bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Görsel Algılama Destekli Okuma Yazmaya Hazırlık Etkinliklerinin Yazı Farkındalığına Etkisinin İncelenmesi
Authors: Uyanık Aktulun Özgün , Gözüm Ali İbrahim Can
Published: April 2024

Araştırmada "Görsel Algılama Destekli Okuma Yazmaya Hazırlık Etkinliklerinin Yazı Farkındalığına Etkisinin İncelenmesi" amaçlanmıştır. Bu amaçla araştırmanın tasarımı, yarı deneysel öntest-son test kontrol gruplu desen olarak yapılandırılmıştır. Araştırmanın çalışma grubunu, deney (33), kontrol (33) olmak üzere toplam 66 çocuk oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmada veri toplama aracı olarak, “Kişisel Bilgi Formu” ile Şimşek Çetin ve Alisinanoğlu (2013) tarafından geliştirilen "Okul Öncesi Dönemdeki Çocukların Yazı Farkındalığını Değerlendirme Kontrol Listesi” kullanılmıştır. Okul öncesi dönemdeki çocukların yazı farkındalığı becerilerini desteklemeyi esas alan "Görsel Algı Destekli Yazı Farkındalığı Etkinlikleri", 6 hafta boyunca haftada üç gün olacak şekilde toplam 18 etkinlik olarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırmada ön-test ve son-test sonuçları arasındaki farklar, bağımsız örneklem t-testi ile değerlendirilmiştir. Ayrıca, deney grubu içinde etkinliklere katılan çocukların performansı, kontrol grubundakilerle karşılaştırmak amacıyla kendi aralarında bir t-testi uygulanmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda, etkinliklerde farklı şekil, doku, renk içeren nesnelerin kullanılmasının, el-göz koordinasyonunu geliştirmenin, benzerlik ve farklılıklara dikkat çekmenin yazı ile ilişkili harf ve sözcüklerin birbirleriyle ilişkisini ve farklılıklarını anlamak konusunda önemli bir destek sağladığı belirlenmiştir. Bu nedenle, bu tür etkinliklerin yazı farkındalığı becerilerinin gelişimine katkıda bulunduğu düşünülmektedir.
Các yếu tố ảnh hưởng đến quá trình giải học cá nhân: Nghiên cứu đối tượng giảng viên đại học
Authors: Nguyễn Đức Nhân , Phạm Thị Bích Ngọc
Published: April 2024

Thuật ngữ giải học (unlearning) ngày càng nhận được sự quan tâm nhiều hơn trong bối cảnh hiện nay, tuy nhiên vẫn còn hạn chế các nghiên cứu thực nghiệm để xác định các yếu tố ảnh hưởng đến quá trình này nhằm hiểu rõ hơn bản chất của nó. Trên cơ sở lý thuyết nhận thức xã hội và lý thuyết bảo tồn nguồn lực, nghiên cứu này đã đề xuất mô hình với sự tác động của ba yếu tố: cá nhân, hành vi và tổ chức tới quá trình giải học cá nhân của đối tượng giảng viên đại học. Nghiên cứu cũng đã góp phần phát triển thang đo giải học cá nhân và sử dụng phương pháp định lượng để kiểm định với bộ dữ liệu khảo sát thuận tiện. Kết quả phân tích hồi quy cho thấy yếu tố cá nhân và yếu tố hành vi có tác động đến quá trình giải học cá nhân đúng theo như kỳ vọng của giả thuyết nghiên cứu. Kết quả nghiên cứu được thảo luận cụ thể trong bài viết và đưa ra các gợi ý cho các nghiên cứu trong tương lai.
Cuando el devoto opina
Authors: Domínguez Gómez Benjamín
Published: April 2024

La toma de decisiones en materia de conservación y restauración supone un hándicap para muchos cofrades, dirigentes de hermandades y cofradías, que les toca enfrentarse a dicha situación. En este texto analizamos brevemente los principales problemas y proponemos alguna solución al respecto.
Ipteks Pendampingan Desain Dan Renovasi Bangunan Taman Pendidikan Qur’an (TPQ) Al – Ashfa Dusun Rampal Desa Dadapan
Authors: Utari Rini Pebri , Rommel Erwin , Setyono Ernawan
Published: April 2024

Taman Pendidikan Al-Quran adalah kelompok masyarakat yang menyelenggarakan pendidikan  agama Islam informal, dan tujuan utamanya adalah untuk memberikan pengetahuan agama kepada siswa. TPQ AL Ashfa yang terletak di dusun rampal desa Dadapan Kabupaten Malang, merupakan salah satu TPQ yang berdiri sejak tahun 2018. Hingga saat ini, TPQ ini memiliki kurang lebih 100 santri dengan 4 orang guru. Pembangunan TPQ ini diawali dengan adanya pemberian tanah wakaf yang kemudian dibangun secara swakelola oleh masyarakat setempat. Pada program pengabdian ini, tim pengabdi bekerjasama dengan mahasiswa PMM Mitra Dosen melakukan pendampingan desain, pekerjaan fisik dan penataan TPQ Al-Ashfa. Adapun hasilnya berupa desain talud/retaining wall, pekerjaan sanitasi, pekerjaan rabat pada halaman samping tpq sehingga dapat digunakan sebagai fasilitas outdoor, penataan ruang TPQ, pemberian bantuan fasilitas pendukung program TPQ. Dengan adanya pendampingan ini, TPQ menjadi lebih tertata rapi dan Masyarakat maupun para santri TPQ  dapat melakukan proses belajar dengan nyaman dan kondusif.
Cuidados de enfermagem com fístula arteriovenosa
Authors: Pereira Luiz Cláudio Ribeiro , Santos Saulo Barreto Cunha dos , Mesquita Aline Alves , Bêco Francisca Maria Ranielle Albuquerque , Barbosa Eveline Machado de Aguiar , Elmiro Francisca Milena Martins , Paiva Jhonata Pereira
Published: April 2024

