bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CIVIC VS ETHNOCULTURAL EDUCATION IN RUSSIA: STUDENTS’ OPINION
Authors: Zykina Olga A.
Published: October 2024

The article presents a discussion on the combination of civic and ethnocultural elements in the educational process, based on the opinions of students about the knowledge acquired. Mass surveys were conducted in April–May 2024 among students in Moscow and in the Yaroslavl and Tyumen regions, and among students in grades 9–11 in Gorokhovets, a small town in the Vladimir region. The study yielded a ranking of the most significant subjects in students’ understanding, pertaining to the study of the Russian state. The subjects occupying the top positions on this ranking are the history of Russia and the Russian language. Lessons and topics of ethnocultural profile are perceived as being less important than all civic subjects, with the exception of the history of the native land. The vast majority of respondents consider their knowledge of both the country as a whole and the peoples of Russia sufficient. At the same time, the proportion of respondents who expressed dissatisfaction with their knowledge was approximately equal regarding both civic and ethnocultural education in each region. In Moscow and Tyumen, approximately 15% of respondents indicated that they lacked sufficient knowledge, while in Yaroslavl and Gorokhovets, this figure was 1.5–2 times lower. Therefore, at the moment, the civic-ethnocultural balance in educational programs has been largely maintained. However, in the context of an external conflict and the implementation of reforms, the equilibrium will soon be disrupted and shift in favor of ethnocultural education, albeit at the expense of knowledge about modern Russian society. Students’ judgments regarding the results of their studies in socio-humanitarian subjects provide valuable insights into the key challenges facing civic and ethnocultural education. These judgments are of significant interest to experts and can be taken into account in the preparation of curricula and programs.
THE STUDENTS’ VALUES AND EVERYDAY LIFE
IN A BASHKIR BOARDING HIGH SCHOOL
Authors: Ryazanova Elvina F. 
Published: October 2024

The article is devoted to the everyday life of Bashkir schoolchildren and focuses on the case of the Rami Garipov Bashkir Republican Gymnasium (Boarding School) No 1. The research aimed to study the free time of high school students in a boarding school setting, and to ascertain their attitudes towards literature, theater, their contemporaries and historical figures. In general, students of boarding schools, on the one hand, have the autonomy to plan their free time, but on the other hand, their choices are constrained by the rigidity of schedule and the necessity for discipline. It is of great importance, from both a practical and a scientific standpoint, to elucidate the part played by the school and the teachers in influencing the student’s hobbies and interests. Moreover, the skills and interests that are acquired during the high school years will have an impact on the future life planning of the younger generation and their choice of strategic model of behavior in society. The study analyzed the daily routine of students and revealed that they can only choose additional activities from those offered by the school. It was also found that high school students enjoy visiting theaters, prefer motivating literature by foreign authors, read little in the Bashkir language and have not yet decided on contemporaries who can be opinion leaders for them.
School Education among the Roma in Russia
Authors: Demeter Nadezhda G. 
Published: October 2024

The Roma people face numerous challenges, including difficult relations with the authorities and the police, mass evictions from their homes, a lack of basic amenities such as electricity, gas, water, schools and transport in settlements where Roma communities are concentrated, and pervasive negative stereotypes and media coverage of Roma issues. However, the most pressing problem is the low level of education among the majority of Roma. In our opinion, this was facilitated by the lack of their own territory and statehood, their small number (according to official data), as well as the concerns of the Roma themselves whether they will remain Roma after receiving an education. It is frequently asserted that the Roma are themselves to blame, as they isolate themselves from the mainstream society, do not want to live according to the laws of the country, do not work, do not pay taxes, etc. But the situation is in fact more complicated than it seems. In recent years, the problem has begun to gain greater attention and visibility. It becomes evident that the resolution of the educational challenges will inevitably lead to the resolution of the other pressing issues confronting the Roma. The subject matter addressed in this article is of significant importance for the future of the Roma. It is therefore essential to undertake a comprehensive examination of the situation.
Mentor and Mentoring:
Meanings and Interpretations
(The Case of the Cities of the Kola Peninsula)
Authors: Zmeeva Olga V.  , Zmeeva Olga V. 
Published: October 2024

Like other forms of cultural continuity, mentoring is associated with national traditions and socio-cultural stratification of society. Mentoring can be identified both as a phenomenon of national culture and as a way of transferring knowledge and experience in specific cases. Mentoring (“nastavnichestvo”) is conceptualized within a certain ideology and national cultural code. It can be reflected through various associations from cultural and historical to individual and biographical. Accordingly, the requirements imposed on the mentor by society and on the “mentees” vary. In the most general sense, “mentoring” is not an activity, but a cultural mission. Direct, indirect and metaphysical forms of mentoring can be distinguished. A field study conducted in 2023 identified variations in how mentoring is interpreted and the role that people assign to mentors in their lives. It showed that “mentoring” as a cultural concept and a set of social practices without clear boundaries not only determines the vectors, forms and quality of general cultural and professional continuity, but, above all, creates a specific dynamic network of relationships between an individual and “significant others”. They can be permanent guides along the path of life or temporary assistants at certain stages of self-determination and entry into the profession, as well as in difficult situations. The tyЫpes of mentoring relationships and the mentors themselves are formed according to semantic differences. Mentoring is a set of socio-cultural roles performed in relation to an individual and by an individual at different stages of life.
NATIVE LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL IDENTITY OF MOLDAVANS IN BELARUS
Authors: Kvilinkova Elizaveta N. 
Published: October 2024

