bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Significance of CSI and Paper-Level Classification System in Coping with the Challenges Brought by Ultra-Highly Cited Papers to Journal Evaluation
Authors: Liu Yahui , Zhang Jiandong , Yang Liying , Shen Zhesi
Published: November 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a surge in the production and high citation rates of related publications, and these ultra-highly cited papers brought grave challenges to journal evaluation. So it is significant to test the performance of bibliometric indicators during the crisis and assess their ability to adapt to rapidly evolving research landscapes. The CAS Journal Ranking, one of the most widely used journal ranking systems in China, is committed to accurately revealing the average impact of journals and enhancing the robustness of evaluation results. This study focused on the response of the CAS Journal Ranking system to the ultra-highly cited papers related to COVID-19. We compared the journal impact factor (JIF), category normalized citation impact (CNCI), and CAS’s indicator - the field normalized citation success index (FNCSI) - under journal-level and paper-level classification systems by assessing changes in indicator values and examining ranking mobility of journals. The results indicate combining FNCSI and CWTS paper-level classification system yields a robust indicator in coping with the challenges brought by COVID-19 papers. The combination is effective because FNCSI measure reduces the enormous impact of COVID-19 papers, while CWTS paper-level classification system groups the majority of COVID-19 papers into the “coronavirus” category, preventing distortion of citation normalization of other groups. By revealing the pros and cons of various indicators, we hope to emphasize the relative suitability and dependence on the context. and inform future improvements to scientific journal evaluation systems and methodologies.
Translation and validation of the “Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support” in the Greek general population
Authors: Katsiroumpa Aglaia , Moisoglou Ioannis , Konstantakopoulou Olympia , Vraka Irene , Gallos Parisis , Tsiachri Maria , Tsakalaki Anastasia , Galanis Petros
Published: November 2023

Background
Social support is an external factor that can improve individuals’ adaptation to stressful life events. Valid tools are necessary to measure social support in the general population.
Objective
To translate and validate the “Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support” (MSPSS) in a sample of the Greek general population.
Methods
We translated the MSPSS in Greek using the forward-backward translation method. We assessed test-retest reliability, internal reliability, face validity, construct validity, and concurrent validity. First, we calculated intraclass correlation coefficients and Cronbach’s coefficient alpha to assess the reliability of the MSPSS. Then, we employed confirmatory factor analysis to assess the construct validity of the MSPSS. Finally, we used the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4), the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), the single item burnout measure, and the COVID-19 burnout scale (COVID-19-BS) to assess the concurrent validity of the MSPSS.
Results
Intraclass correlation coefficients for the three subscales of the MSPSS (family, friends, and significant others subscales) and the total scale score ranged from 0.862 to 0.914 (p < 0.001 in all cases). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the three factors structure (family, friends, and significant others subscales) of the original version of the MSPSS. Cronbach’s coefficients alpha for the family, friends, and significant others subscales and the total scale were 0.888, 0.935, 0.935, and 0.941 respectively. Concurrent validity of the MSPSS was perfect since we found statistically significant correlations between the MSPSS and PHQ-4 (r = -0.181, p < 0.001), BRS (r = 0.199, p < 0.001), single item burnout measure (r = -0.068, p = 0.015), and COVID-19-BS (r = -0.136, p < 0.001).
Conclusions
The MSPSS is a reliable and valid tool to measure social support in the general population. Measurement of social support among individuals is necessary to improve this external psychological factor.
Evaluating Latency in Fifth-Generation Vehicle-To-Tverything Communications Using Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System Model
Authors: Sayedahmed Hamdy A.M. , Elgamal Emadeldin M. , Hefny Hesham A.
Published: November 2023

The fifth-generation new radio technology (5G NR) introduces improved functions to the air interface. In addition, the 5G NR non-standalone (NSA) will operate with long-term evolution, enabling vehicle-to-everything communications (V2X) for improved infotainment services. V2X includes four main classes of communications: vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-infrastructure, vehicle-to-pedestrian devices, and vehicle-to-network. However, the stringent transmission frequency, latency, and throughput requirements of infotainment applications constrain the transmitting packets of 5G-V2X-based NSA in highway scenarios. In this paper, the latency is improved by preventing the physical layer of gNodeB and the user equipment (UE) from sending redundant packets for service in a highway scenario. The proposed approach adopts an adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), a powerful modeling technique based on artificial neural networks and a fuzzy inference system. The performance of ANFIS is compared with that of the traditional 5G V2X NSA architecture in a simulation study using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) traffic. The delays, throughputs, and packet losses of both architectures are determined in radio link control (RLC) and VoIP applications. The switch-modes, signal-to-interference-noise ratios (SINRs), hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) error rate, channel quality indicators (CQIs), served blocks, and transmission-state of gNodeB are computed for the two architectures for device-to-device (D2D), uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) traffic directions. The simulation results show comparable SINRs, CQIs, served blocks and switch-modes in both scenarios, but the presented ANFIS model significantly outperforms the traditional architecture in delay by 66% in D2D, 29% in UL, 25% in DL, and packet loss by 21% in UL in RLC, the HARQ error rate by 9% in D2D, 30% in UL, 95% in DL, transmission-state in gNodeB by 29%, and the delay by 4% for UEs, and frame loss by 90% for UE in VoIP.
Editorial: Hochschulbildung der Zukunft – Ein Resultat von Ausdifferenzierungsprozessen
Authors: Wassmer Christian , Probst Carole , Sommer Katharina , Wilhelm Elena
Published: November 2023

