bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Representation of Vivāha Saṁskāra in the Kalyāṇsundara Sculptures
Authors: Sharma Preeti , Pathik Pratishtha
Published: October 2024

Saṁskāras, as sacramental practices, have been an integral part of the Indian culture and they concretised the fundamental premises of ancient Indian social organisation as Āshram, Puruṣārtha and Varṇa. Encoded in the Gṛhyasūtras, Saṁskāras were elaborated in Dharmasūtras, Mahākāvya and Purāṇas. The normative structure of ritual prescriptions in Sūtra literature was disseminated through legends and narratives of Purāṇas that assigned them a divine character and enhanced their popularity and relevance for the society. Besides literary references, the Saṁskāras’ pervading influence in socio-cultural life may be surmised through their artistic projections also. This article, in particular, underlines the significance of the Vivāha Saṁskāras as a nuptial ritual that initiated the Gṛhastha Āshram or life of the householder, facilitating the acquisition of both individual and social objectives of human existence. It cites the projection of the divine marriage ceremony of Śiva and Pārvatı̄ represented as Kalyāṇsundara motif in the Rāṣṭrakūṭa art at Elephanta and Ellorā, as epitomising continuity of Saṁskāras tradition for the fulfilment of socio-religious obligations in early medieval Deccan. Further, it implies that such artistic manifestations were instrumental in the process of socialisation and cultural assimilation.
Getting to “the Upper End of the Novice Zone”: An Exploration of Doctoral Students’ Writer Identity in Coauthoring With Supervisors for Publication
Authors: Wang Jiayu , Liardét Cassi
Published: October 2024

This study examines how supervisor-candidate coauthoring collaborations contribute to doctoral students’ writer identity. Three candidates’ coauthorship experiences with their supervisors were investigated in depth using a multiple-case study design. Interviews, written reflections, and email correspondence between coauthors enabled thick descriptions of these candidates’ writer identity formation. Guided by Burgess and Ivanič’s framework of writer identity, the multiple-case study showed how the candidates’ autobiographical selves, discoursal selves, authorial selves, and perceived writer were influenced through the experience of coauthoring with supervisors. Notably, the candidates benefited from supervisor-candidate coauthorship by engaging in scholarly collaborations, bolstering their confidence as academic writers, and strengthening their authorial voice and rhetorical awareness. This study also reveals potential pitfalls or challenges of such collaborations, highlighting key considerations for supervisors and candidates considering coauthorship.
Filmic Representation of ‘A Community with a Shared Future for Mankind’ in The Wandering Earth Series
Authors: Xinrui Wu , Changsong Wang
Published: October 2024

Over the past 4 years, The Wandering Earth series has garnered significant acclaim and recognition within the market and film festival circuits. This study examines The Wandering Earth series, including The Wandering Earth and The Wandering Earth II, through the lens of ‘a community with a shared future for mankind’. Utilising qualitative content analysis, it explores the representation of global cooperation in these Chinese science fiction films, transcending conventional Western-centric narratives. The study reveals a unified international community by analysing film narratives, characters and visual symbolism, focusing significantly on China and non-Western countries’ roles in saving humanity. This approach aligns with global governance and post-colonial theories, highlighting the series’ challenge to Western hegemony and its contribution to the discourse on China’s growing cultural industry influence. This research enriches understanding of Chinese cinema’s role in shaping cultural values and international cooperation, emphasising the potential of the science fiction genre to reimagine global dynamics from a non-Western perspective. Its implications extend to enhancing the global understanding of China’s cultural narratives and contribute to the international dialogue on the evolution and influence of Chinese science fiction films.
Psychosocial Determinants of Oral Health Related to COVID-19 Infection in Myanmar Older Adults
Authors: Tassanapong Natcha , Valenzuela Torres Olenka , Myat Thwin Kaung , Ogawa Hiroshi
Published: October 2024

This study aimed to investigate and compare the psychosocial and oral health factors among Myanmar older adults with and without a history of COVID-19 infection and assessed the association between psychological factors and oral health outcomes among those with a history of COVID-19 infection. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 203 participants in Yangon from 2023 to 2024 using face-to-face interviews and clinical oral examinations. Participants with a history of COVID-19 infection experienced greater psychological distress and poorer oral health outcomes than those without such a history. In those who contracted COVID-19, depression positively associated with decayed teeth; decayed, missing, and filled permanent teeth (DMFT); and oral health impact profile–14 (OHIP-14), whereas negatively associated with present teeth. Anxiety positively related to decayed teeth, DMFT, and periodontal pockets. Stress negatively associated with decayed teeth, but positively with OHIP-14. Implementing oral health promotion programs and providing mental support for this vulnerable population are essential to improve their oral health and well-being.
AI and the Impact on Journalism Education
Authors: Wenger Debora , Hossain Md Sazzad , Senseman Jared Robert
Published: October 2024

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force in the field of journalism, reshaping various aspects of news production, content delivery, and audience engagement. This study uses the theory of disruptive innovation to examine the impact of AI in journalism education. We conducted 14 in-depth interviews with Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC)-accredited journalism school administrators in the United States. Five primary themes emerged in relation to the study’s research questions, including issues related to faculty expertise, AI policies, partnerships, curriculum, and ethical considerations.
Application of Laplace and Sumudu transforms to the modeling of unsteady rotating MHD flow in a second-grade tetra hybrid nanofluid in a porous medium
Authors: khan Dolat
Published: October 2024

