bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A criação do Complexo de Israel e sua relação com o crescimento do pentecostalismo em periferias – Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
Authors: Cunha Christina Vital da
Published: May 2024

Há uma relação entre a difusão de uma cultura pentecostal em periferias e favelas e o uso de símbolos judaicos nessas localidades? Desde quando é possível identificar com maior intensidade a presença de símbolos judaicos e da bandeira de Israel na experiência religiosa e social de evangélicos residentes nessas áreas em cidades brasileiras? O que revela sobre este fenômeno social a formação do chamado Complexo de Israel (conjunto de cinco favelas na Zona Norte da cidade do Rio de Janeiro)? Essas são algumas das questões que animam a pesquisa que venho realizando com moradores de favelas e periferias no Rio de Janeiro e região metropolitana. Argumento que a formação de uma cultura pentecostal nessas localidades (Vital da Cunha 2021), ao contrário de reforçar um cristianismo que se contrapõe a Israel e ao judaísmo, produz uma relação tal que a experiência cristã pentecostal se atualiza e vivifica a partir da mobilização de símbolos, imagens e gramáticas judaicas. Um sentido de força e origem/tradição se anunciam em diferentes formulações que vão desde a questão racial até a “verdade da fé”.
Recommendations and Tools to Promote Internationalisation at Home in Higher Education
Authors: Ruiz Raquel Sánchez , Cirugeda Isabel López
Published: May 2024

Internationalisation is a key factor both for professional development in the 21st century and international university rankings, and it is indeed at the very core of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). This chapter analyses policies of internationalisation for higher education both in Spain and the international arena, such as the dimensions of major university rankings, together with tools for the concept known as internationalisation at home, such as the offer of English friendly courses and degrees offered in English as a medium of instruction (EMI), together as the use of COIL (collaborative online international learning) and eTwinning. Its main goal is to indicate successful strategies for the internationalisation of higher education programmes and means of effective collaborative instruction through digital technologies.
Exploring International Educators' Learning About Local and Global Social Justice in a Virtual Community of Practice
Authors: Sapkota Bima , Luo Xuwei , Sapkota Muna , Akarsu Murat , Deogratias Emmanuel , Fauber Daphne , Mbewe Rose , Mumba Fidelis , Panthi Ram Krishna , Newton Jill , Phillion JoAnn
Published: May 2024

In this chapter, the authors report themes that emerged when a cross-cultural team of researchers involved in a virtual international community of practice (Global Social Justice in Education-GSJE) investigated reflections on activities focused on social justice in local and global contexts. The findings suggested that the activities elicited GSJE community members' understandings of the complexities of social justice associated with naming practices, privilege, and the arts within their own and across contexts. The authors discuss implications of the activities to advance diverse educators' understanding of social justice in global and local contexts. They also unpack the opportunities and challenges that resulted from the collaborative research process and the writing of this chapter completed by the international author team comprised of 11 education scholars from seven countries.
Using Flip and Facebook to Create Windows and Mirrors for Transnational Learning
Authors: Machado Crystal , Seifert Tami
Published: May 2024

Educators need to offer students a curriculum that reflects their funds of knowledge (mirrors), exposes them to the cultures and experiences of others (windows), and develops in them an understanding and empathy for those who are different from them (sliding glass doors). In this chapter, the authors describe a six-week-long scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) project, which included 63 pre-service teachers (PST) in the US and 36 in-service teachers (IST) in Israel. The authors describe how they used Flip and Facebook to provide PST and IST who are racially, linguistically, and culturally different with an opportunity to engage in asynchronous dialogue. Analysis of survey and extant data confirmed that these transnational learning experiences provided participants with “windows” and “mirrors” for digital, global, and cultural literacy. Readers can use the authors' description of the two asynchronous assignments, the results of the SoTL study, and lessons learned to guide, design, and implement similar transnational learning experiences.
Designing and Implementing a Globally Focused Interdisciplinary STEM Program
Authors: Greene Moe D. , Xu Yaoying , Blondin Jill E.
Published: May 2024

This chapter presents a model for designing and developing a globally-focused interdisciplinary STEM program in preservice teacher education. It provides an overview of a STEM program model that was developed to further strengthen the participants' skills and knowledge in STEM in a collaborative and experiential learning context. The model leverages the affordances of instructional technology while drawing on the learning to teach in community conceptual framework which facilitates learning through five core components: vision, understanding, disposition, practice, and tool. The program components align well with this framework as it emphasizes the competencies of the participants in developing a vision of empowerment in culturally relevant contexts. The opportunities and challenges of developing such a program are discussed. The chapter concludes with a model for establishing program goals and objectives and leveraging the affordances of technology to enhance student learning.
Virtual Collaboration for English Language Teacher Education
Authors: Uysal Banu Cicek Basaran , Yüksel İlknur , Özkanal Ümit , Gezen Emine Eren , Chernysh Oksana Andriivna , Andriichuk Natalia
Published: May 2024