As doenças crônicas afetam de maneira significativa o cotidiano dos pacientes, dentre essas doenças, destacamos a insuficiência renal. A hemodiálise (HD) é o método de diálise mais comum. Há vários tipos de acessos vasculares, incluindo os temporários, como os cateteres venosos centrais (CVC) e os permanentes, como a Fístula Arteriovenosa (FAV), sendo esta indicada apenas para pacientes renais crônicos. O estudo teve como objetivo evidenciar através da produção científica o cuidado de enfermagem frente ao paciente portador de Fístula Arteriovenosa. Trata-se de estudo descritivo do tipo bibliográfico realizado nas bases de dados Scielo e Bireme, onde foi possível selecionar 10 artigos após cruzamentos e utilização de critério de inclusão e exclusão. A partir das informações foi possível destacar que os principais cuidados com a FAV são: a avaliação do frêmito, colabamento, sinais de infecção não aferir PA no membro da FAV, não coletar sangue pela fístula, evitar uso de acessórios como relógio, evitar traumas no membro. Durante a sessão de HD as intercorrências foram: Hematoma ou extravasamento, Saída da agulha durante a sessão de hemodiálise, pressão venosa na alta na fístula, Dor, diminuição ou ausência de frêmito, sangramento, rompimento da fístula arteriovenosa, coágulos na agulha punção difícil. O enfermeiro exerce grande importância frente a estes usuários, pois promovem empoderamento no cuidado.
A combination of lymphocyte count and albumin concentration as a new prognostic index for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Sarıtaş Ahmet Gökhan , Topal Uğur , Yavuz Burak , Ülkü Abdullah , Dalcı Kubilay , Yalav Orçun , Atar Cihan , Eray İsmail Cem , Akçam Atılgan Tolga
Published: April 2024

Aim
The present study explores the prognostic significance of the lymphocytes (/L) × albumin (g/L) (LA) score and its relationship with the hepatocellular carcinoma.
Material and Methods
The study included patients who underwent curative surgery for hepatocellular carcinoma between January 2004 and November 2020. The LA score was calculated using the formula lymphocytes (/L)×albumin (g/L). The patients were subsequently divided into two as Group 1 (Low LA) and Group 2 (High LA). The two groups were compared for clinical characteristics as well as oncological follow-up outcomes.
Results
The study included 55 patients, who, based on an LA cut-off point of 4620, were divided into Group 1 (n=28) and Group 2 (n=27). The MELD score was higher in Group 1 (12 vs.9, p=0.022). The number of tumors, maximum tumor size and total tumor size were similar in both groups. At the last clinical follow-up, the mortality rate was 42.9% in Group 1 and 22.2% in Group 2. Recurrence rates were similar in both groups (42.9%vs.33.3% p=0.467), and total survival (126vs.164 months p=0.1) and disease-free survival (26 vs. 29 months p=0.926) were also similar.
Conclusion
The use of the composite LA index – an indicator of immunonutritional status as a prognostic marker may not be significant in HCC patients undergoing curative resection.
Yetişkin Memeli Beyninde Nörogenez ve Koku Duyusu ile İlişkisi
Authors: Ekici Oğuzhan , Şimşek Gönül
Published: April 2024

Amaç: Bu derlemenin amacı; beyindeki nörogenez merkezleri, bu merkezlerin mikro mimarisi, nörogenezi etkileyen faktörleri, nöroblastların göç etmeleri, farklılaşmaları ve olgun nöron oluşturma mekanizmaları hakkında bilgiler sunmaktadır. İnsan ve diğer memeliler arasındaki farklara değinilerek nörogenez ve koku duyusu arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Bu çalışma, yetişkin memeli beyninde nörogenez ve koku duyusu hakkında literatür taraması yapılarak derlenmiştir. Bulgular: Nörogenez, kök hücrelerin bölünüp farklılaşarak yeni nöron üretmesidir. Yetişkin memeli beyninde nörogenezin varlığı gösterilmiştir. Beyinde, Subventriküler zon (SVZ) ve Subgranüler zon (SGZ) iki ana nöral kök hücre topluluğu olarak bilinmektedir. Bu bölgelerdeki nöral kök hücreler bölünüp farklılaşarak nöroblastları meydana getirmektedir. Nöroblastlar göç ederek hedef bölgelerinde olgun nöron halini almaktadırlar. SVZ’de üretilen nöroblastlar olfaktör bulbusta, SGZ’de üretilenler ise hipokampusun granüler katmanında olgun nöron olarak işlev görmektedir. Koku duyusu, burunda olfaktör epitelde başlamaktadır. Olfaktör epitelde koku molekülleri, kendilerine özgü reseptörlerine bağlanarak, olfaktör duyu nöronlarında sinirsel uyarıyı başlatmaktadır. Sinirsel uyarı beyinde önce olfaktör bulbusta işlenmekte daha sonra koku merkezlerine iletilmektedir. Koku bilgisinin iletildiği yapılar arasında; priform korteks, ön koku alma çekirdeği, koku alma tüberkülü, amigdala, hipotalamus, orbitofrontal korteks, entorinal korteks ve hipokampus bulunmaktadır. Sonuç: Yetişkin memeli beyninde nörogenez ile meydana gelen yeni nöronlar, koku duyusu alanları ile doğrudan veya dolaylı olarak bağlantı kurmaktadır. Yeni nöronlar olfaktör bulbusta ara nöron halini alarak doğrudan koku duyusuyla ilişki kurarken, hipokampustaki yeni nöronlar koku hafızası oluşumunda dolaylı olarak katkı sağlamaktadır.
Identification and validation of aging-related genes in heart failure based on multiple machine learning algorithms
Authors: Yu Yiding , Wang Lin , Hou Wangjun , Xue Yitao , Liu Xiujuan , Li Yan
Published: April 2024

