bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impacts of Micro-irrigation Technologies in Maharashtra: A Review
Authors: Rede Ganeshkumar D. , Haobijam J.W. , Seram Devina
Published: October 2024

Micro-irrigation technologies have been an integral part of modern agriculture. Ranging from ‘increased crop yield’ to ‘improved economic benefit,’ such systems have much to offer. However, costly installation procedures and high socioeconomic barriers restrict their diffusion with relatively cheap alternatives. Appropriate policies and innovative approaches enable crossing these barriers only if carefully crafted to meet economic, technological and socio-economic challenges. This review offers an overview of significant strategic policies and new-generation micro-irrigation technologies that would help tap their full potential. Based on previous studies and individual experiences from India, an assessment of the transformative impacts of micro-irrigation has been done. These micro-irrigation technologies are proving highly beneficial for Maharashtra. The main gains that accrued to farmers from the process include reduced costs of cultivation, lesser dependence on chemicals and pesticides, conservation of water resourcesand less expenditure on labor. The above results manifest the contribution or role of micro-irrigation to accelerate sustainable agriculture, which induces a second green revolution imbued with higher productivity, efficiency in resource mobilization and economic prosperity.
Enacting Social Protection Laws in Jigawa and Zamfara States, Nigeria
Authors: Ogharanduku Victor Ikechukwu , Kujiyat-Iliyasu Saratu , Isa Safiya Shuaibu
Published: October 2024

Legal frameworks are important for institutionalising and strengthening social protection systems. Two states in Nigeria, Jigawa and Zamfara, have enacted social protection laws. This article explores how the process of enacting such a law is influenced by state-level politics and local contexts, and how the activities of a project financed by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) contributed to much greater understanding and acceptance of social protection in both states. Primary data collected through in-depth interviews with state and non-state stakeholders and project staff was analysed to tease out the political, cultural, and power dynamics involved in enacting the laws. Findings show that a range of factors aimed at building the case for, and understanding of, social protection across a range of stakeholders was critical, and that a fairly standard package of tools employed in advocating for institutionalising social protection was influenced considerably by domestic political dynamics.
Social Protection in Conflict and Conflict-Related Displacement Crises
Authors: Lind Jeremy , Sabates-Wheeler Rachel
Published: October 2024

In recent years, efforts to encourage the use of social protection in response to conflict and displacement have increased. Yet many of the lessons from social protection and shock-responsive programmes emerged in response to climate shocks and other disasters and are not necessarily transferable to conflict and displacement settings. Ultimately, the concern must be how to sustain support to the poorest and most vulnerable populations during conflict. This shifts the focus away from simply maintaining the functions and delivery capacities of state‑directed social protection towards how to harmonise multiple channels and providers of social assistance. State‑directed social protection may not be the most appropriate channel to address the needs of conflict-affected and displaced populations. This article considers the challenges to introducing, extending, and sustaining social protection in crises characterised by conflict and displacement.
Humanitarian Activism, Social Protection, and Emergent Citizenship in Myanmar
Authors: Naing Aung
Published: October 2024

Through the confluent impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2021 military coup, Myanmar has become a failed state. Deliberate targeting of humanitarian actors by the military junta has severely constrained the activities of international non-governmental organisations and United Nations agencies. In the first three post-coup years, welfare provision to the distressed and displaced were mainly undertaken by local actors who adapted to new conditions of both insecurity and broader economic turmoil. This localised welfare is intertwined with emergent local governance mechanisms, using technology and data analysis to deliver transparent, accountable, and inclusive public service. In the absence of a coherent central state, the social contract of welfare develops at more local levels, generating smaller islands of citizenship from which to build future political communities.
Linking Social Protection and Humanitarian Systems to Respond to Forced Displacement
Authors: Lowe Christina , Hagen-Zanker Jessica
Published: October 2024

With displacement occurring at record levels and often on a protracted basis, there is increasing interest in the potential to link humanitarian displacement responses with social protection systems. This article discusses how social protection and humanitarian systems can work together to meet the needs of displacement-affected populations, based on the findings of a three-year research project that drew on global literature alongside mixed-methods data collected in 2021 in Cameroon, Colombia, and Greece. The article discusses five lessons: (1) displaced populations’ distinct needs and implications for social protection design and delivery; (2) inadequate social protection for host communities and implications for social cohesion; (3) the priority basis for evaluating linkage approaches; (4) the need for sustained international financing; and (5) the general importance of greater transparency and collaboration. It concludes with recommendations for further research to build the nascent evidence base on this topic.
Fostering 4.0 Digital Literacy Skills Through Attributes of Openness: A Review
Authors: Chiappe Andres , Díaz Juan Manuel , Ramirez-Montoya María Soledad
Published: October 2024

During the last decade, a growing interest in open educational resources (OER) has developed among educational researchers worldwide. This trend involves the examination of possible effects over diverse learning domains such as the development of literacy and digital skills in the context of the fourth industrial revolution. To address this matter, a systematic literature review was conducted using PRISMA processes on 62 research articles published in high-impact peer-reviewed journals indexed in two major academic databases (Scielo and Scopus). Data collected during this literature review showed certain conditions that must be met to ensure a successful learning setup when OER are involved. Moreover, qualitative analysis revealed that certain attributes of openness are often more influential than others in the development of adequate literacy skills for the artificial intelligence era; also, there is an overall positive perception, from students and teachers alike, about the introduction of the attributes of openness and open materials into learning practices.
KLASİK TÜRK ŞİİRİNDE “AMBER”
Authors: Özlük Işılay Pınar
Published: October 2024

