bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of psychometric properties of sleep quality questionnaire among medical students of Guilan University of Medical Sciences
Authors: Pourramzani Ali , Ghafari Samane , Shafiee Arman , Fili Jafar , Sattari Mohammad Amin , Borna Nahid , Hajishah Hamed
Published: March 2024

Background

Since evaluating sleep quality among students is of great importance and is one of the challenges facing the health field regarding this group, we were determined to conduct this study to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Sleep Quality Questionnaire (SQQ) among the medical students at the Guilan University of Medical Sciences.

Methods

This research was conducted as a cross-sectional study. In the procedure, a random group of medical students at Guilan University of Medical Sciences were provided with questionnaires and the study’s pre-prepared checklist and were asked to answer them accurately. The questionnaires used in this study include the Sleep Quality Questionnaire (SQQ), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). After collecting the entries, all the data were subjected to a statistical analysis using the SPSS software.

Results

In this study, 249 medical students with an average age of 23.88 ± 2.46 were evaluated, of which 140 (56.2%) were female and the rest were male. According to the results, the average sleep quality for SQQ was 19.31 ± 8.06, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was 7.95 ± 3.76. Based on the results obtained from the exploratory analysis, it was determined that no high overlap exists between the two evaluated factors in the sleep quality questionnaires, confirming their divergent validity. In evaluating the convergent validity, the correlation between the SQQ and PSQI questionnaires was reported as 0.642, which was significant (p < 0.001). Cronbach’s alpha for the SQQ questionnaire was equivalent to 0.882, which is verified since the minimum value is 0.70. Also, utilizing the test-retest method, the reliability was found to be 0.74, which is acceptable according to the minimum value of 0.70. SQQ scores had a direct and meaningful relationship with age (r = 0.185, p = 0.003). Based on the pairwise comparison, there was a significant difference in SQQ scores between the students in different stages and the duration of sleep.

Conclusion

The current study’s findings indicate that the SQQ questionnaire possesses adequate validity and reliability, which could be utilized to evaluate sleep quality in domestic studies.
A national study of clinical discussions about cannabis use among Veteran patients prescribed opioids
Authors: Zaman Tauheed , Bravata Dawn M. , Byers Amy , Krebs Erin , Leonard Samuel , Austin Charles , Sandbrink Friedhelm , Hasin Deborah S. , Keyhani Salomeh
Published: March 2024

Background

The Veterans Health Administration tracks urine drug tests (UDTs) among patients on long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) and recommends discussing the health effects of cannabis use.

Objective

To determine the occurrence of cannabis-related discussions between providers and patients on LTOT during six months following UDT positive for cannabis, and examine factors associated with documenting cannabis use.

Design

We identified patients prescribed LTOT with a UDT positive for cannabis in 2019. We developed a text-processing tool to extract discussions around cannabis use from their charts.

Subjects

Twelve thousand seventy patients were included. Chart review was conducted on a random sample of 1,946 patients.

Main measures

The presence of a cannabis term in the chart suggesting documented cannabis use or cannabis-related discussions. Content of those discussions was extracted in a subset of patients. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between patient factors, including state of residence legal status, with documentation of cannabis use.

Key Results

Among the 12,070 patients, 65.8% (N = 7,948) had a cannabis term, whereas 34.1% (N = 4,122) of patients lacked a cannabis term, suggesting that no documentation of cannabis use or discussion between provider and patient took place. Among the subset of patients who had a discussion documented, 47% related to cannabis use for medical reasons, 35% related to a discussion of VA policy or legal issues, and 17% related to a discussion specific to medical risks or harm reduction strategies. In adjusted analyses, residents of states with legalized recreational cannabis were less likely to have any cannabis-related discussion compared to patients in non-legal states [OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.64–0.82].

Conclusions

One-third of LTOT patients did not have documentation of cannabis use in the chart in the 6 months following a positive UDT for cannabis. Discussions related to the medical risks of cannabis use or harm reduction strategies were uncommon.
A Case of Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young With Complex Mutations
Authors: Bulchandani Sheetal , Kundra Priya
Published: March 2024

Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) encompasses a group of rare monogenic forms of diabetes, with 14 subtypes described in the literature, each with a distinct underlying genetic mutation. We present a case with mutations in 2 different genes that are known to be responsible for MODY. A 33-year-old male individual presented to the endocrinology clinic for evaluation. He was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus at 13 years of age and was initially treated with insulin, which was subsequently switched to repaglinide and metformin. The patient reported a history of hypoglycemia at birth and in his daughter. His biological father was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus at 16 years of age. Genetic testing for monogenic diabetes revealed a pathogenic variant in hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha and a variant of unknown significance in Paired Box Gene 4. The treatment was switched to glipizide 2.5 mg orally, which resulted in adequate glycemic control. Genetic testing was recommended for his daughter. MODY can be missed because of its broad clinical presentation. Heightened vigilance and a low threshold for genetic testing for MODY are required in patients with a high likelihood of having MODY, as the treatment can be tailored to individual patient needs.
An Unlikely Source of Iodine Uptake: A Bronchogenic Cyst Masquerading as Metastatic Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Dillon Martha , Zielinski Rachel , Worth Jennifer , Sanders Melinda , Ibrahim Omar , Vedere Tarunya
Published: March 2024

