bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cancer radioresistance is characterized by a differential lipid droplet content along the cell cycle
Authors: Pagliari Francesca , Jansen Jeannette , Knoll Jan , Hanley Rachel , Seco Joao , Tirinato Luca
Published: April 2024

Background

Cancer radiation treatments have seen substantial advancements, yet the biomolecular mechanisms underlying cancer cell radioresistance continue to elude full understanding. The effectiveness of radiation on cancer is hindered by various factors, such as oxygen concentrations within tumors, cells’ ability to repair DNA damage and metabolic changes. Moreover, the initial and radiation-induced cell cycle profiles can significantly influence radiotherapy responses as radiation sensitivity fluctuates across different cell cycle stages. Given this evidence and our prior studies establishing a correlation between cancer radiation resistance and an increased number of cytoplasmic Lipid Droplets (LDs), we investigated if LD accumulation was modulated along the cell cycle and if this correlated with differential radioresistance in lung and bladder cell lines.

Results

Our findings identified the S phase as the most radioresistant cell cycle phase being characterized by an increase in LDs. Analysis of the expression of perilipin genes (a family of proteins involved in the LD structure and functions) throughout the cell cycle also uncovered a unique gene cell cycle pattern.

Conclusions

In summary, although these results require further molecular studies about the mechanisms of radioresistance, the findings presented here are the first evidence that LD accumulation could participate in cancer cells’ ability to better survive X-Ray radiation when cells are in the S phase. LDs can represent new players in the radioresistance processes associated with cancer metabolism. This could open new therapeutic avenues in which the use of LD-interfering drugs might enhance cancer sensitivity to radiation.
Undifferentiated carcinoma of the liver with osteoclast-like giant cells: a case report and literature review
Authors: Lu Lixia , Wang Li , Peng Can , Chen Li , He Ximan , Shao Chenning , Wang Chunnian , Ge Rong
Published: April 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary malignant tumor of the liver. Osteoclast-like giant cells (OGCs) are relatively more common in pancreatic cancer, but extremely rare in HCC. Currently, there have been only a few reported cases of OGCs in HCC, and their presence indicates an aggressive clinical course. Here, we present a case of primary undifferentiated carcinoma of the liver with OGCs in a 49-year-old male patient, and through a literature review, we summarize 20 similar cases to further understand the diagnosis, treatment, and clinical course of this disease entity.
Modified nano magnetic Fe2O3-MgO as a high active multifunctional heterogeneous catalyst for environmentally beneficial carbon–carbon synthesis
Authors: Kamali Ehsan , Dreekvandy Fahim , Mohammadkhani Abolfazl , Heydari Akbar
Published: April 2024

In this study, novel nanomagnetic catalysts, namely Fe2O3-MgO@choline formate (Ch. F.) and Fe2O3-MgO@choline cyanide (Ch. CN), were synthesized through immobilizing choline-based ion liquids to magnetic support via a simple and cost-effective methodology. FT-IR, TGA, FE-SEM, VSM, EDS, BET, and XRD techniques were employed to assess and characterize these organic–inorganic compounds. Following the successful preparation of nanoparticles, the catalysts were utilized in Knoevenagel and benzoin condensations. Fe2O3-MgO@Ch.F. exhibited exceptional activity in Knoevenagel condensation under solvent-free conditions at room temperature, achieving high yields (91–98%) in a short timeframe. Similarly, Fe2O3-MgO@Ch.CN demonstrated remarkable activity in benzoin condensation under environmentally friendly solvent conditions, yielding higher isolated yields (76–88%). Furthermore, these magnetically recyclable multifunctional catalysts displayed the ability to be reused up to five times without a significant loss in efficiency. Additionally, the heterogeneity of this nanocatalyst was investigated using the hot filtration technique. The findings indicated that the reaction primarily occurs via a heterogeneous pathway.
Immunoglobulin G4-related disease presenting with nephrotic syndrome due to minimal change disease: a case report
Authors: Needleman Amy , Sheaff Michael , Pepper Ruth J. , Evans Rhys D. R.
Published: April 2024

Background

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease is an inflammatory disease affecting multiple organs including the kidney. Immunoglobulin G4-related kidney disease most commonly manifests as a tubulointerstitial nephritis and is associated with glomerular disease in a proportion of cases. Membranous nephropathy is the most frequent glomerular lesion. Herein, we report the first documented case of immunoglobulin G4-related disease presenting with nephrotic syndrome owing to minimal change disease.

Case presentation

A 67-year-old South Asian male presented to our service with systemic upset and leg swelling. He had heavy proteinuria (urine protein:creatinine ratio 1042 mg/mmol) and was hypoalbuminemic (17 g/L) and hypercholersterolemic (9.3 mmol/L), consistent with the nephrotic syndrome. His serum creatinine was 140 μmol/L, and he was hypocomplementemic (C3 0.59 g/L, C4 < 0.02 g/L) with raised immunoglobulin G4 subclass levels (5.29 g/L). Kidney biopsy demonstrated minimal change disease alongside a plasma-cell-rich tubulointerstitial nephritis with strong positive staining for immunoglobulin G4. A diagnosis of minimal change disease in the setting of immunoglobulin G4-related disease was made. He was commenced on oral prednisolone at 60 mg daily but suffered infectious complications, including necrotizing fasciitis within 3 weeks of starting treatment, ultimately resulting in his death 52 days after initial presentation.

