bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An Elaeocarpus grandiflorus Leaves Extract Increased Immunoglobulin G Activity and Total Protein of SRBC-Induced Rat
Authors: Nugrahaningsih Wahyu Harini , Daniardi Necya Melynia , Hadiyanti Lutfia Nur 
Published: December 2024

The immune system plays a critical role in defending against viral infections such as Covid-19. Elaeocarpus grandiflorus contains various active compounds, including flavonoids, saponins, polyphenols, and tannins. Among these, the primary flavonoids identified in E. grandiflorus are kaempferol, quercetin, procyanidin, naringin, orientin, iso-orientin, vitexin, isovitexin, rutin, luteolin, and epicatechin. Kaempferol and quercetin have been particularly noted for their anti-inflammatory properties and their potential to enhance the immune system. This study aimed to investigate the effects of E. grandiflorus leaf extract on immunoglobulin G (IgG) activity and total protein levels in rats induced by sheep red blood cells (SRBC). Twenty-five Wistar rats were randomly assigned to five groups: P1, P2, P3, Negative control, and Positive control. The extract suspension was administered from day 1 to day 7 at concentrations of 100 mg/kg BW (P1), 200 mg/kg BW (P2), and 400 mg/kg BW (P3). On day 7, rats were intraperitoneally injected with 1 mL of a 2% v/v solution of SRBC as an antigen. IgG activity and total protein levels were assessed on day 12. The average agglutination titters were as follows: 3.65 (Negative control), 3.89 (Positive control), 3.77 (P1), 3.65 (P2), and 4.61 (P3). Additionally, the average total protein values for the groups were 1.44 mg/dL (Positive control), 1.00 mg/dL (Negative control), 1.18 mg/dL (P1), 1.22 mg/dL (P2), and 1.46 mg/dL (P3). Significant differences were observed in IgG activity and total serum protein levels among the groups. These findings suggest a potential immunostimulant effect of E. grandiflorus leaf extract and warrant further exploration for its development.
Anticancer Effects of Cisplatin and 6-Gingerol Co-Treatment on MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Toh Min Sin , Chong Wan Ching , Susanto Hendra , Nik Malek Nik Ahmad Nizam , Prabhakaran Praseetha 
Published: December 2024

Breast cancer is known to be a common cancer diagnosed by people around the world, and a high number of breast cancer cases are recorded annually. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), the most aggressive form of breast cancer, is often difficult to treat as it lacks expression of estrogen, progesterone and human epidermal growth factor receptors that are often targeted for other breast cancer subtypes. Hence, chemotherapy remains the main option to treat TNBC. Cisplatin, a powerful anticancer drug, is commonly used as a chemotherapeutic agent for TNBC treatment. Nevertheless, the development of chemoresistance and adverse side effects observed in clinics limit the use of cisplatin in treating cancer. Various studies have shown that cisplatin, in combination with plant-based compounds, has successfully reduced its toxicity as well as tumour resistance to its treatment. Recent findings have shown that 6-gingerol, the major phytochemical in ginger, possesses excellent anticancer properties. Therefore, this study reports the anticancer effects of cisplatin, 6-gingerol and cisplatin-6-gingerol co-treatment on the cell viability and changes in morphology of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, which represents the TNBC subtype. Alamar Blue assay was performed to study cell viability while morphological changes in cells before and after treatments were observed via microscopy imaging. In addition, the drug-drug interaction was studied via the CompuSyn software. The IC50 concentrations of cisplatin, 6-gingerol and combined cisplatin-6-gingerol treatments were achieved at 8.08mM, 80.24mM and 58.53mM, respectively. In the combined therapy, a reduced cisplatin concentration (5mM) was used with 0-100 mM 6-gingerol.The combination therapy required a lower dosage of both agents (5mM cisplatin in combination with 58.53mM 6-gingerol) to inhibit 50% of MDA-MB-231 cell growth. Both solo and combined treatments reduced the cell viability of MDA-MB-231 effectively in a dose-dependent manner but with different capacities. Morphological changes of MDA-MB-231 cells upon each treatment suggested that each treatment could induce different cell fate. However, the analyzed drug-drug interaction between 5 mM cisplatin and 0-100 mM 6-gingerol on MDA-MB-231 cells revealed that the combined treatment exerted an antagonistic effect. It is presumed that the cisplatin concentration used counteracted with the effect of 6-gingerol, consequently affecting the overall inhibitory effect in MDA-MB-231 cells. In conclusion, the present study shows that solo treatment of cisplatin and 6-gingerol, respectively, had a more significant inhibitory effect compared to the co-treatment on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. However, further studies are required to examine the combined effect of cisplatin and 6-gingerol using different combination strategies for more promising outcomes that can provide valuable knowledge in contributing to TNBC treatment management.
Neck‐pinching of CP1$\mathbb {C}{\rm P}^1$‐structures in the PSL2C${\rm PSL}_2\mathbb {C}$‐character variety
Authors: Baba Shinpei 
Published: December 2024

