bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lagging regions between economic restructuring and addressing societal challenges
Authors: Hansmeier Hendrik , Koschatzky Knut , Stahlecker Thomas
Published: February 2025

In addition to continuously improving and renewing their economic structures to remain competitive, regions are increasingly called upon to address major societal challenges. Although this duality of structural and transformative change is becoming more widely recognised in the recent geographical innovation literature, there is still a lack of perspectives on economically lagging regions. This article empirically examines the opportunities for and obstacles to the nature, extent and direction of innovation-induced change in lagging regions. The analyses are based on qualitative case studies conducted in ten lagging regions in Germany that have received federal funding to implement alliances, develop innovation and steer change. The results suggest that regional structural laggardness, which is primarily expressed in a lack of actors and network relationships, limited innovation capacities as well as fragmented socio-demographic and institutional settings, seems to be a major barrier to induce transformative change. Put differently, lagging regions, already struggling to innovate, appear to be even more challenged to meet the demands of comprehensive transformation processes. As this dual challenge of innovation and transformation could increase spatial disparities, it seems necessary to consider economic restructuring and transformative change of structurally lagging regions in a more integrated way and to adapt policy instruments accordingly.
Community Impact of Capacity-Building to Develop Trauma Resilient Communities
Authors: Gilmer Todd P. , Center Kimberly , Romero Natalie J. , Burgos Lila , Greene Joelle , Siantz Elizabeth , Palinkas Lawrence A. , Lansing Amy E.
Published: February 2025

This paper explores the impact of an initiative designed to promote trauma resilient communities by mitigating social determinants of health and reducing health disparities through capacity-building partnerships. Nine regional partnerships in Los Angeles County were funded to build community capacity to adapt to and recover from traumatic events through outreach and engagement with community members, training related to the impact of trauma, linkages of community members to existing services, and developing new services for target populations. Primary quantitative and qualitative data on community impact were gathered from agency leads (N = 10), partnership members (N = 136), and community members (N = 42). A convergent sequential mixed methods design (qual → QUAN → qual) was selected to provide both breadth and depth of understanding about the impact of community capacity-building from multiple perspectives. From January 2018 through July 2023, partnerships conducted over 30,000 community capacity-building activities with over 1.4 M community members and created 101,370 successful linkages to resources and services among 12,663 unique community members. Agency leads, partnership members, and community members converged on three main themes describing the initiative’s impact: (1) Building more empowered and resilient communities; (2) Normalizing help-seeking and reducing the stigma of mental health; and (3) Connections within partnerships/families and with community members. On average, 82% of partnership members endorsed medium to large positive changes in the impacts identified during qualitative analysis. Future work should examine whether contracting with community-based organizations is an effective approach for health systems to promote health equity.
MP: motion program synthesis with machine learning interpretability and knowledge graph analogy
Authors: Cai Cheng-Hao
Published: February 2025

The advancement of physics-based engines has led to the popularity of virtual reality. To achieve a more realistic and immersive user experience, the behaviours of objects in virtual scenes are expected to conform to real-world physical laws accurately. This increases the workload and development time for developers. To facilitate development on physics-based engines, this paper proposes MP that is a motion program synthesis approach based on machine learning and analogical reasoning. MP follows the paradigm of test-driven development, where programs are generated to fit test cases of motions subject to multiple environmental factors such as gravity and airflows. To reduce the search space of code generation, regression models are used to find variables that cause significant influences to motions, while analogical reasoning on knowledge graphs is used to find operators that work for the found variables. Besides, constraint solving is used to probabilistically estimate the values of constants in motion programs. Experimental results have demonstrated that MP is efficient in various motion program generation tasks, with random forest regressors achieving low data and time requirements.
Multicriteria decision support for sustainable energy planning: an evaluation of alternative scenarios for the solar power plant site selection
Authors: Yildiz Ozge Acuner , Cebi Selcuk , Yildiz Omer
Published: February 2025

Solar energy is a renewable source that is suitable for local applications due to its low operating costs, its environmentally friendly structure, its simpler technology infrastructure, and its clean and inexhaustible supply. In Türkiye, the installation of solar power plants (SPP) is increasing in direct proportion to the demand for renewable energy. Within this scope, the site selection problem is vital in order to effectively solve the energy problems, minimize the existing costs, and ensure sustainability. The final decision of the SPP location selection involves numerous subjective and objective evaluation factors, making it a challenging and complex decision-making process. In this study, a new integrated model is introduced that combines fuzzy set theory, analytic hierarchy process (AHP), geographic information systems (GIS), and information axiom methods to address the SPP site selection problems. In this paper, an application has been presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed model. In the context of this study, the most suitable location for a solar power plant (SPP) was identified among six different provinces in Türkiye (Erzurum, Kayseri, Mersin, Mugla, Sanliurfa, and Van) by considering both quantitative and qualitative criteria. These provinces have different characteristics and are located in different regions of Türkiye. The result of this investigation was that Mersin was determined to be the most appropriate location for the SPP. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis has been performed in order to examine the impact of the weights of the evaluation criteria on the results of the application.
Factors Influencing Young People’s STEM Career Aspirations and Career Choices: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Zhou Yingying , Shirazi Shaista
Published: February 2025

