bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inhibitory Control Training for Anxiety and Math Achievement in Primary School Children: Protocol for a Proof-of-Concept Study
Authors: Edwards Elizabeth , Chu Khanh Linh , Carroll Annemaree
Published: January 2024

Background

Cognitive control training (CCT) has shown potential to reduce emotional vulnerability in adults and adolescents. However, there is scant literature testing the efficacy of CCT for the reduction of anxiety and transferring the effects to educational outcomes in children. Building on the evidence that a greater ability to suppress a prepotent response (inhibitory control) is associated with higher math achievement in children, it is plausible that training inhibitory processes using a CCT paradigm may be beneficial for reducing anxiety, improving inhibitory control, and in turn increasing math achievement.

Objective

This proof-of-concept study aims to investigate the efficacy of 15 sessions of inhibitory control training for reduction in anxiety and improvement in math achievement in primary school children.

Methods

We will use a 2 (group: CCT, adaptive Go/No-Go vs active control, low-load task) multiplied by 4 (time: pre- vs posttraining vs 1-month vs 3-month follow-up) randomized design in a nonselected sample of 100 children aged 8-10 years. Both groups will complete 10 minutes of daily training for 3 weeks at school. The dependent variables will be anxiety and correlates (Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale, Penn State Worry Questionnaire for Children, Revised Children’s Anxiety and Depression Scale, Child Response Style Questionnaire, and Modified Abbreviated Math Anxiety Scale), inhibitory control (Go/No-Go task), shifting (color-shape shifting task), updating (n-back task), and math achievement (Applied Problems, Calculation, and Math Facts Fluency subtests from the Woodcock-Johnson IV Tests of Achievement).

Results

We opened enrollment in September 2023. The initial results are expected to be published in late 2024. We predict that children in the CCT group will show a reduction in emotional symptoms; improvements in inhibition, shifting, and updating performance; and advances in math achievement from pre- to posttraining, and that these effects will be maintained at 1- and 3-month follow-ups, compared to children in the active control group.

Conclusions

The CCT paradigm used in our study will provide a greater understanding of the emotional and cognitive transfer effects on children and inform future work. Specifically, the findings will advance the knowledge of deploying inhibitory control training with children and provide valuable insights into its use for reducing anxiety and advancing math achievement.

Trial Registration

Open Science Framework ofs.io/de2qa; https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/DE2QA

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/52929
Web-Based Group Conversational Intervention on Cognitive Function and Comprehensive Functional Status Among Japanese Older Adults: Protocol for a 6-Month Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)
Authors: Miura Kumi Watanabe , Kudo Takashi , Otake-Matsuura Mihoko
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND

Social communication is a key factor in maintaining cognitive function and contributes to well-being in later life.

OBJECTIVE

This study will examine the effects of “Photo-Integrated Conversation Moderated by Application version 2” (PICMOA-2), which is a web-based conversational intervention, on cognitive performance, frailty, and social and psychological indicators among community-dwelling older adults.

METHODS

This study is a randomized controlled trial with an open-label, 2-parallel group trial and 1:1 allocation design. Community dwellers aged 65 years and older were enrolled in the trial and divided into the intervention and control groups. The intervention group receives the PICMOA-2 program, a web-based group conversation, once every 2 weeks for 6 months. The primary outcome is verbal fluency, including phonemic and semantic fluency. The secondary outcomes are other neuropsychiatric batteries, including the Mini-Mental State Examination, Logical Memory (immediate and delay), verbal paired associates, and comprehensive functional status evaluated by questionnaires, including frailty, social status, and well-being. The effect of the intervention will be examined using a mixed linear model. As a secondary aim, we will test whether the intervention effects vary with the covariates at baseline to examine the effective target attributes.

RESULTS

Recruitment was completed in July 2023. A total of 66 participants were randomly allocated to intervention or control groups. As of January 1, 2024, the intervention is ongoing. Participants are expected to complete the intervention at the end of February 2024, and the postintervention evaluation will be conducted in March 2024.

CONCLUSIONS

This protocol outlines the randomized controlled trial study design evaluating the effect of a 6-month intervention with PICMOA-2. This study will provide evidence on the effectiveness of social interventions on cognitive function and identify effective target images for remote social intervention.

CLINICALTRIAL

UMIN Clinical Trials UMIN000050877; https://tinyurl.com/5eahsy66

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

DERR1-10.2196/56608
Digital Mental Health Interventions for Alleviating Depression and Anxiety During Psychotherapy Waiting Lists: Systematic Review (Preprint)
Authors: Huang Sijia , Wang Yiyue , Li Gen , Hall Brian J , Nyman Thomas J
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND

Depression and anxiety have become increasingly prevalent across the globe. The rising need for treatment and the lack of clinicians has resulted in prolonged waiting times for patients to receive their first session. Responding to this gap, digital mental health interventions (DMHIs) have been found effective in treating depression and anxiety and are potentially promising pretreatments for patients who are awaiting face-to-face psychotherapy. Nevertheless, whether digital interventions effectively alleviate symptoms for patients on waiting lists for face-to-face psychotherapy remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

This review aimed to synthesize the effectiveness of DMHIs for relieving depression and anxiety symptoms of patients on waiting lists for face-to-face therapy. This review also investigated the features, perceived credibility, and usability of DMHIs during waiting times.

