bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) as a predictive factor radiological response of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy (NAC) in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer (LARC)
Authors: Wardhana Adhitya Angga , Lesmana Tomy
Published: February 2022

Background: Resistance of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy (NAC) in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer (LARC) makes patients lose their therapeutic window for tumor resection oncologically. As one of the inflammatory biomarkers, Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) has a significant role in tumor progression. This study aims to evaluate the NLR values as a predictive factor radiological response of NAC in LARC.Methods: This study used a cross-sectional study to assess the relationship of pre-chemotherapy NLR with NAC response. All subjects were LARC patients who underwent the NAC FOLFOX regiment at the Dr. Soetomo General Hospital from January 2016 to December 2020. Variables assessed in this study included tumor size (T), staging, pathology, metastasis status, Complete Blood Count (CBC) and abdominopelvic CT-scan examination before and after (3rd cycle) NAC FOLFOX regiment, after 3rd cycle NAC FOLFOX regiment, gender, and albumin level. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23 for Windows.Result: A total of 102 LARC patients underwent NAC. There were 62 patients (60.8%) with low pre-chemotherapy NLR (<2.15) and 40 patients (39.2%) with high pre-chemotherapy NLR (> 2.15). There were 57 patients with a positive response to NAC (Complete Response (CR)/Partial Response (PR)), with 48 patients have low NLR (84.2%) and 9 patients (15.8%) with high NLR. There was a significant relationship between pre-chemotherapy NLR and type of histopathology (OR 11.810; 95% CI: 4.561-30.579; p<0.001) to the radiological response of NAC in the Chi-Square test. However, a logistic regression test found that the OR value of pre-chemotherapy NLR increased to 13.649 (95% CI: 4.266-43.671; p<0.001) to the radiological response of NAC.Conclusion: Pre-chemotherapy NLR can be used as one of the predictive factors of radiological response after the NAC FOLFOX regiment in LARC patients.
Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) representing the role of other growth factors contained in Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)
Authors: Nurmaulinda Dessyta Sukma , Budi Agus Santoso , Zarasade Lobredia , Utomo Budi
Published: February 2022

Background: Wound care with modern dressings that have been widely used takes time to achieve healing. Therefore, Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) and Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) are developed in wound healing therapy. EGF as the primary growth factor examines whether it is sufficient to represent the role of other growth factors in PRP. EGF is also chosen because of its ease of provision and longer shelf life compared to PRP. This study evaluates the (EGF) representing the role of other growth factors contained in PRP.  Methods: The study was performed on 66 full-thickness wounds in 6 groups of 36 healthy male Oryctolagus cuniculus rabbits. Four treatment groups were given EGF and PRP therapies. Two control groups were given no treatment. Half of the groups were evaluated on the fifth day and the rest on the fourteenth day. Assessment on the clinical macroscopic and histopathological numbers of fibroblasts, capillary blood vessels, and type III collagen fibers were stained with Hematoxylin Eosin (HE) and Masson's Trichrome. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23 for Windows.Results: There was a statistically significant difference in fibroplasia (p=0.014; p=0.018) on the fifth and fourteenth days. However, there was no significant difference in angiogenesis (p=0.183; p=0.524) or collagenization (p=0.218; p=0.278) on the fifth and fourteenth day. On the fifth day, the number of capillary vessels was highest in the PRP groups (10.60±4.13), and the ratio of type III collagen fibers (53.00±13.00) was the highest in the EGF group. On the fourteenth day, the number of capillaries and the ratio of type III collagen fibers was the highest in the EGF groups (77.00±16.00). Conclusion: EGF greatly increases the speed of macroscopic healing, accelerates fibroplasia, induces angiogenesis, and is also involved in collagen deposition compared to PRP administration, especially when compared to untreated wounds.
Convalescent plasma as an adjunctive treatment for severe and critically ill COVID-19
Authors: Santosa Damai , Sofro Muchlis Achsan Udji , Retnaningsih Retnaningsih , Pangarsa Eko Adhi , Setiawan Budi , Farhanah Nur , Kholis Fathur Nur , Handoyo Thomas , Rahardjo Sofyan , Nindhita Like Rahayu , Puspitasari Iva , Naibaho Ridho M. , Kharismasari Retty , Kartiyani Ika , Yunarvika Vina , Rizky Daniel , Suhartono Suhartono
Published: February 2022