In this article, based on the author’s field materials collected in 2020–2023, one of the ethnic groups living in Belarus — the Moldovans — is studied for the first time in ethnological science. The role of the native/ethnic language among the members of the diaspora is considered as a means of communication, a mechanism for transmitting national culture in the host country and as a marker of ethno-cultural identity. The author identified the factors that contribute to the preservation or loss of the mother tongue by the members of the diaspora. The research was conducted at the interface of ethnology, ethnosociology and cultural anthropology. Based on data from an ethnosociological survey, it is shown that among Moldovans who settled in Belarus during the Soviet period, the Moldovan language is associated with the heritage of their ancestors, while for some Moldovans of the post-Soviet period it is the “language of the motherland”, “the language of culture”. For Russian-speaking Moldovans, the ethnic language is an emotionally charged collective value that gives a sense of belonging to their ethno-cultural community. It is concluded that the diminishing role of their mother tongue in ethnic self-identification and its loss by the second generation indicate a process of natural assimilation that is rapidly taking place among Moldovans in Belarus.
COMMON ANCESTORS OF TURKIC-SPEAKING PEOPLES: GENETIC ASPECTS
Authors: Spitsyna Nailya Kh. , Balinova Natalia V. 
Published: October 2024

Centuries of migration contributed to the spread of Turkic-speaking peoples over vast areas — from Siberia, through Central Asia, to Eastern Europe and the Middle East. The genetic structure of the populations of the Altai-Sayan Plateau, the Yakuts (Sakha), the Siberian Tatars, the peoples of the Volga-Urals, the North Caucasus and the Gagauz of Moldova was formed as a result of systematic and random evolutionary factors. A pronounced gradient in the frequencies of Mongoloid and Caucasoid alleles is observed in Turkic-speaking populations. Studies on the polymorphism of genetic and biochemical markers, mtDNA and Y chromosome have revealed the anthropogenetic heterogeneity of Turkic groups. The northeastern Turkic groups were found to have pronounced markers of the North Asian component, and the southwestern groups represent the southern Caucasoid anthropological complex. Analysis of full genome data on high-density genotypes identified the dates of admixture as the 9th–17th centuries, coinciding with nomadic migrations of the 5th–16th centuries. Assimilation and mixing were accompanied by the linguistic expansion of the Turkic language and the formation of its various dialects. The Turkic language as a whole proved to be very plastic and suitable for communication between peoples.
TRAVELLING TO THE OLD BELIEVERS: VIDEO BLOGS AS A VISUAL SOURCE
Authors: Danilko Elena S.
Published: October 2024

The article analyses the content of video blogs dedicated to the Old Believers. What can we learn about the Old Believers from the Internet, how are they perceived by the mass audience, how and with what techniques is the community visualized in Internet products, how is visual communication established between content creators and the audience? The article tries to find answers to these questions by analyzing a number of programs about Old Believers posted on YouTube. Video blogs are a diverse and popular form of Internet content, commercialized and partly integrated into the tourism industry. The Old Believers that virtual travelers visit are far from always the focus of their attention, but rather an abstract destination, the motivation for their movement into a conventionally unexplored space. Nevertheless, bloggers create an image of the Old Believers as a mysterious, distant, inaccessible and exotic community. Due to the openness and mobility of the virtual environment as a field of communication, the process of constructing the image of the group becomes collective, it involves viewers who already have a certain set of perceptions of Old Believers, and sometimes they are Old Believers themselves. The authenticity of the studied environment emerges as the most important concept around which the discussions unfold.
THE CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE CULTURAL TRADITIONS OF BELARUSIAN PEASANT MIGRANTS
Book Review: Fedorov, R. Yu. The Features of Traditional Culture and Dynamics of Ethnocultural Processes among Belarusian Peasant-migrants of Siberia and the Far East of Russia
(second half of the 19th — beginning of 21st century)
Authors: Kasperovich Galina I.
Published: October 2024

