bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Therapeutic Potential of Metformin for Attenuating Postsurgical Adhesion Band Formation
Authors: Yarmohammadi Zahra , Mehrabadi Shima , Asgharzadeh Fereshteh , Noureini Sakineh Kazemi , Nazari Seyedeh Elnaz , Hoseinian Sayyed Hadi Sayyed , Shahri Hassan Mottaghi Moghaddam , Hassanian Seyed Mahdi , Ghorbani Hamid Reza , Ferns Gordon A. , Khazaei Majid , Avan Amir
Published: October 2024

Objectives:

Intra-abdominal adhesions are the most frequently occurring postoperative
complication following abdominopelvic surgery. Peritoneal adhesion formation can lead to infertility,
chronic pelvic pain, and intestinal obstruction. Several studies have shown the potential role of
metformin in reducing inflammation. Here, we explored the therapeutic potency of Metformin
against postsurgical adhesion band formation.

Methods:

We adopted Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) guidelines for
the experimental protocol. Peritoneal adhesions were examined macroscopically .Metformin (100
mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally in male albino Wistar rats. After 9 days, macroscopic
evidence and score of fibrotic bands based on scaling methods were performed and evaluated by the
Nair and Leach scoring system. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory and antifibrosis effects were investigated
by using hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome staining, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent
assay (ELISA), and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Results:

Metformin inhibited the stabilization of adhesion bands and appeared to elicit antiinflammatory
responses by attenuating submucosal edema, suppressing proinflammatory cytokines,
decreasing proinflammatory cell infiltration, and inhibiting oxidative stress at the site of peritoneal
surgery. We also showed that metformin prevents fibrotic adhesion band formation by reducing excessive
collagen deposition and suppression of profibrotic gene expression at the peritoneum adhesion
tissues via modulation of Col 1A1/A3.

Conclusion:

These results supported the potential application of metformin in preventing postsurgical
adhesion band formation by inhibiting key pathologic responses of inflammation and fibrosis in
patients post-surgery.
An Overview of the Anticancer Potential of Silver Nanostructures against
Cervical Cancer
Authors: Kumar Adarsh , Varshney Dhruv , Kumar Shivam , Saha Sarmistha
Published: October 2024

Women are impacted by the extremely common cancer known as cervical cancer worldwide.
Although preventive vaccines for cervical cancer are successful, treatment of cervical cancer
is far less satisfactory because of multidrug resistance and side effects. There is an increasing
need for alternative treatment modalities due to the rather aggressive and non-specific nature of
conventional chemotherapeutics. With the advent of new technologies, scientists are working harder
to create novel drug delivery strategies for chemotherapy of cervical cancer. Metal nanoparticles,
and particularly silver nanoparticles, are a relatively new class with a lot of promise in the
field of cancer biology. Nanoparticle therapeutics are attractive platforms for clinically relevant
drug development because of their powerful anti-cancer properties, correspondingly attenuated
side effects, and cancer-specific targeting. In this review, we provide an overview of the most recent
uses of nanotechnology, particularly silver nanostructures, in the diagnosis and treatment of
cervical cancer. The salient features of silver nanoparticle-based therapeutic concepts that are novel,
viable, and attainable are emphasized in this review, along with those that pose a significant obstacle
to their progress toward clinical application.
Local experience of the use of type 2 sodium-glucose co-transporter inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Tatarintseva Z. G. , Kosmacheva E. D. , Katushkina Yu. A. , Barbukhatti K. O. , Babicheva O. V.
Published: October 2024

Objective: to evaluate the course and outcomes of ACS in patients with type 2 diabetes taking SGLT-2 inhibitors. Materials and methods: the study included patients admitted to the Research Institute – Regional Clinical Hospital No. 1 n.a. Prof. S.V. Ochapovsky” Krasnodar from 01.11.2023 to 01.02.2024. Results: a retrospective analysis of medical documentation revealed that the number of patients with ACS while taking NGLT-2 inhibitors was significantly lower compared to those taking other glucose-lowering therapy. Patients taking iNGLT-2 had a significantly lower body mass index. Significant differences concern markers of liver dysfunction and microalbuminuria, which were significantly lower in the group receiving NGLT-2. In addition, these patients were less likely to experience hospital complications such as acute kidney injury, cardiac arrhythmias, ischemic stroke, left ventricular thrombus formation, and death. Conclusions: the results of local experience with the use of iNGLT-2 in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes and ACS are presented, confirming the metabolic and cardiorenal benefits of this class of drugs in real clinical practice. In addition, the study results clearly demonstrate a more stable course of ACS and a lower risk of in-hospital complications and mortality. However, these parameters did not achieve statistically significant results due to the small sample.
Issues of differential diagnosis of diseases accompanied by impaired patency of renal arteries at a young age
Authors: Porodenko N. V. , Sirotenko D. V. , Skibitskii V. V. , Fendrikova A. V. , Zabolotskih T. B.
Published: October 2024

