bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring the Path of Green Innovation and High Quality Development of Influential Regional Enterprises - Based on the Analysis of Dynamic QCA Method and Matlab Sustainability Prediction
Authors: LIU QIJAI
Published: March 2024

Objective: To study the multifactor linkage effects behind the differences in the sustainable development of green innovation of local enterprises in the spatio-temporal dimension, so as to provide an important reference for the practice of sustainable development of green innovation of local enterprises.
Methodology: An analytical framework for the sustainable development of green innovation of local enterprises is established, and the dynamic QCA method is applied to analyse the provincial-level panel data of China from 2012 to 2021, to explore the linkage effect of each factor on the time axis, and to explore the differences of multi-factors on the time axis. The experimental study also examined the spatial distribution of regional coverage in conjunction with different regional divisions in China.
Findings The study found that different factors may have different influence effects in different contexts. Firstly, while market demand is an important influencing factor, its role relative to economic drivers and social environment factors may be relatively limited in some contexts. Second, high levels of foreign investment and demand for innovation in the service sector have a significant impact on green innovation in local firms. At the same time, with the growing consumer preference for green products, green preferences in market demand have also begun to become an important factor influencing firms' green innovation. Meanwhile, in the spatial dimension, the provincial coverage out of the obvious regional differences.
Experimental significance The research on the sustainable development of green innovation of local enterprises needs to be combined with the actual situation in China, and the resource differences and characteristics of different regions make it necessary for local enterprises to combine with their own reality in the process of green innovation to achieve the linkage and complementarity of factors. This requires local governments to fully consider the actual situation of the region when formulating relevant policies, and promote green innovation according to local conditions. This experiment is the first attempt to use the joint application of dynamic QCA and Matlab for the study of green innovation in local enterprises, exploring the consistency in the longitudinal time dimension.
Electroacupuncture Treatment for Sarcopenia: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Li Hao , Zhou Li , Zhang Xin , Wen Qian , Tian Li , Yang Han , Chen Xirong , Yuan Jinghan , Li Ning , Zhu Bingmei , Zhang Lin , Lu Lingyun
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Sarcopenia is a disease primarily characterized by age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass, muscle strength, and/or decline in physical performance. Sarcopenia has an insidious onset which can cause functional impairment in the body and increase the risk of falls and disability in the elderly. It significantly increases the likelihood of fractures and mortality, severely impairing the quality of life and health of the elderly people. This disease poses a heavy burden on the healthcare system and society in our country, and currently, there are limited clinical intervention strategies for sarcopenia. This study aims to explore the clinical efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture in treating sarcopenia.
Methods and Analysis: In this parallel-design, randomized, sham-controlled trial, a total of 168 elderly sarcopenia patients will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either electroacupuncture (EA) or sham electroacupuncture (sEA) treatment. The acupuncture points used in the study are Hegu (LI4), Shousanli (LI10), Quchi (LI11), Binao (LI14), Futu (ST32), Liangqiu (ST34), Zusanli (ST36), and Jiexi (ST41). The participants will receive EA or sEA treatment three times per week for eight weeks. The primary outcome measure is the change in grip strength (GS) of the patients after the eight-week treatment. The secondary outcome measures include the changes in grip strength at the fourth and twentieth weeks, changes in appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI), the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score, the physical activity level (PAL) assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), assessment of expectations regarding the efficacy of acupuncture, patient subjective evaluation of efficacy, and evaluation of blinding efficacy of acupuncture. All statistical analyses will be conducted according to the intention-to-treat principle and as per the study protocol.
Ethics and Dissemination: This study protocol was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of West China Hospital of Sichuan University (permission number: 2023-525). The participants will provide written informed consent to participate in this study.
Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn), ChiCTR2300079294.
Factors that influence osteoarthritis in the medial compartment of the patellofemoral joint
Authors: Li Min , Kang Huijun , Chang Bo , Wang Xiaomeng , Li Zhao , Kong Lingce , Xing Enzeng , Wang Fei
Published: March 2024

