bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Osteomyelitis and immune cell phenotypes: a study based on a Mendelian randomisation approach
Authors: Long Kehan , Dong Sumiao , Yu Dou , Gong Ao , Ying Zhendong
Published: December 2023

Background: Osteomyelitis is a severe bone marrow infection, whose pathogenesis is not fully understood. This study aims to explore the causal relationship between immune cell characteristics and osteomyelitis, in hopes of providing new insights for the prevention and treatment of osteomyelitis.
Methods: Based on two independent samples, this study employed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to assess the causal relationship between 731 immune cell characteristics (divided into 7 groups) and osteomyelitis. Genetic variants were used as proxies for risk factors to ensure the selected instrumental variables meet the three key assumptions of MR analysis. GWAS data for immune characteristics came from the public GWAS catalog, while data for osteomyelitis was sourced from the Finnish database.
Results: At a significance level of 0.05, 21 immune phenotypes were identified as having a causal relationship with the development of osteomyelitis. In the B cell group, phenotypes such as Memory B cell %B cell, CD20- %B cell, and Memory B cell %lymphocyte showed a positive causal relationship with osteomyelitis, while Naive-mature B cell %B cell and IgD- CD38- AC phenotypes showed a negative causal relationship. In addition, specific immune phenotypes in the cDC cell group, Myeloid cell group, TBNK cell group, T cell maturation stage, and Treg cell group also showed significant associations with osteomyelitis. Through reverse MR analysis, it was found that osteomyelitis had no significant causal impact on these immune phenotypes, suggesting that the occurrence of osteomyelitis might not in turn affect these immune cell phenotypes.
Conclusion: This study reveals for the first time the causal relationship between specific immune cell characteristics and the development of osteomyelitis, providing a new perspective for understanding the immune mechanism of osteomyelitis. These findings are significant for formulating targeted prevention and treatment strategies, and hold promise for improving the clinical treatment outcomes of patients’ osteomyelitis.
Infestation and related ecology of chiggers on the large-eared field mouse (Apodemus latronum), an endemic rodent species in southwest China
Authors: Liu Qiao-Yi , Guo Xian-Guo , Fan Rong , Song Wen-Yu , Peng Pei-Ying , Zhao Ya-Fei , Jin Dao-Chao
Published: December 2023

Chiggers generally refer to the larvae of chigger mites, and they are the exclusive vector of scrub typhus. Based on the field surveys in the five provincial regions of southwest China between 2001 and 2022, the present paper first reported the infestation and related ecology of chiggers on the large-eared field mouse (Apodemus latronum), an endemic rodent species in the region. A total of 501 A. latronum were captured and examined, and 933 chiggers collected from the mice were identified as 2 families, 8 genera, and 61 species. The overall infestation prevalence (PM) and mean abundance (MA) of A. latronum with chiggers reached 19.76% and 1.86 mites/host, respectively. Of 61 chigger species identified from the mice, Leptotrombidium bayanense, Neotrombicula tongtianhensis, L. rupestre and L. yongshengense were four dominant species, which were of aggregated distribution among the different individuals of their host, A. latronum. The interspecific relationship analysis showed that a positive or negative correlation existed between any two of the four dominant chigger species. The male A. latronum harbored more chiggers with higher infestation prevalence (PM = 20.25%), mean abundance (MA = 2.31 mites/host) and mean intensity (MI = 11.42 mites/host) than the female mice (PM = 18.68%, MA = 1.11 mites/host, MI = 5.94 mites/host) with p > 0.05. The infestation indices of chiggers on adult A. latronum (PM = 38.28%, MA = 5.11) were higher than those on juvenile mice (PM = 12.63%, MA = 0.97) with p < 0.01, showing an age bias in the infestation. The relative fatness (K) was introduced to reflect the nutrition status of the mouse host. The mouse hosts with good nutrition (K = 3.4±0.89g/cm3) harbored fewer chiggers than the hosts with poor nutrition (K = 2.2±0.90g/cm3) (p < 0.01). Based on Preston’s lognormal model, the theoretical curve of the species abundance distribution of chigger community on A. latronum was successfully fitted, the expected theoretical total number of chigger species on A. latronum in southwest China was estimated to be 93 species.
Unsupervised robot-assisted rehabilitation after stroke: feasibility, effect on therapy dose, and user experience
Authors: Devittori Giada , Dinacci Daria , Romiti Davide , Califfi Antonella , Petrillo Claudio , Rossi Paolo , Ranzani Raffaele , Gassert Roger , Lambercy Olivier
Published: December 2023