Background

In the face of continued growth in the elderly population, the need to understand and combat age-related cardiac decline becomes even more urgent, requiring us to uncover new pathological and cardioprotective pathways.

Methods

We obtained the aging-related genes of heart failure through WGCNA and CellAge database. We elucidated the biological functions and signaling pathways involved in heart failure and aging through GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. We used three machine learning algorithms: LASSO, RF and SVM-RFE to further screen the aging-related genes of heart failure, and fitted and verified them through a variety of machine learning algorithms. We searched for drugs to treat age-related heart failure through the DSigDB database. Finally, We use CIBERSORT to complete immune infiltration analysis of aging samples.

Results

We obtained 57 up-regulated and 195 down-regulated aging-related genes in heart failure through WGCNA and CellAge databases. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that aging-related genes are mainly involved in mechanisms such as Cellular senescence and Cell cycle. We further screened aging-related genes through machine learning and obtained 14 key genes. We verified the results on the test set and 2 external validation sets using 15 machine learning algorithm models and 207 combinations, and the highest accuracy was 0.911. Through screening of the DSigDB database, we believe that rimonabant and lovastatin have the potential to delay aging and protect the heart. The results of immune infiltration analysis showed that there were significant differences between Macrophages M2 and T cells CD8 in aging myocardium.

Conclusion

We identified aging signature genes and potential therapeutic drugs for heart failure through bioinformatics and multiple machine learning algorithms, providing new ideas for studying the mechanism and treatment of age-related cardiac decline.
Effects of lactic acid bacteria inoculants on the nutrient composition, fermentation quality, and microbial diversity of whole-plant soybean-corn mixed silage
Authors: Xu Junzhao , Ma Jianfei , Sa Rula , Sui Humujile , Wang Xiaoni , Li Qi , Zhu Xinyue , Wu Baiyila , Hu Zongfu , Niu Huaxin
Published: April 2024

The mixture of whole-plant soybean and whole-plant corn silage (WPSCS) is nutrient balanced and is also a promising roughage for ruminants. However, few studies have investigated the changes in bacterial community succession in WPSCS inoculated with homofermentative and heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and whether WPSCS inoculated with LAB can improve fermentation quality by reducing nutrient losses. This study investigated the effect of Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) or Lactobacillus buchneri (L. buchneri) on the fermentation quality, aerobic stability, and bacterial community of WPSCS. A 40:60 ratio of whole-plant soybean corn was inoculated without (CK) or with L. plantarum (LP), L. buchneri (LB), and a mixture of LP and LB (LPB), and fermented for 14, 28, and 56 days, followed by 7 days of aerobic exposure. The 56-day silage results indicated that the dry matter content of the LP and LB groups reached 37.36 and 36.67%, respectively, which was much greater than that of the CK group (36.05%). The pH values of the LP, LB, and LPB groups were significantly lower than those of the CK group (p < 0.05). The ammoniacal nitrogen content of LB was significantly lower than that of the other three groups (p < 0.05), and the ammoniacal nitrogen content of LP and LPB was significantly lower than that of CK (p < 0.05). The acetic acid content and aerobic stability of the LB group were significantly greater than those of the CK, LP, and LPB groups (p < 0.05). High-throughput sequencing revealed a dominant bacteria shift from Proteobacteria in fresh forage to Firmicutes in silage at the phylum level. Lactobacillus remained the dominant genus in all silage. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEFSe) analysis identified Lactobacillus as relatively abundant in LP-treated silage and Weissella in LB-treated groups. The results of KEGG pathway analysis of the 16S rRNA gene of the silage microbial flora showed that the abundance of genes related to amino acid metabolism in the LP, LB, and LPB groups was lower than that in the CK group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, LAB application can improve the fermentation quality and nutritional value of WPSCS by regulating the succession of microbial communities and metabolic pathways during ensiling. Concurrently, the LB inoculant showed the potential to improve the aerobic stability of WPSCS.
SGLT2 inhibitors in diabetic and non-diabetic kidney transplant recipients: current knowledge and expectations
Authors: Polychronopoulou Erietta , Bourdon Fanny , Teta Daniel
Published: April 2024

