bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Students' views of inclusive education: A scoping literature review
Authors: Poikola Mirva , Kärnä Eija , Hakalehto Suvianna
Published: August 2024

This review focuses on studies on students' views of inclusive education in the field of educational research. The studies reviewed in this study focused on research conducted in inclusive comprehensive schools. A total of 62 studies published between 2006 and 2022 were included, in which both qualitative and quantitative research methods were employed, with questionnaires and interviews being the most commonly used data collection methods. In addition, the connection was examined between the study's theoretical foundation and students' rights through the analysis of citations related to the UN Conventions (CRPD or CRC) or the Salamanca Statement. The results of this review are divided into three themes: attitudes towards inclusive education, academic inclusion, and social inclusion, and further into subthemes examining the differences in attitudes between students with and without special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and elements promoting and inhibiting aspects of both academic and social inclusion.
BioEncoder: A metric learning toolkit for comparative organismal biology
Authors: Lürig Moritz D. , Di Martino Emanuela , Porto Arthur
Published: August 2024

In the realm of biological image analysis, deep learning (DL) has become a core toolkit, for example for segmentation and classification. However, conventional DL methods are challenged by large biodiversity datasets characterized by unbalanced classes and hard‐to‐distinguish phenotypic differences between them. Here we present BioEncoder, a user‐friendly toolkit for metric learning, which overcomes these challenges by focussing on learning relationships between individual data points rather than on the separability of classes. BioEncoder is released as a Python package, created for ease of use and flexibility across diverse datasets. It features taxon‐agnostic data loaders, custom augmentation options, and simple hyperparameter adjustments through text‐based configuration files. The toolkit's significance lies in its potential to unlock new research avenues in biological image analysis while democratizing access to advanced deep metric learning techniques. BioEncoder focuses on the urgent need for toolkits bridging the gap between complex DL pipelines and practical applications in biological research.
Acetyl zingerone methyl ether protects hair against oxidative damage incurred during and after treatment with permanent dyes and helps extend longevity of newly developed hair colour
Authors: Chaudhuri Ratan K. , Meyer Thomas A. , Blinder Rachel , Vethamuthu Martin , George Valerie , Adeniyi Adebayo A. , Manhas Neha , Singh Parvesh
Published: August 2024

Background

Use of permanent hair dyes causes unintended oxidative damage during the short time frame of the dyeing process that leads to perceivable changes in the feel, manageability and appearance of hair. Moreover, after hair has been dyed, regular exposure to the sun as a key environmental stressor continues to stimulate additional oxidative damage and to induce newly developed hair colours to fade prematurely or undergo changes in colour quality.

Objective

To document the utility of acetyl zingerone methyl ether (MAZ) as a newly designed haircare ingredient to afford extra protection against oxidative damage and safeguard the integrity of hair colour.

Results

We demonstrate that MAZ is compatible chemically with the high alkaline conditions required for the colouring process and from theoretical calculations preferentially binds Fe and Cu ions relative to Ca or Zn ions. In model Fenton reactions MAZ effectively chelated active redox metals (Fe and Cu ions) in the presence of excess Ca+2 ions to inhibit the production of hydroxyl radicals, and in separate studies, MAZ neutralized singlet oxygen with greater efficiency than α‐tocopherol by a factor of 2.5. When mixed into permanent dyes prior to hair tress application, MAZ significantly reduced combing forces, and SEM images led to substantial reductions in visual signs of surface damage. In a 28‐day clinical study, relative to controls, mixing MAZ into hair dyes prior to application interfered neither with colour development nor with ability to cover grey hair and led to significant improvements in perceived attributes associated with hair's condition immediately following the dyeing process. Over a 28‐day maintenance phase, especially between Day 14 and Day 28, continued use of shampoo and conditioner containing MAZ significantly preserved gloss measurements and hair colour in terms of longevity and colour quality as remaining desired and fresh compared to use of control shampoo and conditioner.

Conclusion

This work establishes MAZ as a next‐generation hair care ingredient for use in permanent dyes to attenuate oxidative damage and in shampoos and conditioners to promote longevity of hair colour and to maintain overall health and appearance of hair on a daily basis.
Ba2LuNbO6:Er3+,Yb3+ up‐conversion phosphors for dual‐mode thermometry based on fluorescence intensity ratio
Authors: Chen Yang , Chen Junyu , Luo Yuxuan , Wang Qiang , Guo Hai
Published: August 2024

Fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) thermometry has been regarded as new optical thermometry because of its faster response, higher sensitivity, and accuracy. However, improving the sensitivity is still a challenge. Here, Ba2LuNbO6:Er3+,Yb3+ up‐conversion specimens were synthesized, characterized, and designed for dual‐mode thermometry based on FIR. The 2H11/2/4S3/2 thermally coupled energy levels (TCELs) and 2H11/2/4F9/2 non‐TCELs (NTCELs) of Er3+ were selected as two FIR modes for optical thermometry. The energy gap of 2H11/2/4S3/2 TCELs of Er3+ in Ba2LuNbO6:Er3+,Yb3+ phosphors was confirmed as 977 cm−1. Therefore, the maximal relative sensitivity (Sr) of FIR based on TCELs is 1.53% K−1 @ 303 K. For FIR based on NTCELs, a higher maximal Sr value of 1.81% K−1 @ 303 K is obtained, which surpasses other Er3+‐doped up‐conversion specimens. In addition, the phosphors exhibit excellent thermal fatigue resistance and temperature resolution. Results suggest that Ba2LuNbO6:Er3+,Yb3+ specimens might be applied in the temperature sensing field.
Entitled to Love: Relationships, Commandability, and Obligation
Authors: Hartford Anna , Stein Dan J.
Published: August 2024

The notion of uncommandability has been central to how we perceive our emotional lives, and particularly romantic love. According to this notion, while we can control how we treat people, we have little control over how we feel about them. The argument from uncommandability is often evoked as a way of sidestepping moral obligations regarding our romantic emotions. One challenge to uncommandability is the potential to manipulate our emotions through psychopharmaceuticals. Much of the debate on so‐called ‘love drugs’ has concerned the permissibility and worth of these interventions. By comparison, there has been less exploration of their implications for moral obligation and responsibility. How might the emergence of these interventions change what can be emotionally demanded of us? We ultimately suggest that it is necessary to view the complex morality of our emotional lives through different evaluative paradigms: one concerning moral duty and obligation, where we have no claim to each other's romantic love irrespective of its commandability, and the other concerning the appropriateness of our reactive attitudes, where we are at times justified in feeling morally injured by another person on account of their failure to love us, regardless of whether they had control in the matter.
Surviving aging—An assets‐based approach
Authors: Morgan Brianna E. , Mather Harriet , David Daniel
Published: August 2024

See related articles by Trammell et al.
Spatial optimization of industrial symbiosis for heat supply of agricultural greenhouses
Authors: Rezaei Farzaneh , Burg Vanessa , Pfister Stephan , Hellweg Stefanie , Roshandel Ramin
Published: August 2024

Despite the many benefits of greenhouses, it is challenging to meet their heating demand, as greenhouses belong to the most energy‐intensive production systems in the agriculture sector. Industrial symbiosis can bring an effective solution by utilizing waste heat from other industries to meet the greenhouse heat demand. This study proposes an optimization framework by which optimum symbiotic relationships can be identified. For this aim, the spatial analysis is integrated into an optimization model, in which geographical, technical, and economic parameters are considered simultaneously to identify the optimal location for developing new agricultural greenhouses. The objective function is to minimize the heating costs, that is, the investment cost of piping and electricity cost for pumping heat‐carrying fluid from supplier to demand. The model is applied to the case study of Switzerland, and currently existing municipal solid waste incinerators, cement production plants, and biogas plants are considered potential waste heat sources. Results show that the import of tomato, cucumber, and lettuce to Switzerland can theoretically be replaced by vegetable production in new waste‐heat supplied greenhouses (zero import scenarios). Accounting for the economy of scale for pipeline investment costs leads to selecting large‐scale greenhouses with a cost reduction of 37%. The optimization results suggest that 10% of the greenhouses needed to satisfy the total domestic demand for lettuce, tomato, and cucumber could be placed on a suitable land plot in the direct vicinity of a waste heat source, with low costs of waste heat supply.
Functions and mechanisms of non‐histone protein acetylation in plants
Authors: Jin Xia , Li Xiaoshuang , Teixeira da Silva Jaime A. , Liu Xuncheng
Published: August 2024

Lysine acetylation, an evolutionarily conserved post‐translational protein modification, is reversibly catalyzed by lysine acetyltransferases and lysine deacetylases. Lysine acetylation, which was first discovered on histones, mainly functions to configure the structure of chromatin and regulate gene transcriptional activity. Over the past decade, with advances in high‐resolution mass spectrometry, a vast and growing number of non‐histone proteins modified by acetylation in various plant species have been identified. Lysine acetylation of non‐histone proteins is widely involved in regulating biological processes in plants such as photosynthesis, energy metabolism, hormone signal transduction and stress responses. Moreover, in plants, lysine acetylation plays crucial roles in regulating enzyme activity, protein stability, protein interaction and subcellular localization. This review summarizes recent progress in our understanding of the biological functions and mechanisms of non‐histone protein acetylation in plants. Research prospects in this field are also noted.
MYB52 negatively regulates ADF9‐meditated actin filament bundling in Arabidopsis pavement cell morphogenesis
Authors: Qiu Tianqi , Su Yuanyuan , Guo Nannan , Zhang Xinyuan , Jia Pengfei , Mao Tonglin , Wang Xianling
Published: August 2024

