bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Spatio-temporal distribution and biotechnological potential of culturable yeasts in the intertidal sediments and seawater of Aoshan Bay, China
Authors: Xue Si-Jia , Liu Jie , Zhao Fang-Yuan , Zhang Xin-Tong , Zhu Zhi-Qiang , Zhang Jin-Yong 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACT

Marine yeasts play a crucial role in marine microbial ecology, facilitating the biogeochemical cycling of carbon and nitrogen in marine ecosystems, while also serving as important reservoirs of bioactive compounds with extensive applications in pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and various industries. Intertidal flats, characterized by their complex ecological dynamics, are postulated to harbor a wealth of yeast resources. This study employed a culture-dependent approach to assess the diversity, spatio-temporal distribution, and biotechnological potential of yeast communities residing within the intertidal sediments and seawater of Aoshan Bay. A total of 392 yeast strains were identified from 20 distinct genera, encompassing 43 recognized species and four candidate novel species. Notably, 17 of these species were identified as novel occurrences in marine environments, underscoring the rich yeast biodiversity of the Aoshan Bay ecosystem, with
Candida
emerging as the dominant genus in both sedimentary and aqueous habitats. Yeast community composition exhibited significant spatial and temporal variation, with peak diversity and abundance observed in autumn, the subtidal zone, and the surface soil layer. No clear pattern, however, emerged linking these shifts to specific changes in community composition, highlighting the complex interactions between microbial communities, environmental variables, and anthropogenic disturbance. Although several yeast species isolated here have been previously recognized for their biotechnological potential, their diverse and abundant extracellular enzyme profiles were characterized, further highlighting their crucial role in organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling within the tidal ecosystem, as well as their potential applicability in the food, fine chemical, textile, and pharmaceutical industries.

IMPORTANCE
This study presents groundbreaking insights into the yeast diversity of Aoshan Bay, offering invaluable information on their spatial and temporal distribution patterns, as well as their biotechnological potential in the tidal environment. The findings reveal that the eutrophic intertidal flat is a rich repository of yeasts with abundant extracellular enzymatic activity and an important role in nutrient cycling and decomposition processes. Also, these yeasts serve as crucial indicators of ecosystem health and function and are excellent candidates for biotechnological and industrial applications. Collectively, this study not only expands our knowledge of the diversity and distribution of intertidal yeasts but also highlights their promising potential for biotechnological applications.
Training undergraduate biomedical science majors in peer review and constructive criticism through a senior capstone course
Authors: Collins Kelly J. 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACT

Effective scientific communication is crucial for undergraduate students to succeed in future graduate or professional careers in the biomedical sciences. Peer review and constructive criticism are essential to producing written science communications. Unfortunately, training in how to perform peer review and incorporate constructive criticism is minimal in undergraduate science courses. Here, I describe a senior thesis course for immunology and microbiology majors that encourages students to integrate iterative peer review to improve their writing skills and their ability to incorporate feedback. In this course, students are expected to complete one of the following written projects that focuses on an immunological disorder or infectious disease: a research proposal, a case study, or a meta-analysis/systematic review. Each project is separated into six assignments, and each assignment is assessed through specifications (SPECS)-based grading and peer review where students have multiple attempts to improve their scores on each assignment. Approximately 40% of each student’s grade is based on their ability to incorporate feedback from peers and instructors. Preliminary survey results suggest that students are eager to learn how to effectively incorporate peer and instructor feedback. Enhancing training in peer review will encourage students to embrace constructive criticism, which will be essential for their future careers. Initial findings indicate that students are positively engaging with the peer-review process, and the use of SPECS grading fosters a growth mindset. Continued research will further explore how this method can enhance students’ confidence and skill in integrating feedback into professional scientific communication.
Characterizing
Escherichia coli
carrying plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamases to optimize detection in a diagnostic laboratory setting
Authors: Teng Jason , Walters Luke , Leong Lex E. X. , Smith Kija , Amato Malissa , Chen Xiao , Turra Mark , Warner Morgyn S. , Papanicolas Lito E. 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACT

Plasmid-mediated AmpC β-lactamases are a cause of acquired cephalosporin resistance in Gram-negative bacteria. However, consensus regarding the optimal detection method is yet to be achieved and varies depending on local epidemiology and laboratory capacity. We determined the acquired genotypic resistance mechanisms of 250
Escherichia coli
isolates with a positive AmpC screen, defined as cefoxitin MIC ≥ 8 mg/L and a positive AmpC double- disc diffusion test, using in-house designed high-resolution melt PCR, detecting plasmid-acquired genes from the CIT and DHA families. A proportion of these isolates (
n
= 170, 68%) underwent further genotypic characterization using whole- genome sequencing (WGS). Of 250 isolates with a positive screening test, 72 (28.8%) were determined to carry an acquired AmpC gene. There was 100% concordance between PCR and WGS in the identification of acquired AmpC genes. The phenotypic criteria were then assessed to determine their utility in predicting acquired AmpC gene carriage. Criteria 1 (cefoxitin MIC > 8 mg/L plus ceftriaxone MIC > 1 mg/L and/or ceftazidime MIC > 1 mg/L) yielded a sensitivity of 93.1% and a specificity of 47.8%. Criteria 2 (cefoxitin MIC > 16 mg/L plus ceftriaxone MIC > 4 mg/L) had a sensitivity of 33.3% and a specificity of 98.9%. DHA genes, whose expression may be induced following antibiotic exposure, were present in 19% of isolates testing susceptible to ceftriaxone (MIC ≤ 1 mg/L) and were significantly more likely than CIT genes to be detected in susceptible isolates (
P
< 0.0001). These findings highlight the importance of using genotypic methods to detect acquired AmpC resistance in
E. coli
isolates that meet phenotypic screening criteria.

IMPORTANCE

Detection of transmissible AmpC resistance remains a challenging problem for diagnostic laboratories, especially in
Escherichia coli
where the expression of its intrinsic AmpC gene can result in phenotypic resistance patterns indistinguishable from plasmid-mediated resistance. In conjunction with whole- genome sequencing (WGS), we describe the development and performance of a novel melt-curve PCR to identify the two most prevalent plasmid-mediated AmpC gene families: CIT and DHA. We then describe phenotypic testing algorithms that incorporate this PCR and can differentiate these from non-acquired resistance in
E. coli
. It is important to distinguish these, not only to spare patients from unnecessarily being treated with infection control precautions, but also to identify plasmid-mediated genes, especially of the DHA family, that have been associated with inducible drug resistance to third- generation cephalosporins.
Currents and Tides in the Fram Strait and Greenland Sea
Authors: Morozov E. G. , Frey D. I. 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Measurements of oceanographic characteristics, currents, and tides in the Fram Strait and the Greenland Sea are analyzed using historical measurement data. Measurements on moorings across the Fram Strait made it possible to estimate the speeds of the East Greenland and West Spitsbergen currents. It is shown that the speeds of these currents are low (within 10 cm/s) and the amplitudes of the speed of tidal currents are two or more times greater. Tidal currents are intensifying on the shelf of Greenland and Svalbard. Direct measurements are compared with the University of Oregon barotropic tide model.
Metabolic Allometric Scaling of Unicellular Organisms as a Product of Selection Guided by Optimization of Nutrients Distribution in Food Chains
Authors: Shestopaloff Yuri K. 
Published: November 2024

