bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trends in macular and optic nerve head vessel density following myopic photorefractive keratectomy
Authors: bamdad shahram , attar alireza , nejabat Mahmood , nejabat alireza , fallahzadeh milad , ebrahimi Fatemeh , faizabadi Sanam , azimi ali
Published: October 2024

Purpose
We aimed to apply Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) to comprehensively assess changes in the optic nerve head (ONH) and macular perfusion before and after the myopic photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).
Methods
A total of 26 myopic patients eligible for PRK were included based on specific criteria, with meticulous exclusion criteria in place to minimize potential confounders. Participants underwent OCTA assessments of the ONH and macula using the Spectralis OCT (Heidelberg) before, as well as at 1 and 3months after PRK. MATLAB software was utilized for image analysis.
Results
The average age at the time of surgery was 31.3 ± 5.82years with 26.9% of participants being male. The mean intraocular pressure before the surgery was 15.84 ± 2.46 mmHg. Significant alterations were observed in macular vessel density, emphasizing regional variations in vascular response. Regarding Large vessel density (LVD), there was a significant decrease in Superficial Vascular Complex (SVC) (from 24.21–18.67%, P = 0.011) and deep vascular complex (DVC) (from 26.93% to 21.81, P = 0.003) between before surgery and 3 months later. Similarly, in Capillary Vessel Density (CVD (, significant changes were observed between before surgery and 3 months later in SVC (from 18.22–21.16%, P = 0.004) and DVC (from16.89–21.44%, P = 0.002). In comparison to the macula, vascular densities were more stable overtime in optic nerve head. In both LVD and CVD, only DVC had significant decrease between before surgery and 3 months after (P = 0.008, and 0.038 respectively).
Conclusions
While PRK appears to maintain the integrity of certain ocular structures, alterations in macular and optic nerve head perfusion post-PRK suggest potential effects on retinal blood supply.
Long-term monitoring is crucial to understand the implications of these changes, particularly in the context of conditions such as diabetes.
Non-Oliguric Acute Renal Failure Secondary to a Potentially Lethal Dose of Caffeine With Acute Intoxication: A Case Report
Authors: Mitomo Ayaka , Ishioka Kunihiro , Yanai Mitsuru , Ohtake Takayasu , Hidaka Sumi , Kobayashi Shuzo
Published: October 2024

Background Recently, the incidence of caffeine intoxication has been on an upward trend, with severe outcomes. However, acute kidney injury (AKI) resulting from renal pathologies secondary to caffeine intoxication is rare, and the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying AKI are unclear.
Case presentation
A female patient in her 20s ingested an over-the-counter drug containing caffeine. The patient was diagnosed with secondary non oliguric AKI caused by acute intoxication due to ingestion of a lethal dose of caffeine. On day 19 of hospitalization, a renal biopsy was performed to determine the etiology of her prolonged renal dysfunction. Light microscopy revealed normal glomeruli, mild inflammatory cell infiltration, and acute tubular damage. Myoglobin staining was positive within the tubules, with scattered myoglobin columns. Electron microscopy revealed loss of glomerular epithelial foot processes and inflated tubular mitochondria. After undergoing hemodialysis and continuous hemodiafiltration, the patient's overall condition stabilized. After a consultation with a psychiatrist, on her 34th day of hospitalization, she was discharged home.
Conclusions Caffeine antagonizes adenosine receptors, stimulates ryanodine receptors, and elevates catecholamines. The onset of AKI is hypothesized to result from a combination of these mechanisms, resulting in tubular ischemia and injury, as well as renal artery constriction. The development of AKI was thought to be caused by the following factors: (1) disruption of the tubular oxygen supply-demand ratio and consequent ischemia due to adenosine receptor antagonism by caffeine, (2) tubular damage due to rhabdomyolysis and consequent ryanodine receptor stimulation, and (3) increased catecholamine levels and consequent renal artery constriction.
Development and validation of a nomogram to assess the occurrence of liver dysfunction in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia in the ICU
Authors: Wang Zhiwei , Zhao Lina , Xie Keliang
Published: October 2024

The global pandemic of novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) has resulted in millions of deaths over the past three years. As one of the most commonly affected extra-pulmonary organs, numerous studies have reported varying degrees of liver injury in a significant proportion of patients with COVID-19, particularly in severe and critically ill patients. Early prediction of liver dysfunction in hospitalized patients would facilitate the clinical management of COVID-19 and improve clinical prognosis, but reliable and valid predictive models are still lacking. Methods We collected 286 cases of COVID-19 with positive RT-PCR confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 admitted to various ICUs from the case system. These patients were randomly divided into a training cohort (50%) and a validation cohort (50%). In the training cohort, we first used ROC curves to measure the predictive efficiency of each of the variables for the development of liver damage during hospitalization in patients with COVID-19, followed by LASSO regression analysis to screen the variables for predictive models and logistic regression analysis to identify relevant risk factors. A nomogram based on these variables was created following the above model. Finally, the efficiency of the prediction models in the training and validation cohorts was assessed using AUC, consistency index (C index), and calibration curves. Results Out of a total of 79 parameters for COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICUs, 8 were determined to be significantly associated with the occurrence of liver dysfunction during hospitalization. Based on these predictors, further prediction models were used to construct and develop a nomogram that was offered for practical clinical application. The C-index of the column line graphs for the training and validation cohorts was 0.901 and 0.892 respectively. in addition, the calibration curves for the model showed a high degree of agreement between the predicted and actual incidence of liver dysfunction in patients with COVID-19. Conclusion By developing a predictive model and associated nomogram, we predicted the incidence of liver dysfunction during hospitalization in patients with COVID-19 in the ICU. The model’s predictive performance was determined in both the training and validation cohorts, contributing to the clinical management of COVID-19.
β-caryophyllene to relieve inflammation by inhibiting HMGB1 signaling in ischemic stroke mice
Authors: Wang Yuchun , Yang Yang , Meng Tuo , Liu Shengwei , Liu Jingdong , Liu Daohang , Laxman Bharati , Chen Sha , Dong Zhi
Published: October 2024