Die Hochschulbildung der Zukunft steht vor großen Herausforderungen. Hochschulen sind in Bezug auf ihre Bildungsangebote mit wachsenden Erwartungen unterschiedlicher Anspruchsgruppen konfrontiert und positionieren sich in einem kompetitiven Feld. Angesichts dieser dynamischen Veränderungen stellt sich die Frage, wie Hochschulbildung künftig gestaltet sein muss, um den rasanten Entwicklungen gerecht zu werden. In diesem Heft befassen wir uns daher mit Konzepten, Analysen und Ideen zur künftigen Hochschulbildung. Hierbei fokussiert das Heft auf die Organisation und Governance der Hochschulbildung, auf die Öffnung der Hochschule und die Individualisierung der Bildung, auf künftig relevante Kompetenzen, die Studierende erlangen müssen, sowie auf neue Formen von Prüfungen und Prüfungssettings.
Eine datengestützte Peer-Beratung zur Unterstützung individueller Studienziele
Authors: Bartok Larissa , Hubert Marcela , Gleeson Robin , Kriegler-Kastelic Gisela
Published: November 2023

Eine Hochschule kann ihre Studierenden bei der Individualisierung ihres Studiums unterstützen, indem sie deren Grundbedürfnisse unterstützt, ihr akademisches Selbstkonzept stärkt und ihre Strategien zum Selbstregulierten Lernen fördert. Ein extracurricularer Ansatz ist die datengestützte Peer-Studienfortschrittsberatung der Universität Wien, bestehend aus der Verknüpfung eines Peer-Beratungsgesprächs mit Datenvisualisierungen zum Studienfortschritt. Das Konzept wurde im Studienjahr 2021/2022 an der Universität Wien im Rahmen einer Mixed-Methods-Studie empirisch erprobt. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass es sowohl zu einer signifikanten Verbesserung des akademischen Selbstkonzepts als auch zu einer Verbesserung der Strategien zum selbstregulierten Lernen gekommen ist. In qualitativen Analysen wurde deutlich, dass das entwickelte Angebot das Kompetenz- und Autonomieerleben sowie die Eingebundenheit von Studierenden unterstützen kann. Das Angebot kann daher eine Ergänzung zur Individualisierung von Studienplänen darstellen, um individuelle Wege durchs Studium zu unterstützen.
Further assessment of the employability-inventory in a sample of dual study graduates
Authors: Latuska Lukas , Scheel Tabea , Schirmer Uwe
Published: November 2023

This study used confirmatory factor analyses and descriptive statistics on new data from 345 dual study graduates in Germany to further assess a newly developed and recently published self-report inventory of employability. The resulting 19-item inventory showed a good model fit and factorial validity, with small to medium interscale correlations. This provides a solid base for further research and a targeted tool for assessing dual study graduates’ employability. Limitations and future research scope are discussed.
Learning by playing – wie Studierende spielerisch lernen. Eine Langzeitstudie über Planspiele
Authors: Lohmann Jan Robert , Kranenpohl Uwe
Published: November 2023

Planspiele werden gerne und in steigender Anzahl in der Hochschullehre eingesetzt. Über deren Wirkung auf das Lernverhalten der Teilnehmenden hingegen gibt es bisher wenig empirisch belegbare Erkenntnisse. In diesem Beitrag wird eine Langzeitstudie dargelegt, die anhand eines Paneldesigns Komptenzzuwächse von Studierenden untersucht. Die Ergebnisse stellen einen hohen Effekt vor allem auf den Wissenserwerb der Teilnehmenden dar. Aus dieser Wirkung ergibt sich allerdings auch eine Verantwortung an die Durchführung der Planspiele, welche im letzten Teil zur Diskussion dargelegt wird.
Development of an online concept for the use of the serious game EDIPS2
Authors: Pidruchna Diana , Panshef Veselin
Published: November 2023

Strategic thinking games development is an important topic in the modern world, and the digitalization wave also influences this movement. In this research paper, the possibilities of creating an online version of an educational game, called EDIPS2 (Edutainment for Designing Integrated Product-Service System), that requires communication, was researched and discussed. It is a German version of a serious game EDIPS, which was created by Shimomura Laboratory at the Department of System Design at Tokyo Metropolitan University. Its purpose is to promote strategic thinking and collaboration between experts in design and in business of product service systems (PSS) through playful online-entertainment.
ANALISA LITERASI KEUANGAN DAN PERAN GENERASI Z DALAM MENYOKONG CASHLESS SOCIETY DI INDONESIA
Authors: Soenjoto Wening Purbatin Palupi
Published: November 2023

