bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Whole exome sequencing identifies variants in the \(\textit{TNNI3}\) gene in vietnamese patient with restrictive cardiomyopathy - a case report
Authors: Lien Nguyen Thi Kim , Nguyen Van Tung , Le Trong Tu , Dang Thi Hai Van , Vu Quynh Nga , Nguyen Thanh Hien , Do Minh Hien , Nguyen Hoang Lam , Trinh Tuan Hien , Nguyen Minh Duc , Nguyen Huy Hoang
Published: March 2024

Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is a rare heart muscle disease in which the heart wall is rigid leading to diastolic dysfunction caused by abnormal elastic properties of the myocardium and/or intercellular matrix. The prognosis is generally poor, and RCM has a high mortality rate in pediatric patients. There are no curative treatments for RCM, so cardiac transplantation is the only effective treatment. Diagnosis RCM, clinical diagnosis can be challenging because clinical presentations and imaging manifestations of RCM are similar to other cardiomyopathies so it requires other specific diagnoses. Currently, pathogenic mutations in 22 different genes have been identified in patients with RCM. Identifying mutations in these genes helps discriminate RCM from other cardiomyopathies. Besides, next-generation sequencing (including whole genome sequencing, whole exome sequencing,...) has provided an effective tool for simultaneously analyzing mutations in many different genes.
In this study, we conducted sequencing of the entire gene coding region (WES) in the patient and identified a compound heterozygote variants (c.289C>G, p.Arg97Gly and c.433C>T, p.Arg145Trp) in the TNNI3 gene. These variants were inherited from the patient's father and mother, who were heterozygous variant carriers. These variants were also identified as the pathogenic variants in the ClinVar database (accession number VCV001331910.2 and VCV000012426.28, respectively) and were the cause of the patient's disease. Our results suggest that WES can be used to definitively diagnose the genetic variants associated with RCM and show that genetic screening is essential for families of RCM patients.
Roosting and nesting ecology of house sparrow (\(\textit{Passer domesticus}\)) in Guwahati city, Assam
Authors: Pegu Snigdha , Nag Sudipta , Hasan Rubaiya , Das Arup Nama
Published: March 2024

Aves are unique in having a coat of feathers and in balancing on the hind limbs alone. They are known as the feathered bipeds. Roosting, nest building in birds has been considered a remarkable behaviour in aves. The nesting ecology of birds is likely the most important component of its life history and it is affected by several ecological and environmental factors. Guwahati city, a rapidly growing city in northeast India inhabits a lot of species of birds. It is located between the Brahmaputra River’s southern bank and the Shillong plateau’s foothills. Total of the 57 nests, 28% were discovered in the rolling shop shutters, followed by 27% in the tin sheet roofs of homes, followed by 19% in building crevices, 9% in building holes, 7% in advertisement hoarding and 5% in AC outdoor units and 5% in unused building pipes. It is also observed that 49% of the nests are located at a height between 2–4 metres from the ground level, 70% of the nests are located between 1–5 metres from the nearest food source, and 58% of the nests are located between 1–5 metres from the nearest water source. Out of the 57 nests observed, 50 were found to be solitary, 5 were found to be Pair, and 2 were found to be cluster type. The study found that choosing a nest is influenced directly by the location of the nearest food source and nearest water source in Guwahati city. The study presents the merit and needs for studying the nesting ecology of birds in India, also suggests best practices to conserve bird’s nest specific to the Indian context which might provide important information for the nesting ecology of House Sparrows (Passer domesticus).
The first record of \(\textit{Kudoa yasunagai}\) (Hsieh & Chen, 1984) (Myxosporea: Multivalvulida) parasitizing the brain of barhead spinefoot \(\textit{Siganus virgatus}\) (Valenciennes) from Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Ngoc Chinh , Shirakashi Sho
Published: March 2024

A brain-infecting myxozoan, Kudoa yasunagai (Hsieh & Chen, 1984), was identified using both morphological and molecular methods in a marine fish from Van Phong Bay, Khanh Hoa province, Vietnam. Cysts containing spores were observed in the brain of one out of 10 Siganus virgatus (Valenciennes) individuals (10%). The myxospores were radially symmetrical, containing a majority of 7 equal shell valves and polar capsules. The spores measured 6.6 ± 0.1 (6.4‒6.7) µm in length, 7.6 ± 0.5 (7.0‒8.4) µm in width, and 7.0 ± 0.4 (6.5‒7.7) µm in thickness. Polar capsules measured 2.8 ± 0.2 (2.6‒3.0) µm in length and 1.4 ± 0.1 (1.2‒1.5) µm in width, containing a filament inside. The SSU rDNA sequence from the Vietnamese specimen showed > 99.94 % identity with K. yasunagai from Japan and Australia. This report marks a new geographical and host record for K. yasunagai.
Comparison of Implant-Retained Overdenture and Conventional Complete Denture: A Survey Study to Measure Patients' Satisfaction and Quality of Life in Dental School Clinics.
Authors: Kutkut Ahmad , Knudson Hannah , Bush Heather , Studts Jamie
Published: March 2024