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) career aspirations and choices provide critical insights into students’ motivations and attitudes toward STEM careers. With the rapid evolution of technology and societal shifts following the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a pressing need to update our understanding of the factors influencing students’ STEM career aspirations and choices. This systematic review aims to identify the most influential factors reported in research on young people’s (11–19 and undergraduate) STEM career aspirations and choices over the past decade or so, as well as highlight prevailing trends in current empirical studies. Seven databases including Australia Education Index, British Education Index, ERIC, ProQuest, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were searched for publications between January 2009 and December 2022 in English. 159 papers were screened as eligible using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Literature Reviews (PRISMA) protocol and reviewed for general trends. A further 12 papers were screened for in-depth review which are career aspiration/choice factor studies that reflect students’ voices on STEM career aspirations. Self-motivation, social persuasion, self-efficacy, personal utility, and positive STEM experiences were among the identified influential factors. While previous determinants such as ease of occupation and peer pressure have reduced effects, future studies should focus on cultural, regional, and societal implications, as well as the intersectionality of these factors. Furthermore, research into social media, utility impact, and viewpoints on the changing nature of work and technological advancement is critical for guiding policies to encourage young people to enter STEM disciplines.
Impact of cleaning procedures on screen-printed gold electrodes performance for mutation detection
Authors: García García David , Espinosa Garcia Lizbeth , Madrigal-Santillán Eduardo O. , Morales-González José A. , Madrigal-Bujaidar Eduardo , Álvarez-González Isela , Damian-Matsumura Pablo , Jiménez-Salazar Javier Esteban , Batina Nikola , Garcia-Melo Luis Fernando
Published: February 2025

The manufacture of biosensors has significantly increased in the field of biomedicine, driven by their miniaturization and portability. However, the quality of the obtained results can be compromised by potential inconsistencies on the electrode surface arising from manufacturing defects and necessary pre-treatments before use. This study evaluated four cleaning methods for screen-printed gold electrodes (SPGEs): HClO4, H2O2 (electrochemical and chemical agent exposure methods). The electrodes were characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) at magnifications of ×5000, ×20,000, and ×50,000. After comparing the results, the most effective pretreatment was selected. Furthermore, a final comparison was conducted to assess the capacity for depositing a genetic mutation of the K-ras gene, before and after applying the selected cleaning method. The results indicated that the untreated electrodes were not uniform and exhibited surface interference, detected by SEM as dark spots. These interferences were effectively eliminated by an electrochemical cleaning method, complemented by CV with [Fe(CN)6]3−/4−, which also stabilized the electrode surface, allowing for the correct deposition of the DNA probes.

Graphical abstract
Plasticity in leukocyte migration during haematopoiesis and inflammation
Authors: Villella C. , Ciccioli M. , Anton I. M. , Calle Y.
Published: February 2025

Under normal physiological conditions, leukocytes and other tissue resident immune cells have been shown to migrate using the mesenchymal (integrin/adhesion dependent) and/or ameboid (integrin/adhesion independent) modes of migration. The objective of this manuscript is to provide a comprehensive literature review that illustrates how leukocytes display high levels of plasticity shifting between ameboid to mesenchymal modes of migration during haematopoiesis and the inflammatory response. This plasticity is shaped by the reciprocal regulation between the pattern of gene expression associated with their haematopoietic lineage or the leukocyte activation status, and the response to the physicochemical and topological characteristics of the surrounding tissue. The use of some common elements from the F-actin polymerising and actomyosin machinery in both modes of migration may facilitate the high capacity of leukocytes to alternate between the two migration modes while navigating a highly heterogenous landscape of physicochemical cues in their anatomical journey. We discuss this paradigm using detailed examples of specific leukocyte populations such as dendritic cells, macrophages and lymphocytes. We propose that cell adhesions involved in leukocyte migration represent signalling hubs where differentiation and physicochemical cues converge. These molecular complexes then generate signalling outputs that coordinate leukocyte expansion, differentiation, and optimal patterns of cell migration during haematopoiesis and leukocyte recruitment to inflammation sites.
Structure Bioinformatics of Six Human Integral Transmembrane Enzymes and their AlphaFold3 Predicted Water-Soluble QTY Analogs: Insights into FACE1 and STEA4 Binding Mechanisms
Authors: Chen Edward , Pan Emily , Zhang Shuguang
Published: February 2025

Objective

Human integral membrane enzymes are essential for catalyzing a wide range of biochemical reactions and regulating key cellular processes. However, studying these enzymes remains challenging due to their hydrophobic nature, which necessitates the use of detergents. This study explores whether applying the QTY code can reduce the hydrophobicity of these enzymes while preserving their structures and functions, thus facilitating bioinformatics analysis of six key integral membrane enzymes: MGST2, LTC4S, PTGES, FACE1, STEA4, and SCD.

