bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analisis, pengembangan, dan sertifikasi produk madu trigona hasil budidaya masyarakat
Authors: Fakih Taufik Muhammad , Hidayat Aulia Fikri , Soewondo Budi Prabowo , Darma Gita Cahya Eka , Nuzulfikri Rizki , Radina Faqih , Prayitno Robby
Published: December 2023

Permasalahan pokok yang dihadapi oleh Desa Tenjolaya, yang menjadi mitra dalam Program Pengembangan Produk Unggulan Mitra (P3UM), melibatkan tantangan terkait praktik budi daya lebah madu serta mendapatkan Sertifikat Produksi Pangan Industri Rumah Tangga (SPP-PIRT) dan Sertifikat Halal dari Kementerian Agama Republik Indonesia. Dalam rangka mencapai hasil yang diharapkan, rencana kegiatan P3UM telah dirancang dan melibatkan beberapa tahap penting, yaitu tahap persiapan, tahap pelaksanaan, tahap pengajuan produk yang telah bersertifikat, tahap pemantauan dan evaluasi aktivitas, serta tahap pelaporan. Berdasarkan pelaksanaan kegiatan tersebut, sejumlah pencapaian signifikan telah berhasil diperoleh. Pertama, melalui proses identifikasi lebah madu, spesies lebah tersebut diidentifikasi sebagai Tetragonula drescheri. Selanjutnya, dalam analisis kualitas madu dari sampel Madu Trigona, hasil menunjukkan bahwa produk ini memenuhi standar kualitas madu budidaya sesuai dengan ketentuan SNI 8664:2018. Selain itu, pelatihan dalam rangka membangun pengetahuan tentang Budidaya Lebah Madu Trigona diadakan, dengan fokus pada potensi wirausaha di bidang ini. Terakhir, produk Madu Trigona dinamai MAZALI dan telah melewati proses pengemasan serta berhasil mendapatkan SPP-PIRT dengan nomor pendaftaran P-IRT 1073204010491-27. Semua pencapaian ini mendukung aspirasi agar produk MAZALI mampu menjadi salah satu produk unggulan yang mewakili Desa Tenjolaya.
Model pembentukan Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs) dan degradasi tirosin akibat reaksi maillard
Authors: Suhartono Eko , Setiawan Bambang , Mashuri Mashuri
Published: December 2023

Maillard reaction or glycosylation reaction is a reaction between amine group and aldehyde group from glucose to form dicarbonyl compound and Advanced Glycation End Products (AGEs). The formation of AGEs have a role in diabetic complications. This work was conducted study the tyrosine degradation reaction model and the formation of AGEs caused by Maillard reaction. The research design was an experimental study with pre and posttest control group design with followed up posttest in 48 hours to 20 days. Two solutions, A and B were used; solution A was a mixture of BSA 30% + buffer phosphate pH 7 + aquadest, and solution B was BSA 30%+ buffer phosphate pH 7+ aquadest+ glucose. The degradation of tyrosine was measured by its absorbance at l=470 nm and the absorbance of AGEs formation at l=340 nm. Model of AGEs formation in solution A followed the equation of Y=0,0289X – 0,01847 with correlation coefficient R2=0,9767, where as that in solution B followed equation of Y=0,6552X – 1,5267 with correlation coefficient R2=0,9463. The tyrosine degradation model in solution A followed equation of Y=-0,1232X + 2,7166 with correlations coefficient R2=0,9175 where as that in solution B followed equation of Y=-0,03552X + 0,7762 with coefficient of correlation R2=0,9175. Negative value was observed in correlation between AGEs absorbance with tyrosine in solution A and B reflecting the formation of AGEs followed by tyrosine degradation
Efektivitas vectobac dan predator Mesocyclops aspericornis sebagai jasad pengendali hayati jentik Aedes aegypti dalam gentong air
Authors: Ambar Yuniarti Retno , Ch.P Blondine
Published: December 2023

Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) was one of the acute and infectious disease and was still a problem of public health in Indonesia. This was caused the spread of the Aedes aegypti mosquito in the country, except at the altitude of more than one thousand meters above sea level. The spread of DHF was connected with the breeding place of the DHF vector. The use of chemical insecticides for vector control has been conducted for some time. Frequent use of insecticides has caused resistence of the mosquito towords the insecticide. Nowdays, biological control agents was developed. The aim of the study is to know the effectivity of the VectoBac and Mesocyclops aspericornis predator both applied individually and combination for controling of Ae. aegypti larvae in the water jar. The study was conducted in January until August 2003 in a DHF endemic area at Kupang Rengas, Kupang Village, Ambarawa subdistrict, Semarang regency, Central Java. The design of the study was quasy experimental comparing before and after intervention using external difference groups. Purposive sampling was conducted. The ten sample size were used for each treatment. The result showed that VectoBac was effective to reduce the Ae. aegypti larvae density until the fifth week reaching a percentage of 79,31 – 96,04%. M. aspericornis predator was effective to reduce the Ae. aegypti larvae density in the seventh week until the twelfth week was  70,69 – 75,09%. The combination of VectoBac and M. aspericornis predator was effective to reduce Ae. aegypti larvae density until the twelfth week reaching a percentage of 96,56 – 100%.
Apa dan bagaimana fertilisasi dengan bantuan
Authors: Wasito Bambang , Hidayat Taufiq
Published: December 2023

