bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving Performance of Massive Text Real-Time Classification for Document Confidentiality Management
Authors: Tan Lingling , Yi Junkai , Yang Fei
Published: February 2024

For classified and sensitive electronic documents within the scope of enterprises and organizations, in order to standardize and strengthen the confidentiality management of enterprises and meet the actual needs of secret text classification, a document automatic classification optimization method based on keyword retrieval and the kNN classification algorithm is proposed. The method supports keyword classification management, provides users with keywords of multiple risk levels, and then combines a matching scanning algorithm to label keywords of different levels. The text with labels is used as the training set of the kNN algorithm to classify the target text and realize the classification protection of text data. Aimed at solving the shortcomings of large feature vector dimension, low classification efficiency, and low accuracy in existing kNN text classification methods, an optimization method is proposed using a feature selection algorithm and a kNN algorithm based on an AVX instruction set to realize real-time classification of massive texts. By constructing a keyword dictionary and an optimized feature vector, parallel calculation of the feature vector weight and distance vector is realized, and the accuracy and efficiency of text classification are improved. The experimental results show that the multi-classification effect of the feature selection algorithm used in this paper, tf-DE, is better than that of the traditional tf-idf algorithm, and the classification effect of kNN is comparable to that of the support vector machine (SVM) algorithm. With the increase in feature vector dimensions, the classification effect of the text classification algorithm is improved and the classification time also increases linearly. The AVX-256 acceleration method takes about 55% of the time of the original version, thus verifying the effect of multi-classification of massive texts for document confidentiality management.
Jewelry, Accessories, and Decorative Elements of Women’s Funeral Costume of the First Half of the 6th Century BCE in the Territory of Forest-Steppe Scythia
Authors: Shramko Iryna
Published: February 2024

Among the antiquities of the archaic period of Forest-Steppe Scythia, a group of elite burials of women, possibly endowed with priestly functions during their lifetime, stands out. Until recently, only two unrobbed burial complexes were known to contain the main burials of women of high social rank, in whose graves golden costume elements were found—primarily expressive details of headdresses. The barrows (kurgans) were discovered at the end of the 19th century when amateur excavations were actively carried out on the right bank of the Dnipro. As a result of research conducted by the author at the Skorobir necropolis (in the area of the Bilsk fortified settlement, on the left bank of the Dnipro), two similar graves were recently discovered, which provided new material that significantly expanded the known geographical distribution of this phenomenon. The materials are closely analogous to the previously discovered elite female burials of the Middle Dnipro (barrow 100 near the village of Syniavka, barrow 35 near the village of Bobrytsa) and allow us to highlight a number of stable elements of the funeral costume of noble women and the sets of objects that complemented them. In this article, we consider the social and cultural significance of female attire in elite burials and delimit the chronological framework of this previously understudied phenomenon within the first half of the 6th century BCE. The new finds offer unprecedented insight into the form and meaning of one type of female headdress which researchers have tried to reconstruct for over a century.
Sources, Occurrences, and Risks of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydro-Carbons (PAHs) in Bangladesh: A Review of Current Status
Authors: Uddin Mohammad Mazbah , Xu Fuliu
Published: February 2024

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution has emerged as a significant environmental issue in Bangladesh in the recent years, driven by both economic and population growth. This review aims to investigate the current trends in PAHs pollution research, covering sediments, water, aquatic organisms, air particles, and associated health risks in Bangladesh. A comparative analysis with PAHs research in other countries is conducted, and potential future research directions are explored. This review suggests that the research on PAHs pollution in Bangladesh is less well studied and has fewer research publications compared to other countries. Dominant sources of PAHs in Bangladesh are fossil fuel combustion, petroleum hydrocarbons, urban discharges, industrial emissions, shipbreaking, and shipping activities. The concentrations of PAHs in sediments, water, air particles, and aquatic organisms in Bangladesh were found to be higher than those in most of the other countries around the world. Therefore, coastal sediments showed higher PAHs pollution than urban areas. Health risk assessments reveal both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks to residents in Bangladesh due to the consumption of aquatic organisms. According to this investigation, it can be concluded that there are considerably higher PAHs concentrations in different environmental compartments in Bangladesh, which have received less research attention compared with other countries of the world. Considering these circumstances, this review recommends that future PAHs pollution research directions should focus on aquatic ecosystems, shipbreaking areas, air particles, and direct exposure to human health risks. Therefore, this study recommends addressing the identification of PAH sources, bioaccumulation, biomagnification in the food web, and biomarker responses of benthic organisms in future PAHs pollution research.
Insights into the Roles of Epigenetic Modifications in Ferroptosis
Authors: Kong Jinghua , Lyu Hao , Ouyang Qian , Shi Hao , Zhang Rui , Xiao Shuai , Guo Dong , Zhang Qi , Chen Xing-Zhen , Zhou Cefan , Tang Jingfeng
Published: February 2024

