bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Silurian Diploporitans as Substrata:
Authors: Thomka James , Bissett Donald , Bantel Thomas
Published: December 2023

The middle Silurian Massie Formation of southeastern Indiana contains a rich stalked echinoderm fauna, of which diploporitan “cystoids” are a significant component. A small number of diploporitan thecae are encrusted by the dendritic radicular attachment structures of the monobathrid camerate crinoid Eucalyptocrinites. Recently, several encrusted specimens of the diploporitan Holocystites scutellatus were described from the Massie Formation of the Napoleon quarry (Ripley County) that are unusual in that the encrusting holdfasts display pronounced asymmetry with respect to radicle development. Due to settlement near the margin of the thecae, long, well-developed radicles are present on the side of the attachment structure where they could extend over the entire lateral surface of the theca, and short, poorly developed radicles are present on the side facing the margin of the theca. The anomalous nature of this attachment structure morphology is herein highlighted by comparison to more typical Eucalyptocrinites-encrusted diploporitan thecae from the same locality and stratigraphic interval. These display a much more radially symmetrical configuration of radicles due to a more central settlement position on the thecal lateral surface. Several additional morphological and paleoecological aspects of crinoid encrustation of diploporitans are described and illustrated, including an apparently bilaterally symmetrical radicle growth pattern and a rare occurrence of an encrusted Paulicystis.
Investigating the Frequency of Deictic Expressions in Academic Papers
Authors: FaqeAbdulla Baraat I.
Published: December 2023

This study aims to investigate the frequency of deictic expressions, such as pronouns, demonstratives, and adverbs in the abstracts of academic papers published by the Zanko Journal of Salahaddin University in Erbil, Iraq, between 2020 and 2023. The focus of the analysis is to understand how these expressions are used in the abstracts of articles in three different fields and their impact on the clarity of the papers. To achieve this, a diverse corpus of academic papers from various disciplines will be utilized, applying an eclectic (quantitative and qualitative content analysis) approach to determine the frequency and patterns of deictic expressions. The findings of this study will provide valuable insights into the stylistic choices made by academic authors and contribute to a better understanding of the employment of deictic expressions in scholarly discourse. Furthermore, analyzing the impact of these expressions on the clarity of papers contributes to a better understanding of how they can enhance effective communication.
An Examination of Relevant Market Definition in the Digital Platform under the Nigerian Competition Legal Framework
Authors: Bala Hussaini
Published: December 2023

Relevant market definition is key to any determination by the court or competition authority when ascertaining the level of competition in an industry or the likelihood of anti-competition conducts by the players in an industry. Using doctrinal method of research, this paper examines the provision of the Act in line with the peculiar nature of the digital market which operates on zero pricing with no possibility of price increase. The paper finds inter alia that the pricing criterion for relevant market definition does not fit digital market. The theory of harm introduced by the Act as an omnibus criterion for relevant market definition is not either very much helpful. The paper recommends the adoption of a modified Small but Insignificant Non-Transitory Increase in Cost (SSNIC) test. When using this test, the cost should be defined as consumer’s attention that amounts to the 5% to 10 % of the digital content.
SOUSVEILLANCE DAN BENTUK-BENTUK BARU PENGAWASAN WARGA NEGARA DALAM DEMOKRASI DIGITAL DI INDONESIA
Authors: Rianto Puji
Published: December 2023

Amidst the low levels of public trust in public institutions in Indonesia, especially law enforcement agencies, bottom-up monitoring conducted by Indonesian netizens offers new hope for a better democracy. This study examines the forms of bottom-up monitoring, also known as sousveillance, in the context of digital democracy in Indonesia and evaluates their effectiveness in correcting legal violations and promoting justice in society. This study uses a qualitative method. Data was collected through documentation and interviews. Documentation data is analyzed chronologically. The results of the study found that forms of supervision from below or sousveillance provide alternatives and hope for digital democracy in Indonesia. The cases analyzed in this study show how sousveillance is able to correct abuses of power thereby encouraging accountability of public officials and the bureaucracy. Through the use of smartphones and social media, netizens are able to actively participate in supervising public officials. These forms of oversight need to be encouraged in the future to promote a better digital democracy in Indonesia.
PENGARUH DELAY PADA MODUL WIFI 802.11B/G/N ESP 32 DI RENTANG FREKUENSI 2.4 GHZ TERHADAP SMART CONTROL SOLAR HOME SYSTEM
Authors: Hadikusuma Ridwan Satrio , Mahyastuty Veronica Windha , Siregar Marsul , Hardine Linkha
Published: December 2023

