bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plasmalogens Activate AKT/mTOR Signaling to Attenuate Reactive Oxygen Species Production in Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Cheng Mengdan , Gao Yan , Wu Yiqing , Zhang Liangliang , Xu Bai , Lu Xiaojie
Published: January 2025

Background:

Plasmalogens, the primary phospholipids in the brain, possess intrinsic antioxidant
properties and are crucial components of the myelin sheath surrounding neuronal axons.
While their neuroprotective effects have been demonstrated in Alzheimer's disease, their potential
benefits in spinal cord injury remain unexplored. This study investigates the reparative effects of
plasmalogens on spinal cord injury and the underlying mechanisms.

Methods:

In vitro, we developed dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and RAW 264.7 cell models under
high-reactive oxygen species (ROS) conditions to assess ROS levels, neuronal damage, and inflammatory
microenvironment changes before and after plasmalogen application. In vivo, we used a
complete mouse spinal cord transection model to evaluate changes in ROS levels, neuronal demyelination,
and apoptosis following plasmalogen treatment. Additionally, we assessed sensory and
motor function recovery and investigated the regulatory effects of plasmalogens on the AKT/mTOR
signaling pathway.

Results:

In high-ROS cell models, plasmalogens protected DRG neurons (TUJ-1) from axonal
damage and modulated the proinflammatory/anti-inflammatory balance in RAW 264.7 cells. In vivo,
plasmalogens significantly reduced ROS levels, improved the immune microenvironment, decreased
the proinflammatory (iNOS)/anti-inflammatory (ARG-1) ratio, lowered neuronal (TUJ-1)
apoptosis (Caspase-3, BAX), and reduced axonal degeneration while promoting myelin (MBP) regeneration,
indicating a neuroprotective effect. These findings are linked to the activation of the
AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Conclusion:

Plasmalogens reduce ROS levels and regulate inflammation-induced damage, contributing
to neuroprotection. This study reveals that plasmalogens promote remyelination, reduce axonal
degeneration and neuronal apoptosis, and—used here for the first time in spinal cord injury repair—
may protect neurons by reducing ROS levels and activating the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.
A Mechanistic Insight into the Effects of Marine Sources as Functional Foods Against Metabolic Syndrome: A Review Article
Authors: Ghasemi Javad , Shamsabadi Shahnam , Mahzoon Erfan , Nazer Yazdan , Rahimi Vafa Baradaran , Askari Vahid Reza
Published: January 2025

Introduction:

Marine organisms are a rich source of metabolites that can be considered
functional foods and produce new medicines against metabolic syndrome, including hypertension,
dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, obesity, insulin resistance, and hyperinsulinemia.

Method:

A total of 609 publications were searching results, 283 were screened entirely, and 43 duplications
were removed.

Results:

These compounds, found in marine organisms such as algae, sponges, and mollusks, have
vasodilatory properties, inhibit certain enzymes involved in blood pressure regulation, and exhibit
anti-oxidant activity, making them promising candidates for developing hypertension treatments.
Marine organisms showed an improvement in insulin sensitivity and blood glucose level regulation,
suggesting their potential in developing novel therapies for diabetes management. Furthermore, some
marine sources inhibit lipid accumulation, regulate metabolism, and suppress appetite, indicating
their potential as therapeutic agents in combating obesity.

Conclusion:

However, further studies on the pharmacological effects of marines should be performed
to evaluate the potential of these compounds to produce novel drugs, but they hope this study
paves and lights the way.
Entrevista a David Evans: Memórias e Reflexões Sobre Pintura Mural no Pós-25 de Abril
Authors: Pereira Catarina Lira
Published: January 2025

David Evans, de origem britânica, reside em Portugal desde 1966. Pintor autodidata, tem um percurso marcado por numerosas exposições coletivas e individuais. Foi diretor da Galeria Judite Dacruz no início dos anos 70, desempenhou funções de professor durante cerca de 30 anos e foi, mais tarde, diretor de Estudos Ingleses no British Council, em Lisboa. É, atualmente, investigador na área de estudos anglo-portugueses da Universidade Nova de Lisboa e tradutor.
A 10 de junho de 1974, no âmbito de uma festa popular organizada pelo Movimento das Forças Armadas (MFA), Evans participou na criação de um painel colaborativo na Galeria de Arte Moderna, em Belém, juntamente com outros 47 artistas. Esta iniciativa marcou o surgimento de uma série de intervenções murais que continuariam a ocorrer ao longo dos anos seguintes, e que refletiam o espírito da época através de temas como liberdade, resistência e transformação social.
The Impact of Startups on Economic Growth in India: An Assessment of Trends and Challenges
Authors: Pragati Singh  , Rajat Singh
Published: January 2025