One of the major characteristics of living organisms is metabolic rate — the amount of energy produced per unit of time. When the mass of organisms increases, the metabolic rate also increases (as a power function of mass), but usually slower than mass. This effect is called metabolic allometric scaling. Its causes are considered unknown. The effect has important implications for individual and population organismal development. It was shown in the first part of this study, presented in a separate paper, that in the case of multicellular organisms, this effect is a consequence of natural selection and optimization of nutrient distribution between the species of a food chain, sharing resources of a common habitat. Here, in the second part that studies unicellular organisms, we discover that the same principle of natural selection guided by optimization of nutrient distribution between the species of a food chain defines also metabolic allometric scaling of unicellular organisms. To find that, we consider the metabolic properties of Amoeba proteus, fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus. The sharing of nutrients is optimized in such a way that bigger microorganisms have progressively bigger nutrient influx per unit of surface. This evolutionary arrangement secures the stability of a food chain by providing certain metabolic advantages for bigger organisms. Accounting for this regular increase of nutrient influx with mass increase, we obtained allometric exponents and their ranges close to experimental values, thus proving that metabolic allometric scaling of both multicellular and unicellular organisms is defined by the same fundamental evolutionary principle of optimized sharing of nutrients between the species of a food chain.
Comparison of Phacoemulsification Alone and With Trabecular Microbypass Stent in Primary Open‐Angle Glaucoma and Normal‐Tension Glaucoma
Authors: Tsao Yu-Ting , Yeh Po-Han , Su Wei-Wen 
Published: November 2024

iStent (Glaukos, San Clemente, CA, USA), a minimally invasive glaucoma device, reduces intraocular pressure (IOP) by enhancing aqueous humor outflow when implanted into Schlemm’s canal. Although it has demonstrated effectiveness in lowering IOP and slowing glaucoma progression, its applicability to the Taiwanese population, known for a higher incidence of normal‐tension glaucoma (NTG) cases, requires validation. This retrospective case‐control study, conducted from January 2018 to December 2020, aimed to assess the effectiveness of combining first‐generation iStent with phacoemulsification (phaco‐iStent) compared to phacoemulsification alone in Taiwanese patients diagnosed with primary open‐angle glaucoma (POAG) and NTG, involving 71 eyes (iStent group: POAG 16 and NTG 8; control group: POAG 28 and NTG 19). The primary outcomes included changes in IOP and the number of antiglaucoma medications, with subgroup analyses for POAG and NTG. Over the 18‐month follow‐up, the iStent group achieved a significantly greater reduction in antiglaucoma medications compared with the control group (p value = 0.003∼<0.001) without significant IOP rebound. After adjusting for confounding factors, the reduction in the number of antiglaucoma medications with iStent remained significant (β = −0.8, p < 0.001) according to the generalized estimating equation. At 18 months, the iStent group demonstrated higher qualified and complete success rates than the control group (73.3% vs. 16.7%, p value = 0.001% and 53.3% vs. 0%, p value = 0.002, respectively). Notably, the NTG‐iStent subgroup achieved the highest complete success rate (85.7% at 18 months). In conclusion, phaco‐iStent emerges as an effective standalone treatment for Taiwanese patients with POAG and NTG, providing substantial IOP reduction and higher success rates, especially in NTG cases. These findings propose that phaco‐iStent could be a promising intervention for managing POAG and NTG within the Taiwanese population.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06630546.
Money Management Practices of Senior High School Teachers at A Public School: A Case Study
Authors: Robles Mercy P. , Polinar Mark Anthony N. 
Published: November 2024

