bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Comprehensive Entrepreneurship Education Model Based on Social Cognitive Theory
Authors: Christina  , Widjojo Handyanto
Published: August 2023

Objective: This study examines entrepreneurship education's effect on entrepreneurial mindset, competencies, and intention.
Design/Methods/Approach: This study uses a quantitative approach, applying structural equation modeling using PLS to verify the hypothesis relationship. Data is collected from 281 college students who have finished at least one semester of any entrepreneurship subject.
Findings: The findings indicate that entrepreneurship education significantly affects entrepreneurial mindset, competencies, and intention. Entrepreneurial competencies significantly affect entrepreneurial intention. Meanwhile, an entrepreneurial mindset insignificantly affects entrepreneurial intention.
Originality: This research offers a comprehensive model using a new perspective of the social cognitive theory that investigates the impact of entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurial mindset, competencies, and intention, whereas most research on entrepreneurship education and intention use the theory of planned behavior. This study is expected to fill the gaps in understanding the connection between entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial intention from a different angle.
Practical/Policy implication: Given the results, entrepreneurship education should build entrepreneurial competencies that drive students' entrepreneurial intentions.
Unlocking the Secrets of Profitability: Investigating the Role of Research and Development
Authors: Mubarok Faizul , Sultan Zulkifli , Wibowo Martino , Wongsuwatt Sippavitch
Published: August 2023

Objective: The manufacturing sector is crucial for the development of emerging economies. This study aims to examine how research and development influence the firm's financial performance of manufacturing firms.
Design/Methods/Approach: This study employs publicly listed Indonesian firms' panel data from 2017 to 2021. The data are analyzed using the panel data approach.
Findings: The results indicate that research and development positively affect firm financial performance.
Originality: Research and development investment has been commonly carried out in developed countries but is still very limited in developing countries. This study focuses on the role of investment in research and development in determining the financial performance of companies in an emerging country.
Practical/Policy implication: Companies should prioritize cash and risk management to enable business expansion and innovation. Government support can be provided through tax incentives, R&D assistance, financing access, and public recognition of companies with high profitability. These incentives are aimed at enhancing economic growth and corporate competitiveness.
Connecting with Future Talent: A Review of Employer Value Propositions and Digital Media Channels for Sustainable Companies Targeting Generations Y and Z
Authors: Kristia
Published: August 2023

Objective: This literature review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the employer value proposition of ethical and sustainable companies and the effective digital media channels that sustainable companies can use to attract and communicate with Generation Y and Z candidates.
Design/Methods/Approach: The PRISMA systematic literature review method was combined with content analysis of selected articles from the Scopus and Web of Science databases. The selected articles were limited to those published within the last six years and in English.
Findings: This study found that sustainable companies need to offer a corporate value proposition that prioritizes clear career progression, work-life balance, a supportive work atmosphere, and ethical aspects, such as reducing carbon footprint and promoting diversity and inclusion. These values are essential to Generations Y and Z, although the priority dimensions of their value propositions may differ. Companies utilize Digital media channels, including owned digital media, paid digital media by using paid endorsers or enhanced profiles on career websites, and earned digital media such as honest reviews on job board platforms and private social media from employees.
Originality/Value: This review adds to the existing literature by comprehensively discussing the combined issues of employer value proposition, generational differences, and sustainability.
Practical/Policy implication: This review's findings have implications for business and research practice, as sustainable companies can use this information to develop the most relevant corporate value propositions and communication strategies for future targeted talent. Companies can attract and retain top personnel and establish a positive employer brand by effectively communicating their sustainability practices and values. Additional empirical research could investigate the impact of other demographic and psychographic factors on the preferences and priorities of job seekers.
Flexible Working Arrangements and Work-Family Culture Effects on Job Satisfaction: The Mediation Role of Work-Family Conflicts among Female Employees
Authors: Aura Nadya Alsyifa Mawira , Desiana Putri Mega
Published: August 2023

Objective: This study examines the relationship between flexible working arrangements and work-family culture by the mediating role of work-family conflict on the job satisfaction of female employees.
Methods: This study was conducted on 295 female workers in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) service companies. The data were collected from an online survey using a 6-Point Likert scale following a non-probability sampling method with a purposive sampling technique which was a sampling method based on specific predetermined standards. The data was analyzed using Lisrel 8.80 through Structural Equation Modelling (SEM).
Findings: The results indicate that flexible working arrangements positively and significantly impact work-family conflict and job satisfaction. Additionally, Work-Family Culture has a negative and significant impact on Work-Family Conflict but a positive and significant impact on Job Satisfaction. Meanwhile, Work-family conflict significantly and negatively affects job satisfaction. Another finding is that the relationship between flexible working arrangements and job satisfaction and the impact of work-family culture can be partially mediated by work-family conflict.
Originality/Value: Research on work-family variables tends to be mostly studied in the United States and Anglo Countries (U.K., Australia). However, research on this subject in Asia is limited, despite the fact that female employees in this region experience work-family conflicts more frequently. To fill this gap, this study was conducted in Indonesia, Southeast Asia. The findings of this research may also be relevant to other Asian countries that share similar characteristics.
Practical/Policy implication: The company's human resources management should implement a family-friendly work culture (WFC) by encouraging and respecting employees' integration of work and family life to prevent and minimize conflict between work and family roles or called Work-Family Conflict (WFCON) during Flexible Working Arrangements (FWA).
A Pelatihan Bisnis Online Pada Remaja di Panti Asuhan Daarul Hadlonah
Authors: Safitri Anjar , Nugroho Adityo , Nugroho Adityo
Published: August 2023

