bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contemporary Historical Novels of Terrorism
Authors: Keeble Arin
Published: January 2025

This chapter focusses on two contemporary historical novels of terrorism: Rachel Kushner’s The Flamethrowers (2013) and Anna Burns’s Milkman (2018). I discuss the ways both novels depict terrorism within wider historical patterns of violence. I consider the ways their depictions of late twentieth century periods of conflict comment on present day discourses of violence and and how they ask questions of the contemporary language and discourse of terrorism.
Conclusion: New Event-Based Narratives of Terrorism
Authors: Keeble Arin
Published: January 2025

This conclusion focusses on two recent texts: Preti Taneja’s Aftermath (2022) – an innovative memoir-essay-theoretical book – and Megha Majumdar’s novel, A Burning (2020). I look at the ways these works offer new kinds of event-based narrative that use central event to open out critique of systemic and institutional violence. Through brief analyses of each text I explore this emphasis on the systemic in narratives of terrorism, returning to the central concerns of my book.
An Account of Individual Perceptions of Damage to Electoral Integrity
Authors: Toros Emre
Published: January 2025

This chapter constructs and measures an informational model of perceptions that electoral integrity has been damaged, building on literature on perceptions of electoral justice, electoral violence and information processing. The basic argument is that sources of information are crucial in individual perceptions of electoral integrity, influencing common expectations of electoral integrity. The analysis shows that education, media consumption patterns, trust in media sources at the individual level, and media quality and level of economic development shape perceptions of electoral integrity.
Social Alienation
Authors: Koutsourakis Angelos
Published: January 2025

This Chapter opens with a discussion of modernism’s reaction against liberal individualism. I take this as a starting point to think about questions of individual alienation in two post-war films: Ottomar Domnick’s Jonas (1957) and Hiroshi Teshigahara’s 他人の顔‎ (The Face of Another, 1966). My discussion of Domnick’s film starts with issues of post-war repression and urban alienation, which are subsequently linked with Vergangenheitsbewältigung (coming to terms with the past); this is followed by a discussion of Kōbō Abe’s essays on Kafka and his call for bridging the gap between literature and the audio-visual arts. I conclude with a discussion of the adaptation of his novel The Face of Another by Hiroshi Teshigahara (script written by Abe). The analysis of the film links questions of individual alienation and the historical trauma of Hiroshima, which is highlighted in the film, although it holds a marginal role in the source text. Especially significant for the analysis of these films is the work of Georg Simmel on the alienating psychological conditions produced by the modern metropolis
Jewish Purges
Authors: Koutsourakis Angelos
Published: January 2025

This Chapter begins by offering a brief historical context of the Jewish purges in the Eastern Bloc and then moves to a discussion of two films: Costa-Gavras’ L’aveu (The Confession, 1970), which is an adaptation of Artur London’s homonymous book on the Slánský trial, and Aleksei German’s Хрусталёв, машину! (Khrustalyov, My Car!, 1998), which is set during the years of the Doctors’ plot (a major anti-Semitic campaign in the former USSR). The discussion of the films suggests that the Jewish purges in the Eastern bloc, and the “anti-cosmopolitanism” campaigns are indices of the abandonment of the narrative of World Revolution by the USSR. Thus, I return to some of the ideas debated in Chapter 4 on the end of Jewish modernity, to consider how these historical events point to the (enforced) end of Jewish radicalism in the Soviet sphere of influence.
The Wild Swans at Coole (1917, 1919), Michael Robartes and the Dancer (1921) and the Limits of Portraiture
Authors: Walker Tom
Published: January 2025

This essay explores how Yeats’s engagement with the culture of art amid which he found himself in the mid-to-late 1910s – set against the backdrop of local and global conflict and political rupture – coalesces around the prominence of portraiture both in his own poetry and the broader art world during the preceding couple of decades. More particularly, several of the poems complexly arranged across both versions of The Wild Swans at Coole (1917 and 1919) and in Michael Robartes and the Dancer (1921), often in contradistinction to their date of composition, offer a dialectic of portraiture and anti-portraiture – conceived of as a decided resistance to or evasion of this mode. This dialectic evokes the possibility of aligning art and the aesthetic to a vital combination of self-realisation, sociability and visionary power. It also though recognises the contrary possibility that, in retrospect, such a notion of art and the aesthetic might constitute a gross misunderstanding of the ‘danger’ that lies ‘in the body’ – to quote a troubling line from the opening, title poem to Michael Robartes and the Dancer.
Yeats and Wagner: The Countess Cathleen and Other Plays
Authors: McAteer Michael
Published: January 2025

The Gesamtkunstwerk arguably provided the most celebrated international ideal of bringing together diverse arts in a unified expression. This chapter looks at how Yeats’s ideas on voice and music in performance relate to the main exponent of this idea, Richard Wagner. It shows how this relationship develops, spanning from the impact of Wagner’s thought and practice on Yeats’s early plays such as The Countess Cathleen, On Baile’s Strand and The Shadowy Waters, through to the use of screens and music in the later drama. The chapter concludes with an account of an opera by the controversial composer and conductor Werner Egk, based upon The Countess Cathleen, performed at the Salzburg music festival in 1955.
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and hormonal therapy for locally advanced luminal HER2-negative breast cancer
Authors: Kochetkova Y. I. , Frolova M. A. , Stenina M. B. , Druzhinina D. I. , Titova T. A. , Zhulikov Y. A. , Petrovsky A. V. , Vishnevskaya Y. V. , Rumyantsev A. A.
Published: January 2025

Background. Treatment of locally advanced breast cancer (BC) should start with systemic therapy to achieve the possibility of surgical intervention. In luminal HER2-negative BC, 2 options for neoadjuvant systemic therapy are possible – chemotherapy and hormonal therapy. To date, there are no clear criteria for choosing the most optimal treatment option for a particular patient.