Background: Characterized by high mortality and high disability rate, ischemic stroke accounts for the vast majority of current stroke patients. Reperfusion after surgical treatment will cause serious secondary damage to the ischemic stroke patient, but there is still no specific drug for the clinical treatment of ischemic stroke. Anti-inflammatory disease is an important part of ischemia and reperfusion injury, and it is urgent to find new anti-inflammatory targets and drugs. High-mobility group box-1(HMGB1) is abundant in both neuronal cell bodies and axons, and has been found to have late pro-inflammatory effects, becoming one of the hot research topics in critical care medicine recently. The increase of HMGB1 expression leads to the aggravation of inflammatory reaction after ischemia stroke. B-caryophyllene (BCP) is a natural drug with anti-inflammatory effects. Whether the anti-inflammatory mechanism of BCP is related to HMGB1 is still unknown. We aimed to investigate the relationship and potential signaling mechanisms between HMGB1 and BCP in ischemia stroke model in vivo and in vitro.
Methods: Establishment of middle cerebral artery embolism model in mice by thread thrombus and primary neurons were exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation and re-oxygenation (OGD/R) in vitro. In vitro, transfection of HMGB1 DNA overexpression virus（GV-HMGB1）the same time, transfectionHMGB1 DNA silencing virus（RNAi-HMGB1）the same, in vivo , injection of GV-HMGB1 into the lateral ventricle of mice , injection of RNAi-HMGB1 into another group of mice.
Results: It was found that HMGB1 increased after ischemic stroke, and further affected the expression of TLR4, RAGE and other related inflammatory factors, thus reducing the inflammatory response and finally protecting the injury. The results confirmed the effect of HMGB1 in effecting TLR4/RAGE signaling and subsequently regulating inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis. Furthermore, BCP alleviates ischemic brain damage potentially by suppressing HMGB1/ TLR4/RAGE signaling, reducing expression of IL-1β/IL-6/TNF-α，inhibiting neuronal death and inflammatory response.
Conclusion: These data indicated that BCP exerted a protective effect against ischemia stroke inflammatory injury by adjusting the HMGB1/TLR4/RAGE signaling pathway, which provided new insights into the mechanisms of this therapeutic candidate for the treatment of ischemia stroke.
Translation, Cross-Cultural Adaptation, and Validation of Self-Care Measurement of Diabetes Scale in Urdu
Authors: Wahid Muhammad Hassan , Sethi Mifrah Rauf , Shehzad Shahid , Uzair Muhammad , Qazi Saad Hussain , Harris Muhammad
Published: October 2024

Objective: The Cross-sectional study was conducted to validate the Urdu version of the self-care measurement of diabetes scale at Mercy Teaching Hospital, Peshawar from January to March 2024 on 506 diabetic patients.
Methods: The average age of the participants was 48.37 + 12.96 years. The majority were females (n=283, 55.9%), married (n=475, 93.9%) uneducated (n=362, 71.5%) unemployed (n=381, 75.3%), and lived in joint family systems (n=241, 47.6%) respectively.
Results: The study found that 96.6% of patients were diabetic, with 58.5% managing the disease for under 10 years; 38.9% used both insulin and oral medications, while 38.1% used only tablets. Additionally, 71.7% of patients had no other medical comorbidities. The three bilingual experts used forward-backward translation methods to translate the Self-Care Measurement of Diabetes Scale from English to Urdu. The Urdu translation was administered to the patients to evaluate their confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis, construct validity, and Cronbach’s alpha reliability. Factorial validity indicated that the scale conforms to a five-factor model, with items showing significant inter-correlation (p < .01). Item-total correlation showed a significant correlation coefficient (p < .001) to find the construct validity. The Cronbach’s alpha reliability of the Urdu version was 0.704. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) demonstrated a goodness of fit model with a Comparative Fit Index (0.970) and a Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) of 0.088.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that the Self-Care Measurement of Diabetes Scale, Urdu translation is a reliable scale with robust validity, suitable for assessing self-care in clinical settings.
A Multi-Institutional Radiographic Evaluation of Pediatric Scapholunate Distance
Authors: Mujadzic M. Mirza , Firouzbakht Peter K. , Mujadzic Tarik , Schlubb Riley A. , Lin Jason , Le Paulina B. , Martinez Carlos R. , Atwez Abdelaziz , Qureshi Hassan , Bassuner Juri , Plikaitis Christina M. , Mujadzic Mirsad
Published: October 2024

