bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Natural Epigenetic Therapies in 3D Ovarian Cancer and Patient-Derived Tumor Explants: New Avenues in Regulating the Cancer Secretome
Authors: Kelly Rebeca , Aviles Diego , Krisulevicz Catriona , Hunter Krystal , Krill Lauren , Warshal David , Ostrovsky Olga
Published: July 2023

High mortality rates in ovarian cancer have been linked to recurrence, metastasis, and chemoresistant disease, which are known to involve not only genetic changes but also epigenetic aberrations. In ovarian cancer, adipose-derived stem cells from the omentum (O-ASCs) play a crucial role in supporting the tumor and its tumorigenic microenvironment, further propagating epigenetic abnormalities and dissemination of the disease. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor derived from green tea, and Indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a histone deacetylase inhibitor from cruciferous vegetables, carry promising effects in reprograming aberrant epigenetic modifications in cancer. Therefore, we demonstrate the action of these diet-derived compounds in suppressing the growth of 3D ovarian cancer spheroids or organoids as well as post-treatment cancer recovery through proliferation, migration, invasion, and colony formation assays when compared to the synthetic epigenetic compound Panobinostat with or without standard chemotherapy. Finally, given the regulatory role of the secretome in growth, metastasis, chemoresistance, and relapse of disease, we demonstrate that natural epigenetic compounds can regulate the secretion of protumorigenic growth factors, cytokines, extracellular matrix components, and immunoregulatory markers in human ovarian cancer specimens. While further studies are needed, our results suggest that these treatments could be considered in the future as adjuncts to standard chemotherapy, improving efficiency and patient outcomes.
Overview of the Circadian Clock in the Hair Follicle Cycle
Authors: Niu Ye , Wang Yujie , Chen Hao , Liu Xiaomei , Liu Jinyu
Published: July 2023

The circadian clock adapts to the light–dark cycle and autonomously generates physiological and metabolic rhythmicity. Its activity depends on the central suprachiasmatic pacemaker. However, it also has an independent function in peripheral tissues such as the liver, adipose tissue, and skin, which integrate environmental signals and energy homeostasis. Hair follicles (HFs) maintain homeostasis through the HF cycle, which depends heavily on HF stem cell self-renewal and the related metabolic reprogramming. Studies have shown that circadian clock dysregulation in HFs perturbs cell cycle progression. Moreover, there is increasing evidence that the circadian clock exerts a significant influence on glucose metabolism, feeding/fasting, stem cell differentiation, and senescence. This suggests that circadian metabolic crosstalk plays an essential role in regulating HF regeneration. An improved understanding of the role of the circadian clock in HFs may facilitate the discovery of new drug targets for hair loss. Therefore, the present review provides a discussion of the relationship between the circadian clock and HF regeneration, mainly from the perspective of HF metabolism, and summarizes the current understanding of the mechanisms by which HFs function.
Multiplex PCR-Lateral Flow Dipstick Method for Detection of Thermostable Direct Hemolysin (TDH) Producing V. parahaemolyticus
Authors: Saetang Jirakrit , Sukkapat Phutthipong , Palamae Suriya , Singh Prashant , Senathipathi Deep Nithun , Buatong Jirayu , Benjakul Soottawat
Published: July 2023

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is usually found in seafood and causes acute gastroenteritis in humans. Therefore, a detection method of pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus is necessary. Multiplex PCR combined with lateral flow dipstick (LFD) assay was developed to detect pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus. Biotin-, FAM-, and Dig-conjugated primers targeting thermolabile hemolysin (TLH) and thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH) genes were used for multiplex PCR amplification. The condition of the method was optimized and evaluated by agarose gel electrophoresis and universal lateral flow dipstick. The specificity assay was evaluated using strains belonging to seven foodborne pathogen species. The sensitivity of the method was also evaluated using DNA in the concentration range of 0.39–100 ng/reaction. The artificial spiking experiment was performed using 10 g of shrimp samples with an enrichment time of 0, 4, and 8 h with 101, 102, and 103 CFU of V. parahaemolyticus. The developed multiplex PCR-LFD assay showed no non-specific amplification with a limit of the detection of 0.78 ng DNA/reaction visualized by agarose gel electrophoresis and 0.39 ng DNA with LFD assay. The artificial spiking experiment demonstrated that this method could detect pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus at 10 CFU/10 g shrimp samples following a 4 h of enrichment. Multiplex PCR-LFD assay was therefore established for detecting pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus with high sensitivity and specificity and might be a useful tool to develop a detection kit used in the food safety sector.
Semantic Priming and Its Link to Verbal Comprehension and Working Memory in Children with Learning Disorders
Authors: Martínez-Briones Benito Javier , Fernández Thalía , Silva-Pereyra Juan
Published: July 2023