Objective. To evaluate the efficacy of neoadjuvant hormone therapy (NHT) and chemotherapy (NCT) for patients with intermediate expected hormone sensitivity (high levels of ER/RP and Ki67>30% or low levels of ER/RP and Ki67<30%)

Materials and methods. The study involved 75 pre- and postmenopausal patients with locally advanced luminal HER2-negative breast cancer who received NHT (tamoxifen/aromatase inhibitors) or NCT (4 cycles of AC and taxanes) in the preoperative period. The primary endpoint was a decrease in Ki67 levels by 50% or more.

Results. The NGT group included 39 patients, the NCT group – 36 patients. Taking into account differences in patient characteristics between the groups, pseudorandomization (propensity matching analysis) was performed for correct comparison, after which 23 patients remained in each group. Operability was achieved in 87% of patients in the NHT group and 91.3% in the NCT group (p = 0.25). A decrease in Ki67 by 50% or more was noted in 47.1% of cases in the NHT group and in 57.1% in the NCT group (p = 0.284), and a decrease to <10% – in 42.9% and 35.3% of cases, respectively (p = 0.66). The frequency of achieving complete pathomorphological regression (pCR) was 10% with NHT and 14.3% with NCT. The 4-year disease-free survival (DFS) with a median follow-up of 46 months in the NHT group was 89.1%, in the NCT group – 84.8% (p = 0.693).

Conclusions. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and hormonal therapy demonstrate similar efficacy in patients with intermediate hormone sensitivity in terms of the frequency of significant decrease in Ki67, achievement of pCR, DFS rates.
Radiation therapy in the combined/complex treatment of patients with breast cancer I–IIA, in stages after subcutaneous/skin-preserving mastectomies with simultaneous reconstruction
Authors: Rasskazova E. A. , Zikiryakhodjaev A. D. , Kaprin A. D.
Published: January 2025

Background. Currently, after subcutaneous/skin-preserving mastectomies with simultaneous reconstruction in cancer of stages I–II, the need for radiation therapy is debatable, especially in the presence of favorable subtypes or when complete clinical regression is achieved after neoadjuvant polychemotherapy.

Materials and methods. A retrospective non-randomized study was conducted, which included 1135 breast cancer patients who received treatment at the P.A. Herzen Moscow State Medical Institute from 2014 to 2023, in all patients the surgical stage included subcutaneous/skinpreserving mastectomies with simultaneous reconstruction. The patients were divided into 2 groups – with and without radiation therapy.

Results. Relapses were analyzed by groups depending on the clinical and morphological features of tumors, with a detailed analysis of the data obtained.

Conclusion. Among patients I–IIA, In the stages of breast cancer after PME/CME with reconstruction included in the study, the risk of recurrence over 5 years was 4.3± 0.1% of cases. The recurrence in the group with radiation therapy was 2.5±0.6%, without radiation therapy 6.9±1.2% (p0.05), thus radiation therapy reduces the risk of recurrence by 4.4%. In our study, the following criteria were identified for the appointment of radiation therapy in the postoperative period: resection margin R1, luminal/non-luminal NONR2 positive type, rN1.
TERRITORIAL STRUCTURE OF THE RUSSIAN BANKING SYSTEM (LATE 1980S - EARLY 2020S) IN THE CONTEXT OF INTERNATIONAL HISTORICAL EXPERIENCE
Authors:   South Ural State Humanitarian Pedagogical University, Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation, NIKITIN L.V. ,   South Ural State University (NRU)
Published: January 2025

The article, based on statistical data and other information, is focused on the development of the geographical features of the Russian banking business from the initial market reforms of 1987-1988 to the present day. The above-mentioned issues are considered in the context of similar territorial shifts in the banking systems of a number of foreign countries. It is noted that soon after the start of reforms in Russia, there was an explosive growth in the number of banks. Accordingly, the number of cities in which banking headquarters were located increased at approximately the same rate. However, already from 1993-1995, competition mechanisms reversed these trends. A very similar change in trends was observed at the same time in a number of other post-Soviet republics and former Comecon countries that were making the transition to a market economy. However, in relatively small countries, during the 1990s and 2000s, there could be a complete return of banking management functions to national capital cities, while in Russia (where Moscow also has strengthened its leadership position) there are still dozens of cities with their own credit corporations. This geographic diversity and some other factors provide grounds for comparing Russia not with its neighbors in the former socialist camp, but with the United States. A new set of comparisons shows both the fundamental similarity of some trends and the sharp difference between the two countries in the role of the administrative-territorial factor.
Consciousness, the High Probability of the Afterlife, and the Evolution of Intelligence in the Universe/s
Authors: Senarath Dayathilake Kande Lekamalaya
Published: January 2025