This chapter studies the role of telecollaboration in facilitating teacher professional development, specifically focusing on the perceptions of future English language teachers. By examining how telecollaboration serves as a tool for professional growth, this study aims to shed light on the significance of this approach in teacher education. In this study, pre-service teachers from Ukraine and Türkiye participated in bi-monthly telecollaboration exchanges as part of their practicum course. Through an analysis of the data collected from an online questionnaire, the chapter shows that the participants recognized the telecollaboration exchanges as meaningful opportunities for their professional growth. The results offer valuable implications for incorporating telecollaboration into teacher professional development programs and enhancing professional experiences within the teaching community. The chapter concludes with insights into areas where improvements can be made to optimize the telecollaboration experience for teacher development.
Navigating the Tapestry Unveiling the Resilience of Multicultural and Multigenerational Leadership in the Contemporary Workplace
Authors: Tyagi Shenki , Tyagi Mani
Published: May 2024

In the rapidly evolving landscape of the global workplace, the amalgamation of multicultural and multigenerational dynamics presents both challenges and opportunities for leaders and employees alike. This chapter delves into the intricate interplay of diverse cultures and generations within the context of leadership, exploring the ways in which resilience emerges as a critical factor for success. This chapter examines the nuanced experiences of individuals from different cultural backgrounds and age groups, shedding light on the resilience strategies employed to foster inclusive leadership and a harmonious workplace.
Toward the Emerging Roles of the Resilient Strategic Manager
Authors: Cleveland Simon , Cleveland Marisa
Published: May 2024

The global business landscape is dynamic and in constant flux, which forces organization managers to face increasing challenges in setting long-term organizational goals and objectives to maintain “the” competitiveness and value of their organizations. Today's executives require a variety of competencies to succeed in their roles as resilient strategic visionaries, yet the literature on modern strategic leadership is scant when it comes to defining what these roles include. As a result, this chapter postulates five key roles that define the resilient strategic managers and explores the requirements and challenges of these roles.
Futureproofing a Resilient Leadership Pipeline Through Reverse Mentoring
Authors: Walton Renata A.
Published: May 2024

This chapter explores the phenomenon of reverse mentoring (RM) practices in helping leaders connect and engage with a multigenerational organization through appreciative inquiry. Reverse mentoring is an inverted modality that shifts the role of the mentor and mentee by pairing junior knowledge workers to help more experienced leaders acquire new learning. RM can help support the tenets of resilience within a multicultural and multigenerational organization through various behaviors such as positive adaptation, emotional intelligence, and continuous learning. The author provides a framework for a consistent approach to reverse mentoring. Organizational theory, through various theoretical lenses, guides the recommendations presented. Throughout this chapter, organizational development practitioners and organizational leaders can gain a broader perspective on the business criticality of understanding generational proclivities and the extraordinary benefits of reverse mentoring to build a more resilient workforce.
Structural Sustainability Framework for Organizational Resilience in the Post-Pandemic Era
Authors: Vargas-Hernandez José G. , Rodriguez-Maillard Carlos A. , Arroyo-Álvarez Angélica , Vargas-González Omar C. , Martínez Aguirre Karina Berenice
Published: May 2024

This chapter has the purpose of analyzing the socio-economic sustainability in the post-pandemic era based on an organizational structural construct based on a framework for elements such as reliability, safety, and deployment of organizational resources. It is assumed that theoretical and empirical studies in organizational resilience have limited contributions to the concepts of high-reliability organization applied to a diversity of entities and with a variety of characteristics. The method employed is the analytical reflective of the theoretical and empirical literature review. This study concludes that the emerging concept of organizational resilience confirms that the creation and development of an organizational resilience framework for structural construct can be supported by elements based on the flexibility of organizational culture, organizational safety and reliability, the promotion elements, and the deployment of organizational resources.
Enabling a Technological Paradigm Shift
Authors: Arnold Simone D.
Published: May 2024

The author presents a case for testing the emotional intelligence awareness scores in diverse leaders as crucial to understanding why women with high emotional intelligence continue to be underutilized in senior roles in the high-tech sector. At a time when the American workforce is set to increase steadily, and high-tech employment is projected to grow 4% by 2024, the proliferation of emotionally intelligent women in the American workforce is misaligned with the current insufficiency of women in senior roles in the United States (U.S.) firms in the high-tech sector. The author employs a theoretical framework and a multivariate analysis of variance statistical procedure to test and compare the emotional intelligence awareness scores for females and males. If leaders in the high-tech sector are seeking organic organizational growth, innovative products, and meaningful and impactful solutions for end-users, then the gainful knowledge and application of emotional intelligence in diverse leaders should be a top priority.
Enabling a Technological Paradigm Shift
Authors: Arnold Simone D.
Published: May 2024

