bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Conventional Banks' Financial Performance and Overseas Branches Pre- and Post-Covid-19
Authors: Nurhayati  
Published: February 2025

This research aims to determine whether there are significant differences in the financial performance of conventional banks and their overseas branches before and during the Covid-19 pandemic in Indonesia. The study focuses on key financial ratios, including the Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR), Return on Assets (ROA), Operating Expenses to Operating Income (BOPO), and Loan-to Deposit Ratio (LDR). The data spans two periods: pre pandemic (January 2018 to December 2019) and during the pandemic (January 2020 to December 2021). Descriptive statistics reveal that both domestic and overseas banks maintained CAR ratios above 12%, indicating strong risk management capabilities. However, domestic banks showed better resilience in terms of ROA and BOPO during the pandemic, while overseas branches faced greater operational inefficiencies. A series of statistical tests, including the paired sample t-test and Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test, were conducted to evaluate the differences in performance. The results indicate significant differences in CAR, BOPO, and LDR ratios for both domestic and overseas banks before and during the pandemic. Notably, domestic banks had a higher CAR and ROA compared to their overseas counterparts before the pandemic. The findings highlight the varying degrees of resilience between domestic and international branches, offering valuable insights into the ability of different types of banks to withstand global economic shocks. These insights contribute to the development of strategies for improving financial stability and crisis management in the banking sector.
Análisis jurídico sobre la aplicación del Estatuto de la Oposición en los concejos municipales de Pereira y Valledupar, durante el periodo comprendido entre el 2 de enero y el 31 de julio de 2020
Authors: Serna Alzate Margarita Maria 
Published: February 2025

El Congreso de la Republica promulgó la Ley 1909 de 2018, la cual regula el ejercicio del derecho fundamental a la oposición política. De allí entonces surgió la necesidad de realizar un proyecto de investigación enfocado al seguimiento respecto a la aplicación del nuevo Estatuto, para determinar cómo había sido su implementación en las Corporaciones político-administrativas más cercanas a la ciudadanía: los Concejos Municipales. El estudio se centro específicamente en los concejos municipales de Pereira y Valledupar, indagando si sus actuaciones y disposiciones normativas se han adecuado a lo dispuesto por Ley en mención, dentro de un periodo específicamente determinado. Así mismo, identificando el contenido jurídico dispuesto en el Estatuto de la Oposición que fuera aplicable a los Concejos Municipales, para posteriormente establecer cuáles eran los partidos y/o movimientos políticos declarados en oposición y finalmente verificar cuáles fueron las acciones desplegadas por estas corporaciones públicas. Todo lo anterior, en el marco de una Investigación mediada por un diseño mixto (con elementos cualitativos y cuantitativos), utilizando el enfoque histórico hermenéutico. Finalmente se procederá a presentar los resultados producto de la investigación realizada en relación con los instrumentos aplicados.
Anne Enright's The Gathering: The Five Stages of Grief in a Liminal Space
Authors: Bonass Madden Margaret 
Published: February 2025

Applying Kübler-Ross’s theory of the Five Stages of Grief to a reading of Anne Enright’s 2007 novel The Gathering, this paper will trace the journey through grief and how it is a flexible entity which affords different reactions and experiences of grief within the liminal space. The Kübler-Ross theory defines the stages of grief within five parameters: Denial and Isolation; Anger; Bargaining; Depression; Acceptance. She notes how the immediate days after the death are filled with viewings, organising travel itineraries and funeral arrangements. These days are a blur of paperwork and shock and are often accompanied by loss of appetite, lack of sleep and a removal from reality. It is when the burial is complete, and the mourners have departed, that the process of grief can re-commence. Enright’s The Gathering focuses on the aftermath of the death of Liam Flaherty and the subsequent gathering of the Flaherty family for his wake and funeral. The Five Stages of Grief are applied in a non-linear form, enabling a more nuanced situational narrative within the liminal space. In The Gathering, we follow Veronica Hegarty’s stages of grief, following the suicide of her younger brother, and observe how she chooses – for the most part – to cope in isolation. The liminal space afforded to Veronica enables her to process her grief through the medium of memory and her composition of an (imagined) biography of her grandmother. Enright’s unreliable protagonist is creating a bio-fictional past whilst dealing with a stark present. Grief is a personal journey and closure is not always inevitable.
Plataforma Genia
Authors: Strogenski Silva Soares Rafael , Carla de Carvalho Leticia , Maiara Seidel Luciano Anne , Aurelio Kalinke Marco 
Published: February 2025

