bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Global development assistance for early childhood care and education in 134 low- and middle-income countries, 2007–2021
Authors: Luan Yiqun , Hodgkin Dominic , Behrman Jere , Stein Alan , Richter Linda , Cuartas Jorge , Lu Chunling
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) often dedicate limited domestic funds to expand quality early childhood care and education (ECCE), making complementary international donor support potentially important. However, research on the allocation of international development assistance for ECCE has been limited.

Methods

We analysed data from the Creditor Reporting System on aid projects to assess global development assistance for ECCE in 134 LMICs from 2007 to 2021. By employing keyword-searching and funding-allocation methods, we derived two estimates of ECCE aid: a lower-bound estimate comprising projects primarily focusing on ECCE and an upper-bound estimate comprising projects with both primary and partial ECCE focus, as well as those that could benefit ECCE but did not include ECCE keywords. We also assessed aid directed to conflict-affected countries and to ECCE projects integrating COVID-19-related activities.

Results

Between 2007 and 2021, the lower-bound ECCE aid totaled US$3646 million, comprising 1.7% of the total US$213 279 million allocated to education. The World Bank led in ECCE aid, contributing US$1944 million (53.3% out of total ECCE aid). Low-income countries received less ECCE aid per child before 2016, then started to catch up but experienced a decrease from US$0.8 (2020) per child to US$0.6 (2021) per child. Funding for ECCE projects with COVID-19 activities decreased from a total of US$50 million in 2020 to US$37 million in 2021, representing 11.4% and 6.6% of annual total ECCE aid, respectively. Over 15 years, conflict-affected countries received an average of US$0.3 per child, a quarter of the aid received by non-conflict-affected countries (US$1.2 per child).

Conclusion

Although ECCE aid increased significantly between 2007 and 2021, its proportion of total educational aid fell short of UNICEF’s suggested 10% minimum. Recommendations include increasing the share of ECCE aid in total educational aid, increasing aid to low-income and conflict-affected countries, and investing more in preparing ECCE programmes for future global crises.
Stress and its associated factors in mothers with preterm infants in a private tertiary care hospital of Karachi, Pakistan: an analytical cross-sectional study
Authors: Akbar Salima , Akber Afshan , Parpio Yasmin
Published: November 2024

Objectives

This goal of this research is to present a comprehensive method for evaluating stress and the factors that contribute to it in mothers of premature babies.

Design

Analytical cross-sectional study.

Setting

Data were collected from inpatient service for preterm infants including neonatal intensive care unit, and neonatal step-down units of the Aga Khan University Hospital—a private tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.

Participants

Mothers aged 18 years and above who delivered preterm infants (gestational age of preterm below 37 weeks) in a private tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan.

Primary outcome

Stress in mothers of preterm infants.

Results

200 participants with a mean age of 30.12 years (SD ±5.21) were assessed. The level of stress identified using the perceived stress scale (PSS) among mothers who had delivered preterm infants was significantly higher as compared with other countries around the world. Based on the criteria of PSS scoring, the majority of the participants (92%, n=184) were categorised as having high perceived stress and 8% (n=16) of the mothers fell into the category of moderate stress.

Conclusions

The study findings suggest high levels of perceived stress among mothers of preterm infants. The factors associated with the stress among mothers of preterm infants included immunisation of newborn, education and occupation status of mothers, substance abuse by mother, gender preference from family, planning for further children, consumption of balance diet, education status of husband, mode of socialisation, years of marriage and hours of sleep.
TENDINopathy Severity Assessment-Achilles: a study protocol for cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric properties patient-reported outcome instrument in Persian athletes with Achilles tendinopathy
Authors: Sheikhi Bahram , Akbari Hadi
Published: November 2024

Patient-reported outcome measurements (PROMs) are important to evaluate the impact of clinical practice in athletes with Achilles tendinopathy (AT). The TENDINopathy Severity assessment-Achilles (TENDINS-A) is a PROM that measures the pain, symptoms and physical function associated with AT. This study aims to translate, cross-culturally adapt and measure the properties of the Persian language version of the TENDINS-A (Persian-TENDINS-A) in athletes with AT.

According to the COnsensus-based Standards for selecting health Measurement INstruments guidelines, 100 athletes with AT will be required for test-retest reliability, construct validity and internal consistency. Analyses will include confirmatory factor analysis, internal consistency, construct validity, SE of measurement, agreement, smallest detectable change, and floor and ceiling effects. Test-retest reliability of the Persian-TENDINS-A will be evaluated within 2–3 days for the Persian-TENDINS-A. Hypothesis testing of the Persian-TENDINS-A will be determined using a Pearson correlation of a single point in time between Persian-TENDINS-A scores with the Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles and Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaires.