Viable American organizations thrive despite constant organizational change fringed by internal and external market disruption. Sustainability in the high-tech sector demands high-performing, diverse leaders at the helm. Despite mounting evidence of emotional intelligence in creating positive attitudes, fostering collaboration, and managing conflict, the relationship between emotional intelligence in women who identify as White, Hispanic, Asian, and Black is not widely known. Catalyst reported that 30.8% of women occupy board seats in Fortune 500 companies, which indicates a disproportionate number of women in top roles in the high-tech sector. EEOC reported that White women occupy significantly higher rates in executive roles while Black, Hispanic, and Asian women occupy much lower rates. The absence of workplace diversity restricts agility, open communication, change, and innovation. Black, Asian, and Hispanic workers make up 12%, 6%, and 16%, respectively. Blacks held chief executive roles at 3.4%, and Asians and Hispanics held 6% and 5.6%.
Management Science and the Art of Leadership
Authors: Rankin James William
Published: May 2024

The success of any organization is contingent upon the effective methods leaders use to support and engage multicultural and multigenerational employees. Supporting employees and maintaining an engaging working environment is critical to the success and longevity of an organization. Leaders play a critical part in ensuring that diverse employees are successful at work. Focusing on principles that aid leaders and management in supporting employees may lead to positively affecting employee performance. Organizational leaders not providing support to their employees may experience increased absenteeism and high turnover. The purpose of this chapter is to aid management and organizational leaders in gaining a better understanding of why using supportive tactics and effective communication strategies may positively influence the working environment and assist multicultural and multigenerational employees to be resilient and successful on the job.
Exploring Inclusive Teaching Practices in Kinesiology Programs
Authors: Rickel Karen F. , Hwang Yongju
Published: May 2024

Engagement and participation in physical activity or bodily movement worldwide is below the World Health Organization's recommended levels at approximately 27% for adults and 81% for adolescents. Such inactivity and low levels of physical activity are linked with negative health consequences across all social categories, and educators in K-12 and university classrooms can positively influence culturally appropriate participation to increase well-being globally. Kinesiology classrooms and programs have a unique opportunity to include a diversity of experiences and curriculum to influence students' views and incorporation of movement into their lives. This chapter explains 10 specific strategies, includes suggested language, and provides ideas and assignment models to use in university and college classrooms.
Critical Reflection of Care and Compassion for Parent and Family Empowerment of Their Children's Learning
Authors: Benoit Shendah M.
Published: May 2024

This chapter applies critical reflection to assess the heartwork, caring, and listening of a school principal learning to address the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's call to action to enable parents to fully participate in the learning of their children. Using compassionate systems leadership and the First Peoples Principles of Learning, the principal learns decolonizing practices to support parent, family, and community empowerment in their children's learning. By sharing stories about a ribbon skirt fashion show, harvesting a bear, and school-home meetings, the principal provides hopeful evidence of home and school relationships for student learning. The sustainability of this decolonizing work will require multi-level mobilization.
Children as Changemakers
Authors: Blakeway Kristi L.
Published: May 2024

Traditional school discipline is based on a colonial structure of power and compliance where adults hold authority and children are expected to conform. Colonial discipline validates punitive and exclusionary practices as acceptable methods of behavior modification. Despite evidence negating their effectiveness, such methods still exist within our school systems. This chapter will outline suggested strategies for reform to reimagine school discipline through a lens of equity, wellbeing, and decolonization. With examples from the field, the author suggests ways to amplify student voice and move towards a process of relational discipline. Relational discipline embeds Indigenous pedagogy as it looks to repair harm, develop skills, learn from mistakes, and mend broken relationships. This chapter offers practical, research-based solutions to decolonize student discipline practices and cultivate compassionate, inclusive learning environments where all children belong.
Antioxidant Activity and Phytochemical Composition of the Selected Fruits
Authors: Jancy Rani D.
Published: May 2024

The human body's overproduction of free radicals can throw things out of balance and destroy the macromolecules like proteins, DNA, and lipids through oxidative damage. This damage is responsible for the pathogenesis of several human diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and aging. Antioxidant phytochemicals can therefore be crucial in the management and prevention of chronic illnesses. Studies on humans and in vitro have shown that phytochemicals possess antioxidant properties. Many phytochemicals, especially polyphenols such anthocyanins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and tannins, are known to have antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties. This chapter summarizes the phytochemical and antioxidant activity of the red coloured fruits such as grapes (Vitis vinifera), red guava (Psidium guajava), and watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), and this review highlights the recent progress on antioxidant phytochemicals, potential mechanisms in the prevention and treatment of cancer.
Comparative Study of Phytochemical Profile and In Vitro Antioxidant Potentials of Three Common Medicinal Herbs
Authors: Shobana G. , Agnel Arul John N. , Govindasamy Hari Haran
Published: May 2024

The study aimed at evaluating the phytochemical profile and invitro antioxidant potentials of a three medicinal herbs including Calendula officinalis L, Lantana camara L., Desmodium gangeticum L. The aqueous extract of the selected plants were evaluated for phytochemical screening and antioxidant activities using DPPH, reducing power, hrdroxy radical, and nitric oxide radical scavenging assays. The present study exhibited higher yields of phytochemical constituents and noticeable antioxidative properties.
A Systematic Review of the Impact of ChatGPT on Higher Education
Authors: You Siyi
Published: May 2024