We did a simple experiment on mysterious questions of consciousness and afterlife participants were divided into three groups: 1. Identical Triplets (Group I): Individuals 'a,' 'b,' and 'c.' 2. Second Set of Identical Triplets (Group II): Individuals 'd,' 'e,' and 'f.' 3. Non-identical Triplets (Group III): Individuals 'g,' 'h,' and 'i.' Uniform conditions were maintained across all groups, ensuring identical nutrients and processes. In the third experiment, we preserved the inactive brains of 'a,' 'b,' 'd,' 'e,' 'g,' and 'h' from T1 to T2 and created three new identical brains for each participant, resulting in twenty-seven new brains labeled ('a1' to 'i3'). The original six brains were revived, leading to thirty-six participant brains in the lab. If our third experiment holds validity, it suggests that all twenty-seven artificially created brains and the revived six brains could function, resulting in thirty-six operational brains at T2. This includes the three live brains of 'c,' 'f,' and 'i.' Determining whose consciousness resides within the lab is practically impossible, except for 'c,' 'f,' and 'i.' For instance, if you are 'a' before T1, identifying which of the eleven identical brains ('a', 'a1', 'a2', 'a3', etc.) contains your consciousness at T2 is challenging. Assuming your consciousness exists in all eleven brains post T1 raises critical questions: Did your singular consciousness cease to exist, or did it transfer to a specific brain outside the lab? Here, we found a high probability of life after death.
Efficient hydrogen peroxide reduction in glutathione peroxidase cycle using cost-effective FeSe2 nanospheres
Authors: Khan Saif , Bhagwath Sundeep S. , Ajmal Mohammad Rehan , Ansari Intikhab A. , Lohani Mohtashim , Raghunandana Sanjaya Pavgada , Luqman Mohammad
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Hydrogen peroxide plays a crucial role in melanogenesis by regulating tyrosinase activity, the key melanin-forming enzyme responsible for the browning of fruits, vegetables, and seafood. The need for effective solutions to mitigate such browning processes highlights the significance of developing advanced catalytic agents.

Methods

We synthesized highly effective FeSe2 nanospheres using a one-step solvothermal process. The nanospheres were characterized through transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). Enzymatic activity was evaluated by plotting Michaelis-Menten and Lineweaver-Burk graphs to calculate the Vmax and Km parameters. Comparative analyses with a control sample and other known enzymes were performed to assess the catalytic efficiency.

Results and discussion

FeSe2 nanospheres successfully catalyzed the reduction of hydrogen peroxide to water and alcohol, demonstrating enzyme-like activity. The initial reaction rate was 11 times higher than the control sample and significantly outperformed other enzymes, except for those relying on expensive noble metals. These nanospheres (termed Nanozymes) mimic the enzymatic action of natural antioxidants, such as the glutathione peroxidase (GPx) enzyme, in biological systems. Their exceptional efficiency makes them a strong candidate for practical applications in mitigating early browning caused by melanogenesis.

Conclusions

FeSe2 nanozymes exhibit great promise as a biocatalyst for enhancing the shelf life of fruits and vegetables by reducing damage due to early melanogenesis. This cost-effective and efficient alternative to natural or noble metal-based enzymes offers significant potential for applications in food preservation and other industries.
Public attitudes to genetic technology for invasive pest control and preferences for engagement and information: a segmentation analysis
Authors: Hobman Elizabeth V. , Mankad Aditi , Carter Lucy , Collins Kerry
Published: January 2025

Advances in genetic technology hold promise in managing the increasing problem of invasive pests. The current study sought to improve our understanding of public perceptions, and potential public engagement pathways and information needs as the technology is researched and potentially developed for deployment. A survey of 1,149 Australians was conducted, and the sample was segmented into 4 groups based on their attitudes: Certain Objectors, Fence Sitters, Cautious Supporters, and Certain Supporters. ‘Light touch’ engagement activities appeared to satisfy most people; yet more intensive engagements could be appropriate for a small group who hold negative views towards the technology. Across the board, people wanted to know about the potential risks, and the regulation and controls surrounding the gene editing technology. Those who held more positive views also showed an interest in the scientific processes and techniques, while people who held more negative views wanted to know what was being done to deal with social and ethical issues. The results provide insight into 1) the diversity of views, and associated beliefs and feelings, among the public when confronted with a synthetic biology solution to an environmental problem, 2) how public engagement activities can be tailored to align with people’s engagement beliefs and stated preferences, and 3) what issues biotechnology developers should address as they endeavour to design genetic technology in a socially responsible way.
Closing the loop: establishing an autonomous test-learn cycle to optimize induction of bacterial systems using a robotic platform
Authors: Spannenkrebs Jan Benedict , Eiermann Aron , Zoll Thomas , Hackenschmidt Silke , Kabisch Johannes
Published: January 2025