Background
Scapholunate (SL) dissociation is the most frequent form of carpal instability. X-ray is the first diagnostic tool for an SL injury. The adult scapholunate distance is well established, however there remains a paucity of literature on the pediatric scapholunate distance. The purpose of this study is to define a standard range of pediatric SL distances.
Objective
We hypothesize that there will be an inverse relationship of SL distance with age.
Materials and Methods
A retrospective review was conducted evaluating patients that underwent bone age hand X-rays between 2005 and 2020. Variables collected included chronologic age, bone age, gender, and scapholunate distance.
Results
4038 total X-rays were included for analysis. Scapholunate distance was inversely proportional to chronological age between the ages of 4 to 17 years. The scapholunate distances were shorter for females compared to males of the same age. The average SL distance for males started at 9.49 mm at 4 years of age and decreased to 1.93 mm by age 17. The average SL distance for females started at 7.82 mm and decreased to 1.72 mm for the same age range. SL distance decreased to the normal adult distance at ages 16 and 17 for females and males, respectively.
Conclusion
Pediatric scapholunate distance is inversely proportional to chronological age. Female patients have a significantly shorter distance at each age compared to males. This study may serve as a reference for pediatric scapholunate distances when evaluating a wrist X-ray for potential scapholunate ligament injuries.
Association between humidity and lung function: the 2016-2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Authors: Seok Jinwoo , Lee Bo , Yoon Hee-Young
Published: October 2024

Background: Ambient humidity has a significant impact on respiratory health and influences disease and symptoms. However, large-scale studies are required to clarify the specific effects on lung function and respiratory symptoms. This study examined the relationship between relative humidity (RH), lung function, and respiratory symptoms using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(KNHANES).
Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from KNHANES participants aged 40 and older, collected between 2016 and 2018. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and health questionnaires were used to assess lung function and respiratory symptoms. Individual environmental data, including RH, were obtained from the Community Multiscale Air Quality model and linked to the participants' addresses. Short-term (0–14 days), mid-term (30–180 days), and long-term (1–5 years) RH exposures were examined.
Results: In total, 10,396 participants were included (mean age: 58.3 years, male: 43.6%). In multiple regression analysis, higher RH was negatively associated with the forced expiratory volume per 1 second/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio across various time lags, while FVC was positively correlated with long-term RH exposure. In multiple logistic analysis adjusted for clinical and environmental covariates, long-term higher RH exposure was associated with a lower risk of restrictive lung disease (odds ratio [OR] at 4-year moving average [MA]: 0.978, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.959–0.997), while mid-term RH exposure decreased the risk of chronic cough (OR at 90-day MA: 0.968, 95% CI: 0.948–0.987) and sputum production (OR at 90-day MA: 0.984, 95% CI: 0.968–1.000).
Conclusion: Higher RH negatively affected lung function and increased the risk of obstructive lung disease, whereas mid-term RH exposure reduced the risk of chronic cough and sputum production.
The Impact of a Short-term High-fat Diet on Coagulation Function in a Mouse Model and Its Role in Exacerbating Concanavalin A-Induced Liver Injury
Authors: Nanizawa Eri , Tamaki Yuki , Yakura Tomiko , Otsuka Shun , Hatayama Naoyuki , Naito Munekazu
Published: October 2024

Background
Recently, the number of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its more advanced condition, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), has been increasing. These patients are at a higher risk of cardiovascular events and thromboembolism. However, the direct impact of high-fat diet (HFD), a cause of NAFLD, on liver coagulation function is not well understood. Previously, we demonstrated that a short-term, 4-day intake of a HFD exacerbates concanavalin A (Con A)-induced acute liver injury in mice by promoting coagulation and inflammation. This model demonstrates that the liver exposed to a short-term HFD is vulnerable even before disease onset. In this study, using this model, we elucidated the detailed mechanisms by which short-term HFD intake promotes coagulation, considering primary and secondary hemostasis.
Methods
C57BL/6 mice normally fed a normal diet (ND) were subjected to a HFD for 4 days. Liver tissue and blood samples were collected before and 4 and 24 hours after Con A administration. Histological analysis, flow cytometry for platelet analysis, and blood coagulation tests related to secondary hemostasis were performed.
Results
Even with short-term consumption of a HFD alone, platelet and fibrinogen levels increased in the peripheral blood and liver. Additionally, when Con A was administered to mice on a short-term HFD, an increase in P-selectin expression was observed in the liver, with no upregulation in peripheral blood platelets. Furthermore, in mice subjected to a short-term HFD and treated with Con A, prolonged prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) were observed.
Conclusions
Consuming a HFD in short-term can enhance primary and secondary hemostasis, thereby increasing the risk of thrombosis. These conditions are presumed to be a risk factor that exacerbates Con A-induced liver injury. The findings provide insight into early intervention strategies for chronic liver diseases, such as NAFLD and NASH.
Programmed Death Ligand-1 Expression in Gastric Cancers Diagnosed at the University Teaching Hospitals in Lusaka, Zambia
Authors: Munshi Husna , Songwe Mupeta , Mumba Chibamba , Kayamba Violet
Published: October 2024