Post the COVID-19 pandemic, it is undeniable that online spending has changed shopping behavior patterns by employing non-cash payment methods. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of non-cash payments was significantly encouraged due to restrictions on public activities, as cash was considered a potential medium for the transmission of the COVID-19 virus. This research explores the phenomenon of using cash as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic and whether it has led to an increase in non-cash financial literacy. It also investigates whether government programs aimed at promoting non-cash transactions can foster a non-cash society as a means of enhancing the effectiveness of non-cash transactions or if they instead promote consumptive behavior due to a lack of understanding of non-cash financial literacy. The research employs a qualitative phenomenological method, involving interviews with 50 respondents aged 19-21 years. Additionally, interviews were conducted with two employees from Bank BSI Jombang and BRI Pulung Ponorogo to gather information related to banking. The study aims to reveal the impact of COVID-19 on the increased use of cashless products among Generation Z and describe the relationship between digital literacy skills and their influence on consumptive behavior among young individuals. The research findings suggest that cashless users aged 19-21 years influence consumptive behavior, but their knowledge of digital financial literacy is lacking. They primarily use non-cash methods for online shopping transactions, and their digital financial literacy is limited to debit and credit functions within bank account transactions. The results indicate that the 50 respondents have limited understanding of non-cash financial literacy, and non-cash payment products are primarily used for online shopping and sometimes mismanagement of financial resources.
PENGARUH EARNING PER SHARE, PROFITABILITAS, DAN KEBIJAKAN DIVIDEN TERHADAP HARGA SAHAM PADA PERUSAHAAN INDEKS LQ45 PERIODE 2018-2021
Authors: Saputri Silvi Ayu , Fahriani Firda Zulfa
Published: November 2023

One of the factors which influence the movement of stock prices is the company's fundamentals. This company's fundamental analysis can use information from financial reports. One of the financial statement analysis techniques is to use financial ratios. The purposes of this study are to determine the effect of earnings per share, profitability, and dividend policy on stock prices in LQ45 index companies for the 2018-2021 period. This study uses a quantitative approach to the type of associative research. The sampling technique in this study used a purposive sampling method and obtained a sample of 11 companies in each period. The data used is secondary data obtained from the Indonesia Stock Exchange website, namely www.idx.co.id, which is in the form of data on company financial reports listed on the LQ45 Index for the 2018-2021 period. The data analysis method in this study used panel data regression analysis in testing the data in the research to be carried out using the Eviews 10 software program. The results of this study indicate that 1) Partial earnings per share has a positive and significant effect on stock prices, 2) Partial profitability has a positive and significant effect on stock prices, 3) Partial dividend policy has no significant effect on stock prices, 4) Simultaneously, earnings per share, profitability, and dividend policy have a significant effect on stock prices in LQ45 Index companies for the 2018-2021 period.
Intergenerational Ambivalence and Negotiations: Malaysian Chinese Family Dynamics in the Film The Journey
Authors:   Centre for Research in Language and Linguistics, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia, Chua Wei Yee , Pillai Shanthini ,   Centre for Research in Language and Linguistics, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia, Ng Liz Lay Shi ,   Centre for Research in Language and Linguistics, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia
Published: November 2023

The millennium is witnessing the emergence of several key feature films produced by Malaysian producers-directors of Chinese ethnicity. Such Malaysian Chinese films comprise a majority of ethnic Chinese as lead actors, who converse predominantly in the Chinese language and consist of narratives that focus on the experiences of the Chinese community in Malaysia. This article seeks to analyse one such film, “The Journey”, directed by Chiu Keng Guan in 2014. In particular, through the film’s narrative, it aims to explore the extent to which this film visualises the possibilities of intergenerational negotiation and engagement as well as the implied issues of intergenerational and cultural differences. Using a conceptual framework that incorporates selected Confucian virtues, namely filial piety, benevolence and propriety, the discussion highlights the significant moments of intergenerational dialogue and engagements within the domestic context of a family. It concludes that the film provides a significant space to reflect on Malaysian Chinese intergenerational reciprocity through the negotiation of cultural differences between older and younger family members in the form of meaningful dialogue and engagement that lead to the realisation of Confucian ideals of intergenerational harmony intertwined with conjugality.
Love and Loss: The Malay Reserve Land Predicament in Malay Novels
Authors:   Department of Malay-Indonesian, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Seoul, Korea, Abu Hassan Ummi Hani , Abdul Khalil Shahidra ,   Department of Fiqh and Usul, Academy of Islamic Studies, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Mohd Razif Nor Fahimah ,   Department of Fiqh and Usul, Academy of Islamic Studies, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Published: November 2023

Malay Reserve Land is a topic that has been discussed less since COVID-19 hit the world. It is not just a simple issue about land and property; Malay Reserve Land is also a matter of Malay privilege in Malaysia. As a country with increasing pluralisation, diversification and practice of liberal economy, sustaining this special right is becoming a challenge. Historically, the practice of land possession in Malay customary law is strongly influenced by Islamic law. According to the teachings of Islam, real ownership belongs to Allah Almighty. However, after the British colonised Peninsular Malaysia for nearly 200 years, new land laws were endorsed to deal with the problems in land management that hindered their political and economic interest. Since then, the Malays have faced numerous problems to manage their special land. The following article, based on an indepth reading of the selected Malay novels, provides the various voices of love negotiating with hate and the feeling of loss. Data from newspapers and academic articles in the last 10 years have shown that the main issue is the decreasing size of Malay Reservation Land. The findings of the textual analysis reveal the authors’ voices of disenchantment in their novels related to the actual depletion of Malay Reserve Land throughout the 108-year-long journey.
Spectral representation of Matsubara n-point functions: Exact kernel functions and applications
Authors: Halbinger Johannes , Schneider Benedikt , Sbierski Björn
Published: November 2023