Background
The incidence of medial patellofemoral articular cartilage injuries was significantly higher than that of the lateral, although many studies have suggested that lateral patellofemoral intercompartmental pressure is higher than that of the medial. The mechanism of medial patellofemoral cartilage injury remains unknown. The objective of this investigation is to explore the factors that may influence the development of medial compartment osteoarthritis in the patellofemoral joint.
Methods
This study included imaging of 246 knees from 235 patients. These patients were divided into medial more severe patellofemoral compartment osteoarthritis group(MPFOA), lateral more severe patellofemoral compartment osteoarthritis group(LPFOA) by the Whole-Organ Magnetic Resonance Imaging Score (WORMS). The development of MPFOA or LPFOA was analyzed by logistic regression equations about these factors: hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA), Suleus angle (SA), Congruence angle (CA), Lateral Patellofemoral angle (LPTA), Patellar Tilt angle (PTA), Patellofemoral index (PFI), Insall-Salvati index (I-S), Femorotibial rotation angle (FTR), Tibial tubercle-trochlear groove distance (TT-TG), Patella Wiberg type, Dejour classification of femoral trochlea, and Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) grade.
Results
123 cases had a more severe osteoarthritis in the medial patellofemoral compartment compared to the other 123 cases. The results of binomial multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that having a Wiberg type I patella (OR = 4.364, 95%CI:1.910 ~ 9.969, P = 0.000), and having a FTR > 10° (OR = 3.497, 95%CI:1.370 ~ 8.926, P = 0.009) were high-risk factors for MPFOA. 70 cases had a more severe osteoarthritis in the lateral patellofemoral compartment compared to 176 other cases. The results of binomial multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that having a Wiberg type III patella (OR = 2.916, 95%CI: 1.267 ~ 6.712, P = 0.012), and having a FTR < 0° (OR = 4.601, 95%CI: 1.416 ~ 14.946, P = 0.011) were all high-risk factors for LPFOA.
Conclusions
FTR angle and patellar Wiberg type have a strong influence on the severity and incidence of medial and lateral osteoarthritis of the patellofemoral joint. The prevalence of MPFOA may not be related to varus and vaglus of the lower limb. The dynamic factors of the weight-bearing position of the patellofemoral joint are important when studying the pathogenesis of medial patellofemoral osteoarthritis.
Intertextuality as a social and discursive process: an analysis of Editorial Notes
Authors: Juanzo Carlo Joseph
Published: March 2024

It is surmised that an utterance can never be original (Liddicoat, et al., 2008) because it always refers to the past, extends to the future and relates other semantic processes (Lemke, 2002, 2009). The present study explores the intertextuality embodied in a widely-circulated magazine (Reader’s Digest), and from the data of 36 editorial notes (EN’s) published from 2008–2010, it was found that EN’s are a social-discursive instrument fulfilling the intertextual functions of the editors which further adhere to actional and heteroglossic intertextualities. After a thorough discussion, a framework of intertextuality-based analysis on EN’s and possibly, of all other discourses, is postulated.
Effect of alginate oligosaccharide on the efficiency of wastewater purification in ecological floating bed aquaculture
Authors: Xu Xueren , Li Jun , Li Cong , Wang Feng , Zhou Sheng
Published: March 2024

In order to investigate the effect of alginate oligosaccharide (AOS) on the water purification efficiency of an ecological floating bed system used in aquaculture, water spinach was cultivated in aquaculture wastewater treated with varying concentrations of AOS (0.025, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 mg/L), with an ecological floating bed without AOS serving as the control group. Experimental results reveal that the addition of an appropriate amount of AOS to the wastewater in the ecological floating bed system promotes the growth of water spinach. This is evident in the increased plant height, stem diameter, main root length, number of roots, leaf area, aboveground fresh weight, belowground fresh weight, aboveground dry weight, belowground dry weight, seedling index, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and chlorophyll content. The combination of 0.05 mg/L AOS with the ecological floating bed exhibits the most favorable results, with percentage increases in various indicators were 44.0%, 52.9%, 29.9%, 62.0%, 28.0%, 141.6%, 84.0%, 97.7%, 220.0%, 24.6%, 34.2%, 26.9% compared to the control group. The addition of AOS to the water spinach ecological floating bed system significantly enhances the removal efficiency of water turbidity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N), nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) water quality indicators. The combination of 0.05 mg/L AOS with the ecological floating bed demonstrates the optimal removal efficiency. This experiment also investigated the differences in microbial community structure between the control group and the group with the optimal concentration of AOS to study the mechanism of action of AOS. This study offers crucial technical insights for further optimizing ecological floating bed technology and improving water purification efficiency.
Effects of Ultrasound Cycloplasty in Glaucoma Patients:6-Month Results From a Prospective Clinical Study
Authors: Li Liu , Li Ying-Jie , Hong Ling , Wang Yong-Bo , Zhu Xuan
Published: March 2024

Objectives
To explore effects of ultrasound cycloplasty (UCP) in glaucoma patients, aiming to evaluate the efficacy and safety of UCP.
Methods
Twenty-two glaucoma patients (23 eyes) who received UCP treatment at the Ophthalmology Department of Nanchang First Hospital from July 2020 to September 2022 were selected.Intraocular pressure (IOP), number of anti-glaucoma agents, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and eye pain scores of the patients before and 1, 3, 7 days, 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment were recorded.The complications during treatment and after treatment were also observed.The corneal curvature, pupil size, corneal thickness and anterior chamber depth of pentacam before and 1 day, 1 and 6 months after treatment were measured.
Results
The preoperative IOP, number of anti-glaucoma agents, and eye pain scores were 37.35 ± 13.79 mmHg, average 3.35 ± 1.23 and 4.39 ± 2.15, which were decreased significantly at each time point after UCP treatment (P < 0. 01). The IOP decrease rates were 33.31%, 45.68%, 46.32%, 47.23%, 41.93%, and 48.46%, respectively. The postoperative IOP reduction at 1, 3 and 7 days, 1, 3 and 6 months were significantly correlated with preoperative IOP (r = 0.719, 0.750, 0.797, 0.661,0.515 and 0.607, all P < 0.05). No serious complication was observed throughout the treatment and the follow-up.There was a temporary change in anterior keratometry 1 day after UCP treatment. BCVA, pupil diameter, corneal thickness and anterior chamber depth remained unchanged.
Conclusion
UCP was demonstrated to be effective in decreasing IOP, IOP-lowering medications and pain scores in patients with glaucoma. It’s well-tolerated without intraoperative or postoperative complications.
Pilot study of the role of ferroptosis in abnormal biological behaviour of keratinocytes in psoriasis vulgaris
Authors: Wu Ningling , Hu Qian , zhou Lu , Fu Zhibing , Tong Xiaoliang , Gao Lihua , Tan Lina , Yan Siyu , Wang Dan , Zeng Jinrong , Lu Jianyun
Published: March 2024

