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This paper provides an interdisciplinary overview of nettle bioactive compounds and processing, and ir also explores its role in the circular bioeconomy. Urtica dioica L. is sometimes referred to as a multipurpose herbaceous species that has been used historically in food, textiles, and medicine owing its rich profile of biological compounds. This study synthesizes the recent literature to examine nettle's applications across various industries, from nutritional supplements to eco-friendly fiber materials. In addition, it highlights nettle's potential in sustainable production chains, aligning with the EU's bioeconomy directives. The methods involve a comprehensive literature review and data analysis, with a focus on bioactive compounds and eco-sustainable applications. The results of this review underscore the plant's unique adaptability to low-input farming and its contributions to reducing resource dependency. The findings position nettle as a valuable resource for sustainable innovation, emphasizing its relevance within circular economic models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LiNbO3 thin films are grown on a c-plane (0001) sapphire wafer at a relatively low substrate temperature by chemical beam vapor deposition (CBVD) in Sybilla equipment. Raman measurements only evidence the LiNbO3 phase, while HR-XRD diffractograms demonstrate a c-axis-oriented growth with only (006) and (0012) planes measured. The rocking curve is symmetric, with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 0.04°. The morphology and topography observed by SEM and AFM show very low roughness, with rms equaling 2.0 nm. The optical properties are investigated by a guided-wave technique using prism coupling. The ordinary refractive index (no) and extraordinary refractive index (ne) at different wavelengths totally match with the LiNbO3 bulk, showing the high microstructural quality of the film. The film composition is estimated by Raman and bi-refringence and shows a congruent or near-stoichiometric LiNbO3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast diseases are on the rise throughout the world. It is essential to learn correct technique of "clinical breast examination" to ascertain the appropriate diagnostic workup in the most efficient manner. The ABCD rule is proposed by three highly skilled clinicians in the field of breast care trained in the famous Cardiff Breast Unit of Prof LE Hughes, Prof David JT Webster and Prof Robert E Mansel. The ABCD rule will allow early detection of breast cancer and other diseases with timely management of patients. It will help both the medical and nursing students as well as the field health workers in learning about diagnosis of breast diseases and in screening for breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides an interdisciplinary overview of nettle bioactive compounds and processing, and ir also explores its role in the circular bioeconomy. Urtica dioica L. is sometimes referred to as a multipurpose herbaceous species that has been used historically in food, textiles, and medicine owing its rich profile of biological compounds. This study synthesizes the recent literature to examine nettle’s applications across various industries, from nutritional supplements to eco-friendly fiber materials. In addition, it highlights nettle’s potential in sustainable production chains, aligning with the EU’s bioeconomy directives. The methods involve a comprehensive literature review and data analysis, with a focus on bioactive compounds and eco-sustainable applications. The results of this review underscore the plant’s unique adaptability to low-input farming and its contributions to reducing resource dependency. The findings position nettle as a valuable resource for sustainable innovation, emphasizing its relevance within circular economic models.

Background: The current radiobiological model employed for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) treatment planning, which relies on microdosimetry, fails to provide an accurate representation the biological effects of BNCT. The precision in calculating the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) and compound biological effectiveness (CBE) plays a pivotal role in determining the therapeutic efficacy of BNCT. Therefore, this study focuses on how to improve the accuracy of the biological effects of BNCT. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to propose new radiation biology models based on nanodosimetry to accurately assess RBE and CBE for BNCT. Methods: Nanodosimetry, rooted in ionization cluster size distributions (ICSD), introduces a novel approach to characterize radiation quality by effectively delineating RBE through the ion track structure at the nanoscale. In the context of prior research, this study presents a computational model for the nanoscale assessment of RBE and CBE. We establish a simplified model of DNA chromatin fiber using the Monte Carlo code TOPAS‐nBio to evaluate the applicability of ICSD to BNCT and compute nanodosimetric parameters. Results: Our investigation reveals that both homogeneous and heterogeneous nanodosimetric parameters, as well as the corresponding biological model coefficients α and β, along with RBE values, exhibit variations in response to varying intracellular 10B concentrations. Notably, the nanodosimetric parameter M1C2$M_1^{{{\mathrm{C}}}_2}$ effectively captures the fluctuations in model coefficients α and RBE. Conclusion: Our model facilitates a nanoscale analysis of BNCT, enabling predictions of