In the field of quantum many-body physics, the spectral (or Lehmann) representation simplifies the calculation of Matsubara nn-point correlation functions if the eigensystem of a Hamiltonian is known. It is expressed via a universal kernel function and a system- and correlator-specific product of matrix elements. Here we provide the kernel functions in full generality, for arbitrary nn, arbitrary combinations of bosonic or fermionic operators and an arbitrary number of anomalous terms. As an application, we consider bosonic 3- and 4-point correlation functions for the fermionic Hubbard atom and a free spin of length SS, respectively.
Prediction Model of Nicotine and Glycerol in Reconstituted Tobacco Leaves Based on Support Vector Machine Algorithm
Authors: Yang Qifu , Kun Ma , Ying Liang , Jiaquan Wu , Xinyu Zhang , Yang Shuangyan
Published: November 2023

Nicotine and glycerol are the two important indexes of reconstituted tobacco and they determine the quality of the reconstituted tobacco. A hand-held near infrared spectrometer was used to collect the spectral data of reconstituted tobacco leaves, and three algorithms of principal component regression, partial least squares and support vector machine were used to build the prediction model of the nicotine and glycerol content in reconstituted tobacco leaves. The experimental results showed that the support vector machine algorithm could achieve the best prediction results compared with principal component regression and partial least squares algorithms. The proposed method can rapidly determine the nicotine and glycerol content of the reconstituted tobacco leaves and it provides a new technical reference for improving the quality of new tobacco.
Synthesis and Characterization of Polyester Derived from Glycerol and Its Application as an Adhesive on Different Adherents
Authors: de Oliveira Érica , Costa Maísa , Ramos Luciana , Araújo Olacir
Published: November 2023

With the increase in the supply of glycerol and its economic devaluation, it is important to develop strategies that add value to this substance. Among the various alternatives, one application is its use as a precursor in the synthesis of new polyesters. Therefore, this work describes the condensation reaction of glycerol with valeric acid, obtaining functionalized glycerol, which was used in the polycondensation reaction with terephthalic acid. The samples were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance and differential scanning calorimetry. Spectroscopic analyses confirmed the conversion of the reagents into esters and polyesters. The polyesters showed superior thermal stability than the individual components, a glass transition temperature of -3.8 °C and adhesive properties on glass, wood, paper and rigid polyvinyl chloride substrates. The adhesive capabilities of the samples were compared with those of commercial adhesives already established in the Brazilian market. Samples of polyesters synthesized through the reaction between functionalized glycerol and terephthalic acid showed adhesive behavior in the range of mechanical resistance observed in commercial adhesives, with an elastic modulus ranging from 60.9 ± 36.0 MPa to 162.1 ± 102.4 kPa, depending on the type of adhesive substrate, behaving either as an elastic and/or thermoplastic adhesive.
Taj Mahal is the Crystallization of Iranian Architecture and a Symbol of God's Throne on Earth
Authors: Asadi Shaham
Published: November 2023

The Taj Mahal is basically related to the idea of Islamic architecture; although the influence of Islamic architecture on the Taj Mahal is clearly visible, traces of the influence of Iranian, Hindu, British, and Akbari architecture are evident in its structure. Taj Mahal is often known as a monument of love, but you can see it as a combination of architectural traditions and a monument of Iranian and Indian multiculturalism.According to the beginning of the arrival of Muslims in the Indus Valley, in the 8th century AD, except for the ruins of a small mosque, there is no other trace left from this period. But in the twelfth century AD, the arrival of Muslims started again with the creation of valuable works. After various periods and in the era known as the Mongols (Indian Gorkan), the architecture of the subcontinent achieved great prosperity with a significant influence of Iranian art. In historical sources, the names of Iranian personalities who played a key role in the construction of the Taj Mahal, such as Essa Shirazi (designer), Amanat Khan Shirazi (calligrapher) and Mohammad Hanif Kandahari, can be seen. Iranian art is one of the most essential identifiers of Islamic architecture, and the Taj Mahal is one of the most obvious examples of the presence of Iranian artists. The result of the research shows that due to the relations that Iran and India have had throughout history, especially during the Safavid and Gurkanian periods, the architectural culture and the construction of gardens and garden-mazars in India have been influenced by Iranian culture, literature, art and architecture. And for this reason, the Taj Mahal can be considered as the manifestation of the art of Islamic and Iranian architectural design in the Indian subcontinent, and what is called Mongolian architecture is essentially "Indian-Iranian Islamic architecture".
Predictors of Treatment Outcome and Clinical Profile among Guillain-
Barre Syndrome Patients in South India
Authors: Joseph Nitin , Shrigiri Soumya
Published: November 2023

Background:

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is one of the principal causes of
acute neuromuscular weakness and paralysis worldwide. Its clinic-epidemiological profile
and factors influencing its treatment outcomes in developing countries are very minimally
studied.

Objective:

The study aimed to study the risk factors, clinical presentation, management,
and predictors of treatment outcomes among GBS patients admitted in two tertiary care
hospitals.