It has been proposed that cortical fine actin filaments are needed for the morphogenesis of pavement cells (PCs). However, the precise role and regulation mechanisms of actin filaments in PC morphogenesis are not well understood. Here, we found that Arabidopsis thaliana ACTIN DEPOLYMERIZING FACTOR9 (ADF9) is required for the morphogenesis of PC, which is negatively regulated by the R2R3 MYELOBLASTOSIS (MYB) transcription factor MYB52. In adf9 mutants, the lobe number of cotyledon PCs was significantly reduced, while the average lobe length did not differ significantly compared to that of wild type (Col‐0), except for the variations in cell area and circularity, whereas the PC shapes in ADF9 overexpression seedlings showed different results. ADF9 decorated actin filaments, and colocalized with plasma membrane. The extent of filament bundling and actin filament bundling activity in adf9 mutant decreased. In addition, MYB52 directly targeted the promoter of ADF9 and negatively regulated its expression. The myb52‐2 mutant showed increased lobe number and cell area, reduced cell circularity of PCs, and the PC phenotypes were suppressed when ADF9 was knocked out. Taken together, our data demonstrate that actin filaments play an important role in the morphogenesis of PC and reveal a transcriptional mechanism underlying MYB52 regulation of ADF9‐mediated actin filament bundling in PC morphogenesis.
Firm Performance Pay as Insurance against Promotion Risk
Authors: CHEN ALVIN
Published: August 2024

The prevalence of pay based on risky firm outcomes for nonexecutive workers presents a puzzling departure from conventional contract theory, which predicts insurance provision by the firm. When workers at the same firm compete against each other for promotions, the optimal contract features pay based on firm outcomes as insurance against promotion risk. The model's predictions are consistent with many observed phenomena, such as performance‐based vesting and overvaluation of equity pay by nonexecutive workers. It also generates novel predictions linking a firm's hierarchy to its workers' pay structure.
Zirconia full‐arch implant prostheses: Survival, complications, and prosthetic space dimensions with 115 edentulous jaws
Authors: Papaspyridakos Panos , Sinada Naif , Ntovas Panagiotis , Barmak Abdul Basir , Chochlidakis Konstantinos
Published: August 2024

Purpose

To assess the survival and complication rates of 115 monolithic zirconia implant‐supported fixed complete dental prostheses (IFCDPs) with an up to 6‐year follow‐up.

Materials and Methods

One hundred fifteen edentulous jaws (71 patients) underwent complete‐arch implant treatment with a digital workflow and were rehabilitated with monolithic zirconia IFCDPs. The primary outcome was to assess survival and complication rates while the secondary outcome was to measure the cross‐sectional dimensions (prosthetic space) of those 115 monolithic zirconia IFCDPs and to correlate potential technical complications with the prosthetic space dimensions.

Results

Out of the 115 zirconia IFCDPs, 2 fractured, yielding a 98.6% survival rate up to a 6‐year follow‐up. The most commom minor technical complications were loss of screw access channel filling and porcelain chipping for the modified monolithic IFCDPs. There was no significant association between the count and type of complications and jaw location (maxilla vs. mandible) or prosthesis type (FP1 vs. FP3), according to Fisher's exact test. For maxillary zirconia IFCDPs, the mean square surface for the at the posterior abutment cross‐sectional area was 25.18 mm2 at the lingual side of the abutment and 34.19 mm2 at the buccal side, respectively. The anterior abutment cross‐sectional area was 33.92 mm2 at the lingual side of the abutment and 29.49 mm2 at the buccal side, respectively. For mandibular zirconia IFCDPs, the mean square surface at the posterior abutment cross‐sectional area was 29.89 mm2 at the lingual side of the abutment and 39.05 mm2 at the buccal side, respectively. The anterior abutment cross‐sectional area was 27.07 mm2 at the lingual side of the abutment and 56.50 mm2 at the buccal side, respectively. At the connector cross‐sectional area, the mean square surface for the maxillary zirconia IFCDPs was 64.33 and 90.56 mm2 for the mandibular zirconia IFCDPs. The two fractures occurred in the midline (anterior area) for both maxillary FP1 prosthesis and mandibular FP3 prosthesis. The mean surface area at the connector for the maxillary FP1 prosthesis was 28.50 and 82.11 mm2 for the mandibular FP3 prosthesis, and was within the range of IFCDP connector square surface area. There was no significant association between the thickness of the zirconia prosthesis and the encountered prosthesis fractures.

Conclusions

Monolithic zirconia IFCDPs yielded a 98.6% survival rate, after a mean observation period of 62 months with an SE of 3.1. The connector mean surface area in the two fractured IFCDPs was within the square surface range (minimum–maximum) as for the remaining 113 complication‐free IFCDPs.
Diet‐related diseases mediate the effect of masticatory function on premature death in older adults
Authors: Wei Xindi , Zhang Xiaomeng , Chen Ruiying , Zhang Xiao , Liu Suru , Lai Hongchang , Shi Junyu
Published: August 2024

Aim

Although poor oral health has been a potentially modifiable risk for mortality, the precise association between functional tooth units (FTUs) and premature death as well as the underlying mechanisms remains unclear.