nanodosimetric quantities for secondary ions as well as RBE, CBE, and other essential biological metrics related to the distribution of boron. This contribution significantly enhances the precision of RBE calculations and holds substantial promise for future applications in treatment planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Circular Bioeconomy (CBE) combines the concepts of bioeconomy and a circular economy. As an alternative concept to the current fossil-based, linear economy, it describes an economy based on the efficient valorization of biomass. It is regional in nature and aims to improve sustainability. An analysis of the transition process, by identifying its success criteria and assessing its impacts through the modeling of technology-specific scenarios, is necessary to ensure that CBE concepts are sustainable. However, a comprehensive consideration of regional influences on both is lacking. Based on extensive literature research and an expert survey, we develop a multi-criteria approach where we (i) present a comprehensive catalog of CBE success criteria and discuss their region-specific characters and (ii) develop a methodology based on evaluation matrices that enable CBE technologies to be matched with regions. The matrices support the evaluation of technological and regional characteristics influencing successful CBE implementation. The results show that the success criteria "biomass resources", "technological", and "social" are perceived as highly important, and that most of the success criteria are both region- and technology-specific, highlighting the relevance of developing matrices to match them. We describe such matrices indicatively for the two broadest and most important success criteria clusters "social acceptance" and "biomass supply chain". With this, we substantiate the regional nature of CBE and raise the awareness on the importance of considering regional conditions in CBE transition processes. Furthermore, we provide practical guidance on how regional conditions can be reflected in the selection of technologies, e.g., in regional CBE technology scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LiNbO3 thin films are grown on a c-plane (0001) sapphire wafer at a relatively low substrate temperature by chemical beam vapor deposition (CBVD) in Sybilla equipment. Raman measurements only evidence the LiNbO3 phase, while HR-XRD diffractograms demonstrate a c-axis-oriented growth with only (006) and (0012) planes measured. The rocking curve is symmetric, with a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 0.04°. The morphology and topography observed by SEM and AFM show very low roughness, with rms equaling 2.0 nm. The optical properties are investigated by a guided-wave technique using prism coupling. The ordinary refractive index (no) and extraordinary refractive index (ne) at different wavelengths totally match with the LiNbO3 bulk, showing the high microstructural quality of the film. The film composition is estimated by Raman and bi-refringence and shows a congruent or near-stoichiometric LiNbO3.

Base editors of the Cas9 system have been widely used for precise nucleotide substitution in crops. In this study, Cas12a was applied to construct plant cytosine base editors (CBEs). The main elements of Cas12a-CBEs were engineered and their efficiency was evaluated in stably transformed rice cells. An optimized ttCas12a-hyA3Bctd editor, consisting of a LbCas12a variant carrying catalytic inactive D832A and temperature-tolerance D156R double mutations, a truncated human APOBEC3B deaminase, a human RAD51 single-stranded DNA-binding domain, and double copies of UGI, outperformed other Cas12a-CBEs in base editing efficiency. In T0 transgenic rice plants, ttCas12a-hyA3Bctd edited an average of 42.01% and a maximum of 68.75% of lines at six genomic targets. A-to-G conversions were generated in rice by an adenine base editor with a similar architecture to the optimized CBE. Our results provide preliminary evidence for the feasibility of robust and efficient plant Cas12a base editing systems, which could be useful for precise crop breeding.

Background and Aims: Breast cancer is a leading cause of mortality in Bangladesh. An early‐stage screening is the best way to reduce both the morbidity and mortality burden of breast cancer. The study evaluated awareness, practice, and perceived barriers toward breast cancer screening in Bangladesh. Methods: A community‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted from October 2021 to December 2022 in Chattogram, Bangladesh, where 869 women (18 years or above) were randomly selected in this study. Results: Among 869 participants, 47.3% of women were recruited from urban areas and 52.7% participated from rural areas. Only 32.68% of respondents (urban vs. rural: 44.28% vs. 22.27%) were aware of breast self‐examination (BSE) and 52.47% of respondents (urban vs. rural: 63.75% vs. 42.36%) had ever heard Clinical Breast Examination (CBE), respectively. Among the respondents, 27.73% (urban vs. rural: 40.15% vs. 16.59%) performed their BSE, and only 14.61% of respondents (urban vs. rural: 21.90% vs. 8.08%) had ever visited for CBE. Women residing in rural areas were approximately three times (AOR: 0.36 [95% CI: 0.25–0.52], AOR: 0.37 [95% CI: 0.23–0.58]) less likely to perform BSE and CBE, respectively, than urban dwellers. We found that higher‐educated women tend to do more BSE and CBE than women with low levels of education. Perceptions of having "no symptoms" and being "risk‐free" are leading barriers to breast screening among women. Conclusion: Poor