The article considers the most common causes of renal artery patency, diagnostic process algorithms and differential diagnosis for renal artery stenosis at different ages. The first significant clinical manifestation of renal artery stenosis of various etiologies is arterial hypertension (AH). It is poorly controlled AH, including resistant AH, developing at a young age, that is the basis for the diagnostic search for secondary causes of high blood pressure, including narrowing of the renal arteries. The article presents a clinical case of uncontrolled AH in a young man. A comprehensive assessment of clinical manifestations, laboratory and instrumental examination results made it possible to diagnose unilateral renal artery stenosis of atherosclerotic genesis.
Desarrollo industrial, profundización financiera e innovación: un estudio para México
Authors: Landa Díaz Heri Oscar
Published: September 2024

El objetivo de este trabajo es examinar, mediante un modelo panel de efectos fijos, el impacto del crédito bancario, así como de la apertura económica y del capital tecnológico, sobre la dinámica del valor agregado en 14 subsectores manufactureros de México durante el periodo 2003-2021. Los resultados principales sugieren: i) una relación positiva entre el crédito y la dinámica manufacturera, aunque este efecto es marginal; ii) que un aumento de las exportaciones y la inversión extranjera directa impulsa la expansión económica, especialmente entre las industrias dinámicas; iii) que la innovación tecnológica constituye el factor determinante de la actividad industrial. Con esta evidencia, es posible concluir que, a pesar de la profundización del sistema financiero en México, este proceso resulta insuficiente para el tamaño y requerimientos de inversión de la economía. En este contexto, se debe instrumentar una miscelánea de políticas para redefinir los incentivos de mercado que permitan optimizar la internalización de las ganancias asociadas con el desarrollo bancario. La contribución del artículo reside en analizar a nivel de subsector económico las implicaciones de la profundización financiera sobre el crecimiento.
Predicción del riesgo crediticio a microfinanciera usando aprendizaje computacional
Authors: Melchor Pérez Erwis , Ramírez Guzmán Moisés Emmanuel , Hernández Jiménez Araceli , Santiago Alvarado Agustín
Published: September 2024

El principal riesgo que enfrentan las Sociedades Cooperativas de Ahorro y Préstamo según la Comisión Nacional Bancaria y de Valores, es el crédito. En este artículo se aplican modelos híbridos de aprendizaje computacional para la predicción del riesgo crediticio de solicitudes de clientes pertenecientes a estas sociedades, además se describe la importancia de la selección de características y la reducción de la dimensionalidad, combinando métodos de aprendizaje no supervisado y supervisado. Los experimentos mostraron que los modelos híbridos en conjunto con técnicas de selección de características superan a los algoritmos de aprendizaje computacional de manera individual utilizando todas las características de los conjuntos de datos analizados. Los conjuntos están desbalanceados, por lo cual se utiliza el método de SMOTE para sobremuestrear la clase minoritaria y equilibrar la cantidad de elementos durante el entrenamiento. Los resultados obtenidos confirman que la combinación de métodos no supervisados y supervisados generan una mejora del 6% en el accuracy en comparación con los modelos del estado del arte y 10% en la reducción del error del tipo II para las bases de datos públicas analizadas.
Análisis de la literatura sobre cobertura de riesgo climático: una revisión sistemática en repositorios internacionales
Authors: Pesce Gabriela , Pedroni Florencia , Chavez Etelvina Stefani , Piñeiro Verónica
Published: September 2024

El trabajo analiza la literatura académica sobre cobertura del riesgo climático mediante una revisión sistemática en bases de datos internacionales (Web of Science y Scopus). Los documentos recuperados se someten a dos tipos análisis: bibliométrico y de contenido. Los resultados denotan interés vigente y creciente sobre el tema, con poca colaboración entre autores, pero mayor colaboración entre países. Se reconocen diez clusters temáticos y se identifica que el tópico puede abordarse desde una perspectiva individual, organizacional o gubernamental, centrado en diferentes objetos de estudio. Surgen recomendaciones de políticas públicas –como la relevancia de difundir y compartir información sobre riesgos climáticos transfronterizos- y para los investigadores –impulsando estudios que analicen la propensión de los agentes a tomar coberturas. Aunque los hallazgos provienen únicamente de bases internacionales, se reconocen significativas aplicaciones prácticas. La originalidad reside en el mapeo de literatura sobre un tema prioritario en la agenda internacional, identificando brechas de conocimiento. El artículo contribuye mediante la recopilación y síntesis de estudios sobre coberturas del riesgo climático, integrando hallazgos y perspectivas que generan una base conceptual para avanzar en futuras investigaciones.
Assessment of Acute Respiratory Infection and Common Medication Use in Children below Five Years in Sulaimani, Kurdistan, Iraq
Authors: Sharif Bayan Omar , Mahmood Avin Ali , Rashid Kamal Jalal , Rahim Hawzhin Abdulrahman , Hamid Razya Sabah , Wali Hanan Sabah , Aziz Ako Muhammad
Published: September 2024