Infertility is condition where pregnancy was never took place after 12 months of coitus without contraception. This is a problem of a spouse, since husband and wife has their own contribution in the rate of success of fertility potency of the spouse. Assisted Reproduktive Technology (ART) is medical techniques to help reproductive process in over coming the the impediment of the meeting of a sperm and an ovum that leads to a conception or fertilization. Artificial Insemination technique using husband’s sperm has a long record in helping infertile couple, but its rate of success is merely around 5%. Other technique is GIFT or Gamete Intra-Follopian Transfer, ZIFT or Zygote Intra Follopian Transfer and IVFET or In Vitro Fertilization-Embryo Transfer. The implementation of ART technique with micro manipulation gives hope to improve the rate of succsess, particularly to the infertile couple where husband has poor sperm condition. In 1992 is the milestone where the first pregnancy using ICSI or Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection was published. From that time on, the rate of success is significantly improving The ICSI technique uses only one spermatozoon to fertilize an ovum.
Otovaksin sebagai terapi alternatif infeksi Mycobacterium tuberculosis pada Tikus Putih (Rattus norvegicus)
Authors: Praseno Praseno , Nurrokhman Nurrokhman , Fiatiningsih Istiana
Published: December 2023

Tuberculosis (TB) is still an important public health problem, especially in developing countries such as Indonesia. Efforts have been made to overcome the problem, however, number of cases is still high. This is due to various factors which might affect the development of the disease. Increasing number of resistant strains against antimycobacterial drugs is one of the major factors. Therefore, alternative method to control TB is needed.The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of autogenous vaccine on healing process of infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis in rats. Eighteen Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) were infected with 109 colony forming unit of M. tuberculosis subcutaneously. One week after infection, the rats were divided randomly into 2 groups, first group were treated with autogenous vaccine and the other were left untreated (control group). Autogenous vaccine was given subcutaneously with the dose of 108 cfu/0,1 ml every 7 days 3 times. Subcutaneous nodules were evaluated every 3 days and weight gain was evaluated 3 times. Laboratory examinations were done, including acid fast bacilli stain, histopatological feature and serologic test. The result showed that recovery of subcutaneous nodules in autovaccine treated group of rats was faster than that of untreated control group. Acid fast bacilli staining showed that the number of micobacteria found in the lung, liver, spleen and kidney of autovaccine treated group were much lower than those found in the control group. Histopathology features showed that lymphocytes infiltration in the lung and other organs was heavier in the control group than that of treated group. In conclusion, animal study on rats showed that autogenous vaccine had effective therapeutic effect on healing process for M. tuberculosis infection.
Model pengendalian nyamuk Anopheles Aconitus dengan asap “lampu Templek” dari Malathione yang dibandingkan dengan alfa-cypermetrine
Authors: Abrory Imam , Boesri Hasan
Published: December 2023

Malaria, one of vector borne disease has been still a major Public Health problem in Indonesia. The disease is spread by Anopheles biting, for example Anopheles aconitus. So far, efforts which have been conducted by the government to control the disease is house spraying program with thermal fogging and also Ultra Low Volume (ULV) with Malathione 96 EC. A commercially available insecticide Fendona 30 EC is commonly used equal to Malathione 96 EC in its application. The application of insecticides through “Templek lamp” would be predicted more applicable due to its simple use by the community. The purpose of this study was to learn the efficacy of trial using “Templek lamp” of Malathione 96 EC and Fendona 30 EC to find the Lethal Concentration 90% (LC90), Lethal Time 50% (LT50) and 90% (LT90) of insecticides to Anopheles aconitus mortality. An experimental research with posttest only control group design was used in this study. Female An. aconitus, age 2-5 days were purposely selected. They were fed with 10% sugar and tested by Glass chamber method with double control groups. Groups of 20 An. aconitus each were tested with various concentrations of the insecticides, i.e. 0.1%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 2.5% and 5.0% in triplicate. The result showed that based on probit analysis, Fendona 30 EC LT50s at the aforementioned concentrations were 7.25, 5.81, 3.48, 1.16 and 0.54 hours respectively. On the other hand Malathione 96 EC LT50s at the same concentrations were 8.13, 5.48, 3.96, 2.69 and 0.57 hours. At the same concentrations, Fendona 30 EC LT90s were 61.76, 54.96, 20.56, 5.95 and 1.44 hours respectively, while Malathione 96 EC LT90s were 86.37, 43.62, 26.60, 18.86 and 1.48 hours respectively. It was also observed that LC90 for Fendona 30 EC and Malathione 96 EC was 0.688% and 1.048% respectively. Analysis of variance showed significant difference (p<0.05) between concentrations of each insecticides. Further studies are still required to confirm this observation.
Pengaruh Konsumsi Daging Merah terhadap Kejadian Kanker payudara: Tinjauan Pustaka
Authors: Alberta Sharon , Christina Shintia , Kertadjaja Wiwi
Published: December 2023

