bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anti-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor encephalitis developed after ovarian cancer cytoreduction surgery: a case report and literature review
Authors: Huang Yue , Zhou Muke , Zhou Jing , Wu Bo , Yang Xi , Min Wenjiao , Li Zhengyu
Published: September 2023

Background

Anti-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR) encephalitis, a rare subtype of autoimmune encephalitis (AE), is often found associated with tumors such as thymoma, lung cancer, ovarian tumors, and breast cancer, and the tumors were generally detected during the screening process after the encephalitis initiated. The tumor is considered a trigger of AE, but the mechanism remains unclear.

Case Presentation

A 53-year-old woman presented short-term memory loss two days after the primary cytoreduction for high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC, FIGO stage IC3). Cell-based assay found AMPAR CluA2 IgG positive in both serum (1:3.2) and cerebrospinal fluid (1:32). Moreover, mild AMPAR GluA1 and strong GluA2 expressions were also found positive in the paraffin sections of ovarian tumor tissue, indicating the ovarian cytoreduction surgery might stimulate the release of receptor antigens into the circulation system. The patient’s condition deteriorated within two weeks, developing consciousness and autonomic dysfunction, leading to ICU admission. With oral steroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, plasmapheresis, and rituximab treatment, the patient’s consciousness markedly improved after three months.

Conclusion

We presented the first case of anti-AMPAR encephalitis developed right after the primary cytoreduction of a patient with HGSOC and retrieved paraneoplastic anti-AMPAR encephalitis cases (n = 66). Gynecologists should pay attention to patients who develop cognitive dysfunction or psychiatric symptoms shortly after the ovarian tumor resection and always include AE in the differentiation diagnosis.
Impact of nausea/vomiting on EQ-5D-5L utility scores in patients taking iron preparations for heavy menstrual bleeding or anemia
Authors: Ito Kyoko , Mitobe Yuko , Inoue Ryo , Momoeda Mikio
Published: September 2023

Background

The purpose of this study was to establish an estimating equation to predict the 5-level EQ-5D version (EQ-5D-5L) utility score in patients taking iron preparations for heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) or anemia and to evaluate whether the presence of nausea or vomiting was a significant predictor of EQ-5D-5L-based quality of life.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted to collect EQ-5D-5L utility scores and other patient reported outcomes from 385 patients taking iron preparations for HMB or anemia who were selected from the disease patient panel. Using the utility scores as objective variables, explanatory variable candidates were selected considering correlations, multicollinearity, and clinical validity. Predicting models were constructed using regression-based models (linear model, generalized linear model (GLM), Tobit model). Stepwise regression method was applied for selecting statistically significant (p < 0.05) predictors. Goodness-of-fit of models were assessed by mean absolute error and mean squared error (MSE).

Results

The EQ-5D-5L utility scores (mean ± standard deviation) of 96 patients with nausea/vomiting and 289 patients without nausea/vomiting were 0.67 ± 0.16 and 0.84 ± 0.14, respectively (p < 0.001). The presence of nausea/vomiting was shown to be the most significant factor reducing the utility score in the statistical models using the explanatory variable candidates selected in the study. As the results of the goodness-of-fit test, GLM with the smallest MSE was selected to establish the estimating equation.

Conclusion

The estimating equation to predict the EQ-5D-5L utility scores in patients taking iron preparations for HMB or anemia was established. The presence of nausea/vomiting was found to be a factor significantly reducing utility scores, with a decrement of the value estimated to be -0.117.

Trial registration

UMIN000045700 (http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/). Registered on October 11, 2021.
Novel variants identified in five Chinese families with Joubert Syndrome: a case report
Authors: Fang Liwei , Wang Lulu , Yang Li , Xu Xiaoyan , Pei Shanai , Wu De
Published: September 2023

Background

Joubert syndrome (JS) is a group of rare ciliopathies, mainly characterized by cerebellar dysplasia representing the “molar tooth sign (MTS)” on neuroimaging, hypotonia, and developmental delay. Having a complicated genotype-phenotype correlation due to its rich genetic heterogeneity, JS is usually combined with other organic defects affecting the retina, kidney, and liver. This report aimed to present new cases and novel variants of JS.

Case presentation

Five unrelated patients who were diagnosed with JS, with or without typical clinical characteristics, received integrated examinations, including whole-exome sequencing (WES) and Sanger sequencing. We identified nine pathogenic variants in the TCTN2, CPLANE1, INPP5E, NPHP1, and CC2D2A genes.