A busca por recursos tecnológicos que otimizem o ensino e a aprendizagem da matemática é constante. Nesse contexto, a plataforma GenIA surge como uma possibilidade na criação de Objetos de Aprendizagem (OA), sem a necessidade de conhecimento prévio em linguagens de programação. Esta pesquisa, com abordagem qualitativa, investigou as possibilidades da GenIA para estudantes do Curso de Licenciatura Plena em Matemática da Universidade Tecnológica do Paraná (UTFPR), Campus Curitiba. A pesquisa se fundamentou em dois instrumentos: acompanhamento detalhado da interação dos estudantes com a GenIA, observando suas experiências e evolução e coleta de dados aprofundados sobre as percepções e avaliações dos estudantes em relação à plataforma (questionário estruturado). Os resultados demonstraram que mesmo sem conhecimento prévio em linguagens de programação, os estudantes de licenciatura em matemática foram capazes de criar OA na plataforma. Eles reconheceram o potencial da ferramenta para tornar as aulas mais interativas e auxiliá-los na formação docente.
Piezo1-related physiological and pathological processes in glioblastoma
Authors: Fu Weijia , Hou Xue , Ding Lijuan , Wei Jiaying , Hou Wei 
Published: February 2025

IntroductionGlioblastoma (GBM) is the most malignant of the astrocytomas, primarily involving the cerebral hemispheres and cerebral cortex. It is one of the fatal refractory solid tumors with a 5-year survival rate of only 5% in adults. Cells in biological tissues are subjected to mechanical forces, including hydrostatic pressure, shear stress, compression and tension. Cells can convert mechanomechanical signals into biological or electrical signals, a process known as mechanical signaling. Piezo1 channels, members of the Piezo family of mechanosensitive ion channels, can be directly activated by mechanical stimuli alone, mediating mechanosensitive cation currents that activate subsequent signaling pathways. Studies have shown that Piezo1 is largely unexpressed in normal brain tissues but is expressed at high levels in glioblastoma and can significantly contribute to glioblastoma development and progression, but its role in the pathogenesis of glioblastoma remains unclear.MethodsWe reviewed the relevant literature and data in six major databases including PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science and TCGA. Finally, a total of 126 papers were selected for review and analysis (Search terms include: glioblastoma, piezo1, biomechanical, targeted therapy, mechanomechanical, extracellular matrix, radiation therapy and more). The role of piezo1 in the development of glioblastoma was summarized.ResultsPiezo1 affects several fundamental pathophysiological processes in glioblastoma, such as tissue sclerosis, angiogenesis, energy supply, and immune cell infiltration, and can be used as an indicator of malignancy and prognosis in patients with glioblastoma, as well as a therapeutic target to control tumor progression.DiscussionThe pathological mechanism of piezo1 in glioblastoma is very complex, and the aberrant expression of piezo1 plays a very important role in the development of glioblastoma. Specific mechanistic studies focusing on Piezo1 will help us understand the mechanobiology of glioblastoma and help us develop new therapeutic approaches for glioblastoma patients.
Promoting active participation in robot-aided rehabilitation via machine learning and impedance control
Authors: Tamantini Christian , Patrice Langlois Kevin , de Winter Joris , Ali Mohamadi Parham Haji , Beckwée David , Swinnen Eva , Verstraten Tom , Vanderborght Bram , Zollo Loredana 
Published: February 2025

