Initial Hypothesis Research Articles

Abstract 6682: Bile acid profiles and racial disparities in colorectal cancer: Exploring the protective role of secondary bile acid derivatives

Abstract Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States, with diet and gut microbiota-derived bile acids implicated as long-term risk factors. The interplay between bile acids and immune cell differentiation, particularly of macrophages and T-cells, is a crucial aspect of the CRC microenvironment. Given the high-animal-fat diets' influence on the microbiome’s production of hydrophobic secondary bile acids such as deoxycholic acid (DCA) and lithocholic acid (LCA), this study investigates the potential immunomodulatory effects of their lower concentrations and their isomers in possibly fostering M2-like macrophage expansion. Methods: Clinical samples were obtained during colonoscopies with no tumor findings at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago. RNA was extracted from colonoscopy biopsies for NanoString RNA expression analysis, while bile acids were isolated from both lyophilized stool and frozen serum samples. To explore the immunological effects of secondary bile acids, the macrophage RAW 264.7 cell line, alongside peritoneal macrophages and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) from C57BL/6J mice, were treated with LCA and LCA isomers. Following the bile acid treatment, LPS (100 ng/mL) or IL-4 (40 ng/ml) was added to elicit pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory states, respectively. After 48 hours, conditioned media were collected for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while cells were analyzed by flow cytometry and rt-qPCR. Results: Contrary to initial hypotheses, the levels of DCA and LCA levels were not significantly different between African American and non-Hispanic White subjects. Notably, allo-isomers and oxo-derivatives of these bile acids, which may promote Treg and M2-like macrophage expansion, were substantially lower in African American subjects. Ex vivo treatments with isoalloLCA and IsoLCA led to notable changes in the M2 macrophage differentiation and shifts in PGE2 production upon exposure to inflammatory or anti-inflammatory stimuli, suggesting a nuanced alteration in the macrophage-mediated inflammatory response. Conclusion: This study highlights a significant ethnic variation in bile acid profiles, with a potential impact on immune modulation and CRC risk. The reduced presence of certain bile acid isomers in African American subjects may influence the risk of CRC through altered macrophage differentiation and function. These findings emphasize the need for personalized dietary and therapeutic strategies to modulate the bile acid metabolome, potentially reducing CRC disparities. Citation Format: Hanchu Dai, Patricia G. Wolf, Lisa Tussing-Humphreys, Ece Mutlu, Jason M. Ridlon, Rex Gaskins. Bile acid profiles and racial disparities in colorectal cancer: Exploring the protective role of secondary bile acid derivatives [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 6682.

Tackling early medieval circulation of glazed ware in Sharq al-Andalus using a multidisciplinary approach: El Tolmo de Minateda (Spain)

This paper offers an analysis of a group of glazed ceramics that comes from El Tolmo de Minateda site and have been dated in the second half of the ninth century and beginning of the tenth century, before the proclamation of the Umayyad Caliphate by Abderraman III (929 CE). Three technological groups have been distinguished: transparent glazes of one or two colours, transparent polychrome glazes (represented by two pieces) and opaque polychrome glazes (represented by two ceramics) studied by SEM-EDS analysis. After the study, different al-Andalus glaze workshops have been identified as providers of glazed ware to El Tolmo de Minateda site. The initial hypothesis was that the ware consumed in El Tolmo was manufactured in Pechina, the closest early production centre. However, after the archaeometric analysis, it has been discarded, and all the indications of this study seem to point to Córdoba as a significant supplier. The data of this study provides a new perspective on how the internal regional distribution and marketing of goods took place in Al-Andalus during the late Emiral period (c. 875–929 CE), a subject that has yet to be explored.