Children with learning disorders (LD children) often have heterogeneous cognitive impairments that affect their ability to learn and use basic academic skills. A proposed cause for this variability has been working memory (WM) capacity. Altered patterns of event-related potentials (ERPs) in these children have also been found in the N400 component associated with semantic priming. However, regarding the semantic priming effect in LD children, no distinction has been made for children with varying WM abilities. This study aims to explore the relationship of WM with the brain’s electrophysiological response that underlies semantic priming in LD children that performed a lexical decision task. A total of 40 children (8-10 years old) participated: 28 children with LD and 12 age-matched controls. The ERPs were recorded for each group and analyzed with permutation-based t-tests. The N400 effect was observed only in the control group, and both groups showed a late positive complex (LPC). Permutation-based regression analyses were performed for the results from the LD group using the WISC-IV indices (e.g., Verbal Comprehension and WM) as independent predictors of the ERPs. The Verbal Comprehension Index, but not the WM index, was a significant predictor of the N400 and LPC effects in LD children.
The Use of Voice Assistant for Psychological Assessment Elicits Empathy and Engagement While Maintaining Good Psychometric Properties
Authors: Mancone Stefania , Diotaiuti Pierluigi , Valente Giuseppe , Corrado Stefano , Bellizzi Fernando , Vilarino Guilherme Torres , Andrade Alexandro
Published: July 2023

This study aimed to use the Alexa vocal assistant as an administerer of psychometric tests, assessing the efficiency and validity of this measurement. A total of 300 participants were administered the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). After a week, the administration was repeated, but the participants were randomly divided into groups of 100 participants each. In the first, the test was administered by means of a paper version; in the second, the questionnaire was read to the participants in person, and the operator contemporaneously recorded the answers declared by the participants; in the third group, the questionnaire was directly administered by the Alexa voice device, after specific reprogramming. The third group was also administered, as a post-session survey, the Engagement and Perceptions of the Bot Scale (EPVS), a short version of the Communication Styles Inventory (CSI), the Marlowe–Crowne Social Desirability Scale (MCSDS), and an additional six items to measure degrees of concentration, ease, and perceived pressure at the beginning and at the end of the administration. The results confirmed that the IRI did keep measurement invariance within the three conditions. The administration through vocal assistant showed an empathic activation effect significantly superior to the conditions of pencil–paper and operator-in-presence. The results indicated an engagement and positive evaluation of the interactive experience, with reported perceptions of closeness, warmth, competence, and human-likeness associated with higher values of empathetic activation and lower values of personal discomfort.
Analysis of COVID-19-Related User Content on the Baseball Bulletin Board in 2020 through Text Mining
Authors: Ma Shang-Chun , Su Ching-Ya , Chen Sheng-Fong , Sato Shintaro , Ma Shang-Ming
Published: July 2023

The world engaged in online sport watching during COVID-19. Fortunately, in Taiwan, the pandemic was stably controlled in 2020, allowing for the continuation of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL); this attracted international attention and encouraged relevant discussions on social media in Taiwan. In the present study, through text mining, we analyzed user content (e.g., the concepts of sports service quality and social identity) on the Professional Technology Temple (PTT) baseball board—the largest online bulletin board system in Taiwan. A predictive model was constructed to assess PTT users’ COVID-19-related comments in 2020. A total of 422 articles and 21,167 comments were retrieved. PTT users interacted more frequently during the closed-door period, particularly during the beginning of the CPBL in April. Effective pandemic prevention, which garnered global attention to the league, generated a sense of national identity among the users, which was strengthened with the development of peripheral products, such as English broadcasting and live broadcasting on Twitch. We used machine learning to develop a chatbot for predicting the attributes of users’ comments; this chatbot may improve CPBL teams’ understanding of public opinion trends. Our findings may help stakeholders develop tailored programs for online spectators of sports during pandemic situations.
Comparison of Electrospun Titania and Zinc Oxide Nanofibers for Perovskite Solar Cells and Photocatalytic Degradation of Methyl Orange Dye
Authors: Arshad Zafar , Ali Mumtaz , Lee Eui-Jong , Alshareef Mubark , Alsowayigh Marwah M. , Shahid Kinza , Shahid Raghisa , Lee Kang Hoon
Published: July 2023