Materials and Methods:

Medical records of 121 inpatients with GBS confirmed based
on the Brighton criteria over the recent five-year period from June 2017 to May 2022 were
examined. Assessment of the severity of GBS was done using the Hughes functional grading
scale.

Results:

The mean age at onset was 36.8±18.9 years. The majority of the patients [82 (67.8%)]
were males. Antecedent illnesses within 1 month of onset of GBS were present among 34
(28.1%) patients. The majority of them developed respiratory tract illnesses [13 (38.2%)].
Recurrent history of GBS was observed among 4 (3.3%) patients. The median time gap between
the onset of antecedent illnesses and the onset of GBS was 5 days (IQR 3, 10). The most
common symptom among GBS patients was the weakness of the muscles of the extremities [117
(96.7%)]. The pattern of progression of weakness among 53 (45.3%) of these patients was from
the lower to upper limbs. The most common sign noted was hypotonia in 64 (52.9%) patients.
Complications due to GBS were observed among 12 (9.9%) patients. The most common
complication was respiratory distress in 11 (91.7%) patients, followed by autonomic
dysfunctions in 8 (66.7%). Albuminocytological dissociation in cerebrospinal fluid was noted
among 48 (39.7%) patients. The majority of patients in nerve conduction studies had
acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy [61 (50.4%)]. The majority of the GBS
patients [68 (56.2%)] were treated using intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). 95 (78.5%)
patients improved with treatment at the time of discharge. In multivariable analysis, the absence
of antecedent illnesses (p =0.029), Brighton’s diagnostic certainty levels 1 and 2 of GBS (p
=0.024), and being kept on IVIG treatment (p =0.05) were associated with improvement in
disease condition among the patients.

Conclusion:

Appropriate diagnosis of GBS using both clinical and laboratory evidence and
providing appropriate treatment along with more supervision among GBS patients with a history
of antecedent illnesses will help improve their prognosis at the time of discharge.
Evaluation of Enhanced Cytotoxicity Effect of Repurposed Drug Simvastatin/Thymoquinone Combination against Breast Cancer Cell Line
Authors: Kumari Pallavi , Dang Shweta
Published: November 2023

Introduction:

Repurposing of drugs for their anticancer potential is gaining a lot of
importance in drug discovery.

Aims:

The present study aims to explore the potential of Simvastatin (SIM), a drug used in the
treatment of high cholesterol, and Thymoquinone (Nigella Sativa) (THY) for its anti-cancer activity
on breast cancer cell lines. Thymoquinone is reported to have many potential medicinal
properties exhibiting antioxidant, antiinflammatory, anti-cancer, activities like inhibition of tissue
growth and division.

Methods:

In this analysis, we explored the inhibitory effects of the combination of Simvastatin
ad Thymoquinone on two breast cancer cell lines viz MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. The combined
effect of Simvastatin and Thymoquinone on Cell viability, Colony formation, Cell migration,
and orientation of more programmed cell death in vitro was studied. Cell cycle arrest in the
G2/M phase was concomitant with the combined effect of SIM and THY persuading apoptosis
and generating reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Results:

The cell cycle arrest with combined treatment was observed that only 1.8% and 1.1%
cells gated in G2/M phase in MCF-7 & MDA-MB-231 cell. An increased apoptosis was observed
when cells were treated in combination which was about 76.20% and 58.15 % respectively
for MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells.

Conclusion:

It was concluded that the combined effect of simvastatin and thymoquinone stimulates
apoptosis in breast cancer cells.
Symptoms and Outcomes of COVID-19 in Elderly Recipients of Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccines
Authors: Mohammadkhah Fatemeh , Amirhossein Moslehi Seyed , Larijani Fatemeh , Ziapour Arash , Chaboksavar Fakhreddin , Asaeiyan Hamidreza , Hossein Ashrafi Kamiar , Fotokian Zahra
Published: November 2023

Background:

Health providers and policymakers aim to prevent or reduce the severity of disease outcomes globally.

Objective:

The present study aimed to explore the outcomes and common symptoms of COVID-19 in the elderly population vaccinated against influenza and COVID-19 in hospitals of Ramsar and Tonekabon cities in Iran.

Methods:

To participate in the present cross-sectional descriptive study, 11 qualified subjects were selected through a census. The data collection instruments included the “Demographic and clinical questionnaire” and “Registration form of sampled patients with acute disease syndrome”. The data were analyzed in SPSS 24 using descriptive statistics (frequency).

Results:

The average age of the participants was 70.63±5.85 years. As the results showed, mild cardiovascular symptoms were found in 6 participants (54.5%), lower respiratory system symptoms in 5 (45.5%), nervous system symptoms in 4 (36.4%), and auxiliary symptoms in 4 (36.4%). No cardiac, renal, blood or central nervous system outcomes were observed in the elderly, and the mortality rate was 0%. The findings also showed a reduction in clinical symptoms and severity of outcomes, an improvement in clinical findings, and no mortality among the elderly.

Conclusion:

The present findings supported measures aimed at increasing the coverage of influenza and COVID-19 vaccination in people, especially the elderly.
Factors Influencing the Retention of Midwives in Rural Areas of Bhutan: A National Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Jurmin Karma , Jariya Wutthichai
Published: November 2023

Background:

The retention of midwives in rural areas is pivotal in achieving sustainable development goals, particularly those concerning maternal and child health. Though the human resource planning policy mandates at least one midwife in every primary healthcare facility (PHCF), Bhutan has not achieved this target.