Cardiometabolic characteristics of type 2 diabetes patients depending on obesity phenotypes

Background. The problem of studying the causes and mechanisms of metabolic disorders in metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the most important questions in modern medicine. It is due to the growing prevalence of dysmeta­bolic conditions and their serious consequences for the population health in the modern world. The initial hypothesis was that the differences in hormonal and metabolic conditions in patients with T2DM can be explained by the peculiarities of the anabolic-catabo­lic balance in different metabolic phenotypes. The aim of the work was to study the features of anthropometric and compositional parameters, indicators of carbohydrate, lipid and purine metabolism, anabolic-catabolic balance as predictors of cardiovascular diseases in patients with T2DM, depending on the phenotype. Materials and methods. One hundred and sixty-five patients with T2DM were included in the study, 71 women and 94 men aged from 32 to 82 years (59.0 ± 8.3 years). They had a level of glycated hemoglobin higher than 6.7 % (8.3 ± 1.8 %) against the background of taking oral hypoglycemic agents. Results. During the examination, it was found that the metabolism of patients without general obesity has a predominantly catabolic orientation, which, compared to those with general obesity, is manifested in a lower absolute accumulation of total and visceral fat, a reduced level of uricemia (due to a lower reabsorption of urate in the renal tubules, a lower activity of the anabolic pathway of reutilization), which is accompanied by a lower level of anabolic hormones, insulin and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), and a higher level of the catabolic stress hormone cortisol. General obesity in patients with body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2 is caused by the predominant influence of anabolic hormones (insulin, DHEA-S), which contribute to the de novo synthesis of fatty acids and purine bases, the reutilization of purines and the reabsorption of uric acid. This leads to the accumulation of fat in the subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue and an increase in the level of uricemia under the conditions of a lower content of the catabolic hormone cortisol. Conclusions. The application of a set of anthropometric, composition biochemical and hormonal indicators allows for a differential diagnosis of alimentary hypokinetic (anabolic) and stress (catabolic) phenotypes in patients with T2DM. An additional characteristic of the metabolic status in T2DM may be the assessment of uric acid production and excretion in patients with varying degrees of obesity. The listed signs indicate an anabolic type of metabolism in obesity.

Fragility fractures of the pelvis: First 48 cases of surgical treatment at a level 1 trauma center in France

IntroductionLonger life expectancy is accompanied by a higher incidence of fragility fractures of the pelvis (FFP), which has repercussions on mortality and nursing home admissions. Given the paucity of data at French healthcare facilities, we carried out a retrospective study to (1) evaluate how surgical treatment of FFP with posterior displacement (type III and IV according to Rommens and Hofmann) affects a patient's pain, functional status and ability to stay at home and (2) evaluate the postoperative complications and mortality rate. HypothesisSurgery for posteriorly displaced FFP will relieve pain and preserve the patient's independence. MethodsAll the patients over 65 years of age who were operated on for a posterior FFP between January 2015 and August 2020 were included in this prospective, single-center study. The demographics, fracture type, details of the surgical treatment, complications and mortality were analyzed. Pain (visual analog scale, VAS), functional status (Activity of Daily Living [ADL] and Instrumental Activity of Daily Living [IADL]), mobility (Parker score) and rates of nursing home admissions were compared before the fracture, after surgery and at a mean follow-up of 28 months (minimum follow-up of 1 year). ResultsForty-eight patients with a mean age of 75 years were included. Twenty-four of these patients (50%) had at least two comorbidities. The FFPs were either type IV (31/48; 65%) or type III (17/48; 35%). The mean VAS for pain was significantly lower on the first day postoperative (3.5 versus 4.8; p=0.02). This significant reduction continued upon discharge from the hospital (1.95; p=0.003) and persisted at the mean follow-up of 28 months (2.2; p=0.64). The complication rate was 15% (7/48) and the mortality rate at the final review was 15% (7/48). Among the surviving patients, 81% (29/36) returned to living at home. The ADL (5.1 versus 5.8; p=0.09), IADL (5.9 versus 6.9; p=0.15) and Parker score (6.8 versus 8.2; p=0.08) at the final review were not significantly different from the values before the fracture. ConclusionThis is the first French study of patients operated on for an FPP. Fixation of posteriorly displaced fractures allows surviving patients to retain their mobility. Pain relief is achieved quickly and maintained during the follow-up period. Thus, our initial hypothesis is affirmed. The complication rate is not insignificant; given the complexity of this surgery, percutaneous treatment is preferable. Level of evidenceIV; retrospective study.

