bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Frequency of Salmonella bacteria detection in pathological material, raw materials, poultry products and the environment of poultry farms in Ukraine during the period 2018-2022
Authors: Сhechet O. , Mech N. , Rublenko I. , Gorbatyuk O. , Gerilovych A. , Musiets I. , Вuchkovska G. , Kuriata N. , Ordynska D. , Shalimova L. , Balanchuk L. , Togachynska L. , Kuchynskyi M.
Published: February 2024

The poultry industry plays an important role in solving the food problem of Ukraine, as it provides the need for commercial production of eggs and poultry meat. Modern poultry farming is characterized by industrial high-tech production with the use of advanced energy-saving technologies, their mechanization and automation, specialization and concentration of production processes, targeted selection of highly productive poultry crosses, balanced feeding. However, the poultry farming industry suffers from salmonellosis. In poultry farms countries a salmonellosis is one of the most dangerous bacterial diseases of birds. Actuality of zoonotic disease is stipulated epizootologically, by epidemiology, ecological, socio-economic values and biosafety for a man, bird and animals. For a man the causative agents of salmonellosis cause the heavy forms of toxic infections. According to the results of microbiological monitoring for the detection of salmonellosis pathogens in patho- and biological material, poultry feed, raw materials, poultry products, and environmental objects of poultry farms for the period 2018–2022, a decrease in the infection rates of the studied objects was found from 0.06% in 2018 to 0.01–0.02% in the following years. Among the obtained salmonellosis isolates, a wide species spectrum of circulating salmonella (17 serovars) was established, with the dominant species Salmonella enteritidis isolated in 27.9% of cases from the studied objects. Salmonella of other species were isolated much less frequently: Salmonella give (9.0%), Salmonella infantis (6.4%), Salmonella anatum (2.2%), Salmonella derbi, Salmonella kambole and Salmonella isangi (1.7%). Salmonella typhimurium (1.3%), Salmonella indiana, Salmonella essen, Salmonella eastbourne, Salmonella agone, Salmonella livingston, Salmonella dyugu, Salmonella рortland and Salmonella aphi (from 0.4 to 0.9%) cases, respectively, among other isolated Salmonella species for the period 2018–2022. The results of the research prove the need to continue microbiological monitoring for the detection of salmonellosis pathogens at all stages of the production of poultry products in the territory of Ukraine for the purpose of human, animal and poultry biosafety and timely prevention of zoonotic diseases.
Key words: poultry farming, microbiological monitoring, zoonoses, pathogens of salmonellosis, species spectrum, cheese products, Salmonella enteritidis, biosafety.
Non-canonical structures in locative and existential predication in the Ob-Ugric languages
Authors: Däbritz Chris Lasse
Published: February 2024

The study at hand deals with different structures applied for expressing locative and existential predication in Khanty and Mansi, analysing a comparably large amount of data from various databases. Apart from the “expected” and traditionally described pattern “figure (theme) + ground (location) + copula”, the paper also accounts for posture verbs and transitive habeo-verbs playing a role in the named functional domain. Additionally, it is shown that a significant number of relevant clauses are structurally ambiguous between a locative and an existential reading. Finally, the paper underlines that the Ob-Ugric languages show a clear polarity split in the expression of locative and existential predication since the observed variation mainly touches affirmative clauses. In contrast, negative clauses are, as a rule, formed with negative existential particles.
Temporal perspective and its formal background: An explanation for aspectual synonymy between simple and analytic past tenses in Mari
Authors: Spets Silja-Maija
Published: February 2024

This paper examines and explains perspective-based temporal variation between simple and analytic past tenses in Mari narration. In current research, the analytic past tenses are presented as aspectually synonymous with the simple past tense 2, implicating that there is no functional distinction between these morphologically very dissimilar operators. To overcome the apparent shortages of the purely aspectual approach, this paper dismantles the tenses into their morphosemantic ingredients and explains their exact functions by their form, giving hence also new light to the development of the items. As will be shown, the reason for tense variation is the position of perspective time, a temporal vantage point from which an event is seen. The simple past tense 2 sets the perspective time outside of the story line, while the analytic tenses locate it inside the narrative world, which affects the temporal and non-temporal structure of the discourse. Crucially, the concept of perspective is inherently built in the structure of the tenses: I will argue, that the “auxiliary” of the analytic tenses is de facto a deictic particle developed for temporal manipulation of events, and its application in anaphoric narration creates internal complexity to the story. The “pastness” of the simple past tense 2, in contrast, is anaphoric by nature, which makes narrations structured with it temporally one-dimensional.
Becoming a Change Agent: Residency as Pathway to Accomplished Teaching
Authors: O’Connell Sean , Rand Patricia , Lasselle Richard , Snyder Catherine
Published: February 2024

