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This study endeavors to investigate the role of female teachers of childhood education in directing children towards the effective use of smart devices in developing their learning experiences. The sample of the study consisted of 83 female teachers in the northern region of Jordan, who were selected using the available sampling method. To achieve the aim of the study, a semi-structured interview was prepared and its validity and consistency were verified. The results shown that childhood education female teachers achieved advanced roles in directing children towards the effective use of smart devices, where effective direction towards the use of smart devices was represented in: directing children to self-organize their learning during using smart devices, directing children to acquire digital social interaction skills and directing them to learn innovation during using smart devices, with the importance of directing them to avoid the harms of using smart devices through preventive guidance. Moreover, the findings of the study revealed the importance of directing children to participate in various digital activities, as well as directing them to learn through digital applications that are purposeful and suitable to their mental capabilities. Based on the research findings, the study presented a number of relevant recommendations.

Microsatellites, also known as SSR or STR, are essential molecular markers in genomic research, playing crucial roles in genetic mapping, population genetics, and evolutionary studies. Their applications range from plant breeding to forensics, highlighting their diverse utility across disciplines. Despite their widespread use, traditional methods for SSR analysis are often laborious and time-consuming, requiring significant resources and expertise. To address these challenges, a variety of computational tools for SSR analysis have been developed, offering faster and more efficient alternatives to traditional methods. However, selecting the most appropriate tool can be daunting due to rapid technological advancements and the sheer number of options available. This study presents a comprehensive review and analysis of 74 SSR tools, aiming to provide researchers with a valuable resource for SSR analysis tool selection. The methodology employed includes thorough literature reviews, detailed tool comparisons, and in-depth analyses of tool functionality. By compiling and analyzing these tools, this study not only advances the field of genomic research but also contributes to the broader scientific community by facilitating informed decision-making in the selection of SSR analysis tools. Researchers seeking to understand SSRs and select the most appropriate tools for their projects will benefit from this comprehensive guide. Overall, this study enhances our understanding of SSR analysis tools, paving the way for more efficient and effective SSR research in various fields of study.

Introdução: O tétano acidental é uma doença infecciosa aguda prevenível que está associada à elevada morbi-mortalidade. Objetivo: Descrever as dificuldades enfrentadas no manejo de um paciente com tétano acidental em um hospital de pequeno porte do interior de Minas Gerais. Método: Relato de caso. Esse relato foi feito através da revisão de prontuário eletrônico, após assinatura do TCLE. Resultados: Paciente masculino, 63 anos, natural e procedente de Itajubá-MG, deu entrada em pronto atendimento com história de perfuração em região plantar do pé direito por prego enferrujado há 5 dias. Na admissão, apresentou-se com trismo e nucalgia. Referia nunca ter sido vacinado. Apesar de sinais vitais estáveis foi admitido na UTI, pelo diagnóstico de tétano acidental. Após 4 horas da admissão apresentou crises espasmódicas generalizadas, evoluindo com paralisia diafragmática e parada cardiorrespiratória em assistolia por hipóxia. Após RCP e o retorno à circulação espontânea foi submetido à intubação endotraqueal, recebendo sedoanalgesia com Propofol e Fentanil. A avaliação neurológica demonstrou hipertonia e abalos musculares generalizados, a tomografia de crânio não apresentava alterações. Após 12 horas da admissão, foi administrado soro antitetânico: 20.000 UI EV, vacina antitetânica e metronidazol EV. Decorridas 36 horas após admissão na UTI, foi realizada traqueostomia e desbridamento da ferida com drenagem de abscesso do pé direito. Evoluiu com sintomas de disautonomia, caracterizado por labilidade pressórica e após 15 dias da admissão, começou a apresentar melhora dos espasmos musculares em uso de Diazepam, Midazolam, Fentanil e Rocurônio. Durante a internação, o paciente evoluiu com lesão renal aguda e necessidade de hemodiálise. Além disso, o paciente apresentou diversas Infecções Relacionadas à Assistência à Saúde (IRAS), como pneumonia associada à ventilação mecânica por Acinetobacter baumannii resistente a carbapenêmico e infecção de corrente sanguínea. Após 60 dias de internação na UTI, paciente evoluiu para óbito como consequência de choque séptico refratário. Esse foi o segundo caso de tétano acidental notificado em Itajubá no último ano. Conclusão: Apesar de ser uma doença prevenível, devido à baixa cobertura vacinal, novos casos de tétano acidental têm sido notificados na cidade de Itajubá. A escassez de recursos e a falta de capacitação da equipe de saúde dificulta o manejo dessa condição nas áreas mais remotas do país.