ZnO and TiO2 are both well-known electron transport materials; however, an exact comparison of their performance, when fabricated under the same synthesis conditions, is missing in the literature. Considering this, we introduced a viable electrospinning route for the development of highly polycrystalline TiO2 and ZnO nanofibers for an electron transport material (ETM) of perovskite solar cells and photocatalysts for textiles. Thanks to the effective tuning of band structure and morphology of TiO2, a significant improvement in performance as compared to ZnO was observed when both were used as photoanodes and photocatalysts. X-ray diffraction detected polycrystalline structural properties and showed that peaks are highly corresponding to TiO2 and ZnO. Morphological analysis was carried out with a scanning electron microscope, which revealed that nanofibers are long, uniform, and polycrystalline, having diameter in the nano regime. TiO2 nanofibers are more aligned and electron-supportive for conduction as compared to ZnO nanofibers, which are dense and agglomerated at some points. Optoelectronic properties showed that TiO2 and ZnO show absorption values in the range of ultraviolet, and visible range and band gap values for TiO2 and ZnO were 3.3 and 3.2 eV, respectively. The TiO2 band gap and semiconductor nature was more compatible for ETL as compared to ZnO. Electrical studies revealed that TiO2 nanofibers have enhanced values of conductivity and sheet carrier mobility as compared to ZnO nanofibers. Therefore, a higher photovoltaic conversion efficiency and antibacterial activity was achieved for TiO2 nanofibers (10.33%), as compared to ZnO (8.48%). In addition, the antibacterial activity of TiO2 was also recorded as better than ZnO. Similarly, compared to ZnO nanofibers, TiO2 nanofibers possess enhanced photoactivity for antimicrobial and dye degradation effects when applied to fabrics.
Understanding Cyber-Racism Perpetration within the Broader Context of Cyberbullying Theory: A Theoretical Integration
Authors: Scott Jordan , Barlett Christopher
Published: July 2023

The purpose of the current theoretical review is to argue for the theoretical integration of cyber-racism perpetration into the broader cyberbullying context—making note of the similarities between both types of nefarious online behavior that make this integration appropriate and the differences that make the integration less clear. Cyber-racism and cyberbullying victimization have been shown to be prevalent in youth and is related to poor psychological outcomes. Understanding both types of antisocial online behaviors have implications for the understanding and subsequent reduction of cyber-racism. Our review focuses on a cyber-racism model that proposes the importance of anonymity perceptions afforded to the online user to cause cyber-racism via several routes that focus on (a) online disinhibition, (b) deindividuation and group polarization, and (c) stereotypes. We discuss the tenets of this theory and the overlap with the Barlett Gentile Cyberbullying Model—a learning-based model that focuses on how anonymity eventually predicts cyberbullying via the development of positive cyberbullying attitudes. We believe that theoretical integration is necessary; however, future work needs to test several theoretical underpinnings of these models first. We end with a discussion of theoretical and intervention implications before discussing limitations and future work. Overall, we hope this review sparks interesting future research to understand cyber-racism and broaden the existing research on cyberbullying.
First Brachial Cleft Anomalies in Children: An Innovative Surgical Technique Preventing External Auditory Canal Stenosis
Authors: Kotowski Michal , Szydlowski Jaroslaw
Published: July 2023

