bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Theories, concepts and classifications of African costumes, dress culture, make-up and body designs in the 21st century
Authors: Utoh-Ezeajugh Tracie Chima 
Published: March 2024

Scholarly interrogations of African dress culture and body designs have mostly engaged non-African experiences and theories in interrogating indigenous practices. This has placed a limitation on cultural expressions of identity and inadvertently exposed the need to frame discourses around traditional African design engagements and indigenous conceptual models. The study employs the analytical, descriptive and interpretative approach of the qualitative research methodology to conceptualise, classify and describe the indigenous and contemporary practice of dressing, costuming and make-up and body designs in Africa. The emphasis is on attires/dresses/clothing, body designs, costumes and make-up practices utilised in everyday life; on special occasions; on stage; in films; carnivals; street performances and traditional communal performances. In this study, the researcher deconstructs the term ‘costume’ as currently used in describing African dressing. It attempts an understanding and classification of costumes from three levels of artistic and historical distinctions which are; indigenous traditional designs (indigenous trad.); modern traditional designs (modern trad.); and contemporary traditional designs (contemporary trad.). Given the identified gaps in existing scholarly presentations on traditional dress culture and body adornment, it maintains that African scholars should be encouraged to expand the scope of discourse through further constructions of identity for indigenous cultural products.
Theatre without borders: Evaluating e-book publication of play texts in the Nigerian educational space
Authors: Iweha Iheanacho C. 
Published: March 2024

The theatre ecology had embraced digital technology long before the Covid-19 pandemic entered our lives. The orange economy, as we know it, is driven by creativity from the arts and humanities as well as the sciences. Playwriting pedagogy, as was traditionally taught, pointed to the stage, printing press and elitist publishers as windows to the world. The theatre arts is a discipline that has a value chain of products and services. Adopting the survey and historical-analytic methods, this paper focuses on playwriting and the playwrightpreneur’s options to the conventional style of publishing for product spread and economic empowerment. The excitement and apprehensions of digitisation on this venture are interrogated via an online survey on consumers of play texts, on the one hand, and playwrights on the other hand. The researcher argues that the availability of online stores does not necessarily translate to the availability of e-books. The results show that even though we are in the digital era, the acceptability of e-books is low compared to hard- copy books. It also reveals that knowledge of online publishing is poor. The gains of digitising theatre projects are illuminated. Furthermore, teachers and students of theatre arts studies will find this option complementary to the age-long style of hard copy inventories as institutional or personal collections. The paper concludes that adequate information on how to publish play texts online is urgently needed especially for writers of dramatic texts. It recommends that workshops on online publication be organised for teachers and students of playwriting.
Changing with changing times: A peep into Nollywood physical film markets in the era of online marketing
Authors: Ihentuge Chisimdi Udoka 
Published: March 2024

At the early stages of Nollywood (the film industry in Nigeria), names of physical film markets were regular in thrillers and posters of films. These include the markets at Upper Iweka Onitsha, Alaba International Lagos, Idumota Lagos, Pound Road Aba and Milverton Avenue Aba. These markets handled the general marketing of the industry. In the present day Nollywood, most of the marketing in the industry are done online. Yet, the names of these physical markets still suffice on the thrillers and posters of Nollywood films. This paper attempts to take a look at the state of the physical film markets in Nigeria in contemporary times. The markets surveyed are the film markets in Electro-Mart Market Onitsha Anambra State (which is a re-location of the market at Upper Iweka Onitsha), Alaba International Market and Idumota Market both in Lagos, and Pound Road and Milverton Avenue both in Aba Abia State. The work is approached through documentary research, observation and interview sessions with the marketers in, and leaders of the markets. It is concluded that despite the fact that activities have grossly dwindled in these physical film markets, they are still very relevant to Nollywood for some other vital functions they perform for the industry. What is missing in these markets is the suitable political environment for the industry. The paper recommends the provision of the enabling economic, natural and, most importantly, political environment for the industry to thrive better in this highly digital era.
Postdigital theatre: Beyond digital alienation of live theatre on the Nigerian performance space
Authors: Ojoniyi Bode 
Published: March 2024

