bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fen Bilimleri Dersinde Uygulanan Çeşitli Öğretim Yöntemlerinin Öğrencilerin Bilimsel Süreç Becerilerine Etkisi: Bir Meta-Analiz Çalışması
Authors: Gümüş Beyhan , Eroğlu Eylem
Published: September 2023

Bu çalışmada Meta-Analiz yöntemi kullanılarak Fen Bilimleri dersinde uygulanan çeşitli öğretim yöntemlerinin öğrencilerin bilimsel süreç becerilerine etkisinin ortaya çıkarılması amaçlanmıştır. Literatür incelendikten sonra dâhil edilme kriterleri belirlenmiştir. 2005-2022 yılları arasında Fen Bilimleri dersinde uygulanan çeşitli uygulamaların öğrencilerin Bilimsel süreç becerilerine olan etkisini inceleyen çalışmalardan ulusal düzeyde yayınlanan lisansüstü tezler incelenmiştir. İlkokul 4.sınıf ile tüm ortaokul düzeyindeki çalışmalar analize dahil edilmiştir. 79 çalışmanın dâhil edildiği bu araştırmada yapılan analiz sonucunda Fen Bilimleri dersinde uygulanan çeşitli öğretim yöntemlerinin öğrencilerin bilimsel süreç becerilerine etkisine ilişkin yapılan çalışmaların genel etki büyüklüğü 0,972 olarak bulunmuştur. Bu değerler Cohen kriterlerine göre oldukça güçlü bir etki büyüklüğüdür ve Fen Bilimleri dersinde uygulanan çeşitli öğretim yöntemlerinin, fen eğitiminde geleneksel öğrenme yaklaşımlarına göre daha etkili olduğunu göstermektedir. Bununla birlikte elde edilen bulgular, analize dâhil edilen çalışmalar arasında bir yayın yanlılığı olmadığını göstermektedir.
MENGAJARKAN NILAI-NILAI ISLAM PADA ANAK MELALUI KEGIATAN MENGAJI DAN SOSIALISASI PENTINGNYA MENJAGA KEBERSIHAN PADA ANAK
Authors: Pangihutan Gultom Jhonson , Sevtia Delva , Siddik M.Ibrahim , Zanovid Vikra Zaky , Muharam Hasril , Priambodo Adrian , Anggraini Helpi , Merinda Arty Syukma , Asriani Putri Suci
Published: September 2023

Tujuan dari melakukan kegiatan yang diterapkan pada masyarakat yaitu memberi pemahaman mengenai nilai-nilai islam melalui ngaji kepada anak-anak dan memberi pemahaman mengenai pentingnya kebersihan gigi pada anak serta memberikan tindakan deteksi dini untuk gigi berlubang. Kegiatan tersebut akan meliputi metode pelaksanaan observasi, lokakarya, program kerja kelompok dan evaluasi. Dibalik keberhasilan kegiatan-kegiatan tesebut ada beberapa bahan pendukung dalam melaksanakan kegiatan tersebut yaitu Al-Qur’an, alat peraga sikat gigi dan odol, serta artikel atau jurnal-jurnal dalam mendukung penyampaian materi mengenai kebersihan gigi. Hasil dari kegiatan telah tercapai dengan terbentuknya kebiasaan menjaga kebersihan gigi untuk setiap harinya dan semangat akan melakukan kegiatan-kegiatan yang didasari oleh nilai-nilai islam. Dengan melakukan kegiatan ini anak-anak memahami dan mendapatkan ilmu mengenai nilai-nilai islam dan memahami menjaga kebersihan gigi untuk setiap harinya. Setelah melaksanakan program kerja KKN Periode 99 kepada masyarakat, saran yang bisa  kami berikan untuk masyarakat agar lebih merawat peninggalan atau atribut yang dibuat selama KKN dan pemerintah daerah setempat lebih memperhatikan kondisi keluarga disana terkhususnya anak – anak generasi muda Indonesia.
MEMBANGUN KEJAR (KAMPOENG BELAJAR) DAN PENGADAAN SARANA PEMBUATAN PLANG NAMA TOKOH MASYARAKAT SERTA PENUNJUK JALAN TPS3R
Authors: Abdillah Muhammad Nabil , Fitriansyah Aidil , Nuraini Masna , Anam Muhammad Fakhrul , Wulandari Annisa , Alfath Habib Thariq , Hanifan Muhammad Daffa , Firdausa Novita Arifani , Maysinta Yolanda , Chanafiah Yayah
Published: September 2023

Kuliah Kerja Nyata merupakan salah satu bentuk pengabdian kepada masyarakat yang termasuk dalam Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi. Kuliah Kerja Nyata (KKN) adalah bentuk pendidikan mahasiswa yang dilakukan dengan cara memberikan pengalaman belajar secara nyata untuk hidup di tengah-tengah masyarakat secara langsung, mengidentifikasi, serta membantu menangani masalah-masalah yang ada di lingkungan masyarakat. Tujuan dilaksanakannya KKN oleh Universitas Bengkulu adalah agar mahasiswa memperoleh pengalaman belajar melalui keterlibatannya dalam masyarakat secara langsung, dapat memberikan sumbangan pikiran berdasarkan ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi yang diperoleh selama kuliah, serta dapat meningkatkan hubungan antara Universitas Bengkulu dengan pemerintahan daerah, Instansi serta warga di lokasi KKN. Salah satu lokasi KKN mahasiswa UNIB Periode 99 adalah di Kelurahan Sumber Jaya RT 18 RW 06, Kecamatan Kampung Melayu, Kota Bengkulu. Pelaksanaan KKN di samping dilakukan secara reguler, juga dilaksanakan melalui program khusus sesuai dengan situasi dan kondisi yang ada pada masyarakat. Kegiatan mahasiswa KKN dilakukan dengan proses pendampingan dan kontrol oleh Dosen Pembimbing Lapangan (DPL) secara terprogram.