AbstractWe characterize a certain neck‐pinching degeneration of (marked) ‐structures on a closed oriented surface of genus at least two. In a more general setting, we take a path of ‐structures on that leaves every compact subset in its deformation space, such that the holonomy of converges in the ‐character variety as . Then, it is well known that the complex structure of also leaves every compact subset in the Teichmüller space of . In this paper, under an additional assumption that is pinched along a loop on , we describe the limit of from different perspectives: namely, in terms of the developing maps, holomorphic quadratic differentials, and pleated surfaces. The holonomy representations of ‐structures on are known to be nonelementary (i.e., strongly irreducible and unbounded). We also give a rather exotic example of such a path whose limit holonomy is the trivial representation.
Teaching and Transferring Life Skills From the Classroom: A Qualitative Study of Iranian Physical Education Teachers’ Perceptions
Authors: Vahdani Mohsen , Cronin Lorcan , Taslimi Zahra , Rezasoltani Najmeh 
Published: December 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to explore Iranian physical education (PE) teachers’ perspectives on developing students’ life skills. Method: A qualitative survey-based research approach was utilized to gather the research data. The study included 81 Iranian teachers who completed an open-ended questionnaire that was developed based on the life skills development research literature. Responses to the questionnaires were transcribed and analyzed thematically. Results: Results indicated that teachers perceive that PE fosters an array of life skills in students (e.g., teamwork and emotional regulation). In additional, six pathways for teaching life skills in PE were put forth by the teachers: (a) classroom management techniques, (b) instructional design activities, (c) interaction techniques, (d) teacher-role modeling, (e) direct approaches, and (f) the utilization of space, equipment, and educational materials. In practice, PE teachers suggest integrating life skills into the curriculum, teacher training courses, and trainee supervision to enhance life skills development.
Role of mouse adenovirus type 1 E4orf6-induced degradation of protein kinase R in pathogenesis
Authors: Edwards, III Daniel F. , Pereira Estela A. , Castro-Jorge Luiza A. , Nevarez Juan M. , Foreman Oded , Spindler Katherine R. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT

Protein kinase R (PKR) is an interferon-induced antiviral protein activated by autophosphorylation in response to double strand DNA (dsRNA) and other stimuli. Activated PKR causes translation inhibition and apoptosis, and it contributes to proinflammatory responses, cell growth, and differentiation. Mouse adenovirus type 1 (MAV-1) counteracts PKR by causing its degradation via a viral protein, early region 4 open reading frame 6 (E4orf6). Degradation is dependent on E4orf6 binding to Cullin 2, a component of the MAV-1 E4orf6 ubiquitin ligase. We investigated the importance of E4orf6 for induction of PKR degradation by exploiting the ability to infect the natural host with the adenovirus MAV-1. First, we used a new PKR-deficient mouse strain, PKR-TKO. PKR-TKO mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) produced higher levels of MAV-1 upon infection than did wild-type (WT) MEFs. PKR-TKO mice had significantly reduced survival, and MAV-1 had a lower LD
50
than in WT control mice. However, virus loads in brains and spleens, key organs infected by MAV-1, were similar between PKR-TKO and WT mice. Second, we constructed a virus, E4orf6TMC2, that has three amino acid changes in the E4orf6 domain involved in Cullin 2 binding. In cell culture infection, compared to WT virus, E4orf6TMC2 resulted in reduced PKR degradation, but its growth was equivalent to WT virus. However, E4orf6TMC2 was avirulent in three mouse strains, including the PKR-TKO mice. The results indicate that PKR is an essential antiviral protein that protects against MAV-1 infection. We confirmed that the viral E4orf6 protein is a virulence protein important for PKR degradation during virus infection, and our results suggest its function is not limited to PKR degradation.