In today’s information age, recommender systems have become an essential tool to filter and personalize the massive data flow to users. However, these systems’ increasing complexity and opaque nature have raised concerns about transparency and user trust. Lack of explainability in recommendations can lead to ill-informed decisions and decreased confidence in these advanced systems. Our study addresses this problem by integrating explainability techniques into recommendation systems to improve both the precision of the recommendations and their transparency. We implemented and evaluated recommendation models on the MovieLens and Amazon datasets, applying explainability methods like LIME and SHAP to disentangle the model decisions. The results indicated significant improvements in the precision of the recommendations, with a notable increase in the user’s ability to understand and trust the suggestions provided by the system. For example, we saw a 3% increase in recommendation precision when incorporating these explainability techniques, demonstrating their added value in performance and improving the user experience.

BackgroundMaternal-foetal transmission of Chagas disease (CD) affects newborns worldwide. Although Benznidazole and Nifurtimox therapies are the standard treatments, their use during pregnancy is contra-indicated. The effectiveness of trypanocidal medications in preventing congenital Chagas Disease (cCD) in the offsprings of women diagnosed with CD was highly suggested by other studies.MethodsWe performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies evaluating the effectiveness of treatment for CD in women of childbearing age and reporting frequencies of cCD in their children. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and LILACS databases were systematically searched. Statistical analysis was performed using Rstudio 4.2 using DerSimonian and Laird random-effects models. Heterogeneity was examined with the Cochran Q test and I2 statistics. A p-value of ResultsSix studies were included, comprising 744 children, of whom 286 (38.4%) were born from women previously treated with Benznidazole or Nifurtimox, trypanocidal agents. The primary outcome of the proportion of children who were seropositive for cCD, confirmed by serology, was signigicantly lower among women who were previously treated with no congenital transmission registered (OR 0.05; 95% Cl 0.01-0.27; p = 0.000432; I2 = 0%). In women previously treated with trypanocidal drugs, the pooled prevalence of cCD was 0.0% (95% Cl 0-0.91%; I2 = 0%), our meta-analysis confirms the excellent effectiveness of this treatment. The prevalence of adverse events in women previously treated with antitrypanocidal therapies was 14.01% (95% CI 1.87-26.14%; I2 = 80%), Benznidazole had a higher incidence of side effects than Nifurtimox (76% vs 24%).ConclusionThe use of trypanocidal therapy in women at reproductive age with CD is an effective strategy for the prevention of cCD, with a complete elimination of congenital transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi in treated vs untreated infected women.

The Xenopus retinotectal circuit is organized topographically, where the dorsal-ventral axis of the retina maps respectively on to the ventral-dorsal axis of the tectum; axons from the nasal-temporal axis of the retina project respectively to the caudal-rostral axis of the tectum. Studies throughout the last two decades have shown that mechanisms involving molecular recognition of proper termination domains are at work guiding topographic organization. Such studies have shown that graded distribution of molecular cues is important for topographic mapping. However, the complement of molecular cues organizing topography along the developing optic nerve, and as retinal axons cross the chiasm and navigate towards and innervate their target in the tectum, remains unknown. Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule (DSCAM) has been characterized as a key molecule in axon guidance, making it a strong candidate involved in the topographic organization of retinal fibers along the optic path and at their target. Using a combination of whole-brain clearing and immunohistochemistry staining techniques we characterized DSCAM expression and the projection of ventral and dorsal retinal fibers starting from the eye, following to the optic nerve and chiasm, and into the terminal target in the optic tectum in Xenopus laevis tadpoles. We then assessed the effects of DSCAM on the establishment of retinotopic maps through spatially and temporally targeted DSCAM knockdown on retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) with axons innervating the optic tectum. Highest expression of DSCAM was localized to the ventral posterior region of the optic nerve and chiasm; this expression pattern coincides with ventral fibers derived from ventral RGCs. Targeted downregulation of DSCAM expression on ventral RGCs affected the segregation of medial axon fibers from their dorsal counterparts within the tectal neuropil, indicating that DSCAM plays a role in retinotopic organization. These findings together with previous studies demonstrating cell-autonomous roles for DSCAM during the development of pre- and postsynaptic arbors in the Xenopus retinotectal circuit indicates that DSCAM exerts multiple roles in coordinating axon targeting and structural connectivity in the developing vertebrate visual system.