Conclusion

Four novel pathogenic mutations in the TCTN2, CPLANE1, and INPP5E genes were reported. The findings broadened the genotypic spectrum of JS and contributed to a better understanding of genotype-phenotype correlation.
Interpersonal communication, cultural norms, and community perceptions associated with care-seeking for fever among children under age five in Magoé district, Mozambique
Authors: Hutchinson Paul , Zulliger Rose , Butts Jessica K. , Candrinho Balthazar , Saifodine Abu , Eisele Thomas P. , Yukich Josh
Published: September 2023

Background

Malaria is endemic throughout Mozambique, contributing significantly to the country’s burden of disease. Prompt and effective treatment for fevers in children can limit the mortality and morbidity impacts of the disease but many children in the country are not taken for formal care when ill. Using an ideational model of behaviour, this study assesses the magnitude of the relationships for potential drivers of care-seeking, including interpersonal communication, malaria messaging, and knowledge and attitudes about malaria, with actual care-seeking behaviours for under-five children with fever in Magoé district, Mozambique.

Methods

Data on the care-seeking behaviours for fever come from a 2019 household malaria survey in Magoé district. Households were randomly selected for interview from among those with at least one child under age five and one net for every two household members. From 1621 mother-child dyads, the analytical sample consists of 300 children under age five with a fever in the 2 weeks prior to the survey. Multilevel random effects logistic regression models are estimated to test for associations between care-seeking behaviours and hypothesized behavioural determinants, including interpersonal communication (IPC), malaria messaging, ideational factors (e.g., norms, attitudes, beliefs, risk perceptions), and community characteristics.

Results

Overall, 18.5% of children under age five (N = 300) were reported to have fever in the previous 2 weeks and, of these, 68.5% were taken to a formal sector health care provider. Multivariate models highlight significant roles for interpersonal communication; care-seeking was highest among mothers who spoke only with friends/community members about malaria (94.0%, p < 0.001), followed by those who spoke only with their husband (78.6%, p = 0.015), relative to 63.3% who spoke with no one. Care-seeking decisions made by a child’s grandmother were associated with a 25.0% point (p = 0.001) greater likelihood of seeking care relative to decisions made by the mother alone. Exposure to any malaria messaging was also positively associated with care-seeking (90.5% versus 62.7%, p < 0.001). In contrast, among all individual- and community-level ideational factors, only perceptions of self-efficacy to seek care were related to care-seeking behaviours.

Conclusions

These results suggest that social and behaviour change interventions that focus on encouraging families and community members to talk about malaria and the need to promptly seek treatment for fevers in children may be particularly effective at increasing this behaviour in this and similar settings. Such messaging and IPC should consider grandmothers as a target audience, as they appear to be perceived as highly influential in care-seeking decision-making in this community.
Functional roles of magnetic nanoparticles for the identification of metastatic lymph nodes in cancer patients
Authors: Yan Yuanliang , Liu Yuanhong , Li Tongfei , Liang Qiuju , Thakur Abhimanyu , Zhang Kui , Liu Wei , Xu Zhijie , Xu Yuzhen
Published: September 2023

Staging lymph nodes (LN) is crucial in diagnosing and treating cancer metastasis. Biotechnologies for the specific localization of metastatic lymph nodes (MLNs) have attracted significant attention to efficiently define tumor metastases. Bioimaging modalities, particularly magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) such as iron oxide nanoparticles, have emerged as promising tools in cancer bioimaging, with great potential for use in the preoperative and intraoperative tracking of MLNs. As radiation-free magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) probes, MNPs can serve as alternative MRI contrast agents, offering improved accuracy and biological safety for nodal staging in cancer patients. Although MNPs’ application is still in its initial stages, exploring their underlying mechanisms can enhance the sensitivity and multifunctionality of lymph node mapping. This review focuses on the feasibility and current application status of MNPs for imaging metastatic nodules in preclinical and clinical development. Furthermore, exploring novel and promising MNP-based strategies with controllable characteristics could lead to a more precise treatment of metastatic cancer patients.
Nrf2 regulates iron-dependent hippocampal synapses and functional connectivity damage in depression
Authors: Zeng Ting , Li Junjie , Xie Lingpeng , Dong Zhaoyang , Chen Qing , Huang Sha , Xie Shuwen , Lai Yuqi , Li Jun , Yan Weixin , Wang YuHua , Xie Zeping , Hu Changlei , Zhang Jiayi , Kuang Shanshan , Song Yuhong , Gao Lei , Lv Zhiping
Published: September 2023