Background
Unsupervised robot-assisted rehabilitation is a promising approach to increase the dose of therapy after stroke, which may help promote sensorimotor recovery without requiring significant additional resources and manpower. However, the unsupervised use of robotic technologies is not yet a standard, as rehabilitation robots often show low usability or are considered unsafe to be used by patients independently. In this paper we explore the feasibility of unsupervised therapy with an upper limb rehabilitation robot in a clinical setting, evaluate the effect on the overall therapy dose, and assess user experience during unsupervised use of the robot and its usability.
Methods
Subacute stroke patients underwent a four-week protocol composed of daily 45 minutes-sessions of robot-assisted therapy. The first week consisted of supervised therapy, where a therapist explained how to interact with the device. The second week was minimally supervised, i.e., the therapist was present but intervened only if needed. After this phase, if participants learnt how to use the device, they proceeded to two weeks of fully unsupervised training. Feasibility, dose of robot-assisted therapy achieved during unsupervised use, user experience, and usability of the device were the primary outcome measures. Questionnaires to evaluate usability and user experience were performed after the minimally supervised week and at the end of the study, to evaluate the impact of therapists’ absence.
Results
Unsupervised robot-assisted therapy was found to be feasible, as 12 out of the 13 recruited participants could progress to unsupervised training. During the two weeks of unsupervised therapy participants on average performed an additional 360 minutes of robot-assisted rehabilitation. Participants were satisfied with the device usability (mean System Usability Scale scores > 79), and no adverse events or device deficiencies occurred.
Conclusions
We demonstrated that unsupervised robot-assisted therapy in a clinical setting with an actuated device for the upper limb was feasible and can lead to a meaningful increase in therapy dose.
Trial registration
Registered on 13.05.2020 on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04388891).
Neutrophil subsets play dual roles in tuberculosis by producing inflammasome dependent-IL-1β or suppressing T-cells via PD-L1
Authors: WINTER Nathalie , DOZ-DEBLAUWE Emilie , BOUNAB Badreddine , CARRERAS Florence , SILVEIRA-FAHEL Julia , OLIVEIRA Sergio C. , LAMKANFI Mohamed , VERN Yves LE , GERMON Pierre , PICHON Julien , KEMPF Florent , PAGET Christophe , REMOT Aude
Published: December 2023

Neutrophils can be beneficial or deleterious during tuberculosis (TB). Based on the expression of MHC-II and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), we distinguished two functionally and transcriptionally distinct neutrophil subsets in the lungs of mice infected with mycobacteria. Inflammatory [MHC-II−, PD-L1lo] neutrophils produced inflammasome-dependent IL-1β in the lungs in response to virulent mycobacteria and “accelerated” deleterious inflammation, which was highly exacerbated in IFN-γR−/− mice. Regulatory [MHC-II+, PD-L1hi] neutrophils “brake” inflammation by suppressing T-cell proliferation and IFN-γ production. Such beneficial regulation, which depends on PD-L1, is controlled by IFN-γR signaling in neutrophils. The hypervirulent HN878 strain from the Beijing genotype curbed PD-L1 expression by regulatory neutrophils, abolishing the braking function and driving deleterious hyper-inflammation in the lungs. These findings add a layer of complexity to the roles played by neutrophils in TB and may explain the reactivation of this disease observed in cancer patients treated with anti-PD-L1.
Dengue fever outbreak in Puntland State, Somalia, November 2022-May 2023
Authors: Jama Saaid Said , Abshir Said Nuriye , Jama Jibril Said , Abdi Mohamed Mohamud
Published: December 2023

Dengue infection is a mosquito-borne, endemic viral disease, particularly in developing countries. Here, we report the results of the clinicodemographic, serologic profile, and monthly occurrence of a recent dengue fever outbreak in Puntland State (Somalia). We analyzed the data of 956 dengue-suspected patients who were investigated using the rapid diagnostic testing (RDTs) method for detecting NS1 (dengue virus non-structural protein) and IgM antibodies employing the SD Biosensor Dengue Dou NS Ag and IgM test kit (Germany) at the Puntland Public Health Referral Laboratory in the period from November 21, 2022, to May 27, 2023. We found that 118 cases were positive for dengue among the suspected patients enrolled in the present study. Of these cases, 86.4% were dengue NSI positive, and 23.7% were dengue IgM positive. The number of females and males in the confirmed cases was equal, and most (48.3%) were aged 20 years or less. 43.1% of them lived in the Nugal region, particularly in Garowe. Clinically, fever was the most frequent symptom (88.9%). The cases peaked in December 2022 but dropped from January to March, with a slight rise in February, and then increased in April and May 2023. We recommend improving vector control measures, strengthening dengue surveillance, developing an early warning system, and future studies to characterize the circulating strains.
CHINESE AND JAPANESE PHRASEOLOGISMS: A COMPARATIVE ASPECT
Authors: Perepadia Daria , Malakhova Yulia
Published: December 2023