One goal of synthetic biology is to provide well-characterised biological parts that behave predictably in genetic assemblies. To achieve this, each part must be characterised in a time-resolved manner under relevant conditions. Robotic platforms can be used to automate this task and provide sufficiently large and reproducible data sets including provenance. Although robotics can significantly speed up the data collection process, the collation and analysis of the resulting data, needed to reprogram and refine workflows for future iterations, is often a manual process. As a result, even in times of rapidly advancing artificial intelligence, the common design-build-test-learn (DBTL) cycle is still not circular without human intervention. To move towards fully automated DBTL cycles, we developed a software framework to enable a robotic platform to autonomously adjust test parameters. This interdisciplinary work between computer science and biology thus transforms a static robotic platform into a dynamic one. The software framework includes software components such as an importer that retrieves measurement data from the platform’s devices and writes it to a database. This is followed by an optimizer that selects the next measurement points based on a balance between exploration and exploitation. The platform is shown to be able to automatically and autonomously optimize the inducer concentration for a Bacillus subtilis system and the combination of inducer and feed release for a Escherichia coli system. As a target product the readily measurable green fluorescent reporter protein (GFP) is produced over multiple, consecutive iterations of testing. An evaluation of chosen (learning) algorithms for single and dual factor optimization was performed. In this article, we share the lessons learned from the development, implementation and execution of this automated design-build-test-learn cycles on a robotic platform.
Evaluation of tensile strength variability in fiber reinforced composite rods using statistical distributions
Authors: Qin Hao , Ka Thierno Aliou , Li Xiang , Sun Kangxin , Qin Kaiqiang , Noor E Khuda Sarkar , Tafsirojjaman T.
Published: January 2025

Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites are known for their exceptional resistance to harsh conditions, impressive durability, and high tensile strength, making them increasingly popular in structural applications. However, the inherent variability of composite materials poses a critical challenge, particularly in tensile strength, which directly impacts the safety and durability of structures. This study evaluated the tensile strength of 395 specimens, including 103 carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) rods and 293 hybrid glass-carbon FRP (HFRP) rods, tested according to the GB 30022–2013 standard. To analyze the data, four statistical distributions—normal, lognormal, Weibull, and Gamma—were applied, and a goodness-of-fit test identified the Weibull distribution as the most suitable model. The study further proposed standardized tensile strength values of 2,912.40 MPa for 5 mm CFRP rods and 2,230.98 MPa, 2,385.12 MPa, and 2,517.44 MPa for 6, 7, and 8 mm HFRP rods, respectively. These findings provide valuable insights into the tensile performance of FRP rods, contributing to enhanced design and safety standards for FRP-based structural elements and offering practical references for mitigating material variability in construction applications.
Role of spindle assembly checkpoint proteins in gametogenesis and embryogenesis
Authors: Pun Renju , North Brian J.
Published: January 2025

The spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) is a surveillance mechanism that prevents uneven segregation of sister chromatids between daughter cells during anaphase. This essential regulatory checkpoint prevents aneuploidy which can lead to various congenital defects observed in newborns. Many studies have been carried out to elucidate the role of proteins involved in the SAC as well as the function of the checkpoint during gametogenesis and embryogenesis. In this review, we discuss the role of SAC proteins in regulating both meiotic and mitotic cell division along with several factors that influence the SAC strength in various species. Finally, we outline the role of SAC proteins and the consequences of their absence or insufficiency on proper gametogenesis and embryogenesis in vivo.
An approach to fluoroless radiofrequency atrial fibrillation ablation
Authors: Pittet Thaïs , Delacrétaz Etienne , Cook Stéphane , Vivekanantham Hari
Published: January 2025

Atrial fibrillation is the most prevalent arrhythmia with a lifetime risk of nearly 30%. It can be associated with reduced quality of life and complications such as heart failure and stroke. Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is the most effective treatment for rhythm control. It has initially been performed with fluoroscopic catheter guiding. The advent of three-dimensional (3D) electro-anatomical mapping has significantly reduced the need for fluoroscopy. More recently, intracardiac echography (ICE) techniques have been used to eliminate the need for x-rays. Additional advantages include providing electrophysiology lab personnel with a lead-free working environment and avoiding radiation exposure for both patients and physicians. ICE may also enhance the safety of the procedure by enabling a safe trans-septal puncture and the early recognition of cardiac tamponade. In this article, we present our approach to fluoroless radiofrequency PVI using ICE and 3D electro-anatomical mapping.
Balancing act: Europeans' privacy calculus and security concerns in online CSAM detection
Authors: Rughiniş Răzvan , Vulpe Simona-Nicoleta , Ţurcanu Dinu , Rosner Daniel
Published: January 2025