Neuronal iron overload contributes to synaptic damage and neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying iron deposition in depression remain largely unexplored. Our study aims to investigate how nuclear factor-erythroid 2 (NF-E2)-related factor 2 (Nrf2) ameliorates hippocampal synaptic dysfunction and reduces brain functional connectivity (FC) associated with excessive iron in depression. We treated mice with chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) with the iron chelator deferoxamine mesylate (DFOM) and a high-iron diet (2.5% carbonyl iron) to examine the role of iron overload in synaptic plasticity. The involvement of Nrf2 in iron metabolism and brain function was assessed using molecular biological techniques and in vivo resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) through genetic deletion or pharmacologic activation of Nrf2. The results demonstrated a significant correlation between elevated serum iron levels and impaired hippocampal functional connectivity (FC), which contributed to the development of depression-induced CUMS. Iron overload plays a crucial role in CUMS-induced depression and synaptic dysfunction, as evidenced by the therapeutic effects of a high-iron diet and DFOM. The observed iron overload in this study was associated with decreased Nrf2 levels and increased expression of transferrin receptors (TfR). Notably, inhibition of iron accumulation effectively attenuated CUMS-induced synaptic damage mediated by downregulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Nrf2−/− mice exhibited compromised FC within the limbic system and the basal ganglia, particularly in the hippocampus, and inhibition of iron accumulation effectively attenuated CUMS-induced synaptic damage mediated by downregulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Activation of Nrf2 restored iron homeostasis and reversed vulnerability to depression. Mechanistically, we further identified that Nrf2 deletion promoted iron overload via upregulation of TfR and downregulation of ferritin light chain (FtL), leading to BDNF-mediated synapse damage in the hippocampus. Therefore, our findings unveil a novel role for Nrf2 in regulating iron homeostasis while providing mechanistic insights into poststress susceptibility to depression. Targeting Nrf2-mediated iron metabolism may offer promising strategies for developing more effective antidepressant therapies.
Assessing walking ability using a robotic gait trainer: opportunities and limitations of assist-as-needed control in spinal cord injury
Authors: Maggioni Serena , Lünenburger Lars , Riener Robert , Curt Armin , Bolliger Marc , Melendez-Calderon Alejandro
Published: September 2023

Background

Walking impairments are a common consequence of neurological disorders and are assessed with clinical scores that suffer from several limitations. Robot-assisted locomotor training is becoming an established clinical practice. Besides training, these devices could be used for assessing walking ability in a controlled environment. Here, we propose an adaptive assist-as-needed (AAN) control for a treadmill-based robotic exoskeleton, the Lokomat, that reduces the support of the device (body weight support and impedance of the robotic joints) based on the ability of the patient to follow a gait pattern displayed on screen. We hypothesize that the converged values of robotic support provide valid and reliable information about individuals’ walking ability.

Methods

Fifteen participants with spinal cord injury and twelve controls used the AAN software in the Lokomat twice within a week and were assessed using clinical scores (10MWT, TUG). We used a regression method to identify the robotic measure that could provide the most relevant information about walking ability and determined the test–retest reliability. We also checked whether this result could be extrapolated to non-ambulatory and to unimpaired subjects.

Results

The AAN controller could be used in patients with different injury severity levels. A linear model based on one variable (robotic knee stiffness at terminal swing) could explain 74% of the variance in the 10MWT and 61% in the TUG in ambulatory patients and showed good relative reliability but poor absolute reliability. Adding the variable ‘maximum hip flexor torque’ to the model increased the explained variance above 85%. This did not extend to non-ambulatory nor to able-bodied individuals, where variables related to stance phase and to push-off phase seem more relevant.

Conclusions

The novel AAN software for the Lokomat can be used to quantify the support required by a patient while performing robotic gait training. The adaptive software might enable more challenging training conditions tuned to the ability of the individuals. While the current implementation is not ready for assessment in clinical practice, we could demonstrate that this approach is safe, and it could be integrated as assist-as-needed training, rather than as assessment.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02425332.
Guidance to develop a multidisciplinary, international, pediatric registry: a systematic review
Authors: Ombashi S. , van der Goes P. A. J. , Versnel S. L. , Khonsari R. H. , van der Molen A. E. Mink
Published: September 2023

Aim

The European Reference Network for craniofacial anomalies and ear, nose and throat disorders (ERN-CRANIO) aims to improve craniofacial care on a European scale. Within ERN-CRANIO, the cleft lip and palate (CL/P) work stream seeks to ameliorate health outcomes for patients with CL/P. This work stream acknowledged the need for a European wide registry for comparable outcome measures and therapy endpoints to achieve this goal. This review aimed to provide a scientific basis for the conceptualization of this registry by studying previous registry initiatives.

Methods

This review performed thematic analysis on twenty-four articles through narrative synthesis. An iterative process was used to identify key-themes required for prolonged registry success.

Results

Analysis of the literature resulted in twenty-one distinct headings including quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data including registry characteristics were visualized in a table. The analysis of qualitative data resulted in the identification of fourteen key-themes, which have been summarized and visualized in a guidance.

Conclusion

This review has successfully identified key-themes required for the development of an international, multidisciplinary, pediatric registry for pan-European cleft care. The guidance provided by this review applies to the goals of ERN-CRANIO, but can be used by any initiative developing a registry.
Comparison of video laryngoscope, video stylet, and flexible videoscope for transoral endotracheal intubation in patients with difficult airways: a randomized, parallel-group study
Authors: Zhang Tao , Zhao Kai-Yuan , Zhang Ping , Li Ren-Hu
Published: September 2023

Background

The 2022 ASA guidelines recommend the video laryngoscope, video stylet, and flexible videoscope as airway management tools. This study aims to compare the efficacy of three airway devices in intubating patients with difficult airways.