METHODS

In this systematic review, we searched PubMed, PsycINFO, Cochrane, and Web of Science for research studies investigating the effectiveness of DMHIs in reducing either depression or anxiety symptoms among individuals waiting for face-to-face psychotherapy. The search was conducted in June 2024, and we have included the studies that met the inclusion criteria and were published before June 6, 2024.

RESULTS

Of the 9267 unique records identified, 8 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the systematic review. Five studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and 3 studies were not. Among the RCTs, we found that digital interventions reduced depression and anxiety symptoms, but the majority of interventions were not more effective compared to the control groups where participants simply waited or received a self-help book. For the non-RCTs, the interventions also reduced symptoms, but without control groups, the interpretation of the findings is limited. Finally, participants in the included studies perceived the digital interventions to be credible and useful, but high dropout rates raised concerns about treatment adherence.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to the lack of effective interventions among the reviewed studies, especially among the RCTs, our results suggest that waiting list DMHIs are not more effective compared to simply waiting or using a self-help book. However, more high-quality RCTs with larger sample sizes are warranted in order to draw a more robust conclusion. Additionally, as this review revealed concerns regarding the high dropout rate in digital interventions, future studies could perhaps adopt more personalized and human-centered functions in interventions to increase user engagement, with the potential to increase treatment adherence and effectiveness.

CLINICALTRIAL
Research on Application of Single Chip Microcomputer in Modern Communication System
Authors: Meng Haoxuan , Liu Yunfei , Cui Xin , Liu Xinqi , Wang Chenyu , Huo Yanzhong
Published: January 2024

The application of single chip microcomputer in modern communication system is deeply studied. Firstly, the main types and characteristics of microcontroller are described in detail, including microcontroller classified according to microprocessor architecture, memory type and use environment. Then, it discusses the main application fields of microcontroller in wireless communication, wired communication and optical communication, and analyzes its practical application in these fields. On this basis, the main challenges and problems encountered in modern communication systems are discussed, such as the complexity of design and production, power consumption, compatibility and expansibility. Finally, the solutions to these challenges and problems are put forward, and the future development trend of single-chip microcomputer in modern communication system is discussed.
Caracterización sedimentológica del sistema lagunar de Mandinga, Veracruz, México
Authors: Rodríguez-Varela Asela Del Carmen , Vázquez-López Horacio , Chávez-López Rafael , Cházaro-Olvera Sergio , Morán-Silva Ángel , Barreto-Segura Omar Alfredo , Cruz-Gómez Adolfo
Published: January 2024

Se realizó una caracterización sedimentológica del sistema lagunar de Mandinga, Veracruz, durante el periodo 2007-2015. Se extrajeron muestras de 20 estaciones donde se obtuvieron en porcentaje las fracciones de arena, lodo, grava y carbono orgánico total. La textura del sedimento se clasifica como arena lodosa con huellas de grava. En general la arena se presentó con un promedio de 63.42%, lodo en promedio con 25.58% y grava con 9.49%. Se presentan niveles de carbono orgánico total bajos en promedio de 1.21%. El sistema costero como la mayoría de estas lagunas muestra una marcada zonación independiente de las mareas. La parte inferior o sur de la laguna de Mandinga, alejada de la boca de comunicación, predomina la fracción gravosa debido a las zonas concheras o de extracción de ostión, así como la parte norte de la laguna La Larga, en la denominada zona del Conchal. La zona media del sistema, por el contrario, predominan los sedimentos lodosos que corresponden a los esteros Horcones, Mandinga, la laguna La Redonda y norte de Mandinga, pero homogéneamente representada, la fracción arenosa es la característica principal del sistema.
¿Cangrejos de tierra?
Authors: Vázquez-López Horacio , Ramírez-Pérez Teresa
Published: January 2024

¿Alguna vez has visitado una laguna costera, un estuario, un bosque de manglar, o tal vez una isla? Si tu respuesta es sí, tal vez hayas tenido la suerte de ver grandes cangrejos caminando lejos del agua. Estos animales son conocidos como cangrejos terrestres, han abandonado el agua para vivir en tierra firme, cerca de la playa, en zonas fangosas, o muy lejos de la línea de costa, incluso, algunas especies viven en terrenos a una altura de mil metros sobre el nivel del mar y a una distancia de varios kilómetros tierra adentro. Una de las primeras características que indican que uno está frente a un cangrejo terrestre, son los llamativos colores que estos presentan, los hay negros con rojo o anaranjado, como en el caso de Gecarcinus ruricola, conocido comúnmente como cangrejo negro o cangrejo zombie, y que habita en islas del Caribe.
Enseñanza de las Ciencias en contexto: reflexiones y ejemplos de Enseñanza de Química con enfoque Química-Tecnología-Sociedad (QTS)
Authors: Lacolla Liliana
Published: January 2024