Objective:
Gastric cancer (GC) is a major health problem worldwide due to its frequency, delayed diagnosis, treatment limitations and poor prognosis. Recently, immunotherapeutic agents targeting immunosuppressive proteins such as anti-programmed death ligand-1 have emerged as effective treatment options for advanced cancers including GC. This study aimed to evaluate the expression of PD-L1 in GC cases and its association with various clinicopathological variables at a referral health centre in Zambia.
Results:
GC tissues from 41 patients were evaluated, of which 27 (65.9%) were females and 14 (34.1%) were males. The median age was 63 years (IQR, 56-76 years). Six (14.6%) showed positive expression (CPS≥1) while 35 (85.4%) did not show expression (CPS<1). PD-L1 expression did not show significant associations with any of the clinicopathological variables included. This study demonstrated that a proportion of GCs in our setting express PD-L1, a potentially therapeutically actionable finding that patients with advanced stage cancer may benefit from.
What can simulation educators learn from the reluctant participant? An exploration of the factors influencing engagement amongst adult learners participating in paediatric simulation training
Authors: Newhouse Laura , Polwart Ngaire
Published: October 2024

Background:
Simulation educators are self-selected to be enthusiastic about simulation as a training modality, nevertheless we often encounter participants who are more reticent in their approach. The voice of the highly engaged participant is well publicised, however the experience of those who do not readily engage in simulation has not been extensively studied. This qualitative study will explore factors which influence learner engagement in paediatric simulation training, informing the practice and approach of simulation educators to optimise learning experiences.
Methods:
We conducted a thematic analysis of 12 semi-structured interviews with healthcare professionals from a large paediatric teaching hospital in New Zealand who self-identified as reluctant participants in simulation-based education. Interviews explored factors which have influenced their engagement in simulation-based education over the course of their careers.
Results:
Three overarching themes were developed from thematic analysis which describe the factors influencing adult-learner engagement in simulation-based education. The first, “It comes down to that fear…”, explores participants narratives related to anxiety before, during and even following simulation which can impact on their ability to engage in current and subsequent simulation-based education. The second, “…armour up…”, relates to the protective mechanisms employed by participants in response to vulnerability experienced during simulation activities. The third theme, “…it sets the culture”, examines the impact of simulation facilitator characteristics and behaviours on learner engagement.
Conclusions:
These narrativeshighlighted a number of factors which facilitators should be aware when designing and implementing simulation-based education programmes. These include: (i) the benefits of regular simulation activities with transparent learning objectives to reduce participant anxiety, (ii) emergent defensive behaviours, particularly “group shielding” behaviours, which might interfere with engagement; (iii) potential discrepancies in the perceptions of facilitators and learners regarding what constitutes psychologically safe education environments.
Phosphorus uptake in eucalypts plants under split root system
Authors: FerreiraTorres Luana , de Andrade Sara Adrián López , Mazzafera Paulo
Published: October 2024

Phosphorus (P) often limits plant growth and development because its availability in most soils is low, mainly in tropical soils. Various phosphate transporters and regulatory elements, including transcription factors, are involved in the uptake and transport of P from the soil into root cells and to other plant organs. The split-root technique was applied to three eucalypt species to understand better the mechanisms of the root-leaf signaling and remobilization response to P supply. Two-month-old seedlings of Eucalypts grandis, E. globulus, and E. tereticornis were used, with each half of the split root system placed in pots. The P treatments were: +P/+P, +P/-P, and -P/-P (+ P = P supplementation and –P = P depleted). P was supplied as 440 µM nutrient solution. Eucalypts plants were grown for six weeks and RT-qPCR evaluated the expression of genes related to P uptake, transport, and utilization in roots and leaves. P supply on one side of the root seemed to compensate for the lack of P on the other side in the + P/-P treatment, so the plant did not show P stress responses, and root-to-root signaling and remobilization in this treatment differed depending on the species. The genes analyzed were mostly induced when plants were under P deprivation, and the expression response was species-dependent. Therefore, this indicates that different mechanisms may be involved in plant response to low P and that signaling control 1may also be linked to the adaptation of eucalypts species to low soil P.
The mitochondrial D-loop is a robust maternal-species identifier in gibbons (Hylobatidae)
Authors: Lansdowne Lauren , Matsudaira Kazunari , Ishida Takafumi , McHugh Sîan , Badge Richard M.
Published: October 2024

Some gibbon species are difficult to distinguish phenotypically. This issue is compounded by recent changes in the gibbon taxonomy, which have sometimes occurred long after individuals were taken from the wild for captive breeding programmes. Furthermore, gibbon species within the Hylobates and Nomascus genera have been documented to hybridize to produce viable, fertile offspring, both in captivity and in the wild. This raises the possibility of cryptic hybrids within captive populations, threatening the genetic integrity of these genera. Phylogenetic methods using the mitochondrial D-loop and cox1 gene were compared to genetically identify gibbon species. Both loci identified lineages with cryptic hybrid ancestry. However, the D-loop outperformed the cox1 gene, providing higher resolution, particularly for Nomascus spp., which for some species were not monophyletic when using the cox1 gene. The D-loop also revealed a significantly higher number of unique sequences, making it more suitable for investigations into relatedness, such as female dispersal patterns.
Targeted memory reactivation elicits temporally compressed reactivation linked to spindles
Authors: Abdellahi Mahmoud , Rakowska Martyna , Treder Matthias , Lewis Penelope
Published: October 2024