Klasik şiirin dünyası sınırları şairin hayal gücüyle çizilen bir mecradır. Şairi şiirin şekil özellikleri dışında kısıtlayan tek unsur hayal gücüdür. Şair isterse Güneş’i feleğin tahtına oturtabilir ya da hükümdarın kılıcını arşa astırabilir. Bunu yaparken istiareler, teşbihler, hüsnütaliller kullanır. Alışılmadık bağdaştırmalar kurmakta klasik şairin eşi yoktur denilse mübalağa olmaz. Doğadaki hemen her unsur onun hayallerinde bambaşka kılıklarla karşımıza çıkar. Bu unsurlardan biri de “amber”dir. Amber, Osmanlı toplumunun gündelik hayatında önemli bir yeri olan, uzak coğrafyalardan getirilmesi ve zor bulunması sebebiyle de oldukça kıymetli bir maddedir. Onun bu kadar aranan bir nesne olmasındaki en önemli amil hiç kuşkusuz eşsiz kokusudur. Şiirlerde de gerek kokusu gerek rengi ve şekli bakımından sevgilinin fizikî güzellik unsurları başta olmak üzere birçok unsurla benzetme ilişkisi içerisinde ele alındığı görülmektedir. Bunun yanı sıra güzel kokusu sebebiyle yiyecek ve içeceklere belli miktarda karıştırılarak yeme-içme kültüründe, başka unsurlarla yahut yalnız başına kullanılarak mekânlarda mum ya da tütsü olarak kullanıldığı da bilinmektedir. Amberin macerası burada da bitmez; amber bir tür reçineyle yoğurularak güzel kokulu bir macun elde edilir. Bu macunun sertleşmesi ve şekillendirilmesi sonucunda tespih, takı, kahve fincanı, kâse ve benzeri birçok eşyanın yapımında amber kullanılır. Bu çalışmada klasik şiirin dünyasına tabiattan dâhil olan ve eşsiz kokusuyla bilinen “amber” ele alınmıştır. Amberin tanımı, nasıl oluştuğu, nerelerde bulunduğu konusunda malumat verilerek klasik şiirde ne şekilde kullanıldığı tespit edilmeye çalışılmıştır.
YABANCILARA TÜRKÇE ÖĞRETİMİ MAKSADIYLA OLUŞTURULMUŞ BİR MÜNŞEAT MECMUASI: TERCÜMÂNNÂME
Authors: Donuk Suat
Published: October 2024

Türk edebiyatının önemli eser çeşitleri arasında yer alan münşeat mecmuaları Osmanlı Devleti’nin varlığını sürdürdüğü son asır olan 19. yüzyılda pek çok örnek vermiştir. Bunlardan biri yazarı belli olmayan Tercümânnâme adlı münşeat mecmuasıdır. 8 Temmuz 1834 tarihinde yazımı tamamlanan Tercümânnâme Türkçe öğrenmek isteyen yabancı misyon şefleri ve tercümanlarına Türk diliyle mektup ve resmî yazıların nasıl yazılacağını öğretmek maksadıyla yazılmıştır. Ünik nüshası Philadelphia Amerikan Felsefe Derneği Kütüphanesi’nde yer alan eserin muhtevası ağırlıklı olarak elçi, konsolos veya baylos gibi yabancı bir devlet görevlisi tercümanının ağzından şeyhülislam, vezir, vali, kethüda, gümrük emini, kadı vb. Osmanlı devlet görevlilerine yazılmış mektup ve ariza taslaklarından oluşmaktadır. Taslaklar dışında yabancı elçilikler tarafından kaleme alınmış ya da Osmanlı makamlarınca dış misyonlar hakkında yazılmış takrir, tezkere, antlaşma ve ariza örnekleri içermektedir. Bazı yerlerde gayrımüslim tercümanların veya yabancı bürokratların yararlanması için Türkçe selamlaşma, hâl hatır sorma ve dua gibi gündelik diyalog kalıplarını bildirmekte, karşılıklı konuşmada sohbeti açmak için sarf edilebilecek Türkçe cümle örneklerine yer vermektedir. Yabancılara Türkçe öğretiminde münşeat mecmualarından da yararlanıldığını göstermesi açısından özgün bir eser hüviyeti taşımaktadır. Tercümânnâme Osmanlı Devleti ile yabancı ülkeler arasında geçen antlaşma, ferman, takrir, tezkere vb. pek çok belge içermesi yönüyle Türk diplomasi tarihi için de önemli veriler sunmaktadır. Bu makalede Tercümânnâme adlı münşeat mecmuası tanıtılmış, Tercümânnâme’nin Türkçenin yabancı dil olarak öğretimi ve Türk diplomasi tarihi için önemi irdelenmiş, yabancılara Türkçe öğretimi hususiyeti taşıyan ilk 47 sayfasının çeviri yazılı metni ilim âlemiyle paylaşılmıştır.
Evidências da relação microbiota vaginal e a infecção por Papilomavírus Humano (HPV) em grupos minoritários
Authors: Côra Gabriel , Sales dos Santos Emyline , Costa de Sousa Maria Vitória , Silva e Silva Elisá Victória , Da Costa Pinheiro Aline Maria , Melo Perreira Débora Lorena , De Ribamar Ross José
Published: October 2024