IntroductionActive patient participation is crucial for effective robot-assisted rehabilitation. Quantifying the user's Active Level of Participation (ALP) during therapy and developing human-robot interaction strategies that promote engagement can improve rehabilitation outcomes. However, existing methods for estimating participation are often unimodal and do not provide continuous participation assessment.MethodsThis study proposes a novel approach for estimating ALP during upper-limb robot-aided rehabilitation by leveraging machine learning within a multimodal framework. The system integrates pressure sensing at the human-robot interface and muscle activity monitoring to provide a more comprehensive assessment of user participation. The estimated ALP is used to dynamically adapt task execution time, enabling an adaptive ALP-driven impedance control strategy. The proposed approach was tested in a laboratory setting using a collaborative robot equipped with the sensorized interface. A comparative analysis was conducted against a conventional impedance controller, commonly used in robot-aided rehabilitation scenarios.ResultsThe results demonstrated that participants using the ALP-driven impedance control exhibited significantly higher positive mechanical work and greater muscle activation compared to the control group. Additionally, subjective feedback indicated increased engagement and confidence when interacting with the adaptive system.DiscussionClosing the robot's control loop by adapting to ALP effectively enhanced human-robot interaction and motivated participants to engage more actively in their therapy. These findings suggest that ALP-driven control strategies may improve user involvement in robot-assisted rehabilitation, warranting further investigation in clinically relevant settings.
Dietary habits of Byzantine Kovuklukaya (Sinop, Türkiye): an isolated society or ostracized people?
Authors: Özdemir Kameray , Itahashi Yu , Yoneda Minoru , Erdal Yılmaz Selim 
Published: February 2025

IntroductionDuring the medieval period, cultural attitudes toward leprosy often involved the exclusion of infected people from general society. People suffering from leprosy were often moved to live in separate places such as a specific district, village, or hospital. Such actions are social implications of how the disease and its sufferers were viewed and dealt with. This study aims to investigate whether Kovuklukaya was inhabited by segregated lepers.MethodsThis was conducted by examining diet of individuals using stable isotope analysis of bulk bone collagen and compound-specific amino acids, and integrating these results with osteoarchaeological, pathological, and ethnographic data.ResultsThe stable isotope values reveal a terrestrial C3 diet with little inclusion of C4 plants. The probable source of the animal protein would appear to be sheep and/or goat. Although there is a broad range of available and potentially exploited and consumed food resources in the Black Sea region, the narrow range of the isotopic values would suggest a similarity in the availability or choice of food resources at the different sites in the region.DiscussionA wide diversity in consumed food resources of ostracized people from different dwellings may be expected. However, the isotopic values suggest that the people of Kovuklukaya consumed a narrow range of food resources. This similarity may arise from the mountainous environment which may restrict the range of available food resources, but is more probably due to common dietary habits such as the regular consumption of the same kinds of foods, eating from the same pots, etc., in a closely related group, kin, or family. The homogeneous characteristic of the dietary habits at Kovuklukaya supports the premise that Kovuklukaya was a small mountain village or hamlet rather than a leper colony.
Preliminary transcriptomic analyses reveal in vitro and in planta overexpression of various bacteriocins in Xylella fastidiosa
Authors: Amoia Serafina Serena , Saponari Maria , Saldarelli Pasquale , Ligorio Angela Maria , Grosso Carmine Del , Loconsole Giuliana , D’Attoma Giusy , Boscia Donato , Giampetruzzi Annalisa 
Published: February 2025