The beneficial effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have been shown recently in numerous randomized controlled trials (RCT) and systematic reviews. According to KDIGO guidelines, SGLT2i currently represent a first choice for diabetic patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). In addition, a recent meta-analysis of 13 large led by the ‘SGLT2 inhibitor Meta-Analysis Cardio-Renal Trialists’ Consortium’ (SMART-C) provided solid evidence of SGLT2i beneficial effects in CKD or in patients with heart failure, with and without diabetes. Collectively, the patients treated with SGLT2i had a decreased risk of CKD progression, acute kidney injury (AKI), end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) or death from heart failure. Whether these cardio-renal benefits should be extrapolated to kidney transplant recipients (KTR) needs to be assessed in further studies. In this article, we report recent data accumulated so far in the literature, looking at the efficacy and safety of SGLT2i in diabetic and non-diabetic KTR. We found encouraging data regarding the use of SGLT2i in KTR with diabetes. These agents appeared to be safe, and they reduced body weight and blood pressure in this group of patients. Potential effects on kidney graft function and survival are yet to be investigated.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for the treatment of hypoxic/ischemic injury upon perinatal asphyxia—are we there yet?
Authors: Mielecki Damian , Godlewski Jakub , Salinska Elzbieta
Published: April 2024

Birth asphyxia and its main sequel, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, are one of the leading causes of children’s deaths worldwide and can potentially worsen the quality of life in subsequent years. Despite extensive research efforts, efficient therapy against the consequences of hypoxia-ischemia occurring in the perinatal period of life is still lacking. The use of hyperbaric oxygen, improving such vital consequences of birth asphyxia as lowered partial oxygen pressure in tissue, apoptosis of neuronal cells, and impaired angiogenesis, is a promising approach. This review focused on the selected aspects of mainly experimental hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The therapeutic window for the treatment of perinatal asphyxia is very narrow, but administering hyperbaric oxygen within those days improves outcomes. Several miRNAs (e.g., mir-107) mediate the therapeutic effect of hyperbaric oxygen by modulating the Wnt pathway, inhibiting apoptosis, increasing angiogenesis, or inducing neural stem cells. Combining hyperbaric oxygen therapy with drugs, such as memantine or ephedrine, produced promising results. A separate aspect is the use of preconditioning with hyperbaric oxygen. Overall, preliminary clinical trials with hyperbaric oxygen therapy used in perinatal asphyxia give auspicious results.
Directed causal effect with PCMCI in hyperscanning EEG time series
Authors: Silfwerbrand Lykke , Koike Yasuharu , Nyström Pär , Gingnell Malin
Published: April 2024

Social activities are likely to cause effects or reactivity in the brains of the people involved in collaborative social situations. This study assesses a new method, Tigramite, for time domain analysis of directed causality between the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of persons in such situations. An experimental situation using hyperscanning EEG was applied while individuals led and followed each other in finger-tapping rhythms. This structured task has a long duration and a high likelihood of inter-brain causal reactions in the prefrontal cortices. Tigramite is a graph-based causal discovery method to identify directed causal relationships in observational time series. Tigramite was used to analyze directed causal connections within and between the PFC. Significantly directed causality within and between brains could be detected during the social interactions. This is the first empirical evidence the Tigramite can reveal inter- and intra-brain-directed causal effects in hyperscanning EEG time series. The findings are promising for further studies of causality in neural networks during social activities using Tigramite on EEG in the time domain.
Targeted protein degradation in CNS disorders: a promising route to novel therapeutics?
Authors: Kuemper Sandra , Cairns Andrew G. , Birchall Kristian , Yao Zhi , Large Jonathan M.
Published: April 2024

Targeted protein degradation (TPD) is a rapidly expanding field, with various PROTACs (proteolysis-targeting chimeras) in clinical trials and molecular glues such as immunomodulatory imide drugs (IMiDs) already well established in the treatment of certain blood cancers. Many current approaches are focused on oncology targets, leaving numerous potential applications underexplored. Targeting proteins for degradation offers a novel therapeutic route for targets whose inhibition remains challenging, such as protein aggregates in neurodegenerative diseases. This mini review focuses on the prospect of utilizing TPD for neurodegenerative disease targets, particularly PROTAC and molecular glue formats and opportunities for novel CNS E3 ligases. Some key challenges of utilizing such modalities including molecular design of degrader molecules, drug delivery and blood brain barrier penetrance will be discussed.
Role of SPRY4 in health and disease
Authors: Pan Hao , Xu Renjie , Zhang Yong
Published: April 2024

SPRY4 is a protein encoding gene that belongs to the Spry family. It inhibits the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway and plays a role in various biological functions under normal and pathological conditions. The SPRY4 protein has a specific structure and interacts with other molecules to regulate cellular behavior. It serves as a negative feedback inhibitor of the receptor protein tyrosine kinases (RTK) signaling pathway and interferes with cell proliferation and migration. SPRY4 also influences inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell apoptosis. In different types of tumors, SPRY4 can act as a tumor suppressor or an oncogene. Its dysregulation is associated with the development and progression of various cancers, including colorectal cancer, glioblastoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, perihilar cholangiocarcinoma, gastric cancer, breast cancer, and lung cancer. SPRY4 is also involved in organ development and is associated with ischemic diseases. Further research is ongoing to understand the expression and function of SPRY4 in specific tumor microenvironments and its potential as a therapeutic target.
Effect of different anaesthetic techniques on the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer after resection: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Xia Shijun , Zhu Yuwen , Wu Wenjiang , Li Yue , Yu Linchong
Published: April 2024

Background

The effect of total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) and inhalation anaesthesia (IA) on the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer after resection is controversial. This study aimed to explore the effects of different anaesthesia methods on the postoperative prognosis of colorectal cancer.

Methods

PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library databases were searched for relevant literature from each database’s inception until 18 November 2023. The literature topic was to compare the effects of TIVA and IA on the prognosis of patients undergoing colorectal cancer resection.