Syntax and semantics of laisser in causative constructions

The French verb laisser (‘to let’) allows for two different syntactic constructions, an Exceptional Case Marking (ECM) construction and a Faire-Infinitive (FI) construction with a postverbal Causee, and for two different interpretations, authorize and not-intervene. According to previous studies (e.g. Kayne 1975), constructions are related to interpretations: the ECM can express intentionality, the FI cannot. In this paper, we explore a different hypothesis: the ECM construction is underspecified and allows for both interpretations, while the FI is restricted to the not-intervening interpretation. We provide empirical evidence from three distinct forced choice tasks in which participants had to match constructions and interpretations. The results reveal that, contrary to both early observations and our initial hypothesis, both constructions may allow for both interpretations, and variation depends less on the syntactic configuration than on semantic and pragmatic factors, namely on the lexical inferences triggered by the embedded verb and the authority relation between Causer and Causee expressed in the contexts.

µ-Opioid receptor antagonism facilitates the anxiolytic-like effect of oxytocin in mice

Mood and anxiety disorders are leading causes of disability worldwide and are major contributors to the global burden of diseases. Neuropeptides, such as oxytocin and opioid peptides, are important for emotion regulation. Previous studies have demonstrated that oxytocin reduced depression- and anxiety-like behavior in male and female mice, and opioid receptor activation reduced depression-like behavior. However, it remains unclear whether the endogenous opioid system interacts with the oxytocin system to facilitate emotion regulation in male and female mice. We hypothesized that opioid receptor blockade would inhibit the anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects of oxytocin. In this study, we systemically administered naloxone, a preferential μ−opioid receptor antagonist, and then intracerebroventricularly administered oxytocin. We then tested mice on the elevated zero maze and the tail suspension tests, respective tests of anxiety- and depression-like behavior. Contrary to our initial hypothesis, naloxone potentiated the anxiolytic-like, but not the antidepressant-like, effect of oxytocin. Using a selective μ−opioid receptor antagonist, D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Arg-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2, and a selective κ−opioid receptor antagonist, norbinaltorphimine, we demonstrate that μ−opioid receptor blockade potentiated the anxiolytic-like effect of oxytocin, whereas κ−opioid receptor blockade inhibited the oxytocin-induced anxiolytic-like effects. The present results suggest that endogenous opioids can regulate the oxytocin system to modulate anxiety-like behavior. Potential clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

The Efficiency of Economic Growth for Sustainable Development—A Grey System Theory Approach in the Eurozone and Other European Countries

This article builds upon the authors’ previous work on the Synthetic Efficiency Indicator for Economic Growth (SEI-EG), demonstrating the process of transforming economic-growth-related inputs into sustainable development outcomes. This innovative application of the SEI-EG provides a fresh perspective on the effects of eurozone membership on the sustainability efficiency of EU countries, thereby enriching the discourse on economic integration and sustainability efforts within the European Union. By integrating the economic dynamics of the euro area with environmental efficiency metrics, this study offers novel insights into the potential influence of currency union membership on achieving sustainable development goals. Covering the entire European Union, categorized by euro area and non-euro area membership, this study navigates through the risks to sustainability posed by global crises and the ongoing debate over the euro’s integration success and setbacks. Conducted from 2019 to 2021 using grey system theory, this research incorporates a revised set of seven indicators in the domain of industry, innovation, and infrastructure as recommended by the Europe 2020 project. The findings confirm the initial hypothesis that countries outside the euro area tend to exhibit higher efficiency as measured by the SEI-EG indicator. This article is composed of five parts. The first two parts present characteristic features of economies in the euro area and non-euro area, along with a critical trend in the latest literature on the benefits and risks of economic integration. The subsequent sections introduce the methodology for determining the indicator and the authors’ own corrections to it as well as the results of the research and a discussion.