Introdução: Não se verifica publicações que integram a relação de uma polimicrobiota vaginal com análise da facilitação do processo de infecção e a progressão do HPV em grupos invisibilizados como nas mulheres quilombolas e ciganas. Os grupos minoritários são caracterizados como pessoas que de alguma forma são objetos de preconceito social e/ou não têm respeitado os seus direitos civis, excluídas da sociedade, marginalizadas e que precisam proteger e reconhecer os direitos sociais. 70% dos casos de câncer de colo de útero ocorrem mais em áreas com menores índices de desenvolvimento humano. A estabilidade e composição do microbioma vaginal podem influenciar na infecção. Objetivou-se identificar evidências da relação HPV com  microbioma vaginal em grupos minoritários. Desenvolvimento: Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa realizada na base eletrônica de dados MEDLINE/PubMed. A amostra final foi composta por 07 estudos.  Os estudos em grupos minoritário realizados em diversas áreas do mundo foi evidente que algumas espécies podem de certa forma estarem relacionadas a infecção por HPV. As espécies  mais relatadas nos estudos foram: Gardnerella vaginalis, Prevotella, Megasphaera, Trichomonas Vaginalis, Bacillus, Sneathia, Streptococcus e Anaerococcus, Atopobium, Eggerthella, Dialister spp   bactéria associada a vaginose bacteriana 1 e 2 (BVAB1 e BVAB2), além da super-representação de Leptotrichia. Conclusão: Conclui-se que uma variedade de agentes existente na microbiota vaginal em estado de desequilíbrio ou disbiose podem atuar em desfechos de latência, regressão e progressão do HPV. Entre os agentes de polimicrobiota vaginal  destacaram-se o Lactobacilos em situação de dominância e/ou depleção. A vaginose bacteriana estava presente na maioria  dos estudos com destaque para a Gardnerella vaginalis na polimicrobiota vaginal.
CARACTERÍSTICAS CLÍNICAS E EPIDEMIÓLOGICAS DA LEISHMANIOSE VISCERAL
Authors: De Oliveira Pinto Thyara , Barbosa Mota Samantha Maria , Nunes Costa Leticia , Bandeira da Silva João Pedro , Dantas Nogueira Benvindo Rayssa , Cardoso Portela Nytale Lindsay
Published: October 2024

Introdução: estudos realizados mostram os estados Maranhão, Ceará, Bahia e Piauí com maior prevalência de Leishmaniose Visceral (LV), sendo Piauí o terceiro estado da região nordeste com maior número de casos. Objetivo: Analisar as características clínicas e epidemiológicas da LV, possibilitando uma visão ampla dos casos notificados em Teresina-PI. Método: trata-se de um estudo epidemiológico, observacional e descritivo, com abordagem quantitativa e retrospectiva, usando dados secundários do Sistema de Informações de Agravos e Notificação, referente às notificações de casos de LV na cidade de Teresina-PI, no período de 2015 a 2020. Resultados: dos 893 casos notificados no período, observou-se predomínio de pacientes do sexo masculino, raça parda, na faixa etária de 20 aos 39 anos, residentes da zona urbana e que cursaram o ensino fundamental completo. Quanto ao parâmetro de confirmação, o critério laboratorial foi o mais utilizado entre os casos suspeitos de LV. O número de casos confirmados de co-infecção Leishmania-HIV foi de 16,5% em relação ao total de casos notificados no período. Conclusão: O estudo conclui que há uma maior prevalência da doença em indivíduos do sexo masculino moradores da zona urbana. Ademais, crianças e idosos representam as faixas etárias mais afetadas. Quanto ao diagnóstico, predomina a confirmação dos casos por métodos imunológicos e parasitológicos. Outrossim, observou-se crescimento dos casos de co-infecção leishmania- HIV. É importante que haja constante atualização dos dados e consequente adoção de futuras medidas voltadas para políticas públicas e ações de vigilância em saúde.
Elos entre o uso de antidepressivos e o desenvolvimento de resistência bacteriana
Authors: Ribeiro Edlainny Araujo , Sarmento Christiany Dorallicy de Lucena , Pinheiro Maxuel Limeira , Costa Rebeca Alencar , Teixeira Alanna Oliveira
Published: October 2024

Objetivo: Descrever as evidências científicas acerca da relação entre o uso de antidepressivos e a ocorrência de resistência bacteriana aos antimicrobianos, bem como os prejuízos associados. Métodos: Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa, realizada com buscas nas plataformas Web of Science (WOS) Clarivate Analytics e Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS), utilizando o fluxograma do PRISMA. Foram incluídos artigos publicados no período de 2014-2023. Resultados: Os antidepressivos notadamente relacionados foram os inibidores da recaptação de serotonina. Notou-se que, quando as bactérias são expostas à fluoxetina, ocorre um aumento da resistência aos antibióticos tetraciclina e betalactâmicos. Além disso, a bactéria mais associada à problemática foi a Escherichia coli, representando 75% dos casos relatados. Já o mecanismo mais frequente foi a superprodução de espécies reativas de oxigênio, que resultam em mutações nos genes reguladores de transcrição, com superexpressão de bombas de efluxo. Conclusão: Essas descobertas indicam a importância de levar em consideração o potencial efeito das prescrições de antidepressivos na propagação da resistência aos antibióticos, principalmente em cepas prioritárias. Dessa forma, é essencial exercer cautela no processo de prescrição de antidepressivos. Além disso, é imprescindível a realização de campanhas para conscientização voltadas à redução da prescrição indiscriminada de antidepressivos, a fim de mitigar os prejuízos à saúde, sociais e econômicos.
ANÁLISE EPIDEMIOLÓGICA DE PACIENTES INTERNADOS POR QUEIMADURAS NO ESTADO DO TOCANTINS NO PERÍODO DE 2018 A 2022.
Authors: De Abreu Medeiros Felipe , Caetano Rodrigues Willian , Dos Anjos Rodrigues Yasmin , Da Silva Oliveira Weverton , Marques Manno Artur , Nader Ferreira Pedro Eduardo
Published: October 2024