Introduction: The historical treatment of convalescent plasma was successful against RNA viruses. However, the significance of COVID-19 convalescent plasma therapy has not been clinically proven consistently in most studies and the available data showed contradictory results so far. Our study aims to evaluate the role of convalescent plasma therapy as an adjunctive treatment for severe and critically ill COVID-19 patients.Methods: This study was an open-label, non-randomized comparative clinical trial that was conducted at Dr. Kariadi Hospital, Semarang, Indonesia. This study sample are hospitalized severe and critically ill COVID-19 patients were assigned with a 2:1 ratio to receive convalescent plasma and local standard of care. The primary outcome was the clinical status 30 days after the interventionResults: A total of 73 patients received convalescent plasma and 38 patients received local standards of care. Both of the groups had similar clinical ordinal scales (median was 5, p=0.65), while patients in the study groups had significantly higher SOFA scores and P/F ratio. The control group had a worse overall mortality rate (61.1% vs 18.4%) with a hazard ratio of 3.5 (95%CI, 2.1-5.9) compared to the study group. From the subgroup analysis, we found that patients in the study group without mechanical ventilation support had the best survival rate compared to other groups HR: 0.0047 (95%CI, 0.01-0.19). The clinical outcome 7 days after convalescent plasma infusion was also significantly improved in the study group (median baseline & day-7, 5 & 3, p<0.001). From the multivariate analysis of therapeutic variables, convalescent plasma was the most significant variable for survival outcome (OR=0.089, 95%CI, 0.029-0.27; p<0.001). There was one case of anaphylactic shock and was excluded.Conclusions: The convalescent plasma administration significantly improved clinical outcomes and overall survival rates compared to those who received local standards of care.
Implementation of child nutrition anthropometry pocketbook for early childhood education to increase the ability of teachers to assess nutritional status of early childhood education students in Gianyar Regency, Bali, Indonesia
Authors: Ariati Ni Nengah , Wiardani Ni Komang , Kusumajaya Anak Agung Ngurah , Fetria Arma
Published: February 2022

Introduction: The age of preschool children is the golden age where the physical and psychological is rapidly developing then it is necessary to fulfil the nutritional needs. This is a period that is vulnerable to under-nutrition and over-nutrition. To deal with these problems, nutritional monitoring status must be carried out jointly between teachers, parents, and health care workers. Most early childhood education teachers have not assessed children's nutritional status and only weighed them. Based on these problems, the early childhood education Anthropometry Pocket Book was made to assist teachers in determining the nutritional status of children.Method: The study used a different subject design and was carried out in April-October 2021 involving 52 samples, divided into two groups, namely the Control Group with 26 people and the Treatment Group with 26 people. The data collected such as sample identity and data on the ability of teachers to assess nutritional status using the BW/Age, Height/Age, BW/H, and BMI/A indexes before and after the intervention in the Control and Treatment Group. The data were analyzed descriptively by looking for the mean, standard deviation, and different tests were carried out to determine the difference in the effect of treatment on the control group and the treatment group, statistical tests Independent samples t-test at significance level (0.05) used on homogeneous data and Mann Whitney test on inhomogeneous data.Result: The results showed that the average ability of teachers to assess children’s nutritional status in the Treatment Group was higher than the Control Group after being given the intervention. The enhancement before and after intervention in the control group with body weight/age (BW/A) index was 69.1%, height/ age (H/A) was 67.0%, BW/A was 71.5%, and body mass index/age (BMI/A) was 95.4%. While the increase in the Treatment Group with index BW/A 235.9%, H/A 220.5%, body weight/height (BW/H) 225.8%, and BMI/A 141.5%. Conclusion: Statistical analysis Independent samples t-test at the significance level ?=0.05 showed that there was a significant difference (p<0.05) in the teacher's ability to assess the nutritional status of children with the index BW/A, H/A, BW/H, and BMI/A in the control group with treatment after intervention. The teachers of early childhood education are always expected to make it a habit to monitor children's nutritional status using a pocketbook on child nutrition anthropometry that has been applied.
Comparative efficacy of topical Adipocyte-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells-Conditioned Medium (ADMSC-CM) and Amniotic Membrane Mesenchymal Stem Cells-Conditioned Medium (AMSC-CM) on chronic plantar ulcers in leprosy: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Alinda Medhi Denisa , Christopher Paulus Mario , Listiawan Muhammad Yulianto , Endaryanto Anang , Suroto Heri , Rantam Fedik Abdul , Hendradi Esti , Notobroto Hari Basuki , Menaldi Sri Linuwih Susetyo Wardhani , Prakoeswa Cita Rosita Sigit
Published: February 2022

Introduction: Chronic Plantar Ulcer of Leprosy (CPUL), one of the debilitating disabilities and complications, poses a treatment challenge. Utilization of stem cells, specifically adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cells-conditioned medium (ADMSC-CM) and amniotic membrane mesenchymal stem cells-conditioned medium (AMSC-CM), may serve as a novel therapeutic option. This study aims to compare the efficacy of topical ADMSC-CM, topical AMSC-CM, and farmazertin gauze dressing (FGD) only on the healing of CPUL.Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, our study recruited 54 subjects with CPUL. Subjects were randomly assigned to topical ADMSC-CM (n = 16), topical AMSC-CM (n = 22), or FGD (n = 16) applied every three days for up to 8 weeks. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 for Windows.Results: Healing percentage increased each week in all groups. Statistic differences between groups (p <0.05) were observed for ulcer mean size and depth reduction from week three onwards. No adverse reactions or complications were reported. At the end of the study, based on clinically improved ulcers, topical ADMSC-CM (100.0%) were superior in improving the healing of CPULs compared to topical AMSC-CM (54.55%) and FGD only (50.0%).Conclusion: ADMSC-CM and AMSC-CM are potential therapeutic agents in the management of CPUL, with ADMSC-CM being superior in overall ulcer improvement.
Blended learning to promote professional behavior during the covid-19 pandemic: A pilot study
Authors: Tahulending Peggy Sara , Eka Ni Gusti Ayu , Purbojo Rijanto
Published: February 2022