First branchial cleft anomalies (FBCAs) are rare congenital malformations that require complete surgical removal. A stenosis of the external auditory canal (EAC) may be the consequence of the disease and its treatment. The aim of this study is to present the details and results of an innovative surgical technique using part of the abnormality for reconstruction purposes. This study covered 28 surgically treated children with FCBA between 2014 and 2021. The analysis included the clinical manifestation form of the abnormality, presence of the EAC deformity, histopathological results, complications, and distant results. On the basis of Work’s classification system, 15 pediatric patients with type II FBCA and 13 children with type I FBCA were included in the further study. One child with type II FBCA and two with type I FBCA had a normal EAC. The preoperative appearance of the EAC was classified into three main types, each potentially accompanied by a skin ostium of the sinus/fistula in the EAC. Reconstruction with our technique was performed in 14 children (1 with type I FBCA and 13 with type II FBCA). Wound healing was uncomplicated in all cases. No recurrences were observed. This innovative surgical technique of the subtotal resection of FBCAs with simultaneous reconstruction is safe and prevents postoperative EAC stenosis. Despite the deliberate use of part of the abnormality wall for reconstructive purposes, it remained free of recurrences.
SOCS1 as a Biomarker Candidate for HPV Infection and Prognosis of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas
Authors: Guo Manli , Zhang Lijie , Wang Huihui , Zhou Qiaozhen , Zhu Xinrang , Fu Xinyu , Yang Jinlong , Liu Shanhe , Guo Dingcheng , Zhang Baoping
Published: July 2023

The pathogenesis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions between HNSCC and HPV remain unclear. Bioinformatics was used to analyze the gene expression dataset of HPV-associated HNSCC based on the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in HPV-positive and HPV-negative HNSCC were screened. Gene function enrichment, protein–protein interactions (PPI), survival analysis, and immune cell infiltration of DEGs were performed. Furthermore, the clinical data of HNSCC tissue samples were analyzed using immunohistochemistry. In total, 194 DEGs were identified. A PPI network was constructed and 10 hub genes (EREG, PLCG1, ERBB4, HBEGF, ZFP42, CBX6, NFKBIA, SOCS1, ATP2B2, and CEND1) were identified. Survival analysis indicated that low expression of SOCS1 was associated with worse overall survival. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that SOCS1 expression was higher in HPV-negative HNSCC than in HPV-positive HNSCC, and there was a positive correlation between SOCS1 expression and patient survival. This study provides new information on biological targets that may be relevant to the molecular mechanisms underpinning the occurrence and development of HNSCC. SOCS1 may play an important role in the interaction between HPV and HNSCC and serve as a potential biomarker for future therapeutic targets.
Itaconic Anhydride as a Bio-Based Compatibilizer for a Tung Oil-Based Thermosetting Resin Reinforced with Sand and Algae Biomass
Authors: Silva Julio Antonio Conti , Dever Seth , Siccardi Anthony , Snelling Drew , Al Qabani Ibrahim , Thompson Scott , Goldberg Karin , Baudoin Genevieve , Martins Lacerda Talita , Quirino Rafael Lopes
Published: July 2023

In this work, renewable composites were prepared by the association of a thermosetting resin synthesized via free-radical polymerization, using a mixture of tung oil, n-butyl methacrylate, and divinylbenzene, with silica-rich fillers, namely an algae biomass with high silica content, and a well-sorted sand. Furthermore, to investigate if the interaction between the non-polar resin and polar reinforcements could be improved, enhancing the materials’ mechanical properties, itaconic anhydride, a bio-derived molecule obtained from itaconic acid, was introduced to the resin composition. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) suggested that the thermal stability of the composites was overall not changed with the addition of itaconic anhydride. The mechanical properties of the sand composites, however, did improve, as the storage modulus at room temperature, measured by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), almost doubled in the presence of itaconic anhydride. The glass transition temperatures of the materials increased by approximately 30 °C when sand was used as a reinforcement. Water absorption experiments validated an increase in the polarity of the unreinforced resin by the addition of itaconic anhydride to its formulation. The composites, however, did not exhibit a significant difference in polarity in the presence of itaconic anhydride. Finally, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), demonstrated better matrix–filler adhesion in the presence of itaconic anhydride for high-silica algae composites.
Preoperative Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging: An Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) Clinical Practice Guideline
Authors: Muradali Derek , Fletcher Glenn G. , Cordeiro Erin , Fienberg Samantha , George Ralph , Kulkarni Supriya , Seely Jean M. , Shaheen Rola , Eisen Andrea
Published: July 2023