IMPORTANCE
Protein kinase R (PKR) is a host protein that is central to many aspects of the cellular stress response. PKR protects against viral infection by inhibiting viral and host protein synthesis. Most animal viruses have developed ways to circumvent PKR effects by at least one of a variety of means, including inducing its degradation. A new mouse strain knocked out for PKR expression has enabled us to show the importance of PKR for protection from mouse adenovirus type 1 infection in the natural host, which is not possible for human adenoviruses. Mouse adenovirus type 1 induces degradation of PKR through an interaction with host protein Cullin 2. We generated a mutant virus that is defective in its ability to interact with Cullin 2 and showed that the virus does not cause pathogenesis in mice. This work provides critical evidence from mouse studies supporting the importance of PKR for adenovirus pathogenesis.
Octahedral small virus-like particles of dengue virus type 2
Authors: Johnson Adam , Dodes Traian Martín , Walsh, Jr. Richard M. , Jenni Simon , Harrison Stephen C. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT

Flavivirus envelope (E) and precursor M (prM) proteins, when ectopically expressed, assemble into empty, virus-like particles (VLPs). Cleavage of prM to M and loss of the pr fragment converts the VLPs from immature to mature particles, mimicking a similar maturation of authentic virions. Most of the VLPs obtained by prM-E expression are smaller than virions; early, low-resolution cryo-EM studies suggested a simple, 60-subunit, icosahedral organization. We describe here the cryo-EM structure of immature, small VLPs (smVLPs) from dengue virus type 2 and show that they have octahedral rather than icosahedral symmetry. The asymmetric unit of the octahedral particle is an asymmetric trimer of prM-E heterodimers, just as it is on icosahedral immature virions; the full, octahedrally symmetric particle thus has 24 such asymmetric trimers or 72 prM-E heterodimers in all. Cleavage of prM and release of pr generates ovoid, somewhat irregular, mature particles. Previous work has shown that mature smVLPs have fusion properties identical to those of virions, consistent with local, virion-like clustering of 36 E dimers on their surface. The cryo-EM structure and the properties of the smVLPs described here relate directly to ongoing efforts to use them as vaccine immunogens.

IMPORTANCE
Ectopic expression of flavivirus envelope (E) and precursor M (prM) proteins leads to the formation and secretion of empty, virus-like particles (VLPs). We show that a major class of VLPs, of smaller diameter than those of virion size (“small VLPs”: smVLPs), are octahedrally symmetric particles. The known characteristics of immature virions (asymmetric trimers of prM-E heterodimers) allow us to understand the assembly of an octahedral (rather than icosahedral) surface lattice. Cleavage of prM and formation of mature, fusogenic smVLPs yield somewhat irregular, ovoid particles. These observations are directly relevant to proposals for using immunogenic but non-infectious VLPs as components of specific flavivirus vaccines.
Health-promoting lifestyles and influencing factors among pregnant women with urinary incontinence: a multicentre cross-sectional study
Authors: Mao Minna , Zhou Huijie , Gu Shuiqin , Wang Xiaojuan , Xu Ping , Li Yi , Feng Suwen 
Published: December 2024