In children under 5 years of age, acute respiratory infections (ARIs) represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, potentially leading to severe outcomes such as hearing loss and developmental delays. This study aims to assess the prevalence of frequent medication use and identify epidemiological risk factors associated with ARIs in this age group. The research was conducted at Dr. Jamal Pediatric Hospital in Sulaimani city, employing a cross-sectional descriptive approach that included a sample of 42 patients, from June 11th to July 1st, 2024. Data collection involved interviewing mothers and reviewing their children’s medical records. The findings indicated that 45.2% of the children were under 1-year-old, 52.3% resided in metropolitan areas, and 66.7% were male. Notably, 47.6% of the children had received only partial vaccinations, 42.8% consumed bottle milk, and 66.7% experienced recurring illnesses. The majority of illnesses lasted between 1 and 5 days (83.3%). The medications administered included amoxicillin (26.2%), acetaminophen (54.8%), ventolin nebulizer (52.4%), dexamethasone (88%), and antihistamines (4.8%). Regarding parental education, 40.4% of mothers were illiterate, and 76.1% were unemployed. In contrast, 42.9% of fathers had completed elementary school. In addition, 73.9% of families reported insufficient financial resources. Smoking prevalence was high among fathers (71.4%) and lower among mothers (26.1%). Moreover, 12% of fathers had previously smoked, and 28.5% of mothers had been exposed to secondhand smoke. The majority of families (52.3%) were nuclear, with 66.7% consisting of three or more members. Data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 24. The study concluded that significant risk factors for ARIs include male gender, incomplete immunization, exposure to smoking, low parental education and economic status, and inadequate diet. Public health initiatives should focus on improving nutrition, educating parents, reducing smoking exposure, and ensuring complete immunization to effectively decrease the prevalence of ARIs.
Lichen Planus Pigmentosus and Vitiligo in a 61-Year-Old Filipino Man: Case Report
Authors: Belizario Maria Isabel , Gatmaitan Julius Garcia , Dayrit Johannes
Published: September 2024

Pigmentary disorders have been implicated in causing psychosocial turmoil in patients as they can cause some degree of cosmetic disfigurement. Lichen planus pigmentosus (LPP) presents as ashy, dermatosis-like eruptions on sun-exposed areas, particularly on the head, neck, and earlobes. On the other hand, vitiligo is a chronic disorder that appears as depigmented patches on the skin. A 61-year-old man with Fitzpatrick skin phototype IV presented to us initially with LPP but eventually also developed vitiligo. The patient was treated with low-dose oral isotretinoin for LPP and topical tacrolimus 0.1% ointment for both LPP and vitiligo with a good clinical outcome. One case of segmental vitiligo and zosteriform LPP, affecting a 22-year-old Indian woman, has been previously reported in the English-language literature. An autoimmune etiology that causes melanocytorrhagy may be a plausible hypothesis for the coexistence of these 2 conditions.
Validation of an infarction code care checklist and determination of its relationship with other patient safety indicators (Preprint)
Authors: Sanchez Freire Encarna , Vidal Alaball Josep , Fuster-Casanovas Aïna , Miró Catalina Queralt , Cartanyà Bonvehí Joan , Garcia Domingo Josep Lluis
Published: October 2024

BACKGROUND

In the care of time-dependent illnesses, facilitating care and systematising the actions with a checklist (CL) gives security to professionals and reduces errors in care, increasing patient safety.

At present, no studies have been found in the literature on the validation of a CL for infarction code (AMI) care.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of our study is to validate the CL and to determine its relationship with the rest of the patient safety indicators in the primary care teams of the Catalan Health Institute (ICS) of Central Catalonia.

METHODS

Prospective study for the validation of a CL for infarction code care. Two clinical scenarios of varying difficulty are defined, and the correct answers are established in each case according to the gold standard guidelines. The CL should be completed twice in order to assess internal reliability and temporal robustness. It should be sent in digital format first to medical and nursing professionals, and then a reminder will be sent to answer a second time after 30 days. The second mailing will be repeated at 3 at 30, 45 and 90 days to obtain the maximum number of second responses.

RESULTS

A total of 921 medical and nursing professionals will be invited to participate.
The number of hits will be compared with respect to the gold standard for both the first and the second response.

CONCLUSIONS

By comparing the responses with respect to the gold standard, we hope to validate the CL with respect to temporal robustness and internal reliability. If the validation is favourable, it can be applied in all primary care centres that use the AMI Code to increase patient safety and ensure thorough care.

CLINICALTRIAL

Research Ethics Committee (REC) from the Foundation University Institute for Primary Health Care Research Jordi Gol i Gurina (IDIAPJGol) (22/211-P)
Technology enabled workplace learning - rethinking electronic health records to support performance feedback: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)
Authors: Janssen Anna , Nazir Mia
Published: October 2024

BACKGROUND

The health sector collects a plethora of electronic health data via digital technologies such as electronic health and medical records. Primary use of Electronic Health Records includes supporting service delivery, providing data on patient information and healthcare operations. Secondary uses of these systems can include quality improvement activities, research, and possibly inform policy. One underexplored secondary use of data from these systems is to enable health professionals to understand their performance, reflect on their practice and potentially support enhanced professional and workplace learning. There is growing interest and increase in policies to focus on motivating the use of this type of data as part of mandatory Continuing Professional Development. Despite this, the design of Electronic Health Records is not conducive to the use of these systems for reflective practice and there are few best practice guides for how to scaffold the use of this data for secondary use. The project aims to explore how the design of EHRs can support the performance feedback process and formatively to influence their behaviour so it is aligned with best practice.