The article is devoted to the study of the phraseological fund of the Chinese and Japanese languages, in particular to the comparative analysis of phraseological units from the point of view of their form, structure, features of drawing hieroglyphic signs, semantics and national-cultural components contained in them. The national-cultural specificity of the Chinese and Japanese phraseology is closely related to the characteristic features of the people’s consciousness, the relationship between the language and thinking, the language and culture, therefore the main research approach is primarily comparative, linguistic and cultural. The work examines the development of the Chinese language and culture on the formation and development of the phraseological system of the Japanese language, outlines the relationship between the Chinese and the Japanese idioms. A comparison of the forms of drawing hieroglyphs represents changes in the writing systems of the Chinese and Japanese languages, caused by the historical processes of the development of both languages. The diversity of language habits is reflected in the change in the order of words in a phraseological unit in the Japanese language while preserving the original meaning of the Chinese original source. A number of Japanese idioms borrowed from the Chinese language demonstrate the process of adaptation to the features of the Japanese language, which is determined by the change of certain components in the structure of the phraseology. Despite the close ties and borrowing of elements of the Chinese language and culture, the Japanese language has created its own, purely Japanese, phraseological units that contain national and cultural components that reproduce elements of the people’s lifestyle, customs and historical facts. The composition, structure, national and cultural connotation of the actual Japanese idioms distinguish them from idioms built with the norms of the wenyan, the classical Chinese language. They came from the Chinese language and then became entrenched in the language and consciousness of the Japanese people.
OLEKSANDR BUCHYNSKYI-YASKOLD, PEDAGOGUE AND POET OF THE 2NDHALF OF THE 17THCENTURY
Authors: Samoilenko Hryhorii
Published: December 2023

The author characterizes life and creative work of Oleksandr Buchynskyi-Yaskold, who belonged to Chernihiv literature school of the 2ndhalf of the 17thc., headed by Lazar Baranovych, the archbishop of Chernihiv and Novhorod-Siverskyi. Special attention is drawn to the poem “Chyhyryn”, dedicated to hetman Ivan Samoilovych, in which the poet vividly described a historic episode of the fight of cossacks against Turkish forces, who tried to capture the capital of Right-Bank Ukraine, Chyhyryn. The poem is filled with examples of cossacks’ bravery, their military spirit. The historic exactness of described events impressed Samiilo Velychko, a historian of the 17th-18thc., who in his “Chronicle” uses the text of Oleksandr Buchynskyi-Yaskold’s poem in his narrative about the first march of Ottoman Turkish army with Crimean Tatars against Cossacks, who defended Chyhyryn, The combination of two texts in “Chronicle” contributed to more fundamental and exact representation of historical events.
Innovation Management Approaches: Design Value Calculator Gamification
Authors: Svirakova Eva , Kramolis Jan
Published: December 2023

Design is a specific form of complex innovation that affects all areas of an organization’s management. However, the essence of design is vague, and it is difficult to fully grasp the concept of design. Therefore, it is difficult to find criteria for determining its value. The problem of establishing a causal relationship between design value and user experience is addressed in this paper. The relationship between these two variables affects the importance of design in organizations and can be used to quantify the value of design. Indeed, based on the results of existing research, it is known that this term has many meanings, and it is necessary to reject the possibility of its total quantification. Much of the related research has focused on the area of user experience and customer value, while other related research has focused on design value, which cannot be measured directly but rather, for example, through system dynamic modelling. This approach, i.e., the use of a system dynamic model to determine the value of design, is still missing in the research literature. The main research method for determining the value of design is the experimental method, supported by other research methods: modelling and structured questioning. Inputs to the model, which represent the opinions of the company’s managers on the design, are obtained through a board game that provides an attractive and easy-to-understand user interface for the research participants. The value of design is determined by using a sample case study that contains key variables according to the company’s business model. The value of the design is calculated based on the indicator “design cost-effectiveness” over six years of the start-up company’s business. The indicator is experimentally verified in a model with an identical structure and different scenarios concerning the involvement of design change in the economic development of the firm. This paper aims to use the gamified DVCG model as an innovative concept in business management through a case study. The contribution of the paper to science and practice is to provide experimentally validated evidence to help identify the areas where design investments are needed to make the most sense for the economics and management of the organization.
Action of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) in Cardiovascular Disease Treatment
Authors: Duran Nelson , Fávaro Wagner J , Luzo Angela C M
Published: December 2023

Atherosclerosis, or coronary artery disease, is an inflammatory disorder capable of affecting large arteries. It is also the main cause of cardiovascular disease and stroke, and its main causative factors lie on lipid accumulation in, and inflammation of, large arteries. The aim of the current study is to investigate the need of conducting better therapeutic assessments in more clinically relevant animal models of ischemic stroke, as well as the action of platelet rich plasma in modulating inflammatory processes in cardiac injury cases.
On the effectiveness of the interest rate channel within inflation targeting in Ukraine: a VAR approach
Authors: Bublyk Yevhen , Korablin Sergiy , Shapoval Yuliia
Published: December 2023

Assessing the effectiveness of the inflation targeting framework via the interest rate channel remains crucial in the current monetary policy debate. For Ukraine, the relevance of this discussion is enhanced by the adoption by the National Bank of a rigid inflation targeting policy since 2016, as well as by the challenges of price stability during war. The aim of the study is to identify how the discount rate affects the money market rates and how this affects inflation in Ukraine. Employing a VAR model on monthly data spanning 2016 – Q1 2022, the analysis demonstrates weak empirical evidence for the interest rate channel effectiveness. The impulse response indicates that the discount rate’s initial effect does not provide long-term inflation dynamics control. Variance decomposition analysis highlights the minimal influence of the NBU’s discount rate, primarily evident in the refinancing rate, followed by its impact on the rate of term deposits made by individuals, followed by the inflation, followed by the rate of new loans granted to residents, and finally the rate of government bond yields. Addressing the limitations of a rigid inflation targeting approach, the study recommends adopting a balanced approach, considering both price stability supported by exchange rate control measures and fostering economic growth. Additionally, a viable strategy for deepening the financial sector should be developed.
Jóvenes creadores de contenidos en torno a las autolesiones: identificación de metalenguajes en X (Twitter)
Authors: Martínez-Pastor Esther , Gaete-Salgado Catalina
Published: December 2023