Understanding and managing the complex rheological behavior of fluid models is crucial for many real-world applications, such as industrial fluid dynamics, biomedical engineering, and environmental management. This study aims to predict the unsteady magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow of a second-grade tetra hybrid nanofluid in a porous medium containing uniformly dispersed dust particles. To address this challenge, we develop a mathematical model utilizing a non-fractional approach with ramping conditions. Our methodology incorporates Laplace and Sumudu transforms to analyze the velocity fields of both the fluid and dust particles. Additionally, we examine the heat transfer characteristics and the underlying dynamics of the magnetized second-grade tetra hybrid nanofluid flow. The momentum transfer of the dust particles is modeled using a separate equation. Key outcomes of this research include visual representations of novel findings, facilitating comparison with existing literature. Numerical simulations based on Sumudu and Laplace transformations produce velocity profiles for both fluid and dust particles, as well as temperature distributions, aligning with theoretical expectations. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of Laplace and Sumudu transforms in analyzing and simulating the turbulent MHD flow of nanofluids through porous media with dispersed dust particles.
Workplace Inclusion in Academia: The Relationship between Diversity Climate and Engineering Faculty Turnover Intentions
Authors: Tran Henry , Platt Spencer , Gao Ruiqin , Go Jungsun
Published: October 2024

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between engineering faculties’ perception of the diversity climate and their turnover intentions at R1 (Research 1) universities across the U.S. We sampled 1,101 tenure-track engineering faculty for this purpose. Data analysis showed that an engineering faculty’s demographic characteristics (i.e., sex, race/ethnicity, professor rank, age, engineering areas, marriage status, and tenure-track status) are associated with their perceptions of the diversity climate. Furthermore, results from structural equation modeling analyses show that faculty with higher perceptions of organizational fairness and inclusion reported a lower desire to turn over. Implications for the results are discussed.
Cough in pulmonary rehabilitation: a retrospective analysis of responders/non-responders
Authors: Grave Ana Sofia , Paixão Cátia , Tecelão Diogo , Marques Alda , Oliveira Ana
Published: October 2024

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is essential for people with chronic respiratory diseases (CRD), yet its impact on cough-related quality of life (CR-QoL) remains unexplored. We assessed the PR effects on CR-QoL, described the characteristics of responders and non-responders to PR and explored determinants of responsiveness in this health domain in individuals with CRD.

A retrospective study was conducted. We assessed CR-QoL using the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) and the impact of the disease with the COPD Assessment Test (CAT), before and after PR. Cut-offs of <17.05 in LCQ total score and ≥10 in CAT were used to detect low CR-QoL and medium impact of the disease. Responders were defined as achieving a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of ≥1.3 on the LCQ total score. Pre-post PR analysis involved t-test/Wilcoxon/McNemar tests and comparisons between groups included independent t /Mann-Whitney U/Fisher's exact tests. Logistic regression was employed to investigate factors influencing MCID achievement.

135 participants with CRD (39%♀; 68±10 years old; 61% COPD; FEV1%predicted 62.6±23.0) were included. After PR, significant improvements were observed in all LCQ domains and CAT. 31% of participants were identified as responders in the LCQ (36%♀; 66±10 years; 62% COPD; FEV1%predicted 60.0±22.3) showcasing significant differences in LCQ and CAT compared to non-responders. People with low CR-QoL and/or medium/high impact of the disease at baseline were 11 and 4 times, more likely to respond to PR in CR-QoL, respectively.

PR enhances CR-QoL. Identification of CR-QoL and disease impact traits at baseline offers insights to optimize this outcome responsiveness to PR.
Predicting Outcomes after Hospitalisation for COPD Exacerbation Using Machine Learning
Authors: Wu Chih-Ying , Hsu Chien-Ning , Wang Charlotte , Chien Jung-Yien , Wang Chi-Chuan , Lin Fang-Ju
Published: October 2024

Background

Early readmission and death are critical adverse outcomes following hospitalisation due to exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (ECOPD). This study aimed to develop and validate machine learning models to enhance the prediction of these outcomes after ECOPD hospitalisation.

Methods

Utilising a nationwide database, data from the index ECOPD hospitalisation and the preceding year were collected. Prediction models for 30-day readmission and death were developed using logistic lasso regression, random forest, extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and neural network, with the LACE index serving as a reference. Model performance was assessed with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calibration plots from the validation dataset. Key predictors were identified using SHapley Additive exPlanations.

Results

The study included 101 011 hospitalisations in the development dataset and 17 565 in the validation dataset. The rates of 30-day readmission and death were 29.1% and 4.3%, respectively. AmoXGBoost outperformed other models, achieving an area under the ROC curve of 0.721 (95% CI, 0.713–0.729) for readmission and 0.809 (95% CI, 0.794–0.824) for death, both exceeding the corresponding values for the LACE index (0.651 and 0.641). All machine learning models demonstrated good calibration. The number of hospitalisations in the previous year and the lowest haemoglobin level during the index hospitalisation were the top predictors of readmission and death, respectively.