Ferroptosis is a non-apoptotic mode of cell death driven by membrane lipid peroxidation and is characterized by elevated intracellular levels of Fe2+, ROS, and lipid peroxidation. Studies have shown that ferroptosis is related to the development of multiple diseases, such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and acute myeloid leukemia. Ferroptosis plays a dual role in the occurrence and development of these diseases. Ferroptosis mainly involves iron metabolism, ROS, and lipid metabolism. Various mechanisms, including epigenetic regulation, have been reported to be deeply involved in ferroptosis. Abnormal epigenetic modifications have been reported to promote tumor onset or other diseases and resistance to chemotherapy drugs. In recent years, diversified studies have shown that epigenetic modification is involved in ferroptosis. In this review, we reviewed the current resistance system of ferroptosis and the research progress of epigenetic modification, such as DNA methylation, RNA methylation, non-coding RNAs, and histone modification in cancer and other diseases by regulating ferroptosis.
Enhanced Tumor Targeting and Antitumor Activity of Methylated β-Cyclodextrin-Threaded Polyrotaxanes by Conjugating Cyclic RGD Peptides
Authors: Zhang Shunyao , Tamura Atsushi , Yui Nobuhiko
Published: February 2024

We previously reported that acid-degradable methylated β-cyclodextrins (Me-β-CDs)-threaded polyrotaxanes (Me-PRXs) can induce autophagic cell death through endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related autophagy, even in apoptosis-resistant cells. Hence, Me-PRXs show great potential as anticancer therapeutics. In this study, peptide-supermolecule conjugates were designed to achieve the targeted delivery of Me-PRX to malignant tumors. Arg-Gly-Asp peptides are well-known binding motifs of integrin αvβ3, which is overexpressed on angiogenic sites and many malignant tumors. The tumor-targeted cyclic Arg-Gly-Asp (cRGD) peptide was orthogonally post-modified to Me-PRX via click chemistry. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) results indicated that cRGD-Me-PRX strongly binds to integrin αvβ3, whereas non-targeted cyclic Arg-Ala-Glu (cRGE) peptide conjugated to Me-PRX (cRGE-Me-PRX) failed to interact with integrins αvβ3. In vitro, cRGD-Me-PRX demonstrated enhanced cellular internalization and antitumor activity in 4T1 cells than that of unmodified Me-PRX and non-targeted cRGE-Me-PRX, due to its ability to recognize integrin αvβ3. Furthermore, cRGD-Me-PRX accumulated effectively in tumors, leading to antitumor effects, and exhibited excellent biocompatibility and safety in vivo. Therefore, cRGD conjugation to enhance selectivity for integrin αvβ3-positive cancer cells is a promising design strategy for Me-PRXs in antitumor therapy.
A Group of Highly Secretory miRNAs Correlates with Lymph Node Metastasis and Poor Prognosis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Li Yicun , Lin Yuntao , Li Xiaolian , Chen Yuling , Chen Gang , Yang Hongyu
Published: February 2024

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC)-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) play a pivotal role in modulating intercellular communications between tumor cells and other cells in the microenvironment, thereby influencing tumor progression and the efficacy of therapeutic interventions. However, a comprehensive inventory of these secretory miRNAs in sEVs and their biological and clinical implications remains elusive. This study aims to profile the miRNA content of OSCC cell line sEVs and computationally elucidate their biological and clinical relevance. We conducted miRNA sequencing to compare the miRNA profiles of OSCC cells and their corresponding sEVs. Our motif enrichment analysis identified specific sorting motifs that are implicated in either cellular retention or preferential sEV secretion. Target cell analysis suggested that the sEV miRNAs potentially interact with various immune cell types, including natural killer cells and dendritic cells. Additionally, we explored the clinical relevance of these miRNAs by correlating their expression levels with TNM stages and patient survival outcomes. Intriguingly, our findings revealed that a distinct sEV miRNA signature is associated with lymph node metastasis and poorer survival in patients in TCGA-HNSC dataset. Collectively, this research furthers our understanding of the miRNA sorting mechanisms in OSCC and underscores their clinical implications.
Therapeutic Potential for Sphingolipids in Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Espinoza Keila S. , Snider Ashley J.
Published: February 2024

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), characterized by chronic inflammation in the intestinal tract, increases the risk for the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). Sphingolipids, which have been implicated in IBD and CRC, are a class of bioactive lipids that regulate cell signaling, differentiation, apoptosis, inflammation, and survival. The balance between ceramide (Cer), the central sphingolipid involved in apoptosis and differentiation, and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a potent signaling molecule involved in proliferation and inflammation, is vital for the maintenance of normal cellular function. Altered sphingolipid metabolism has been implicated in IBD and CRC, with many studies highlighting the importance of S1P in inflammatory signaling and pro-survival pathways. A myriad of sphingolipid analogues, inhibitors, and modulators have been developed to target the sphingolipid metabolic pathway. In this review, the efficacy and therapeutic potential for modulation of sphingolipid metabolism in IBD and CRC will be discussed.
Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines Differentially Modulate Signaling from Distant Microenvironments, Which Reflects Their Metastatic Potential
Authors: Ocadiz-Ruiz Ramon , Decker Joseph T. , Griffin Kate , Tan Zoey M. , Domala Nishant K. , Jeruss Jacqueline S. , Shea Lonnie D.
Published: February 2024