The challenges of studies in humanities in the wake of the ongoing digital revolution in science and technology sum up the crisis of the place of live theatre in response to skit making on social media apart from the traditional film medium like cinemas and home videos. There are perhaps arguments around the presumed effectiveness of digital theatre in terms of its ability to reach wider audiences across the globe at once through the deployment of technology. Nevertheless, it is clear from my experience of live theatre as recent as May 15 and June 19 2022 by the House of Arimata Theatre Studio in Osogbo, that digital theatre cannot take the place of a live theatre. The communal ritual essence of live theatre, its liminal phases, the necessary separation, the shattering of the performers in the limen, their re-assemblage/merging with the audience, and the communal re-emergence with a new consciousness, all in the transitions and the festivity of a live theatre, cannot be captured in/by a digital theatre. Thus, the lacuna is clear even in the rate at which humanity is commoditised with its knowledge and cultural productions monetised in most digital theatre productions. It is on the basis of the argument of postdigitalism that this paper uses direct observation and historical-analytic methods to argue that while live theatre retains the power to humanise through communal participation, digital theatre can only continue to commoditise/zombiefy humanity with its focus on traffic generation and advert placements essentially for materialism.
Nollywood and the challenge of digital archiving and preservation in the digital era
Authors: Ademiju-Bepo Adediran Kayode , Idyo Solomon 
Published: March 2024

This paper discusses digital archiving and preservation as a challenge that Nollywood must grapple with in the digital era. The paper argues that, in other climes, filmmakers have since understood archiving and preservation as the last steps in the life of a movie; unlike in Nigeria, where many a filmmaker have no plan beyond marketing and distribution. The methodology adopted for the research is the qualitative method, with use of documents and visual media research instrument utilized. This study is anchored on the theory of functionalism to establish the paper’s strong position that, in this era of transition to digital filmmaking, it has become rather pertinent for Nigerian filmmakers to factor in the archiving and preservation of their films as the final phase of the production process, in view of the all-important role it plays in the life of their works. Findings reveal that once the current film is distributed, filmmakers tend to move on with planning for the next big project. Thus, they fail to spend quality time to grapple with the reality of where the product of their hard work will end up in the future. This study concludes that filmmakers should be sensitized to appreciate the gains of the future life of their films that archiving and preservation offer. The National Film, Video and Sound Archive (NFVSA) in Jos should be strengthened and well-positioned to harvest the offerings of Nigerian filmmakers for posterity through digital archiving and preservation is our recommendation.
Network pharmacology and molecular docking studies on the mechanism of action of moist exposed burn ointment for treatment of diabetic foot ulcer
Authors: Zhou Yu , Li Yi , Zhang Tianqi , Luo Ting , Liu Ying , Wu Biaoliang 
Published: March 2024

Purpose: To investigate the bioactive components and mechanism of action of moist exposed burn ointment (MEBO) for treatment of diabetic foot ulcers using network pharmacology (NP) and molecular docking technology
Methods: Through pharmacology database of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) systems (TCMSP), analysis platform and symptom mapping (SymMap) database, the bioactive components of MEBO were screened for and protein binding to bioactive components was predicted. Proteins related to Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) were collected from GeneCards, OMIM, PharmGkb and TTD disease databases. With R language software, the binding proteins of bioactive components of MEBO intersected with the proteins related to occurrence of DFU. Proteins of DFU linked to treatment with MEBO were subjected to analysis using gene ontology (GO) and KEGG with R language software. AutoDock and PyMOL software were employed to dock active components of MEBO and major proteins of DFU. Targeted binding potential of bioactive compounds in MEBO to core proteins of DFU was analyzed.
Results: One hundred and five (105) bioactive ingredients and 246 likely therapeutic proteins were obtained. Proteins were mainly involved in biological processes in wound healing, oxidative stress, and lipopolysaccharide. The enriched signaling pathway focused on lipid metabolism and the process of atherosclerosis which involved PI3K and Akt, advanced glycation end-products (AGE)-receptor (RAGE) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). The absolute values of these proteins were screened out with a docking score greater than 5 kcal/mol.
Conclusion: The biological effects of MEBO are related to multiple proteins and multiple signaling pathways. Therefore, healing effect of MEBO on DFU occurs via multiple pathways. The biological characteristics of MEBO need to be fully elucidated in further studies.
Evaluation of propofol and remifentanil combination for controlled hypotension during anesthesia in pediatric nasal endoscopic surgery
Authors: Li Siyao , Ye Min , Wang Xingxu 
Published: March 2024