Methods

The water-soluble QTY analogs of the six membrane enzymes were predicted using AlphaFold3. The predicted structures were superposed with CyroEM determined native structures in PyMOL to observe changes in structure and protein-ligand binding ability.

Results

The native membrane enzymes superposed well with their respective QTY analogs, with the root mean square deviation (RMSD) ranging from 0.273 Å to 0.875 Å. Surface hydrophobic patches on the QTY analogs were significantly reduced. Importantly, the protein-ligand interactions in FACE1 and STEA4 were largely preserved, indicating maintained functionality.

Conclusion

Our structural bioinformatics studies using the QTY code and AlphaFold3 not only provide the opportunities of designing more water-soluble integral membrane enzymes, but also use these water-soluble QTY analogs as antigens for therapeutic monoclonal antibody discovery to specifically target the key integral membrane enzymes.
Improving harvester yield maps postprocessing leveraging remote sensing data in rice crop
Authors: Fita D. , Rubio C. , Franch B. , Castiñeira-Ibáñez S. , Tarrazó-Serrano D. , San Bautista A.
Published: February 2025

Precision Agriculture relies significantly on yield data obtained from combine harvesters, which constitutes a pivotal tool for optimizing crop productivity. Despite its potential, challenges in data accuracy persist, necessitating the development of novel automated postprocessing protocols for yield data refinement. In this paper, different automatic postprocessing protocols were evaluated using remote sensing data, specifically Sentinel-2 satellite imagery. Various automatic postprocessing protocols were applied to a dataset spanning 946 hectares over a four-year period. Commercial sensors on combine harvesters acquired the yield data. The analysis included global (field-level) adjustments and local adjustments at a finer scale (40 × 40 m² level), employing interval mean ± n·(standard deviation) calculations. Three n values (1, 1.5, and 2.5) were tested, resulting in thirteen distinct postprocessing variations. Finally, a mean filter was also applied. The results demonstrated that the yield correlation with satellite data increased with the reduction of yield variability at the pixel level (10 m). The best results were obtained using n = 1 with a 3 × 3 mean filter, where Sentinel-2 pixels remained unaffected, and the average Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) during validation was 0.572 t·ha⁻¹. In addition, the geostatistical parameters (coefficient of variation, semivariance, and range within a 10 m pixel) reached optimal values. Finally, the postprocessing uncertainty was determined to be 0.200 t·ha−1. These results validate the efficacy of a novel postprocessing protocol for refining yield data in rice crops. The integration of pixel-level data from combine harvesters with Sentinel-2 imagery emerges as a promising approach for optimizing crop management, offering valuable insights for the advancement of Precision Agriculture.
Trajectory of quality of life among patients with cancer at the end of life: a longitudinal survey study
Authors: Hasse Henriette Tind , Kjær Trine , Kristensen Søren Rud
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Measuring and understanding the determinants of HRQoL is essential to the delivery of effective and high-quality end-of-life (EoL) care to patients with cancer. Despite this, the evidence base remains sparse and with much of the existing literature relying on data from cross-sectional studies and clinical trials.

Aim

The objective of this study was to describe HRQoL in a population of patients with cancer leading up till death using both the generic preference-based scale European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 5 Level Version and the disease-specific scale European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire.

Methods

Using a longitudinal prospective study design, HRQoL data was collected in four waves over the course of one year. The population consisted of all patients who received cancer-targeted drug treatment at the Department of Oncology at Odense University Hospital, Denmark. Only patients who died during the data collection period were included.

Results

HRQoL in patients with cancer was stable for most months and close to the level of the general Danish population at the same age but deteriorated considerably in the last three months of life. The same pattern was observed for both HRQoL scales.

Conclusion

Despite current efforts to deliver high-quality EoL care to patients with cancer, we see a general decrease in HRQoL in the months leading up to death. The generic and disease-specific HRQoL scales do capture different dimensions of HRQoL which also, by construct, are weighted differently in the two approaches.
Parametrized Families of Resolvent Compositions
Authors: Cornejo Diego J.
Published: February 2025

This paper presents an in-depth analysis of a parametrized version of the resolvent composition, an operation that combines a set-valued operator and a linear operator. We provide new properties and examples, and show that resolvent compositions can be interpreted as parallel compositions of perturbed operators. Additionally, we establish new monotonicity results, even in cases when the initial operator is not monotone. Finally, we derive asymptotic results regarding operator convergence, specifically focusing on graph-convergence and the

$\rho $

ρ

-Hausdorff distance.
Rank information and inequality in social welfare functions
Authors: Darmann Andreas , Eckert Daniel , Klamler Christian
Published: February 2025