The ecosystem for startups to launch in India has emerged as a significant factor in the country’s overall economic expansion. Startups have become critical in promoting innovation and widespread acceptance of new technologies, and they have been particularly effective in creating new jobs for the young. Because to their efforts, India is now recognized as a center for innovation and entrepreneurship around the world. This research paper examines the impact of startups on India’s economic growth. It highlights the positive contributions of startups in terms of job creation and innovation across various industries. The paper also identifies key challenges, such as regulatory barriers and access to funding, and evaluates government policies supporting startups. The findings emphasize the importance of startups in driving India’s economic development and the need to address the challenges they face. This study highlights startups’importance to India's growth. Businesses must solve their issues to sustain their growth and innovation for the nation. This study advises academics, politicians, and entrepreneurs on how to maximize startups’economic impact in India.
The importance of the classroom environment in the development of creative thinking among kindergarten children in Sulaimani
Authors: Ibraim Shalaw Abdalla
Published: January 2025

The aim of this study is to determine the importance of the classroom environment in the development of creative thinking among kindergarten children in Sulaimani, considering variables such as gender, type of kindergarten, and teacher qualifications. An educational scale on the development of creative thinking, consisting of 25 items, was distributed to the sample after confirming the scale's reliability. The study sample included 220 teachers, comprising 22 male and 198 female teachers. The analysis extracted appropriateness and percentage weights to assess the scale's strengths and weaknesses.
Finally, the researcher reached the following conclusions

The level of classroom environment in the development of creative thinking among kindergarten teachers is generally low.
There is no statistical difference among kindergarten teachers according to gender (male and female).

3- There is a statistical difference among kindergarten teachers according to the variable of kindergarten (government-non-government) which is in favor of non-government kindergartens.
4- There is a statistical difference among kindergarten teachers according to the variable of degree (Diploma - Bachelor - Master).
The Usability and Effect of a Novel Intelligent Rehabilitation Exergame System on Quality of Life in Frail Older Adults: Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Chang Chien-Hsiang , Wei Chun-Chun , Lien Wei-Chih , Yang Tai-Hua , Liu Bo , Lin Yimo , Tan Poh Thong , Lin Yang-Cheng
Published: January 2025

Background

Aging in older adults results in a decline in physical function and quality of daily life. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the exercise frequency among older adults decreased, further contributing to frailty. Traditional rehabilitation using repetitive movements tends not to attract older adults to perform independently.

Objective

Intelligent Rehabilitation Exergame System (IRES), a novel retro interactive exergame that incorporates real-time surface electromyography, was developed and evaluated.

Methods

Frail older adults were invited to use the IRES for rehabilitation using lower limb training twice per week for 4 weeks. Participants were required to have no mobility or communication difficulties and be willing to complete the 4-week study. The enrolled cohort had baseline scores ranging from 1 to 5 on the Clinical Frailty Scale, as described by Rockwood et al. Three major lower limb movements (knee extension, plantar flexion, and dorsiflexion) were performed 20 times for each leg within 30 minutes. The surface electromyography collected and analyzed muscle potential signals for review by health care professionals to customize the protocol for the next training. The System Usability Scale (SUS) and Taiwanese version of the EuroQol-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) were administered after completing the first (week 1, baseline) and last training (week 4, one-month follow-up) to evaluate the usability of the IRES and its effects on the quality of life of participants.

Results

A total of 49 frail older adults (mean age 74.6 years) were included in the analysis. The usability of the IRES improved according to the mean SUS score, from 82.09 (good) at baseline to 87.14 (good+) at 1-month follow-up. The willingness to use (t96=−4.51; P<.001), learnability (t96=−4.83; P<.001), and confidence (t96=−2.27; P=.02) in working with the IRES increased. After using the IRES for 1 month, significant improvements were observed in the ease of use (t47=2.05; P=.04) and confidence (t47=2.68; P<.001) among participants without previous rehabilitation experience. No sex-based differences in the SUS scores were found at baseline or 1-month follow-up. The quality of life, as assessed by the EQ-5D, improved significantly after 1 month of IRES training compared to that at baseline (t96=6.03; P<.001).

Conclusions

The novel IRES proposed in this study received positive feedback from frail older adults. Integrating retro-style exergame training into rehabilitation not only improved their rehabilitation motivation but also increased their learning, system operability, and willingness to continue rehabilitation. The IRES provides an essential tool for the new eHealth care service in the post–COVID-19 era.
Exploring Social-Ecological Pathways From Sexual Identity to Sleep Among Chinese Women: Structural Equation Modeling Analysis
Authors: Wu Chanchan , Chau Pui Hing , Choi Edmond Pui Hang
Published: January 2025

Background

Women and sexual minority individuals have been found to be at higher risk for experiencing poor sleep health compared to their counterparts. However, research on the sleep health of sexual minority women (SMW) is lacking in China.

Objective

This study aimed to examine sleep quality and social support for Chinese women with varied sexual identities, and then investigate the in-depth relationships between sexual identity and sleep.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional web-based survey. All participants completed a structured questionnaire containing a set of sociodemographic items referring to the social-ecological model of sleep health, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Social Support Rating Scale, and social relationships and environment domains of the World Health Organization Quality of Life-abbreviated short version. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to examine the relationship between sleep quality and social support as well as the two domains of quality of life. Structural equation modeling analysis was used to explore the social-ecological relationships.