Kanker payudara adalah kanker yang paling sering diderita perempuan dan merupakan penyebab utama kematian pada perempuan di seluruh dunia. Konsumsi daging merah yang tinggi, terutama daging merah olahan, dapat dikaitkan dengan peningkatan risiko beberapa penyakit kronis salah satunya kanker payudara. Hal ini dikarenakan daging merah dan daging olahan dianggap mengandung zat karsinogenik bagi manusia. Selama beberapa dekade terakhir, konsumsi daging merah telah meningkat secara global, terutama di negara berkembang. Metode pencegahan yang efektif dari kejadian kanker payudara bukanlah menghindari konsumsi daging merah karena daging merah tetap merupakan sumber protein yang berguna bagi tubuh melainkan membatasi konsumsi daging merah yaitu tidak lebih dari sekitar tiga porsi per minggu atau setara dengan sekitar 350-500gram berat matang per minggu. Mengganti konsumsi daging merah dengan unggas mungkin merupakan perubahan sederhana yang dapat membantu mengurangi kasus kanker payudara di dunia.
The Role of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in Cancer Stem Cells
Authors: Hikmah Febrial
Published: December 2023

Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are aerobic metabolic byproducts, mainly produced by mitochondria. Most types of cancer contain high amounts of ROS. An increase in endogenous ROS triggers adaptive changes, induces oxidative stress and cytotoxic. Oxidative stress can lead to cancer. But on the other hand, the radiotherapy treatment method induces the formation of ROS in the process of cell death. Resistance therapy in cancer cells is associated with high antioxidant enzymes that neutralize ROS in cancer cells. In addition, therapeutic resistance and recurrence are also associated with the presence of cancer stem cells (CSC). Several studies have shown that ROS levels are found to be low in cancer stem cells. Low levels of ROS are likely to play a role in the survival of cancer stem cells. Therefore, modulation of ROS levels in cancer stem cells can be used as an alternative therapy.
Tensile and Fatigue Properties of WC-20 wt%Co Cemented Carbides under Microstructural Variations
Authors: Cho Gue Serb , Kim Kyung Il , Noh Wooram
Published: December 2023

WC-Co cemented carbide has excellent mechanical properties and is widely used in many industrial applications including cold forging dies and cutting tools. The tensile and fatigue properties of WC-20wt%Co cemented carbides with microstructural variations were investigated. Microstructure parameters such as Co binder content, WC particle size, binder mean free path, and contiguity were obtained by linear intercept method using BSE microstructure images. Standard specimens of WC-20wt%Co cemented carbides were prepared for tensile and fatigue testing. Uniaxial tensile stress-strain curves and tensile-compression fatigue S-N curves were obtained. The 22Co-Cr alloy with higher Co content showed the largest binder mean free path and the lowest continuity. The 20Co-dwc alloy with fine WC grains of submicron size showed the lowest binder mean free path due to fine WC grain distribution. The 20Co-dwc alloy with fine WC grains showed the highest tensile strength and fatigue strength, compared to other alloys. The 22Co-Cr alloy with a higher FCC Co phase content, which has excellent plastic deformability, showed higher fatigue properties. The fatigue life of the 22Co-Cr alloy increased with increasing compressive mean stress level. Based on the axial tensile and fatigue properties, a reasonable fatigue life prediction of WC-20wt%Co cemented carbide dies for cold forging can be estimated.
Alice McDermott's Almost Invisible Narrators
Authors: Hagan Edward A.
Published: December 2023

Why do Alice McDermott's narrators not acknowledge a statutory rape and a murder? Why does she make it hard for readers to detect who her narrators are? She compels us to work with her to construct her stories and makes the task unusually hard for the first-time reader. Laszlo F. Földényi's collection of essays, Dostoyevski Reads Hegel in Siberia and Bursts into Tears (2020), helps us to understand the philosophical basis for McDermott's narrative strategies in her depictions of Irish America. Her narrators reveal the emptiness occasioned by a false dichotomy between subject and object – a contemporary disease. McDermott restores mystery as the antidote to systems of knowledge. Analysis of her novels, especially Child of My Heart (2002), Someone (2013) and The Ninth Hour (2017), suggests McDermott's cure for the narrators’ quest for control over the stories they tell. Someone is a key novel for understanding what ails our contemporary consciousness.
“Exceedingly Neat and Clean”: Household Management in North Atlantic Women’s Travel Writings, 1800–1850 (Fall 2018)
Authors: Bettinger Rikki
Published: December 2023

Women who wrote amidst their travels in the Caribbean and Mexico in the early nineteenth century were uncommon. Yet there they were, traveling and contributing through their actions and words to colonial and imperial processes, exercised through their daily relationships in local environments. The purpose of this article is to explore one theme in their private writings—the way they established their transient homes—and in doing so, consider the connection between their travels and colonial hierarchies. Household management, defined broadly as those activities related to establishing and maintaining the domestic space, provides a helpful window through which to compare traveling women’s experiences. I argue that the traveling women enacted household management in similar ways, contributing to the crossroads of existing hierarchies based on race and class. Using a historian’s perspective informed by feminist and transatlantic approaches, this project centers the private writings of four North Atlantic women, Maria Nugent, Margaret Curson, Frances Calderón de la Barca, and Susan Shelby Magoffin, who each traveled in the Caribbean and/or Mexico in the early nineteenth century. Examining household management as portrayed in the traveling women’s private writings highlights the locational specificities that gave power to—and limited the power of—a ubiquitous, but never universal, colonial white womanhood in the Americas.
Facilitating Intercultural Communicative Competence through a Multiliteracies approach: musical input as the missing link
Authors: Fernández-García Antonio
Published: December 2023

