bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nuevas tecnologías aplicadas a la Comunicación, educación y empleabilidad para la inclusión de las personas con discapacidad en la sociedad digital
Authors: Mañas-Viniegra Luis , Rodríguez-Fernández Leticia , Herrero-de-la-Fuente Mercedes , Veloso Ana Isabel
Published: September 2023

Las nuevas tecnologías han contribuido a una mayor autonomía de las personas con discapacidad y a la reducción de su brecha tecnológica a partir de la adquisición de competencias digitales, mejorando así su dignidad de vida y los propios valores sociales inclusivos. También continúa existiendo una brecha entre la identidad personal y la construcción social de las personas con discapacidad. Aunque casi ha desaparecido la imagen negativa que en otras épocas transmitieron los medios de comunicación, la representación dicotómica como héroe o víctima aún las aleja de la inclusión en la esfera pública. Pese a ello, en redes sociales, se aprecia cómo la auto-representación de las personas con discapacidad comienza a fomentar la diversidad en los ámbitos de la belleza y moda sin renunciar a la exposición de los rasgos explícitos de la discapacidad. Estos avances, junto al impulso adicional que han proporcionado tanto los programas de innovación educativa como el propósito corporativo de las organizaciones, han propiciado nuevas oportunidades de empleabilidad que van más allá de los estereotipados perfiles profesionales que tradicionalmente se han asignado a las personas con discapacidad. La adquisición de las competencias digitales es clave para afrontar los retos laborales, culturales y sociales que plantea el actual entorno digital.
Research progress of correlation imaging under outdoor environment
Authors: Chang Chen , Sun Shuai , Du Long-Kun , Nie Zhen-Wu , He Lin-Gui , Zhang Yi , Chen Peng , Bao Ke , Liu Wei-Tao ,   Institute for Quantum Science and Technology, College of Science, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha 410073, China,   Interdisciplinary Center of Quantum Information, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha 410073, China,   Hunan Key Laboratory of Mechanism and Technology of Quantum Information, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha 410073, China
Published: September 2023

Image, as a method of information acquisition, is indispensable for human beings, and it plays an irreplaceable role in military and civilian fields, such as detection and scouting, precision guidance, transportation, and industrial production. In the outdoor environment, the resolution, signal-to-noise ratio, and working distance of optical imaging are limited as result of the influence of background light, stray light, and atmospheric medium. In recent years, with the development of muti-discipline such as optics, physics, information theory, and computer science, the new optical imaging technologies continue to emerge, thus bringing new opportunities for outdoor optical imaging towards long-distance, large field of view and high information flux. As one of the new active imaging technologies, correlation imaging has the potential applications of robustness against turbulence and noise, and the possibility of beating the Rayleigh limit. It can deal with the problems better, such as sharp attenuation of optical power caused by long distances, detection of interference signals from environmental noise, and influence of turbulence. Based on the principle of optical imaging, this paper analyzes the factors affecting optical imaging, in terms of resolution, signal-to-noise ratio, spatial bandwidth product, and imaging distance under outdoor environment, focusing on the research progress of outdoor correlation imaging including imaging systems, signal-to-noise screening technology and imaging algorithm. In addition, we analyze the requirements of optical imaging for longer distances and broader field of view, and consider the fundamental problems and the key technologies.
Edge states and skin effect dependent electron transport properties of non-Hermitian Su-Schrieffer-Heeger chain
Authors: Yang Yan-Li , Duan Zhi-Lei , Xue Hai-Bin ,   Teaching Center of Fundamental Courses, Jinzhong College of Information, Jinzhong 030800, China,   College of Physics, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China
Published: September 2023

In the non-reciprocal Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) chain, the hopping amplitude of an electron in the intra-cell depends on its hopping direction. Consequently, the non-Hermitian SSH chain has both non-trivial topological edge state and non-Hermitian skin effect. However, how to detect the non-trivial topological edge states and non-Hermitian skin effect has become an important topic in non-Hermitian physics. In this paper, we study the relationships of the non-trivial topological edge states and the non-Hermitian skin effect of non-Hermitian SSH chain with their electron transport properties in the vicinity of the zero energy. It is demonstrated that when the peak value of the electron transmission probability in the vicinity of the zero energy is much smaller than 1, the non-Hermitian SSH chain has a left-non-Hermitian skin effect; while that in the vicinity of the zero energy is much larger than 1, the non-Hermitian SSH chain has a right-non-Hermitian skin effect. In particular, the skin effect of non-Hermitian SSH chain can be further enhanced in the region of non-trivial topological edge states. Moreover, with the increase of the electron tunneling coupling amplitudes between the non-Hermitian SSH chain and the left and right leads from the weak coupling regime to the strong coupling one, the number of the dips of reflection probability in the vicinity of the zero energy will change from two to zero. Therefore, these results theoretically provide an alternative scheme for detecting non-trivial topological edge states and non-Hermitian skin effect types of the non-Hermitian SSH chain.
Neural circuit mechanisms for transforming learned olfactory valences into wind-oriented movement
Authors: Aso Yoshinori , Yamada Daichi , Bushey Daniel , Hibbard Karen L , Sammons Megan , Otsuna Hideo , Shuai Yichun , Hige Toshihide
Published: September 2023

