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In such perilous times and unabated marginalization, it is pivotal to pay a visit to the secondary social studies curriculum. This article will decipher the status of the implementation and academic location of secondary social studies in the emergency curriculum (MELCs). Through a careful examination of the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs), developed self-learning modules (SLM), and field notes collected from the curriculum gatekeepers (secondary social studies teachers), the researcher was able to generate exhaustive and perplexing findings in remote teaching-learning of social studies.

Research on road safety is continuously developing with the applications of sensors and technologies. Another area that draws the attention of the developers for road safety are in the road accident response. As the number of riders and cyclists increase, so do the accidents particularly at night where visibility is limited. This study presents a method of integration of inflatable safety vests for riders with light emitting diode LED signaling strips embedded in its front and back, and sensors to send the location of the rider when an accident hap-pens. The LED strips are controlled using a wireless remote switch to make the rider more visible other than that embedded in the motorcycle or bicycle. The airbag will activate once an accident occurs and or the rider is detached from the motorcycle. A force-sensitive resistor (FSR) is used as a triggering device attached to the vest when an accident happens where a global positioning system (GPS) module will send the location and a map to a specific mobile number for response. Three trials were conducted to test the functionality of the LED lights for signaling. The device functioned well, that both the left, right, and standby mode were activated. The functionality of the location tracker is also tested in three different locations. The FSR was triggered and it gave the exact location by sending the coordinates and a link to view it on google maps with an average transmit and receive time of 3 seconds. It is recommended that the prototype be developed using light-weight materials and batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification of conservation-priority areas in the tropics has been studied in Arunachal Pradesh, a biodiversity-rich region in northeast India, using a land-use change modeling approach. Correlation of land-cover and land-use patterns with biogeophysical characteristics was studied to project future patterns of land-use change.

This paper gives crude estimates of the environmental consequences associated with the birth of one baby in the United States. We calculate the magnitude of one hundred environmental impacts which one American born today will cause over a lifetime. The impacts are grouped under five headings: waste generation, mineral consumption, energy consumption, ecosystem alteration, and food consumption. We also consider, but do not quantify, impacts on extinctions of species and indigenous cultures. Our purpose is to emphasize the role of population growth in the creation of environmental problems, and to make potential parents aware of their ability to impact the global environment. We conclude that one especially effective way for individuals to protect the national and global environment, and hence protect the wellbeing of all existing people, is to stop creating more humans.

We propose a method to improve landscape-pollution interaction regression models by including a variable that describes the spatial distribution of a land type with respect to the pattern of runoff […]

Background: Fluoroscopy-guided PTNB for fluoroscopy-identifiable lung lesions has been suggested as a useful method for the pathological diagnosis of lung lesions; however, it is lacking in accuracy and safety compared to CT-guided PTNB. Thus, we aimed to investigate the diagnostic accuracy and complications of fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB) with the aid of pre-procedural planning cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in order to take advantage of their respective strengths. Methods: A total of 255 fluoroscopy-guided PTNBs with the aid of planning CBCT were performed. Pre-procedural planning CBCT was conducted to calculate the shortest length from the skin puncture site to the margin of the target lesion for the needle trajectory. No intra-procedural CBCT was performed. The diagnostic performance of fluoroscopy-guided PTNB with the aid of planning CBCT was calculated. The prognostic factors for diagnostic failures and complications were evaluated using logistic regression analysis. Results: The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 97.3%, 88.0%, 90.9%, 100%, and 62.5%, respectively. There were 29 diagnostic failures (11.8%), and the multivariable analysis showed that a longer lesion depth on CBCT and a shorter specimen length were each associated with diagnostic failure ( p = 0.010 and 0.012, respectively). Complications occurred in 34 PTNBs (13.3%). The multivariable analysis showed that an increased total number of biopsies per lesion, a longer length of lung aeration via needle insertion, a smaller lesion size on CT imaging (≤20 mm), and the presence of an air bronchogram were associated with the occurrence of complications ( p = 0.027, <0.001, 0.003, and 0.020, respectively). Conclusions: Excellent diagnostic accuracy was obtained by fluoroscopy-guided PTNB with the aid of planning CBCT. Compared to that of CT- or CBCT-guided PTNB, the procedure-related complication rate was acceptably low, but the radiation dose to patients could be potentially reduced.