Results

A total of 250 cisgender heterosexual women (CHW) and 259 SMW were recruited from July to September 2021. A total of 241 (47.3%) women experienced poor sleep quality and the rate was significantly higher in SMW than in CHW (55.2% vs 39.2%, P<.001). Around one-fifth of SMW reported low levels of social support, which was significantly higher than that of CHW (21.6% vs 5.6%, P<.001). Pearson correlations showed that overall sleep quality was significantly negatively associated with social support with weak correlations (r=−0.26, P<.001). The final structural equation modeling analysis with satisfactory fit indices identified 6 social-ecological pathways, showing that alcohol use, objective support, utilization of support, and perceived social relationship and environment quality of life played important roles in the sleep quality of individuals from their sexual identity.

Conclusions

SMW experienced poorer sleep quality compared to CHW. Further research is recommended to address the modifiable factors affecting sleep and then implement tailored sleep improvement programs.
Assessing the Impact of Distance Traveled and Birth Volumes of Hospital Maternity Units on Newborn Outcomes: Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Cantarutti Anna , Boracchini Riccardo , Bellù Roberto , Ronco Raffaella , Rea Federico , Locatelli Anna , Zanini Rinaldo , Corrao Giovanni
Published: January 2025

Background

The centralization of childbirth and newborn care in large maternity units has become increasingly prevalent in Europe. While this trend offers potential benefits such as specialized care and improved outcomes, it can also lead to longer travel and waiting times, especially for women in rural areas.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the association between hospital maternity unit (HMU) volumes, road travel distance (RTD) to the hospital, and other neonatal outcomes.

Methods

We conducted a population-based cohort study including all live births in hospitals without intensive care units between 2016 and 2019 in the Lombardy region, Italy. Given the hierarchical structure of our data (births nested within hospitals), we employed log-binomial regression models with random intercepts to estimate relative risks and 95% CIs for evaluating the association between HMU volumes (≥1500 births/year) and RTD (<5 km) with the risk of being transferred and/or death after birth (primary outcome). Secondary outcomes included a low Apgar score at 5 minutes and low adherence to antenatal care (ANC). We controlled for several potential confounders including adherence to the ANC pathway for the primary and low Apgar outcomes. To explore the influence of HMU volumes on the primary outcome, we identified the fractional polynomial model that best described this relationship.

Results

Of 65,083 live births, 71% (n=45,955) occurred in low-volume hospitals (<1000 births/year), 21% (n=13,560) involved long-distance travel (>15 km), 1% (n=735) were transferred and/or died after birth, 0.5% (n=305) had a low Apgar score at 5 minutes, and 64% (n=41,317) completely adhered to ANC. The risk of transfer and/or death increased as HMU volume decreased, ranging from 1% for hospitals with 1000‐1500 births/year to a 3.6-fold high risk for hospitals with <500 births/year (compared to high-volume hospitals). Travel distance did not affect the primary outcome. Neither HMU volume nor RTD were associated with low Apgar scores. Conversely, the risk of complete adherence to ANC decreased with lower HMU volumes but increased with shorter RTD. Additionally, high-volume hospitals demonstrated a decreasing trend in the frequency of the primary outcome, with transfer and/or death rates ranging from 2% to 0.5% and flattening to 0.5% in hospitals, with activity volume ≥1000 mean births/year.

Conclusions

Our findings showed an excess risk of neonatal transfer and/or death for live births in HMUs with low activity volumes without an intensive care unit. In contrast, RTD primarily affected adherence to ANC. Moreover, data suggest that 1000 births/year could be an optimal cutoff for maternity hospitals to ensure an appropriate standard of care at delivery.
Impact of Attached File Formats on the Performance of ChatGPT-4 on the Japanese National Nursing Examination: Evaluation Study
Authors: Taira Kazuya , Itaya Takahiro , Yada Shuntaro , Hiyama Kirara , Hanada Ayame
Published: January 2025

This research letter discusses the impact of different file formats on ChatGPT-4’s performance on the Japanese National Nursing Examination, highlighting the need for standardized reporting protocols to enhance the integration of artificial intelligence in nursing education and practice.
Clinical Characteristics of Virologically Confirmed Respiratory Syncytial Virus in English Primary Care: Protocol for an Observational Study of Acute Respiratory Infection (Preprint)
Authors: Hoang Uy , Agrawal Utkarsh , Ordóñez-Mena José Manuel , Marcum Zachary , Radin Jennifer , Araujo Andre , Panozzo Catherine A , Balogh Orsolya , Desai Mihir , Eltayeb Ahreej , Lu Tianyi , Nicodemo Catia , Gu Xinchun , Goudie Rosalind , Fan Xuejuan , Button Elizabeth , Smylie Jessica , Joy Mark , Jamie Gavin , Elson William , Byford Rachel , Madia Joan , Anand Sneha , Ferreira Filipa , Petrou Stavros , Martin David , de Lusignan Simon
Published: January 2025

BACKGROUND

There are gaps in our understanding of the clinical characteristics and disease burden of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) among community-dwelling adults. This is in part due to a lack of routine testing at the point of care. More data would enhance our assessment of the need for an RSV vaccination program for adults in the United Kingdom.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to implement point-of-care-testing (POCT) in primary care to describe the incidence, clinical presentation, risk factors, and economic burden of RSV among adults presenting with acute respiratory infection.