How memories are used by the brain to guide future action is poorly understood. In olfactory associative learning in Drosophila, multiple compartments of the mushroom body act in parallel to assign a valence to a stimulus. Here, we show that appetitive memories stored in different compartments induce different levels of upwind locomotion. Using a photoactivation screen of a new collection of split-GAL4 drivers and EM connectomics, we identified a cluster of neurons postsynaptic to the mushroom body output neurons (MBONs) that can trigger robust upwind steering. These UpWind Neurons (UpWiNs) integrate inhibitory and excitatory synaptic inputs from MBONs of appetitive and aversive memory compartments, respectively. After formation of appetitive memory, UpWiNs acquire enhanced response to reward-predicting odors as the response of the inhibitory presynaptic MBON undergoes depression. Blocking UpWiNs impaired appetitive memory and reduced upwind locomotion during retrieval. Photoactivation of UpWiNs also increased the chance of returning to a location where activation was terminated, suggesting an additional role in olfactory navigation. Thus, our results provide insight into how learned abstract valences are gradually transformed into concrete memory-driven actions through divergent and convergent networks, a neuronal architecture that is commonly found in the vertebrate and invertebrate brains.
Broca’s area, variation and taxic diversity in early Homo from Koobi Fora (Kenya)
Authors: Beaudet Amélie , de Jager Edwin
Published: September 2023

Because brain tissues rarely fossilize, pinpointing when and how modern human cerebral traits emerged in the hominin lineage is particularly challenging. The fragmentary nature of the fossil material, coupled with the difficulty of characterizing such a complex organ, has been the source of long-standing debates. Prominent among them are the uncertainties around the derived or primitive state of the brain organization in the earliest representatives of the genus Homo, more particularly in key regions such as the Broca’s area. By revisiting a particularly well-preserved fossil endocast from the Turkana basin (Kenya), here we confirm that early Homo in Africa had a primitive organization of the Broca’s area ca. 1.9 million years ago. Additionally, our description of KNM-ER 3732 adds further information about the variation pattern of the inferior frontal gyrus in fossil hominins, with implications for early Homo taxic diversity (i.e. one or two Homo species at Koobi Fora) and the nature of the mechanisms involved in the emergence of derived cerebral traits.
Truncated radial glia as a common precursor in the late corticogenesis of gyrencephalic mammals
Authors: Bilgic Merve , Wu Quan , Suetsugu Taeko , Shitamukai Atsunori , Tsunekawa Yuji , Shimogori Tomomi , Kadota Mitsutaka , Nishimura Osamu , Kuraku Shigehiro , Kiyonari Hiroshi , Matsuzaki Fumio
Published: September 2023

The diversity of neural stem cells is a hallmark of the cerebral cortex development in gyrencephalic mammals, such as Primates and Carnivora. Among them, ferrets are a good model for mechanistic studies. However, information on their neural progenitor cells (NPC), termed radial glia (RG), is limited. Here, we surveyed the temporal series of single-cell transcriptomes of progenitors regarding ferret corticogenesis and found a conserved diversity and temporal trajectory between human and ferret NPC, despite the large timescale difference. We found truncated RG (tRG) in ferret cortical development, a progenitor subtype previously described in humans. The combination of in silico and in vivo analyses identified that tRG differentiate into both ependymal and astrogenic cells. Via transcriptomic comparison, we predict that this is also the case in humans. Our findings suggest that tRG plays a role in the formation of adult ventricles, thereby providing the architectural bases for brain expansion.
Actividad de fosfolipasas y proteasas en aislamientos de especies de Candida colonizadoras y causantes de vulvovaginitis en mujeres gestantes
Authors: Puello Martha , Young Gregorio , Suárez Paola
Published: September 2023

Introducción. Las proteasas y las fosfolipasas son factores de virulencia de Candida spp. que cumplen un papel importante en la invasión de los tejidos. Entre los factores relacionados con el huésped, se encuentran algunos asociados con las características ambientales y otros con la colonización.Objetivo. Determinar la actividad de fosfolipasas y proteasas en aislamientos de especies colonizadoras y patógenas de Candida spp., aisladas de mujeres gestantes de Cartagena de Indias.Materiales y métodos. Se determinó la actividad de fosfolipasas y proteasas en 56 aislamientos mediante degradación del sustrato y cálculo del coeficiente de actividad enzimática. Se compararon las actividades de fosfolipasas y proteasas, entre los aislamientos colonizadores y los patógenos.Resultados. La actividad de la fosfolipasa fue “muy alta” (< 0,69) en 34 aislamientos e, igualmente, la de la proteasa en 14. No hubo diferencias significativas al comparar las actividades de las fosfolipasas y de las de las proteasas, entre los aislamientos colonizadores y los patógenos.Conclusiones. La actividad de las fosfolipasas predominó como factor de virulencia en los aislamientos estudiados. No obstante, no se encontró una diferencia significativa entre los grupos de aislamientos colonizadores y los patógenos, en cuanto a las actividades de fosfolipasas y proteasas.
Brote de tinea capitis tricofítica en un grupo de niños escolares en un área rural del departamento del Cauca, Colombia
Authors: González Fabiola Eugenia , Rodríguez José Alejandro , Muñoz Lina María , Apráez Giovanny , Vásquez Luis Reinel
Published: September 2023