Patient satisfaction and quality of life are integral to assessing oral health care quality. For many Americans still using conventional complete dentures (CD) or Implant Retained-Overdentures (IOD), it remains essential to consider improving their oral health outcomes and quality of life. Due to inexperienced student dentists providing dental care to dental school patients, patient grievances are generally considered a problem. Patient feedback and satisfaction have proven valuable resources for monitoring and improving patient safety. While CD and IOD are the two leading treatment options for edentulism, more comparative studies in the literature need to compare their outcomes in a school setting. The research question that guided this comparative analysis was, “Is patient satisfaction and quality of life affected by the type of prostheses and provider?” A validated questionnaire was mailed to 520 individuals selected from records of patients who had received treatment for edentulous mandible at a student prosthodontic clinic at the [redacted for peer review] from 2014 to 2016 with at least one year of follow-up time. A validated questionnaire for edentulous patients based on the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-19) was used. In addition, information on patients' oral health-related quality of life, including questions related to the edentulous patients' satisfaction with their dentures, was collected. The response rate was 33% (N = 171). The study's findings confirm previous findings, suggesting that IODs may significantly impact oral health-related quality of life. Data show that 76% of the IOD group reported improvement in experience when using the implants to retain the mandibular denture. However, there were no statistically significant differences in the OHIP scores between overall CD and IOD patient groups. Males with IOD had lower physical pain, limitations, and concerns associated with a social disability and handicap domains. Comparing users who had experiences with both treatment options, this study discerned essential characteristics that contribute to increased patient satisfaction with IOD and identified significance in outcomes by gender. These findings guide prosthodontic practitioners' patient care practices and identify a continuing need to discuss CD and IOD treatment protocols within dental school curricula.
Identification of the Incisive Branch of the Inferior Alveolar Nerve of Edentulous Mandibles Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography
Authors: Madern Ashley L. , Barber H. Dexter , Agostini-Walesch Gina , Siu Trever , Davis Janece , Klinefelter Jamie , Martin Justin
Published: March 2024

This study explored the average length of the incisive branch of the inferior alveolar nerve on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) regarding patient demographics in patients with edentulous mandibles. CBCT was utilized in a retrospective study of edentulous mandibles to assess the presence and anatomical variation for the incisive branch (IB). Three independent observers measured bilateral IB lengths. In addition to demographics, IB length and port of exit data were obtained. A one-way ANOVA was used to test IB length varied by sex or port of exit, and a standard Pearson’s correlation was used to test for IB length and age significance with a significance level of a p-value<0.05. Intraclass correlation coefficients show significant agreement in IB length across all observers. No significant difference was noted between the exit port and IB length. An important effect was reported for sex, indicating women have generally shorter IB lengths (9.43 ± 3.99 vs 10.55 ± 3.92). There was a significant correlation with age, but the relationship was weak. Edentulous mandibles have an altered anatomic landscape and establishing predictive incisive branch dimensions aids practitioners in surgical planning.
Pencegahan Penularan Virus Corona di Masjid Agung Baitul Mukminin Kabupaten Jombang
Authors: Dana Fauziah Muslimah  , Ahmad Suyuthi
Published: March 2024

The purpose of this study was to see how successful the implementation and the resulting impact on the Jombang Regency regent's regulations were in preventing the transmission of the corona virus which was located at the Baitul Mukminin Great Mosque of Jombang Regency. The method used is descriptive qualitative research method with the type of qualitative research-case study. Data collection techniques using interviews, observation and documentation. This study uses the theory of implementation model by Edwards George III and impact thinking by Thomas R. Dyee. In this research produce. The findings of this study are: first, during the implementation of the health protocol, there was a change in behavior for both the takmir of the mosque and the congregation of the mosque. The difference is that at the beginning of the pandemic, they were very strict in implementing the protocol, but over time during the new normal, the level of awareness has decreased. This happened because the mosque was inconsistent in implementing protocol discipline and the congregations who were still there were negligent of the health protocol. In addition, the monitoring carried out by the government and the mosque was not optimal. Second, in every policy that is implemented, there will always be an influence or impact, both positive and negative impacts, including in the health protocol policy
Russia Means a Lot to Me
Authors: Magsar Tseveenii
Published: March 2024

This article covers autobiographical and research facts from the life of a Mongolian Russian scholar, literary critic, and translator of A. S. Pushkin’s works. The author of the article is a graduate of the Faculty of Philology at Gorky Ural State University and President of the Mongolian Association of Teachers of the Russian Language and Literature. The article discusses issues related to his translation and research activities, and, more particularly, his conceptual approach to assessing literary critical thoughts and the principles he adheres to when translating Russian culture-related phenomena into Mongolian. Also, the article discusses some problems of saving values transferred by Russian literature and culture, with the author expressing his opinion on the Russian national mentality formed primarily through friendly communication. When working in modern Mongolian literary criticism, the researcher had to decide from what position to understand certain parameters in assessing artistic phenomena that existed in the era of socialist realism. As a result, he concludes that the most destructive thing in managing artistic culture, in particular, was excessive ideologization and moralizing, which is temporary and always becomes a barrier to the nature of creative thinking. By working in the field of translation studies and on the ways of transmitting Russian culture-specific phenomena in poetic texts into the Mongolian language, the researcher proposes to adhere to the principle that, first of all, the form and message of the work should not be affected, so that in terms of value it provides readers with an adequate perception in the target language.
The Union of Russian Emigrants in Paris: Adaptation and Pro-Russian Activities (with Reference to the Sûreté Générale)
Authors: Bespalova Ksenia
Published: March 2024