METHODS

We are recruiting up to 3600 patients from at least 21 practices across England to participate in the Royal College of General Practitioners Research Surveillance Centre. Practices are selected if they undertake reference virology sampling for the Royal College of General Practitioners Research Surveillance Centre and had previous experience with respiratory illness studies. Any adult, ≥40 years old, presenting with acute respiratory infection with onset ≤10 days, but without RSV within the past 28 days, will be eligible to participate. We will estimate the incidence proportion of RSV, describe the clinical features, and risk factors of patients with RSV infection, and measure the economic burden of RSV infection.

RESULTS

A total of 25 practices across different English health administrative regions expressed interest and were recruited to participate. We have created and tested an educational program to deploy POCT for RSV in primary care. In addition to using the POCT device, we provide suggestions about how to integrate POCT into primary care workflow and templates for high-quality data recording of diagnosis, symptoms, and signs. In the 2023-2024 winter RSV detection in the sentinel network grew between October and late November. According to data from the UK Health Security Agency, the peak RSV swab positivity was in International Standards Organization week 48, 2023. Data collection remains ongoing, and results from the subset of practices participating in this study are not yet available.

CONCLUSIONS

This study will provide data on the RSV incidence in the community as well as rapid information to inform sentinel surveillance and vaccination programs. This information could potentially improve clinical decision-making.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

DERR1-10.2196/60669
Assessment of recommendations provided to athletes regarding sleep education by GPT-4o and Google Gemini (Preprint)
Authors: Masur Lukas , Driller Matthew , Suppiah Haresh , Matzka Manuel , Düking Peter
Published: January 2025

BACKGROUND

Inadequate sleep is prevalent among athletes, affecting adaption to training and performance. While education on factors influencing sleep can improve sleep behaviors, Large Language Models (LLMs) may offer a scalable approach to provide sleep education to athletes.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to i) investigate the quality of sleep recommendations generated by publicly available LLMs, as evaluated by experienced raters, and ii) determine whether recommendations quality varies with information input granularity.

METHODS

Two prompts with differing information input granularity (low and high) were created for two use cases and inserted into ChatGPT-4o (GPT-4o) and Google Gemini, resulting in n=8 different recommendations. Experienced raters (n=13) evaluated the recommendations on a 1-5 Likert-scale, based on n=10 sleep criteria derived from recent literature.

RESULTS

The highest summary rating was achieved by GPT-4o using high input information granularity, with n=8 ratings >3 (tendency towards good), n=3 ratings equal 3 (neutral), n=2 ratings <3 (tendency towards bad). GPT-4o significantly outperformed Google Gemini in 9 out of 10 criteria (P<.001 to P=.045). Recommendations generated with high input granularity received significantly higher ratings than those with low granularity across both LLMs and use cases (P<0.001 to P=.049).

CONCLUSIONS

Both LLMs exhibit limitations, neglecting vital criteria of sleep education. Sleep recommendations by GPT-4o and Google Gemini were evaluated as suboptimal, with GPT-4o achieving higher overall quality. However, both LLMs demonstrated improved recommendation quality with higher information input granularity, emphasizing the need for specificity and a thorough review of outputs to securely implement AI technologies into sleep education.
A Comparative Study of the Development of Ecologically Civilized Cities between China and Germany
Authors: Tan Xiaoxia , Liu Zhiheng
Published: January 2025

Through a comparative analysis of the practices and experiences in constructing ecologically civilized cities between China and Germany, this study aims to discuss the similarities and differences in terms of theoretical foundations, realistic challenge, response strategies, development trends and implementation proposals between the two countries. Using the comparative study method, this study focuses on the similarities and differences in the development of ecologically civilized cities between China and Germany. It is found that Germany demonstrates significant strengths in legislative support, technological innovation and public participation, while China stands out in policy facilitation, the speed of infrastructure development and the construction of green financial system. The successful experiences of the two countries in building ecologically civilized cities provide valuable insights for other countries and regions. In the future, China and Germany should continue to strengthen cooperation, share wisdom in ecological governance, jointly cope with global environmental challenges and push forward the construction of the community with a shared future.
ECLIPTA ALBA: A Review of Pharmacological Activity with Phyto-Constituents
Authors: Bajpai Anshuman
Published: January 2025

Plants are the primary source of food, shelter, and various remedial approaches, they are being in use for treating
various kinds of human ailments across the world since the ancient times. The review describes the innumerable herbal medicinal
plants named Eclipta alba hassk (Asteraceae) which is commonly known as Bhringraj and false daisy. This plant is known for its
extra –ordinary therapeutic properties. It is one of most widely used plant in traditional systems of medicines such as Ayurvedic,
Unani, siddha, Homeopathy, Chinese, and folk. Bhringraj (Eclipta prostrate or eclipta alba) is a famous herb known for known
for its benefits and usage in hair growth and liver disorders. This article highlights chief constituents, extraction procedure,
phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, phytochemical screening& toxicity studies of Eclipta alba. Each part of this
medicinal plant contains many important phytochemical constituents such as flavonoids, steroids, saponins. E. alba exhibites
many other important biological properties such as anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral, antistress, and immunomodulatory. It
increases the production of bile from the liver, improves liver functions, reduce constipation and correct digestion and enhance
metabolism.
The importance of training in delivering high-quality chest compressions
Authors: Djuricin Aleksandar , Konstantinovic Nikolina , Joksic-Mazinjanin Radojka , Maric Nikolina , Turanjanin Dragan , Tatalovic Vanja
Published: January 2025

