bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of early childhood education teacher preparedness in implementing the Merdeka Curriculum
Authors: Wahyuningtyas Dessy Putri , Mahya Isyna Ainim , Fitria Rofidah Nur , Lestari Dewi
Published: November 2023

Early childhood education (ECED) plays an important role in forming the basis of children's intellectual, emotional, and social development in the early stages of their lives. In Indonesia, one of the important initiatives in improving the quality of education is the Merdeka Curriculum. This curriculum aims to give teachers the freedom to develop innovative and relevant learning methods. Malang City, as one of the education centers in Indonesia, has also adopted the Merdeka Curriculum in an effort to improve the quality of early childhood education. However, the successful implementation of the Merdeka Curriculum largely depends on the extent to which ECD teachers understand, plan, and implement learning in accordance with the demands of the curriculum. Therefore, educational researchers and practitioners need to conduct an in-depth analysis related to the readiness of ECD teachers to face this curriculum change. This study used a survey research method through questionnaires given to 158 teachers from 70 RA schools in Malang city. The survey results were then analyzed using descriptive statistical methods. Based on the indicators in this study, researchers found that 88% of teachers already have readiness in lesson planning. 81% of teachers already have readiness in learning implementation, and 74.1% of teachers are capable or have readiness in evaluating learning in the Merdeka Curriculum. Teachers understand the Merdeka curriculum but in implementation or implementation and conducting assessments that are not in accordance with the nomenclature of the Merdeka Curriculum, especially for Early Childhood Education Institutions (PAUD). So, there needs to be a Joint Effort between various parties to increase teachers' understanding of the curriculum, obtain support for the integration of values in learning relevant training, and introduce holistic assessment methods.
Dispensador Inteligente de Frutos Secos para Producción Personalizada en la Industria 4.0
Authors: Castro Martin Ana Pamela , Silvia-Naranjo Patricio
Published: November 2023

Los sistemas tradicionales de producción y manufactura se basan en una producción en masa o en lotes donde los productos poseen las mismas características para todos los clientes. Ante los cambios en las tendencias tecnologías y requerimientos de los clientes, surge la producción personalizada, en la cual el cliente es una fuente de información para la línea de fabricación inteligente. En el presente trabajo, se diseña un dispensador inteligente de frutos secos con el cual los clientes puedan realizar el pedido seleccionando la cantidad en gramos de cuatro tipos de frutos secos. En el sistema se implementa una arquitectura de Internet de las Cosas (IoT) compuesta de tres capas: dispositivos, procesamiento y servicios en la nube. La capa de dispositivos utiliza sensores, actuadores, y mecanismos para la dispensación. La capa de procesamiento de datos en la niebla se realiza mediante las tarjetas electrónicas Arduino Mega y ESP8266. En la capa de servicios en la nube, se desarrolló las interfaces Web para clientes y administradores, estas interactúan permanentemente con una base de datos MySQL. En las pruebas se obtuvo un tiempo máximo de retardo de actualización de datos de 1,3 segundos, el tiempo promedio de llegada de un nuevo pedido fue de 1,7 segundos y un error promedio de 0.8 gramos en la dispensación. El dispensador posee características como flexibilidad al preparar el producto, conectividad, interacción constante con los usuarios, y actualizaciones de estado del sistema en tiempo real que lo integran a las tecnologías usadas en la Industria 4.0.
Assessment of Parameters of the Generalized Extreme Value Distribution in Rainfall of the Peruvian North
Authors: Arriola Carrasco Guillermo , Villegas Luis , Fernandez Joseph , Vallejos Jheny , Idrogo Cesar
Published: November 2023

Las precipitaciones máximas del norte peruano se comportan de una manera estacional, concentrándose entre los primeros meses del año, sin embargo, pocos estudios han analizado su distribución a lo largo del tiempo mediante un análisis de extremos. El objetivo de la investigación fue evaluar los parámetros de ubicación, escala y forma de la distribución generalizada de valor extremo en precipitaciones máximas del norte peruano correspondientes a las regiones hidrológicas Pacífico 5 y Pacífico 6. Se realizó la recolección de datos de precipitaciones máximas diarias disponibles en las estaciones climáticas de ambas regiones, considerando una cantidad mínima de 15 años de registros por estación y un filtro basado en el análisis estadístico y visual, por lo que se estableció 138 estaciones. Posteriormente se aplicaron los ajustes a momentos ordinarios y a momentos lineales de la distribución generalizada de valor extremo y se utilizó dos tipos de prueba de hipótesis para cada región que ayudaron a validar las similitudes de cada parámetro en ambas regiones. Los resultados muestran diferencias significativas sólo en el parámetro de ubicación, en tanto, al contrastar la altitud, precipitación media y precipitación máxima de cada región hidrológica se determinó que existen altas correlaciones con los parámetros de ubicación y escala. Finalmente, se concluye en que ambas regiones hidrológicas los parámetros de escala y forma muestran un buen desempeño para ambos ajustes a partir de las hipótesis aplicadas y el parámetro de ubicación demostró que la región hidrológica Pacífico 6 es más lluviosa que la región hidrológica Pacífico 5.
Rancang Bangun Sistem Informasi Tanggap Pendatang Berbasis Web Studi Kasus : Desa Karangagung Kabupaten Tuban
Authors: Rakhmadani Diovianto Putra , Setiadjit Dayal Gustopo , Hidayatullah Syarif , Adhinata Faisal Dharma
Published: November 2023