Conclusions

Applying machine learning techniques to large-scale data effectively improves the prediction of early readmission and death following ECOPD hospitalisation. Identifying critical prognostic factors could enhance targeted post-discharge care for this high-risk patient group.
Pulmonary hypertension associated with COPD: a phenotype analysis
Authors: Steger Mathilde , Canuet Matthieu , Martin Guillaume , Labani Aissam , Schwartz Jean Charles , Enache Irina , Schuller Armelle , Meyer Léo , Chaouat Ari , Kessler Romain , Montani David , Riou Marianne
Published: October 2024

Background

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; PH-COPD) exhibits diverse phenotypes, challenging therapeutic management. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of COPD patients with distinct phenotypes: end-stage COPD with or without PH; group 1; other COPD patients with mild-to-moderate precapillary PH-COPD; group 2; and COPD patients with a pulmonary vascular phenotype (PVP); group 3.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of COPD patients who underwent right heart catheterization (RHC) from 2015 to 2022.

Results

Eighty-one patients were included in group 1, 37 in group 2, and 35 in group 3. The groups differed in clinical, functional, hemodynamic, and imaging characteristics. Group 1 had significantly marked lung hyperinflation with increased total lung capacity and residual volume, a feature not observed in group 3. These results were confirmed by analysis of chest CT scans, which confirmed varying degrees of emphysema: severe in group 1, moderate in group 2, and mild in group 3, with median total emphysema index of 55% (48–62), 32% (16–49), and 16% (3.4–31), respectively, p<0.0001.

Conclusions

Our results highlight the broad spectrum of precapillary PH in COPD, from PH associated with end-stage COPD (phenotype/group 1), characterized by predominant alveolar wall damage with severe emphysema, to PVP (phenotype/group 3), mainly due to pulmonary vascular changes. Phenotype/group 2 represents an intermediate state combining features of both. In the current debate on how to distinguish PH-COPD phenotypes, it might be of interest to include quantitative thresholds for emphysema in future diagnostic and management algorithms.
Association of novel antihyperglycemic drugsversusmetformin with COPD exacerbations
Authors: Kimura Yuya , Jo Taisuke , Inoue Norihiko , Suzukawa Maho , Matsui Hiroki , Sasabuchi Yusuke , Yasunaga Hideo
Published: October 2024

Background

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4 Is), glucagon-like peptidase 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), and sodium glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2 Is) may contribute to better control of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to their anti-inflammatory effects, like those observed with metformin. We aimed to investigate the association of these novel antihyperglycemic drugsversusmetformin with fewer COPD exacerbations in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) comorbid with COPD.

Methods

Using the national administrative database covering 99% of the medical facilities in Japan, we constructed three active comparators new-user cohorts comprising 36 317 patients with T2DM and COPD who initiated treatment with the novel antihyperglycemic drugs and metformin between 2014 and 2022. Patients’ backgrounds were balanced using overlap propensity score weighting. We calculated the hazard ratios (HRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the initial occurrence of COPD exacerbation requiring systemic corticosteroids using a weighted Cox proportional hazards model.

Results

DPP-4 Is were associated with a higher incidence of exacerbations requiring systemic corticosteroids (22.4versus20.4 per 100 person-years; HR [95% CI] 1.16 [1.07–1.25]) compared with metformin. In contrast, the incidence of such exacerbations in the GLP-1 RAs (30.1versus24.4 per 100 person-years; HR [95% CI] 1.07 [0.87–1.32]) and SGLT-2 Is (20.7versus21.8 per 100 person-years; 1.00 [0.94–1.06]) groups were comparable with that in the metformin group.

Conclusions

While DPP-4 Is were associated with poorer control of COPD compared with metformin, GLP-1 RAs and SGLT-2 Is offered COPD control comparable to that of metformin.
sRNAdeep: a novel tool for bacterial sRNA prediction based on DistilBERT encoding mode and deep learning algorithms
Authors: Qian Weiye , Sun Jiawei , Liu Tianyi , Yang Zhiyuan , Tsui Stephen Kwok-Wing
Published: October 2024

Background

Bacterial small regulatory RNA (sRNA) plays a crucial role in cell metabolism and could be used as a new potential drug target in the treatment of pathogen-induced disease. However, experimental methods for identifying sRNAs still require a large investment of human and material resources.

Methods

In this study, we propose a novel sRNA prediction model called sRNAdeep based on the DistilBERT feature extraction and TextCNN methods. The sRNA and non-sRNA sequences of bacteria were considered as sentences and then fed into a composite model consisting of deep learning models to evaluate classification performance.

Results

By filtering sRNAs from BSRD database, we obtained a validation dataset comprised of 2438 positive and 4730 negative samples. The benchmark experiments showed that sRNAdeep displayed better performance in the various indexes compared to previous sRNA prediction tools. By applying our tool to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) genome, we have identified 21 sRNAs within the intergenic and intron regions. A set of 272 targeted genes regulated by these sRNAs were also captured in MTB. The coding proteins of two genes (lysX and icd1) are implicated in drug response, with significant active sites related to drug resistance mechanisms of MTB.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our newly developed sRNAdeep can help researchers identify bacterial sRNAs more precisely and can be freely available from https://github.com/pyajagod/sRNAdeep.git.
Patient iPSC-derived neural progenitor cells display aberrant cell cycle control, p53, and DNA damage response protein expression in schizophrenia
Authors: Stahl Aaron , Heider Johanna , Wüst Richard , Fallgatter Andreas J. , Schenke-Layland Katja , Volkmer Hansjürgen , Templin Markus F.
Published: October 2024

Background

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a severe psychiatric disorder associated with alterations in early brain development. Details of underlying pathomechanisms remain unclear, despite genome and transcriptome studies providing evidence for aberrant cellular phenotypes and pathway deregulation in developing neuronal cells. However, mechanistic insight at the protein level is limited.