Methods

This study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2009–2018. Mortality details were obtained from the National Death Index (NDI). The number of FTUs was defined as pairs of opposing natural and artificial teeth in the premolar and molar area. Weighted logistic regression models were employed to assess the relationship between FTU and premature death. Demographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, and disease histories were adjusted as confounding factors. The propensity score matching (PSM) was conducted to further assess the association between FTU and premature death. Mediation analyses were conducted to assess the role of diet‐related diseases in the association between FTU and premature death.

Results

The analysis included 4169 individuals aged between 60 and 74 years. Participants with 0 ≤ FTUs ≤ 3 had a significantly higher odds of premature death compared to the 10 ≤ FTUs ≤ 12 group (OR = 2.142, 95% CI 1.091–4.208). After missing data imputation, 0 ≤ FTUs ≤ 3 was still significantly associated with increased odds of premature death (OR = 2.115, 95% CI 1.125–3.975). The relationship between 0 ≤ FTUs ≤ 3 and reference group persisted (OR = 2.196, 95% CI 1.296–3.721) after PSM analyses. For mechanism, mediation analysis showed that diet‐related diseases, including diabetes and hypertension, partially mediated the association between FTU and premature death with proportions of 5.089% and 8.437%, respectively.

Conclusion

The findings revealed a link between impairment of masticatory function and a heightened odds of premature death among older adults. Notably, 0 ≤ FTUs ≤ 3 is significantly correlated to premature death among this demographic, with diabetes and hypertension partially mediating the effect of FTU on premature death. Further longitudinal studies are required to validate the findings.
Phylogenetic diversity and interspecies competition shaped species diversity in adaptive radiated Ligustrum (Oleaceae)
Authors: Wang Yushuang , Li Enze , Sun Jiahui , Zhang Zhixiang , Dong Wenpan
Published: August 2024

Speciation events often occur with adaptive radiation. The factors that promote these adaptive radiating species diversity patterns have intrigued biologists for more than a century. In the present study, we used the adaptive radiated genus Ligustrum to evaluate the relative contributions of the environment, species interactions, phylogenetic diversity, and diversification rates in generating extant species diversity patterns. Using complete chloroplast genome data, we reconstructed the highly supported and dated backbone phylogenetic relationships of Ligustrum. Biogeographic results indicated that Ligustrum originated in Southwest China during the Oligocene and spread to suitable areas that were warm and humid via 18 dispersal events. For the overlapping ranges of species pairs, a smaller phylogenetic distance was detected in high species overlap than in low species overlap, which is consistent with no significant difference in niche among the different species. We found that the phylogenetic diversity and interspecies competition induced by insignificant niche divergence shaped the global pattern of Ligustrum diversity.
The drama is in the ink:Conflict in written parliamentary questions
Authors: Bjørkholt Solveig , Søyland Martin
Published: August 2024

Opposition is a core component of any democracy, yet it is scarcely studied. Leaning on research prescribing blurred lines between government and opposition in parliamentary democracies, we use word embeddings in tandem with sentiment analysis on written parliamentary questions in the Norwegian parliament to study conflict patterns between the government and opposition. Our findings consistently show that MPs of governing parties are more negative than MPs of the opposition. However, the effect is reduced considerably when the topical content of the question is included in the analysis. We attribute our finding to the existence of a participation threshold in parliamentary questions; MPs of governing parties will only ask questions whenever a given issue is sufficiently contentious.
Positive perspectives of primary care professionals towards patients in complex and challenging social situations in Japan: An educational opportunity
Authors: Mizumoto Junki , Fujikawa Hirohisa , Mitsuyama Toshichika , Izumiya Masashi , Eto Masato
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Although primary care professionals often encounter difficulties when attending to patients in complex and challenging social situations (CCSS), little is known about how professionals cultivate an optimistic approach to caring for patients in CCSS. This study aims to recruit professionals who exhibit a passion for seeing patients in CCSS, to gain insights into their positive attitude.

Methods

We conducted a qualitative study in Japan of 30 primary care professionals: 15 physicians and 15 non‐physician professionals (nurses, medical social workers and medical clerks). We performed online in‐depth interviews and employed a thematic analysis utilising the framework approach to identify how the participants felt a passion for seeing patients in CCSS.

Results

Two themes emerged about the passion: (i) the joy derived from interacting with patients and (ii) the joy derived from professional growth or development. Participants expressed curiosity about their patients, found happiness in the journey with them and established irreplaceable relationships. Concurrently, participants noted professional growth as expert generalists, and their team developed collaboration and competency through accumulating experience and learning. These two domains of joy were intricately interconnected. In addition, several factors related to developing, maintaining and spreading the positive attitude were identified.