Introduction. Sudden cardiac arrest is an abrupt cessation of the heartbeat,
leading to a critical interruption in blood circulation and oxygen delivery
to vital organs. Immediate initiation of cardiopulmonary resuscitation upon
recognizing cardiac arrest significantly enhances the chances of survival.
Basic Life Support helps to mitigate organ damage while awaiting more
advanced medical interventions. The objective of this study is to evaluate
the effectiveness of chest compressions delivered by students trained in
Basic Life Support compared to those without such training. Material and
Methods. A total of 120 first-year medical students participated in the
study. Sixty students had not undergone Basic Life Support training, while
the remaining 60 had successfully completed the course. Data about chest
compression quality were gathered using SimPad PLUS Laerdal software and the
Little Anne QCPR manikin. Results. Students who had received Basic Life
Support training demonstrated significantly better performance across key
parameters, including compression rate, depth, and the proportion of
compressions meeting adequate depth criteria. Additionally, there was a
statistically significant improvement in overall compression success rate
among the students trained in Basic Life Support. Conclusion. The findings
of this study highlighted the positive impact of Basic Life Support on the
quality of chest compressions.
Treatment dynamics of tibial shaft fractures in children: The role of gender, age and treatment method
Authors: Topalovic Bozo , Mratinkovic Ivan , Radulovic Boris , Bjelobrk Mile , Milankov Vukadin
Published: January 2025

Introduction. Tibial shaft fractures in pediatric patients pose challenges
due to bone growth. This study examined the influence of gender, age, and
treatment methods on the duration of hospitalization, total treatment time,
and timing of osteosynthetic material removal. Material and Methods. We
conducted an analysis of 50 pediatric patients treated for tibial shaft
fractures at the Institute for Children and Youth Healthcare of Vojvodina
between 2016 and 2022. Patients with systemic diseases, neuromuscular
disorders, polytrauma, or incomplete medical records were excluded. The
cohort comprised 36 boys (72%) and 14 girls (28%), with a mean age of 11.76
years (SD=3.93). The primary mechanisms of injury included falls (38%),
traffic accidents (30%), and sports activities (26%). An isolated tibial
fracture occurred in 30% of the cases, while 70% of the patients sustained
an associated fibular fracture. Statistical analysis were performed using
Wilcoxon Rank Sum, Kruskal-Wallis, and Fisher?s exact tests in RStudio.
Results. Boys had a longer hospital stay than girls (11.28 vs. 6.14 days),
whereas girls experienced a longer overall treatment duration (330.23 vs.
211.58 days) and a delay in the removal of osteosynthetic material (312 vs.
218.9 days). Adolescents aged 13-17 years exhibited longer hospitalization
periods and delayed surgical intervention compared to children under 13
years of age (p<0.05). Age did not impact the time to weight-bearing or the
total treatment duration. Surgical treatment was associated with a longer
overall treatment course compared to conservative management (p<0.05).
Conclusion. Gender and age play a significant role in the management of
pediatric tibial shaft fractures, with girls and older adolescents
experiencing extended treatment durations. While surgical intervention
remains essential in severe cases, it is linked to prolonged treatment
duration. These findings highlight the need for personalized treatment plans
and call for further research into gender-specific approaches and long-term
outcomes.
Surgical treatment of a dentigerous cyst and ectopic maxillary molars involving the maxillary sinus: A case report
Authors: Brajkovic Denis , Kiralj Aleksandar , Ilic Miroslav , Mijatov Ivana , Mijatov Sasa
Published: January 2025

Introduction. This article aims to report a rare case of dentigerous cyst
involving the left maxillary sinus and two unerupted ectopic teeth located
in the lateral nasal cavity wall and pterygopalatine fossa. Case Report. A
13-year-old male patient was referred to our clinic due to a dentigerous
maxillary sinus cyst with two unerupted ectopic teeth located in the lateral
nasal cavity wall and pterygopalatine fossa. Radiographic investigation
using cone-beam computed tomography was performed to determine the precise
location of the ectopic teeth and the extension of the lesion. A
differential diagnosis of dentigerous cyst, odontogenic keratocystic tumor,
or odontogenic tumor involving the left maxillary sinus was considered.
Surgical treatment comprised modified Caldwell-Luc approach, enucleation of
the cyst, and extraction of ectopic teeth. Histopathological analysis
confirmed the diagnosis of a dentigerous cyst. The postoperative period was
uneventful. Conclusion. Caldwell-Luc procedure remains the preferred method
for removing ectopic teeth in the maxillary sinus, whether or not associated
with dentigerous cysts. Further refinement of intraoral endoscopy linked
with the Caldwell-Luc technique should be particularly considered as it may
lead to its establishment as the gold standard for such interventions.
Analysis and optimization of small modular reactors contribution to the power production of Greece
Authors: Kaissas Ioannis , Nikolaidis Nikolaos
Published: January 2025