Metastasis is the stage at which the prognosis substantially decreases for many types of cancer. The ability of tumor cells to metastasize is dependent upon the characteristics of the tumor cells, and the conditioning of distant tissues that support colonization by metastatic cells. In this report, we investigated the systemic alterations in distant tissues caused by multiple human breast cancer cell lines and the impact of these alterations on the tumor cell phenotype. We observed that the niche within the lung, a common metastatic site, was significantly altered by MDA-MB-231, MCF7, and T47 tumors, and that the lung microenvironment stimulated, to differing extents, an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), reducing proliferation, increasing transendothelial migration and senescence, with no significant impact on cell death. We also investigated the ability of an implantable scaffold, which supports the formation of a distant tissue, to serve as a surrogate for the lung to identify systemic alterations. The scaffolds are conditioned by the primary tumor similarly to the lung for each tumor type, evidenced by promoting a pro-EMT profile. Collectively, we demonstrate that metastatic and non-metastatic breast cancers condition distant tissues, with distinct effects on tumor cell responses, and that a surrogate tissue can distinguish the metastatic potential of human breast cancer cell lines in an accessible site that avoids biopsy of a vital organ.
Pencil Beam Scanning Proton Bragg Peak Conformal FLASH in Prostate Cancer Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy
Authors: Kaulfers Tyler , Lattery Grant , Cheng Chingyun , Zhao Xingyi , Selvaraj Balaji , Wu Hui , Chhabra Arpit M. , Choi Jehee Isabelle , Lin Haibo , Simone Charles B. , Hasan Shaakir , Kang Minglei , Chang Jenghwa
Published: February 2024

Bragg peak FLASH radiotherapy (RT) uses a distal tracking method to eliminate exit doses and can achieve superior OAR sparing. This study explores the application of this novel method in stereotactic body radiotherapy prostate FLASH-RT. An in-house platform was developed to enable intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) planning using a single-energy Bragg peak distal tracking method. The patients involved in the study were previously treated with proton stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) using the pencil beam scanning (PBS) technique to 40 Gy in five fractions. FLASH plans were optimized using a four-beam arrangement to generate a dose distribution similar to the conventional opposing beams. All of the beams had a small angle of two degrees from the lateral direction to increase the dosimetry quality. Dose metrics were compared between the conventional PBS and the Bragg peak FLASH plans. The dose rate histogram (DRVH) and FLASH metrics of 40 Gy/s coverage (V40Gy/s) were investigated for the Bragg peak plans. There was no significant difference between the clinical and Bragg peak plans in rectum, bladder, femur heads, large bowel, and penile bulb dose metrics, except for Dmax. For the CTV, the FLASH plans resulted in a higher Dmax than the clinical plans (116.9% vs. 103.3%). For the rectum, the V40Gy/s reached 94% and 93% for 1 Gy dose thresholds in composite and single-field evaluations, respectively. Additionally, the FLASH ratio reached close to 100% after the application of the 5 Gy threshold in composite dose rate assessment. In conclusion, the Bragg peak distal tracking method can yield comparable plan quality in most OARs while preserving sufficient FLASH dose rate coverage, demonstrating that the ultra-high dose technique can be applied in prostate FLASH SBRT.
Innovations in Thoracic Oncology and the Promise of Liquid Biopsies with Dr. Luis Raez
Authors: Cortiana Viviana , Van de Kieft Alexandra , Chorya Harshal , Gambill Jade , Park Chandler H. , Leyfman Yan
Published: February 2024

Thoracic oncology continues to pose a great threat to human health as one of the most common forms of cancer. Liquid biopsies present a transformative approach to treating patients affected by these types of diseases by providing a less invasive genetic overview of the tumor, aiding in both diagnostic and treatment measures. The primary objective of this article is to examine the prospects of liquid biopsies in managing thoracic malignancies and to present barriers to their usage as demonstrated by Dr. Luis Raez. In examining why molecular diagnostics continue to be employed together with more traditional methods, this article presents the next steps in the clinical application of blood-based cancer screening. Future cancer diagnosis and treatment aim to prioritize circulating biomarker analyses based on their potential for the detection and monitoring of thoracic cancers. Liquid biopsies are favored thanks to their reduced invasiveness with respect to traditional treatments. The further study of clinical biomarkers and technological advancements are thus pivotal to enhance the clinical applicability of this method. In conclusion, this blood-based analysis offers a promising route by which the diagnosis, treatments, and outcomes of thoracic cancer can be improved.
Preparation and Property Characterization of Eu2SmSbO7/ZnBiEuO4 Heterojunction Photocatalysts and Photocatalytic Degradation of Chlorpyrifos under Visible Light Irradiation
Authors: Luan Jingfei , Wang Yichun , Yao Ye , Hao Liang , Li Jun , Cao Yu
Published: February 2024

