bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coloniser la région du rio Pilcomayo. Une histoire sociale, environnementale et sensorielle au sein des frontières du Grand Chaco (1882 – années 1960)
Authors: Rousseau Antoine
Published: February 2025

De la fin du XIXe siècle au milieu du XXe siècle, les républiques d’Argentine, de Bolivie et du Paraguay entreprennent la conquête et la colonisation du Grand Chaco en Amérique du Sud. Sa possession n’est alors que théorique puisque son contrôle effectif est en réalité assuré par de multiples groupes autochtones horticulteurs, chasseurs, pêcheurs et cueilleurs qui demeurent dans une relative autonomie par rapport aux différentes puissances coloniales. La région du rio Pilcomayo est cruciale car le cours de cette rivière mouvante et encore inexplorée a été choisi comme frontière internationale entre les trois pays mentionnés. La guerre du Chaco (1932-1935) marque une rupture majeure en ce que l’entrée massive des armées nationales dans la région bouleverse sa carte ethnique traditionnelle. Cependant, l’enjeu de cette thèse est de revenir sur ce processus colonisateur sur la longue durée afin de mettre en valeur la manière dont une société coloniale originale s’est progressivement constituée. La construction dans les discours d’une altérité radicale constituée par l’environnement et les populations qui l’habitent se voit contredite sur le terrain par la nécessité de maintenir des relations étroites et durables avec une diversité d’acteurs qui suivent leurs propres agendas. Afin de documenter les perceptions et les pratiques de ces derniers, lesquels ont aussi bien pu se côtoyer pacifiquement que se confronter violemment, l’approche choisie entend tirer parti des outils de l’histoire environnementale et de l’histoire des sensibilités afin d’écrire une histoire sociale au plus près des corps des êtres vivants qui peuplent ce territoire ; une histoire au ras du sol et de la peau. Les récits de voyage des expéditions scientifiques, les histoires orales des communautés autochtones, les archives missionnaires et militaires, mais aussi judiciaires, les photographies et les cartes, sont autant de sources mobilisées pour parvenir à reconstituer les fils qui relient ces expériences de vie. En définitive, le propos vise à documenter la construction plurielle d’un territoire longtemps resté à la marge des traditions nationales des États qui en revendiquent la souveraineté, mais qui est devenu central dans le cadre de leurs projections colonisatrices.
Lacas, dorados y enconchados de la tierra. Artistas, materiales locales y objetos de inspiración asiática en la Amazonía de Brasil
Authors: Martins Renata Maria de Almeida
Published: February 2025

Objetos asiáticos o de inspiración asiática cruzaron océanos, continentes incluso América, difundiendo el gusto por las sedas, porcelanas y lacas, y muchas veces fueron reinventados en piezas producidas por artistas indígenas, africanos y mestizos, con materiales de la tierra. Esta categoría de objetos tuvo una importante recepción y difusión en el Brasil del siglo XVIII, ya que encontraron diálogo con tradiciones ancestrales amerindias, en el sofisticado trabajo de artistas, escultores y pintores locales, hombres y mujeres. Así los objetos tradicionales de las culturas indígenas, como las cuias (frutos de la cuieira, Crescentia cujete), fueron dotados de nuevos significados y/o preparados para la exportación, a partir de coincidencias en el campo artístico, como el uso de barniz negro elaborado a partir de la cáscara del cumatezeiro (Myrcia atrametifera) por mujeres indígenas de la Amazonía, comparado a la mejor laca de China (Rhus vernicifera o Rhus verniciflua). A su vez, el conocimiento de motivos surgidos del repertorio asiático, a través de la circulación de porcelanas y textiles, se reflejó en el mobiliario y la decoración. Los casos por presentar de la Amazonía brasileña – por medio del estudio de documentos y colecciones –, reflejan el desarrollo de poderosas interconexiones entre América y Asia, así como apropiaciones, disputas y resistencias.
Current Neuroinnovative Techniques With Machine Learning Algorithms in the Diagnosis and Classification of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Unal Esra Demır
Published: February 2025

Neurodegenerative diseases are one of the most debilitating diseases associated with progressive neuronal dysfunction and protein accumulation. The increasing prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in population is leading to the development of neuroinnovative techniques for early recognition, classification and treatment. Various computer-aided software programs based on machine learning (ML) studies have been developed in recent decades in medical scope. ML is a branch of artificial intelligence that recognizes and models different data sets and algorithms. Different disciplines such as neural networks, support vector machines, Decision Trees, Random Forests, logistic regression, k-Nearest Neighbor techniques such as multi-layer perceptron, Neural Networks, Gaussian Mixture Models, and Boosting methods have been introduced in neurology. This section will discuss neuropathological and neuroradiological evaluation of AD, PD, and ALS, and ML-based modeling algorithms used in diagnosing and classification so far.
Graph-Based Machine Learning for Enhanced Traffic Management
Authors: Sriram S. , Krishna Kumari R.
Published: February 2025