Conclusion

This case highlights the potential for immunoglobulin G4-related disease to be associated with a spectrum of glomerular pathologies including minimal change disease. It adds to the differential diagnosis of secondary causes of minimal change disease, and moreover, aids as an important reminder of the potential complications of high-dose steroids used in its treatment.
Dimorphic effect of TFE3 in determining mitochondrial and lysosomal content in muscle following denervation
Authors: Oliveira Ashley N. , Memme Jonathan M. , Wong Jenna , Hood David A.
Published: April 2024

Background

Muscle atrophy is a common consequence of the loss of innervation and is accompanied by mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitophagy is the adaptive process through which damaged mitochondria are removed via the lysosomes, which are regulated in part by the transcription factor TFE3. The role of lysosomes and TFE3 are poorly understood in muscle atrophy, and the effect of biological sex is widely underreported.

Methods

Wild-type (WT) mice, along with mice lacking TFE3 (KO), a transcriptional regulator of lysosomal and autophagy-related genes, were subjected to unilateral sciatic nerve denervation for up to 7 days, while the contralateral limb was sham-operated and served as an internal control. A subset of animals was treated with colchicine to capture mitophagy flux.

Results

WT females exhibited elevated oxygen consumption rates during active respiratory states compared to males, however this was blunted in the absence of TFE3. Females exhibited higher mitophagy flux rates and greater lysosomal content basally compared to males that was independent of TFE3 expression. Following denervation, female mice exhibited less muscle atrophy compared to male counterparts. Intriguingly, this sex-dependent muscle sparing was lost in the absence of TFE3. Denervation resulted in 45% and 27% losses of mitochondrial content in WT and KO males respectively, however females were completely protected against this decline. Decreases in mitochondrial function were more severe in WT females compared to males following denervation, as ROS emission was 2.4-fold higher. In response to denervation, LC3-II mitophagy flux was reduced by 44% in females, likely contributing to the maintenance of mitochondrial content and elevated ROS emission, however this response was dysregulated in the absence of TFE3. While both males and females exhibited increased lysosomal content following denervation, this response was augmented in females in a TFE3-dependent manner.

Conclusions

Females have higher lysosomal content and mitophagy flux basally compared to males, likely contributing to the improved mitochondrial phenotype. Denervation-induced mitochondrial adaptations were sexually dimorphic, as females preferentially preserve content at the expense of function, while males display a tendency to maintain mitochondrial function. Our data illustrate that TFE3 is vital for the sex-dependent differences in mitochondrial function, and in determining the denervation-induced atrophy phenotype.
PD-L1/PD-1 pathway: a potential neuroimmune target for pain relief
Authors: Deng Daling , Zhang Tianhao , Ma Lulin , Zhao Wenjing , Huang Shiqian , Wang Kaixing , Shu Shaofang , Chen Xiangdong
Published: April 2024

Pain is a common symptom of many diseases with a high incidence rate. Clinically, drug treatment, as the main method to relieve pain at present, is often accompanied by different degrees of adverse reactions. Therefore, it is urgent to gain a profound understanding of the pain mechanisms in order to develop advantageous analgesic targets. The PD-L1/PD-1 pathway, an important inhibitory molecule in the immune system, has taken part in regulating neuroinflammation and immune response. Accumulating evidence indicates that the PD-L1/PD-1 pathway is aberrantly activated in various pain models. And blocking PD-L1/PD-1 pathway will aggravate pain behaviors. This review aims to summarize the emerging evidence on the role of the PD-L1/PD-1 pathway in alleviating pain and provide an overview of the mechanisms involved in pain resolution, including the regulation of macrophages, microglia, T cells, as well as nociceptor neurons. However, its underlying mechanism still needs to be further elucidated in the future. In conclusion, despite more deep researches are needed, these pioneering studies indicate that PD-L1/PD-1 may be a potential neuroimmune target for pain relief.
Microbiological features of drowning-associated pneumonia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Cousin Vladimir L. , Pittet Laure F.
Published: April 2024

Background

Drowning-associated pneumonia (DAP) is frequent in drowned patients, and possibly increases mortality. A better understanding of the microorganisms causing DAP could improve the adequacy of empirical antimicrobial therapy. We aimed to describe the pooled prevalence of DAP, the microorganisms involved, and the impact of DAP on drowned patients.

Methods

Systematic review and meta-analysis of studies published between 01/2000 and 07/2023 reporting on DAP occurrence and microorganisms involved.