This article presents the results of the examination of the activities of the Union of Russian Workers of France / Union of Soviet Citizens in France in Paris which existed from 1925 to 1929 and acted as one of the most numerous unions of Russian emigrants. Drawing on materials from the archive of the Historical Service of the French Ministry of Defence, prepared by Sûreté Générale in the name of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of France, the author of the article identifies the purpose of creation and the tasks that the participants of the associations set themselves. The microhistorical approach and the study of the everyday life of Russian emigrants demonstrates that the primary goal was to help compatriots in adapting their life in exile. An analysis of the activities of the members of the union to improve the lives of compatriots made it possible to identify a number of successful examples of the help of the members of the union in solving urgent problems of emigrants. Additionally, the article demonstrates various ways of providing material assistance to those in need, as well as attempts to develop the intellectual culture of Russian emigrants and increase their competitiveness for employment in France. The measures taken by the members of the unions were aimed, among other things, at encouraging Russian emigrants to return to Russia. According to the author, such actions were soft cultural propaganda in favour of the Soviet Union, and these attempts to return emigrants to their homeland yielded results. The article also presents examples of the activities of the members of the union that did not contribute to the successful stay of Russian emigrants in France. The paper presents an example of the activity of the members of the union in appropriating the property of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, inciting emigrants to rebellion and organising demonstrations demanding the transfer of the church to the USSR Embassy. The result of this activity was a more thorough supervision of the activities of the organisation by the employees of the Sûreté Générale and the repatriation of a few active members of the union. It is concluded that this activity hindered the life of the Russian colony in Paris and did not contribute to its security in France.
Lithuanian Diaspora in Uruguay During the Beginning of the Cold War
Authors: Moseуkina Mаrina
Published: March 2024

This article studies the problems behind the involvement of the Lithuanian diaspora of Uruguay in the political processes at the beginning of the Cold War (second half of the 1940s – early 1950s). The author considers the history of the formation of the Lithuanian diaspora in the South American country starting from the later period of the Russian Empire and its status in the interwar period in the context of the development of the Lithuanian statehood. Additionally, the article describes the emergence and solution of the problem of refugees and displaced persons after World War II in the international context. It is noted that the refugees and displaced persons were mostly representatives of the Soviet Union (including the Baltic states that became part of the USSR in 1940), Poland, Yugoslavia, and other countries of Eastern Europe. The study proves that in the new historical conditions, there was a change in the social composition of the Lithuanian emigration of Uruguay, which was replenished with political opponents of the Soviet regime, collaborators fleeing retribution, and “Westerners” (defectors). Formed as a result of a global conflict and a new system of international relations, this type of diasporas was called “communities of exiles”, “exiled communities”, or “political diasporas”. The politicised nature of such diasporas, which included post-war Lithuanian emigration to Uruguay, led to its participation in the information confrontation with the USSR in the framework of the Cold War that had begun. In this regard, the author examines the attitude of the Uruguayan authorities to the “emigration governments of the Baltic countries”, and, more particularly, the so-called “Lithuanian government” headed by Mykolas Krupavičius in the USA and his “mission” headed by Kazimiro Grauzhinis in Uruguay. The specifics of the situation with the problems of repatriation in the USSR, which is revealed using materials from the Archive of Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation and emigration periodicals, showed the reaction of the Soviet leadership to the position of Uruguay in relation to Soviet displaced persons (including within the new borders). The author concludes that in the context of intra-diaspora splits, immediately after the war, the nationalist-minded part of the Lithuanian emigration was an active participant of all anti-Soviet campaigns, using finances and all possible information resources for this (primarily, the United States). Hence, the unconditional orientation towards Washington of this part of the diasporas, including the Lithuanian one, which was called upon to sow anti-Russian sentiments and support the negative image of the USSR in the public opinion of the West, becomes obvious and logical.
The Decolonization of the History of USSR’s Peoples in Soviet Historiography (1920–1930)
Authors: Tikhonov Vitaly
Published: March 2024