The urban population's rapid growth has heightened traffic congestion challenges, necessitating innovative solutions. This paper explores the potential of Graph-Based Machine Learning (GBML) in transforming traffic management. It focuses on enhancing efficiency to reduce travel times and congestion, and improving mobility for a better user experience and urban accessibility. We assess the effectiveness of logistic regression and random forest for classifying traffic situations. While logistic regression offers interpretability, random forest outperforms it in accuracy. Random forest excels in capturing complex traffic data relationships, aiding tasks like traffic flow prediction and anomaly detection. Its adaptability to diverse datasets ensures robust performance across various traffic scenarios. Therefore, random forest emerges as the more valuable methodology in traffic analysis due to its superior accuracy, robustness, and adaptability to complex traffic patterns.
Unraveling Data Complexity in the Metaverse for Anomaly Detection With Python on NYC Taxi
Authors: Özer Özen Özer , Subasi Nadir
Published: February 2025

In the dynamic environment of the Metaverse, where virtual interactions and transactions thrive, detecting data anomalies becomes imperative for maintaining integrity and security. This paper explores the application of Pythonbased anomaly detection models, including Inter Quartile Range (IQR), Median Absolute Deviation (MAD), and Local Outlier Factor (LOF), in identifying anomalies within NYC Taxi data. Through comprehensive analysis and experimentation, we investigate the effectiveness and comparative performance of these models in detecting outliers amidst the complex and diverse data landscape of the Metaverse. In the NYC Taxi Data, which contains 10320 data, it was analyzed with the mentioned algorithms and 2 anomalies (0.019%) were found with IQR. In the same data set, 1 anomaly (0.009%) was found with MAD model and 1032 anomalies (10%) were found with LOF
Unveiling Academic Success
Authors: Saran Polisetty Sri Hari Sai , Krishna Kumari R.
Published: February 2025

In this chapter, we delve into the utilization of graph machine learning techniques to forecast student academic performance. By harnessing graph-based representations of educational data, our study endeavors to unearth underlying patterns and connections that impact student success. Through a fusion of feature engineering, graph analytics, and predictive modeling, we aim to investigate the efficacy of graph-based methodologies in improving the precision and interpretability of student performance prediction systems. This paper investigates the effectiveness of logistic regression, K-nearest neighbors (KNN), and a custom Graph Neural Network (GNN) model for predicting student performance in exams. Our analysis reveals that the custom GNN model outperforms both logistic regression and KNN, achieving higher accuracy and efficiency in student performance prediction. The custom GNN model leverages the graph-based representation of educational data, which enhances its ability to capture complex relationships and dependencies among students.
Synergizing Technology and Mindfulness in Leadership
Authors: Bhanumathi P. , Babu B. Sathish
Published: February 2025

Mindful leaders deeply understand their emotions, strengths, weaknesses, values, and empathy, allowing them to lead the team more authentically and with integrity. Leaders will follow the principle of mindfulness and have a balanced approach to managing teams and the organization. These leaders navigate themselves and their teams in relevance to challenges and setbacks, maintain resilience, and inspire and promote overall well-being and productivity. By leveraging technological developments, leaders can better understand their teams' dynamics, improve decision-making, and create inclusive yet collaborative work environments. The main aim of embracing technology in mindful leadership is to augment leadership effectiveness and organizational resilience in the digital disruptive era.
Strategic Innovation in Economic Development and Defense Industries
Authors: Damayanti Dian , Ratnasih Cicih
Published: February 2025

The research method used is descriptive qualitative. The results show that defense economic development can improve the defense industry through several strategies, namely: (1) strengthening the domestic defense industry, (2) increasing investment and international cooperation in defense technology, (3) optimizing the defense budget, and (4) developing a defense innovation system. The implementation of these strategies can encourage the improvement of domestic defense equipment design, production and maintenance capabilities, thereby reducing import dependence. The conclusion of this study is that the development of the defense economy is a strategic solution to improve the independence of defense equipment in Indonesia. The implication of this research is the need for policies and regulations that support the strengthening of the national defense industry and the development of a defense innovation system.
Neuroleadership Dynamics
Authors: Srivastava Suchitra , Kukreja Jyoti
Published: February 2025

Neuroleaders are transformational leaders. They envision the future realities due to their consistency of critical thinking practices. The main focus is on leading with example by assorting the resources in terms of all tools, skills and products. These are few essential personality aspects expected from the education leaders today and in the times to come. Creativity is the cornerstone of dealing with complex workplaces In recent years, the field of neuroleadership has emerged as a promising approach, leveraging the insights from neuroscience to shed light on the cognitive and neural mechanismNeuroscience has advanced understanding of mapping thoughts and emotions. Leadership is a by default and designed phenomenon revealing distinct neurological signatures associated with effective leaders, which not only enables the assessment and prediction of leadership outcomes, but also provides a foundation for developing and nurturing leadership qualities through targeted interventions.
Quality, Safety, and Functional Properties of Bee Honey: A review
Authors: Prathibani I. G. O. N. , Rathnayake Pasan , Jayasekara I. G. R. I. , Somaratne Geeshani
Published: February 2025