Di Indonesia, PLN adalah penyedia utama listrik rumah tangga, individu, dan industri. Namun, karena pasokan listrik PLN tidak selalu stabil, pembangkit cadangan diperlukan. Karena mereka adalah sumber energi terbarukan dan ramah lingkungan, pembangkit listrik tenaga surya (PLTS) menggunakan energi matahari sebagai sumbernya. Namun, pasokan PLTS tergantung pada cuaca. Untuk mengatasi masalah ini, PLTS dapat dirancang sebagai Pembangkit Listrik Hibrid (PLTH), yang menggabungkan sumber PLN dan pengaturan beban. Studi ini mengembangkan sistem kontrol pintar otomatis dan manual yang menggunakan Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS). Sistem ini menggunakan ESP 32 dan memiliki mikroprosessor dengan modul WiFi 802.11b/g/n ESP 32 di Rentang Frekuensi 2.4 GHz. Studi rumah tangga menunjukkan bahwa kontrol pintar berfungsi dengan baik dalam simulasi dan pengujian. Meskipun ada waktu start-up inverter, delay rata-rata PLN-SHS adalah 1835 ms dan SHS-PLN adalah 2695 ms dalam mode otomatis dan 937,5 ms dalam mode manual dengan kontrol Thinger io. Dalam 12 pengujian, delay rata-rata kurang dari 2 s. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa jarak tidak memengaruhi delay, namun, kecepatan internet ESP 32 dan pengguna memengaruhi delay.
Um modelo epidemiológico com migração para o estudo da Febre Amarela
Authors: Pitol Lisandra , Rossato Piovesan Luciana , Aguiar Gonçalves Glênio , Tumelero Fernanda , Sperotto de Quadros Régis , Sacco de Athayde Alexandre , Buske Daniela
Published: December 2023

A matemática está presente em diversos campos da ciência, dentre eles, podemos destacar a epidemiologia, um ramo que se dedica ao estudo das doenças infecciosas. Assim, a matemática, através da modelagem, torna-se uma aliada da epidemiologia, mediante o estudo de modelos matemáticos que descrevem a dinâmica de propagação de uma doença. Neste trabalho, nos delimitamos a estudar um modelo matemático para a Febre Amarela, uma doença febril aguda, transmitida por vetores (mosquitos). Dessa maneira, este trabalho busca estudar um modelo compartimental, que descreve a dinâmica desta doença em seus diferentes ciclos de transmissão: ciclo silvestre, ciclo epidêmico entre humanos que se deslocam para a região de floresta e ciclo urbano. O modelo também considera a presença de dois diferentes vetores, o Aedes aegypti (transmissor urbano) e o Haemagogus (principal transmissor na região de floresta). Para o estudo, foram calculados o ponto de equilíbrio livre da doença e o número de reprodução básico para cada um dos ciclos. Por fim, através da implementação e da resolução das equações do modelo no software Scilab, foi possível obter gráficos do comportamento de cada uma das populações, possibilitando uma análise mais completa de como ocorre a propagação da doença com o passar do tempo.
Ensaios de campo de penetração auxiliada por jatos de água de modelos de estacas torpedo em solo granular
Authors: Vasconcelos Rocha Luciano , De Freitas Fagundes Diego , Retzlaff Camargo Karina
Published: December 2023

O presente trabalho apresenta os resultados de ensaios de instalação de âncoras do tipo estaca torpedo em escala reduzida auxiliada pelo processo de fluidização feita através da aplicação de jatos de água verticais circulares. Foi avaliada a influência da vazão imposta e a massa do elemento ancorante. O protótipo analisado foi um modelo de estaca torpedo T66 de 66 toneladas. Os ensaios foram executados em um campo experimental de solo arenoso com modelos reduzidos na escala de comprimento 1:12, de acordo com a Lei de Semelhança pelo Número de Froude. Os estágios de vazão aplicada foram de 10,35, 22,81, 30,71 e 41,60 L/min. Os resultados dos ensaios demonstraram bastante concordância com pesquisas semelhantes realizadas em laboratório com escalas menores que a avaliada neste trabalho. Observou-se que o aumento da vazão aumentou a profundidade de penetração dos modelos, assim como para uma dada vazão, a estaca com maior massa tem maior penetração. Os ensaios mostraram que o processo de fluidização contribui para aumento das profundidades desse tipo de sistema de ancoragem offshore e que a correta escolha da vazão e da massa da estaca torpedo podem trazer melhorias no procedimento de instalação.
Strength characteristics and damage constitutive model of sandstone under hydro-mechanical coupling
Authors: Liu Qiang , Zhao Yanlin , Liao Jian , Tan Tao , Wang Xiaguang , Li Yang , Tan Zhe
Published: December 2023

To study the mechanical properties of saturated sandstone, experiments were conducted under hydro-mechanical coupling on saturated sandstone. A damage constitutive model was established to describe the response of saturated sandstone under pore pressure, and its validity was verified using the results of the triaxial tests. The results indicate that the peak strength (σ
p), effective peak strength (σ
p′), residual strength (σ
r), effective normal stress (σ
n′), effective shear strength (τ
n′), elasticity modulus (E), and rupture angle (θ) of sandstone are positively correlated with the confining pressure (σ
3) and negatively correlated with the pore pressure (P). Conversely, Poisson’s ratio (μ) exhibits an opposite relationship. The model parameters exhibit non-linear relationships with the confining pressure (σ
3), with the parameter m decreasing gradually as the confining pressure increases, and the parameter F
0 increasing with higher confining pressure (σ
3). Moreover, the pore pressure (P) and the confining pressure (σ
3) significantly affect the damage variables (D), with the stress value at the damage initiation point increasing with increasing confining pressure (σ
3), while the strain value at the damage initiation point decreasing with increasing pore pressure (P), indicating that pore pressure induces damage development in rocks.
“We’ve Forgotten Our Roots”: Bioweapons and Forms of Life inMass Effect’sSpeculative Future
Authors: Reid Eamon
Published: December 2023