The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Zabol (approval ID: IR.UOZ. REC.1403.004) based on the Declaration of Helsinki. Findings from this study will be disseminated to the athletes, clinicians and researchers through peer-reviewed journals and national and international conferences.
Attitudes toward physician-provided gun safety counselling among current and prospective gun owners in the USA
Authors: Warner Tara D
Published: November 2024

Background

Americans increasingly perceive that homes with guns are safer than those without, and physician counselling about in-home firearm safety and injury risks occurs infrequently, despite encouragement from major medical organisations (eg, American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics). Safety counselling that does occur may be limited to gun owners at high risk of injury; however, given the increasing rates of first-time gun ownership in the USA, understanding attitudes toward firearms and firearm safety messaging among persons who may become firearm owners is needed to inform and support continued injury prevention efforts.

Methods

Survey data from a cross-section of firearm owners (n=396) and non-owners (n=551) collected in February 2023 was used to examine differences in perceptions about the safety of firearm households, openness toward firearm safety counselling and comfort with law enforcement compared with physician firearm safety discussions.

Results

Over three-quarters of current and possible future gun owners agreed that firearms make homes safer, compared with just over one-third of non-owners. All three groups favoured law enforcement over physicians for firearm safety messengers and were more comfortable speaking with law enforcement than physicians about firearm safety.

Discussion and conclusion

Public health and injury prevention safety counselling that combines messaging from law enforcement and medical perspectives may be similarly accessible for both current firearm owners and those considering owning firearms in the future.
Utility of the 2019 EULAR/ACR SLE classification criteria for predicting mortality and hospitalisation: development and cross-validation of ominosity score
Authors: Figueroa-Parra Gabriel , Hanson Andrew C , Sanchez-Rodriguez Alain , Meade-Aguilar Jose A , González-Treviño Mariana , Cuéllar-Gutiérrez María C , Barbour Kamil E , Duarte-García Alí , Crowson Cynthia
Published: November 2024

Objective

The 2019 European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR)/American College of Rheumatology (ACR) systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) classification criteria score (≥20 points) has been associated with poor outcomes. We aimed to evaluate its utility as a predictor for mortality and hospitalisation and to derive and validate an ominosity score based on the SLE classification criteria set.

Methods

Incident patients with SLE in a population-based cohort were included. The association between the 2019 EULAR/ACR SLE score and mortality and hospitalisation was assessed using Cox regression adjusted for age, sex and calendar year. An ominosity score for mortality was developed based on the SLE criteria set. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method was used to estimate model coefficients. Concordance and calibration were assessed by cross-validation and by plotting the observed event rates against the deciles of predicted probabilities.

Results

Among 374 patients with incident SLE, a EULAR/ACR score ≥20 points was not associated with an increased risk of mortality (HR 1.17, 95% CI 0.67 to 2.03) or first hospitalisation (HR 1.14, 95% CI 0.79 to 1.64) compared with a score ≤19 points. The derived ominosity score for mortality included age, sex, thrombocytopaenia, neuropsychiatric manifestations, subacute cutaneous or discoid lupus, non-scarring alopecia, inflammatory arthritis, renal involvement, antiphospholipid antibodies and hypocomplementaemia. This model demonstrated a concordance=0.76 with adequate calibration. Age and sex were the main predictors, as seen in the model including just age, sex and year (concordance=0.77).

Conclusion

The 2019 EULAR/ACR SLE criteria score was not associated with mortality and hospitalisation. The derived ominosity score for mortality presented good prediction for mortality but was not better than age and sex alone.
Clinical outcomes of endovascular interventions for cerebral venous thrombosis in Japan: a nationwide retrospective study
Authors: Senda Atsushi , Suginaka Hiroshi , Morishita Koji , Fushimi Kiyohide
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare but serious disease. Despite anticoagulation being the cornerstone therapy, some patients experience worsening disease, necessitating alternative treatment. Endovascular treatment is an anticipated option with an uncertain clinical relevance. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical effects and efficacy of endovascular therapy and identify patient populations that may benefit from treatment.

Patients and methods

This retrospective study examined patient data from April 2014 to March 2022 that were extracted from a nationwide Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination database. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. The secondary outcomes included modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores and post-hospitalisation complications of cerebral infarction and intracranial haemorrhage. Severity was adjusted using a generalised linear mixed model, and propensity-score matching was employed to compare outcomes between treatment groups.

Results

The study included 2901 patients; 240 patients in the endovascular treatment group were matched with 240 patients in the standard treatment group. After adjusting for background factors, endovascular treatment did not improve in-hospital mortality (adjusted OR 1.45; 95% CI 0.74 to 2.16) or the mRS score (adjusted OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.56 to 1.23). No subpopulations that could benefit from endovascular treatment were identified. Post-hospitalisation cerebral infarction and intracranial haemorrhage did not increase with endovascular treatment (0.8% in the endovascular treatment group vs 1.2% in the standard treatment group).

