bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Capturing inter-individual variability in stress dynamics with heart rate traces reveals activity in the bilateral hippocampus, amygdala, and insula
Authors: Erhart Mira , Kühnel Anne , Brückl Tanja M. , Fietz Julia , Pöhlchen Dorothee , Yusupov Natan , Elbau Immanuel , Czisch Michael , Binder Elisabeth B. , Sämann Philipp G. , Spoormaker Victor I. 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Abnormalities in the neural mechanisms of the stress response have the potential to serve as a transdiagnostic marker for stress-related disorders. This potential is rooted in the highly individual and dynamic stress response, which poses a challenge to classical experimentally informed models that focus on specific phases, conditions, or stimuli during a stress task. Here, we integrate individual heart rates (HR) as an immanent index of the stress-response and combine these with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. In this study, 83 healthy participants completed a multimodal psychosocial imaging stress task comprising three different task phases (PreStress, Stress, and PostStress), with each phase consisting of five 60 s blocks of active task interleaved with 40 s of rest, and simultaneous recordings of pulse plethysmography. Participants were asked to solve mental calculations and were exposed to negative social feedback during the Stress phase. We estimated a general linear model (GLM) with individual heart rates averaged per active block as a single parametric modulator of the task regressor across all 15 active blocks irrespective of the task phase. Results revealed a negative correlation between HR and activation in the bilateral amygdala and anterior hippocampus as well as deactivation in the default mode network. Positive correlations with HR were detected in the bilateral insular cortex, bilateral angular gyrus, and parts of the inferior and superior parietal lobes. In summary, our findings emphasize the utility of integrating the commonly assessed cardiovascular stress response (here: HR) as an immediate index of the participant’s stress status. We conclude that by such integration, brain regions involved in regulating the acute stress response, such as the anterior hippocampus and amygdala, are detected more sensitively by tracking the individual’s “stress wave” rather than treating every experimental block uniformly. Our approach may serve as a complementary analysis to the task-regressor based model.
Balancing excitation and inhibition: The role of neural network dynamics in working memory gating
Authors: Herzog Nadine , Cesnaite Elena , Steinfath Paul , Kapralov Nikolai , Fallon Sean J. , Nikulin Vadim , Villringer Arno , Janssen Lieneke K. , Horstmann Annette 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
In the complex landscape of daily life, we continuously balance between maintaining focus despite distractions and flexibly updating focus when needed—a cognitive process governed by a mechanism known as working memory gating. While much research has focused on the neural locus of this mechanism, less is known about the underlying neural dynamics. Here we probe the role of network excitation/inhibition (E/I) dynamics in working memory gating. Utilizing resting-state electroencephalography, we extract two markers of network E/I dynamics: resting-state long-range temporal correlations (LRTCs)—indicative of “critically” balanced E/I dynamics, and the slope of the power spectral density (PSD)—indicative of E/I ratio, and relate them to performance on a working memory gating task, specifically probing distractor-resistant maintenance and flexible updating. Based on previous studies linking stronger LRTCs to enhanced adaptive cognition, we initially expected to observe a similar relation. We find the opposite pattern, however: stronger LRTCs (indicating a more “critical” E/I balance) predicted poorer performance in maintenance-related working memory processes. This challenges the assumption that “near-critical” system dynamics are generally beneficial for cognitive function. Additionally, a flatter PSD slope (indicating a higher E/I ratio) was associated with better maintenance-related performance, particularly in individuals with higher levels of blood phenylalanine and tyrosine (indicating greater central dopamine availability). Notably, both network measures affected performance in all but the updating condition, suggesting a nuanced role of cortical E/I dynamics in overarching maintenance-related working memory processes, distinct from the gating mechanism as such. Our results highlight the complex interplay of network dynamics and neurochemical environments in cognitive function, suggesting implications for targeted interventions in cognitive disorders.
