hoyos-Padilla Edgar Mauricio , Casanova-Santamaría Irene , Loria-Correa Jorge Carlos , Sulikowski James
Published: July 2023

A prototype, fully submersible, high definition ultrasound was used to determine the reproductive state of wild, free-swimming bull sharks, Carcharhinus leucas, at a provisioned shark diving site in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. During two opportunistic dives, the presence of embryos was confirmed in three female sharks (greater than 2.0 m total length) and emphasizes the importance of developing and linking emerging technologies with shark diving sites for the conservation of elasmobranch species.
Global trends and hotspots of gastrointestinal microbiome and toxicity based on bibliometrics
Authors: Duan Jiajia , Liu Chuanxin , Bai Xiaoyang , Zhao Xiaoying , Jiang Tao
Published: July 2023

Background

Toxicity concerns persist in the fields of public health, environmental science, and pharmacology. The intricate and vital role of the gastrointestinal microbiome in influencing toxicity and overall human health has gained increasing recognition in recent years. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to evaluate the global scientific output, emerging trends, and research focal points in the area of gastrointestinal microbiome and toxicity.

Methods

The Web of Science Core Collection database was retrieved for publications on the gastrointestinal microbiome and toxicity from 1980 to 2022. Our analysis included scholarly research papers written in English and excluded duplicate publications. We used Biblioshiny and R to summarize the count and citation metrics of included articles, and visualized research trends and keywords. CiteSpace was used to identify reference literature, keywords, and citation bursts. VOSviewer was used to visualize the network of related countries, institutions, authors, co-cited authors, and keywords.

Results

A total of 2,140 articles were included, allowing us to identify significant countries, institutions, authors, and research focal points. Our results indicate a growing trend in the field, with China and the United States leading the research. The most productive journal in this area is Science of the Total Environment. Key findings revealed that research hotspots have shifted from drugs to environmental pollutants, emphasizing microplastics. Important mechanisms studied include oxidative stress, metabolism, inflammation, and apoptosis, with target organs being the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and brain. Furthermore, we highlight the rising significance of the gut-brain axis and the usage of zebrafish as a model organism.

Conclusion

Despite certain limitations, such as focusing solely on English-language publications and excluding unpublished literature, our findings provide valuable insights into the current state of research on toxicity and the gastrointestinal microbiome. In the future, modifications to the gastrointestinal microbiome could offer new directions for treating and mitigating toxicity. These discoveries provide a comprehensive perspective on the broader scope of this research field.
Segmented filamentous bacteria-based treatment to elicit protection against Enterobacteriaceae in Layer chickens
Authors: Meinen-Jochum Jared , Ott Logan C. , Mellata Melha
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Gut microbes like segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB) play a key role in gut maturation during early life, as demonstrated in humans and mice. Our previous study demonstrated oral inoculation of ileum-spores containing SFB to chickens after hatch increases early SFB gut colonization, which increases immune maturation and resistance to bacteria, like Salmonella, as tested in vitro; however, more studies are needed for treatment optimization and in vivo testing. The objectives of this study were to (1) test a treatment that includes both spores and filamentous SFB, (2) validate antimicrobial ability of the treatment in layer hens in vivo, and (3) elucidate its molecular mechanism.

Methods

One-day-old specific pathogen-free layers (n = 12 per group) were orally treated with either PBS (CON) or SFB-based treatment (SFB). At 4 days post-inoculation (DPI), both CON and SFB groups were orally challenged with Salmonella Typhimurium. Total Enterobacteriaceae and Salmonella were examined by plating and enumeration in feces at 7,10 and 14 dpi; and in the ileum, cecum, and spleen at 16 dpi in euthanized birds. The presence and levels of SFB were determined from ilea scrapings via microscopy and qPCR, respectively. Relative gene expression of host-derived antimicrobial peptides and cytokines in the distal ileum was determined by RT-qPCR.

Results

At 10 and 14 dpi, a significant decrease in total Enterobacteriaceae was observed in the feces of the SFB group. At necropsy, the level of SFB was significantly higher in the SFB group than in the CON group, while a significant decrease in total Enterobacteriaceae and Salmonella was observed in the ceca of the SFB group. RT-qPCR revealed increased expression of β-defensin 14, and cytokines IL-10 and IFNγ.