ObjectiveLifestyle modification is an important part of non-surgical treatment for urinary incontinence (UI) and is strongly recommended. This study aims to explore the status and influencing factors of health-promoting lifestyle among pregnant women with UI.DesignA multicentre cross-sectional study.SettingThis study was conducted in obstetric clinics of three tertiary-level A hospitals in Zhejiang Province, mainland China.ParticipantsA total of 519 pregnant women with UI were enrolled in this study from May 2023 to August 2023.Outcome measuresLifestyle Profile Scale for Gravidas with Urinary Incontinence (LPG-UI) was used to assess health-promoting lifestyle status. Multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis was performed to identify significant influence factors.ResultsMost participants reported mild-to-moderate UI, with over 60% experiencing UI starting from the first and second trimesters. The mean score of LPG-UI was 86.74 (SD=12.75) out of a score of 120. The results of multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis showed that those who had better environmental satisfaction (β=0.22, p<0.001), self-efficacy (β=0.168, p<0.001), social support (β=0.153, p<0.001) and knowledge of UI (β=0.104, p<0.01) have higher levels of health-promoting lifestyles, while those who had worse depression (β=−0.214, p<0.001), fewer exercise before pregnancy (β=−0.135, p<0.001) and physical work (β=−0.076, p<0.05) have lower levels of health-promoting lifestyles. A total of 38.5% variation in the regression equation could be explained.ConclusionsThe health-promoting lifestyle of pregnant women with UI needs to be further promoted. Governments and the social sector need to do more to improve the accessibility of environments such as sports and healthcare. Meanwhile, increasing the individual health responsibility of pregnant women with UI and promoting help-seeking behaviours are also top priorities. More social and emotional support should be added to improve self-efficacy and positive moods to enhance health promotion lifestyles.
Promoting psychological adaptability and well-being of patients with personality disorders with creative arts and psychomotor therapies: protocol of an intervention mapping study
Authors: Wiersma Imke CM , Wouters Hans , Timmerman Karin , Heijman Jackie , Westerhof Gerben J , Radstaak Mirjam , Haeyen Suzanne 
Published: December 2024

IntroductionPersonality disorders (PDs) cause much suffering. In treating patients with PDs, it is important not only to focus on reducing symptoms, but also on promoting psychological adaptability and well-being. The experiential nature of Creative Arts and Psychomotor Therapies (CAPTs) contributes to working on psychological adaptability and improving well-being, although more evidence is needed. This protocol paper describes a study to develop and evaluate a CAPTs-intervention aimed at promoting psychological adaptability and well-being in people with PDs.Methods and analysisThe CAPTs-intervention will be developed using the Intervention Mapping method. A mixed method design will be used for the evaluation of this intervention, using a multiple baseline single case experimental design (MBSCED) with at least 17 participants with a PD included. Quantitative measures that will be completed weekly are the Generic Sense of Ability to Adapt Scale, the Self-Expression and Emotion Regulation in Art Therapy Scale and the Schema Mode Inventory (SMI, healthy adult and happy child). The Mental Health Continuum Short Form, the Brief Symptom Inventory and the SMI (complete) will only be completed at week 1 and 10 of the intervention. Qualitative instruments are an online survey for Experts by Experience, focus groups for CAPTs-therapists, psychologists, managers and referrers, and semi-structured interviews with patients. Quantitative outcomes will be analysed with linear mixed models. Qualitative analysis will be performed using thematic analysis.Ethics and disseminationThis study has been approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the HAN University of Applied Sciences (ref: ECO 471.07/23). All participants will sign an Informed Consent and data will be treated confidentially. Study findings will be published Open Access in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberThis study has been registered athttps://www.ClinicalTrials.gov(trial registration numberNCT06219122).
Efficacy of esketamine for chronic post-thoracotomy pain: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Juan Shu , Lu Xing , Zhou Junhui , Wu Guangling , Yuan Ye 
Published: December 2024