This study examines privacy calculus in online child sexual abuse material (CSAM) detection across Europe, using Flash Eurobarometer 532 data. Drawing on theories of structuration and risk society, we analyze how individual agency and institutional frameworks interact in shaping privacy attitudes in high-stakes digital scenarios. Multinomial regression reveals age as a significant individual-level predictor, with younger individuals prioritizing privacy more. Country-level analysis shows Central and Eastern European nations have higher privacy concerns, reflecting distinct institutional and cultural contexts. Notably, the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) shows a positive association with privacy concerns in regression models when controlling for Augmented Human Development Index (AHDI) components, contrasting its negative bivariate correlation. Life expectancy emerges as the strongest country-level predictor, negatively associated with privacy concerns, suggesting deep institutional mechanisms shape privacy attitudes beyond individual factors. This dual approach reveals that both individual factors and national contexts are shaping privacy calculus in CSAM detection. The study contributes to a better understanding of privacy calculus in high-stakes scenarios, with implications for policy development in online child protection.
Transient dynamic analysis of cutter-head loads: effects of different cutter spacings during excavation
Authors: Kang Minglei , Liu Haining , Ma Wenjia , Wang Luqi , Zhou Jianjun , Li Miao
Published: January 2025

As a critical component in achieving the rock-breaking function during the operation of Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM), the cutterhead inevitably generates significant vibrations during the rock-breaking process. These vibrations can lead to localized damage to the cutterhead and cause the abnormal failure of key components, which, in turn, may compromise the overall tunneling efficiency of the machine. This study investigates the load and vibration characteristics of the cutterhead during the rock-breaking process, employing large-scale physical model experiments conducted at varying cutter spacings. Real-time acceleration data from the cutterhead can be obtained through the monitoring system integrated into the TBM (Tunnel Boring Machine) experimental platform. The whole time-domain curves are stepped and periodic, as demonstrated by the test results. During excavation, the monitoring curves vibrate suddenly if the cutter-head becomes stuck or if rocks begin to fracture. The cutter-head primarily exhibits vibrations in the 0∼3 Hz range, characteristic of low-frequency oscillations. To obtain the real-time mechanical properties of the cutter-head, transient dynamic analysis was employed, utilizing the collected data as driving parameters. According to numerical simulation results, the vibration pattern during excavation is the superposition of random vibrations generated by rock breaking and the unloading of the tunnel face. Moreover, it is important to monitor the wear of the edge cutters throughout the boring operation in real-world construction scenarios. To prevent and control cutterhead vibration, it is recommended that the cutter spacing be as small as possible during the tunneling process. At a smaller tool spacing, the cutterhead will exhibit higher structural integrity, which may lead to a delay in the response of mechanical vibration. The conclusions presented offer valuable insights for the study of the mechanical properties and stability design of TBM cutterheads.
Fast forward modeling and response analysis of extra-deep azimuthal resistivity measurements in complex model
Authors: Zhang Pan , Deng Shaogui , Yuan Xiyong , Liu Fen , Xie Weibiao
Published: January 2025

The Extra-Deep Azimuthal Resistivity Measurements (EDARM) tool, as an emerging technology, can effectively identify geological interfaces within a range of several tens of meters around the borehole, providing geological structures for directional drilling, and effectively improving reservoir encounter rates and enhancing oil and gas recovery rates. However, the signal is jointly affected by interfaces located both ahead of the drill bit and around the borehole, making it impossible to directly obtain the interface position from the signal. Considering the increased detection range of EDARM and the requirements for computational efficiency, this paper presents a 2.5-dimensional (2.5D) finite element method (FEM). By leveraging the symmetry of simulated signals in the spectral domain, the algorithm reduces computation time by 50%, significantly enhancing computational efficiency while preserving accuracy. During the geosteering process, fault and wedge models were simulated, and various feature parameters were extracted to assess their impact on the simulation outcomes of EDARM. The results show that both Look-around and Look-ahead modes exhibit sensitivity to changes in the angle of the geological interface. Crossplot analysis allows for effective identification of interface inclinations and the distances between the instrument and the geological interface. This recognition method is quick, intuitive, and yields reliable results.
Prevalence and factors associated with burnout in dental students of seven Cuban universities
Authors: Cossio-Alva Bryan Alexis , Corrales-Reyes Ibraín Enrique , Herrera-Plasencia Paul Martín , Mejia Christian R.
Published: January 2025

Introduction

The burnout syndrome affects diverse populations and among them undergraduate students, which can weigh down their academic performance and professional future.

Objective

This study aims to determine the prevalence and factors associated with burnout syndrome among dental students from seven Cuban universities.

Methods

Multicenter, observational, analytical and cross-sectional study developed in 7 Cuban universities. The validated version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Students Survey (MBI-SS) was used as a dependent variable. Prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated.

Results

A total of 738 students participated, of whom 470 (63.8%) were women. The average age was 21.7 ± 1.7 years. The prevalence of burnout was 34.8% (n = 257). In the multivariate model, it was found that having an academic advisor was associated with a high burnout score (RPa: 2.10; 95% CI: 1.18–3.74; p = 0.012). In contrast, having published a scientific article was associated with a lower score (RPa: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.23–0.64; p < 0.001).