Eu2SmSbO7 and ZnBiEuO4 were synthesized for the first time using the hydrothermal method. Eu2SmSbO7/ZnBiEuO4 heterojunction photocatalyst (EZHP) was synthesized for the first time using the solvothermal method. The crystal cell parameter of Eu2SmSbO7 was 10.5547 Å. The band gap width of Eu2SmSbO7 was measured and found to be 2.881 eV. The band gap width of ZnBiEuO4 was measured and found to be 2.571 eV. EZHP efficiently degraded the pesticide chlorpyrifos under visible light irradiation (VLID). After VLID of 160 min, the conversion rate of the chlorpyrifos concentration reached 100%, while the conversion rate of the total organic carbon (TOC) concentration was 98.02% using EZHP. After VLID of 160 min, the photocatalytic degradation conversion rates of chlorpyrifos using EZHP were 1.13 times, 1.19 times, and 2.84 times those using Eu2SmSbO7, ZnBiEuO4, and nitrogen-doped titanium dioxide (N-doped TiO2), respectively. The photocatalytic activity could be ranked as follows: EZHP > Eu2SmSbO7 > ZnBiEuO4 > N-doped TiO2. The conversion rates of chlorpyrifos were 98.16%, 97.03%, 96.03%, and 95.06% for four cycles of experiments after VLID of 160 min using EZHP. This indicated that EZHP was stable and could be reused. In addition, the experiments with the addition of capture agents demonstrated that the oxidation removal ability of three oxidation free radicals for degrading chlorpyrifos obeyed the following order: hydroxyl radical > superoxide anion > holes. This study examined the intermediates of chlorpyrifos during the photocatalytic degradation of chlorpyrifos, and a degradation path was proposed, at the same time, the degradation mechanism of chlorpyrifos was revealed. This study provides a scientific basis for the development of efficient heterojunction photocatalysts.
Lactoferrin in the Prevention of Recurrent Respiratory Infections in Preschool Children: A Prospective Randomized Study
Authors: Pasinato Angela , Fama Mario , Tripepi Giovanni , Egan Colin Gerard , Baraldi Eugenio
Published: February 2024

Few studies have evaluated the effect of bovine lactoferrin (bLf) on reducing respiratory infections in preschool children. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effect of bLf in preschool children with recurrent respiratory infections. Participants were randomly assigned bLf (n = 25) or control (n = 25). Outcomes included respiratory infection episodes (RIEs), symptom duration, school absence and medication. Fifty children aged 4.2 ± 0.1 years were included. During the active 4-month phase, median number of RIEs was reduced by 50% in the bLf group [1-episode, interquartile range (IQR): 0–2] vs. control (2, IQR: 1–3; p = 0.02). The proportion of participants with >3 RIEs was significantly lower in bLf (n = 1, 4%) vs. control (n = 7, 28%) with 80% lower odds of upper RIEs in the bLf arm (odds ratio: 0.20, 95% CI:0.06–0.74, p = 0.015). The duration of symptoms (3 vs. 6, p = 0.009) and days absent from school (3 vs. 6, p = 0.15) were lower in the active arm. Over the 2-month follow-up, no significant differences were observed between groups for infection episodes, symptom duration or school absence. However, bLf-treated children received significantly less corticosteroids over the entire 6-month study period (32% vs. 60%; p = 0.047). bLf supplementation significantly reduced the frequency and duration of RIEs in children with decreased corticosteroid use.
From the Fibonacci Icosagrid to E8 (Part II): The Composite Mapping of the Cores
Authors: Clawson Richard , Fang Fang , Irwin Klee
Published: February 2024

This paper is part of a series that describes the Fibonacci icosagrid quasicrystal (FIG) and its relation to the E8 root lattice. The FIG was originally constructed to represent the intersection points of an icosahedrally symmetric collection of planar grids in three dimensions, with the grid spacing of each following a Fibonacci chain. It was found to be closely related to a five-fold compound of 3D sections taken from the 4D Elser–Sloane quasicrystal (ESQC), which is derived via a cut-and-project process from E8. More recently, a direct cut-and-project from E8 has been found which yields the FIG (presented in another paper of this series). The present paper focuses not on the full quasicrystal, but on the relationship between the root polytope of E8 (Gosset’s 421 polytope) and the core polyhedron generated in the FIG, a compound of 20 tetrahedra referred to simply as a 20-Group. In particular, the H3 symmetry of the FIG can be seen as a five-fold or “golden” composition of tetrahedral symmetry (referring to the characteristic appearance of the golden ratio). This is shown to mirror a connection between tetrahedral and five-fold symmetries present in the 421. Indeed, the rotations that connect tetrahedra contained within the 421 are shown to induce, in a certain natural way, the tetrahedron orientations in the 20-Group.
Predicting the Future Distribution of Leucobryum aduncum under Climate Change
Authors: Chawengkul Puwadol , Tiwutanon Patsakorn , Sanevas Nuttha , Kraichak Ekaphan
Published: February 2024