Foreign Language (FL) learning has undergone a shift away from the communicative approach and towards a pedagogy of Multiliteracies. In an ever-changing society characterized by a digital and multicultural context, the necessity of developing Intercultural Communicative Competence (ICC) in FL learning across all levels through a pedagogy of Multiliteracies has become a priority. In this regard, musical input is an ideal medium to explore culture in the FL learning classroom which enables the integration of affective experiences from an intercultural perspective. The reasons for the implementation of musical input into FL learning curricula to develop ICC is twofold: on the one hand, it may serve to stimulate students’ awareness towards the target culture; and, on the other hand, it may be an effective way to engage students in intercultural encounters from an affective point of view. A corpus has been designed in order to analyze those studies on the development of ICC in FL learning across all levels through a Multiliteracies approach. The findings demonstrate that the use of musical input to develop ICC in the FL learning classroom through a pedagogy of Multiliteracies is scarce. Moreover, this study seeks to promote musical input-based activities to facilitate the development of ICC in the FL learning classroom through a Multiliteracies pedagogy.
IoT-based smarthomes to increase home selling price
Authors: Trio Harian Putra  , Erfan Rohadi  , Indrazno Sirrajudin
Published: December 2023

Smarthome is a system that has been programmed and can work with the help of a microcontroller to integrate and control a device or home appliance automatically and efficiently. The purpose of creating this technology is to facilitate energy savings, get comfort and be able to control it only with a smartphone. In the research entitled "IoT based Smart Home Automation System using Sensor Node". This stage of development will use several microcontrollers as sensor nodes. Microcontroller nodes will control such as lights, doors, fans. In this study, it used several types of sensors such as RFID, reed switch, temperature and microcontrollers that will be used by the ESP8266 MCU Node. All data from sensor readings will be sent to the Blynk server. As a data viewer and control center will use the Blynk application. This can also increase the selling price of the house to be sold by the developer.
Utformning av underhållsområden på större driftplatser - verksamhetsstudie
Authors: Lidén Tomas , Häll Carl Henrik
Published: December 2023

Denna rapport ger en kunskapsgrund om de praktiska förutsättningarna, kravbild, och forskningsläge för utformning av underhållsområden på större driftplatser. Rapporten inleds med en bakgrund och motivering till behovet av underhållsområden, samt en beskrivning av hur studien har genomförts. En genomgång av förutsättningar och begränsningar visar bland annat att de tekniska delsystemen (spår-, signal-, och elkraftsystem) måste beaktas eftersom de har olika sektionering, gränspunkter och skyddsgivning för de arbeten som behöver utföras, samt att trafikeringsbehoven och dess variation behöver beskrivas på en generell nivå (oberoende av en specifik tidtabell), både vad gäller linjetrafik, växling och uppställning. Det centrala kapitlet är en krav- och behovsanalys. Där dokumenteras först vilka allmänna egenskaper som fördefinierade underhållsområden behöver uppfylla, varefter tre avsnitt följer som diskuterar specifika behov som ställs av de tre verksamhetsgrenarna underhåll, planering, och trafikledning. Ett viktigt resultat är att inga stora målkonflikter har identifierats vad gäller utformningen av underhållsområden samt att en samstämmighet råder om att trafikpåverkan bör vara den huvudsakliga värderingsgrunden för områdenas utformning. Den genomförda litteraturstudien har identifierat en relativt omfattande forskning om olika partitioneringsproblem, men bara ett fåtal publikationer inom rälsbundna transporter. För hantering av kapaciteter på driftplatser finns det metoder som kan hantera en övergripande trafikbild, men ännu inget bra stöd för analys av restkapacitet vid olika typer av tidsbegränsade spårreduktioner. Någon forskning om kombinationen av partitionering, eller indelning i underområden, av en driftplats bestående av flera delsystem där målet är att kunna hantera trafikbelastningen så bra som möjligt på den resterande spårkapaciteten har vi inte kunnat finna. Vi rekommenderar att Trafikverket vidareutvecklar sitt metodstöd för utformning av underhållsområden inom ramen för målområdet som arbetar med servicefönster. Både i detta metodstöd och för framtida forskning tror vi att den identifierade probabilistiska kapacitetsmodellen för driftplatser kan vara en lämplig grund. Arbetet har utförts i förstudieprojektet UFO (Utformning av underhållsområden på större driftplatser), finansierat av Trafikverket (FoI-portfölj Vidmakthålla, ärende-ID 7742, diarienummer TRV2022/138570) via branschprogrammet KAJT, Kapacitet i järnvägstrafiken (www.kajt.org).
Selection of microhabitats, plants, and plant parts eaten by a threatened tortoise: observations during a superbloom
Authors: Jennings W. Bryan , Berry Kristin H.
Published: December 2023