Assessment of the Impact of Migration Processes on Pricing in the Residential Real Estate Market in the Russian Federation

The dynamics of the housing construction industry can be seen as an indicator of the level of social and economic development of the country. The attractiveness of residential real estate is largely determined by price availability for the population. However, it is important to consider demographic factors. Therefore, the study assessed the effects of migration, along with parameters such as salary dynamics, mortgage lending and construction volumes of the Russian Federation. The purpose of the study is to justify the importance of migration dynamics to change the value of residential real estate. The subject of study is the existence of dependence of migration processes and pricing dynamics taking into account additional parameters of the country’s economy. The object of the study is pricing in the residential real estate market in Russia. Research methods are vector autoregression models (standard and Bayesian ones). Monthly data of official statistics for Russia for 2011–2021 as well as scientific articles and published studies of employees of the Bank of Russia were used as the information base. The initial hypothesis of the study is that the factor of migration significantly affects the final indicator of the cost of housing. The analysis made it possible to determine the importance of factors that have a sustainable long-term impact on the dynamics of prices in the residential real estate market.

As políticas públicas de enfrentamento do trabalho infantil no Brasil

The main objective of this research is to analyze how public policies in Brazil are interconnected to prevent and eradicate child labor. It seeks to understand the legal protection against the exploitation of child labor, explore the Program for the Eradication of Child Labor and the National Policy related to it, and examine the responsibilities of the entities of the Rights Guarantee System in combating this issue. The central question of the research is: how does intersectoral coordination of public policies for this purpose occur in Brazil? The initial hypothesis suggests that there is a shared responsibility between the bodies of the Rights Guarantee System, organized through care, protection and justice policies, enabling joint and networked action through the National Plan and the Child Labour Eradication Programme, aimed at combating the causes and effects of child labour exploitation. The method used was deductive and monographic, using documentary and bibliographic research techniques.

Primary school teachers' perceived organizational support and job satisfaction: The mediating role of collective efficacy

We examined how perceived organizational support and collective efficacy affect the job satisfaction of primary school teachers in China, and explored whether collective efficacy mediates the relationship between perceived organizational support and job satisfaction. We gathered data from 245 teachers using the Job Diagnostic Survey, the Organizational Support Measurement Scale, and the Collective Teacher Efficacy Scale. Our results confirmed there were positive correlations between job satisfaction and perceived organizational support, and between job satisfaction and teachers' collective efficacy, supporting our initial hypotheses. Notably, perceived organizational support directly influenced teachers' job satisfaction and also indirectly influenced their job satisfaction through collective efficacy, highlighting the potential for future research to explore strategies that enhance both organizational support and collective efficacy, ultimately ensuring teachers find satisfaction in their job.

Regioselective Hydroxylation of Unsymmetrical Ketones Using Cu, H2O2, and Imine Directing Groups via Formation of an Electrophilic Cupric Hydroperoxide Core.