Methods

A total of 177 patients were selected and randomized into the following three groups: the video laryngoscope group (Group VL, n = 59), video stylet group (Group VS, n = 59), and flexible videoscope group (Group FV, n = 59). The success rate of the first-pass intubation, time of tracheal intubation, level of glottic exposure, and occurrence of intubation-related adverse events were recorded and analyzed.

Results

All patients were successfully intubated with three devices. The first-pass intubation success rate was significantly higher in Groups VS and FV than in Group VL (96.61% vs. 93.22% vs. 83.05%, P < 0.01), but it was similar in the first-pass intubation success rate between Groups VS and FV(P > 0.05). The number of patients categorized as Wilson-Cormack-Lehane grade I-II was fewer in Group VL than in Groups VS and FV (77.97% vs. 98.30% vs. 100%, P = 0.0281). The time to tracheal intubation was significantly longer in Group FV(95.20 ± 4.01) than in Groups VL(44.56 ± 4.42) and VS(26.88 ± 4.51) (P < 0.01). No significant differences were found among the three groups in terms of adverse intubation reactions (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

In patients with difficult airways requiring intubation, use of the video stylet has the advantage of a relatively shorter intubation time, and the flexible videoscope and video stylet yield a higher first-pass intubation success rate and clearer glottic exposure than the use of the video laryngoscope.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. No: ChiCTR2200061560, June 29, 2022.
Cascade algorithms for combined acoustic feedback cancelation and noise reduction
Authors: Ruiz Santiago , van Waterschoot Toon , Moonen Marc
Published: September 2023

This paper presents three cascade algorithms for combined acoustic feedback cancelation (AFC) and noise reduction (NR) in speech applications. A prediction error method (PEM)-based adaptive feedback cancelation (PEM-based AFC) algorithm is used for the AFC stage, while a multichannel Wiener filter (MWF) is applied for the NR stage. A scenario with M microphones and 1 loudspeaker is considered, without loss of generality. The first algorithm is the baseline algorithm, namely the cascade M-channel rank-1 MWF and PEM-AFC, where a NR stage is performed first using a rank-1 MWF followed by a single-channel AFC stage using a PEM-based AFC algorithm. The second algorithm is the cascade $$(M+1)$$

(
M
+
1
)

-channel rank-2 MWF and PEM-AFC, where again a NR stage is applied first followed by a single-channel AFC stage. The novelty of this algorithm is to consider an ($$M+1$$

M
+
1

)-channel data model in the MWF formulation with two different desired signals, i.e., the speech component in the reference microphone signal and in the loudspeaker signal, both defined by the speech source signal but not equal to each other. The two desired signal estimates are later used in a single-channel PEM-based AFC stage. The third algorithm is the cascade M-channel PEM-AFC and rank-1 MWF where an M-channel AFC stage is performed first followed by an M-channel NR stage. Although in cascade algorithms where NR is performed first and then AFC the estimation of the feedback path is usually affected by the NR stage, it is shown here that by performing a rank-2 approximation of the speech correlation matrix this issue can be avoided and the feedback path can be correctly estimated. The performance of the algorithms is assessed by means of closed-loop simulations where it is shown that for the considered input signal-to-noise ratios (iSNRs) the cascade $$(M+1)$$

(
M
+
1
)

-channel rank-2 MWF and PEM-AFC and the cascade M-channel PEM-AFC and rank-1 MWF algorithms outperform the cascade M-channel rank-1 MWF and PEM-AFC algorithm in terms of the added stable gain (ASG) and misadjustment (Mis) as well as in terms of perceptual metrics such as the short-time objective intelligibility (STOI), perceptual evaluation of speech quality (PESQ), and signal distortion (SD).
Divergent roles of the Hippo pathway in the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: tissue homeostasis and fibrosis
Authors: Kizawa Ryusuke , Araya Jun , Fujita Yu
Published: September 2023

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive aging-related lung disease with a poor prognosis. Despite extensive research, the cause of IPF remains largely unknown and treatment strategies are limited. Proposed mechanisms of the pathogenesis of IPF are a combination of excessive accumulation of the extracellular matrix and dysfunctional lung tissue regeneration. Epithelial cell dysfunction, in addition to fibroblast activation, is considered a key process in the progression of IPF. Epithelial cells normally maintain homeostasis of the lung tissue through regulated proliferation, differentiation, cell death, and cellular senescence. However, various stresses can cause repetitive damage to lung epithelial cells, leading to dysfunctional regeneration and acquisition of profibrotic functions. The Hippo pathway is a central signaling pathway that maintains tissue homeostasis and plays an essential role in fundamental biological processes. Dysregulation of the Hippo pathway has been implicated in various diseases, including IPF. However, the role of the Hippo pathway in the pathogenesis of IPF remains unclear, particularly given the pathway’s opposing effects on the 2 key pathogenic mechanisms of IPF: epithelial cell dysfunction and fibroblast activation. A deeper understanding of the relationship between the Hippo pathway and the pathogenesis of IPF will pave the way for novel Hippo-targeted therapies.
Facial nerve neurographies in intensive care unit-acquired weakness
Authors: Lochter Maximilian , Sommer Martin , Moerer Onnen , Stephani Caspar
Published: September 2023

Background

Patients with an intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) often present clinically with severe paresis of the limb and trunk muscles while facial muscles appear less affected. To investigate whether the facial nerves are partially spared from this condition, we performed both peripheral and cranial nerve conduction studies in critically ill patients.