Radioactive iodine therapy and posttreatment scanning are essential components of differentiated thyroid carcinoma treatment and detection of metastatic disease. False-positive results can be seen on an I-131 scan and are important for clinicians to be aware of. Here, we present a case of a 33-year-old female with follicular thyroid carcinoma who was noted to have an area of moderate uptake in the chest on a whole-body scan following remnant ablation with 30 mCi of I-131 (1.11GBq) concerning for a metastatic hilar lymph node. This was determined to be a mediastinal bronchogenic cyst on surgical pathology. It has been previously proposed that the expression of sodium iodide symporters in some bronchogenic cysts could be the mechanism by which iodine uptake is seen within them. We were able to demonstrate positive immunohistochemical staining for both sodium iodide symporter and the associated paired box gene 8 transcription factor in the cyst sample, which supports the proposed theory.
Disfluencies and directionality in simultaneous interpreting: A corpus study comparing into-B and into-A interpretations from the European Parliament
Authors: Bartlomiejczyk Magdalena , Gumul Ewa
Published: March 2024

Although directionality in interpreting has attracted considerable scholarly interest, to date, there are no observational studies providing empirical evidence on the directionality effect in the performance of professional interpreters who regularly work in both directions. Our aim is to partially fill this gap by exploring the relationship between disfluencies and directionality in simultaneous interpreting. To this end, we compare A-B and B/C-A interpretations from plenary debates of the European Parliament. Using English and Polish subcorpora extracted from the EP-Poland corpus, we performed quantitative analyses focusing on three types of disfluencies: anomalous pauses, hesitation markers, and false starts. Our initial assumption was that, in line with the prevalent belief, cognitive load is lower for into-A interpreting. Accordingly, we hypothesised that into-B interpretations should exhibit significantly more disfluencies. However, we have found no directionality effects related to disfluencies. Therefore, our results do not support the advantage of into-A interpreting. This finding raises some doubts about the legitimacy of favouring interpreting into the native language to the extent it is done now in many institutions.
Explicitation and ideology in media translation: The case of MEMRI
Authors: Abualadas Othman
Published: March 2024

This article describes some of the socio-political (ideological) factors affecting the use of explicitation. It explores how explicitations are utilized by a media organisation whose translations continue to construct a negative public image of a particular community. Drawing on critical discourse analysis and descriptive and functional models to translation studies, a corpus consisting of 26,000 words from Arabic-English translated news articles published by MEMRI was analyzed. The results reveal a strong tendency in explicitations to maintain the ideological perspective of the original at the micro-textual level, while promoting a religious and cultural Other at the macro-level. Instead of compromising its credibility by using misleading or inaccurate explicitations, MEMRI uses apparently accurate and faithful explicitations in translations strategically selected to accentuate an intended negative image. This casts light on the paradoxical function of explicitation in media translation: while it is assumed to reduce ambiguities and improve cultural understanding at the textual level, it may promote misunderstanding and cultural prejudice at a larger discourse level.
Translators’ and interpreters’ engagement with professional development in Australia: An analysis of key factors
Authors: Hlavac Jim , Tobias Shani , Sundin Lola , Knowles Simon , Avella Archila Alex
Published: March 2024

Professional development aims to facilitate the maintenance, improvement and broadening of knowledge and skills, and has become a standard or even compulsory component of professional practice for many occupational groups. This paper traces the uptake of professional development amongst certified translators and interpreters in Australia, where in 2014 it was introduced as a requirement for newly-certified practitioners only, and in 2019 for all holders of translation or interpreting certification from the national certifying authority. Based on responses gained from a sample of 3,268 practitioners, we report high uptake overall with little variation according to level of qualifications. Slightly lower uptake rates are recorded only amongst ‘newcomers’ with less experience while for all others, it is consistently high. Lower uptake rates are recorded amongst those who work 1-10 hours per week and those earning up to A$10,000 per year compared to others working more hours and those earning more. A desire for more work does not co-occur with elevated levels of PD uptake. The data presented reflects the reported experiences of those who had already been required to engage with PD, those for whom this requirement was new with a three-year time window to undertake PD, as well as those for whom it still remains optional. These findings contribute to our understanding of PD uptake amongst a professional group whose engagement with post-certification training has been under-studied. Findings may inform relevant stakeholders in other countries considering measures to arrest atrophy and extend the skill sets of practising translators and interpreters.
The Relationship Between Principals’ Leadership Practices and Students’ Learning Outcomes From a Distributed Perspective
Authors: Ghirmai Daniel Jambo
Published: March 2024

There is little empirical evidence that convinces the effectiveness of distributed leadership in contemporary educational research. Thus, many distinguished scholars suggest its’ statistical examination. Considering this need, the primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of principals’ distributed leadership practices on students’ learning outcomes at Technical and Vocational Education Training schools in Eritrea. The study was conducted based on quantitative design and applied structural equation modelling. A sample of six hundred and three students was employed. The researcher developed the structural equation model to test a model that hypothesized the relationship between the major variables using path analysis. The study results demonstrate that the principals’ distributed leadership practice has a direct and significant (.883, p<.001) effect on students’ learning outcomes keeping other things constant. The strongest predictor of students’ learning outcomes was capacity building, given it has the largest path coefficient (β=.346). Moreover, findings show gender disparity among the respondents and in terms of turnout rate; nevertheless, it was not statistically significant (p<.001). One of the study’s contributions is that it developed and assessed the validity of the principals’ distributed leadership practice scale for Eritrea’s TVET schools through CFA model. The study offered basic evidence that distributed type of leadership is a significant predictor of learning outcomes by exploring six factors of leadership practices, which shows a promising area for practice and future studies.
School Leadership Capacity and Student Achievement: A Study of High Schools
Authors: Isoye Steven T. , Wasonga Teresa A.
Published: March 2024