Kejahatan kian marak terjadi di lingkungan masyarakat, baik itu kejahatan terencana maupun tidak. Berdasarkan beberapa data, pola kejahatan marak dimulai dari adanya suatu migrasi penduduk dari satu wilayah ke wilayah lain. Dalam hal ini, kemungkinan para pelaku kejahatan untuk masuk ke dalam suatu wilayah dan membaur dengan warga akan sangat membahayakan bagi warga sekitar, tak terkecuali bagi warga Desa Karangagung Kabupaten Tuban. Selama beberapa tahun ke belakang, mereka kerap kali menemukan adanya beberapa pendatang yang memasuki hingga tinggal di daerah mereka selama suatu kurun waktu tertentu tanpa melalui suatu skema pelaporan yang telah diatur sebelumnya. Hal tersebut mengakibatkan munculnya kekhawatiran bagi warga masyarakat terhadap aktifitas para pendatang dan menimbulkan berbagai pertanyaan mengenai status mereka. Adapun alur pelaporan secara manual yang ada mempunyai beberapa kendala seperti lamanya delay disposisi surat hingga sulitnya para pihak yang berwenang untuk ditemui dalam hal pengurusan surat pelaporan pendatang. Oleh karena itu masyarakat desa Karangagung membutuhkan sebuah sistem terkomputerisasi berbasis web yang mampu menggantikan peran sistem secara manual. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode pengembangan proyek perangkat lunak model Waterfall dan menghasilkan sebuah sistem informasi tanggap penduduk berbasis web yang mampu diakses oleh warga desa Karangagung Kabupaten Tuban.
Sistem Keamanan Kap Mobil Menggunakan Fingerprint Berbasis Mikrokontroler
Authors: Nugroho Ryan Andre , Gunawan Rakhmat Dedi , Prasetyawan Purwono , Wijayanto Danur
Published: November 2023

Tujuan dari pembuatan alat yang berjudul “Sistem Keamanan Kap Mobil Menggunakan Fingerprint Berbasis Mikrokontroler” ini adalah untuk mengamankan kap mobil agar tidak dapat dibuka oleh sembarangan orang yang tidak memiliki hak kepemilikan dari mobil terkait sehingga meminimalisir terjadinya pembukaan kap oleh orang yang meminjam mobil agar tidak terjadi hal–hal yang tidak diinginkan. Sistem yang dirancang terdiri dari beberapa bagian yaitu: catu daya, sistem kontrol, rangkaian mekanika dan program. Catu daya merupakan sumber daya untuk menjalankan seluruh sistem yang terdiri dari tegangan. Sistem kontrol berupa rangkaian elektronik yang didesain sedemikian rupa sehingga dapat berfungsi sebagai pengolah data dengan mikrokontroler sebagai pusat kendali. Bagian selanjutnya adalah rangkaian mekanika yang berfungsi untuk mengatur buka tutup kap mobil pada sistem keamanan ini. Bagian terakhir adalah program yang berfungsi untuk mengatur mikrokontroler sehingga dapat bekerja sesuai dengan fitur yang dikerjakan. Cara kerjanya adalah dengan menempelkan jari yang telah terdaftar pada sensor sidik jari untuk membuka kap, apabila kap terbuka maka pemilik akan mendapatkan pesan berupa sms yang memberi tahukan bahwa kap mobil terbuka.
Penerapan Metode Regresi Linear Sederhana Untuk Prediksi Penyebaran Vaksin Covid 19 di Kabupaten Cilacap
Authors: Kurniawan Rifki
Published: November 2023

Di awal tahun 2020, terjadi pandemi di China. Wabah ini disebut COVID-19. COVID-19 yang disebabkan oleh SARSCoV2 (virus corona menyebabkan sesak napas, batuk serta demam). Dibandingkan dengan SARS pada tahun 2003 dan MERS pada tahun 2012, penyebaran pandemi ini jauh lebih cepat. Hingga saat ini, lebih dari 10,7 juta kasus positif telah dilaporkan. Hingga saat ini, belum ditemukan vaksin sebagai obat untuk mencegah penyebarannya. Produksi vaksin baru biasanya memakan waktu lama, kadang sampai 10 tahun. Pemerintah Kabupaten Cilacap mengambil tindakan lebih lanjut untuk mengatasi wabah ini dengan melakukan vaksinasi setiap warganya, serta selalu menghimbau masyarakat untuk mengurangi aktivitas di luar rumah dan selalu memakai masker saat beraktivits di luar rumah. Tinjauan ini bertujuan untuk mengurangi penyebaran COVID-19 di Kabupaten Cilacap dan mempercepat produksi vaksin COVID-19. Metode yang digunakan dalam review ini adalah literature review online dengan mengunjungi beberapa situs jurnal internasional serta dengan metode linear regresi sederhana untuk proses perhitungan prediksi penyebaran vaksin di Kabupaten Cilacap. Semua jenis pembuatan vaksin memiliki kelebihan dan kekurangannya masing-masing
CONTROL JEMBATAN OTOMATIS MENGGUNAKAN SENSOR ULTRASONIK BERBASIS ARDUINO
Authors: Pranita Elka
Published: November 2023