Conclusion

Endovascular treatment showed no significant benefit for patients with CVT, indicating that treatment guidelines need to be refined. Our findings can guide clinical decisions and suggest the necessity of further research on potential benefits in specific subpopulations.
The EU AI Act and the Wager on Trustworthy AI
Authors: Bellogín Alejandro , Grau Oliver , Larsson Stefan , Schimpf Gerhard , Sengupta Biswa , Solmaz Gürkan
Published: November 2024

As the impact of AI is difficult to assess by a single group, policymakers should prioritize societal and environmental well being and seek advice from interdisciplinary groups focusing on ethical aspects, responsibility, and transparency in the development of algorithms.
Ethics and Cultural Background as Key Factors for an Attractive Metaverse
Authors: Catarci Tiziana , De Nicola Giuseppina , Raffini Daniel
Published: November 2024

The metaverse remains a work in progress, but improvements in how it handles ethical concerns and addresses cultural issues could push it further along the path to mass adoption.
A Survey of Machine Learning for Urban Decision Making: Applications in Planning, Transportation, and Healthcare
Authors: Zheng Yu , Hao Qianyue , Wang Jingwei , Gao Changzheng , Chen Jinwei , Jin Depeng , Li Yong
Published: November 2024

Developing smart cities is vital for ensuring sustainable development and improving human well-being. One critical aspect of building smart cities is designing intelligent methods to address various decision-making problems that arise in urban areas. As machine learning techniques continue to advance rapidly, a growing body of research has been focused on utilizing these methods to achieve intelligent urban decision-making. In this survey, we conduct a systematic literature review on the application of machine learning methods in urban decision-making, with a focus on planning, transportation, and healthcare. First, we provide a taxonomy based on typical applications of machine learning methods for urban decision-making. We then present background knowledge on these tasks and the machine learning techniques that have been adopted to solve them. Next, we examine the challenges and advantages of applying machine learning in urban decision-making, including issues related to urban complexity, urban heterogeneity, and computational cost. Afterward and primarily, we elaborate on the existing machine learning methods that aim at solving urban decision-making tasks in planning, transportation, and healthcare, highlighting their strengths and limitations. Finally, we discuss open problems and the future directions of applying machine learning to enable intelligent urban decision-making, such as developing foundation models and combining reinforcement learning algorithms with human feedback. We hope this survey can help researchers in related fields understand the recent progress made in existing works, and inspire novel applications of machine learning in smart cities.
ChatCam: Embracing LLMs for Contextual Chatting-to-Camera with Interest-Oriented Video Summarization
Authors: Xiao Kaijie , Gao Yi , Li Fu , Xu Weifeng , Chen Pengzhi , Dong Wei
Published: November 2024

Cameras are ubiquitous in society, with users increasingly looking to extract insights about the physical world. Current human-to-camera interaction methods, while advanced, still need to support an intuitive, conversational interaction as one would expect in human-to-human communication. To achieve a more natural interaction between humans and cameras, we proposed a novel contextual chatting-to-camera paradigm. This paradigm allows users to interact with the camera using natural language including raising interests and questions. In response, the camera can customize specific tasks tailored to these interests and attempt to provide answers to the questions asked. We designed ChatCam, embracing LLMs for contextual chatting-to-camera with interest-oriented video summarization. With a novel prompt with the actor-critic LLMs approach, ChatCam can understand users' interests and translate them into some tasks and objects. ChatCam can also customize relevant models with the help of the multi-modal large language model and deep reinforcement learning on the resource-constrained edge and maintain high accuracy. Results show that ChatCam achieves an improvement up to 43.9% in understanding user interests and 21.1% in model accuracy compared to state-of-the-art methods in multiple settings. Various examples and the user study also prove the effectiveness of ChatCam in practice.
mmSpyVR: Exploiting mmWave Radar for Penetrating Obstacles to Uncover Privacy Vulnerability of Virtual Reality
Authors: Mei Luoyu , Liu Ruofeng , Yin Zhimeng , Zhao Qingchuan , Jiang Wenchao , Wang Shuai , Wang Shuai , Lu Kangjie , He Tian
Published: November 2024

Virtual reality (VR), while enhancing user experiences, introduces significant privacy risks. This paper reveals a novel vulnerability in VR systems that allows attackers to capture VR privacy through obstacles utilizing millimeter-wave (mmWave) signals without physical intrusion and virtual connection with the VR devices. We propose mmSpyVR, a novel attack on VR user's privacy via mmWave radar. The mmSpyVR framework encompasses two main parts: (i) A transfer learning-based feature extraction model to achieve VR feature extraction from mmWave signal. (ii) An attention-based VR privacy spying module to spy VR privacy information from the extracted feature. The mmSpyVR demonstrates the capability to extract critical VR privacy from the mmWave signals that have penetrated through obstacles. We evaluate mmSpyVR through IRB-approved user studies. Across 22 participants engaged in four experimental scenes utilizing VR devices from three different manufacturers, our system achieves an application recognition accuracy of 98.5% and keystroke recognition accuracy of 92.6%. This newly discovered vulnerability has implications across various domains, such as cybersecurity, privacy protection, and VR technology development. We also engage with VR manufacturer Meta to discuss and explore potential mitigation strategies. Data and code are publicly available for scrutiny and research.1
In Memoriam: E. Allen Emerson
Authors: Spafford Eugene H. , Garfinkel Simson L.
Published: November 2024