Results

Of 309 unique articles screened, 6 were included, involving 688 patients. All were retrospective cohort studies, with a number of patients ranging from 37 to 270. Studies were conducted in Europe (France N = 3 and Netherland N = 1), United States of America (N = 1) and French West Indies (N = 1). Mortality ranged between 18 to 81%. The pooled prevalence of DAP was 39% (95%CI 29–48), similarly following freshwater (pooled prevalence 44%, 95%CI 36–52) or seawater drowning (pooled prevalence 42%, 95%CI 32–53). DAP did not significantly impact mortality (pooled odds ratio 1.43, 95%CI 0.56–3.67) but this estimation was based on two studies only. Respiratory samplings isolated 171 microorganisms, mostly Gram negative (98/171, 57%) and mainly Aeromonas sp. (20/171, 12%). Gram positive microorganisms represented 38/171 (22%) isolates, mainly Staphylococcus aureus (21/171, 12%). Water salinity levels had a limited impact on the distribution of microorganisms, except for Aeromonas sp. who were exclusively found following freshwater drowning (19/106, 18%) and never following seawater drowning (0%) (p = 0.001). No studies reported multidrug-resistant organisms but nearly 30% of the isolated microorganisms were resistant to amoxicillin-clavulanate, the drug that was the most commonly prescribed empirically for DAP.

Conclusions

DAP are commonly caused by Gram-negative bacteria, especially Aeromonas sp. which is exclusively isolated following freshwater drowning. Empirical antimicrobial therapy should consider covering them, noting than amoxicillin-clavulanate may be inadequate in about one-third of the cases. The impact of DAP on patients’ outcome is still unclear.
Reliable urban vehicle localization under faulty satellite navigation signals
Authors: Gupta Shubh , Gao Grace X.
Published: April 2024

Reliable urban navigation using global navigation satellite system requires accurately estimating vehicle position despite measurement faults and monitoring the trustworthiness (or integrity) of the estimated location. However, reflected signals in urban areas introduce biases (or faults) in multiple measurements, while blocked signals reduce the number of available measurements, hindering robust localization and integrity monitoring. This paper presents a novel particle filter framework to address these challenges. First, a Bayesian fault-robust optimization task, formulated through a Gaussian mixture model (GMM) measurement likelihood, is integrated into the particle filter to mitigate faults in multiple measurement for enhanced positioning accuracy. Building on this, a novel test statistic leveraging the particle filter distribution and the GMM likelihood is devised to monitor the integrity of the localization by detecting errors exceeding a safe threshold. The performance of the proposed framework is demonstrated on real-world and simulated urban driving data. Our localization algorithm consistently achieves smaller positioning errors compared to existing filters under multiple faults. Furthermore, the proposed integrity monitor exhibits fewer missed and false alarms in detecting unsafe large localization errors.
Internet-delivered therapy for alcohol misuse: engagement, satisfaction, and outcomes when patients select their preference for therapist- or self-guided treatment
Authors: Sapkota Ram P. , Lozinski Tristen , Wilhems Andrew , Nugent Marcie , Schaub Michael P. , Keough Matthew T. , Sundström Christopher , Hadjistavropoulos Heather D.
Published: April 2024

Background

Alcohol misuse is common and causes substantial harm. Internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy (ICBT) is effective in reducing alcohol misuse; however, the literature investigating how treatment outcomes are impacted by patients’ preferences for therapist- versus self-guided ICBT for alcohol misuse is sparse.

Methods

In this preference trial, 74 eligible patients (who reported ≥ 14 drinks in the previous week and obtained scores suggesting hazardous or harmful drinking) chose between enrolling in either therapist- or self-guided ICBT for alcohol misuse. We investigated whether those who chose therapist- versus self-guided ICBT differed in their (a) drinking outcomes—as measured by Timeline Follow-Back (TLFB) and heavy drinking days (HDD) at post-treatment and 3-month follow-up—and (b) post-treatment ICBT engagement and satisfaction.

Results

The majority (81.1%) of eligible patients chose therapist-guided ICBT. These patients reported higher psychotropic medication use, drinking difficulties, and anxiety symptoms. For both the therapist- and self-guided patients, a modified intention-to-treat analysis revealed large within-group treatment effects for TLFB (β =  − 2.64, SE 0.66; p < 0.001) and HDD (β =  − 0.34, SE 0.07; p < 0.001), with large pre-to-post-treatment Cohen’s effect sizes of d = 0.97 (95% CI [0.49, 1.45]) for TLFB and d = 1.19 (95% CI [0.69, 1.68]) for HDD. The interaction comparing the effects of therapist- to self-guided ICBT over time was not significant for TLFB (p = 0.34) or HDD (p = 0.06). With treatment, for both therapist- and self-guided patients, there was a significant improvement in drinking difficulties, cravings, and confidence with controlling cravings, as well as in anxiety, depression, and functional impairment. Further, the majority (75.7%) of patients completed five or more lessons, as well as reported overall satisfaction with the treatment (88.9%) and increased confidence in managing their symptoms (86.7%); these outcomes also did not differ between therapist- and self-guided patients.