This comprehensive review aimed to investigate the quality, safety, and functional properties of bee honey, an unprocessed and natural food product recognized for its dual role as a sweetener and medicinal substance. Due to the influence of diverse floral sources from various geographical regions, bee honey has a notable increase in global consumption. However, its growing popularity highlights concerns about potential adulteration, prompting the establishment of stringent safety and quality parameters by regulatory authorities. The major objective of this review was to provide a thorough examination of common adulterants in bee honey and to present effective detection methods. Unchecked adulteration causes inherent health risks, including elevated blood sugar levels, contributing to complications such as abdominal obesity, diabetes, obesity, and increased blood lipids and hypertension. Adverse effects of honey adulteration can be mainly observed in the liver, and secondary impacts on the heart, kidney, and brain. Despite the challenges due to adulteration, bee honey provides essential functional properties, particularly its antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Phenolic compounds, reducing sugars, and amino acids in honey give its antioxidative capabilities, addressing intracellular oxidative damage associated with aging, neurodegenerative diseases, and apoptosis. The phenolic compounds also show efficacy against spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms. Enzymes in bee honey enhance its antimicrobial potential, and the inclusion of lactic acid bacteria generates various bioactive compounds, acting as prebiotics to enhance gut health. The insight of this review revealed the need of strong quality and safety standards in the bee honey industry. Moreover, the functional attributes of bee honey are emphasized its positive impact on human health and overall well-being, reinforcing the importance of safeguarding the integrity of this natural product.
The Influence of Morphological Awareness and Vocabulary Depth on Academic English Writing Skills of Undergraduates
Authors: Samaraweera S. G. S.
Published: February 2025

Developing academic English writing skills in undergraduates is a challenging task for teachers and students, as it is a complex process. Morphological awareness and vocabulary depth may influence academic English writing skills in tertiary-level students. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of morphological awareness and vocabulary depth on academic English writing skills in English as second language undergraduates. The study was conducted with 110 undergraduates from a public university in Sri Lanka. The instruments used for data collection were a demographic questionnaire, standardised measures of morphological awareness and vocabulary depth, and academic English essays. The essays were evaluated using standardised rubrics. The data were analysed using several statistical techniques, including hierarchical regression analysis, to explore the extent of influence of the independent variables on academic writing skills. The findings showed that morphological awareness had a greater independent effect on academic writing skills than vocabulary depth. Students with higher morphological awareness had better grammatical accuracy and coherence in their writing. Findings also showed that while vocabulary depth contributed to revisiting the lexical resources, its strength was less than that of morphological awareness. The findings indicated that morphological awareness is a more promising area for enhancing English academic writing skills in tertiary-level students. Morphological awareness should be incorporated into academic English language programs to improve students' academic writing skills.
A Study on the Effectiveness of Integrating Chinese Culture into Chinese Language Instruction: A Case Study from an Activity Theory Perspective
Authors: Lakmali M. M. N. M.
Published: February 2025

There is unprecedented growth in the teaching and learning of the Chinese language across the world. From the perspective of second language learners, effective language acquisition and expertise in the target language depends on the efficiency of the language acquisition process and the successful integration into the selected foreign language. As per the existing knowledge, the success of second language acquisition depends on the effective integration of culture into the teaching-learning process. The absence of a host language culture can isolate the language learner from acquiring the authentic scope and employment of the foreign language. Therefore, this study focuses on identifying challenges in integrating Chinese culture into foreign language acquisition at prominent Sri Lankan universities that offer specialised Chinese language degree programs. Furthermore, the study uses Activity theory in the Chinese cultural integration to get effective results on the research phenomena. Structured Surveys were conducted focusing on 60 students enrolled in both special and general Chinese language degree programs at the Universities of Kelaniya and Sabaragamuwa in Sri Lanka. Additionally, interviews were conducted with two groups: 10 Chinese language learners from both universities and 2 local lecturers, along with 2 native Chinese lecturers responsible for delivering lectures on the ‘Chinese Culture’ subject course at these universities. As per the major findings of the study, there were many reasons that resulted in the gap in the integration of Chinese culture into language acquisition. These reasons are the absence of a standardised curriculum, unclear scope and depth of course content, unstructured teaching methodologies, and inadequacies in the professionalism and applicability of culture-related teaching materials. In response to these challenges, the study offers recommendations, including curriculum and course content improvements related to Chinese culture, optimisation of teaching methods, effective utilisation of teaching materials, enhancement of teaching approaches, and the strengthening of lecturers’ cultural knowledge.
Global perceptions and acceptance of irradiated food: a comparative systematic review
Authors: Maataoui Jaber , Abduljaber Malek , Khaddor Mohamed
Published: February 2025