Los nuevos lineamientos curriculares que llegan a los profesores en activo señalan la necesidad de que planifiquen situaciones escolares en las cuales se intente contextualizar la enseñanza de las ciencias. La puesta en acción de estas sugerencias enfrenta a los docentes con dificultades, ya que durante la trasposición didáctica se ponen en juego no sólo la complejidad de la conceptualización científica de los fenómenos naturales, la fidelidad al currículo y su llevada al aula, sino también las representaciones implícitas que poseen respecto de la ciencia y su enseñanza. En el presente trabajo se detalla el material de apoyo y algunos ejemplos de actividades surgidas de diferentes Talleres de Enseñanza de Química con enfoque QTS (Química-Tecnología-Sociedad) que podrían servir como referencia al docente para intentar la planificación de secuencias didácticas que aborden contenidos científicos desde una postura CTS (Ciencia, Tecnología, Sociedad).
Outcome Predictors of Glasgow Coma Scale Score in Patients with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Sah Nandkishor Prasad
Published: January 2024

Abstract: Background: - The “Glasgow Coma Scale” is routinely used to assess responsiveness and guide early care for individuals with head injury or severe brain impairment. Severely impaired patients may need MRI, hospitalization for observation, or discharge, which is determined based on Glasgow Coma Scale assessments. Purpose: - The study's objective is to evaluate that Glasgow coma scale scores are outcome Methods: - A retrospective study was conducted on 30 patients who visited the outpatient department of Teerthanker Mahaveer Hospital & Research Center, Moradabad. Only TBI patients with a GCS score of 5-8 were included. Patient demographics, physical exams, doctor assessments, medicinal interventions, and health status evaluations were recorded. The study analyzed the correlation between each variable and the GCS score to determine their relationship.
The practice of science and religion integration: Evidence from an Indonesian Islamic school
Authors: Sahil Jailan , Zubaidah Siti , Corebima Aloysius Duran , Gofur Abdul , Saefi Muhammad
Published: January 2024

This paper answers the call for the importance of integrating the Islamic worldview into science classes. This research provides insights into science teachers' experiences of integrating science and Islam, as well as additional surveys to reveal gains in student understanding. This research consists of two stages. Study 1 used phenomenology and focused on the voice of science teachers through focus groups. This research involved five focus groups in five Islamic high schools providing information describing their experiences. Through thematic analysis techniques, several findings were obtained as follows: (1) the concept of integration emphasises more on the balance of compliance between vertical and horizontal; (2) the integration pattern places more emphasis on learning materials; and (3) in terms of benefits, this effort is focused on increasing understanding and followed by study 2 which aims to add to the evidence base by investigating the effect of integration patterns on student understanding. The results showed that there is evidence that the support of an overarching integration pattern contributes to students' understanding of the material. As a recommendation, it is necessary to strengthen integration at all stages of science learning, allowing students to take advantage of discussions in class to develop more relevant abilities.
Enfermedad de Puigvert: un caso raro
Authors: Guerrero Tinoco Gustavo Adolfo , Moreno Maya Diana Paola
Published: January 2024

Introducción: la enfermedad de Puigvert, o megacaliosis, es un trastorno congénito del sistema colector urinario poco frecuente, caracterizado por la dilatación de los calices renales sin dilación del tracto urinario.
Objetivo: el propósito de este artículo es informar el caso de enfermedad de Puigvert o megacaliosis identificada en un lactante menor de tres meses de edad.
Presentación del caso: en este artículo se reporta el caso de un lactante menor con megacaliosis bilateral en quien se realizó el diagnóstico posnatal, a partir de una presunción diagnóstica prenatal de riñón multiquístico.
Discusión y conclusión: esta es una entidad rara con pocos casos reportados a nivel mundial, de curso benigno que representa un factor de riesgo para el desarrollo de complicaciones secundarias, por lo cual es fundamental la identificación temprana, así como el descartar otros diagnósticos diferenciales, entre ellos la dilatación del tracto urinario (DTU), la cual fue sospechada inicialmente en nuestro paciente. En el caso del lactante de este reporte, el diagnóstico temprano pudo realizarse gracias a las pruebas imagenológicas prenatales que permitieron la sospecha diagnóstica de una anormalidad renal con posterior confirmación en la ecografía posnatal; en el seguimiento, el paciente se ha mantenido asintomático sin evidencia de complicaciones.
Gibberellic acid (GA) role in acetyl-coA carboxylase enzyme regulation and in improving oil palm yield
Authors: Kresnawaty Irma , Santoso Djoko , Permatasari Galuh Wening , Hudiyono Sumi
Published: January 2024