awareness and practice were observed in screening among the urban and rural women in Bangladesh. Urban area dwellers had comparatively better understanding and practice than rural dwellers. We think extending health education and health promotion activities toward breast cancer screening is essential in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examines how online instruction during the COVID pandemic impacted learning and performs a partial replication of a study by Hahn et al. (2012), which compared students' testing outcomes of the Major Field Test in Business (MFTB) and the Comprehensive Business Exam (CBE). Our results find that online instruction during the 2020-2021 pandemic isolation period had no significant impact on pre-and post-COVID testing outcomes for either exam. It was further found that the question set employed by the CBE exam appears to have changed from the pre- to the post-COVID testing timeframes, making this exam questionable for assurance of learning purposes when comparing to prior year results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated challenges faced by teachers in implementing Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) at the Junior Secondary School (JSS) level in Kenya. Utilizing a mixedmethod cross-sectional survey, 940 Junior Secondary School teachers in Nyeri County, Kenya, were randomly selected using random numbers. The study addressed the identification of challenges faced by Junior Secondary School teachers, assessed the prevalence of identified challenges at the junior secondary level in Kenya, and suggested proposals for addressing Competency Based Curriculum implementation challenges. Findings highlighted significant challenges including the lack of administrative support (88.7%), resource deficiencies (85.4%), inadequate access to teaching technologies (85.2%), teacher expertise gaps (87.8%), and challenges in assessing learning outcomes effectively (69.5%). Qualitative insights shed more light on concerns such as resource shortages, teacher welfare issues, curriculum complexities, and geographic disparities. The study's significance lies in advocating for administrative reforms, enhanced teacher support, comprehensive training programs aligned with Competency Based Curriculum standards, and strategic interventions like integrating Junior Secondary School within secondary schools, addressing resource scarcities, and prioritizing comprehensive teacher training to elevate pedagogical practices. These findings underscore the urgent need for collaborative efforts, curriculum revisions, and innovative assessments to ensure the successful implementation of Competency Based Curriculum at the Junior Secondary School level in Kenya, urging future research to explore tailored training efficacy, technology integration, and innovative teaching methodologies to enhance Competency Based Curriculum implementation effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research highlights the contributions of the socio-cultural approach to the study of the concept of consumer brand engagement (CBE). To this end, an integrative analysis first traces the main research on CBE. It presents its conceptual construction within the relational and experiential paradigms and highlights the limitations of this literature. Second, a socio-cultural reading of CBE helps to address these limitations. We propose eight research avenues, based on two theoretical approaches: (1) understanding CBE through the cultural resources invested in it and the meanings that are at once identity-related, social and ideological and (2) technological tools and immersive experiential frameworks as socio-technical dispositifs. Managerial recommendations are provided in each of these areas of research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background and Aims Breast cancer is a leading cause of mortality in Bangladesh. An early‐stage screening is the best way to reduce both the morbidity and mortality burden of breast cancer. The study evaluated awareness, practice, and perceived barriers toward breast cancer screening in Bangladesh. Methods A community‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted from October 2021 to December 2022 in Chattogram, Bangladesh, where 869 women (18 years or above) were randomly selected in this study. Results Among 869 participants, 47.3% of women were recruited from urban areas and 52.7% participated from rural areas. Only 32.68% of respondents (urban vs. rural: 44.28% vs. 22.27%) were aware of breast self‐examination (BSE) and 52.47% of respondents (urban vs. rural: 63.75% vs. 42.36%) had ever heard Clinical Breast Examination (CBE), respectively. Among the respondents, 27.73% (urban vs. rural: 40.15% vs. 16.59%) performed their BSE, and only 14.61% of respondents (urban vs. rural: 21.90% vs. 8.08%) had ever visited for CBE. Women residing in rural areas were approximately three times (AOR: 0.36 [95% CI: 0.25–0.52], AOR: 0.37 [95% CI: 0.23–0.58]) less likely to perform BSE and CBE, respectively, than urban dwellers. We found that higher‐educated women tend to do more BSE and CBE than women with low levels of education. Perceptions of having “no symptoms” and being “risk‐free” are leading barriers to breast screening among women. Conclusion Poor awareness and practice were observed in screening among the urban and rural women in Bangladesh. Urban area dwellers had comparatively better understanding and practice than rural dwellers. We think extending health education and health promotion activities toward breast cancer screening is essential in this region.