Kemajuan teknologi dan internet mendukung kemajuan bisnis, berupa peralihan strategi konvensional menjadi strategi digital. Bisnis online saat ini menjadi tren yang dilakukan masyarakat, mulai dari anak-anak, remaja, dewasa hingga orangtua. Tujuan dari pelatihan ini yaitu mensosialisasikan mengenai penting dan kemudahaan bisnis online, serta menjelaskan cara-cara berbisnis online yang dilakukan anak remaja saat ini, serta hambatan dan tips sukses berbisnis online untuk anak-anak remaja di Panti Asuhan Darul Hadlonah. Adapun metode pelatihan yang dilakukan adalah melalui diskusi sharing dalam pertemuan semiformal. Diskusi terbagi menjadi tiga sesi yaitu penyampaian materi, praktik dan diskusi isu terkini. Sebelum dan sesudah pelatihan dilakukan penyebaran kuesioner pada peserta untuk mengetahui kebutuhan dan evaluasi pelaksanaan pelatihan. Sosialisasi pelatihan bisnis online mampu meningkatkan pengetahuan peserta sebanyak 30%, dan menambah minat berbisnis online sebesar 45%. Hasil pelatihan ini menambah pengetahuan remaja mengenai ruang lingkup, cara, hambatan dan tips sukses bisnis online, selain itu juga menambah skill memanfaatkan internet untuk menunjang bisnis melalui praktik pembuatan akun bisnis online, serta memperkuat karakter untuk menjadi pebisnis online yang bijak melalui diskusi dua arah terkait kondisi saat ini dan tips sukses berbisnis online
A systematic review of neurological symptoms and brain abnormalities in SARS-CoV-2 infections
Authors: Montoya Daniel , Albert Jacobo , Lopez-Martin Sarah
Published: August 2023

The aim of this systematic review is to show some clear evidence of COVID-19 infections in the human brain and draw attention to the neurological symptoms that were described during the early stages of the pandemic. A systematic literature search, conducted using ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar, returned articles published from January 1 to October 1, 2020. Five hundred and ninety five articles were retrieved and screened for specificity and brain data availability associated with SARS-CoV-2 in adults. After the selection criteria were applied, 87 articles remained, comprising 55 case reports and 32 cohort studies, which involved 711 men and 310 women. The majority of reports listed altered states of consciousness as a symptom appearing post-admission or during the scanning process. Other symptoms included headaches, anosmia and ageusia, facial droop, and paralysis, among others. Parallel to these neurological symptoms, white matter hyperintensities were the most frequent finding with MRI brain scanning, while hypodensities accounted for most of the lesions described with CT scanning. There was a significant occurrence of hemorrhages and microbleeds, with a prevalence of multifocal intracerebral bleeding patterns in all cerebrum and cerebellum lobes. The most affected brain area was the corpus callosum, followed by the lateral ventricles and surrounding areas, the midbrain, the basal ganglia, the internal capsule, the olfactory bulb, the thalamus, the insular cortex, and the amygdala. There are unknown long-term effects that may impact currently infected patients if the description of neurological symptoms and mapping of brain areas affected by SARS-CoV-2 are not accomplished.
Key Influencing Factors Identification in Complex Systems Based on Heuristic Causal Inference
Authors: Wu Jianping , Lu Yunjun , Li Dezhi , Zhou Wenlu , Huang Jian
Published: August 2023

In complex systems constrained by multiple factors, it is of great significance to accurately identify the key influencing factors for mastering the evolution and development law of the system and obtaining scientific decision-making suggestions or schemes. At present, the method based on experimental simulation is limited by the difficulty of system model construction; the method based on decision trial and Evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) involves a wide range of subjects and is greatly influenced by subjective factors. In view of this, we propose a novel model based on heuristic causal inference. The model uses the FCI algorithm with prior knowledge to learn the global causal network among multiple factors of the complex system. The causal effect among variables in the causal network is calculated by using heuristic causal inference method. Specifically, the causal path contribution degree of cause variable to target variable is calculated to replace the causal effect of each cause variable to target variable. The key influencing factors in the system are screened out according to the contribution degree of causal pathways. Based on the dataset generated in the production process of a semiconductor manufacturing system, we carried out simulation experiments, identified several factors that have a key impact on product quality, and proved the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed model.
The Iodine/Iodide/Starch Supramolecular Complex
Authors: Silaghi-Dumitrescu Radu , Pesek Szilard
Published: August 2023

