bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Allele-specific methylation of SSTR4 associated with aging and cognitive functions in patients with schizophrenia
Authors: Zhao Rongrong , Shi Huihui , Wang Yanqiu , Jiang Tao , Xu Yahui
Published: February 2025

The co-occurrence of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and schizophrenia is prevalent, with a rate of 33.7%. Previous research has suggested a genetic and epigenetic overlap between these two disorders. SSTR4, a member of the somatostatin receptor family, is implicated in various neurological and psychiatric conditions, including cognitive function, AUD, and schizophrenia. However, the role of genetic-epigenetic interactions involving SSTR4 in patients with schizophrenia remains unexplored. In this study, we conducted an integration of publicly available datasets and identified allele-specific methylation patterns in SSTR4. Additionally, we pinpointed several genetic variants (rs17691954, rs11464356, rs3109190, and rs145879288) that influence the pace of aging and cognitive functions (rs705935) through their quantitative trait loci effects on CpG sites within SSTR4.
Building support for children and families affected by stroke (BUILD CARE): Study protocol
Authors: Kevdzija Maja , Bartha-Doering Lisa , Heying Ruth , Heylighen Ann , Jelić Andrea , Jellema Pleuntje , Kalhorn Anna Franziska , Mandl Sophie , Marquardt Gesine , Moser Birgit , Muszynska-Spielauer Magdalena , Ortibus Els , Renner Anna-Theresa , Schoß Anne-Sophie , Tutenel Piet
Published: February 2025

Childhood stroke is a rare condition that significantly impacts affected children and their families due to children’s frequently persisting cognitive, physical, and behavioural problems. Existing research on adult stroke shows that the built environment plays a major role in their (partial or possible) recovery and everyday life, but its role has been overlooked in children population. This multidisciplinary research study aims to investigate (1) the role of informal (i.e., home, neighbourhood, school) and formal (i.e., hospital, rehabilitation clinic, outpatient clinic) care environments in the everyday life of children and families confronted with childhood stroke; (2) the families’ financial burden resulting from this rare disease and their economic situation likely affecting the access to care, informal care provision and ability to carry out home modifications.; as well as (3) children’s stroke-related cognitive impairments affecting their experiences of the built environment and their care. The research consists of the preparatory research phase, where existing materials are explored, and three main research phases, each related to one or multiple project objectives. A multi-method approach is adopted, including qualitative (in-depth interviews and participatory creative methods) and quantitative (online questionnaire and cognitive assessments) research methods. Participants are children affected by stroke and their families in Austria, Belgium and Germany. This is a 3-year project that will continue until the end of August 2025. Ethical approvals in all countries were obtained at the time of protocol submission, and data collection for all three research phases started in the second half of 2023 and is currently ongoing. This project will offer first insights into the role of built (care) environments in the experiences of families affected by childhood stroke. Findings are expected to deliver information on their design to improve the life of children affected by this rare disease and their families.
Pleiotropic effects of a recessive Col1a2 mutation occurring in a mouse model of severe osteogenesis imperfecta
Authors: Corcelli Michelangelo , Sagar Rachel , Petzendorfer Ellen , Hasan Mohammad Mehedi , van Dijk Fleur S. , David Anna L. , Guillot Pascale V.
Published: February 2025

In Europe, approximately 85–90% of individuals with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) have dominant pathogenic variants in the Col1a1 or Col1a2 genes whilst for Asian, especially Indian and Chinese cohorts, this ratio is much lower. This leads to decreased or abnormal Collagen type I production. Subsequently, bone formation is strongly reduced, causing bone fragility and liability to fractures throughout life. OI is clinically heterogeneous, with the severity ranging from mild to lethal depending on the gene and the type and location of the OI-causative variant and the subsequent effect on (pro) collagen type I synthesis. However, the specific effects on the phenotype and function of osteoblasts are not fully understood. To investigate this, one of the OI murine models was used, i.e. the oim/oim (OIM) mice, which closest resembling severely deforming OI in humans. We showed that in OIM, the Col1a2 mutation results in a multifactorial inhibition of the osteogenic differentiation and maturation as well as inhibition of osteoclastogenesis. The phenotype of differentiated OIM osteoblasts also differs from that of wild type mature osteoblasts, with upregulated oxidative cell stress and autophagy pathways. The extracellular accumulation of defective type I collagen fibres contributes to activation of the TGF-β signalling pathway and activates the inflammatory pathway. These effects combine to destabilise the balance of bone turnover, increasing bone fragility. Together, these findings identify the complex mechanisms underlying OI bone fragility in the OIM model of severe OI and can potentially enable identification of clinically relevant endpoints to assess the efficacy of innovative pro-osteogenic treatment for patients with OI.
Effects of zooplankton abundance on the spawning phenology of winter-spawning Downs herring (Clupea harengus)
Authors: Marchal Paul , Giraldo Carolina , Johns David , Lefebvre Sébastien , Loots Christophe , Toomey Lola
Published: February 2025