Global Connection and the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals in the Context of Repatriation of Remains of Overseas Chinese
Authors: Fan Ka-wai 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the literature concerning a crucial link that unites mainland China, Hong Kong and overseas Chinese communities. The Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, a charitable organisation based in Hong Kong, played a key role in the facilitation of the repatriation of the remains of individuals of Chinese descent living abroad. This paper places special emphasis on the value of archival records released by the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals. It proposes the pursuit of interdisciplinary research and underscores the necessity for comprehensive investigations that encompass publications in different languages. To enhance our understanding of the repatriation of deceased overseas Chinese individuals, there is a resounding need for expanded initiatives to collect and preserve primary historical sources. Comparative studies on burial practices across different regions are also recommended. Such pursuits will offer new insights into the history of overseas Chinese communities.
The Military-Political Complex of the Republic of Letters
Authors: Margócsy Dániel 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
This article offers a revisionist interpretation of the early modern Republic of Letters by offering a contextual analysis of explicit mentions of the term by scholars across Europe in the period. The current historiography on the Republic of Letters tends to present it as the place of friendly, solidary and democratic cooperation across national and religious boundaries. This article argues, instead, that members of the Republic of Letters conceptualised it as a battlefield of permanent warfare. Early modern scholars often compared themselves to soldiers of a hierarchically organised army or to fighters in a civil war. It is claimed that a militarised conceptualisation of the Republic of Letters offers the opportunity to re-engage with Reinhart Koselleck’s influential Kritik und Krise. Evidence is presented from fifteenth-century Italy to early nineteenth-century Hungary.
The Concept of Partnership in Book II of the Republic
Authors: Peprah Stephen Oppong 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
This article critically analyses the concept of ‘partnership’ (koinōnia) in Book II of the Republic (Pl. Resp. 369b–374e), a concept it believes grounds Plato’s political thesis. It attempts to determine the nature of the concept, explore the agential capacities of the partnering agents, identify the original and derivative rational principles that could emerge from it, and argue that these rational principles are also moral principles. Platonic social justice spells out one of the rational and moral principles that emerge from the partnership. In this regard, the paper aims to show, inter alia, the connection between Platonic partnership and social justice and how such connection helps to explain, for instance, the quality of relationship that could exist between the rulers and ruled in Kallipolis. Incidentally, the paper compares Platonic partnership in respect of his defence of justice with Glaucon’s contractarian moral thesis in connection with his pean for injustice.
Feeling Minne: Selfhood and Embodied Emotion in Mechthild von Magdeburg’s Mystical Devotions
Authors: Victoria Hannah 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Minne (love, Middle High German) often appears in thirteenth-century Germanic female mystical texts as an object of devotional affection. In Ein vliessendes lieht der gotheit (The Flowing Light of the Godhead), Mechthild von Magdeburg (1208–1282) frequently portrays her minne as a person, effectively embodying or incarnating the concept of minne through language. In this text, we can consider that minne is an entity in some ways possessed of her own ‘selfhood’ because of her poetic embodiment through language; an embodiment which consequently also allows her to come into contact with other narratively embodied entities. In this essay, I will approach an understanding of the emotion minne – a culturally and linguistically dependent concept – through the feelings – cognitive and somatic concepts – by which she is articulated within the language of the text. I will argue for the linguistic and narrative embodiment of both minne’s selfhood and Mechthild’s selfhood to explore how their narrative interaction creates an understanding of minne by means of the body. I suggest that Mechthild’s minne is a concept which can be experienced, or felt, and understood outside thirteenth-century germanophone culture because of the textual and lexical embodiment that takes place through literary tropes and culturally coded metaphors.
Considerations on the use of ear chondrocytes as donor chondrocytes for cartilage tissue engineering
Authors: van Osch Gerjo J.V.M. , Mandl Erik W. , Jahr Holger , Koevoet Wendy , Nolst‐Trenité Gilbert , Verhaar Jan A.N. 