Conclusions

The current study shows that ICBT for alcohol misuse is associated with reduced drinking and comorbid mental health difficulties over time, irrespective of whether patients chose to complete the course on their own or with therapist guidance.

Trial registration number: NCT04611854 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04611854).
Hyperoside ameliorates depression-like behavior in ovariectomized mice
Authors: Hong Kyung Hee , Jung Jonghoon , Kim Minji , Um Min Young
Published: April 2024

The physiological changes caused by the decline in estrogen levels due to menopause are linked to an increased risk of depression. This study investigated the antidepressant effects of hyperoside (HYP), a natural flavonol glycoside, and its associated molecular mechanisms in primary hippocampal neurons and ovariectomized (OVX) mice. HYP treatment increased nitric oxide (NO) production and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) expression in primary hippocampal neurons; additionally, it upregulated the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and phosphorylated tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB). In OVX mice, HYP treatment significantly improved depression-like behaviors in an open field test to a level comparable to estrogen treatment. Furthermore, HYP treatment upregulated OVX-induced decreased nNOS expression and BDNF-TrkB signaling in the hippocampus. Therefore, this study suggests that HYP exhibits antidepressant potential by addressing estrogen deficiency-induced alterations, specifically by restoring nNOS expression, promoting NO production, and concurrently enhancing BDNF-TrkB signaling in OVX mice.
What does it mean to be good at peer reviewing? A multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis study of behavioral indicators of peer feedback literacy
Authors: Zhang Yi , Schunn Christian D. , Wu Yong
Published: April 2024

Peer feedback literacy is becoming increasingly important in higher education as peer feedback has substantially grown as a pedagogical approach. However, quality of produced feedback, a key behavioral aspect of peer feedback literacy, lacks a systematic and evidence-based conceptualization to guide research, instruction, and system design. We introduce a novel framework involving six conceptual dimensions of peer feedback quality that can be measured and supported in online peer feedback contexts: reviewing process, rating accuracy, feedback amount, perceived comment quality, actual comment quality, and feedback content. We then test the underlying dimensionality of student competencies through correlational analysis, Multidimensional Scaling, and cluster analysis, using data from 844 students engaged in online peer feedback in a university-level course. The separability of the conceptual dimensions is largely supported in the cluster analysis. However, the cluster analysis also suggests restructuring perceived and actual comment quality in terms of initial impact and ultimate impact. The Multi-Dimensional Scaling suggests the dimensions of peer feedback can be conceptualized in terms of relative emphasis on expertise vs. effort and on overall review quality vs. individual comment quality. The findings provide a new road map for meta-analyses, empirical studies, and system design work focused on peer feedback literacy.
Report of a semi-branched stent-graft to treat a type 1a endoleak after failed EVAR
Authors: Yazar Ozan , Wong ChunYu , Salemans Pieter Bartholomeus , van Wely Chrissy , Nouwens Ruben , van Grinsven Bart , Bouwman Lee Hans
Published: April 2024

Background

Endovascular techniques are advancing with the change of treatment paradigm for abdominal aortic aneurysms. Fenestrated EVAR (fEVAR) and branched EVAR (bEVAR) are used for complex aortic aneurysm repair. Both fEVAR and bEVAR have their own advantages and disadvantages. Semi-branches are a new feature that attempt to combine the advantages of both fEVAR and bEVAR.

Technique

We describe the use of a 4-vessel semi-branched EVAR in a failed EVAR case with a type 1a endoleak.

Conclusion

The novel feature of semi-branches in custom-made EVAR devices in endovascular aortic treatment following failed EVAR appear to be a feasible option.
Optimized diagnosis of local anomalies in charge and discharge of solar cell capacitors
Authors: Liu Xianhua , Liu Qinghong
Published: April 2024

Background

With the increasingly serious environmental pollution and natural environment damage, renewable energy such as solar cells have gradually become the key to change this situation. Therefore, the local abnormal diagnosis of the charge and discharge of solar cell capacitors is particularly important.

Objective

To extend the life of ultracapacitors by resolving the issue of their low detection rate and enhancing the capacity to recognize fault diagnosis factors. A novel approach to charging and discharging, as well as the diagnosis of local anomalies, is put forth, utilizing switching networks.

Methods

By controlling the capacitors of multiple solar cells and supercapacitors to work together, it is possible to compensate for the shortage of photovoltaic power. The performance of fault diagnosis is optimized by combining principal component analysis and binary K-means clustering, which completes the fault diagnosis of capacitors.

Results

The experimental results show that the research method can increase the maximum output power of photovoltaic by 32.9% under multi-layer shadows. In the charging state of the training set, the number of abnormal capacitors is 6, and the number of normal capacitors is 12, and both of them are in accordance with the preset value. The number of abnormal capacitors and normal capacitors in the discharge state is the same as that in the charging state, which is also 6 and 12.