Ante el aumento de las autolesiones no suicidas entre menores esta investigación se centra en conocer el contenido que generan los jóvenes en la red social de X (antes Twitter). Son parte de una comunidad digital y crean códigos lingüísticos verbales y no verbales entorno a las autolesiones. Para identificarlos se han plateado estos objetivos :1) identificar los idiomas prevalentes en tweets vinculados a las autolesiones, 2) conocer los hashtags y palabras concretas vinculadas a las autolesiones en tweets y 3) comprender el significado de los emoticonos que utilizan y comparten en tweets. Para ello se ha realizado una investigación cuantitativa y cualitativa. Mediante una API que recolectó en Twitter un total de 187.906 tweets, provenientes de 66.732 de usuarios distintos, entre noviembre de 2022 y junio de 2023 sobre autolesiones. De ese total se llevó a cabo un análisis cualitativo de 1000 tweets que tenían el mayor número de likes por semana. Entre los principales resultados obtenidos se destaca que se utilizan los idiomas más hablados en el mundo después del chino mandarín: el inglés y el español. Asimismo, los jóvenes han generado en las redes un argot de hashtags y palabras concretas vinculadas a las autolesiones para no ser identificados por las redes; y que demuestran sus emociones a través de emoticonos.
On contact problems with a deformable punch and variable rheology
Authors:   Southern Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Babeshko Vladimir A. ,   Kuban State University, Evdokimova Olga V. ,   Kuban State University, Babeshko Olga M. ,   Kuban State University, Zaretskaya Marina V. ,   Kuban State University, Evdokimov Vladimir S. ,   Kuban State University
Published: December 2023

The paper presents for the first time one of the methods for studying and solving contact problems with a deformed stamp for those cases when there is a need to change the rheology of the stamp material. It is based on a new universal modeling method previously published by the authors, which is used in boundary value problems for systems of partial differential equations. With its help, solutions of complex vector boundary value problems for systems of differential equations can be decomposed into solutions of scalar boundary value problems for individual differential equations. Among them, the Helmholtz equations are the simplest. Solutions to scalar boundary value problems are represented as fractals, self-similar mathematical objects first introduced by the American mathematician B. Mandelbrot. The role of fractals is performed by packed block elements. The transition from systems of differential equations in partial derivatives to individual equations is carried out using the transformation of academician B. G. Galerkin or representation by potentials. It is known that the solutions of dynamic contact problems with a deformable stamp of complex rheology are cumbersome, and their study is always difficult. The problem is complicated by the presence of discrete resonant frequencies in such problems, which were once discovered by Academician I. I. Vorovich.
Natural vibrations of composite cylindrical shells partially filled with fluid
Authors:   Institute of Continuous Media Mechanics of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Bochkarev Sergey A. , Lekomtsev Sergey V. ,   Institute of Continuous Media Mechanics of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Matveenko Valerii P. ,   Institute of Continuous Media Mechanics of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Published: December 2023

The article presents the results of studies of natural vibrations of circular vertical multilayer cylindrical shells completely or partially filled with a stationary compressible fluid and subjected to hydrostatic load. The behavior of the elastic structure and the fluid medium is described using the classical shell theory and the Euler equations. The effects of sloshing on the free surface of the fluid are not considered. The linearized equations of motion for shells together with the corresponding geometric and physical relations are reduced to a system of ordinary differential equations with respect to new unknowns. The acoustic wave equation is transformed to a system of differential equations using the generalized differential quadrature method. The formulated boundary value problem is solved by Godunov’s method of orthogonal sweep. The natural frequencies of vibrations are calculated based on the combination of a stepwise procedure and subsequent refinement by the method of dividing in half. The reliability of the obtained results is verified by comparison with the known numerical solutions. The dependence of low vibration frequencies on the reinforcing angle and the level of the structure filling with a fluid for simply supported rigidly clamped and cantilevered two-layer and three-layer cylindrical shells with a fluid are analyzed in detail. It is demonstrated that the possibility of changing the frequencies and vibration modes through a suitable choice of the layer arrangement scheme and the reinforcing angle of the composite material is notably determined by a prescribed combination of boundary conditions for an elastic body.
An overview of works of the scientific school created by V. A. Yakubovich on the issues of artificial intelligence and robotics
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Matveev Аleksei S. , Fradkov Аlexander L. ,   St. Petersburg State University, Shepeljavyi Аlexander I. ,   St. Petersburg State University
Published: December 2023