This article analyses the anti-colonial discourse in the Soviet historical science of the 1920s and 1930s. The work is based on both published materials and documents from the Archive of the Russian Academy of Sciences. It is demonstrated that the anti-colonial discourse was built as an antithesis to the pre-revolutionary state-national historical narrative and was based on a radical and critical class analysis. In the 1920s, a kind of “historiographical sweep” took place, when, using class analysis, the students of M. N. Pokrovsky revealed the “great power” and “colonial” ideologems of the classics of Russian historical science and their followers. The anti-colonial vector of Soviet historiography was embodied in the historiographical concept of the “history of the peoples of the USSR”. It was assumed that all the peoples of the USSR were to receive a full-fledged place in history. However, since the mid‑1930s, there has been a drift from radical revolutionary anti-colonialism towards a more statesmanlike ideology and the development of consolidating concepts. The turning point was the meeting of historians with Stalin in March 1934, after which the process of transition from the concept of “the history of the peoples of the USSR” to “the history of the USSR” was launched, which was fixed in the Short Course of the History of the USSR (1937) edited by A. V. Shestakov. The international context also played a significant role in curtailing anticolonial rhetoric, since there were fears that foreign policy opponents would use this to divide the peoples of the USSR. Historians of the “old school”, who advocated the return to the concepts of pre-revolutionary historiography, also played a certain role in the correction. In turn, these concepts fit better into the current ideological situation and found support in the Central Committee of the CPSU(b). The marginalization of anti-colonial discourse occurs during the war and postwar period.
Georgian Aristocracy in the Politics of the Russian Empire: Mechanisms and Stages of Integration
Authors: Urushadze Amiran
Published: March 2024

This article examines the process of integration of the Georgian elite into the social and political space of the Russian Empire in the first half of the nineteenth century. In this case, integration should be understood as confirmation of the class rights of the Georgian nobility. This process lasted for half a century. The first part of the article analyses the efforts of the Russian authorities aimed at finding an optimal format for confirming the class rights of the Georgian elite. The class guarantees of the Georgian aristocracy were recorded in several documents, most notably in the Treaty of Georgievsk in 1783 and the Manifesto to the Georgian People in 1801. In addition, the rights of the noble Georgian class were guaranteed in several official proclamations of the regional Russian administration. However, the “nobilisation” of the Georgian elite encountered several legal obstacles and was delayed. Another problem of the Russian government was the unauthorised issuance of princely and noble letters by Georgian princes, who, after the liquidation of the royal house of Bagration, were resettled to Russian capitals. The government was not immediately successful in stopping this illegal practice. All these difficulties led to the fact that by the middle of the nineteenth century, most representatives of the Georgian nobility had not received recognition of their class rights at the imperial level. The second part of the article examines the activities of the first Caucasian Viceroy, Mikhail Vorontsov, aimed at completing the process of the “nobilsation” of the Georgian nobility. In 1846, at the proposal of the Viceroy, two special temporary commissions were created in Tiflis and Kutais to examine the class rights of the Georgian nobility. The commissions consisted of representatives of the Georgian nobility and Russian officials. The work of the commissions was completed in 1849, and a year later the lists of Georgian princes and nobles received the approval of Emperor Nicholas I. The Confirmation of rights made the Georgian nobility part of the imperial elite and motivated Georgians to take an active part in empire-building.
Between Two Empires: Railway Construction in the Far East in the Late Imperial Period
Authors: Dmitrieva Natalia
Published: March 2024

Based on a wide range of archival sources, this article analyses the history of the creation and functioning of the Nikolskaya branch of the Ussuri Railway in the conditions of the Russian-Chinese transborder of the eastern approach to the Chinese Eastern Railway (CER). Designed to connect the CER with the Russian railway network, this branch was significant in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries from the point of view of ensuring the connection of the Trans-Siberian Railway with Vladivostok before the construction of a bypass along the Amur. The concept of “transborder” makes it possible to fit this plot into the broader problem of the formation of contact sociocultural zones along the long land border between Russia and China. The unification of the roads of the two empires into a single railway network led to an increase in migration flows, the founding of new settlements, and the development of civil and military infrastructure, elements of which can be still seen today. At the same time, for a long time, researchers paid no attention to the construction of the connecting branches of the CER and the Trans-Siberian Railway, excluding the adjacent territories from the general narrative of transborder issues, which makes the study particularly relevant. At the same time, archival materials make it possible to characterise not only the difficulties that the Russian government encountered during the construction of the connecting branch but also the initial stage of the formation of a network of settlements along it, their development, as well as the specifics of existence in transborder conditions. The listed issues were raised not only in the Committee of the Siberian Railway, the Ministry of Railways, and the Ministry of Finance, which directly supervised the construction and determined the volume of financing, but also in the CER Society. From the financial point of view, turning to the method of joint road construction using private and state funds, previously tested on other railways in the country, would become one of the arguments for leasing the Ussuri Railway to the CER Society.
Empires’ Keif, or Opium Trade on the Tea Route in the Era of Late Empires
Authors: Mikhalev Alexey
Published: March 2024