Seaweed specifically, Sargassum sp. is known to contains a boosting hormone growth that has been promoted plant growth and yield due to the containing of auxin, gibberelic acid (GA) and cytokinine, and also some amino acids especially glutamic acid. Those composition could be used as an booster of palm oil production which related to acetyl co-A carboxylase activity (ACC). ACC is the rate determination step in fatty acid accumulation, and becomes active through dephosphorylation of some serine residues that induced by magnesium and glutamate. Moreover, ACC was regulated by AtWRI1 and AtWRI1-TCP4 interaction, a mechanism that allow fine-tuning of the oil biosynthetic pathway. In this research we conducted gene expression experiments, and molecular docking analyses to study the possible mechanism of seaweed composition  stimulating oil  accumulation  in the    oil palm. Further  analysis  was  conducted  to  ensure whether the interaction between TCP4 and candidate inhibitors were able to phosphorylate TCP4 and decrease its activity. GA application resulted in the increase of oil accumulation in 1 month after application, although in the second month the oil accumulation showed decreasing. Increase of oil accumulation in the first month in line with the increase of the expression of ACC in 3rd and 5th weeks. Meanwhile, TCP4 showed decrease expression that resulted in the increase of the WRI1 in 5th week. From this result, it was indicated that GA application could block the TCP4, so it could not interact with WRI1, resulted in the expression of WRI1 and ACC. This interaction stimulates the oil accumulation in oil palm.
A complete and operational resource theory of measurement sharpness
Authors: Buscemi Francesco , Kobayashi Kodai , Minagawa Shintaro
Published: January 2024

We construct a resource theory of sharpness for finite-dimensional positive operator-valued measures (POVMs), where the sharpness−non−increasing operations are given by quantum preprocessing channels and convex mixtures with POVMs whose elements are all proportional to the identity operator. As required for a sound resource theory of sharpness, we show that our theory has maximal (i.e., sharp) elements, which are all equivalent, and coincide with the set of POVMs that admit a repeatable measurement. Among the maximal elements, conventional non-degenerate observables are characterized as the canonical ones. More generally, we quantify sharpness in terms of a class of monotones, expressed as the EPR–Ozawa correlations between the given POVM and an arbitrary reference POVM. We show that one POVM can be transformed into another by means of a sharpness-non-increasing operation if and only if the former is sharper than the latter with respect to all monotones. Thus, our resource theory of sharpness is complete, in the sense that the comparison of all monotones provides a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a sharpness-non-increasing operation between two POVMs, and operational, in the sense that all monotones are in principle experimentally accessible.
Clay Therapy in Wound Healing: A Brief Review of the Literature
Authors: Ovincy Cene , Babel Shrinit , Baral Suman , Poudel Shasi , Jain Surbhi
Published: January 2024

Clay is ubiquitous, and its hydrous phyllosilicate properties have promoted its use as a traditional wound healing agent in many cultures. Various types of natural clay have been utilized for skin diseases and wound treatments. Therefore, we aimed to study natural and synthetic clay minerals and summarize their applicability in medical settings. A review of prospective studies published since 2008 examining the properties of different forms of natural clay minerals and their therapeutic benefits in wound care was conducted. Studies were obtained using the databases of Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and HINARI (Health Inter-Network Access to Research Initiative) and searching related journals. The primary outcomes were assessed qualitatively and were categorized by the type of natural clay used. The included papers studied five available types of clay: Chamliyal clay, French green clay, Oregon Mineral Technologies blue clay, Kisameet clay, and various synthetic clays. The studies found how these forms of clay together demonstrate anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties while promoting fibroblast regeneration and circulation while remaining biocompatible. Clay-based materials may be a potential alternative for conventional dressings for wound healing in resource-limited settings. This review opens doors to expanding clay-based therapies for wound healing.
Review of the conference book Corporate governance: An interdisciplinary outlook
Authors: Dayan Volkan
Published: January 2024

This review covers the conference book titled “Corporate governance: An interdisciplinary outlook”, edited by Erik Karger and Alexander Kostyuk (Virtus Interpress, 2023; ISBN: 978-617-7309-22-1). The issue of corporate governance is becoming more important every day, both in business and in academic research. It has also evolved with the growth of sustainability studies. The international online conference Corporate Governance: An Interdisciplinary Outlook, held online on November 24, 2022, was a platform for sharing ideas on new trends that are currently shaping the concept of modern corporate governance. So, this book presents views on corporate governance from four different angles.
Paisaje Musical Cafetero
Authors: Orozco Giraldo Consuelo , Bonilla Rojas Kathya Ximena , Gallego Ramírez Juan Humberto
Published: January 2024

En un mundo globalizado que cambia a la velocidad del vértigo y en una sociedad cada vez más paradójica, olvidar nuestros orígenes y cultura resulta cada vez más fácil. Recuperar nuestra memoria cultural y raíces musicales resulta inaplazable para no caer en el olvido. Comprender quiénes somos y de dónde venimos, en este caso en términos musicales, ofrece a las nuevas generaciones elementos esenciales para conectar pasado, presente y futuro, alargando la vida de la música tradicional en su memoria. En ese sentido, el presente libro da cuenta del proceso musical desde sus orígenes hasta la actualidad del denominado Paisaje Musical Cafetero. Así mismo, del impacto y trascendencia en el desarrollo musical y educativo, configurando un territorio con características propias, que se proyecta a nivel nacional e internacional por su riqueza cultural y ambiental.
A Conceptual Framework for Designing Hologram-Based Education Systems
Authors:   Department of Computer Science Faculty of Science Imo State University, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria., Olebara Comfort Chinaza
Published: January 2024