We have investigated phenological shifts in autumn- and winter-spawning Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) in the Eastern English Channel and the Southern North Sea (Downs component), in relation to temperature and the availability of potential zooplanktonic prey (Calanus finmarchicus, Calanus helgolandicus, Temora longicornis). A two-tiered approach building on the monthly distribution of commercial herring landings was developed, which consisted of, (1) calculating the timing and duration of spawning season based on estimated deviations from basic harmonic signals and, (2) analysing their inter-annual variations in relation to biotic (zooplankton abundance) and abiotic (temperature) environmental variables through time series analyses. The start, midpoint and ending of herring spawning season were increasingly delayed over the period 1999–2021, a process which was correlated with the abundance of Calanus finmarchicus. The resulting duration of spawning season slightly decreased. Direct effects of sea temperatures on any phenological metrics could not be clearly evidenced. Different ecological processes were likely involved in the start and ending of spawning season. Additional covariates (including size/age composition, the biotic and abiotic factors other than those examined in our study) could contribute to a better explanation of the phenological drift in Downs herring spawning.
Economic impact of fetal wastage and common diseases, along with their incidence rates and seasonal variations, at an abattoir in FCT, Nigeria
Authors: Dauda Ibrahim Dauda , Binhambali Abdulhakeem , Jibril Abdurrahman Hassan , Idris Zainab Oyiza , Akorede Farhan Rhidor
Published: February 2025

Infectious diseases and fetal wastage (FW) present major challenges in livestock management, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria. This study assessed the season variations, incidence rate and economic impact of prevalent diseases and FW at the Kubwa (KB) abattoir in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Abuja, Nigeria. Over a year-long period (January to December 2023), we analyzed 5,779 cattle through daily post-mortem inspections. Disease identification was based on morphological and gross lesions characteristic of the conditions studied. Economic losses from condemned organs and FW were calculated using the formula TEL = N × P × W. The results indicated statistically significant seasonal variations in the incidence of Fasciolosis (FS), Paramphistomosis (PP), and FW, with p-values of 2.52x10^-10, 3.33x10^-9, and 0.003, respectively. In contrast, Tuberculosis (TB), Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), Dermatophilosis (DM), Abscess (AB), and Moneziasis (MZ) did not show significant seasonal variation. The total economic impact of condemned organs and FW was 104,348 USD (equivalent to 99,130,600 NGN at the time of the study), representing a considerable threat to food security and substantial economic losses for farmers. Considering the zoonotic potential of some diseases, which can be transmitted to those handling the carcasses, there is a critical need for enhanced inspection protocols, continuous disease surveillance, and timely reporting in slaughterhouses. The notable economic losses from condemned organs also underscore the necessity of implementing pregnancy tests for female animals before slaughter to protect food security and support the nation’s economy. These findings highlight the essential role of abattoirs in improving food security, detecting zoonotic diseases, and bolstering public health and economic stability in low-income countries.
Non-cancerous CT findings as predictors of survival outcome in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with first-generation EGFR-TKIs
Authors: Prakaikietikul Pakorn , Tajarenmuang Pattraporn , Losuriya Phumiphat , Ina Natee , Ketpueak Thanika , Kanthawang Thanat
Published: February 2025

Purpose

To identify non-cancerous factors from baseline CT chest affecting survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with first-generation Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs).

Methods

Retrospective study of 172 advanced NSCLC patients treated with first-generation EGFR-TKIs as a first-line systemic treatment (January 2012 to September 2022). Baseline CT chest assessed visceral/subcutaneous fat (L1 level), sarcopenia, and myosteatosis (multiple levels), main pulmonary artery (MPA) size, MPA to aorta ratio, emphysema, and bone mineral density. Cox regression analyzed prognostic factors at 18-month outcome.

Results

Median overall survival was 17.57 months (14.87–20.10) with 76 (44.19%) patients died at 18 months. Deceased had lower baseline BMI (21.10 ± 3.44) vs. survived (23.25 ± 4.45) (p < 0.001). Univariable analysis showed 5 significant prognostic factors: low total adiposity with/without cutoff [HR 2.65 (1.68–4.18), p < 0.001; 1.00 (0.99–1.00), p = 0.006;], low subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) with/without cutoff [HR 1.95 (1.23–3.11), p = 0.005; 0.99 (0.98–0.99), p = 0.005], low SAT index (SATI) with/without cutoff [1.74 (1.10–2.78), p = 0.019; 0.98 (0.97–0.99), p = 0.003], high VSR [1.67 (1.06–2.62), p = 0.026], and high MPA size with/without cutoff [2.23 (1.23–4.04), p = 0.005; 1.09 (1.04–1.16), p = 0.001]. MPA size, MPA size > 29 mm, and total adiposity ≤85 cm2 remained significant in multivariable analysis, adjusted by BMI [HR 1.14 (1.07–1.21), p < 0.001; 3.10 (1.81–5.28), p < 0.001; 3.91 (1.63–9.40), p = 0.002]. There was no significant difference of sarcopenic and myosteatotic parameters between the two groups.