The book by R. Yu. Fedorov presents the findings of a ten-year investigation into the migration patterns of peasants from Belarus to Siberia and the Far East. For the first time in Russian ethnology, the author conducted a comprehensive and multifactorial study, employing a historical perspective and drawing upon data from a range of disciplines, including ethnology, history, folklore, linguistics, statistics and geography. This approach enabled the identification of the distinctive features of traditional culture and the dynamics of ethno-cultural processes among Belarusian peasant migrants to Siberia and the Far East. The author characterizes the ethno-cultural palette of migrants — people from different provinces of Belarus, the socio-historical background of their movement to the east of Russia, traces the evolution of identity, regional settlements and ethno-cultural processes of peasant migrants to Siberia and the Far East. The monograph also devotes significant attention to the preservation, renewal and transformation of the spiritual and material culture of Belarusian peasant migrants, modification of the mechanisms of tradition transmission among the descendants of immigrants from Belarus. The reviewer provides a concise overview of the content, sources, and methodology of the research, emphasizing the novel elements of the study in the context of the contemporary studies of diasporas of the East Slavic population of Siberia and the Far East.
THE KUNALEY ICON — THE IMAGE OF THE HEAVEN AMONG THE SEMEISKIE
Authors: Kostrov Aleksandr V.
Published: October 2024

An icon in the style of “old painting” is one of the symbols of Old Believers’ culture. It reproduces the pre-schism iconography, but has its own logic of evolution driven both by the general change in society and its world view and by the regional specificity. Although this specificity has always existed, in the post-schism period it began to be influenced by the development of various Old Believer enclaves. While in some regions, due to their location and proximity to labor and commodity markets, powerful icon-painting schools developed, in the Transbaikal region, the local Old Believers used imported icons for a long time. However, the evolution of their culture led them to develop their own tradition at the end of the XIX century — first third of the XX century, which was still being implemented as a kind of “naive” village painting. Our field research in recent years in the Semeisksie’s settlements in the Western Transbaikal region has allowed us to identify, localize, and begin to describe a bright hearth of local icon painting. At this stage, several dozen icons have been identified, which, according to our informants, were painted in the Semeiskie’s village of Bolshoy Kunaley. Apparently, several icon painters worked here, one of whom reached a high level and developed his own recognizable style. The icons of Kunaley depict various Christian motifs in a simplified, but at the same time expressive and understandable way, which reflects not only the high level of the local icon painters, but also the nature of the culture and world view of their group.
Art based on trust. Old Believers of the millennium in the lens of the “consonant camera”
Authors: Aleksandrov Evgeniy V.
Published: October 2024

The article presents an attempt to comprehend the process of creation and use of the “consonant camera” methodology in video-documenting the life of Old Believer communities in different regions of Russia in 1993–2013. It reveals the objective and subjective reasons for creating the author’s method of video-documentation based on the principle of “flavertism” or synthesizing the approaches of Robert Flaherty and Dziga Vertov. Radical changes in electronic information technology and in the socio-political environment of the studied period provoked further activities based on the principles of visual anthropology. In collaboration with the archaeographic laboratory of Moscow State University and other researchers of Old Believers, a series of expeditions were conducted, during which specific techniques of filming were developed and an array of video documents created, designed for complex use. Three stories about the creation of the video portraits of Old Believers serve as illustrative examples of the artistic embodiment of the studied community’s culture
An Optimal Control Problem for An Inventory Model for Deteriorating Items Considering Advertising Dependent Demand
Authors: Dhakal Keshar Nath , Chaudhary Kuldeep , Sudipa Chauhan Sudipa Chauhan
Published: October 2024

With an increase in market competition, the association between marketing and inventory management has become more important. The commercial activities are more rapid through social media, and advertising has played a crucial role in reaching the product to the consumers before it hits the market. It has thus become normal in an oligopolistic marketing system to increase sales through advertising effort and gain more profit from potential market. It is challenging, nevertheless, to calculate demand and costs related to advertising efforts. As a result, the purpose of this study is to identify the best advertising approach and its potential impact on demand in order to optimize the firm's overall profit. In this paper, we develop an inventory model for deteriorating items to obtain an optimal advertising and inventory strategy, where the consumer demand rate depends on advertising effort and inventory of the items displayed in the store. We have formulated two optimal control problems with the assumption that the replenishment cycle is longer than the fresh product time or not. It is assumed that products do not decay within the fresh product time interval, and inventory decreases due to consumer demand. Next, items will deteriorate and inventory level decreases because of the combined effects of customer demand and deterioration. The analytical solution for the optimal dynamic advertising effort strategies obtained by applying Pontryagin’s maximum principle to maximize overall profit over the planning period. The efficiency of the proposed model is demonstrated by numerical examples. A parameter sensitivity analysis is also performed, providing suggestions for enhancing the firm's profitability when dealing with deteriorating products.
Improvements in the utilization of calcium carbonate in promoting sustainability and environmental health
Authors: Comes Jackson , Islamovic Emir , Lizandara-Pueyo Carlos , Seto Jong
Published: October 2024

Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is an incredibly abundant mineral on Earth, with over 90% of it being found in the lithosphere. To address the CO2 crisis and combat ocean acidification, it is essential to produce more CaCO3 using various synthetic methods. Additionally, this approach can serve as a substitute for energy-intensive processes like cement production. By doing so, we have the potential to not only reverse the damage caused by climate change but also protect biological ecosystems and the overall environment. The key lies in maximizing the utilization of CaCO3 in various human activities, paving the way for a more sustainable future for our planet.
Impact of systemic lupus erythematosus on cardiovascular morphologic and functional phenotypes: a Mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Lin Zishan , Wang Wenfeng , Jiang Bingjing , He Jian , Xu Yanfang
Published: October 2024

Background

Previous studies have established a correlation between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and cardiovascular health, but the potential causal effects of SLE on heart function and structure remain poorly understood. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), a novel non-invasive technique, provides a unique assessment of cardiovascular structure and function, making it an essential tool for evaluating the risk of heart disease. In this study, we performed a Mendelian randomization analysis to determine the causal relationship between SLE and CMR traits.

Methods

Genetic variants independently linked to SLE were selected from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) containing 5,201 cases and 9,066 controls as instrumental variables. A set of 82 CMR traits was obtained from a recent GWAS, serving as preclinical indicators and providing preliminary insights into the morphology and function of the four cardiac chambers and two aortic segments. Primary analysis employed a two-sample Mendelian randomization study using the inverse-variance weighted method. Heterogeneity testing, sensitivity analyses, and instrumental variable strength assessments confirmed the robustness of the findings.

Results

SLE exhibited a correlation with increased stroke volume (βLVSV = 0.007, P = 0.045), regional peak circumferential strain (βEcc_AHA_9 = 0.013, P = 0.002; βEcc_AHA_12 = 0.009, P = 0.043; βEcc_AHA_14 = 0.013, P = 0.006), and global peak circumferential strain of the LV (βEcc_global = 0.010, P = 0.022), as well as decreased regional radial strain (βErr_AHA_11 = −0.010, P = 0.017).

Conclusions

This research presents evidence of a potential causal association between traits of SLE and alterations in cardiac function, guiding cardiac examinations and disease prevention in lupus patients.
Meta-analysis of a controlled study of levosimendan combined with Sacubitril/Valsartan for the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction in China
Authors: Li Che , Zheng Jifeng , Zhang Bin , Xu Jianjiang , Chu Zhenliang
Published: October 2024

Objective

Levosimendan and Sacubitril/Valsartan are both potent pharmacotherapeutic agents in the clinical management of heart failure characterized by reduced ejection fraction. However, the limited efficacy of monotherapy and the lack of extensive clinical experience with combination therapy necessitate further investigation. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of combining levosimendan with sacubitril/valsartan on chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, specifically through a meta-analysis of studies conducted in China.

Methods

Cochrane systematic evaluation method was used to complete data retrieval from the following related databases: (1) Wanfang database; (2) CNKI China Academic Journal Network; (3) Wipo Full-text Database of Chinese Sci-tech journals; (4) PubMed; (5) Medline; (6) Chinese Biomedical Literature Database; (7) Web of Science; and (8) Google Scholar database. We searched for studies published up to December 2021. Data were extracted from applicable articles. Meta-analyses were performed to assess the left ventricular ejection fractions (LVEF) level, NT-proBNP level, Clinical efficacy, and the left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) level outcomes, following PRISMA 2020 guidelines.

Results

A total of five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comprising 398 patients were included, half of the patients for levosimendan combined with Sacubitril/Valsartan and half of the patients for control groups. The effective rate in experimental group was significantly higher than that in control group [Peto-OR = 3.08, 95% CI (1.83, 5.19), P < 0.05]. The LVEF level after treatment in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group [MD = 5.51, 95% CI (4.25, 6.76), P < 0.05]. After treatment, the LVEDD level in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group [MD = −3.83, 95% CI (−7.60, −0.05), P < 0.05]. There was a statistically significant difference in the N terminal pro B type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) level between the two groups after treatment, where the value for the experimental group was lower than that for the control group [SMD = −2.68, 95% CI (−3.94, −1.43), P < 0.05].

Conclusion

Meta-analysis results showed that levosimendan combined with Sacubitril/Valsartan has a better therapeutic effect on heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and is beneficial for improving cardiac function. The main mechanism for this may be related to the pharmacological action of levosimendan.
Are school grades correlated with competencies in secondary school pupils with special needs?
Authors: Lange-Kuettner Christiane
Published: October 2024

Introduction

The current correlative study investigates whether and to what extent school grades are related to competencies in adolescents with and without special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in inclusive secondary education.

Methods

A sample of N = 2,998 adolescents with a mean age of 12 years were longitudinally assessed in German language and Mathematics in a nationwide project on inclusive schooling in Germany in 2018/19 (T1) and 2019/20 (T2) in secondary school. The hypothesis was that competencies and school grades should be significantly correlated in both adolescents with and without SEND, showing the reliability of school grades for either group.