Background
Abnormal biological behaviour of keratinocytes (KCs) is a critical pathophysiological manifestation of psoriasis. Ferroptosis is programmed cell death induced by the accumulation of lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the presence of increased intracellular iron ions or inhibition of GPX4.
Objectives
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of ferroptosis on the biological behaviour of KCs in psoriasis vulgaris and its possible regulatory mechanisms in clinical samples, cells, and mouse models.
Methods
We first examined the differences in the expression of GPX4 and 4-HNE between psoriasis and normal human lesions. And detected KRT6, FLG, and inflammatory cytokines after inducing ferroptosis in animal and cell models by RT-qPCR, Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry.
Results
We found that GPX4 was decreased and that the oxidation product 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) was increased in the skin lesions of patients with psoriasis vulgaris. The expression level of GPX4 correlates with the severity of skin lesions. Moreover, inducing ferroptosis promoted the expression of FLG and reduced the expression of KRT6 and inflammatory cytokines in vitro, and alleviated the phenotype of skin lesions in vivo.
Conclusions
This study confirms the existence of ferroptosis in psoriatic lesions, which may be inversely correlated with disease severity. The ferroptosis inducer RSL3 ameliorated psoriatic symptoms by improving the abnormal biological behaviour of KCs.
Mites associated with açaí palm trees (Euterpe oleracea: Arecaceae) in native and cultivated areas of the state of Pará, eastern Amazon, Brazil
Authors: BRITO EDNA ANTÔNIA DA SILVA , CASTRO IURY SILVA , NORONHA ALOYSÉIA CRISTINA SILVA , FERLA NOELI JUAREZ
Published: March 2024

The objective was to quantify and analyse the diversity of mites associated with native and cultivated açaí palms crops, as well as their distribution in the dry and rainy seasons in the municipalities of Bragança and Augusto Corrêa, state of Pará. Rarefaction curves were generated for diversity values using the statistical programming language R, rarefaction curves for estimates of richness and equitability and analysis of variance with permutations. A total of 2,069 mites from 28 families were sampled, being most representative Phytoseiidae (32.4%), Phytoptidae (13%), Cunaxidae (7.7%), Tetranychidae (5.6%) and Tydeidae (4.9%). Among predators, the most abundant species were Amblyseius sp. 1, Armascirus amazoniensis Wurlitzer & Silva, Iphiseiodes zuluagai Denmark & Muma, Scutopalus tomentosus Rocha, Skvarla & Ferla, and the phytophagous mites Acaphyllisa sp., Davisella sp., Oligonychus sp. and Retracus johnstoni Keifer. In the rainy season, more mites were sampled (n = 1,176) than in the dry season (n = 893). The greatest richness was observed in the dry period (73 species) and diversity was also greater in this period. In the municipality of Bragança there was greater richness (78 species) and the cultivated açaí trees had greater acarine abundance (74.7%) than the native ones. However, natives had slightly higher wealth (6%) than those cultivated. The diversity and richness of predatory mites show the potential of the Amazon biome to be used in applied biological control.
A DEA-WEI Cross-Efficiency Approach for Ranking Universities in the Presence of Imprecise Data
Authors: Luckhoo Bibi Faheema , Peer Arshad Ahmud Iqbal
Published: March 2024

Recently, the popularity of university rankings has grown significantly. They are considered a significant source of guidance for various stakeholders.Some of the most well-known rankings are the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings (QS), and Times Higher Education Rankings (THE). These ranking systems usedifferent parameters and methodologies, producing different ranking results.Here, we use data envelopment analysis (DEA) to obtain anaggregate ranking of universities based on the data of these established systems.Because of DEA's lack of discriminatory power, we considered the cross-efficiency method, which allows ordering among entities and removes unrealistic weight schemes without weight restrictions.Cross-efficiency evaluation is usually applied only to precise inputs and outputs.Since our data set does not include any input measures, DEA-WEI (Without Explicit Input) modelsare studied. To consolidate the classification, we consider the rankings of thethree systems, which are ordinal data. Hence, we develop a new cross-efficiency approach torank entities with imprecise data and WEI. In order to illustrate the applicability of our proposed model, we apply it to the rankings data and institutes of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
MSC Classification: 90C08 , 90C90
Impact of inorganic hybrid nanofiller on structural, optical, thermal and dielectric properties polymer nanocomposites for optoelectronic devices
Authors: M Gayitri H , Al-Gunaid Murad Q. A.
Published: March 2024