The article presents an overview of the works of the scientific school of V. A. Yakubovich in the field of artificial intelligence, machine learning, adaptive systems, and robotics. The method of recurrent objective inequalities is considered in detail. The significance of the presented results for the further development of cybernetics and artificial intelligence is discussed. Special attention is given to seminal works of V. A. Yakubovich on machine learning and to the development of the concept of finitely converging algorithms for solving recurrent objective inequalities; some typical results on their convergence are discussed in detail for the sake of illustration. The paper distinctly highlights the contribution of the school to the formation and development of the modern theories of adaptive control and mathematical robotics, particularly the theory of adaptive robots. A special section is concerned with adaptive sub-optimal control.
Kindred diagrams
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Nezhinskij Vladimir M. ,   The Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia
Published: December 2023

By a diagram we mean a topological space obtained by gluing to a standard circle a finite number of pairwise non-intersecting closed rectangles along their lateral sides, the glued rectangles are pairwise disjoint. Diagrams are not new objects; they were used in many areas of low-dimensional topology. Our main goal is to develop the theory of diagrams to a level sufficient for application in one more branch - in the theory of tangles. We provide the diagrams with simple additional structures - the smoothness of the circles and rectangles that are pairwise consistent with each other, the orientation of the circle, a point on the circle; we introduce new equivalence relation (that is as far as the author knows not previously encountered in the scientific literature) - kindred relation; we define a surjective mapping of the set of classes of kindred diagrams onto the set of classes of diffeomorphic smooth compact connected two-dimensional manifolds with boundary and note that in the simplest cases this surjection is also a bijection. The application of the constructed theory to the tangle theory requires additional preparation and therefore is not included in this article; the author intends to devote a separate publication to this application.
Asymptotical separation of harmonics by Singular Spectrum Analysis
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University, Nekrutkin Vladimir V.
Published: December 2023

The paper is devoted to the sufficient conditions for the asymptotical separation of distinct terms in the linear combination of harmonics by Singular Spectrum Analysis (briefly SSA).
A Reflective Practice of Intensive Teaching of EFL to Non-English Majors in a Hybrid Mode: Insights from an EFL Class from Eastern Siberia
Authors:   Department of Modern Languages in Sciences, M.K. Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University, Russian Federation., Sidorova L.V. , Lukina N.A.
Published: December 2023

The article discusses the intensive English language training for non-English major students at the North-Eastern Federal University, Russia’s Far East region. This study checks out the efficacy of an intensive hybrid teaching model in undergraduate students. The intensive method of teaching is aimed at creating an activating environment for the concurrent development of English skills in non-English major students. The theory of the intensive methodology in the EFL field has been studied in Russian and international research. The intensive hybrid training model combining digital and face-to-face instruction is presented in this article. During the intensive training, 100 undergraduate non-English major students took part in experimental learning. Placement test for students was conducted at the start of the academic year and the final test upon completion of the academic year. The results of the test in the control and experimental groups are also presented. Moreover, the problems in using the intensive hybrid training model are identified.
Disrupting the Binary: An Argument for Cybernetic Feminism in Deconstructing AI’s Gendered Algorithms
Authors:   Institute of Liberal Arts & Humanities, Chandigarh University, Rahmatullah Mohammad , Gupta Tanu
Published: December 2023

This research paper embarks on a comprehensive exploration of the complex interplay between gender biases and Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms, framed through the lens of cybernetic feminism. Drawing on a rich body of interdisciplinary literature, the paper critically examines how biases are not mere reflections of existing societal norms but are intricately woven into the very architecture of algorithms. The paper delves into various sectors impacted by these biases, including healthcare and employment, and underscores the ethical and policy implications arising from the use of biased algorithms. It argues for a multi-pronged, interdisciplinary approach to address these biases, highlighting the dynamic and evolving role of cybernetic feminism as both a methodological and ethical framework. The paper also outlines potential avenues for future research, emphasizing the need for longitudinal studies and a broader understanding of intersectional identities. By synthesizing key insights from seminal works in AI ethics, feminist theory, and legal studies, this paper serves as an urgent call to action, advocating for a more equitable digital future through concerted efforts across technological, ethical, and policy domains.
Exploring Collective Experiences: Menstruation-related Memes and Menstrual Narratives in Social Media as an Avant-garde Form of Life Writing
Authors:   Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad, India., Shaju Josiya P , Sinha Jyotsna , Joseph Soni
Published: December 2023