In this paper we use rank information to construct a measure of preference satisfaction by collective decision rules and to compare the Borda rule with the plurality rule with respect to the inequality their outcome induces. While the construction of our measure of preference satisfaction is formally equivalent to Borda utilities, it turns out that, with respect to equality, the Borda rule is not necessarily superior to plurality rule for the case of more than three alternatives.
Identification of selection signatures and genetic diversity in the sheep
Authors: Karabaş Mustafa , Yılmaz Onur
Published: February 2025

In the study, data obtained from OvineSNP50K SNP chips using the Illumina® iScan platform for Eşme sheep were used. The integrated haplotype score (iHS) and runs of homozygosity (ROH) statistical approaches were used to identify selection signatures. Using the iHS analysis, it was discovered that there are 10 genomic regions and 51 genes on ovine chromosomes 1, 9, 11, and 12 that are under selection. Three genomic regions and 97 genes on ovine chromosomes 6 and 11 were found to be under selection using the ROH analysis. Candidate genes associated with economic and ecological traits were detected using both approaches. Among the genetic diversity parameters considered in this study, the minor allele frequency (MAF), the genetic distance between individuals (D), as well as observed (Ho) and expected heterozygosities (He) values were 0.300, 0.309, 0.388, and 0.390, respectively. The obtained Ho, He and D values indicate a moderate level of genetic diversity. The ratio of polymorphic SNPs (PN) was 0.947, and the average values of FROH and FHOM were 0.030 and 0.029, respectively. Considering the PN value obtained in the study, it is evident that the SNPs in the population exhibit a high level of polymorphism at 94.7%. While the FROH value obtained indicates high genetic diversity among the individuals in the present study, the FHOM value suggests that the population is predominantly composed of heterozygous individuals. As a result, evidence indicating genetic advancements have been made for target traits in breeding programs within the population. Additionally, candidate genes suitable for future molecular marker-supported breeding programs have been identified. In addition, a better understanding of the genetic structure and production potential of the population has been achieved. Findings have shown that Eşme sheep are a breed with high meat production potential and strong adaptation abilities.
Assessment of Groundwater Quality and Contamination Hazardous using Water Quality Index and Physicochemical Analysis in Assiut Governorate, Upper Egypt
Authors: W.O Nassar , Hosny Rasha , Ghareeb Mohammed , Abd-Elhamid Hany F. , Zelenáková Martina , Gad Manal
Published: February 2025

The main water resources for Egypt are the River of the Nile and groundwater. Evaluating and assessing these vital resources is crucial for liable usage and meeting the growing demand for water. In Assiut area, groundwater stands as the second most significant freshwater source, serving all sectors including industrial sector, agricultural sector, and lastly domestic sector. Unfortunately, the groundwater in Assiut governorate face the imminent threat of contamination, primarily due to agricultural and other activities. A hydrochemical investigation was conducted graphically and spatially within GIS environment in the limestone Eocene aquifer of the designated study area. This research involved the collection and analysis of twelve groundwater samples to realize the physiochemical characteristics, providing insights into the hydrochemistry of the water. The assessment of water quality involved evaluating 16 parameter and comparing them to drinking water and irrigation standards set by both the Organization of World Health (WHO) and the Egyptian Specifications (ES). In this study 8 main parameters are selected due to their importance which are; Electrical Conductivity (EC), pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Nitrate (NO3-) and Fluoride (F-). The analysis indicates that the groundwater is not entirely suitable for drinking, particularly concerning TDS, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), and Total Organic Carbon (TOC). In certain samples, the parameters concentrations surpass the allowable limits defined by both WHO and ES. This is due to the increase in domestic and industrial wastewater discharge the stretch, as well as other harmful anthropogenic activities, and human interventions. GIS-based spatial analysis successfully identified vulnerable areas where groundwater contamination is most severe. Elevated levels of TDS, COD, and TOC were found in several locations, posing risks for domestic use and irrigation. The Piper diagram analysis indicated that the predominant water type is calcium-chloride-bicarbonate, suggesting groundwater is influenced by precipitation and water–rock interactions with carbonate rocks. The Water Quality Index (WQI) analysis was applied, showing that the northern part near the New Assiut Barrage (samples 10 and 11) exhibits a high degree of contamination, making the water unsuitable for drinking according to WHO and Egyptian standards. The findings of this study could help the policymakers to take the suitable action to protect people and animals’ health form contaminated water.
Individual ambidexterity and management controls: a systematic literature review
Authors: Burkert Michael , Grossrieder Sven
Published: February 2025