Herein, we describe the regioselective functionalization of unsymmetrical ketones using imine directing groups, Cu, and H2O2. The C-H hydroxylation of the substrate-ligands derived from 2-substituted benzophenones occurred exclusively at the γ-position of the unsubstituted ring due to the formation of only one imine stereoisomer. Conversely, the imines derived from 4-substituted benzophenones produced E/Z mixtures that upon reacting with Cu and H2O2 led to two γ-C-H hydroxylation products. Contrary to our initial hypothesis, the ratio of the hydroxylation products did not depend on the ratio of the E/Z isomers but on the electrophilicity of the reactive [LCuOOH]1+. A detailed mechanistic analysis suggests a fast isomerization of the imine substrate-ligand binding the CuOOH core before the rate-determining electrophilic aromatic hydroxylation. Varying the benzophenone substituents and/or introducing electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups on the 4-position of pyridine of the directing group allowed for fine-tuning of the electrophilicity of the mononuclear [LCuOOH]1+ to reach remarkable regioselectivities (up to 91:9 favoring the hydroxylation of the electron-rich arene ring). Lastly, we performed the C-H hydroxylation of alkyl aryl ketones, and like in the unsymmetrical benzophenones, the regioselectivity of the transformations (sp3 vs sp2) could be controlled by varying the electronics of the substrate and/or the directing group.

Using Design Thinking to break social barriers: An experience report with former inmates

AbstractDesign Thinking techniques have been widely used in software requirements elicitation to understand the necessities of stakeholders and end‐users. However, there is a lack of evidence of their effectiveness when applied to guide the development process of a system targeting vulnerable populations. What are the implications of using Design Thinking techniques to elicit requirements in a community of former inmates—and what would be the benefits of and challenges in this deployment? In this paper, we report our experience of using Design Thinking for requirements elicitation of a mobile application customized for the former inmates of the Brazilian prison system and their families. We applied techniques such as Brainstorming, Stakeholder Mapping, Personas Creation, Rapid Ethnography, and Interviews to obtain relevant data and create several prototypes. These techniques contribute to the development of an uncommon application that aims to help the reintegration process of former inmates into society. Our results validate the initial hypothesis that such techniques, when applied to a sensitive context, assist product development that meets the end‐users' needs by creating a higher quality product. The main limitation of the research was the lack of access to low‐literacy end‐users and/or former inmates without previous experience using mobile devices.

Occurrence and path pollution of emerging organic contaminants in mineral water of Hranice hypogenic Karst

The Hranice hypogenic karst region includes urban, spa and agricultural areas and industry complexes that affect water quality in the region. Emerging organic contaminants (EOCs), especially pesticides and pharmaceuticals, are released into the complex aquatic system. These substances and their metabolites can affect aquatic and human life, as well as the regional development of the wider area traditionally associated with the spa. In this study, we conducted preliminary screening for pesticides and pharmaceuticals at 33 sampling sites and across different location types, including surface water, drainage water, a shallow well, groundwater and thermal karst water. Sampling occurred between February 2022 and June 2023. The results generally confirm that current land use is causing pollution in the karst system. The monitored substances were present in all water types, and in most cases the concentrations of pesticides were lower than those of their metabolites. Chloridazon desphenyl (DESPH) is the most widespread pesticide in surface, ground and hypogenic waters. Its concentrations in surface waters were 5.7 ng·L−1–2,230 ng·L−1, in groundwaters were 11.3 ng·L−1–1,490 ng·L−1 and in karst hypogenic waters 5.4 ng·L−1–378 ng·L−1. Diclofenac was the most widespread substance from the pharmaceutical group. Its concentrations ranged from 5.6 ng·L−1–549 ng·L−1 in surface waters, 8.4 ng·L−1–112 ng·L−1 in groundwaters and 5.1 ng·L−1–47.4 ng·L−1 in karst hypogenic waters. Directly in the karst hypogenic waters, the following EOCs were repeatedly detected: atrazine and its metabolites, simazin, metazachlor ethane sulfonic acid (ESA), metolachlor ESA, alachlor ESA, chloridazon DESPH, diclofenac, ibuprofen, azithromycin, bisphenol A and diethyltoluamide (DEET). The initial research hypothesis is that hydrothermal karst waters are of sub-recent age and deep circulation and, unlike surface and groundwaters, are not contaminated by recent pollutants. A certain component of these waters is therefore a shallow and shorter circulation.