The nature of the blue color in the iodine-starch reaction (or, in most cases, iodine-iodide-starch reaction, i.e. as I2 as well as I- are typically present) has for decades elicited debate. The intensity of the color suggests a clear charge-transfer nature of the band at ~600 nm, and there is consensus regarding the fact that the hydrophobic interior of the amylose helix is the location where iodine binds. Three types of possible sources of charge transfer have been proposed: (1) chains of neutral I2 molecules, (2) chains of poly-iodine anions (complicated by the complex speciation of the I2 - I- mixture), or (3) mixtures of I2 molecules and iodide or polyiodide anions. An extended literature review of the topic is provided here. According to the most recent data, the best candidate for the “blue complex” is a I2-I5-I2 unit – expected to occur in repetitive manner inside the amylose helix.
Improving CS1 Programming Learning with Visual Execution Environments
Authors: Hijón-Neira Raquel , Pizarro Celeste , French John , Paredes-Barragán Pedro , Duignan Michael
Published: August 2023

Students in their first year of computer science (CS1) at universities typically struggle to grasp programming concepts. This paper covers research using a Java programming language-guided visual execution environment (VEE) to teach CS1 students about programming concepts. The topics covered include input and output, conditionals, loops, functions, arrays, recursion, and files, all of which are covered in an introductory programming course. The VEE walks beginner programmers through the fundamentals of programming, utilizing visual metaphors to explain and direct interactive Java tasks. The primary goal of this study is to determine whether a cohort of 105 CS1 students from four different groups who are enrolled in two universities—one in Madrid, Spain, and the other in Galway, Ireland—can advance their programming abilities under the guidance of the VEE. Second, does the improvement vary depending on the programming concept? The findings demonstrate that students' programming knowledge has greatly increased. This improvement is significant for all programming concepts, while it is more pronounced for some topics than others, such as operators, conditionals, and loops. Additionally, it demonstrates that students had little prior understanding of files and recursion. The most well-known concept to them was the sequence concept.
Deep Reinforcement Learning-Based Approach for Video Streaming DASH
Authors: Souane Naima , Bourenane Malika , Douga Yassine
Published: August 2023

Dynamic adaptive video streaming over HTTP (DASH) plays a crucial role in video transmission across networks. Traditional adaptive bitrate (ABR) algorithms adjust the quality of video segments based on network conditions and buffer occupancy. However, these algorithms rely on fixed rules within a complex environment, making it challenging to achieve optimal decisions considering the overall context. In this paper, we propose a novel Deep Reinforcement Learning-based approach for streaming DASH, focusing on maintaining consistent perceived video quality throughout the streaming session to enhance user experience. Our approach optimizes the Quality of Experience (QoE) by dynamically controlling the quality distance factor between consecutive video segments. We evaluate this approach through a simulation model that encompasses diverse wireless network environments and various video sequences. Additionally, we compare our proposed approach with state-of-the-art methods. The experimental results demonstrate significant improvements in QoE, ensuring users enjoy stable, high-quality video streaming sessions.
Application of bioelectrical impedance analysis in nutritional management of patients with chronic kidney disease
Authors: Guo Yanchao , Zhang Meng , Ye Ting , Wang Zhixiang , Yao Ying
Published: August 2023

Body composition measurement plays an important auxiliary role in the nutritional assessment of diseases, nutritional diagnosis and the evaluation of the effect of nutritional therapy. There are many techniques and methods available for the measurement of body composition. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA ) of body composition has been widely used and explored in many diseases in the past 30 years. Its main advantages are its non-invasiveness, non-radiation, economy, convenience and feasibility. With the development of bioelectrical impedance technology, bioelectrical impedance analysis has gradually developed from single-frequency BIA (SF-BIA) to dual-frequency BIA (DF-BIA). now devices are available that measure at multiple ﬁxed frequencies (multi-frequency BIA, MF-BIA) and over a range of frequencies (bioimpedance spectroscopy, BIS). The clinical significance of nutrition management in chronic kidney disease has gradually become prominent. Bioelectrical impedance analysis of body composition is favored by nephrologists and nutritionists as an auxiliary method for nutrition diagnosis, treatment and monitoring. In the past 20 years, there have been many studies on body composition measurement by bioelectrical impedance analysis in the nutritional management of CKD patients. This article will summarize the recent research results of BIA of body composition method in the nutrition management of CKD patients in pre-dialysis, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and kidney transplantation, in order to provide reference for the application and research of BIA method in the nutrition management of chronic kidney disease in the future.
Shape-Informed Dimensional Reduction in Airfoil/Hydrofoil Modeling
Authors: Masood Zahid , Kostas Konstantinos , Khan Shahroz , Kaklis Panagiotis
Published: August 2023

Parametric models have been widely used in pertinent literature for reconstructing, modifying and representing a wide range of airfoil and/or hydrofoil profile geometries. Design spaces corresponding to these models can be exploited for modeling and profile-shape optimization under various performance criteria. Accuracy requirements, along with the need for modeling local features, often lead to high-dimensional design spaces that hinder the process of shape optimization and design through analysis. In this work, we propose a shape-informed dimensional reduction approach that attempts to tackle this deficiency by producing low-dimensional latent design spaces that can be efficiently used in shape representation and optimization. Furthermore, geometric moments are introduced in an attempt to cost-effectively capture analysis-relevant information that is generally expensive to produce. Specifically, geometric integral properties, although intrinsic features of the shape, are quite commonly related to performance indicators employed in performance optimization and therefore provide a cost-effective physics-informed component in the description of the design in the latent space. To this end, we employ the generalized Karhunen-Loeve expansion to produce a shape- and physics-informed subspace retaining the highest possible geometric variance and robustness, that is, lack of invalid designs. At the same time, a series of shape discretizations, encoding the foil's shape profile, are examined with regards to their effect on the resulting latent space's quality and efficiency. Our results demonstrate a significant reduction in the dimensionality of the original design space while maintaining a high representational capacity and a large percentage of valid geometries that facilitate fast convergence to optimal solutions in performance-based optimization.
Hyperparameter Optimization and Combined Data Sampling Techniques in Machine Learning for Customer Churn Prediction: A Comparative Analysis
Authors: Imani Mehdi , Arabnia Hamid Reza
Published: August 2023