This paper aims to outline an approach for case-based chemistry and chemical engineering education for sustainability. Education for Sustainability is assumed to offer a holistic approach to equip students with the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes needed to contribute to a more sustainable society in their future careers. While Case-Based Education traditionally focuses on disciplinary learning in simulated settings, it can also effectively teach essential sustainability-related skills like integrated problem-solving, critical thinking, and systems thinking. The approach we propose is “case hacking”, which should be understood as utilizing existing business cases while incorporating supplementary resources to align the assignment with intended learning objectives. This expansion of the cases involves, among other things, introducing additional questions and assignments, perspectives from stakeholders previously unexplored in the original case, and the integration of recent research articles from relevant fields. We advocate for the use of case hacking when educators want to harness the educational benefits of Case-Based Education while emphasizing the complexity of sustainability-related challenges faced by industrial companies today. As an illustrative example, we demonstrate the process of hacking a case related to Green Chemistry in the pharmaceutical industry, highlighting specific challenges for chemistry and chemical engineering education. We hope this example will inspire educators in these disciplinary contexts to engage with the case hacking approach as they navigate the complex terrain of sustainability.

Like other countries with a high risk of female breast cancer, Malaysia has the second highest cancer death rate in South-East Asia. Breast cancer screening helps to identify cancer before the onset of symptoms and reduces the breast cancer mortality rate. Female healthcare professionals may significantly influence the public regarding breast cancer screening. This study aims to identify the knowledge of breast cancer and the practice of breast cancer screening among female healthcare professionals. A cross- sectional study was conducted among female healthcare professionals in Malaysia through convenience sampling. The questionnaire included socio-demographics, knowledge of breast cancer, and the practice of breast cancer screening. A total of 390 female healthcare professionals participated in this study. The mean age of the participants was 37.7 (SD = 9.1) years. Most participants have good knowledge (n = 378, 96.9%). A total of e participants reported that they have been practicing breast self-examination (BSE), 14.9% had undergone clinical breast examination (CBE), and 12.6% had undergone mammography. Independent sample t-test revealed a significant association between knowledge of breast cancer and the practice of breast cancer screening. Even though the knowledge of breast cancer is high among female healthcare professionals, but most do not practice breast cancer screening. Hence, there is still a need to promote the practice of BSE, CBE, and mammography among female healthcare professionals, thus influencing the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multidrug resistance in bacterial strains known as superbugs is estimated to cause fatal infections worldwide. Migration and urbanization have resulted in overcrowding and inadequate sanitation, contributing to a high risk of superbug infections within and between different communities. The CRISPR-Cas system, mainly type II, has been projected as a robust tool to precisely edit drug-resistant bacterial genomes to combat antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains effectively. To entirely opt for its potential, advanced development in the CRISPR-Cas system is needed to reduce toxicity and promote efficacy in gene-editing applications. This might involve base-editing techniques used to produce point mutations. These methods employ designed Cas9 variations, such as the adenine base editor (ABE) and the cytidine base editor (CBE), to directly edit single base pairs without causing DSBs. The CBE and ABE could change a target base pair into a different one (for example, G-C to A-T or C-G to A-T). In this review, we addressed the limitations of the CRISPR/Cas system and explored strategies for circumventing these limitations by applying diverse base-editing techniques. Furthermore, we also discussed recent research showcasing the ability of base editors to eliminate drug-resistant microbes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Base editor (BE) is a gene-editing tool developed by combining the CRISPR/Cas system with an individual deaminase, enabling precise single-base substitution in DNA or RNA without generating a DNA double-strand break (DSB) or requiring donor DNA templates in living cells. Base editors offer more precise and secure genome-editing effects than other conventional artificial nuclease systems, such as CRISPR/Cas9, as the DSB induced by Cas9 will cause severe damage to the genome. Thus, base editors have important applications in the field of biomedicine, including gene function investigation, directed protein evolution, genetic lineage tracing, disease modeling, and gene therapy. Since the development of the two main base editors, cytosine base editors (CBEs) and adenine base editors (ABEs), scientists have developed more than 100 optimized base editors with improved editing efficiency, precision, specificity, targeting scope, and capacity to be delivered in vivo, greatly enhancing their application potential in biomedicine. Here, we review the recent development of base editors, summarize their applications in the biomedical