Nanocomposite (NC) films of poly vinyl alcohol (PVA) incorporated with varying amounts of Calcium Cadmium doped Aluminum oxide (CaCdAl2O5) nanoparticles (NPs) have been fabricated by solution intercalation technique. TEM result showed the size of NPs between 8-34nm. The effects of NPs content on structural and morphological behaviors of PVA have been established by XRD, FTIR and SEM techniques. Electrical properties of NC films were performed using LCR-meter. Current (I)-voltage (V) data displayed dc-conductivity increased with increasing NPs content and trends of I–V indicate the dominant Ohmic behavior at voltage <5V and above that Poole–Frenkel emission is the dominant conduction mechanism. Ac-conductivity increases with increase in frequency and dosage of NPs. The maximum ac-conductivity obtained in this investigation is 2.43x10-5 S/cm for PVA/8wt% CaCdAl2O5. The reduction in Tg with increment NPs contents was observed. The optical behaviors of NCs were deduced by UV visible spectroscopy where the result showed band gap energy was reduced from 5.23eV to 3.25eV whereas refractive index increased from 1.71 to 2.44 for pure PVA and PVA/8wt% CaCdAl2O5, respectively.
CCR8 antagonist suppresses liver cancer progression via turning tumor-infiltrating Tregs into less immunosuppressive phenotype
Authors: Wang JianFei , Tian Binle , Wang Zhilong , Cao Mei , Wang Na , Jia Xuebing , Zhang Yuanyuan , Zhou Jingyi , Zhang Wen , Li Zheng , Xue Junli , Fan Guo-Huang , Li Qi
Published: March 2024

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are main immunosuppressive cells in tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). However, systemic Treg depletion is not favored due to the crucial role of Tregs in the maintenance of immune homeostasis and prevention of autoimmunity. Recently, CCR8 has been identified as a key chemokine receptor expressed on tumor-infiltrating Tregs and targeted blockade exerts anticancer effect in several cancers, but whether this pathway is involved in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. Here we determined CCR8+ Tregs in human TCC tissues and examined the anticancer effect and the underlying molecular mechanisms of CCR8 antagonist antibody, IPG0521m, in murine liver cancer model. Our results demonstrated marked increase of CCR8+ Tregs in human HCC tissues. Treatment of syngeinic liver cancer model with IPG0521m resulted in dramatic inhibition of tumor growth, associated with increased CD8+ T cells in the tumor tissues. Preliminary bulk RNA sequencing analysis indicated that IPG0521m treatment resulted in remarkable increase in antitumor immunity. Furthermore, single-cell RNA sequencing analysis demonstrated that IPG0521m treatment resulted in switch of Tregs from high immunosuppression to low immunosuppression phenotype, associated with elevated CD8+ T and NK cell proliferation and cytotoxicity, and decreased myeloid-derived suppressor cells and tumor-associated macrophages in the tumor tissues. Finally, IPG0521m exerted long-lasting anticancer effect and synergized with PD-1 antibody in tumor inhibition. In conclusion, IPG0521m inhibited liver cancer growth via reducing the immunosuppression of Tregs, thereby boosting anti-cancer immunity. Our study paves the way for the clinical study of CCR8 antagonist in HCC and other cancer therapy.
A two-stage Data Envelopment Analysis Approach Incorporating Global Bounded Adjustment Measure to evaluate the efficiency of medical waste recycling systems with undesirable inputs and outputs
Authors: Song Wen-Jing , Ren Jian-Wei , Chen Chun-Hua , Feng Chen-Xi , Li Lin-Qiang , Ma Chong-Yu
Published: March 2024

With the ever-increasing focus on sustainable development, recycling waste and renewable use of waste products has earned immense consideration from academics and policy-makers. The serious pollution, complex types, and strong infectivity of medical waste (MW) have brought serious challenges to management. Although several researchers have addressed the issue of the MW by optimizing MW management networks and systems, there is still a significant gap in systematically evaluating the efficiency of MW recycling systems. Therefore, this paper proposes a two-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach that combines the virtual frontier and the global bounded adjustment measure (BAM-VF-G), considering both undesirable inputs and outputs. In the first stage, the BAM-G model is used to evaluate the efficiency of MW recycling systems, and the BAM-VF-G model is used to further rank super-efficient MW recycling systems. In the second stage, two types of efficiency decomposition models are proposed. The first type of models decomposes unified efficiency into production efficiency (PE) and environment efficiency (EE). Depending upon the systems structure, the second type of models decomposes unified efficiency into the efficiency of the MW collection and transport subsystem (MWCS) and the efficiency of the MW treatment subsystem (MWTS). The novel approach is used to measure the efficiency of the MW recycling systems in China's new first-tier cities (CNFCs), and we find that: (1) Foshan ranks the highest in efficiency, followed by Qingdao and Dongguan, with efficiency values of 0.3593, 0.1765, and 0.1530, respectively. (2) EE has always been lower than PE and is a critical factor influencing the overall efficiency of MW recycling systems in CNFCs. (3) The MWCS lacks resilience, with an efficiency 0.042 lower than that of the MWTC. Following the outbreak of COVID-19, the efficiency of the MWCS has been decreasing year by year, reaching only 0.762 in 2021, which is a decline of 0.111 compared to 2017.
Strength prediction of LD slag aggregate standard concrete
Authors: Singh Prince , Prasad B. K. , Kumar Virendra
Published: March 2024