Conclusion

In advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients, assessing pre-treatment prognosis is warranted to predict the survival outcome and guide decision regarding EGFR-TKI therapy. Enlarged MPA size, low total adiposity, and low subcutaneous fat (lower SAT, lower SATI, and higher VSR) are indicators of poor survival. Large MPA size (>29 mm) or low total adiposity (≤85 cm2) alone predict 18-month death.
Yeti claws: Cheliped sexual dimorphism and symmetry in deep-sea yeti crabs (Kiwaidae)
Authors: Roterman Christopher Nicolai , McArthur Molly , Laverty Baralle Cecilia , Marsh Leigh , Copley Jon T.
Published: February 2025

Yeti crabs (Kiwaidae) are deep-sea hydrothermal vent and methane seep dwelling crustaceans that farm chemosynthetic microbes on their bodies. Sexual dimorphism is a common feature of decapod crustaceans, but little is known about its prevalence in species from deep-sea habitats. We address this knowledge deficit by investigating claw sexual dimorphism and symmetry in the hydrothermal-vent endemic ’Hoff crab’, Kiwa tyleri. A total of 135 specimens from the East Scotia Ridge were examined, revealing mean asymmetry indices close to zero with respect to propodus length and height, albeit with a significantly larger number of marginally left-dominant individuals with respect to propodus length, possibly indicative of some task specialisation between claws, or a vestigial ancestral trait. Both male and female claws exhibit positive allometry with increasing carapace length, but males possess significantly larger claws compared with females when accounting for carapace size, exhibiting faster growing propodus length, and broader propodus heights throughout the size distribution. This marked difference is indicative of either male-male competition for mate access, sexual selection, or differential energy allocation (growth vs reproduction) between males and females, as observed in other decapod crustaceans. In contrast, a reanalysis of data for the methane seep inhabiting yeti crab Kiwa puravida revealed no significant difference in claw allometry, indicating a possible lack of similar sexual selection pressures, and highlighting potential key differences in the ecological and reproductive strategies of K. tyleri and K. puravida relating to claw function, microbial productivity and population density. Whether sex differences in claw allometry represents the norm or the exception in Kiwaidae will require the examination of other species in the family. This research enhances our understanding of the behaviour, ecology and evolution of yeti crabs, providing a basis for future studies.
Does management support drive sustained agile usage? a serial mediation model and cIPMA perspective
Authors: Wijesinghe Uthpala , Mapitiyage Vidara , Wickramarathne Chathurya , Wickramage Chamoda , Wisenthige Krishantha , Aluthwala Chathuni
Published: February 2025

Agile software development is immensely popular in the industry, but most teams struggle to sustain its use. Human factors like management support, agile training, agile mindset, and team resilience are often neglected, hindering long-term success. However, research has not explored their underlying mechanisms in depth. Therefore, this study examines if management support impacts the sustained usage of agile methodologies within software development teams. It subsequently investigates the individual and serial mediating effects of agile training, the agile mindset, and team resilience on this relationship. Additionally, it compares the importance and performance of management support, agile training, the agile mindset, and team resilience in infusing agile practices. Finally, it determines these antecedents’ necessity for the enduring success of agile application. Data collected from 391 agile software development professionals using a structured questionnaire. Partial-least-squares structural equation modelling, importance-performance map analysis and necessary condition analysis were used to investigate relationships. The findings underscore the pivotal role of management support in infusing agile practices. Agile training, mindset, and team resilience emerge as critical mediators, with a strong serial mediation effect. While management support is paramount, its practical implementation falls short within teams. All four antecedents are found to be necessary for optimal agile sustainment. Thus, this study significantly advances theoretical understanding by introducing a serial mediation model that elucidates their mechanisms in impacting agile infusion. It extends prior organisational-level findings to the team-level. The study’s quantitative verification of qualitative findings strengthens their generalisability to a broader spectrum of teams. It pioneers in expounding the constructs’ relative importance, performance and necessity, to offer actionable insights for agile practitioners. Finally, it provides methodological guidance to apply importance performance map analysis and necessary condition analysis in agile software development research.
ECP-IEM: Enhancing seasonal crop productivity with deep integrated models
Authors: Mustafa Ghulam , Moazzam Muhammad Ali , Nawaz Asif , Ali Tariq , Alsekait Deema Mohammed , Alattas Ahmed Saleh , AbdElminaam Diaa Salama
Published: February 2025

Accurate crop yield forecasting is vital for ensuring food security and making informed decisions. With the increasing population and global warming, addressing food security has become a priority, so accurate yield forecasting is very important. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has increased the yield accuracy significantly. The existing Machine Learning (ML) methods are using statistical measures as regression, correlation and chi square test for predicting crop yield, all such model’s leads to low accuracy when the number of factors (variables) such as the weather and soil conditions, the wind, fertilizer quantity, and the seed quality and climate are increased. The proposed methodology consists of different stages, like Data Collection, Preprocessing, Feature Extraction with Support Vector Machine (SVM), correlation with Normalized Google Distance (NGD), feature ranking with rising star. This study combines Bidirectional Gated Recurrent Unit (Bi-GRU) and Time Series CNN to predict crop yield and then recommendation for further improvement. The proposed model showed very good results in all datasets and showed significant improvement compared to baseline models. The ECP-IEM achieved an accuracy 96.34%, precision 94.56% and recall 95.23% on different datasets. Moreover, the proposed model was also evaluated based on MAE, MSE, and RMSE, which produced values of 0.191, 0.0674, and 0.238, respectively. This will help in improving production of crops by giving an early look about the yield of crops which will than help the farmer in improving the crops yield.
Adverse childhood experiences and elder abuse victimization nexus: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Awuviry-Newton Kofi , Saunders Bernadette , Asiamah Nestor , Abekah-Carter Kwamina , Doh Daniel
Published: February 2025