Background: The use of preoperative breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after the diagnosis of breast cancer by mammography and/or ultrasound is inconsistent. Methods: After conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing preoperative breast MRI versus no MRI, we reconvened to prepare a clinical practice guideline on this topic. Results: Based on the evidence that MRI improved recurrence, decreased the rates of reoperations (re-excisions or conversion mastectomy), and increased detection of synchronous contralateral breast cancer, we recommend that preoperative breast MRI should be considered on a case-by-case basis in patients diagnosed with breast cancer for whom additional information about disease extent could influence treatment. Based on stronger evidence, preoperative breast MRI is recommended in patients diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma for whom additional information about disease extent could influence treatment. For both recommendations, the decision to proceed with MRI would be conditional on shared decision-making between care providers and the patient, taking into account the benefits and risks of MRI as well as patient preferences. Based on the opinion of the Working Group, preoperative breast MRI is also recommended in the following more specific situations: (a) to aid in surgical planning of breast conserving surgery in patients with suspected or known multicentric or multifocal disease; (b) to identify additional lesions in patients with dense breasts; (c) to determine the presence of pectoralis major muscle/chest wall invasion in patients with posteriorly located tumours or when invasion of the pectoralis major muscle or chest wall is suspected; (d) to aid in surgical planning for skin/nipple-sparing mastectomies, autologous reconstruction, oncoplastic surgery, and breast conserving surgery with suspected nipple/areolar involvement; and (e) in patients with familial/hereditary breast cancer but who have not had recent breast MRI as part of screening or diagnosis.
Laboratory Automation in Microbiology: Impact on Turnaround Time of Microbiological Samples in COVID Time
Authors: Fontana Carla , Favaro Marco , Pelliccioni Marco , Minelli Silvia , Bossa Maria Cristina , Altieri Anna , D’Orazi Carlo , Paliotta Federico , Cicchetti Oriana , Minieri Marilena , Prezioso Carla , Limongi Dolores , D’agostini Cartesio
Published: July 2023

Background: Laboratory Automation (LA) is an innovative technology that is currently available for microbiology laboratories. LA can be a game changer by revolutionizing laboratory workflows through efficiency improvement and is also effective in the organization and standardization of procedures, enabling staff requalification. It can provide an important return on investment (time spent redefining the workflow as well as direct costs of instrumentation) in the medium to long term. Methods: Here, we present our experience with the WASPLab® system introduced in our lab during the COVID-19 pandemic. We evaluated the impact due to the system by comparing the TAT recorded on our samples before, during, and after LA introduction (from 2019 to 2021). We focused our attention on blood cultures (BCs) and biological fluid samples (BLs). Results: TAT recorded over time showed a significant decrease: from 97 h to 53.5 h (Δ43.5 h) for BCs and from 73 h to 58 h (Δ20 h) for BLs. Despite the introduction of the WASPLab® system, we have not been able to reduce the number of technical personnel units dedicated to the microbiology lab, but WASPLab® has allowed us to direct some of the staff resources toward other laboratory activities, including those required by the pandemic. Conclusions: LA can significantly enhance laboratory performance and, due to the significant reduction in reporting time, can have an effective impact on clinical choices and therefore on patient outcomes. Therefore, the initial costs of LA adoption must be considered worthwhile.
Deep Learning-Based Robust Actuator Fault Detection and Isolation Scheme for Highly Redundant Multirotor UAVs
Authors: Debele Yisak , Shi Ha-Young , Wondosen Assefinew , Ku Tae-Wan , Kang Beom-Soo
Published: July 2023

This article presents a novel approach for detecting and isolating faulty actuators in highly redundant Multirotor UAVs using cascaded Deep Neural Network (DNN) models. The proposed Fault Detection and Isolation (FDI) framework combines Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM)-based fault detection and faulty actuator locator models to achieve real-time monitoring. The study focuses on a Hexadecarotor multirotor UAV equipped with sixteen rotors. To tackle the complexity of FDI resulting from redundancy, a partitioning technique is introduced based on system dynamics. The proposed FDI scheme is composed of a region classifier model responsible for detecting faults and fault locator models that precisely determine the location of the failed actuator. Extensive training and testing of the models demonstrate high accuracy, with the regional classifier model achieving 98.97% accuracy and the fault locator model achieving 99.107% accuracy. Furthermore, the scheme was integrated into the flight control system of the UAV, before being tested via both real-time monitoring in the simulation environment and analysis of recorded real flight data. The models exhibit remarkable performance in detecting and localizing injected faults. Therefore, using DNN models and the partitioning technique, this research offers a promising method for accurately detecting and isolating faulty actuators, thereby improving the overall performance and dependability of highly redundant Multirotor UAVs in various operational scenarios.
“It May Be a Luxury, but Not a Problem”: A Mixed Methods Study of Teachers’ Attitudes towards the Educational Needs of Gifted Students in Norway
Authors: Furnes Gila Hammer , Jokstad Gunnvi Sæle
Published: July 2023