ChatGPT is shaking up the higher education world by generating informative content that mimics human writing. However, its integration into university settings raises concerns about academic integrity and potential information security risks. The aim of this study is to systematically review the impact of using ChatGPT in university settings and its implications for higher education. This study employed a systematic review method to assess the evidence in the literature. Thirty-nine articles were analyzed according to PRISMA principles. The findings suggest that ChatGPT has the potential to personalize learning and improve writing performance. However, there are still potential issues, such as undermining academic integrity and breaching personal information. Therefore, urgent action is needed to address these issues and optimize the use of ChatGPT in higher education. Future research could further discuss how to fully utilize ChatGPT in academia while carefully considering ethical issues.
Chinese Pre-University Teachers' Foreign Language Anxiety, Teaching Anxiety, and Teacher Self-Efficacy
Authors: Li Tianhao , Liu Meihua , Gong Kaixuan
Published: May 2024

This study examined the relationships among Chinese pre-university teachers' foreign language anxiety, teaching anxiety and teacher self-efficacy. The participants were 210 Chinese primary and secondary English teachers who completed a battery of questionnaires. The results showed that: (a) the participants reported low to moderate levels of foreign language anxiety and teaching anxiety, as well as a high level of self-efficacy; (b) foreign language anxiety directly and negatively predicted the participants' self-efficacy; (c) foreign language anxiety was a positive predictor of teaching anxiety; (d) teaching anxiety mediated the link between foreign language anxiety and self-efficacy. This study highlights the importance of addressing language teachers' foreign language anxiety and teaching anxiety, and provides insights into enhancing teachers' self-efficacy.
A 31-year-old female with diffuse pulmonary infiltrates and intracardiac thrombus
Authors: Gupta Nitesh , Gupta Stuti , Kedia Yash , Kumar Rohit , AJ Mahendran , Ish Pranav , Madan Manu , Kaushik Rajnish
Published: May 2024

Intracardiac masses on echocardiography can represent thrombi, vegetations, or tumors. Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a sensitive tool that differentiates between the three. Intracardiac thrombi can develop during various pathological conditions that cause stasis of blood and predispose to the aggregation of thrombotic material. Atrial clots can occur in conditions like atrial fibrillation, structural heart diseases, thrombophilia, and chronic inflammations. Tuberculosis (TB) is a prothrombotic state and can predispose to venous and sometimes arterial clot formation. But intracardiac clots in TB are rare. We report a young patient presenting with bilateral intracardiac clots and diagnosed to have disseminated tuberculosis. Treatment with anti-tubercular therapy and therapeutic anticoagulation leads to complete resolution of the thrombi.
Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm: a short review and update
Authors: Massone Cesare , Rivoli Giulia , Sola Simona , Angelucci Emanuele
Published: May 2024

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare hematologic neoplasm (less than 1% of primary cutaneous lymphomas and acute leukemia) with a highly aggressive clinical course and frequent skin, bone marrow and central nervous system involvement. Even though there is often an early response to chemotherapy, leukemic dissemination relapses are very common and result in poor outcomes, with a median overall survival of 8 to 14 months in the first-line setting using standard combination chemotherapy regimens. Almost 90% of patients experience skin involvement as their initial site of infection, where BPDCN may stay restricted for weeks or even months until a swift secondary phase involving multiple organs takes place. Consequently, it is crucial to suspect and identify early skin lesions, as well as to conduct and report a skin biopsy as soon as possible. In order to diagnose and treat BPDCN, a multidisciplinary strategy involving collaboration between pathologists, hematologists, and dermatologists is unquestionably essential.
Radiation therapy in mycosis fungoides
Authors: Schiavone Concetta , Vagge Stefano , Grillo Ruggieri Filippo
Published: May 2024

Radiation therapy (RT) is administered with varying intentions, sometimes even several times in the same or in different body areas, to over 50% of patients with neoplastic conditions. Numerous techniques are available to patients in the clinical evolution of mycosis fungoides (MF), and there are several indications for radiation therapy (RT). RT as a skin-directed therapy is very widely used in these patients, either alone or in conjunction with other therapies. The application of RT, a tried-and-true therapy that improves MF patients’ quality of life and treatment, can be encouraged by a multidisciplinary approach and an understanding of current methods and action mechanisms.
Skin-directed therapy and biologic response modifiers in mycosis fungoides
Authors: Grandi Vieri , Colantuono Virginia Alba , Pimpinelli Nicola
Published: May 2024