Conclusion

One third of the students presented burnout. Having an academic tutor and having made a scientific publication were the associated factors identified.
Use of multimodal glosses in teaching English vocabulary for non-English specialised undergraduates in public university in Nepal
Authors: Paudel Pitambar
Published: January 2025

Knowledge of vocabulary is an essential aspect of language development. Most of the non-English specialised students feel hesitation in communicating in English due to limited vocabulary. Effective vocabulary teaching and learning can be aided by multimodal glosses. In this rationale, this mixed methods participatory action research is intended to investigate the effect of multimodal glosses in improving the English vocabulary of non-English specilised EFL students in a public university in Nepal. The study was conducted in a three-month intervention experiment for an intact class of 60 non-English specilised undergraduates. The data were collected from tests (pre-test, progress-test, and post-test), and interviews. The data were analysed using quantitative statistics (mean, standard deviation, and T-test), and the data from the unstructured interview were analysed descriptively. The overall results revealed that the use of multimodal glosses led to significant improvements in students’ English vocabulary and its use. The findings suggest that the study’s intervention, the use of multimodal glosses, was effective in improving non-English specialised undergraduates’ ability to develop, comprehend, and use English vocabulary. Thus, students and teachers are to be aware of using multimodal glosses contextually to increase, understand, and adopt English vocabulary appropriately.
Professional development for faculty in Uzbekistan
Authors: Coffelt Tina A. , Koziel Jacek A.
Published: January 2025

This ethnographic case study focuses on adult learners in a professional development grant program. The program applied the ADDIE model to train faculty in Uzbekistan to conduct research, write for academic audiences, and publish in top-tier academic journals. Agricultural and biosystems engineering and English faculty members at a US Midwest university forged an interdisciplinary partnership to virtually deliver a 5-month program to an initial cohort of 68 participants. Topics included research ethics, experimental and survey research design, and structure of scientific papers, among others. The pre- and post-tests objectively measured material covered in the curriculum. Post-test scores from 18 participants showed improvement (n = 11), no change, (n = 4), or lower scores (n = 3). Regardless, the granting agency was pleased with the implementation of the project. This manuscript informs future collaborators on successful procedures, such as training models and virtual delivery, and opportunities for improvement, including English language proficiency, eligibility standards, and emphasizing research ethics.
The effect of the number of endometrial CD138+ cells on the pregnancy outcomes of infertile patients in the proliferative phase
Authors: Li Yuye , Yu Shuyi , Liu Wenjuan , Chen Yawen , Yang Xiaobing , Wu Juanhua , Xu Mingjuan , You Guanying , Lian Ruochun , Huang Chunyu , Chen Wanru , Zeng Yong , Liu Fenghua , Diao Lianghui
Published: January 2025

Objective

This study was conducted to determine the influence of the number of CD138+ cells in the proliferative endometrium on pregnancy outcomes.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study was conducted from January to August 2018. A total of 664 infertile women who were not diagnosed with chronic endometritis (CE) and who had not received the respective antibiotic treatment were studied. Immunostaining was performed for the plasmacyte marker CD138. The number of CD138+ cells was compared in the proliferative and mid-luteal phases of the same patients without antibiotic therapy. Infertile patients were separated into three groups based on the number of positive lesions [the number of high power fields (HPFs) containing no less than five CD138+ cells]: 0 (n = 474), 1-2 (n = 125), and ≥3 positive lesions (n = 104). The pregnancy outcomes of the infertile women undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) among the three groups were then compared.

Results

There was a much higher level of CD138+ cells during proliferation than during the mid-luteal phase (P <0.0001). Pregnancy outcomes did not differ between the groups with 0 and 1-2 positive lesions. However, the ≥3 positive lesions group (P =0.006, P =0.029) had significantly lower ongoing pregnancy and live birth rates compared with the no positive lesion group. Although the 0 and ≥3 positive lesions groups showed a trend toward higher rates of clinical pregnancy (P =0.132), these differences failed to reach statistical significance. After age, body mass index (BMI), and clinical features were adjusted for, the ≥3 positive lesions group showed significantly lower live birth rates (aOR, 1.84; 95%CI, 1.08-3.15; P =0.026), clinical pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 1.78; 95% CI, 1.06-2.95; P =0.028), and ongoing pregnancy (aOR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.09-3.15; P =0.024). The analysis demonstrated that the smallest number of stromal CD138+ cells suggestive of CE patients requiring treatment was defined as ≥ 3 positive lesions during the proliferation.

Conclusions

Different diagnostic criteria for CE should be created for the proliferative and mid-luteal phases. The analysis demonstrated that the smallest number of stromal CD138+ cells suggestive of CE patients was defined as ≥ 3 positive lesions during the proliferative phase.
5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T gene polymorphism as a risk factor for premature coronary artery disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Mohammed Nisreen O. , Ali Ibtisam A. , Elamin Bahaelddin K. , Saeed Bakri Osman
Published: January 2025

Background

Africa, like the rest of the world, is experiencing an increasing prevalence of diabetes mellitus. Diabetes increases the risk for coronary artery disease (CAD) by fourfold compared to people without diabetes. C677T polymorphism in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and hyperhomocysteinemia were reported by many studies as risk factors for CAD among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Early detection of modifiable risk factors for CAD is an important aspect of management of diabetes. This is the only study in Sudan which investigates the association between MTHFR genotypes and plasma homocysteine levels, and their role in premature CAD (PCAD) among patients with T2DM.