Methods

Here, we investigate SCZ-specific protein expression signatures of neuronal progenitor cells (NPC) derived from patient iPSC in comparison to healthy controls using high-throughput Western Blotting (DigiWest) in a targeted proteomics approach.

Results

SCZ neural progenitors displayed altered expression and phosphorylation patterns related to Wnt and MAPK signaling, protein synthesis, cell cycle regulation and DNA damage response. Consistent with impaired cell cycle control, SCZ NPCs also showed accumulation in the G2/M cell phase and reduced differentiation capacity. Furthermore, we correlated these findings with elevated p53 expression and phosphorylation levels in SCZ patient-derived cells, indicating a potential implication of p53 in hampering cell cycle progression and efficient neurodevelopment in SCZ.

Conclusions

Through targeted proteomics we demonstrate that SCZ NPC display coherent mechanistic alterations in regulation of DNA damage response, cell cycle control and p53 expression. These findings highlight the suitability of iPSC-based approaches for modeling psychiatric disorders and contribute to a better understanding of the disease mechanisms underlying SCZ, particularly during early development.
Medical students and house officers’ perception, attitude and potential barriers towards artificial intelligence in Egypt, cross sectional survey
Authors: Allam Rasha Mahmoud , Abdelfatah Dalia , Khalil Marwa Ibrahim Mahfouz , Elsaieed Mohamed Mahmoud , El Desouky Eman D.
Published: October 2024

Background

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one of the sectors of medical research that is expanding the fastest right now in healthcare. AI has rapidly advanced in the field of medicine, helping to treat a variety of illnesses and reducing the number of diagnostic and follow-up errors.

Objective

This study aims to assess the perception and attitude towards artificial intelligence (AI) among medical students & house officers in Egypt.

Methods

An online cross-sectional study was done using a questionnaire on the Google Form website. The survey collected demographic data and explored participants’ perception, attitude & potential barriers towards AI.

Results

There are 1,346 responses from Egyptian medical students (25.8%) & house officers (74.2%). Most participants have inadequate perception (76.4%) about the importance and usage of AI in the medical field, while the majority (87.4%) have a negative attitude. Multivariate analysis revealed that age is the only independent predictor of AI perception (AOR = 1.07, 95% CI 1.01–1.13). However, perception level and gender are both independent predictors of attitude towards AI (AOR = 1.93, 95% CI 1.37–2.74 & AOR = 1.80, 95% CI 1.30–2.49, respectively).

Conclusion

The study found that medical students and house officers in Egypt have an overall negative attitude towards the integration of AI technologies in healthcare. Despite the potential benefits of AI-driven digital medicine, most respondents expressed concerns about the practical application of these technologies in the clinical setting. The current study highlights the need to address the concerns of medical students and house officers towards AI integration in Egypt. A multi-pronged approach, including education, targeted training, and addressing specific concerns, is necessary to facilitate the wider adoption of AI-enabled healthcare.
Co-designing postpartum contraceptive services with and for immigrant women in Sweden: lessons learned from the IMPROVE-it project
Authors: Herzig van Wees Sibylle , Kilander Helena , Salah Khadija , Saidarab Sahra , Wängborg Anna , Larsson Elin C.
Published: October 2024

Background and aim

Immigrant women in many high-income countries including Sweden, report unmet need of sexual and reproductive health and rights, and face worse pregnancy outcomes and higher risk of unintended pregnancies. Postpartum contraceptive services are often inadequate to meet their needs. Co-design has shown to reduce health inequities, yet little is known about using this method for postpartum contraceptive service development and even less in collaborating with immigrant populations. The aim of this paper is to describe the co-design process and the strategies that were developed to help develop tailored and acceptable postpartum contraceptive services for immigrant women in Sweden.

Methods

The paper describes a co-design process that took place during 2022–2023, including the cyclical digital consultations with Arabic and Somali speaking immigrant women, midwives and researchers, as well as the outputs from the process. The theoretical framework for the co-design process was the ‘Double Diamond’ Design Process Model. Data analysis included qualitative content analysis.

Results

The co-design process led to the joint development of intervention materials and strategies to improve postpartum contraceptive services. Specifically, the process revealed ideas on how to improve contraceptive counseling within three pre-identified areas of change: improve physical access to contraceptive services; improved communication strategies using visual aids and information charts; and empowerment strategies that focus on reflective practice without assumptions about what a group of women might expect. We found that participants contributed actively to the process with ideas and suggestions, and that the co-design process facilitated positive reflections on ongoing counseling practices.

Conclusion

The co-design process resulted in the successful and participative development of innovative tools and activities to improve contraceptive counseling services. This approach is original because it involves both immigrant women, often left behind, and midwives delivering the services. Whilst this interplay allowed for careful refinement of services and tools by using an iterative process, it also facilitated reflective midwifery practice.
Establishment of the auxin inducible degron system for Babesia duncani: a conditional knockdown tool to study precise protein regulation in Babesia spp.
Authors: Chen Bo , Zhang Qi , Wang Sen , Guan Xing-ai , Luo Wan-xin , Li Dong-fang , He Yue , Huang Shu-jing , Zhou Ya-ting , Zhao Jun-long , He Lan
Published: October 2024

Background

Babesia duncani is a pathogen within the phylum Apicomplexa that causes human babesiosis. It poses a significant threat to public health, as it can be transmitted not only through tick bites but also via blood transfusion. Consequently, an understanding of the gene functions of this pathogen is necessary for the development of drugs and vaccines. However, the absence of conditional gene knockdown tools has hindered the research on this pathogen. The auxin-inducible degron (AID) system is a rapid, reversible conditional knockdown system widely used in gene function studies. Thus, there is an urgent need to establish the AID system in B. duncani to study essential gene functions.