Melalui program KKN, Universitas Bengkulu menugaskan mahasiswa KKN dalam melaksanakan tema OSSOF (One Student Save One Family) serta menugaskan mahasiswa KKN untuk ikut serta memberikan gagasan, ide, pemikiran dan tindakan. Oleh karena itu kelompok kami menetapkan program kerja yang sesuai dengan tema KKN tersebut yaitu Membangun kejar (kampoeng belajar) untuk anak-anak di kelurahan sumber jaya RT 18 RW06 sebagai wadah anak-anak untuk meningkatkan minat belajar. Selain itu, kelompok kami juga memiliki proker lainnya, yaitu pembuatan plang nama untuk tokoh masyarakat (RT, RW, Ketua muda mudi) serta plang penunjuk jalan menuju TPS3R, sebagai penanda dan mempermudah untuk mencari sebuah alamat yang akan dituju.

Adapun metode yang digunakan dalam Kuliah Kerja Nyata ini adalah observasi, yaitu dilakukannya peninjauan atau pengamatan secara langsung dengan melihat kegiatan-kegiatan sekitar lokasi kegiatan pelaksanaan KKN. Pada tahapan pelaksanaan, mahasiswa mempersiapkan materi terlebih dahulu terkait dengan kegiatan yang akan dilakukan.
Malalas’ Chronographia and Islamic Representations of Early Roman History
Authors: Tayyara Abed el-Rahman
Published: September 2023

Situated chronologically within the transition from Late Antiquity to Islam, the article echoes certain facets of the Byzantine-Islamic intellectual dialogues. Geographically, it reflects scholarly activities within the Antiochene sphere of influence. The essay particularly considers the extent to which John Malalas’ Chronographia impacted early Islamic representations of early Roman history in terms of materials, themes, and narrative arrangement. At the centre of this inquiry is the foundation narrative of the city of Rome and the story of Romulus and Remus. An emphasis is placed here on the crucial role that Melkite Arab-Christian historians played in the transmission of these narratives. Syriac intermediaries serve here as essential links in the path of transmission form Malalas to Islamic historical writings. The study, which is a comparative textual analysis of relevant accounts, illuminates certain facets of the Byzantine-Islamic intellectual encounters regarding the conveyance of historical knowledge and the construction of historiographic worldview. The consideration of these transformations offers a distinctive viewpoint for understanding features of the transmission of knowledge beyond the Judeo-Christian or Greco-Syriac milieus.
Darío Villanueva Prieto (2021). «Morderse la lengua. Corrección política y posverdad»
Authors: Martín del Pino Carmen
Published: September 2023

Darío Villanueva Prieto (2021). «Morderse la lengua. Corrección política y posverdad», Barcelona, Espasa, 2021, 380 pp. ISBN: 978-84-670-6198-7
Biomimetic on-chip assay reveals the anti-metastatic potential of a novel thienopyrimidine compound in triple-negative breast cancer cell lines
Authors: Sigdel Indira , Ofori-Kwafo Awurama , Heizelman Robert J. , Nestor-Kalinoski Andrea , Prabhakarpandian Balabhaskar , Tiwari Amit K. , Tang Yuan
Published: September 2023

Introduction: This study presents a microfluidic tumor microenvironment (TME) model for evaluating the anti-metastatic efficacy of a novel thienopyrimidines analog with anti-cancer properties utilizing an existing commercial platform. The microfluidic device consists of a tissue compartment flanked by vascular channels, allowing for the co-culture of multiple cell types and providing a wide range of culturing conditions in one device.

Methods: Human metastatic, drug-resistant triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells (SUM159PTX) and primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were used to model the TME. A dynamic perfusion scheme was employed to facilitate EC physiological function and lumen formation.

Results: The measured permeability of the EC barrier was comparable to observed microvessels permeability in vivo. The TNBC cells formed a 3D tumor, and co-culture with HUVEC negatively impacted EC barrier integrity. The microfluidic TME was then used to model the intravenous route of drug delivery. Paclitaxel (PTX) and a novel non-apoptotic agent TPH104c were introduced via the vascular channels and successfully reached the TNBC tumor, resulting in both time and concentration-dependent tumor growth inhibition. PTX treatment significantly reduced EC barrier integrity, highlighting the adverse effects of PTX on vascular ECs. TPH104c preserved EC barrier integrity and prevented TNBC intravasation.