Leucobryum aduncum is a moss species reported in many Southeast Asian regions, often found in forests with a high humidity. Climate change may impact the future distribution of this species. This study aimed to model the current distribution and predict the impact of climate change on L. aduncum distribution in the next 50 years across Southeast Asia. In the process, relevant climate variables in the distribution of the species were also identified. The occurrence data of this species with current and future climate models from CMIP6 under moderate (SSP2) scenarios were used to predict current and future L. aduncum distributions. Under the current climate, the predicted suitable areas for L. aduncum included most mountainous areas. However, many Southeast Asian areas showed a lower probability of finding this species in the next 50 years. The distribution area of this species will dramatically decrease by 50.16% in the current area. The most important ecological variables included the “mean temperature of the driest quarter” and the “annual temperature range”. This study suggests the possible impacts of an increased temperature and the scale of climate change on the distribution of sensitive plants like bryophytes.
A Robust Method for the Unsupervised Scoring of Immunohistochemical Staining
Authors: Durán-Díaz Iván , Sarmiento Auxiliadora , Fondón Irene , Bodineau Clément , Tomé Mercedes , Durán Raúl V.
Published: February 2024

Immunohistochemistry is a powerful technique that is widely used in biomedical research and clinics; it allows one to determine the expression levels of some proteins of interest in tissue samples using color intensity due to the expression of biomarkers with specific antibodies. As such, immunohistochemical images are complex and their features are difficult to quantify. Recently, we proposed a novel method, including a first separation stage based on non-negative matrix factorization (NMF), that achieved good results. However, this method was highly dependent on the parameters that control sparseness and non-negativity, as well as on algorithm initialization. Furthermore, the previously proposed method required a reference image as a starting point for the NMF algorithm. In the present work, we propose a new, simpler and more robust method for the automated, unsupervised scoring of immunohistochemical images based on bright field. Our work is focused on images from tumor tissues marked with blue (nuclei) and brown (protein of interest) stains. The new proposed method represents a simpler approach that, on the one hand, avoids the use of NMF in the separation stage and, on the other hand, circumvents the need for a control image. This new approach determines the subspace spanned by the two colors of interest using principal component analysis (PCA) with dimension reduction. This subspace is a two-dimensional space, allowing for color vector determination by considering the point density peaks. A new scoring stage is also developed in our method that, again, avoids reference images, making the procedure more robust and less dependent on parameters. Semi-quantitative image scoring experiments using five categories exhibit promising and consistent results when compared to manual scoring carried out by experts.
A New Logic, a New Information Measure, and a New Information-Based Approach to Interpreting Quantum Mechanics
Authors: Ellerman David
Published: February 2024

The new logic of partitions is dual to the usual Boolean logic of subsets (usually presented only in the special case of the logic of propositions) in the sense that partitions and subsets are category-theoretic duals. The new information measure of logical entropy is the normalized quantitative version of partitions. The new approach to interpreting quantum mechanics (QM) is showing that the mathematics (not the physics) of QM is the linearized Hilbert space version of the mathematics of partitions. Or, putting it the other way around, the math of partitions is a skeletal version of the math of QM. The key concepts throughout this progression from logic, to logical information, to quantum theory are distinctions versus indistinctions, definiteness versus indefiniteness, or distinguishability versus indistinguishability. The distinctions of a partition are the ordered pairs of elements from the underlying set that are in different blocks of the partition and logical entropy is defined (initially) as the normalized number of distinctions. The cognate notions of definiteness and distinguishability run throughout the math of QM, e.g., in the key non-classical notion of superposition (=ontic indefiniteness) and in the Feynman rules for adding amplitudes (indistinguishable alternatives) versus adding probabilities (distinguishable alternatives).
Teachers’ Experiences of Online/Distance Teaching and Learning during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Mainstream Classrooms with Vulnerable Students in Cyprus
Authors: Christodoulidou Panayiota , Sidiropoulou Charalampia (Hara)
Published: February 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent school lockdowns in many countries forced teachers to deliver lessons online to ensure that students continued their studies. This shift, which caused major challenges for school systems worldwide, significantly affected the Cypriot education system, which is highly centralised and in which teacher-centred practices are widely used. In many countries, teachers and students were unfamiliar with the new teaching and evaluation methods, and learners in the most marginalised groups were deemed to be at risk of falling behind. For these reasons, an online survey was undertaken in Cyprus from March to September 2020 as part of an international online survey initiated by a university in the Northern Mexican state of Nuevo Leon. The survey examined teachers’ perspectives on the new online pedagogical practices; the challenges they faced; and the impact of these practices on the learning progress of all students, including two vulnerable groups, i.e., individuals with learning disabilities and immigrant students aged 6–18 years. Key findings suggest that the teachers were unprepared to design inclusive student-centred digital activities and deliver online lessons and that distance teaching may have negatively affected students’ learning experiences, especially in the vulnerable groups.
Assessment of Executive Functions in School Considering Motor and Sociodemographic Factors: A Joint Vision for School-Based Occupational Therapists and School Staff
Authors: López-de-la-Fuente María José , Berdejo Víctor , Madrona-Velasco Silvia , Gonzalo-Ciria Laura , Lasso-Olayo Laura , López-de-la-Fuente Carmen
Published: February 2024