Introdução: Os traumas por queimaduras possuem elevada morbimortalidade e, mesmo com cuidados agudos, podem trazer sequelas irreversíveis, sendo as lesões devastadoras para a integridade física, mental e social do indivíduo, demandando um cuidado integral e continuado, onerando os sistemas de saúde.  Nesse sentido, entende-se que as queimaduras representam um grande agravo e sua prevenção um enorme benefício termos de saúde pública. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo analisar o perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes vítimas de queimaduras no estado do Tocantins no período entre 2018 e 2022. Metodologia: Foi realizado um estudo transversal, retrospectivo e descritivo, analisando dados de internação hospitalar por queimadura, registrados no DATASUS/TABNET. Resultados: Em relação à região Norte do país, o estado do Tocantins ficou na terceira posição em número absoluto de internações por queimaduras, com mais de 1500 casos registrados. Já em relação ao cenário nacional, o estado ocupou a 22ª posição. No período analisado, a maioria dos pacientes internados por queimaduras eram pardos, do sexo masculino, na faixa-etária de 30 a 39 anos e com internação no município de Palmas, macrorregião de Porto Nacional. Nota-se uma altíssima taxa de incidência de novos casos nos hospitais do estado durante o período analisado, sendo que as internações foram mais frequentes no mês de julho, que é marcado pela estiagem e aumento do turismo local. Conclusão: É de suma importância conhecer a epidemiologia relacionada às queimaduras a fim de se evitar novos eventos e minimizar a prevalência de sequelas por meio dos cuidados iniciais. No estado do Tocantins, não há nenhuma instituição de saúde dedicada exclusivamente aos cuidados de vítimas de queimaduras, reforçando assim, a importância do tema abordado.
Synthesis and Characterization of TiO2 Nanotubes for High-Performance Gas Sensor Application
Authors: Bouktif Belgacem , Hajjaji Anouar , Choubani Karim , H. Alrasheedi Nashmi , Dimassi Wissem , Ben Rabha Mohamed
Published: October 2024

This work investigated the fabrication, properties, and sensing applications of TiO2 nanotubes. A purity of 99.7% and 1mm thickness of titanium metal sheet was used to elaborate titanium dioxide nanotubes for gas sensor application through electrochemical anodization in a mixture of Ethylene glycol (EG)/NH4F electrolytes. As a result, X-ray diffraction indicates the crystallization of the titanium dioxide layer. Scanning electron microscopy and Transmission electron microscopy reveal that the average diameter of the TiO₂ nanotubes is approximately 100 nm, with tube length ranging between 3 and 9 microns and a thickness of the nanotube walls of about 25 nm. This type of TiO2 nanotube is suitable for NO2 gas sensor applications. As a result, at an oxidation time of 15 min, the detection of TiO2 nanotube gas toward NO2 gas shows a good result at 250 °C, when exposed to a NO2 gas flow of 100 ppm, where a maximum NO2 gas response of 96% was obtained. The sensors based on the TiO2 nanotube arrays for sensing NO2 all exhibited high stability, good reproducibility, and high sensitivity. This work suggests that TiO2 nanotubes are a promising material for application as a NO2 sensor, as well as other applications.
PCD Film Growth on GaN with Low Boundary Thermal Resistance
Authors: Wang Ying , Yao Jiahao , Yang Yong , Fan Qian , Ni Xianfeng , Gu Xing
Published: October 2024

As the demand for high-frequency and high-power electronic devices has increased, gallium nitride (GaN), particularly in the context of high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs), has attracted considerable attention. However, the ‘self-heating effect' of GaN HEMTs represents a significant limitation in terms of both performance and reliability. Diamond, renowned for its exceptional thermal conductivity, represents an optimal material for the enhancement of thermal management in HEMTs. This paper puts forward a novel method for directly depositing diamond films onto N-polar GaN (NP-GaN) epitaxial layers. This eliminates the complexities of the traditional diamond growth process and the need for temporary substrate steps. Given the relative lag in N-polar material growth technologies, which are marked by surface roughness issues, and the recognition that the thermal boundary resistance (TBRGaN/diamond) represents a critical factor constraining efficient heat transfer, our study introduced a series of optimisations with the objective of enhancing the quality of the diamond nucleation layer while ensuring that the integrity of the GaN buffer layer remains intact. Moreover, chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) technology was employed to effectively reduce the surface roughness of the NP-GaN base, thereby providing a more favourable foundation for diamond growth. The optimisation trends observed in the thermal performance test results were encouraging. The integration of diamond films onto highly smooth NP-GaN epitaxial layers demonstrated a reduction in TBRGaN/Diamond compared to diamond layers deposited onto NP-GaN with higher surface roughness that had undergone no prior process treatment.
Multimodal Explainability Using Class Activation Maps and Canonical Correlation for MI-EEG Deep Learning Classification
Authors: Loaiza Marcos , Álvarez-Meza Andrés Marino , Cárdenas-Peña David , Orozco-Gutiérrez Álvaro Ángel , Castellanos-Dominguez Germán
Published: October 2024

Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) are essential in advancing medical diagnosis and treatment by providing non-invasive tools to assess neurological states. Among these, Motor Imagery (MI), where patients mentally simulate motor tasks without physical movement, has proven to be an effective paradigm for diagnosing and monitoring neurological conditions. Electroencephalography (EEG) is widely used for MI data collection due to its high temporal resolution, cost-effectiveness, and portability. However, EEG signals can be noisy from a number of sources, including physiological artifacts and electromagnetic interference. They can also vary from person to person, which makes it harder to extract features and understand the signals. Additionally, this variability, influenced by genetic and cognitive factors, presents challenges for developing subject-independent solutions. To address these limitations, this paper presents a Multimodal and Explainable Deep Learning (MEDL) approach for MI-EEG classification and physiological interpretability. Our approach involves: i) evaluating different deep learning (DL) models for subject-dependent MI-EEG discrimination; ii) employing Class Activation Mapping (CAM) to visualize relevant MI-EEG features; and iii) utilizing a Questionnaire-MI Performance Canonical Correlation Analysis (QMIP-CCA) to provide multidomain interpretability. On the GIGAScience MI dataset, experiments show that shallow neural networks are good at classifying MI-EEG data, while the CAM-based method finds spatio-frequency patterns. Moreover, the QMIP-CCA framework successfully correlates physiological data with MI-EEG performance, offering an enhanced, interpretable solution for BCIs.
Anti-Migratory Activity of Brazilin Chemo-Diversification Products on Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Hernández-Moreno Alberto , Nava-Tapia Dania A. , Zuñiga-Eulogio Miriam D. , Bello-Martínez Jorge , Olea-Flores Monserrat , Hernández-Moreno Tadeo , Ordoñez Mario , Zacapala-Gómez Ana E. , Mendoza-Catalán Miguel A. , Navarro-Tito Napoleón
Published: October 2024

Breast cancer is the most common and the leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide; treating invasive breast carcinomas is challenging due to the side effects of chemotherapeutics. Compounds isolated from natural sources have been proposed as potential molecules for cancer therapy; for instance, the homoisoflavonoid brazilin has shown pharmacological properties, including anti-tumoral and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, we isolated brazilin from the heartwood of Haematoxylum brasiletto (Pacific coast of Mexico and Central America); then, we performed a semi-synthesis by adding three methyl or acetyl groups to the core structure of brazilin. We confirmed brazilin and its derivatives identity by spectroscopic data (1H NMR and 13C NMR) and measured their purity by optical rotation. Then, we analyzed the effects of brazilin and derivatives in three mammary gland-derived cell lines: the TNBC MDA-MB-231, the ER(+) MCF7, and the non-tumorigenic MCF10A. We evaluated the cell viability by MTT assays, cell migration by wound-healing assays and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) activation by Western blot. Regarding biological assays, the MTT assay showed that brazilin and its derivatives showed cytotoxic effects on MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells at 20 µM but was not toxic in non-tumorigenic MCF10A mammary epithelial cells. These effects were dose and time-dependent, as well as a decrease in the levels of cell migration and FAK activation.
The Moderating Role of Emotional Intelligence on the Relationship Between Nurses’ Preparedness to Care for COVID-19 Patients and Their Quality of Work-Life
Authors: Alkorashy Hanan A. , Basheer Aisha F. , Mohammed Hanem
Published: October 2024

Emotional intelligence (EI) is increasingly recognized as a key factor in healthcare, where managing emotions is critical for job satisfaction, productivity, and interpersonal relationships. For nurses, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, EI plays a pivotal role in navigating emotional challenges and improving their quality of work-life (QoWL). This study aims to examine how EI moderates the relationship between nurses' preparedness to care for COVID-19 patients and their QoWL. A cross-sectional, correlational design was used, involving 267 nurses from various healthcare settings. Data were collected through the Emotional Intelligence Scale, the Quality of Nursing Work Life survey, and demographic questionnaires, and analyzed using hierarchical regression. The results showed that nurses' preparedness to care for COVID-19 patients did not initially predict QoWL (β = .034, p = .57). However, when EI was included, it significantly moderated this relationship, explaining 41% of the variance in QoWL. Both personal and social competence components of EI had a buffering effect, highlighting the importance of EI in improving nurses' work-life quality (β = .578, .665, p < .001). These findings suggest that fostering EI in nurses can enhance their resilience and work-life quality, particularly in high-stress healthcare environments like those experienced during the pandemic.
Comprehensive Evaluation of Thai Pulse Flours: Physico-Chemical Properties, Functional Properties, and Bioactive Compounds Profiling for Health-Promoting Foods
Authors: Singthong Jittra , Tuiman Phuriwat
Published: October 2024

This study investigates the physico-chemical characteristics, functional properties, and bioactive profiles of flours from four Thai pulses: black bean, red bean, mung bean, and white bean, with the aim of assessing their potential for health-oriented food products. Nutritional analysis showed significant differences among the flours in terms of protein, fiber, fat, and ash content. Black bean flour exhibited the highest phenolic (19.518 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (31.943 mg QE/g) content, alongside the strongest antioxidant activity measured by DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS assays. Red bean flour had the greatest anthocyanin content (8.214 mg CyE/g) and water absorption capacity, while mung bean flour was distinguished by its high protein (25.965%) and fiber (17.460%) levels. Functional property assessments revealed variations in water absorption, solubility, and emulsifying properties, underscoring their versatility for different food applications. These results suggest that Thai pulse flours are promising ingredients for creating nutritionally enhanced foods with potential health benefits, including antioxidant-rich and low-glycemic products. Future research should focus on how cultivation and processing methods impact the stability and effectiveness of these bioactive compounds, further expanding their potential for use in the food industry.
Towards the Sustainable Use of ABC Powders in a Circular Economy Perspective
Authors: Albanese Domenico C. M. , Annatelli Marco
Published: October 2024