Populations of the threatened desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) continue to decline throughout the geographic range, in part because of degraded and fragmented habitats in the Mojave and western Sonoran deserts. The species is herbivorous and highly selective in choice of plant species. To increase options for recovery, we analyzed behaviors, patterns of movements while foraging, and parts of plants consumed during a superbloom. We characterized foraging routes and the habitat strata and microhabitats where tortoises traveled to eat preferred wildflower species. Tortoises walked one foraging route per day in early spring, often switched to two routes per day in middle and late spring with rise of midday temperatures. They chose habitat strata (primarily hills and ephemeral stream channels) and three of seven microhabitats for foraging on preferred food plants. Preferred microhabitats were intershrub open space and small (1–2 m wide) ephemeral stream channels. They rarely took bites of forbs growing under and in the dripline of shrubs or nonnative forbs and grasses. Tortoises typically did not select specific plant parts to eat but important exceptions occurred. For example, they usually ignored the inflorescences of the annual Eremothera boothii and, when eating the non-native annual Erodium cicutarium, tended to focus on fruits. All such information aids recovery efforts to restore declining tortoise populations.
Real-time open-source FLIM analysis
Authors: Tan Kevin K. D. , Tsuchida Mark A. , Chacko Jenu V. , Gahm Niklas A. , Eliceiri Kevin W.
Published: December 2023

Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) provides valuable quantitative insights into fluorophores’ chemical microenvironment. Due to long computation times and the lack of accessible, open-source real-time analysis toolkits, traditional analysis of FLIM data, particularly with the widely used time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC) approach, typically occurs after acquisition. As a result, uncertainties about the quality of FLIM data persist even after collection, frequently necessitating the extension of imaging sessions. Unfortunately, prolonged sessions not only risk missing important biological events but also cause photobleaching and photodamage. We present the first open-source program designed for real-time FLIM analysis during specimen scanning to address these challenges. Our approach combines acquisition with real-time computational and visualization capabilities, allowing us to assess FLIM data quality on the fly. Our open-source real-time FLIM viewer, integrated as a Napari plugin, displays phasor analysis and rapid lifetime determination (RLD) results computed from real-time data transmitted by acquisition software such as the open-source Micro-Manager-based OpenScan package. Our method facilitates early identification of FLIM signatures and data quality assessment by providing preliminary analysis during acquisition. This not only speeds up the imaging process, but it is especially useful when imaging sensitive live biological samples.
Co-production of pigment and high value-added bacterial nanocellulose from Suaeda salsa biomass with improved efficiency of enzymatic saccharification and fermentation
Authors: Tan Ran , Sun Qiwei , Yan Yiran , Chen Tao , Wang Yifei , Li Jiakun , Guo Xiaohong , Fan Zuoqing , Zhang Yao , Chen Linxu , Wu Guochao , Wu Nan
Published: December 2023

This study evaluated the co-production of pigment and bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) from S. salsa biomass. The extraction of the beet red pigment reduced the salts and flavonoids contents by 82.7%–100%, promoting the efficiencies of enzymatic saccharification of the biomass and the fermentation of BNC from the hydrolysate. SEM analysis revealed that the extraction process disrupted the lignocellulosic fiber structure, and the chemical analysis revealed the lessened cellulase inhibitors, consequently facilitating enzymatic saccharification for 10.4 times. BNC producing strains were found to be hyper-sensitive to NaCl stress, produced up to 400.4% more BNC from the hydrolysate after the extraction. The fermentation results of BNC indicated that the LDU-A strain yielded 2.116 g/L and 0.539 g/L in ES-M and NES-M, respectively. In comparison to the control, the yield in ES-M increased by approximately 20.0%, while the enhancement in NES-M was more significant, reaching 292.6%. After conducting a comprehensive characterization of BNC derived from S. salsa through Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), the average fiber diameter distribution of these four BNC materials ranges from 22.23 to 33.03 nanometers, with a crystallinity range of 77%–90%. Additionally, they exhibit a consistent trend during the thermal degradation process, further emphasizing their stability in high-temperature environments and similar thermal properties. Our study found an efficient co-production approach of pigment and BNC from S. salsa biomass. Pigment extraction made biomass more physically and chemically digestible to cellulase, and significantly improved BNC productivity and quality.
Analysis of clinical characteristics and imagological features of the aortic dissection patients with negative D-dimer results
Authors: Zhang Zhixiang , Wang Lilan , Su Xin , Zhou Yuling , Wu Kaimin , Sun Guangfeng , Ou Weimei , Yu Lihong , Chen Weifen , Wang Bin
Published: December 2023

Background

D-dimer (DD) is a vital biomarker to rule out the diagnosis of aortic dissection (AD). However, the DD level in some patients with AD is not high in clinical practice, which often leads to missed diagnosis; therefore, understanding the characteristics of patients with AD and negative DD is of great clinical value.

Methods

From May 2015 to October 2020, 286 patients with AD who visited the first medical contact (FMC) within 24 h of symptom onset and were hospitalized in the Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital of Xiamen University were enrolled in this study. Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients were assessed.