Discussion

This study described the positive attitude of primary care professionals towards engaging with patients in CCSS. Despite the inherent challenges, these professionals demonstrated vibrancy and pleasure in their interactions with patients and their professional development. Workplace culture including team‐based support and continuous learning is important in fostering and maintaining such an attitude.
Prudential value and impersonal value
Authors: Lin Eden
Published: August 2024

Prudential value is the kind of value that something has when it is good for someone, in the sense that is conceptually tied to welfare or well‐being. Impersonal value is the kind of value that something has when it is good simply, absolutely, or “from the point of view of the universe.” According to the Moorean position on prudential value, the concept of prudential value can be analyzed in terms of that of impersonal value and is unintelligible if it is not so analyzed. I answer some recent arguments for the Moorean position due to Kris McDaniel and Thomas Hurka, and I make a more comprehensive case than has thus far been made for rejecting that position.
Endodontic surgery and platelet concentrates: A comprehensive review
Authors: Sabeti Mohammad , Gabbay Julian , AI Armin
Published: August 2024

While autologous platelet concentrates (APCs) have gained traction as promising regenerative materials in recent years, their impact on wound healing and tissue regeneration in periapical hard tissue defects remains controversial. Endodontic microsurgery (EMS) has embraced the potential of platelet concentrates, particularly L‐PRF (Leucocyte‐Platelet‐Rich Fibrin) and PRP (Platelet‐Rich Plasma), as regenerative tools. These concentrates, rich in growth factors and other bioactive molecules, are thought to enhance healing and treatment outcomes for various endodontic conditions. However, their effectiveness remains a subject of investigation. Despite encouraging 3‐D cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) based evidence for PRP's effectiveness in complex lesions and apico‐marginal defects, inconsistencies in its performance across preparation and application protocols raise questions about its superiority over existing options. More research is crucial to understand its full potential as a reliable regenerative tool in endodontics. L‐PRF and its derivatives are particularly effective in treating apical‐marginal defects. It enhances clinical attachment levels and reduces probing pocket depths, likely due to its slow and coordinated release of various growth factors. L‐PRF has been shown to also improve patients' quality of life by reducing postoperative swelling and pain. However, more research is needed to standardize its preparation methods and confirm its long‐term benefits. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the current knowledge and recent advances in endodontic surgery and the use of platelet concentrates, focusing on their roles in managing periapical lesions and endo‐perio lesions.
Formation and preservation of vertebrate tracks in semi‐liquid sediments: Insights from tidal flats and laboratory experiments
Authors: Campos‐Soto Sonia , Tessier Bernadette , Mouazé Dominique , Benito M. Isabel , Quijada I. Emma , Suarez‐Gonzalez Pablo
Published: August 2024

Despite the valuable palaeoecological and palaeoenvironmental information provided by vertebrate tracks, those made in semi‐liquid sediments have been largely overlooked because they are assumed to be preserved as a mass of disrupted sediment and to have a low preservation potential. Nevertheless, understanding their mechanisms of formation, infilling and preservation is crucial since they could be more abundant in the fossil record than expected or be misinterpreted as other soft‐sediment deformation structures. To solve these aspects, this study analyses consecutive cross‐sections performed along a human track made by a shod foot in semi‐liquid sediments in the upper intertidal flats of the Bay of Mont‐Saint‐Michel (north‐west France) and monitored until its complete burial. These were compared with cross‐sections of tracks made in a flume tank. Cross‐sections reveal that the sediment structures associated with these tracks reflect the mechanism of their formation and infilling, and even the footstep dynamics. These structures comprise: (i) marginal rims that developed at both sides of tracks during foot penetration; (ii) upward deformation structures produced during foot withdrawal; (iii) a syn‐track infilling, which almost entirely fills the tracks during the withdrawal, formed by sediment collapsed from the track walls or by liquefied sediment; (iv) a post‐track infilling that fills the tracks completely during their subsequent flooding. This work demonstrates that these tracks have a high preservation potential in tidal settings, especially if they are made after the peak of a spring tide period, and undergo desiccation and consolidation during neap tides, which prevents their erosion and favours their burial by sediment. The identification of the above‐mentioned structures in fossil counterparts provides useful palaeoenvironmental information, because they allow discriminating these tracks from those made in sediments with less water content and from other soft‐sediment deformation structures (i.e. convolute bedding and balls‐and pillows) with which they share strong resemblances.
Wheat domestication alters root metabolic functions to drive the assembly of endophytic bacteria
Authors: Deng Lixin , Zhang Ali , Wang Anze , Zhang Hao , Wang Tingting , Song Weining , Yue Hong
Published: August 2024

The domestication process progressively differentiated wild relatives from modern cultivars, thus impacting plant‐associated microorganisms. Endophytic bacterial communities play vital roles in plant growth, development, and health, which contribute to the crop's sustainable development. However, how plant domestication impacts endophytic bacterial communities and relevant root exudates in wheat remains unclear. First, we have observed that the domestication process increased the root endophytic microbial community diversity of wheat while decreasing functional diversity. Second, domestication decreased the endophytic bacterial co‐occurrence network stability, and it did significantly alter the abundances of core microorganisms or potential probiotics. Third, untargeted LC–MS metabolomics revealed that domestication significantly altered the metabolite profiles, and the abundances of various root exudates released were significantly correlated with keystone taxa including the Chryseobacterium, Massilia, and Lechevalieria. Moreover, we found that root exudates, especially L‐tyrosine promote the growth of plant‐beneficial bacteria, such as Chryseobacterium. Additionally, with L‐tyrosine and Chryseobacterium colonized in the roots, the growth of wild wheat's roots was significantly promoted, while no notable effect could be found in the domesticated cultivars. Overall, this study suggested that wild wheat as a key germplasm material, and its native endophytic microbes may serve as a resource for engineering crop microbiomes to improve the morphological and physiological traits of crops in widely distributed poor soils.
Home Automation for Disabled Using Brain Computer Interface and Raspberry Pi
Authors: Mohammed Mosa Mosa Muntadher , A. Harris Arief Ruhullah
Published: August 2024