Many cultural artefacts explore the relationship between populations and politics, includingMass Effect, a role-playing videogame that both critiques and affirms liberal and conservative biopolitical tendencies. Of particular interest is the biopolitical dynamics of the Krogan lifeform. Due to population difficulties deriving from both naturalistic and cultural tendencies, they were targeted by a bioweapon – the genophage. The genophage drastically transformed how they comprehend their own form of life, as the bioweapon infected the Krogan with a plague-like genetic modification targeting their reproductive organs. The player in theMass Effecttrilogy can cure the genophage or not, and reasons are provided to contextualize both options. In this article, I argue that the genophage problematic can be interpreted as a reflection on the attempt to affect a form of life from the outside. I emphasize what Tristan Garica describes as we-expansion: thatMass Effectleaves open the question of the possibility of expanding our sense of we. ButMass Effectalso leaves open the question of we-contraction, in so doing it neither offers a utopian or dystopian political vision, but an agnostic one.
Pharmacogenetic aspects of efficacy and safety of methotrexate treatment in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Gurieva Oksana Dmitryevna , Savelyeva Marina Ivanovna , Valiev Timur Tejmurazovich , Sozaeva Zhannet Alimovna , Kondratenko Svetlana Nikolaevna , Ilyin Mikhail Vitalyevich
Published: December 2023

Objectives

To evaluate the role of ABCB1 (C3435T rs1045642, rs1128503, rs2032582, rs4148738), SLCO1B1 T521C rs4149056 genetic polymorphisms in the development of major types of methotrexate (MTX) toxicities and the occurrence of a terminal event (death, relapse) in pediatric АLL.

Methods

The study included 124 patients diagnosed with pediatric ALL. All patients treated according to the protocols of the German BFM group (2002/2009) with high-dose (1,000, 2,000 and 5,000 mg/m2) methotrexate. MTX-related toxicities, including hematologic, hepatic and renal, were evaluated according to the common terminology criteria for adverse events version 5.0 (CTCAE v.5.0). Real-time PCR method was used to investigate polymorphisms of ABCB1 and SLCO1B1 genes. The study material was peripheral blood.

Results

A competitive analysis demonstrated significant relationships between MTX ADRs. The results of the study support the existence of relationships between some ADRs and MTX kinetics. An associative analysis showed association with the development of AEs to methotrexate indicating their clinical significance from different genetic polymorphisms protein-transporters. The available results confirm the associations of the studied genes with the increased risk of high doses MTX toxic ADRs and terminal events.

Conclusions

Complementing the existing criteria for pediatric ALL risk groups with pharmacogenetic indicators will allow further individualization of therapy.
Investigating optimal spacing schedules for incidental acquisition of L2 collocations
Authors: Macis Marijana , Alharbi Rezan , Sonbul Suhad
Published: December 2023

Research investigating lag effects in second language (L2) collocation learning is very limited. To date, no intervention study has examined the relationship between intersession intervals (ISIs) and retention intervals (RIs) in relation to incidental acquisition of collocations. To fill this gap, the current study collected data from two groups of students in Saudi Arabia (Experiment 1, n = 73; Experiment 2, n = 69), using a pretest-treatment-delayed posttest design. The participants learned 25 incongruent adjective-noun collocations incidentally during five reading sessions at either a 3.5-day ISI (Experiment 1) or a 7-day ISI (Experiment 2). Two control groups received no treatment. Learning rates were assessed at the form recall and meaning recall levels of sensitivity following an RI of 14 days in Experiment 1 and an RI of 28 days in Experiment 2. Results show that both spacing schedules were equally effective for the incidental acquisition of collocations.
Presumptions of Law Concerning Causality in Environmental Cases: Towards Collective Presumptions of Fact?
Authors: Van Eekert Simon
Published: December 2023

Presumptions of law are an appealing concept to remedy situations of causal uncertainty. In many pieces of EU legislation in various areas such as competition law, AI law and environmental law, presumptions are presented as a solution for plaintiffs that encounter problems regarding causal uncertainty in their compensation claims. Oftentimes, however, insufficient attention is paid to the possible risks of over- and under-compensation, the available alternatives and the functionality of these presumptions. In this article, I argue that a presumption of law fulfils two functions. First, this paper aims to address situations of evidentiary deficiency (individual goal). Second, it aims to facilitate the procedural road to compensation in cases of mass harm (collective goal). A comparative analysis of Belgian, Dutch and French law reveals that there are many ways to shape a presumption and its consequences. In conclusion, I argue that presumptions should always be tailored to a certain case and should attempt to reconcile the collective goal with the individual goal. To that end, policy-makers should aim to create collective presumptions of fact, based on the statistical evidence in a certain mass harm case, as opposed to presumptions of law.
SAMNA: accurate alignment of multiple biological networks based on simulated annealing
Authors: Chen Jing , Wang Zixiang , Huang Jia
Published: December 2023