Background: Following the evidence concerning unprofessional behavior, a blended learning module for nursing students was developed to promote professional behavior. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, blended learning was modified into full online learning. This modification provided a new experience for both lecturers and students, especially during role-play videos through video conferences. This study aimed to examine educational interventions using blended learning modules to promote student perceptions of professional behaviors such as civility and professional role models in nursing education.Methods: This study applied a pre and post-test design. This study used two questionnaires to assess respondents’ perceptions, including the civility index questionnaire and the professional role model questionnaire. A total of 44 respondents at a private nursing school in Jakarta were involved in the study. As the learning modality was shifted to fully online learning, only 20 respondents finished the intervention. Subsequently, only 17 students completed the questionnaires before and after the intervention.Results: This study indicates a significant difference in student perceptions on classmate civility (p-value 0.08) before and after the intervention.Conclusions: Students become more aware of expected civility from their classmates and have higher expectations on civil behaviors from their peers after participating in the study. Moreover, the role-play videos produced by students are also evidence that students were able to demonstrate civility-incivility instances in nursing education. Further research is recommended by involving a more significant number of respondents and using a control group to support the generalizability of study results.
Health Education on Self-Efficacy in Breastfeeding Mothers: Literature Review
Authors: Machmudah Machmudah , Yunitasari Esti
Published: February 2022

Mother's milk is the first food for newborns and is the main nutrition for babies. Efficacy is important in breastfeeding, because it is used as a parameter of the mother's ability to breastfeed. Knowledge is one of the mother's self-efficacy factors for breastfeeding. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is an effect of health education on lactation management on breastfeeding self-efficacy in mothers. Method: The research design used is a literature review, starting with topic selection, then searching through several databases, namely Google Scholar and Science Direct by entering key-words. Results and conclusions: From 163 articles, we selected 9 relevant articles to identify the effect of health education on breastfeeding self-efficacy in mothers. Breastfeeding education interventions increase breastfeeding self-efficacy, infant feeding attitudes, and rates of exclusive breastfeeding. Self-efficacy in breastfeeding mothers through a health education approach encourages mothers through self-management to follow a plan (eg, tests, treatment, procedures, behavior change) that is formulated in collaboration with health professionals such as during health education.
Retrospective Study on Very Early Relapse of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at a Reference Centre in Indonesia
Authors: Sari Nur Melani , Nurazizah Namira Assyfa , Lesmana Ronny , Suryawan Nur , Susanah Susi
Published: February 2022

Introduction: The cure rate of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in low and middle-income countries is still low. Many factors contribute to relapses event, thus leading to failure of the treatment outcome. However, there are limited studies regarding the relapse of childhood cancer in Indonesia. This study determined demography, clinical, and characteristic laboratory differentiation between relapse and non-relapse in the bone marrow childhood ALL group.Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study in children newly diagnosed with ALL ages 0-18 who completed the induction phase using the 2013 treatment protocol during the 2018 period in Pediatrics Hematology-Oncology Unit at a reference center hospital in Indonesia. Of 78 data collected from the Indonesian Pediatric Cancer Registry (IP-CAR) and Hospital Information System after excluding abandoned treatment or death during treatment, only 35 patients completed the overall therapy. We evaluated bone marrow relapse and classified it into 'very early' relapse that occurs at least 18 months from diagnosis, 'early' relapse between 18 and 36 months, and more than 36 months is called 'late' relapse. Chi-square test was used to elaborate association between relapse and sex, leukocyte count, morphological classification, risk stratification, nutritional status. Kruskal Wallis tests were used to elaborate on the association between relapse, age, and induction duration. P value<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Among 35 patients in this study, seven patients experienced bone marrow relapse. Relapses were dominant in four male patients, four patients aged from 1-10 years old, six patients with leukocytes count below 50.000/mm3, six normal nutritional status patients, and six patients classified as L2 patients. All relapse events occurred in a very early stage. Four patients are classified as standard risk, and three patients are high risk. There were no significant differences among characteristics of the relapse and non-relapse groups.Conclusions: The observed relapse onset is less than 18 months from diagnosis (very early relapse) during maintenance treatment. However, we found no significant demography, clinical, and laboratory differentiation between relapse and non-relapse groups.
Nitrogen balance for estimating protein requirements in critically ill patients: a literature review
Authors: Harimawan Agustinus I Wayan , Dewi Ni Made Ratih Purnama , Samsarga Gede Wara
Published: February 2022