In this paper, a variety of machine learning techniques, including Artificial Neural Networks, Decision Trees, Support Vector Machines, Random Forests, Logistic Regression, and three gradient boosting techniques (XGBoost, LightGBM, and CatBoost), were employed to predict customer churn in the telecommunications industry using a publicly available dataset. To address the issue of imbalanced data, various data sampling techniques, such as SMOTE, the combination of SMOTE with Tomek Links, and the combination of SMOTE with Edited Nearest Neighbors, were implemented. Additionally, hyperparameter tuning was utilized to optimize the performance of the machine learning models. The models were evaluated and compared using commonly used metrics, including Precision, Recall, F1-Score, and the Receiver Operating Characteristic Area Under Curve (ROC AUC).

The results revealed that the performance of the models was enhanced by the application of hyperparameter tuning and the combined data sampling methods on the training data. Overall, LightGBM demonstrated superior performance compared to the other machine learning techniques examined. The findings indicate that LightGBM exhibited a superior performance both prior to and following the application of these techniques.
Evading the “Entrepreneurial Blocks” through Entrepreneurial Marketing Education in Vocational High Schools in an Emerging Country
Authors: Haryanto Jony Oktavian , Widyanto Hanif Adinugroho , Suryanto Hari , Santoso Adhi Setyo
Published: August 2023

Entrepreneurial marketing education is considered an essential platform to stimulate successful entrepreneurs, especially for vocational high school (SMK) graduates in Indonesia, which has the highest open unemployment rate and mostly comes from low-income backgrounds. Hence, the researchers investigated why most SMK graduates, supposedly skilful, do not opt for entrepreneurship. This is an under-researched study that could carry enormous implications. The researchers interviewed participants from SMKs in Mataram, Indonesia, three entrepreneurship teachers and six students of entrepreneurship classes from grades 10 to 12. They referred to the extant literature as a basis for a proposed “Entrepreneurial Blocks” framework to explain the barriers and supporting factors for becoming an entrepreneur. Our findings show that entrepreneurial mindset, starting capital, challenges, risk aversion, and limited skills and resources were part of the entrepreneurial blocks. Conversely, working experience, desire for freedom, and the need for achievements were considered the factors to evade the entrepreneurial blocks for SMK graduates.
I. Dünya Savaşı Yıllarında Millî Ruhu Canlı Tutmanın ve Asker Ailelerine Yardım Toplamanın Bir Vesilesi: Hâtıra-i Celâdet Topu
Authors: ORTAK Şaban
Published: August 2023

I. Dünya Savaşı dönemi Osmanlı toplumunun tarihteki en zor dönemlerinden birisidir. Savaş sırasında bütün toplum kesimlerinin hayatı olumsuz etkilenmiştir. Ama en çok etkilenen kesimlerden birisi de asker aileleri olmuştur. Asker ailelerinin sıkıntılarını hafifletmek ve mağduriyetlerini gidermek amacıyla 24 Aralık 1914'te "Asker Ailelerine Yardımcı Hanımlar Cemiyeti" kurulmuştur. Üst düzey yöneticilerin hanımlarının öncülüğünde kurulan bu cemiyet, çeşitli yöntemlerle bağış toplayarak asker ailelerine erzak ve elbise dağıtmıştır. Yardım toplama yöntemlerinden birisi de Osmanlı Devleti'nin müttefikleri olan Almanya ve Avusturya'daki örneklerinden ilham alınarak "Hâtıra-i Celâdet Topu" vücuda getirilmesidir. Padişah, müttefik devlet imparatorları, Osmanlı Devleti yöneticileri, okullar ve halkın yardımlarının karşılığı olarak çivi çaktığı bu tahta top maketine yardımın miktarına bağlı olarak altın, gümüş ve demir çivi çakılmıştır.
Toplumsal yardımlaşmanın bir vesilesi olmanın yanında halkta milli ruhun canlı tutulması ve yükseltilmesinin bir aracı olarak görülen Hâtıra-i Celâdet Topu, Beyazıt Meydanı'nda iki sene halkın ziyaretine açık tutulmuştur. 1917 yılında ise Askeri Müze'ye kaldırılmıştır. Asker Ailelerine Yardımcı Hanımlar Cemiyeti ve onun bir etkinliği olan Hâtıra-i Celâdet Topu, I. Dünya Savaşı'nın getirdiği olumsuz şartlarda Türk Milletinin birlik ve beraberliğinin bir örneği olarak milletin hafızasında ve tarihteki müstesna yerini almıştır. Bu çalışmanın amacı; Türk tarihi açısından ilginç ve değerli bir uygulamanın ayrıntılı bir şekilde incelenmesi ve değerlendirilmesidir.
The increase of cortical volume in the early stage of a valproic acid model of autism may be due to a compensatory mechanism
Authors: Li Xiaomeng , Tian lu , Wang longlun , Zhang yun , Qin Bin , cai jinhua
Published: August 2023