The increasing prominence of social media as a platform for collective expression has facilitated the sharing of diverse experiences, including emotions, challenges, and circumstances, within distinct social groups. Notable hashtag campaigns such as #Metoo, #HappytoBleed, #TimesUp, #HeForShe, #EverydaySexism, and #IWillGoOut exemplify this trend, as they address pertinent issues concerning women’s rights and gender equality. In this context, menstruation narratives, communicated through various mediums such as stories, oral traditions, myths, and videos, are significant in conveying the collective experiences of menstruating individuals, and fostering camaraderie and support among those who share similar encounters. The advent and widespread utilization of social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, have provided menstruating individuals with an accessible avenue to share their experiences, concerns, struggles, and anxieties through diverse content formats, such as written posts, images, video blogs, and memes. Notably, memes have emerged as a particularly popular medium for articulating collective life experiences, encompassing the sphere of menstruation. Widely disseminated on social media, these memes have become influential tools for communication, encapsulating shared sentiments in a visually engaging and often humorous manner. Against this backdrop, this research paper scrutinizes social media’s emergence as a novel platform for collective life expressions, with a specific focus on menstrual memes. It delves into the realm of life writing, exploring the varied ways in which menstruating individuals utilize social media to articulate their experiences. Additionally, it sheds light on the significant communicative potential of memes on menstruation, exemplifying their capacity to foster meaningful dialogues and challenge the societal stigma surrounding this natural phenomenon.
AI Take-Over in Literature and Culture: Truth, Post-Truth, and Simulation
Authors:   Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, National Institute of Technology Durgapur, India., Pramanik Sumanta , Rai Shri Krishan
Published: December 2023

In a world that is increasingly lost to narrative building, deep fakes, simulation of realities and dissemination of fake news generated by artificial intelligence (AI), we are moving towards a post-truth era. Our thoughts are being manipulated and twisted with (mis)information for the benefit of people in power; thus, our consent is being manufactured with the aid of AI, resulting in ideological imperialism. In such a scenario, when AI is slowly taking control over the planet and creating our digital replicas by cloning our consciousness, what will our future look like? Humans’ creative pursuits have already predicted such futures in various movies, comics, novels and web series depicting the myriad complications associated with an impending AI takeover. Thus, contextualising today’s scenario within the scope of the future, the paper aims to dissect some popular speculative narratives offered through various tissues of culture, including movies, comics, novels and web series, to comprehend the consequences those narratives generate to grasp the changing relationalities between real and unreal, and truth and post-truth in a world run in codes and simulation.
Large Language Model-based Tools in Language Teaching to Develop Critical Thinking and Sustainable Cognitive Structures
Authors:   Christ (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, India., Joseph Sindhu
Published: December 2023

Experts assert that Large Language Model (LLM) based tools like ChatGPT are the next generation in the evolution of Artificial Intelligence and will permeate all walks of human life including education. The current narrative is that we need to embed the LLM-based tools into the system taking advantage of their personalised, dynamic, adaptive nature while being mindful of their limitations. One of the greatest limitations so far identified is that these pre-trained transformer-based encoder models fine-tuned on Natural Language Processing (NLP) tasks do not reveal verifiable reasoning ability. As a result, the information generated by these tools is subject to ethical and factual errors that need human oversight. This paper uses the integrative literature review to identify and synthesize Critical Digital Literacy frameworks in language teaching in the light of the essential competencies and learning domains identified by the UNESCO Education for Sustainable Development directives. The Critical AI Literacy framework proposed in this paper would enable language teachers to adopt LLM-based tools to enhance their instructional strategies. The cognitive, affective and conative competencies developed through the new CAIL framework would empower learners to understand the manipulative nature of language and use language to build a sustainable future.
Why do Words with Negative Connotations Still Exist? A Corpus-Based Analysis of the Words ‘Handicapped’, ‘Diffable’, and ‘Disability’
Authors:   Study Program of Indonesian Language and Literature Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, University of Jember, Jember, East Java, Indonesia., Yolanda Yoga , Setyono Budi
Published: December 2023

This corpus-based study examines the persistence of negatively connoted words in the Indonesian, particularly focusing on cacat (handicapped). Cacat is compared to its synonyms, namely difabel (difable) and disabilitas (disability). The study employs a mixed-methods approach, using data from Indonesian corpora, specifically ‘ind_mixed_2013’ and ‘Korpus Indonesia.’ The analysis results indicate a gradual transition from the use of the word cacat to disabilitas in discussions about human conditions, while cacat still retains important metaphorical meanings in specific contexts and is irreplaceable. Recommendations encompass a review of language term absorption rules in Indonesian, stipulating that new words must be euphemistic and free from negative connotations, to be undertaken by the government.
Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe
Authors:   Christ (Deemed to be University), Tom Anjitha
Published: December 2023

Gender Queer: A Memoir is one of the most challenged books in the US since its publication in 2019. The life and creative expressions of Maia Kobabe, an American cartoonist, serve to challenge the conventional heterosexual coherence that our society is built upon. Through eir work Gender Queer: A Memoir which is presented in graphic format, Maia recounts eir experiences during childhood and adolescence, grappling with uncertainties surrounding gender identity, sexuality, and the process of coming out. The memoir is composed of a retrospective standpoint after Maia has come to embrace a non-binary, genderqueer identity and identifies as asexual.
Book Review: Spiritual Sensations: Cinematic Religious Experience and Evolving Conceptions of the Sacred by Sarah K. Balstrup
Authors:   School of Communication and Creative Arts, Deakin University & College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, Flinders University, Kozlovic Anton Karl
Published: December 2023