Conclusion

The research method can effectively address the issue of unbalanced energy storage battery packs and minimize the impact of local shadows on photovoltaic systems. In comparison to fuzzy C-means clustering, this method requires fewer iterations, enables faster fault diagnosis, and produces more accurate clustering results. It can provide technical support for diagnosing local abnormalities in the charging and discharging of solar cell capacitors.
Addressing comprehensive complexities a striking familial hypercholesterolemia case study
Authors: Rasheed Shazia , Kubra Ghulam , Baqai Lubna , Raza Muhammad Liaquat , Hassan Fariha , Rizvi Syed Ghazi Abbas
Published: April 2024

Background

Premature aortic involvement and comprehensive management strategies in familial hypercholesterolemia familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), a rare autosomal dominant genetic disorder, poses significant challenges due to its propensity for elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, premature coronary heart disease, and vascular atherosclerosis.

Case presentation

Unraveling Cardiovascular Complexities: A Striking Familial Hypercholesterolemia. This case study delves into a remarkable instance of FH in a 16-year-old female who presented with chest pain and worsening dyspnea. Diagnostic evaluation revealed distinct electrocardiographic changes, elevated troponin levels, and profound dyslipidemia. Remarkable findings on transthoracic echocardiography, computed tomography angiography, and catheterization prompted multidisciplinary interventions and demonstrated remarkable enhancements in ventricular function, mitral regurgitation, and aortic stenosis.

Conclusion

The case study underscores the urgency of comprehensive management strategies in confronting the myriad challenges of FH, emphasizing the value of early intervention, innovative therapies, and rigorous imaging modalities for unraveling the intricate cardiovascular manifestations of this condition.
A proposed multidimensional model for predicting financial distress: an empirical study on Egyptian listed firms
Authors: Abdelkader Noha Adel Mohamed , Wahba Hayam Hassan
Published: April 2024

Although there has been a growing interest by researchers worldwide over the past decades to identify the factors pertaining to corporate financial distress and to develop financial distress prediction models that serve as early warning signs to the various firm stakeholders, notably to date, studies that were conducted were context specific and cannot be objectively generalized to other countries and rendered mixed inconclusive results. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to thoroughly investigate the factors that affect corporate financial distress in Egypt and to develop a multidimensional financial distress prediction model. Using comprehensive data of EGX100 listed firms, the researcher examines the role played by financial ratios, market-based indicators, macroeconomic factors, and corporate governance mechanisms in modeling corporate financial distress. Empirical results indicate that after controlling for the COVID-19 effects, the most significant financial ratios in predicting corporate financial distress are the working capital to total assets ratio, earnings before interest and taxes to total assets ratio, and the sales to total assets ratio. Such ratios are negatively related to the likelihood of corporate financial distress. However, the market value of equity to total liabilities ratio, and GDP growth rate have a positive impact on the likelihood of financial distress. However, the retained earnings to total assets ratio, the corporate governance mechanisms, the firm market capitalization, the interest rate, and the consumer price index are insignificant in predicting corporate financial distress in the Egyptian context. The resulting model demonstrates outstanding classification accuracy at around 96%.
Estrogen Receptor Alpha Mutations, Truncations, Heterodimers, and Therapies
Authors: Hancock Govinda R , Gertz Jason , Jeselsohn Rinath , Fanning Sean W
Published: April 2024

Annual breast cancer (BCa) deaths have declined since its apex in 1989 concomitant with widespread adoption of hormone therapies that target estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), the prominent nuclear receptor expressed in ∼80% of BCa. However, up to ∼50% of patients who are ER+ with high-risk disease experience post endocrine therapy relapse and metastasis to distant organs. The vast majority of BCa mortality occurs in this setting, highlighting the inadequacy of current therapies. Genomic abnormalities to ESR1, the gene encoding ERα, emerge under prolonged selective pressure to enable endocrine therapy resistance. These genetic lesions include focal gene amplifications, hotspot missense mutations in the ligand binding domain, truncations, fusions, and complex interactions with other nuclear receptors. Tumor cells utilize aberrant ERα activity to proliferate, spread, and evade therapy in BCa as well as other cancers. Cutting edge studies on ERα structural and transcriptional relationships are being harnessed to produce new therapies that have shown benefits in patients with ESR1 hotspot mutations. In this review we discuss the history of ERα, current research unlocking unknown aspects of ERα signaling including the structural basis for receptor antagonism, and future directions of ESR1 investigation. In addition, we discuss the development of endocrine therapies from their inception to present day and survey new avenues of drug development to improve pharmaceutical profiles, targeting, and efficacy.
Market volatility on the balance of payments in ASEAN countries
Authors: Andini Nova Riza Ayu
Published: April 2024