A change agent is a person equipped to transform their environment meaningfully. This qualitative survey study examined the extent to which graduates of residency-based teacher education programs act as change agents across different stages of a career. The qualitative survey study used convenience sampling to gather data from 23 alumni of a full-year, graduate, residency-based teacher education program. Participants responded to questions aligned with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards to determine how the residency program prepared graduates to be agents of change in their learning communities. Qualitative data was analyzed using a constant comparative method. Results indicated that alumni become agents of change, but this level of professionalism takes more than ten years to develop.
Key Research Ideas of Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education: Bibliometric Analysis and Information Mapping
Authors: Aziz Abdul , Nusantara Toto , Qohar Abd , Irawati Santi
Published: February 2024

This research aims to describe and map information and research ideas that can be developed in the application of artificial intelligence in higher education. The method applied in this research is Preferred Reporting Items For Systematic Reviews And Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) which uses scientific articles or proceedings sourced from the Scopus database which are analyzed using Vos Viewer and Publish Or Perish as well as Google Trends and Dimensions. The research results reveal that artificial intelligence research covers three aspects that can be applied in higher education: development of AI tools, application of AI in learning, and digitalization of higher education.
Exploring the Applicability of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) in Shaping English Curriculum: Insights From Lecturers and Students
Authors: Dwinalida Khairunnisa , Maulia Bunga Putri , Purwaningrum Adriani Yulia , Karlepi Erik Febri , Setiaji Sholeh , Budiman Asep
Published: February 2024

CEFR is now widely used as the reference in developing English language program curricula in many higher educations worldwide. The framework has not been commonly adopted in the Indonesian context and attracts scholars to investigate. This research revealed how lecturers and students perceive CEFR as the basis for curriculum development for English courses. To gain the data, 8 lecturers and 94 students were purposefully chosen as respondents and were given a questionnaire developed from C1 level CEFR descriptors. Meanwhile, some respondents were interviewed to collect in-depth information about their perceptions. The quantitative data were analyzed by computing the average score and revealed that the students have a positive perception towards CEFR with an average of 3.78. The data from the interview uncovered that both lecturers and students agreed with the CEFR descriptors for four reasons: job requirements, communication tools, community expectations, and the need to support their learning. The findings imply that the stakeholders must specify the curriculum framework in which CEFR adoption can be an option.
Academic Burnout in Peruvian University Students
Authors: Alemán Vilca Yaneth , Asillo Apaza Yenny Yessica , Huamantuna Sullo Ada Erlinda , Lazo Manrique Aldo Paul , Oviedo Medrano Vanessa , Garay Zubia Nilton , Barreda Coaquira Edgar , Zúñiga Flores Krystel , Arapa Villanueva Sixto Jhon
Published: February 2024

Academic burnout is a persistent disorder characterized by fatigue that affects academic performance and student motivation. The objective was to analyze academic burnout in Peruvian university students, comparing the results with the socio-academic characteristics of the students, such as age, sex, area and year of study. The study was descriptive, quantitative, non-experimental – ex-post facto. 1241 university students participated and were selected intentionally, and the Maslach Burnout Student Survey Inventory (MBISS) Peruvian validation was applied. High scores were found regarding emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, and low scores on personal accomplishment, determined the presence of academic burnout in the students. It is concluded that academic burnout is associated with gender (women), age (under 18 years old) and area of study (social sciences), being these students those who develop greater exhaustion, depersonalization and personal fulfillment.
How “Inclusive” Has the Inclusive Education Been?
Authors: Shrestha Prativa , Bhattarai Prakash C.
Published: February 2024

The main intent of inclusive education is to include diversity in terms of access to education. Hence, inclusive education is of tremendous significance to a country like Nepal, which has so much diversity. However, the strategies formulated by the inclusive education policies in Nepal still follow a narrow definition of inclusive education, though the policies are progressive. Does inclusive education mean only a scheme for disabled learners? Through a desk review of the policies after 2000 related to inclusive education, this paper argues that the smooth transition to inclusion in education has been challenging. The paper argues that despite policy provisions, Nepal has not been able to actualize inclusion in education because its strategies and actions are not directed toward inclusion. This situation is there mainly because of the lack of uniform understanding of inclusive education, and its present practice will lead towards segregation but not towards integration.
The SAMR Model in Education Classrooms: Effects on Teaching Practice, Facilities, and Challenges
Authors: Cáceres-Nakiche Karim , Carcausto-Calla Wilfredo , Yabar Arrieta Silvia Rosio , Lino Tupiño Ruth Milagros
Published: February 2024

In order to effectively integrate technology into teaching practice, it is essential to know the different existing integration models for its application, as well as to evaluate the degree of its use in the classroom. The objective of this article was to comprehensively review the application of the SAMR model in teaching practice, as well as the facilities, challenges and application in measuring the level of use of technology during the teaching-learning process. For this purpose, a literature review was conducted, selecting various original and theoretical articles from the Scopus and Web of Science databases published during the years 2017-2023.
Social Influencer or Celebrity Endorser, To Whom Do Multicultural Consumers Pay Attention in Instagram? Comparing Medium- and High-Involvement Products Across Ethnic Groups
Authors: Chapa Sindy , Khan Talalah
Published: February 2024