Methods

In patients requiring prolonged ICU therapy, the motor and sensory nerve conduction velocities of the peroneal, ulnar and facial nerves and the muscle action potentials of the associated muscles, as well as the orbicularis oculi reflexes were assessed shortly after admission, and on ICU days 7 and 14.

Results

Eighteen patients were included in the final data analysis (average age 54.2 ± 16.8 years, 8 females). The amplitudes of the peroneal nerve compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs) were reduced in all patients at ICU days 7 and 14 (F(1.39; 23.63) = 13.85; p < 0.001). There was no similar decrease in the CMAP amplitudes of the ulnar or facial nerve. Other parameters of nerve function (latencies, sensory and motor nerve conduction velocities, sensory nerve action potentials) remained unchanged. The reproducibility of the orbicularis oculi reflex was reduced during the disease course, while its latencies did not change significantly during the disease course.

Conclusions

There is a relative preservation of CMAPs in facial and hand as opposed to foot muscles. This is compatible with the clinical observation that the facial muscles in patients with ICU-AW are less severely affected. This may be primarily a function of the nerve length, and consequently more robust trophic factors in shorter nerves.

Trial registration This study was prospectively registered in the German Clinical Trial Register on April 20th 2020 (DRKS00021467).
Enhancing Efficiency and Reach Using Facebook to Recruit Breast Cancer Survivors for a Telephone-Based Supportive Care Randomized Trial During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Ejem Deborah B. , Wechsler Stephen , Gallups Sarah , Khalidi Sarah , Coffee-Dunning Jazmine , Montgomery Aoyjay P. , Stevens Courtney J. , Keene Kimberly , Rocque Gabrielle B. , Chamberlin Mary , Hegel Mark T. , Azuero Andres , Pisu Maria , Ellis Daphne , Ingram Stacey A. , Lawhon Valerie M. , Gilbert Tiffany , Morrissette Kali , Morency Jamme , Thorp Karen , Codini Megan , Newman Robin , Echols Jennifer , Cloyd Danielle , dos Anjos Sarah , Muse Colleen , Goedeken Susan , Laws Kristen Elizabeth , Herbert Jennae , Bakitas Marie , Lyons Kathleen D.
Published: September 2023

PURPOSE

Evidence supporting social media–based recruitment of cancer survivors is limited. This paper describes how we used Facebook during the COVID-19 pandemic to augment our recruitment of breast cancer survivors for our two-site telephone-based randomized clinical trial (RCT) at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

METHODS

Originally a two-site RCT of a telephone-delivered breast cancer survivorship intervention, we extended our clinic-based recruitment to Facebook. Participant characteristics, geographic reach, and baseline outcomes were compared across recruitment sources (ie, two clinics and Facebook) using descriptive statistics and effect sizes.

RESULTS

Enrollment rates (20%-29%) were comparable across recruitment sources. The 21-month Facebook marketing campaign accounted for 59% (n = 179/303) of our total sample and had the greatest geographic reach, recruiting women from 24 states. The Facebook campaign reached a total of 51,787 unique individuals and cost $88.44 in US dollars (USD) per enrolled participant. Clinic samples had a greater proportion of women who were widowed (8% v 1%; P = .03) and Facebook had a higher proportion of women with a household income over $40,000 USD (83% v 71%; P = .02). There were no statistically significant differences between Facebook and the two clinics on baseline survey scores.

CONCLUSION

Augmenting traditional recruitment with Facebook increased our RCT's geographic and sociodemographic reach and supported meeting recruitment goals in a timely way. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, cancer survivorship researchers should consider using social media as a recruitment strategy while weighing the advantages and potential biases introduced through such strategies.
Lessons Learned and Practice Pearls: Optimal Integration of Electronic Patient-Reported Outcomes in the Medical Oncology Clinic
Authors: O'Sullivan Ciara C. , Cracchiolo Jennifer R. , Tevaarwerk Amye J.
Published: September 2023

This editorial reviews the many opportunities and obstacles associated with ePRO integration in oncology
“Enter Ghost of Goethe”: Comparison and Indigenous Literary Studies in the Pacific
Authors: Te Punga Somerville Alice
Published: September 2023