The use of computer and associated network to provide learning through virtual learning systems have become a means of supplementing the existing traditional teaching method. This innovation, when enhanced through inclusion of hardware objects with capability of interactivity, will further improve learning outcomes and generally improve the quality of education. A Conceptual Framework for the development of Holograms as teaching aid is proposed. A study of various researches and frameworks that target the quality of education was carried out. This work adopted the Tikly Quality Education Framework and based its framework on the ICT sub system of (Tikly, 2011). The Conceptual Framework will provide a blueprint for the processes of a Hologram-Based teaching system which starts with requirement gathering, design, development, with subsystems for tools, techniques and technologies as well as stake holders and human resources. Keywords: SDG 4, Quality Education, IDP, Holography, Virtual Reality, augmented reality, Internal Displacement, Optics waves. CISDI Journal Reference Format Olebara, C.C. (2020): A Conceptual Framework for Designing Hologram-Based Education Systems. Computing, Information Systems, Development Informatics & Allied Research Journal. Vol 11 No 2, Pp 194-199. Available online at https://www.isteams.net/cisdijournal. dx.doi.org/10.22624/AIMS/CISDI/V11N2P12
The Jeju Massacre, National Allegory and Cultural Revolution in Kim Sok Pom’s Karasu no Shi (1957)
Authors: FOXWORTH Elise
Published: January 2024

What can a spy story tell us about the effects of neo-colonial nation building on diasporic subjectivity? Kim Sok Pom’s 1957 Karasu no Shi [The Death of the Crow] illustrates the lived experience of postcolonial subjectivity in a contested site overrun by competing imperial powers. The novel focusses on the 1948 uprising on Jeju Island, the subsequent division of the Korean peninsula, exile and diasporic identity. It confronts official accounts of Korea’s post-war past and turns a forgotten history into cultural memory, a central task of national allegory; indeed, the article champions an allegorical reading of Karasu no Shi, despite divergent views outlined herein. In Kim’s text, principal characters are situated allegorically on the Korean stage after Japan’s defeat; they personify varying cultural and political attachments or paradigms. Each exists in a state of profound overlap, with the spy as the linchpin. The spy’s divided state of being resonates allegorically with the experiences of zainichi Koreans in early post-war Japan. Saturated with personal and political meaning, the novel contributes to the fabric of zainichi Korean history with threads that tie to the story of a continuing underclass and disrupts enduring notions of a homogenous Japan. Kim ultimately articulates possibilities for survival.
The Lost ‘Boku’ in Post-Disaster Literature：Haruki Murakami’s “Super-Frog Saves Tokyo”
Authors: HAYASHI Keisuke
Published: January 2024

This paper examines the shift in the first-person narrator from the ‘boku’ to the ‘watashi’ in Haruki Murakami’s short story “Kaeru-kun, Tokyo wo sukuu” [“Super-Frog Saves Tokyo”], a shift that characterizes his work. In this way it aims to clarify the meaning of the post-disaster world in Murakami’s work.
This short story consists of a dialogue between the ‘boku’ and the ‘watashi’, and describes the process of the ‘watashi’ taking on the mystery of the ‘boku’, who calls himself “the un-me”. The ‘boku’ is a giant frog in the imaginary world, and the ‘watashi’ refers to the protagonist, Katagiri, an “ordinary person” in the real world. The frog’s ‘boku’ is transformed into countless insects after a battle with a “gigantic worm” called Mimizu-kun, who wants to destroy Tokyo.
The story of the ‘boku’, or the lost frog, is told by the ‘watashi’ Katagiri who survived the battle between the frog and the worm, and is now in the post-disaster world. Murakami’s work has found a point of view from which to retell the story of the ‘boku’ based on the perspective of the ‘watashi’, that is, the point of view in which the ‘watashi’ is rendered animal-like, like the frog and the worm.
Performance for Community Building：The Japanese Diaspora’s Cultural Activities in Early Twentieth Century Seattle
Authors: KAMINISHI Yuta
Published: January 2024

As the number of immigrants from Japan increased in early twentieth century Seattle, Japanese diasporic communities developed their cultural activities such as publishing newspapers, forming literary groups, and running fundraising events. Recent research of Japanese-language literature is expanding its scope to these cultural fields of diasporic communities and deepening our understanding of the role of cultural infrastructure amid the constant transformation of communities in flux. To contribute to delineating these diverse cultural histories, this article examines an amateur performance by literary group members (bunshigeki), which was a fundraiser for their public library project, as an example of community building through collective creation. In order to do so, this article excavates Japanese-language newspapers and weeklies available in the Hoji Shinbun Digital Archive along with special collections at the University of Washington. Literary group members’ voices in Japanese-language print media express that their engagement with amateur performance was public commitment to community building. Contextualizing their practices in the history of Japantown in Seattle, this article highlights the way in which people’s participation in cultural activities was a public engagement that would create new infrastructure for unstable diasporic communities.
Report on Participation in the 11th East Asia and Contemporary Japanese-Language Literature Forum
Authors: YOSHIDA Eri
Published: January 2024