Published: November 2024

Articular cartilage is often used for research on cartilage tissue engineering. However, ear cartilage is easier to harvest, with less donor‐site morbidity. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether adult human ear chondrocytes were capable of producing cartilage after expansion in monolayer culture. Cell yield per gram of cartilage was twice as high for ear than for articular cartilage. Moreover, ear chondrocytes proliferated faster. Cell proliferation could be further stimulated by the use of serum‐free medium with Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 (FGF2) in stead of medium with 10% serum. To evaluate chondrogenic capacity, multiplied chondrocytes were suspended in alginate and implanted subcutaneously in athymic mice. After 8 weeks the constructs demonstrated a proteoglycan‐rich matrix that contained collagen type II. Constructs of ear chondrocytes showed a faint staining for elastin. Quantitative RT‐PCR revealed that expression of collagen type II was 2‐fold upregulated whereas expression of collagen type I was 2‐fold down regulated in ear chondrocytes expanded in serum‐free medium with FGF2 compared to serum‐containing medium. Expression of alkaline phosphatase and collagen type X were low indicating the absence of terminal differentiation. We conclude that ear chondrocytes can be used as donor chondrocytes for cartilage tissue engineering. Furthermore, it may proof to be a promising alternative cell source to engineer cartilage for articular repair.
Old age from the perspective of LGBTQ+ and heterosexual young: A comparative study
Authors: Boyacıoğlu Nur Elçin , Irmak Hatice Selin , Bozkurt Uzan Şeyma 
Published: November 2024

Background: In today’s world, the challenges and achievements of LGBTQ+’s throughout their lives are increasingly gaining attention. However, the specific needs of LGBTQ+’s in the aging process and potential challenges they might face during this period are often overlooked. Aims: This study aims to demonstrate LGBTQ+’s and heterosexual young’s perspectives on old age. Method: This descriptive, cross-sectional comparative study collected data from 230 LGBTQ+ and 201 heterosexual individuals. Data were collected using a digital survey comprising an 8-item Personal Information Form and a 17-item Questionnaire for Opinions Regarding Old Age. Results: Compared to others, LGBTQ+’s consider old age to be a more problematic period. In this study, it was determined that LGBTQ+’s perceive old age as a bigger problem compared to those in the heterosexual group. It was determined that the possible difficulties that LGBTQ+’s expect to face in old age are mostly related to basic needs such as the need for care and lack of social support. In the heterosexual group, concerns about age-related physical changes such as loss of youth were observed more frequently. Conclusion: It is recommended that studies to be conducted and services to be offered in this area should be of nature that would ensure safety of LGBTQ+’s, protect their basic humanitarian rights and respond to their needs.
Battling the barriers to compassion in organizations
Authors: Paakkanen Miia , Martela Frank , Pessi Anne Birgitta 
Published: November 2024

Compassion at work has been linked to many important work outcomes, including improved well-being, leadership capability, cooperation, and commitment. However, what prevents compassion at work has not been adequately studied, with only a few research studies on the barriers to compassion; those that exist are mainly limited to healthcare. This empirical article explores the barriers to compassion through interviews with 14 groups of managers and employees ( N = 81) from five different organizations in a variety of fields. We identify barriers in five dimensions: mindset, behavior, culture, system, and leadership. Importantly, we have discovered that the barriers are often interrelated within and across dimensions, revealing their interdependence. Failing to recognize not only barriers as such but also their systemic interrelations may present a major barrier to the management of compassion at work. In fact, understanding the systemic nature of barriers can make the battle against barriers to compassion more effective and systems intelligent. We discuss the theoretical contributions as well as the practical implications of our findings for managers and offer a blueprint for optimizing compassion on an individual, community, and leadership levels. JEL Classification: O15 Human Resources/Human Development
Assessing the Role of Blood Gas Analysis in COVID-19 Patients for Early Warning and Clinical Guidance
Authors: Wang Youji , Liu Tielian , Du Hualongyue , Wang Yongliang , Xiao Gang , Lyu Xiaoming 
Published: November 2024

Objective To assess the role of blood gas analysis as an auxiliary tool for detecting and predicting the progression of COVID-19 in patients. Research Methodology/Design A consecutive cohort study was conducted of 106 patients diagnosed with the novel coronavirus. Patients were divided into two groups based on age and the course of the disease (mild to moderate and severe). Blood gas analysis parameters were measured for all participants and results were compared between groups. Setting This study was conducted in the Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China. Main Outcome Measures Arterial/alveolar oxygen partial pressure ratio, reduced hemoglobin fraction, sodium ion, lactic acid, oxygen saturation, oxygen partial pressure, and oxyhemoglobin fraction. Results Findings indicated statistically significant differences between the two groups in the measured parameters. Conclusion Blood gas analysis has the potential to more accurately assess the progression of COVID-19 in elderly patients, specifically related to respiratory and acid-base balance issues. Implications for Clinical Practice This study underscores the importance for bedside nurses to pay close attention to acid-base balance, lung ventilation/ventilation function, and hypoxia status in elderly critically ill patients with COVID-19, in order to more effectively diagnose and predict the progression of the disease.