This painstakingly researched dissertation turned monograph is the latest offering in a scant series of academic endeavours akin to Devotional Cinema (Nathaniel Dorsky, 2003), Cinema and Sentiment: Film’s Challenge to Theology (Clive Marsh, 2004), and Dreams, Doubt, and Dread: The Spiritual in Film (Zachary Settle & Taylor Worley, 2016). Balstrup attempted to use the popular cinema for ‘an exploration of spiritual experiences and the conditions that are necessary to bring them about…[because] film directors are particularly well equipped to engage the senses and to facilitate powerful viewing experiences’ (p. 1).
Interpersonal Acceptance-Rejection: Disclosing Rohner’s Subtheories in Peter Carey’s The Unusual Life of Tristan Smith
Authors:   Sri Sarada College for Women (Autonomous), Salem. Tamil Nadu. India., Parvathavardhini B.
Published: December 2023

Acceptance and Rejection are the key concepts that influence an individual’s psychological and emotional well-being. Interpersonal Acceptance-Rejection Theory (IPAR Theory) postulated by Ronald P. Rohner and his colleagues offers a framework for understanding the intense influence of interpersonal acceptance and rejection on individuals’ psychological and social outcomes. Understanding the dynamics of Interpersonal Acceptance-Rejection is crucial for fostering inclusive and supporting circumstances. This paper does the same by disclosing and contextualizing Rohner’s Subtheories in Peter Philip Carey’s The Unusual Life of Tristan Smith. Through his writings, Carey delves into the complex workings of his character’s psyche, thereby giving scope for the readers to explore the interior lives of his characters – their desires, fears, inner conflicts and motivations. The Unusual Life of Tristan Smith is a picaresque narrative that centres on Tristan, the titular character born with physical deformities. The complexities of his life in a society that is obsessed with physical perfection raise questions about the conventional notions of Acceptance and Rejection. This paper highlights the Acceptance-Rejection phenomena in Tristan’s life and their implications.
Challenging the Episteme with Storytelling: Learning without Limits the Native Way
Authors:   IIHS, Kurukshetra University Kurukshetra, Pal Virender
Published: December 2023

Leslie Marmon Silko is an eminent writer among the Native Americans who is trying to resuscitate Native culture and reconstruct the identity of her people. In her novels like Ceremony and Almanac of the Dead, she has extensively written about the Native way of life. Her short stories are also an endeavour to construct the identity of her people. Due to her concern with the construction of the identity of her people, she often compares white institutions with the Native institutions. In her short story “Man to Bring the Rainclouds”, she compares the death rituals of her people with the Christian rituals and establishes that the Pueblo customs were deeply connected with the land. The current paper is a study of her short story “Humaweepi, The Warrior the Priest.” In the story, she compares the whites’ methods of educating the children to her people’s methods of educating the younger generation. She establishes in the story that the Pueblo way of educating the children was superior because it did not put any strain on the learner; rather the student learned everything without any stress or labour. Moreover, the Native system of education taught the learner about the importance of developing a bond with the natural world and hence trained the students to become eco-warriors.
To the 85th anniversary of Vladimir P. Podzolkov
Authors: Article Editorial
Published: December 2023

Vladimir P. Podzolkov celebrated his anniversary on November 15. He is an outstanding Russian scientist, cardiac surgeon, one of the founders of pediatric cardiac surgery. His name is associated with the formation and development of surgical treatment of complex congenital heart defects, including abnormalities of the intrathoracic location, which were previously considered inoperable. His fundamental works have formed modern pediatric cardiac surgery, his monographs and textbooks are reference books for the younger generation of cardiac surgeons and recognized professionals.
Long-term normothermic autoperfusion of the cardiopulmonary complex ex vivo as a method of effective graft conditioning: an experimental study
Authors: Zhulkov M.O. , Tarkova A.R. , Zykov I.S. , Makaev A.G. , Protopopov A.V. , Murtazaliev M.N. , Kosimov F.Yu. , Karmadonova N.A. , Smirnov Ya.M. , Kliver E.E. , Volkov A.M. , Agaeva H.A. , Sirota D.A.
Published: December 2023