The Effect of Attractiveness of Creative Product and Entrepreneurship Subjects through Creativity on Entrepreneurial Interest

Entrepreneurial activities today are accessible to every class of society, many students have done entrepreneurship, especially at the vocational high school level. Students interest in entrepreneurship activities can be influenced by internal factors and external factors. The initial hypothesis of the study found that there were external factors originating from teaching and learning activities, which focused on the interaction of teachers and students. This study aims to determine how much influence this learning has on the creative power and entrepreneurial interest of public and private vocational school students in Bekasi city. The population in this study included all Vocational High School's students in Bekasi City using a purposive random sampling method, using a closed questionnaire technique with alternative answers using a Likert scale with a sample of 200 students from class XI and XII at public and private Vocational High Schools in Bekasi City who participated in the activity of learning to teach on creative product subjects and entrepreneurship. Data collection was carried out for 1 month at the beginning of the school year. The research was analyzed using path analysis, emphasizing the causal relationship between variables, namely creative and entrepreneurial product subjects on students' creativity and business interests. The results showed that the attractiveness of creative product subjects had a direct influence on student creativity by 20.3%, and a direct effect on student entrepreneurial interest by 30.5%.

The Impact of High-Performance Works Practice on Employees Job, Life and Career Satisfaction

The objective of this study is to explore the association between high-performance work practices (HPWPs) — encompassing training, empowerment, rewards, and teamwork — and the levels of personal career, job, and life satisfaction among full-time academic staff at Komar University of Science and Technology. Employing a quantitative methodology, the research utilizes a survey questionnaire disseminated through a Microsoft online form to collect data. The sample comprises 92 participants representative of the study's population. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS software, version 26. The analysis concluded a lack of significant correlation between HPWPs and the variables measuring satisfaction in care, job, and life. It was also observed that a mere 7% of employees engaged in high-performance work reported satisfaction across these areas. These findings contradict our initial hypothesis, indicating that HPWPs may not be as influential on satisfaction levels as previously anticipated.

Meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials comparing robotic versus laparoscopic surgery for mid-low rectal cancers

Robotic surgery (RS) is experiencing major development, particularly in the context of rectal cancer. The aim of this meta-analysis was to summarize data from the literature, focusing specifically on the safety and effectiveness of robotic surgery in mid-low rectal cancers, based on the hypothesis that that robotic surgery can find its most rational indication in this anatomical location. The meta-analysis was conducted according to the PRISMA 2000 recommendations, including all randomized trials that compared robotic surgery versus laparoscopic surgery (LS) that were found in the Medline-PICO, Cochrane Database, Scopus and Google databases. Data were extracted independently by two reviewers. The risk of bias was analyzed according to the Cochrane Handbook method and the certainty of the evidence according to the GRADE method. The analysis was carried out with R software Version 4.2-3 using the Package for Meta-Analysis "meta" version 6.5-0. Eight randomized trials were included (with a total of 2342 patients), including four that focused specifically on mid-low rectal cancer (n=1,734 patients). No statistically significant difference was found for overall morbidity, intra-operative morbidity, anastomotic leakage, post-operative mortality, quality of mesorectal specimen, and resection margins. The main differences identified were a lower conversion rate for RS (RR=0.48 [0.24-0.95], p=0.04, I2=0%), and a longer operative time for RS (mean difference=39.11min [9.39-68.83], p<0.01, I2=96%). The other differences had no real clinical relevance, i.e., resumption of flatus passage (5hours earlier after RS), and lymph node dissection (one more lymph node for LS). This meta-analysis does not confirm the initial hypothesis and does not show a statistically significant or clinically relevant benefit of RS compared to LS for mid-low rectal cancer.