This study aims to investigate Norwegian primary teachers’ attitudes towards gifted students and gifted education and discuss their potential impact on their pedagogical practices. In Norway, gifted education is a relatively non-existent phenomenon, and this research field has been scarcely explored in the Norwegian context and teacher education. The Official Norwegian Report NOU 2016:14 highlights a reluctance among Norwegian teachers to cater to gifted students, indicates a lack of training for teachers in identifying and differentiating gifted education, and points out a need for more research within the Norwegian context. In an earlier study, we showed that Norwegian teachers reported having little formal or non-formal education on the theme of gifted education and that few were aware of the abovementioned report. This study aims to investigate Norwegian primary teachers’ attitudes towards gifted students and gifted education and discuss their potential impact on their pedagogical practices. Data in the study are collected through an online mixed methods survey in a small municipality in Norway. An interesting finding is that culture significantly influences teachers’ attitudes towards gifted education. We argue that teachers’ attitudes should be more informed by evidence-based practice and less by culture, as it can impact gifted students’ access to equal and adapted education.
The Design of Incentive Systems in Digital Game-Based Learning: How Primary School Children Interact with It
Authors: Lomos Catalina , Seineke Undine , Kesting Frauke , Luyten J. W. (Hans)
Published: July 2023

Digital game-based learning builds on the general characteristics of games. The incentive system (points, scores, stars, levels, and performance feedback) integrates design elements to keep a learner engaged. In the work described here, we investigated which elements of the incentive system design—rewards, penalties, or feedback—have the potential to trigger students’ motivation to play the game. We used eye tracking of eight primary school children, aged 8–11 years, as they interacted with the incentive system of a mathematics game-based item and its specific design, followed by a semi-structured interview. Eye-tracking results show that students paid minimal visual attention to the incentive system during the game, regardless of their level of performance in the game or their age group. The feedback at the end of the game attracted more of their visual attention and provided a good opportunity to inform them about their performance. The semi-structured interviews revealed a high level of self-reported excitement about playing the game, mainly related to the design of the incentive system. Elements of the incentive system triggered students’ wish for student-to-student competition, which has been shown in the literature on traditional tangible rewards to stifle intrinsic motivation under certain conditions. The results of this study show that the design of the incentive system has the potential to promote extrinsic motivation with the game through rewards and penalties, and open the reflection on its possible spillover effect on intrinsic motivation in digital game-based learning.
Assessing a Didactic Sequence for Computational Thinking Development in Early Education Using Educational Robots
Authors: Pérez-Suay Adrián , García-Bayona Ismael , Van Vaerenbergh Steven , Pascual-Venteo Ana B.
Published: July 2023

Computational thinking (CT) is increasingly incorporated into curricular planning across various educational levels in numerous countries. Presently, CT is being integrated into preschool and primary education. To effectively implement CT at the classroom level, the design and study of techniques and tasks are crucial. This research empirically evaluates a didactic sequence using programmable educational robots for problem-solving challenges rooted in mathematical concepts. The study consists of two sets of activities: computational localisation of elements on a regular grid, where students program robots to navigate, and problem-solving tasks involving sum calculations using distinct pre-operational strategies. The study sample is a class of 16 students at the preschool level. The results indicate an increasing complexity in the success of the designed sequence, with the ’counting all’ strategy demonstrating higher efficacy. These promising findings highlight the potential for further research, aiming to establish a strong foundation for early educational levels through the integration of CT via programmable robots and engaging problem-solving challenges.
“I Saw Things through a Different Lens…”: An Interpretative Phenomenological Study of the Experiences of Autistic Teachers in the Irish Education System
Authors: O’Neill Claire , Kenny Neil
Published: July 2023