The most common and widespread type of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is mycosis fungoides (MF), and it has a multiphasic clinical and biological course, with early stages being indolent for many years and later stages being faster and more aggressive. The clinical stage has a significant impact on the management and course of treatment: in the early stages, skin-directed therapies (SDT) plus/or biologic response modifiers (BRM); in the later stages, radiotherapy and/or systemic therapies. Even though national and international societies and groups periodically update their clinical recommendations, there is still no universally accepted approach. This paper reviews and discusses the various SDT and BRM options, either separately or in combination.
Application of family nursing documentation in Tarakan City, Indonesia
Authors: Sulidah Sulidah , Listya Hananti Windhandini
Published: May 2024

Documentation of nursing care is authentic proof of nursing service activities, serving as the basis for fulfilling nurses' responsibilities and accountabilities. Family nursing documentation holds distinct characteristics compared to other nursing practice settings. The Indonesian nursing professional organization has established three standards for nursing care: diagnosis, intervention, and outcome. This research aimed to understand how the implementation of family nursing care documentation is conducted by community nurses in Tarakan City. The research was a correlational study with a cross-sectional approach. The study population consisted of all the nurses working in Community Health Centers in Tarakan City, totaling 80 individuals. The sample was selected using total sampling. The research variables included demographic factors, nurses' knowledge about the documentation concept, and the application of family nursing documentation; these were measured using a modified researcher-made questionnaire and declared valid and reliable. The analysis of research data used descriptive analysis and the Spearman Rank correlation test. This research identified that the majority of community nurses in Tarakan City did not implement family nursing documentation, and the level of knowledge regarding nursing documentation concepts was low. The Spearman's rank correlation test yielded a p-value of 0.874, indicating no significant correlation between the level of knowledge and the implementation of family nursing documentation. The inhibiting factors for the implementation of family nursing care documentation primarily included a high workload, a limited number of health center nurses, motivation, and the lack of clear and uniform documentation guidelines.
One-year monitoring of potentially pathogenic microorganisms in the waters and sediments of the Lesina and Varano lagoons (South-Est Italy)
Authors: Basanisi Maria Grazia , Nobili Gaia , La Bella Gianfranco , D’Antuono Anna Mattea , Coppola Rosa , Damato Annita Maria , Scirocco Tommaso , Cilenti Lucrezia , La Salandra Giovanna
Published: May 2024

In this study, two Mediterranean coastal lagoons (Lesina and Varano) of Southern Italy, located in the north of the Apulia region, were investigated for the presence of Shiga toxin Escherichia coli (STEC) and potentially enteropathogenic Vibrio species in parallel with norovirus (NoV), hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis E virus (HEV), and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study aimed to evaluate the presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria and viruses in the water and sediments of these ecosystems. From March 2022 to February 2023, a total of 98 samples were collected: 49 water samples and 49 sediment samples. STEC strains were isolated in three samples (3.1%), of which one (2%) was water (stx1 and stx2 positive) and two (4.1%) were sediment (both stx2 positive) samples. Vibrio spp. were detected in twenty samples (20.4%), of which nine were water (18.4%) and eleven were sediment (22.4%) samples. The species detected included V. parahaemolyticus, V. cholerae, and V. vulnificus. NoV was detected in 25 (25.5%) samples, while none of the water or sediment samples were positive for HAV, HEV, and SARS-CoV-2. The results of this study provide an overview of the presence of potentially pathogenic microorganisms in areas influenced by anthropogenic pressure. Monitoring the circulation of these pathogens could be useful to evaluate the water flowing into the lagoons, in particular discharge waters (i.e., urban, agricultural, and livestock runoff), considering the presence of fish and shellfish farms in these sites.
Rehabilitation in obstructive sleep apnea: an ignored treatment adjunct
Authors: Mittal Anshul , Ish Pranav , Rathi Vidushi , Kumawat Satish Kumar , Chakrabarti Shibdas , Suri JC
Published: May 2024

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) remain physically inactive during the day, are deconditioned, and have an impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The role of rehabilitation is not yet defined in OSA, despite proven effective modalities for chronic illnesses like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In this prospective study, over a period of one year, 30 individuals with sleep-disordered breathing were included. Before recruitment, every patient was receiving continuous positive airway pressure treatment for at least 4 weeks. A statistically significant negative correlation was seen between the apnea hypopnea index and reductions in 6-minute walk distance, energy, and general health, which signified that patients with greater levels of daytime sleepiness have poor quality of life and are more deconditioned. Enrolled patients in the study underwent a 20-session rehabilitation program (with a minimum of 2 sessions per week). The patient received resistance and endurance exercises, dietary guidance, and counseling at each session. Before and after rehabilitation, target parameters such as 6MWD, HRQoL domains, Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS), and body mass index (BMI) were recorded. All 8 HRQoL domains showed improvement post-rehabilitation. Along with improvements in ESS and BMI, the 6MWD was also improved. No adverse event such as cardio-respiratory distress occurred in individuals undergoing rehabilitation. To conclude, rehabilitation is a safe and efficacious modality as an adjunct to positive airway pressure therapy in OSA patients.
Erratum. First documented observation of differential dorsoventral coat colouration in wild boar Sus scrofa (Artyodactyla: Suidae) in Italy
Authors: Gallozzi Francesco
Published: May 2024