This study investigates the influence of social media influencers and celebrity endorsements on attitudes and intentions to purchase high and medium-involvement products on Instagram. A multimethod research design was used, with a national sample of 799 Instagram users. Results show that celebrity endorsements are more impactful than social media influencers for High and medium-involvement products. However, social media influencers influence more males, but attitudes remain consistent across genders. Celebrity endorsements and influencers have the highest impact on Millennials. The study reveals that celebrities are more influential than celebrity endorsements for medium-involvement products. There are significant gender and age differences but no ethnic differences. Males are more influenced by celebrities and influencers on Instagram, but their attitude toward influencers remains consistent. Celebrity endorsement and influencers have the highest impact on Millennials, followed by Gen X, baby boomers, and Gen Z, with no significant difference between Gen Z and baby boomers.
Disentangling Administration Errors From Scale Development Errors in Survey Research
Authors: Friesner Dan , Bozman Carl S. , McPherson Matthew
Published: February 2024

In a recent manuscript, Friesner, et al. (2023) used the concept of information entropy to assess the quantity of information in survey responses. They demonstrate how assessments of the quantity of information can be used to identify possible errors in a survey’s administration. A major limitation of their methodology is that it assumes the survey items used to elicit consumer preferences were created appropriately and contained a meaningful quantity of information. The current study addresses this limitation by incorporating a methodology developed by Friesner et al. (2021) into the Friesner et al. (2023) methodology. The combined methodology is applied to the same data studied in both Friesner et al. (2021) and Friesner et al. (2023), which allows for a direct comparison of the quantity of information gained/lost from survey administration versus scale development. The results indicate that the survey used in the empirical application exhibits flaws in both scale design and survey administration.
Main Directions for Improving the Development of Social Infrastructure in the Kyrgyz Republic
Authors: Zhusupov B.
Published: February 2024

The article discusses the problems and state of social infrastructure. The state fails to allocate a sufficient amount of funding for these sectors, in this regard, the main ways to improve the social infrastructure necessary for sustainable development in the Kyrgyz Republic are presented and described. These areas are structural elements in the overall process of modernization of the social infrastructure sector and are closely interrelated.
Investing in Mining Infrastructure: Economic Benefits, Challenges, and the Role of Public-Private Partnerships
Authors: Matkerimova A. , Mazirbaev K.
Published: February 2024

This is a comprehensive analysis of the economic and environmental aspects of sustainable practices in the mining industry, focusing on a case study. The work is aimed at studying the integration of innovative technologies, environmental aspects and economic feasibility in the formation of a sustainable mining paradigm in the 21st century. The study is conducted using a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating economic, environmental and technological perspectives to assess the long-term sustainability of mining practices.
Tissue engineering applications of recombinant human collagen: a review of recent progress
Authors: Cao Lili , Zhang Zhongfeng , Yuan Dan , Yu Meiping , Min Jie
Published: February 2024

Graphical Abstract

Recombinant human collagen applications in biomedical systems.
The biological interplay between air pollutants and miRNAs regulation in cancer
Authors: Giammona Alessandro , Remedia Sofia , Porro Danilo , Lo Dico Alessia , Bertoli Gloria
Published: February 2024

Air pollution, especially fine particulate matter (PM2.5, with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 μm), represents a risk factor for human health. Many studies, regarding cancer onset and progression, correlated with the short and/or long exposition to PM2.5. This is mainly mediated by the ability of PM2.5 to reach the pulmonary alveoli by penetrating into the blood circulation. This review recapitulates the methodologies used to study PM2.5 in cellular models and the downstream effects on the main molecular pathways implicated in cancer. We report a set of data from the literature, that describe the involvement of miRNAs or long noncoding RNAs on the main biological processes involved in oxidative stress, inflammation, autophagy (PI3K), cell proliferation (NFkB, STAT3), and EMT (Notch, AKT, Wnt/β-catenin) pathways. microRNAs, as well as gene expression profile, responds to air pollution environment modulating some key genes involved in epigenetic modification or in key mediators of the biological processes described below. In this review, we provide some scientific evidences about the thigh correlation between miRNAs dysregulation, PM2.5 exposition, and gene pathways involved in cancer progression.
Development genetic and stability classification of seasonal glacial lakes in a tectonically active area—A case study in Niangmuco, east margin of the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis
Authors: Wei Yongyi , Jia Liyun , Ma Xiumin , Lei Zhe
Published: February 2024