Results and discussion

Statistical analyses showed (1) all adolescents improved their competencies independently of their SEND status while school grades were moderately stable over time, (2) more variability of competencies and school grades emerged only at the tail ends of the scales of fail and best scores, (3) correlations between competencies and grades were consistently higher in mathematics than in German language for both pupils with and without SEND indicating a more objective and reliable measure.
Advances in hard X-ray RIXS toward meV resolution in the study of 5d transition metal materials
Authors: Kim Jungho , Huang Xiangrong , Toellner Thomas , Said Ayman
Published: October 2024

Resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) has played a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of spin-orbit physics in 5d transition metal materials. The progress in RIXS techniques has closely paralleled improvements in energy resolution, which have enabled the study of very low-lying excitations and led to the discovery of numerous new phenomena with significant scientific and technological implications. The multi-bend achromat (MBA) lattice upgrade of third-generation synchrotron sources, such as the Advanced Photon Source (APS), heralds a transformative era by introducing enhancements in brilliance and emittance. These advancements provide an opportunity to push the boundaries of RIXS techniques, meeting the challenges at the research frontiers of material science. This article aims to highlight key instrumental and technical advancements that enable the achievement of meV resolution in RIXS and discuss the impact of such high-resolution RIXS on exploring spin-orbit physics in 5d transition metal materials.
Investigating climate anomalies associated with the sudden mortality of balsam fir trees in eastern Canada
Authors: Broom James , Taylor Anthony R. , D’Orangeville Loïc
Published: October 2024

The identification of climate anomalies associated with large-scale stand disturbances can help inform climate-focused forest management. In the spring and summer of 2018, an unusual spike in balsam fir (Abies balsamea) mortality was reported in multiple areas across its southern distribution range limit, from Wisconsin, United States, to New Brunswick, Canada. Such an event was previously reported in 1986 in the study region and referred to as Stillwell’s Syndrome. To identify the role of climate anomalies in the 2018 event, we used monthly climate anomalies as explanatory variables in a Random Forest model predicting the presence of mortality from air and field-based surveys across the Maritimes region of eastern Canada. Results were validated by (1) comparing common climate predictors of mortality from this model and a separate Random Forest model fitted on the 1986 event, and (2) using the 2018 model to predict areas of mortality in 1986. Both the 1986 and 2018 models identified multiple common climate anomalies. Areas with unusually high water deficit and temperatures in the previous growing season, followed by thick April snowpack and high May temperatures the same year, were associated with balsam fir mortality. Such climate anomalies have been previously associated with water stress and desiccation in trees. When using the 2018 model to map the occurrence of mortality in 1986 using historical climate data, we report a 95% accuracy in prediction (kappa = 0.88). The approach used here in conjunction with mapped records of past stand disturbances could help with understanding the impacts of future climate anomalies and adaptive management strategies to deal with these events.
The many faces of autoimmune-mediated melanocyte destruction in melanoma
Authors: Ungureanu Loredana , Vasilovici Alina Florentina , Halmágyi Salomea-Ruth , Trufin Ioana Irina , Apostu Adina Patricia , Şenilă Simona Corina
Published: October 2024

Melanoma is the most severe form of skin cancer with an incidence that is increasing all over the world. Melanoma cells derive from normal melanocytes and share different melanocyte-specific antigens, the same antigens against which an immune reaction develops in vitiligo, a skin disease characterized by autoimmune-mediated melanocyte destruction. The purpose of this review is to present the autoimmune-mediated melanocyte destruction associated with melanoma development, progression and treatment. Patients with vitiligo seem to have a lower chance of developing melanoma. On the other hand, patients with melanoma can develop depigmented lesions even at distant sites from the primary tumor, defined as melanoma-associated leukoderma (MAL). Drug-associated leukoderma (DAL) was also described in melanoma patients treated with immunotherapy or targeted therapy and it seems to be a favorable prognostic factor. Clinically, MAL and DAL can be diagnosed as vitiligo and there are few differences between these three entities. In this review, the incidence of DAL in melanoma patients treated with different therapies was researched in the literature and patient outcome was recorded, with studies showing a prolonged disease-free survival in melanoma patients with DAL, treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Further studies are however needed to understand the dynamics of autoimmune-mediated melanocyte destruction.
The emerging role of Toxoplasma gondii in periodontal diseases and underlying mechanisms
Authors: Cao Henglong , Lin Jianfeng , Yuan Hao , Yang Zipeng , Nie Min , Pathak Janak L. , Yuan Zi-Guo , Yu Miao
Published: October 2024