Methods

This study is a comparative study. We enrolled 226 Sudanese patients with T2DM, age range 25-60 years, recruited from Alshaab and Omdurman teaching hospitals in Khartoum State. 113 patients had CAD confirmed by angiography and electrocardiography (ECG) and 113 had no evidence of CAD. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), using Hinf1 restriction enzyme, were used to determine MTHFR genotypes. Plasma homocysteine levels were determined by enzymatic assay on the Hitachi Cobas Integra® 400 plus. Data was analyzed using statistical package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 23, using Mann-Whtney U test, general linear model, Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis.

Results

The frequencies of TT, CT, and CC genotypes were 16,40 and 44% among T2DM patients with PCAD. In T2DM patients without PCAD, the frequencies of TT, CT, and CC genotypes were 00,19 and 83%. The T allele showed strong association with PCAD among T2DM patients, p <0.001, odds ratio (OR) 6.2, 95% CI (3.4-11.6). Patients with PCAD showed higher plasma homocysteine levels than patients without PCAD (13.5 µmol/L versus 10 µmol/L, p < 0.001). The T allele had significant effect on homocysteine level, (p <0.001). Plasma homocysteine levels were higher in individuals with TT genotype than those with CT or CC genotypes in patients with PCAD (16.2 + 5.3, 14.3 + 5.7 and 12.9 + 5.02 µmol/L, p=0.017). Homocysteine levels showed a significant association with CAD, p<0.001, OR 3.2, 95% CI (1.9—5.5).

Conclusions

Our study suggests that C677T polymorphism of MTHFR gene and hyperhomocysteinemia are risk factors for PCAD in Sudanese population with T2DM.
Assessing institutional sanitation and its impact at a citywide level: an exploration of school sanitation in the Accra Metropolitan Area, Ghana
Authors: Nkonde William , Furlong Claire , Reed Brian , Brdanovic Damir
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Exploring sanitation at a city scale is crucial due to approaches such as Citywide Inclusive Sanitation (CWIS). Sanitation impacts individuals, households and the whole city, as recognised by CWIS. The Shit Flow Diagram Graphic (SFDG) is the primary tool for citywide situation analysis. However, current SFDGs assume that individuals use only home toilets, overlooking the complexity of toilet usage, including public and workplace facilities. Our understanding of citywide sanitation flows is incomplete if analyses ignore the other toilets that people use. This study explored the impact of one type of institutional sanitation, school sanitation, on citywide sanitation flows.

Methods

To do this an overview and analysis of school sanitation at a citywide level was needed and a method to split the school pupils’ excreta flows was developed. Data was collected from secondary sources (e.g. from Ghana Statistical and Educational Services), structured observations (n = 26), and interviews with key informants (n = 15), headteachers (n = 26) and students (n = 39) from across Accra Metropolitan Area, Ghana. This data was used to construct three SFDGs, which were compared using Trend Graphs (graphs used to compare the state of sanitation across the different stages of the sanitation value chain).

Results and Discussion

The findings indicated that school sanitation was less safely managed than household sanitation and that SFDGs could be used assess school-level sanitation. Method development was crucial to accurately partition pupils’ excreta flows. While annual flows from schools appeared insignificant citywide, this seasonal flow could adversely affect public and environmental health during school terms. Therefore, it may be more important to consider the school population as a whole when thinking about the impact of school sanitation. This study highlights the importance of understanding where people spend their day and how this is related to the different sanitation systems they use; it demonstrates the need to move beyond household sanitation. This study successfully demonstrates the level of information that is needed regarding people’s sanitation practices which enables their excreta flows to be split between different facilities. It could be used as a guide for future studies and the further development of methods to explore this topic.
Optimal joint production and green investment decisions of green credit financing under uncertain demands
Authors: Yu Zhiping , Feng Xin
Published: January 2025

Green credit financing (GCF) is a specialized financial service offered by banks, aimed at incentivizing borrowers to engage in environmentally sustainable investments, and thus promote sustainable development. It is worth noting that in the practical economic environment, the ability of enterprises to adapt their production and green investment decisions to unforeseen market demand is critical for their green credit financing. This paper investigates a joint production and green investment optimization problem of manufacturers financed through GCF under uncertain demand. Only the interval bound of the demand are known. The problem is initially formulated as a min-max regret model to maximize robustness. Based on problem characterizations, an optimal joint production and green investment decision is proposed. To determine the effectiveness of the proposed decision, computational experiments are conducted on real-world instances. Besides, sensitivity analysis is conducted to derive managerial insights on the implementation of GCF under uncertain demand.
Understanding the county-level relationship between population change and ecological environment quality dynamic in China, 2000–2020
Authors: Zhong Mingxing , Liu Qingqing , Hu Xinyue
Published: January 2025