Jembatan berfungsi sebagai alat penghubung dua tempat terpisah oleh sungai sekaligus sebagai penghalang untuk kendaraan air atau kapal yang melalui sungai, sehingga jembatan dirancang agar dapat membuka dan menutup secara bergantian. Maka dari itu, dirancang suatu alat sistem kontrol jembatan otomatis dengan sensor ultrasonik berbasis arduino. Tujuan pembuatan alat ini yaitu dapat menggunakan ARDUINO sebagai salah satu jenis mikrokontroler, dapat menggunakan sensor Ultrasonik sebagai sensor yang bekerja berdasarkan adanya suatu objek yang terdeteksi, membuat jembatan yang dapat membuka dan menutup secara otomatis dengan menggunakan sensor Ultrasonik. Prosedur pembuatan alat yang digunakan yaitu dengan tahap pembuatan desain, pembuatan program arduino, pembuatan prototipe, dan pengujian. Hasil yang diperoleh dimana sensor ultrasonik dapat berjalan sesuai dengan ketentuan jarak yang sudah ditetapkan. Motor stepper berjalan ketika sensor membaca objek sesuai dengan jarak baca yang sudah di tentukan dan akan berputar serta menggerakan puli untuk menggulung tali, agar jembatan dapat terangkat dan akan turun secara otomatis.
The Decline of a Professional Academic Organization: Examining a Regional Association
Authors: Stevens Robert , Silver Lawrence , Richards Rhonda , Whitlock David
Published: November 2023

Organizations, civic clubs, volunteer associations, academic societies and associations, and religious and non-profit organizations have experienced declines in membership and participation during the past decades. The advent of COVID and the disruption to travel, gathering, and social activities is often cited as hastening what had already been seen as a trend and perhaps providing the death knell for many organizations and associations. Academic organizations and professional societies dedicated to fields of study and the advancement of knowledge in specific disciplines are no exception to these trends, and many have seen steep declines in participation and membership. This paper examines the case of a regional academic organization, the Southwest Case Research Association (SWCRA), and the negative trend lines experienced by the organization. Potential solutions are discussed in preparation of strategic planning and positioning for the future.
Identifying Conflict Management Methods of School Principals as Perceived by School Teachers in Jordan
Authors: Zaitoun Eman Ali , Hejazi Abed El Hakeem , Hayajneh Wael , Kaba Abdoulaye , Ashour Sanaa , Taha Sawsan
Published: November 2023

The main purpose of this study was to identify conflict management methods used by secondary school principals based on the perspective of teachers. A sample of 256 male and female teachers participated in the study. The concept of conflict management was measured using cooperation, avoidance, waiver, competition, and settlement as a method to manage conflicts among teachers. The findings of the study indicated that ‘settlement’ was the most preferred method for conflict management by school principals, followed by cooperation, then by the waiver. Avoidance was the least preferred method to be used by school principals in conflict management. The results of the study revealed statistically no significant differences in gender, educational qualification, and experience among participants on the perceived conflict management method used by the school principals (p-value >0.05). The study recommended training courses for school principals to raise their awareness of conflict management.
Problem Based Learning and Their Effect on Learning Outcomes Estimation of Calculation Operations Number in Elementary School
Authors: Ahmad Syafri , Mufidah Izzatil , Aryanti Dina , Ghazali Munirah binti
Published: November 2023

Addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and other operations on numbers are referred to as arithmetic operations. The purpose of this study is to ascertain the impact of problem-based learning (PBL) on primary school students’ learning outcomes related to guessing the outcomes of mathematical operations. A quasi-experimental design was used for this study. Class IVC was acquired as the experimental class and class IVB as the control class thanks to the sample selection’s usage of a straightforward random sampling technique. Additionally, SPSS 26 was used to aid in data analysis for this investigation. The data analysis produced the results tcount>ttable, which are 2.423>1.669. If H0 is rejected and H1 is true, then learning through utilizing the model has a large impact. The suggestion of this study put forward to improve learning outcomes in mathematics learning process in elementary schools, specifically on the topic of estimating the results of arithmetics operations.
Developing Mathematics Achievement and Inductive Reasoning: A Proposed Technique According to Brain Compatible Learning Theory
Authors: Elsayed Abdelkader Mohamed , Almahri Ahmed Mohamed
Published: November 2023

Recent research has shown the need to present knowledge to students in a manner consistent with the characteristics of the human brain, especially during learning mathematics, which contributes to the development of achievement and inductive reasoning. The current study aimed to develop achievement and inductive reasoning by employing brain-compatible learning theory in teaching and learning mathematics for sixth-grade students in Oman. The sample included (74) students, who were divided into two equal groups: experimental and control. Study data were collected using mathematical achievement tests and inductive reasoning. There were significant differences between the two groups in the post-application of the achievement and inductive reasoning tests in favor of the experimental group, which indicates that teaching mathematics according to the theory of learning compatible with the brain had a significant impact on the development of achievement and inductive reasoning among the participants. The study recommended the need to develop and teach mathematics curricula in a way that allows for the practice of many activities and exercises that contribute to the development of students’ achievement and inductive reasoning skills.
Impact of Students-Teachers-Peers’ Emotional Intelligence (EI) on Students’ Academic Achievement (AA): A Conceptual Framework
Authors: Tabash Mosab I. , Aburezeq Ibtehal M. , Alnaimat Bayan Habis
Published: November 2023