Introducción. La tiña de la cabeza es una micosis que se presenta en el tejido queratinizado, afecta al cuero cabelludo y puede causar alopecia, prurito y descamación. Este tipo de micosis es más frecuente en niños de edad escolar, por lo que puede desencadenar un problema de salud pública. En Colombia, los principales agentes etiológicos reportados son los dermatofitos zoofílicos.Objetivo. En el presente estudio se buscó caracterizar un brote de tinea capitis en 32 niños de un colegio de la zona rural del departamento del Cauca.Materiales y métodos. Se llevó a cabo una investigación epidemiológica de campo en la que se aplicó una encuesta estructurada para caracterizar aspectos sociodemográficos y factores predisponentes para su ocurrencia. Se recolectaron muestras de escamas de cuero cabelludo y cabellos afectados para estudios micológicos. Finalmente, por medio de la Secretaría Departamental del Cauca y del hospital local, se manejó el brote de tinea capitis y se hicieron recomendaciones a los niños, los padres de familia y la población en general para prevenir estas micosis. Este estudio contó con el consentimiento informado verbal por parte de los padres de familia y los niños.Resultados. El agente etiológico aislado en el 63 % de las muestras recolectadas fue Trichophyton tonsurans y el principal factor predisponente para esta micosis fue compartir máquinas rasuradoras (87,5 %). El agente etiológico de este brote de tinea capitis no inflamatoria fue un dermatofito antropofílico.
Tipificación bioquímica y evaluación de la patogenicidad de aislamientos vulvovaginales del complejo Candida albicans
Authors: Morales-López Soraya , Ustate Keiner , Pedrozo Zulay , Torres Yulibeth
Published: September 2023

Introducción. Candida albicans, C. dubliniensis y C. africana forman el complejo Candida albicans.Objetivo. Identificar las características fenotípicas y patogénicas de aislamientos del complejo C. albicans conservados en una colección.Materiales y métodos. Se evaluaron 300 aislamientos identificados presuntivamente como del complejo C. albicans, utilizando CHROMagarTM Candida. Se determinó la producción del tubo germinal mediante tres métodos, se evaluó la producción de clamidosporas, se caracterizaron las colonias en agares artesanales (Rosmarinus officinalis y Nicotiana tabacum) y se utilizó MALDI-TOF como prueba de referencia para la identificación. Para detectar factores de patogenicidad, se evaluó la actividad hemolítica de los aislamientos independientes y en cocultivo con Staphylococcus aureus, la producción de enzima coagulasa y la formación de biopelículas.Resultados. El 43,7 % de los aislamientos produjo tubo germinal en caldo de medio infusión de cerebro-corazón y el 47 % generó clamidosporas. En los medios artesanales, en el 6 % de los aislamientos se obtuvieron colonias de color café en agar romero y, en el 5 %, en agar tabaco. Ninguna de las cepas hemolizó el agar sangre comercial (ni en presencia o ausencia de S. aureus), mientras que el 50 % hemolizó el agar papa dextrosa suplementado con sangre. Todos los aislamientos produjeron enzima coagulasa y la producción de biopelículas fue variable. Para la producción de tubo germinal, el método de suero humano mostró igual positividad que el de caldo de leche. Todos los aislamientos fueron identificados como C. albicans por MALDITOF.Conclusiones. Se requieren herramientas de proteómica y pruebas moleculares, o la combinación de métodos, para poder discriminar entre especies.
Fast and cost-effective protocol to produce Paracoccidioides spp. antigens
Authors: Fernandes-Beraldo Karolina Rosa , Santos de Freitas-Xavier Roseli , Pardini-Vicentini Adriana
Published: September 2023

Introduction. The existing methods for Paracoccidioides spp. antigen production are problematic in terms of standardization, specificity, stability, repeatability, and reproducibility.Objective. To optimize the methodology for Paracoccidioides spp. antigen production and evaluate its applicability in paracoccidioidomycosis immunodiagnosis.Materials and methods. The antigens were obtained from Paracoccidioides lutzii isolates (01, 66, and 8334), Paracoccidioides brasiliensis sensu stricto (113), and Paracoccidioides restripiensis (B-339). These fungi were grown at 36 °C ± 1 °C, on modified Fava-Netto agar, according to Freitas et al. (2018). Paracoccidioides lutzii antigens were obtained after , 10, and 20 days of culture, whereas P. brasiliensis and P. restripiensis antigens were obtained after 10 days. Antigens were evaluated in natura, 10 and 20 times concentrated. Antigenic capacity was evaluated using a double immunodiffusion assay against serum samples from patients with paracoccidioidomycosis, histoplasmosis, and aspergillosis, and random blood donors.Results. Cross-reactivity between Paracoccidioides spp. antigens was observed when P. brasiliensis, P. restrepiensis antigens, and P. lutzii antigens were evaluated with the polyclonal antibodies against P. lutzii and P. brasiliensis, respectively. No cross-reactivity was obtained for polyclonal antibodies against Histoplasma capsulatum, Aspergillus fumigatus, and random blood donors. The proposed protocol allowed stable, repeatable, and reproducible genus-specific antigen production at a low cost and in a short cultivation time.Conclusion. The proposed protocol allowed us to obtain genus-specific antigens that can be developed and reproduced in all laboratories in Brazil and South America, where paracoccidioidomycosis is a neglected disease, contributing to an early diagnosis, especially in endemic regions, regardless of the species.
The conventional diagnosis challenge: Real-time PCR and nested PCR correlation with the scoring system for individuals at high-risk of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia
Authors: Almeida-Siva Fernando , Almeida-Paes Rodrigo , Serra-Damasceno Lisandra , Motta-Santos Edwiges , Ferreira Luiz Claudio , Pereira-Quintella Leonardo , De Faria Ferreira Marcela , De Medeiros-Muniz Mauro , Zancopé-Oliveira Rosely M.
Published: September 2023