Ammonium dihydrogenphosphate is the main ingredient of ABC powders used for widespread portable fire extinguishers. Rules in force today state the powder should be disposed of as a waste at the end of life (a few years depending on local regulations). However, phosphorous is nowadays recognized as one of the critical elements, in particular as regards to social balance and planet development, therefore new procedures to recycle the powder would be desirable to preserve this element. Although some examples of the reuse of ABC powders as fertilizers or flame retardants have been described, additional resources are consumed to remove powder additives. Therefore, it would be more sustainable to recycle the powder directly, once its desired properties have been verified. Herein, we describe some results that suggest the possibility to reuse the powder from a circular economy perspective.
Digestive Physiology, Nutrition and Feeding of Arapaima gigas; A Review
Authors: Palomino Ramos Alfredo Ruben , Moyano López Francisco Javier
Published: October 2024

The Arapaima gigas, a native fish species in the Amazon basin, possesses intriguing biological and zootechnical characteristics, along with substantial economic value, rendering it a promising candidate for development within intensive aquaculture systems. Numerous studies have been conducted to deepen the understanding of its digestive physiology based on its feeding habits, determine its nutritional requirements corresponding to different developmental stages, assess alternative ingredients to enhance feeding strategies, and elucidate its feeding behavior patterns in captivity. However, there remain gaps in information and a deficiency in various aspects of nutritional physiology, particularly as it relates to the formulation of efficient and balanced aquafeeds across different production phases for this species. This article provides a comprehensive review of the current state of knowledge regarding digestive physiology, advancements in nutrition and feeding strategies developed over the past two decades. Furthermore, it aims to pinpoint areas that require further research to enhance the understanding of A. gigas and its application in sustainable aquaculture practices.
The Adeno-Associated Virus Replicase Rep78 Contains a Strictly C-Terminal Sequence Motif Conserved Across Dependoparvoviruses
Authors: Karlin David G
Published: October 2024

Adeno-Associated Viruses (AAVs, genus Dependoparvovirus) are the leading gene therapy vector. Until recently, efforts to enhance their capacity for gene delivery had focused on their capsid. However, efforts are increasingly shifting towards improving the viral replicase, Rep78. We discovered that Rep78 and its shorter isoform Rep52 contain a strictly C-terminal sequence motif, DDx3EQ, conserved in most dependoparvoviruses. The motif is highly negatively charged and devoid of prolines. Its wide conservation suggests that it is required for the life cycle of dependoparvoviruses. Despite its short length, the motif’s strictly C-terminal position has the potential to endow it with a high recognition specificity. A candidate target of the DDx3EQ motif might be the DNA-binding interface of the origin-binding domain of Rep78, which is highly positively charged. Published studies suggest that the motif is not required for recombinant AAV production, but that substitutions within it might improve production.
SO-RTDETR for Small Object Detection in Aerial Images
Authors: Liu Jing , Cao Yanyan , Wang Ying , Guo Chaoping , Zhang Haijing , Dong Chunyu
Published: October 2024

In aerial image object detection, small targets present significant challenges due to limited pixel information, complex backgrounds, and sensitivity to bounding box perturbations. To tackle these issues, we propose SO-RTDETR for small object detection. The model introduces a Cross-Scale Feature Fusion with S2 (S2-CCFF) module, a Parallelized Patch-Aware attention (PPA) module, and the Normalized Wasserstein Distance (NWD) loss function, leading to significant performance improvements. Specifically, the S2-CCFF module enhances small object information by incorporating an additional S2 layer, while SPDConv downsampling maintains key details and reduces computational cost. The CSPOK-Fusion mechanism integrates global, local, and large branch features, capturing multi-scale representations and effectively mitigating interference from complex backgrounds and occlusions, thereby enhancing the spatial representation of features across scales. The PPA module, embedded in the Backbone network, leverages multi-level feature fusion and attention mechanisms to retain and strengthen small object features, addressing the issue of information loss. The NWD loss function, by focusing on the relative positioning and shape differences of bounding boxes, increases robustness to minor perturbations, enhancing detection accuracy. Experimental results on the VisDrone and NWPU VHR-10 aerial datasets demonstrate that our approach outperforms state-of-the-art detectors.
Histochemical Localization and Cytotoxic Potential of Alkaloids in Phaedranassa lehmannii
Authors: Trujillo Lina M , Leiva Hawer , Rojas José , Zapata-Vahos Isabel Cristina , Castro-Restrepo Dagoberto , Domínguez María , Osorio Edison
Published: October 2024

Plants of the subfamily Amaryllidoideae are a source of unique and bioactive alkaloids called Amaryllidaceae alkaloids. The study of their anticancer potential has intensified in recent years. This work aims to locate and characterize the profile of cytotoxic alkaloids biosynthesized and stored in different tissues of Phaedranassa lehmannii Regel using different histochemical methods and chromatographic analysis. The histochemical analysis in the bulbs revealed the presence of alkaloids at the basal edge of scale-like leaves and bud apical zone. The GC-MS analysis indicated that the bulbs biosynthesize alkaloids distributed in crinine- (9.80 µg/g DW), galanthamine- (8.04 µg/g DW), lycorine- (7.38 µg/g DW) and narciclasine-type (3.75 µg/g DW). The root biosynthesizes alkaloids distributed mostly in lycorine- (225.29 µg/g DW) and galanthamine-type (0.723 µg/g DW) alkaloids. The total alkaloids biosynthesized by the root (324.93 µg/g DW) exceeded eleven times the abundance of the alkaloids identified in the bulbs (28.97 µg/g DW). In addition, the total alkaloids fractions exhibited a cytotoxic effect dose‐dependent in the evaluated concentrations with IC50 values of 11.76 ± 0.99 µg/mL and 2.59 ± 0.56 µg/mL against human lung (A549) cancer cells and 8.00 ± 1.35 µg/mL and 18.74 ± 1.99 µg/mL against gastric (AGS) cancer cells. The present study provided evidence to locate and characterize the alkaloids of P. lehmannii grown under nursery conditions as a species producing potential antiproliferative alkaloids.
FAN1 Deletion Variant in Basenji Dogs with Fanconi Syndrome
Authors: Katz Martin L , Farias Fabiana H.G. , Mhlanga-Mutangadura Tendai , Guo Juyan , Hansen Elizabeth , Johnson Gary S.
Published: October 2024