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of 6-hour normothermic autoperfusion of a heart graft ex vivo with pharmaco-cold preservation using Bretschneider's solution (Custodiol, Dr Franz Köhler Chemie GmbH, Bensheim, Germany).Methods: Landrace pigs weighing 50 ± 5 kg and aged 4–5 months (n = 10) were selected as a model for a series of acute experiments. Cardiopulmonary conditioning using autoperfusion was conducted for 6 hours on the experimental group (n = 5). On the other hand, the control group underwent a 6-hour pharmaco-cold preservation with Bretschneider solution to recover the heart's pumping function. Graft preservation effectiveness was evaluated by measuring hemodynamic parameters, heartbeat, and myocardial ischemia marker concentrations.Results: After reperfusion and isolation of the working cardiopulmonary complex, cardiac output was 0.63 [0.37; 0.8] L/min and 0.37 [0.23; 0.37] L/min in the experimental and control groups, respectively (P < .05). The levels of CPK-MB, LDH, troponin-I, and lactate in the coronary sinus blood was significantly higher in the control group.Conclusion: The study demonstrated significant benefits of normothermic autoperfusion in maintaining the morphofunctional status of the donor heart compared to pharmaco-cold preservation using Bretschneider's solution for 6 hours of ex vivo graft conditioning.
Received 16 July 2023. Revised 8 September 2023. Accepted 11 September 2023.
Funding: The study was carried out within the framework of project No. 23-25-10013 (agreement No. 23-25-10013 dated April 20, 2023 with the Russian Science Foundation, agreement No. р-52 dated April 3, 2023 with the Ministry of Science and Innovation Policy of the Novosibirsk Region).
Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Contribution of the authorsConception and study design: M.O. Zhulkov, D.A. Sirota, I.S. ZykovData collection and analysis: M.O. Zhulkov, A.R. Tarkova, I.S. Zykov, A.G. Makaev, A.V. Protopopov, M.N. Murtazaliev, F.Yu. Kosimov, N.A. Karmadonova, Ya.M. Smirnov, E.E. Kliver, A.M. Volkov, H.A. Agaeva, D.A. SirotaStatistical analysis: M.O. ZhulkovDrafting the article: M.O. ZhulkovCritical revision of the article: M.O. Zhulkov, D.A. Sirota, I.S. ZykovFinal approval of the version to be published: M.O. Zhulkov, A.R. Tarkova, I.S. Zykov, A.G. Makaev, A.V. Protopopov, M.N. Murtazaliev, F.Yu. Kosimov, N.A. Karmadonova, Ya.M. Smirnov, E.E. Kliver, A.M. Volkov, H.A. Agaeva, D.A. Sirota
La encrucijada de la participación política del pentecostalismo colombiano
Authors: Centeno Collazos Jhohan
Published: December 2023

A partir de la Constitución Política de 1.991 en Colombia, la iglesia evangélica a nivel general y la pentecostal a nivel particular comenzaron un camino de participación política en forma institucional. Esta participación ha generado una encrucijada entre el acercamiento político, la posición teológica y las figuras elegibles y/o apoyables como representantes políticos. Estos tres factores generaron tensiones en el quehacer político pentecostal entre el apoyo a partidos tradicionales o a partidos propios; entre participación como responsabilidad individual o pensamiento de cuerpo; entre participación política como establecimiento del reino de Dios o participación política como lucha contra los poderes corruptos de este mundo. La participación política pentecostal en Colomba ha estado enmarcada en la designación de líderes caudillos reconocidos como “ungidos” que representan la voluntad de Dios para la nación, esto con marcados aspectos sociales del personalismo político hispano y su combinación con principios de la Teología dominionista. Esta postura representa en sí una encrucijada para la participación del pentecostal en la sociedad civil en los aspectos políticos pues le priva, solapadamente, de sus responsabilidades civiles individuales y le hace preso de posturas políticas que le alienan sus derechos.
PATRICIO MERINO BEAS – PEDRO GÓMEZ DÍAZ, Teología y diversidad. Ecoteología, cultura del encuentro y del cuidado de los unos a los otros. (Theologia et Philosophia 5), Ediciones UCSC, 2022, 208 pp. ISBN978-956-6068-40-2 https://doi.org/10.21703/e978956606
Authors: Alarcón Ángela
Published: December 2023

Este libro es una respuesta al llamado del Papa Francisco a asumir un cambio que implica una renovación y conversión centrada en el Evangelio de Jesús, considerando la dimensión espiritual, social e integral del ser humano. Profundiza en temas actuales de la teología relativos al cuidado de la casa común, la construcción de una cultura del encuentro para avanzar hacia una cultura del cuidado mutuo. Consta de dos partes: "Ecoteología: hacia el cuidado de la diversidad de la casa común", que aborda conceptos como la ecoteología, la situación ambiental planteada en Laudato Si' y la posibilidad de una conversión ecológica; y "El cuidado de los unos a los otros: espiritualidad para una cultura del encuentro y la fraternidad", que se desprende de la anterior al afirmar que en la creación divina todo está interrelacionado. Reconoce la diversidad de personas y culturas, y plantea contenidos teológicos para la acogida de esa diversidad y el encuentro con el otro. El libro busca enriquecer las conciencias sobre estas temáticas, mostrar los alcances de la teología y hacernos vida el llamado del Papa a la renovación y conversión del mundo actual.
Transformar personas para transformar el mundo. Aspectos del pensamiento social wesleyano de Willis Hoover y su resonancia en el pentecostalismo chileno
Authors: Aranguiz Kahn Luis
Published: December 2023

Willis Hoover fue uno de los prominentes fundadores del pentecostalismo chileno a principios del siglo XX en Chile, y su influencia se dejó sentir en la formación de pastores y fieles. El movimiento desde el principio arraigó en los sectores populares de la población. Pese a que lo último es bastante conocido, existe una escasez de análisis sobre las ideas del propio pastor Hoover en general, y en especial sobre los temas sociales, así como sobre el influjo que recibió del metodismo en esto, su tradición de origen. En vista de ello, este ensayo esboza características generales de su pensamiento social basado en sus textos, y sus continuidades y discontinuidades con el metodismo desde una perspectiva de la teología política en clave pentecostal, a fin de arrojar luz sobre el carácter que Hoover buscó imprimir al naciente movimiento pentecostal en este ámbito.