Irradiated food acceptance around the world exhibits systematic variabilities across many facets related to citizens' perceived approval ratings of the product. The present research summarizes the empirical evidence on the extent to which people around the world accept irradiated food. A systematic review methodology structured the design and implementation of the present analysis. The authors performed comprehensive searches for studies featuring acceptance rates in two broad databases: Web of Science and Scopus. A total of 27 peer-reviewed articles in the English language covering 24,474 people in 15 different countries provided the survey-based data for the investigation. Results indicated that acceptance of irradiated food increased by a large margin in the past 35 years (33% in 1992 to 67% in 2024). Citizens' refusal to purchase irradiated food decreased from 19% to 16% globally in the same period. One of the emerging trends in the results was the rate of irradiated food familiarity, which remained relatively unchanged at 50% in the same time frame. Globally, acceptance of irradiated food is high and rising. Information campaigns and education about the benefits of irradiated food have led to increases in awareness and familiarity. Despite improving perceptions globally, stark variability still exists in acceptance rates, with developing countries having lower acceptance compared to highly industrialized countries. This is the first comparative analysis of different populations' perceptions of irradiated food worldwide. The paper provides new estimates on global acceptance of irradiated food and highlights variability among countries, offering valuable insights for policymakers interested in investing in it.
Unveiling the Culprit: Psoriatic Erythroderma Responding to Anti-tubercular Therapy
Authors: James Hitha Alu , Sowmya Kathi , Sudhamalla Sathaiah , Chintagunta Sudha Rani
Published: February 2025

Erythroderma is the generalized erythema and scaling of skin affecting at least 90% of body surface area. Understanding and correcting the underlying cause and precipitating factors are important in the management of erythroderma. Here, we report a case of treatment-resistant psoriatic erythroderma, which responded to anti-tubercular therapy (ATT). A 55-year-old male who is a known case of psoriasis presented with generalized erythema and scaling all over the body for 2 months, preceded by intake of herbal medications. On examination, erythroderma involving the trunk, upper and lower extremities, scalp, face, palms, and soles was present. Diagnosis of psoriatic erythroderma precipitated by herbal medications was made. The patient was started on cyclosporine and thereafter, acitretin was added, but there was a suboptimal response. We observed better response when prophylactic antibiotics were added, which gave a clue on a hidden infection triggering the erythroderma, that is yet to be addressed. On further evaluation, Mantoux test was positive and high-resolution computed tomography chest revealed lesions suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The patient was started on standard ATT and a Near-complete resolution of the erythroderma was observed in 2 weeks. To the best of our knowledge, there are not many reports of erythroderma in preexisting dermatosis triggered by TB in the literature. We put forward this case report as an attempt to stress the fact that a meticulous search for the precipitating factors is important in the management of erythroderma.
Efficiency of Thrombolytic Therapy in Mechanical Prosthetic Valve Thrombosis: A Comprehensive Study from a Tertiary Care Center
Authors: Tammiraju Iragavarapu , Teja Durbhesula Akash , Vavilapalli Praneeta
Published: February 2025

Background:

Prosthetic valve thrombosis (PVT) is a life-threatening condition with high morbidity and mortality rates. Despite patient education on maintaining mechanical valves, PVT remains a significant issue

Aims and Objectives:

This study aims to evaluate the incidence and clinical characteristics of prosthetic valve thrombosis (PVT) in patients with mechanical valve replacements and assess the efficacy of thrombolysis using streptokinase as the primary treatment. It seeks to identify factors contributing to PVT development, investigate morbidity and mortality rates associated with thrombolysis, and propose strategies to reduce PVT incidence through improved patient management and follow-up protocols

Materials and Methods:

This retrospective study analyzed 500 valve replacement patients (aged 25-71) from January 2013 to December 2023. PVT was diagnosed in 32 patients using echocardiography and fluoroscopy, and thrombolysis with streptokinase was the primary treatment

Results:

Among the 32 PVT cases, 90.62% involved mitral valves, and 71.87% of patients were female. The median age was 37.45 years, and the mean time to PVT presentation was 48.13 months. Thrombolytic therapy had an 84.37% success rate, with in-hospital survival at 90.62%. Complications included hypotension (31.25%) and cerebrovascular accident (3.12%) and an in-hospital mortality rate of 9.37%

Conclusion:

The study emphasizes the importance of proper anticoagulation to prevent prosthetic valve thrombosis, particularly in mitral valves. Subtherapeutic INR significantly increases the risk of a stuck valve. Streptokinase thrombolysis is highly effective, especially where cardiac surgery is unavailable, with high survival and manageable complications.
Association between Sleeping Duration and Health-Related Behaviors in College Student
Authors: Lin Pin-Hsuan , Lin Chung-Ying , Wang Po-Yu , Yang Shang-Yu
Published: February 2025

Introduction:

Although the past studies have presented differences between sleep duration and health-related behavior, to the best of our knowledge, no studies have considered the different dimensions of adolescent health-related behavior according to gender. The current study aims to investigate the association between sleep duration and health-related behavior in both genders.

Method:

A cross-sectional study was conducted in a college in southern Taiwan. We used convenience sampling and invited all undergraduate full-time students in their 3rd year to participate in this study in 2014. There were three parts in our questionnaire, including participant's characteristics, the Adolescent Health Promotion (AHP) scale, and medication consumption habits. The participants were classified into two groups according to their sleep duration (<7 h vs. ≥7 h). We examined the predictors of sleep duration through the use of logistic regression analysis with the six AHP dimensions and unsafe medicine consumption habits as independent variables, respectively.

Results:

Using our whole sample, sufficient sleep duration was associated with higher AHP scores on nutrition and stress management and less unsafe medicine consumption habits (P < 0.05). For both males and females, sleeping more than 7 h was associated with better stress management (P < 0.01).