ACM A.M. Turing Laureate helped to develop model checking into a widely adopted, highly effective verification technology.
Marrying Top-k with Skyline Queries: Operators with Relaxed Preference Input and Controllable Output Size
Authors: Mouratidis Kyriakos , Li Keming , Tang Bo
Published: November 2024

The two paradigms to identify records of preference in a multi-objective setting rely either on dominance (e.g., the skyline operator) or on a utility function defined over the records’ attributes (typically using a top-
k
query). Despite their proliferation, each has its own palpable drawbacks. Motivated by these drawbacks, we identify three hard requirements for practical decision support, namely, personalization, controllable output size, and flexibility in preference specification. With these requirements as a guide, we combine elements from both paradigms and propose two new operators,
ORD
and
ORU
. We present a suite of algorithms for their efficient processing, dedicating more technical effort to
ORU
, whose nature is inherently more challenging. Specifically, besides a sophisticated algorithm for
ORD
, we describe two exact methods for
ORU
and one approximate. We perform a qualitative study to demonstrate how our operators work and evaluate the performance of our algorithms against adaptations of previous work that mimic their output.
Active Material Particle Size Effects on All-Solid-State Li-ion Batteries via X-ray CT based Simulations
Authors: Lee K. , Kodama M. , Yanagi K. , Haniu Y. , Higuchi H. , Arashi T. , Hirai S.
Published: November 2024

All-solid-state lithium-ion batteries face challenges in terms of increasing their capacity for high-speed charging and discharging, which will require optimization of the electrode structure. This structure comprises a solid electrolyte (SE) and active material (AM) and the AM particle size is one of the most important factors affecting the structure. The present study examined the effects of AM particle size on electrode structure and performance through discharge experiments, X-ray computed tomography (CT), and pseudo-two-dimensional (P2D) simulations. The SE tortuosity and AM specific contact area diameter (DSCA) used in the P2D simulations were obtained from X-ray CT data and the results of these simulations were verified through a comparison with experimental data. The latter indicated that smaller AM particle sizes provided increased battery performance. The P2D simulations based on DSCA values were found to be highly accurate and showed the same correlation between particle size and performance. These simulations also demonstrated that changes in performance originate from differences in the overpotential associated with lithium diffusion in the AM particles. Specifically, smaller AM particles having lower DSCA values reduce the overpotential associated with lithium diffusion to give improved performance.
Epidemiological, Biological, and Clinical Characteristics of Central Nervous System Enterovirus Infections Among Hospitalized Patients at Ibn Sina University Hospital Center in Rabat: Case Study Report (A Series of 19 Cases)
Authors: Echiguer Chemsdine , El Amin Ghizlane , Zouaki Amal , Zirar Jalila , Seffar Myriam , Mahraoui Chafiq , Kabbaj Hakima
Published: November 2024

Enterovirus can cause central nervous system (CNS) infections ranging from meningitis to severe encephalitis. The aims of our study were to describe and develop the current epidemiological, biological, and clinical aspects of these infections as well as to enrich Moroccan data. This is a retrospective study conducted from January 2021 to March 2023, which included all patients admitted to the hospitals of Ibn Sina University Hospital Center in Rabat (Morocco) with clinical suspicion of CNS infection and positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for enterovirus detected by BioFire® FilmArray® panel meningitis/encephalitis. 1479 CSF were analyzed by multiplex PCR. Enterovirus was detected in 19 patients (1.28%) with a median age of 5 years, predominantly affecting male patients (73.7%) and children (94.7%), especially those aged 2 years and older (68.4%). Fever was the most common symptom (77.8%), followed by headache (66.7%). The seasonal peak of enterovirus detection was also observed. For most patients, the CSF was predominantly lymphocytic (88.2%) with normal glycorrhachia (84.2%) and proteinorachia (73.7%). A notable proportion (10.5%) had a normal CSF cytology. Hyperproteinorachia was found in 26.3% of cases and hypoglycorrhachia in 5.3%. Blood analysis revealed a normal WBC count in 55.6% of cases, hyperleukocytosis in 33.3%, and leukopenia in 11.1%. CRP was elevated in 72.2% of cases. CNS enterovirus infections were particularly present among the pediatric population in this study. The lack of specificity in clinical and biological manifestations may sometimes suggest bacterial etiology. The widespread use of multiplex PCR can therefore provide a reliable and rapid method of detection and diagnosis.
Glutamine Supplementation: A Possible Strategy to Help Mitigate Health Risks of Heat‐Related Illness
Authors: Zuhl Micah , Specht Jonathan , Beatty Sage , Mermier Christine
Published: November 2024