Discussion: In conclusion, this study demonstrates the potential of microfluidics for studying complex biological processes in a controlled environment and evaluating the efficacy and toxicity of chemotherapeutic agents in more physiologically relevant conditions. This model can be a valuable tool for screening potential anticancer drugs and developing personalized cancer treatment strategies.
Tau protein modulates an epigenetic mechanism of cellular senescence in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells
Authors: Magrin Claudia , Bellafante Martina , Sola Martina , Piovesana Ester , Bolis Marco , Cascione Luciano , Napoli Sara , Rinaldi Andrea , Papin Stéphanie , Paganetti Paolo
Published: September 2023

Introduction: Progressive Tau deposition in neurofibrillary tangles and neuropil threads is the hallmark of tauopathies, a disorder group that includes Alzheimer’s disease. Since Tau is a microtubule-associated protein, a prevalent concept to explain the pathogenesis of tauopathies is that abnormal Tau modification contributes to dissociation from microtubules, assembly into multimeric β-sheets, proteotoxicity, neuronal dysfunction and cell loss. Tau also localizes in the cell nucleus and evidence supports an emerging function of Tau in DNA stability and epigenetic modulation.

Methods: To better characterize the possible role of Tau in regulation of chromatin compaction and subsequent gene expression, we performed a bioinformatics analysis of transcriptome data obtained from Tau-depleted human neuroblastoma cells.

Results: Among the transcripts deregulated in a Tau-dependent manner, we found an enrichment of target genes for the polycomb repressive complex 2. We further describe decreased cellular amounts of the core components of the polycomb repressive complex 2 and lower histone 3 trimethylation in Tau deficient cells. Among the de-repressed polycomb repressive complex 2 target gene products, IGFBP3 protein was found to be linked to increased senescence induction in Tau-deficient cells.

Discussion: Our findings propose a mechanism for Tau-dependent epigenetic modulation of cell senescence, a key event in pathologic aging.
Rethinking urban riparian ecosystems as a frontline strategy to counter climate change: mapping 60 years of carbon sequestration evolution in Padua, Italy
Authors: Peroni Francesca , Codato Daniele , Buscemi Luca , Cibrario Marco , Pappalardo Salvatore Eugenio , De Marchi Massimo
Published: September 2023

Nature-based solutions (NBSs) are considered essential measures to face climate change in cities. Riparian ecosystems are often undervalued as NBSs even if they represent an “already plugged-in” ecosystem service provider. However, applied research on urban riparian ecosystems is scarce. To fill the gap, this study frames the role of these ecosystems as a frontline mitigation and adaptation strategy by (i) investigating how urban riparian ecosystems experienced a process of urbanization from World War II until today in Padua (Italy), (ii) estimating how effective was carbon sequestration, and (iii) assessing how an afforestation process might contribute to mitigation scenarios. Land use/land cover changes are first mapped with high-resolution aerial images and, by using InVEST models, carbon sequestration is estimated. Results highlight that impervious surfaces notably increased along these ecosystems; hence, carbon sequestration was negative (−928 Mg/C). The future scenario (2022–2050) indicates an increase of carbon stocks (+4,329.95 Mg/C), giving a contribution toward city carbon neutrality. Results suggest that, in the recent past, the urban management and policies did not provide clear and well-defined planning of these areas. On the contrary, at present, urban riparian ecosystems might represent already existing multi-functional NBSs to be restored and enhanced within cities for climate-resilient planning and for increasing the life quality of city dwellers. Finally, our methodology provides a replicable spatial database for supporting urban planning policies.
A tale of two scandals: scale shift and the inefficacy of crisis communication management in Olympic scandals
Authors: Meier Henk Erik , Tickell Samuel , Konjer Mara Verena
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Mega sporting events, such as the Olympic Games, provide niche sports with unique opportunities to attract public attention. However, scandals during these events can pose serious threats to these sports. In particular, if a sport scandal enables hostile stakeholders to achieve a scale shift, it becomes almost impossible for a niche sport organization to manage the scandal.

Methods

The article employs a comparative research design that examines the trajectory of two scandals related to the German Olympic team that differ with regard to the occurrence of a scale shift. The first scandal involved a racist slur made by a German official during a cycling event; the second scandal was a case of animal cruelty during the modern pentathlon's equestrian event. Research relies on a mix of qualitative document analyses and quantitative analyses of the German Twitter discourse on both scandals. The analyses focus on the vulnerability to scandals, the potential for contentious politics, the scandal triggering events, the crisis communication, the reception, and the outcomes of both scandals.

Results and discussion

Our results show the detrimental impact of a scale shift on niche sports. The animal cruelty scandal put the future of the modern pentathlon at the Olympics at risk and triggered far-reaching reforms. The case supports the idea that a scale shift becomes more likely if there exists an effective collective action frame. In contrast, the German sports organizations effectively ended the racist slur scandal by imposing a limited sanction on the offender.
Enhancing attention in autism spectrum disorder: comparative analysis of virtual reality-based training programs using physiological data
Authors: Sanku Bhavya Sri , Li Yi (Joy) , Jung Sungchul , Mei Chao , He Jing (Selena)
Published: September 2023

Background

The ability to maintain attention is crucial for achieving success in various aspects of life, including academic pursuits, career advancement, and social interactions. Attention deficit disorder (ADD) is a common symptom associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which can pose challenges for individuals affected by it, impacting their social interactions and learning abilities. To address this issue, virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising tool for attention training with the ability to create personalized virtual worlds, providing a conducive platform for attention-focused interventions. Furthermore, leveraging physiological data can be instrumental in the development and enhancement of attention-training techniques for individuals.