Fanconi syndrome is a disorder of renal proximal tubule transport characterized by metabolic acidosis, amino aciduria, glucosuria, and phosphaturia. There are acquired and hereditary forms of this disorder. Fanconi syndrome in Basenjis was first described in 1976 and is now recognized as an inherited disease in these dogs. Linkage analysis within a large family of Basenjis that included both affected and unaffected individuals was performed to localize the causative variant within the genome. Significant linkage was identified between chromosome 3 (CFA3) makers and the disease phenotype. Fine mapping restricted the region to a 2.7 Mb section of CFA3. A whole genome sequence of a Basenji affected with Fanconi syndrome was generated, and the sequence data were examined for the presence of potentially deleterious homozygous variants within the mapped region. A homozygous 317 bp deletion was identified in the last exon of FAN1 of the proband. 78 Basenjis of known disease status were genotyped for the deletion variant. Among these dogs, there was almost complete concordance between genotype and phenotype. The only exception was one dog that was homozygous for the deletion variant but did not exhibit signs of Fanconi syndrome. These data indicate that the disorder is very likely the result of FAN1 deficiency. The mechanism by which this deficiency causes the disease signs remains to be elucidated. FAN1 has endonuclease and exonuclease activity that catalyzes incisions in regions of double-stranded DNA containing interstrand crosslinks. FAN1 inactivation may cause Fanconi syndrome in Basenjis by sensitization of kidney proximal tubule cells to toxin-mediated DNA crosslinking resulting in accumulation of genomic and mitochondrial DNA damage in the kidney. Differential exposure to environmental toxins that promote DNA crosslink formation may explain the wide age-at-onset variability for the disorder in Basenjis.
Anatomical Plausibility in Deformable Image Registration Using Bayesian Optimization for Brain MRI Analysis
Authors: Castaño-Aguirre Mauricio , García Hernán Felipe , Cárdenas-Peña David , Porras-Hurtado Gloria Liliana , Orozco-Gutiérrez Álvaro Ángel
Published: October 2024

Deformable image registration plays a crucial role in medical imaging by aligning anatomical structures across multiple datasets, essential for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning. However, existing deep learning-based deformable registration models often face challenges ensuring anatomical plausibility, leading to unnatural deformations in critical brain structures. This paper proposes a novel framework integrating Bayesian optimization to address these challenges, focusing on registering 3D point clouds representing brain structures. Our method uses probabilistic modeling to optimize non-rigid transformations, providing smooth and interpretable deformations that align with anatomical constraints.
The proposed framework is validated using MRI data from patients diagnosed with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) due to perinatal asphyxia. These datasets include brain scans taken at multiple time points, enabling the modeling of structural changes over time. By incorporating Bayesian optimization, we enhance the accuracy of the registration process while maintaining anatomical fidelity. Our results demonstrate that the approach provides interpretable, anatomically plausible deformations, outperforming conventional methods in accuracy and reliability. This work offers an improved tool for brain MRI analysis, aiding healthcare professionals in better understanding disease progression and guiding therapeutic interventions.
Salt-Controlled Vertical Segregation of Mixed Polymer Brushes
Authors: Mikhailov Ivan V. , Darinskii Anatoly A.
Published: October 2024

The salt-controlled vertical segregation of the mixed polymer brushes in was studied using the self-consisting field approach. The brushes contained two types chains were considered. It was assumed that the selectivity to the solvent was varied for one type of chains carrying charge (polyelectrolyte chains) while the others polymer chains in brush remained hydrophilic and neutral. Solvent selectivity (i.e., the hydrophobicity of the polyelectrolyte chains) can be controlled by changing the temperature. At low salt concentrations, the polyelectrolyte chains swell and occupy the surface of the mixed brush. At high salt concentrations, the hydrophobic polyelectrolyte chains collapse and give place to neutral chains on the surface. By changing the selectivity of the solvent and the ionic strength of the solution, the surface properties of such mixed brushes can be controlled. Based on the numerical simulations results, it is shown how the critical selectivity corresponding to the segregation transition in polyelectrolyte/neutral brushes depends on the ionic strength of the solution. It is shown that at the same ionic strength, the critical selectivity increases with increasing chain grafting density and the degree of dissociation of charged groups, as well as with increasing share of polyelectrolyte chains in the mixed brush. Within the framework of the mean field theory, a two-parameter model has been constructed that quantitatively describes these dependencies.
COVID-19 Prophylactic Effect of Bromhexine Hydrochloride
Authors: Mitev Vanyo , Mondeshki Tsanko , Miteva Ani , Tashkov Konstantin , Dimitrova Violeta
Published: October 2024