In critically ill patients, marked protein catabolism is prevalent. Protein demanding for such patients has been based on commending nitrogen balance, in most cases. Due to the stress response, critically ill patients tend to fall into a negative nitrogen balance state. Metabolic changes, particularly in elderly critically ill patients, increase the risk of the worsening nitrogen balance. Some evidence suggested optimal nitrogen balance may not indeed equalize to the best clinical outcome. On the contrary, several studies reported the available nitrogen balance data in establishing new recommendations for the protein required by critically ill patients. There is a hypothesis that adequate protein supplementation utilizing nitrogen balance could be correlated with improved results for patients in intensive care unit (ICU). Therefore, this literature review aims to deliver a brief explanation of whether nitrogen balance can be useful in documenting the effectiveness of nutritional therapy in critical illness or not.
PENERAPAN TEKNOLOGI UNDERWATER AKUSTIK (FISH FINDER) TERHADAP POLA DISTRIBUSI VERTIKAL IKAN DI BAGAN PERAHU DESA PILOWO KABUPATEN PULAU MOROTAI
Authors: Alwi Djainudin , Nurafni Nurafni , Sofiati Titien , Kodobo M. Jihar
Published: February 2022

Penggunaan teknologi akustik bawah air (Underwater Acoustic) khususnya fish finder belum banyak diterapkan terutama oleh nelayan dalam membantu mendeteksi keberadaan ikan. Penggunaan instrumen akustik pada bagan perahu dapat digunakan untuk mengetahui waktu kedatangan ikan pada bagan dan pola distribusi baik secara vertikal. Efektivitas dan intensitas pengoperasian waktu kedatangan ikan pada alat tangkap bagan. Tujuan dari penelitian ini menganalisis pola distribusi vertikal ikan pada areal bagan perahu berdasarkan umur bulan. Penelitian ini dilakukan diperairan  desa Pilowo Kecamatan Morotai Selatan Kabupaten Pulau Morotai pada bulan Januari 2021. Teknik pengambilan data dengan menggunakan metode Eksperimental fishing. Data yang diperoleh di analisis secara deskriptif yang ditampilkan dalam bentuk grafik/gambar. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa penggunaan fish finder pada pengoperasian alat tangkap bagan cukup efektif untuk membantu nelayan dalam mendekteksi gerombolan ikan dikolom perairan. Pola distribusi vertikal ikan dengan menggunakan teknologi fish finder  pada alat tangkap bagan terlihat bervariasi sesuai fase umur bulan, waktu pengamatan, parameter lingkungan  dan kedalaman perairan
TOTAL PLATE NUMBERS TEST (ALT) ON BOILED MACKAREL TUNA (Euthynnus affinis) TO THE DIFFERENT BOILING TIME WITH THE POUR PLATE METHOD
Authors: Mujiyanti Apri , Hasibuan Nirmala Efri , Jaynaythi Bayythi
Published: February 2022

Pindang mackarel tuna/ boiled mackarel tuna (Euthynnus affinis) is a traditional fishery product that contains nutrients in the form of protein, fat, vitamins and minerals needed by the body, but on the other hand it is easy to quality deterioration, this is because it have high protein content with amino acid content. which is used for the metabolism of microorganisms and the production of ammonia. To identify the quality of fish, microbiological testing can be carried out in the laboratory, namely by testing the Total Plate Number (ALT). This test is a quality parameter in fishery products. The method used in the ALT test is the pour plate method with boiling time treatment of 1 hour, 2 hours, and 3 hours. The results of the total microbial analysis of boiled mackarel tuna at 3 hours boiling time obtained ALT value of 0.047 x 103 CFU / gram, this shows that the boiling time will be inversely proportional to the number of microbes contained in boiled mackarel tuna.
The Philosophy of Religion from the Perspective of Indian Religions
Authors: Werner Karel
Published: February 2022

This chapter points out the persisting inadequacy of the definitions and treatments of philosophy of religion in encyclopedias and monographs on the subject, manifested in their predominantly theistic orientation derived from the Judaeo-Christian tradition. Moreover it formulates a comprehensive picture of the tasks facing the subject of philosophy of religion and describes the ways in which Indian religions might enhance its treatment.
Arthur Avalon Among the Orientalists: Sir John Woodroffe and the Re-imaging of the Tantras
Authors: Taylor Kathleen
Published: February 2022

Sir John Woodroffe has been recognized as the pseudonymous orientalist Arthur Avalon, famous for his tantric studies at the beginning of the twentieth century. Best known for ‘The Serpent Power’, the book which introduced kundalinï yoga to the western world, Avalon turned the image of Tantra around from that of a despised magical and orgiastic cult into that of a refined philosophy which greatly enhanced the prestige of Hindu thought.
Introduction
Authors: Jackson Peter , Sjödin Anna-Pya
Published: February 2022