Executive functions (EFs) and motor skills are essential for many school and daily tasks. Many school-based occupational therapists need help addressing EFs. The current study aims to provide new insights into the relationship between executive functions and motor development by considering confounding factors. Ninety-six second-grade children were tested in one state-funded (public) school and another state-subsidised private school. Children were assessed with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 (MABC-2), Neuropsychological Assessment of Executive Functions in Children, and Test of Perception of Differences–R. Families completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, and teachers completed a previous questionnaire and subsequently evaluated the information the occupational therapist provided. Mixed results were obtained regarding the correlation between motor and executive skills. Furthermore, children who received worse scores on the MABC-2 had more difficulties on the EFs tests. The Impulsivity Control Index was not correlated with any motor variable. Our results show that sociodemographic variables (except gender) correlate more with EFs than motor skills. The teachers showed a high degree of agreement with the occupational therapist (4.0 ± 0.8), even in children with good academic performance. They expressed the need for additional training and classroom interventions. A joint vision of motor-executive functioning can facilitate the design of effective interventions, especially in schools with more disadvantaged populations.
Activity Proposals to Improve Children’s Climate Literacy and Environmental Literacy
Authors: Ramos Ricardo , Rodrigues Maria José , Rodrigues Isilda
Published: February 2024

With the climate crisis, schools have a fundamental role to enrich children’s climate literacy, which should begin in their early years and continue for life. Developing activities in the classroom can be an excellent way of bringing this about. This work is part of a larger research project, during which a previous study was carried out with 245 children aged 9 to 13, in which we identified some limitations in their knowledge about climate change. Based on these results, we decided to present some proposals for activities that could help improve these children’s climate literacy. The study we conducted was of an exploratory character, and the main objective was to understand the impact of applying a set of activities to 54 children. The objectives of this work were to increase the climate literacy of the children involved—more specifically, to evaluate the impact of implementing three activities related to climate change and identify the knowledge about the cases and consequences of climate change that were acquired by the children involved. To collect the data, we used a focus group technique and content analysis to process it. The results revealed that the children acquired a better understanding of the problem of climate change—in particular, the causes and consequences of it and of the concept of the ecological footprint—as well as motivation to contribute to mitigating the problem. We conclude that the activities proposed could contribute to improving climate literacy, as well as stimulate children’s curiosity and proactivity so that they become citizens capable of exercising their active citizenship.
Learning to Become a Physics Teacher: A Case Study of Experienced Teachers
Authors: Sengul Ozden
Published: February 2024

This paper focuses on Wegner’s concept of learning to examine how experienced physics teachers conceptualize and explain their professional identity. Participants were four female physics teachers with more than 15 years of teaching experience. These four teachers were selected as illustrative and contrastive cases for the purpose of the study. The data collection included semi-structured interviews and field notes from classroom observations in each participant’s classroom. Interview and classroom observation data were analyzed through the constant-comparative method. The results showed that these teachers had positive and negative experiences in different types of schools; and higher-achieving students motivated these teachers to solve different types of problems. Although teachers believed that science should be taught through experiments or inquiry-based instruction, they did not have any opportunity to teach in a laboratory. Their role was confined to teaching in a classroom to solve problems. They defined their concept of learning to become a physics teacher with metaphors that focused on the cognitive demands of teaching and the learning process. Further research on teacher education should support teacher development through addressing social and epistemic demands of teaching and learning.
Multihousehold Load Forecasting Based on a Convolutional Neural Network Using Moment Information and Data Augmentation
Authors: Acharya Shree Krishna , Yu Hwanuk , Wi Young-Min , Lee Jaehee
Published: February 2024