The Niangmuco region on the east margin of the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis features a large number of glacial lakes. The development process and stability classification of glacial lakes is of great significance to the study of seasonal glaciers in the eastern Himalayan margin, with implications for economic development and disaster prevention. Based on Landsat remote sensing image data from 2000 to 2021, this study analyzed the development and change characteristics of glacial lakes in the Niangmuco region during the past 21 years, and classified the stability of lakes with areas >0.02 km2 using the fuzzy consistent matrix method. In this area, 126 glacial lakes were identified within an elevation range of 3044–4156 m with a total area of 10.94 km2. These lakes primarily included glacial erosion lakes, valley lakes, tectonic lakes, and landslide dam lakes. Specifically, glacial erosion lakes accounted for 88.9% of the total number of lakes and 60.3% of the total lake area, followed by valley lakes with 6.3% and 23.7%, respectively. From 2000 to 2010, the total area of glacial lakes decreased from 10.53 km2 to 10.09 km2, which may be attributable to climate fluctuations. Subsequently, the area of lakes increased significantly to 10.94 km2 in 2021, an increase of 0.41 km2. Compared with 2000, among the lakes with a growth rate of 0.019 km2/a in 21 years, glacial erosion lakes exhibited the largest change. Among the classified glacial lakes in the study area, 95.7% were stable and relatively stable, mostly comprising glacial erosion lakes at high altitudes between 3468 and 4156 m. Only 4 unstable and extremely unstable glacial lakes were identified, and they were located near a fault zone. The findings show that the development and the change of glacial lakes in the area are primarily controlled by temperature and precipitation, and the topography and fault activity have important influences on the stability of glacial lakes.
Teacher RePlay and Children ReAct: pilot testing a formative toolkit to support playful learning in the classroom
Authors: Omoeva Carina , Zosh Jennifer M. , Pyle Angela , D'Sa Nikhit , Contreras Gomez Rafael , Dooley Brian , Giacomazzi Mauro , Ariapa Martin , Maldonado-Carreño Carolina , Escallón Eduardo , Dey Gopal , Pavel Kazi Ferdous , Laverty Ciara
Published: February 2024

Playful learning has seen a resurgence of interest in the past decade, particularly in contexts where play is not traditionally part of a teacher’s repertoire. Teachers interested in exploring the integration of play in their classrooms need formative tools and resources that help them to reflect and assess their own practice and their ability to create a playful learning experience for their students. This study presents the results of two rounds of pilot testing in three countries for Teacher RePlay, a new open-source toolkit designed to support teachers interested in reflecting on and deepening their learning through play practice. The toolkit includes the main Teacher RePlay observation protocol for teachers, as well as Children ReAct, a complementary protocol for a photo-elicited focus group discussion with children, intended to directly assess children’s experiences and reflections on learning through play. Upon observation, teachers receive customized coaching suggestions and tips designed to strengthen their learning through play practice. Initial results from the piloting indicate that the toolkit holds strong potential for teachers interested in better understanding and deepening their playful learning practice. This paper discusses the development, validation, successes, and challenges of the Teacher RePlay toolkit, and identifies future directions for its use.
Predicting groundwater level using traditional and deep machine learning algorithms
Authors: Feng Fan , Ghorbani Hamzeh , Radwan Ahmed E.
Published: February 2024

This research aims to evaluate various traditional or deep machine learning algorithms for the prediction of groundwater level (GWL) using three key input variables specific to Izeh City in the Khuzestan province of Iran: groundwater extraction rate (E), rainfall rate (R), and river flow rate (P) (with 3 km distance). Various traditional and deep machine learning (DML) algorithms, including convolutional neural network (CNN), recurrent neural network (RNN), support vector machine (SVM), decision tree (DT), random forest (RF), and generative adversarial network (GAN), were evaluated. The convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithm demonstrated superior performance among all the algorithms evaluated in this study. The CNN model exhibited robustness against noise and variability, scalability for handling large datasets with multiple input variables, and parallelization capabilities for fast processing. Moreover, it autonomously learned and identified data patterns, resulting in fewer outlier predictions. The CNN model achieved the highest accuracy in GWL prediction, with an RMSE of 0.0558 and an R2 of 0.9948. It also showed no outlier data predictions, indicating its reliability. Spearman and Pearson correlation analyses revealed that P and E were the dataset’s most influential variables on GWL. This research has significant implications for water resource management in Izeh City and the Khuzestan province of Iran, aiding in conservation efforts and increasing local crop productivity. The approach can also be applied to predicting GWL in various global regions facing water scarcity due to population growth. Future researchers are encouraged to consider these factors for more accurate GWL predictions. Additionally, the CNN algorithm’s performance can be further enhanced by incorporating additional input variables.
Delimiting the polymorphic congeners of the genus Oerstedia Quatrefages, 1864 (Nemertea, Hoplonemertea), and descriptions of three new species from the Northwest Pacific
Authors: Abato Jamael C. , Chernyshev Alexei V. , Hookabe Natsumi , Tsuyuki Aoi , Kaushik Gauri , Kajihara Hiroshi
Published: February 2024