Results

Among them, 13 cases (approximately 4.5%) had negative DD results. Compared to patients with positive DD results, patients with negative DD results had significantly higher platelet counts and lower aortic dissection detection risk scores (ADD-RS). The imagological analysis showed that patients with AD and negative DD had lower extension scores and milder damage to the mesenteric artery and three branches of the aortic arch. Furthermore, the results of the multivariable analysis showed that white blood cell count (WBC) [odds ratio (OR): 1.379, P = 0.028], FMC (OR: 0.904, P = 0.028), and extension score (OR: 1.623, P = 0.046) were associated with negative DD result.

Conclusions

Patients with AD and negative DD results had longer FMC and lower WBC. Imaging showed a smaller tear extension range and less damage to the mesenteric artery and three branches of the aortic arch. A negative DD result could not completely rule out AD even if the ADD-RS was zero.
Whole genome sequencing in the palm of your hand: how to implement a MinION Galaxy-based workflow in a food safety laboratory for rapid Salmonella spp. serotyping, virulence, and antimicrobial resistance gene identification
Authors: Lamas Alexandre , Garrido-Maestu Alejandro , Prieto Alberto , Cepeda Alberto , Franco Carlos Manuel
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) implementation in food safety laboratories is a significant advancement in food pathogen control and outbreak tracking. However, the initial investment for acquiring next-generation sequencing platforms and the need for bioinformatic skills represented an obstacle for the widespread use of WGS. Long-reading technologies, such as the one developed by Oxford Nanopore Technologies, can be easily implemented with a minor initial investment and with simple protocols that can be performed with basic laboratory equipment.

Methods

Herein, we report a simple MinION Galaxy-based workflow with analysis parameters that allow its implementation in food safety laboratories with limited computer resources and without previous knowledge in bioinformatics for rapid Salmonella serotyping, virulence, and identification of antimicrobial resistance genes. For that purpose, the single use Flongle flow cells, along with the MinION Mk1B for WGS, and the community-driven web-based analysis platform Galaxy for bioinformatic analysis was used. Three strains belonging to three different serotypes, monophasic S. Typhimurium, S. Grancanaria, and S. Senftenberg, were sequenced.

Results

After 24 h of sequencing, enough coverage was achieved in order to perform de novo assembly in all three strains. After evaluating different tools, Flye de novo assemblies with medaka polishing were shown to be optimal for in silico Salmonella spp. serotyping with SISRT tool followed by antimicrobial and virulence gene identification with ABRicate.

Discussion

The implementation of the present workflow in food safety laboratories with limited computer resources allows a rapid characterization of Salmonella spp. isolates.
Salivary proteomic profile of young healthy subjects
Authors: Dongiovanni P. , Meroni M. , Aiello Gilda , D’Amato A. , Cenzato N. , Casati S. , Damiani G. , Fenoglio C. , Galimberti D. , Grossi E. , Prati D. , Lamorte G. , Bianco C. , Valenti L. , Soggiu A. , Zapperi S. , La Porta C. A. M. , Del Fabbro M. , Tartaglia G. M.
Published: December 2023

Background: The incidence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) has been rapidly ramped up worldwide. Hence, there is an urgent need to non-invasively detect NCDs possibly by exploiting saliva as a ‘liquid biopsy’ to identify biomarkers of the health status. Since, the absence of standardized procedures of collection/analysis and the lack of normal ranges makes the use of saliva still tricky, our purpose was to outline a salivary proteomic profile which features healthy individuals.

Methods: We collected saliva samples from 19 young blood donors as reference population and the proteomic profile was investigated through mass-spectrometry.

Results: We identified 1,004 proteins of whose 243 proteins were shared by all subjects. By applying a data clustering approach, we found a set of six most representative proteins across all subjects including Coronin-1A, F-actin-capping protein subunit alpha, Immunoglobulin J chain, Prosaposin, 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein and Heat shock 70 kDa protein 1A and 1B.

Conclusion: All of these proteins are involved in immune system activation, cellular stress responses, proliferation, and invasion thus suggesting their use as biomarkers in patients with NCDs.
Case Report: Virtual reality training for phantom limb pain after amputation
Authors: Yoshimura Manabu , Kurumadani Hiroshi , Hirata Junya , Senoo Katsutoshi , Hanayama Kozo , Sunagawa Toru , Uchida Kosuke , Gofuku Akio , Sato Kenji
Published: December 2023