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are important life course events that can influence elder abuse victimisation (EAV) among older adults. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to provide synthesised and consolidated evidence on the existing associations between ACEs and EAV. A systematic search was conducted across six databases, including PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL Complete, Scopus, Google Scholar, and the Web of Science. All studies that addressed associations between ACEs, in singular or multiple form, and EAV were included in the review. Meta-analysis of the extracted odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs) was conducted using the common-effect inverse-variance model. Nine studies (cross-sectional design = 7; cohort design = 2) met the inclusion criteria. Included studies examined multiple ACEs and multiple EAVs associations (N = 3); at least single ACE and multiple EAVs (N = 3); any single form of ACE and multiple EAVs (N = 3); multiple ACEs–any single form of EAV nexus (N = 2); multiple ACEs–financial elder abuse association (N = 2); and multiple ACEs–physical elder abuse nexus (N = 2). Pooled ORs and CIs showed statistically significant results for all ACEs and EAVs associations whether in singular or multiple form. The results indicate that interventions designed to reduce ACEs, in singular or multiple form, early in life targeting residential and community-dwelling older adults may be relevant in reducing the incidence of EAV. The life course perspective s be integrated into the planning for support services for children, families, and older adults to prevent EAV in singular or multiple forms in later life.
Treatment with the CCR5 antagonist OB-002 reduces lung pathology, but does not prevent disease in a Syrian hamster model of SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Warner Bryce M. , Vendramelli Robert , Boese Amrit S. , Audet Jonathan , Tailor Nikesh , Meilleur Courtney , Glowach Nathan , Willman Marnie , Truong Thang , Moffat Estella , Tierney Kevin , Kosak Beata , Dhanidina Irfan , Engstrom Jarret , Korczak Bozena , McGowan Ian , Embury-Hyatt Carissa , Kobasa Darwyn
Published: February 2025

Since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 and the COVID-19 pandemic, a wide range of treatment options have been evaluated in preclinical studies and clinical trials, with several being approved for use in humans. Immunomodulatory drugs have shown success in dampening the deleterious inflammatory response seen in severe COVID-19 patients, but there remains an urgent need for development of additional therapeutic options for COVID-19 treatment. A potential drug target is the CCR5-CCL5 axis, and blocking this pathway may protect against severe disease. Here we evaluated whether OB-002, an analog of human CCL5 and a potent antagonist of CCR5, provides therapeutic benefit in SARS-CoV-2 infected Syrian hamsters. Daily treatment with OB-002 altered immune gene transcription in the lungs, and reduced pathology following infection, but did not prevent weight loss or viral replication in the lungs of infected animals, even in combination with the antiviral drug remdesivir. Our data suggest that targeting the CCR5-CCL5 pathway in SARS-CoV-2 infection in hamsters is insufficient to significantly impact disease development in this model.
Research on the mechanism of digital drive economy enhancing quality and efficiency
Authors: Gao Ruixvan , Lyu Jialun
Published: February 2025

This paper, based on unstructured data, examines the outcomes and impact mechanisms of digitalization from the perspective of technological advancement and institutional evolution, providing empirical evidence for the role of digitalization in promoting economic quality and efficiency. The study finds that digitalization contributes to the improvement of regional economic development efficiency. Its economic impact primarily manifests in the transformation of traditional value creation models and the enhancement of marketization levels. The digital economy, by activating digital platforms, alleviates the problem of information asymmetry, thereby enhancing the standardization of market transactions and improving economic efficiency.
Effects of supplementing a polyphenol-rich sugarcane extract through drinking water on egg production and quality of laying hens
Authors: Karunaratne Namalika D. , De Silva Sasmitha , Herath Minoli , Liyanage Ruvini , Weththasinghe Pabodha , Jayawardana Barana C. , De Seram Eranga , Pushpakumara Anil , Flavel Mathew
Published: February 2025

Polyphenols are a wide group of naturally occurring compounds found in plants and have the potential to safeguard living cells. The objective was to evaluate whether the inclusion of a polyphenol-rich sugarcane extract (PRSE) in drinking water could improve egg production and the quality of commercial layers. A total of 120 Shaver Brown hens, aged 43 weeks, were randomly allocated to 12 litter-floor pens in two open-sided poultry houses. The pens were divided into two treatment groups: one receiving 0% (control) and the other 0.05% PRSE in drinking water throughout the study duration. The treatments were prepared by adding PRSE manually into the drinking water daily, and water was given ad libitum. The birds were given commercial layer feed throughout the study. The number of eggs produced, abnormal eggs, and mortality were recorded daily. Egg weight, yolk colour, yolk height, albumen height, Haugh units, and antioxidant properties, were measured at weeks 45, 47 and 49. Supplementing PRSE in the drinking water did not impact hen-day egg production, hen-housed egg production, egg weight, egg mass, or feed conversion ratio. However, there was a trend toward significance in egg weight at week 45. The results indicated that PRSE supplementation led to a significant reduction in yolk colour during week 45 (P = 0.001), although no differences were observed in subsequent weeks. Yolk height, thick albumen height, and haugh units were unaffected by the treatment, while thin albumen height showed a trend towards reduction in the PRSE group at weeks 47 and 49 (P = 0.05). The DPPH assay revealed a significant increase in antioxidant capacity in the PRSE group at week 45 (P = 0.02). The 0.05% PRSE supplementation in drinking water initially enhanced antioxidant capacity but later adversely affected yolk color and thin albumen height.
Assembly of the salt-secreting mangrove Avicennia rumphiana
Authors: Shearman Jeremy R. , Naktang Chaiwat , Sonthirod Chutima , Kongkachana Wasitthee , U-thoomporn Sonicha , Jomchai Nukoon , Maknual Chatree , Yamprasai Suchart , Wanthongchai Poonsri , Pootakham Wirulda , Tangphatsornruang Sithichoke
Published: February 2025