Organizationally, what does not get measured is not prioritized or improved. Unlike student outcomes, the leadership environment that produces the results is rarely examined for its merit and impact. In this study, a quantitative survey gathered information to investigate the impacts of leadership capacity constructs on academic achievement. Principals from 161 public high schools and their schools provided the data (leadership capacity, demographics, and reading and math scores). Data were analyzed using descriptive, correlational, and regression statistics. Findings indicated significant high correlations among leadership capacity variables, significant relationships between school demographics (total school enrollment, percentage of low-income students, average class size, and attendance) and reading and math scores, and non-significant correlations between leadership capacity and academic achievement. The study delineated specific leadership capacity behaviors within the constructs that predicted student academic achievement in math and reading. The study suggests increased capacity and practice of these leadership behaviors to improve work setting and student achievement.
Compact Series-fed Circularly-polarized Patch Array basedon Microstrip Line
Authors: Wei Gengming , Chang Le , Wu Yu
Published: March 2024

A compact single-layer circularly polarized (CP) antenna array is proposed in this paper for 5G/6G applications. The conventional microstrip line is modified as a feeding network by periodically and alternatively loading field blocking stubs, producing a linearly polarized in-phase radiative field aperture. By adding CP corner-truncated patches beside these in-phase fields, a linear high-gain CP antenna array excited by a single feed is obtained. The feasibility of the proposed design is demonstrated through the fabrication and measurement of a 16-element linear array. The results indicate that the 3 dB axial ratio bandwidth is 3.5% (19.60∼20.30 GHz), the -10 dB impedance bandwidth totally covers the 3 dB axial ratio bandwidth, and the peak realized gain is 14.9 dBi under an antenna length of 5.69λ0. This proposed strategy provides a very compact antenna structure to achieve high-gain CP radiation without the requirement of impedance transformers, phase shifters, and open-stop-band suppressing measures. Moreover, the antenna has a per-unit-length CP gain of 5.5/λ0, which is superior to many single-layer high-gain CPantennas.
Wideband Center-fed Stacked Patch Circularly Polarized Antenna used in Phased Array
Authors: Wang Jiaxin , Liu Xiao , Zhang Pengfei , Xu Zheng , Li Anqi , Chen Zhengtian , Fan Jin
Published: March 2024

A center-fed circularly polarized stacked patch antenna (CF-CPSPA) with enhanced axial-ratio (AR) bandwidth is proposed in this paper. The antenna is composed of two microstrip patches, the lower patch consists of a circular pad, an elliptical-ring, and two branch lines connecting them, which is used to realize the center-fed condition, and the upper patch is an elliptical patch to achieve the wide band performance. Firstly, two center-fed linearly polarized stacked patch antennas with wide band are designed, one mode radiated with x polarization, and the other generates y polarized radiation. Next, the orthogonal modes of two linearly polarized antennas are combined together by a specific design. Finally, the approximate equal amplitude and quadrature phase difference of the introduced modes are achieved in the operating frequency band with proper parameters analysis. And the impedance bandwidth and 3dB AR bandwidth is improved to 30.4% and 16.5%.
A 4-Element UWB MIMO Antenna System with High Isolation Performance
Authors: Ding Tongyu , Yang Haobin , Chen Zhiwei , Lin Zhen , He Bin , Han Chong-Zhi
Published: March 2024

This paper proposes a 4-element multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna system, which is intended for ultra-wideband (UWB) applications. The antenna has a dimension of 92 × 70 × 1.6 mm3. It achieves element isolation via the defected ground structure (DGS) and symmetric E-shaped branch structures design. The realized operating bandwidth is from 3 GHz to 18 GHz, with 15 dB isolation within the whole wide band. The envelope correlation coefficient (ECC) is less than 0.01 with diversity gain (DG) greater than 9.95. The prototype is fabricated and measured to verify its potential applications for UWB MIMO communication.
Four-way SIW Filtering Power Divider with In- and Out-of-phase Characteristics and Large Power Division Ratio
Authors: Shu Minghan , Huang Nengcai , Gao Qiyue , Ma Chenxin , Zhou Xin
Published: March 2024

A novel four-way substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) filtering power divider (FPD) with in-phase and out-of-phase characteristics and a large power division ratio (PDR) is presented in this work. The frequency selection and power division functions are effectively realized by employing SIW resonators at the bottom layer and at microstrip sections at the top layer, respectively. Four microstrip lines coupled with SIW cavity through a slotline realize in-phase and two out-of-phase output characteristics and a large PDR of 7:1. To verify the design method, a four-way prototype with PDR of 7:7:1:1 is designed, fabricated, and measured. Results exhibit good filtering performance, large power division ratio, and in-phase and out-of-phase characteristics.
Mexican hospitality migrants and the spatial and geographic regulation of mobility
Authors: Polanco Geraldina
Published: March 2024