This research aims to determine the effect of volatility on the stock market proxied by stock indices and financial markets proxied by exchange rates on the balance of payments proxied by direct investment (FDI) in ASEAN member countries for the period 2013 to 2022. The balance of payments is a systematic record of economic transactions involving one country with another country in a certain period of time, therefore the balance of payments can be influenced by various components, one of which is the market. This research is important because the results of previous research are inconsistent and over time many economic phenomena occur that will affect a country's balance of payments. The novelty of this study lies in its particular focus on the effect of market turmoil on the balance of payments in ASEAN countries. This study used quantitative methods using secondary data. This research uses panel data analysis techniques with a Fixed Effect Model (FEM) approach. The results of this study show that partially the stock index has a significant positive effect and the exchange rate has a significant negative effect on the balance of payments. This research can provide important insights for business decision makers, governments, and international institutions to understand and respond to rapid economic developments in ASEAN.
Outdoor Centre makes adventure accessible
Authors: Jacobs Nina
Published: April 2024

IN SUMMARY

Youth group's outdoor learning centre uses innovative approaches to adapt activities and equipment to ensure it is accessible to young people with disabilities.
Special Education Teachers’ Perceived Work Stress, Burnout Symptoms, Towards Adoption of Transformational Teaching in Inclusive Schools: A Cross-Country Study Between Indonesia and Thailand
Authors: Sujarwanto Sujarwanto , Saroinsong Wulan Patria , Boonroungrut Chinun , Purwoko Budi
Published: April 2024

During the implementation of the inclusive education policy in several countries in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the psychological health of special education teachers should be considered as a key success factor. This study explored special education teachers’ perceived work stress (PWS), bio-psychological burn-out symptoms (BPS), and transformational teaching (TFT) in inclusive education in Indonesia and Thailand. There were 177 Indonesian and 199 Thai teachers completing a series of questionnaires that included BPS, PWS, and TFT. The results showed that BPS and PWS were high, whereas BPS and TFT were significantly different across nations. No gender differences were found among both Indonesian and Thai teachers. Moreover, TFT could be significantly predicted by positive age and negative work stress, which explained 8% of the variance among Indonesian teachers (R2 = .08, F(4, 172) = 4.18, p < .01) and by positive age and negative burnout symptoms, which explained 6% of the variance among Thai teachers (R2 = .06, F(4, 186) = 3.18, p < .05). Furthermore, inclusive education policymakers and stakeholders should be aware of psychological health improvement including burnout symptoms and work stress, which negatively invade the role of TFT among special education teachers in both countries.
Rare Indication of Atlantoaxial Fusion-failed Conservative Management of Primary Atlantoaxial Osteoarthritis
Authors:   Department of Spine Surgery, Stavya Spine Hospital and Research Institute, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India., Dave Bharat , Killekar Rohan ,   Department of Spine Surgery, Stavya Spine Hospital and Research Institute, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India., Degulmadi Devanand ,   Department of Spine Surgery, Stavya Spine Hospital and Research Institute, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India., Mayi Shivanand ,   Department of Spine Surgery, Stavya Spine Hospital and Research Institute, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India., Rai Ravi Ranjan ,   Department of Spine Surgery, Stavya Spine Hospital and Research Institute, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India., Dave Mirant ,   Department of Spine Surgery, Stavya Spine Hospital and Research Institute, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Osteoarthritis of the atlantoaxial joint is a significant cause of occipitocervical pain, which is often missed and has an increasing prevalence with age. The patients typically present with occipitocervical pain and restricted and painful neck rotations. Despite the primary reliance on conservative management for this pathology, surgical intervention becomes crucial for those not responding to standard conservative treatment. The presented case series highlights the rarity of the requirement of surgical intervention in the management of Atlantoaxial osteoarthritis (AAOA) and the clinical outcomes of surgical management in AAOA. Case Report: This paper presents a case series of four patients who were managed surgically with atlantoaxial fusion, from a database of 108 patients with AAOA. The case series includes three males and one female with a mean age of presentation being 67.5 years. All four patients presented with occipitocervical pain, and painful neck movements and were diagnosed with AAOA on the anteroposterior open mouth view radiographs showing changes of osteoarthritis such as bone erosions, sclerosis, osteophytes. The patients were managed conservatively with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, intra-articular steroid injections, and cervical collar immobilization. Those not responding to conservative management and with incapacitating pain were managed surgically with atlantoaxial fusion procedures. Conclusion: In a group of patients with a painful and debilitating degenerative AAOA only a small proportion of cases require surgical intervention. In this cohort, only 3.70 % of patients required surgery, highlighting the rarity of surgical intervention required in the management of AAOA. Nevertheless, when conducted, atlantoaxial fusion has proved to be efficacious with a low rate of serious complications and the patient self-rated outcome in terms of post-operative visual analog scale score and neck disability index scores indicating a high degree of satisfaction with the procedures. Keywords: Atlantoaxial, osteoarthritis, fusion, transarticular screws.
1973 and the American horror film: Political futurity in The Exorcist and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
Authors: Storey Mark
Published: April 2024

This article argues that two classic films made in 1973, William Friedkin’s The Exorcist and Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, both anticipate and give nightmarish form to an underlying political shift that historians often originate at exactly the same moment: the advent of the neo-liberal/neo-conservative order that would come to define American life for at least the next 40 years. Rather than seeing these films as centred on ancient demons or obsolete workers, this essay reverses the standard ‘Gothic temporality’ of the past’s persistence and positions the horror film as, instead, a form of speculative fiction; not a registration of history’s traumatic aftermath but a barometer of the emerging political future.
Glitches and ghosts: The digital uncanny in video games and creepypasta
Authors: Zawacki Alexander J.
Published: April 2024