Māori writer Pei Te Hurinui Jones’s biography of a famous nineteenth-century composer was published serially in the government magazine Te Ao Hou and then in 1961 as Puhiwahine: Māori poetess. The final section of the biography is written in dramatic form: the author is interrupted at his desk by the “ghost of Goethe,” who, it had been rumored, was the father of Puhiwahine’s husband. Following other genealogies—especially those connected to the origins of comparative literature—we might say Goethe’s ghost had already “enter[ed]” this place. In 1886, Irish scholar Hutcheson Macaulay Posnett arrived in Auckland with his freshly printed book Comparative Literature, drawing on work by, among others, Goethe. Responding to Pacific studies scholar Teresia Teaiwa’s argument that “more often than not … the Pacific is not brought to the table as an equal partner in any conversation about the nature of humanity or society,” the article considers how, and on what terms, Te Hurinui’s reckonings with Goethe might be held alongside Posnett’s. Ultimately, drawing attention to these two very different “entries” of Goethe provides an opportunity to reckon with the current and potential relationship between comparative literature, Indigenous literary studies, and the Pacific.
The Trans-Indigenous Lens: A Re-recognition
Authors: Allen Chadwick
Published: September 2023

Originally part of the 2022 Presidential Roundtable “Comparative Literature and Indigeneity,” this essay meditates on the ACLA president’s call to “decolonize” the field of comparative literature. Beyond providing a catchy slogan, what might “decolonization” mean for the practice of our scholarship and teaching? As a beginning of an answer, the essay revisits the author’s 2012 Trans-Indigenous: Methodologies for Global Native Literary Studies and considers what has—and, importantly, what has not—changed within literary studies marked as “comparative,” “world,” and/or “global” in the decade since the book’s publication. How have provocations to center the Indigenous as an optics and as a mode of analysis been taken up, extended, critiqued, or reimagined by others? To illustrate the potential limitations of calls to “decolonize” dominant academic institutions, including the field of comparative literature, the essay offers a preliminary analysis of how a specific example of Indigenous self-representation produces meaning within two related but contrasting venues for display and interpretation: a conventional museum space implicitly coded as “colonial” and an avant-garde museum space explicitly labeled as “decolonizing.” The results are suggestive of the difficulty for dominant academic institutions to transcend colonial foundations and ongoing colonial habits.
A Loose Yet Effective Link: Some Creative Aspects of Comparative Literature
Authors: Danapan Paelabang
Published: September 2023

As a promoter of the literature of Taiwan’s Indigenous peoples, our most important task is to foster a relatively open and relaxed environment to encourage our people to continue and perpetuate their interest and vitality in “creative writing.” The purpose of this essay, by focusing on the aspect of “creative writing” and based on actual practice, is to raise several controversial issues that can influence writing for consideration. First, we deal with the strategic question of the choice of “language” that Indigenous literary creation must face; second, we examine the problem of “literariness” and “realness” in Indigenous literary creation; finally, we clearly pinpoint the distance between tribal and national imagination, in order to prevent Indigenous literature from being kidnapped by the so-called “national identity” in contemporary Taiwan.
Pleasure’s Swerve: Philology among Lucretius, Derrida, and Deleuze
Authors: Hock Jessie
Published: September 2023

In the 1983 article “My Chances/Mes chances: A Rendezvous with Some Epicurean Stereophonies,” Jacques Derrida gives philological questions massive philosophical significance by reading the long âgon between idealist and materialist philosophy through a philological crux in the text of Lucretius’s De rerum natura (On the Nature of Things). Tracing philological debates that have surrounded Lucretius from the Renaissance onward, this article argues that Lucretius’s poetic theory of interlinked atomic and textual swerves and the philological history that has mediated them were important touchstones for both Derrida and the other major twentieth-century philosopher of difference, Gilles Deleuze. Additionally, the article argues that for both Derrida and Deleuze, the clinamen offers a theory not only of how atoms or alphabetical letters swerve or even split, but also of how a philosophical tradition such as materialism refuses to run in a straight, unitary line. This is a question of how to understand reception history: either as an unbroken tradition of faithful imitation and replication (a family genealogy, grouped under the name of the father, “Lucretius” for example), or else as something less patriarchal, less heteronormative, less faithful. Read this way, the swerve offers a rethinking of the methods of reception history itself.
Una mirada médica de la vida. Médicos escritores y escritores médicos
Authors: Rosselli-Cock Pablo , Rodríguez de los Ríos Camila
Published: September 2023

Este libro presenta un recorrido histórico de los médicos escritores y los escritores médicos, desde la Antigüedad hasta nuestros días. Los autores, Rosselli-Cock y Rodríguez de los Ríos, presentan, entre otros, obras de los ingleses Thomas Brown y del abuelo de Charles Darwin, Erasmus; del francés Jean-Paul Marat, protagonista en la Revolución francesa; del austriaco Sigmund Freud, del ruso Antón Chéjov y del escocés Archibald Joseph Cronin. Entre los médicos escritores de América Latina, examinan, por ejemplo, al argentino Baldomero Fernández Moreno o al brasileño João Guimarães Rosa. La segunda parte del libro, dedicada a los médicos escritores colombianos de los siglos xix y xx, presenta a los médicos César Uribe Piedrahita, Luis López de Mesa, Luis María Murillo Sarmiento, José Félix Patiño Restrepo, Liborio Zerda y Manuel Zapata Olivella, entre muchos otros.
Improved Decision Rule Approximations for Multistage Robust Optimization via Copositive Programming
Authors: Xu Guanglin , Hanasusanto Grani A.
Published: September 2023