Social-emotional knowledge illustrates many abilities and attributes that are essential for today’s students who intend to work globally. Students who are emotionally intelligent have higher levels of creativity, work performance, stress tolerance, and interpersonal skills. However, studies on the impact of students-teachers-peers’ EI on academic achievement of students are limited. The main purpose of this study to propose a framework in order to investigate the impact of students-teachers-peers’ EI on students’ academic achievement. The objectives were three-fold; First, to investigate whether the impact of teacher’s emotional intelligence on students’ academic achievement is different for male and female students studying dissimilar disciplines across New Zealand’s educational institutes; Second, to determine the impact of near-seated peers’ EI on students’ academic achievement; Third, to investigate the moderating impact of teachers and peers’ EI on the relationship between students’ EI and academic achievement. This study contributes to existing literature by proposing a framework of the impact of Students-Teachers-Peers’ Emotional Intelligence on Students’ Academic Achievement (AA) that has neither been empirically explored nor conceptually presented.
The Human Teacher, the AI Teacher and the AIed-Teacher Relationship
Authors: Koh Josiah , Cowling Michael , Jha Meena , Sim Kwong Nui
Published: November 2023

ChatGPT, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered chatbot, has caused a stir in the Higher Education landscape, with fears of plagiarism and a disruption of the student-teacher relationship that has formed the bedrock of teaching. ChatGPT-3 and now four have been reported to pass many exams, including medical, law, and engineering. Overwhelming concerns from academics about students using these generative AI tools to work on their assessments is alarming. These AI tools are here to stay. Teachers should not treat AI as ‘the enemy’, and instead find ways to work with it for the betterment of learning outcomes for students. Working with AI can mean transforming teaching and the AIed-teacher relationship, resulting in positive outcomes and learning experiences for teachers and students.
Inflammatory Pseudotumor-Like Follicular/Fibroblastic Dendritic Cell Sarcoma: Focus on Surgical Treatment Approach
Authors: Hossein-zadeh Zarrin , Rivero-Soto Katherine , Rivero-Soto Roberto
Published: November 2023

Inflammatory pseudotumor-like follicular/fibroblastic dendritic cell sarcoma (IPT-like FDC sarcomas, also known as FDC/FRC sarcoma) is a subgroup of follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDC), a rare neoplasm that often occurs in the spleen [1]. FDC/FRC sarcomas can affect other organs including the liver, colon, and the peripancreatic region [2-4]. The tumor has a predilection for young to middle-aged adults and may present with subset of symptoms including fever, abdominal pain, sweats, fatigue, and commonly a splenic solitary mass formation [5]. FDC/FRC sarcoma comprises of neoplastic spindle cells, typically with a follicular dendritic cell differentiation and over 90% of the cases are associated with EBV infection [6]. Here we present the a case of a IPT-like FDC sarcoma in a 49- year old female treated with splenectomy and a review of the literature.
Comradery and the Arts
Authors: Richards Stuart , Pacella Jessica , Munro Kim
Published: November 2023

This research is a result of the collaborative relationship between the Creative People, Products and Places (CP3) Research Centre at the University of South Australia and Festival City Adelaide (FCA). FA manages the consortium of South Australia’s eleven major arts and culture festivals. This report examines the current literature on volunteering in the arts sector and surveys the experiences of senior members of the Festival Volunteer Network, a platform managed by FCA that connects three thousand volunteers to the eleven festivals. In December of 2021 a survey was issued to the Festival Volunteer Network. Researchers received 176 responses (n=176). The survey was comprised of both qualitative and quantitative questions. The qualitative responses were coded thematically using NVivo software. Thematic coding was applied to each question separately. In order of recurrence in survey responses, the reasons why participants volunteered were for a more immersive festival experience, to connect with other volunteers, and to give back to the sector. Challenges to volunteering for senior patrons were finding the time to volunteer more, difficult patrons, and dealing with difficult festival managers. Skills learned while volunteering fell under the categories of festival management, event-related skills, customer service skills, and communication. Most senior volunteers maintained social contacts that they made while volunteering. This project builds upon existing research on volunteer labor at festivals and offers recommendations for improving volunteer management.
Massive and efficient encapsulation of single cells in monodisperse droplets and collagen–alginate microgels using a microfluidic device
Authors: Liu Dan , Xuanyuan Tingting , Liu Xufang , Fu Wenzhu , Liu Wenming
Published: November 2023

Single-cell manipulation is the key foundation of life exploration at individual cell resolution. Constructing easy-to-use, high-throughput, and biomimetic manipulative tools for efficient single-cell operation is quite necessary. In this study, a facile and efficient encapsulation of single cells relying on the massive and controllable production of droplets and collagen–alginate microgels using a microfluidic device is presented. High monodispersity and geometric homogeneity of both droplet and microgel generation were experimentally demonstrated based on the well-investigated microfluidic fabricating procedure. The reliability of the microfluidic platform for controllable, high-throughput, and improved single-cell encapsulation in monodisperse droplets and microgels was also confirmed. A single-cell encapsulation rate of up to 33.6% was achieved based on the established microfluidic operation. The introduction of stromal material in droplets/microgels for encapsulation provided single cells an in vivo simulated microenvironment. The single-cell operation achievement offers a methodological approach for developing simple and miniaturized devices to perform single-cell manipulation and analysis in a high-throughput and microenvironment-biomimetic manner. We believe that it holds great potential for applications in precision medicine, cell microengineering, drug discovery, and biosensing.
Dynamic assessment for low back-support exoskeletons during manual handling tasks
Authors: Xiang Xiaohan , Tanaka Masahiro , Umeno Satoru , Kikuchi Yutaka , Kobayashi Yoshihiko
Published: November 2023