Three new species of the monostiliferous hoplonemertean genus Oerstedia Quatrefages, 1864, are herein described using morphological and molecular data—Oerstedia pseudoculata sp. nov., from Akkeshi Bay and Oshoro Bay, Hokkaido, Japan, and from Aniwa Bay, Sakhalin, Russia; Oerstedia rugosa sp. nov. from Sagami Bay, Misaki, Kanagawa, Japan, and Van Phong Bay, Vietnam; and Oerstedia viridifusca sp. nov. from Manazuru, Kanagawa, Japan. As to the external morphology, O. pseudoculata sp. nov. can be differentiated from O. oculata only by its bright-orange ocelli visible on both sides of the head, and a proboscis pore opening at the ventral tip of the head. These two sister species repeat each other’s color patterns, a phenomenon that can be explained by Vavilov’s law of homologous series. Oerstedia rugosa sp. nov. can be identified by its carmine or deep-red to brownish-red body with several longitudinal, intertwined white lines or wrinkles running from the head to the posterior body, and by 17–23 vaguely bordered white bands composed of variedly sized dots encircling the body, arranged at irregular intervals. Oerstedia viridifusca sp. nov. can be distinguished from other Oerstedia by (i) the entire body flecked with minute greenish-brown dots, especially densely on the anterior portion of the dorsal surface, but sparsely on the posterior half of the ventral surface; (ii) a collar-like portion encircling the body along the posterior cephalic furrow where the greenish-brown dots are absent; (iii) the anterolateral edges of the head lacking the greenish-brown dots; and (iv) the ocelli being brownish-orange in color. Oerstedia phoresiae (Kulikova, 1987) is reported for the first time from Japan, in addition to its previous distribution record in Russia and in South Korea. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S, 18S, 28S ribosomal RNA, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I, and histone H3 genes show that the new species are true congeners of the genus Oerstedia with O. pseudoculata sp. nov. and O. viridifusca sp. nov. nested within the clade Paroerstediella whereas O. rugosa sp. nov. in the clade Oerstedia. This taxonomic work emphasizes the importance of DNA barcode sequence in the taxonomy and systematics of the polymorphic congeners of the genus Oerstedia.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal contribution towards plant resilience to drought conditions
Authors: Das Subhadeep , Sarkar Soumyadev
Published: February 2024

Climate changes cause altering rainfall patterns resulting in an increase in drought occurrences globally. These events are disrupting plants and agricultural productivity. To evade droughts, plants try to adapt and modify in the best capacities possible. The plants have adapted by structurally modifying roots, stems, and leaves, as well as modifying functions. Lately, the association of microbial communities with plants has also been proven to be an important factor in aiding resilience. The fungal representatives of the microbial community also help safeguard the plants against drought. We discuss how these fungi associate with plants and contribute to evading drought stress. We specifically focus on Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) mediated mechanisms involving antioxidant defenses, phytohormone mediations, osmotic adjustments, proline expressions, fungal water absorption and transport, morphological modifications, and photosynthesis. We believe understanding the mechanisms would help us to optimize the use of fungi in agricultural practices. That way we could better prepare the plants for the anticipated future drought events.
Circulating micronutrient levels and their association with sepsis susceptibility and severity: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Wei Zhengxiao , Liu Yingfen , Mei Xue , Zhong Jing , Huang Fuhong
Published: February 2024

Background: Sepsis, a global health challenge, necessitates a nuanced understanding of modifiable factors for effective prevention and intervention. The role of trace micronutrients in sepsis pathogenesis remains unclear, and their potential connection, especially with genetic influences, warrants exploration.

Methods: We employed Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses to assess the causal relationship between genetically predicted blood levels of nine micronutrients (calcium, β-carotene, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin D, and zinc) and sepsis susceptibility, severity, and subtypes. The instrumental variables for circulating micronutrients were derived from nine published genome-wide association studies (GWAS). In the primary MR analysis, we utilized summary statistics for sepsis from two independent databases (UK Biobank and FinnGen consortium), for initial and replication analyses. Subsequently, a meta-analysis was conducted to merge the results. In secondary MR analyses, we assessed the causal effects of micronutrients on five sepsis-related outcomes (severe sepsis, sepsis-related death within 28 days, severe sepsis-related death within 28 days, streptococcal septicaemia, and puerperal sepsis), incorporating multiple sensitivity analyses and multivariable MR to address potential heterogeneity and pleiotropy.

Results: The study revealed a significant causal link between genetically forecasted zinc levels and reduced risk of severe sepsis-related death within 28 days (odds ratio [OR] = 0.450; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.263, 0.770; p = 3.58 × 10−3). Additionally, suggestive associations were found for iron (increased risk of sepsis), β-carotene (reduced risk of sepsis death) and vitamin C (decreased risk of puerperal sepsis). No significant connections were observed for other micronutrients.