Introduction. Pneumocystis jirovecii is an opportunistic fungus that affects mainly people living with HIV (CD4 cell count lower than 200 cells/ml) and other immunosuppressed patients. Since P. jirovecii does not grow on routine mycological media, diagnosis of P. jirovecii pneumonia relies on indirect evidence of its presence in respiratory samples.Objectives. To associate the results of direct immunofluorescence and two molecular methods with a score to predict P. jirovecii pneumonia in patients with AIDS.Materials and methods. A prospective study was conducted with 40 patients. A respiratory sample collected before treatment was subjected to direct immunofluorescence using the Merifluor kit, to nested PCR targeting the mitochondrial large subunit ribosomal RNA, and to the VIASURE real-time PCR kit.Results. These three techniques revealed P. jirovecii in 6, 12, and 15 samples, respectively. All positive samples by direct immunofluorescence were positive by nested PCR, and all positive samples by nested PCR amplified by real-time PCR. There was a statistically significant association between the P. jirovecii pneumonia score and the molecular methods. Two patients were early diagnosed and responded well to treatment.Conclusion. Molecular methods, especially real-time PCR, are recommended for early diagnosis of P. jirovecii pneumonia in AIDS patients.
Candida auris: un agente patógeno global que se ha arraigado en Colombia
Authors: Escandón Patricia , Lockhart Shawn R. , Chow Nancy A. , Chiller Tom M.
Published: September 2023

Candida auris ha sido reconocido como un agente patógeno multirresistente emergente con una carga significativa en la salud pública. Genera casos de infección invasiva y colonización debido a su persistencia en superficies inanimadas, su capacidad para colonizar fácilmente la piel de algunos pacientes y su alta transmisibilidad en el ambiente hospitalario.El primer reporte esporádico de esta especie fue en Asia en el 2009 cuando se realizó su aislamiento a partir del conducto auditivo de un paciente, y pronto le siguieron reportes en otras regiones del mundo. Sin embargo, no fue hasta 2015 que se conocieron las alertas epidemiológicas a nivel mundial debido a un aumento en el número de casos de infecciones causadas por C. auris en varios países.Colombia se sumó a la lista en 2016 luego de un aumento inusual en el número de aislamientos de C. haemulonii informados, que luego se confirmaron como C. auris. Desdeque el Instituto Nacional de Salud junto con el Ministerio de Salud emitieron la Alerta Nacional en el 2016, el número de casos reportados superó los 2.000 en el 2022.Los aislamientos colombianos no han mostrado resistencia generalizada a los antifúngicos disponibles, contrario a lo reportado para cepas de C. auris en algunas regiones del mundo, por lo que los pacientes en Colombia aún cuentan con opciones terapéuticas para estas infecciones. No obstante, se ha observado un aumento en la resistencia al fluconazol.
Robustness of genetic diversity measures under spatial sampling and a new frequency-independent measure
Authors: Aoki Satoshi , Ishihama Fumiko , Fukasawa Keita
Published: September 2023

The genetic diversity of a taxon has often been estimated by genetic diversity measures. However, they assume random sampling of individuals which is often inapplicable. Except when the distribution of the taxon is limited, researchers conventionally choose several sampling locations from the known distribution and then collect individuals from each location. Spatial sampling is a formalized version of the conventional sampling, which objectively provides geographically even sampling locations to cover genetic variation in a taxon assuming isolation by distance. To evaluate the validity of the spatial sampling in estimating genetic diversity, we conducted coalescent simulation experiments. The sampling locations were selected by spatial sampling and one sample was collected from each location for the sake of theoretical simplicity. We also devised a new measure of genetic diversity, ς, which assumes spatial sampling and is independent of allele frequency. This new measure places an emphasis on rare and phylogenetically distant alleles which have relatively small effect on nucleotide diversity. Therefore, it can complementarily serve for conservation studies although it cannot be used to estimate population mutation rate. We compared ς with the other diversity measures in the experiments. Nucleotide diversity, expected heterozygosity and ς showed within 3% relative biases on average while Watterson’s theta was 31% overestimation on average. Thus, genetic diversities other than Watterson’s theta held good robustness under the spatial sampling.
Lower-limb sagittal joint angles during gait can be predicted based on foot acceleration and angular velocity
Authors: Inai Takuma , Takabayashi Tomoya
Published: September 2023

Background and purpose

Continuous monitoring of lower-limb movement may help in the early detection and control/reduction of diseases (such as the progression of orthopedic diseases) by applying suitable interventions. Therefore, it is invaluable to calculate the lower-limb movement (sagittal joint angles) while walking daily for continuous evaluation of such risks. Although cameras in a motion capture system are necessary for calculating lower-limb sagittal joint angles during gait, the method is unrealistic considering the setting is difficult to achieve in daily life. Therefore, the estimation of lower-limb sagittal joint angles during walking based on variables, which can be measured using wearable sensors (e.g., foot acceleration and angular velocity), is important. This study estimates the lower-limb sagittal joint angles during gait from the norms of foot acceleration and angular velocity using machine learning and validates the accuracy of the estimated joint angles with those obtained using a motion capture system.