This erratum corrects the article published in Natural History Sciences, 11 (1): 71-72, 2024 (DOI: 10.4081/nhs.2024.721).
Reusing livestock farming wastewater for Tifton 85 irrigation: productivity, morphological, and bromatological indicators
Authors: Sérvulo Ana Cláudia Oliveira , Sandri Delvio , Ramos Maria Lucrécia Gerosa
Published: May 2024

The utilization of wastewater from livestock farming (WLF) represents a common agricultural practice, but the absence of research on its agronomic impacts hinders its sustainable implementation. This study assesses the reutilization of WLF combined with nitrogen fertilization on the morphological, bromatological, and productivity attributes of a Tifton 85 pasture during the winter season. The study involved the application of different types of water via sprinkler: (I) stream water; (II) mixture of WLF and stream water at a 1:1 ratio; and (III) undiluted WLF combined with mineral nitrogen fertilization (0 and 45 kg N ha-1) administered at the commencement of the regrowth period. Irrigation was applied on a weekly basis, totaling 2,440 m3 ha-1. At 106 days post-regrowth, parameters including forage productivity, height, leaf-stem ratio, leaf area index, nitrogen nutrition index, crude protein content, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and mineral matter content were determined. Mineral fertilization at the prescribed dosage (45 kg N ha-1) did not have any discernible impact on the parameters under investigation. On average, the reuse of WLF raised the productivity from 2.50 to 5.12 t ha-1 and the Crude Protein from 12.35% to 14.58% compared to stream water. The reuse of WLF demonstrated superior outcomes (p < 0.01) in terms of pasture productivity, nutritional quality, and nitrogen accumulation compared to irrigation solely with stream water. The reuse of diluted WLF (1:1) without fertilization proved adequate to sustain Tifton 85 pastures during the winter season in the Brazilian Cerrado region.
Keywords: Cynodon dactylon, forage, irrigated pasture.
Overcoming geographical and socioeconomic limitations in colorectal cancer screening
Authors: Rozani Sofia , Lykoudis Panagis M
Published: May 2024

Despite colorectal cancer’s (CRC) high global incidence, residents of low- and middle- income countries, as well as low-income minorities in advanced economies have low screening rates. Observational studies demonstrate that in these groups higher incidence of CRC is observed, yet screening rates remain low for consistent reasons. Low income, low educational background, and lack of awareness in combination with inadequate social security of certain population groups impede access and compliance rates to CRC screening. On the other hand, despite the global availability of multiple screening approaches (colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, faecal occult blood test, faecal immunochemical test, computed tomography-colonography, etc. ) with proven diagnostic validity, many low-income countries still lack established screening programs. The absence of screening guidelines in these countries along with the heterogeneity of guidelines in the rest of the world, demonstrate the need for global measures to tackle this issue comprehensively. An essential step forward is to develop a global approach that will link specific elements of screening with the incidence and available resources in each country, to ensure the achievement of at least a minimum screening program in low-income countries. Utilizing cheaper, cost-effective techniques, which can be carried out by less specialized healthcare providers, might not be equivalent to endoscopy for CRC screening but seems more realistic for areas with fewer resources. Awareness has been highlighted as the most pivotal element for the effective implementation of any screening program concerning CRC. Moreover, multiple studies have demonstrated that outreach strategies and community-based educational programs are associated with encouraging outcomes, yet a centrally coordinated expansion of these programs could provide more consistent results. Additionally, patient navigator programs, wherever implemented, have increased CRC screening and improved follow-up. Therefore, global coordination and patient education seem to be the main areas on which policy making needs to focus.
Advances in the study of gastric organoids as disease models
Authors: Liu Yi-Yang , Wu De-Kun , Chen Ji-Bing , Tang You-Ming , Jiang Feng
Published: May 2024

Gastric organoids are models created in the laboratory using stem cells and sophisticated three-dimensional cell culture techniques. These models have shown great promise in providing valuable insights into gastric physiology and advanced disease research. This review comprehensively summarizes and analyzes the research advances in culture methods and techniques for adult stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived organoids, and patient-derived organoids. The potential value of gastric organoids in studying the pathogenesis of stomach-related diseases and facilitating drug screening is initially discussed. The construction of gastric organoids involves several key steps, including cell extraction and culture, three-dimensional structure formation, and functional expression. Simulating the structure and function of the human stomach by disease modeling with gastric organoids provides a platform to study the mechanism of gastric cancer induction by Helicobacter pylori . In addition, in drug screening and development, gastric organoids can be used as a key tool to evaluate drug efficacy and toxicity in preclinical trials. They can also be used for precision medicine according to the specific conditions of patients with gastric cancer, to assess drug resistance, and to predict the possibility of adverse reactions. However, despite the impressive progress in the field of gastric organoids, there are still many unknowns that need to be addressed, especially in the field of regenerative medicine. Meanwhile, the reproducibility and consistency of organoid cultures are major challenges that must be overcome. These challenges have had a significant impact on the development of gastric organoids. Nonetheless, as technology continues to advance, we can foresee more comprehensive research in the construction of gastric organoids. Such research will provide better solutions for the treatment of stomach-related diseases and personalized medicine.
Prognostic relevance of ventricular arrhythmias in surgical patients with gastrointestinal tumors
Authors: Xue Jiao-Jie , Hu Su-Tian , Wang Chong-Chong , Chen Zhi-Chong , Cheng Shi-Yao , Yu Shu-Qi , Peng Hua-Jing , Zhang Yi-Tao , Zeng Wei-Jie
Published: May 2024