This volume addresses the means and ends of sacrificial speculation by inviting a selected group of specialist in the fields of philosophy, history of religions, and indology to examine philosophical modes of sacrificial speculation — especially in Ancient India and Greece — and consider the commonalities of their historical raison d’être. Scholars have long observed, yet without presenting any transcultural grand theory on the matter, that sacrifice seems to end with (or even continue as) philosophy in both Ancient India and Greece. How are we to understand this important transformation that so profoundly changed the way we think of religion (and philosophy as opposed to religion) today? Some of the complex topics inviting closer examination in this regard are the interiorisation of ritual, ascetism and self-sacrifice, sacrifice and cosmogony, the figure of the philosopher-sage, transformations and technologies of the self, analogical reasoning, the philosophy of ritual, vegetarianism, and metempsychosis. The first section of the volume, “Historical and Comparative Approaches to Ritual Thought in Ancient India and Archaic Greece,” is devoted to changes in religious behaviour and the place of sacrifice in early Indian intellectual history. Instead of searching for origins and closures, the individual contributions rather attempt to map changes, and sometimes to catalogue the complexity in thinking and acting that comes to light in the early Indian material. What becomes clear then, instead of a simple one-way causality between thought and performance, is an ongoing transformation mediated by both intellectual activity and ritual reflexivity. Beginnings and ends in this sense never actually take place as clearly definable moments in time. The precarious act of historical and/or logical comparison can of course not be disregarded in this connection,because the terminology underlying one’s research is always confronted with the general problem of translation. The themes forming the backbone of the book’s midsection, “Ritual Thought in Late Antiquity,” are all grounded in textual sources from Late Antiquity, such as the Corpus Hermeticum, the Nag Hammadi texts, and the letters of Paul. As will become clear, however, they also point in quite different directions, both spatial and temporal, by evoking ancient Egyptian material, ethnographic comparanda and 20th century philosophy. The last section, “Repercussions of Sacrifice in Western Philosophy,” closes the historical circuit by addressing the continuation of sacrificial themes in contemporary continental philosophy.
Ritual Interiorization and Abstract Action
Authors: Cavallin Clemens
Published: February 2022

Clemens Cavallin’s text takes as its point of departure the theme of interiorized ritual and its relation to changes in religious and ritual practices in early India, especially the tendency to shift focus towards the person or human being. He argues that such interiorizations of ritual practice and discourse need to be placed in a larger comparative context that is based on a theoretical model of ritualization and forms of interiorization. Cavallin employs a notion of abstract action, as formulated by Caroline Humphrey and James Laidlaw in their analysis of the Jain puja (1994). He develops a theory of the relationship between the abstraction of meaning (concepts) and of action (ritual acts) as they are connected to the religious principles of sacralization and personification.
The Crisis of Sacrifice
Authors: Jackson Peter
Published: February 2022

The final contribution to the first section also functions as a prelude to the next section. Peter Jackson compares early Greek and Indic examples of a sacrificial ideology. Its dynamics seem to result from these two similar sacrificial institutions, both of which were based on the contract between patrons and ritual specialists. He thereby attempts to emphasize the tension between a civic religiosity, celebrating and seeking to consolidate an existing community, and a sectarian religiosity seeking emancipation from the civic community. The latter mode of religiosity was characterized by voluntary ordeals of initiation and asceticism in a quest for values of a purportedly stable nature (truth, immortality, salvation, and so on).
No End to Sacrifice in Hermetism
Authors: Bull Christian H.
Published: February 2022

In a similar vein to the preceeding chapter, and likewise proceeding from the Corpus Hermeticum, Christian Bull follows a recent scholarly development in the evaluation of the Hermetic treatises as appendages of a real cultic community. Bull insists on rectifying the notion of the Hermetic spiritual and spoken exercises as dismissals of material sacrifice. Unlike the intentions of traditional Graeco-Roman animal sacrifice to increase the prosperity of land and lineage, the concept of material sacrifice in ancient Egypt was distinctly tied to a concept of piety and cosmic order. This notion responds well with the ideals of both Jewish and Hermetic communities in Late Antiquity.
“Pagoda Tree”: Plants and Other Foliate Motifs on Indians Coins through History
Authors: Bhandare Shailendra
Published: February 2022

In this chapter, Shailendra Bhandare examines the way in which the rich symbolism of trees and foliate motives appear on Indian coinage pertaining to two historical periods: ancient India (from c. the fifth century bce to the fifth century ce) and the Islamic period. This, the author argues, demonstrates an interesting continuity in the tradition of representation of Indian flora.
Divine Flora, Divine Love: The Place of Natural Scenery in the Ultimate Vision of Kr̥ṣṇa Bhakti
Authors: Schweig Graham M.
Published: February 2022

The last chapter of the first section investigates the wondrous and sensuous beauty of plants, trees, fruits and flowers in the Rāsa Līlā as described in the Bhāgavata Purāṇa. Graham Schweig explores the role of flora within the experience of devotion (bhakti) as expressed in the Vaiṣṇava narrative celebrating Kr̥ṣṇa, and the interdependent dialectical relationship between natural phenomena and the movements of the bhakta’s or devotee’s heart.
The Bodhi Tree and Other Plants in the Pāli Tipiṭaka
Authors: Comba Antonella Serena
Published: February 2022