This article seeks to address the phenomenon of glitches and ‘creepypasta’, or short anonymous stories (usually in prose but sometimes presented in other media), that focus on video games and related ludic media. The inherent uncanniness of the glitch – as an affront to player agency and an assertion of mysterious operations performed ‘under the hood’, as though possessed of an agency of their own – is assessed, as well as the ways in which such eerie interruptions are put to use in fictional narratives about haunted video games. It is argued that the glitch, as an instance of a video gamer asserting its own agency which is alien and often actively opposed to that of the player, is fertile ground for narratives about games which exert their own occulted willpower. Stories about such games often feature the player being overpowered by the media they engage with, inverting the normal ontological hierarchy between the player and the played.
The way of water in Ousmane Sembène’s Black Girl (1966) and Nikyatu Jusu’s Nanny (2022)
Authors: Wynne-Walsh Rebecca
Published: April 2024

Water plays a crucial role narratively, thematically and visually in two films, which follow young Senegalese female protagonists as they emigrate in search of work and hopes of a ‘better’ life. La noire de… (Black Girl)’s () Diouana travels to Antibes while Nanny’s () protagonist Aisha voyages to New York. Each landscape, which provides its respective protagonist with a new home, is characterized by a distinct proximity to bodies of water. This article argues that the literal, imagined and folkloric manifestations of water in both narratives liberate their respective protagonists. Comparing these case studies allows for the assessment of the intersection of genre, folklore, cultural heritage and gendered storytelling as they are performed in almost identical stories made by a male filmmaker tied to the global decolonization movement of the 1960s and a female filmmaker who embodies the transgenerational implications of the diasporic self. Water recurs symbolically throughout both films in senses beyond the simply geographical. Water is an ideologically charged force for both characters which alternately encloses and liberates them. The character arc of each woman reaches its emotional climax in bathtubs, water acts as a force that seduces and promises clarity. Ultimately, water-based imagery and the guidance of the infamous water spirit, Mami Wata, facilitates the liberation of each protagonist as they resist the imposition of colonial power dynamics and enslavement.
An analysis of marketing strategies for Kenyan films: Mission to Rescue and A Grand Little Lie
Authors: Ouma Kevin , Gitimu Susan
Published: April 2024

The arena in which films are made within the Kenyan film industry forms the elaborate network of artistic, technical and economic apparatuses that produce, distribute and exhibit films to audiences. While this arena is ever-changing, filmmakers and marketers must explore various ways to position their films within the minds of consumers to encourage consumption of their films. This article sought to investigate the marketing strategies of two Kenyan films: Mission to Rescue (2021) directed by Gilbert Lukalia and A Grand Little Lie (2021) directed by Philip Karanja. The study was guided by the need to establish the marketing strategies used by the producers of the films and the overall impact these strategies had on the success of the films. Content analysis and interviews were the main data collection methods. Guided by the theories of marketing mix, this article brings to light ways in which the choice of a proper marketing strategy by the producers contributed to the success or lack of films in the market.
The birth of film in the maker: A selfie of my introduction to cinema
Authors: Mattera Errol Teddy
Published: April 2024

This reflexive article examines how identity is informed by the personal, the political and the practice of filmmaking. As a South African filmmaker of mixed heritage (classified as ‘coloured’ under the Apartheid-era code), I recall a childhood of cinema, of cinematic moments, of screen heroes and of sociocultural traditions (imported, imposed and Indigenous) that shaped our ideas and expressions of masculinity as boys and men. Constant in this reflection is how spatial Apartheid (as effected through the Group Areas Act of 1950) impacted Black life in all its manifestations, but particularly the ways it determined how we lived and engaged with cinema in these designated and tightly controlled spaces. The fact that we could find resonance with films narratives, by interpreting them into our own lingo and bribing the screen icons into our realities gave us a window to reimagine our reality.
Cinematic Independence: Constructing the Big Screen in Nigeria, Noah Tsika (2022)
Authors: Azuawusiefe Chijioke
Published: April 2024

Review of: Cinematic Independence: Constructing the Big Screen in Nigeria, Noah Tsika (2022)

Oakland, CA: University of California Press, 262 pp.,

ISBN 978-0-52038-609-9, p/bk, $34.95
ASSESSMENT OF INTERNATIONAL PRACTICE OF TOXIC ELEMENTS DETERMINATION IN RICE BY THE METHOD OF MASS SPECTROMETRY WITH INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA
Authors: Zaitseva Nina Vladimirovna , Ulanova Tatiana Sergeevna , Veikhman Galina Akhmetovna , Gileva Ksenia Olegovna , Stenno Elena Vyacheslavovna , Nedoshitova Anna Vladimirovna
Published: April 2024