Advanced Care Plan Among Older Chinese in Residential Aged Care: A Retrospective Review
Authors: Gaviola Minah Amor , Pedzisi Simon , Inder Kerry Jill , Johnson Amanda 
Published: November 2024

Introduction: Worldwide in the population of older people, ethnic diversity is prevalent and therefore warrants culturally sensitive advanced care planning. This study aimed to explore advanced care planning documentation related to the cultural needs of residents of Chinese ethnicity in Australian aged care facilities. Methods: A retrospective review of advanced care plan documentation was undertaken among 31 older Chinese residents with life-limiting illnesses across two residential aged care facilities in New South Wales, Australia. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: 90% of residents had advanced care planning documentation. The presence of the resident and their representative and medical care directives were well documented. Specific details on the provision of palliative care that considers the person’s cultural needs and preferences were limited. Discussion: Findings suggest the need for further research that explores an optimal way of embedding culture-specific information and the development of a culturally sensitive advanced care plan for people of Chinese ethnicity.
Nasopharyngeal stenosis in cats: a retrospective study of 21 cases comparing endoscopic and surgical treatment (2018–2022)
Authors: Champetier Agathe , Lemetayer Julie , Ruel Yannick , Dossin Olivier 
Published: November 2024

Objectives Feline nasopharyngeal stenosis (NPS) is an uncommon disease in cats. The aim of this study was to compare the outcome with endoscopic and surgical treatments. Methods In this retrospective study, medical records were searched for cases of NPS and cases were divided into three groups: endoscopic treatment (balloon dilation); surgical treatment; or no treatment. Data are presented as median and range. Success rates and length of post-procedure corticosteroid treatment were compared between the two treated groups. Results A total of 21 cases were included: 10 males and 11 females (median age 6.7 years, range 0.5–14.4). Clinical signs at the time of initial presentation included permanent stertor (19/21), increased respiratory efforts (9/21), nasal discharge (9/21) and cough/reverse sneezing (6/21) with a duration in the range of 3–60 months. Diagnosis was based on endoscopy (21 cases) and CT (19 cases). In total, 12 cases were treated with endoscopic balloon dilation; 11 cases demonstrated a complete resolution of clinical signs (two cats had two dilations) and one case showed incomplete improvement after one balloon dilation but was successfully treated surgically. Eight cats were treated surgically (including one cat that was originally treated with balloon dilation), including seven cases with complete resolution of clinical signs and one case with a rostral NPS that failed to respond. Two cats were not treated and are still alive more than 3 years after diagnosis. The success rate was not different between the endoscopic (11/12) and surgically treated cases (7/8) ( P = 0.85). The outcome was considered excellent in most of the cases as 18/23 procedures were successful, at least until the medium term, and 15/18 treated cats had no clinical signs of minimal stertor at follow-up. Conclusions and relevance This preliminary study suggests that minimally invasive endoscopic treatment of NPS has a high success rate and should be attempted in all cases with perforate stenotic membranes. When not achievable, extended palatoplasty can be recommended as a good alternative.