Improved decision rule approximations for multistage robust optimization via copositive programming

Previous research in the field has proposed several approaches to tackle multistage robust optimization problems, but they are often limited in their applicability. These existing methods either fail to handle cases where recourse matrices are uncertain or struggle to handle large-scale problems effectively. In their paper titled “Improved decision rule approximations for multistage robust optimization via copositive programming,” Guanglin Xu and Grani A. Hanasusanto contribute to the robust optimization literature by presenting a novel solution method. Their approach utilizes convex conic techniques and aims to address the general case of multistage robust optimization, where uncertainty exists in the recourse matrices. One significant advantage of their proposed method is its ability to scale well with large-sized instances, overcoming a common limitation faced by previous methods. Through numerical experiments on various simulated applications, Xu and Hanasusanto demonstrate the superiority of their algorithm over existing state-of-the-art methods.
Botanical Description, Cultivation Practices, Essential Oil Composition and Therapeutic Values of Origanum vulgare L. and its Future Prospective
Authors: Maithani Ankita , Maithani Umesh , Singh Maneesha
Published: September 2023

The Lamiaceae family is of great diversity and variety, with a cosmopolitan distribution. Plants in this family are characterized by verticillaster inflorescence, two-lipped open-mouthed tubular corolla, opposite decussate leaves, quadrangular stem, etc. Most of the species belonging to the family are aromatic and possess essential oils. Origanum vulgare L., also known as Vantulsi or Badri tulsi, is an important herb that is commonly used for it’s aromatic properties. Oregano's leaves and flowering parts contain essential oil glands that produce volatile oil, which is what gives the plant its fragrance. Carvacrol and/or thymol make up the majority of the essential oil of Oregano, with γ-terpenine, p-cymene, linalool, terpenine 4-ol, and sabinene hydrate. These constituents are primarily responsible for the oil's antiviral, antiseptic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, anticoagulant, and energetic action properties. In this review article, we shed light on the origin, distribution, botanical description, cytological and breeding studies, essential oil and its constituents, biological activities, cultivation practices and therapeutic values of Origanum vulgare L.
Determination of the emotional state of elderly women in nontraditional types of gymnastics
Authors:   National University ", Zakharova Olena ,   Zaporizhzhya Polytechnic", Smetanin Serhii ,   National University "Zaporizhzhya Polytechnic"
Published: September 2023

The political, economic, healthcare and demographic situation in our time is not easy. In this regard the need for regular physical activity to maintain people’s health, regardless of age, is becoming an increasingly urgent issue. In today’s realities, there is a growing need to create new and further develop existing areas of recreational gymnastics for different age groups. Historically formed systems of gymnastics and long-term practice of their application prove their effectiveness in preserving physical and mental health of people, which has now become significant. Based on this, the purpose of our article was to determine the impact of training in non-traditional types of gymnastics on the emotional state of older women, which is especially important during military operations. The objectives of the study are to determine the emotional state caused by practicing non-traditional types of gymnastics, and even to form a stable desire to perform gymnastic exercises regularly. The study was conducted in groups of elderly women aged from 55 to 72. The survey method was used to determine the correctness of the chosen direction of training in non-traditional types of gymnastics. Based on the data obtained during the surveys, it can be concluded that training in non-traditional types of health-improving gymnastics has a positive effect on the emotional state of older women and can be used as a means of helping to maintain health in difficult times. This seems to be extremely necessary, especially in the current difficult political situation, to preserve the health and improve the quality of life of older women.
Organizational and methodological conditions for the development of professional competences of future teachers of the subject «Defense of Ukraine»
Authors:   Sumy Makarenko State Pedagogical University, Lazorenko Stanislav
Published: September 2023

The scientific article presents ways to increase the level of professional competences of future teachers of the subject «Defense of Ukraine» during their studies in higher education institutions. The characterological nature of the organization of the educational process according to the organizational and methodological conditions of higher education institutions according to teachers with different teaching experience and the specifics of disciplines has been established. The presented organizational and methodological conditions of future teachers of the subject «Defense of Ukraine» in structural integrity generate effective implementation of the educational-content, educational-methodical and pedagogical-technical components of the model of formation of readiness for future professional activity. The main functionality of the organizational and methodological conditions of the specialty «Defense of Ukraine» should ensure the effectiveness of the educational goal of the subject on the basis of current legal acts, taking into account modern dynamic changing processes in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, combat experience in military operations, technical and shooting novelties in the military industry. The importance of training future teachers «Defense of Ukraine» provides in general to overcome the current problematic field of attractiveness of the subject in educational institutions and personnel training in matters of national security and defense of our country. All this will form the degree of implementation of new military-pedagogical knowledge and skills in future teachers of the subject «Defense of Ukraine», will create a systematic educational system in important subject areas (study of the military-historical and normative-legal foundations of state formation and defense of one’s country; will generate motivational interest of pre-conscription age to the popularization of the military cause; will create the assimilation of new knowledge on civil protection of the population; the correct algorithm of actions for the provision of pre-medical assistance; know the tactics of combat operations; understand the scales of maps and the basics of military topography) of military applied skills and skills for the successful assimilation and conducting of training sessions with of this subject.
Building an individual educational trajectory of future teachers through digitization of education and distance learning based on pedagogical design
Authors:   Ukrainian Engineering and Pedagogical Academy, Lytvyn Olha
Published: September 2023