Exoskeletons can protect users’ lumbar spine and reduce the risk of low back injury during manual lifting tasks. Although many exoskeletons have been developed, their adoptability is limited by their task- and movement-specific effects on reducing burden. Many studies have evaluated the safety and effectiveness of an exoskeleton using the peak/mean values of biomechanical variables, whereas the performance of the exoskeleton at other time points of the movement has not been investigated in detail. A functional analysis, which presents discrete time-series data as continuous functions, makes it possible to highlight the features of the movement waveform and determine the difference in each variable at each time point. This study investigated an assessment method for exoskeletons based on functional ANOVA, which made it possible to quantify the differences in the biomechanical variables throughout the movement when using an exoskeleton. Additionally, we developed a method based on the interpolation technique to estimate the assistive torque of an exoskeleton. Ten men lifted a 10-kg box under symmetric and asymmetric conditions five times each. Lumbar load was significantly reduced during all phases (flexion, lifting, and laying) under both conditions. Additionally, reductions in kinematic variables were observed, indicating the exoskeleton’s impact on motion restrictions. Moreover, the overlap F-ratio curves of the lumbar load and kinematic variables imply that exoskeletons reduce the lumbar load by restricting the kinematic variables. The results suggested that at smaller trunk angles (<25°), an exoskeleton neither significantly reduces the lumbar load nor restricts trunk movement. Our findings will help increasing exoskeleton safety and designing effective products for reducing lumbar injury risks.
Multiplexed suspension array immunoassays for detection of antibodies to pneumococcal polysaccharide and conjugate vaccines
Authors: Dunbar Sherry A.
Published: November 2023

Combination and polyvalent vaccines not only provide protection against several different pathogens at the same time but can also increase vaccine protection against pathogens that have closely related pathogenic strains or serotypes. Multiplexed serological testing is a preferred method for determining the efficacy of combination and polyvalent vaccines, as it reduces the need for conducting multiple individual assays to confirm immune responses and cross-reactivity, uses less sample, and can be faster, more reliable, and more cost-effective. Bead-based suspension array technologies, such as the Luminex® xMAP® Technology, are often used for development of multiplexed serological assays for various vaccine trials and for routine testing in clinical laboratories to determine immune status of vaccinated individuals. This article reviews publications describing the development and implementation of bead-based multiplexed serological assays for detection of immune responses to polyvalent polysaccharide and conjugate vaccines against Streptococcus pneumoniae. Many of these serological assays on the bead array platform have been further optimized and expanded over time and are still widely used today.
Effects of black sand on Oreochromis niloticus: insights into the biogeochemical impacts through an experimental study
Authors: Saad Eman , Sayed Alaa El-Din H.
Published: November 2023

Trace elements such as titanium, zirconium, thorium, and uranium, are found in black sand (BS) after weathering and corrosion. Precious metals are not the only valuable elements in black sand, rare earth elements are also found. The aquatic life in lakes and reservoirs is negatively affected by lithophilic elements such as lithium, uranium, and tin. Accordingly, intensive experiments were conducted on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) after exposure to isolated black sand. Blood biomarkers, antioxidant balance, morpho-nuclear erythrocyte’s alterations, and histopathological signs have been investigated after fish exposure for 15 days to a 6.4 g BS/kg diet, 9.6 g BS/kg diet, and 2.4 g BS/kg diet. The blood profile, including platelets and white blood cells, was pronouncedly decreased as a result. Functions of the liver and kidneys were impaired. An increase in serum-antioxidant enzymes such as catalase activities and superoxide dismutase was recorded. Also, exposure to black sand induced cellular and nuclear abnormalities in the erythrocytes. In conclusion, the black sand isolated from the Red sea beach influenced Oreochromis niloticus’s hematology, biochemistry, and antioxidant parameters. Poikilocytosis and RBC nuclear abnormalities were also associated with exposure to black sand. The resulting erosion of rocks and rocks’ access to water forces us to consider the seriousness of climatic change on the aquatic ecosystem.
Adverse effects of type 2 diabetes mellitus on ovarian reserve and pregnancy outcomes during the assisted reproductive technology process
Authors: Qin Xue , Du Junhong , He Ruifen , Li Yi , Zhu Qinying , Li Yaxi , Li Hongli , Liang Xiaolei
Published: November 2023

Objective

To study the effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)on overall ovarian reserve and pregnancy outcomes during assisted reproductive technology (ART) among childbearing infertile women.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

The Reproductive Medicine Special Hospital, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, between January 2019 and December 2022.

Patient(s)

A total of 265 infertile female patients aged 20–45 years who underwent in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET), intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer (ICSI-ET), or rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer (RICSI-ET) in the first fresh cycle.

Intervention(s)

None.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Serum Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) levels, clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), live birth rate (LBR), and abortion rate (AR) in the T2DM group and non-T2DM group.