Results

Six studies were selected for meta-analysis. The studies involved 111043 patients, with a trial size of 1001–88184 people. A statistically significant difference was observed in the overall survival (OS) between colorectal cancer patients administered TIVA and IA (hazard ratio [HR], 0.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.70–0.99), but none in recurrence-free survival (RFS) (HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.90–1.08). In the subgroup analysis of OS, no statistically significant difference was observed between colorectal cancer patients administered TIVA and IA in Asia (HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.57–1.05), and not in Europe (HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.93–1.06). Regarding tumour location, no significant association was found between TIVA and IA in the colon, rectum and colorectum ((HR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.38–1.28), (HR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.83–1.08) and (HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.93–1.06), respectively).

Conclusion

OS differed significantly between patients administered TIVA and IA when undergoing colorectal cancer resection, but no difference was observed in RFS. The prognostic effects of TIVA and IA differed.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023453185, identifier CRD42023453185.
Roles of parents in life satisfaction and educational hope among Chinese high school students
Authors: Han Feng , Yuen Celeste Yuet-Mui
Published: April 2024

The well-being of the Chinese high school students linked to the National Higher Education Entrance Examination, known as gaokao, has been a spotlight education issue in China. This study employed self-determination theory and Bourdieu’s sociocultural theory to examine the relationship between life satisfaction, educational hope, and parental support among Chinese high school students. A number of 3,810 high school students from eight schools in Jiangsu, China, completed a validated context-relevant questionnaire. Structural equation model analysis suggested that parental support significantly impacted students’ life satisfaction and educational hope. Findings showed that parental intangible support in terms of providing information, advice, encouragement, praise, and care has a direct and significant impact on the life satisfaction of Chinese youth. The extent to which students attach importance to and put effort into achieving their educational aspirations, known as goal commitment, mediated the relationship between parental support and life satisfaction. Moreover, Chinese high school students’ educational hope is shaped by their family. Parental support moderates goal commitment, which varies based on parental education background. In short, parents play a critical role in the growth and development of Chinese high school students.
Human–object interaction, connectedness with nature, and life satisfaction: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Kamide Hiroko , Arai Tatsuo
Published: April 2024

Introduction

This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between interactions with everyday objects (e.g., stationery, clothing, and tools) and one’s connectedness with nature, environmentally conscious behavior, and life satisfaction. While previous research has predominantly explored the link between awareness of and behavior toward nature with direct education and experience related to the natural environment, we focused on the origins of the objects that surround us, which are inherently derived from nature.

Methods

We conducted an online survey with 1,102 Japanese participants, who completed an object–interaction measure assessing the two dimensions of care and learning, and measures of connectedness with nature, pro-environmental behavior, and life satisfaction.

Results

Interactions with everyday objects involving care and learning were significantly associated with a sense of connectedness with nature, pro-environmental behavior, and life satisfaction.

Discussion

The study highlights that interactions with everyday artifacts are not isolated experiences but are related to broader awareness of and behavior toward the natural world, and with individual life satisfaction. Hence, environmental awareness and actions can extend beyond direct environmental experiences and encompass daily interactions with objects. Future research could examine how cultural factors shape the relationship between human–object interactions, connection with nature, environmentally conscious behavior, and life satisfaction.
The relationship between heavy metals and metabolic syndrome using machine learning
Authors: Yao Jun , Du Zhilin , Yang Fuyue , Duan Ran , Feng Tong
Published: April 2024

Background

Exposure to high levels of heavy metals has been widely recognized as an important risk factor for metabolic syndrome (MetS). The main purpose of this study is to assess the associations between the level of heavy metal exposure and Mets using machine learning (ML) method.

Methods

The data used in this study are from the national health and nutrition examination survey 2003–2018. According to the demographic information and heavy metal exposure level of participants, a total of 22 variables were included. Lasso was used to screen out the key variables, and 9 commonly used ML models were selected to establish the associations with the 5-fold cross validation method. Finally, we choose the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method to explain the prediction results of Adaboost model.

Results

11,667 eligible individuals were randomly divided into two groups to train and verify the prediction model. Through lasso, characteristic variables were selected from 24 variables as predictors. The AUC (area under curve) of the models selected in this study were all greater than 0.7, and AdaBoost was the best model. The AUC value of AdaBoost was 0.807, the accuracy was 0.720, and the sensitivity was 0.792. It is noteworthy that higher levels of cadmium, body mass index, cesium, being female, and increasing age were associated with an increased probability of MetS. Conversely, lower levels of cobalt and molybdenum were linked to a decrease in the estimated probability of MetS.