Following the global trend for carbon-free energy production, Greece shut
down most of its coal power plants and installed solar and wind systems for
electricity production. Due to the time variations in the energy production
of these systems, a complementary power source is needed, with the ability
to change its output on demand. Small modular reactors combine zero-carbon
emissions with the ability to vary the power production on demand. The
objective of this study is to examine the energetic competitiveness of
five appropriately selected small modular reactors compared to the total
power production of coal power plants in Greece. The daily and monthly
distribution of generated energy of the previous year (2023) is analyzed to
demonstrate the potential operation of small modular reactors in Greece's
electrical grid. The outcome addresses whether deploying a small modular
reactor is energetically beneficial for Greece and indicates the number of
modules required or how many small modular reactors, in combination with
renewable sources, can meet the demand. The annual coal power plant
production of Greece of 4.5 TWh can be substituted with one multi-module
small modular reactor or a combination of them, appropriately located.
FOTELP-VOX 2024: Comprehensive overview of its capabilities and applications
Authors: Zivkovic Milena , Miladinovic Tatjana , Cimbaljevic Zeljko , Aichouche Mohamed , Pirkovic Bogdan , Krstic Dragana
Published: January 2025

The FOTELP-VOX program is a Monte Carlo simulation tool designed for precise
radiation dose calculations in medical physics. It allows for the accurate
modeling of photon, electron, and positron transport through human tissues
by using CT scan data to define patient anatomy. This study presents the
application of FOTELP-VOX in simulating absorbed dose distributions in
various clinical scenarios, including radiotherapy treatment planning for
salivary gland tumors, eye melanoma and breast cancer. The results
demonstrate the program's capability to replicate complex dose distributions
with high accuracy, in comparison with clinical techniques like volumetric
modulated arc therapy and 3-D conformal radiotherapy. FOTELP-VOX 2024 has
demonstrated excellent performances when compared to clinical center
results, showing a variation of only 5-8 %, which confirms its accuracy in
simulating dose deposition and treatment planning. There is also the
potential for incorporating optimization techniques to further enhance the
precision and efficiency of radiotherapy treatment planning, contributing to
improved patient care outcomes.
Calibration of ionization chamber in megavoltage x-ray field of medical linear accelerator
Authors: Pham Hong-Lam , Hoang Thanh-Phi-Hung , Sunjun Jin , Bui Duy-Linh , Nguyen Tuan-Khai , Bui Van-Loat , Le Tuan-Anh , Nguyen Huu-Quyet , Pham Duc-Khue , Phan Viet-Cuong , Phan Tien-Dung , Pham Quang-Trung , Tran Hoai-Nam , Le Ngoc-Thiem
Published: January 2025

Ionization chambers were calibrated regarding absorbed dose to water in MeV
X-ray fields of a medical linear accelerator, with nominal maximum energies
of 6 MeV and 15 MeV. Whereas, absorbed doses to water at a depth of 10 cm
below the water surface were measured using the same ionization chamber
(referred to as IC-1) in two different manners (i.e., applying the old beam
quality correction factor kQ0 from the old IAEA/TRS-398 protocol, referred to
as D1-old10 and using the new one, kQ from the updated protocol, referred
to as D1-new10. The calibration factors of IC-1, ND1,D,w, Q were
deduced (for beam qualities Q of MeV X-ray fields with maximum energies of 6
MeV and 15 MeV). The identical procedure was applied to two other ionization
chambers (IC-i, i=2,3) to obtain absorbed doses to water at a depth of 10
cm (referred to as Di-new10) using the new beam quality correction factor.
A comparison between D1-new10 and Di-new10 was conducted to derive the
calibration factors of the IC-i, NiD,w,Q. The combined
standard uncertainties of NiD,w,Q (i =1,2,3) were estimated within 1.22%
and 2.30%, respectively.
Efficacy of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists on Weight Loss, BMI, and Waist Circumference for Patients With Obesity or Overweight: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, and Meta-regression of 47 Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Wong Hon Jen , Sim Bryan , Teo Yao Hao , Teo Yao Neng , Chan Mark Y. , Yeo Leonard L.L. , Eng Pei Chia , Tan Benjamin Y.Q. , Sattar Naveed , Dalakoti Mayank , Sia Ching-Hui
Published: January 2025

OBJECTIVE

To provide an updated synthesis on effects of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) on weight, BMI, and waist circumference incorporating newer randomized controlled trials (RCTs), particularly in individuals with overweight or obesity.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) for RCTs published from inception to 4 October 2024. The search was limited to RCTs evaluating the use of GLP-1 RAs for mean differences from baseline in weight, BMI, and waist circumference in adults with obesity or overweight with or without diabetes. Two independent reviewers performed the literature search and data extraction, resolving disagreements via consensus or third-reviewer consultation.