The purpose of this study is to investigate how, incorporating Linz-Donawitz slag (LD slag) as a partial replacement for natural fine and coarse aggregates, affects the compressive strength of concrete. The study also aims to compare the performance of these LD slag-based concretes with conventional concrete. The research involves substituting the natural fine and coarse aggregates typically used in concrete with LD slag aggregates. This replacement is done by weight and is carried out incrementally at 20%, reaching up to 100%. To conduct the experiments, concrete of grade M35 is cast into standard cube, cylinder, and prism specimens using both the natural aggregates and the LD slag aggregates. These specimens are then cured underwater and subjected to testing to evaluate their compressive strength, split tensile strength, and flexural strength. The experimental results show that the concrete made with LD slag aggregates exhibits a higher density compared to the reference concrete. Also the LD slag aggregate concretes (LDSAC) exhibited better performance under compressive, split tensile and flexural loading as compared to the conventional concrete, particularly when the replacement of aggregates fell within the range of 40–80%. Furthermore, the study employs a machine learning technique called Random Forest (RF) to predict the compressive, split tensile and flexural strengths of the concrete.
Clinical, functional and radiological outcome after osteosynthesis of ankle fractures using a specific provocation test
Authors: Zimmermann Julian , Zingg Liv , Frey Walter , Schläppi Michel , Babians Arby , Zingg Urs
Published: March 2024

Background
Ankle fractures are frequent and despite numerous publications on its treatment and outcome, there is a lack of precise data on the functional results in young, healthy and sportive patients. We hypothesized that patients after open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of a simple ankle fracture would have a similar function compared to a healthy control group, whereas patients with complex fractures will have significant functional deficits. Furthermore, we postulate that there is a discrepancy between the radiological and the functional outcomes.
Methods
Therefore, a specific provocation test has been developed to evaluate the postoperative possibilities of weight bearing, stop-and-go activities and range of motion during extremes of movements. In combination with three questionnaires and a radiographic evaluation the true functional outcome and the possibility of participating in sportive activities has been investigated and compared with an age and sex matched control group.
Results
A clear impairment even in unilateral and simple ankle fractures has been found. Impairment increased in tests including stop-and-go activities in combination with load bearing and with the complexity of the fractures. Concerning the subjective outcome there was a significant impairment in daily activities without any difference in preoperative and postoperative sportive activity between the groups. No difference was found in the radiological assessment.
Conclusions
The study shows the need of more complex functional evaluation in young and sportive patients after open reduction and internal fixation of an ankle fracture.
Trial registration:
BASEC-Nr. 2018 − 01124
Out of Model Zoo: Towards Selecting the Best Deep Neural Network with Cognitive Analysis
Authors: Yang Ying , Lv Xiao
Published: March 2024

Deep neural networks have achieved impressive performance on a huge amount of tasks and many model zoos are available that provide pre-trained models for free download. Despite the convenience, it is still difficult for the resource-constrained companies, especially startups, to select the best model from many candidates for their own tasks. Due to the lack of training data, the main challenges are to (1) evaluate the robustness of models with a test dataset and (2) optimize the prediction to maximize the usage of the model zoo. To address these challenges, we propose a robust model selector, Miss DL, which incorporates cognitive analysis and a series of criteria to select robust models from a given model zoo. We first propose a systemic method to simulate the distortions of new data points and calculate the dominant labels of the new data points. Then, we propose a metric to measure the robustness of models and select the best model. Motivated by the low confidence scores of the selected model on certain data points, we select a complementary model for each class for optimization. We evaluate the proposed Miss DL on popular deep neural networks and image datasets, including CIFAR-10, CIFAR-100, and ImageNet. Extensive experiments are performed to show the robustness and efficiency of Miss DL in different settings.
Pembrolizumab-axitinib versus nivolumab-cabozantinib as first-line therapy in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma: a retrospective real-world comparison (ARON-1)
Authors: Santoni Matteo , Roviello Giandomenico , Grande Enrique , Giorgi Ugo , Fiala Ondrej , Seront Emmanuel , Molina-Cerrillo Javier , Pichler Renate , Myint Zin W. , Kucharz Jakub , Kanesvaran Ravindran , Büttner Thomas , Pichler Martin , Basso Umberto , Kopecky Jindrich , Bourlon Maria T. , Cerbone Linda , Buchler Tomas , Pinto Alvaro , Liaño Alfonso Gómez , Gianni Caterina , Zgura Anca , Rescigno Pasquale , Ansari Jawaher , Caffo Orazio , Küronya Zsófia , Vitale Maria Giuseppa , Bhuva Dipen , Catalano Martina , Vau Nuno , Kopp Ray Manneh , Buti Sebastiano , Bamias Aristotelis , Porta Camillo , Sunela Kaisa , Massari Francesco
Published: March 2024