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite, is increasingly recognized for its role in various human diseases, including periodontal diseases. Periodontal diseases comprise a wide range of inflammatory conditions that not only affect the supporting structures of the teeth and oral health but also contribute to systemic diseases. The parasite’s ability to modulate the host’s immune response and induce chronic inflammation within the periodontium is a key factor in periodontal tissue damage. Through its virulence factors, T. gondii disrupts the balance of inflammatory cytokines, leading to dysregulated immune responses, and exacerbates oxidative stress in periodontal tissues. And T. gondii invasion could affect specific proteins in host cells including HSP70, BAGs, MICs, ROPs, SAGs, and GRAs leading to periodontal tissue damage. The indirect role of the host immune response to T. gondii via natural killer cells, monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells, T cells, and B cells also contributes to periodontal diseases. Understanding these complex interactions of T. gondii with host cells could unravel disease mechanisms and therapeutic targets for periodontal diseases. This review delves into the pathogenic mechanisms of T. gondii in periodontal diseases, offering a detailed exploration of both direct and indirect pathways of its impact on periodontal health.
Knowledge mapping and visualization of trends in immunotherapy for ovarian cancer over the past five years: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Shaie Kowthar Mohamed , Sihan Lian , Yuli Wang , Mengfei Han , Renqian Feng , Yan Hu
Published: October 2024

Background

This study conducts a bibliometric literature analysis to explore trends in immunotherapy for ovarian cancer from 2019 to 2023.

Methods

An extensive online literature search was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection database to identify English-language articles and reviews related to “trends in immunotherapy”, and “ovarian cancer”. statistical analysis was performed using VOSviewer to visualize and compare nations, institutions, and journals simultaneously.

Results

Our findings highlight contributions by 118 nations, led by the People’s Republic of China with 3,167 contributions; Germany followed with 558 and Italy having 547. Of all publications made between 2019-2023, “Frontiers Immunology” had the most publications with 546 total records followed by “cancers “, and “frontiers in oncology” being the most heavily relied upon categories. Annually publication trends increased until 2022 but then declined considerably as a peak of highly-cited papers occurring between 2019 and 2022.

Conclusions

Our bibliometric analysis not only maps the evolution of immunotherapy research in ovarian cancer but also provides actionable insights for advancing scientific progress. By identifying emerging trends and key areas, future research can strategically enhance treatment strategies and outcomes for ovarian cancer patients.
Research progress of Bacillus velezensis in plant disease resistance and growth promotion
Authors: Zhong Xianfeng , Jin Yuying , Ren Hong , Hong Tingting , Zheng Jianwei , Fan Wenjing , Hong Jiazhi , Chen Ziqi , Wang Ali , Lu Huaiyu , Zhong Kaijie , Huang Guidong
Published: October 2024

Bacillus velezensis has a wide range of beneficial activities, such as fighting plant diseases, promoting growth, improving crops’ ability to handle stress, and boosting plant defenses. These traits make it a strong candidate for agricultural use, especially as a biocontrol agent and growth-promoting bacteria. This review takes a close look at the origins, working mechanisms, and potential agricultural benefits of B. velezensis. Both lab and field studies have shown its success in reducing plant diseases and supporting crop growth by producing helpful compounds, taking up space in the environment, and strengthening plant defenses. Although B. velezensis is already used in some fertilizers and biopesticides, there are still challenges in scaling up production, selecting the right strains, and ensuring product stability. This review points out current research gaps and suggests future directions, such as improving strain selection, developing better biofertilizers, and advancing production techniques to make the most of B. velezensis in agriculture. These findings aim to guide further research and improve its use in sustainable farming.
Incorporating functional traits with habitat maps: patterns of diversity in coastal benthic assemblages
Authors: Nemani Shreya , Misiuk Benjamin , Cote David , Edinger Evan , Mackin-McLaughlin Julia , Templeton Adam , Robert Katleen
Published: October 2024

Benthic species assemblages are groups of species that co-occur on the seafloor. Linking assemblages to physical environmental features allows for understanding and predicting their spatial distribution. Species identity and abundance are commonly quantified using a taxonomic approach to assess benthic diversity, yet functional traits that describe the behavior, life history, and morphology of a species may be equally or more important. Here, we investigate the biodiversity of five benthic species assemblages in relation to their habitat and environmental conditions in an Ecologically and Biologically Significant Area (EBSA) along Canada’s east coast, using both a taxonomic approach and biological traits analysis. Random Forest regression was applied to map spatial patterns of functional and taxonomic diversity metrics, including richness, Shannon index, and Rao’s quadratic entropy. We evaluate discrepancies between related taxonomic and trait measures, and the community-weighted mean of trait data was calculated to characterize each assemblage. Taxonomic and functional richness – representing the number of species and the species community volume in the trait space, respectively – showed similar spatial patterns. However, when considering diversity, which also accounts for the relative abundance and differences among species or traits, these patterns diverged. Taxonomically different assemblages exhibited similar trait compositions for two assemblages, indicating potential trait equivalencies, while one assemblage exhibited traits potentially indicating sensitivity to human activity. The taxonomic and functional metrics of richness and diversity were low close to the coast, which could be indicative of disturbance. Consideration of functional metrics can support spatial planning and prioritization for management and conservation efforts by assessing the sensitivity of traits to different stressors.
Comparative analysis of ternary TiAlNb interatomic potentials: moment tensor vs. deep learning approaches
Authors: Chandran Anju , Santhosh Archa , Pistidda Claudio , Jerabek Paul , Aydin Roland C. , Cyron Christian J.
Published: October 2024