Deep learning (DL) networks are a popular choice for short-term load forecasting (STLF) in the residential sector. Hybrid DL methodologies based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and long short-term memory networks (LSTMs) have a higher forecasting accuracy than conventional statistical STLF techniques for different types of single-household load series. However, existing load forecasting methodologies are often inefficient when a high load demand persists for a few hours in a day. Peak load consumption is explicitly depicted as a tail in the probability distribution function (PDF) of the load series. Due to the diverse and uncertain nature of peak load demands, DL methodologies have difficulty maintaining consistent forecasting results, particularly when the PDF of the load series has a longer tail. This paper proposes a multihousehold load forecasting strategy based on the collective moment measure (CMM) (which is obtained from the PDF of the load series), data augmentation, and a CNN. Each load series was compared and ordered through CMM indexing, which helped maintain a minimum or constant shifting variance in the dataset inputted to the CNN. Data augmentation was used to enlarge the input dataset and solve the existing data requirement issues of the CNN. With the ordered load series and data augmentation strategy, the simulation results demonstrated a significant improvement in the performance of both single-household and multihousehold load forecasting. The proposed method predicts day-ahead multihousehold loads simultaneously and compares the results based on a single household. The forecasting performance of the proposed method for six different household groups with 10, 20, 30, 50, 80, and 100 household load series was evaluated and compared with those of existing methodologies. The mean absolute percentage error of the prediction results for each multihousehold load series could be improved by more than 3%. This study can help advance the application of DL methods for household load prediction under high-load-demand conditions.
From Local Energy Communities towards National Energy System: A Grid-Aware Techno-Economic Analysis
Authors: Terrier Cédric , Loustau Joseph René Hubert , Lepour Dorsan , Maréchal François
Published: February 2024

Energy communities are key actors in the energy transition since they optimally interconnect renewable energy capacities with the consumers. Despite versatile objectives, they usually aim at improving the self-consumption of renewable electricity within low-voltage grids to maximize revenues. In addition, energy communities are an excellent opportunity to supply renewable electricity to regional and national energy systems. However, effective price signals have to be designed to coordinate the needs of the energy infrastructure with the interests of these local stakeholders. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the integration of energy communities at the national level with a bottom–up approach. District energy systems with a building scale resolution are modeled in a mixed-integer linear programming problem. The Dantzig–Wolfe decomposition is applied to reduce the computational time. The methodology lies within the framework of a renewable energy hub, characterized by a high share of photovoltaic capacities. Both investments into equipment and its operation are considered. The model is applied on a set of five typical districts and weather locations representative of the Swiss building stock. The extrapolation to the national scale reveals a heterogeneous photovoltaic potential throughout the country. Present electricity tariffs promote a maximal investment into photovoltaic panels in every region, reaching an installed capacity of 67.2 GW and generating 80 TWh per year. Placed in perspective with the optimal PV capacity forecast at 15.4 GW peak at the national level, coordinated investment between local and national actors is needed to prevent dispensable expenses. An uncoordinated design is expected to increase the total costs for residential energy systems from 12% to 83% and curtails 48% of local renewable electricity.
When Livestock Genomes Meet Third-Generation Sequencing Technology: From Opportunities to Applications
Authors: Liu Xinyue , Zheng Junyuan , Ding Jialan , Wu Jiaxin , Zuo Fuyuan , Zhang Gongwei
Published: February 2024

Third-generation sequencing technology has found widespread application in the genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenetic research of both human and livestock genetics. This technology offers significant advantages in the sequencing of complex genomic regions, the identification of intricate structural variations, and the production of high-quality genomes. Its attributes, including long sequencing reads, obviation of PCR amplification, and direct determination of DNA/RNA, contribute to its efficacy. This review presents a comprehensive overview of third-generation sequencing technologies, exemplified by single-molecule real-time sequencing (SMRT) and Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT). Emphasizing the research advancements in livestock genomics, the review delves into genome assembly, structural variation detection, transcriptome sequencing, and epigenetic investigations enabled by third-generation sequencing. A comprehensive analysis is conducted on the application and potential challenges of third-generation sequencing technology for genome detection in livestock. Beyond providing valuable insights into genome structure analysis and the identification of rare genes in livestock, the review ventures into an exploration of the genetic mechanisms underpinning exemplary traits. This review not only contributes to our understanding of the genomic landscape in livestock but also provides fresh perspectives for the advancement of research in this domain.
Laboratory Hydraulic Tensile Strength Correlation with Strength-Based Brittleness Indices for Carbonate Reservoirs
Authors: Ezazi Mohammad , Ghorbani Ebrahim , Shafiei Ali , Sharifi Teshnizi Ebrahim , O’Kelly Brendan C.
Published: February 2024