Purpose: To investigate the safety and efficacy of propofol in combination with remifentanil for controlled hypotension during pediatric nasal endoscopic surgery.
Methods: The study involved 30 patients who underwent controlled hypotension measures with remifentanil during the operation (study group), and 30 patients who did not receive controlled hypotension measures (control group). Various parameters including vital signs, operation time, intraoperative bleeding, surgical field quality, anesthesia quality, postoperative recovery time, adverse reaction rate, pain scores, and serum C-reactive protein levels were compared between the two groups.
Results: The results revealed a significant decrease in mean arterial pressure and heart rate in the study group during the operation compared to control group. Moreover, study group exhibited improved operation time, reduced intraoperative bleeding, and better surgical field quality compared to control group. Pain scores and serum C-reactive protein levels were also lower in the study group. However, there were no significant differences in recovery time, anesthesia quality, postoperative adverse reaction rate, or cognitive function between the two groups.
Conclusion: Propofol in combination with remifentanil for controlled hypotension is a safe and effective anesthesia approach for pediatric nasal endoscopic surgery. Future studies will require larger sample size from different study centers to improve the robustness of the findings of this study.
Effect of dapagliflozin on blood glucose control, cardiac function, and myocardial injury markers in patients with type 2 diabetes and heart failure
Authors: Liu Xin , Zhao Yingxin 
Published: March 2024

Purpose: To investigate the impact of dapagliflozin treatment on blood glucose control, cardiac function, and myocardial injury markers in patients with type 2 diabetes and heart failure.
Methods: In a retrospective analysis of clinical data for 132 patients with type 2 diabetes and heart failure admitted to Beijing Tongren Hospital, China from January 2020 to June 2021, these patients were stratified into two groups (66 patients each). Control group received conventional pharmacotherapy and study group received additional treatment with dapagliflozin. Both treatment courses lasted for 6 months. The levels of blood glucose control, cardiac function, and myocardial injury markers before and after 6 months of treatment were compared between the two groups, as well as safety during treatment.
Results: After 6 months of treatment, both groups exhibited significant reductions in fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-h postprandial glucose (2 h PG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme activity (CK-MB), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD), and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) score, with study group showing a greater improvement (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Dapagliflozin enhances blood glucose control and cardiac function, improving quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes and heart failure. Furthermore, Dapagliflozin demonstrates a safe and well-tolerated profile. Future studies will require establishing the mechanism of dapagliflozin action in a larger and more diverse population.
Circ_0011385 increases cisplatin resistance in breast cancer via miR-615-5psuppression
Authors: Hu Yiyi , Ye Xiaojing , Xiang Feng , Chen Lei , Chen Peizhen 
Published: March 2024

Purpose: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) participate in chemo-resistance among different cancers, containing breast cancer (BC). Herein, this project aimed to investigate the role of circ_0011385 on cisplatin (DDP) resistance in BC cells.
Methods: circ_0011385 and microRNA (miR)-615-5p content in DDP-resistant BC cells and their parent cells (MCF-7) was calculated by RT-qPCR. CCK-8 assessed inhibition rate, and further to calculate half inhibitory concentration (IC50). Clone formation and flow cytometry experiments detected clone numbers and apoptosis rate. Dual-luciferase reporter system validated targeting between circ_0011385 and miR-615-5p.
Results: circ_0011385 was upregulated, whereas miR-615-5p was decreased in MCF-7/DDP cells. Silencing circ_0011385 or miR-615-5p overexpression enhanced BC cell sensitivity to DDP, repress proliferation, and expedite apoptosis rate. Circ_0011385 directly targeted miR-615-5p.
CONCLUSION: Silencing circ_0011385 increases DDP sensitivity by targeting and up-regulating miR-615-5p expression in MCF-7/DDP.
Efficacy of cerebroxin capsules combined with aspirin in prevention of post-ischemic stroke in patients treated with thrombolysis
Authors: Wang Jiaqi , Tan Hong 
Published: March 2024