Methods

In our preliminary study, a functional prototype for attention therapy systems was developed. In the current phase, the objective is to create a framework called VR-PDA (Virtual Reality Physiological Data Analysis) that utilizes physiological data for tracking and improving attention in individuals. Four distinct training strategies such as noise, score, object opacity, and red vignette are implemented in this framework. The primary goal is to leverage virtual reality technology and physiological data analysis to enhance attentional capabilities.

Results

Our data analysis results revealed that reinforcement training strategies are crucial for improving attention in individuals with ASD, while they are not significant for non-autistic individuals. Among all the different strategies employed, the noise strategy demonstrates superior efficacy in training attention among individuals with ASD. On the other hand, for Non-ASD individuals, no specific training proves to be effective in enhancing attention. The total gazing time feature exhibited benefits for participants with and without ASD.

Discussion

The results consistently demonstrated favorable outcomes for both groups, indicating an enhanced level of attentiveness. These findings provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of different strategies for attention training and emphasize the potential of virtual reality (VR) and physiological data in attention training programs for individuals with ASD. The results of this study open up new avenues for further research and inspire future developments.
Syntactic variation across the grammar: modelling a complex adaptive system
Authors: Dunn Jonathan
Published: September 2023

While language is a complex adaptive system, most work on syntactic variation observes a few individual constructions in isolation from the rest of the grammar. This means that the grammar, a network which connects thousands of structures at different levels of abstraction, is reduced to a few disconnected variables. This paper quantifies the impact of such reductions by systematically modelling dialectal variation across 49 local populations of English speakers in 16 countries. We perform dialect classification with both an entire grammar as well as with isolated nodes within the grammar in order to characterize the syntactic differences between these dialects. The results show, first, that many individual nodes within the grammar are subject to variation but, in isolation, none perform as well as the grammar as a whole. This indicates that an important part of syntactic variation consists of interactions between different parts of the grammar. Second, the results show that the similarity between dialects depends heavily on the sub-set of the grammar being observed: for example, New Zealand English could be more similar to Australian English in phrasal verbs but at the same time more similar to UK English in dative phrases.
Understanding the performance and reliability of NLP tools: a comparison of four NLP tools predicting stroke phenotypes in radiology reports
Authors: Casey Arlene , Davidson Emma , Grover Claire , Tobin Richard , Grivas Andreas , Zhang Huayu , Schrempf Patrick , O’Neil Alison Q. , Lee Liam , Walsh Michael , Pellie Freya , Ferguson Karen , Cvoro Vera , Wu Honghan , Whalley Heather , Mair Grant , Whiteley William , Alex Beatrice
Published: September 2023

Background

Natural language processing (NLP) has the potential to automate the reading of radiology reports, but there is a need to demonstrate that NLP methods are adaptable and reliable for use in real-world clinical applications.

Methods

We tested the F1 score, precision, and recall to compare NLP tools on a cohort from a study on delirium using images and radiology reports from NHS Fife and a population-based cohort (Generation Scotland) that spans multiple National Health Service health boards. We compared four off-the-shelf rule-based and neural NLP tools (namely, EdIE-R, ALARM+, ESPRESSO, and Sem-EHR) and reported on their performance for three cerebrovascular phenotypes, namely, ischaemic stroke, small vessel disease (SVD), and atrophy. Clinical experts from the EdIE-R team defined phenotypes using labelling techniques developed in the development of EdIE-R, in conjunction with an expert researcher who read underlying images.

Results

EdIE-R obtained the highest F1 score in both cohorts for ischaemic stroke, ≥93%, followed by ALARM+, ≥87%. The F1 score of ESPRESSO was ≥74%, whilst that of Sem-EHR is ≥66%, although ESPRESSO had the highest precision in both cohorts, 90% and 98%. For F1 scores for SVD, EdIE-R scored ≥98% and ALARM+ ≥90%. ESPRESSO scored lowest with ≥77% and Sem-EHR ≥81%. In NHS Fife, F1 scores for atrophy by EdIE-R and ALARM+ were 99%, dropping in Generation Scotland to 96% for EdIE-R and 91% for ALARM+. Sem-EHR performed lowest for atrophy at 89% in NHS Fife and 73% in Generation Scotland. When comparing NLP tool output with brain image reads using F1 scores, ALARM+ scored 80%, outperforming EdIE-R at 66% in ischaemic stroke. For SVD, EdIE-R performed best, scoring 84%, with Sem-EHR 82%. For atrophy, EdIE-R and both ALARM+ versions were comparable at 80%.

Conclusions

The four NLP tools show varying F1 (and precision/recall) scores across all three phenotypes, although more apparent for ischaemic stroke. If NLP tools are to be used in clinical settings, this cannot be performed “out of the box.” It is essential to understand the context of their development to assess whether they are suitable for the task at hand or whether further training, re-training, or modification is required to adapt tools to the target task.
Validating the Grit-S scale among postgraduate students in a South African distance education institution
Authors: Young Kelly Anne , Archer Elizabeth
Published: September 2023