Conclusions:

Students whose sleeping duration was ≥7 h had a greater tendency to have good nutritional behavior and stress management behavior than those whose sleeping duration was <7 h. Moreover, students with insufficient sleep may have a significantly greater tendency to have unsafe medicine consumption habits.
Epidemiological Study of Attempted Suicide Among Children and Teenagers in Qazvin Province, Iran
Authors: Mahram Manoochehr , Oveisi Sonia , Hosseinzadeh-Milani Maryam
Published: February 2025

Introduction:

Suicide in children and young adolescents up to 14 years of age has been increased in many countries. This study aimed to determine the incidence, gender difference, timing difference, and cause of suicide attempts among children and teenagers in Qazvin Province, Iran, between 2007 and 2012.

Methods:

A descriptive-analytic study was performed in a register-based manner. In total, 2771 children and teenagers with suicide attempts who were referred to urban or rural health centers, hospitals, and legal medicinal centers in Qazvin Province were recruited. The residential background, the cause of suicide attempts, and the nature of the suicide acts were assessed.

Results:

Among all the children who had suicide attempts, 32.12% were male and 67.88% were female (sex ratio 0.47). Most of the suicide cases happened in autumn, and 786 (28.37%) were between 20:00 and 24:00 h. Swallowing poisonous drugs was the most prominent suicide methods, while hanging was the most dangerous method. In addition, familial dispute was the leading cause of suicide.

Conclusion:

It is a largely complex issue why some children attempt or commit suicide. The understanding of the pattern of suicide can help us provide suitable preventive programs.
Genus bounds for twisted quantum invariants
Authors: López Neumann Daniel , van der Veen Roland
Published: February 2025

By twisted quantum invariants we mean polynomial invariants of knots in the three-sphere endowed with a representation of the fundamental group into the automorphism group of a Hopf algebra

H

. These are obtained by the Reshetikhin–Turaev construction extended to the

\operatorname{Aut}(H)

-twisted Drinfeld double of

H

, provided

H

is finite-dimensional and

\mathbb{N}^{m}

-graded. We show that the degree of these polynomials is bounded above by

2g(K)\cdot d(H)

, where

g(K)

is the Seifert genus of a knot

K

and

d(H)

is the top degree of the Hopf algebra. When

H

is an exterior algebra, our theorem recovers Friedl and Kim’s genus bounds for twisted Alexander polynomials. When

H

is the Borel part of restricted quantum

\mathfrak{sl}_{2}

at an even root of unity, we show that our invariant is the ADO invariant, therefore giving new genus bounds for these invariants.
Smooth Calabi–Yau structures and the noncommutative Legendre transform
Authors: Kontsevich Maxim , Takeda Alex , Vlassopoulos Yiannis
Published: February 2025

We elucidate the relation between smooth Calabi–Yau structures and pre-Calabi–Yau structures. We show that, from a smooth Calabi–Yau structure on an

A_{\infty}

-category

A

, one can produce a pre-Calabi–Yau structure on

A

; as defined in our previous work, this is a shifted noncommutative version of an integrable polyvector field. We explain how this relation is an analog of the Legendre transform, and how it defines a one-to-one mapping, in a certain homological sense. For concreteness, we apply this formalism to chains on based loop spaces of (possibly non-simply connected) Poincaré duality spaces and fully calculate the case of the circle.
On weakly $N$-subnormal subgroups of finite groups
Authors: Liu A-Ming , Wang Muzhi , Safonov Vasily G. , Skiba Alexander N.
Published: February 2025

Let

G

be a finite group and

A, N\leq G

. Then

A_{\operatorname{sn} G}

is the subnormal core of

A

in

G

, that is, the subgroup of

A

generated by all subnormal subgroups of

G

, contained in

A

;

A^{\operatorname{sn} G}

is the subnormal closure of

A

in

G

, that is, the intersection of all subnormal subgroups of

G

containing

A

. We say that a subgroup

A

of

G

is (i)

N

-subnormal in

G

if

N\cap A^{\operatorname{sn} G}=N\cap A_{\operatorname{sn} G}

; (ii) weakly

N

-subnormal in

G

if for some subnormal subgroup

T

of

G

we have

AT=G

and

A\cap T\leq S\leq A

, where

S

is

N

-subnormal in

G

. In this paper, we consider some applications of these two concepts. In particular, we prove that a finite group

G

is soluble if and only if

G

has a normal subgroup

N

with soluble factor

G/N

such that in each maximal chain

M_{3}< M_{2}< M_{1}< M_{0}= G

of

G

of length

3

, at least one of the subgroups

M_{3}

,

M_{2}

or

M_{1}

is weakly

N

-subnormal in

G

.
Impact of a visual mobile terminal-based continuity of care model on caregiver competence of children with enterostomies
Authors: Yu Ying , Wang Xian-Qiang , Liu Gang , Li Lei , Chen Li-Na , Zhang Li-Juan , Xia Qiao
Published: February 2025

BACKGROUND

Children with critical acute abdominal conditions often undergo intestinal stoma surgery.

AIM

To explore the impact of a visual mobile terminal-based extended care model on caregiver competence for children with enterostomies.