A rise in body temperature caused by physical work, including exercise, in a hot climate can lead to heat‐related illnesses such as exertional heat exhaustion and stroke. Individuals who work physically demanding occupations in hot environments are at heightened risk of heat injury. The mechanisms that contribute to heat illness resulting from physical work in the heat are complex and include dehydration, tissue ischemia and damage, oxidative stress, and inflammatory events. Therefore, it is important to develop strategies that address these mechanistic underpinnings to prevent exacerbation to heat illness. Glutamine is an amino acid that has been considered conditionally essential during situations of biological stress (e.g., tissue burn, exercise, sepsis) due to high rates of tissue consumption. Evidence suggests that glutamine may serve as an important nutrient during heat stress and when combined with other preventative measures (e.g., cooling techniques, work/rest ratios, clothing) may help to mitigate heat illness among individuals working in extreme climates. The aim of this review is to examine the current literature on the role of glutamine during heat stress.
Early Hepatic Decompensation Identifies Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Atezolizumab plus Bevacizumab or Sorafenib at Highest Risk of Death
Authors: Cabibbo Giuseppe , Celsa Ciro , Battaglia Salvatore , Enea Marco , Di Maria Gabriele , Grova Alessandro , Ciccia Roberta , Manfredi Giulia F. , Iavarone Massimo , Vogel Arndt , Singal Amit G. , Reig Maria , Pinato David J. , Cammà Calogero
Published: November 2024

Purpose:

The prognosis of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and compensated cirrhosis is influenced by cancer progression. Data on the incidence and the prognostic role of clinical hepatic decompensation (CHD) following immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy are lacking. We aimed to assess whether early CHD within 3 months from commencement of systemic therapy affects overall survival (OS) of patients treated with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab or sorafenib.

Patients and Methods:

Individual patient data from the IMbrave150 trial were analyzed. Cumulative incidence of CHD was assessed by competing risk analysis against HCC radiologic progression. Early CHD and HCC radiologic progression were assessed as predictors of OS by the time-dependent Cox model.

Results:

The 3- and 12-month rates of CHD were 7% and 12%, respectively, whereas the 3- and 12-month rates of HCC radiologic progression were 23% and 52%, respectively. Albumin–bilirubin grade 2 [subdistribution HR (sHR) = 1.79, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01–3.19; P = 0.049], INR (sHR = 1.97, 95% CI, 1.64–2.37; P < 0.001), and presence of neoplastic macrovascular invasion (sHR = 2.01, 95% CI, 1.14–3.54; P = 0.020) were independently associated with higher risk of CHD. Early CHD (HR = 7.56, 95% CI, 4.47–12.8) and early HCC radiologic progression (HR = 5.92, 95% CI, 4.03–8.69), as first events, were independently associated with higher mortality.

Conclusions:

This study provides robust evidence that early CHD is associated with the highest risk of death in patients with unresectable HCC undergoing systemic treatment. Within well-compensated participants, albumin–bilirubin, INR, and macrovascular invasion identify a population at higher risk of decompensation. Inclusion of clinical decompensation events in future prospective clinical trials may improve characterization of OS from systemic therapy of HCC.
Temporal Genomic Analysis of Homogeneous Tumor Models Reveals Key Regulators of Immune Evasion in Melanoma
Authors: Cohen Shvefel Sapir , Pai Joy A. , Cao Yingying , Pal Lipika R. , Bartok Osnat , Levy Ronen , Zemanek Marie J. , Weller Chen , Herzog Ella , Yao Winnie , Hiam-Galvez Kamir J. , Cheng Kuoyuan , Yin Yajie , Du Peter P. , Raposo Colin J. , Gumpert Nofar , Welti Michele , Martínez Gómez Julia M. , Sella Federica , Yakubovich Elizabeta , Orr Irit , Ben-Dor Shifra , Oren Roni , Fellus-Alyagor Liat , Golani Ofra , Brenner Ori Jacob , Salame Tomer M. , Zerbib Mirie , Goliand Inna , Ranmar Dean , Savchenko Ilya , Ketrarou Nadav , Schäffer Alejandro A. , Dahan Rony , Levesque Mitchell P. , Ruppin Eytan , Satpathy Ansuman T. , Samuels Yardena
Published: November 2024

Low intratumor heterogeneity correlates with increased patient survival and immunotherapy response. However, even highly homogeneous tumors are variably aggressive, and the immunologic factors impacting aggressiveness remain understudied. In this study, we analyzed the mechanisms underlying immune escape in murine tumors with low intratumor heterogeneity. We used immunophenotyping and single-cell RNA sequencing to compare the temporal growth of in vivo transplanted, genetically similar, rejected and nonrejected single-cell clones. Nonrejected clones showed high infiltration of tumor-associated macrophages, lower T cell infiltration, and increased T cell exhaustion when compared with rejected clones. Comparative analysis of rejection-associated gene expression programs, combined with in vivo CRISPR knockout screens of candidate regulators, identified macrophage migration inhibitory factor (Mif) as a major contributor to preventing immune rejection. Mif knockout resulted in smaller tumors and reduced tumor-associated macrophage infiltration. These results were validated in patients with melanoma. Overall, our homogeneous tumor system can uncover factors regulating growth variability and identifies Mif as critical in aggressive melanoma.