Conclusion: Our study highlighted that zinc may emerges as a potential protective factor against severe sepsis-related death within 28 days, providing theoretical support for supplementing zinc in high-risk critically ill sepsis patients. In the future, larger-scale data are needed to validate our findings.
Case report: Successful treatment of ulcerative colitis-related post-colectomy enteritis refractory to multiple therapies with ustekinumab
Authors: Guo Chenglin , He Shengduo , Wang Huahong
Published: February 2024

Ulcerative colitis-related severe post-colectomy enteritis is a rare condition. A few cases have undergone successful treatment with corticosteroids, Cyclosporine, Azathioprine, and Infliximab. We aim to evaluate the treatment outcome of ustekinumab in this rare case. Here we describe a 56-year-old woman with post-colectomy enteritis refractory to multiple therapies. Finally, the patient was administered with ustekinumab treatment. Under monitoring, the feces volume of the patient decreased from 5000-7000 mL per day to 1700-2000 mL. Over a one-year follow-up period, the patient gradually gained body weight, with the stoma drainage of formed brown stool. And the villi of the small intestinal mucosa restore growth. To our knowledge, this is the first report that indicates ustekinumab could be a treatment selection for ulcerative colitis-related severe post-colectomy enteritis.
Spatial transcriptomics reveals altered lipid metabolism and inflammation-related gene expression of sebaceous glands in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis
Authors: Seiringer Peter , Hillig Christina , Schäbitz Alexander , Jargosch Manja , Pilz Anna Caroline , Eyerich Stefanie , Szegedi Andrea , Sochorová Michaela , Gruber Florian , Zouboulis Christos C. , Biedermann Tilo , Menden Michael P. , Eyerich Kilian , Törőcsik Daniel
Published: February 2024

Sebaceous glands drive acne, however, their role in other inflammatory skin diseases remains unclear. To shed light on their potential contribution to disease development, we investigated the spatial transcriptome of sebaceous glands in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis patients across lesional and non-lesional human skin samples. Both atopic dermatitis and psoriasis sebaceous glands expressed genes encoding key proteins for lipid metabolism and transport such as ALOX15B, APOC1, FABP7, FADS1/2, FASN, PPARG, and RARRES1. Also, inflammation-related SAA1 was identified as a common spatially variable gene. In atopic dermatitis, genes mainly related to lipid metabolism (e.g. ACAD8, FADS6, or EBP) as well as disease-specific genes, i.e., Th2 inflammation-related lipid-regulating HSD3B1 were differentially expressed. On the contrary, in psoriasis, more inflammation-related spatially variable genes (e.g. SERPINF1, FKBP5, IFIT1/3, DDX58) were identified. Other psoriasis-specific enriched pathways included lipid metabolism (e.g. ACOT4, S1PR3), keratinization (e.g. LCE5A, KRT5/7/16), neutrophil degranulation, and antimicrobial peptides (e.g. LTF, DEFB4A, S100A7-9). In conclusion, our results show that sebaceous glands contribute to skin homeostasis with a cell type-specific lipid metabolism, which is influenced by the inflammatory microenvironment. These findings further support that sebaceous glands are not bystanders in inflammatory skin diseases, but can actively and differentially modulate inflammation in a disease-specific manner.
Solar urticaria: clinical characteristics, treatment effectiveness, long-term prognosis, and QOL status in 29 patients
Authors: Imamura Shinya , Oda Yoshiko , Fukumoto Takeshi , Mizuno Mayuko , Suzuki Mariko , Washio Ken , Nishigori Chikako , Fukunaga Atsushi
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Solar urticaria (SU), a relatively rare skin inflammatory and photosensitivity disease, is often resistant to standard urticaria treatment. Quality of life (QOL) among SU patients has not been extensively explored. This study was performed to clarify the clinical features and effectiveness of therapies (e.g., hardening therapy) for SU and to determine QOL among SU patients.

Methods

The authors examined the characteristics, treatments, and QOL statuses of 29 Japanese SU patients using medical records and a questionnaire approach.

Results

Among 29 patients, H1 antihistamine therapy (H1) was effective in 22 (75.8%) patients. H2 antihistamine therapy (H2) was effective in three of seven (42.9%) patients. Ultraviolet radiation A (UVA) hardening therapy was effective in eight of nine (88.9%) patients. Visible light (VL) hardening therapy was ineffective in three of three patients. In one patient who underwent both UVA and VL hardening therapy, only UVA hardening therapy was effective. In the questionnaire, 18 patients (90%) reported some improvement compared with disease onset (four had complete remission, six had completed treatment although mild symptoms persisted, and eight were receiving treatment with moderate symptoms), whereas two patients reported exacerbation. Patients in complete remission had a mean disease duration of 4 years, whereas patients not in remission had a mean disease duration of 8.8 years. The mean Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score for the current status was 7.4. There was a correlation between DLQI and symptom/treatment status. However, neither DLQI and action spectra nor DLQI and treatments exhibited significant differences.

Discussion

The questionnaire revealed current QOL status and long-term prognosis in SU patients. Compared with disease onset, most patients showed improvement when assessed for this study. Both H1 and H2 should be attempted for all SU patients. UVA hardening therapy may be an option for SU patients with an action spectrum that includes UVA.
Frequency and impact on renal transplant outcomes of urinary tract infections due to extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species
Authors: Brune Jakob E. , Dickenmann Michael , Sidler Daniel , Walti Laura N. , Golshayan Déla , Manuel Oriol , Haidar Fadi , Neofytos Dionysios , Schnyder Aurelia , Boggian Katia , Mueller Thomas F. , Schachtner Thomas , Khanna Nina , Schaub Stefan , Wehmeier Caroline ,   the Swiss Transplant Cohort Study
Published: February 2024

Background

Enterobacterales are often responsible for urinary tract infection (UTI) in kidney transplant recipients. Among these, Escherichia coli or Klebsiella species producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) are emerging. However, there are only scarce data on frequency and impact of ESBL-UTI on transplant outcomes.