This paper offers an analysis of the process by which new borders appeared in Inner Asia during the late imperial period. The research focuses on the borders of Russia, Qing, and Mongolia at the time of the collapse of the Qing Empire and political crisis in Russia, which led to its demise in 1917. The author aims to reveal the influence of these processes on the region referring to transborder smuggling via the transformation of the control and power of central governments. In the author’s opinion, two key factors defined the increase in opium smuggling at the Russo-Mongolian border in 1900–1917. First, political destabilization on the outskirts of the Qing Empire. Second, Cossack regiments were sent from the border to Europe to take part in World War I, thus border control was greatly reduced. The research for this study is based upon the materials of the Russian Imperial customs in the town of Kyakhta, the long-time center of Russo-Chinese trade. Based on archival data, one can trace the volumes and routes of opium smuggling from Iran to Mongolia. The area under consideration is well researched as a cross-border smuggling point; however, the problem of the illicit opium trade is still insufficiently analyzed. This is due to both political obstacles and access to sources. This article is the first attempt at a systematic study of opium trafficking through Kyakhta. The destination of the routes was the town of Maimaicheng, located near Kyakhta and inhabited by Chinese merchants. Opium was also bought by the honghuzi – armed robbers operating near the border. However, when the Civil War broke out in Russia (1917–1922), and the Far Eastern Republic was established, opium supply via the Trans-Siberian Railway declined as this route was no longer safe. Therefore, the notion of regional order and disorder is an important category for this research. This framework offers a way of better understanding Trans-Eurasian relations in the twentieth century.
Russia Abroad vs Russian Diaspora in the Interwar Period
Authors: Bocharova Zoya , Kuptsova Irina
Published: March 2024

This article considers a relevant issue of modern historiography, i. e. the expediency of introducing the concept of “Russia Abroad” in the study of Russian emigration of the 1920s–1930s, along with the definition of “diaspora”. The task is complicated by the lack of a unified categorical apparatus and a variety of interpretations. The problem is solved based on structural and constructivist approaches, as well as comparative analysis. The authors propose their own classification of identifying features of the diaspora, highlighting the geographical (territorial), social, political, cultural, and mental blocks. The phenomenon of Russia Abroad is analysed through the prism of diasporisation. The article shows the process of institutionalisation of the Russian emigration of the 1920s, which brings it closer to the diaspora. However, its composition, unlike that of diaspora, was polyethnic. The dominant trend was the preservation of not ethnic but cultural and civic identity, which determined the structure-forming leitmotif of activity aimed at constructing its “Russia Abroad”. However, having renounced the citizenship of Soviet Russia/USSR and recognising the Soviet government as illegitimate, the emigrants unsuccessfully tried to consolidate a legal connection with the state that had disappeared from the political map of the world, trying to defend the old passports. The vectors of reflexive activity with a myth-generating potential were an ostentatious opposition to all things Soviet, the preservation of national identity and traditional values (unlike those born in the revolution), the “ethical code”, social norms, and the justification of the missionary role of emigration. Of the many institutions that claimed to have become a successor authority, the Council of Former Ambassadors headed by M. N. Girs stands out. He concentrated human, financial, material, and organisational potential in his hands and had representation at international organisations, including the League of Nations, in Geneva. The foreign diplomatic corps became the guardian of the idea of all-Russian statehood. Well-established communication links helped him to carry out tasks that were not typical of him, adapted to the new situation and focusing primarily on the settlement of the legal situation of refugees. The article concludes about the consolidating function of both mythmaking and activities aimed at reproducing the attributes of statehood. The Russian “state-like form of being” contributed to the preservation of the Russian language, national identity, and the creation of a system of Russian educational institutions and institutes of historical memory. The doom of Russia Abroad was due to both its conservatism and confrontation with the motherland. The division into two Russias could not carry a positive potential. Foreign Russia can be characterised as a diaspora, but this phenomenon goes beyond even the wide range of identification features that are given to the diaspora today.
Digital media as COVID-19 lifeline or stressor? An exploratory study on the perception of media usage under isolation
Authors: Castaño Díaz Carlos Mauricio , Alba Marrugo Mario Alejandro , Tungjitcharoen Worawach , Berrío García Nathaly , Lieberoth Andreas
Published: March 2024

To answer the question if Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) were benefiting or hindering the mental health of people undergoing isolation during the early pandemics of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), we inquired how people perceived the usage of five ICTs and their relationship with them. We addressed three hypotheses: there is a relationship between the increase in the use of specific ICTs during the isolation period due to COVID-19 and perception of positive psychological effects (H1), feelings of psychological discomfort (H2), and anxiety levels (H3). We found that using ICTs helped people feel less isolated and combat boredom. However, ICTs can cause psychological discomfort when people perceive they spend too much time using them or feel they cannot control their use. We also found that anxiety is related to how people perceive their relationship, with a positive media relationship linked to less anxiety and vice versa.
No Prejudice! Fair Federated Graph Neural Networks for Personalized Recommendation
Authors: Agrawal Nimesh , Sirohi Anuj Kumar , Kumar Sandeep , Jayadeva
Published: March 2024