Avicennia rumphiana, also known as Avicennia marina var. rumphiana or Avicennia lanata, is a mangrove species that has high salt tolerance and is one of the few species that secretes salt through the leaves, similar to Avicennia marina. We sequenced and assembled the A. rumphiana genome into 24,094 Supernova-scaffolds totalling 499.6 Mb. Sequence comparison showed that 68.7% of the A. rumphiana genome aligned to A. marina sequence, covering 72% of the A. marina genome at an average nucleotide identity of 87.7%, showing that A. marina is closely related to A. rumphiana and, thus, suitable for reference based scaffolding of the A. rumphiana Supernova-scaffolds. Reference based scaffolding produced 32 chromosome-level scaffolds containing 447.3 Mb, with 52.3 Mb of sequence unplaced. Annotation of this genome assembly resulted in 37,347 genes with 22,414 of those contained within chromosome scaffolds. A total of 671 genes matched to genes that are linked to salt tolerance. Genome comparison shows that A. rumphiana is quite different to A. marina and should, therefore, not be referred to as a variant of A. marina.
Experimental assessment of damage and microplastic release during cyclic loading of clear aligners
Authors: Barile Claudia , Cianci Claudia , Paramsamy Kannan Vimalathithan , Pappalettera Giovanni , Pappalettere Carmine , Casavola Caterina , Laurenziello Michele , Ciavarella Domenico
Published: February 2025

The widespread adoption of clear aligners in orthodontic treatments in recent years has necessitated a more precise examination of the mechanical properties of the devices currently available in orthodontics. Recent studies indicate that aligners, when exposed to the forces exerted during swallowing, undergo fatigue-like phenomena, leading to chip formation and cracks. The cumulative damage results in a compromised fit between the tooth and aligner, which is crucial for the effective execution of orthodontic treatment. Additionally, the formation of chips poses a potential risk to patients, as there is a possibility of inadvertently ingesting microplastics that become detached from the aligner over time. This study attempts to assess the release of microplastics from the aligners subjected to cyclic compressive loading. Three different aligners (Essix Ace, Ghost Aligner and Invisalign) are tested to simulate swallowing conditions over the aligner usage period. The mechanical performance is studied in terms of the energy absorbed by the aligner, which shows that the Essix Ace has a stable energy absorption behaviour, while the energy absorbed by the Invisalign is significantly higher than their counterparts. Ghost Aligner did not perform well in the cyclic compression tests. The microplastics (MPs) released by the aligners are examined under an optical microscope. A dimensional analysis based on k-means image segmentation and edge detection algorithm is developed to analyse the MPs. The dimensional analysis of the MPs revealed that the ingestion of the MPs released by all the three aligners does not pose a health risk.
Pseudo label refining for semi-supervised temporal action localization
Authors: Meng Lingwen , Ban Guobang , Xi Guanghui , Guo Siqi
Published: February 2025

The training of temporal action localization models relies heavily on a large amount of manually annotated data. Video annotation is more tedious and time-consuming compared with image annotation. Therefore, the semi-supervised method that combines labeled and unlabeled data for joint training has attracted increasing attention from academics and industry. This study proposes a method called pseudo-label refining (PLR) based on the teacher-student framework, which consists of three key components. First, we propose pseudo-label self-refinement which features in a temporal region interesting pooling to improve the boundary accuracy of TAL pseudo label. Second, we design a module named boundary synthesis to further refined temporal interval in pseudo label with multiple inference. Finally, an adaptive weight learning strategy is tailored for progressively learning pseudo labels with different qualities. The method proposed in this study uses ActionFormer and BMN as the detector and achieves significant improvement on the THUMOS14 and ActivityNet v1.3 datasets. The experimental results show that the proposed method significantly improve the localization accuracy compared to other advanced SSTAL methods at a label rate of 10% to 60%. Further ablation experiments show the effectiveness of each module, proving that the PLR method can improve the accuracy of pseudo-labels obtained by teacher model reasoning.
Data-driven understanding on soccer team tactics and ranking trends: Elo rating-based trends on European soccer leagues
Authors: Jung Dong Hee , Jung Jason J.
Published: February 2025