Background & Aim:
Studies have found brain enlargement in early autism. However, it is not clear which brain regions are enlarged and the mechanism of the enlargement. In this study, we established an autism model and used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine whether brain volume was increased in the early stages of autism and to explore its underlying mechanism.
Methods
The autism model was established by prenatal exposure to valproic acid (VPA) in pregnant rats. At the age of 4 weeks, the offspring rats were identified by using the three-chamber social interaction test, open field test and self-grooming test. T2-weighted images of all subjects were obtained, and the cortex volume of the region of interest(ROI) was automatically extracted and measured, and correlated with the autism-like behaviors. The GAD67 expression was tested by western blot and immunofluorescence, and its correlation with the brain volume was analyzed.
Results
Behavioral tests confirmed the success of the autism model establishment in offspring rats. MRI showed that the volume of prefrontal cortex (PFC) and temporal cortex (TC) increased significantly in VPA rats than in healthy control (HC) group (p < 0.05). In VPA group, The TC volume was negatively correlated with the communication time between the tested rats and the stranger (r=-0.82, P = 0.01). The PFC volume was negatively correlated with the times that the tested rats crossed all lines in the open field (r=-0.87, P = 0.005), and positively correlated with the grooming time (r = 0.83, P = 0.01).Western blotting and immunofluorescence showed that the expression of GAD67 in the HC, PFC and TC in VPA group decreased significantly (P < 0.05).The expression level of GAD67 was negatively correlated with the volume of HC (r=-0.79, p = 0.02), PFC (r=-0.72, P = 0.04) and TC (r=-0.72, P = 0.04) respectively.
Conclusion
The volume of some brain regions increased in the early stage of VPA rats, which was similar to that of human autism. The enlargement of some brain regions in early autism may be due to a compensatory mechanism, in which the brain volume increases to amend the imbalance of the excitement-inhibition system.
Advantage of ultramicro-invasive surgical instruments in laparoscopic sleeve gastric surgery
Authors: Lu Xiaojing , Zhou Jingning , Zhuang Zequn , Wang Jing , Ding Yongyong , Chen Yigang
Published: August 2023

Objective
To investigate the safety and effectiveness of ultra-minimally invasive surgical instruments in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG).
Methods
A total of 134 patients, including 67 patients who underwent 4-hole LSG, 29 patients who underwent 3-hole LSG, and 38 patients who underwent ultra-minimally invasive laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (ULSG), from July 2018 to December 2022 were included in this study. The operation times, bleeding volumes, and pain scores among the three groups (4-hole LSG group, 3-hole LSG group, ULSG group) were compared.
Results
The bleeding volumes in the 4-hole LSG group, 3-hole LSG group, and ULSG group were 6.6 ± 5.1 ml, 10.0 ± 4.9 ml, and 5.6 ± 3.3 ml, respectively. The operation times in the 4-hole LSG group, 3-hole LSG group, and ULSG group were 103.8 ± 21.3 min, 122.9 ml ± 24.0 min, and 110.7 ± 30.0 min, respectively. The pain scores in the 4-hole LSG group, 3-hole LSG group, and ULSG group were 5.0 ± 2.0, 4.0 ± 1.5, and 3.9 ± 1.6, respectively. However, one case each of gastric leakage (1.49%), gastric stenosis (3.45%), and severe vomiting (2.63%) were reported in the 4-hole LSG, 3-hole LSG group, and ULSG group, respectively (P = 0.909).
Conclusion
Ultra-minimally invasive instrument-assisted LSG (ULSG) is a safe and convenient operation that enhances skin beauty. Besides, the method of picking, blocking, and pulling can better expose the visual field and cut the gastric tissue.
CHMP4C promotes the progression and cisplatin resistance of non-small cell lung cancer via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway
Authors: Ren Bi , Gou Hao-Cheng , Zhang Qin , He Li-Ping , Xue Lin-Feng , Sun Jin-Hong , Jiang Li
Published: August 2023

Aims
The objective of this study was to investigate the expression and mechanism of chromatin-modifying protein 4C (CHMP4C) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study aimed to provide novel perspectives on the diagnosis and treatment of NSCLC.
Methods
In order to investigate the impact of CHMP4C on NSCLC, the expression of CHMP4C and its correlation with the prognosis of patients were examined by the GEPIA platform and UALCAN database. To validate the expression, immunohistochemistry (IHC), quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), and western blot experiments were conducted. Additionally, lentivirus (shRNA) technology was utilized to downregulate the expression of in H1299 and SKMES1 cells. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and cell clone assays were performed to assess cell proliferation and the role of CHMP4C in regulating cisplatin sensitivity. The cell cycle and apoptosis were detected using Flow Cytometry. Furthermore, the relationship between CHMP4C and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was investigated through western blotting.
Results
CHMP4C exhibited a high level of expression in both NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Additionally, the expression of CHMP4C was significantly associated with the TNM stage of the tumors, and higher CHMP4C expression was linked to poorer prognosis. The results of the cell experiments showed that CHMP4C expression was significantly higher in H1299 and SKMES1 cells compared to the normal lung epithelial cells BEAS-2B. Suppression of CHMP4C significantly impeded the proliferation of H1299 and SKMES1 cells by delaying the cell cycle and promoting apoptosis through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Moreover, an interesting phenomenon was made during the study: the expression of CHMP4C protein was reduced by cisplatin treatment. Knockdown of CHMP4C enhanced the therapeutic sensitivity of NSCLC cells to cisplatin.
Conclusion
CHMP4C plays a crucial role in NSCLC proliferation and cisplatin resistance, potentially through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. These findings provide valuable experimental evidence for the clinical treatment of NSCLC.
Investigating the Influence of Different Electrodes on the Synthesis of Biodiesel from Palm Oil and Waste Cooking Oil via Electrolysis Processes
Authors: . Darwin
Published: August 2023