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective is to explore the use of electronic health and medical records by health professionals to further understand the current and possible future use of these records for professional feedback and workplace learning.

METHODS

The project will use a mixed methods design, to enable a wholistic picture of participant behaviours. Study data are being collected over three phases. Phase I consists of interviewing health professionals and clinicians about their experiences of EHRs and EMRs. Phase II will involve surveying health professionals about specific EHR features and Phase III will encompass workshopping discussions around EMR functionality and design with key informants. Participants for Phase I and Phase II will be a convenience sample of health professionals who self-select and volunteer to participant in the study. Participants for Phase III will consist of policymakers, representatives from peak bodies, technology vendors, health professionals and others.

RESULTS

Data collection for phase I has commenced. As of September 2024 a total of six interviews have been undertaken with eligible participants.

CONCLUSIONS

The project will generate new knowledge on the extent to which data collected by workplace technologies provides health professionals with formative performance feedback. It will also develop a conceptual design for EHRs that supports health professional learning which could be leveraged by developers of these technologies in future implementations.
Proteolytic imbalance in plasma of patients with multiple sclerosis following COVID-19
Authors: Halenova T.I. , Raksha N.G. , Vovk T.B. , Karbovskyy V.L. , Sholomon S.M. , Melnyk V.S. , Tomchuk V.A. , Savchuk O.M.
Published: September 2024

Background. The present research was conducted with the following objectives: 1) to determine the plasma levels of five matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), namely MMP-1, -2, -3, -8, -10, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1); 2) to analyze protease activity profiles in plasma using a zymographic method; and 3) to perform preliminary analysis on plasma peptide pool composition in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) with and without COVID-19 history. Materials and methods. We examined 97 patients with MS: 41 had been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 4–6 months (MS + COVID group), and 56 did not suffer from SARS-CoV-2 infection previously (MS group). The plasma of healthy volunteers (n = 30) with no evidence of disease was used as control. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure MMP and TIMP-1 concentrations. Plasma MMP activity was verified by gelatin-substrate zymography. Peptide pools were extracted from the plasma of MS patients and healthy subjects. Then size exclusion chromatography was used to identify separate fractions present in peptide pools. Results. We found that plasma concentration of MMP-2 was remarkably increased in the MS group compared with healthy controls, while in the MS + COVID patients, the levels of two other MMPs, MMP-1 and -10, were elevated. Zymography showed four dominant gelatinolytic bands of 92, 84, 72, and 62 kDa in MS plasma samples, whereas only traces of MMP were detected in healthy subjects. Most of MS plasma samples showed MMP-2 lytic activity, but only a few contained MMP-9. Finally, we determined the concentration of circulating peptides. The levels of plasma peptides were higher in patients from both the MS and MS + COVID group compared to control subjects. According to our results, the development of MS was accompanied by changes in both quantity and quality of peptide pool composition compared to healthy controls. Conclusions. Thus, an advanced understanding of the role of MMPs in MS pathogenesis following infection is important in developing optimized interventions to improve health and clinical outcomes during COVID-19.
Cyanotic heart defects in children: neurological aspects of the problem
Authors: Fedushka H.M.
Published: September 2024

Background. The goal is to justify the need to monitor neurodevelopment in children with congenital heart defects (CHD) and to study neurological disorders in patients under 3 years of age with cyanotic heart defects. Materials and methods. Modern research on the neurodevelopment of children with CHD were analyzed. Sixty-two patients with cyanotic heart defects who underwent examination and surgical treatment at the Center for Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine were studied. They are divided into 2 groups: group 1 are children with critical cyanotic CHD and group 2 — with non-critical cyanotic CHD. The control group consisted of 35 healthy patients. A neurological examination was performed using standardized neurological scales. Data processing was carried out using the Stata 12.1 licensed statistical package. Results. Neurodevelopmental disorders were diagnosed in 33 (53 %) of 62 children with cyanotic CHD: in group 1 — in 29 % of cases and in group 2 — in 24 %. These groups were statistically homogeneous in terms of gestational age (p = 0.492) and body weight at birth, with no significant difference from the control group. Older age is characterized mainly by delays in the stages of motor development (16 % in group 1 and 15 % in group 2) and speech disorders (7 % in group 1 and 3 % in group 2). Acute disorders of cerebral circulation (6 % in group 2) and the presence of epileptic seizures (up to 3 %) were characteristic of children under 1 year. Apgar score was lower in patients with critical cyanotic CHD with neurodevelopmental delay and a longer duration of artificial circulation during surgical treatment. Conclusions. 1. Neurological disorders were diagnosed in 53 % of patients with cyanotic heart defects: in 29 % with critical heart defects and 24 % with non-critical heart defects. 2. Older children are characterized mainly by delays in the stages of motor development and speech disorders. Behavioral disorders are more typical for children with non-critical CHD. Acute disorders of cerebral circulation and the presence of epileptic seizures were characteristic of children under 1 year of age. 3. The influence of body weight and gestational age on neurodevelopmental disorders is excluded. The severe state of children with neurodevelopmental delay at birth and an increase in the duration of artificial circulation during surgical treatment were found. 4. Interdisciplinary examination of patients with cyanotic heart defects, including examination by a pediatric neurologist, as well as a follow-up is necessary for timely referral to the next stages of rehabilitation.
Recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia in neurological diseases
Authors: Tsyhanii A.V. , Flomin Yu.V. , Zashchypas Yu.P. , Guliaieva M.V. , Yakovenko V.O. , Kavetska V.V. , Solovyova H.A.
Published: September 2024