BACKGROUND

Individuals diagnosed with gastrointestinal tumors are at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Among which, ventricular arrhythmia is a prevalent clinical concern. This suggests that ventricular arrhythmias may have predictive value in the prognosis of patients with gastrointestinal tumors.

AIM

To explore the prognostic value of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with gastrointestinal tumors receiving surgery.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed data from 130 patients undergoing gastrointestinal tumor resection. These patients were evaluated by a 24-h ambulatory electrocardiogram (ECG) at the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2018 to June 2020. Additionally, 41 general healthy age-matched and sex-matched controls were included. Patients were categorized into survival and non-survival groups. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality, and secondary endpoints included major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs).

RESULTS

Colorectal tumors comprised 90% of cases. Preoperative ambulatory ECG monitoring revealed that among the 130 patients with gastrointestinal tumors, 100 (76.92%) exhibited varying degrees of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). Ten patients (7.69%) manifested non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT). The patients with gastrointestinal tumors exhibited higher PVCs compared to the healthy controls on both conventional ECG [27 (21.3) vs 1 (2.5), P = 0.012] and 24-h ambulatory ECG [14 (1.0, 405) vs 1 (0, 6.5), P < 0.001]. Non-survivors had a higher PVC count than survivors [150.50 (7.25, 1690.50) vs 9 (0, 229.25), P = 0.020]. During the follow-up period, 24 patients died and 11 patients experienced MACEs. Univariate analysis linked PVC > 35/24 h to all-cause mortality, and NSVT was associated with MACE. However, neither PVC burden nor NSVT independently predicted outcomes according to multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

Patients with gastrointestinal tumors exhibited elevated PVCs. PVCs > 35/24 h and NSVT detected by 24-h ambulatory ECG were prognostically significant but were not found to be independent predictors.
Correlation of tumor-associated macrophage density and proportion of M2 subtypes with the pathological stage of colorectal cancer
Authors: Fazal Fouzia , Khan Muhammad Arsalan , Shawana Sumayya , Rashid Rahma , Mubarak Muhammed
Published: May 2024

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent global malignancy with complex prognostic factors. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) have shown paradoxical associations with CRC survival, particularly concerning the M2 subset.

AIM

We aimed to establish a simplified protocol for quantifying M2-like TAMs and explore their correlation with clinicopathological factors.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study included histopathological assessment of paraffin-embedded tissue blocks obtained from 43 CRC patients. Using CD68 and CD163 immunohistochemistry, we quantified TAMs in tumor stroma and front, focusing on M2 proportion. Demographic, histopathological, and clinical parameters were collected.

RESULTS

TAM density was significantly higher at the tumor front, with the M2 proportion three times greater in both zones. The tumor front had a higher M2 proportion, which correlated significantly with advanced tumor stage (P = 0.04), pathological nodal involvement (P = 0.04), and lymphovascular invasion (LVI, P = 0.01). However, no significant association was found between the M2 proportion in the tumor stroma and clinicopathological factors.

CONCLUSION

Our study introduces a simplified protocol for quantifying M2-like TAMs in CRC tissue samples. We demonstrated a significant correlation between an increased M2 proportion at the tumor front and advanced tumor stage, nodal involvement, and LVI. This suggests that M2-like TAMs might serve as potential indicators of disease progression in CRC, warranting further investigation and potential clinical application.
SERPINH1 promoted the proliferation and metastasis of colorectal cancer by activating PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway
Authors: Jin Xiao-Sheng , Chen Lu-Xi , Ji Ting-Ting , Li Rong-Zhou
Published: May 2024

BACKGROUND

Serpin peptidase inhibitor clade H member 1 (SERPINH1) was initially recognized as an oncogene implicated in various human malignancies. Nevertheless, the clinical relevance and functional implications of SERPINH1 in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain largely elusive.

AIM

To investigate the effects of SERPINH1 on CRC cells and its specific mechanism.

METHODS

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blotting analysis, The Cancer Genome Atlas data mining and immunohistochemistry were employed to examine SERPINH1 expression in CRC cell lines and tissues. A series of in-vitro assays were performed to demonstrate the function of SERPINH1 and its possible mechanisms in CRC.