Background
The optimal first-line therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) remains uncertain, despite recent advancements in immune-based combinations. This retrospective study compares the effectiveness of pembrolizumab plus axitinib (PA) and nivolumab plus cabozantinib (NC) as first-line treatments for mRCC in a real-world setting.
Methods
Patient data were collected from 55 centres across 16 countries, encompassing individuals diagnosed with mRCC receiving first-line treatment with PA or NC between January 2016 and October 2023. Clinical and tumour features and treatment responses were recorded. The primary endpoints were overall response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and time to second progression. Statistical analyses included Kaplan-Meier survival estimates, Cox proportional hazard models, and chi-square tests.
Results
A total of 760 patients with a median age of 64 years (range, 29–88) were included. Of them, 607 received PA, and only 153 NC. Median OS was 55.7 months and not reached (NR) for PA and NC, respectively (P = .51), while median PFS was longer with NC (27.6 months) than for PA (16.2 months, P = .003). Subgroup analysis suggested a PFS benefits for NC in male, younger patients, intermediate-risk group, clear cell histology, and lung involvement, as well as ORR favoured NC in good risk patients. Multivariate analysis identified first-line therapy as a significant factor associated with PFS.
Conclusions
In this certainly biased retrospective comparison, NC demonstrated superior ORR and longer PFS compared to PA in mRCC. These findings underscore the importance of considering individual patient characteristics and risk profiles when selecting first-line therapy for mRCC.
Vicia faba Fungal diseases: Could nanostructures drug delivery systems be a novel paradigm for therapy?
Authors: Hasaneen Mohammed N. A. , Helal Sara H. , El-Zayat Mustafa M. , Abdel-Aziz Heba M. M.
Published: March 2024

New drug delivery strategies have become a pioneer and novel approach in controlling plant diseases in application research nowadays. In this paper, we investigate the delivery of chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs), carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNPs) loaded with nystatin (NYS) and fluconazole (FLZ) antifungal antibiotics for diseased Vicia faba plants by foliar uptake. CSNPs-NYS or FLZ, CNTs-NYS or FLZ and SLNPs-NYS or FLZ were easily applied to leaf surfaces and enter the stomata via gas uptake, avoiding direct interaction with soil systems. The uptake, translocation and biosafety of nano-drug delivery systems inside Vicia faba plants was investigated by transmission electron microscopy. The results obtained revealed that all different nanoparticles were taken up and transported through phloem tissues, in particular, sieve tubes of either healthy, infected or recovered Vicia faba plants. On the other hand, growth and yield developmental parameters in the present study including shoot length, number of pods per plants, weight of pod, number of seeds per pod, weight of seed, seed yield per plant, harvest index, crop index and mobilization index of healthy and recovered Vicia fabaplants showed, in general, significant increases. The net results indicate the possibility of these formulation to protect plant from the disease with a sequence of: solid lipid nanoparticles-FLZ; 346 %> CSNPs+FLZ; 315 %> CNTs+FLZ; 274%
Unlocking the Mysteries of Long COVID in Children and Young People: Insights from a Policy Review and Social Media Analysis in the UK
Authors: Chepo Macarena , Martin Sam , Déom Noémie , Khalid Ahmad Firas , Vindrola-Padros Cecilia
Published: March 2024

There is still much unknown about the long-term consequences of COVID-19, otherwise known as post-acute sequelae of COVID (PASC). The challenge of defining the manifestation of Long COVID in children and young people (CYP) was specifically identified as a research subject by the National Institute for Health and care Research (NIHR). The lack of data relating to this age group and the impact the symptoms of PASC may have on the well-being and development of children have made research on this topic especially pressing. This healthcare policy study focuses on the applicability of Thompson et al.'s and Campbell and Carnevale’s frameworks in understanding the formulation and implementation of Long COVID healthcare policies. The analysis uses the ‘LISTEN’ method, applying a mixed method analysis of policy data and social media discourse analysis. Overall, the findings of this review of Long COVID policy guidelines for CYP and adults between 2020 and 2022, highlight increased public concern around the ethical aspects of policy-making, with high focus on Accountability and Responsiveness. The review concludes with several policy recommendations such as enhancing accountability through regular audits, promoting inclusiveness by incorporating CYP perspectives, ensuring transparency via regular updates, and maintaining equity in policy impact. Clinical policies should provide clear guidelines for healthcare providers, support mental health services for CYP and healthcare workers, and clarify school policies regarding Long COVID. Policymakers should also consider a health equity perspective in their Long COVID recovery policies.
The impact of fintech peer-to-peer lending and Islamic banks on bank performance during COVID-19
Authors: Wahyuni Sri , Bustami Abiyajid , Ramadhan Ain Fitriah Rinna , Shadiqul Fajri AF Muh , Yudaruddin Rizky
Published: March 2024

This study delves into the influence of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Fintech lending on bank performance in Indonesia, with a specific focus on its effects on Islamic banks both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Employing a fixed-effects model, unbalanced panel data from 121 banks, including 16 Islamic banks, were analyzed. The findings unveil a significant and positive impact of growth loan disbursement to borrowers from P2P lending on bank performance, particularly in terms of return on assets. Additionally, Islamic Banks exhibit a significant and favorable effect on overall bank performance. Conversely, the joint interaction between P2P lending and Islamic Banks demonstrates a negative and significant influence on Islamic bank performance, suggesting that while P2P lending may benefit conventional banks, it adversely affects Islamic banks. Furthermore, this negative impact is exacerbated during the COVID-19 period. These outcomes underscore the importance of collaboration or strategic alliances between P2P lending platforms and Islamic banks, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Entre la adopción pedagógica y el uso de los datos: Las familias ante las plataformas digitales
Authors: Calderón-Garrido Diego , Moreno-González Ainara , Lindín Carles , Parcerisa Lluís
Published: March 2024