In this chapter, Antonella Comba discusses the place of plants in the Pali Tipiṭaka. Although Indian Buddhists came to regard plants and seeds as insentient beings, the respect and love the Buddha felt for living plants was so deep that he did not allow monks to destroy plants, to pick fruits from trees, or to eat living seeds as these could generate new plants. Trees are ubiquitous in Buddhist narratives, and the forest is praised as the most suitable place for an ascetic to let go of any distraction and obtain awakening. Preaching the dhamma, the Buddha used many similes from the vegetable kingdom, because he was speaking to ascetics who like him were living in the forest and had direct experience of the inspiring power of that milieu.
The Herbal Arsenal and Fetid Food: The Power of Plants in Early Tantric Exorcism Rituals
Authors: Slouber Michael
Published: February 2022

This chapter discusses early medieval Bhūta and Bāla Tantras. On the basis of unedited manuscript sources, the author describes the role played by plants in religion and life as seen through the lens of exorcism rituals. Datura, red oleander, mustard seeds, rice, sesame, garlic, fig, Flame of the forest, wood-apple: these and many more formed the basis of tantric exorcisms. Plants were used to attract, feed and repel demons. They were made into incense, oil, and weapons, as well as cakes, mannequins and medicines. Auspicious and noxious qualities of sacred plants and trees were infused into water, milk and cooling ointments, or made into sweet fragrances or foul-smelling fires. In short, the universe of early tantric exorcism ritual was suffused with plants whose powers resonate in contemporary exorcist practice across South Asia.
Rice and Rice Culture: Cultivation and Worship of a Divine Plant in Western Odisha
Authors: Skoda Uwe
Published: February 2022

Uwe Skoda discusses rice culture amongst the Aghrias, a local peasant community in Odisha. The chapter introduces various categories of rice and cultivation techniques, thus demonstrating the extensive agricultural knowledge of Aghria peasants. Furthermore it is shown how rice unites and synchronizes various human and earth cycles in its manifestations as plant, as food, and finally as the goddess Lakṣmī.
Agriculture, Floriculture and Botanical Knowledge in a Middle Bengali Text
Authors: Ferrari Fabrizio
Published: February 2022

The last chapter offers an overview of the botanical lore in Śūnyapurāṇ, a heterogeneous Bengali Śaiva text attributed to Rāmāi Paṇḍit and celebrating the god Dharmarāj, a figure overlapping with local forms of Śiva. In this work, Fabrizio Ferrari analyses the place of flowers in the worship of Dharmarāj, the birth of paddy (dhānyer janma) in the popular tale of the farming (kr̥ṣak) Śiva, and the auspicious song of the husking pedal (ḍheṅkīmaṅgalā), the vehicle of sage Nārada. The chapter naturally links with the preceding study and, by means of its focus on nature and devotion, also brings us full circle to connect with Chapter 1.
Does university choice decision matter for school engagement and student alienation?
Authors: Kasalak Gamze
Published: February 2022

This research examined the impact of students’ decision of university choice on student alienation and school engagement through structural equation modelling. The sample of the study consists of 609 Turkish first-year students from a state university, who were selected by convenience sampling method designed in the correlational design. In the study, it was determined that university students make their choices in accordance with being informed about the university, financial support the university provides, acquaintance, the effect of high school education, job opportunities, cost of education, students already studying at the university and geographical position. The study has revealed that students’ university choice decisions have positive effects: they will be affected by school engagement and the quality of higher education. The highly perceived emotional engagement is the key to shaping university choice decisions. However, student alienation has no effect on university choice decisions. Understanding the impact of school engagement and student alienation on university choice decision in Turkey should benefit other developing nations and the educational community at large.
The functions of NZQA moderation: Academic leaders’ perceptions
Authors: Williams Anna , Johnston Michael B. , Averill Robin
Published: February 2022

In New Zealand, education organisations that internally assess against nationally-set standards must engage in national moderation—such as that conducted by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA)—to quality assure those assessments. How policies are enacted by organisations is influenced by multiple factors and enactment may diverge from intent. One such factor is the people involved in policy work within organisations; however, little research has been done into their perspectives. In this mixed-methods study, we collected perception data from a sample of 215 academic leaders from three organisation types via an online survey. We explored their understandings of the functions of NZQA moderation and differences in views according to organisation type. We found that leaders perceive NZQA moderation to function in the areas of assessment quality, professional learning opportunities, organisational quality assurance and maintaining public confidence. Leaders from different organisation types mostly shared similar views in terms of the functions; however, those from private training enterprises considered NZQA moderation to place stronger emphasis on organisational quality assurance and to hold broader improvement functions than did those from other organisations. These findings are useful for informing the policy work of education organisations (and making better use of the opportunities afforded by moderation) and for NZQA, including to guide suitable framing of moderation communications to enhance alignment between policy intent and policy enactment. Such uses remain relevant in New Zealand’s current climate of educational reform, irrespective of any changes made to NZQA moderation policy.
Negotiating understandings of teaching dispositions within an early childhood initial teacher education community of practice
Authors: Warren Alison , Robinson Lesley , Tuhakaraina Sandra , Dayman Tracy
Published: February 2022