Several reports have demonstrated the effectiveness of neurorehabilitation, such as mirror therapy or virtual reality, in treating phantom limb pain (PLP). This case study describes the effect of virtual reality training (VRT) on severe, long-term PLP and upper limb activity on the amputated side in a patient who underwent digit amputation 9 years prior. A woman in her 40 s underwent amputation of 2–5 fingers 9 years prior due to a workplace accident. She experienced persistent pain in the palms of her hand near the amputation sites. A single case design (ABA’B’) was applied. Periods A and A’ were set as periods without VRT intervention, and Periods B and B’ were set as periods with VRT intervention. Periods A, B, A’, and B’ lasted 4, 10, 8, and 10 weeks, respectively. VRT was a task during which visual stimulation and upper limb movements were linked. The task consisted of catching a rolling ball in the display with a virtual hand, operated with both hands using a controller. VRT was performed once every 2–4 weeks for 30 min. Pain intensity was assessed using the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire-2. Bilateral upper limb activity was measured continuously for 24 h using a triaxial accelerometer attached to the right and left wrist joints. The pain intensity was 147/220 points during Period A, 128 points during Period B, 93 points during Period A’, and 100 points during Period B’, showing a gradual decrease. Upper limb activity occurred mainly on the intact side during Periods A and B, whereas the activity on the amputated side increased 2-fold after Period A’, and both upper extremities were used equally. Virtual reality training resulted in reduced pain intensity and increased activity in the upper limb. VRT may have induced reintegration of the sensory-motor loop, leading to a decrease in the PLP intensity. The upper limb activity on the amputated side may have also increased with the pain reduction. These results suggest that VRT may be valuable in reducing severe, long-term PLP.
Hypermethylated CDO1 and CELF4 in cytological specimens as triage strategy biomarkers in endometrial malignant lesions
Authors: Qi Bingli , Sun Ye , Lv Yaohua , Hu Pei , Ma Yanli , Gao Wenying , Li Shumei , Zhang Xin , Jin Xitong , Liou Yuligh , Liu Pei , Liu Shikai
Published: December 2023

Objective

Developing a non-invasive and reliable triage test for endometrial malignant lesions is an important goal, as it could help to reduce the number of invasive diagnostic procedures required and improve patient survival. We aimed to estimate the diagnostic value of DNA methylation levels in cervical cytological samples of endometrial cancer (EC) and endometrial atypical hyperplasia (AH).

Methods

A total of 607 women who had indications for endometrial biopsy in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Cangzhou Central Hospital from October 2022 to April 2023 were enrolled in this study. The cervical exfoliated cells were collected for gene methylation before endometrial biopsy. Clinical information, tumor biomarkers, and endometrial thickness (ET) of transvaginal ultrasonography (TVS) were also collected. With endometrial histopathology as the gold standard, multivariate unconditional logistic regression was applied to analyze the risk factors of endometrial malignant lesions. The role of cysteine dioxygenase type 1 (CDO1) and CUGBP Elav-like family member 4 (CELF4) gene methylation as a triage strategy biomarker in endometrial malignant lesions was specifically explored.

Results

Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that premenopausal ET ≥ 11 mm or postmenopausal ET ≥ 5 mm, CDO1 ΔCt ≤ 8.4, or CELF4 ΔCt ≤ 8.8 were the risk factors for AH and EC, with odds ratios (ORs) (95%CI) of 5.03 (1.83–13.82) and 6.92 (1.10–43.44), respectively (p-values < 0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of CDO1/CELF4 dual-gene methylation assay for AH and EC reached 84.9% (95%CI: 75.3%–94.5%) and 86.6% (95%CI: 83.8%–89.5%), respectively. ET combined with DNA methylation detection further improved the specificity to (94.9%, 95%CI: 93.1%–96.8%).

Conclusion

The accuracy of cervical cytology DNA methylation is superior to that of other clinical indicators in the non-invasive examination of endometrial malignant lesions. DNA methylation combined with TVS can further improve the specificity and is a promising biomarker triage strategy in women with suspected endometrial lesions.
Difficulties in the management of an Askin tumor in a pediatric patient with cystic fibrosis: case report and literature review
Authors: Marinău Cristian , Csep Andrei , Sava Cristian , Iuhas Alin , Niulaș Larisa , Szilagyi Ariana , Ritli Ladislau , Balmoș Andreea , Jurca Claudia
Published: December 2023

Treating Ewing's Sarcoma of the thorax (Askin's tumor) with antineoplastic therapy in a malnourished cystic fibrosis patient colonized with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus may carry a significant potential for complications. We present the case of a known cystic fibrosis patient, diagnosed with Askin's tumor 5 years ago. Despite facing severe neutropenia, exacerbations of cystic fibrosis with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, and challenges in maintaining adequate caloric intake during the oncological treatment, the patient's outcome has been favorable. Chemotherapy doses had to be adjusted, and continuous antibiotic treatment was introduced throughout the course of therapy to reduce the frequency and intensity of exacerbations. Approximately 5 years after the cancer diagnosis, with no signs of relapse, the patient was started on CFTR (Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) modulator treatment. This intervention has successfully corrected the weight deficit. The coincidence of Ewing's sarcoma of the chest wall and cystic fibrosis in a single patient is 2.857 × 10−5% and to the best of our knowledge, this scenario has not been documented before.
Antihypertensives associated adverse events: a review of mechanisms and pharmacogenomic biomarkers available evidence in multi-ethnic populations
Authors: Altoum Sahar M. , Al-Mahayri Zeina N. , Ali Bassam R.
Published: December 2023