This year’s conference was held in Denpasar, Bali, after three years of online conferences since COVID-19 emerged in 2020. It was a precious and wonderful experience for researchers from various regions to gather together. The joy of sharing various research results and of further developing awareness of issues through discussions was great, and new encounters took place as we deepened our friendships over Balinese cuisine at the banquet. The special theme of this year’s conference was “Glocal Culture in Modern Asia and Intersectionality: Representation, Conflict, and Symbiosis,” which was based on the 8th conference’s theme of “Glocal Culture in Modern Asia: Identity, History, and Transformation,” with the key concept of “intersectionality” newly assimilated into that theme. Listening to the stimulating presentations on a wide range of research subjects and from a broad range of regions, I was reminded that the concept of “intersectionality” is necessary in order to theorize individual experience as a complex nexus of power and resistance, a phenomenon that cannot be captured by one-sided views or simple oppositional schemes. It was a meaningful conference, and I left with many homework assignments and perspectives to assimilate in order to further my own research.
Just as I Please
Authors: TARUMI Chie
Published: January 2024

Due to reasons such as the COVID-19 pandemic, I haven’t been able to visit Taiwan for nearly four years. Last week, albeit for a short duration, I finally visited Taipei for the first time in four years and reconnected with old friends after a long absence. I also met Mr. Lu Fangxiong, the second son of Lu Heruo, who was a representative Japanese writer in pre-war Taiwan. Mr. Fangxiong provided me with a wealth of valuable materials for the writing and publication of my book. Because Lu Heruo passed away as a result of the White Terror, his bereaved family went through great hardships in the post-war period. Naturally, the family was extremely cautious regarding the publication of the diaries that Lu Heruo left behind. It was Mr. Fangxiong who took the initial step toward their publication by providing copies to several researchers. Subsequently, Mr. Fangxiong has continued to contribute to the advancement of Lu Heruo studies by publishing memoirs on various occasions and by appearing in documentary programs to share his insights. He has been making efforts to reconstruct the post-war journey of the Lu family and of Mr. Fangxiong himself, which must have been a challenging undertaking. One of important facets of Lu Heruo’s work was the depiction of the family histories of the Taiwanese people, and similarly, Mr. Fangxiong is also portraying his own family’s history in a unique manner. In fact, the title of this humble piece, ‘Just as I Please’, is borrowed from an essay title contributed by Lu Heruo in the inaugural issue of the journal “Taiwan Literature” in May 1941. I hope that this journal will leave a mark on the history of Japanese literary research, akin to the impact of what is regarded as “the iconic monument in Taiwanese literature, the journal ‘Taiwan Literature’”.
When I was preparing “Study of the Japanese Novel in the Late Period of Japanese Empire”
Authors: HOTEI Toshihiro
Published: January 2024

Attended graduate school during the day, and taught at a language school at night, while working on my master’s thesis.
Analysis of New Trends In the Field of Japanese Cultural Content Research in China
Authors: GUO Lianyou
Published: January 2024

In China, research on Japanese popular culture (including cultural content) began growing gradually in the 1980s and it increased significantly from 2007. It peaked in 2010, declined in 2011 and 2012, and reached its second peak in 2016. It has been gradually declining since then, partly due to the coronavirus pandemic, leading to the current situation.
This paper uses the academic resources of China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), a comprehensive Chinese academic information database, as well as quantitative analysis visualization software called “cite space”, to perform knowledge mapping (visualization graphs), which involves using computational methods such as keyword clusters. Knowledge mapping is performed to analyze the chronological changes in Japanese popular culture research in China, issues researchers are interested in, current research topics, the distribution of research content, and future research trends.
Today, it has become increasingly difficult to assimilate all of the intellectual achievements related to Japanese cultural research which has exploded in China in a short period of time. It is hoped that research tools such as big data and quantitative analysis visualization software will facilitate cross-cultural intellectual and cultural exchange more quickly and smoothly in the future.
Green synthesis, characterization of gold nanoparticles using Gundelia tournefortii leaf extract, and its cytotoxic activities
Authors: Alkaabi Zaid K.
Published: January 2024

The present study focused on the environmentally friendly preparation, characterization, and certain biological activities of gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) made with the Gundelia tournefortii (kenger) leaf extract. The results from devices such as transmission electron microscope, energy-dispersive x-ray spectrophotometer, and Fourier scanning electron microscope reveal the structures of nanoparticles. After an hour, the greatest surface plasmon resonance was discovered at 532.15 nm. The mean cubic crystallite size was calculated using the powder x-ray diffraction model and was found to be 23.53 nm. It was noted that the produced Au-NPs had spherical forms and hexagonal dimensions and ranged in size from 5 to 40 nm. The minimum inhibitory concentration and a colorimetric method for determining cell metabolic activity test, respectively, were used to investigate the suppressive effects of Au-NPs on the growth of pathogenic bacteria and healthy and cancer cell lines.
Role of Tumor Suppressor P53 Family in Glucose Metabolism in Association with Diabetes
Authors: Darawadi Bhuvana
Published: January 2024