Result(s)

Patients with T2DM showed statistically decreased levels of AMH compared to the non-T2DM group. During ovarian stimulation, those with T2DM required significantly higher total and initial doses of gonadotropin (GN), although they had fewer retrieved oocytes and worse pregnancy outcomes than the non-T2DM group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusting for confounding factors showed that T2DM alone was an independent risk factor for CPR and LBR (adjusted odds ratio [a OR], 0.458, adjusted 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.235-0.891, P = 0.022; a OR, 0.227, 95% CI, 0.101-0.513, P<0.001; respectively), and the abortion rate in the T2DM group was 3.316 times higher than the non-T2DM group(a OR, 3.316, 95%CI, 1.248-8.811, P = 0.016);

Conclusion

Infertile patients with T2DM have decreased ovarian reserve, and T2DM has a deleterious impact on clinical pregnancy outcomes during the ART process compared with non-T2DM infertile women.

Capsule

Infertile women with T2DM have decreased ovarian reserve and pregnancy outcomes during the assisted reproductive technology process compared with non-T2DM infertile women.
Adaptive ADMM-based entire-process distributed restoration of transmission and distribution systems
Authors: Li Qingsheng , Chen Changming , Zhu Yongqing , Wang Yunchu , Liu Chang , Liang Hongle , Li Zhen , Zhang Zhaofeng , Yang Li
Published: November 2023

In the event of a major power outage in the power systems, there is an urgent need to investigate entire-process coordinated restoration strategies for the transmission systems (TSs) and distribution systems (DSs), aiming to accelerate the restoration speed of generating units, network reconfiguration, and load restoration. Furthermore, it is imperative to address the multiple uncertainties that arise during the restoration process to mitigate potential security risks associated with the restoration. Hence, an adaptive ADMM-based entire-process distributed restoration method of TSs and DSs considering CVaR is proposed in this paper. Firstly, an entire-process distributed restoration model of TSs and DSs considering CVaR is proposed to maximize the total restoration benefits of TSs and DSs. Then, an adaptive ADMM-based distributed solving algorithm for the coordinated restoration model of the TSs and DSs is introduced, which incorporates adaptive penalty parameter adjustments, leading to faster convergence compared to the standard ADMM. Finally, case studies on an improved 179-bus transmission system are employed to verify that the proposed restoration method can achieve higher restoration benefits and faster convergence speed compared to existing restoration models.
Long-term dietary shifts in a generalist predator, the wolverine (Gulo gulo)
Authors: Massé Clément F. , Hiltunen Tamara A. , Lansink Gerhardus M. J. , Holmala Katja , Isomursu Marja , Kojola Ilpo , Aspi Jouni , Welker Jeffery M.
Published: November 2023

Over the last hundred years, many large carnivore species have suffered range contractions, population losses, and habitat alterations that may be influencing their dietary preferences. To identify shifting isotopic niches and reconstruct past and present diets from species of high conservation concern, stable isotope analysis (SIA) of δ13C and δ15N values of tissue from museum collections and ongoing non-invasive monitoring programs offers an effective approach. Here, we assessed the long-term alterations in the trophic structure of a generalist large carnivore over a time of population loss and recovery. Wolverine stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotopes were measured in hair samples collected from 44 individuals in Finland for the period 1905–2020, and potential dietary were quantified using isotopic niche metrics shifts in two study areas. We provide evidence of a long-term diet shift in Finnish wolverines, with a temporal depletion of hair’s δ13C (β = −0.016‰, R² = 0.46, p < 0.001). Correspondingly, there was a shift in the isotopic niches of theHistoricalpopulation (before the year 2000) andRecentpopulation (after 2000), with the niche overlap between theHistoricalandRecentperiods being only 33% throughout Finland, and even lower in the two study areas (22% to 24%). The breadth of the isotopic niche, however, did not significantly differ between the two periods, suggesting that despite a change in diet composition, wolverines did not specialize more. The trophic level of wolverines in Finland was stable throughout the study period, with no significant change in δ15N with time (β = 0.0055‰, R² = 0.043, p = 0.17). In summary: A) the strong trophic resilience of this top predator was shown by the stability of its niche breadth and trophic level feeding regime during periods of population decline and recovery as well as during a period of major anthropogenic alterations in their environment; B) the use of SIA methods on historical and recent hairs provided a unique tool to unravel long-term changes in wolverine feeding strategies.
Vaccine development against tuberculosis before and after Covid-19
Authors: Kaufmann Stefan H. E.
Published: November 2023

Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has not only shaped awareness of the impact of infectious diseases on global health. It has also provided instructive lessons for better prevention strategies against new and current infectious diseases of major importance. Tuberculosis (TB) is a major current health threat caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) which has claimed more lives than any other pathogen over the last few centuries. Hence, better intervention measures, notably novel vaccines, are urgently needed to accomplish the goal of the World Health Organization to end TB by 2030. This article describes how the research and development of TB vaccines can benefit from recent developments in the Covid-19 vaccine pipeline from research to clinical development and outlines how the field of TB research can pursue its own approaches. It begins with a brief discussion of major vaccine platforms in general terms followed by a short description of the most widely applied Covid-19 vaccines. Next, different vaccination regimes and particular hurdles for TB vaccine research and development are described. This specifically considers the complex immune mechanisms underlying protection and pathology in TB which involve innate as well as acquired immune mechanisms and strongly depend on fine tuning the response. A brief description of the TB vaccine candidates that have entered clinical trials follows. Finally, it discusses how experiences from Covid-19 vaccine research, development, and rollout can and have been applied to the TB vaccine pipeline, emphasizing similarities and dissimilarities.
Harnessing the power of traditional Chinese medicine monomers and compound prescriptions to boost cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Miao Keyan , Liu Weici , Xu Jingtong , Qian Zhengtao , Zhang Qinglin
Published: November 2023