METHODS

One hundred twenty children with enterostomies and their caregivers in a children's hospital in Beijing were divided into a control group and a study group. The control group (60 cases) received traditional telephone follow-up for continuity of care, while the study group (60 cases) used a visualization mobile terminal-based care model. The incidence of stoma-related complications, caregiver burden scale, and competence scores of children with stoma were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS

The primary caregiver burden score in the study group (37.22 ± 3.17) was significantly lower than that in the control group (80.00 ± 4.47), and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Additionally, the caregiving ability score of the study group (172.08 ± 3.49) was significantly higher than that of the control group (117.55 ± 4.28; P < 0.05). The total incidence of complications in the study group (11.7%, 7/60) was significantly lower compared to the control group (33.3%, 20/60; χ 2 = 8.086, P = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

The visual mobile terminal-based care model reduces caregiver burden, improves home care ability, lowers the incidence of complications and readmission rates, and supports successful second-stage reduction surgery for children with enterostomies.
Retrospective analysis on Lou Bei Er Chen decoction and acupuncture in gastroesophageal reflux disease post-gastric cancer surgery
Authors: Shi Jing-Hua , Yang Hui , Wang Shi-Tao , Wang Wen-Jun , Shi Ye , Huang Shan-Shan , Jiang Su
Published: February 2025

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer is a growing clinical challenge, particularly due to the increased risk of postoperative gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) following surgical treatment. traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), including acupuncture and herbal medicine, has been proposed as an adjunctive therapy to promote gastrointestinal recovery and alleviate GERD symptoms.

AIM

To retrospectively study the clinical efficacy of modified Lou Bei Er Chen decoction combined with acupuncture in treating patients with GERD after radical gastrectomy due to gastric cancer.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted, including patients with gastric cancer or malignant tumors of the stomach from January 2019 to December 2023 in the Affiliated Taizhou People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. Patients with a TCM diagnosis of qi depression and phlegm obstruction (n = 128) were selected on the basis of prescription and treatment principles. They were then divided into a control group (n = 61) and an observation group (n = 67). The control group received treatment with Western medicine domperidone. The observation group were treated with Lou Bei Er Chen decoction orally, with acupuncture at specific acupoints (bilateral Hegu, bilateral Neiguan, and bilateral Zusanli), in addition to the treatment as in the control group, for a continuous treatment period of 8 weeks. The improvement time of postoperative gastrointestinal function indicators, gastrointestinal dysfunction scores, GERD-Q scores, and TCM syndrome scores were further observed for both groups.

RESULTS

The observation group showed significantly shorter times for first flatus, defecation, bowel sound recovery, and initiation of nasogastric enteral nutrition than the control group (P < 0.05). Upon treatment, the two groups demonstrated a significant reduction in gastrointestinal dysfunction scores, with a more significant reduction in the observation group (P < 0.001). The GERD-Q scores significantly decreased after 8 weeks of treatment in the two groups (P < 0.05), with a significant reduction in the observation group (P < 0.05), compared with baseline. The TCM syndrome scores significantly decreased after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment in the two groups (P < 0.05), with a significant reduction in the observation group (P < 0.05). The effective rate of the observation group after 8 weeks of treatment was significantly higher than that after 4 weeks (χ 2 = 13.648, P = 0.003), and it was significantly higher than that of control group (χ 2 = 13.879, P = 0.003).

CONCLUSION

Lou Bei Er Chen decoction combined with acupuncture treatment can effectively alleviate clinical symptoms in patients GERD after gastric cancer surgery and improve their life quality. It is worthy of further promotion and application.
Effect of tandem autologous stem cell transplantation on survival in pediatric patients with high-risk solid tumors in South China
Authors: Luo Zi-Yan , Fan Li-Qun , Guo Wen-Ling , Yang Jian-Ping , Li Zhuo-Yan , Huang Yong-Xian , Jiang Hua , Zhang Xiao-Hong
Published: February 2025

BACKGROUND

Despite advances in treatment, the prognosis for patients with high-risk pediatric solid tumors remains dismal. Tandem autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) offers promise for improving outcomes in these patients. This study aimed to examine the efficacy and prognostic factors of tandem ASCT in pediatric patients with high-risk solid tumors.

AIM

To determine the survival outcomes and prognostic factors in pediatric patients with high-risk solid tumors undergoing tandem ASCT.

METHODS

A total of 40 pediatric patients with high-risk solid tumors treated from March 2015 to August 2022 were included in this retrospective study. The diagnoses of the patients included neuroblastoma, germ cell tumors, atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor, medulloblastoma, and pineoblastoma. After induction chemotherapy, all patients received tandem ASCT and were allocated into two groups (group A and group B) based on high-dose chemotherapy regimens. Prognostic relevance was evaluated by examining patient characteristics, such as sex, age, lactate dehydrogenase levels, primary site, the number of metastatic sites, and bone marrow involvement.