Methods

We investigated frequency and impact of first-year UTI events with ESBL Escherichia coli and/or Klebsiella species in a prospective multicenter cohort consisting of 1,482 kidney transplants performed between 2012 and 2017, focusing only on 389 kidney transplants having at least one UTI with Escherichia coli and/or Klebsiella species. The cohort had a median follow-up of four years.

Results

In total, 139/825 (17%) first-year UTI events in 69/389 (18%) transplant recipients were caused by ESBL-producing strains. Both UTI phenotypes and proportion among all UTI events over time were not different compared with UTI caused by non-ESBL-producing strains. However, hospitalizations in UTI with ESBL-producing strains were more often observed (39% versus 26%, p = 0.04). Transplant recipients with first-year UTI events with an ESBL-producing strain had more frequently recurrent UTI (33% versus 18%, p = 0.02) but there was no significant difference in one-year kidney function as well as longer-term graft and patient survival between patients with and without ESBL-UTI.

Conclusion

First-year UTI events with ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and/or Klebsiella species are associated with a higher need for hospitalization but do neither impact allograft function nor allograft and patient survival.
High-throughput characterization of the effect of sodium chloride and potassium chloride on 31 lactic acid bacteria and their co-cultures
Authors: Ndiaye Amadou , Fliss Ismail , Filteau Marie
Published: February 2024

Salt (NaCl) is associated with a risk of hypertension and the development of coronary heart disease, so its consumption should be limited. However, salt plays a key role in the quality and safety of food by controlling undesirable microorganisms. Since studies have focused primarily on the effect of salts on the overall counts of the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) group, we have not yet understood how salt stress individually affects the strains and the interactions between them. In this study, we characterized the effect of sodium chloride (NaCl) and potassium chloride (KCl) on the growth and acidification of 31 LAB strains. In addition, we evaluated the effect of salts on a total of 93 random pairwise strain combinations. Strains and co-cultures were tested at 3% NaCl, 5% NaCl, and 3% KCl on solid medium using an automated approach and image analysis. The results showed that the growth of LAB was significantly reduced by up to 68% at 5% NaCl (p < 0.0001). For the co-cultures, a reduction of up to 57% was observed at 5% NaCl (p < 0.0001). However, acidification was less affected by salt stress, whether for monocultures or co-cultures. Furthermore, KCl had a lesser impact on both growth and acidification compared to NaCl. Indeed, some strains showed a significant increase in growth at 3% KCl, such as Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis 74310 (23%, p = 0.01). More importantly, co-cultures appeared to be more resilient and had more varied responses to salt stress than the monocultures, as several cases of suppression of the significant effect of salts on acidification and growth were detected. Our results highlight that while salts can modulate microbial interactions, these latter can also attenuate the effect of salts on LAB.
Impact of intense sanitization on environmental biofilm communities and the survival of Salmonella enterica at a beef processing plant
Authors: Wang Rong , Guragain Manita , Chitlapilly Dass Sapna , Palanisamy Vignesh , Bosilevac Joseph M.
Published: February 2024

Salmonella enterica is a leading cause of foodborne illness in the U.S. In the meat industry, one action taken to address pathogen contamination incidence is an intense sanitization (IS) of the entire processing plant that many large processors perform annually or semiannually. However, this procedure’s immediate and long-term impact on environment microbial community and pathogen colonization are unknown. Here we investigated the impact of IS procedure on environmental biofilms and the subsequent S. enterica colonization and stress tolerance. Environmental samples were collected from floor drains at various areas 1 week before, 1 week, and 4 weeks after the IS procedure at a beef plant with sporadic S. enterica prevalence. Biofilm formation by microorganisms in the drain samples without S. enterica presence was tested under processing temperature. The ability of the biofilms to recruit and/or protect a co-inoculated S. enterica strain from quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) treatment was determined. The community structure of each drain sample was elucidated through 16S rRNA amplicon community sequencing. Post-IS samples collected from 8 drains formed significantly stronger biofilms than the respective pre-IS samples. S. enterica colonization was not different between the pre- and post-IS biofilms at all drain locations. S. enterica survival in QAC-treated pre- and post-IS mixed biofilms varied depending upon the drain location but a higher survival was associated with a stronger biofilm matrix. The 16S rRNA amplicon gene community sequencing results exhibited a decrease in community diversity 1 week after IS treatment but followed by a significant increase 4 weeks after the treatment. The IS procedure also significantly altered the community composition and the higher presence of certain species in the post-IS community may be associated with the stronger mixed biofilm formation and Salmonella tolerance. Our study suggested that the IS procedure might disrupt the existing environmental microbial community and alter the natural population composition, which might lead to unintended consequences as a result of a lack of competition within the multispecies mixture. The survival and recruitment of species with high colonizing capability to the post-IS community may play crucial roles in shaping the ensuing ecological dynamics.
Emerging T cell immunoregulatory mechanisms in multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Hawiger Daniel
Published: February 2024