According to Merchant and Van der Stede (Management control systems: performance measurement, evaluation and incentives, Pearson Education Limited, Harlow, 2012), top managers use management controls in order to increase the likelihood that employees act in the best interest of the organization. Nowadays, more and more companies expect their employees to perform well on exploitation and exploration at the same time. This is referred to as individual ambidexterity (e.g., Mom et al. in J Manag 45:3009–3034, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206318776775). Due to the increasing importance of the topic, the main purpose of the present article is to review findings from top tier management journals and to summarize implications for result, action, and personnel/cultural controls. We apply a structured approach to detect the most relevant studies for our examination and search for ambidexterity and ambidextrous in title, abstract, and keywords. The final sample consists of 56 articles published in top tier management journals including all subfields. In the first step, we provide an overview of both methods and theories used to study individual ambidexterity. In a second step, we summarize and analyze the insights on how organizations can use results, action, and personnel/cultural controls to enable individuals to achieve higher ambidextrous performance. In the final step, we highlight directions for future research and hope to motivate more research from scholars of the management accounting field to address this topic of relevance.
Metacognition research in education: topic modeling and bibliometrics
Authors: Chen Xieling , Li Xinyue , Zou Di , Xie Haoran , Wang Fu Lee
Published: February 2025

Metacognition, which involves the deliberate awareness and analysis of one’s own learning and thought processes, has gained significant traction among educational researchers. The burgeoning volume of metacognition studies underscores the importance of examining its current status and evolving trends. Leveraging topic modeling and bibliometrics on a dataset comprising 2568 papers spanning from 2000 to 2023, this study seeks to address questions like “What are the prevailing research themes in metacognition?” and “How has the level of research attention to these themes evolved over time?” This study also scrutinizes major journals, countries/regions, academic institutions, and collaborative networks, presenting a visual representation of their interconnections. Considering the analyses conducted, this study proffers several recommendations for the future of metacognition research. Firstly, it suggests the integration of metacognitive instruction, assessment, and feedback mechanisms into various educational domains, encompassing design, healthcare, language, teacher training, as well as special and early childhood education. Secondly, it advocates for the exploration and utilization of diverse metacognitive instructional strategies and analytics technologies to effectively bolster students’ metacognitive processes. Lastly, it underscores the significance of interdisciplinary collaborations between metacognition experts, educators, psychologists, computer scientists, and data scientists. Such collaborative efforts are envisioned to harness the potentials of big data and learning analytics technologies to inform pedagogical practices that nurture metacognitive skills. This study offers a comprehensive overview of metacognition research in the realm of education, shedding light on emerging trends in metacognitive instructional practices and providing valuable insights for charting the course of future investigations in this field.
Measuring Regional Variations in US Population-Level Health-Related Quality of Life During COVID-19 Using the EQ-5D-5L
Authors: Zawadzki Nadine K. , Xie Feng , Seabury Seth A. , Romley John A. , Fox D. Steven , Gong Cynthia L. , Zawadzki Roy S. , Jiao Xiayu , Gu Ning Yan
Published: February 2025

Regional variations in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) suggest non-uniform impacts on health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) across the US. This study measured regional variations in US population-level HRQoL during COVID-19. HRQoL was measured by the EQ-5D-5L in a three-wave cross-sectional online survey (spring 2020, summer 2020, winter 2021). Adjusted likelihood of any problems in EQ-5D-5L domains and adjusted mean utility and EQ-VAS were estimated and compared between US Census Bureau-designated region-divisions and waves. Regional variations were significant (p < 0.05) in all domains except Pain/Discomfort in spring 2020, Mobility in summer 2020, and Anxiety/Depression in winter 2021. In spring 2020, East South Central (ESC) had the most Mobility (38%) and Usual Activities (66%) problems, while Self-Care problems were greatest in Mountain (53%), and Anxiety/Depression greatest in East North Central (ENC, 72%) and West North Central (80%). In summer 2020, Self-Care problems were again greatest in Mountain (62%), while ENC saw the most Usual Activities (69%), Pain/Discomfort (67%), and Anxiety/Depression (83%) problems. By winter 2021, ESC had the most problems in Mobility (52%), Self-Care (79%), and Pain/Discomfort (79%), with Usual Activities (68%) only second to Middle Atlantic (69%). Both mean utility and EQ-VAS were significantly lowest in ESC in spring 2020 and winter 2021. Otherwise, utility and EQ-VAS trends generally disagreed. HRQoL varied considerably across regions, often worst in ESC. Variation was likely driven by multiple factors including case rates, policies, and preexisting vulnerabilities; these relationships should be explored in future research. Findings support the need for region-specific health interventions.
Gamification in Higher Education: A Case Study in Educational Sciences
Authors: Alonso-Sánchez José Alexis , Alonso Juan L Núñez , Santana-Monagas Elisa
Published: February 2025