Intermetallic titanium aluminides, leveraging the ordered γ-TiAl phase, attract increasing attention in aerospace and automotive engineering due to their favorable mechanical properties at high temperatures. Of particular interest are γ-TiAl-based alloys with a Niobium (Nb) concentration of 5–10 at.%. It is a key question how to model such ternary alloys at the atomic scale with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to better understand (and subsequently optimize) the alloys. Here, we present a comparative analysis of ternary TiAlNb interatomic potentials developed by the moment tensor potential (MTP) and deep potential molecular dynamics (DeePMD) methods specifically for the above mentioned critical Nb concentration range. We introduce a novel dataset (TiAlNb dataset) for potential training that establishes a benchmark for the assessment of TiAlNb potentials. The potentials were evaluated through rigorous error analysis and performance metrics, alongside calculations of material properties such as elastic constants, equilibrium volume, and lattice constant. Additionally, we explore finite temperature properties including specific heat and thermal expansion with both potentials. Mechanical behaviors, such as uniaxial tension and the calculation of generalized stacking fault energy, are analyzed to determine the impact of Nb alloying in TiAl-based alloys. Our results indicate that Nb alloying generally enhances the ductility of TiAl-based alloys at the expense of reduced strength, with the notable exception of simulations using DeePMD for the γ-TiAl phase, where this trend does not apply.
Severe allergic rash induced by icodextrin: case report and literature review
Authors: Huang Yiqi , Fu Tianxiao , Zhang Yanling , Shen Weigang , Sang Weiwei , Han Meixiang , Wang Fang , Chen Fenjuan
Published: October 2024

Background

Icodextrin is a type of peritoneal dialysis (PD) osmolyte that can be extended retention times (8–16 h) and may offer a viable alternative to conventional glucose dialysis solutions for PD patients. Nonetheless, prolonged use of icodextrin may lead to allergic rash, and rarely severe skin lesions.

Case presentation

In February 2024, a 45-year-old male was admitted to the Department of Nephrology at Shaoxing Second Hospital presenting with a 3-day history of intense generalized pruritic erythematous rash. Physical examination revealed diffuse erythematous pruritic rash and exfoliative rash, particularly on the abdominal. Abnormal laboratory findings included elevated eosinophil count and total IgE levels, indicative of an allergic rash. Standard anti-allergic regim was initiated. However, on the third day in the hospital, the patient developed new pustules on his neck and arms. Subsequent historical investigation uncovered that the individual had previously administered icodextrin 2 weeks prior due to volume overload, and the last intraperitoneal administration time was second day of hospitalization. The dermatologist rendered a diagnosis of generalized exfoliative rash and acute localized exanthematous pustulosis (ALEP) induced by icodextrin, and initiated prophylactic antimicrobial therapy accordingly. Furthermore, the patient declined to undergo a skin biopsy. Noteworthy is the observation that the rash ameliorated and the pustules resolved by the seventh day post-admission. Presently, the patient is still under clinical follow-up.

Conclusion

This article aims to report the first case of severe allergic rash caused by icodextrin in Chinese PD patients and highlight the potential for icodextrin to trigger ALEP. A literature review of similar cases found that severe allergic rash induced by icodextrin is rare, the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood, and the prognosis is positive with proper treatment.
Metabolomics of 3D cell co-culture reveals alterations in energy metabolism at the cross-talk of colorectal cancer-adipocytes
Authors: Pelosi Andrea Corazzi , Silva Alex Ap. Rosini , Fernandes Anna Maria Alves Piloto , Scariot Pedro Paulo Menezes , Oliveira Manoela Stahl Parisotto , Porcari Andreia M. , Priolli Denise Gonçalves , Messias Leonardo Henrique Dalcheco
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most incident and the second most lethal malignant tumor. Despite the recognized association between obesity and CRC, further clarification is necessary regarding the lipids that are overexpressed during the development of CRC. In this scenario, the combination of metabolomics and a three-dimensional (3D) co-culture model involving CRC tumor cells and lipids can enhance the knowledge of energy metabolism modifications at the cross-talk between colorectal cancer and adipocytes. This study aimed to screen potential metabolites in the three dimensional (3D) co-culture of CRC and adipocytes by investigating the metabolome composition of this co-culture released into the extracellular space, which is known as the secretome.