Hydraulic fracturing (HF) is the primary choice for stimulating petroleum reservoirs. Rock tensile strength and brittleness are crucial parameters required for screening candidate reservoirs and in designing successful HF operations. However, in situ and laboratory determinations of the hydraulic tensile strength (HTS) of rock can prove problematic. Alternatively, the HTS could be estimated from the rock brittleness once a reliable relationship has been established between them. Accordingly, this paper investigates the correlations between the HTS, as measured using laboratory hydraulic fracture tests, and ten strength-based brittleness indices (BIs) selected from the research literature. The primary inputs for computing these BIs are uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and the Brazilian tensile strength (BTS), which are typically measured for most projects using standard laboratory rock mechanics tests or obtained from log data. For the purposes of this experimental investigation, intact rock core samples were obtained from a carbonate–dolomite formation in Iran, comprising eight distinct geomechanical units, with measured values of UCS, BTS, and HTS ranging 29.7–162.2, 1.93–12.23, and 7.20–20.63 MPa, respectively. The measured HTS was found to directly correlate with the UCS, BTS, and Young’s modulus, and inversely correlated with the rock porosity. Seven of the ten investigated BIs correlated with the measured HTS over 69% (R2 ≥ 0.69). In particular, the BI expressions developed by Yagiz and Gokceoglu, Ghadernejad et al., and Khandelwal et al. exhibited relatively strong correlations with the measured HTS (producing R2 values of 0.94, 0.87, and 0.86, respectively), suggesting that these three HTS–BI correlations could be used to provide preliminary HTS estimates for the investigated carbonate–dolomite formation in Iran. This work adds to a database that can be expanded to include other geographical regions for providing useful information about the selection of a suitable site or reserve for conducting HF operations.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and Intention to Recommend RSV Vaccination: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Cardiologists and Cardiac Nurses in Southern Italy
Authors: Ponticelli Domenico , Losa Lorenzo , Antonazzo Ippazio Cosimo , Zampella Anna , Di Marino Fabio , Mottola Gaetano , Fede Mara Noemi , Gallucci Fortuna , Magliuolo Roberto , Rainone Antonio , Arcari Antonella , Del Giudice Carmine , Ferrara Pietro
Published: February 2024

As respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine distribution gains traction in Europe and Italy, healthcare workers (HCWs) can strategize about vaccine promotion to increase uptake among patients at risk of RSV consequences, such cardiac patients. This cross-sectional survey investigated the knowledge about and attitude towards RSV and RSV vaccines, and the intention to recommend vaccination within a cardiological hospital in Italy. To explore factors associated with the outcomes of interest, multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted. Of 197 invited HCWs, 78.2% returned the survey. The knowledge about market authorisation for new RSV vaccines for older adults (present in 46.9% of respondents) was significantly associated with the HCWs’ age, education, and previous update on vaccinations. HCWs with a higher educational level and those with a positive attitude towards RSV vaccines safety reported a higher attitude towards the importance of vaccinating people at risk. The willingness of recommending RSV vaccination to patients (70.5% of respondents) was more likely in HCWs who were knowledgeable about market authorisation for RSV vaccines and in physicians. This tempestive research sheds light on current factors influencing the strategies of cardiac HCWs regarding RSV vaccination. The results suggest the need for training events on the protective role of RSV vaccination in cardiac patients.
Autoantibodies Targeting G-Protein-Coupled Receptors: Pathogenetic, Clinical and Therapeutic Implications in Systemic Sclerosis
Authors: Binda Marco , Moccaldi Beatrice , Civieri Giovanni , Cuberli Anna , Doria Andrea , Tona Francesco , Zanatta Elisabetta
Published: February 2024

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a multifaceted connective tissue disease whose aetiology remains largely unknown. Autoimmunity is thought to play a pivotal role in the development of the disease, but the direct pathogenic role of SSc-specific autoantibodies remains to be established. The recent discovery of functional antibodies targeting G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), whose presence has been demonstrated in different autoimmune conditions, has shed some light on SSc pathogenesis. These antibodies bind to GPCRs expressed on immune and non-immune cells as their endogenous ligands, exerting either a stimulatory or inhibitory effect on corresponding intracellular pathways. Growing evidence suggests that, in SSc, the presence of anti-GPCRs antibodies correlates with specific clinical manifestations. Autoantibodies targeting endothelin receptor type A (ETAR) and angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) are associated with severe vasculopathic SSc-related manifestations, while anti-C-X-C motif chemokine receptors (CXCR) antibodies seem to be predictive of interstitial lung involvement; anti-muscarinic-3 acetylcholine receptor (M3R) antibodies have been found in patients with severe gastrointestinal involvement and anti-protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) antibodies have been detected in patients experiencing scleroderma renal crisis. This review aims to clarify the potential pathogenetic significance of GPCR-targeting autoantibodies in SSc, focusing on their associations with the different clinical manifestations of scleroderma. An extensive examination of functional autoimmunity targeting GPCRs might provide valuable insights into the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms of SSc, thus enabling the development of novel therapeutic strategies tailored to target GPCR-mediated pathways.