Ensuring fairness in Recommendation Systems (RSs) across demographic groups is critical due to the increased integration of RSs in applications such as personalized healthcare, finance, and e-commerce. Graph-based RSs play a crucial role in capturing intricate higher-order interactions among entities. However, integrating these graph models into the Federated Learning (FL) paradigm with fairness constraints poses formidable challenges as this requires access to the entire interaction graph and sensitive user information (such as gender, age, etc.) at the central server. This paper addresses the pervasive issue of inherent bias within RSs for different demographic groups without compromising the privacy of sensitive user attributes in FL environment with the graph-based model. To address the group bias, we propose F2PGNN (Fair Federated Personalized Graph Neural Network), a novel framework that leverages the power of Personalized Graph Neural Network (GNN) coupled with fairness considerations. Additionally, we use differential privacy techniques to fortify privacy protection. Experimental evaluation on three publicly available datasets showcases the efficacy of F2PGNN in mitigating group unfairness by 47% ∼ 99% compared to the state-of-the-art while preserving privacy and maintaining the utility. The results validate the significance of our framework in achieving equitable and personalized recommendations using GNN within the FL landscape. Source code is at: https://github.com/nimeshagrawal/F2PGNN-AAAI24
Head turning as a prominent motor symptom in status epilepticus
Authors: Bauer Gerhard , Broessner Gregor , Unterberger Iris , Walser Gerald , Pfausler Bettina , Trinka Eugen
Published: March 2024

Head and eye turning is frequently observed during seizures. Versions with tonic and/or clonic symptoms can be differentiated from smooth head deviations. Head turning as a prominent symptom of status epilepticus has not previously been reported. We present eight case reports, (7 women/1 man, mean age 41 years, median 41.5, range 10 to 74), of status epilepticus (SE), with head turning as a prominent motor symptom. Six were accompanied by continuous frontal, occipital and temporal ictal epileptiform discharges. Furthermore, two patients had absence status with rhythmic and clonic head versions. While the localizing significance of head turnings in SE is low, in our cases, the direction was away from the discharging hemisphere in all cases of focal SE regardless of whether the turning was classified as version (three cases) or deviation (three cases). In this small series of SE, the classical observation of a patient looking away from the discharging hemisphere is still valid.
Bone mineral density following long‐term use of antiepileptic drugs in a tropical Asian country
Authors: Phabphal Kanitpong , Limapichat Kitti , Sathirapanya Ponchi , Setthawatcharawanich Suwanna , Leelawattana Rattana , Thammakumpee Natawan , Thamaprasit Atchara , Geater Alan
Published: March 2024

The objective of this study was to investigate bone mineral density (BMD) in Thai epileptics who had been receiving long‐term, antiepileptic drugs. Subjects were epileptic patients aged 15 to 50 years who had been taking antiepileptic drugs for longer than six months. All were free of disease and none was taking any medication that might interfere with bone metabolism other than antiepileptic drugs. BMD at the left femoral neck and spine was measured with dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry. Demographic data, basic laboratory studies and history of clinical epilepsy were obtained. One hundred and thirty patients (63 males and 67 females) were included. Mean age (+ SD) was 31.9 ± 9.7 year. There were 79 patients receiving monotherapy and 51 patients receiving polytherapy. All patients had normal serum calcium. Thirteen patients had slightly low serum phosphate levels. The BMD at the femoral neck had a mean Z‐score – 0.15 ± 1.17 and the mean Z‐score at the lumbar spine was – 0.56 ± 1.03. Thirty one patients had osteopenia at the spine and 30 patients at the femoral neck. Three patients had osteoporosis of the spine and 1 patient of the femoral neck. There was found to be no significant correlation between age, sex, body mass index, duration of treatment and type of antiepileptic drug with bone mineral density at the femur and spine. The mean BMD of long‐term antiepileptic users was lower than that of the sex and age‐adjusted mean.
Spatio‐temporal imaging of focal interictal epileptiform activity using EEG‐triggered functional MRI
Authors: Krakow Karsten , Lemieux Louis , Messina Demetrio , Scott Catherine A. , Symms Mark R. , Duncan John S. , Fish David R.
Published: March 2024

EEG‐triggered, blood oxygen level‐dependent functional MRI (BOLD‐fMRI) was used in 24 patients with localization‐related epilepsy and frequent interictal epileptiform discharges (spikes) to identify those brain areas involved in generating the spikes, and to study the evolution of the BOLD signal change over time. The location of the fMRI activation was compared with the scalp EEG spike focus and the structural MR abnormality. Twelve patients (50%) had an fMRI activation concordant with the EEG focus and structural brain abnormalities where present (n= 7). In 2 other patients, the fMRI activation was non‐concordant with electroclinical findings. The remaining 10 patients (41.7%) showed no significant fMRI activation. These patients had significantly lower mean spike amplitudes compared to those with positive fMRI results (p = 0.03). The time course of the BOLD response was studied in 3 patients and this revealed a maximum signal change 1.5 to 7.5 sec after the spike. In conclusion, EEG‐triggered fMRI can directly identify the generators of interictal epileptiform activity, with high spatial resolution, in selected patients with frequent spikes. The superior spatial resolution obtainable through EEG‐triggered fMRI may provide an additional non‐invasive tool in the presurgical evaluation of patients with intractable focal seizures.
Video games are exciting: a European study of video game‐induced seizures and epilepsy
Authors: Trenité D.G.A. Kasteleijn‐Nolst , da Silva A. Martins , Ricci S. , Rubboli G. , Tassinari C.A. , Lopes J. , Bettencourt M. , Oosting J. , Segers J.P.
Published: March 2024

Background

Video game seizures have been reported in photosensitive and non‐photosensitive patients with epilepsy. The game Super Mario World, has led to many cases of first seizures. We examined whether this game was indeed more provocative than other programs and whether playing the game added to this effect.