Objective:

This study has aimed to explore the factors that influence the retention of midwives in rural areas of Bhutan.

Methods:

A national cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022 among all 165 midwives working in rural PHCFs across 20 districts in Bhutan. The questionnaire was designed based on the World Health Organization framework that was developed for rural health workforce retention. Data were collected online using a structured closed-ended self-administered questionnaire and were then analysed using descriptive statistics and linear regression.

Results:

The analysis revealed that the midwives had a high retention intention. Age, monthly income, work experience, personal origins and values, family and community aspects, working and living conditions, career-related opportunities, financial incentives, and mandatory service were positively and statistically significantly correlated with retention. Financial incentives and working and living conditions were the predictors that strongly influenced the retention of midwives in rural areas.

Conclusion:

This study indicated that the retention of midwives was high and was influenced by multiple factors. Financial incentives and working and living conditions were highly significant factors in attracting and retaining midwives in rural PHCFs.
Early Prediction of Covid-19 Samples from Chest X-ray Images using Deep Learning Approach
Authors: Sudheesh K V , Kiran  , Gururaj Harinahalli Lokesh , Ravi Vinayakumar , Almeshari Meshari , Alzamil Yasser
Published: November 2023

Aims:

In this study, chest X-ray (CXR) and computed tomography (CT) images are used to analyse and detect COVID-19 using an unsupervised deep learning-based feature fusion approach.

Background:

The reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test, which has a reduced viral load, sampling error, etc., is used to detect COVID-19, which has sickened millions of people worldwide. It is possible to check chest X-rays and computed tomography scans because the majority of infected persons have lung infections. The COVID-19 diagnosis can be made early using both CT and CXR imaging modalities, which is an alternative to the RT-PCR test.

Objective:

The manual diagnosis of CXR pictures and CT scans is labor and time-intensive. Many AI-based solutions are being investigated to tackle this problem, including deep learning-based detection models, which can be utilized to assist the radiologist in making a more accurate diagnosis. However, because of the demand for specialized knowledge and high annotation costs, the amount of annotated data available for COVID-19 identification is constrained. Additionally, the majority of current cutting-edge deep learning-based detection models use supervised learning techniques. Because a tagged dataset is not required, we have investigated various unsupervised learning models for COVID-19 identification in this work.

Methods:

In this study, we suggest a COVID-19 detection method based on unsupervised deep learning that makes use of the feature fusion technique to improve performance. Based on this an automated CNN model is built for the detection of COVID-19 samples from healthy and pneumonic cases using chest X-ray images.

Results:

This model has scored an accuracy of about 99% for the classification between covid positive and covid negative. Based on this result further classification will be done for pneumonic and non-pneumonic which has scored an accuracy of 94%.

Conclusion:

On both datasets, the COVID-19 detection method based on feature fusion and deep unsupervised learning showed promising results. Additionally, it outperforms four well-known unsupervised methods already in use.
Yang Heon-soo's 's aspect as a scholarstic general and the activities of rescuing his nation during the ByunginYangyo
Authors:   The Association of DaeDong-Hanmun, Kim Jong Min
Published: November 2023

Yang Heon-soo, known as the leading role of Byeonginyangyo, was evaluated as Scholarstic General. However, although his brilliant contribution as a hero of the country was praised, the fundamental reason why Yang Heon-soo was called scholarstic general seems to have never been discussed. This paper examined the human aspect of scholarstic general Yang Heon-soo from four perspectives and how he responded as scholarstic general to the national historical disaster of Byeongin Yangyo. Four characteristic aspects were argued as empirical data: with a sense of reality, who wrote the words, with the ability to respond to the wounds of war, with strategies and improvisation. Regarding Byeonginyangyo, the research results of the private academia have been accumulated, but there is much room for in-depth analysis of Chinese literature data. First of all, it is suggested that the process of reading the data already used needs to be more precise, and that related records that were outside the right of interest should be compiled and analyzed.
A study of Gyujanggak Seori Kim Deok-hyung's Life, Literature and Art
Authors:   The Association of DaeDong-Hanmun, Jeoung eun jin
Published: November 2023