La analítica web implica aplicar análisis de datos a la información recopilada por un sitio web para comprender los patrones de tráfico y el comportamiento de los usuarios. La evaluación de la analítica web en el sector turístico de Cuenca, Ecuador, buscó mejorar las estrategias digitales mediante un enfoque mixto cualitativo-cuantitativo. Se observó una correlación entre la edad y la frecuencia de consulta de estadísticas en sitios web turísticos, con mayor participación de personas jóvenes. Además, se destacó un interés significativo en recibir recomendaciones personalizadas, con cerca del 40 % expresando interés definitivo. La disposición para proporcionar retroalimentación y participar en la mejora de servicios en línea fue generalizada. Internet se posicionó como la principal fuente de información turística, con un énfasis en el uso de redes sociales. Estos hallazgos resaltan la importancia de las estrategias de marketing digital y la optimización para dispositivos móviles en la industria turística.

In the pursuit of comprehensive education, the symbiotic relationship between 21st-century skills and STEM is crucial. These two domains work hand in hand to equip students with the knowledge and abilities required to thrive as productive and technically literate citizens in the future. This study assessed the impact of an integrated STEM education program on students' 21st-century skills using Project-Oriented Problem-Based Learning (PoPBL) as the core pedagogical approach. A onegroup quasi-experimental design and survey methodology were employed to evaluate students' skills before and after participating in the program. The findings showed a significant increase in students' overall 21st-century skills, with high productivity skills notably improving from moderate to high proficiency. These results provide compelling evidence that PoPBL in STEM education effectively enhances students' skills by immersing them in authentic, real-life problem-solving experiences through project work. The study emphasizes the value of integrating PoPBL into STEM education to enhance critical skills such as problemsolving, creative thinking, collaboration, and effective communication. By engaging in practical, project-based activities, students not only apply their knowledge but also develop competencies to address complex challenges in their future endeavors.

El cultivo del cacao es muy susceptible a deficiencias nutrimentales y a la moniliasis ocasionada por el fitopatógeno Moniliophthora roreri. Una de las alternativas a los productos químicos sintéticos son los compuestos a base de silicio (Si). En la presente investigación se evaluó el efecto del silicio como bioestimulante en el cultivo de cacao y agente de control biológico de M. roreri. En el experimento se utilizaron cincos tratamientos de Si: T1 (4.00 kg ha-1), T2 (3.00 kg ha-1), T3 (2.00 kg ha-1) y T4 (1.5 kg ha-1) y un tratamiento control (sin aplicación). Se determinaron los indicadores de producción, número de mazorca, peso fresco y seco de almendras, peso seco de 100 almendras y el rendimiento del cultivo. Además, de la incidencia y severidad de la enfermedad a los 60, 120 y 180 días después de la aplicación del Si y la eficiencia de los tratamientos. Los resultados significativamente superiores para las variables: Producción, número mazorca, peso fresco y seco de almendra y peso seco de 100 almendra, se obtuvieron mediante la aplicación de 4 kg ha-1 de Si, todas las dosis de Si superaron al control (P ≤ 0.05) en las variables relacionas a la producción. En el control del fitopatógeno (M. roreri), la dosis de 4 kg ha-1 Si disminuyó la incidencia y la severidad de la enfermedad en más del 50%. La aplicación de Si puede ser una opción en el cultivo de cacao como bioestimulante y agente de control biológico de M. roreri.

Cognitive linguistic investigations into the metaphorical conceptualization of anger suggest that languages are remarkably similar on a schematic level, with intensity and control as two, possibly universal dimensions underlying the metaphorical conceptualization of anger. These dimensions, however, can manifest themselves in language-specific metaphors. Yet arriving at a definitive answer to the question of universality versus variation is hindered by (a) a relatively limited number of systematic, contrastive analyses; and (b) varied methodologies, with some papers adopting a type-based account, while others following a token-based analysis. We take up both challenges in the present paper with the aim of offering a more definitive answer to the question of the universality and variation of anger metaphors. We investigate the anger metaphors of a type-based analysis, focusing on dictionary data of anger-related idioms, and a token-based analysis, focusing on data collected from online corpora, in three languages: (American) English (2,000 random instances of the lemma anger from the Corpus of Contemporary American English), Hungarian (1,000 instances of the lemma düh from the Hungarian National Corpus) and Russian (1,000 instances of the lemma gnev from the Russian National Corpus). The lexical data were analyzed with the well-established Metaphor Identification Procedure (MIP). Our results indicate that there is a great deal of congruence relative to shared metaphors in both approaches, but this derives from specific-level metaphors in the lexical approach, whereas it derives from more schematic, generic-level metaphors in the corpus-based approach. The study shows that the full picture of the metaphorical conceptualization of a complex emotion concept such as anger can only emerge with the combination of the type- and token-based approach.