Evaluation of the Validity of Anatomical Merkmal Method for Anterolateral Popliteal Puncture Technique
Authors: Yamazaki Daisuke , Sasaki Fumiaki , Fujihashi Takahide , Amamizu Hirokazu , Takahashi Toru 
Published: November 2024

Treatment of chronic total occlusion (CTO) in the femoropopliteal segment remains technically challenging, and some CTO lesions may require distal puncture. The anterolateral popliteal puncture technique was reported in 2017 and has many advantages, including the ability to continue the procedure in the supine position. We investigated the anatomical Merkmal of anterolateral popliteal artery puncture and verified the efficacy of the Merkmal method by contrast-enhanced lower limb computed tomography (CT) at our hospital. We assumed that the popliteal artery would run along the medial margin of the fibular head when the medial margin of the fibular head and the tibia were in the most separated oblique position. On bone 3D CT images, we set a region of interest (ROI) over the expected course of the popliteal artery according to the Merkmal method. The primary endpoint was the hit rate, defined as the ratio of the area of the popliteal artery in the ROI on 3D CT divided by the area of the popliteal artery at the same level on contrast-enhanced CT. The secondary endpoints were the diameter of the popliteal artery, its distance from the skin, and the angle of obliquity. We retrospectively validated the Merkmal method in 108 limbs of 56 patients who underwent contrast-enhanced lower limb CT at our hospital. The hit rate was 66.5% (range, 39.8%-87.0%), the mean diameter of the popliteal artery was 4.6 ± 0.7 mm, the mean distance from the skin to the popliteal artery was 48.6 ± 4.8 mm, and the mean angle of lateral obliquity was 57.3 ± 12.0°. These findings indicate the potential of the Merkmal method to facilitate anterolateral popliteal puncture. Clinical Impact This anatomical Merkmal method may facilitate anterolateral popliteal puncture.
The Prognostic Significance of NEDD9 Expression in Human Cancers: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Omics Exploration
Authors: Yasin Jehad A. , Odat Ramez M. , Qtaishat Fares A. , Tamimi Mohammad-Amer A. , Alsufi Muaath I. , Younis Osama M. , Alkuttob Leen A. , Saeed Anwaar 
Published: November 2024

Background Neural precursor cell expressed developmentally downregulated 9 (NEDD9) is considered an important factor in the progression of cancer, acting as a modulator of cellular migration, adhesion, and metastatic potential. Its significance as a prognostic factor, however, remains unclear, which necessitated a comprehensive review and meta-analysis. Methods Our study followed the PRISMA guidelines, analyzing studies from major databases including PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane. Our eligibility criteria included studies evaluating NEDD9 expression in relation to cancer prognosis and outcomes such as overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), disease-free Survival (DFS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and cancer-specific survival (CSS). We used random-effects and fixed-effect models for meta-analysis, and we validated our findings by comparative analysis using data from external cohorts like The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Results The analysis of 27 studies with 3915 patients demonstrated a significant relationship between NEDD9 expression and poor OS as indicated by the pooled meta-analysis outcome across all included cancers (HR: 1.81, 95% CI: 1.38-2.37). A significant effect on PFS/DFS/RFS/CSS was also found (HR: 2.14, 95% CI: 1.42-3.23). Variations in survival across different types of cancer were indicated by subgroup analysis. NEDD9 expression was correlated with various immune cells across cancer types according to immune infiltration analysis. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis indicated significant interactions involving NEDD9, suggesting mechanisms which influence tumor behavior and response to treatment. Conclusion Our results suggest that NEDD9 is a significant prognostic marker in several human cancers. As a result of its central role in cancer progression and prognosis, it presents a promising target for therapeutic interventions. Our study highlights the importance of further research into the biology of NEDD9 and its therapeutic potential.