Grit has been associated with student success in a plethora of higher education (HE) studies. In order to measure and evaluate the predictive validity of grit in student success in a particular context, an appropriate, reliable and valid instrument is required. This paper examines the short grit scale’s (Grit-S) psychometric properties among a sample of 837 postgraduate students enrolled at the University of South Africa (UNISA). This appears to be the first study to explore the psychometric rigour of the scale among postgraduates within a South African distance education (DE) setting. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) followed by partial confirmatory factor analysis (PCFA) revealed that the same two factors commonly reported in the grit literature could be detected in the items tested (i.e. ‘passion’ and ‘perseverance’ for long-term goals), and in combination explained 57.22% of the variance. Model fit indices for the two-factor solution were satisfactory (NFI = 0.984; TLI = 0.981; CFI = 0.991; RMSEA = 0.038). Further results from the item analysis indicated that both factors (passion and perseverance) were soundly reliable, as was the overall Grit-S scale, yielding Cronbach Alpha values of ≥0.77. Overall, the study provides promising evidence that the Grit-S scale can validly and reliably be used to operationalise grit (and the separate dimensions of perseverance and passion) among postgraduates pursuing their DE studies. Further theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Risk of osteoporosis in patients treated with direct oral anticoagulants vs. warfarin: an analysis of observational studies
Authors: Liu Yumeng , Xie Xiaoping , Bi Songqi , Zhang Qiong , Song Qingxu , Sun Yang , Yu Tiecheng
Published: September 2023

Aims

Evidence on the association between the risk of new-onset osteoporosis and oral anticoagulants remains controversial. We aimed to compare the risk of osteoporosis associated with the use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) with that associated with warfarin use.

Methods

Studies published up to 15 March 2023 that investigated the association between the use of DOACs and warfarin and the incidence of osteoporosis were identified by online searches in PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science conducted by two independent investigators. Random-effects or fixed-effect models were employed to synthesize hazard ratios (HRs)/relative ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for estimating the risk of osteoporosis correlated with DOAC and warfarin prescriptions (PROSPERO No. CRD42023401199).

Results

Our meta-analysis ultimately included four studies involving 74,338 patients. The results suggested that DOAC use was associated with a significantly lower incidence of new-onset osteoporosis than warfarin use (pooled HR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.57 to 0.88, p < 0.001, I2: 85.1%). Subanalyses revealed that rivaroxaban was associated with a lower risk of osteoporosis than both warfarin and dabigatran. In addition, DOACs were associated with a lower risk of developing osteoporosis than warfarin in both male and female patients, in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), and in patients who underwent therapy for > 365 days.

Conclusion

DOAC users experienced a lower incidence of osteoporosis than warfarin users. This study may give us insight into safe anticoagulation strategies for patients who are at high risk of developing osteoporosis.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO, identifier CRD42023401199.
Opportunistic mobile air quality mapping using sensors on postal service vehicles: from point clouds to actionable insights
Authors: Hofman Jelle , Panzica La Manna Valerio , Ibarrola-Ulzurrun Edurne , Peters Jan , Escribano Hierro Miguel , Van Poppel Martine
Published: September 2023

This study aimed to examine the validity of a mobile air quality sensor fleet in improving pollution exposure assessments in urban areas. The scope of this study involved experimental setup (sensor validation and calibration), evaluation of spatiotemporal data coverage, and analysis of the representativity of the collected mobile data. The results showed that indicative sensor data quality can be achieved after NO2 co-location calibration, although particulate matter exhibited unsatisfactory performance. An extensive mobile air quality dataset was collected in Antwerp city between February and September 2021, covering 945 km of road by a total of ∼7.9 million data points, yielding an average segment coverage of 1,050 measurements per street segment (median = 62). The collected mobile data were made available in an open data repository. From the introduced area (%) and street segment (n) coverage, we can conclude that opportunistic data collection using service fleet vehicles (e.g., postal vans) is an efficient approach for covering a wide spatial area and collecting many repeated runs (∼200 measurements/segment/month). Monthly maps showed recurring pollution gradients with hotspot locations both at the suspected (e.g., busy traffic arteries) and unexpected locations, with observed increments greatly exceeding the observed inter-sensor uncertainty. The existing air quality monitoring network (five air quality monitoring stations) properly reflected the observed NO2 exposure range (temporal variability), which was documented by the sensor fleet in Antwerp. The spatial exposure variability was improved significantly by the sensor fleet with 59% of the total street length covered after 1 month of mobile deployment (February–March). We required ∼45 repeated passages (31 after post-processing) to derive representative long-term NO2 exposure data from this opportunistic dataset. Our findings suggested that opportunistic data collection using sensors on service fleet vehicles is a valid approach for pollution exposure assessments, through proper validation and calibration strategy. Temporary deployment of mobile sensors was a valuable approach for cities with a less extensive (or lack) air quality monitoring network or those who want a more fine-grained air quality mapping.
50 years of the Nobel Prize to Lorenz, Tinbergen, and von Frisch: integrating behavioral function into an ethology for the 21st century
Authors: Font Enrique
Published: September 2023