field, and discuss future perspectives and challenges for therapeutic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of electronic learning (e-learning) in Tanzania‘s higher education institutions (HEIs) has flourished in recent years. The College of Business Education (CBE) embarked on an e-learning system Student Academic Register Information System (SARIS) and a Moodle system in the year 2011. However, the implementation of e-learning systems at CBE has had challenges and experiences that were neither properly reported nor documented for improvement. This study, therefore, aims at highlighting the decade long usage of the e-learning systems at CBE. The study adapted and extended the Andersson and Grönlund Conceptual Framework for e-learning in developing countries. During the wake of COVID-19 a total of 210 participants (12 teachers and 198 students) from four CBE campuses participated in the study and precautions of social distancing were observed. Data were collected using an in-depth interview and questionnaires. The analysis of qualitative data was conducted using content analysis and for the quantitative data the analysis was done on the frequencies as well as descriptive data through the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) IBM version 23.0. The results revealed that amongst other factors, technology training, a conducive environment and readiness for e-learning pedagogy, posed some of the major challenges in the implementation of e-learning for both the teachers and students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haploid induction (HI) can create true‐breeding lines in a single generation, which can significantly accelerates the breeding process. In recent years, scientists have developed a variety of new techniques to induce haploids through manipulation of CENH3, a variant of the centromere‐specific histone H3. One alternative approach is based on CENH3 point mutations derived from EMS/TILLING, which is not lethal and yet is responsible for inducing haploids. However, most residues have been obtained by EMS mutagenesis over a long period of time.Recently, a new approach called 'base editing' was developed for plants. Here, we report a new method that uses a cytosine base editor (CBE) to create a point mutation of CENH3 as a haploid induction line, which substitutes adenine (A) for guanine (G).As proof of the extreme simplicity of this approach to create haploid‐induced lines, we identified an L130F substitution within the histone fold domain in Arabidopsis thaliana. Subsequently, we tested the haploid‐inducing potential of homozygous L130F plants by pollinating them with Col‐0, and obtained 2.9% paternal haploid plants.In brief, our innovative technology provides a new perspective for the promotion of CENH3‐mediated haploid induction in crops, and also provides a variety of options for breeders. Such conserved point mutations as L130F could be developed into a general instrument for haploid induction in a wide range of plant species. Extending these systems would represent a major advance over haploid production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is an innovative cancer treatment that employs the 10 B(n,α) 7 Li reaction to selectively destroy cancer cells at the cellular level. In BNCT, the biological effectiveness of boron doses is typically assessed using the Compound Biological Effectiveness (CBE) factor. This study analyzes the impact of boron distribution on CBE values based on the Microdosimetric Kinetic Model (MKM) and Monte Carlo simulations. Simulations were conducted on both macroscopic and microscopic scales. At the macroscopic level, the average dose absorbed by cells within tissues was modeled, while at the microscopic level, the microdosimetric lineal energy spectra and the microscopic dose absorbed by cell nuclei were simulated. The CBE values for various cells during BNCT were then derived from the Monte Carlo simulation data. Results indicate that while macroscopic boron concentrations had no significant impact on CBE values, the distribution of boron at the cellular level played a crucial role; CBE values increased as boron moved closer to the cell nucleus. This study proposes a method for calculating CBE values using Monte Carlo simulations, providing insights for evaluating CBE values and developing novel boron agents for BNCT., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Multidrug resistance in bacterial strains known as superbugs is estimated to cause fatal infections worldwide. Migration and urbanization have resulted in overcrowding and inadequate sanitation, contributing to a high risk of superbug infections within and between different communities. The CRISPR-Cas system, mainly type II, has been projected as a robust tool to precisely edit drug-resistant bacterial genomes to combat antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains effectively. To entirely opt for its potential, advanced development in the CRISPR-Cas system is needed to reduce toxicity and promote efficacy in gene-editing applications. This might involve base-editing techniques used to produce point mutations. These methods employ designed Cas9 variations, such as the adenine base editor (ABE) and the cytidine base editor (CBE), to directly edit single base pairs without causing DSBs. The CBE and ABE could change a target base pair into a different one (for example, G-C to A-T or C-G to A-T). In this review, we addressed the limitations of the CRISPR/Cas system and explored strategies for circumventing these limitations by applying diverse base-editing techniques. Furthermore, we also discussed recent research showcasing the ability of base editors to eliminate drug-resistant microbes.