Despite the enormous efforts and funds spent to find an effective treatment for COVID-19, the results have been disappointing. In previous publications, we have demonstrated the remarkable effect of high-dose colchicine in inhibiting the cytokine storm and preventing multiorgan damage and death. However, this treatment is beneficial only after virus entry into the cell. The question of prophylaxis and entry prohibition should also be explored. We now demonstrate the prophylactic effect of bromhexine hydrochloride (BRH), an over-the-counter, non-invasive, effective, well-tolerated medicine, with proven safety, affordable, and inexpensive on 125 men and women. The effect of BRH is best when given continuously for prophylaxis during peaks in contagion in the wave of COVID-19. Then the probability of infection drops sharply, and if a disease does occur, it proceeds mildly. BRH is also effective when given by inhalation for post-exposure prophylaxis.When COVID-19 manifests itself clinically, the efficacy of BRH drops sharply because the virus is already in the cell. However, BRH inhalations are useful because they limit the spread of the virus and have an anti-inflammatory and possibly antiviral effect.
Embedding-based Semantic Analysis Approach: A Preliminary Study on Redundancy Detection in Psychological Concepts Operationalized by Scales
Authors: Huang Zhen , Long Yitian , Peng Kaiping , Tong Song
Published: October 2024

As psychology evolves, the phenomenon of concept overlap becomes more pronounced, increasing participant burden and complicate data interpretation. This study introduces an Embedding-based Semantic Analysis Approach (ESAA) for detecting redundancy in psychological concepts, which are operationalized through their respective scales, using natural language processing techniques. ESAA utilizes OpenAI’s GPT-3 large model to generate high-dimensional semantic embeddings of scale items and applies hierarchical clustering to group semantically similar items, uncovering potential redundancy. In three preliminary experiments, ESAA was tested on well-known psychological scales, such as Conscientiousness, Gratitude, and Grit. The experiments assessed ESAA’s ability to (1) converge semantically similar items, (2) discriminate semantically distinct items, and (3) identify overlapping scales measuring concepts known for redundancy. Additionally, comparative analyses were conducted to assess ESAA's robustness and incremental validity against the most advanced chat bots based on GPT-4. The results demonstrated that ESAA consistently produced stable outcomes and surpassed all evaluated chatbots in performance. As a novel, objective approach for analyzing relationships between concepts operationalized as scales, ESAA has potential to facilitate future research on theory refinement and scale optimization.
Sparstolonin B Reduces Estrogen Dependent Proliferation in Cancer Cells: Possible Role of Ceramide and PI3K/AKT/mTOR Inhibition
Authors: Dilber Yağmur , Çeker Hanife Tuğçe , Öztüzün Aleyna , Çırçırlı Bürke , Kırımlıoğlu Esma , Barut Zerrin , Aslan Mutay
Published: October 2024

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Sparstolonin B (SsnB) on cell proliferation and apoptosis in human breast cancer (MCF-7) and human ovarian epithelial cancer (OVCAR-3) cell lines in the presence and absence of estradiol hemihydrate (ES). Phosphoinositol-3 kinase (PI3K), phosphorylated protein kinase B alpha (p-AKT), phosphorylated mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin) signaling proteins and sphingomyelin/ceramide metabolites were also measured within the scope of the study.
Methods: The anti-proliferative effects of SsnB therapy were evaluated over a range of times and concentrations. Cell proliferation was determined by measurement of Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA). PCNA was quantified by ELISA and cell distribution was assessed by immunofluorescence microscopy. MTT analysis was used to test the vitality of the cells, while LC-MS/MS was used to analyze the amounts of ceramides (CERs), sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), and sphingomyelins (SMs). TUNEL labeling was used to assess apoptosis, while immunofluorescence staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to measure the levels of PI3K, p-AKT, and p-mTOR proteins.
Results: Sparstolonin B administration significantly decreased cell viability in MCF-7 and OVCAR-3 cells both in the presence and absence of ES, while it did not cause toxicity in healthy human fibroblasts. In comparison to controls, cancer cells treated with SsnB showed a significant drop in the levels of S1P, PI3K, p-AKT, and p-mTOR. In cancer cells cultured with SsnB, a significant increase in intracellular concentrations of C16-C24 CERs and apoptosis was observed.
Conclusions: SsnB downregulated the levels of S1P, PI3K, p-AKT, and p-mTOR while reducing cell proliferation and promoting ceramide buildup and apoptosis.
Combating Candida glabrata: Screening 5,6-Dihydrotetrazolo[1,5-c]Quinazolines through In Vitro Studies, Molecular Docking, QSAR and Toxicity Assessments
Authors: Antypenko Lyudmyla , Antypenko Oleksii , Fominichenko Alina , Karnaukh Iryna , Kovalenko Sergiy , Arisawa Mieko
Published: October 2024

Candida glabrata (Nakaseomyces glabratus), the second most prevalent Candida pathogen globally, has emerged as a major clinical threat due to its ability to develop high-level azole resistance. In this study, two new 5,6-dihydrotetrazolo[1,5-c]quinazoline derivatives (c11 and c12) were synthesized and characterized using IR, LC-MS, 1Н and 13C NMR spectra. Along with 13 previously reported analogues, these compounds underwent in vitro antifungal testing against clinical C. glabrata isolates using a serial dilution method (0.125-64 mg/L). Remarkably, compounds c5 and c1 exhibited potent antifungal activity, with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 0.37 μM and 0.47 μM, respectively – about 20-fold improvement over standard drugs like amphotericin B, caspofungin, and micafungin. A detailed structure-activity relationship analysis revealed crucial molecular features enhancing antifungal potency. Extensive molecular docking studies across 18 protein targets explored potential binding pockets and affinities of the lead compounds. A robust 3D-QSAR model, incorporating molecular descriptors Mor26m and Mor29e, displayed good predictive ability for antifungal activity. In silico predictions indicated an absence of herbicidal effect, negligible environmental toxicity (to honeybees, avian species, and aquatic organisms), and mild human toxicity concerns for these compounds. This comprehensive approach aims to develop novel and effective antifungal compounds against the clinically relevant pathogen C. glabrata.