Swallowing disorders are common in many neurological diseases, especially in stroke, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, dementia, and multiple sclerosis. Neurogenic dysphagia is associated with an increased risk of death and serious complications, including aspiration pneumonia, dehydration, and malnutrition, which points to the importance of implementing recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of swallowing disorders into neurological practice. If the initial screening for swallowing disorders is positive, further workup includes a combination of bedside tests and ancillary investigations, such as comprehensive clinical, videofluoroscopic and endoscopic swallowing evaluation. These measures allow to determine the type and degree of dysphagia severity, which is necessary for choosing the optimal therapeutic strategy. Treatment of patients with neurogenic dysphagia requires multidisciplinary approaches involving a team of specialists, including neurologists, speech and language therapists, gastroenterologists, and dietitians. Therapeutic strategy should include providing adequate nutritional support by diet modification and/or enteral nutrition through a nasogastric tube or gastrostomy, appropriate management of underlying and concomitant diseases, prevention and treatment of complications as well as rehabilitation interventions. Future directions to reduce swallowing disorders in neurological diseases will probably comprise a combination of rehabilitation measures with pharmacotherapy and non-invasive stimulation/neuromodulation. Early detection and effective treatment of dysphagia is crucial for achieving better outcomes and improving the quality of life in patients with neurological diseases.
Spironolactone in modern cardiology: from many years of experience to the latest evidence of effectiveness (literature review)
Authors: Sirenko Yu.M. , Torbas O.O.
Published: September 2024

Spironolactone is a drug that plays an important role in the treatment of various diseases, especially in the field of cardiology and endocrinology. First synthesized in 1957, spironolactone gained widespread recognition due to its unique ability to block the action of aldosterone, a hormone that plays an important role in the pathogenesis of many cardiovascular diseases and increases the risk of severe cardiovascular complications. Spironolactone is included in the list of essential medicines of the World Health Organization. In cardiology, it is one of the universal remedies, because it is prescribed for resistant or secondary hypertension, heart failure, as part of hormonal therapy and in a number of other clinical conditions and situations. Resistant hypertension is a complex and serious medical problem, which is a significant challenge for doctors and patients, as it requires a specialized and individualized approach to treatment. Clinical studies found that spironolactone was the most effective adjunctive drug for the management of resistant hypertension, and this superiority of spironolactone confirmed the central role of sodium retention in the development of treatment resistance. Studies have shown that the addition of spironolactone to initial combination therapy resulted in a more potent antihypertensive effect compared to the addition of doxazosin or bisoprolol. The proportion of patients in whom spironolactone was the optimal blood pressure-lowering drug appeared to be the largest, according to the analysis on the prediction of the effect of each drug on the blood pressure level using plasma renin and the probability that different drugs will be best at different points of renin distribution in the blood plasma. Spironolactone has been used in modern cardiology for a long time to treat patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation, but in this article, we have focused on another very important site for spironolactone administration, namely hypertension, especially in its resistant forms.
Genes expression analysis of EgUnk1, EgZFP2, and EgIPK2b in oil palm using Ct value correction and two relative quantification approaches
Authors: Faizah Rokhana , Putranto Riza Arief , Sudarsono Sudarsono , Wening Sri , Sukma Dewi , Budiani Asmini
Published: October 2024