Methods

The endogenous genes of the Skp1-Cullin-F-box (SCF) complex in B. duncani were identified and confirmed through multiple sequence alignment and conserved domain analysis. The expression of the F-box protein TIR1 from Oryza sativa (OsTIR1) was achieved by constructing a transgenic parasite strain using a homologous recombination strategy. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), western blot, and indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) were used to confirm the correct monoclonal parasite strain. The degradation of enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) tagged with an AID degron was detected through western blot and live-cell fluorescence microscopy after treatment of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA).

Results

In this study, Skp1, Cul1, and Rbx1 of the SCF complex in B. duncani were identified through sequence alignment and domain analysis. A pure BdTIR1 strain with expression of the OsTIR1 gene was constructed through homologous recombination and confirmed. This strain showed no significant differences from the wild type (WT) in terms of growth rate and proportions of different parasite forms. The eGFP tagged with an AID degron was successfully induced for degradation using 500 μM IAA. Grayscale analysis of western blot indicated a 61.3% reduction in eGFP expression levels, while fluorescence intensity analysis showed a 77.5% decrease in fluorescence intensity. Increasing the IAA concentration to 2 mM accelerated eGFP degradation and enhanced the extent of degradation.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated the functionality of the AID system in regulating protein levels by inducing rapid degradation of eGFP using IAA, providing an important research tool for studying essential gene functions related to invasion, egress, and virulence of B. duncani. Moreover, it also offers a construction strategy for apicomplexan parasites that have not developed an AID system.

Graphical Abstract
Point-of-care test of blood Plasmodium RNA within a Pasteur pipette using a novel isothermal amplification without nucleic acid purification
Authors: Xie Lyu , Xu Jiyu , Fan Lihua , Sun Xiaodong , Zheng Zhi
Published: October 2024

Background

Resource-limited regions face a greater burden of infectious diseases due to limited access to molecular tests, complicating timely diagnosis and management. Current molecular point-of-care tests (POCTs) either come with high costs or lack adequate sensitivity and specificity. To facilitate better prevention and control of infectious diseases in underserved areas, we seek to address the need for molecular POCTs that better align with the World Health Organization (WHO)’s ASSURED criteria—Affordable, Sensitive, Specific, User-friendly, Rapid and robust, Equipment-free, and Deliverable to end users.

Methods

A novel molecular POCT, Pasteur Pipette-assisted isothermal probe amplification (pp-IPA), was developed for malaria detection. Without any microfluidics, this method captures Plasmodium 18S rRNA in a modified Pasteur pipette using tailed genus-specific probes. After washing, the bound tailed probes are ligated to form a template for subsequent novel isothermal probe amplification using a pair of generic primers, bypassing nucleic acid extraction and reverse transcription. The method was assessed using cultured Plasmodium and compared with real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) or reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) in clinical blood samples.

Results

The entire assay is completed in 60–80 min with minimal hands-on time, using only a Pasteur pipette and a water bath. The pp-IPA’s analytical sensitivity is 1.28 × 10–4 parasites/μl, with 100% specificity against various blood-borne pathogens causing malaria-like symptoms. Additionally, pp-IPA needs only liquid-transfer skill for operation and the cost is around USD 0.25 per test, making it at least 300 times lower than mainstream POCT platforms.

Conclusions

Designed to improve the accessibility of molecular detection in resource-limited settings, pp-IPA’s simplicity, affordability, high sensitivity/specificity, and minimal equipment requirements make it a promising point-of-care pathogen identification tool in resource-constrained regions.

Graphical Abstract
Application of a recently developed method of oriented drill coring to accumulative tephra layers: identification of the Matuyama–Brunhes geomagnetic reversal in Akan caldera-forming eruption deposits
Authors: Hasegawa Takeshi , Kusu Chie , Okada Makoto , Hiratsuka Aoi , Nishiki Kuniaki , Sato Yuki , Koshigai Masaru , Matsuzaki Takuya , Yamamoto Yuhji
Published: October 2024

We adapted a recently developed technique of oriented drill coring (100 m in depth) for paleomagnetic measurements, including additional techniques such as half-cutting of the drill cores and accurate cube sampling using an apparatus that precisely guides the cube into the half-cut drill core surface. Our techniques were successfully applied to sequential tephra layers (including loess) at Akan Quaternary caldera volcano in eastern Hokkaido, Japan. Directions of remanent magnetization for a total of 129 specimens were measured by Spinner magnetometer with thermal and alternating field demagnetizations. We detected clear Matuyama–Brunhes geomagnetic reversal between the depths of 20.59 m and 21.30 m, where inclinations change from 65.1 to –44.3°. With these techniques, we can in future obtain useful geologic information (e.g., radiometric ages and absolute paleo-intensities) from volcanic rocks around the Matuyama–Brunhes boundary in Akan volcano. This will clarify more detailed processes of the geomagnetic polarity transition. Our study demonstrates the utility of oriented drill cores from successive tephra and loess layers for high resolution investigate of continuous paleo-geomagnetic records. The new techniques can be adopted to other geological fields on Earth, like in studies of marine sediments, providing continuous paleomagnetic direction data from drill core.