Methods

We prospectively investigated 352 patients in four European cities, using a standard protocol including testing of a variety of visual stimuli. We correlated historical data on provocative factors in daily life with electroencephalographic laboratory findings.

Results

The video game, Super Mario World proved more epileptogenic than standard TV programs and as provocative as programs with flashing lights and patterns. Most striking was the fact that video game‐viewing and‐playing on the 50 and 100 Hz TV was significantly more provocative than viewing the standard program (
P
< 0.001,
P
< 0.05 respectively).

Playing the video game Mario World on a 50 Hz TV, appeared to be significantly more provocative than playing this game on the 100 Hz TV (
P
< 0.001). Of 163 patients with a history of TV‐, VG‐ or CG‐seizures, 85% of them showed epileptiform discharges in response to photic stimulation, 44% to patterns, 59% to 50 Hz TV and 29% to 100 Hz TV.

Conclusions

Children and adolescents with a history of video game seizures are, in the vast majority, photosensitive and should be investigated with standardised photic stimulation. Games and programs with bright background or flashing images are specifically provocative. Playing a video game on a 100 Hz TV is less provocative [published with videosequences].
Knowledge of epilepsy and attitudes towards the condition among schoolteachers in Bobo‐Dioulasso (Burkina Faso)
Authors: Millogo Athanase , Siranyan Antoine S.
Published: March 2024

Epilepsy is one of the stigmatising afflictions still common in Africa. The attitudes toward people with epilepsy are influenced by the degree of knowledge of the condition. This study was conducted to assess 260 teachers' knowledge and attitude towards epilepsy. They answered a semi‐structured questionnaire in order to quantify their knowledge of and attitude towards epilepsy in Bobo‐Dioulasso. Teachers were chosen at random. Almost all the teachers had heard about epilepsy, with 43.2% of them linking epilepsy to a central nervous system disturbance. Some teachers still thought that epilepsy was contagious or hereditary, and 15.4% objected to having epileptic children in their classes. Their knowledge of the clinical characteristics and first aid for a person during a seizure was unsatisfactory, and 56.5% of teachers who believed that epilepsy could be cured, thought that this disease should be treated by both modern and traditional medicines. The majority of teachers were interested in training involving clinical manifestations, aetiology of epilepsy and first aid procedures. Schools should offer some kind of information and assistance in health matters, and physicians should ensure that teachers have sufficient knowledge of epilepsy. More knowledge among primary school teachers should avoid discrimination against pupils with epilepsy.
Hypocalcemic generalised seizures as a manifestation of iatrogenic hypoparathyroidism months to years after thyroid surgery
Authors: Mrowka Matthias , Knake Susanne , Klinge Harald , Odin Per , Rosenow Felix
Published: March 2024

Hypoparathyroidism is a relatively common side effect of a thyroidectomy and leads to hypocalcemia. Carpopedal spasm and tetany are typical manifestations and usually occur within weeks after surgery. The first signs can be less typical and include movement disorders such as chorea, as well as symptoms of increased intracranial pressure or epileptic seizures. We describe two cases with generalised tonic‐clonic seizures as the first manifestation of postoperative hypoparathyroidism, appearing months and years after thyroidectomy. Iatrogenic hypoparathyroidism needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis of adult‐onset, generalised, tonic‐clonic seizures even if the thyroidectomy was performed years earlier.
Cognitive functions in children with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS)
Authors: Pinton Florence , Ducot Béatrice , Motte Jacques , Arbuès Anne‐Sophie , Barondiot Catherine , Barthez Marie‐Anne , Chaix Yves , Cheminal Renée , Livet Marie‐Odile , Penniello Marie‐José , Peudenier Sylviane , de Saint‐Martin Anne , Billard Catherine
Published: March 2024

Benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS) is regarded as a benign form of epilepsy because of its usually favorable outcome, in terms of seizures. Eighteen children with BECTS were studied in terms of neuropsychological and learning abilities: intellectual quotient, oral language (phonological production, naming skills, verbal fluency and syntactic comprehension), drawing and visuo‐spatial skills, visual and selective attention, verbal and visuo‐spatial memory, reading, numeracy and spelling. The mean IQ of the population was within the normal range, but individual results were heterogeneous. Verbal functions and memory were normal. In contrast, drawing and visuo‐spatial skills, attention and visuo‐spatial memory were significantly weak compared to the normal range for age. Reading, numeracy and/or spelling ability were significantly delayed by one academic year or more in ten of the children. In conclusion, despite its benign outcome in terms of epilepsy, BECTS can be accompanied by specific cognitive disorders and low academic achievement.
The Bancaud and Talairach view on the epileptogenic zone: a working hypothesis
Authors: Kahane Philippe , Landré Elisabeth , Minotti Lorella , Francione Stafano , Ryvlin Philippe
Published: March 2024