Memories reactivate during sleep, however the properties of such reactivation and its relationship to encoding strength and subsequent memory performance are not well understood. We set out to examine memory reactivations associated with a serial reaction time task (SRTT). 48 human participants performed the SRTT, and then slept in the lab while we deliberately induced reactivation in Slow Wave Sleep (SWS) using a Targeted Memory Reactivation (TMR) design. We detected reactivation after TMR cues using multiclass classification that adapted to sleep data by using sleep activity for training and wake activity for testing. We then examined the temporal properties of reactivation in relation to behavioural performance and sleep spindles. In keeping with the rodent literature, the observed reactivation was 3 to 20 times faster than waking activity. Furthermore, we report an inverted-U shaped relationship between TMR-related behavioural improvement and encoding strength, with very strong and very weak memories benefiting little from cueing while medium-strength memories benefit the most. Finally, reactivation was more frequently observed in trials with high sigma power, supporting the idea that sleep spindles are associated with memory reactivation during sleep. These findings bring us closer to understanding the characteristics of human memory reactivation after TMR, demonstrate when cueing is effective, and provide evidence for the positive relationship between the detectability of reactivation and memory consolidation.
Wearable electrodriven switch actively delivers macromolecular drugs to fundus in non-invasive and controllable manners
Authors: He Yao , Qin Xuan , Shi Haoliang , Li Hongyang , Chu Binbin , Zhang Jiawei , Wen Zhen , Sun Xuhui , Wang Houyu
Published: October 2024

Current treatments for fundus disorders, such as intravitreal injections, pose risks, including infection and retinal detachment, and are limited in their ability to deliver macromolecular drugs across the blood‒retinal barrier. Although non-invasive methods are safer, their delivery efficiency remains suboptimal (< 5%). We have developed a wearable electrodriven switch (WES) that improves the non-invasive delivery of macromolecules to the fundus. The WES system, which integrates an electrodriven drug delivery lens with a square wave generator, leverages electrical stimulation to enhance drug penetration through the sclera-choroid-retina pathway. In our study, WES achieved a delivery efficiency of 14% for immunoglobulin G, comparable to that of intravitreal injection (16%). Moreover, WES-enhanced anti-VEGF administration resulted in an 86% inhibition of choroidal neovascularization, and anti-PDL1 delivery inhibited choroidal melanoma growth more effectively than intravenous injections, with no adverse effects on ocular health. These findings suggest that WES holds transformative potential for the non-invasive treatment of chronic fundus diseases.
Modelling Global Trade with Optimal Transport
Authors: Gaskin Thomas , Wolfram Marie-Therese , Duncan Andrew , Demirel Guven
Published: October 2024

Global trade is shaped by a complex mix of factors beyond supply and demand, including tangible variables like transport costs and tariffs, as well as less quantifiable influences such as political and economic relations. Traditionally, economists model trade using gravity models, which rely on explicit covariates but often struggle to capture these subtler drivers of trade. In this work, we employ optimal transport and a deep neural network to learn a time-dependent cost function from data, without imposing a specific functional form. This approach consistently outperforms traditional gravity models in accuracy while providing natural uncertainty quantification. Applying our framework to global food and agricultural trade, we show that the global South suffered disproportionately from the war in Ukraine's impact on wheat markets. We also analyze the effects of free-trade agreements and trade disputes with China, as well as Brexit's impact on British trade with Europe, uncovering hidden patterns that trade volumes alone cannot reveal.
The Case of Context and Its Implications for Inclusive Education in Regional, Rural and Remote Situations: An Australian Study.
Authors: Hollitt Julie
Published: October 2024

Formal schooling in regional, rural, and remote (RRR) Australia represents a diverse range of contexts. Using an inclusive education lens, the term ‘context’ is presented as an ill-defined concept used in the evaluation of differences in learning. Using context-specific data, this paper proposes instances of context - or the ‘case of context’ - as a more useful form of observation of differences in academic achievement as reported of learners in regional, rural and remote New South Wales, Australia. Using notions of contextual markers, conceptual worlds and ‘contexts within contexts’ the case of context is demonstrated to be multidimensional and co-constituted. This paper also proposes including all participant students in formal schooling using the concepts of ‘imagined learners’ and ‘context-specific learners’.
N-acetylcysteine increases total glutathione levels in experimental models of heart diseases: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ferreira Aimée Souto , Schaan Thomas , Rohde Luis E. , Andrades Michael
Published: October 2024