Mobility (and control over it) is partially mediated by migrant capital and how it is evaluated across time and space. This study draws on the concept of multiple migration – wherein migration is viewed as potentially multidirectional and open-ended over the life course – to examine the plight of male, Mexican hospitality staff globally on the move. These participants are unique in that they had experience working as hospitality staff in different countries under different legal classifications. In the US they were undocumented, in Mexico they were deported nationals, and in Canada they were received as temporary migrant workers. Their accounts bring different mobilities – illegal, forced, contract, and returned – under one analytical frame to illuminate how mobilities are spatially and geographically regulated. As the article details, their mobility depended on the resources they accrued during migration and whether these resources could be converted into relevant capital, with class, gender and race significant mediating factors. When contextualised, their accounts offer unique insights into immigration controls, transnational labour regimes, political economy and how access to capital shapes gendered identities and hierarchies. Their evaluations vis-à-vis other (global) workers also mediated their legal incorporation, governed by normative ideals that shape prospects and life outcomes in the current economy.
Soviet History as Black Comedy
Authors: Fitzpatrick Sheila
Published: March 2024

SUMMARY: Opening a discussion forum "Mainstream Narratives of Soviet History and the Laughter of Surprise," Sheila Fitzpatrick's essay proposes applying the mode of black comedy to the narration of Soviet history. Noting that all comedy thrives on the unexpected, Fitzpatrick points to humorous reactions to social paradoxes and conflicts in the Russian and Soviet literary tradition as well as in western Sovietology. The essay implies that the comedic mode can be productive in highlighting heterogeneity and incongruities in Soviet history. Резюме: Эссе Шейлы Фитцпатрик, в котором черная комедия рассматривается как возможный модус повествования советской истории, открывает форум "Мейнстримные нарративы советской истории и смех от удивления". Отмечая, что жанр комедии использует эффект неожиданности, Фитцпатрик отмечает случаи юмористической реакции на социальные парадоксы и конфликты в российской и советской литературной традиции, а также западной советологии. В эссе аргументируется продуктивность использования жанра черной комедии для демонстрации гетерогенности советской истории и несоответствий в советском прошлом.
"History Is Not a Novel"
Authors: Lounsbery Anne
Published: March 2024

SUMMARY: This essay is a contribution to the discussion forum "Mainstream Narratives of Soviet History and the Laughter of Surprise," framed as responses by literary scholars, historians, and political scientists to Sheila Fitzpatrick's essay "Soviet History as Black Comedy." Anne Lounsbery offers her understanding of genres as sorting mechanisms that determine how we produce and consume texts. She concludes that while comedy can at times function as a supercilious distancing ritual, it can also imply an acknowledgment of suffering and common humanity. Резюме: Это эссе является частью форума "Мейнстримные нарративы советской истории и смех от удивления," в котором литературоведы, историки и политологи реагируют на эссе Шейлы Фитцпатрик "Советская история как черная комедия". Энн Лаунсбери предлагает свою трактовку жанра как субъективного понимания сортирующих механизмов, детерминирующих то, как мы производим и потребляем тексты. Проанализировав примеры литературных и исторических нарративов, Лаунсбери делает следующий вывод: несмотря на то, что в определенных случаях комедия позволяет занять высокомерную дистанцирующую позицию, она также может указывать на признание страдания и человеческой общности.
Laughter in the Dark
Authors: Slezkine Yuri
Published: March 2024

SUMMARY: This essay is a contribution to the discussion forum "Mainstream Narratives of Soviet History and the Laughter of Surprise," framed as responses by literary scholars, historians, and political scientists to Sheila Fitzpatrick's essay "Soviet History as Black Comedy." Yuri Slezkine argues that whereas the discrepancy between expectations and reality and the clash between grandiose claims and real-world conditions are universal phenomena, one country has been singled out as the subject of "black comedy" – the Soviet Union. Slezkine asks why we do not have a similar culture of mockery of Western politicians and failed Western claims and ambitions. He explains this discrepancy as based on a sense of relief due to the collapse of the enemy; the insecurity of Western liberalism; and the easiness of laughing at the Other, one who simultaneously embodies witness and difference. Резюме: Это эссе является частью форума "Мейнстримные нарративы советской истории и смех от удивления," в котором литературоведы, историки и политологи реагируют на эссе Шейлы Фитцпатрик "Советская история как черная комедия". Юрий Слезкин считает, что несоответствие ожиданий и реальности, конфликт между грандиозными заявками и реальными условиями жизни – феномен универсальный, однако лишь одна страна, СССР, воспринимается в качестве легитимного объекта "черной комедии". Слезкин ставит вопрос о том, почему не возникла подобная же культура издевки и унижения западных политиков и западных провалившихся амбиций? Причины этого он видит в чувстве облегчения, которое дает наблюдение поверженного врага; в слабости западного либерализма; и в соблазнительности смеха над Другим, который воплощает одновременно "белую идентичность" и отличие.
Sheila Fitzpatrick's Black Comedy
Authors: Suny Ronald Grigor
Published: March 2024