Proteins are important parts of the biological structures and encode a lot of biological information. Protein–protein interaction network alignment is a model for analyzing proteins that helps discover conserved functions between organisms and predict unknown functions. In particular, multi-network alignment aims at finding the mapping relationship among multiple network nodes, so as to transfer the knowledge across species. However, with the increasing complexity of PPI networks, how to perform network alignment more accurately and efficiently is a new challenge. This paper proposes a new global network alignment algorithm called Simulated Annealing Multiple Network Alignment (SAMNA), using both network topology and sequence homology information. To generate the alignment, SAMNA first generates cross-network candidate clusters by a clustering algorithm on a k-partite similarity graph constructed with sequence similarity information, and then selects candidate cluster nodes as alignment results and optimizes them using an improved simulated annealing algorithm. Finally, the SAMNA algorithm was experimented on synthetic and real-world network datasets, and the results showed that SAMNA outperformed the state-of-the-art algorithm in biological performance.
Onsager-Casimir reciprocal relations as a consequence of the equivalence between irreversibility and dissipation
Authors: Klika Václav , Bréchet Sylvain D.
Published: December 2023

The equivalence between irreversibility and dissipation entails that the Onsager reciprocal relations hold unconditionally, requiring the part of the phenomenological matrix describing dissipative phenomena to be symmetric. The antisymmetric part of the phenomenological matrix corresponds to the Casimir’s variant of the reciprocal relations and describes reversible phenomena. Further, we discuss the relationship of the reversibility and entropy production, including the role of the level of description, and we use the chemotaxis as an illustrative example.
Green synthesis and characterization of ginger-extract-based oxali-palladium nanoparticles for colorectal cancer: Downregulation of REG4 and apoptosis induction
Authors: Cherik Ilnaz Tork , Divsalar Adeleh , Angaji Seyed Abdolhamid , Rasouli Milad , Bekeschus Sander , Movahedi Ali Akbar Moosavi , Moghadam Mahboube Eslami , Ghalandari Behafarid , Ding Xianting
Published: December 2023

Colorectal cancer (CRC) continues to pose a significant challenge to healthcare systems, despite considerable advancements in the fields of medicine and pharmaceuticals. Palladium complexes, considered potential alternatives to platinum-based drugs for treating CRC, are being explored. Additionally, green chemistry, which enables the safe, reproducible, and environmentally friendly synthesis of drugs from natural sources, presents a promising avenue for oncological therapy. This study delves into the synthesis, characterization, and physicochemical properties of oxali-palladium nanoparticles (OxPd NPs) as a novel treatment for CRC using a green synthesis approach. Ginger extract, renowned for its antioxidant and anticancer properties, serves as the source material. The obtained results demonstrate that the synthesis and encapsulation of nanoparticles using ginger extract were conducted with an efficiency of 98%. The nanoparticles exhibited a size of approximately 30 nm and displayed a high level of stability. OxPd NPs were more lethal than ginger extract and free oxaliplatin, and this lethality was attributable to the elevated apoptosis rate. Furthermore, the addition of OxPd NPs to CRC cells resulted in significant alterations in the expression of two cancer-related genes, namely catalase and REG4. The pronounced lethal effect on the CRC cell line and the resulting modulation of gene expression highlight OxPd NPs as promising candidates for further investigation as potential drugs in the treatment of CRC.
Frost resistance and life prediction of recycled brick aggregate concrete with waste polypropylene fiber
Authors: Cui Shenao , Wang Ting , Zhang Zhaochuan , Sun Xiao , Li Jiahui , Li Bangxiang , Zhang Weishen , Su Tian , Cao Fubo
Published: December 2023

Due to recycled aggregate concrete technology, sustainable resource utilization can be achieved, but the weak frost resistance of this type of concrete affects its application in cold regions. Using waste polypropylene fibers as reinforcing materials can improve the mechanical properties and durability of concrete. This study explores the influence of waste polypropylene fiber on the frost resistance durability and microstructure of recycled brick aggregate (RA) concrete. The results show that with the increase in freeze–thaw cycles, the mass of the concrete first increases and then decreases, while its relative dynamic elastic modulus and compressive strength gradually decrease. After 60 freeze–thaw cycles, the maximum mass loss, maximum relative dynamic elastic modulus loss, and maximum compressive strength loss of the RA concrete are 1.73, 45.1, and 73.7%, respectively. Waste fiber (WF) can improve the frost resistance of concrete, as demonstrated by the obvious reduction in mass loss, relative dynamic elasticity modulus loss, and compressive strength loss, which are 0.11, 33.0, and 64.0%, respectively, after 60 freeze–thaw cycles. The action mechanism of WF on the frost resistance of RA concrete is revealed, and the life prediction model of RA concrete with WF under freeze–thaw conditions is established.
Infección de Amor (Infectious Love): Development and Acceptability of a Telenovela/Soap Opera Intervention for HIV Prevention For Latinas
Authors: Villegas Natalia , Norris Anne E. , Cianelli Rosina , Fernandez-Pineda Madeline , Toledo Christine
Published: December 2023