The definition of the epileptogenic zone, as proposed by Talairach and Bancaud, is an ictal electro‐clinical definition based on the results of stereotactic intracerebral EEG (SEEG) recordings. It takes into account not only the anatomical location of the “site of the beginning and of the primary organization” of the epileptic discharge, but also how this discharge gives rise to the accompanying clinical symptoms. This definition is different from the North American view since, for the french authors, the epileptogenic zone is not synonymous with what can be called the “what‐to‐remove area”. In fact, it is above all a conceptual definition which emphazises the importance of studying the spatio‐temporal dynamics of seizure discharges, and not only their starting point.
Taylor‐type focal cortical dysplasia: is the epilepsy always resistant to medical treatment?
Authors: Giudice Ennio Del , Bianchi Maria Cristina , Tosetti Michela , Varrone Andrea , Romano Alfonso , Crisanti Angela Francesca , Titomanlio Luigi , Imperati Floriana
Published: March 2024

Patients with Taylor‐type focal cortical dysplasia (TTFCD) generally present with medically intractable epilepsy and impaired neurological and/or intellectual functioning. Surgery usually proves to be the only treatment approach leading to control of seizures. We describe a 17‐year‐old girl with TTFCD who exhibited a very long period of seizure remission. Combined clinical and neuroimaging findings were compatible with a diagnosis of a balloon cell‐subtype TTFCD. As for the clinical course, partial motor seizures began at one year of age and ceased at five: our patient has had no seizure recurrence over a 12‐year‐follow‐up. Moreover, throughout the 15‐year follow‐up, neurological examinations and cognitive abilities always remained within normal limits. Neuropsychological assessment clearly showed no impairments in executive functions: planning abilities, working memory, attention and impulse control, or constructive aspects of motor coordination. The predominant deficits pertained to verbal abilities in the context of borderline intellectual performances. To our knowledge, this case report documents the longest duration of seizure remission in a patient with TTFCD, thus emphasizing the possible benign course of such dysplastic lesions which usually have a poor prognosis, leading to early surgical treatment.
Ciri Geokimia Batuan Vulkaniklastika di daerah Tanjung Balit, Sumatra Barat: Suatu Indikasi Kegiatan Magma pada Eosen
Authors: Harahap Bhakti H.
Published: March 2024

DOI: 10.17014/ijog.v5i2.94Volcaniclastic rocks exposed in the Tanjung Balit area, West Sumatra, are red in color, loose, soft, and fractured. The rocks are strongly altered to be clay with calcium (CaO) and natrium (Na2O) contents extremely low (0.02 and maximum 0.30wt% respectively), and high loss of ignition (LOI) (4-15wt%). Mobile minor elements such as strontium (Sr), rubidium (Rb), and lanthanum (La) are also changed as their values do not fit to a normal contents range of fresh volcanic rocks in general. Geochemical analyses of the rocks resulted in the following oxide values: silica (SiO2) ranges from 58 – 68wt%, alumina (Al2O3) 15,90 – 21,46wt%, magnesium (MgO) 1, 36 – 1.61wt%, iron oxides (Fe2O3) 4,8-6,9wt%, potassium (K2O) 2,73 - 4,23wt% and titanium (TiO2) 0,60 - 0,70wt%. In general, the element contents especially the immobile ones (Ti, Mg and Fe) show that the rocks were originated from magmatic activity, which is also supported by petrographical characteristics that are still showing felspar and quartz minerals relicts. Based on SiO2 versus K2O diagram, these rocks are classified as high K-calc-alkaline series and belong to an intermediate composition. The rocks of the above criteria such as high alumina, very low magnesium and less than 1% titanium are one of the evidences that they are a magmatic arc product. The trace element of the rocks is summarized on the spider diagram; here their patterns strongly resemble to the typical of magmatic arc as well with enrichment in large ion lithophile elements (LILE) and light rare earth elements (LREE) relative to high field strength elements (HFSE) and heavy REE (HREE). Trace element pattern and REE suggest they were originated from a high K- calc-alkaline magma source.
Physical Disintegration Characterization of Mudrocks Subjected to Slaking Exposure and Immersion Tests
Authors: Sadisun Imam A. , Bandono Bandono , Shimada H. , Ichinose M. , Matsui K.
Published: March 2024

DOI: 10.17014/ijog.v5i4.105In order to gain insights into the detailed physical disintegration characteristics of various types of mudrock, a series of static slaking exposure and immersion tests were carefully carried out in this study. The intent of this paper is to exhaustively describe and discuss the results of the tests, including slaking mechanism, mode and rate/intensity. In general, it can be obviously identified that there are significant different susceptibilities of each mudrock tested to slake-disintegration. These differences can not only be identified from the results of slaking exposure test but also from slaking immersion test. It seems that there is also an agreement in both testing results, which show that the most resistant mudrock to slaking was Ikeshima shales, and was comparatively, followed by Ombilin siltstones, Tanjung Enim mudstones-claystones, and Subang claystones as the worst slaking characteristic. The detailed differences in fundamental characteristics of physical disintegration characteristics will further widely be discussed in this paper.