SUMMARY: This essay is a contribution to the discussion forum "Mainstream Narratives of Soviet History and the Laughter of Surprise," framed as responses by literary scholars, historians, and political scientists to Sheila Fitzpatrick's essay "Soviet History as Black Comedy." Ronald Suny's central question is: How does one reveal absurdity without descending into mockery? He finds a partial answer in Fitzpatrick's bottom-up, archives-based approach, which was emphatic, ironic, and skeptical, but never mocking. Although Fitzpatrick's positionality contrasts with the most recent version of partisan, deadly serious "decolonization," Suny argues that both these approaches overlook the source of Soviet irony such as the contradiction between nation-making and the imperial frame. That said, to productively apply the black-humor perspective to narrate this and other contradictions of the Soviet past one must, as Fitzpatrick does, retain empathy for and understanding of its imperfect actors. Резюме: Это эссе является частью форума "Мейнстримные нарративы советской истории и смех от удивления," в котором литературоведы, историки и политологи реагируют на эссе Шейлы Фитцпатрик "Советская история как черная комедия". Рональд Суни задает ключевой вопрос: как раскрыть абсурдность, избегая при этом издевательского тона? Частичный ответ на этот вопрос представляет научный подход Фитцпатрик: исследовательская перспектива снизу вверх; архивная база; выразительный, иронический и скептический, но никогда не издевательский взгляд. Хотя эта позиция противоположна недавно оформившемуся узкопартийному и убийственно серьезному пониманию "деколонизации," оба подхода не способны увидеть источник иронии советской истории, который кроется в противоречии между советским нациестроительством и советской имперской рамкой. При этом для продуктивного использования черной комедии как жанра нарратива советской истории, выявляющего заложенные в ней противоречия, необходимо, подобно Фитцпатрик, сохранять эмпатию и с пониманием относиться к неидеальным историческим действующим лицам.
The Longue Durée of Dark Humor
Authors: Nathans Benjamin
Published: March 2024

SUMMARY: This essay is a contribution to the discussion forum "Mainstream Narratives of Soviet History and the Laughter of Surprise," framed as responses by literary scholars, historians, and political scientists to Sheila Fitzpatrick's essay "Soviet History as Black Comedy." Benjamin Nathans reviews genres that have been used to narrate Soviet history, such as irony and tragedy, and shows that black comedy alone fosters irreverence and cognitive distance from the Soviet project. It builds a bridge between emic and etic interpretations of Soviet culture. But these functions of black comedy, Nathans argues, are older than the Soviet period. The prominence of these functions during the late Soviet era exposes its specificity vis-à-vis earlier periods. Furthermore, insiders and outsiders (like Fitzpatrick) found the Soviet experience funny for different reasons. Finally, black humor persists in Putin's Russia. Nathans concludes with the question of whether what we have understood as Soviet is, in fact, Russian or universal. Резюме: Это эссе является частью форума "Мейнстримные нарративы советской истории и смех от удивления," в котором литературоведы, историки и политологи реагируют на эссе Шейлы Фитцпатрик "Советская история как черная комедия". Рассматривая основные жанры восприятия советского прошлого – иронию и трагедию, – Бенджамин Натанс отмечает, что только черная комедия поощряет непочтительность и когнитивную дистанцию от советского проекта. Она связывает эмическую и этическую интерпретацию советской культуры. Эти функции черной комедии были характерны и для предшествующих эпох. Их особая заметность в позднесоветский период лишь подчеркивает ее отличия от более ранних этапов советской истории. Кроме того, инсайдеры и аутсайдеры (такие как Фитцпатрик) находили советский опыт смешным по разным причинам. Наконец, черный юмор не исчез и в путинской России. Натанс заканчивает эссе вопросом: насколько то, что мы понимаем как советское, на самом деле является российским или даже универсальным?
Autonomy or Unitary Sovereignty: The Democratic Republic of Georgia and Abkhazia, 1918–1921
Authors: Blauvelt Timothy , Vacharadze Anton
Published: March 2024

SUMMARY: Based primarily on archival documents of the Constitutional Committee of the Georgian Constituent Assembly concerning the drafting of the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Georgia in 1918–1921, this article focuses on a critical moment in the negotiations over autonomous status for Abkhazia. It explores the intrinsic tensions between the drafters' commitment to creating a unitary and nationalizing state while at the same time accommodating the demands of a regional ethnic minority with its own contested conception of identity. In the context of domestic and international political turbulence and in the course of protracted and often contentious deliberations, the negotiating parties attempted to "square the circle" that would concede meaningful autonomy within unitary sovereignty. Резюме: Статья Тимоти Блаувельта и Антона Вачарадзе основывается на архивных материалах конституционной комиссии Учредительного собрания Грузинской демократической республики, касающихся подготовки грузинской конституции в 1918–1921 гг. В центре этой истории находятся переговоры об автономном статусе Абхазии. Авторы показывают конфликт между приверженностью создателей конституции идее унитарного национализирующего государства и готовностью учитывать требования регионального этнического меньшинства, обладающего собственной противоречивой концепцией идентичности. На фоне внутренней и внешней политической нестабильности, в ходе продолжительных и часто напряженных обсуждений, обе стороны пытались решить "квадратуру круга," предоставив Абхазии действительную автономию в рамках грузинского унитарного суверенитета.
Rbm45 Phylogenetics, Protein Domain Conservation, and Gene Architecture in Clade Metazoa
Authors: Vuchkovska Virdjinija , Marti Teagan N. , Cisneros Anali , Saiki Lauren M. , Henderson Jeffrey O.
Published: March 2024