RESULTS

The median follow-up duration since the first ASCT was 24 months (range: 1-91 months), with 5-year overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) rates of 73% and 70%, respectively, for the entire cohort. The 3-year OS rates were 67% for group A and 87% for group B (P = 0.29), with corresponding 3-year EFS rates of 67% and 79% (P = 0.57). Among neuroblastoma patients, the 5-year OS and EFS were 69% and 63% (P = 0.23). Univariable analysis revealed a notable association of age ≥ 36 months and elevated lactate dehydrogenase level at diagnosis with poorer OS. Despite acute adverse effects, all patients demonstrated good tolerance to the treatment, with no occurrences of transplant-related mortality.

CONCLUSION

Tandem ASCT demonstrates promising survival outcomes for patients with high-risk solid tumors, particularly neuroblastoma, with manageable toxicity and no transplant-related mortality.
Fetal mice dermal mesenchymal stem cells promote wound healing by inducing M2 type macrophage polarization
Authors: Xia Zhen-Yu , Wang Yi , Shi Nian , Lu Mei-Qi , Deng Yun-Xiang , Qi Yong-Jun , Wang Xing-Lei , Zhao Jie , Jiang Du-Yin
Published: February 2025

BACKGROUND

Mesenchymal stem cells, found in various tissues, possess significant healing and immunomodulatory properties, influencing macrophage polarization, which is essential for wound repair. However, chronic wounds present significant therapeutic challenges, requiring novel strategies to improve healing outcomes.

AIM

To investigate the potential of fetal dermal mesenchymal stem cells (FDMSCs) in enhancing wound healing through modulation of macrophage polarization, specifically by promoting the M2 phenotype to address inflammatory responses in chronic wounds.

METHODS

FDMSCs were isolated from BalB/C mice and co-cultured with RAW264.7 macrophages to assess their effects on macrophage polarization. Flow cytometry, quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, and histological analyses were employed to evaluate shifts in macrophage phenotype and wound healing in a mouse model. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism.

RESULTS

FDMSCs induced macrophage polarization from the M1 to M2 phenotype, as demonstrated by a reduction in pro-inflammatory markers (inducible nitric oxide synthase, interleukin-6) and an increase in anti-inflammatory markers [mannose receptor (CD206), arginase-1] in co-cultured RAW264.7 macrophages. These shifts were confirmed by flow cytometry. In an acute skin wound model, FDMSC-treated mice exhibited faster wound healing, enhanced collagen deposition, and improved vascular regeneration compared to controls. Significantly higher expression of arginase-1 further indicated an enriched M2 macrophage environment.

CONCLUSION

FDMSCs effectively modulate macrophage polarization from M1 to M2, reduce inflammation, and enhance tissue repair, demonstrating their potential as an immunomodulatory strategy in wound healing. These findings highlight the promising therapeutic application of FDMSCs in managing chronic wounds.
Exosomal miR-203 from bone marrow stem cells targets the SOCS3/NF-κB pathway to regulate neuroinflammation in temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Wang Wei , Yin Jian
Published: February 2025

BACKGROUND

Epilepsy is a prevalent chronic neurological disorder affecting 50 million individuals globally, with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) being the most common form. Despite advances in antiepileptic drug development, over 30% of patients suffer from drug-resistant epilepsy, which can lead to severe cognitive impairments and adverse psychosocial outcomes.

AIM

To explore the role of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC)-derived exosomal miR-203 in the regulation of neuroinflammation in a mouse model of epilepsy, providing a theoretical basis for the development of targeted microRNA delivery therapies for drug-resistant epilepsy.

METHODS

Adult male C57BL/6 mice were divided into a control group and a TLE model of 30 mice each, and the TLE model group was established by injecting kainic acid. BMSCs were isolated from the mice, and exosomes were purified using ultracentrifugation. Exosomal miR-203 was identified and characterized using high-throughput sequencing and quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. The uptake of exosomes by hippocampal neurons and the subsequent effects on neuroinflammatory markers were assessed using in vitro cell culture models.

RESULTS

Exosomal miR-203 exhibited a significant upregulation in BMSCs derived from epileptic mice. In vitro investigations demonstrated the efficient internalization of these exosomes by hippocampal neurons, resulting in downregulation of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 expression and activation of the nuclear factor kappaB pathway, ultimately leading to enhanced secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

CONCLUSION

Our study identifies exosomal miR-203 as a key regulator of neuroinflammation in a mouse model of epilepsy. The findings suggest that targeting miR-203 may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for epilepsy by modulating the suppression of cytokine signaling 3/nuclear factor kappaB pathway, thus providing a potential avenue for the development of cell-free therapeutics.
Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells for modeling and treating metabolic associated fatty liver disease and metabolic associated steatohepatitis: Challenges and opportunities
Authors: Silva Bárbara , Bragança José
Published: February 2025