El paulatino proceso de adopción tecnológica en la sociedad tiene su reflejo educativo en el uso de plataformas digitales en los centros. Este proceso educativo está impregnado de una generación de datos que se desprenden del uso diario de las plataformas. En este estudio se plantea cuáles son las opiniones de las familias ante dicho uso y cómo estas están moderadas por la etapa educativa del alumnado. Para ello se aplicó un protocolo de encuesta a un total de 2336 familias con hijos e hijas en educación primaria o secundaria. Los resultados reportaron que dichas opiniones estaban divididas en aspectos positivos, preocupaciones relacionadas con el uso de datos que las plataformas generaban y preocupaciones referidas al proceso de aprendizaje. Se observaron además múltiples diferencias en función de la etapa educativa del alumnado en las opiniones positivas y las preocupaciones respecto al uso de datos. Sin embargo, en lo referido al proceso de aprendizaje la etapa educativa no actuaba como moderador.
Plataformas digitales y prácticas pedagógicas de docentes: promesas no cumplidas
Authors: Barragán-Giraldo Diego Fernando , Pirela Morillo Johann Enrique , Riaño-Diaz John Agustin , Munevar Vargas Sandro Leonardo
Published: March 2024

Las plataformas digitales como escenarios de prácticas pedagógicas de docentes tienen alta potencialidad para la gestión del conocimiento, del aprendizaje, en el marco de principios democráticos y de construcción de ciudadanía. Pero alrededor de estas ha prevalecido un discurso teórico y práctico que privilegia nociones optimistas y triunfalistas que han postergado los procesos de reflexión sobre las repercusiones y tensiones que se generan en escenarios donde interactúan los agentes educativos. Se utilizó como método la Revisión Sistemática de Literatura, utilizando la fuente de datos Dimensions, de lo cual se evidenciaron vacíos en relación con posturas críticas sobre las plataformas y prácticas pedagógicas de docentes, lo cual deberá ser superado para ampliar la mirada analítica y proponer estrategias que permitan una apropiación más sistémica, situada y ética que tome en cuenta las zonas de oportunidad, pero también de opacidad.  La alfabetización crítica en el uso de las plataformas sigue siendo un asunto pendiente para que se cumplan las promesas que se plantearon en relación con las plataformas digitales y su impacto en una educación que potencie el pensamiento crítico, la participación y la democratización del conocimiento.
Laboratorios digitales y plataformas de acceso abierto: retos y propuestas para la democratización del aprendizaje.
Authors: Espinoza Castro Karla Esther , Apolo Buenaño Diego Eduardo , Sánchez Barrera Ruth Nohemí , Bravo Guzhñay Byron Florencio
Published: March 2024

Las transformaciones en relación con el uso de tecnologías en espacios educativos se han acelerado; pero ello también, ha traído consigo implicancias que pueden pasar desapercibidas por los usuarios. Por ello, el presente estudio tiene como objetivo analizar cómo el uso de laboratorios digitales podría aportar a la democratización del conocimiento. Para ello se recurrió a un enfoque cualitativo de alcance descriptivo exploratorio que mediante entrevistas a autoridades de una institución educativa pública y expertos de Ecuador, México y Colombia permitió aproximarse a la comprensión del fenómeno. Como principales resultados se puede mencionar que existen retos importantes a tomar en cuenta como: que los recortes presupuestarios afectan a la educación pública; además que el acceso a plataformas de pago es restringido. Cabe mencionar también que el uso de estos espacios puede aportar al proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje pero que en su mayoría los recursos son brindados por instituciones privadas  que tienen costo. Pese a ello, también emergen posibilidades para que puedan existir iniciativas que desarrollen laboratorios virtuales de libre acceso, contextualizados y que recurran a diferentes recursos como la realidad virtual para motivar el aprendizaje.
Padlet en la formación inicial docente como recurso para el aprendizaje colaborativo y la escritura en inglés
Authors: Cerveró-Carrascosa Abraham , Vidal Prades Emma Dunia , Martí-Puig Manuel
Published: March 2024

El presente estudio examina las percepciones de futuros y futuras docentes de inglés como lengua extranjera en formación respecto al uso de la herramienta digital Padlet en actividades colaborativas y para el desarrollo de las producciones escritas en esta lengua y su aplicación en su futura práctica profesional.
Participaron dos grupos de profesorado en formación, uno de futuros maestros y futuras maestras de educación primaria, y otro de futuros y futuras docentes de educación secundaria. Ambos grupos utilizaron Padlet en dos tareas académicas y, al finalizarlas, expresaron sus opiniones sobre su utilidad y su posible uso en el ejercicio de la profesión docente a través de un cuestionario y respondieron a preguntas abiertas de corte cualitativo.
Los resultados indican que, de los dos grupos, fue el futuro profesorado de educación secundaria quien entendió Padlet como una herramienta más útil para su aprendizaje y el desarrollo de la expresión escrita en inglés. Además, ambos grupos destacaron que el uso de Padlet podría ser aplicable en sus respectivas etapas educativas para la organización y seguimiento de actividades académicas, la evaluación del aprendizaje y la adquisición de mayor conciencia del proceso de escritura.
Presentación sección especial: Plataformas digitales y datificación en el sistema educativo. Posibilidades y desafíos
Authors: Rivera-Vargas Pablo , Jacovkis Judith , Raffaghelli Juliana
Published: March 2024