Global population growth has increasingly intensified human interferences with natural ecosystems. These interferences often exhibit complexity and diversity characteristics. Understanding the relationship between population growth and environmental issues has become a focus in the current scientific community. This study, leveraging multi-source remote sensing and census data from China for the years 2000, 2010, and 2020, utilized multiple spatial econometric models to investigate the pressure of population dynamics on Ecological Environment Quality (EEQ). A bivariate local spatial autocorrelation model was applied to pinpoint regions that experienced significant population pressure in China over the past two decades. Results showed that there was a rise in population density, with larger cities attracting more migrants to become residents and EEQ declining in most counties. The analysis revealed a strong spatial dependence between changes in EEQ and population. Spatial regression models were more effective than non-spatial models in explaining population pressure on EEQ. Population growth was significantly associated with EEQ decline. Based on the spatial regression model, EEQ decreased by 0.029% for every 1% increase in population from 2000 to 2010. During 2010–2020, this impact was more pronounced, with a 1% population associated with a 0.069% decline in EEQ. Pressure zones analysis showed the most widespread regions were unsustainable zones (decreases in population and EEQ), followed by areas with both population increases and EEQ declines, with fewer regions demonstrating coordinated development improvements. Effective solutions to address the challenges of population pressure on EEQ involve government regulation, strategic planning, cross-regional management, and the sharing of responsibilities and benefits.
DEmiRNA-mRNA regulatory network reveals miR‐122-5p as a regulatory factor of arginine metabolism in necrotizing enterocolitis
Authors: Ding Zhili , Guo Ting , Tang Qiang , Hong Yaqiang , Lv Zhibao , Lu Li , Zhuang Wenjun
Published: January 2025

Objective

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a gastrointestinal emergency with relatively high morbidity and mortality in neonates. The role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in NEC is not yet entirely clear. This study aimed to explore the mechanism of miR-122-5p in NEC.

Methods

Differentially expressed (DE) miRNAs were sequenced in control and NEC mice. The DEmiRNA-mRNA regulatory network was constructed and the bioinformatics analysis was performed to identify the target mRNAs and potential roles of the DEmiRNAs. The miR-122-5p activation was explored in vitro in the human intestinal epithelial cell (FHs74Int) and rat intestinal epithelial cell (IEC-6). In vivo, mice were transinfected with miR-122-5p inhibitor before the NEC occurred. Mass spectrometry was used to qualify the concentrations of amino acids, and the viability of intestinal stem cell (ISC) was accessed to verify the biological function.

Results

Preliminarily, 15 miRNAs were found to be differentially expressed between NEC group and control group. Subsequent bioinformatics analysis revealed that miR-122-5p significantly contributes to the arginine metabolism in NEC through the DEmiRNA-mRNA regulatory network, with PRODH2 and ALDH18A1 being identified as its target genes. In vitro, miR-122-5p mimic inhibited the expression of PRODH2 and ALDH18A1 in the FHs74Int cells and IEC-6 cells. In vivo, inhibition of miR-122-5p led to increased expression of PRODH2 and ALDH18A1, along with elevated arginine levels. Following transfection with a miR-122-5p inhibiting adenovirus, the survival rate of NEC mice improved, and intestinal injury was alleviated.

Conclusion

MiR-122-5p inhibition could impact arginine metabolism by targeting PRODH2 and ALDH18A1, thereby mitigating intestinal injury in NEC.
CoviWall, a whole-virion-inactivated B.1.617.2 vaccine candidate, induces potent humoral and Th1 cell response in mice and protects against B.1.617.2 strain challenge in Syrian hamsters
Authors: Dandotiya Jyotsna , Adhikari Neeta , Tripathy Manas Ranjan , Jakhar Kamini , Sonar Sudipta , Pati Dibya Ranjan , Kanchan Vibhu , Prasad Varsha S. , Kumar Jitendra , Senapati Nitesh K. , Bharmoria Arti , Rani Neeraj , Lakhanpal Monika , Patil CS. , Singh Nishan , Khan Lovely , Jambu Lavit , Jain Naveen K. , Ali Syed Khalid , Priyadarsiny Priyanka , Panda Amulya K. , Jain Rajesh , Mani Shailendra , Samal Sweety , Awasthi Amit , Rizvi Zaigham Abbas
Published: January 2025

Rapid development of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines and antiviral drugs have significantly reduced morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although most of the vaccines were developed initially with the ancestral Wuhan antigen, here, we report the development and immunological efficacy of a whole-virion–inactivated vaccine candidate (CoviWall) to combat the deadly B.1.617.2 (Delta strain) infection. In the current study, we demonstrate a consistent manufacturing process under Good Manufacturing Practice for the development of CoviWall and its characterization using various analytical methods as per regulatory compliance. In addition, we provide pre-clinical immunogenicity and protective efficacy data of the CoviWall vaccine. All the three test doses (i.e., low dose, mid dose, and high dose) immunized in C57BL/6 mice elicited a high titer of anti–receptor-binding domain antibody and neutralizing antibody response against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus–2 (SARS-CoV-2) after second booster dose. In addition, CoviWall immunization also produced a significant T-cell response in the immunized animals. Our B.1.617.2 strain challenge data in Syrian hamsters indicate that immunized hamsters show attenuated clinical manifestations of COVID-19 with reduced lung viral load. Moreover, assessment of pulmonary histopathology revealed lower cellular injury, inflammation, and pneumonia in the vaccinated hamsters as compared to the unvaccinated animals. Such promising results augur well for the clinical phase I trial of the CoviWall vaccine and further development against contagious SARS-CoV-2 strains in the future.