The potential of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for modeling and treating metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and metabolic associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is emerging. MAFLD is a growing global health concern, currently with limited treatment options. While primary mesenchymal stem cells hold promise, iPSCs offer a versatile alternative due to their ability to differentiate into various cell types, including iPSC-derived mesenchymal stem cells. However, challenges remain, including optimizing differentiation protocols, ensuring cell safety, and addressing potential tumorigenicity risks. In addition, iPSCs offer the possibility to generate complex cellular models, including three-dimensional organoid models, which are closer representations of the human disease than animal models. Those models would also be valuable for drug discovery and personalized medicine approaches. Overall, iPSCs and their derivatives offer new perspectives for advancing MAFLD/MASH research and developing novel therapeutic strategies. Further research is needed to overcome current limitations and translate this potential into effective clinical applications.
Assessment of the biosafety profile of Galium verum in vitro on myoblasts and in ovo on chorioallantoic membrane
Authors: Morariu-Briciu Diana Maria , Bolintineanu Sorin Lucian , Rata Andreea , Semenescu Alexandra Denisa , Anton Alina , Jijie Robert , Kis Andreea , Hrubaru Ingrid , Heghes Alina
Published: February 2025

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular diseases are the first cause of death in the world. Ischemic heart disease is the main cause of heart failure. New approaches are continuously sought to identify better therapeutic success. Thereby, current research has been drawn to identifying and completing the therapeutic profile of natural sources. Galium species are representatives exhibiting diuretic and antibacterial potential in living organisms and can treat burns, wounds, and skin diseases. Moreover, it was also observed that these plants manifest cardioprotective effects as well as having antihemolytic, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antiproliferative potential. In ischemic heart disease, Galium verum (G. verum) extract manifested preservative properties in terms of contractility, systolic and diastolic function maintenance, and reduced damage to the heart after ischemia. In addition, G. verum extract upregulated the activity of antioxidant enzymes alleviating the production of pro-oxidants.

AIM

To test the ethanolic extract of G. verum on the H9C2(2-1) cell line by evaluating the in vitro biosafety profile and in ovo irritative potential.

METHODS

Cells were tested in vitro for viability (using the MTT test), cellular morphology, cell number, confluence, nuclear morphology (by immunofluorescence staining of cell nuclei and F-actin assay) and in ovo by the hen’s egg chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) test and CAM anti-irritant methods to study the irritation potential on the CAM.

RESULTS

The extract demonstrated a dose-dependent stimulatory activity. The viability increased to 170% for the dose of 55 µg/mL and decreased to 135% at 200 µg/mL. The results of cell number, confluence, and morphological analysis did not present significant changes compared with control untreated cells. The immunofluorescence assay showed insignificant apoptotic potential, and the hen’s egg CAM test revealed that the extract was in the weak to moderately irritating category with an irritation score of 5.3. When applying the sample to the CAM, only slight coagulation was observed (128 s). The anti-irritant test revealed the protective potential of the extract in the vascular plexus.

CONCLUSION

The ethanolic extract of G. verum manifests a stimulating effect on cardiomyocytes, enhancing cell viability, and maintaining a normal elongated shape, cell number, and confluence, without significant signs of apoptosis and with a weak irritative effect in ovo . In addition, the extract demonstrated a protective effect against hemorrhage, lysis, and coagulation of blood vessels induced by sodium dodecyl sulfate on the CAM.
Combinatorial approach to treat iron overload cardiomyopathy in pediatric patients with thalassemia-major: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Safwan Moaz , Bourgleh Mariam Safwan , Alsudays Aseel , Haider Khawaja Husnain
Published: February 2025

BACKGROUND

Iron overload cardiomyopathy is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients. Standard iron chelation therapy is less efficient in alleviating iron accumulation in many organs, especially when iron enters the cells via specific calcium channels.

AIM

To validate our hypothesis that adding amlodipine to the iron chelation regimen is more efficient in alleviating myocardial iron overload.

METHODS

Five databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, ScienceDirect, and ClinicalTrials.gov, were systematically searched, and three randomized controlled trials involving 144 pediatric patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia were included in our meta-analysis based on the predefined eligibility criteria. The quality of the included studies was assessed based on the Cochrane collaboration tool for bias assessment. The primary outcome assessed was myocardial-T2 and myocardial iron concentration, while the secondary results showed serum ferritin level, liver iron concentration, and treatment adverse outcomes. Weighted mean difference and odds ratio were calculated to measure the changes in the estimated treatment effects.

RESULTS

During the follow-up period, Amlodipine treatment significantly improved cardiac T2 by 2.79 ms compared to the control group [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.34-5.24, P = 0.03, I 2 = 0%]. Additionally, a significant reduction of 0.31 in myocardial iron concentration was observed with amlodipine treatment compared to the control group [95%CI: -0.38-(-0.25), P < 0.00001, I 2 = 0%]. Liver iron concentration was slightly lower in the amlodipine group by -0.04 mg/g, but this difference was not statistically significant (95%CI: -0.33-0.24, P = 0.77, I 2 = 0%). Amlodipine also showed a non-significant trend toward a reduction in serum ferritin levels (-328.86 ng/mL, 95%CI: -1212.34-554.62, P = 0.47, I 2 = 90%). Regarding safety, there were no significant differences between the groups in the incidence of gastrointestinal upset, hypotension, or lower limb edema.

CONCLUSION

Amlodipine with iron chelation therapy significantly improved cardiac parameters, including cardiac-T2 and myocardial iron, in patients with transfusion-dependent thalassemia without causing significant adverse events but enhancing the efficacy of iron chelation therapy.