Como consecuencia de las transformaciones iniciadas en los últimos años, y que se han acelerado en el contexto de la pandemia del COVID-19, se ha intensificado la penetración de nuevas infraestructuras, plataformas digitales y herramientas de uso intensivo de datos en los sistemas educativos nacionales (Suárez et al., 2023; Williamson & Hogan, 2020; Pangrazio et al. 2022). Este fenómeno está transformando rápidamente los procesos de enseñanza-aprendizaje y afectando a dimensiones como la justicia escolar, la privacidad y el derecho a la educación.

En parte, esto se debe a la creciente importancia de las corporaciones BigTech, que tienen una influencia cada vez mayor en el diseño de la política educativa y en la creación de nuevos mercados educativos a través de la venta y distribución de dispositivos y plataformas digitales comerciales a los gobiernos y sus sistemas educativos (Sancho et al., 2020; Saura et al., 2022; Parcerisa et al., 2022).
Indigenous Ecologies in Mahasweta Devi’s Chotti Munda and His Arrow
Authors:   Assistant Professor in English, Dukhulal Nibaran Chandra College, Aurangabad, Murshidabad., Saha Antara
Published: March 2024

Designating the connection between literature and environment this paper highlights Mahasweta Devi’s Chotti Munda and His Arrow from the standpoint of postcolonial ecocriticism where it highlights how the survival of the tribal is ecologically related and how much they are concerned about their own ecology. As a mother of a sustainable society, Mahasweta Devi shows her anxiety for the tribals. She binds their history and their closeness and bonding with nature in such a way that it may explore their involvement in constructing a sustainable environment as she believes that an author must have a social responsibility. Postcolonial ecocriticism not only just echoes history rather it has also brought changes in the physical environment they belong to. Here Mahasweta Devi focuses on how on one hand, the exploitation of the tribals at the hands of the landowners brings ecological degradation physically, socially, and psychologically and on the other hand she explores how that degradation is alleviated through the tribals’ sense of responsibility and their ecological wisdom and the empowerment they achieve through the culture of archery.
Kajari Folk Songs: Mechanism for Emotional Regulation
Authors:   Research Scholar, Indian Institute of Technology, BHU, Varanasi., Chauhan Milan , Mishra Swasti ,   Assistant Professor, Indian Institute of Technology, BHU, Varanasi.
Published: March 2024

This paper investigates Kajari folk songs as a coping mechanism, shedding light on their role in providing therapeutic support to women in North Indian society. Traditionally sung by women during the Sawan month (monsoon season), these songs serve as vital tools for women to navigate and cope with the constraints of society and gender norms. Despite the extensive research on North Indian folk songs, Kajari has received limited attention through this emotional lens. This article utilizes a secondary data analysis approach to examine Kajari songs from five different books, translated from Bhojpuri to English and subjected to thematic analysis. The focus is on unravelling the emotional turmoil experienced by rural women, attributed to factors such as male migration, the social issue of second-wife, unpredictable forces of nature, unfulfilled sexual desires, and mental and physical suffering. The paper delves into the intricate interplay of women’s emotions, highlighting their resilience and resistance. Ultimately, it underscores the pivotal role of Kajari songs as safety-valve for women in North Indian society.
Nature’s Notes: Analyzing the Environmental Advocacy in the Deuda Songs of Nepal
Authors:   Assistant Professor, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal, GC Saroj , Joshi Bhupesh
Published: March 2024

Deuda songs, originating from the mid-and far-western regions of Nepal, represent a rich musical folk genre deeply rooted in the culture and lifestyle of the performing communities. This paper explores the Deuda songs as potential environment-oriented texts, aiming to unravel the environmental concerns and nature-centric devotion encapsulated within these melodies. By employing the lenses of cultural ecology and ecocritical perspective, this analysis sheds light on the intricate relationship between these folk songs and the natural world. Examining the Deuda songs reveals a profound emphasis on the co-existence and interdependence of human society and nature. The study finds that the lyrical content critiques anthropocentric activities and demonstrates a heightened ecological consciousness among the performers. These findings underscore the critical role played by the Deuda songs in fostering environmental awareness and their potential as powerful tools for environmental advocacy. Furthermore, this paper advocates for additional research to uncover the broader significance of the Deuda songs as integral components of the region’s cultural heritage. It also proposes their incorporation into educational and environmental policies to enhance ecological consciousness on a wider scale. Recognizing the educational potential of the Deuda songs, this study encourages their inclusion in curricula to promote a more comprehensive understanding of the intricate connection between culture, nature, and sustainable living. Overall, the exploration of the Deuda songs serves as a gateway to a deeper understanding of environmental concerns within the cultural fabric of the mid-and far-western regions of Nepal.