CRISPR/Cas9-based cytosine base editors (CBEs) and adenine base editors (ABEs) can efficiently mediate C-to-T/G-to-A and A-to-G/T-to-C substitutions, respectively; however, achieving base transversions (C-to-G/C-to-A and A-to-T/A-to-C) is challenging and has been rarely studied in plants. Here, we constructed new plant C-to-G base editors (CGBEs) and new A-to-Y (T/C) base editors and explored their base editing characteristics in rice. First, we fused the highly active cytidine deaminase evoFENRY and the PAM-relaxed Cas9-nickase variant Cas9n-NG with rice and human uracil DNA N-glycosylase (rUNG and hUNG), respectively, to construct CGBE-rUNG and CGBE-hUNG vector tools. The analysis of five NG-PAM target sites showed that these CGBEs achieved C-to-G conversions with monoallelic editing efficiencies of up to 27.3% in T0 rice, with major byproducts being insertion/deletion mutations. Moreover, for the A-to-Y (C or T) editing test, we fused the highly active adenosine deaminase TadA8e and the Cas9-nickase variant SpGn (with NG-PAM) with Escherichia coli endonuclease V (EndoV) and human alkyladenine DNA glycosylase (hAAG), respectively, to generate ABE8e-EndoV and ABE8e-hAAG vectors. An assessment of five NG-PAM target sites showed that these two vectors could efficiently produce A-to-G substitutions in a narrow editing window; however, no A-to-Y editing was detected. Interestingly, the ABE8e-EndoV also generated precise small fragment deletions in the editing window from the 5′-deaminated A base to the SpGn cleavage site, suggesting its potential value in producing predictable small-fragment deletion mutations. Overall, we objectively evaluated the editing performance of CGBEs in rice, explored the possibility of A-to-Y editing, and developed a new ABE8e-EndoV tool, thus providing a valuable reference for improving and enriching base editing tools in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We describe here a CRISPR simultaneous and wide-editing induced by a single system (SWISS), in which RNA aptamers engineered in crRNA scaffold recruit their cognate binding proteins fused with cytidine deaminase and adenosine deaminase to Cas9 nickase target sites to generate multiplexed base editing. By using paired sgRNAs, SWISS can produce insertions/deletions in addition to base editing. Rice mutants are generated using the SWISS system with efficiencies of cytosine conversion of 25.5%, adenine conversion of 16.4%, indels of 52.7%, and simultaneous triple mutations of 7.3%. The SWISS system provides a powerful tool for multi-functional genome editing in plants.

Objective: This study aimed to develop and implement a program-wide active learning framework to guide active learning and assessment efforts in an entry-to-practice competency-based Doctor of Pharmacy program., Methods: The development of the framework involved 3 stages: creation of a framework aligned with the program's guiding principles, provision of training and support to faculty and students, and evaluation of the students' and academic staff satisfaction using an online survey over 2 academic years (2022-2023). Data from this survey were analyzed descriptively., Results: An active learning framework that was aligned with the program's guiding principles while allowing flexibility for individual teaching styles was developed. It consisted of 4 stages: preclass preparation, in-class work, prelaboratory preparation, and in-laboratory activities (emphasizing knowledge acquisition and competency development). Academic staff surveys reported higher satisfaction of staff in year 2 than year 3 of the program, with indications of further training on specific modalities. Students' satisfaction improved from year 2 to 3, particularly, in areas related to class objectives, learning environment, and feedback., Conclusion: The transformation of a curriculum that includes the evolution of the teaching and learning strategy is a complex, long-term project that deserves continuing attention. Having frameworks in place helps the management, instructors, and students to understand the global direction, stay focused, and support the implementation of competency-based education and student-centered learning., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: This paper aims to extend the application of social marketing to social and environmentally beneficial behavior change providing a three-step process—Co-create-Build-Engage (CBE). The key strength social marketing brings to the social change space is the development of something of value that moves and motivates people to voluntarily change their behavior; in turn benefitting themselves, the planet and society at large. Method: Using a case study method, this paper identifies how up to eight marketing principles, initially penned to distinguish social marketing from public health, are applied in the three step CBE process, using first time program development and implementation examples. First, programs are co-created (C) with people at the heart of the problem and built (B) to create and embed lasting solutions and finally communities are engaged (E) to partake in these programs. This linear process is applied in first time program development and stages blur following first time implementation as CBE steps become continuous when programs are embedded into communities. This paper outlines four cases demonstrating when and where key marketing activities were applied to co-create, build and implement social marketing programs that achieved behavioral change. Results: Included is a roadmap of the activities that occurred in first time program development and implementation across each stage of the three step CBE process. During co-creation competition is assessed and groups are identified (segmentation). Formative research programs are theoretically underpinned and human centred (customer orientation) and solely aimed at identifying insights to guide program build and engagement. Elements of the marketing mix focus program build ensuring that a valued exchange offering is built. Engagement represents the initial implementation phase and encompasses the set of activities that focus on ensuring people are aware of and can adopt the program. Recommendations for Research or Practice: Many of the foundational techniques that distinguish social marketing from other behavioral science approaches are not widely