Teacher educators from an early childhood education initial teacher education provider in Aotearoa New Zealand conducted a longitudinal study within a community of practice methodology. The research explored how shared understandings of professional teaching dispositions might be negotiated within intense, nuanced and contextual teaching and learning processes and networks of relationships. Participants were the teacher educators/researchers and a cohort of Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education) student teachers. Discussions within each of these groups showed indistinct and multiple definitions of teaching dispositions. As core, expert members of the community of practice, teacher educators discussed complexities of defining, teaching and assessing dispositions. Student teachers were novices to the community and discussed instrumental understandings of dispositions as shaping teachers and showed awareness of networks of power relations within the community teaching, learning, and assessment processes.
Parents’ perceptions of global citizenship education in rural Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors: Beckwith Victoria
Published: February 2022

This article explores parents’ understanding of global citizenship and their contribution to global citizenship education in Aotearoa New Zealand. This qualitative instrumental case study utilised semi-structured interviews with three parents of children in Year 5 from a rural Aotearoa New Zealand school context. The discussion surrounding global citizenship, and the lack of consensus for its definition, continues but is tempered by arguing that parents demonstrate clarity when identifying the skills required to become a global citizen. The findings revealed that there was a lack of consensus among parents on what it means to be a global citizen and the skills required to be a global citizen. The research also shows that parents hold aspirations for their children to develop relational skills, intercultural awareness and awareness of local and global issues. The development of these skills is actively supported through role modelling, involvement in communities and providing opportunities to gain experience via travel, discussions and sports. The focus of parents’ perceptions of global citizenship education contributes to the emerging debates on global citizenship and global citizenship education, and strongly advocates for the inclusion of parents’ voices.
Factors Associated with Exclusive Breastfeeding of Late Preterm Infants in Neonatal Hospital: Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Prikhodko Evgeniia A. , Belyaeva Irina A. , Kruglyakov Andrey Yu. , Mikheeva Anna A. , Gorev Valeriy V.
Published: February 2022

Background. Breast milk is the optimal nutrition for late preterm babies, but mothers of these babies frequently experience difficulties with breastfeeding associated with lactation onset and establishment.

Objective. The aim of the study is to examine factors associated with successful breastfeeding of late preterm infants in neonatal hospital.

Methods. The retrospective study included medical records of late preterm infants (gestational age of 34–36 weeks) admitted to neonatology department within one calendar year. Maternal and infant factors on exclusive breastfeeding were considered at hospital discharge. Exclusive breastfeeding was defined as absence of any other food or drink, even water, except breast milk (expressed or donor), whereas enteral fluid for rehydration, as well as drops and syrups (vitamins, minerals, medicines) were allowed. Determination of independent predictors was performed via multifactorial binary logistic regression.

Results. 84 (41%) of children received exclusive breastfeeding at hospital discharge, others were on formula or mixed feeding. Multifactorial analysis has shown that gestational age of 36 weeks (compared to 34 weeks, odds ratio (OR) 2.16; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.18–3.98) and breastfeeding onset in 6 first hours of life (OR 2.38; 95% CI 1.19–4.75) were associated with relatively high probability of exclusive breastfeeding at hospital discharge, and twins (OR 0.31; 95% DI 0.15–0.65) — with low probability.

Conclusion. Breastfeeding of late preterm babies with maternal milk (expressed milk included) in the first hours of life positively affects the lactation establishment and the provision of exclusively breast milk to these patients in neonatal hospital. The risk group for early cessation of breastfeeding may include late premature infants with gestational age less than 36 weeks and twins.
International View on Preventive Measures to Combat the Metabolic Syndrome Development in Children
Authors: Shulaev Alexey V. , Shikaleva Anastasia A. , Shavaliev Rafael F. , Albitsky Valery Yu.
Published: February 2022

This review analyzes the published data on preventive measures to combat the metabolic syndrome (MS) development in children. Recent international studies discuss various risks and territorial differentiation in health status of children with MS. Such databases as PubMed, SCOPUS and Web of Science were used for literature review. It consists of 12 sources, all articles were published between 2020 and 2021. This issue is studied very poorly and requires additional clinical research and identification of new aspects of preventive measures to combat the development of MS in children. The discussion of this topics and further study of the modern aspects of preventive measures of this syndrome are crucial for the timely MS diagnosis and implementation of modern prevention methods due to its wide prevalence, high socio-economic significance, and deteriorating quality of life of children with MS and obesity.
Del “grito de independencia” de la macroevolución al “acto independentista”
Authors: Gutiérrez-Díaz Aimer Alonso
Published: February 2022