Discussion

The introduction of SFB at hatch as a prophylactic treatment may benefit commercial partners as well as consumers by reducing the incidence of Enterobacteriaceae in food animals. Reduction of these bacteria in animals would, in turn, increase animal health, productivity, and safety for consumers. Studies to optimize the treatment for poultry industry applications are ongoing in our lab.
Engagement of intrinsic disordered proteins in protein–protein interaction
Authors: Roterman Irena , Stapor Katarzyna , Konieczny Leszek
Published: July 2023

Proteins from the intrinsically disordered group (IDP) focus the attention of many researchers engaged in protein structure analysis. The main criteria used in their identification are lack of secondary structure and significant structural variability. This variability takes forms that cannot be identified in the X-ray technique. In the present study, different criteria were used to assess the status of IDP proteins and their fragments recognized as intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs). The status of the hydrophobic core in proteins identified as IDPs and in their complexes was assessed. The status of IDRs as components of the ordering structure resulting from the construction of the hydrophobic core was also assessed. The hydrophobic core is understood as a structure encompassing the entire molecule in the form of a centrally located high concentration of hydrophobicity and a shell with a gradually decreasing level of hydrophobicity until it reaches a level close to zero on the protein surface. It is a model assuming that the protein folding process follows a micellization pattern aiming at exposing polar residues on the surface, with the simultaneous isolation of hydrophobic amino acids from the polar aquatic environment. The use of the model of hydrophobicity distribution in proteins in the form of the 3D Gaussian distribution described on the protein particle introduces the possibility of assessing the degree of similarity to the assumed micelle-like distribution and also enables the identification of deviations and mismatch between the actual distribution and the idealized distribution. The FOD (fuzzy oil drop) model and its modified FOD-M version allow for the quantitative assessment of these differences and the assessment of the relationship of these areas to the protein function. In the present work, the sections of IDRs in protein complexes classified as IDPs are analyzed. The classification “disordered” in the structural sense (lack of secondary structure or high flexibility) does not always entail a mismatch with the structure of the hydrophobic core. Particularly, the interface area, often consisting of IDRs, in many analyzed complexes shows the compliance of the hydrophobicity distribution with the idealized distribution, which proves that matching to the structure of the hydrophobic core does not require secondary structure ordering.
Dynamics of ventilatory pattern variability and Cardioventilatory Coupling during systemic inflammation in rats
Authors: Campanaro Cara K. , Nethery David E. , Guo Fei , Kaffashi Farhad , Loparo Kenneth A. , Jacono Frank J. , Dick Thomas E. , Hsieh Yee-Hsee
Published: July 2023

Introduction: Biometrics of common physiologic signals can reflect health status. We have developed analytics to measure the predictability of ventilatory pattern variability (VPV, Nonlinear Complexity Index (NLCI) that quantifies the predictability of a continuous waveform associated with inhalation and exhalation) and the cardioventilatory coupling (CVC, the tendency of the last heartbeat in expiration to occur at preferred latency before the next inspiration). We hypothesized that measures of VPV and CVC are sensitive to the development of endotoxemia, which evoke neuroinflammation.

Methods: We implanted Sprague Dawley male rats with BP transducers to monitor arterial blood pressure (BP) and recorded ventilatory waveforms and BP simultaneously using whole-body plethysmography in conjunction with BP transducer receivers. After baseline (BSLN) recordings, we injected lipopolysaccharide (LPS, n = 8) or phosphate buffered saline (PBS, n =3) intraperitoneally on 3 consecutive days. We recorded for 4–6 h after the injection, chose 3 epochs from each hour and analyzed VPV and CVC as well as heart rate variability (HRV).

Results: First, the responses to sepsis varied across rats, but within rats the repeated measures of NLCI, CVC, as well as respiratory frequency (fR), HR, BP and HRV had a low coefficient of variation, (<0.2) at each time point. Second, HR, fR, and NLCI increased from BSLN on Days 1–3; whereas CVC decreased on Days 2 and 3. In contrast, changes in BP and the relative low-(LF) and high-frequency (HF) of HRV were not significant. The coefficient of variation decreased from BSLN to Day 3, except for CVC. Interestingly, NLCI increased before fR in LPS-treated rats. Finally, we histologically confirmed lung injury, systemic inflammation via ELISA and the presence of the proinflammatory cytokine, IL-1β, with immunohistochemistry in the ponto-medullary respiratory nuclei.

Discussion: Our findings support that NLCI reflects changes in the rat’s health induced by systemic injection of LPS and reflected in increases in HR and fR. CVC decreased over the course to the experiment. We conclude that NLCI reflected the increase in predictability of the ventilatory waveform and (together with our previous work) may reflect action of inflammatory cytokines on the network generating respiration.
Single opsin driven white noise ERGs in mice
Authors: Stallwitz Nina , Joachimsthaler Anneka , Kremers Jan
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Electroretinograms elicited by photopigment isolating white noise stimuli (wnERGs) in mice were measured. The dependency of rod- and cone-opsin-driven wnERGs on mean luminance was studied.