Methods

Healthy adults (n = 200) were asked to walk at a comfortable speed (10 trials), and their lower-limb sagittal joint angles, foot accelerations, and angular velocities were obtained. Using these variables, we established a feedforward neural network and estimated the lower-limb sagittal joint angles.

Results

The average root mean squared errors of the lower-limb sagittal joint angles during gait ranged between 2.5°–7.0° (hip: 7.0°; knee: 4.0°; and ankle: 2.5°).

Conclusion

These results show that we can estimate the lower-limb sagittal joint angles during gait using only the norms of foot acceleration and angular velocity, which can help calculate the lower-limb sagittal joint angles during daily walking.
Impact of Organic Farming on the Livelihood of Organic Farmers in Manipur
Authors: Konjengbam Monika Devi , Singh Dan , Yadav R. N. , Singh D. K. , Singh L. B. , Kumar Mukesh , Sachan D. K. , Pandey Mohit Kumar
Published: September 2023

The study was conducted to evaluate how organic farming has affected the livelihood of organic farmers. The research was carried out in Churachandpur and Imphal West districts of Manipur. The ex-post facto research design was adopted for the study. Data were collected using a structured and pre-tested interview schedule through personal interview method. The direct impact consisting of yield, income and cost of cultivation and the indirect impact such as personal, social, economic and environmental impact were considered for the study. The outcomes of the study indicated that regarding overall impact, the majority of the organic farmers were having medium to high level of impact of organic farming. Regarding direct impact, majority of the organic farming has reported an increase in yield, income and a decrease in the cost of cultivation. Whereas for indirect impact the majority of the organic farmers have reported increased confidence in sustainable farming, participation in social organizations, household savings and improvement in soil fertility and quality.
Transformative Teaching Strategy and Design to handle Pre-concepts in "Matter State Changes" in Junior High School Science
Authors: Zheng Fenfen , Zhang Yiping
Published: September 2023

Concept is a systematic element in junior high school subject knowledge, and concept learning is not only concept acquisition, but also includes concept transformation. In order to effectively transform students' pre-concepts, this study takes the chapter of "matter state changes" in junior high school science as an example. On the basis of the previous inquiry and analysis of the pre-concepts, a targeted teaching strategy of the pre-concept transformation is proposed. Teaching strategies include exploring learners' pre-conceptions, setting up experimental situations, scientific reasoning, analogizing the pre-concepts and science concepts, and integrating students' knowledge. Meanwhile the relevant teaching design of the state of "white gas", endothermic and exothermic, factors affecting the speed of liquid evaporation, the substances inside the bubble and the condition of bubble motion when water boils, dry ice stage effects, etc., are presented. It is hoped that by making such attempts to effectively transform students' pre-concepts, help students establish science concepts. and realize the adjustment and change of the original cognitive structure.
Evaluation of Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc) Genotypes under Coconut Ecosystem
Authors: Sivakumar V. , Kumar M. , Balakumbahan R. , Vanitha K. , Vidhya D. , Karthikeyan S. , Sudha R.
Published: September 2023

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance ginger genotypes under coconut ecosystem at Coconut Research Station, Aliyar Nagar, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, and Coimbatore during the period from 2017- 18and 2018-19. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications and the treatments included viz., Rejetha, Ashwathy, Maran, Karthika, GCP 49, IISR 1 (GB), Mahima, ACC 578, Athira, ACC 581, Rio de Janeiro, Varadha, Thadimaram and local Gudalore. data were recorded from five randomly selected plants on plant height, shoot diameter, number of shoots, number of leaves, leaf length, leaf breadth, yield per plot and hectare and was analyzed using analysis of variance. Results showed the highest plant height (92.70 cm),shoot diameter (3.27cm), no. of leaves (30), leaf length (27.89 cm) registered in Thadimaram, whereas the highest no. of shoots (8.10), leaf width (3.78 cm), yield per plot (13.64 kg) and yield (24.80t/ha) was recorded in Athira followed by Rejethawhich recorded the highest yield per plot (12.15 kg) and yield (22.09t/ha) during 2017-18.During 2018-19the highest plant height (99.90 cm),shoot diameter (3.60cm), leaf length (29.10 cm) was registered in Thadimaram, whereas the highest no. of shoots (8.30), no. of leaves (36.0), leaf width (3.90 cm), yield per plot (14.20 kg) and yield(25.50 t/ha) was recorded in Athira followed by Rejethawhich recorded the highest yield per plot (12.70kg) and yield (22.80t/ha). Athira and Rejetha genotypes outperformed the other genotypes and could be considered as the most suitable genotypes for cultivation under the coconut ecosystems of Coimbatore district.
Pasteuria spp. as Biocontrol Agent against Plant-Parasitic Nematodes: An Overview
Authors: Devi Gitanjali
Published: September 2023

Plant-parasitic nematodes are important threat to agricultural crops. Management through biological control agents like endoparasitic bacteria, Pasteuria spp. has shown great promise. They occur worldwide and have been reported from a wide range of environment.A comprehensive understanding of the biology of Pasteuria spp. and their mechanism underlying nematode disease suppression may help to develop useful biocontrol agent against plant-parasitic nematodes. This review gives an account of the morphology, biology, parasitic mechanisms of Pasteuria spp and their potential uses.
Contribution to the Occurrence of the Blackfly (Diptera:Similiidae) in the Palestinian Territories, West Bank
Authors: Adawi Shadi , Handal Elias , Romdhane Mohamed Salah , Hmida Leila
Published: September 2023

Aims: The primary objective of the study was to gather evidence regarding the presence of black fly fauna in the Palestinian environment. The research extensively examined breeding sites and habitats, as well as studied the physiochemical parameters of the water in these breeding sites. Furthermore, the study assessed the potential impacts of these insects on both humans and animals

Study Design:  A cross- sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: From January 2023 to August 2023, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in the West Bank-Salfit district to collect larvae and adult blackflies within the Wadi Qana protected area.