Multiple sclerosis (MS) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases with considerable socioeconomic impacts but without definitive treatments. AD and MS have multifactorial pathogenesis resulting in complex cognitive and neurologic symptoms and growing evidence also indicates key functions of specific immune cells. Whereas relevant processes dependent on T cells have been elucidated in both AD and MS, mechanisms that can control such immune responses still remain elusive. Here, a brief overview of select recent findings clarifying immunomodulatory mechanisms specifically induced by tolerogenic dendritic cells to limit the activation and functions of neurodegenerative T cells is presented. These insights could become a foundation for new cutting-edge research as well as therapeutic strategies.
Agricultural waste as a sustainable source for nanoparticle synthesis and their antimicrobial properties for food preservation
Authors: Flores-Contreras Elda A. , González-González Reyna Berenice , Pablo Pizaña-Aranda José Juan , Parra-Arroyo Lizeth , Rodríguez-Aguayo Arath A. , Iñiguez-Moreno Maricarmen , González-Meza Georgia María , Araújo Rafael G. , Ramírez-Gamboa Diana , Parra-Saldívar Roberto , Melchor-Martínez Elda M.
Published: February 2024

Traditional agriculture from cropping to harvesting is contributing to climate change by increasing global greenhouse emissions. Circular economy approaches and biorefinery technologies based on the reuse, recycling, and remanufacturing might result in the valorization of wastes that consequently would avoid environmental pollution. Nanoparticles synthesis using bio-waste such as stems, leaves, seeds, pulp, stubble, and bagasse is considered a green approach with low energy consumption, and low-cost production. Characteristics of raw materials influence the final application of nanoparticles in edible coatings, and films. Therefore, the preparation of nanoparticles based on cellulose, pectin, metal (titanium oxide, silver, zinc oxide), or silica are considered organic, inorganic, or hybrid nanocomposites, are resulted in several benefits including shelf-life extension and broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties by its capacity to encapsulate active compounds that greatly improve food preservation. For considering agro-waste-based nanoparticles in food, challenges in homogenization and synthesis, yield, and toxicity are mainly described. Therefore, this review examines the employment of agro-industrial waste for the development of sustainable nanoparticles and their synthesis methods (top-down and bottom-up). Moreover, it discusses their incorporation and role in active edible coatings and films by highlighting their bioactive properties, mechanisms of action, and applications in food group preservation.
Circuit formation and sensory perception in the mouse olfactory system
Authors: Mori Kensaku , Sakano Hitoshi
Published: February 2024

In the mouse olfactory system, odor information is converted to a topographic map of activated glomeruli in the olfactory bulb (OB). Although the arrangement of glomeruli is genetically determined, the glomerular structure is plastic and can be modified by environmental stimuli. If the pups are exposed to a particular odorant, responding glomeruli become larger recruiting the dendrites of connecting projection neurons and interneurons. This imprinting not only increases the sensitivity to the exposed odor, but also imposes the positive quality on imprinted memory. External odor information represented as an odor map in the OB is transmitted to the olfactory cortex (OC) and amygdala for decision making to elicit emotional and behavioral outputs using two distinct neural pathways, innate and learned. Innate olfactory circuits start to work right after birth, whereas learned circuits become functional later on. In this paper, the recent progress will be summarized in the study of olfactory circuit formation and odor perception in mice. We will also propose new hypotheses on the timing and gating of olfactory circuit activity in relation to the respiration cycle.
Fabrication of neutron absorbing metal hydride entrained ceramic matrix shield composites
Authors: Bhardwaj Devanshi , Cheng Bin , Sprouster David J. , Cunningham William S. , Rani Nirmala , Trelewicz Jason R. , Snead Lance L.
Published: February 2024

With significant improvement in High Temperature Superconductors (HTS), several projects are adopting HTS technology for fusion power systems. Compact HTS tokamaks offer potential advantages including lower plant costs, enhanced plasma control, and ultimately lower cost of electricity. However, as compact reactors have a reduced radial build to accommodate shielding, HTS degradation due to radiation damage or heating is a significant and potentially design limiting issue. Shielding must mitigate threats to the superconducting coils: neutron cascade damage, heat deposition and potentially organic insulator damage due x-rays. Unfortunately, there are currently no hi-performance shielding materials to enable the potential performance enhancement offered by HTS. In this work, we present a manufacturing method to fabricate a new class of composite shields that are high performance, high operating temperature, and simultaneously neutron absorbing and neutron moderating. The composite design consists of an entrained metal-hydride phase within a radiation stable MgO ceramic host matrix. We discuss the fabrication, characterization, and thermophysical performance data for a series of down-selected composite materials inspired by future fusion core designs and their operational performance metrics. To our knowledge these materials represent the first ceramic composite shield materials containing significant metal hydrides.