RESULTS

SERPINH1 demonstrated elevated expression levels in both CRC cells and tissues, manifested at both mRNA and protein tiers. Elevated SERPINH1 levels correlated closely with advanced T stage, lymph node involvement, and distant metastasis, exhibiting a significant association with poorer overall survival among CRC patients. Subsequent investigations unveiled that SERPINH1 overexpression notably bolstered CRC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration in vitro , while conversely, SERPINH1 knockdown elicited the opposite effects. Gene set enrichment analysis underscored a correlation between SERPINH1 upregulation and genes associated with cell cycle regulation. Our findings underscored the capacity of heightened SERPINH1 levels to expedite G1/S phase cell cycle progression via phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT/mechanistic target of rapamycin pathway activation, thereby facilitating CRC cell invasion and migration.

CONCLUSION

These findings imply a crucial involvement of SERPINH1 in the advancement and escalation of CRC, potentially positioning it as a novel candidate for prognostic assessment and therapeutic intervention in CRC management.
Epigenetic silencing schlafen-11 sensitizes esophageal cancer to ATM inhibitor
Authors: Zhou Jing , Zhang Mei-Ying , Gao Ai-Ai , Zhu Cheng , He Tao , Herman James G , Guo Ming-Zhou
Published: May 2024

BACKGROUND

Targeting DNA damage response (DDR) pathway is a cutting-edge strategy. It has been reported that Schlafen-11 (SLFN11) contributes to increase chemosensitivity by participating in DDR. However, the detailed mechanism is unclear.

AIM

To investigate the role of SLFN11 in DDR and the application of synthetic lethal in esophageal cancer with SLFN11 defects.

METHODS

To reach the purpose, eight esophageal squamous carcinoma cell lines, 142 esophageal dysplasia (ED) and 1007 primary esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) samples and various techniques were utilized, including methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction, CRISPR/Cas9 technique, Western blot, colony formation assay, and xenograft mouse model.

RESULTS

Methylation of SLFN11 was exhibited in 9.15% of (13/142) ED and 25.62% of primary (258/1007) ESCC cases, and its expression was regulated by promoter region methylation. SLFN11 methylation was significantly associated with tumor differentiation and tumor size (both P < 0.05). However, no significant associations were observed between promoter region methylation and age, gender, smoking, alcohol consumption, TNM stage, or lymph node metastasis. Utilizing DNA damaged model induced by low dose cisplatin, SLFN11 was found to activate non-homologous end-joining and ATR/CHK1 signaling pathways, while inhibiting the ATM/CHK2 signaling pathway. Epigenetic silencing of SLFN11 was found to sensitize the ESCC cells to ATM inhibitor (AZD0156), both in vitro and in vivo .

CONCLUSION

SLFN11 is frequently methylated in human ESCC. Methylation of SLFN11 is sensitive marker of ATM inhibitor in ESCC.
Plexin domain-containing 1 may be a biomarker of poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma patients, may mediate immune evasion
Authors: Tang Ming-Yue , Shen Xue , Yuan Run-Sheng , Li Hui-Yuan , Li Xin-Wei , Jing Yi-Ming , Zhang Yue , Shen Hong-Hong , Wang Zi-Shu , Zhou Lei , Yang Yun-Chuan , Wen He-Xin , Su Fang
Published: May 2024

BACKGROUND

For the first time, we investigated the oncological role of plexin domain-containing 1 (PLXDC1 ), also known as tumor endothelial marker 7 (TEM7), in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

AIM

To investigate the oncological profile of PLXDC1 in HCC.

METHODS

Based on The Cancer Genome Atlas database, we analyzed the expression of PLXDC1 in HCC. Using immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and Western blotting, we validated our results. The prognostic value of PLXDC1 in HCC was analyzed by assessing its correlation with clinicopathological features, such as patient survival, methylation level, tumor immune microenvironment features, and immune cell surface checkpoint expression. Finally, to assess the immune evasion potential of PLXDC1 in HCC, we used the tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) website and immunohistochemical staining assays.

RESULTS

Based on immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, and Western blot assays, overexpression of PLXDC1 in HCC was associated with poor prognosis. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses indicated that PLXDC1 might be an independent prognostic factor. In HCC patients with high methylation levels, the prognosis was worse than in patients with low methylation levels. Pathway enrichment analysis of HCC tissues indicated that genes upregulated in the high-PLXDC1 subgroup were enriched in mesenchymal and immune activation signaling, and TIDE assessment showed that the risk of immune evasion was significantly higher in the high-PLXDC1 subgroup compared to the low-PLXDC1 subgroup. The high-risk group had a significantly lower immune evasion rate as well as a poor prognosis, and PLXDC1 -related risk scores were also associated with a poor prognosis.

CONCLUSION

As a result of this study analyzing PLXDC1 from multiple biological perspectives, it was revealed that it is a biomarker of poor prognosis for HCC patients, and that it plays a role in determining immune evasion status.