The influence of various electrodes used in the synthesis of biodiesel from palm oil and waste cooking oil via electrolysis processes was studied. The results revealed that electro-catalysts introduced to the transesterification of palm oil and waste cooking oil had significantly enhanced their biodiesel yields. The use of graphite electrode in the transesterification of waste cooking oil via electrolysis could generate the yield of biodiesel was about 87% while the production of biodiesel from palm oil using platinum electrode could have biodiesel yield about 90%. The use of electro-catalysts to the transesterification of waste cooking oil and/or palm oil may produce biodiesel with low acid number (0.2–0.4 mg KOH/g), which was lower than that of the ASTM standard. The utilization of electro-catalysts to the transesterification of waste cooking oil and palm oil could lower the ash content of the produced biodiesel (0.0015–0.002%), which was lower than that of the standard of biodiesel established by ASTM (0.01%). The process of transesterification of palm oil and waste cooking oil via electrolysis could also generate biodiesel with low viscosity (< 5 mm2/s), which met the ASTM and European standards.
RayBNN: A 3-D Biological Neural Network Transfer Learning Model
Authors: Yuen Brosnan , Dong Xiaodai , Lu Tao
Published: August 2023

Training large neural networks on big datasets requires significant computational resources and time. Transfer learning reduces training time by pre-training a base model on one dataset and transferring the knowledge to a new model for another dataset. However, current transfer learning algorithms are extremely limited because the transferred models always have to adhere to the dimensions of the base model and can not easily change the neural architecture to solve new datasets. On the other hand, biological neural networks (BNNs) are adept at rearranging themselves to tackle completely different problems using transfer learning. Taking advantage of BNNs, we design a novel neural network that is transferable to any other network architecture and can accommodate many datasets. Our novel approach uses raytracing to connect neurons in a three-dimensional space, allowing the network to grow into any shape or size. In the Alcala dataset, our transfer learning algorithm trains the fastest across changing environments and input sizes. In the future, this network may be considered for implementation on real biological neural networks to decrease power consumption.
Prospective Phase II Trial of Preoperative Hypofractionated Proton Therapy for Extremity and Truncal Soft Tissue Sarcoma: the PRONTO Study Rationale and Design
Authors: Gogineni Emile , Chen Hao , Hu Chen , Boudadi Karim , Engle Jessica , Levine Adam , Deville Curtiland
Published: August 2023

Background: Oncologic surgical resection is the standard of care for extremity and truncal soft tissue sarcoma (STS), often accompanied by the addition of pre- or postoperative radiation therapy (RT). Preoperative RT may decrease the risk of joint stiffness and fibrosis at the cost of higher rates of wound complications. Hypofractionated, preoperative RT has been shown to provide acceptable outcomes in prospective trials. Proton beam therapy (PBT) provides the means to decrease dose to surrounding organs at risk, such as the skin, bone, soft tissues, and adjacent joint(s), and has not yet been studied in patients with extremity and truncal sarcoma.
Methods: Our study titled “PROspective phase II trial of preoperative hypofractionated protoN therapy for extremity and Truncal soft tissue sarcOma (PRONTO)” is a non-randomized, prospective phase II trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of preoperative, hypofractionated PBT for patients with STS of the extremity and trunk planned for surgical resection. Adult patients with Eastern Cooperative Group Performance Status ≤2 with resectable extremity and truncal STS will be included, with the aim to accrue 40 patients. Treatment will be 5 fractions of PBT followed by surgical resection. The primary outcome is rate of major wound complications as defined according to the National Cancer Institute of Canada Sarcoma2 (NCIC-SR2) Multicenter Trial. Secondary objectives include rate of late grade ≥2 toxicity, local recurrence-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival at 1- and 2-years, functional outcomes, quality of life, and pathologic response.
Discussion: PRONTO represents the first trial evaluating the use of hypofractionated PBT for STS. We aim to prove the safety and efficacy of this approach and to compare our results to historical outcomes established by previous trials. Given the low number of proton centers and limited availability, the short course of PBT may provide the opportunity to treat patients who would otherwise be limited when treating with daily RT over several weeks. We hope that this trial will lead to increased referral patterns, offer benefits towards patient convenience and clinic workflow efficiency, and provide evidence supporting the use of PBT in this setting.
Trial registration: NCT05917301 (registered 23/6/2023).
Smart Glasses Use Experience of Nursing Graduate Students: Qualitative Study
Authors: Calik Afra , Ozkul Denizhan , Kapucu Sevgisun
Published: August 2023