Increasing Consistency, Traceability and Transparency in Data Science Projects: Analysis and Framework

Based on experiences in data-based projects, it was hypothesized that traditional project approaches often fail to ensure consistency, traceability, and transparency, contributing to a low success rate of such projects. This hypothesis was tested by compiling documented challenges from various data-based projects and comparing methods from literature and practice. The comparison enabled the formulation of objectives and led to the development of a novel method, focusing on standardization, regular exchange, and accountability to enhance consistency, traceability, and transparency of project-relevant objects. It also accommodates existing procedures for handling data-based projects. Application of this method allows for meticulous planning on multiple levels and iterative progress. Findings support the initial hypothesis, suggesting the method's potential to improve success rates in data-based projects.

Elements of the Theory of Cycle of Money without Enforcement Savings

The theory of the CM (Cycle of Money) without escaping savings is about the distribution of money and the case that there are not any enforcement savings. Then, mentioned the importance of the appropriate tax policy. Thereupon, are determined the tax policies in connection with the savings of the companies of controlled and uncontrolled transactions. The purpose of this paper is to show the negative impact on the economy of having few enforcement savings. Booster savings are those that have a positive effect on an economy as opposed to escape savings. For the purposes of this analysis is used the Q.E. (Quantification of Everything) method and its econometric approach. Also, it uses the E.Q.E. (Econometric Quantification of Everything) method. The results confirm the initial hypothesis that booster savings show the amount of money available in an economy, as they allow money to be reused and better dispersed, resulting in greater consumption and investment. If money is concentrated in companies that substitute smaller domestic companies, then their super profits are impossible to consume and are usually stored in tax havens and international banks, with the result that this amount of money is lost from the economy.

Antibacterial effects of Melaleuca leucadendra Ecoenzyme on Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Introduction: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen, poses a significant threat in hospital settings, causing nosocomial infections with severe consequences. The bacterium’s high antibiotic resistance, particularly through biofilm formation via quorum sensing (QS), complicates treatment strategies. This study explores the potential of eucalyptus (Melaleuca leucadendra), known for its antimicrobial properties especially due to 1,8-cineole, ecoenzyme in inhibiting Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Materials and Methods: This study is a posttest-only control group design. Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria were samped using simple random sampling. The study utilized the agar-well diffusion method on Mueller Hinton agar to assess the antibacterial effect of eucalyptus (Melaleuca leucadendra) ecoenzyme. Concentrations tested ranged from 10% to 100% with three repetitions and incubation at 37 °C for 24 hours. Data were obtained by measuring the inhibition zone using calipers. Results: Contrary to expectations, the study found no antibacterial effect of eucalyptus (Melaleuca leucadendra) ecoenzyme on Pseudomonas aeruginosa at all concentrations tested (100%, 90%, 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, and 10%). Conclusion: The investigation into eucalyptus (Melaleuca leucadendra) ecoenzyme revealed no discernible antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These findings challenge the initial hypothesis and underscore the importance of thorough experimentation in assessing the potential of natural agents for combating nosocomial infections. Further research is needed to elucidate the complex interactions between Pseudomonas aeruginosa and eucalyputs (Melaleuca leucadendra).

Counterproductive Work Behavior and Job Satisfaction

In today's highly competitive environment, organizations need to identify and understand the factors that influence employees and their work outcomes, which in turn have consequences for the organization. The present research focused on analyzing the relationships between counterproductive work behaviors (abuse, production deviance, sabotage, theft, withdrawal) and levels of job satisfaction (intrinsic and extrinsic satisfaction) in a sample of 79 participants. Results indicate a significantly negative relationship between extrinsic satisfaction and counterproductive behaviors in total. A significant negative correlation was also observed between job satisfaction and theft behavior. Extrinsic satisfaction also showed a significantly negative correlation with theft and abuse behavior. Contrary to initial hypotheses, the research refuted the significantly negative relationship between job satisfaction and counterproductive behaviors in total, as well as between intrinsic satisfaction and these behaviors. These results suggest that, in this sample, job satisfactionand counterproductive behaviors did not show a direct correlation as originally expected. This research provides an important insight into the complexity of workplace relationships and highlights the needfor further research to understand more deeply the influences of psychological variables on workplace behavior.