Purpose: To analyze the efficacy of Cerebro-Cardiac capsules combined with aspirin for secondary prevention in post-ischemic stroke patients treated with thrombolysis, and also to explore its clinical application value.
Methods: 224 ischemic stroke patients in the outpatient clinic of Changsha First Hospital, China from June 2022 to December 2022 were randomly divided into treatment and control groups, with 112 patients per group. Both groups were given oral aspirin (100 mg/daily) but treatment group received cerebroxin capsules (four capsules, three times daily) in addition. The types of recurrent strokes, clinical efficacy, NIHSS score scale, modified Barthel index, levels of fibrinogen and plasma viscosity, total cholesterol and triacylglycerol were assessed and compared between the groups.
Results: During the 6-month follow-up, 10 patients in treatment group and 12 patients in control group experienced dislodgment, and 202 cases completed treatment, but the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Treatment group showed a higher effective rate (92 %) compared to control group (75 %), with a statistically significant difference in clinical symptom efficacy (p < 0.05). Hemodynamic parameters were significantly better in treatment group than in control group (p < 0.05). Both groups exhibited improved total cholesterol levels, triacylglycerol levels and modified Barthel index post-treatment. Treatment group had better NIHSS scores and Barthel index than control group (p < 0.05), while their triacylglycerol levels were lower (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: Cerebroxin capsules combined with aspirin improve the symptomatic effect of thrombolytic therapy in patients after ischemic stroke with high safety profile. Analysis of the effect of this combination in an increased sample size and a longer follow-up period will be required in the future.
Comparative renoprotection: Sacubitril/valsartan versus ACEI or ARB -A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yang Jingtao , Li Chen , Lu Cong , Cheng Jun 
Published: March 2024

Purpose: To evaluate the renoprotective effect of sacubitril/valsartan (Sac/Val) against angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI)/angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB).
Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a thorough search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library was performed up to May 18, 2023. Eligibility criteria included prospective, randomized, controlled trials comparing sac/Val and ACEI/ARB with regard to renal outcomes. Data extraction and quality assessment were undertaken independently by two reviewers. Fixed or random effects models were used depending on the heterogeneity among studies. Subgroup analyses were performed based on the presence or absence of heart failure.
Results: Eleven trials with varied patient populations and clinical settings were included. The meta-analysis revealed that Sac/Val exhibited a significantly reduced risk of renal function decline compared to ACEI/ARB (Risk Ratio (RR) = 0.86, 95 % Confidence Interval (CI) (0.78, 0.96), p = 0.016). Subgroup analysis showed that the renoprotective effect was significant in patients with heart failure (RR = 0.84, 95 % CI (0.75, 0.94), p = 0.011), but not in non-heart failure patients (RR = 1.04, 95 % CI (0.80, 1.37), p = 0.66).
Conclusions: This systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that Sac/Val confers substantial renoprotective effect compared with ACEI/ARB, particularly among heart failure patients. However, further research is required to elaborate on the full potential of Sac/Val as a nephroprotective agent.
Efficacy of sodium creatine phosphate in pediatric viral myocarditis and cellular immune functions
Authors: Liu Xinhong , Li Junhua , Li Rui , Zhang Hongbo , Chen Keya 
Published: March 2024