IntroductionChronic post-thoracotomy pain (CPTP) is a persistent and disabling condition affecting a significant proportion of patients after thoracotomy and posing a challenge for clinicians, despite advances in surgical and pain management strategies. Esketamine, the S-enantiomer of ketamine, has emerged as a promising therapeutic agent for various pain conditions, with evidence for its effectiveness in alleviating acute and chronic pain. This systematic review and meta-analysis will be conducted to assess the efficacy of esketamine in treating CPTP, and evaluate its effectiveness in reducing pain intensity, improving functional outcomes, and reducing opioid consumption, as well as its adverse effects.Methods and analysisComputer-based literature retrieval in the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang database and China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP) for randomised controlled trials will be conducted from database inception to April 2024, with no restrictions on the language of publication. Eligible trials will be those focused on esketamine use to prevent and treat CPTP in adult patients; trial groups will have received esketamine and control groups will have been treated with placebo, standard treatment or other non-esketamine medications. Primary outcome measures can include the incidence of CPTP at 3 months, 6 months or 12 months postoperatively. Secondary outcome measures will encompass Visual Analogue Scale and Numerical Rating Scale Scores for rest and movement at different postoperative timepoints, the total number and effective number of patient-controlled analgesia button presses, total consumption of sufentanil, rate of rescue analgesia, and the occurrence of postoperative adverse reactions. Two researchers will independently screen the literature, evaluate its quality and extract the data. Meta-analysis will be performed on literature meeting the quality criteria using Review Manager V.5.3 software.Ethics and disseminationThis review does not require ethical approval. On completion, the results of the review will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication and/or presented at an academic conference.Trial registration numberPROSPERO, CRD42024526945.
Desert Perception: Representations of Pre-Islamic Arabian Space in Classical Arabic Literature
Authors: Webb Peter 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Stories set in the desert, and particularly narratives about the pre-Islamic Arabian desert are ubiquitous in Arabic literature, yet the tellers, audiences and writers of the stories were almost all urbanites, few of whom had actual lived experience with Arabia itself. The setting of pre-Islamic Arabia was accordingly mediated through texts, and this paper analyses how authors set the scene. Taking the main sources for the iconic “Thrust and Dusty War” (al-Dāḥis wa-l-Ġabrāʾ) as a case study, we find that attention to physical setting is surprisingly scant, almost non-existent, and the curiously austere spatial narratives prompt questions about the meanings and purpose of the story. Via methods of geocritical analysis, this paper explores the spatial narratives and the possible ways premodern readers responded to them.
The Integration of Children of Arab Origin into the Italian School System: the Calabrian Context in the Light of Two Erasmus plus Projects
Authors: Zecca Valentina 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
This article aims to approach the issue of school integration of children of foreign origin under two main aspects: the enhancement of their mother tongue and the improvement of school-families communication. These two aspects – which are part of the measures encouraged by European and Italian legislation to foster the educational principles of multilingualism and interculturalism – have been examined in the light of two experiences: two Erasmus Plus projects involving, on the Italian side, the University of Calabria. Focusing on Arabic-speaking families, the research highlights the schools’ needs for interpreters and cultural mediators. It also shows how much the enhancement of Arabic language and culture is quite neglected.
Political Aspects of the Drama “Hlapci”
Authors: Šuler-Galos Jasmina , Kołodziej Grzegorz 
Published: December 2024

Political Aspects of the Drama Hlapci
Contemporary discussions of the deep ideological divide in Slovenian society encompass many arguments that hark back to the cultural struggle waged at the turn of the 20th century. The word ‘farmhand’ was first used metaphorically by Ivan Cankar in the play Hlapci [Farmhands] and remains one of the most frequently used concepts in this debate. In the article, it is treated as a nodal point which connects and stabilises elements of the Slovenian leftist discourse from the early 20th century to the present day.

Polityczne aspekty dramatu Hlapci
Współczesne dyskusje dotyczące głębokiego podziału ideologicznego społeczeństwa słoweńskiego zawierają wiele argumentów używanych w wojnie kulturowej toczonej na przełomie XIX i XX wieku. Słowo parobek, w znaczeniu metaforycznym po raz pierwszy użyte przez Ivana Cankara w roku 1910 w dramacie Hlapci [Parobki], należy w tej dyskusji do najczęściej używanych pojęć. W artykule jest traktowane jako punkt węzłowy słoweńskiego lewicowego dyskursu od początku XX wieku do dziś.
Joost Businger—A Pioneer in Atmospheric Boundary Layer Research
Authors: Businger Steven 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
This paper provides a historical review of our understanding of the workings of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL), the part of the lower atmosphere, typically ≤1 km in depth, that directly feels the influence of Earth’s surface. It is written from the perspective of the career of Joost A. Businger (1924–2023), a pioneer in this area, who realized that the atmospheric boundary layer holds great practical importance in the sense that most of humankind’s activities take place within it and scientific importance in the sense that the boundary layer forms the interface between the free atmosphere and Earth’s surface and therefore plays a major role in our weather and climate.