In modern soccer, strategy and tactics significantly impact team success. In this study, the application of these methodologies within the domain of association soccer is examined, with a particular focus on predicting team strategies via team trend analysis. Using a dataset comprising matches from the top five European soccer leagues, we analyzed team performance trends over time using the Elo rating system and rolling regression. Predicting strategies from soccer match datasets is a challenging. In our study, we propose methods based on count and rank to address these challenges. For the count-based method, the number of forwards, midfielders, and defenders is used to calculate respective defense and attack scores. For the rank-based method, teams are classified into various levels based on their rankings, and strategies are evaluated accordingly. This approach provides a more detailed perspective on strategic tendencies by considering team composition and performance at each level. Experimental results demonstrate the potential of our proposed methods to accurately identify and predict team strategies, offering significant implications for tactical decision-making in professional soccer. The findings indicate that the accuracy of predicting defensive strategies using count-based predictions was approximately 85%, while the performance of predicting aggressive strategies through rank-based predictions was 89%. Our methodology can be extended to the development of a predictive model aimed at forecasting team strategies, thereby assisting coaches with more effective preparation for upcoming matches.
Analysis of vehicle carbon emission characteristics on expressways in mountainous plateau areas based on the coupled simulation of CarSim/TruckSim and MOVES
Authors: Gao Jianping , Huang Xin , He Yunyong , He Enhuai , Sun Lu , Yang Changfeng
Published: February 2025

Expressways in mountainous plateau areas exhibit complex driving conditions and harsh climatic characteristics that continuously impact vehicle carbon emissions throughout their entire lifecycle and determine the carbon emission levels of expressways during the operational period. To study the carbon emission characteristics of expressways in the western Sichuan Plateau mountainous area, a coupling simulation analysis method combining CarSim/TruckSim simulation software and the Motor Vehicle Emissions Simulator (MOVES) was employed to analyze the spatial distribution characteristics of vehicle-specific power (VSP). This analysis was based on the alignment data and operational environment of the Wenchuan‒Barkam Expressway in the mountainous area of the western Sichuan Plateau. A conversion formula was established to calculate the cumulative VSP per second and total carbon emissions of each unit. Statistical analysis was conducted on the distribution of carbon emissions equivalent per kilometer across the different alignment units. Distribution ranges of carbon emissions equivalent per kilometer for light-duty vehicles (LDVs) and heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) at each alignment unit were 60‒240 g and 100‒1600 g, respectively. The grey relational analysis method was used to quantify the relationship between the carbon emissions equivalent per kilometer of alignment units, circular curves radius, and average grade. Based on the vertical variations in climatic changes with altitude in the mountainous plateau area, a comparative analysis was performed on the trends in the effects of altitude, season, and vehicle starting frequency on carbon emissions. Frequent vehicle starts significantly impacted carbon emissions, and this impact was significantly higher in winter than in summer. Carbon emissions equivalent of the LDV and HDV starting twice on average in summer were approximately 1.09- and 1.04-times higher, respectively, than that when vehicles were started 0.5 times; whereas, in winter, they were 1.17- and 1.07-times higher, respectively.
Fashion influences of women university administrators
Authors: Dong Huanjiao , Marcketti Sara , Knudson Eden
Published: February 2025

Women administrators are responsible for a broad array of difficult management tasks that affect their higher education institutions. There exist great societal expectations regarding women’s dress and appearance management practices. In this study, we identify the clothing-related influences women leaders used to develop their roles as university administrators. We interviewed 36 women in high-level administrative leadership roles at a Midwestern doctoral-granting land grant university. Qualitative thematic analysis revealed four major influences: (1) the importance of complying with the (unofficial) university dress code or ‘uniform’, (2) the comparison, negotiation and influence of others, (3) dressing for their roles and (4) fitting into social and cultural norms. Through the lens of social identity theory, findings revealed that administrators’ practices were negotiated through a process of observation, contemplation of their own individuality and responsibilities, and close identification of themselves as leaders within their specific university setting. Implications for retailers and aspiring leaders are included.
Interszekcionális diszkrimináció és ellenállás Mihaela Dragan (A n)ő beszél című monodrámájában
Authors: Szőke Dávid Sándor
Published: February 2025

Jelen tanulmány a roma nőkkel szemben támasztott korai házasság, az általuk elviselt családon belüli erőszak, valamint a többségi társadalom cigányellenességének problémáit elemzi Mihaela Dragan (A n)ő beszél című monodrámájában. Dragan darabja a kortárs roma színház lényeges állomása, mely a szerző által készített interjúk alapján készült. Dragan nemcsak hiteles képet igyekszik nyújtani a Romániában élő roma nők helyzetéről, de lehetőséget teremt arra is, hogy a drámák történetmesélő ereje révén a megjelenő hősök dilemmái és döntései az egyénileg megtapasztalható szabadság módozatai lehessenek.
Perlindungan Hukum Public Private Partnership (PPP) Melalui Lembaga Penyelesaian Perselisihan Independen Di Indonesia
Authors: Noho Muhammad Dzikirullah H. , Lumbanraja Anggita Doramia
Published: February 2025

Penyelesaian PPP/KPBU sebagaimana diatur dalam Perpres 38/2015 tentang KPBU dirasa belum efektif, hal tersebut dapat dilihat dengan hilang dan berpindahnya aset pemerintah kepada pihak-pihak akibat adanya perjanjian. Kehadiran suatu lembaga independen dalam menyelesaikan urusan PPP/KPBU ini sangat diperlukan untuk meminimalkan persoalan tersebut. Metode penelitian ini menggunakan penelitian hukum normatif (doctrinal) dengan pendekatan undang-undang, konsep, dan perbandingan. Hasil dari penelitian ini menemukan bahwa sudah saatnya untuk membuat suatu lembaga independen khusus PPP/KPBU untuk memberikan perlindungan hukum bagi para pihak. Berbagai negara seperti halnya Korea Selatan menempatkan PPP sebagai satu hal yang serius sehingga melahirkan Komite Mediasi Perselisihan Proyek Kemitraan Pemerintah-Swasta. Indonesia sebagai negara yang sedang membangun berbagai macam infrastruktur pun harus membentuk lembaga tersendiri untuk meminimalkan adanya konflik di bidang infrastruktur yang akan datang.
Menyoal Independensi Mahkamah Konstitusi Pasca Pergantian Hakim Mahkamah Konstitusi oleh Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat
Authors: Munir Sirajul , Aulia Rahma , Ngazizah Inna Fauziatal
Published: February 2025