IntroductionXylella fastidiosa is a phytopathogenic bacterium of worldwide importance causing detrimental diseases in several crops. Recent reports from European and Mediterranean countries raised great concerns and have given impetus to new studies investigating both the pathogenicity of the newly emerged strains and the susceptibility and vulnerability of Mediterranean agroecosystems, with the outbreak in olive trees in southern Italy being the most investigated new pathosystem. The complexity of this pathogen makes difficult to understand its interaction mechanisms with host plants and plant microbial communities.Materials and methodsIn this study, we performed a pilot dual RNA-seq analysis on a diseased olive tree infected by Xylella fastidiosa subspecies pauca, to gather information about bacterial infection dynamics and reciprocal interactions between plant host and the bacterium. Adopting a mRNA enrichment protocol allowed to better probe bacterial sequences by increasing the resolution of differential gene expressions.ResultsThe overexpression of a bacteriocin (cvaC-1), as the major result gained by the transcriptomic analysis, led us to validate its potential application as a marker of Xylella fastidiosa multiplication in olive, citrus and periwinkle artificially inoculated plants. Transcriptomic analysis of in vitro cultured strains of Xylella fastidiosa subspecies pauca, while confirming that bacteriocin-related genes are the most abundant transcripts, unraveled strain differences in the cvaC-1 and cvaC-2 ratio.DiscussionOur findings suggest that the cvaC-1-related transcript can be employed in RT-qPCR/RT-PCR to improve the detectability of actively growing Xylella fastidiosa cells in vitro and in host’s xylem vessels. Indeed, being the most expressed component of bacterial weapons, novel studies focusing on its functions and role in the bacterial pathogenic life cycle should be envisioned.
A video-oculography study of fixation instability in myasthenia gravis
Authors: Nguyen Elle Minh Ngoc Le , Clough Meaghan J. , Fielding Joanne , White Owen B. 
Published: February 2025

IntroductionMyasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease that causes extraocular muscle weakness in up to 70–85% of patients, which can impact quality of life. Current diagnostic measures are not very sensitive for ocular MG. This study aimed to compare fixation instability (inability to maintain gaze on a target) in patients with MG with control participants using video-oculography.MethodsA prospective study of 20 age-and sex-matched MG and control participants was performed using a novel protocol with the EyeLink 1000 plus ©. Bivariate contour ellipse area (BCEA) analysis, number of fixations on a target, and percentage of dwell time of fixations in the target interest area (IA) were calculated. Inter-eye (right vs. left) comparisons were performed using paired t-tests, and inter-group (MG vs. control) comparisons were performed using independent samples t-tests.ResultsThere were no inter-eye differences in the BCEAs between control eyes and MG eyes. However, the BCEAs were larger in both the right (RE) and left (LE) eyes of MG patients in the right (RE p = 0.029, LE p = 0.033), left (RE p = 0.006, LE p = 0.004), upward (RE p = 0.009, LE p = 0.018), and downward (RE p = 0.006, LE p = 0.006) gaze holds of the controls. The total mean sum of gaze hold fixations in all directions was greater in MG patients than in control participants (354 ± 139 vs. 249 ± 135, p = 0.020), with horizontal gaze holds showing greater differences than vertical gaze holds (p = 0.007 vs. p = 0.097). The percentage of dwell time in the target IA was lower in MG patients, but this only reached significance in the right gaze hold (p = 0.003).ConclusionMG patients showed greater BCEA values and refixations and lower target IA percentages of dwell time during gaze hold than control participants, suggesting extraocular neuromuscular junction instability and fatigue. Interestingly, there were no significant inter-eye differences in MG participants. This study is limited by the small number of patients but adds to the current literature exploring video-oculography in MG patients as a novel diagnostic tool. Further studies are recommended for translation into clinical practice.
Imaging characteristics of pediatric primary thymic lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma: case reports of four children with a literature review
Authors: Zhu Xiao-dong , Fang Yuan , Wang Xiao-yu , Hu Jun , Gu Dong-hao , Yao Qiong , Qiao Zhong-wei 
Published: February 2025