This Autistic-led phenomenological qualitative study explores the experiences of Autistic Teachers in the Irish Education system. While autism has received attention in Irish educational research, it is notable that Autistic teachers are under-researched. This study was conducted by an Autistic teacher-researcher and used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to design and conduct semi-structured interviews with four Autistic teachers to address this significant gap in the literature. In the findings, participants described strengths including using monotropism advantageously in their teaching and the ability to form strong and empathetic relationships with their pupils. Experiences with colleagues were often influenced by a lack of autism-related understanding and sometimes stigma and negative biases. The physical, sensory, and organisational environments of schools had an overall negative impact on participants’ experiences. Recommendations resulting from the study include a need to increase whole school knowledge of autism and to encourage neurodivergent-friendly environments. The findings suggest that increased awareness is needed across the Irish education system including initial teacher education (ITE), professional development (PD), and support services. What support to provide, how to provide it, and to whom provide support to are areas for future study emerging from the research. Findings have implications for future practice, policy, and research.
Nonlinear Pedagogy Effect and Value of the City and New Technologies as a Didactic Resource in the Training of Future Teachers
Authors: Pérez-Muñoz Salvador , Melo Amparo Casado , Huete García Santiago , Rodríguez-Cayetano Alberto
Published: July 2023

Education today requires teachers to have a holistic perspective towards students at all levels. In this way, pedagogy evolves from traditional positions to more current models, such as nonlinear pedagogy, where the learner is the focus of the didactic process, which is part of 54 subjects from the master’s degree in teacher training. Mixed research is carried out through new information technologies and the city as an educational resource. The effect on mood was measured with the Profile of Mood States questionnaire, motivation with the Situational Motivation Scale, and content assessment. The results show that positive mood improves after the intervention and the factors that negatively affect mood decrease, with significant differences except for the anger factor. Motivation is mainly intrinsic. The analysis of the data shows modifications in the feelings of the individuals after their participation in the activity, although significant differences are shown depending on the sociodemographic profile of the individuals, particularly in gender, age and employment status. In conclusion, the use of a nonlinear pedagogy, outside the classroom, with the interaction between students, teachers, and the use of information technologies, modifies the mood in a positive way and increases the motivation of future teachers in secondary education.
Perceptions of Interprofessional Identity Formation in Recent Doctor of Physical Therapy Graduates: A Phenomenological Study
Authors: Plummer Laura , Naidoo Keshrie
Published: July 2023

This study examined how recent Doctor of Physical Therapy graduates from a health professions graduate school with an interprofessional curriculum conceptualize their professional and interprofessional identity (i.e., dual identity). Theoretical frameworks included social identity theory, intercontact group theory, and the interprofessional socialization framework. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 graduates in their first 1–2 years of practice in inpatient settings. Transcripts were analyzed using iterative and inductive phenomenological analysis to identify themes. Four themes related to professional identity emerged: from patient to physical therapist, profession exceeding expectations, connection with patient, and role affirmation through meaningful work. Six themes related to interprofessional identity emerged: valuing different mindsets, the authenticity of interprofessional education, feeling misunderstood, perceived versus true hierarchy, differing team dynamics, and being on the same page. Approaches to interprofessional education that focus on longitudinal socialization from professional education through clinical practice might best support the development of clinicians who value interprofessional collaborative practice.
How Co-Teaching May Contribute to Inclusion in Mathematics Education: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Gardesten Malin
Published: July 2023

This systematic literature review focuses on co-teaching and inclusion in mathematics education. Co-teaching, in which two or more teachers share responsibility for students’ mathematical learning, can cater to students in need of special education. Through a narrative synthesis of 15 articles found through searches in 5 databases, this study investigates what characterizes co-teaching and how it contributes to students’ inclusion in mathematics education. The review was conducted by identifying the focus, specifying review questions, determining studies to include, deciding on data to extract, and reporting the results. The findings show that co-teaching can contribute to spatial inclusion in mathematics education, implying that all students can be taught in the same classroom. Furthermore, co-teaching that contributes to social and didactical inclusion addresses all students’ mathematical learning if it is flexibly organized. Therefore, students struggling to gain access to mathematics and those requiring extra challenges in mathematics learning can benefit from this teaching model.
Video Object Segmentation Using Multi-Scale Attention-Based Siamese Network
Authors: Zhu Zhiliang , Qiu Leiningxin , Wang Jiaxin , Xiong Jinquan , Peng Hua
Published: July 2023