Latinas continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV in the United States. Effective interventions to address HIV-related disparities among Latinas are available; however, they have not achieved widespread dissemination due to implementation challenges for real-world settings. A culturally tailored intervention that increases access to HIV prevention is urgently needed. The objective of this study was to develop a culturally tailored telenovela (i.e., a soap opera) to promote HIV prevention behaviors (condom use; HIV testing; and pre-exposure prophylaxis awareness, access, and use) among Latinas. The study was conducted in community organizations throughout South Florida. A total of 44 Spanish-speaking Latinas, 18–35 years old, and sexually active with a man in the past 6 months participated in the study. The final product was an HIV prevention telenovela that incorporated Latinas' ideas and feedback and was produced as four 10-minute filmed episodes. This study aimed to develop innovative approaches to reduce HIV-related disparities for Latinas.
Primary Care Providers' Information Needs for Prescribing Adolescents HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
Authors: Owens Christopher , Stukenberg Jacob , Grant Morgan J. , Hoffman Matt
Published: December 2023

Although knowledge is a salient determinant in primary care providers (PCPs) prescribing HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to adolescents, we know little about what information PCPs want about PrEP. We conducted an online mixed-method study to explore the PrEP information needs of a national sample of 351 PCPs. We analyzed data with deductive content analysis and compared themes between respondents who were aware and not aware of PrEP, knowledgeable and not knowledgeable of the prescribing guidelines, and prescribed and never prescribed PrEP to an adolescent. PCPs who were unknowledgeable about PrEP and never prescribed PrEP to an adolescent mentioned manufacturing information, indications and dosing, and contraindications and adverse reactions more so than PCPs who were aware of and prescribed PrEP. A better understanding of the information needs of PCPs could inform provider education interventions. Future research must examine the facilitators and barriers to integrating PrEP information into medical education and clinical settings.
Advances in nanoscale carrier-based approaches to reduce toxicity and enhance efficacy of podophyllotoxin
Authors: Zhang Chaozheng , Zuo Yi , Zhang Tingting , Zhang Xin , Ling Jie , Liu Changqun , Chen Hongyu , Zhou Xin , Wang Maolin , Deng Yun , Liu Yilan , Lu Jun
Published: December 2023

Podophyllotoxin (PPT), an aryltetralin-type lignan isolated from Podophyllum species, exhibits a wide range of biologic and pharmacologic activities, and mainly serves as an antiviral agent or antitumor drug in clinical applications. However, the therapeutic potential of PPT has been hindered due to its detrimental systemic toxicity, poor solubility, and bioavailability. Nanoparticles, which preferentially accumulate in tumors through enhanced permeability and retention effects, have become useful tools for targeted drug delivery, thus securing a niche in cancer therapies. The nano-based drug delivery platform has been introduced to PPT delivery for the purpose of improved solubility, enhanced efficacy, and reduced toxicity. For decades, extensive efforts have been dedicated to designing and developing various PPT delivery systems to mitigate undesirable toxicity and expand clinical applicability. Herein, we briefly review the latest achievements in PPT delivery patterns and pharmacodynamic concerns with the expectation of shedding light on future research and potential applications of PPT.
Social media in the marketing activity of banks in Poland
Authors:   Uniwersytet w Białymstoku, Ertman Agnieszka
Published: December 2023

Social media are perceived as one of the most important marketing tools to reach and communicate with customers. The article concerns the activity of banks in social media and the interest of customers in the content published on those media. The aim of the research is to diagnose the usage of social media in marketing communication of the largest banks in Poland. The article is a preliminary assessment of marketing activities carried out by banks in social media and the reception of these activities by stakeholders in the form of customer interest in banks’ profiles in these media. To achieve the article’s purpose, the desk research method was to analyze the existing data, which included statistical data and available literature. The profiles of selected banks in social media were also reviewed and inductive reasoning was used in the conducted considerations. The conducted research confirmed a much lower interest in bank profiles compared to enterprises from other industries. This is determined by the specificity of banking services and divergent expectations of Internet users and bank representatives. While banks strive to create a community around the brand and a group of its advocates, consumers are looking for measurable benefits in the form of various types of special offers. Every year, banks show more and more activity in social media, however, the scale of the interaction of profile followers is not commensurate with the banks’ efforts. The effectiveness of social networking sites in achieving marketing goals is lower than banks expect.
Generative technologies in higher education – assessment of the current state, essential skills, and a proposal for a didactic method
Authors:   Politechnika Warszawska, Wodecki Andrzej
Published: December 2023

This article proposes the application of generative technologies, specifically large language models, in higher education. While such technologies present novel opportunities, at the same time, they raise concerns, including potential cognitive degradation, job displacement, and intellectual property issues. The first section of this paper introduces the essential concepts and methods of generative technologies, coupled with a discussion on the necessary competencies to fully harness their potential. The next section suggests an addition to usual teaching methods, using the ‘Artificial Intelligence in Business’ course as an example. This proposed enhancement incorporates a review of student work outcomes by systems powered by large language models. The underlying didactic principles of the course, sample system reports, and an illustrative diagram of the teaching process are presented. The paper concludes by contemplating the possible advantages and challenges posed by these technologies in pedagogy, along with recommendations for future research.
Multiculturalism from the perspective of early childhood education students in Poland and Iceland
Authors:   Uniwersytet Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej w Lublinie, Parczewska Teresa , Sala-Suszyńska Justyna , Sosnowska-Bielicz Ewa ,   Uniwersytet Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej w Lublinie,   Uniwersytet Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej w Lublinie
Published: December 2023