Mammalian Rbm45 is predominately expressed in neuronal tissue and is integral in brain development and neuronal differentiation under physiological conditions. Dysregulation of Rbm45 has been strongly associated with neurodegenerative disorders in humans and can drive hepatocellular carcinoma through reprogramming lipid metabolism. Intriguingly, Rbm45 is an ancient protein, evolutionarily conserved throughout metazoans, including in sponges which lack a nervous system. Curiously, the evolution of Rbm45 gene structure and protein domain conservation across kingdom Animalia is largely unknown. We performed phylogenetic analysis of Rbm45 nucleotide and amino acid sequences from 36 species representing 9 phyla: Porifera, Cnidaria, Priapulida, Mollusca, Brachiopoda, Arthropoda, Echinodermata, Hemichordata, and Chordata. While the tree from Rbm45 nucleotide sequence data resulted in clades Protostomia and Deuterostomia showing paraphyly, the phylogeny derived from Rbm45 amino acid sequence largely recapitulated known monophyletic relationships among metazoans. Human RBM45 protein structure includes three RNA-binding domains (RBD), a homo-oligomerization association (HOA) domain, a nuclear localization sequence (NLS), and a nuclear export sequence (NES). Multiple sequence alignment across the same 36 taxa used for phylogenetic analysis revealed conservation of all three RBDs, the HOA, and NLS; in contrast the NES was only detected in clade Craniata and not in clades Ambulacraria and Protostomia. Rbm45 gene structure analysis revealed increasing gene complexity concomitant with increasing evolutionary complexity. Rbm45 from non-bilaterian taxa had from 2 to 4 large exons, while bilaterian taxa had between 6 to17 small exons. These findings demonstrate that Rbm45 is an ancient, highly conserved gene among metazoans suggesting a function in a breadth of neural/sensory systems.
Drawing a “Geopolitics” of Medieval Middle East: Political Alliance and Rivalry among Islamic Caliphates, the Mongols, and the European Kingdoms
Authors: Karim Muhammad Abdul
Published: March 2024

This article aims to sketch the “geopolitics” of the past by investigating the context of the medieval Islamic world. Not only in today’s world, international political and economic relations have also had their precedents in the past. Given its strategic position in this issue, the Middle East is one of the regions that are interesting to study in the context of geopolitical narratives from the past to the present. This article tries to unravel the geopolitical situation of the Medieval Middle East by tracing historical records related to the economic-political relations of Islamic dynasties through a broader picture by looking at their relationship with other political powers that existed at that time, especially the Mongols and European-Christian kingdoms in general. This exploration shows how the issues of political pragmatism filled with negotiations and the necessity of religious issues have been deeply intertwined with each other and became a major feature of geopolitical relations in the medieval Middle East.[Artikel ini menggambarkan sebuah sketsa tentang “geo-politik” di masa lalu dengan menginvestigasi konteks dunia Islam pada abad pertengahan. Tidak hanya terjadi di dunia saat ini, relasi internasional dalam bidang politik dan ekonomi juga telah memiliki presedennya di masa lalu. Timur tengah adalah salah satu ranah yang layak untuk dikaji dalam konteks narasi geopolitik sejak masa lalu hingga saat ini, mengingat posisinya yang strategis dalam isu ini. Artikel ini mencoba mengurai situasi geopolitik Timur Tengah pada abad pertengahan dengan menelusuri catatan sejarah terkait relasi ekonomi-politik dinasti-dinasti Islam ditinjau dari konteks yang lebih luas dengan melihat kaitannya dengan kekuaan politik lain yang ada ketika itu, termasuk Mongol dan kerajaan-kerajaan Kristen Eropa secara umum. Penelusuran ini menunjukkan bagaimana isu pragmatisme politik yang dipenuhi dengan negosiasi dan isu keagamaan telah sangat terkait satu sama lain dan menjadi fitur utama dalam relasi geopolitis di Timur Tengah pada abad pertengahan].
Arabic Neologisms in Indonesian and Malaysian Arabic Media
Authors: Sukiman Uki , Zainuddin Ghazali , Yoyo Yoyo , Ramlan Siti Rosilawati
Published: March 2024

This research examines new, unique Arabic terms and vocabulary used in the newspapers Indonesia Alyoum and Aswaq, two online media based in Indonesia and Malaysia, respectively, to elaborate on the development of the Arabic language in non-Arab countries. The invention of new Arabic words in these media primarily used the methods of al-taulīd bi al-iqtirāḍ, particularly al-dakhīl, and al-taulīd al-dalālī using al-tarjamah al-ḥarfiyah. Meanwhile, the method al-taulīd bi al-majāz, a metaphorical method, is to invent new, unique, local terms. However, the authors argue that both newspapers have differences in transliteration and inconsistent use of terms. In response to this language development, Malay Muslims show their potential to develop Malay-Arabic transliteration guidelines, compile a new Arabic dictionary, and even establish Southeast Asian Majma‘ al-Lugah al-‘Arabiyah. [Penelitian ini mengkaji istilah-istilah dan kosakata baru dan unik dalam bahasa Arab yang digunakan di surat kabar Indonesia Alyoum dan Aswaq, dua media online yang masing-masing berbasis di Indonesia dan Malaysia, untuk melihat perkembangan bahasa Arab di negara non-Arab. Pembentukan kosa kata baru pada media ini terutama menggunakan metode al-taulīd bi al-iqtirāḍ, khususnya al-dakhīl, dan al-taulīd al-dalālī yang berbasis al-tarjamah al-ḥarfiyah. Sedangkan metode al-taulīd bi al-majāz, metode metafora, dipakai untuk mengalihkan istilah-istilah lokal. Namun, kedua surat kabar tersebut memiliki perbedaan dalam transliterasi dan tidak konsisten dalam penggunaan kosa kata serapan tersebut. Sementara itu, dalam menyikapi perkembangan bahasa Arab ini, umat Islam Melayu berpotensi mengembangkan pedoman transliterasi Melayu-Arab, menyusun kamus bahasa Arab baru, bahkan mendirikan Majma‘ al-Lugah al-‘Arabiyah Asia Tenggara.]
The Approach of Imām Al-Biqāʻī in Determining the Objectives of the Quranic Chapters
Authors: Misnawati Misnawati , Elatrash Radwan Jamal
Published: March 2024