Electroencephalography (EEG)-based smart home control systems are a key application of Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs). BCIs empower people with disabilities to achieve greater independence at home. These interfaces allow individuals with severe impairments to interact with their surroundings and communicate with others. Many people with special needs, particularly the elderly, face significant challenges in their daily lives that can severely impact their quality of life. This project aims to develop a non-invasive BCI for people with special needs to control household appliances and access an emergency system. A graphical user interface (GUI) will provide users with the ability to manage various smart home devices. This system will also benefit people with physical limitations by granting them greater control over their home's electrical and electronic appliances. This study successfully developed and implemented a BCI system for controlling home appliances. By leveraging the Steady-State Visually Evoked Potentials (SSVEPs) generated in response to flickering visual stimuli, the BCI system accurately interpreted user intentions through signal analysis and classification techniques.
The Evolution and Innovation of Informational Business English Education in China: A Systematic Review between 2019 to 2024
Authors: Lu Xiaoying , Samah Norazrena
Published: August 2024

The combination of information technology and business English training has emerged as a crucial field of study in the context of globalization and technological advancement. Additionally, research has emerged on the informatization of business English instruction in China. This study examines the growth and innovation of business English informatization education in China between 2019 and 2024 by reviewing 17 articles on the subject that were published in Chinese Core Journals between 2019 and 2024. Even though there has been a lot of progress, more study is still needed to fully comprehend the effects of informatization education, particularly regarding teaching methods and the growth of students’ digital literacy. This review, which employs a content analysis methodology, finds important themes, and trends and emphasizes the need for more empirical study on the effects of informative teaching strategies. The results underscore the benefits of computer-based learning in raising student engagement and stress the need for continuous professional development for educators in technology-assisted instruction. This paper’s distinctive contribution is to provide ways for future research to close the current research gap and to support a more nuanced understanding of the function of informative teaching in business English education.
Bacteriophage therapy reduces
Staphylococcus aureus
in a porcine and human
ex vivo
burn wound infection model
Authors: Molendijk Michèle M. , Boekema Bouke K. H. L. , Lattwein Kirby R. , Vlig Marcel , Bode Lonneke G. M. , Koopmans Marion P. G. , Verbon Annelies , de Graaf Miranda , van Wamel Willem J. B.
Published: August 2024

Burn wounds are a major burden, with high mortality rates due to infections.
Staphylococcus aureus
is a major causative agent of burn wound infections, which can be difficult to treat because of antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation. An alternative to antibiotics is the use of bacteriophages, viruses that infect and kill bacteria. We investigated the efficacy of bacteriophage therapy for burn wound infections, in both a porcine and a newly developed human
ex vivo
skin model. In both models, the efficacy of a reference antibiotic treatment (fusidic acid) and bacteriophage treatment was determined for a single treatment, successive treatment, and prophylaxis. Both models showed a reduction in bacterial load after a single bacteriophage treatment. Increasing the frequency of bacteriophage treatments increased bacteriophage efficacy in the human
ex vivo
skin model, but not in the porcine model. In both models, prophylaxis with bacteriophages increased treatment efficacy. In all cases, bacteriophage treatment outperformed fusidic acid treatment. Both models allowed investigation of bacteriophage-bacteria dynamics in burn wounds. Overall, bacteriophage treatment outperformed antibiotic control underlining the potential of bacteriophage therapy for the treatment of burn wound infections, especially when used prophylactically.
Improved detection of mycobacteria in CF and tissue samples grown in mycobacteria growth indicator tube incubated at 30°C compared to conventional growth conditions of liquid and solid media
Authors: Kehrmann J. , Stumpf A. L. , Dragaqina A. , Buer J.
Published: August 2024

This study evaluates the growth of mycobacteria in samples from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and tissue samples using the mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT) incubated at 30°C in comparison to conventional MGIT cultures incubated at 37°C in a BACTEC MGIT 960 device and solid media incubated at 36°C and 30°C. A total of 1,549 samples were analyzed, of which 202 mycobacterial isolates were cultured from 197 positive specimens, including five mixed cultures. The highest detection rate was achieved from MGIT at 30°C, with 84.2% of mycobacterial isolates (170 of 202), which was significantly higher than any other culture condition (
P
< 0.0001 for any condition). MGIT at 37°C yielded 61.4% (124 of 202) of the recovered isolates, whereas Löwenstein Jensen (LJ) and Stonebrink at 36°C, and LJ and Stonebrink at 30°C retrieved 47.0% (95), 49.5% (100), 50.0% (101), and 53.0% (107) of the isolates, respectively. Of the 53 isolates that were grown exclusively under one culture condition, the highest number of isolates (36) was recovered from MGIT incubated at 30°C. MGIT at 37°C recovered eight of the 53 isolates, whereas LJ incubated at 30°C and Stonebrink incubated at 30°C and 36°C recovered five, three, and one isolate, respectively. No isolates were grown exclusively from LJ incubated at 36°C. In CF patients and tissue samples, MGIT cultivated at 30°C for 8 weeks increases the performance of mycobacterial culture.