Background: Immersive technology such as smart glasses can benefit nursing training and clinical practice. In this paper, we explore the views of nursing graduate students about their experience with smart glasses.
Methods: Nursing graduate students (n = 13) were recruited using purposeful sampling. They were first exposed to a virtual reality intervention aimed at diabetic ketoacidosis in nursing care. This was attempted to familiarize participants with the technology and initiate conversations around its use in nursing care. Participants were then interviewed either online or face to face. Data were analyzed manually using the thematic analysis method by Braun & Clarke.
Results: The study findings indicated that the use of smart glasses as an enjoyable learning experience and immersive games positively affected nursing students. In addition, it was determined that they had negative experiences such as cost, lack of infrastructure, and smart glasses side effects.
Conclusions: Smart glasses indicate good usability and availability effects in nursing education and potential for use in hospital nursing practice.
Knowledge-based intervention improves older adult recognition memory for novel activity, but not event segmentation and memory for event order
Authors: Payne Karissa B. , Brazil Cristiane Kauer , Apel Maria , Bailey Heather
Published: August 2023

Although episodic memory declines with age, older adults are often able to make use of relevant knowledge to support episodic memory. More specifically, prior knowledge may support the perception of meaningful events through the process of event segmentation. We sought to test whether increasing older adults’ knowledge for novel activities (i.e., Tai chi, making gyozas) would improve segmentation and, in turn, memory. We conducted an online, pre-registered intervention in which eighty older adults were recruited based on being novices in each of the targeted activities. Participants completed segmentation and memory tests before and after being randomly assigned to one of two interactive virtual workshops (learning how to practice Tai chi or make gyoza). Each workshop consisted of two one-hour sessions during which an expert provided information about the activity and demonstrated it in a step-by-step fashion. We found that the intervention led to increased learning and recognition memory for the trained activity; however, there were no significant improvements in segmentation behavior, free recall, or memory of sequential information. These findings indicate that either more knowledge training is necessary to affect segmentation, or that segmentation is guided by perceptual features in the environment rather than one’s conceptual understanding of the activity.
Observations of amyloid breakdown by proteases over time using scanning acoustic microscopy
Authors: Miura Katsutoshi , Iwashita Toshihide
Published: August 2023

Amyloid consists of insoluble beta-fibrillar proteins with stable structures. The gold standard Congo red staining method for histologically detecting amyloid yields unstable results. Scanning acoustic microscopy (SAM) detects the attenuation of sound (AOS) through sections. This study aimed to clarify whether AOS values reflected the amount of amyloid degradation in tissues. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections of various types of amyloidosis were digested with different endopeptidases. The sections were incubated at 37°C, and the AOS images obtained via SAM were observed over time. The corresponding Congo red-stained images were observed via light microscopy (LM). The amyloid and nonamyloid portions were examined over time to determine the changes in the AOS values. The AOS values were significantly reduced in most amyloid specimens after digestion. Background areas with high AOS masked the reduction in AOS in the amyloid areas. Most of the amyloid areas showed high AOS values before digestion and a significant decrease after digestion; these findings corresponded with the disappearance and waning of the Congo red staining in the LM images. The method used in this study may help determine the appropriate treatment method for removing amyloid deposits from tissues.
New characterization and safety evaluation of human limbal stem cells used in clinical application: fidelity of mitotic process and mitotic spindle morphologies
Authors: Zekušić Marija , Mihica Marina Bujić , Skoko Marija , Vukušić Kruno , Risteski Patrik , Martinčić Jelena , Tolić Iva M. , Bendelja Krešo , Ramić Snježana , Dolenec Tamara , Zimić Ivana Vrgoč , Puljić Dominik , Vicković Ivanka Petric , Iveković Renata , Batarilo Ivanka , Zmrzljak Uršula Prosenc , Hoffmeister Alan , Vučemilo Tiha
Published: August 2023

Background
Limbal stem cells(LSCs) are crucial for the regeneration of the corneal epithelium in patients with limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD). Thus, LSCs during cultivation in vitro should be in highly homogeneous amounts, while potency and expression of stemness without tumorigenesis would be desirable. Therefore, further characterization and safety evaluation of engineered limbal grafts is required to provide safe and high-quality therapeutic applications.
Methods
After in vitro expansion, LSCs undergo laboratory characterization in a single-cell suspension, cell culture, and in limbal grafts before transplantation. Through a clinically applicable protocol,the collected data on LSCs at passage 1 were summarized: identity (cell size, morphology); potency (yield, viability, population doubling time, colony-forming efficiency were analyzed by trypan blue staining); expression of putative stem cell markers by flow cytometry, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. Then, mitotic chromosome stability and normal mitotic outcomes were explored by using live-cell imaging. Finally, impurities, bacterial endotoxins and sterility were determined.
Results
Expression of the stemness marker p63 in single-cell suspension and in cell culture showed high values by different methods. Limbal grafts showed p63-positive cells (78.7 ± 9.4%), Ki67 proliferation (41.7 ± 15.9%), while CK3 was negative. Impurity with 3T3 feeder cells and endotoxins was minimized. We presented mitotic spindles with a length of 11.40 ± 0.54 m and a spindle width of 8.05 ± 0.55 m as new characterization in LSC culture. Additionally, live-cell imaging of LSCs (n=873) was performed, and only a small fraction <2.5% of aberrant interphase cells was observed; 2.12 ± 2.10% of mitotic spindles exhibited a multipolar phenotype during metaphase, and 3.84 ± 3.77% of anaphase cells had a DNA signal present within the spindle midzone, indicating a chromosome bridge or lagging chromosome phenotype.
Conclusion
This manuscript provides, for the first time, detailed characterization of the parameters of fidelity of the mitotic process and mitotic spindle morphologies of LSCs used in a direct clinical application. Our data show that p63-positive CK3-negative LSCs grown in vitro for clinical purposes undergo mitotic processes with extremely high fidelity, suggesting high karyotype stability. This finding confirms LSCs as a high-quality and safe therapy for eye regeneration in humans.
Effects of COVID-19 on the mental health of the clinical imaging workforce at Hamad Medical Corporation
Authors: Jacob *Bamil , Mubarak Aisha Hammam , Sriniva Packialakshmi , Heidous Mahmoud Al , Nair Anirudh Venugopalan , Lenjawi Badriya , Singh Kalpana
Published: August 2023