Subsequent manuscripts have shown that p53, a 391 amino acid protein, was associated with tumour suppression by inducing cell cycle arrest, senescence, or programmed cell death, and mainly focused on oncology. But recent studies are proclaiming that the p53 family of genes is also associated with regulating the balance of the glucose uptake via the many glucose transporters by directly repressing the expression of the GLUT1 & GLUT4, use of glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. The p53 regulates phenotypes of diabetes as it is interjecting in many points in regulating the pancreatic function and apoptosis, dysregulation of the beta cells, and developing insulin resistance. In the context of pancreatic beta cells, which are functioning for insulin secretion, it is regulated by the p53 by multiple signalling pathways. Endoplasmic stress results in the accumulation of the p53 that interacts with PARK2 (parkin), leading to insulin deficiency. Additionally, several proteins (N-terminal truncated isoforms of p53, factor TCFL2, the microRNA miR 200) regulate the p53 pathway, which can also regulate its ability to mediate pancreatic beta cell death. While in glucose haemostasis, wild-type p53 negatively and mutant p53 positively regulate glucose transporters and glucose importers. P21/CDKNIA plays an important role in developing insulin resistance as the p53-mediated senescence of adipose tissue marks it. Also, excessive O-GLcynated p53 inhibits the insulin signalling pathway from acting on the liver, generating insulin resistance. Here, we present a literature review on the role of p53 in metabolism, diabetes, pancreatic function, glucose homeostasis, and insulin resistance. Interestingly, mutations in the p53 gene were shown to occur at different phases of the multistep process of malignant transformation.
Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress: Unfolding the Impact on Cellular Environment, Anaerobic Respiration, Tumor Activity and the PreGlucolipotoxicity Stage
Authors: Akl Maher Monir
Published: January 2024

This letter explores the intricate relationship between endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and its effects on cellular environment, specifically focusing on anaerobic respiration and its role in tumor activity and the pre-glucolipotoxicity stage. ER stress disrupts protein homeostasis, leading to the accumulation of misfolded proteins within the ER
Semaglutide, a GLP-1 Agonist Like 'Ozempic' and its Potential Role as a Preventive Anti-Cancer Agent
Authors: Akl Maher Monir
Published: January 2024

This research note explores the potential of Semaglutide, a GLP-1 agonist similar to Ozempic, as a preventive anti-cancer agent. It discusses shared pathophysiological features between cancer and diabetes, including insulin resistance, inflammation, oxidative stress, and adipokine imbalance. The note highlights GLP-1's role in diabetes prevention, its mechanisms, and ongoing research. It also touches upon the promising relationship between GLP-1 receptor agonists and cancer treatment, focusing on their impact on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis regulation. Finally, it emphasizes the importance of establishing optimal dosages for GLP-1 agonists and their potential to address both diabetes and cancer prevention.
The Mingled Allies-Combined Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Bajaj Anubha
Published: January 2024

Combined hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma is an exceptionally discerned, primary malignant neoplasm incriminating the hepatic parenchyma. Neoplasm categorically exhibits an amalgamation of dual hepatocellular and biliary differentiation within a singular neoplasm. Notwithstanding, collision tumours do not configure as combined lesions
Musculoskeletal Characteristics among Diabetic and NonDiabetic Patients Attended at Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralyzed (CRP)
Authors: Afridi Shahid
Published: January 2024

Objectives: This study was aimed to find out the musculoskeletal characteristics, behavioral risk factors and association of the musculoskeletal characteristics of diabetic and non-diabetic population. Methods: A descriptive type of cross sectional study of 230 participants was conducted where 68 participants were diabetic and 162 were non-diabetic. The sample was selected by using convenient sampling technique. Data was collected from the participants through face to face interview The structured questionnaire was made using Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ). Results: The study result shows that, among diabetic and non-diabetic participants 57.4% and 56.2% were female and highest number of participants, 26.5% diabetic and 27.2% non-diabetic participants correspondingly were in the age range of 31-40 and 41-50 years. Nearly half of the population 44.1% and 43.8% were housewife in occupation. The majority of diabetic and non-diabetic participants suffered musculoskeletal pain in shoulder 18.80% and 13.60%, lower back 46.40% and 54.60%, and knee 44.90% and 24.10%. Only few participants, 29.9% diabetic and 27.2% non-diabetic patient has experienced paresthesia or numbness. It was found that 38.85% diabetic and 28.50% non-diabetic patients had muscle weakness and the majority of participants, 83.60% and 78.50% patients were facing difficulties during movement. Only a few diabetic and non-diabetic participants experienced swelling 2.9% and 2.5%, joint stiffness 4.4% diabetic and also 2.5% and muscle wasting 1.5% and 1.2%. Conclusion: Musculoskeletal conditions affect diabetes and non-diabetic people and cause pain, discomfort, and dysfunction. This effect also has an impact on the patient's quality of life. A multidisciplinary team strategy should be employed to treat the musculoskeletal issue of diabetic patients while also raising the standard of care for these patients
Prevalence of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) Like Symptoms in the General Practice of an Obstetrics and Gynecological Office on the Island of Tobago: A Retrospective Chart Analysis
Authors: Talbott Evelyn O.
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrinopathies found in reproductive age women. It is characterized by anovulatory infertility, menstrual dysfunction, and hirsutism. It is thought to be associated with an increased risk of metabolic aberrations, including insulin resistance, hyperinsulinism and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Due to the racial disparities associated with insulin resistance and T2D, we hypothesized that the prevalence of PCOS like symptoms would be increased on the island of Tobago where women were predominantly of Afro-Caribbean descent. Study Design: A retrospective chart review of 1000 women seen in an obstetrics and gynecological office over a 7-year period was conducted. Inclusion criteria included race, body mass index (BMI)<50, and no diagnosis of a co-morbid endocrinopathy. Of the 1000 women, 884 Afro-Caribbean women were included in the analysis. PCOS diagnosis was made based on clinical signs and symptoms verified on ultrasound. The diagnosis was considered if a patient presented with ≥2 of the following signs and symptoms: infertility after >1yr of unprotected sex; irregular menses with periods >35 d, <21 d or <6/yr; overweight/ obese (BMI>25); hirsutism; and acne. Results: Within the study population, 15.7% of participants had irregular menses, 9.2% had infertility, 4.0% had hirsutism and 0.4% developed acne. The prevalence of PCOS based on clinical diagnoses and ultrasonographic evidence was 19.7%. No statistical difference (p<0.05) was found between the two groups with regards to BMI, age and parity. When stratified by age, differences in infertility were found in the 20-24 and 35-39 year old age groups with rates at 10.5 v 18.9% and 15.4 v. 30.2%, respectively. The incidence of irregular menses also differed among age groups, with PCOS patients reporting significantly higher percentages between 30-50%. Conclusion: PCOS appears to be a common disorder on the island of Tobago with a prevalence of 19.7%. This prevalence is higher than in North American studies but is in line with data excluding biochemical analysis. As PCOS is a heterogeneous disorder with diverse phenotypes and probable ethno-genetic variations, the next step would be to further characterize the characteristics of PCOS in the Tobago population. This includes obtaining a full battery of biochemical profiles of women diagnosed with PCOS-like symptoms and the consideration of gene environment interactions including exposure to endocrine disruptors thought to be involved in the etiology of PCOS.
Isolated Hepatosplenic Sarcoidosis- An Unusual Presentation
Authors: B Parimita
Published: January 2024