At present, cancer is the largest culprit that endangers human health. The current treatment options for cancer mainly include surgical resection, adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy, but their therapeutic effects and long-term prognosis are unsatisfactory. Immunotherapy is an emerging therapy that has completely transformed the therapeutic landscape of advanced cancers, and has tried to occupy a place in the neoadjuvant therapy of resectable tumors. However, not all patients respond to immunotherapy due to the immunological and molecular features of the tumors. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) provides a new perspective for cancer treatment and is considered to have the potential as promising anti-tumor drugs considering its immunoregulatory properties. This review concludes commonly used TCM monomers and compounds from the perspective of immune regulatory pathways, aiming to clearly introduce the basic mechanisms of TCM in boosting cancer immunotherapy and mechanisms of several common TCM. In addition, we also summarized closed and ongoing trials and presented prospects for future development. Due to the significant role of immunotherapy in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), TCM combined with immunotherapy should be emphasized in NSCLC.
Clinical and histopathological characteristics, diagnosis and treatment, and comorbidities of Bowen’s disease: a retrospective study
Authors: Zhou Cheng , Jiang Bin , Zhang Kaoyuan , Wu Jingwen , Huang Cong , Xu Ning , Ye Tinglu , Chen Bancheng , Yu Bo , Zou Yanfen , Shen Changbing
Published: November 2023

Background

Bowen’s disease (BD) is a slow-growing precancerous skin condition, often concurrent with other diseases, with a high misdiagnosis rate. Previous studies show that patients with BD in different populations have differentiated characteristics.

Materials and methods

A retrospective study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Shenzhen, China. Data about demographic information, diagnosis and treatment, clinical and pathological characteristics, and comorbidities of 50 patients with BD were collected and analyzed.

Results

Clinical data of onset age and disease course of 43 patients with BD were available, the average onset age of male and female patients are 55.1 (standard deviation (SD) = 15.29) and 58.2 (SD = 15.59) years old, respectively; the average disease course of male and female patients are 25.3 (SD = 28.63) and 33.9 (SD = 49.65) months, respectively. The onset age (p = 0.52) and disease course (p = 0.49) between male and female patients are not significantly different. Interestingly, there is a negative correlation between onset age and disease course (r = −0.245, p = 0.11). The correct rate of clinical diagnosis is relatively low (54.00%); Some patients with BD are misdiagnosed as Bowenoid papulosis (10.00%), actinic keratosis (8.00%), basal cell carcinoma (8.00%), seborrheic keratosis (6.00%), and pigmented naevus (4.00%). Trunk and limbs are the most common distribution sites of BD lesions, and 94.00% patients with BD are treated with surgical resection; 66.00% patients with BD had comorbidities, including skin diseases (48.48%), cardiovascular diseases (39.39%), gastrointestinal diseases (30.30%), respiratory diseases (27.27%), and tumors (18.18%). The most commonly observed histopathological characteristics of BD are squamous-cell hyperplasia (86.00%), disordered maturation with atypical keratinocytes (74.00%), atypical mitoses (60.00%), hyperkeratosis with hypokeratosis (48.00%), dermal inflammatory cell infiltration (36.00%), and koilocytosis (22.00%).

Conclusion

BD often occurs in middle-aged and elderly people and is easily misdiagnosed. The onset age and disease course of patients with BD are not significantly different between males and females, whereas there is a negative correlation between the onset age and disease course. BD is more likely to occur in trunk and limbs in the Chinese population, and most patients with BD are concurrent with comorbidities.
Gut commensals and their metabolites in health and disease
Authors: Krishnamurthy Hari Krishnan , Pereira Michelle , Bosco Jophi , George Jaimee , Jayaraman Vasanth , Krishna Karthik , Wang Tianhao , Bei Kang , Rajasekaran John J.
Published: November 2023

Purpose of review

This review comprehensively discusses the role of the gut microbiome and its metabolites in health and disease and sheds light on the importance of a holistic approach in assessing the gut.

Recent findings

The gut microbiome consisting of the bacteriome, mycobiome, archaeome, and virome has a profound effect on human health. Gut dysbiosis which is characterized by perturbations in the microbial population not only results in gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms or conditions but can also give rise to extra-GI manifestations. Gut microorganisms also produce metabolites (short-chain fatty acids, trimethylamine, hydrogen sulfide, methane, and so on) that are important for several interkingdom microbial interactions and functions. They also participate in various host metabolic processes. An alteration in the microbial species can affect their respective metabolite concentrations which can have serious health implications. Effective assessment of the gut microbiome and its metabolites is crucial as it can provide insights into one’s overall health.

Emerging evidence highlights the role of the gut microbiome and its metabolites in health and disease. As it is implicated in GI as well as extra-GI symptoms, the gut microbiome plays a crucial role in the overall well-being of the host. Effective assessment of the gut microbiome may provide insights into one’s health status leading to more holistic care.
Mobilization of the blaKPC-14 gene among heterogenous plasmids in extensively drug-resistant hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae
Authors: Wang Lin , Shen Weiyi , Cai Jiachang
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Ceftazidime/avibactam (CZA) is an effective alternative for the treatment of infections caused by KPC-producing carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP). However, KPC variants with CZA resistance have been observed in clinical isolates, further limiting the treatment options of clinical use.