This paper examines the life, literature and art of Kim Deok-hyeong(金德亨) from Gyeongajeon in the late 18th century and early 19th century. In the meantime, there has been mention of his existence, which is excellent in flower painting, but his specific life history or literature such as poetry and calligraphy were not dealt with. Accordingly, in this paper, I tried to comprehensively examine his life and literature by examining various documents that mentioned him, such as 『Naegag-illyeog(내각일력)』, 『Jinhuisokgo(震彙續攷)』, 『Ihyanggyeonmunrok(里鄕見聞錄)』, etc.
Kim Deok-hyeong’s name received upon reaching adulthood is Kangjung, his pen name is Samyangjae and Hwasanja, and is from the Gimhae Kim family. Kim Deok-hyeong performed the duties of Gakri(閣吏), the secretary of Kyujanggak, among Gyeongajeon, and the duties were passed on to his son Kim Shin-won(renamed Kim Ye-won) and his grandson Kim Geon-shik(金健植). In September 1780, he served as Byeongjo Seori(書吏), and in December 1781, he became Gakri(閣吏), a secretary at Kyujanggak, and served until 1795. He served as secretary at Kyujanggak for a total of 15 years, but as he has been associated with Kang Se-hwang(姜世晃), Shim Sa-jeong(沈師正), Heo Pil(許佖), Choi Buk(崔北), and Kim Hong-do(金弘道) since childhood, he had a chance to sharpen his eyesight. Thanks for this, even after becoming a Gakri, he displayed his special abilities in the field of literature and art. Through his poems such as 『Pungyosamseon』, we were able to get a glimpse of Kim Deok-hyeong's elegant spiritual world and poetic world, and through the records of Ma Seong-rin, who was the same Yeohangin, we confirmed his excellent calligraphy. Through the reviews of Yu Deuk-gong, Park Je-ga, and Yoon Haeng-im, he showed his painting skills, and he showed his special skills in painting rather than writing, and in painting flowers. The fact that he had no choice but to excel in flower painting was also due to his love for and exploration of real flowers. As a result, his teacher, Kang Se-hwang, regarded his flower paintings as treasures and kept them. Through the above research, the existence of Kim Deok-hyung as Yeohangin and the fact that he was a non-professional artist from Suri, apart from being a professional painter of painted books, have given us a glimpse into a part of Yeohang’s culture that promoted late Joseon Dynasty literature.
Recombinant-methioninase-producing Escherichia coli Instilled in the Microbiome Inhibits Triple-negative Breast Cancer in an Orthotopic Cell-line Mouse Model
Authors: KUBOTA YUTARO , HAN QINGHONG , MORINAGA SEI , MIZUTA KOHEI , BOUVET MICHAEL , TSUNODA TAKUYA , HOFFMAN ROBERT M.
Published: November 2023

Background/Aim: Methionine restriction by diet and recombinant methioninase (rMETase) are effective for cancer therapy by themselves or combined with chemotherapy drugs. We previously showed that oral administration of rMETase-producing Escherichia coli JM109 (E. coli JM109-rMETase) can be installed in the mouse microbiome and inhibit colon-cancer growth in a syngeneic mouse model. In the present report, we investigated the efficacy of oral administration of E. coli JM109-rMETase in an orthotopic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell-line mouse model. Materials and Methods: First, we established orthotopic 4T1 mouse triple-negative breast cancer on an abdominal mammary gland in female athymic nu/nu nude mice aged 4-6 weeks. After tumor growth, 15 mice were divided into three groups of 5. Group 1 was administered phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) orally by gavage twice daily as a control; Group 2 was administered non-recombinant E. coli JM109 competent cells orally by gavage twice daily as a control; Group 3 was administered E. coli JM109-rMETase cells by gavage twice daily for two weeks. Tumor size was measured with calipers twice per week. On day 15, blood methionine level was examined using an HPLC method. Results: Oral administration of E. coli JM109-rMETase inhibited 4T1 TNBC growth significantly compared to the PBS and E. coli JM109 control groups. On day 15, the blood methionine level was significantly lower in the mice administered E. coli JM109-rMETase than in the PBS control. Conclusion: E. coli JM109-rMETase lowered blood methionine levels and inhibited TNBC growth in an orthotopic cell-line mouse model, suggesting future clinical potential against a highly recalcitrant cancer.
Recombinant Methioninase Lowers the Effective Dose of Regorafenib Against Colon-Cancer Cells: A Strategy for Widespread Clinical Use of a Toxic Drug
Authors: CHOOBIN BRAD BARSAM , KUBOTA YUTARO , HAN QINGHONG , ARDJMAND DANIEL , MORINAGA SEI , MIZUTA KOHEI , BOUVET MICHAEL , TSUNODA TAKUYA , HOFFMAN ROBERT M.
Published: November 2023

Background/Aim: Regorafenib is a multi-kinase inhibitor, targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 and other oncogenic kinases. Regorafenib has efficacy in metastatic colon cancer, but has severe dose-limiting toxicities which cause patients to stop taking the drug. The aim of the present study was to determine if recombinant methioninase (rMETase) could lower the effective concentration of regorafenib in vitro against a colorectal-cancer cell line. Materials and Methods: Firstly, we examined the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of regorafenib alone and rMETase alone for the HCT-116 human colorectal-cancer cell line. After that, using the IC50 concentration of each drug, we investigated the efficacy of the combination of regorafenib and rMETase. Results: While both methioninase alone (IC50=0.61 U/ml) and regorafenib alone (IC50=2.26 U/ml) inhibited the viability of HCT-116 cells, the combination of the two agents was more than twice as effective as either alone. Addition of rMETase at 0.61 U/ml lowered the IC50 of regorafenib from 2.26 μM to 1.46 μM. Conclusion: rMETase and regorafenib are synergistic, giving rise to the possibility of lowering the effective dose of regorafenib in patients, thereby reducing its severe toxicity, allowing more cancer patients to be treated with regorafenib.
Pretreatment PLR Is Preferable to NLR and LMR as a Predictor in Locally Advanced and Metastatic Bladder Cancer
Authors: KARAN CANAN , YAREN ARZU , DEMIREL BURCIN CAKAN , DOGAN TOLGA , OZDEMIR MELEK , DEMIRAY ATIKE GOKCEN , TASKOYLU BURCU YAPAR , DEGIRMENCIOGLU SERKAN , DOGU GAMZE , OZHAN NAIL , CAKIROGLU UMUT , CELIKYUREK ATALAY
Published: November 2023