Methodology: In January 2023, a field survey was conducted in the Wadi Qana protected area (32.12582, 34.8952) in the Salfit district to study the freshwater fauna. A total of 220 larvae individual of the Blackfly were collected from the running water in the valley. Forceps used to collect specimens and preserved in 70% ethanol, while adults of this group were examined under a dissecting microscope. The specimens were identified using various identification keys [4,9,12].

Results: During the study period, a total of 220 larvae were collected from breeding sites in the freshwater habitats of Wadi Qana. Two subgenera of blackflies were identified in the study area: Simulium (Wilhelmia) Enderlein and Simulium (Odgamia) Enderlein. The results indicate that blackflies breed in fast-flowing freshwater habitats covered by annual aquatic plants, with dissolved oxygen levels at 10.1 mg/L, pH average 8.2   and average temperature 21.6°C.

No significant health effects were recorded or documented in the study area, except for the nuisance caused to humans and animals by the biting of blackflies.

In conclusion, this study marks the first record and presence of the blackfly in the Palestinian environment. Further much more research is needed to explore their fauna, biology, ecology, habitats, distribution, and medical significance.

Conclusion: blackfly was recorded for the first time in the Palestinian environment, more study research are needed to discussed the fauna, biology, ecology, habitats, distribution and the medically important.
Nutritional Information and Food Consumption Pattern of Adolescents’ Secondary School Students in the Urban-Slum Communities of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
Authors: Kolawole Ajayi, Joseph
Published: September 2023

Nutritional status is influenced by the food consumed, health status, sanitary environment and accessibility to nutritional information. This study explored nutritional information and food consumption pattern of adolescents’ secondary school in urban slums, using students in public secondary schools in Ibadan North Local Government Area (IBNLGA), Oyo State, Nigeria. A descriptive study was conducted using a three stage random sampling technique to select 467 respondents. Data were collected using a semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire, anthropometric measurements, observational checklist, and Hellen Keller International food frequency questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square and logistic regression statistics. Results revealed among others that respondents’ favourite foods were cassava-based, and sources of nutrition information included teachers (41.8%), parents (33.8%), television (22.1%), radio (16.7%) and siblings (1.3%). The study concluded that many respondents were underweight partly due to poor food consumption pattern as a result of inadequate access to nutritional information. This study recommended more intensive approach to address health and nutrition issues by providing adequate nutritional information in this age group.
ORIGEM POPULAR E TERRITORIAL DA CRIATIVIDADE
Authors: Tróchez Eyder Fabio Calambás
Published: September 2023

Tradução: Vered Engelhard e Maria Fantinato Géo de Siqueira.
The Last Note
Authors: Menzin Eleanor R.
Published: September 2023

In this narrative medicine essay, a pediatrician shares her reflections on final pediatric visits, channeled through her grandmother’s rules of etiquette.
Seat Belt Use in the US by Pregnant Motor Vehicle Occupants
Authors: Espelien Corina , Jin Ruyun , Mostofizadeh Susan , VanRyzin Rachel , Hartka Thomas , Forman Jason , Chernyavskiy Pavel
Published: September 2023

This cross-sectional study assesses patterns of seat belt use among pregnant, nonpregnant, and male occupants.
Monte Carlo dosimetry of a novel Yttrium‐90 disc source for episcleral brachytherapy
Authors: Chang Xiangyun , Huang Lyu , Liu Jian , Cao Yijian , Chang Jenghwa
Published: September 2023

Purpose

To calculate the dose distribution using Monte Carlo simulations for a novel high‐dose‐rate Yttrium‐90 (Y‐90) disc source recently developed for episcleral brachytherapy and provide a lookup table for treatment planning.

Methods

Monte Carlo simulations were performed to calculate the in‐water dose distribution of the Y‐90 disc source using the “GATE”, a software based on the “Geant4” Monte Carlo simulation toolkit developed by the international OpenGATE collaboration. The geometry of this novel beta source, its capsule, and the surrounding water medium were accurately modeled in the simulation input files. The standard Y‐90 element beta spectrum from ICRU 72 was used, and the physics processes for beta and photon interactions with matters were all included. The dose distribution of this Y‐90 disc source was measured in a separate study using Gafchromic EBT‐3 films and the results were reported elsewhere. To match the setup of the experiment, a Gafchromic EBT‐3 film was also included in the simulation geometry. The simulated dose profiles were exported from the 3D dose distribution results and compared with the measured dose profiles. Transverse dose profiles at different distances from the seed surface were also obtained to study the lateral coverage of the source.