Purpose: To investigate the effectiveness of sodium creatine phosphate (SCP) in pediatric viral myocarditis, and cellular immune functions.
Methods: Clinical data of 83 children with viral myocarditis admitted to Dezhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, China between May 2019 and June 2021 were collected and randomly assigned to control (n = 41) and study groups (n = 42). Control group (CNG) received conventional treatment for 14 days, including intravenous drip of sodium fructose diphosphate, vitamin C, and ribavirin, with the addition of prednisone if necessary. Study group (SG) received SCP in addition to conventional treatment for 14 days. Clinical efficacy, cardiac function, inflammatory and immune markers, myocardial injury, and adverse effects at the end of treatment were determined.
Results: Results indicated a significantly higher total effective rate in study group (95.24 %) compared to control group (78.05 %) (p < 0.05). Study group demonstrated significantly lower heart rates and improved cardiac output, stroke volume, and left ventricular ejection fraction after 14 days of treatment compared to control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, study group exhibited significant reduction in levels of inflammatory markers (p < 0.05), enhanced cellular immune markers (p < 0.05), and reduced myocardial injury and remodeling markers (p < 0.05). Both groups showed similar incidence of adverse reactions.
Conclusion: Sodium creatine phosphate (SCP) is effective in treating pediatric viral myocarditis, enhances cardiac function, restores cellular immune function, reduces inflammation, and minimizes myocardial damage and remodeling. There will be need to evaluate the long-term efficacy and prognosis of SCP in treating pediatric viral myocarditis in the future.
Kaempferol inhibits the proliferation and migration of Epstein-Barr virus-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cells
Authors: Lu Suli , Wang Zhen , Yang Dae-jung 
Published: March 2024

Purpose: To assess the effect of kaempferol on the growth, apoptosis, and motility of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cells, and to elucidate its mechanism of action.
Methods: Human DLBCL cells were used to generate EBV-positive (EBV +) cell line Pfeiffer. CCK-8, colony formation, flow cytometry (FCM), and immunoblot assays were employed to determine the effects of kaempferol on the growth and apoptosis of EBV + DLBCL cells. Cell motility was evaluated by Transwell and immunoblot assays. Immunoblot assay was further conducted to unravel the mechanism of action.
Results: Kaempferol inhibited the growth of EBV + DLBCL cells. It also enhanced the apoptosis of EBV + DLBCL cells, but inhibited the motility of the cells. Furthermore, kaempferol inhibited PI3K/AKT axis, thereby suppressing DLBCL.
Conclusion: Kaempferol inhibits the growth and motility of EBV + DLBCL cells via PI3K/AKT axis. It is therefore a potential drug for the treatment of DLBCL.
MiR-1224-5p reverses gefitinib resistance in non-small-cell lung cancer cells by modulating RFX5/YAP1/HIF1α axis
Authors: Tang Hanxu , Liu Chunhua , Yu Xiangchun , Zhao Weiwei , Gu Zexin , Liu Ying , Zheng Xin , Meng Xiangru 
Published: March 2024

Purpose: To investigate the molecular pathways by which miR-1224-5p modulate RFX5/YAP1/HIF1α pathway, thereby promoting gefitinib tolerance within non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Methods: To screen differentially expressed miR-1224-5p in NSCLC samples and predict its downstream target gene – RFX5 – by bioinformatics analysis, 60 NSCLC tissues and their corresponding paraneoplastic tissues were collected. Dual-luciferase assays were performed to verify the targeting relationship between miR-1224-5p and RFX5. Four NSCLC cell lines (A549, H1299, H2170, and H1975) and BEAS-2B normal lung epithelial cell lines were used for in vitro experiments. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and Western blotting after cycloheximide (CHX) treatment were used to determine the regulatory interaction between YAP1 and HIF1α, with YAP1 modulating HIF1α protein stability.
Results: In NSCLC, downregulation of miR-1224-5p was observed, which resulted in the decrease of RFX5 levels. This reduction in miR-1224-5p levels leads to a decrease in RFX5 levels. Furthermore, restoring miR-1224-5p expression in NSCLC cells made them more sensitive to gefitinib. In vitro, RFX5 elevates YAP1, which in turn boosts the stability of HIF1α. However, miR-1224-5p disrupts this mechanism by influencing the RFX5/YAP1/HIF1α pathway, thus mitigating resistance to gefitinib.
Conclusion: The findings show that miR-1224-5p targets RFX5 to suppress YAP1 transcription, thereby diminishing HIF1α stability and overcoming gefitinib tolerance in NSCLC. These findings identify miR-1224-5p as a promising approach to address gefitinib tolerance in NSCLC.