Graphical Abstract
Evaluation of cosmetic efficacy of lychee seed fermentation liquid
Authors: Yan Yaqian , Fu Hao , Tang Yuling , Huang Tiantian , Zou Xun , Su Ning , Wang Dongdong , Wang Changtao , Li Meng
Published: October 2024

Background

Lychee seeds were fermented by three kinds of bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarum, Saccharomyces cerevillus and ganoderma lucidum mycelium), and two effective strains were selected by two indexes of activity content and antioxidant, so as to further verify whether lychee seeds have waste multiplication effect and can protect cells damaged by oxidation from anti-inflammatory, anti-aging and safety.

Results

The contents of polyphenols, flavonoids and proteins in the solution fermented by Ganoderma lucidum mycelium did not increase, thus affecting the antioxidant capacity of the solution was far less than that of the water extract. The active content of the other two fermentation solutions was higher than that of the water extract, and the ability of scavenging free radicals of the two solutions increased with the increase of the volume fraction. At the cellular level, the two fermentation solutions showed repair effects on UVA-induced damaged cells. The contents of type I collagen (COL-1), total antioxidant capacity and ELN were increased, the contents of reactive oxygen species and MDA were decreased, and the expressions of inflammatory factors IL-6, TNF-a, iNOS and COX-2 were decreased in HaCaT cells. From the gene level, the mRNA contents of IL-6, TNF-a, Caspase-3, Caspase-9, Bax and Bcl were significantly decreased. The test of chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (HTET CAM) showed that there was no bleeding and litchi seed fermentation liquid was not irritating.

Conclusions

Therefore, two kinds of litchi seed fermentation can be used as natural plant raw materials for cosmetics, and have strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging functions on skin, and also have good human safety.

Graphical Abstract
The progesterone prime protocol: an affordable option for ICSI in Egypt
Authors: Elnahas Tamer , Mohamed Reham , Abdel-Rasheed Mazen , Salem Sondos , Nasr Mohamed , Elnahas Ahmed , Hassan Eman , Salama Ehab
Published: October 2024

Background

The two main input indicators needed to assess the success of assisted reproductive technology (ART) strategies are cost-effectiveness and clinical outcome. Therefore, we focused in our study on the direct cost associated with the Progesterone Prime Ovulation Induction Protocol (P-P-OP protocol) compared to other protocols, and the clinical outcomes of this strategy were measured in their effect on implantation and pregnancy rates.

Methods

A pilot single-armed study was conducted on 47 infertile women coming for an ICSI cycle. Progesterone priming was started with 10 mg dydrogesterone along with HMG 150–300 IU from the second day of the menstrual cycle and was maintained until the day of ovulation trigger. The primary outcome was the cost per cycle, while the secondary outcome was the clinical pregnancy rate. The cost per cycle, including the cryopreservation cost, was calculated for economic evaluation.

Results

Per each cycle, the number of retrieved oocytes was 14.87 ± 8.09, the number of mature oocytes was 9.81 ± 4.67, the number of total embryos was 8.74 ± 4.28 (grade A = 67.40%, grade B = 11.92%, grade C = 20.68%), and the number of transferred embryos was 2.43 ± 0.68. The clinical pregnancy rate in our study was 42.5%. Economically, the cost of the P-P-OP protocol for each patient was only 56 USD.

Conclusion

The P-P-OP protocol is a simplified approach suitable for freeze-only strategies, offering the benefits of positive results, fewer injections, lower costs, and increased patient convenience.
Electrical cardiometry significance in postoperative cardiac ICU; a single center study
Authors: Samir Mohamed , Mostafa Fatma Alzahraa , Sobhy Rodina , El-Sisi Amal , Tantawy Amira El , Sakr Hesham Mohammed , Afifi Ahmed
Published: October 2024

Background

Hemodynamic monitoring is a cornerstone of critical care; in fact, the techniques available for this purpose are either unreliable or operator-dependent or intermittent (echocardiography) and invasive (thermodilution). Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of electrical cardiometry (EC) in assessing hemodynamics in pediatric postoperative cardiac intensive care unit (ICU) and the agreement between EC and trans-thoracic echocardiography (TTE) as bedside tools for hemodynamic monitoring and early diagnosis of cardiovascular compromise. We included 70 pediatric patients from the postoperative cardiac ICU. All participants underwent history-taking and clinical examination. emphasising vital signs, manifestations or signs of hemodynamic instability, calculation of RACH score and vasoactive inotropic score. EC was applied for all patients, and TTE.

Results

The study included 40 males and 30 females with a mean age of 2.6 ± 3.49 years, ranging between 2 weeks and 13 years, with a male to female ratio of 1.3:1. The median of EC parameters were comparable to TTE parameters stroke volume (SV) (9 vs. 8 p = 0.2), stroke index (SI) (23.5 vs. 22 p = 0.2), cardiac output (CO) (1.25 vs. 1.1 p = 0.3), and cardiac index (CI) (3.2 vs. 3.15 p = 0.2). Hemodynamic parameters correlated significantly between EC and echocardiography, with significantly observed agreement between them. Four equations were postulated successfully based on a linear regression model to predict echocardiographic hemodynamic parameters in comparable groups of children, i.e., SV, SI, CO, and CI.