All individuals, regardless of their level of education and employment status, should practice effective management of financial resources. This is essential for setting and attaining financial objectives and making prudent financial decisions. A case study was conducted to deeply analyze the money management practices from the lens of senior high school teachers at a public school in Cebu City, reflecting practices concerning budgeting, saving, spending, debt repayment, and retirement. There were ten key informants, five (5) from Grade 11 and another (5) from Grade 12. These individuals have qualified to be key informants in the study as they meet the inclusion criteria set by the researchers. During the data analysis, notable themes in every indicator were found: needs and wants, meeting financial obligations, using a piggy bank, creating reserves for debt settlement, and preparation for retirement through saving. This shows that despite facing ongoing challenges, these individuals still have the courage and full awareness to manage their money correctly, allowing them to make sound financial decisions. Understanding fundamental finance principles will enable educators to transform their budgets into actionable strategies, establish achievable savings targets, and prioritize repaying debts. This knowledge equips them to more effectively navigate financial hurdles like living expenses, healthcare costs, and planning for retirement. Furthermore, properly implementing effective personal financial planning can enable teachers to attain financial growth and security, leading to increased independence, reduced financial and emotional stress, and an enhanced quality of life.
In-Depth Review of the Influence of Renal Insuficiency on Major Adverse Cardiovascular Event (MACE) and Mortality in Patients with Acute St-Segment Elevation Myocardial In- farction (STEMI)
Authors: Nurudinulloh Akhmad Isna , Anjarwani Setyasih 
Published: November 2024

The widespread implementation of invasive procedures such as coronary angiography and primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) into the routine management of patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in the last 10 years has led to a significant improvement in patient prognosis. At the same time, this also raises new problems and questions, mostly related to the fact that there are many elderly patients and/or patients with comorbidities who need to undergo this invasive procedure. One of the most important comorbidities is renal insufficiency. STEMI patients with renal insufficiency typically present with more extensive atherosclerotic lesions, including diffuse coronary calcification, which poses a challenge to the interventional cardiologist due to a higher risk of periprocedural complications, higher risk of restenosis, major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) , and patient mortality. This review discusses in depth the influence of renal insufficiency on MACE and mortality in STEMI patients.