The determination of transcript accumulation values significantly affects gene expression in oil palm. Various genes are involved in pathogen infection, including probable 2‐oxoglutarate‐dependent dioxygenase At5g05600 (EgUnk3), zinc finger protein 2‐like (EgZFP2), and inositol polyphosphate multikinase beta‐like (EgIPK2b). Gene expression is typically measured using relative quantitative methods to calculate differences in quantitative values in the expression levels of targeted genes compared to a reference gene. However, the effectiveness of these methods in assessing the expression of EgUnk3, EgZFP2, and EgIPK2b, which are involved in Ganoderma boninense infection in oil palm seedlings, requires evaluation. This study aimed to establish an effective and straightforward method for analyzing the expression of EgUnk1, EgZFP2, and EgIPK2b genes in oil palm seedlings infected with G. boninense, utilizing Ct value correction through regression coefficients on the 2‐ΔΔCt and E‐ΔΔCt approaches. A correlation regression revealed values of 0.28, ‐0.32, and 0.29 for delta Ct of EgUnk1, EgZFP2, and EgIPK2b, respectively. However, a negative correlation in the Ct mean was corrected by linear regression for the targeted genes: ‐0.55, ‐0.81, and ‐0.29 for EgUnk1, EgZFP2, and EgIPK2b, respectively. The amplification factor (E) and efficiency value (R) using the EgActin gene were 1.95 and 94.92%, respectively. Normalization of log10 on the fold change value 2‐ΔΔCt and 1.95‐ΔΔCt approaches using the regression coefficient yielded consistent results for the EgUnk1, EgZFP2, and EgIPK2b genes. Overall, EgUnk3 and EgIPK2b genes exhibited downregulated expression in susceptible oil palm seedlings (‐0.60 for 2(‐ΔΔCt) and ‐0.58 for 1.95(‐ΔΔCt)), whereas EgIPK2b gene showed up‐regulated and the highest value in inoculated resistant seedlings (1.39 for 2(‐ΔΔCt) and 1.34 for 1.95(‐ΔΔCt)). Basal stem rot disease (BSR) in oil palm decreased EgUnk1 and EgIPK2b expression in susceptible seedlings but increased EgZFP2 gene expression in resistant ones. The results of this research provide valuable corrections to Ct values obtained directly from RT‐qPCR machines using simple linear regression. Consequently, the Ct values of target genes and reference genes exhibit smaller bias values, rendering gene expression levels more reliable.
Upgrading the Capacity of Local Community and Tourism Branding in Pagar Jaya Village
Authors: Rahman Yudha , Kurnianingsih Nela Agustin , Putri Marsista Buana , Wiguna Anindita Nanda , Rahmadinanti Nabila Azahara , Soﬁani Nita , Raihan Ahmad , Ramadhan Khalid Ahmad , Falyajaya Fatthah Ikhwan
Published: October 2024

Pagar Jaya Village is a coastal area at the southernmost tip of SumatraIsland and isolated in Punduh Pidada District, Pesawaran Regency, Lampung becomingone of the tourism villages in Lampung that has two main problems poor accessibilityand low capacity of the community. As a result of this problem, the "KITA PAGAR JAYA"program has successfully enhanced the community’s capacity in tourism, particularlyin the area of tourism branding. This program itself is implemented with SadarWisata and Sapta Pesona approaches. It was developed on 4 stages, ﬁrst stage ispotential and problem identiﬁcation, second stage is delivering material about tourismmanagement, the third is about MSMEs and branding knowledge, and the last stageis about evaluation of tourism management to develop sustainable system in PagarJaya Tourism. The implication of this program is to enhance the local community’scapacity to manage tourism by focusing on Sadar Wisata, Sapta Pesona, and disastermanagement. As a result, more community members are joining the Pagar JayaVillage Tourism Awareness Group and MSMEs to help with tourism management. Theprogram also includes creating promotional materials like pocketbooks, tourism videos,and social media campaigns to enhance the branding of Pagar Jaya Village.
Promotive and Preventive Programs for Health Workers and Mothers on Newborn Umbilical Cord Care to Prevent Infection During the Neonatal Period
Authors: Wahyuni Fera - , Lubis Syamsidah , Faradina Dwi , Husada Muhammad Surya
Published: October 2024

Umbilical cord infections can be prevented by caring for the umbilical cordproperly. The data regarding proper and correct umbilical cord care of newborn babiesby mothers in North Sumatra Province is limited. Hence, this community serviceaimed to determine the proportion of knowledge in umbilical cord care for newbornbabies using the open-dry cord care method. Thew community service project washeld on August 24, 2023, in Pematang Siantar City, North Sumatra Province. In thisactivity, we provided counseling on the open-dry cord care method for umbilical cordcare by presentation and discussion using modules, posters, and leaﬂets. We used apre-test and post-test questionnaire to assess the knowledge level of health workersand mothers. Participant demographic data and results are presented in the form ofproportion data. This counseling was attended by 150 participants consisting of 52health workers and 98 mothers. Before the counseling, 39 health workers and 93mothers did not know how to take care of the umbilical cord properly. After thecounseling, the knowledge of umbilical cord care using the open-dry cord methodincreased by 15.4% for health workers and 24.5% for mothers. Based on the results,over 80% of participants were found to have had a satisfactory level of knowledgeabout umbilical cord care after the counseling session. This community serviceprogram should be conducted regularly to further enhance the knowledge of healthworkers and mothers on proper umbilical cord care.
Research on College English Teaching from the Perspective of Production-Oriented Approach—Take iEnglish course as an Example
Authors: Ye Wanlin
Published: September 2024