IMPORTANCE

Our study shows that the addition of mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT) liquid culture incubated at 30°C improves the detection of mycobacteria from CF and tissue samples. MGIT incubated at 30°C recovered significantly more mycobacterial isolates than MGIT incubated at 37°C and significantly more isolates than either Lowenstein Jensen or Stonebrink solid media incubated at either 36°C or 30°C. Of 202 mycobacterial isolates recovered from 1,549 specimens, 170 were recovered from MGIT incubated at 30°C, followed by MGIT incubated at 37°C with 124 isolates and solid media culture conditions that recovered between 95 and 107 mycobacterial isolates. All conventional culture conditions combined without MGIT incubated at 30°C recovered 166 isolates. MGIT incubated at 30°C recovered the highest number of isolates detected exclusively by a single culture condition and recovered mycobacterial isolates of highly relevant mycobacterial species, including
Mycobacterium abscessus
and
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
.
Analysis of the effect of HDAC inhibitors on the formation of the HIV reservoir
Authors: Ling Lijun , Kim Manse , Soper Andrew , Kovarova Martina , Spagnuolo Rae Ann , Begum Nurjahan , Kirchherr Jennifer , Archin Nancie , Battaglia Diana , Cleveland Dave , Wahl Angela , Margolis David M. , Browne Edward P. , Garcia J. Victor
Published: August 2024

The HIV reservoir is more dynamic than previously thought with around 70% of the latent reservoir originating from viruses circulating within 1 year of the initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART). In an
ex vivo
model system of HIV latency, it was reported that early exposure to class I histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors might prevent these more recently infected cells from entering a state of stable viral latency. This finding raises the possibility that co-administration of HDAC inhibitors at the time of ART initiation may prevent the establishment of much of the HIV reservoir. Here, we tested the effects of the HDAC inhibitors suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) and panobinostat co-administered at the time of ART initiation on the formation of the viral reservoir in HIV-infected humanized mice. As previously shown, SAHA and panobinostat were well tolerated in humanized mice. Unexpectedly, co-administration of SAHA resulted in an increase in the frequency of CD4
+
cells carrying HIV DNA but did not alter the frequency of cell-associated HIV RNA in HIV-infected, ART-treated humanized mice. Co-administration of panobinostat did not alter levels of cell-associated HIV DNA or RNA. Our
in vivo
findings indicate that co-administration of HDAC inhibitors initiated at the same time of ART treatment does not prevent recently infected cells from entering latency.

IMPORTANCE

Current antiretroviral therapy (ART) does not eradicate cells harboring replication-competent HIV reservoir. Withdrawal of ART inevitably results in a rapid viremia rebound. The HIV reservoir is more dynamic than previously thought. Early exposure to class I histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors inhibit these more recently infected cells from entering a state of stable viral latency in an
ex vivo
model of latency, raising the possibility that co-administration of HDAC inhibitors at the time of ART initiation may reduce much of the HIV reservoir. Here, we tested the effects of the HDAC inhibitors suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid or panobinostat during ART initiation on the formation of the viral reservoir in HIV-infected humanized mice. Our
in vivo
study indicates that in contrast to
in vitro
observations, the co-administration of HDAC inhibitors at the same time of ART initiation does not prevent recently infected cells from entering latency.
Impact of duration of dual anti-platelet therapy on risk of complications after stent-assisted coiling of unruptured aneurysms
Authors: Ringer Andrew J , Hanel Ricardo A , Baig Ammad A , Siddiqui Adnan H , Lopes Demetrius Klee , Barros Guilherme , Bass David I , Levitt Michael R , Young Christopher C , Naylor Ryan M , Lanzino Giuseppe , Crowley R Webster , Serrone Joseph C , Kan Peter T , Binning Mandy J , Veznedaroglu Erol , Boulos Alan , Tawk Rabih
Published: August 2024

Background

The optimal duration for dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after stent-assisted coiling (SAC) of intracranial aneurysms is unclear. Longer-term therapy may reduce thrombotic complications but increase the risk of bleeding complications.

Methods

A retrospective review of prospectively maintained data at 12 institutions was conducted on patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms who underwent SAC between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2020, and were followed ≥6 months postprocedure. The type and duration of DAPT, stent(s) used, outcome, length of follow-up, complication rates, and incidence of significant in-stent stenosis (ISS) were collected.