Significance:

In this study, we find that Mif expression is associated with tumor growth and aggressiveness, specifically in tumors with low heterogeneity. These findings could facilitate the development of new strategies to treat patients with homogeneous, high MIF–expressing tumors that are unresponsive to immune checkpoint therapy.
Long-Term Effects of Spinal Cord Stimulation on Pain in Postherpetic Neuralgia
Authors: Anisimov Egor D. , Andrushkevich Oleg M. , Dzhafarov Vidzhai M. , Amelina Evgenia V. , Rzaev Jamil A. , Slavin Konstantin V.
Published: November 2024

Introduction: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a pain syndrome that develops within few months after the acute herpetic outbreak. The pain may be accompanied by specific cutaneous signs in the distribution of affected dermatomes and feel unbearable reaching up to 9–10/10 on visual analog scale (VAS). Despite the introduction of new medications, drug resistance develops in at least 50% of cases. Neuromodulation techniques such as spinal cord stimulation (SCS) and peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) are considered as ones of the last resorts for PHN treatment, especially in pharmacoresistant patients. Recently, several studies with limited number of cases have shown high efficiency of neuromodulation (regression of pain syndrome in more than 82% of cases) after SCS in PHN patients, but these findings require further confirmation and have not been supported by large RCTs. Methods: Initially, 32 patients diagnosed with chronic drug-resistant PHN underwent a trial of SCS. Based on the trial results, a decision was made whether to implant a permanent SCS system. The condition of all patients implanted with SCS system was assessed using the VAS, SF-36, Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC), and Medicine Quantification Scale, version III (MQS) questionnaires before the surgery and in the long-term follow-up. We also conducted systematic follow-up of patients who did not pass the test stimulation stage, using them as a control group to track the levels of pain. The hypothesis of normal distribution for quantitative values was tested using Shapiro-Wilk tests. Results: During the trial period, tonic spinal stimulation was effective in 16 out of 32 (50%) patients with drug-resistant PHN. Among 14 patients with implanted stimulators, a significant pain reduction (more than 50% from the baseline) was observed in 10 patients (71.4%). The pain level in patients with a tonic SCS was statistically lower than in patients receiving conservative therapy. For the entire group of patients with implanted SCS, a significant improvement was also observed in results of SF-36, PGIC, and MQS. Conclusion: Our clinical series demonstrates that tonic SCS was effective in 50% of patients with refractory PHN undergoing SCS trial. Significant improvement in pain control obtained during the long-term follow-up in patients treated with tonic SCS improves the quality of life and reduces the need for analgesic medications.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves motor symptoms, sleep, and cognitive dysfunctions in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Bu Shiying , Liu Wuchao , Sheng Xia , Jin Lingjing , Zhao Qing
Published: November 2024

Objectives: To systematically analyze the therapeutic effectiveness of hyperbaric oxygen therapy compared with conventional drug therapy in patients with Parkinson's disease.
Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang Database, searched to the end of March 2023. Two authors independently screened and abstracted data from each trial. The primary outcome measures included the efficacy rate and the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale III (UPDRS III). Secondary outcome measures included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Minimum Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Hoehn-Yahr staging.
Results: Thirteen studies with a total of 958 participants were included in the meta-analysis. After intervention, the experimental group exhibited a higher treatment efficacy rate compared to the control group [OR=3.18, 95%CI (1.60, 6.33), P<0.01], a lower UPDRS III score [MD=-2.96, 95%CI (-4.31, -1.61), P<0.01], and lower Hoehn-Yahr staging [MD=-0.14, 95%CI (-0.26, -0.02), P<0.01]. The experimental group also outperformed the control group in non-motor symptoms, with higher scores in MoCA, PSQI, and ESS [SMD=0.65, 95%CI (0.45, 0.85), P<0.01], [MD=-2.52, 95%CI (-2.85, -2.18), P<0.01], and [MD=-3.30, 95%CI (-3.77, -2.83), P<0.01], respectively.
Conclusion: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves motor function, relieves the severity of the disease, ameliorates cognitive function, and improves sleep quality while alleviating excessive daytime sleepiness in patients with Parkinson's disease. The therapeutic mechanism of hyperbaric oxygen therapy may be related to increased cerebral tissue oxygen content, which contributes to anti-hypoxic, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidant stress.
Metastatic Patterns: Insights from Japanese Pathological Autopsy Registry Analysis
Authors: Hara Tomohiko , Oka Suguru , Ito Shinji , Yamaguchi Takeshi , Hayashida Michikata , Sakaguchi Kazushige , Urakami Shinji
Published: November 2024