Production-oriented approach is a foreign language teaching method proposed by professor Wen Qiu-Fang in recent years on the purpose of effectively solving the current problems of college English education and the dilemma of “separation of learning from using”. The effective application of the Production-oriented approach in college English teaching can improve quality in English teaching. The whole classroom teaching will be designed based on the three procedures of output-driven stage, input-enabled stage and evaluation, which improves the language usage and proficiency and increases the output of language in order to acquire English and use it in a right way.
A Corpus-based Behavioral Profile Study of Synonymous Expressions Meaning “to Start”
Authors: Shi Kexin
Published: September 2024

Synonymy is an extremely significant component in language learning, and the usage of synonymy is rather flexible and difficult to distinguish. In this research, the author employs a corpus-based behavioral profile approach to study the usage of a set of English synonymous expressions meaning “to start”, namely, start, begin, commence, launch, set out. The author first searches in American Contemporary English Corpus to explore the overall usage frequency and specific genre of each synonymous expression, then randomly selects 500 sentences, and makes manual annotation with 12 ID tag and 46 ID tag levels. Later, hierarchical clustering analysis and correspondence analysis have been employed to examine the semantic differences and usage structures of this set of expressions.The results shows that: ① The overall usage frequency varies greatly—from the highest to the lowest are start, begin, launch, set out, commence. ② They are used in various genres. Start is mainly used in informal styles including blogs, while the other four are mainly used in formal styles, including fictions and magazines. ③ Begin and set out have the greatest semantic similarity; start, begin, and set out form one semantic branch, and commence and launch form another, and there is a huge difference between these two branches. ④ There are great differences between the five expressions and their morphological, syntactic and semantic changes.Quantitative analysis method has been used to reveal the different semantic features and usage of a set of synonymous expressions, which is conducive to both promote the study of synonymous relations, and verify the effectiveness and applicability of the behavioral profile approach in semantic study.
Decision Analysis of Game Behavior for the Fresh Food Industry: Potential Entrants, Incumbents and Consumers
Authors: Jiaoyan Xiao , Wusheng Liu
Published: September 2024

This paper conducts a decision analysis of game behavior for the fresh food industry, including potential entrants, incumbents and consumers. Potential entrants are the key research object in the analysis of game behavior. The Stackelberg model, considering the uncertainty of market, consumer preference, freshness and greenness of fresh products, is used to analyze the best entry strategies for potential entrants. This paper then establishes an evolutionary game model to further analyze the most optimal entry mode of potential entrants. The combination of two game models can help potential entrants determine the optimal price, output, product freshness, greenness and sales channels.
Service Operations Management and Administrative Efficiency of a Technology University in GuangDong China
Authors: Zheng Ying
Published: September 2024

Service operation management has a significant impact on administrative efficiency. In a science and technology university in Guangdong Province, the diversity and complexity of service demand have a direct impact on the allocation of administrative resources. For example, with the increasing emphasis on scientific research services, more administrative resources are needed to optimize the process of scientific research equipment procurement and scientific research fund management. In terms of teaching services, if the school decides to carry out a new characteristic curriculum, the administration needs to allocate resources to arrange suitable classrooms and provide appropriate teaching equipment. This kind of demand change in service operation and management always tests the rationality and timeliness of resource allocation of administrative departments. If the administrative departments cannot efficiently adjust resource allocation according to service needs, it will lead to bottlenecks in service operation and affect the overall quality of teaching and scientific research services. The efficiency of administrative management also has a negative effect on service operation management. Efficient administrative management can bring positive promoting effect to service operation management.
The Overstated Challenge: Analysing the Challenge of Southern Criminology to the Hegemony of Northern Criminology and its Implications for Criminological Theory in the 21st Century
Authors: Zhou Shilun
Published: October 2024

In an era marked by the escalating globalisation of crime, the import of Southern criminology has progressively transitioned from a marginalised field to a central focus in research.[1] This transition presents theoretical challenges to criminology in the Northern Hemisphere.[2] This essay posits that while Southern criminology challenges Northern criminology’s hegemony, these challenges are ultimately overstated. Recognising and addressing these challenges is imperative for improving the epistemological framework and theoretical contributions of criminology, thereby equipping it to confront 21st-century criminal phenomena more effectively.
 