Background: Melanoma is the most aggressive and lethal skin cancer that affects thousands of people worldwide. Ruthenium complexes have shown promising results as cancer chemotherapeutics, offering several advantages over platinum drugs, such as potent efficacy, low toxicity, and less drug resistance. Additionally, anthraquinone derivatives have broad therapeutic applications, including melanoma. Objectives: Thus, two new ruthenium complexes with 1-hydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone were obtained: trans-[Ru(HQ)(PPh3)2(bipy)]PF6 (1) and cis-[RuCl2(HQ)(dppb)] (2), where HQ = 1-hydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone, PPh3 = triphenylphospine, bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine, PF6 = hexafluorophosphate, and dppb = 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphine)butane. Methods: The complexes were characterized by infrared (IR), UV–vis, 1H, 13C{1H}, and 31P{1H} NMR spectroscopies, molar conductivity, cyclic voltammetry, and elemental analysis. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were performed. Results: Compound (2) was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, which confirms the bidentate coordination mode of HQ through the carbonyl and phenolate oxygens. Additionally, DNA-binding experiments yielded constants of 105 M−1 (Kb = 6.93 × 105 for (1) and 1.60 × 105 for (2)) and demonstrate that both complexes can interact with DNA through intercalation, electrostatic attraction, or hydrogen bonding. Conclusions: The cytotoxicity profiles of the compounds were evaluated in human melanoma cell lines (SK-MEL-147, CHL-1, and WM1366), revealing greater cytotoxic activity for (1) on the CHL-1 cell line with an IC50 of 14.50 ± 1.09 µM. Subsequent studies showed that (1) inhibits the proliferation of CHL-1 cells and induces apoptosis, associated at least in part with the pro-oxidant effect and cell cycle arrest at the G1/S transition.

Archaeological complexes are characterized by different degrees of damage related to both natural events and anthropogenic triggers. The damage may be assessed through direct observation or remotely acquired data. Here, we present a morphometric analysis of a digital surface model (DSM) obtained from an orthophotogrammetric survey at the Sanctuary of Pachacamac Archaeological Complex, Peru (2nd to 16th centuries AD), which includes temples, enclosures, huacas, and roads. We determine different morphometric parameters to quantitatively describe the architectural layout of the site. These are aspect, slope, range, and topographic position index (TPI). We applied a modified TPI classification to measure the different degrees of preservation of the walls of the archaeological structures and recognize preserved, partly preserved, partly destroyed, and destroyed walls. The walls of the site show different degrees of preservation related to the damage associated with earthquakes and El Niño destructive events. The architectural layout of the archaeological site is defined by NW-SE and NE-SW striking walls. This is due to buildings constructed along the two main NW-SE and NE-SW striking roads of the Qhapac–Ñan road network. The prevailing El Niño wind direction may also explain the observed architectural layout. Morphometric parameters can be used to estimate the degree of conservation of archaeological sites. Our analytical approach can be applied to modern buildings damaged by natural events or human activities.

BackgroundA recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified 12 independent loci significantly associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Polygenic risk scores (PRS), derived from the GWAS, can be used to assess genetic overlap between ADHD and other traits. Using ADHD samples from several international sites, we derived PRS for ADHD from the recent GWAS to test whether genetic variants that contribute to ADHD also influence two cognitive functions that show strong association with ADHD: attention regulation and response inhibition, captured by reaction time variability (RTV) and commission errors (CE).MethodsThe discovery GWAS included 19 099 ADHD cases and 34 194 control participants. The combined target sample included 845 people with ADHD (age: 8-40 years). RTV and CE were available from reaction time and response inhibition tasks. ADHD PRS were calculated from the GWAS using a leave-one-study-out approach. Regression analyses were run to investigate whether ADHD PRS were associated with CE and RTV. Results across sites were combined via random effect meta-analyses.ResultsWhen combining the studies in meta-analyses, results were significant for RTV (R2 = 0.011, β = 0.088, p = 0.02) but not for CE (R2 = 0.011, β = 0.013, p = 0.732). No significant association was found between ADHD PRS and RTV or CE in any sample individually (p > 0.10).ConclusionsWe detected a significant association between PRS for ADHD and RTV (but not CE) in individuals with ADHD, suggesting that common genetic risk variants for ADHD influence attention regulation.

To address the need for students to better comprehend process management concepts in an undergraduate-level operations management course, we proposed and examined the effectiveness of an experiential learning activity, the "Service Process Observation Exercise (SPOE)." After teaching process management topics in the form of a traditional lecture, students were offered the opportunity to observe, record, and analyze a live, functioning process and to report their findings. Analyzing exam results following the activity, we found that the students who participated in the SPOE scored 5.3% higher than students who did not participate on items measuring knowledge of process management concepts. No differences were found on items measuring the knowledge of other concepts covered in the course. These findings are robust, even after controlling for potential covariates, suggesting that the SPOE significantly improves student comprehension of concepts directly related to process management.