Keywords: renal insufficiency, STEMI, MACE, mortality.
Optogenetic Manipulation of Covert Attention in the Nonhuman Primate
Authors: Katz Leor N. , Bohlen Martin O. , Yu Gongchen , Mejias-Aponte Carlos , Sommer Marc A. , Krauzlis Richard J. 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Optogenetics affords new opportunities to interrogate neuronal circuits that control behavior. In primates, the usefulness of optogenetics in studying cognitive functions remains a challenge. The technique has been successfully wielded, but behavioral effects have been demonstrated primarily for sensorimotor processes. Here, we tested whether brief optogenetic suppression of primate superior colliculus can change performance in a covert attention task, in addition to previously reported optogenetic effects on saccadic eye movements. We used an attention task that required the monkey to detect and report a stimulus change at a cued location via joystick release, while ignoring changes at an uncued location. When the cued location was positioned in the response fields of transduced neurons in the superior colliculus, transient light delivery coincident with the stimulus change disrupted the monkey's detection performance, significantly lowering hit rates. When the cued location was elsewhere, hit rates were unaltered, indicating that the effect was spatially specific and not a motor deficit. Hit rates for trials with only one stimulus were also unaltered, indicating that the effect depended on selection among distractors rather than a low-level visual impairment. Psychophysical analysis revealed that optogenetic suppression increased perceptual threshold, but only for locations matching the transduced site. These data show that optogenetic manipulations can cause brief and spatially specific deficits in covert attention, independent of sensorimotor functions. This dissociation of effect, and the temporal precision provided by the technique, demonstrates the utility of optogenetics in interrogating neuronal circuits that mediate cognitive functions in the primate.
When Can LLMs Actually Correct Their Own Mistakes? A Critical Survey of Self-Correction of LLMs
Authors: Kamoi Ryo , Zhang Yusen , Zhang Nan , Han Jiawei , Zhang Rui 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Self-correction is an approach to improving responses from large language models (LLMs) by refining the responses using LLMs during inference. Prior work has proposed various self-correction frameworks using different sources of feedback, including self-evaluation and external feedback. However, there is still no consensus on the question of when LLMs can correct their own mistakes, as recent studies also report negative results. In this work, we critically survey broad papers and discuss the conditions required for successful self-correction. We first find that prior studies often do not define their research questions in detail and involve impractical frameworks or unfair evaluations that over-evaluate self-correction. To tackle these issues, we categorize research questions in self-correction research and provide a checklist for designing appropriate experiments. Our critical survey based on the newly categorized research questions shows that (1) no prior work demonstrates successful self-correction with feedback from prompted LLMs, except for studies in tasks that are exceptionally suited for self-correction, (2) self-correction works well in tasks that can use reliable external feedback, and (3) large-scale fine-tuning enables self-correction.
Muṣṭafā Ṣabrī on Waḥdat al-Wuǧūd and its Philosophical Origins
Authors: Sami Muhammad 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
This article studies the critique of waḥdat al-wuǧūd penned by Muṣṭafā Ṣabrī (d. 1954), one of the last Ottoman şeyhülislams. Ṣabrī’s critique echoes those written by previous theologians such as al-Taftāzānī while simultaneously criticising their shortcomings. In Ṣabrī’s view, waḥdat al-wuǧūd originates in what he calls “the divinization of existence”: the identification of God’s essence with his existence, a doctrine held by Muslim peripatetics and adopted by several philosophical theologians. It is just because they failed to locate such an origin that Ṣabrī believes previous critiques of the Akbarian doctrine were not adequate.
Changing European Minority Rights Standards
Authors: Fiala-Butora János 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
The Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, the only comprehensive international minority rights treaty, was adopted in 1995 to counter ethnocentric exclusionary tendencies characteristic of newly emerging democracies in East-Central Europe. It has been evaluated as largely successful in developing progressive standards on minority rights, while judged less efficient in implementing them across member states. This article shows on the example of Slovakia that this traditional narrative conceals another important one: while the Framework Convention’s monitoring body, the Advisory Committee, maintains formally progressive positions, in substance it is becoming more accommodating of exclusionary practices.
By comparing the Advisory Committee’s standards expressed in its periodic opinions on Slovakia to developments on the ground, the article demonstrates that the international standards are in fact deteriorating. The Advisory Committee’s recent opinions are much more favourable to the Slovak government’s policies on minority rights. Yet, a detailed analysis shows that those policies have not become more minority-friendly in practice. In fact, in several ways they have regressed. The current acceptance of practices it criticized in the past is an important shift in the Advisory Committee’s position. Yet this shift is not reflected in its formal standards, which remain progressive. The analysis shows that the Advisory Committee’s lack of transparency in its monitoring procedures leads to a misrepresentation of the situation of minority rights, which provides cover for anti-minority practices. This makes it difficult for outside observers to evaluate the true state of minority rights and the effectiveness of international standards.
In closing, the article engages with the normative assumptions behind the Advisory Committee’s approach. The Framework Convention does not have a strong enforcement mechanism, therefore cooperation with governments is essential to ensure compliance. However, by accommodating exclusionary practices, the Committee also legitimizes them. While valid arguments can be raised both for and against this approach, it is difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of this trade-off because of its clandestine nature. More transparent monitoring would give legitimacy to an objective international standard, which the current approach risks undermining.
Search for Durable Solution to the Rohingya Refugee Crisis in Bangladesh
Authors: Rahaman Razidur 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
The Rohingya, a Muslim minority living mainly in the northern Rakhine state of Myanmar, are considered illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, despite the fact that they have settled in Myanmar for hundreds of years. Myanmar recognized 135 ethnic groups under the 1982 Citizenship Act which excludes the Rohingya as an ethnic group in Myanmar and they became stateless. Myanmar Security Forces have committed grave violation of human rights against Rohingya. The latest attack in 2017 was more heinous than in 1978, 1992, and 2012. As of June 2018, The Rohingya refugee in Bangladesh was portrayed as a protracted refugee situation. In many protracted refugee situations, a durable solution such as local integration, resettlement and voluntary repatriations needed to be implemented to end the prolonged displacement. The aim of this paper is to discuss the most feasible durable solutions to be implemented to repatriate Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.