Background/Aim: Advanced bladder cancer (BC) is associated with an inflammatory nature and poor prognosis Inflammatory biomarkers are potential predictors in BC. We conducted a study to assess the prognostic value of the pretreatment neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) in advanced bladder cancer. Patients and Methods: A total of 226-patients with muscle-invasive BC (MIBC) were included. Overall (OS) and progression-free survival were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and the log-rank test was used for comparison. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were used to determine NLR, PLR, and LMR association with OS. Results: Our patients’ median progression-free survival and OS were 12.18 and 15.54 months, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed cut-off values for our chosen inflammatory markers. The patients with high NLR or PLR had inferior median OS compared to their counterparts with lower ratios for both (NLR: 22.51 vs. 9.84 months, respectively, p≤0.001; PLR: 17.68 vs. 14.08 months, respectively, p=0.08). Meanwhile, patients with low LMR had inferior median OS compared to patients with higher LMR (LMR: 20.14 months vs. 10.55 months, respectively, p<0.001). The multivariate Cox regression analysis identified a high PLR as an independent predictive factor of worse OS (hazard ratio=2.774, 95% confidence interval=1.486-5.178, p=0.001) but not NLR or LMR. Conclusion: PLR, C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio, and serum LDH levels, but not NLR and LMR, may function as independent predictors in patients with advanced BC prior to systemic treatment.
El efecto de los consorcios micorrícicos y el tipo de fertilización en la calidad de plántulas en un vivero del árbol Ramón (Brosimum alicastrum Swartz) en Campeche, México
Authors: Espinosa Grande Ezequiel , Chávez-Vergara Bruno Manuel , Vargas-Díaz Arely Anayansi , Tadeo-Noble Alfredo Esteban , Bautista-Ortega Jaime , Cetina Alcalá Víctor Manuel , Uicab Brito Luis Alberto , Santillán Fernández Alberto
Published: November 2023

La especie forestal Brosimum alicastrum se distribuye de manera natural en ausencia de un manejo silvícola. Por su alto potencial para la alimentación animal y humana, su demanda se ha incrementado y, con ello, la necesidad de generar investigación sobre su propagación en los viveros. El objetivo de esta investigación fue evaluar el efecto de diferentes consorcios micorrícicos y del tipo de fertilización en la calidad de plántula producida mediante semilla en vivero. Se evaluaron tratamientos factoriales de cinco niveles de micorrizas (comercial, Hopelchén, Conkal, Ramón y sin micorriza), dos tipos de fertilizantes (Osmocote®, y Bio2®) y un tratamiento control (sin micorriza y sin fertilizante). Las principales variables evaluadas fueron peso seco aéreo y radical como indicadores de la calidad de plántulas. Por su parte, la fertilización mejoró la calidad de las plántulas, mientras que el consorcio micorrícico y la asociación de estos con el fertilizante no fueron significativos. Otro resultado se relacionó con la calidad de las plantas, ya que esta fue mejor en aquellos tratamientos que incluyeron fertilizantes orgánicos y para el tratamiento control y también se encontró que la especie no tolera pH ácidos de los factores empleados en su propagación. Hasta el momento, el efecto de las micorrizas en la calidad de plántulas producidas en viveros no había sido documentado para esta especie, por lo tanto, estos resultados pueden ayudar a mejorar la calidad de plántulas en vivero de una especie con reciente potencial económico.
Problematic Social Media Use and Lifestyle Behaviors in Adolescents: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study
Authors: Ardesch Frank Hendrik , van der Vegt Denise Dorothy , Kiefte-de Jong Jessica Christina
Published: November 2023

Background

The use of social media by adolescents has increased considerably in the past decade. With this increase in social media use in our daily lives, there has been a rapidly expanding awareness of the potential unhealthy lifestyle-related health effects arising from excessive, maladaptive, or addictive social media use.

Objective

This study aims to assess the association between adolescents’ social media use and health-related behaviors.

Methods

We used a cross-sectional research approach and analyzed data from 96,919 adolescents at high schools throughout the Netherlands. A structured 43-item questionnaire was used to gather data on sociodemographics, dietary and lifestyle factors, and the degree of social media use based on the Compulsive Internet Use Scale. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between problematic social media use (PSMU) and lifestyle behaviors while adjusting for sociodemographic factors.

Results

Of the 96,919 included adolescents, 7.4% (n=7022) were identified as at risk for PSMU. Furthermore, logistic regression results showed that adolescents who are at risk for PSMU were more likely to report alcohol consumption and smoking while simultaneously having significantly lower levels of health-promoting behavior such as healthy eating habits (eating fruits, vegetables, and breakfast regularly) and physical activity.

Conclusions

This study confirms that adolescents at risk of PSMU were more likely to exhibit an unhealthy lifestyle. Being at risk for PSMU was a determinant of soft drug use, alcohol consumption, smoking, poor eating habits, and lower physical activity independent of the additional adjusted covariates including demographic variables and remaining lifestyle variables. Future research is needed to confirm this observation in an experimental setting.