Teachers are generally focused on optimizing the teaching–learning process and fostering high levels of student engagement, participation, and motivation. To address this challenge, this work presents a gamification experience implemented to teach content related to family involvement and educational programs in two courses —one at master’s degree and the other at bachelor’s degree level. A total of 354 students participated in the study and shared their perceptions regarding their learning, academic performance, participation, and motivation in relation to the gamification experience. The results indicate that students perceive the gamification experience as having a positive impact on all four areas. They expressed a preference for studying the subject through gamification rather than traditional methods. This paper highlights an experience that generates positive perceptions among students and encourages higher education instructors to incorporate gamification into their teaching methods and classroom dynamics.
Developing Systemic Thinking Skills: Design-Based Research of One-Page Tools for Public Managers
Authors: Regenold Tracey A. , Murphy Sheila E. , Reed Philip A.
Published: February 2025

A design-based research study on the development of one-page tools to support systemic thinking in public managers is presented. Study participants included public managers of social and human service agencies within government or nonprofit organizations, as learners for whom the tools were designed; and instructional design professionals, offering expert opinions regarding the design of tools for adult learners. The design process consisted of generating ideas, visualizing ideas and developing prototypes of the tools. Formative assessments of tool prototypes were conducted in several small online focus groups, sharing specific tools to be used within the context of specific management practices, such as collaboration, culture development or evaluation of the organization as a system. In this article, we discuss the context surrounding our designs, the process used to design systemic thinking tools, experiences of a one-page tool design using design stories and lessons learned from design failures encountered during formative assessment. This study contributes to the body of educational design research by emphasizing the large learning gains achieved through the design of simple one-page tools.
The prognostic role of staging [18F]PSMA-1007 PET/CT volumetric and dissemination features in prostate cancer
Authors: Albano Domenico , Temponi Alessandro , Bertagna Francesco , Suardi Nazareno , Talin Anna , Bonù Marco Lorenzo , Triggiani Luca
Published: February 2025

Background

This study aimed the role of volumetric and dissemination features of staging [18F]PSMA-1007 PET/CT in predicting progression‐free survival (PFS) in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) and their relationship with the main clinical data (ISUP grade groups, number of lesions, PSA).

Methods

We included 164 patients with high-risk PCa who underwent baseline [18F]PSMA-1007 PET/CT. With the help of LIFEx version 7.7, the main volumetric and dissemination PET parameters were semi-automatically extracted: PSMA-prostate tumor volume (PSMA-TV), PSMA-prostate total lesion (PSMA-TL), PSMA total TV (PSMA-TTV), PSMA total TL (PSMA-TTL) and Dmax corrected for body-surface-area (Dmaxbsa). Spearman rank correlations between semiquantitative PET features and the clinical variables were analyzed. PFS estimates were plotted with the Kaplan–Meier method.

Results

A high correlation was seen between the number of lesions and both PSMA-TTL (r 0.725), and Dmaxbsa (r 0.935). A moderate correlation was registered between PSA and PSMA-TTV (r 0.333), PSMA-TTL (r 0.441), Dmaxbsa (r 0.333), as well as between number of lesions and PSMA-TTV (r 0.342).

After a median follow-up of 17 months (range 2–45), relapse/progression happened in 17 patients (10%). PSA level, presence of distant metastases at staging, PSMA-TV, PSMA-TL, PSMA-TTL and Dmaxbsa were significantly associated with PFS at univariate analysis, but only the presence of distant metastases, PSMA-TTL and Dmaxbsa were confirmed to be independent prognostic factors.

Conclusion

Volumetric and dissemination features derived by staging [18F]PSMA-1007 PET/CT were significantly correlated with PSA and number of lesions. The combination of PSMA-TTL and Dmaxbsa was the best predictor of PFS and may help to better stratify PCa patients.
Promising Antidepressant Potential: The Role of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG in Mental Health and Stress Response
Authors: Işık Musab , Köse Fadime , Özbayer Cansu , Budak Özcan , Kaya Rumeysa Keleş , Erdoğan Derya Güzel , Demirci Mehmet Arif , Doğanay Songül , Bağcı Cahit
Published: February 2025

Chronic stress is linked to changes in brain physiology and functioning, affects the central nervous system (CNS), and causes psychiatric diseases such as depression and anxiety. In this study, antidepressant effects of the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (ATCC 53103) (LGG) (15 × 108 cfu/ml/day) on the mechanisms playing a role in the pathophysiology of depression were investigated, and the results were compared with the effects of bupropion (20 mg/kg/day) and venlafaxine (20 mg/kg/day). A total of 56 male Wistar Albino rats were used in control, stress, bupropion, venlafaxine, LGG, bupropion + stress, venlafaxine + stress, LGG + stress groups, n = 7 each. Changes in the body weight of the rats during the experiment were determined by weight measurement. Gene expression levels were determined by the RT-PCR method. Four different behavioral tests were performed to evaluate depressive behaviors (sucrose preference test, three-chamber sociability test (social interaction test), elevated plus maze test, forced swim test). LGG treatment was effective in reducing depressive-like behaviors, increased BDNF level, 5-HT1A, DRD1, ADRA-2A, GABA-A α1, CNR1 expression levels in the hippocampus and NOD1 receptor expression level in the small intestine (p < 0.05), and also decreased neurodegeneration level, glial cell activity, and intestinal permeability in depressed rats. As a result, it was revealed in this study for the first time that the LGG probiotic bacterium has antidepressant properties and was found to be more effective than the antidepressant drugs bupropion and venlafaxine. Our results suggest that LGG is a potential psychobiotic bacterium and can be useful to treat depression. It may be an effective and useful option in combating depression.
Where self-determination and equity meet: homelands education systems and the forgotten schools
Authors: O’Bryan Marnie , Mununggurr Yananymul , Mununggurr Barayuwa , Dreise Tony
Published: February 2025