Imam al-Biqāʻī is one of the most prominent Quranic commentators who took care of the objectives of Quranic chapters and became the first scholar to draw attention to this science. Benefited from the science of the Quranic munāsabah, al-Biqāʻī analysed the objectives of the Quranic chapters in his books Naẓm al-Durar fī Tanāsub al-Āyāt wa al-Suwar and Maѕāʻid al-Naẓr li al-Ishrāf ‘alā Maqāѕīd al-Suwar. Therefore, the nature of this paper requires that the researchers rely on the inductive method to reach the views of scholars and Quranic commentators, especially that of al-Biqāʻī on the topic, to prove the approach of al-Biqāʻī in the purposes of the sūrah. The authors argue that relying on the sciences of the Quranic tanāsub and siyāq, al-Biqāʻī concluded that revealing monotheism is the ultimate goal of most of the Quranic chapters.[Imam al-Biqāʻī salah satu tokoh tafsir terpenting yang berkontribusi dalam Ilmu Maqāṣid ṣ al-Suwar al-Qur’āniyyah, bahkan beliau di garda terdepan dalam ilmu ini sebagai perintisnya. Dengan mendalami ilmu Munāsabah al-Quran, beliau menganalisis dan menentukan tujuan surat-surat al-Qur’an sebagaimana tergambar dalam kitabnya yang berjudul Naẓm al-Durar fī Tanāsub al-Āyāt wa al-Suwar dan Maṣāʻid al-Naẓr li al-Ishrāf ʻalā Maqāṣid al-Suwar. Artikel ini menggunakan pendekatan induktif untuk mengumpulkan pendapat para ulama dan para ahli tafsir, khususnya pendapat al-Biqāʻī, terkait disiplin ilmu tersebut untuk menelisik karakteristik pendekatan al-Biqāʻī dalam menentukan tujuan dari surat al-Quran. Kesimpulan dalam penelitian ini adalah bahwa menurut al-Biqāʻī, tauhid adalah tujuan tertinggi di sebagian besar surat al-Quran. Pandangan al-Biqāʻī ini dia dapatkan melalui dua ilmu yang menjadi referensinya, yaitu ilmu al-Tanāsub dan al-Siyāq].
Downregulation of p68 RNA Helicase (DDX5) Activates a Survival Pathway Involving mTOR and MDM2 Signals
Authors: Kokolo M. , Bach-Elias Montse
Published: March 2024

The DEAD box p68 RNA helicase (DDX5) is required to manipulate RNA structures implicated in mRNA/rRNA processing and transcript export, and acts as a co-activator for a range of transcription factors. Previous research has indicated that p68 RNA helicase may also be important in tumour development. Wild-type HeLa and stable HeLa (clone 13) cell cultures containing RNAi-mediated depletion of p68 RNA helicase induced by doxycycline (DOX) were used to study how the p68 RNA helicase affects the mTOR cell signalling pathway. Relevant results were repeated using transient transfection with pSuper/pSuper-p68 RNA helicase, containing RNAi-mediated depletion of p68 RNA helicase, to avoid DOX interference. Here we provide strong evidence for the participation of p68 RNA helicase in mTOR regulation. In detail, depletion of this helicase decreases cell growth and activates the mTOR/ MDM2 cell survival mechanism, which ultimately leads to inhibition of the pro-apoptotic activity. p68 RNA helicase downregulation strongly stimulates 4E-BP1 phosphorylation, thereby provoking activation of cap-dependent translation. In contrast, the IRES-dependent translation of c-myc is reduced when p68 RNA helicase is depleted, thus indicating that at least this specific translation requires p68 RNA helicase activity to manipulate the complex 5’ end of this mRNA. Interestingly, p68 RNA helicase depletion decreases cell growth while activating the mTOR/MDM2 cell survival mechanism. As MDM2 is a known negative regulator of p53, we infer that the activation of the cell survival mechanism may result in inhibition of the pro-apoptotic factor p53. Finally, p68 RNA helicase depletion activates capdependent translation and inhibits c-MYC IRES-mediated translation.
Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat Chromosome 2 with Mutant Connexin 50 Triggers Divergent Effects on Metabolic Syndrome Components
Authors: Šeda Ondřej , Křenová D. , Šedová L. , Kazdová L. , Krupková M. , Chylíková B. , Liška F. , Křen V.
Published: March 2024

Metabolic syndrome is a frequent condition with multifactorial aetiology. Previous studies indicated the presence of genetic determinants of metabolic syndrome components on rat chromosome 2 (RNO2) and syntenic regions of the human genome. Our aim was to further explore these findings using novel rat models. We derived the BN-Dca and BN-Lx.Dca congenic strains by introgression of a limited RNO2 region from a spontaneously hypertensive rat strain carrying a mutation in the Gja8 gene (SHR-Dca, dominant cataract) into the genomic background of Brown Norway strain and congenic strain BN-Lx, respectively. We compared morphometric, metabolic and cytokine profiles of adult male BN-Lx, BN-Dca and BN-Lx.Dca rats. We performed in silico comparison of the DNA sequences throughout RNO2 differential segments captured in the new congenic strains. Both BN-Dca and BN-Lx.Dca showed lower total triacylglycerols and cholesterol concentrations compared to BN-Lx. Fasting insulin in BN-Dca was higher than in BN-Lx.Dca and BN-Lx. Concentrations of several proinflammatory cytokines were elevated in the BN-Dca strain, including IL-1α, IL-1β, IFN-γ and MCP-1. In silico analyses revealed over 740 DNA variants between BN-Lx and SHR genomes within the differential segment of the congenic strains. We derived new congenic models that prove that a limited genomic region of SHR-Dca RNO2 significantly affects lipid levels and insulin sensitivity in a divergent fashion.
The carbon monoxide prodrug oCOm‐21 increases Ca2+ sensitivity of the cardiac myofilament
Authors: Payne Fergus M. , Nie Samantha , Diffee Gary M. , Wilkins Gerard T. , Larsen David S. , Harrison Joanne C. , Baldi James C. , Sammut Ivan A.
Published: March 2024

Patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass procedures require inotropic support to improve hemodynamic function and cardiac output. Current inotropes such as dobutamine, can promote arrhythmias, prompting a demand for improved inotropes with little effect on intracellular Ca2+ flux. Low‐dose carbon monoxide (CO) induces inotropic effects in perfused hearts. Using the CO‐releasing pro‐drug, oCOm‐21, we investigated if this inotropic effect results from an increase in myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity. Male Sprague Dawley rat left ventricular cardiomyocytes were permeabilized, and myofilament force was measured as a function of ‐log [Ca2+] (pCa) in the range of 9.0–4.5 under five conditions: vehicle, oCOm‐21, the oCOm‐21 control BP‐21, and levosimendan, (9 cells/group). Ca2+ sensitivity was assessed by the Ca2+ concentration at which 50% of maximal force is produced (pCa50). oCOm‐21, but not BP‐21 significantly increased pCa50 compared to vehicle, respectively (pCa50 5.52 vs. 5.47 vs. 5.44; p < 0.05). No change in myofilament phosphorylation was seen after oCOm‐21 treatment. Pretreatment of cardiomyocytes with the heme scavenger hemopexin, abolished the Ca2+ sensitizing effect of oCOm‐21. These results support the hypothesis that oCOm‐21‐derived CO increases myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity through a heme‐dependent mechanism but not by phosphorylation. Further analyses will confirm if this Ca2+ sensitizing effect occurs in an intact heart.
Effect of lower body negative pressure on cardiac and cerebral function in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome: A pilot MRI assessment
Authors: Skow Rachel J. , Foulkes Stephen J. , Seres Peter , Freer Meghan A. , Mathieu Eric D. , Raj Satish R. , Thompson Richard B. , Haykowsky Mark H. , Richer Lawrence
Published: March 2024

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is characterized by an excessive heart rate (HR) response upon standing and symptoms indicative of inadequate cerebral perfusion. We tested the hypothesis that during lower body negative pressure (LBNP), individuals with POTS would have larger decreases in cardiac and cerebrovascular function measured using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Eleven patients with POTS and 10 healthy controls were studied at rest and during 20 min of −25 mmHg LBNP. Biventricular volumes, stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (Qc), and HR were determined by cardiac MR. Cerebral oxygen uptake (VO2) in the superior sagittal sinus was calculated from cerebral blood flow (CBF; MR phase contrast), venous O2 saturation (SvO2; susceptometry‐based oximetry), and arterial O2 saturation (pulse oximeter). Regional cerebral perfusion was determined using arterial spin labelling. HR increased in response to LBNP (p < 0.001) with no group differences (HC: +9 ± 8 bpm; POTS: +13 ± 11 bpm; p = 0.35). Biventricular volumes, SV, and Qc decreased during LBNP (p < 0.001). CBF and SvO2 decreased with LBNP (p = 0.01 and 0.03, respectively) but not cerebral VO2 (effect of LBNP: p = 0.28; HC: −0.2 ± 3.7 mL/min; POTS: +1.1 ± 2.0 mL/min; p = 0.33 between groups). Regional cerebral perfusion decreased during LBNP (p < 0.001) but was not different between groups. These data suggest patients with POTS have preserved cardiac and cerebrovascular function.
Sirtuin 5 regulates acute myeloid leukemia cell viability and apoptosis by succinylation modification of glycine decarboxylase
Authors: Zhang Jun , Luo Cheng , Long Haiying
Published: March 2024

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a blood system malignancy where sirtuin 5 (SIRT5) is abnormally expressed in AML cell lines. This study aimed to investigate the SIRT5 effects on the viability and apoptosis of AML cell lines. The mRNA and protein expression levels of succinylation regulatory enzyme in clinical samples and AML cell lines were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting while cell viability was measured using cell counting kit-8 assay. The apoptosis rate was assessed with flow cytometry. The interaction between SIRT5 and glycine decarboxylase (GLDC) was determined by co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence staining techniques. Results indicated higher mRNA and protein expression levels of SIRT5 in clinical AML samples of AML than in normal subjects. Similarly, cell viability was inhibited, and apoptosis was promoted by downregulating SIRT5, in addition to inhibition of SIRT5-mediated GLDC succinylation. Moreover, rescue experiment results showed that GLDC reversed the effects of SIRT5 knockdown on cell viability and apoptosis. These results, in combination with SIRT5 and GLDC interactions, suggested that SIRT5 was involved in mediating AML development through GLDC succinylation. SIRT5 inhibits GLDC succinylation to promote viability and inhibit apoptosis of AML cells, suggesting that SIRT5 encourages the development of AML.