J. Gould criticó constantemente la concepción de la macroevolución por parte del neodarwinismo, como “reduccionista y trivializadora”. No obstante, esta es la concepción vigente en la actualidad, como se evidencia en la conceptualización del proceso macorevolutivo, como interpolación gradualista de los procesos microevolutivos. Los gritos a favor de la independencia teórica de la macroevolución principalmente esgrimidos por Eldredge y Gould en lo que llamaron, la “maduración ontológica de la biología”, reclamaban reconocer a la organización jerárquica biológica como esquema ontológico y no, como mero concepto descriptivo-epistemológico, fueron ignorados o relegados al interminable debate de la unidad de selección. Quizás, a razón de la ausencia de la identificación de un mecanismo o modo evolutivo convincente y propio de niveles de orden superior al nivel genético. Sin embargo, gracias a los desarrollos de la teoría de selección en múltiples niveles, como el concepto de transiciones evolutivas en individualidad, junto a la teoría simbiogenética de evolución, en el presente trabajo se plantea que una reconceptualización en el seno de dichos desarrollos permitiría avanzar del “grito” al “acto” independentista de la macroevolución. El carácter autónomo o la particularidad del tempo y modo residirían en mecanismos evolutivos verticales como las transiciones en individualidad mediadas por simbiosis persistentes, como las infecciones virales crónicas o por otros agentes simbiogenéticos.
Viewpoint: Ethical By Designer - How to Grow Ethical Designers of Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Vanhée Loïs , Borit Melania
Published: February 2022

Ethical concerns regarding Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology have fueled discussions around the ethics training received by AI designers. We claim that training designers for ethical behaviour, understood as habitual application of ethical principles in any situation, can make a significant difference in the practice of research, development, and application of AI systems. Building on interdisciplinary knowledge and practical experience from computer science, moral psychology and development, and pedagogy, we propose a functional way to provide this training.

This article appears in the special track on AI & Society.
Historical aspects and modern concepts in the treatment of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer, refractory to radioactive iodine therapy
Authors: Borodavina E. V. , Krylov V. V. , Isaev P. A. , Shurinov A. Yu. , Rodichev A. A.
Published: February 2022

Radioiodine therapy for differentiated thyroid cancer has been used for a long time, mainly in patients of intermediate and high risk, as well as in the presence of distant metastases. However, about 30–40 % of patients are refractory to radioiodine therapy, which significantly worsens the prognosis. In patients with radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer, therapy with targeted agents, primarily tyrosine kinase inhibitors, is indicated.

This review addresses the criteria for refractoriness and criteria for prescription of targeted therapy, and presents the results of clinical studies of the targeted agents used. As of today, lenvatinib is the most well-known targeted agent. In particular. In SELECT trial lenvatinib demonstrated efficacy in terms of progression-free survival and overall survival in patients with radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer. As a result, lenvatinib was included in the international and Russian clinical guidelines for the management of this group of patients as a drug of the 1st line of targeted therapy.
Analysis results of surgical treatment and chemoradiotherapy with assessment of prognostic factors in localy advanced laryngeal cancer
Authors: Radzhabova Z. A.‑G. , Kotov M. A. , Girshovich M. M. , Ponomareva O. I. , Kostromina E. V. , Radzhabova M. A. , Mitrofanov A. S. , Klimenko V. V. , Levchenko E. V.
Published: February 2022

The study objective – to analyze the treatment results and prognostic factors of survival in patients with locally advanced laryngeal cancer who received surgical treatment and chemoradiotherapy.

Materials and methods. The retrospective study included patients with locally advanced laryngeal cancer treated at the N. N. Petrov National medical Research Center of Oncology, Ministry of Health of Russia in the period from 2009 to 2018. The patients included in the study were divided into 2 equal groups (74 patients were included in each group) depending of treatment: surgery with postoperative radiation therapy combined with chemotherapy (group 1) and concurrent chemoradiation therapy and subsequent surgical treatment in case of incomplete response to treatment or disease progression (group 2). The endpoints of the study were general and relapse-free survival.

Results. One hundred and forty-eight patients were included in the study: 74 patients in group 1 and 74 patients in the group 2. The median overall survival in the surgical treatment group was 45 months, in the chemoradiotherapy group – 44.6 months, and the overall 5-year survival for the group 1 and the group 2 were 39.3 (95 % confidence interval (CI) 26.1–59.2), and 59.2 % (95 % CI 45.3–77.2), respectively. The relapse-free 5-year survival rate for the surgical treatment group and the chemoradiotherapy group was 36.8 (95 % CI 25.1–53.8), and 53.9 % (95 % CI 40.7–71.4), respectively.

Conclusion. There were no significant differences in overall and relapse-free survival. Metastatic lesion of the neck lymph nodes (N2–3), invasion of laryngeal cartilage, invasion of the thyroid gland and the spread of the tumor to the larynx are statistically significantly associated with lower overall and relapse-free survival.