Conclusion

EC is an excellent alternative to echocardiography in hemodynamic assessment of cardiac patients in the postoperative ICU.
Low back pain myths: a narrative review
Authors: Kripa Sai , Kadiresan Mathivadhani
Published: October 2024

People all around the world suffer from low back pain (LBP), which frequently results in disability and a lower quality of life. Myths and misconceptions around LBP are still prevalent in both the general public and hospital settings, despite its ubiquitous prevalence. Through dispelling these myths and advocating for evidence-based knowledge, medical professionals can enhance patient education, lessen stigma, and anxiety related to life with post-traumatic stress disorder and enable more successful management techniques. Furthermore, dispelling myths regarding low back pain in the broader public can enable people to actively participate in their own care and support improved outcomes for those who have this crippling illness. The purpose of this evaluation of the literature is to identify and dispel prevalent misconceptions about LBP by examining the available data.
Genetic Signatures:
CD44
Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms Affect Cell Surface Expression and Elevate Risk in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Kashif Muhammad , Jahan Shah , Minhas Sadia , Amar Ali , Tahir Romeeza , Nisar Haseeb , Shehzad Faheem , Nagi Abdul Hanan , Afzal Nadeem
Published: October 2024

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the impact of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the
CD44
gene, specifically in the 3'UTR region (rs13347) and intronic region (rs187115), on the cell surface expression of CD44 protein and the risk of development of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study involved analysis of 85 samples and 85 healthy controls. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and flow cytometry were used to assess cell surface protein expression using CD44 antibody. DNA from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections was isolated and amplified using targeted primers. Sanger sequencing of the resultant amplified products was performed to determine the genotypes of the
CD44
rs13347 and rs187115 SNPs. GTEx and RegulomeDB were queried to evaluate the genotypic effects of these variants on target gene expression and regulation.

RESULTS

A comparison between patients with HNSCC and healthy controls revealed a significant association between
CD44
rs13347 and an increased risk of HNSCC in all the analyzed models, especially the TT genotype showed a significantly higher risk with an odds ratio of 8.69 (95% CI, 2.35 to 32.09;
P
= .0003). However, no significant association was found between
CD44
rs187115 and HNSCC in any of the models analyzed (all
P
> .05). Other notable findings included significant associations between
CD44
rs13347 genotype and age (
P
= .031), number of CD44-positive tumor cells (
P
= .049), CD44 staining intensity (SI;
P
= .039), and CD44 immunoreactivity score (IRS) status (
P
= .019).

CONCLUSION

The T allele and homozygous TT genotype of
CD44
rs13347 SNP were associated with increased susceptibility to HNSCC and decreased proportion of CD44-positive tumor cells, low SI, and reduced IRS.
Information Frictions and Skill Signaling in the Youth Labor Market
Authors: Heller Sara B. , Kessler Judd B.
Published: October 2024

This paper provides evidence that information frictions limit the labor market trajectories of US youth. We provide credible skill signals—recommendation letters based on supervisor feedback—to a random subset of 43,409 participants in New York’s summer jobs program. Letters increase employment the following year by 3 percentage points (4.5 percent). Earnings effects grow over four years to a cumulative $1,349 (4.9 percent). We find little evidence of increased job search or confidence; instead, signals may help employers better identify successful matches with high-productivity workers. Pulling youth into the labor market can, however, hamper on-time graduation, especially among low-achieving students. (JEL D82, H75, J13, J24, J31, J64)
Algorithmic Risk Assessment in the Hands of Humans
Authors: Stevenson Megan T. , Doleac Jennifer L.
Published: October 2024

We evaluate the impacts of adopting algorithmic risk assessments in sentencing. We find that judges changed sentencing practices in response to the risk assessment, but that discretion played a large role in mediating its impact. Judges deviated from the recommendations associated with the algorithm in systematic ways, suggestive of alternative objectives. As a result, risk assessment did not lead to detectable gains in terms of public safety or reduced incarceration rates. Using simulations, we show that strict adherence to the sentencing recommendations associated with the algorithm would have had benefits (less incarceration) but also some costs (increased sentences for youth). (JEL D81, D91, H76, K41, K42)
Maturity model for evaluating integrity management in public procurement
Authors: Márcio Medeiros Paiva Rodrigo , Batista Vieira James
Published: October 2024

This article presents the maturity model for evaluating integrity management in public procurement developed from national and international practices for identifying, assessing, and mitigating integrity risks. The model consists of 30 assessment questions weighed across four maturity levels. It was formulated through a comprehensive literature review and validated in four Brazilian public agencies at municipal, state, and federal levels. This model allows for self-assessment of key weaknesses and strengths in contractual risk management and supports the continuous improvement process of internal controls to preserve public value.
Integridade, ética e combate à corrupção no campo da administração pública brasileira: Desafios conceituais e horizontes possíveis
Authors: Oliveira Júnior Temístocles Murilo de , Rodrigues Karina Furtado , Midlej e Silva Suylan de Almeida , Bergue Sandro Trescastro
Published: October 2024