Conclusion

Our study highlights the AdaBoost model proved to be highly effective, precise, and resilient in detecting a correlation between exposure to heavy metals and MetS. Through the use of interpretable methods, we identified cadmium, molybdenum, cobalt, cesium, uranium, and barium as prominent contributors within the predictive model.
Spatio-Temporal Variation and Future Sustainability of Net Primary Productivity from 2001 to 2021 in Hetao Irrigation District, Inner Mongolia
Authors: Peng Manman , Li Chaoqun , Wang Peng , Dai Xincong
Published: April 2024

The Hetao Irrigation District in Inner Mongolia, a vital grain-producing region in northern China, faces growing environmental challenges. Studying net primary productivity (NPP) is essential for understanding spatiotemporal vegetation shifts and guiding locally adapted restoration and management efforts. Utilizing MOD17A3/NPP data, this study applies the Theil–Sen median trend, Mann–Kendall significance, and the Hurst index to scrutinize the spatiotemporal distribution patterns of NPP from 2001 to 2021 and forecast future changes in the area. The findings reveal cyclic temporal trends, forming a “∧” shape with initial increases followed by decreases, notably during the July to August period each year. The multi-year average NPP exhibits a slight upward fluctuation trend, averaging 172.40 gCm−2a−1. Peaks occur approximately every three years, reaching the highest average in 2012 at 218.96 gCm−2a−1. Spatially, NPP distribution stays consistent over the years, influenced by various land cover types, especially cropland, shaping the spatial patterns. Monthly and yearly NPP trends over the 21 years indicate a significant decrease in May and June, with other months mostly showing a non-significant increase. The Hurst index for monthly and yearly NPP changes over 21 years shows relatively high weak anti-persistence. In summary, over the past 21 years, the NPP trend in the study area has not significantly improved and is expected to decline in the future. This study offers data support and a scientific foundation for refining the carbon cycle model, quantifying vegetation carbon sequestration capacity, addressing climate change policies, and striving for carbon peak and neutrality in the Hetao Irrigation District.
Combined Transcriptome and Proteome Analysis Reveals the Molecular Mechanism by Which ZmPDI Improves Salt Resistance in Rice (Oryza sativa)
Authors: Wang Jingjing , Wang Kai , Li Ling , Sun Qixue , Li Dandan , Hao Dongli , Chen Jingbo , Zong Junqin , Liu Jianxiu , Guo Hailin , Chen Rongrong
Published: April 2024

As one of the most salt-tolerant grasses, characterizing salt-tolerance genes of Zoysia matrella [L.] Merr. not only broaden the theoretical information of salt tolerance, but also provide new salt-resistant genetic resources for crop breeding. The salt-inducible protein disulfide isomerase (ZmPDI) of Zoysia matrella [L.] Merr. was proved to enhance salt tolerance in homologous overexpression transgenic plants. In order to evaluate its potential application in crops, we conducted the salt tolerance evaluation in heterologous overexpression transgenic rice (OX-ZmPDI), Wild-type (WT) rice, and LOC_Os11g09280 (OsPDI, homologous gene of ZmPDI in rice) knock-out rice generated by CRISPR-Cas9 system (CR-OsPDI). Our findings revealed that OX-ZmPDI rice was higher and exhibited longer main root length, more proline (Pro) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and higher peroxidase (POD) activity than WT control after salt treatment, while CR-OsPDI resulted in contrary phenotypes. These results indicated that ZmPDI can significantly enhance the salt tolerance in rice, whereas loss-of-function of OsPDI reduces the salt tolerance. To further investigate these differences at the molecular level, we collected roots from OX-ZmPDI transgenic, CR-OsPDI transgenic, and wild-type (WT) plants at 0 and 24 h after salt treatment for RNA-seq and data-independent acquisition (DIA) proteome sequencing. Combined analysis of the transcriptome and proteome revealed that ZmPDI has the potential to enhance the salt tolerance of rice by modulating the expression of laccase-6, zingipain-2, WIP3, FKBP65, AKR4C10, GBSSII, Pho1, and TRXf1. Those results provided new information for the molecular regulation mechanism by which ZmPDI improves salt tolerance, and prove the potential of ZmPDI for application in crop breeding.
How Useful Is Preoperative Aspiration before Revision of Unicompartmental Knee Prostheses Because of Osteoarthritis in the Other Compartments?
Authors: Blersch Benedikt Paul , Sax Florian Hubert , Fink Bernd
Published: April 2024

Aim: Periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) of unicompartmental knee arthroplasties (UKAs) can lead to secondary osteoarthritis of the other compartments. The objective of this study was to identify the frequency of PJIs in cases of UKA with progressed secondary osteoarthritis and the result of septic one-stage revision in these cases to verify the value of preoperative aspiration in cases of secondary osteoarthritis of UKA. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 97 patients with a unicompartmental arthroplasty who underwent revision surgery to a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) between January 2013 and March 2021 because of subsequent osteoarthritis. Preoperative aspiration and sample collection during the revision surgery were employed to identify potential periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs). The post-revision period was monitored for septic complications over an average duration of 55.7 ± 25.2 months (24–113). Results: PJIs were identified in 5.2% of cases through preoperative aspiration. In all instances of PJIs, a one-stage septic revision was performed, and notably, none of these cases experienced septic complications during the follow-up period. Conclusions: Preoperative aspiration is essential in order to exclude the presence of a PJI before performing revision surgery of UKA due to secondary osteoarthritis.
Multivariate Analysis of Biochemical Properties Reveals Diversity among Yardlong Beans of Different Origins
Authors: Choi Yu-Mi , Yoon Hyemyeong , Shin Myoung-Jae , Lee Sukyeung , Yi Jungyoon , Jeon Young-ah , Wang Xiaohan , Desta Kebede Taye
Published: April 2024