In recent years, Poland has witnessed a gradual increase of foreign cultures, which is inextricably linked to a new challenge for educational institutions. On the one hand, schools have to face the influx of students for whom the Polish language and culture is not their mother tongue; on the other hand, they have to prepare Polish students for encounters with elements of culture other than their own, i.e. language, customs, traditions or religion. The article presents the results of a Polish-Icelandic research project, the aim of which was to learn the views of students of early childhood education on multiculturalism. Quantitative (diagnostic survey) and qualitative (content analysis) methods were used in the research. The research group consisted of 141 students, 71 from Poland and 70 from Iceland. The research was conducted from June 2022 to March 2023. The results showed that both the place of residence and the educational experience (Iceland has successfully applied systemic solutions to the integration of foreigners for many years) have a significant impact on how students understand and define multiculturalism. Of interest to the researchers were the analyses showing that, regardless of their place of residence, children of early school age are characterised by an open attitude towards intercultural contacts. Early school children are curious about other cultures, they want to exchange experiences and develop their knowledge in the field of intercultural education.
Increasing Accessibility to Neuroscience through Translation: Going beyond the English Language
Authors: Peris-Yague Alba , Hartstein Jenna , Hogan Arielle , Suhr Carla , Romero-Calderón Rafael
Published: December 2023

Declaring the 1990s asThe Decade of the Brainput the field of neuroscience at the forefront of public attention, with the nervous system becoming a subject of increasing interest in popular media. Although this has generally brought large swaths of the public closer to neuroscience, most current research is published and disseminated in a single language: English. This is unsurprising as English is indeed the lingua franca in scientific circles, but people around the world communicate in many other languages. To make neuroscience accessible to a larger audience, we share an initiative to translate the Knowing Neurons platform into a second language: Spanish. This collaborative project integrates humanities and STEM academic programs to make use of bilingual university students, in association with professional linguists and neuroscientists, to translate scientific content into a relatable format to Spanish speakers regardless of their country of origin. The translation effort was piloted within the framework of undergraduate outreach courses at the University of California, Los Angeles, and is coupled with outreach components targeting the Spanish-speaking community to promote this new resource. This project aims to foster an environment where the neuroscientific interests of the public, college students, instructors, and researchers coalesce in a unified space. We hope that opening new lines of communication with traditionally underrepresented communities might help combat the persistent lack of diversity in neuroscience (and STEM) that is currently seen in academia. We also provide an outline to inspire others to translate these, and similar resources, into other languages.
Cadherin-13 Maintains Retinotectal Synapses via Transneuronal Interactions
Authors: Matcham Angela C. , Toma Kenichi , Tsai Nicole Y. , Sze Christina J. , Lin Pin-Yeh , Stewart Ilaria F. , Duan Xin
Published: December 2023

Maintaining precise synaptic contacts between neuronal partners is critical to ensure the proper functioning of the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). Diverse cell recognition molecules, such as classic cadherins (Cdhs), are part of the molecular machinery mediating synaptic choices during development and synaptic maintenance. Yet, the principles governing neuron–neuron wiring across diverse CNS neuron types remain largely unknown. The retinotectal synapses, connections from the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) to the superior collicular (SC) neurons, offer an ideal experimental system to reveal molecular logic underlying synaptic choices and formation. This is due to the retina's unidirectional and laminar-restricted projections to the SC and the large databases of presynaptic RGC subtypes and postsynaptic SC neuronal types. Here, we focused on determining the role of Type II Cdhs in wiring the retinotectal synapses. We surveyed Cdhs expression patterns at neuronal resolution and revealed that Cdh13 is enriched in the wide-field neurons in the superficial SC (sSC). In either the Cdh13 null mutant or selective adult deletion within the wide-field neurons, there is a significant reduction of spine densities in the distal dendrites of these neurons in both sexes. Additionally, Cdh13 removal from presynaptic RGCs reduced dendritic spines in the postsynaptic wide-field neurons. Cdh13-expressing RGCs use differential mechanisms than αRGCs and On–Off Direction-Selective Ganglion Cells (ooDSGCs) to form specific retinotectal synapses. The results revealed a selective transneuronal interaction mediated by Cdh13 to maintain proper retinotectal synapses in vivo.
Real-world practice patterns and outcomes for RAI-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer
Authors: Gianoukakis Andrew G , Choe Jennifer H , Bowles Daniel W , Brose Marcia S , Wirth Lori J , Owonikoko Taofeek , Babajanyan Svetlana , Worden Francis P
Published: December 2023

Background

The optimal timing for initiating multi-kinase inhibitors (MKIs) in patients with radioactive iodine-refractory (RAI-R) differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) remains unclear. Thus, we evaluated the real-world practice patterns and outcomes in asymptomatic patients with progressive RAI-R DTC (≥1 lesion ≥1 cm in diameter) in the USA (US population) and outside the USA (non-US population).