The article examines the influence of global digitalization and digital technologies on the formation of the individual educational trajectory of future teachers in the conditions of distance education, organized on the principles and rules of pedagogical design. The trends of development and rethinking of the educational process have been determined, including through the introduction of pedagogical design into the learning process. Issues of rethinking the educational process in the digital environment, its features and possible difficulties are considered. The purpose of using modern digital technologies in education is discussed. The prospects of using the impact of digitalization on the development and formation of professionally important competencies of future educators are considered. It was determined that digital technologies in pedagogical activities contribute to the development of innovations and the generation of new ideas that affect both the teacher and the students of education, as well as the educational process in general. Pedagogical design is defined as the collaborative process of developing a distance course using specific learning objectives and pedagogical theories to determine learning strategies, activities, and assessments to achieve desired educational outcomes. Pedagogical design has been found to use design principles to promote learner engagement and includes the development of structures, digital learning objects, and multimedia resources to improve the quality of teaching and learning. The basic principles of pedagogical design were identified, including the digital architecture of the e-course, which organizes educational information, the principle and method of interaction with the e-course, characterized by simplicity and ease of use, which contribute to effective learning.
The impact of physical recreation as an educational component on the professional training of physical culture specialists
Authors:   Uman National University of Horticulture, Moroz Yurii
Published: September 2023

The paradigm of education in the field of physical education has significantly changed in recent decades all over the world, which is explained by the orientation towards a fundamentally new understanding of the essence of physical education and its role in the educational system. At the same time, there is an urgent social need in Ukraine for physical education specialists who have all the skills to perform recreational and health activities, which is extremely important and necessary for the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, the prevention of various diseases and the increase and improvement of the level of motor activity of various population groups. The personality of a specialist in recreation and health activities is an extremely important factor that affects the involvement of the population in health-improving physical activity. The critical importance of the defining aspects of the training of such specialists serves the needs of the development of the educational field of physical culture and sports. The European integration processes currently taking place in Ukraine determine the vital need for the implementation of a common European policy in the field of training highly qualified personnel in the field of recreation, health and physical education. The study of best practices in the training of relevant specialists requires a critical analysis of the achievements of the educational system of our countries. Adaptation of the educational system to national needs will provide an opportunity to implement positive trends in the educational process of higher education institutions of Ukraine. The level and importance of education characterizes the degree of development of civilization. The search for and implementation of a new educational paradigm led to the realization of the importance and necessity of modernization of education as a global and determining process covering all spheres of social activity.
Peculiarities of the organization of internships in higher education institutions of Ukraine
Authors:   State Institution Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University, Pavliuk Olena , Brusak Oleksandr ,   State Institution Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University
Published: September 2023

In the article, in the process of research, the peculiarities of the organization of practices in higher education institutions of Ukraine are highlighted, they include: a variety of forms of practical activity, connection with workplaces, scientific and methodological support, interaction with professional communities. The specific features of practices in institutions of higher education in the specialty “017 Physical culture and sports” make them a significant element of competence formation and training of highly qualified specialists in the field of physical culture and sports. Analysis of scientific and methodical literature, practical experience and own observations allow us to single out the most important features of educational and production practices of students of higher education institutions on the specialty “017 Physical culture and sport”, which include the following aspects: practical orientation (practices for students of “017 Physical culture and sport” are of great importance, as they allow students to gain practical skills and apply theoretical knowledge in real conditions); variety of places of practice (students of the “017 Physical Culture and Sports” specialty can do practice in various places, such as sports facilities, gyms, fitness centers, sports clubs, schools and other institutions related to physical activity and sports); application of theoretical knowledge (practices help students to consolidate and apply theoretical knowledge acquired during training; provide an opportunity to try out different methods and approaches to training, develop training programs, conduct sports competitions and evaluate physical training of athletes); interaction with professionals (internships create a unique opportunity for students to communicate and interact with teachers, coaches, athletes and other professionals in the field of physical education and sports); evaluation and tracking of progress (during internships, students receive feedback from mentors and teachers, which allows them to evaluate their progress, identify strengths and weaknesses, and make necessary adjustments to their work).