This study analyzed the nutrient levels, secondary metabolite contents, and antioxidant activities of 35 yardlong bean accessions from China, Korea, Myanmar, and Thailand, along with their key agronomic traits. Significant variations were found in all the parameters analyzed (p < 0.05). The crude fiber (CFC), dietary fiber (DFC), total protein, and total fat contents varied from 4.10 to 6.51%, 16.71 to 23.49%, 22.45 to 28.11%, and 0.59 to 2.00%, respectively. HPLC analysis showed more than a 10-fold difference in vitamin C level (0.23 to 3.04 mg/g), whereas GC-FID analysis revealed the dominance of palmitic acid and linoleic acid. All accessions had high levels of total unsaturated fatty acids, which could help in preventing cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, total phenolic, tannin, and saponin contents ranged between 3.78 and 9.13 mg GAE/g, 31.20 and 778.34 mg CE/g, and 25.79 and 82.55 mg DE/g, respectively. Antioxidant activities like DPPH• scavenging, ABTS•+ scavenging, and reducing power (RP) ranged between 1.63 and 9.95 mg AAE/g, 6.51 and 21.21 mg TE/g, and 2.02, and 15.58 mg AAE/g, respectively. Days to flowering, total fat, palmitic acid, oleic acid, and TPC were significantly influenced by origin and genotype differences, while seeds per pod, one-hundred seeds weight, CFC, DFC, vitamin C, RP, and TSC were not affected by these factors. Multivariate analysis categorized the accessions into four clusters showing significant variations in most of the analyzed parameters. Correlation analysis also revealed significant relationships between several noteworthy parameters. Overall, this comprehensive analysis of biochemical factors revealed diversity among the different yardlong bean varieties. These findings could have practical applications in industries, breeding programs, and conservation efforts.
Prediction of Consolidation Tumor Ratio on Planning CT Images of Lung Cancer Patients Treated with Radiotherapy Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Tong Yizhi , Arimura Hidetaka , Yoshitake Tadamasa , Cui Yunhao , Kodama Takumi , Shioyama Yoshiyuki , Wirestam Ronnie , Yabuuchi Hidetake
Published: April 2024

This study aimed to propose an automated prediction approach of the consolidation tumor ratios (CTRs) of part-solid tumors of patients treated with radiotherapy on treatment planning computed tomography images using deep learning segmentation (DLS) models. For training the DLS model for cancer regions, a total of 115 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who underwent stereotactic body radiation therapy were selected as the training dataset, including solid, part-solid, and ground-glass opacity tumors. For testing the automated prediction approach of CTRs based on segmented tumor regions, 38 patients with part-solid tumors were selected as an internal test dataset A (IN) from a same institute as the training dataset, and 49 patients as an external test dataset (EX) from a public database. The CTRs for part-solid tumors were predicted as ratios of the maximum diameters of solid components to those of whole tumors. Pearson correlations between reference and predicted CTRs for the two test datasets were 0.953 (IN) and 0.926 (EX) for one of the DLS models (p < 0.01). Intraclass correlation coefficients between reference and predicted CTRs for the two test datasets were 0.943 (IN) and 0.904 (EX) for the same DLS models. The findings suggest that the automated prediction approach could be robust in calculating the CTRs of part-solid tumors.
A Comparative Study of SOx, NOx, PM2.5 and PM10 in the UK and Poland from 1970 to 2020
Authors: Syrek-Gerstenkorn Zofia , Syrek-Gerstenkorn Berenika , Paul Shiladitya
Published: April 2024

Presently, there is growing discourse surrounding climate change, global warming, and the possibility of urban smog. Daily, we encounter air pollutants unwittingly, often oblivious to the substantial adverse impacts they may impart on our health. This manuscript furnishes a thorough examination of the shifts in the concentrations of distinct air pollutants, namely, sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10, within the contexts of the United Kingdom (a country progressively transitioning to alternative energy sources) and Poland (a country in the EU with the second lowest climate policy evaluation in the climate change performance index or CCPI) from 1970 to 2020. This comparative study between the two countries clearly showed the importance of the transition to clean energy sources. The UK’s efforts towards cleaner energy sources have led to reduced emissions of sulphur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter. In contrast, Poland’s heavy dependence on energy primarily from coal over the years has resulted in elevated pollution levels, notably in the concentration of pollutants such as particulate matter. This study also revealed that changes in emissions predominantly stem from technological advancements and economic activities. Additionally, political regulations and the gradual phase-out of specific fuels or energy-rich substances and their substitution with alternative energy sources have also imparted considerable influence.
Selected Physical and Mechanical Properties of Subfossil Oak (Quercus spp.) Compared to Aged Oak and Recent Oak
Authors: Nedelcu Ruxandra , Timar Maria Cristina , Porojan Mihaela , Beldean Emanuela Carmen
Published: April 2024

Subfossil oak (SO) wood material, originating from three different buried trunks discovered in recent years by excavations in riverbanks on Romanian territory, was analysed in this research. Aged oak recovered from constructions (AO_C) and recent/new oak wood material (NO) were also investigated to provide comparative data for the SO. The oven-dry density and the basic density, the total volumetric and linear swelling and shrinkage coefficients and the compression strength parallel to the grain were the selected physical and mechanical properties considered. The experimental results showed a lower density of SO compared to NO and AO_C tested by up to about 19–20%, alongside a trend of increased dimensional instability, with variability among the tested assortments. The compression strength parallel to the grain was reduced by 19–31% compared to NO. The properties of AO-C were closer to those of NO, but differences between wood materials from different sources and of different ages were registered. A positive linear correlation was found between compression strength parallel to grain and the basic density for all types of material and assortments tested. These comparative results have to be considered by designers and engineers in the valorisation of SO in furniture design and other applications.
An Adaptive Semantic Segmentation Network for Adversarial Learning Domain Based on Low-Light Enhancement and Decoupled Generation
Authors: Wang Meng , Zhang Zhuoran , Liu Haipeng
Published: April 2024