Methods

In this prospective, non-interventional, open-label study, eligible patients were chosen by treating physicians to receive MKI therapy (cohort 1) or undergo active surveillance (cohort 2) at study entry. Cohort 2 patients were allowed to transition to MKI therapy later. The primary endpoint was time to symptomatic progression (TTSP) from study entry. Data were compared descriptively. When endpoints were inestimable, 36-month rates were calculated.

Results

Of the 647 patients, 478 underwent active surveillance (cohort 2) and 169 received MKI treatment (cohort 1). Patients underwent surveillance at a higher rate in the US (92.6%) vs the non-US (66.9%) populations. Half of US and non-US patients who qualified for MKI treatment had initial American Thyroid Association (ATA) low-to-intermediate-risk disease. In cohort 2, the 36-month TTSP rates from study entry were 65.6% and 66.5% in the US and non-US populations, respectively. Cohort 2 patients treated later demonstrated 36-month TTSP rates of 30.8% and 55.8% in the US and non-US populations, respectively.

Conclusions

Active surveillance is a viable option for asymptomatic patients with progressive RAI-R DTC. However, early intervention with MKI therapy may be more suitable for others. Further research is needed to identify patients who are optimal for active surveillance.

Registration

NCT02303444.
Affective response difference to the viewing of different styles of solid wood furniture based on Kansei engineering
Authors: Lin Qiuli , Cai Jun , Xue Yisi
Published: December 2023

Homogeneity of products is a serious problem in China’s solid wood furniture market, especially reflected in the fact that the furniture form cannot meet the individualized demand of consumers. To explore the differences of consumers’ affective response for different styles of solid wood furniture, this study used Kansei engineering to perform perceptual semantic experiments on Ming-style, Qing-style, and modern Chinese-style furniture. The perceptual images of three styles of solid wood chairs were compared by single factor variance. Additionally, it deconstructed the morphological elements of solid wood seats using morphological analysis and established a mapping model between morphological elements and affective response by quantification theory type-I and multivariable linear regression model. The results show that there are differences in affective response between Ming-style, Qing-style, and modern Chinese style solid wood furniture. Qing-style solid wood furniture tends to be “ornate” and “personalized”. Modern Chinese-style solid wood furniture tends to be “modern” and “streamlined”, Ming-style solid wood furniture is in between the two styles. This study can provide furniture designers with a way to compare the differences in affective responses of different products, and the resulting relationship between affective responses and morphological elements can assist in designing products.
When to Transfer: Predictors of Pediatric High Flow Nasal Cannula Failure at a Community Hospital
Authors: Dunbar Kimiko S. , Fox Sarah N. , Thomas Jacob F. , Brittan Mark S. , Soskolne Gayle , Cotter Jillian M.
Published: December 2023

OBJECTIVES

To identify risk factors of high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) failure at a US pediatric hospital without a co-located ICU.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study of patients aged 0 to 18 years who were started on HFNC in the emergency department or inpatient unit at a community hospital over a 16-month period. Children with chronic medical conditions were excluded. Outcome was HFNC failure, defined as HFNC need greater than floor limit, noninvasive positive pressure, or mechanical ventilation. In bivariate analysis, we compared demographic and clinical factors between those with and without failure. We included variables in a multivariable model on the basis of statistical significance. We used Poisson regression with robust error variance to calculate the adjusted relative risk (aRR) of failure for each variable.

RESULTS

Of 195 children, 51% had HFNC failure. In adjusted analysis, failure was higher in all age groups <12 months as compared with older children. For example, children aged 3 to 5 months had a higher risk of failure compared with patients 12 months or older (aRR 1.85, confidence interval [CI] 1.34–2.54). Patients with an asthma exacerbation had a higher risk of failure (aRR 1.39, CI 1.03–1.88). Patients whose respiratory rate or heart rate did not improve also had a higher risk of failure (aRR 1.73, CI 1.24–2.41; aRR 1.47, CI 1.14–1.90).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients who were younger, had asthma, and did not have improved respiratory rate or heart rate after HFNC were more likely to experience HFNC failure.
Pragmatic Expansion of a Neonatal Antibiotic Stewardship Program in a Community Health Care System
Authors: Martin Julie S. , Botta Caleb J. , Bowman Sarah , Giliberti Danielle
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND

Previously published neonatal antibiotic stewardship efforts have been primarily implemented in single centers. Piedmont Athens Regional began work to decrease antibiotic use in the NICU with spread to the newborn nursery (NBN) and, subsequently, 13 other NICUs and NBNs throughout a health care system over a 4-year period.

METHODS

This quality improvement initiative was conducted in the context of a multicenter learning collaborative from 2016 to 2019. The primary aim was a 10% reduction in antibiotic days per 1000 patient days (antibiotic utilization rate [AUR]) among newborns in the NICU and NBN at each hospital by December 2018. Change ideas were implemented by using plan-do-study-act cycles. The primary outcome measure was AUR with a balancing measure of antibiotic restarts.

RESULTS

Piedmont Athens Regional decreased the NICU AUR by 46% and NBN AUR by 83%. Piedmont Healthcare decreased the NICU AUR by 40% and NBN AUR by 74%. Seven of 8 NICUs and 5 of 7 NBNs achieved a >10% reduction in AUR and 8 of 8 intervention hospitals showed a sustained drop in AUR in the NBN, NICU, or both during the 1.5-year postobservation period. Decreases in antibiotic initiation resulted in 335 fewer antibiotic courses in the NICU and 189 fewer infants started on antibiotics in the NBN in 2020 versus 2017.