adopted. This paper offers a roadmap to demonstrate how and when core social marketing activities can be applied to effect voluntary behavior change. Volitional change avoids stigmatization, alienation, reactance and community divides, which occur when behaviors are mandated or when people are told what to do. The CBE process provides a process, outlining social marketing's key principles and the set of activities that are applied to build more effective marketing programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cross-sections and Maxwellian rate coefficients of electron impact single ionization is theoretically investigated for tungsten ions (W64+ to W71+) for fine structure levels of configurations containing n = 2 orbitals. To check the accuracy of calculated cross-sections and rate-coefficients, detailed comparison between result from different approximations, binary encounter dipole (BED), distorted wave (DW) and coulomb born exchange (CBE) is presented. The calculations for electron impact ionization cross-sections of ground state are carried out for energy range 20 keV–1000 keV of final electron and Maxwellian rate coefficients for ground state are evaluated at the temperature range 20 keV–300 keV. We have also provided cross-sections at five different energies and rate-coefficients at five different temperatures. The present study of tungsten ions may be useful in fusion plasma modelling and in future comparison. • Electron impact ionization cross-section of tungsten ions are presented. • Maxwellian rate coefficients of tungsten ions are provided. • Electron impact ionization cross-sections are studied using BED, DW and CBE methods. • Maxwellian rate coefficients are studied using BED, DW and CBE methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

GBA1 gene encodes for the lysosomal membrane protein glucocerebrosidase (GCase). GBA1 heterozygous mutations profoundly impair GCase activity and are currently recognized as an important risk factor for the development of Parkinson's disease (PD). Deficits in lysosomal degradation pathways may contribute to pathological α-synuclein accumulation, thereby favoring dopaminergic neuron degeneration and associated microglial activation. However, the precise mechanisms by which GCase deficiency may influence PD onset and progression remain unclear. In this work we used conduritol-β-epoxide (CBE), a potent inhibitor of GCase, to induce a partial, systemic defect of GCase activity comparable to that associated with heterozygous GBA1 mutations, in mice. Chronic (28 days) administration of CBE (50 mg/kg, i.p.) was combined with administration of a classic PD-like inducing neurotoxin, such as MPTP (30 mg/kg, i.p. for 5 days). The aim was to investigate whether a pre-existing GCase defect may influence the effects of MPTP in terms of nigrostriatal damage, microglia activation and α-synuclein accumulation. Pre-treatment with CBE had tendency to enhance MPTP-induced neurodegeneration in striatum and caused significant increase of total α-synuclein expression in substantia nigra. Microglia was remarkably activated by CBE alone, without further increases when combined with MPTP. Overall, we propose this model as an additional tool to study pathophysiological processes of PD in the presence of GCase defects.

Key message: Base editing is one of the promising genome editing tools for generating single-nucleotide changes in rice genome. Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is an important staple food crop, feeding half of the population around the globe. Developing new rice varieties with desirable agronomic traits is necessary for sustaining global food security. The use of genome editing technologies for developing rice varieties is pre-requisite in the present scenario. Among the genome editing technologies developed for rice crop improvement, base editing technology has emerged as an efficient and reliable tool for precise genome editing in rice plants. Base editing technology utilizes either adenosine or cytidine base editor for precise editing at the target region. A base editor (adenosine or cytidine) is a fusion of catalytically inactive CRISPR/Cas9 domain and adenosine or cytidine deaminase domain. In this review, authors have discussed the different adenine and cytosine base editors developed so far for precise genome editing of rice via base editing technology. We address the current progress, advances, limitations, as well as future perspectives of the base editing technology for rice crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Recent studies have revealed that competency-based education (CBE) does not facilitate authentic learning or encourage students to develop a career in the tourism business. This study aimed to propose a conceptual model implementing CBE for career development and job satisfaction. To this end, a questionnaire was administered to 217 graduates of a tourism vocational high school in Jakarta. A quantitative method was applied. The results showed that this successfully explained the implementation of CBE and competency-based assessment (CBA) as a proposed model of job opportunities and career development for graduates of tourism schools. The research identified the improvement measures and preemptive actions taken by the principal and teachers of the school. At the initial stage, discipline, hard work, and career development through continual learning should be emphasized to prevent any negative effects when students undertake internships or seek job placement in the workplace. It was also revealed that CBE as a single variable should be combined with CBA and career development to gain job satisfaction. The limitation of this study is the duration of the research. It did not use a longitudinal time frame to measure the real career development from the end user point of view in a broader area of population. Although this study focuses on competency and learning theories, it does not consider the latest competencies and other theories such as talent development of human resources. For future studies could be based on focus-group discussions with experts using a longitudinal analysis to consider tourism growth dynamics over time, using talent development theory is also recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the demonstration of the effectiveness of a mobile education tool (MET) that