Methods

Pre-adipocyte cells (3T3-L1), human colon carcinoma (HT-29), and the 3D co-culture (3T3-L1 + HT-29) were cultured for the secretome obtention. Then, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) was employed to analyze the metabolomics of each secretome.

Results

Overall, 3.731 molecules were detected independent of the cell culture. When comparing the three cultures, 105 molecules presented a statistically significant difference in abundance between groups. Among these molecules, 16 were identified, with a particular emphasis on six lipids (PG 20:0, octadecenal, 3-Hydroxytetracosanoyl-CoA, 9,10-dihydroxy-octadecenoic acid, palmitoleic acid, and PA 18:4) and one amino acid derivative (acetylglutamic acid), which presented significant scores during the partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA).

Discussion

Although it is too early to determine the possible impact of such molecules in a CRC microenvironment, these results open new avenues for further studies on the energy metabolism at the cross-talk of colorectal cancer adipocytes.
Psychological factors and biochemical indicators influencing sleep disturbance of patients with primary biliary cholangitis in China: a cross-sectional survey analysis
Authors: Zhao Chenyang , Zang Bo , Liu Qixuan , Liu Bingqian , Yao Yuan , Li Hua , Yang Yifei , Liu Bin
Published: October 2024

Objective

The impact of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) on sleep disturbance is relevant to treatment decision-making processes. Studies on sleep disturbance in Chinese patients with PBC are still lacking.

Methods

We analyzed and compared the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of 107 PBC patients by using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9), Short Form (36) Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36), Fatigue Visual Analog Scale (F-VAS). Patients’ biochemical markers were also collected for correlation analysis with HRQoL. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the curve (AUCs) were used to determine the diagnostic performance of PSQI, GAD-7, and biochemical markers for assessing the impaired liver function (Child–Pugh B–C) of PBC diagnosis.

Results

Sixty-two (57.9%) PBC patients suffered from poor sleep quality (PSQI >5). The global PSQI score was positively correlated with GAD-7 (r = 0.561, p < 0.001), and PHQ-9 scores (r = 0.652, p < 0.001). There was a negative correlation (r = −0.216, p = 0.025) between sleep quality and red blood cell (RBC) count. PBC patients with poor sleep quality had significantly higher GAD-7 scores (5 vs. 0, p < 0.001), PHQ-9 scores (5.5 vs. 0, p < 0.001), and lower albumin levels (39.6 vs. 37.6 g/L, p = 0.040) than those with good sleep quality. Based on the SF-36 scores, PBC patients with poor sleep quality had lower physical functioning scores (85 vs. 80, p = 0.022), role physical scores (100 vs. 75, p = 0.007), and worse mental health (60 vs. 56, p = 0.002) than those with good sleep quality. ROC analyses showed that the AUC and optimal cut-off values of the combination of PSQI, GAD-7, and RBC for assessing the impaired liver function in PBC diagnosis were 0.771 and 0.193, respectively.

Conclusion

The sleep disturbance was strongly correlated with the severity of anxiety, depression, and RBC count in PBC patients. Meanwhile, PBC patients with poor sleep had poor HRQoL and lower albumin levels. It is feasible to use the combination of PSQI, GAD-7, and RBC for initial screening of the impaired liver function in PBC. Besides routine blood biochemical and imaging indicators, evaluating mental health-related indicators in PBC patients is imperative.
Case report: Characterization and bioinformatics analysis of non-O1/O139 Vibrio cholerae strain isolated from a choledochoduodenal fistula patient with septicemia
Authors: Yang Wei , Li Peibo , Lei Songping , Yu Yaqing , Liu Shuangjuan , You Chengdong
Published: October 2024

The gram-negative bacterium Vibrio cholerae (VC) is divided into multiple serogroups, with groups O1 and O139 responsible for cholera. Conversely, Vibrio cholerae belonging to the non-O1/non-O139 group (NOVC) does not produce cholera-causing toxins. Insufficient understanding of the frequency of NOVC causes fear during the early detection phase. Acute gastroenteritis is often caused by NOVC, while extra gastrointestinal infections are less common. In the case described here, the patient had a postoperative choledochoduodenal fistula due to prior choledochotomy. In August 2023, he was hospitalized with fever and diarrhea. The gram-negative bacilli Vibrio cholerae was isolated from a blood specimen using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The strain was identified as non-O1/O139 by serum agglutination tests. Subsequent whole-genome sequencing and database analysis revealed that the strain possessed resistance genes such as CRP, varG, almG, and QnrVC4, as well as various virulence factors such as RTX, hlyA, VAS, and T3SS. The phylogenetic tree analysis indicated that CQ23-0008VC had close relationship with cholerae strains isolated from aquatic environments. The patient was treated promptly and discharged after being admitted with severe symptoms. However, Bioinformatics analysis indicated that the virulence factors that were identified in the bacteria were significant; thus, these virulence factors can indicate to medical professionals that a patient could have a septicemia caused by NOVC.