CONCLUSIONS

This initiative achieved reductions in AUR across multiple hospitals in the network. The system-wide approach facilitated information technology (IT) and electronic health record modifications. Common drivers of NICU improvement were involvement for at least 2 years, multidisciplinary teams, and the highest baseline AUR. The common driver of nursery improvement was the implementation of a neonatal sepsis risk calculator.
Fall 2023 ACIP Update on Meningococcal, RSV, COVID-19, and Other Pediatric Vaccines
Authors: Yonts Alexandra B. , Gaviria-Agudelo Claudia , Kimberlin David W. , O’Leary Sean T. , Paulsen Grant C.
Published: December 2023

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a group of medical and public health experts that provides advice to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, normally meets 3 times per year to develop US vaccine recommendations. The ACIP met October 25 to 26, 2023, to discuss meningococcal vaccines, mpox vaccines, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines, influenza vaccines, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines, and the combined pediatric and adult immunization schedules for 2024. The ACIP also held special meetings on September 12 and September 22 to discuss COVID-19 2023–2024 vaccine recommendations and RSV immunization in pregnant women. This update summarizes the proceedings of these meetings that are most relevant to the pediatric population. Major updates for pediatric clinicians include recommendations for XBB monovalent COVID-19 immunization for the 2023–2024 respiratory season, the recently licensed pentavalent meningococcal conjugate vaccine and mpox vaccination in high-risk young adults, and discussion regarding the parallel strategies of protection against RSV disease in infants via maternal immunization during pregnancy or direct prophylaxis of infants with nirsevimab.
Polysemy in Economic News about Inflation and Import Restrictions on CNN Arabic
Authors: Khoizuronah Sayyidah , Latif Muwaafiquddin Abdul , Athoillah Wildan Falah
Published: December 2023

This research aims to reveal, understand, and analyze words containing polysemy in economic news about inflation and import restrictions on CNN Arabic so that everything is correct in understanding the news. The object of this research is two news stories about the economy on CNN Arabic. This research was conducted using a qualitative descriptive method: collecting, analyzing, and describing data. The research results showed that twenty-four words containing polysemy were found in economic news on CNN Arabic. It includes polysemy of nouns, verbs, and adjectives, with details of thirteen noun words, seven verb words, and four adjective words. The factors causing polysemy in economic news are shifts in sentence usage and structure and the influence of foreign languages. Most of the meanings of polysemy in economic news on CNN Arabic are metaphors of lexical meaning, and these words can be known by looking at a dictionary or analyzing sentence structure.
Arabic Conversation Learning Activities with the Real Player Application
Authors: Abdullah Ahmad Hafidz , Maturedy Faris
Published: December 2023

This study aims to describe the activity of teaching conversation in Arabic for the second grade of MTs Miftahul Ulum, including the teacher's use of the RealPlayer application. This study used the qualitative research methodology as a case study. The data were therefore collected in two ways: participatory observation and personal interview. An Observation to know the steps of dialogue teaching activities and students' responses throughout the education process. As for the personal interview, it is to confirm and reconcile the data taken from the observation. The participants are the students in the second semester and the Arabic language teacher. After the data was collected, it was analyzed using the Miles and Huberman model, which consists of three steps: the presentation and reduction of data and the conclusion. Eventually, the researchers came to conclusions. The first is that the teacher begins teaching conversation in the second semester by reviewing the material in a continuous training manner. The teacher thus continued to teach conversation with the main activities with the help of means, including the RealPlayer app and the speaker. The confirmation activities were conducted through discussion between the students and the teacher using the RealPlayer application.
Semiotic Analysis of Riffaterre on The Poetry of Qais Wa Laila by Nazik Al-Malaika
Authors: Mushfiroh Dewi Maisyah
Published: December 2023

This research describes the poem "Qais wa Laila" using Riffaterre's semiotic theory by Nazik Sadik Al-Malaika. The primary data of this poem is Al-Diwan. This research aims to reveal the broader meaning of the poem through the meaninglessness in the poem's exposition, the results of heuristic reading and hermeneutic reading, determining the matrix, model, variant and hypnogram in the poem entitled "Qais wa Laila" by Nazik al-Malaika with the sub-chapter analysis of riffaterre's semiotic theory that has been mentioned. This research method is a qualitative descriptive literature review. Among the results of this study are: (1) there are many discontinuities in the meaning of a poetic expression in this poem, so many perspectives appear, including similes in the word fi yadil mauti (2) the results of heuristic reading of this poem are advice from the author by telling the pain, madness and futility committed by Qais, (3) the result of the heuristic reading of this poem is that the romance told by other writers about the story of Qais and Laila is considered a useless thing according to the author, depicted through the signs of the choice of diction in his work (4) the matrix of this poem is not to waste time and be stupid, written in the last stanza (5) the variant of this poem is the reinforcement of the author's advice written in stanza 23 (6) the model of this poem is the author's view of love - Qais - which is only the ultimate torment.