Results

Of 556 patients reviewed, 450 met all inclusion criteria. Nine patients treated with DAPT <29 days after SAC and 11 treated for 43–89 days were excluded from the final analysis as none completed their prescribed duration of treatment. Eighty patients received short-term DAPT. There were no significant differences in the rate of thrombotic complications during predefined periods of risk in the short, medium, or long-term treatment groups (1/80, 1.3%; 2/188, 1.1%; and 0/162, 0%, respectively). Similarly, no differences were found in the rate of hemorrhagic complications during period of risk in any group (0/80, 0%; 3/188, 1.6%; and 1/162, 0.6%, respectively). Longer duration DAPT did not reduce ISS risk in any group.

Conclusions

Continuing DAPT >42 days after SAC did not reduce the risk of thrombotic complications or in-stent stenosis, although the risk of additional hemorrhagic complications remained low. It may be reasonable to discontinue DAPT after 42 days following non-flow diverting SAC of unruptured intracranial aneurysms.
Improved PBFT Algorithm Based on Reputations Synchronization and Group Consensus
Authors: Wang Yongli , Dou Jing , Yang Peng , Guo Huijie , Liu Yang , Hu Junwei
Published: August 2024

Introducing a reputation mechanism to improve the practical Byzantine fault-tolerant algorithm (PBFT) can effectively increase the security of the system, but the lack of a proper reputation synchronization method can easily lead to malicious behaviors such as node reputation fraud. To solve the above problems, this paper proposes an improved PBFT algorithm (RS-PBFT) which can synchronize node reputation. Firstly, node types are distinguished by node behaviors. The node types represent node reputation status. Secondly, the management node, which summarizes node behavior, judges node type and synchronizes node reputation, is selected by voting method. Finally, the grouping idea is used to optimize the consistency protocol. The consensus between consensus groups is parallel. Furthermore, the consensus within consensus groups is co-dominated by multiple subgroup master nodes, which reduces the communication overhead and solves the problems such as the lack of limit of a single master node. The experimental results show that when the number of consensus nodes is 12, the throughput of RS-PBFT algorithm is 5.98 times that of PBFT algorithm. The consensus delay is reduced to 27.5% of PBFT algorithm, and the communication cost is reduced by 72.6%.
Modulation of dark optical fiber vector soliton molecules
Authors: Xu Guangyu , Li Wenyue , Peng Yangyang , Wang Haoming , Wang Dayu , Zhou Yan
Published: August 2024

Modulating dark optical fiber vector soliton molecules are theoretically investigated in this work. An optical fiber modulation system that out of fiber laser cavity is employed as a simulation model, which can flexibly change orthogonal electric fields’ properties of original optical fiber vector solitons. We consider two cases for simulation, one is original orthogonal polarization modes have the same central wavelength in the frequency domain, the other is original orthogonal polarization modes have different central wavelengths. In the first case, modulated dark vector soliton molecules with two pulse peaks and two pulse dips, accompanied by two wavelengths can always be observed. While in the second case, optical spectra will split in orthogonal directions, and obvious temporal pulse oscillation will occur, when the projection angle changes. The results further explore modulating vector solitons that with unique characteristics, in out-cavity optical fiber modulation systems.
The Predictive Value of the EULAR-Defined Clinically Suspected Arthralgia for the Development of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Prospective Longitudinal Study
Authors: Tam Cheuk Yin , Chan Pak Ho , Cheng Minerva Yuk Yee , Lau Adrian Ka Chun , Tam Kwan Kin , Cheng Tsz Ho , So Ho
Published: August 2024

Objective: To assess the predictive accuracy of the EULAR definition of clinically suspected arthralgia (CSA) for progression to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in patients presenting with arthralgia without arthritis.

Methods: This prospective study recruited 100 patients with arthralgia but no clinical arthritis. Patients were evaluated at baseline and followed up every 6 months for 2 years. The association of the presence of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] out of seven CSA parameters at baseline with RA development was investigated. The association of individual CSA parameters with RA development was also evaluated.

Results: Twenty-one of 100 patients (21%) developed RA. The proportion of patients meeting [Formula: see text] CSA criteria was higher in those who developed RA (66.7%) compared to those who did not (39.2%, [Formula: see text]). Similarly, a higher proportion of patients who developed RA met [Formula: see text] CSA criteria (47.6%) compared to those who did not (20.3%, [Formula: see text]). The sensitivity and specificity of [Formula: see text] CSA parameters were 71.4% and 69.6%, and for [Formula: see text] CSA parameters were 42.9% and 87.3%, respectively. “Symptom duration [Formula: see text] year” and “difficulty holding a fist” were significantly associated with RA development. A simplified criteria using these two items provided a similar area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (0.747 vs. 0.676) compared to the original criteria.

Conclusion: Meeting EULAR CSA criteria was significantly associated with progression to RA in patients with arthralgia. Symptom duration [Formula: see text] year and difficulty holding a fist were the most predictive individual parameters. Continuous monitoring using the CSA criteria, and probably a simplified version, could help identify high-risk individuals for RA development.