Methods

Temporal white noise stimuli (containing all frequencies up to 20 Hz, equal amplitudes, random phases) that modulated either rhodopsin, S-opsin or L*-opsin, using the double silent substitution technique, were used to record wnERGs in mice expressing a human L*-opsin instead of the native murine M-opsin. Responses were recorded at 4 mean luminances (MLs).

Impulse response functions (IRFs) were obtained by cross-correlating the wnERG recordings with the corresponding modulation of the photopigment excitation elicited by the stimulus. So-called modulation transfer functions (MTFs) were obtained by performing a Fourier transform on the IRFs.

Potentials of two repeated wnERG recordings at corresponding time points were plotted against each other. The correlation coefficient (r2repr) of the linear regression through these data was used to quantify reproducibility. Another correlation coefficient (r2ML) was used to quantify the correlations of the wnERGs obtained at different MLs with those at the highest (for cone isolating stimuli) or lowest (for rod isolating stimuli) ML.

Results

IRFs showed an initial negative (a-wave like) trough N1 and a subsequent positive (b-wave like) peak P1. No oscillatory potential-like components were observed. At 0.4 and 1.0 log cd/m2 ML robust L*- and S-opsin-driven IRFs were obtained that displayed similar latencies and dependencies on ML. L*-opsin-driven IRFs were 2.5–3 times larger than S-opsin-driven IRFs. Rhodopsin-driven IRFs were observed at −0.8 and − 0.2 log cd/m2 and decreased in amplitude with increasing ML. They displayed an additional pronounced late negativity (N2), which may be a correlate of retinal ganglion cell activity.

R2repr and r2ML values increased for cones with increasing ML whereas they decreased for rods. For rhodopsin-driven MTFs at low MLs and L*-opsin-driven MTFs at high MLs amplitudes decreased with increasing frequency, with much faster decreasing amplitudes for rhodopsin. A delay was calculated from MTF phases showing larger delays for rhodopsin- vs. low delays for L*-opsin-driven responses.

Conclusion

Opsin-isolating wnERGs in mice show characteristics of different retinal cell types and their connected pathways.
Astrocytes as a target for therapeutic strategies in epilepsy: current insights
Authors: Çarçak Nihan , Onat Filiz , Sitnikova Evgenia
Published: July 2023

Astrocytes are specialized non-neuronal glial cells of the central nervous system, contributing to neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission (gliotransmission). Astrocytes play a key roles in epileptogenesis and seizure generation. Epilepsy, as a chronic disorder characterized by neuronal hyperexcitation and hypersynchronization, is accompanied by substantial disturbances of glial cells and impairment of astrocytic functions and neuronal signaling. Anti-seizure drugs that provide symptomatic control of seizures primarily target neural activity. In epileptic patients with inadequate control of seizures with available anti-seizure drugs, novel therapeutic candidates are needed. These candidates should treat epilepsy with anti-epileptogenic and disease-modifying effects. Evidence from human and animal studies shows that astrocytes have value for developing new anti-seizure and anti-epileptogenic drugs. In this review, we present the key functions of astrocytes contributing to neuronal hyperexcitability and synaptic activity following an etiology-based approach. We analyze the role of astrocytes in both development (epileptogenesis) and generation of seizures (ictogenesis). Several promising new strategies that attempted to modify astroglial functions for treating epilepsy are being developed: (1) selective targeting of glia-related molecular mechanisms of glutamate transport; (2) modulation of tonic GABA release from astrocytes; (3) gliotransmission; (4) targeting the astrocytic Kir4.1-BDNF system; (5) astrocytic Na+/K+/ATPase activity; (6) targeting DNA hypo- or hypermethylation of candidate genes in astrocytes; (7) targeting astrocytic gap junction regulators; (8) targeting astrocytic adenosine kinase (the major adenosine-metabolizing enzyme); and (9) targeting microglia-astrocyte communication and inflammatory pathways. Novel disease-modifying therapeutic strategies have now been developed, such as astroglia-targeted gene therapy with a broad spectrum of genetic constructs to target astroglial cells.
Implementing recommended breastfeeding practices in healthcare facilities in India during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review of health system bottlenecks and potential solutions
Authors: Dudeja Nonita , Sharma Divita , Maria Arti , Pawar Priyanka , Mukherjee Ritika , Nargotra Shikha , Mohapatra Archisman
Published: July 2023

Background

Breastfeeding practices in institutional settings got disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. We reviewed the challenges faced and the “work-around” solutions identified for implementing recommended breastfeeding practices in institutionalized mother-newborn dyads in resource constrained settings during the pandemic with the aim to identify learnings that could be potentially adapted to the Indian and relatable contexts, for building resilient health systems.