Quais ambiguidades e pressupostos conceituais das políticas de integridade, ética e combate à corrupção deixamos de discutir e, ao serem ignorados, prejudicam a própria efetivação dos objetivos que as ensejam? Argumenta-se que, ao embarcar na difusão mundial de políticas de governança pública, majoritariamente ligadas ao controle, o Brasil acabou por adotar o caminho da prescrição antes de debater e considerar as ambiguidades e pressupostos de tais políticas. O objetivo deste artigo é desvelá-las vis-à-vis a análise do arcabouço normativo existente no Brasil por meio de: uma contextualização da emergência dessas políticas no bojo da difusão da governança pública; uma análise da adoção de políticas de integridade pelo Brasil; compreensão da ética sob a lente da Filosofia, e como ela vem sendo operacionalizada no Brasil; e pressupostos histórico-culturais das políticas de combate à corrupção existentes.
Το αρχιτεκτονικό αποτύπωμα της δράσης των Ηπειρωτών εθνικών ευεργετών κατά τον 19ο αιώνα έως τις αρχές του 20ου αιώνα
Authors: Βλάχου Έλλη-Αντωνία
Published: October 2024

Ήδη από τις αρχές του 19ου αιώνα, κάτω από ιδιαίτερες ιστορικές και κοινωνικές συνθήκες, αναπτύχθηκε το φαινόμενο του ελληνικού ευεργετισμού από κορυφαίους επιχειρηματίες της Διασποράς, οι οποίοι μέσα από μια προσωπική διαδρομή και λειτουργώντας με όρους ατομικού γοήτρου ανέλαβαν την πραγμάτωση κοινωφελών έργων που υπερέβαιναν τις δυνατότητες του εθνικού κράτους ή της κοινότητας αντίστοιχα. Τα ευεργετήματα αφορούσαν κατά κύριο λόγο την ενίσχυση της παιδείας, υπηρετώντας τα προτάγματα του Διαφωτισμού, που ήθελαν τη μόρφωση ως κύριο εφόδιο για τη χειραφέτηση των πολιτών, για τον κοινωνικό και τον πολιτικό μετασχηματισμό της κοινωνίας μέσω της γνώσης, και κατ’ επέκταση για την εγγύηση ενός καλύτερου μέλλοντος. Παράλληλα, οι ίδιοι οι ευεργέτες αποκτούσαν ρόλο «οργανικού διανοούμενου», βλέποντας το πεπρωμένο της τάξης τους σε μια ευρύτερη προοπτική, ακόμα και σε βάρος των στενά οικονομικών τους συμφερόντων. Οι ευεργεσίες των Ελλήνων της Διασποράς ήρθαν να καλύψουν τα ελλείμματα του ελληνικού κράτους, σε μια εποχή που τόσο το ίδιο τελούσε υπό συγκρότηση –λόγω της πρόσφατης απελευθέρωσης από την οθωμανική κυριαρχία–, όσο και το ιδεολογικό αφήγημα του εθνικού κράτους βρισκόταν υπό διαμόρφωση στην Ευρώπη του 19ου αιώνα. Το corpus μάλιστα των αρχιτεκτονικών έργων που είναι αποτέλεσμα ευεργεσίας συνιστά ένα από τα σημαντικότερα τμήματα της νεοελληνικής αρχιτεκτονικής, που παράλληλα εκπροσωπεί την Ελλάδα στον αστικό χώρο των ευρωπαϊκών πόλεων. H διδακτορική διατριβή, διερευνά το αρχιτεκτονικό αποτύπωμα της εθνικής ευεργεσίας κατά την περίοδο που γνώρισε ιδιαίτερη άνθηση, δηλαδή κατά τον 19ο και 20ο αιώνα εντοπισμένο στο παράδειγμα των Ηπειρωτών Εθνικών Ευεργετών και κατανεμημένο στο τρίπτυχο τόπος δραστηριοποίησης (Κωνσταντινούπολη και Διασπορά) – εθνικό κέντρο (Αθήνα) – τόπος καταγωγής (ευρύτερη γεωγραφική περιφέρεια της Ηπείρου). Οι Ηπειρώτες Ευεργέτες επιλέχθηκαν ως αντικείμενο της έρευνας διότι είναι ευάριθμοι και επιδεικνύουν μεγάλη παραγωγή αρχιτεκτονικού έργου πνοής, εξίσου πλούσιου στον τόπο δραστηριοποίησης, το εθνικό κέντρο και τον τόπο καταγωγής, γεγονός που δίνει την δυνατότητα ευρύτερου ερευνητικού πεδίου και συγκρίσεων. Η ερμηνεία του εξεταζόμενου αρχιτεκτονικού έργου επιχειρείται υπό το πρίσμα της ευεργεσίας, στη διαγώνιο της Ιστορίας της Αρχιτεκτονικής και της Πόλης, της Ελληνικής και Ευρωπαϊκής Ιστορίας, της Οικονομικής Ιστορίας καθώς και της Ιστορίας και Φιλοσοφίας των Ιδεών, εντοπιζόμενης στον Διαφωτισμό. Δεδομένου ότι η ερμηνευτική προσέγγιση, δεν έχει εντοπιστεί ούτε στην ελληνική ούτε στη διεθνή αρχιτεκτονική ιστοριογραφία, εκτιμάται ότι η παρούσα διατριβή προσφέρει ένα νέο πρίσμα θέασης και ερμηνείας της νεοελληνικής και όχι μόνον αρχιτεκτονικής και παράλληλα συμβάλλει στην αυτογνωσία του νέου ελληνισμού εν γένει, καθώς το αντικείμενό της αντιμετωπίστηκε καθ’ όλη τη διάρκεια της έρευνας ως τμήμα της συνολικής ιστορίας.