The 50th anniversary of the awarding of the Nobel Prize to Konrad Lorenz, Niko Tinbergen, and Karl von Frisch, arguably one of the most significant events in the history of ethology, has gone virtually unnoticed. Students and newcomers to the field may be wrongly led to believe that ethology has lost its prominent role as the leading discipline at the forefront of studies of animal behavior with a biological foundation. However, the decline of ethology is more apparent than real, in part a consequence of tying the discipline to a particular theoretical approach (i.e., that of classical ethology), but also due to the historical amnesia affecting many areas of science and the uneasy relationship of ethology with some of its own subdisciplines. Behavioral ecology emerged in the 1970s as an ethological subdiscipline devoted to the study of behavioral function, one of the four aims of ethology famously identified by Tinbergen. Behavioral ecology became extremely popular, but was criticized due to its narrow focus on behavioral function. With the new millennium came a return to a more balanced approach to the study of animal behavior, with frequent calls to recover the balance between the different areas of study and the integrative spirit that many consider one of the most distinctive features of ethology. Still, some behavioral ecologists contend that ethology disappeared shortly after Lorenz, Tinbergen, and von Frisch’s Nobel Prize award and has been replaced by behavioral ecology, and offer revisionist narratives of the aims and scope of both disciplines in support of this contention. Contrary to this view, modern ethology remains a necessary and coherent endeavor that encompasses and subsumes all four of Tinbergen’s aims, including those considered to be part of the agenda of behavioral ecology. The challenge for the next 50 years will be to preserve the ethological legacy of pursuing the four aims and their integration across levels of biological organization, taxa, methodologies, and interdisciplinary boundaries for a complete understanding of animal behavior.
Dry matter dynamics and carbon flux along riverine forests of Gori valley, Western Himalaya
Authors: Bisht Soni , Bargali Surendra Singh , Bargali Kiran , Rawat Yashwant Singh , Rawat Gopal Singh
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Riverine forests in the Himalaya represent a biodiverse, dynamic, and complex ecosystem that offers numerous ecosystem services to local and downstream communities and also contributes to the regional carbon cycle. However, these forests have not been assessed for their contribution to dry matter dynamics and carbon flux. We studied these parameters along three classes of riverine forests in eastern Uttarakhand, dominated by Macaranga, Alnus, and Quercus-Machilus forest.

Methods

Using volume equations, we assessed tree biomass, carbon storage, and sequestration in the study area.

Results

The total standing tree biomass in Macaranga, Alnus, and Quercus-Machilus forest ranged from 256.6 to 558.1  Mg  ha−1, 460.7 to 485.8 Mg ha−1, and 508.6 to 692.1 Mg ha−1, respectively. A total of 77.6–79.6% of vegetation biomass was stored in the aboveground biomass and 20.4–22.4% in belowground plant parts across the riverine forests. The carbon stock in Macaranga forest ranged from 115.5 to 251.1 Mg ha−1, in Alnus forest from 207.3 to 218.6 Mg ha−1, and in Quercus-Machilus forest from 228.9 to 311.4 Mg ha−1. The mean annual litterfall was accounted maximum for Quercus-Machilus forest (5.94  ±  0.54 Mg ha−1 yr.−1), followed by Alnus (5.57  ±  0.31 Mg ha−1 yr.−1) and Macaranga forest (4.67  ±  0.39 Mg ha−1 yr.−1). The highest value of litterfall was recorded during summer (3.40  ±  0.01 Mg ha−1 yr.−1) and the lowest in winter (0.74  ±  0.01 Mg ha−1 yr.−1). The mean value of net primary productivity and carbon sequestration was estimated to be highest in Quercus-Machilus forest (15.8  ±  0.9 Mg ha−1 yr.−1 and 7.1  ±  0.9 Mg C ha−1 yr.−1, respectively) and lowest in Alnus forest (13.9  ±  0.3 Mg ha−1 yr.−1 and 6.1  ±  0.3 Mg C ha−1 yr.−1, respectively).

Discussion

The results highlight that riverine forests play a critical role in providing a large sink for atmospheric CO2. To improve sustainable ecosystem services and climate change mitigation, riverine forests must be effectively managed and conserved in the region.
The influence of [H2SiO4]2- from mineral admixtures on the hydration process of tricalcium silicate: a DFT study
Authors: Dong Haotian , Cheng Jie , Feng Yuhao , Liu Houjun
Published: September 2023

Mineral admixtures are increasingly being employed in concrete production to replace cement, thus reducing carbon dioxide emissions. However, leaching of silicon can exert a significant influence on the cement hydration process. In this study, density functional theory was used to study the influence of [H2SiO4]2- on the adsorption and dissociation of water on the C3S surface in the initial hydration process. The results demonstrate that [H2SiO4]2- can promote the dissociation of water molecules around it. This is mainly due to the fact that the two non-hydroxylated O atoms of [H2SiO4]2- can adsorb the dissociated H from water molecules, thus preserving more active ionic O sites on the C3S surface, thereby promoting the dissociation of water molecules. The charge transfer and bonding mechanisms of the adsorption of [H2SiO4]2- with its hydration shell were also calculated. This work provides an atomic-level understanding of the influence of the aluminum phase from the mineral admixture on the initial hydration of cement and also offers certain assistance for the widespread application of mineral admixtures.
Medical education through an invasion: insights from an elective programme for Ukrainian medical students at the University of Cambridge
Authors: Hodkinson Joy , Lillicrap Mark , Wilkinson Paul , Bevan Stephen , Shenheliia Tamari , Chupina Vilena , Fuld Jonathan
Published: September 2023