RESULTS

Forty-seven RCTs were included, with a combined cohort of 23,244 patients. GLP-1 RAs demonstrated a mean weight reduction of −4.57 kg (95% CI −5.35 to −3.78), mean BMI reduction of −2.07 kg/m2 (95% CI −2.53 to −1.62), and mean waist circumference reduction of −4.55 cm (95% CI −5.72 to −3.38) compared with placebo. This effect was consistent across diabetes status, GLP-1 RA used, and route of administration. The greatest treatment benefit appeared to favor patients who were younger, female, without diabetes, with higher baseline weight and BMI but lower baseline HbA1c, and treated over a longer duration. Limitations include substantial statistical heterogeneity, in part due to broad inclusion criteria. However, this heterogeneity may improve generalizability by reflecting a wide range of study designs and patient populations.

CONCLUSIONS

GLP-1 RAs demonstrated significant weight, BMI, and waist circumference reduction benefits in this meta-analysis.
Lessons Learned From Epidemiology of Type 2 Diabetes in South Asians: Kelly West Award Lecture 2024
Authors: Mohan Viswanathan
Published: January 2025

South Asia has high prevalence rates of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Until the 1990s, the prevalence of T2D within South Asia was low but much higher in the South Asian diaspora living abroad. Today, high prevalence rates of T2D are reported among those living in South Asia. T2D in South Asians presents with unique clinical features described as the “South Asian phenotype” that include younger age at onset of diabetes than in White Europeans, much lower BMI, hyperinsulinemia and greater insulin resistance, rapid decline in β-cell function resulting in low insulin reserve, low muscle mass, and greater ectopic fat deposition, especially in the liver. Also, prevalence of impaired fasting glucose is higher among South Asians than prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance. Genetic predisposition combined with intrauterine fetal programming (low vitamin B12 intake and high folate intake) increases susceptibility to T2D, from birth. In later life, overnutrition, especially a high carbohydrate intake with refined grains of higher glycemic index, coupled with low physical activity likely triggers the T2D epidemic in South Asians. Additionally, there are emerging risk factors like air pollution. Preventing T2D in South Asians requires a multifactorial approach, including improvements in maternal and fetal nutrition with special reference to vitamin B12 and folate intake, decreasing refined carbohydrate and increasing protein and fiber intake in the diet, increasing physical activity, and control of air pollution. Lessons learned from epidemiology of T2D in South Asians could be useful to other developing countries that are in earlier stages of epidemiological transition.
Additive value of polygenic risk score to family history for type 2 diabetes prediction: Results from the All of US Research Database
Authors: Drzymalla Emily , Raffield Laura , Kolor Katherine , Koyama Alain , Moonesinghe Ramal , E. Pavkov Meda , N. Spracklen Cassandra , J. Khoury Muin
Published: January 2025

Objective: The goal of this study is to assess the additive value of considering type 2 diabetes (T2D) polygenic risk score (PRS) in addition to family history for T2D prediction.

Research Design and Methods: Data were obtained from the All of Us (AoU) research database. First degree T2D family history was self-report from the personal family history health questionnaire. A PRS was constructed from 1,289 variants identified from a large multi-ancestry GWAS meta-analysis for T2D. Logistic regression models were run to generate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for T2D. All models were adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI).

Results: A total of 109,958 AoU research participants were included in the analysis. The odds for T2D increased with 1 standard deviation (SD) PRS (OR: 1.75, 95% CI 1.71-1.79) and positive T2D family history (OR: 2.32, 95% CI 2.20-2.43). In the joint model, both the 1 SD PRS (OR: 1.69, 95% CI 1.65-1.72) and family history (OR: 2.06, 95% CI 1.98-2.15) were significantly associated with T2D, though the OR were slightly attenuated. Predictive models that included both PRS and family history (AUC=0.794) performed better than models including family history (AUC=0.763) or PRS (AUC=0.785).

Conclusions: In predicting T2D, inclusion of a T2D PRS in addition to family history of T2D (first degree relatives) has added statistical value. Further study is needed to determine whether consideration of both family history and PRS would be useful for clinical T2D prediction.
Sostenibilidad Corporativa y ESG (Environmental, Social And Governance)
Authors:   Investigadora Independiente, Ortega Romero Diana Priscila , Tello Velastegui Fabian Mauricio ,   Investigador Independiente, Ortega Romero Vinicio Fabian ,   Investigador Independiente
Published: January 2025

La sostenibilidad corporativa y los criterios ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) han emergido como elementos fundamentales para la gestión empresarial en un contexto global que prioriza el desarrollo sostenible. Este enfoque estratégico integra objetivos económicos, ambientales y sociales en las operaciones corporativas, fomentando prácticas responsables que aseguren tanto la rentabilidad como el impacto positivo en el entorno.

Los criterios ESG representan una herramienta clave para evaluar el desempeño de las organizaciones en tres dimensiones esenciales: medioambiental, social y de gobernanza. La dimensión medioambiental considera la gestión de recursos naturales, reducción de emisiones y adaptación al cambio climático. En el ámbito social se priorizan el bienestar laboral, la diversidad y las relaciones con las comunidades. En cuanto a gobernanza, destacan la transparencia, la ética y la responsabilidad corporativa.