[1] Matthews, Roger. “False Starts, Wrong Turns and Dead Ends: Reflections on Recent Developments in Criminology.” Critical Criminology 25, no. 4 (2017): 577-591.
[2] Greenberg, David F. “The Weak Strength of Social Control Theory.” Crime & Delinquency 45, no. 1 (1999): 66–81.
A Comparative Analysis of the Prosecutorial Strategies Employed by the United States of America and Germany in the Prosecution of IS-Affiliated Women on Terrorism-Related Charges
Authors: Zimmermanns Ariana
Published: October 2024

This article aims to elucidate the similarities and differences between the prosecutorial strategies employed by the United States of America and Germany in the prosecution of IS-affiliated women on terrorism-related charges. By using comparative and doctrinal legal research methods, this article reviews and dissects the criminal proceedings against seven American and seven German IS-affiliated women prosecuted on terrorism-related charges. The article first highlights the fluctuating role of IS-affiliated women, thereby exhibiting the broad spectrum of female engagement in ISIS, ranging from passive participants to active facilitators of violence. Following this, the article presents the international obligations stemming from terrorism-centred UNSC Resolutions and their subsequent transposition into domestic law, forming §2339A and §2339B of the United States Code and §129a and §129b of the German Criminal Code. Finally, the article compares the prosecutorial strategies employed by the two States on the following four grounds: (1) types of evidence, (2) charges, (3) mitigating and aggravating factors, and (4) sentencing. Ultimately, a juxtaposition of the prosecutorial strategies employed by the United States of America and Germany in the prosecution of IS-affiliated women on terrorism-related charges identifies contrasting, albeit at times similar, approaches to prosecution primarily as a result of the time at which initiation of criminal proceedings ensues.
Metodología para el análisis de las legislaciones sobre el depósito legal
Authors: Voutssás-Lara Jennifer Alejandra
Published: October 2024

Las bibliotecas nacionales son instituciones esenciales dentro de cualquier Estado, pues refuerzan la identidad cultural y aumentan la visibilidad de la memoria escrita de su nación. Aunque estos recintos difieren en cuanto a las funciones y servicios que brindan debido al contexto histórico y social en el que se desenvuelven, la mayoría de estas instituciones coincide en que una de sus competencias más fundamentales es recopilar y almacenar la memoria documental de su país bajo el mandato del depósito legal. El presente estudio muestra una metodología para el análisis de legislaciones del depósito legal, basada en la obra Legislación sobre depósito legal, directrices (2000) de Jules Larivière, la cual conforma un punto de partida para el análisis comparativo de bibliotecas nacionales. Finalmente, se hacen algunas reflexiones sobre los indicadores presentados y se muestran algunos avances en la aplicación de este modelo.
Designing learning trajectory to support preservice mathematics teachers' skills in creating and implementing realistic mathematics tasks
Authors: Rianasari Veronika Fitri , Guzon Angela Fatima H.
Published: September 2024

In mathematics teaching and learning, mathematics tasks embedded in realistic contexts are crucial for developing mathematical concepts, procedures, and the application of mathematical knowledge. Despite this, mathematics teachers often encounter challenges in designing and implementing such realistic mathematics tasks. Therefore, this study aims to construct a learning trajectory to enhance preservice mathematics teachers' abilities to create and implement Realistic Mathematics Tasks (RMTs). Employing a design research methodology, the study comprises three phases: preliminary design, teaching experiment, and retrospective analysis. The data presented in this article are from the first cycle, encompassing all three phases. The research involved four fourth-year preservice mathematics teachers from Sanata Dharma University in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, participating in a preliminary experiment conducted over three months outside their regular coursework. Data were collected through pre-course written tests, observations, interviews, journal reflections, and analyses of the preservice teachers' work. The findings indicate that the learning trajectory effectively raised awareness among preservice teachers about key characteristics of realistic mathematics tasks. This heightened awareness was evident in their reflections and work. Additionally, observations of their teaching practices revealed that preservice teachers valued student reasoning in solving RMTs. However, they faced difficulties in classroom management and guiding students to construct new knowledge actively through their experiences in solving RMTs.
Radial Basis Function Neural Network with ensemble clustering for modeling mathematics achievement in Indonesia based on cognitive and non-cognitive factors
Authors: Wutsqa Dhoriva Urwatul , Prihastuti Pusparani Puan , Fauzan Muhammad , Listyani Endang
Published: September 2024

Mathematics achievement could be influenced by cognitive and non-cognitive factors. The potential variable of cognitive factor is metacognition, whereas non-cognitive factors include Economic, Social, and Cultural Status (ESCS), resilience, life satisfaction, happiness, pride, fear, sadness, and gender. Those variables involve numerical and categorical data. For this reason, this study aims to apply the Radial Basis Function Neural Network (RBFNN) model with ensemble clustering to model the relation between cognitive and non-cognitive aspects and mathematics achievement. The RBFNN is a soft computing approach based on the neural network model and has been shown as an effective model and free of assumption. The ensemble clustering is a process in RBFNN modeling to capture the independent variables involving the numerical and categorical data. It employs K-means clustering for the numerical data and K-modes for categorical data and combines the results of those two methods. The data used in this study are published by PISA (Program for International Student Assessment) 2018. The results show that the RBFNN with ensemble clustering deliver good performance in modeling the students’ mathematics achievement based on the cognitive and non-cognitive factors in terms of prediction accuracy.  Other than RBFNN model, the use of cognitive and non-cognitive factors involving in this study also contributes to the high accuracy prediction. This further emphasizes that these factors are good predictors of mathematic achievement. Additionally, we suggest the silhouette cluster validation in the clustering process, since it leads to the number of hidden neurons of the best RBFNN model.