ObjectiveThis study aimed to analyze the imaging characteristics of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) in children's thymi.MethodsFour pediatric cases of primary thymic LELC confirmed by needle biopsy pathology from our research center were enrolled. All children underwent an enhanced chest computed tomography (CT) examination. In addition, 11 cases of pediatric thymic LELC with CT manifestations reported in the literature over the past 20 years were combined to explore their imaging characteristics.ResultsIn our research center, there were four cases, all boys, with an average age of 11.25 ± 2.87 years. CT showed a soft tissue mass in the anterior mediastinum in all four cases, with the mass being lobulated or roughly circular and growing laterally. The largest mass had a diameter of 120 mm, with an average of 90 ± 21.6 mm. In three cases, the mass showed cystic necrosis, which enhanced unevenly, and in three cases, small blood vessels were seen traversing the mass. Two cases had an invasion of the pleura and lung with associated pleural effusion. In two cases, vascular reconstruction showed blood supply from branches of the internal thoracic artery, with one case having spinal metastasis. Combined with literature reports of 11 pediatric cases with thymic LELC, a total of 15 cases of thymic LELC were identified: 13 cases were boys, 2 cases were girls, and the average age was 11.2 ± 2.9 years. The largest lesion had a diameter of 160 mm, with an average of 107 ± 27.78 mm. Seven cases had cystic necrosis, 4 cases had calcification, 5 cases did not mention the enhancement method, and the remaining 10 cases showed uneven enhancement. Furthermore, six cases had tumor invasion of adjacent large blood vessels; six cases had pleural effusion; five cases had pleural invasion; six cases had metastasis to the mediastinal, hilar, or axillary lymph nodes cases had pulmonary metastasis; and four cases had bone metastasis.ConclusionThymic LELC in children showed a higher incidence in boys. The imaging characteristics of pediatric thymic LELC manifested as a large mass located in the anterior mediastinum, with highly malignant features and metastasis.
Outcomes of liver transplantation of hepatoblastoma: single-center data in mainland China
Authors: Huang Hongting , Li Linman , Zhu Jianjun , Xu Dongwei , Wan Ping , Qiu Bijun , Zhang Jiaxu , Yang Yongkang , Zhao Jie , Zhang Jianjun , Luo Yi , Feng Mingxuan , Xia Qiang 
Published: February 2025

ObjectiveHB is the most common liver malignancy in children. Giving the rarity of the research reporting outcomes of LT for HB in China, updated long-term data are needed. The primary objective was to evaluate the outcomes of liver transplantation in HB. The secondary objective was to assess the clinical parameters that influence the outcomes of liver transplantation in HB.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the dataset of a single-center cohort from RJ-SJTUM. Outcomes were OS and PFS. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate mortality adjusted HRs with 95% CIs.ResultsRJ-SJTUM has accounted for 68.5% of the total cases in China since 2019. The 5-year PFS and OS rates were 63.6% and 84.6% respectively. AFP ≥13,686.5 ng/ml before LT was an independent risk factor for PFS (P &lt; 0.001), and distal metastasis before LT was an independent risk factor for OS (P = 0.028). All patients received post-LT chemotherapy, and two patients experienced severe liver injury. Patients with localized tumor recurrence after LT had favorable outcomes if radical resection of the recurrence was achieved. Sirolimus played a role in prolonging the survival of patients with recurrent HB after LT (P = 0.0307).ConclusionLT achieved favorable outcomes for patients with locally advanced hepatoblastoma. This study suggests that a judicious patient selection to exclude patients with high-risk predictors, as well as standardized postoperative management is critical in this process.
The CYP2D6 phenotyping performance of single-point saliva metabolic ratio in a healthy Chinese Han population
Authors: Huang Yongfa , He Zhangyuting , Guan Xiaoduo , Hu Pei , Chen Rui 
Published: February 2025

The CYP2D6 plays critical roles in drug metabolism, and its inter-individual variability should be properly addressed in clinical practice. Our research aimed to assess the performance of single-point saliva metabolic ratio (MR) in a healthy Chinese Han population using dextromethorphan as the probe drug. MR was determined as the ratio of parent drug to metabolite in 3 h saliva, 3 h plasma, and 0–3 h urine post-ingestion. 416 healthy volunteers were enrolled, with 290 (69.7%) male participants and a median body mass index (BMI) of 23.1 kg/m2. The Spearman correlation coefficients were 0.876 between plasma and saliva MR, and 0.746 between plasma and urine MR. The population was clustered into four metabolizer classes with either plasma or saliva MR, but into two metabolizer classes with urine MR. The saliva-based clustering agreed well with plasma-based clustering (Cohen’s Kappa 0.689). A clear negative correlation was observed between Activity Score (AS) and saliva MR, and linear regression revealed that overweight population had significantly lower saliva MR than others. In conclusion, single-point saliva MR performed better than urine MR with satisfactory correlation with plasma MR and effective separation of four metabolizer classes. Predicting saliva MR with the AS system was more accurate when BMI was considered.