Nighttime semantic segmentation due to issues such as low contrast, fuzzy imaging, and low-quality annotation results in significant degradation of masks. In this paper, we introduce a domain adaptive approach for nighttime semantic segmentation that overcomes the reliance on low-light image annotations to transfer the source domain model to the target domain. On the front end, a low-light image enhancement sub-network combining lightweight deep learning with mapping curve iteration is adopted to enhance nighttime foreground contrast. In the segmentation network, the body generation and edge preservation branches are implemented to generate consistent representations within the same semantic region. Additionally, a pixel weighting strategy is embedded to increase the prediction accuracy for small targets. During the training, a discriminator is implemented to distinguish features between the source and target domains, thereby guiding the segmentation network for adversarial transfer learning. The proposed approach’s effectiveness is verified through testing on Dark Zurich, Nighttime Driving, and CityScapes, including evaluations of mIoU, PSNR, and SSIM. They confirm that our approach surpasses existing baselines in segmentation scenarios.
Gentamicin Susceptibility and Comparison of Adhesion and Invasion of Caco-2 and HD11 Cell Lines by Salmonella enterica Serotypes
Authors: Rivera Calo Juliany , Rubinelli Peter M. , Ricke Steven C.
Published: April 2024

Foodborne Salmonella serovars are important facultative intracellular pathogens that cause gastroenteritis in humans. Four strains from three of the more predominant Salmonella serovars in poultry were studied: Typhimurium, Enteritidis, and Heidelberg. Gentamicin susceptibility was determined using an agar disc diffusion test and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays for S. Typhimurium ATCC 14028 and S. Heidelberg ARI-14. Both strains were susceptible to gentamicin in disc diffusion. The MIC of gentamicin was approximately 125 mg/ml for all strains tested. These strains’ adhesion and invasion abilities were determined with two different cell lines, a human intestinal epithelial cell line (Caco-2) as well as a chicken macrophage cell line (HD11). Attachment percentages for each Salmonella strain were greater than the strain’s ability to invade cells. Similar attachment percentages to Caco-2 cells were observed for S. Typhimurium and S. Heidelberg. Attachment percentages were lower in HD11 cells than in Caco-2 cells, although Salmonella exhibited higher apparent HD11 invasion, likely from HD11 phagocytosis. Salmonella Enteritidis showed lower rates of adhesion and invasion in HD11 cells compared to Salmonella Typhimurium. Developing a better understanding of Salmonella virulence mechanisms is critical to reducing Salmonella infections.
Enhancing Crop Yield Predictions with PEnsemble 4: IoT and ML-Driven for Precision Agriculture
Authors: Pukrongta Nisit , Taparugssanagorn Attaphongse , Sangpradit Kiattisak
Published: April 2024

This research introduces the PEnsemble 4 model, a weighted ensemble prediction model that integrates multiple individual machine learning models to achieve accurate maize yield forecasting. The model incorporates unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery and Internet of Things (IoT)-based environmental data, providing a comprehensive and data-driven approach to yield prediction in maize cultivation. Considering the projected growth in global maize demand and the vulnerability of maize crops to weather conditions, improved prediction capabilities are of paramount importance. The PEnsemble 4 model addresses this need by leveraging comprehensive datasets encompassing soil attributes, nutrient composition, weather conditions, and UAV-captured vegetation imagery. By employing a combination of Huber and M estimates, the model effectively analyzes temporal patterns in vegetation indices, in particular CIre and NDRE, which serve as reliable indicators of canopy density and plant height. Notably, the PEnsemble 4 model demonstrates a remarkable accuracy rate of 91%. It advances the timeline for yield prediction from the conventional reproductive stage (R6) to the blister stage (R2), enabling earlier estimation and enhancing decision-making processes in farming operations. Moreover, the model extends its benefits beyond yield prediction, facilitating the detection of water and crop stress, as well as disease monitoring in broader agricultural contexts. By synergistically integrating IoT and machine learning technologies, the PEnsemble 4 model presents a novel and promising solution for maize yield prediction. Its application holds the potential to revolutionize crop management and protection, contributing to efficient and sustainable farming practices.
Proximity-Based Adaptive Indoor Positioning Method Using Received Signal Strength Indicator
Authors: Yoon Jae-hyuk , Kim Hee-jin , Kwon Soon-kak
Published: April 2024

In this paper, we propose a proximity-based adaptive positioning algorithm to address the challenge of positioning errors in indoor localization based on RSSI (received signal strength indicator). When positioning by trilateration, if a receiver is close to one AP, the signals of other APs become rapidly unstable, so positioning accuracy is reduced. Therefore, this paper proposes an algorithm to identify the proximity state with AP and adaptively determine the positioning technique based on this state. The proposed algorithm consists of three steps: RSSI error correction, adaptive location estimation, and post-processing. The RSSI error correction step corrects unstable RSSI. The adaptive location estimation step utilizes a modified proximity technique when identified as close to an AP, employing trilateration otherwise. Finally, in the post-processing step, an efficient filtering algorithm is applied. For the static state experiment, the accuracy of the proposed algorithm is found to be improved by about 28% compared to the method measured using only the trilateration technique applying the RSSI error correction step and post-processing step. The proposed algorithm improved the positioning accuracy of the entire area by improving accuracy in regions with weak signals without additional devices.