Methods

We conducted a scoping review of literature using the PRISMA ScR Extension guidelines. We searched the Medline via PubMed and Web of Science databases for literature published between 1st December 2019 and 15th April 2022. We included original research, reviews, and policy recommendations published in English language and on India while others were excluded. Further, we searched for relevant gray literature on Google (free word search), websites of government and major professional bodies in India. Three reviewers independently conducted screening and data extraction and the results were displayed in tabular form. Challenges and potential solutions for breastfeeding were identified and were categorized under one or more suitable headings based on the WHO building blocks for health systems.

Results

We extracted data from 28 papers that were deemed eligible. Challenges were identified across all the six building blocks. Lack of standard guidelines for crisis management, separation of the newborn from the mother immediately after birth, inadequate logistics and resources for infection prevention and control, limited health workforce, extensive use of formula and alternative foods, inconsistent quality of care and breastfeeding support, poor awareness among beneficiaries about breastfeeding practices (and especially, about its safety during the pandemic) were some of the challenges identified. The solutions primarily focused on the development of standard guidelines and operating procedures, restricted use of formula, use of telemedicine services for counseling and awareness and improving resource availability for risk mitigation through strategic mobilization.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic has provided rich learning opportunities for health system strengthening in India. Countries must strengthen learning mechanisms to identify and adapt best practices from within their health systems and from other relatable settings.
Development of electronic nose for detection of micro-mechanical damages in strawberries
Authors: Qin Yingdong , Jia Wenshen , Sun Xu , LV Haolin
Published: July 2023

A self-developed portable electronic nose and its classification model were designed to detect and differentiate minor mechanical damage to strawberries. The electronic nose utilises four metal oxide sensors and four electrochemical sensors specifically calibrated for strawberry detection. The selected strawberries were subjected to simulated damage using an H2Q-C air bath oscillator at varying speeds and then stored at 4°C to mimic real-life mechanical damage scenarios. Multiple feature extraction methods have been proposed and combined with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) dimensionality reduction for comparative modelling. Following validation with various models such as SVM, KNN, LDA, naive Bayes, and subspace ensemble, the Grid Search-optimised SVM (GS-SVM) method achieved the highest classification accuracy of 0.84 for assessing the degree of strawberry damage. Additionally, the Feature Extraction ensemble classifier achieved the highest classification accuracy (0.89 in determining the time interval of strawberry damage). This experiment demonstrated the feasibility of the self-developed electronic nose for detecting minor mechanical damage in strawberries.
Identification and validation of immune-related hub genes based on machine learning in prostate cancer and AOX1 is an oxidative stress-related biomarker
Authors: Mo Xiaocong , Yuan Kaisheng , Hu Di , Huang Cheng , Luo Juyu , Liu Hang , Li Yin
Published: July 2023

To investigate potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers associated with prostate cancer (PCa), we obtained gene expression data from six datasets in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The datasets included 127 PCa cases and 52 normal controls. We filtered for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and identified candidate PCa biomarkers using a least absolute shrinkage and selector operation (LASSO) regression model and support vector machine recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE) analyses. A difference analysis was conducted on these genes in the test group. The discriminating ability of the train group was determined using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) value, with hub genes defined as those having an AUC greater than 85%. The expression levels and diagnostic utility of the biomarkers in PCa were further confirmed in the GSE69223 and GSE71016 datasets. Finally, the invasion of cells per sample was assessed using the CIBERSORT algorithm and the ESTIMATE technique. The possible prostate cancer (PCa) diagnostic biomarkers AOX1, APOC1, ARMCX1, FLRT3, GSTM2, and HPN were identified and validated using the GSE69223 and GSE71016 datasets. Among these biomarkers, AOX1 was found to be associated with oxidative stress and could potentially serve as a prognostic biomarker. Experimental validations showed that AOX1 expression was low in PCa cell lines. Overexpression of AOX1 significantly reduced the proliferation and migration of PCa cells, suggesting that the anti-tumor effect of AOX1 may be attributed to its impact on oxidative stress. Our study employed a comprehensive approach to identify PCa biomarkers and investigate the role of cell infiltration in PCa.