Results

The measured percent depth dose (PDD) curves along the central axis perpendicular to the surface of the Y‐90 disc were constructed from the experimental and simulated data, and normalized to the reference point at 1 mm from the source capsule. Both PDD curves agreed well up to 4 mm from the source surface (maximum difference ± 10%) but deviated from each other beyond 4 mm. The deviation might be caused by the increased measurement uncertainty in the low‐dose region. The dose rate at the reference point calculated from the Monte Carlo simulation was 1.09 cGy/mCi‐s and agreed very well with the measured dose rate of 1.05 cGy/mCi‐s. If the 80% isodose line is selected as the lateral coverage, the lateral dose coverage is maximal (∼4.5 mm) at the plane next to the source surface, and gradually decreases with the increasing distance, approaching 3.5 mm when the plane is 5 mm from the 6‐mm diameter source surface.

Conclusion

Monte Carlo simulations were successfully performed to confirm the measured PDD curve of the novel Y‐90 disc source. This simulation work laid a solid foundation for characterizing the full dosimetry parameters of this source for episcleral brachytherapy applications.
Stabilizing Li Growth Using Li/LLZO Composites for High‐Performance Li‐Metal‐Based Batteries
Authors: Yoo Jae Yeon , Kim Tae Yeong , Shin Dong‐Min , Kang Yongku , Wu Mi Hye , Kang Yun Chan , Kim Do Youb
Published: September 2023

Lithium (Li) metal is widely acknowledged as the most promising anode material, owing to its high capacity and low potential. However, the practical implementation of Li faces challenges, including uncontrollable dendritic growth and a deficient solid electrolyte interphase (SEI). Here a straightforward method is provided for fabricating Li composites using Al‐doped Li7La3Zr2O12 particles (Li/LLZO) with high Li‐ion conductivity achieved using a mechanical kneading process. The optimized composite, with 20% LLZO content (Li/LLZO‐20), effectively regulates the Li‐ion flux, successfully suppressing Li dendritic growth. Using a systematic investigation, it is demonstrated that incorporating LLZO particles significantly accelerates Li‐ion migration at the electrode–electrolyte interface, facilitating smooth transport through the LLZO particles. Consequently, Li‐metal battery and Li–S battery cells utilizing the Li/LLZO‐20 composite anode exhibit remarkable cycle stability compared to cells employing pure Li anodes.
Metal–Organic Framework Supercapacitors: Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Shin Seung‐Jae , Gittins Jamie W. , Balhatchet Chloe J. , Walsh Aron , Forse Alexander C.
Published: September 2023

Supercapacitors offer superior energy storage capabilities than traditional capacitors, making them useful for applications such as electric vehicles and rapid large‐scale energy storage. The energy storage performance of these devices relies on electrical double‐layer capacitance and/or pseudocapacitance from rapid reversible redox reactions. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have recently emerged as a new class of electrode materials with promising supercapacitor performances and capacitances that exceed those of traditional materials. However, the comparison of the supercapacitor performance of a porous carbon and a state‐of‐the‐art MOF highlights a number of challenges for MOF supercapacitors, including low potential windows, limited cycle lifetimes, and poor rate performances. It is proposed that the well‐defined and tuneable chemical structures of MOFs present a number of avenues for improving supercapacitor performance. Recent experimental and theoretical work on charging mechanisms in MOF‐based supercapacitors is also discussed, and it is found that there is a need for more studies that elucidate the charge storage and degradation mechanisms. Ultimately, a deeper understanding will lead to design principles for realizing improved supercapacitor energy storage devices.
Biomimetic Vascular Grafts with Circumferentially and Axially Oriented Microporous Structures for Native Blood Vessel Regeneration
Authors: Ding Zhaozhao , Wang Yuanyuan , Chen Fangfang , Hu Xiao , Cheng Weinan , Lu Qiang , Kaplan David L.
Published: September 2023

Porous grafts facilitate constructive remodeling of blood vessels. Incorporating multiple biomimetic cues to porous grafts can promote vascular regeneration. However, the fabrication of such medical devices remains challenging. Here, beta‐sheet rich silk nanofibers (BSN) are added to poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) solution and aggregated under a cylindric electric field to form circumferentially and axially oriented tubular structures, to simulate the endothelial and media layers of blood vessels. PVA in the aligned tubes is then crystallized through repeat freezing–thawing process to offer mechanical performances. Through tuning the ratio of BSN and PVA, the composite tubes with dual anisotropic microstructures exhibit better mechanical properties than pure PVA vascular grafts. Significantly improved cell adhesion, spreading, proliferation, and alignment are achieved. Both endothelial and smooth muscle cells show improved biological activity on the grafts due to the regulatory roles of the aligned structures. In vivo studies reveal the formation of endothelial layers within four weeks of implantation, ensuring long‐term patency. The endothelial and smooth muscle double layers are regenerated after eight months postimplantation, forming hierarchical microstructures and compositions similar to native vessels. The porous composite grafts with multiple aligned structures guide vascular remodeling to regenerate blood vessels, demonstrating potential for clinical translation.
Synergistic Approach of Antibody‐Photosensitizer Conjugate Independent of KRAS‐Mutation and Its Downstream Blockade Pathway in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Ahn Minji , Lee Taebum , Kim Kyoung Sub , Lee Sanghee , Na Kun
Published: September 2023