Food safety is a major responsibility of public healthcare. Therefore, challenges related to determining toxic elements (As, Cd, Pb, Hg, Al and Sr) in various food products need to be tackled. This paper focuses on systematizing international experience of determining toxic elements in different kinds of rice (they differ as per a type of grain, industrial processing, and geographical origin) by using mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma. Rice accumulates more metals than any other cereal due to its high absorbability and is among primary sources of toxic metals introduction. Median concentrations of such toxic metals as As, Pb and Cd were higher in white rice from Thailand, India and Italy than from the USA. Lead and cadmium concentrations were not higher than levels recommended by the Codex; however, As concentrations in brown rice and one sort of white rice from the USA were higher than the Codex standards. Still, health risks caused by consuming food products which are contaminated with As depend on daily As consumption, as well as on its form and biological availability. Median concentrations of toxic metals were higher in white and brown rice than in other grains. When white rice was washed out before the tests to remove any external contamination, this resulted in decreasing concentrations of such toxic elements as Pb and Cd, by 57% and 46% accordingly. Rice washing involves losing basic elements which make for proper functioning of the body. Additional efforts are required to optimize rice to water ratio in washing in order to minimize substantial losses of basic ingredients and nutrients in washed rice. The research results indicate that it is advisable to eat different kinds of rice or combine it with other cereals in food rations. This can reduce exposure to toxic metals and provide additional quantities of essential elements which are in certain deficiency in a rice-based diet.
Circuits for anesthesia, unawareness, OIRD, sleep and memory replay:

MHb→IPN→PAG + DRN + MRN→claustrum→cortex.
Authors: Vadovičová Karin
Published: April 2024

Opiates are fast pain relievers that can cause respiratory arrest.I show new mechanisms how mu-opioids and high prenatal nicotine cause respiratory slowdownlinked to slow wave sleep. Mu-opioids activate the medial habenula which activates theinterpeduncular nucleus. The MHb-IPN system decreases respiration and alarm/arousal response tohypercapnia by projections to PAG, DRN, MRN and LPO→RMTg→vPAG. The same MHb-IPNcircuit that causes respiratory slowdown, likely causes ventilatory deficits in mammalian neonates,known as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), linked to high fetal nicotine intake.Natural slowdown of respiration and heart rate is caused by slow wave sleep, when body is notmoving. The MHb and rostromedial tegmental nucleus are known for high amount of mu-opioidreceptors. Both were claimed to be activated by the MHb→IPN→MRN circuit that activatesserotonin release, promotes slow SWS, rest, immune defense, recovery, sharp wave ripples, corticalspindles, replay of temporaly, spatialy and relationally bound memories, synaptogenesis and BDNFlinked growth, but inhibits theta states, arousal, alert wakefulness, awareness and REM sleep linkedcircuits (Vadovičová, 2015).This updated circuit model explains role of the MHb→IPN→MRN→hippocampus + claustrum→cortical slow wave activity (SWA) in anesthesia, memory replay, loss of awareness, SWS and intheta states suppression. I propose new mechanisms for anesthetic ketamine and hallucinogenseffect: activation of the IPN→MRN→claustrum→cortical SWA circuit by the 5-HT2a IPN andclaustrum receptors. I show why are ketamine and hallucinogens anxiolytic and antidepressant, andhow activation of 5-HT2a receptors in vACC/infralimbic cortex increases the safety, well-beingsignal, and cognitive flexibility.
Relationship Between Digital Literacy, Affective Tendencies, Sex and Library Anxiety Among College Students in Greater Houston, Texas
Authors: Agbonavbare Osaretin
Published: April 2024

This study explores the interconnection between digital literacy, affective tendencies, gender dynamics, and library anxiety among college students in Greater Houston, Texas, with implications to Human-Computer Interactions. Through a comprehensive analysis of these variables, the research aims to provide insights into the complex relationship shaping students' academic experiences. A quantitative research design was utilized to collect data on digital literacy skills, affective tendencies, gender identification, and library anxiety from college students in Greater Houston, Texas. Statistical analyses, including regression and mediation analyses, was conducted to examine the relationships between the variables of interest. Findings reveal distinct patterns in digital literacy skills, emotional responses, and library anxiety across gender lines, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to support diverse student needs. Understanding the complex relationship between these variables can inform the design of user interfaces and interactive systems that cater to the diverse needs and experiences of college students. Introduction: The digital age has revolutionized the landscape of education, presenting both opportunities and challenges for students in Greater Houston, Texas, and beyond. As technology continues to permeate every aspect of academic life, from research and collaboration to communication and assessment, the need for digital literacy has never been more pronounced. Digital literacy encompasses not only the technical skills required to navigate digital platforms and tools but also the critical thinking abilities to evaluate and synthesize information in an increasingly complex digital ecosystem.
The Focus Group in Nursing Research: A Suitable Method or the Latest Trend? An Argumentative Paper
Authors:   Al al-Bayt University, Al Mafraq, Jordan., M. Harb Eman , D. AL Obieat Hanan
Published: April 2024

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