was co-designed and developed at the College of Business Education (CBE) in Tanzania by a team of teachers, researchers, and a developer using the Design Science Research (DSR) methodology. The demonstration of the CBEMET Prototype as an artifact was done to 30 teachers who had participated in the co-designing of the prototype phase, 3 members of CBE management team and 20 students in Bachelor II degree program as the observers and representative of those who will use the prototype at a later stage. Different sets of questionnaires were administered to the teachers, the members of management team and the students. The demonstration confirmed that it is easy to access the prototype, share learning contents, and provide education through mobile devices. Nonetheless, teaching materials prepared for testing the prototype were insufficient and thus needed improvement. Furthermore, teachers and observers proposed for more options to the prototype such as the inclusion of timetable, alerts of events like examination dates, and news on innovation activities. The feedbacks from the participants have thus been considered to reduce errors in the usage of the prototype before its final deployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Broadcast Encryption schemes, a sender can broadcast the encrypted message securely in a threatening network to a set of legitimate system users only. In IBE scheme any sender can encrypt the desired message using his/her identity without attaining the public key certificate. Here, we have presented an efficient ID-based broadcast encryption scheme (IBBE) for open networks. In this scheme, desired messages can be broadcasted to any subset of the users by any sender but only authorized receivers are capable in retrieving the encrypted messages. This scheme has shorter decryption keys in comparison with other primitive of IBBE scheme for open networks. Moreover, the proposed scheme intends to achieve the lower cost for computation as well as transmission in comparison to earlier existing IBBE schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Experimental Technology & Management is the property of Experimental Technology & Management Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

While studies have found that both accounting and finance majors outperform other majors on the Major Field Test in Business (MFTB) and the Comprehensive Business Exam (CBE), research has not identified the drivers of this performance advantage. The authors examined multiyear MFTB and CBE scores and identified both business core course composition and student capability as key drivers of scores on each of these exams. Our results provide empirical evidence that accounting majors enjoy a 10.2-point score advantage on the MFTB and a 7.5-point score advantage on the CBE related to additional exposure to accounting, finance, and economics concepts in upper-level accounting and finance courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CRISPR, CBE, ABE, Cas9-NG, genome editing, Arabidopsis, PAMless, p19 Keywords: CRISPR; Cas9-NG; CBE; ABE; PAMless; genome editing; p19; Arabidopsis EN CRISPR Cas9-NG CBE ABE PAMless genome editing p19 Arabidopsis 2389 2391 3 12/03/21 20211201 NES 211201 Bacterial-derived CRISPR/Cas systems are versatile platforms to engineer site-specific gene editing tools. To minimize the silencing effects, we fused a commonly used silencing suppressor (p19) to the above BE systems, generating the CBE/ABEmax-nCas9-p19 and CBE/ABEmax-nCas9NG-p19 systems (Figure 1a). [Extracted from the article]

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a cancer-selective radiotherapy that utilizes the cancer targeting 10B-compound. Cancer cells that take up the compound are substantially damaged by the high liner energy transfer (LET) particles emitted mainly from the 10B(n, α7Li reaction. BNCT can minimize the dose to normal tissues, but it must be performed within the tolerable range of normal tissues. Therefore, it is important to evaluate the response of normal tissues to BNCT. Since BNCT yields a mixture of high and low LET radiations that make it difficult to understand the radiobiological basis of BNCT, it is important to evaluate the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) and compound biological effectiveness (CBE) factors for assessing the responses of normal tissues to BNCT. BSH and BPA are the only 10B-compounds that can be used for clinical BNCT. Their biological behavior and cancer targeting mechanisms are different; therefore, they affect the CBE values differently. In this review, we present the RBE and CBE values of BPA or BSH for normal tissue damage by BNCT irradiation. The skin, brain (spinal cord), mucosa, lung, and liver are included as normal tissues. The CBE values of BPA and BSH for tumor control are also discussed.

In this paper is presented a Normally-OFF GaN HEMT (High Electron Mobility Transistor) device using p-doped GaN barrier layer regrown by CBE (Chemical Beam Epitaxy). The impact of the p doping on the device performance is investigated using TCAD simulator (Silvaco/Atlas). With 4E17 cm−3 p doping, a Vth of 1.5 V is achieved. Four terminal breakdowns of the fabricated device are investigated, and the origin of the device failure is identified.

The effects of replacing cocoa butter with different percentages and proportions of a mango kernel fat/palm olein (MKF/POL) blend, are reported. Samples were prepared by melting together mango kernel fat, palm olein, cocoa butter and cocoa mass and powdered sugar combinated. The samples were milled, conched, tempered, and molded to obtain three sets of seven samples as follows: one control omitting mango kernel fat and palm olein, and six samples with cocoa butter replacement of 15 and 22.5% and MKF/POL ratios of 2.3, 4.0, and 9.0. Casson viscosity, Casson yield stress, fat bloom and sensory acceptability were all measured. In fact, all samples had achieved a low Casson viscosity (ηCA) and Casson yield stress (τ_oCA), which indicates molding and enrobing as appropriate uses. In addition, some significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) were found among samples. Fat bloom was accelerated in the samples relative to control, but high MKF proportions tended to retard appearance of fat bloom. No differences were observed in organoleptic properties between samples and control.