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death globally. Oxidative stress plays a significant role in cell damage, inflammation, and progression of CVD. The use of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a well-known antioxidant and a precursor to glutathione (GSH), has shown potential in preventing different types of CVD. Yet, there is limited data assessing NAC’s impact on GSH levels in animal models of CVD.
Objective: To evaluate reduced glutathione (GSH) and total glutathione levels in cardiac tissue or serum/plasma from animals with established heart disease treated with NAC. Method: The literature search included PubMed, Embase, WoS, Scielo, Lilacs/BINACIS, and rXiv databases. The search in the databases was completed in December 2022.
Results: We identified 619 articles, fully reviewed 35, and included 7 in the meta-analysis. The included studies varied in cardiovascular disease models, NAC doses, and outcomes. Meta-analysis revealed that NAC supplementation significantly increased total glutathione levels (SMD = 1.23, 95% CI = 0.56–1.89; p = 0.0003) with low heterogeneity (I² = 37%). GSH levels showed a marginal increase (SMD = 2.49, 95% CI = -0.20–5.18; p = 0.07), with high heterogeneity (I² = 93%).
Conclusion: NAC supplementation effectively increases total glutathione in animal models of heart disease. The impact on GSH levels was less clear, possibly due to dose variability and limited study numbers. Standardization of NAC dosing and improved methodological reporting are needed for more consistent and clinically relevant findings.
Untersuchung der Informationskomponente des russisch-ukrainischen Krieges
Authors: Novikova Olena
Published: October 2024

Im Verlag der Staatlichen Universität Sumy (Ukraine) ist die Monografie „Ukrainische Informationssicherheit: Der philologische Aspekt“ [1 ; 2] erschienen, die von Wissenschaftlern aus der Ukraine und Deutschland verfasst wurde. Die Autoren untersuchen die Informationskomponente des russisch-ukrainischen Krieges und reflektieren über die Informationssicherheit in der modernen Gesellschaft als Gegengewicht zur Informationsinvasion, die bewaffnete Aggression, Völkermord und andere Formen der Gewalt einleitet und begleitet sowie die Demokratie untergräbt. Sie diskutieren die Möglichkeiten, Desinformation, Propaganda und verschwörungstheoretischen Informationskampagnen entgegenzuwirken, und suchen nach historischen Parallelen.
The Blogosphere of Ukraine: Content Analysis of the Anti-Vaccine Campaign During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Shevchenko Viktoriya , Zubar Petro
Published: October 2024

Introduction. The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a surge in existing anti-vaccine sentiments in Ukraine, posing a threat to public health. This study aims to analyze the anti-vaccine campaign in the Ukrainian blogosphere, which intensified during the pandemic and coalesced around issues related to the coronavirus.
Relevance of the study. The relevance of the study is determined by the increasing popularity of anti-vaccine sentiments in Ukraine, which are facilitated by the growing influence of the blogosphere as a powerful channel for disseminating destructive content. The study aims to identify the key categories that bloggers appealed to while conducting the campaign against vaccination for coronavirus disease in Ukraine during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methodology. To determine the most influential representatives of the anti-vaccine movement in Ukraine, a media monitoring was conducted focusing on the exposure of fakes and misinformation regarding COVID-19. A list of the channels of the most popular Ukrainian bloggers who are corona-skeptics and opponents of vaccination was compiled. Subsequently, 232 videos published on these bloggers’ channels were studied. The content analysis method was applied to identify the key messages and calls used by vaccination opponents.
Results. The most popular representatives of the anti-vaccine movement in Ukraine were found to be lawyers, pseudo-experts, citizen journalists, and proponents of conspiracy theories. The media activity of anti-vaccination bloggers was recorded throughout the entire pandemic of the coronavirus disease in Ukraine and for some time after its end. The chronology and reasons for the main surges in their activity and audience interest are revealed. The study identified the most common categories appealed to by bloggers in the anti-vaccination campaign, as well as their calls to action and objects of their criticism.
Conclusions. The study demonstrates that Ukrainian vaccination opponents politicize vaccination issues, actively using conspiratorial rhetoric. The key categories of coronaskeptics bloggers’ messages include violations of rights (both fundamental rights and rights to work, choice, etc.), safety (of vaccines or the disease itself), conspiracy theories and moral. The most popular appeal of vaccination opponents is to “think critically” and not comply with requirements related to vaccination or quarantine restrictions. The main objects of criticism are authorities, various institutions, and the media. Further investigation into the discursive strategies of anti-vaccine campaigns will contribute to the formation of an effective counter-narrative.
Structural and content features of the informational and methodological bulletin «Rada»
Authors: Horokhovianko Iryna
Published: October 2024

Introduction. Periodicals of Ukraine requires a detailed scientific study, especially local editions of the period of Independence. The informative and methodical newsletter of the Ternopil Regional Council “Rada” is an extraordinary representative of local periodicals.
Relevance and purpose. The relevance of the research is determined by the lack of scientific studies of periodicals of the Ternopil region. The purpose of the article is to characterize the structural and content features of the informational and methodical bulletin “Rada” as a representative of the local press.
Novelty. The novelty is that the “Rada” bulletin is described according to the typology of periodicals and from the point of view of the structural and content organization of the magazine for the first time.
Methodology. Theoretical sources have been studied using methods of analysis and synthesis. Quantitative and qualitative analysis was used to process the issues of the magazine. The classification features of the gazetteer have been outlined on the basis of a sequential sample. Content analysis, methods of classification and theoretical generalization have been used to describe the collected material.
Results. It has been found out that according to typological features, the Rada newspaper is a text printed magazine periodical, original and monolingual, of official, socio-political and industrial-practical purpose. In accordance with self-positioning, it contains informational materials on various topics and methodological developments in the field of public administration for 2002–2013. The rubric system is subordinated to the communicative strategy of the publication. The author’s diagram reflects their frequency and ratio for the entire time of publication of the gazette and demonstrates a balanced presentation of various thematic materials. Publications of state-building, social, legal, economic, historical, and cultural topics occupy a significant place in the content structure of the publication.
Conclusions. Theoretical sources have been studied using methods of analysis and synthesis. Quantitative and qualitative analysis was used to process the issues of the magazine. The classification features of the gazetteer have been outlined based on a sequential sample. Content analysis, methods of classification and theoretical generalization have been used to describe the collected material.
Berteologi, Berkristologi, dan Berpneumatologi dengan Religiositas Orang Halmahera
Authors: Mojau Julianus
Published: October 2024