Introduction: Understanding the metastatic patterns is crucial for the treatment of malignancies. This study aimed to identify the characteristic organ metastases of primary malignancies, including rare malignancies, and classify them according to their metastatic patterns.
Methods: We extracted data on primary malignancies and organ metastases from the Annual of Pathological Autopsy Cases in Japan recorded in 1993–2021. Autopsy findings of the primary and metastatic organs in patients with malignancy were recorded on an organ–by–organ basis. The metastatic frequency (number of metastases per autopsy) and the proportion (percentage of organs with metastases out of the total in a primary malignancy) for 48 organ metastasis sites across 76 primary malignancies were calculated. Metastatic patterns were classified into hierarchical and non-hierarchical clustering classifications based on the standard proportion of organ metastases.
Results: A total of 332,195 autopsy cases and 810,206 organ metastases were analyzed. The metastatic frequency of all malignancies was 2.44. Malignancies of the placenta, eye, and ovary showed a higher propensity for metastasis, whereas central nervous system malignancies showed a lower tendency. Metastasis site was a characteristic of each malignancy, with a particularly high proportion of lung metastasis in parathyroid malignancy and bone metastasis in prostate malignancy. In the hierarchical and non–hierarchical cluster methods, brain, lung, liver, bone, peritoneum, and hematolymphoid organ were key metastatic sites, and this factor divided primary malignancies into seven categories. The unweighted kappa coefficient comparing the two classification methods was 0.84 (95% confidence interval: 0.75–0.93). The proportion of metastatic organs was influenced by anatomical location and/or organ specificity of the primary malignancies.
Conclusion: Our study provides a comprehensive overview of the patterns and frequencies of metastatic organ sites associated with 76 primary malignancies. Our findings will provide useful information for future research and clinical practice.
Collaborative praxis learning to empower rural area: an action research
Authors: Aziz Abdul , Barizi Ahmad , Syuhadak Syuhadak , Prihadi Kususanto Ditto , Hamim Hamim , Khayati Eliya Nur , Mustofa Syaiful
Published: November 2024

The emergence of collaborative learning praxis among adult learners has gained prominence, fostering lifelong practical learning. This approach empowers adults to define their learning goals based on interests and needs, facilitating contextual information sharing, knowledge acquisition, and skill enhancement. Such an approach promotes innovation and creativity, strengthening market competitiveness. This study focuses on collaborative learning’s impact in the village of Sukodono, East Java, Indonesia, post-COVID-19. Collaborative learning facilitated skill development, innovation, and market influence. Action research was employed to restore economic well-being. Themes of healthy environment preservation, community self-help, and market power were explored. The villagers’ adoption of biogas technology, digital platforms for product promotion, and focus on high-demand products showcased the efficacy of collaborative learning. This praxis enhances economic conditions and knowledge acquisition, enabling sustainable community development. Further quantitative studies are recommended to assess long-term impacts.
Influence of high school grade point average on university performance: a case study from Albania
Authors: Karma Emiljan , Dautaj Mitat
Published: November 2024

This study aimed to investigate the impact of high school grade point average (GPA), as an admission criterion, on university performance using administrative data from a non-profit private university in Albania. This paper also examines additional variables that may influence the final degree outcome at Catholic University Our Lady of Good Counsel (Tirana). An ordinal regression analysis was conducted to forecast university performance based on selected university characteristics across various degree courses for 1,485 graduates. The study indicates that the high school GPA, which serves as an entrance requirement for Albanian universities, has a partially insignificant impact on the final university degree. Other factors, such as nationality, gender, university grade point average, and time required for graduation, directly and significantly affect the degree outcome. This result has implications for the efficiency of high school GPA as a mandatory university access criterion. At the same time, the negative impact of high school GPA as a mere barrier to university access is highlighted.
The social impact of artificial intelligence chatbots on college students
Authors: Hakimi Azman , Meng Yue Reeda Li , Muhsin Mariam Sufiah , Bakar Maisarah Abu , Yen Teng Crendy Tan , Prihadi Kususanto Ditto
Published: November 2024

This study aims to investigate the impact of the freely accessible artificial intelligence chatbots (AICB) that might disrupt the teaching and learning pattern in higher education. While some education stakeholders developed strong opposition towards the AICB usage, condemning it as academic dishonesty, there are others believe the AICB might even improve the students’ learning. A total of 160 urban college students were purposively selected and requested to respond to the scales of ChatGPT acceptance and trust, academic self-efficacy, and university mattering to test the hypothesis that the acceptance and trust towards AICB should improve academic self-efficacy and general mattering among the students. The results indicated that academic self-efficacy partially mediates the contribution of AICB on the societal mattering. In other words, the findings suggest that students who trust and accept AICB usage would likely to believe that they can perform academically better and therefore they feel they are more meaningful to the society. Limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed.
iFoodAR: augmented reality for high school food design technology
Authors: Safura Azizoon Nur Ain , Wan Ahmad Wan Nurlisa , Ahmad Fizal Qistina , Jing Rui Tang , Kamaruzaman Mohd Yusof
Published: November 2024