Numerosos estudios demuestran que las empresas que incorporan prácticas ESG obtienen beneficios tangibles, como mayor acceso a financiamiento, reputación positiva y atracción de talento. Además, los inversores han mostrado un interés creciente en proyectos que alineen objetivos financieros con principios de sostenibilidad.

Este artículo explora la relación entre sostenibilidad corporativa y ESG, analizando cómo su implementación contribuye al cumplimiento de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS). Asimismo, se revisan los desafíos y oportunidades que enfrentan las empresas para integrar estos criterios en sus estrategias, destacando la importancia de marcos regulatorios sólidos y la adopción de estándares internacionales. La sostenibilidad corporativa basada en ESG no solo es una necesidad ética, sino un imperativo competitivo en la economía global.
Governance
Authors: O'Toole William
Published: January 2025

Governance is the structure, processes, and policies that guide decision-making, management, and oversight of the event. It can be quite complex as an event is a project and the management must be dynamic, responding to risk, anticipating changes, looking for opportunities and keeping the work within the scope. Ideally it is set up prior to the planning of an event. However it must respond positively to the inevitable changes. The governance structure for events has two competing forces: stability and dynamism.
Introduction
Authors: O'Toole William
Published: January 2025

The generally accepted definition of corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. A more detailed definition is found in the AS 8001-2021: Fraud and Corruption Control, definition 1.4.8 “ dishonest activity in which a person associated with an organisation (e.g. director, executive, manager, employee or contractor) acts contrary to the interests of the organisation and abuses their position of trust in order to achieve personal advantage or advantage for another person or organisation. This can also involve corrupt conduct by the organisation, or a person purporting to act on behalf of and in the interests of the organisation, in order to secure some form of improper advantage for the organisation either directly or indirectly.” Australian Standards. (2001)
Preserving Secrecy in the Frame of Labour Relationships: Methods of Secrets Protection, Analysis of the Problems and Proposals to Improve the Legislation
Authors: Smolenskiy M. B.
Published: January 2025

Introduction. The large-scale transformations in the state power and governance authorities of the Russian Federation have led to the significant change of the role assigned to the legal and state institutions. The reforms have also affected the matters related to the protection of various types of secrets in the frame of labour relationships, organisation of the work of the human resources departments and their interaction with the law enforcement and regulatory authorities. The authors as well as other scientists study the various viewpoints on this issue, however, neither in the scientific nor in the law enforcement circles there exists a uniform opinion on the methodology of protecting the secrets. The aim of this study is to investigate the existing methods of protecting the secrets, to identify the problematic aspects in the system of interaction between the state, law enforcement and judicial bodies of the Russian Federation and to propose possible solutions for improving the methods of preserving secrecy at the current stage of development of the country.

Materials and Methods. The general scientific and specific scientific methods were used in the frame of the study, such as, the dialectical method of cognition, the cognitive analysis method, the sociological method and others.

Results. When carrying out the certain actions under the employment contract, an employer and an employee are guided by the special rules, which correspond to a specific secrecy preserving behaviour, but which, in the author’s opinion, are not enough accurate and worked out in the acting legislation of the Russian Federation. The main problems referring to this subject are: the insufficiently developed theoretical apparatus; a narrow range of powers in the frame of the state supervision; low level of administrative liability of the subjects. To solve these problems, a number of measures are proposed to optimize the legal support of the parties of the employment contract in the frame of protecting their rights and freedoms and providing them with the guarantees necessary to ensure the regime of preserving secrecy.

Discussion and Conclusion. To ensure the efficient legal policy of the state, the constant improvement of the legal framework is required. The present article investigates in detail the problems of organising the interaction of both the state and private employers with the law enforcement and judicial authorities of the Russian Federation in the frame of implementing the methods of secrecy preservation, and the ways of solving these problems are proposed. The main conclusions made by the author have theoretical and practical significance for further research in this field.
THE ROLE OF HRIS IN EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS TOWARDS GREEN BUSINESS
Authors: Imron Ali , Arif Rivaldi , Gifari Dikri , Aritonang Dickson P. , Harun Asro Bin
Published: January 2025

Traditional human resource management (HRM) has been considered a failure in developing the human resource information system (HRIS) to change the paradigm of green business. Thus, this study aims to explain the changes, roles, and challenges of HRIS in the effectiveness and efficiency of the currently developing Green Business. It is qualitative research with the support of national or international journals, accredited and reputable proceedings, reference books, and reference journal mapping through https://researchrabbitapp.com. As a result, HRIS can overcome traditional HRM problems because it is conducted digitally and easily. The application of Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) can significantly increase competitiveness, improve the quality and productivity of the workforce, and maintain environmental integrity. Supporting the development of Green Businesses or businesses that focus on environmental sustainability. In conclusion, the transformation of HRM in utilizing HRIS is inevitable so that it can play an effective and efficient role. The utilization of HRIS can develop and be sustainable through innovation and information systems technology development towards green business and suggestions for HRIS development. Furthermore, it should be followed and carried out with sustainability along with developments of green business in line with Industrial Revolution 6.0.