Munculnya Putusan Mahkamah Konstitusi Nomor 96/PUU-XVIII/2020 berimplikasi pada jabatan hakim konstitusi yang jabatannya tidak berdasarkan periodisasi. Hal ini direspon oleh Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat dengan mengganti hakim Mahkamah Konstitusi yang berasal dari usulan lembaga Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat. Alasannya, hakim tersebut tidak sejalan dengan Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat yang berkali-kali membatalkan ketentuan undang-undang yang merupakan hasil legislasi Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat. Situasi ini menunjukkan bahwa ada konflik kepentingan (conflict of interest) karena menganggap hakim Mahkamah Konstitusi merupakan reprensentasi lembaga pengusul yang berpotensi mengganggu independensi dan mengingkari prinsip check and balances. Penulis menggunakan pendekatan hukum, kasus dan konseptual untuk menjawab permasalah yang sedang diteliti. Penggantian hakim Mahkamah Kontsitusi dengan dasar sering membatalkan ketentuan undang-undang yang merupakan hasil legislasi Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat merupakan bentuk intervensi terhadap independensi hakim. Hal ini merupakan bentuk penyipangan terhadap tujuan awal berdirinya Mahkamakah Kontsitusi yakni penguatan sistem check and balances dengan prinsip supremasi Konstitusi. Pengisian jabatan hakim Mahkamah Konstitusi yang melibatkan tiga cabang kekuasaan tidak dimaksudkan sebagai representasi kepentingan dari ketiga cabang kekuasaan tersebut tetapi untuk menjamin  imparsialitas dalam hubungan antar lembaga negara.
Exhibiting Material Localities Through Embodied Sensorial Performance
Authors: Paramita Kristanti Dewi , Riskiyanto Resza , Harani Arnis Rochma
Published: February 2025

This study investigates the embodied sensorial performance in material exhibition design as a way to enhance visitors’ experience about local cultures. Exhibitions and installations designed in museum or gallery context often incorporate a sensorial approach to increase engagement and to cater specific needs of society. This study takes particular interest in expanding such discussion, highlighting how a sensorial approach can be used in a more active way to experience localities, particularly in relation with food material.The study explores such sensorial aspects through reflecting towards an exhibition event conducted by the Indonesian Architect Association Central Java titled Rumarasa, an exhibition that explores the sensorial narrative of Indonesian spices. The exhibition consists of three particular stages that activate the overall senses that construct the experience of spices in Indonesia. The first stage consists of the visual stages of the spices, displaying the form and origin of spices in an interactive way. The next stage requires the visitors to touch the spices, inviting the visitors to experience the spice using their tactile, olfactory, and auditory senses. The third stage highlights how the spice can be used as a medium of creative play, transforming the spice as colouring material with different gradients. Through these stages, the sensorial journey constructs the overall local narrative of Indonesian spices, understanding the origin, building the intimacy, and enabling transformation of material. In conclusion, this study contributes to expanding the sensory experience as an approach to design cultural exhibitions, enabling an active and deep experience of locality.
Cytogenetic Investigation of Workers Professionally Exposed to Phosphates and Their Derivatives
Authors: Glouib K. , Verschaeve L. , Naber N. , Hilali Abdelilah
Published: February 2025

The phosphor industry in Morocco employs a great number of workers that may be exposed to this essential but also toxic compound. In the present investigation, professionally exposed subjects from two different production lines (miners and production unit workers) were investigated for the presence of genetic damage in their peripheral blood lymphocytes. This was done with the well-known micronucleus assay. The proliferation and mitotic indices were also investigated. It was found that the micronucleus frequency was considerably increased compared to the frequency in non-exposed control subjects. Mitotic and proliferation indices were not increased, at least not in a statistically significant way. At the time being this investigation should be considered as a preliminary study in which the influence of potential confounders cannot be adequately assessed. However, our results are non-equivocal and clearly indicate a potential health risk in these workers.
S65C and Other Mutations in the Haemochromatosis Gene in the Czech Population
Authors: Čimburová Markéta , Půtová I. , Provazníková H. , Pintérová D. , Horák J.
Published: February 2025