AbstractThis article is the result of research concerning the effort to dialogically bring about an encounter about the fundamental content of Christian faith in the Lord God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit as inherited by HalmaheraChristians from delegates of the Utrechtsche Zendingsvereeniging (UZV) with belief in Giki/Gikiri, Gòmánga, Jou, Ngomasa as the content of Halmahera religiosity before Islam and Christian. This effort uses the theological method of translation, anthropology, and praxis from Stephen B. Bevans by considering the soteriological meaning of the psycholinguistic meaning of the word diai in the vocabulary of three Halmahera subethnic groups (Galela, Tobelo, Loloda). Dialogical encounter is an effort to develop doing theology, Christology, and pneumatology with the religiosity of the Halmahera people which results in a new understanding of the character of the content of the Halmahera Christian faith about the Lord God in the form of diai theology, Jesus Christ in the form diai Christology, and the Holy Spirit in the form diai pneumatology which are more sensitive to structural injustice, both economic and political as well as gender and cultural-religious.
AbstrakArtikel ini merupakan hasil penelitian tentang bagaimana upaya memperjumpakan secara dialogis isi iman Kristen fundamental kepada Tuhan Allah, Yesus Kristus, dan Roh Kudus sebagaimana diwarisi oleh orang-orang Kristen Halmahera dari para utusan Utrechtsche Zendingsvereeniging (UZV) dengan kepercayaan kepada Giki/Gikiri, Gòmánga, Jou, Ngomasa sebagai isi religiositas orang Halmahera sebelum Islam dan Kristen. Usaha ini  menggunakan metode berteologi terjemahan, antropologis, dan praksis dari Stephen B. Bevans dengan mempertimbangkan makna soteriologis dari makna psikolinguistik kata diai dalam kosakata tiga subetnis Halmahera (Galela, Tobelo, Loloda). Perjumpaan dialogis merupakan usaha mengembangkan berteologi, berkristologi, dan berpneumatologi dengan religiositas orang Halmahera yang menghasilkan pemahaman baru isi iman Kristen khas ke-Halmahera-an tentang Tuhan Allah dalam bentuk teologi diai, Yesus Kristus dalam bentuk kristologi diai, dan Roh Kudus dalam pneumatologi diai yang lebih peka terhadap ketidakadilan struktural, baikdalam bentuk ketidakadilan ekonomi dan politik maupun gender dan budaya-agama.
Bedah Kosmetik: Modifikasi Tubuh atau Modifikasi Kehidupan?
Authors: Artarini Magdalena Pura Adiputra
Published: October 2024

AbstractNowadays, cosmetic surgery has become a trend that absorbs a lot of public attention and still hot to discuss. These phenomenon leads to fundamental questions about the motivation behind someone undergoing cosmetic surgery and how individuals perceive their bodies. By gathering secondary data from various literature related to cosmetic surgery, it was found that the phenomenon is strongly influenced by several factors such as socio-cultural, psychological and economic aspect. These factors explain how individuals internalize widespread beauty norms, seeing cosmetic surgery as a goal to improve the quality of life, until the body is seen asa commodity that can be traded. This of course, affect how they view their bodies. However, cosmetic surgery also faces issues related to health risks, body image, life satisfaction, ethical dilemmas and moral issues. Therefore, theology needs to be present to provide consideration for those interested in or planning to undergo cosmetic surgery, by discussing the uniqueness of creation in the likeness and image of God, the body as the abode of the Spirit and the moral responsibility of the body. While there’s no definitive answer as to whether cosmetic surgery is permissible or not, theology serves as a means to reassess the motivations, impacts for those considering cosmetic surgery and to offer thoughtful considerations on the matter.
AbstrakHingga kini trend bedah kosmetik banyak menyerap atensi publik dan hangat diperbincangkan. Membawa pada pertanyaan mengenai apa motivasi dibalik seseorang melakukan bedah kosmetik dan bagaimana ia memandang tubuhnya. Dengan mengumpulkan data-data sekunder melalui berbagai literatur terkait topik bedah kosmetik didapatkan temuan bahwa fenomena bedah kosmetik kuat dipengaruhi oleh beberapa faktor seperti sosial-budaya, psikologi dan ekonomi. Faktor-faktor tersebut menjelaskan mulai dari bagaimana seseorang menginternalisasi norma kecantikan yang beredar secara masif, melihat bedah kosmetik sebagai tujuan meningkatkan kualitas hidup, hingga tubuh dilihat sebagai komoditas yang dapat diperjual-belikan; tentu ini berpengaruh pada bagaimana mereka memandang tubuhnya. Resikonya bedah kosmetik menghadapi persoalan di publik terkait dengan resiko kesehatan, citra tubuh, kepuasan hidup, permasalah etis serta moral. Oleh sebab itu teologi perlu hadir untuk memberikan pertimbangan-pertimbangan bagi mereka yang tertarik atau ingin melakukan beda kosmetik melalui pembicaraan tentang keunikan ciptaan terkait gambar-rupa Allah, tubuh sebagai kediaman Roh dan tanggung jawab moral pada Tubuh. Meski tidak ada jawaban yang tegas akan boleh atau tidaknya bedah kosmetik dilakukan, namun teologi hadir sebagai sarana menilik kembali motivasi, dampak, dari seseorang yang ingin melakukan bedah kosmetik dan memberikan pertimbangan terhadapnya.
Institutional investors’ role in implementing book building: Views of market participants
Authors: Bahadur Gurung Jas , Boro Lija , Chapagain Ramkrishna
Published: October 2024