Rationale & Objective: β 2 -Microglobulin (B2M) and β-trace protein (BTP) are novel endogenous filtration markers that may improve the accuracy of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) beyond creatinine and cystatin C (eGFR cr-cys ), but they have not been assessed in patients with cancer., Study Design: Cross-sectional analysis., Setting & Participants: Prospective cohort of 1,200 patients with active solid tumors recruited between April 2015 and September 2017., Exposure: CKD-EPI equations without race combining B2M and/or BTP with creatinine with or without cystatin C (2-, 3-, or 4-marker panel eGFR)., Outcome: Performance of equations compared with eGFR cr-cys and non-GFR determinants of serum B2M and BTP (S B2M , and S BTP , respectively). Measured GFR (mGFR) was determined using the plasma clearance of chromium-51 labeled ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid ( 51 Cr-EDTA)., Analytical Approach: Bias was defined as the median of the differences between mGFR and eGFR, and 1-P 30 was defined as the percentage of estimates that differed by more than 30% from the mGFR (1-P 30 ). Linear regression was used to assess association of clinical and laboratory variables with S B2M , and S BTP after adjustment for mGFR., Results: Mean age and mGFR were 58.8±13.2 SD years and 78.4±21.7 SD mL/min/1.73m 2 , respectively. Performance of the 3-marker and 4-marker panel equations was better than eGFR cr-cys (lesser bias and 1-P 30 ). Performance of 2-marker panel equations was as good as eGFR cr-cys (lesser bias and similar 1-P 30 ). S B2M and S BTP were not strongly influenced by cancer site., Limitations: Participants may have had better clinical performance status than the general population of patients with solid tumors., Conclusions: B2M and BTP can improve the accuracy of eGFR and may be useful as confirmatory tests in patients with solid tumors, either by inclusion in a multimarker panel equation with creatinine and cystatin C, or by substituting for cystatin C in combination with creatinine., Plain-Language Summary: The most accurate method to assess estimate kidney function is estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using creatinine and cystatin C (eGFR cr-cys ). We studied whether using β2-microglobulin (B2M) and/or β-trace protein (BTP) with creatinine with or without cystatin C (2-, 3-, or 4-marker panel eGFR) might be useful in patients with active solid tumors. The performance of the 3-marker and 4-marker panel equations was better than eGFR cr-cys . Performance of 2-marker panel equations was as good as eGFR cr-cys . We conclude that B2M and BTP can improve the accuracy of eGFR and may be useful as a confirmatory test in patients with solid tumors either by inclusion in multimarker panel equation with creatinine and cystatin C or by substituting for cystatin C in combination with creatinine., (Copyright © 2024 National Kidney Foundation, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