HFE-Iinked hereditary haemochromatosis is a common autosomal recessive disease among Caucasians. The primary pathogenetic mechanism is excessive absorption of iron, which is deposited in various organs with their subsequent damage. In 1996 the gene responsible for haemochromatosis was detected - the HFE gene and its major mutation C282Y. The discovery of further mutations followed. Two sites of point mutations in the HFE gene, C282Y and H63D, are associated with more than 80% of haemochromatosis cases. Another mutation - S65C - was detected on 8% of chromosomes of haemochromatosis patients, which were negative for mutations C282Y or H63D. The objective of this study was to identify the allele frequency of S65C and other HFE mutations in the Czech population. DNA extracted from 481 randomly selected newborn screening cards (Guthrie cards) from all over the country was analysed by PCR-RFLP. No (0%) sample was identified as homozygous for S65C or C282Y mutation and 8 (1.67%) were homozygous for H63D mutation. Twelve (2.49%) samples were S65C heterozygous, 33 (6.86%) samples were C282Y heterozygous, and 128 (26.61 %) were H63D heterozygous. Of these, 11 (2.29%) carried one copy of each mutation, i.e. were compound heterozygous. Two samples were S65C/H63D compound heterozygous and nine were C282Y/H63D compound heterozygous. Allele frequencies for S65C, C282Y, and H63D were 1.25% (95% CI, ± 0.70), 3.43% (95% CI, ± 1.15), and 14.97% (95% CI, ± 2.25), respectively. The observed genotype frequency for S65C, C282Y, and H63D mutations in the Czech Republic agrees with those reported for other Central European populations.
Prácticas de laboratorio de psicología. Módulo 2 : cognición
Authors: Uribe Morenoa Miguel Eduardo , Aguilar Pardo David Ricardo , Contreras Daniel Orlando
Published: February 2025

La experiencia humana emerge del cerebro y de lo que este es capaz de hacer. Como especie social, la maduración de las estructuras anatómicas y las habilidades cognitivas depende de procesos de interacción con otros, lo que deriva en la construcción subjetiva del mundo, de lo que somos y de adónde pertenecemos. Incluso antes de nacer el cerebro humano empieza a procesar información, lo que solo cesa con la muerte; y en tanto no somos conscientes de ello todo el tiempo, nuestras percepciones, recuerdos, emociones y pensamientos son lo único que tenemos para definir nuestra realidad. La reflexión sobre estos procesos mentales arranca desde la aparición misma del Homo sapiens, y en la historia de la cultura occidental tenemos evidencia de preguntas sobre el funcionamiento de la mente desde los sumerios, no solo en las grandes contribuciones de los pensadores griegos al respecto, sino también en las universidades romanas y los monasterios de la Edad Media, y más recientemente, en la consolidación del método científico aplicado al estudio de la cognición. En la formación de cada psicólogo y psicóloga es fundamental, por un lado, abordar la historia del pensamiento que ayudó a establecer los cimientos de la psicología como disciplina científica, y por otro, reconocer las similitudes y diferencias entre las distintas escuelas psicológicas y, por supuesto, una proximación a los métodos que permiten la producción de evidencia empírica que soporta las teorías psicológicas. Para esto último es clave una formación en la rigurosidad experimental y el análisis cuantitativo y cualitativo de información derivada de estudio en el laboratorio. Con este propósito se compiló el presente módulo de prácticas de laboratorio en cognición, el cual incluye 11 protocolos: tres de atención, tres de memoria, dos de pensamiento y lenguaje y tres de cognición social. Con este esfuerzo se espera aportar desde los Laboratorios de Psicología de la Universidad Católica de Colombia a la formación de nuestros jóvenes en el quehacer investigativo en psicología.
Delineating a case system: How many cases are there in Standard Goan Konkani – and why?
Authors: Peterson John , Mopkar Govind
Published: February 2025

In the present study we analyze the case system of Standard Goan Konkani, an Indo-Aryan language spoken in western India. We first analyze the individual markers which fit our definition of case markers and discuss how these differ from and/or overlap functionally with other case markers. We then present a detailed description of two further case markers which, although quite common, to our knowledge have not been discussed in previous works on Konkani, namely the selective and the elative, and show how these forms, despite their transparent etymologies as case stacking of the inessive case and either the genitive or the ablative, cannot be viewed as case stacking in the modern language. With this, we argue that Konkani can best be described as having 13 productive cases, although other analyses are possible, depending on researchers’ theoretical and practical preferences.
Alexander Vovin, José Andrés Alonso de la Fuente, and Juha Janhunen (eds.) 2024. The Tungusic languages. Routledge Language Series. London and New York: Routledge. Pp. xxviii + 543
Authors: Majewicz Alfred F.
Published: February 2025

Review
To lead or not to lead: The fluctuation of peer leadership in collaborative oral argumentation
Authors: Wu Qian , Feng Pengpeng , Gu Mingyue Michelle
Published: February 2025

Working with peers in small groups is conducive to learning, and collaborative learning has been widely adopted in second language classrooms. Leadership, defined as the initiative taken to influence others in a group, plays a significant role in successful teamwork, but has not received due attention in research on collaborative peer work. To address this research gap, we conducted a case study in a university English as a foreign language classroom in China in which the participants navigated their oral argumentation tasks collaboratively. The current study offers insight into the fluctuation of peer leadership in collaborative oral argumentation based on group discussion and semi-structured interview data. The findings suggest that peer leadership is a dynamic process that fluctuates in function and individual contribution over time. The study also revealed that peer leadership is a complex process influenced by multiple factors, including intrapersonal, interpersonal, and task-related ones. In conclusion, we stress that, to optimize collaborative peer learning, teachers should strive to stimulate and nurture the emergence of leadership and provide space for its long-term development.