Methods

In this study, we isolated three KPC-14-producing CRKP from two patients in intensive care units without CZA therapy. The antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using the broth microdilution method. Three CRKP were subjected to whole-genome sequencing to analyze the phylogenetic relatedness and the carriage of antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence factors. Long-read sequencing was also performed to obtain the complete sequences of the plasmids. The horizontal transfer of the blaKPC-14 gene was evaluated by conjugation experiments.

Results

Three CRKP displayed resistance or reduced susceptibility to ceftazidime/avibactam, colistin, and tigecycline. Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis demonstrated the close phylogenetic distance between these strains. A highly similar IncFII/IncR plasmid encoding blaKPC-14 was shared by three CRKP, with blaKPC-14 located in an NTEKPC-Ib element with the core region of ISKpn27- blaKPC-14-ISKpn6. This structure containing blaKPC-14 was also observed in another tet(A)-carrying plasmid that belonged to an unknown Inc-type in two out of three isolates. The horizontal transferability of these integrated plasmids to Escherichia coli EC600 was confirmed by the cotransmission of tet(A) and blaKPC-14 genes, but the single transfer of blaKPC-14 on the IncFII/IncR plasmid failed. Three CRKP expressed yersiniabactin and carried a hypervirulence plasmid encoding rmpA2 and aerobactin-related genes, and were thus classified as carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (hvKP).

Discussion

In this study, we reported the evolution of a mosaic plasmid encoding the blaKPC-14 gene via mobile elements in extensively drug-resistant hvKP. The blaKPC-14 gene is prone to integrate into other conjugative plasmids via the NTEKPC-Ib element, further facilitating the spread of ceftazidime/avibactam resistance.
Population genomic analysis of clinical ST15 Klebsiella pneumoniae strains in China
Authors: Feng Li , Zhang Mingcheng , Fan Zhiyi
Published: November 2023

ST15 Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kpn) is a growing public health concern in China and worldwide, yet its genomic and evolutionary dynamics in this region remain poorly understood. This study comprehensively elucidates the population genomics of ST15 Kpn in China by analyzing 287 publicly available genomes. The proportion of the genomes increased sharply from 2012 to 2021, and 92.3% of them were collected from the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region of eastern China. Carbapenemase genes, including OXA-232, KPC-2, and NDM, were detected in 91.6% of the studied genomes, and 69.2% of which were multidrug resistant (MDR) and hypervirulent (hv). Phylogenetic analysis revealed four clades, C1 (KL112, 59.2%), C2 (mainly KL19, 30.7%), C3 (KL48, 0.7%) and C4 (KL24, 9.4%). C1 appeared in 2007 and was OXA-232-producing and hv; C2 and C4 appeared between 2005 and 2007, and both were KPC-2-producing but with different levels of virulence. Transmission clustering detected 86.1% (n = 247) of the enrolled strains were grouped into 55 clusters (2–159 strains) and C1 was more transmissible than others. Plasmid profiling revealed 88 plasmid clusters (PCs) that were highly heterogeneous both between and within clades. 60.2% (n = 53) of the PCs carrying AMR genes and 7 of which also harbored VFs. KPC-2, NDM and OXA-232 were distributed across 14, 4 and 1 PCs, respectively. The MDR-hv strains all carried one of two homologous PCs encoding iucABCD and rmpA2 genes. Pangenome analysis revealed two major coinciding accessory components predominantly located on plasmids. One component, associated with KPC-2, encompassed 15 additional AMR genes, while the other, linked to OXA-232, involved seven more AMR genes. This study provides essential insights into the genomic evolution of the high-risk ST15 CP-Kpn strains in China and warrants rigorous monitoring.
Genomic characterization of tigecycline-resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from hospital sewage
Authors: Li Ying , Fu Yu , Qiu Yichuan , Liu Qian , Yin Ming , Zhang Luhua
Published: November 2023

Introduction

The tigecycline-resistant Enterobacterales have emerged as a great public concern, and the mobile tet(X) variants and tmexCD-toprJ efflux pump are mainly responsible for the spread of tigecycline resistance. Hospital sewage is considered as an important reservoir of antimicrobial resistance, while tigecycline resistance in this niche is under-researched.

Methods

In this study, five Escherichia coli and six Klebsiella pneumoniae strains were selected from a collection of tigecycline-resistant Enterobacterales for further investigation by antimicrobial susceptibility testing, conjugation, whole-genome sequencing, and bioinformatics analysis.

Results

All five E. coli strains harbored tet(X4), which was located on different plasmids, including a novel IncC/IncFIA(HI1)/IncHI1A/IncHI1B(R27) hybrid structure. In addition, tet(X4)-bearing plasmids were able to transfer by conjugation and be stabilized in the recipient in the absence of antibiotics. tmexCD1-toprJ1 was identified in two K. pneumoniae (LZSFT39 and LZSRT3) and it was carried by a novel multidrug-resistance transposon, designated Tn7368, on a novel IncR/IncU hybrid plasmid. In addition, we found that two K. pneumoniae (LZSFZT3 and LZSRT3) showed overexpression of efflux genes acrB and oqxB, respectively, which was most likely to be caused by mutations in ramR and oqxR.

Discussion

In conclusion, the findings in this study expand our knowledge of the genetic elements that carry tigecycline resistance genes, which establishes a baseline for investigating the structure diversity and evolutionary trajectories of human, animal, and environmental tigecycline resistomes.