Technology is advancing with the times. Augmented reality (AR) received great attention in education because it focuses on technology that connects the real and virtual worlds in real-time. The blending of AR technology and educational content aims to generate innovative thinking that can improve the effectiveness of teaching and learning for students in real-life scenarios. This study aimed to develop an AR module and application (apps.) for high school students to learn about food technology. Five phases of the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation (ADDIE) model were used to develop food technology applications in the classroom based on AR technology. An interview was conducted to obtain the usability of the AR module from the selected expert. The results showed that iFoodAR fulfilled the requirement in line with the standard curriculum and assessment document (DSKP) of the Malaysian Ministry of Education and gained positive feedback on using AR in the classroom from the expert teachers. It is concluded that iFoodAR apps have the potential to cater the diversity learning styles, leading to a shift in teaching methods incorporating more interactive and visually stimulating learning experiences.
Literacy extension programs of higher education institution in the Philippines: insights from stakeholders
Authors: Martin Matronillo Del Mundo , Cruz Ildefonso Lhea dela
Published: November 2024

This descriptive research investigates the impact of extension programs from a college of teacher education on public elementary school teachers. Three programs, literacy (n=75), Catch Me and Teach Me strategy literacy program (n=64), and campus journalism (n=48), were evaluated. Participants reported profound positive impact from these programs, considering them effective or very effective. The literacy program significantly improved reading and writing skills, fostered a love for learning, and benefitted the community. However, challenges like outdated materials and overemphasis on rote memorization need addressing. The Catch Me and Teach Me strategy literacy program excelled in practical teaching strategies and hands-on learning but required additional time and support, emphasizing the need for a more personalized approach. The campus journalism program was lauded for its informativeness but faced venue, food quality, time management issues, and a desire for more diverse topics. These findings stress the importance of customized professional development, long-term impact assessment, cultural sensitivity, and community involvement. Effective, engaging training methods, feedback, and efficient resource allocation are vital for program improvement. The research aims to enhance extension services’ quality for the community's benefit, providing valuable guidance to improve these programs and cater to participants' diverse needs.
Communication competence model: how to train ability to say what you really mean
Authors: Glushanytsia Nataliia , Tarnavska Tetyana , Chernukha Nadiia , Krupnyk Zoriana , Kostenko Dmytro
Published: November 2024

Business is becoming increasingly multinational. Non-native language communication is a background activity for many jobs and a challenge for those whose first language is not English. The problem is that a non-native language activity distracts attention, increases the risk of misunderstanding, and reduces the effectiveness of professional communication. The article aims to present a Foreign Language Communicative Competence model that is a way to solve the problem and enables fluent, errorless communication that supports professional activity. The main question of the research is what learning conditions, methods and strategies, approaches, and technologies provide the development of foreign language communication competence. We used questionnaires, interviews, psychological diagnostic techniques, observations, and a pedagogical experiment in the research. The pedagogical experiments occurred at the National Aviation University in the 2021 to 2022 academic year. Two groups of second-year students majoring in “Aviation Maintenance” were involved. The experiment outcomes show the enhanced level of students’ foreign language communication competence, motivation, and engagement in learning. The developed model contributes to the ability to concentrate on the job and make quick decisions under the influence of psychological factors like time pressure, stress, or noise while speaking a foreign language.
Questionnaire for digital technologies and leadership practices: the validity and reliability study
Authors: Kokkonos Antonios , Travlos Antonios , Antonopoulou Panagiota , Pavlis Korres Maria
Published: November 2024

The exponential progress and massive utilization of digital technologies has significant implications for leadership theory and for leadership practices that remain unexplored in the current literature. This study provides insights into the validity and reliability of the questionnaire for digital technologies and leadership practices (QDTLP), through research conducted in 215 elementary schools in the Peloponnese region of Greece. The research consists of three parts: i) a pilot study to assess the stability and reliability of the initial QDTLP version; ii) study 1 to examine the validity and reliability using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis; and iii) study 2 to further assess the validity and reliability using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The QDTLP was designed and developed after a systematic literature review in the field of digital technologies and school leadership practices, to investigate if, and to what extent, the utilization of digital technologies affects the leadership practices in elementary schools. The research findings provide strong evidence for content and construct validity as well as reliability of the 4-factor and 22-item QDTLP research instrument.
Multivariate analysis: geography, demographics, and Texas’ post-COVID education
Authors: Tang Shifang , Wang Zhuoying , Zhang Lei , Jimenez David D.
Published: November 2024

This study examines the impact of geographic locale on educational outcomes in Texas, focusing on the post-COVID-19 educational landscape. The study evaluates the impact of geographical location on the educational outcomes of eighth-grade students by analyzing STAAR test scores as indicators of academic achievement while adjusting for previous academic results and demographic factors. A sample of 1,145 public school districts across Texas was analyzed, encompassing city, suburban, town, and rural settings. The findings indicate that while geographic locale has a discernible impact on academic achievement, this effect is moderate and intertwined with demographic factors. The research found that rural students unexpectedly outperformed their urban counterpart’s post-pandemic, controlling for their pre-pandemic performance. However, the persistent lower performance in urban districts emphasizes the need to reevaluate educational dynamics. The integration of demographic variables reveals that while they mitigate the influence of geography, they emerge as strong influencers of academic performance on their own. This underscores the need for policies that address the complex interplay between geographic, demographic, and socio-economic factors to narrow educational disparities. The study suggests that targeted interventions are necessary to address the specific needs of different locales, considering the nuanced effects of the pandemic on educational equity.