Hypertension remains a significant health burden worldwide, re-emphasizing the outstanding need for more effective and safer antihypertensive therapeutic approaches. Genetic variation contributes significantly to interindividual variability in treatment response and adverse events, suggesting pharmacogenomics as a major approach to optimize such therapy. This review examines the molecular mechanisms underlying antihypertensives-associated adverse events and surveys existing research on pharmacogenomic biomarkers associated with these events. The current literature revealed limited conclusive evidence supporting the use of genetic variants as reliable indicators of antihypertensive adverse events. However, several noteworthy associations have emerged, such as 1) the role of ACE variants in increasing the risk of multiple adverse events, 2) the bradykinin pathway’s involvement in cough induced by ACE inhibitors, and 3) the impact of CYP2D6 variants on metoprolol-induced bradycardia. Nonetheless, challenges persist in identifying biomarkers for adverse events across different antihypertensive classes, sometimes due to the rarity of certain events, such as ACE inhibitors-induced angioedema. We also highlight the main limitations of previous studies that warrant attention, including using a targeted gene approach with a limited number of tested variants, small sample sizes, and design issues such as overlooking doses or the time between starting treatment and the onset of adverse events. Addressing these challenges requires collaborative efforts and the integration of technological advancements, such as next-generation sequencing, which can significantly enhance research outcomes and provide the needed evidence. Furthermore, the potential combination of genomic biomarker identification and machine learning is a promising approach for tailoring antihypertensive therapy to individual patients, thereby mitigating the risk of developing adverse events. In conclusion, a deeper understanding of the mechanisms and the pharmacogenomics of adverse events in antihypertensive therapy will likely pave the way for more personalized treatment strategies to improve patient outcomes.
Is apomixis occurring in walnut (Juglans regia L.)? New data from progeny molecular tests and cytological investigations shed light on its reproductive system
Authors: Solhjoo Sahar , Fatahi Reza , Zamani Zabihollah , Chehregani Rad Abdolkarim , Palumbo Fabio , Barcaccia Gianni
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Persian walnut (Juglans regia) is an economically important nut fruit species cultivated worldwide for its nutritious kernel and timber quality wood. Walnut trees are mostly hetero-dichogamous and, depending on the genotype, some cultivars are protogynous, while others are protandrous. Although selfing is possible when male and female blooms overlap, the dichogamy of the species promotes outcrossing. In addition to sexual reproduction, some reports indicate that elements of apomixis may occur in commercial orchards of walnut varieties and in the last two decades, nut production by apomixis has been reported in walnut. However, there are no reliable studies on the occurrence of apomictic reproduction based on cytoembryological observations and/or molecular marker-progeny tests. This study addresses the combined use of molecular and cytological analyses to gain new insights into the population genetics and reproduction systems of J. regia.

Methods

We systematically analyzed the reproductive origin of individual progeny plants from 8 different cultivated walnut genotypes using microsatellite genotyping and carried out cytohistological investigations of 5 cultivated walnut genotypes arising seed sets from isolated flowers, to shed light on the mode of reproduction.

Results and discussion

These cytometric and genotyping analyses did not support any asexual mode of reproduction or asexual propagation by seed and all individuals studied were identified as zygotic plants produced by crossing. Likewise, the cytological findings did not confirm completely the first component of apomixis, namely apomeiosis. On the other hand, according to histological evidence, adventitious embryony seems to take place at low frequency. Overall, our findings suggest that the occurrence of gametophytic apomixis is unlikely in J. regia, but sporophytic apomixis cannot be completely ruled out.
When is it good to feel bad? How sadness and fear differ in their effects on routine development
Authors: Stumpf-Wollersheim Jutta , Oehler Patrick J. , Rimbeck Marlen , Spörrle Matthias , Welpe Isabell M.
Published: December 2023

Introduction

This study follows recent calls to explore the emotional foundations of routine development. Routine development forms a nexus between stability and change and is thus crucial for studying organizational decision-making and organizational change. Individuals and teams going through organizational change often experience sadness and fear.

Methods

We conducted a laboratory experiment with 84 teams to study the effect of sadness and fear on routine development.

Results and discussion

In the sadness condition, we observed positive effects on repetitiveness, speed, reliability, and attentiveness in action. Teams experiencing fear reacted better to ‘performance traps’ in which pre-established routines are ineffective. Our findings show how the behaviors elicited by sadness and fear might ultimately affect team behavior, and therefore managerial practices.
The impact of culture perception on kinship disconnection of Chinese youth: examining the chain mediating effect of kinship support, kinship burnout, and social media interaction
Authors: Han Ruixia
Published: December 2023

Kinship connections are an essential foundation of social relationships in China, yet in recent years there has been an increasing tendency toward kinship disconnection (Duanqin) among Chinese youth. In this study, based on online survey data of 555 Chinese individuals aged 18–35 years under a comprehensive explanatory framework of culturalism, functionalism, and behaviorism, regression and mediation analyses found that (1) cultural perception based on family-state values is the dominant factor influencing people’s tendency to disconnect. (2) Kinship support decreases people’s propensity to break off relatives, while kinship burnout increases people’s propensity to cut off relatives. Both act as functionalist factors in the chain that mediates the effect of cultural perception on the propensity to break kinship, and kinship burnout obscures the effect of kinship support and becomes a differentiating variable. (3) Both social media kin interaction size and kin group activity significantly reduce people’s propensity to disconnect. However, group activities are more significant in cultural perception’s mediating effect on disconnection propensity. It indicates that truly “active” social media connections are more important. The study attempts to propose a framework of “cultural perception + functional satisfaction and burnout + social media” to interpret Chinese youth kinship communication activity. On a practical level, more support for young people in social media interactions could slow or even reverse the trend of disconnection.