Background:
Clinical Radiology Service has borne a substantial chunk of the burden caused by the COVID-19 outbreak to healthcare systems. Our aim is to assess the psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic among healthcare professionals in the clinical imaging department.
Methods
Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of questionnaire responses from medical personnel who worked in the respective facilities of clinical imaging department during the pandemic period from January 01 2021 to June 30 2021 was performed. The survey contained standardized questionnaire i.e. – Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7) and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale(DASS-21).
Results:
108 participants responded to the email survey. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, the DASS-21 Scale for depression, anxiety and stress scores among healthcare workers in the clinical imaging department were 30.6%, 36.98% and 10.3%, respectively. According to the GAD-7 Scale, 41.6% of people showed signs of anxiety. 79.6% of the health care professionals involved in the study has direct exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace. In addition, most healthcare professionals choose individual counseling (37%) over group psychotherapy (15.7%)and media-based mental health resources (21.3%), and 79% of participants were aware of the hospital staff's access to mental health services resources.
Conclusion:
The psychological burden experienced by healthcare professionals during the time of pandemic was significant. Collectively these findings can inform change in guidance and policies to improve mental health and prevent burnout among the healthcare professionals.
The water-soluble organic compounds in atmospheric aerosols of BouIsmaïl city in Algeria
Authors: Cherfaoui Brahim , Lemou Abdelkader , Rabhi Lyes , Cherifi Nabila , Ladji Riad
Published: August 2023

Water-soluble organic compounds (WSOC) are ubiquitous substances usually found in atmospheric particles. In this work, we report the use of nuclear resonance magnetic spectroscopy techniques (1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and 2D-NMR) in the characterisation of the WSOC in an aerosol sampled from the remote coastal location of Bou-Ismail, Algeria. These techniques, preferentially chosen to be mainly applied in this contribution, allowed us the determination of the functional composition of WSOC aerosol and the evaluation of source signature of organic aerosol. It has been recorded that 4.8–7.8 ppm, the groups were mainly constituted of precursors of the aromatic amino acids tyrosine, phenylalanine, and tryptophan, which are usually used as herbicides and antibacterial agents in agriculture. Using the HSQC technique, by combining the two regions (6.5–8.5) ppm and (115–150) ppm, revealed the appearance of many peaks in biogenic samples, including biomass burning. Specific NMR spectral allows identification of source of several organic compounds and functional composition, so the surrounding organic aerosol sources can be adjusted. Along this study, the concentrations of PM10 varied between 15.66 and 142.19 µgm− 3.
Tuning the porosity of hypercrosslinked styrene-divinylbenzene copolymers for efficient adsorption of rifampicin from aqueous media
Authors: Kirillov Anton , Gorshkov Nikolay , Shevchenko Natalia , Saprykina Natalia , Krasikov Valeriy
Published: August 2023

In this study, hypercrosslinked styrene-divinylbenzene copolymers (HCCPs) designated as HCCP-1DVB, HCCP-2DVB and HCCP-3DVB were obtained by post-crosslinking of styrene-divinylbenzene copolymers containing 1, 2 and 3 % of divinylbenzene by chloromethyl methyl ether via the Friedel-Crafts reaction. The chemical structure, porous and morphological characteristics of HCCPs were determined by FT-IR, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption-desorption method and SEM, respectively. The synthesized hypercrosslinked copolymers had high surface area values and different micro/mesoporous structures. It was found that mesopore volume increased with a decrease in divinylbenzene content in a copolymer. HCCP-1DVB had the largest mesopore volume (0.53 cm3/g), the highest adsorption capacity for rifampicin (qmax = 183.27 mg/g), and the highest rifampicin adsorption rate. The adsorption equilibrium and kinetic processes were well described by the Langmuir model and the pseudo-second-order model. The experimental data indicated that the removal efficiency of rifampicin reached 99.8 % at the dosage of HCCP-1DVB equal to 80 mg/10 mL. After 5 cycles of reuse, the adsorption capacity of HCCP-1DVB decreased only by 7 %, which indicates sufficient stability and reusability of this hypercrosslinked copolymer.