The aim of this paper is to assess the views of market participants concerning the institutional investors’ role in implementing book-building pricing of IPOs as Nepal seeks to implement it. A total of 125 market participants were approached for data collection using a structured questionnaire that took a six-month period from January to June 2020. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to analyze the collected data. The study found that the role of institutional investors in the prevailing stock market is brutally meager because of the restrained regulatory provisions. Market participants opined that institutional investors play a vital role in developing the stock market and executing book building. Implementation of book building demands a rigorous amendment in the existing regulations that allow institutional investors to enter and play in the market. A precise classification and definition of the potential roles of institutional investors are essential so that the application of the building pricing mechanism could be expected to be more effective. Market participants believed that the active participation of institutional investors will help lure manufacturing and real sector companies, trading houses and hotels into the capital market for public offerings. Issue managers, portfolio managers, share registrars, and stockbrokers agree that the role of institutional investors is inevitable in implementing book-building pricing.
Enhancing Predictive Maintenance of Power Transformers Through Machine Learning Approaches
Authors: Pacheco Carla , Paes Vagner , Carvalho Marcelo , Lopes Felipe , Machado Gabriel , Garcia Alex , Neto Edmilson , Santos Jefferson , Haeusler Edward , Marotti Ana
Published: October 2024

This paper focuses on the use of machine learning algorithms to assist in predictive maintenance, aiming to reduce downtime and associated costs for electrical equipment. It introduces two machine learning predictive indicators: the Chromatographic Assay Indicator (CAI) and the Electrical Failure Risk Indicator (EFRI), which leverage chromatographic and sensor data, respectively. The CAI indicator was trained on external data, and its generalization capability was assessed using company-specific chromatographic data with expert assistance. The evaluation involved two heuristics, both focusing on keyword identification in free-text diagnoses. Results showed over 90% accuracy in predicting failures in reactors and power transformers, and an AUC of nearly 85% for reactors. Additionally, CAI outperformed classical Dissolved Gas Analysis (DGA) methods. On the other hand, the EFRI indicator was trained using company’s internal data from a monitoring system of operational sensors and maintaining power transformer data. The classification model achieved over 95% accuracy and an AUC of almost 90% on the test set. These results indicate that both indicators can be integrated into a solution to support maintenance specialists in their decision-making processes.
Volatile and Non-Volatile Compounds Profiling of Brazilian Pitanga (Eugenia uniflora L.) Varieties During Ripening using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Approach
Authors: B. Pascoal Grazieli , L. R. Meza Silvia , C. Tobaruela Eric , Franzon Rodrigo Cezar , L. Massaretto Isabel , Purgatto Eduardo
Published: October 2024

Brazil is home to a rich biodiversity of native edible fruits renowned for their health-promoting compounds and flavors. Among these, Eugenia uniflora L. (Brazilian pitanga) is particularly notable. The fruit varies in color from yellow to purple and is prized for its intense aroma and versatile taste profile. However, information about the compounds responsible for their nutritional and sensory potential is still limited. This study analyzed volatile compounds and metabolites in yellow, red and purple pitanga fruits (Eugenia uniflora) at various ripening stages, exploiting a metabolomics approach. Yellow pitanga had 30 volatile compounds, with esters (40%), terpenes (26.67%) and aldehydes (16.67%) constituting 83.34% of identified volatile compounds. Red pitanga featured 26 volatile compounds, primarily terpenes and esters (each 30.77%) and aldehydes (15.38%), making up 76.92%. Purple pitanga contained 39 volatile compounds, with terpenes and esters (each 35.90%) and aldehydes (17.95%), totaling 89.75% of identified volatile compounds. Across all pitanga types, 124 metabolites were identified, including saturated fatty acids (17.74%), terpenes (17.74%) and sugars (16.93%), constituting 52.41% of identified metabolites. Future studies should provide nutritional information, consumption methods and industrial applications for pitanga fruits, focusing on sensory analysis, health benefits, preservation and breeding to enhance bioactive compounds and flavor.