Here, a novel approach is presented to improve the efficacy of antibody‐drug conjugates (ADC) by integrating antibody‐mediated immunotherapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT) in a combination therapy system utilizing an antibody‐photosensitizer conjugate (APC) platform based on a poloxamer polymer linker. To specifically target Kirsten rat sarcoma 2 viral oncogene homolog (KRAS)‐mutated cancer cells, an antibody antiepidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), cetuximab, with a poloxamer linker coupled with the photosensitizer chlorin e6 through click chemistry (cetuximab‐maleimide‐poly(ethylene oxide)‐poly(propylene oxide)‐poly(ethylene oxide)‐chlorine e6 conjugate, CMPXC) is synthesized. CMPXC is cytotoxic upon laser treatment, achieving a 90% cell death by suppressing KRAS downstream signaling pathways associated with ERK and AKT proteins, confirmed using RNA sequencing analysis. In KRAS‐mutated colorectal cancer mouse models, CMPXC significantly enhances antitumor efficacy compared with cetuximab treatment alone, resulting in an 86% reduction in tumor growth. Furthermore, CMPXC treatment leads to a 2.24‐ and 1.75‐fold increase in dendritic and priming cytotoxic T cells, respectively, highlighting the immune‐activating potential of this approach. The findings suggest that the APC platform addresses the challenges associated with ADC development and EGFR‐targeted therapy, including the synergistic advantages of antibody‐mediated immunotherapy and PDT.
Insights into the Si─H Bonding Configuration at the Amorphous/Crystalline Silicon Interface of Silicon Heterojunction Solar Cells by Raman and FTIR Spectroscopy
Authors: Fischer Benedikt , Lambertz Andreas , Nuys Maurice , Beyer Wolfhard , Duan Weiyuan , Bittkau Karsten , Ding Kaining , Rau Uwe
Published: September 2023

In silicon heterojunction solar cell technology, thin layers of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a‐Si:H) are applied as passivating contacts to the crystalline silicon (c‐Si) wafer. Thus, the properties of the a‐Si:H is crucial for the performance of the solar cells. One important property of a‐Si:H is its microstructure which can be characterized by the microstructure parameterRbased on Si─H bond stretching vibrations. A common method to determineRis Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) absorption measurement which, however, is difficult to perform on solar cells for various reasons like the use of textured Si wafers and the presence of conducting oxide contact layers. Here, it is demonstrated that Raman spectroscopy is suitable to determine the microstructure of bulk a‐Si:H layers of 10 nm or less on textured c‐Si underneath indium tin oxide as conducting oxide. A detailed comparison of FTIR and Raman spectra is performed and significant differences in the microstructure parameter are obtained by both methods with decreasing a‐Si:H film thickness.
Chiral Iron Oxide Supraparticles Enable Enantiomer‐Dependent Tumor‐Targeted Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Li Chen , Zhao Jing , Gao Xiaoqing , Hao Changlong , Hu Shudong , Qu Aihua , Sun Maozhong , Kuang Hua , Xu Chuanlai , Xu Liguang
Published: September 2023

The chemical, physical and biological effects of chiral nanomaterials have inspired general interest and demonstrated important advantages in fundamental science. Here, chiral iron oxide supraparticles (Fe3O4 SPs) modified by chiral penicillamine (Pen) molecules with g‐factor of ≈2 × 10−3 at 415 nm are fabricated, and these SPs act as high‐quality magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents. Therein, the transverse relaxation efficiency and T2‐MRI results demonstrated chiral Fe3O4 SPs have a r2 relaxivity of 157.39 ± 2.34 mM−1·S−1 for D‐Fe3O4 SPs and 136.21 ± 1.26 mM−1·S−1 for L‐Fe3O4 SPs due to enhanced electronic transition dipole moment for D‐Fe3O4 SPs compared with L‐Fe3O4 SPs. The in vivo MRI results show that D‐Fe3O4 SPs exhibit two‐fold lower contrast ratio than L‐Fe3O4 SPs, which enhances targeted enrichment in tumor tissue, such as prostate cancer, melanoma and brain glioma tumors. Notably, it is found that D‐Fe3O4 SPs have 7.7‐fold higher affinity for the tumor cell surface receptor cluster‐of‐differentiation 47 (CD47) than L‐Fe3O4 SPs. These findings uncover that chiral Fe3O4 SPs act as a highly effective MRI contrast agent for targeting and imaging broad tumors, thus accelerating the practical application of chiral nanomaterials and deepening the understanding of chirality in biological and non‐biological environments.
Matrix‐Driving Stretchable Structural Colors in Multi‐Pixels Operation Using Chiral Liquid Crystal Elastomers
Authors: Shin Jun Hyuk , Nam Seungmin , Han Sang Hyun , Park Ji Yoon , Kwon Chaehyun , Choi Su Seok
Published: September 2023

Stretchable structural color technologies are garnering significant attention in photonics for various applications owing to its stretchable flexibility and ability to control the photonic wavelength of light. However, stretchable photonic media, such as chiral liquid crystal elastomers (CLCEs), are subjected to uncontrollable nonuniform strain distribution and position‐dependent color change during the stretching‐assisted color tuning process. Therefore, controlling the colors of the mechanochromic structures is limited to just single‐unit operation level and practically desirable matrix driving mechanochromic devices for multi‐pixel applications have not been realized yet. The study reports position‐independent and multi‐pixel‐driven uniform stretchable structural color switching realized through row and column matrix switching operations by electrically stretchable CLCEs. The uniform strain‐induced color control mechanism and operations of a multi‐arrayed matrix‐driven stretchable color structure are theoretically and experimentally investigated. This breakthrough of a uniform and multi‐pixel color switching of a seven‐segment matrix driving stretchable CLCEs will be a technological leap into full‐scale use of mechanochromic structural colors in practical applications.