Sarcoidosis is a rare autoimmune condition with appearance of non-caseating granulomas in multiple sites most commonly involving pulmonary sites and hilar lymph nodes. Females are more commonly affected than males with peak age of diagnosis between 20 to 40 years. Hepatic Sarcoidosis occurs in 11% to 80% of cases and is mostly asymptomatic. Symptoms include jaundice, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue, pruritus, fever, arthralgias and hepatosplenomegaly. Herein, we report an unusual case of isolated hepatosplenic sarcoidosis encounterd in our routine practice.
Snake Venom as a Drug of Abuse: A Complex Web of History, Current Trends, Global Aspects, and Legal Provisions
Authors: Parmar Pragnesh
Published: January 2024

The use of snake venom as a drug of abuse is a surprise trend of substance abuse that has intrigued scientists, law enforcement agencies, and public health officials alike. While most people associate snake venom with the deadly consequences of snakebites, a small but alarming subgroup has been exploiting the potent toxins found in snake venom for recreational and illicit purposes. In India, snake venom abuse is gradually increasing which required prompt actions now to prevent future increasing trend. Various route of exposure like injection, eye drops, oral consumption, etc. are gaining popularity among youth. This article delves into the intriguing history, current trends, global aspects, and legal provisions surrounding the use of snake venom as a drug of abuse, shedding light on a topic that often remains hidden in the shadows.
Being a Woman and a Mother in English Prisons
Authors: Karamalidou Anastasia
Published: January 2024

A sizeable proportion of women prisoners (66%) in England and Wales is a single parent to a child under 16 and a recent estimate places the yearly number of children separated from their mothers due to the latter’s imprisonment to 17,500. Pregnancy and motherhood are key milestones in a woman’s life that impact both the mother and her offspring as early as from the time the baby is in the womb. This is a recognition that does not seem to persuasively extend to female prisoners who are pregnant or mothers at the time of their sentencing to prison and during their imprisonment in England and Wales. This warrants attention not just from those responsible for female imprisonment but from other policy spheres, considering that the children of female prisoners are much more likely to not be in education, in training or employment compared to the children afflicted by paternal imprisonment. Against this background, this mini review offers a snapshot of the treatment of female prisoners who are pregnant and/or mothers and reflects on the implications of failing to protect pregnancy and motherhood in prison with reference to the female prisoner’s social reintegration prospects and her child’s potential in life.
Contribution of a Three-Phase 99m Tc-HMDP Bone Scintigraphy Protocol Completed by SPECT-CT Scan in the Diagnosis and Management of Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis of Bones in an Adolescent
Authors: F Fokoué
Published: January 2024

Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (LCH) or Histiocytosis X is a rare disorder of the reticuloendothelial system due to the accumulation of Langerhans cells in the tissues, most often organized into granulomas. The bone is the most affected organ. It can be a single osteolytic lesion or a multi-systemic form with organ dysfunction. We report herein the case of a 15-yearold adolescent male with bone pain in the hip evolving for two months in whom the diagnosis of unifocal bone langerhansian Histiocytosis was confirmed by a triple phase bone scintigraphy supplemented by SPECT CT objectifying a single focus of the disease at the greater left trochanter of the femoral bone without any other pathological bone fixation clearly identifiable on the other parts of the skeleton. This clinical case allows us to clarify the key role of a triple phase bone scan supplemented by SPECT CT in the diagnosis and management of Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis of bone in our context.