This paper presents a case study of homelands education in North East Arnhem Land. It explores how structural inequities in education systems mitigate against schools which do not align with mainstream norms. In particular, it looks at a hub-and-spoke system of micro schools—officially designated as homeland learning centres (HLCs)—serving some of the most remote, linguistically diverse and traditionally oriented students in Australia. The authors question why governments have persistently overlooked or failed to support homelands education delivered through a hub-and-spoke school model, even when it has strong community support, a track record of producing positive outcomes and articulates effectively with post-school employment opportunities. More generally, they argue that supporting self-determination requires greater recognition of non-mainstream schooling models to support students and communities in remote Australia.
A Novel Aluminium Alloys Design Strategy for Low Usage of Critical Raw Materials and High Casting Processibility for Automotive Applications
Authors: Asghar Osama , Franceschi Mattia , Ferro Paolo , Bonollo Franco
Published: February 2025

The fifth critical raw materials (CRMs) list published by the European Commission (EC) in 2023 poses new restrictions to the usage of lightweight materials in the transportation industry. As per the publication, aluminium (one of the most widely used lightweight metals in the aerospace and automotive industry) has been declared as CRM and an increased criticality trend in its major alloying elements e.g. silicon and magnesium has been observed. Therefore, a novel approach is required to implement the criticality concept in developing new aluminium alloys and their processing for different components in the automotive industry. The present study aims to describe the strategy required to reduce the usage of CRMs in aluminium alloys along with enhanced high-pressure die casting (HPDC) processibility. By integrating criticality and castability assessment, a contribution to the development of sustainable and high-strength aluminium alloys to meet the demands of modern manufacturing while addressing the global resource challenges is presented. This study will also support the implementation of the CRMs concept in materials research and development.
Molecular identification and pathogenicity of Botryosphaeriaceae species associated with citrus wood diseases in the eastern Mediterranean region of Türkiye
Authors: Kurt Şener , Uysal Aysun , Guarnaccia Vladimiro , Martino Ilaria , Soylu E. Mine , Soylu Soner , Oğuz Merve
Published: February 2025

Citrus spp. are economically important fruit crops produced worldwide. Surveys were carried out in citrus orchards showing yellowing, wilting on twigs and decline and gummosis of trunks and branches in the Adana, Mersin and Hatay provinces of the eastern Mediterranean region from 2019–2020. The fungal isolates obtained from symptomatic plant materials were identified as 5 different species belonging to Botryosphaeriaceae: Diplodia seriata, D. olivarum, Dothiorella viticola, Neoscytalidium dimidiatum and Neofusicoccum parvum. The identification was achieved through a robust multilocus phylogeny based on three genomic loci: ITS, tef-1 and tub2. All the species were pathogenic to healthy Citrus plants that presented 100% symptomatic twigs in all the cases. Despite the wide distribution and economic importance of this crop, serious fungal diseases are reported worldwide and, in some cases, need to be investigated. This study provides comprehensive insight into the identification of Botryosphaeriaceae species that are causal agents of trunk cankers and branch dieback in citrus in Türkiye.
A Longitudinal and Interdisciplinary Biodesign Internship Program for Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Students Focused on Medical Device Innovation
Authors: Maloney Lauren M , Page Christopher , Bielski Michael , Rohan Annie , Yin Wei
Published: February 2025

Challenge

The biomedical engineering (BME) capstone design courses are traditionally offered in students’ senior year. Students often feel underprepared for the hands-on biodesign and prototyping process. Also, capstone design projects are often provided by BME faculty, without students’ input in needs finding and screening.

Novel Initiative

A longitudinal and interdisciplinary biodesign internship course sequence (program) was developed and offered. This internship course has three components. Part I is offered in the fall semester of students’ junior year, focusing on biodesign concept development and preliminary prototyping. Part II is offered in the spring semester of students’ junior year, focusing on clinical observation and needs finding. Part III is a 6-week summer immersion program, where students work directly with clinicians and industry mentors to convert a valid clinical need into a biodesign project and initiate the bio-innovation process. Successful summer projects can be carried forward into students’ senior year and become their senior design projects.