Medical students in Ukraine have faced extraordinary disruption to their clinical studies with both the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent Russian military invasion forcing a majority of their learning to be conducted remotely. Over the summer of 2022, the School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge hosted 20 medical students from Kharkiv National Medical University for a seven-week intensive clinical elective programme. The aim was to provide an immersive clinical placement that would help students to attain the necessary knowledge and experience to become competent and confident practising doctors. This perspective piece aims to support the development of future equivalent exchanges through outlining the placement’s context, its planning and implementation, evidence of placement impact, and finally reflections and learning points.
A clinical evaluation of an ex vivo organ culture system to predict patient response to cancer therapy
Authors: Golan Shay , Bar Vered , Salpeter Seth J. , Neev Guy , Creiderman German , Kedar Daniel , Aharon Sara , Turovsky Lubov , Zundelevich Adi , Shahar Hamutal , Shapira Hagit , Mallel Giuseppe , Stossel Erez , Gavert Nancy , Straussman Ravid , Dotan Zohar , Berger Raanan , Stossel Chani , Golan Talia , Halperin Sharon , Leibovici Dan , Breuer Shani , Rottenberg Yakir , Applebaum Liat , Hubert Ayala , Nechushtan Hovav , Peretz Tamar , Zick Aviad , Chertin Boris , Koulikov Dmitry , Sonnenblick Amir , Rosenbaum Eli
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Ex vivo organ cultures (EVOC) were recently optimized to sustain cancer tissue for 5 days with its complete microenvironment. We examined the ability of an EVOC platform to predict patient response to cancer therapy.

Methods

A multicenter, prospective, single-arm observational trial. Samples were obtained from patients with newly diagnosed bladder cancer who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumor and from core needle biopsies of patients with metastatic cancer. The tumors were cut into 250 μM slices and cultured within 24 h, then incubated for 96 h with vehicle or intended to treat drug. The cultures were then fixed and stained to analyze their morphology and cell viability. Each EVOC was given a score based on cell viability, level of damage, and Ki67 proliferation, and the scores were correlated with the patients’ clinical response assessed by pathology or Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST).

Results

The cancer tissue and microenvironment, including endothelial and immune cells, were preserved at high viability with continued cell division for 5 days, demonstrating active cell signaling dynamics. A total of 34 cancer samples were tested by the platform and were correlated with clinical results. A higher EVOC score was correlated with better clinical response. The EVOC system showed a predictive specificity of 77.7% (7/9, 95% CI 0.4–0.97) and a sensitivity of 96% (24/25, 95% CI 0.80–0.99).

Conclusion

EVOC cultured for 5 days showed high sensitivity and specificity for predicting clinical response to therapy among patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer and other solid tumors.
Development and properties of functional yoghurt enriched with postbiotic produced by yoghurt cultures using cheese whey and skim milk
Authors: Sadighbathi Sepideh , Saris Per E. J. , Amiri Saber , Yousefvand Amin
Published: September 2023

This study aimed to examine the effects of supplementation of postbiotics derived from Streptococcus thermophilus (ST) and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus (LB) in cheese whey (CW) and skim milk (SM) on antioxidant activity, viability of yoghurt starters, and quality parameters of low-fat yoghurt during 22 days of storage. The LB-CW (L delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus postbiotic-containing cheese whey) sample exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, with 18.71% inhibition (p > 0.05). This sample also showed the highest water holding capacity (77.93%; p < 0.05) and a trend toward receiving the most favorable sensory attributes (p > 0.05) compared to the other samples. The LB-CW and LB-SM yoghurt samples exhibited significantly higher body and texture scores compared to the ST-SM-fortified yoghurt (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the overall acceptability of the LB-SM and ST-SM yoghurt samples across both starters (p > 0.05). Such findings highlight the potential of postbiotics as functional ingredients to enhance the nutritional and sensory aspects of yoghurt, further contributing to its appeal as a health-promoting product.
Individual differences in age-related neurocognitive outcomes: within-subject assessment of memory for odors
Authors: Branch Audrey E. , Glover Lucas R. , Gallagher Michela
Published: September 2023

Cognitive decline is a common feature of aging, particularly in memory domains supported by the medial temporal lobe (MTL). The ability to identify intervention strategies to treat or prevent this decline is challenging due to substantial variability between adults in terms of age of onset, rate and severity of decline, and many factors that could influence cognitive reserve. These factors can be somewhat mitigated by use of within-subject designs. Aged outbred Long-Evans rats have proven useful for identifying translationally relevant substrates contributing to age-related decline in MTL-dependent memory. In this population, some animals show reliable impairment on MTL-dependent tasks while others perform within the range of young adult rats. However, currently there are relatively few within-subject behavior protocols for assessing MTL function over time, and most require extensive training and appetitive motivation for associative learning. In the current study, we aimed to test whether water maze learning impairments in aged Long-Evans rats would be predictive of delayed recognition memory impairments and whether these odor memory impairments would be stable within subjects over multiple rounds of testing.
Complexity-based graph convolutional neural network for epilepsy diagnosis in normal, acute, and chronic stages
Authors: Zheng Shiming , Zhang Xiaopei , Song Panpan , Hu Yue , Gong Xi , Peng Xiaoling
Published: September 2023

Introduction

The automatic precision detection technology based on electroencephalography (EEG) is essential in epilepsy studies. It can provide objective proof for epilepsy diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation, thus helping doctors improve treatment efficiency. At present, the normal and acute phases of epilepsy can be well identified through EEG analysis, but distinguishing between the normal and chronic phases is still tricky.