During the 2021/2022 winter season, we isolated highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 viruses harbouring an amino acid substitution from Asparagine(N) to Aspartic acid (D) at residue 193 of the hemagglutinin (HA) receptor binding domain (RBD) from migratory birds in South Korea. Herein, we investigated the characteristics of the N193D HA-RBD substitution in the A/CommonTeal/Korea/W811/2021[CT/W811] virus by using recombinant viruses engineered via reverse genetics (RG). A receptor affinity assay revealed that the N193D HA-RBD substitution in CT/W811 increases α2,6 sialic acid receptor binding affinity. The rCT/W811-HA 193N virus caused rapid lethality with high virus titres in chickens compared with the rCT/W811-HA 193D virus, while the rCT/W811-HA 193D virus exhibited enhanced virulence in mammalian hosts with multiple tissue tropism. Surprisingly, a ferret-to-ferret transmission assay revealed that rCT/W811-HA 193D virus replicates well in the respiratory tract, at a rate about 10 times higher than that of rCT/W811-HA 193N , and all rCT/W811-HA 193D direct contact ferrets were seroconverted at 10 days post-contact. Further, competition transmission assay of the two viruses revealed that rCT/W811-HA 193D has enhanced growth kinetics compared with the rCT/W811-HA 193N , eventually becoming the dominant strain in nasal turbinates. Further, rCT/W811-HA 193D exhibits high infectivity in primary human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells, suggesting the potential for human infection. Taken together, the HA-193D containing HPAI H5N1 virus from migratory birds showed enhanced virulence in mammalian hosts, but not in avian hosts, with multi-organ replication and ferret-to-ferret transmission. Thus, this suggests that HA-193D change increases the probability of HPAI H5N1 infection and transmission in humans.

The hallmarks of chromosome organization in multicellular eukaryotes are chromosome territories (CT), chromatin compartments, and insulated domains, including topologically associated domains (TADs). Yet, most of these elements of chromosome organization are derived from analyses of a limited set of model organisms, while large eukaryotic groups, including insects, remain mostly unexplored. Here we combine Hi-C, biophysical modeling, and microscopy to characterize the 3D genome architecture of the silkmoth, Bombyx mori . In contrast to other eukaryotes, B. mori chromosomes form highly separated territories. Similar to other eukaryotes, B. mori chromosomes segregate into active A and inactive B compartments, yet unlike in vertebrate systems, contacts between euchromatic A regions appear to be a strong driver of compartmentalization. Remarkably, we also identify a third compartment, called secluded "S," with a unique contact pattern. Each S region shows prominent short-range self-contacts and is remarkably devoid of contacts with the rest of the chromosome, including other S regions. Compartment S hosts a unique combination of genetic and epigenetic features, localizes towards the periphery of CTs, and shows developmental plasticity. Biophysical modeling reveals that the formation of such secluded domains requires highly localized loop extrusion within them, along with a low level of extrusion in A and B. Our Hi-C data supports predicted genome-wide and localized extrusion. Such a broad, non-uniform distribution of extruders has not been seen in other organisms. Overall, our analyses support loop extrusion in insects and highlight the evolutionary plasticity of 3D genome organization, driven by a new combination of known processes.

The winter of 2020-2021 in South Korea witnessed severe outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) viruses, specifically multiple genotypes of the H5N8 subtype. These outbreaks prompted an extensive investigation into the genetic characteristics and evolutionary dynamics of these viruses. Under the auspices of the National Institute of Wildlife Disease Control and Prevention (NIWDC), we conducted a nationwide surveillance program, collecting 7588 specimens from diverse wild bird habitats. Influenza A viruses were isolated at a rate of 5.0%, with HPAI H5N8 viruses accounting for 38.5% of isolates, predominantly found in wild bird carcasses (97.3%). Genetic analysis revealed the emergence of novel HPAI genotypes due to genetic reassortment events. G1 and G2 viruses were separately introduced into Korea, with G1 viruses displaying dynamic behavior, resulting in diverse sub-genotypes (G1-1 to G1-5) and mainly isolated from clinical specimens. Conversely, the G2 virus, introduced later, became the dominant strain consistently isolated mainly from bird carcasses (88.9%). These findings underscore the emergence of numerous novel HPAI genotypes shaped by multiple reassortment events in high-density wintering grounds of migratory birds. These sites act as hotspots for genetic exchanges, significantly influencing avian ecology, including resident bird species, and contributing to HPAI H5N8 evolution. The genetic diversity and ongoing evolution of these viruses highlight the need for vigilant surveillance and adaptive control measures. Recognizing the potential spillover to human populations, a One Health approach is essential to mitigate the evolving threats posed by avian influenza., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2024 Published by Elsevier B.V.)