Reflection

Since the start of this program in 2018, 47 students participated in the program, which accounted for approximately 20% of the total number of students. More than 75% of the projects developed in the biodesign internship program were successfully carried into BME senior design and involved more than 60% of BME students in their senior design process. Students were satisfied with their biodesign internship experience. Other products of this program include conference presentations, peer-reviewed journal publications, provisional patents, patents, and design competition awards.
In-situ microscopy and digital image correlation to study the mechanical characteristics of polymer-based materials
Authors: Mousavi Seyedtaghi , Hardy John G.
Published: February 2025

In-situ microscopic methods can help researchers to analyse microstructural changes of materials structures under different conditions (e.g., temperature and pressure) at various length scales. Digital Image Correlation (DIC) combines image registration and tracking to enable accurate measurements of changes in materials in 2D and 3D. This review focuses on combining microscopy and DIC to study the properties of materials (including natural/synthetic biomaterials, biological samples and their composites) in academic, public and industry settings, including exciting examples of bioimaging.
Wearing Their Faith
Authors: Neal Lynn S.
Published: February 2025

New Religious Movements (NRMs) have a long, interconnected history with distinct forms of dress and clothing. However, research on NRMs has not focused sufficiently on the clothing and material culture of these groups. In response, this Element examines the central role that dress plays in the creation of charismatic leaders and the formation of faithful followers. Through a variety of case studies – ranging from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi to Father Divine, from the Children of God to the Nation of Islam – we see how dress and fashion practices provide people with a powerful way to live and wear their faith. In addition, the fashion industry takes note and incorporates ideas about cults and clothing into their trends and styles. In doing so, it fuels the cult stereotype and fosters normative understandings of what constitutes good religion.
How to Talk to Your Child About Drugs
Authors: Bowden-Jones Owen
Published: February 2025

Broaching the topic of drugs and drug use with your child can feel particularly daunting. With the illegal drug market constantly evolving, it can be difficult to stay up to date with the latest information. How to Talk to Your Child About Drugs is an evidence-based, practical guide from a leading addiction specialist. The book offers clear and accessible guidance for parents on how to have effective conversations with their child about this difficult topic. It provides a summary of both established and newly emerging drugs, how drugs work in the brain, how they cause harm, and why some people are more vulnerable than others to problems, including signs parents should be looking out for. This is a book that all parents will need at some stage. It will help you feel better informed about drugs, more confident in talking to your child, and better equipped to tackle any problems.
Monotheism and Miracle
Authors: Eve Eric
Published: February 2025

Monotheism implies a God who is active in creation. An author writing a novel provides a better analogy for God's creative activity than an artificer constructing a mechanism. A miracle is then not an interruption of the ordinary course of nature so much as a divine decision to do something out of the ordinary, and miracle is primarily a narrative category. We perceive as miracles events that are extraordinary while also fitting our understanding of divine purpose. Many miracle accounts may remain problematic, however, since recognizing that a given story purports to narrate a miracle does not determine whether the miracle occurred. This Elementweighs competing narratives. In doing so the understanding of the normal workings of nature will carry considerable weight. Nevertheless, there can be instances where believers may, from their own faith perspective, be justified in concluding that a miracle has occurred.
Development Subjectivities, Governmentality, and Migration Management in the Pacific
Authors: Astonitas Lya Mainé
Published: February 2025

To advance the debates around temporary migration in the Pacific, a governmentality framework contributes to understanding social and historical relations produced by migration management at regional, country, and individual scales. The Recognised Seasonal Employer's (RSE) scheme, the Pacific epitome of regulated migration, temporarily recruits participants from labour-rich countries to work in New Zealand's horticulture and viticulture sectors. Driven by agricultural labour shortfalls, it was conceived and promoted as a development intervention for Pacific countries, and is regularly claimed to provide a 'triple win' for employers and industry, Pacific countries via remittances, and participants' communities. Missing from these claims is an understanding of how seasonal migration fits into new migration management regimes, and the instruments deployed to enable this omission. To appreciate how workers' subjectivities are transformed to favour labour mobility, the spotlight is on the scheme's articulation as a development instrument, its operationalisation, and the mundane day-to-day situations it entails.
Julie Reisserová (1888–1938)
Authors: Montagnier Jean-Paul C.
Published: February 2025

Regarded as the 'first Czech woman composer of importance' by the Grove Dictionary in 1954, Julie Reisserová's name has since virtually disappeared from the musical and musicological landscape. Reisserová, one of Albert Roussel's most famous Czech students during the interwar period, was not only a successful composer in her time, but also an active feminist. Her music was generally well received and performed by prestigious musicians. The only comprehensive study of her life and work, published in 1948, was written by Jiřina Vacková. If Vacková was able to investigate the personal archives of the diplomat Jan Reisser – Reisserová's husband – before they were seized and/or destroyed by the communist regime, her book remains hagiographical. This Element draws up a new biographical sketch of the artist, reviews Reisserová's thoughts on the status of women composers between the wars, considers the reception of her six surviving scores, and examines her style.