Methods

In this paper, five popular complexity indicators of EEG signal, including approximate entropy, sample entropy, permutation entropy, fuzzy entropy and Kolmogorov complexity, are computed from rat hippocampi to characterize the normal, acute, and chronic phases during epileptogenesis. Results of one-way ANOVA and principal component analysis both show that utilizing complexity features, we are able to easily identify differences between normal, acute, and chronic phases. We also propose an innovative framework for epilepsy detection based on graph convolutional neural network (GCNN) using multi-channel EEG complexity as input.

Results

Combining information of five complexity measures at eight channels, our GCNN model demonstrate superior ability in recognizing the normal, acute, and chronic phases. Experiments results show that our GCNN model reached the high prediction accuracy above 98% and F1 score above 97% among these three phases for each individual rat.

Discussion

Our research practice based on real data shows that EEG complexity characteristics are of great significance for recognizing different stages of epilepsy.
Effects of imipramine on cancer patients over-expressing Fascin1; description of the HITCLIF clinical trial
Authors: Asensi-Cantó Antonio , Rodríguez-Braun Edith , Beltrán-Videla Asunción , Hurtado Ana María , Conesa-Zamora Pablo
Published: September 2023

Background

Tumor invasion and metastasis are responsible for the majority of cancer-related deaths. The identification of molecules involved in these processes is crucial to design effective treatments that can halt the progression of cancer. To spread and metastasize, tumor cells must restructure their cytoskeleton and emit protrusions. A key molecule in this process of creating these invading structures is Fascin1, the main protein involved in the formation of actin cytoskeleton bundles and a consistent marker of bad prognosis in several types of cancer. Recent studies have shown that imipramine, an FDA- and EMA-approved antidepressant, can block Fascin1and prevent the formation of actin bundles, making it a promising candidate for the treatment of Fascin1-expressing cancers. As a result, a clinical trial will be conducted to assess the efficacy of imipramine being the first experimental clinical study selecting patients based on Fascin1 expression.

Methods

The HITCLIF trial is a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized and non-commercial phase II clinical trial conducted in parallel groups to evaluate the effectiveness of the tricyclic antidepressant imipramine as anti-invasive agent in the treatment of localized colon, rectal and triple negative breast cancer patients with overexpression of Fascin1. Eligible patients will be randomly assigned, in a 1:1 ratio, to receive imipramine or placebo. Patients will be stratified into 2 groups according to whether administration of imipramine is concomitant with neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen. Group A will receive imipramine alone without neoadjuvant chemotherapy, while Group B will receive imipramine treatment along with the standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen. The primary endpoint of the trial is the grade of alteration in the prognostic histopathological features at invasive margins (tumor budding, cytoplasmic pseudo-fragments, tumor growth pattern, and peritumoral lymphocytic infiltration).

Discussion

Fascin1 is an interesting therapeutical target as it plays a causative role in the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells. Moreover, its expression is virtually absent in normal epithelia but highly expressed in cancer with bad prognosis. In silico, in vitro and in vivo studies by our group have demonstrated that the antidepressant imipramine has Fascin1-dependant anti-invasive and anti-metastatic effects in colorectal cancer cells. Now we are recruiting patients in a clinical trial based on Fascin1 over-expression in which administration of imipramine will be carried out during the period between the diagnosis biopsy and surgical resection to explore the drug effects on tumor invasive front.

Clinical trial registration

https:///www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/trial/2021-001328-17/ES, identifier 2021-001328-17.
Construction and validation of a novel prognostic model for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma based on a combined scoring system of systemic immune-inflammation index and albumin-bilirubin: a multicenter study
Authors: Zhang Haofeng , Li Qingshan , Huang Guan , Yang Zhenwei , Chen Kunlun , Meng Bo , Yu Haibo
Published: September 2023

Background

The degree of inflammation and immune status is widely recognized to be associated with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and is closely linked to poor postoperative survival. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII) and the albumin bilirubin (ALBI) grade together exhibit better predictive strength compared to SII and ALBI separately in patients with ICC undergoing curative surgical resection.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed on a cohort of 374 patients with histologically confirmed ICC who underwent curative surgical resection from January 2016 to January 2020 at three medical centers. The cohort was divided into a training set comprising 258 patients and a validation set consisting of 116 patients. Subsequently, the prognostic predictive abilities of three indicators, namely SII, ALBI, and SII+ALBI grade, were evaluated. Independent risk factors were identified through univariate and multivariate analyses. The identified independent risk factors were then utilized to construct a nomogram prediction model, and the predictive strength of the nomogram prediction model was assessed through Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) survival curves and calibration curves.

Results

Univariate analysis of the training set, consisting of 258 eligible patients with ICC, revealed that SII, ALBI, and SII+ALBI grade were significant prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed the independent significance of SII+ALBI grade as a risk factor for postoperative OS and RFS (p < 0.05). Furthermore, we conducted an analysis of the correlation between SII, ALBI, SII+ALBI grade, and clinical features, indicating that SII+ALBI grade exhibited stronger associations with clinical and pathological characteristics compared to SII and ALBI. We constructed a predictive model for postoperative survival in ICC based on SII+ALBI grade, as determined by the results of multivariate analysis. Evaluation of the model’s predictive strength was performed through ROC survival curves and calibration curves in the training set and validation set, revealing favorable predictive performance.

Conclusion

The SII+ALBI grade, a novel classification based on inflammatory and immune status, serves as a reliable prognostic indicator for postoperative OS and RFS in patients with ICC.