Video target segmentation is a fundamental problem in computer vision that aims to segment targets from a background by learning their appearance information and movement information. In this study, a video target segmentation network based on the Siamese structure was proposed. This network has two inputs: the current video frame, used as the main input, and the adjacent frame, used as the auxiliary input. The processing modules for the inputs use the same structure, optimization strategy, and encoder weights. The input is encoded to obtain features with different resolutions, from which good target appearance features can be obtained. After processing using the encoding layer, the motion features of the target are learned using a multi-scale feature fusion decoder based on an attention mechanism. The final predicted segmentation results were calculated from a layer of decoded features. The video object segmentation framework proposed in this study achieved optimal results on CDNet2014 and FBMS-3D, with scores of 78.36 and 86.71, respectively. It outperformed the second-ranked method by 4.3 on the CDNet2014 dataset and by 0.77 on the FBMS-3D dataset. Suboptimal results were achieved on the video primary target segmentation datasets SegTrackV2 and DAVIS2016, with scores of 60.57 and 81.08, respectively.
3GPP 5G V2X Error Correction Coding for Various Propagation Environments: A QoS Approach
Authors: Chatzoulis Dimitrios , Chaikalis Costas , Kosmanos Dimitrios , Anagnostou Kostas E. , Xenakis Apostolos
Published: July 2023

Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications is an emerging branch of wireless communications and has recently gained a lot of interest not only from academia but also from the automotive and telecommunications industry. An important feature of V2X telecommunication systems is that the communication quality varies quickly in time due to the high mobility of the transceivers and due to the rapid change in the fading characteristics of the communication medium. For this reason, it is vital to maintain tolerable quality of service (QoS) in a V2X communication environment, in terms of communication reliability, power, end-to-end latency, data rate, communication range, throughput and vehicle density. A significant impact on the quality parameters of the system has been the coding scheme used by the V2X telecommunication system. For this purpose, we examine the effect that popular coding schemes have on the QoS of a V2X communication system. More specifically, the impact of fourth-generation long-term evolution (4G-LTE) turbo codes, fifth-generation new radio (5G-NR) polar codes and 5G-NR low-density parity-check codes (LDPC) on the QoS parameters of a V2X communication system is researched. Το this end, we employ stochastic V2X propagation models that simulate every possible V2X channel state and traffic environment, based on the third-generation partnership project (3GPP) Release 16 specifications. These propagation models form the basis of our study, since through them, at a first level, we analyze the frame error rate (FER) performance for different levels of signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) for all the aforementioned coding schemes and 128-bit V2X-compatible data frames, and, at a second level, we investigate the impact of these propagation models and coding schemes on the V2X QoS parameters. Our analysis shows that turbo-based coding schemes satisfy all the QoS parameters and achieve overall communication quality comparable to polar and better than LDPC, making them suitable for small-frame 5G V2X services.
FEFD-YOLOV5: A Helmet Detection Algorithm Combined with Feature Enhancement and Feature Denoising
Authors: Zhang Yiduo , Qiu Yi , Bai Huihui
Published: July 2023

In intelligent surveillance of construction sites, safety helmet detection is of great significance. However, due to the small size of safety helmets and the presence of high levels of noise in construction scenarios, existing detection methods often encounter issues related to insufficient accuracy and robustness. To address this challenge, this paper introduces a new safety helmet detection algorithm, FEFD-YOLOV5. The FEFD-YOLOV5 algorithm enhances detection performance by adding a shallow detection head specifically for small target detection and incorporating an SENet channel attention module to compress global spatial information, thus improving the model’s mean average precision (mAP) in corresponding scenarios. Additionally, a novel denoise module is introduced in this algorithm, ensuring the model maintains high accuracy and robustness under various noise conditions, thereby enhancing the model’s generalization capability to meet real-world scenario demands. Experimental results show that the proposed improved algorithm achieves a detection accuracy of 94.89% in noiseless environments, and still reaches 91.55% in high-noise environments, demonstrating superior detection efficacy compared to the original algorithm.
Multi-Objective Real-Time Optimal Energy Management Strategy Considering Energy Efficiency and Flexible Torque Response for a Dual-Motor Four-Drive Powertrain
Authors: Zheng Qingxing , Tian Shaopeng
Published: July 2023

To exhaust the potential of energy efficiency and dynamic performance of the dual-motor four-drive powertrain, this study developed a multi-objective real-time optimal energy management strategy considering energy efficiency and flexible torque response. First, a theoretical analysis of energy loss and operating characteristics was performed to elucidate the energy-saving advantages and control challenges of the dual-motor four-drive powertrain. Second, an economic strategy based on the adaptive nonlinear particle swarm optimization (ANLPSO) and optimization freezing tolerance mechanism was devised to realize real-time optimal power distribution. Then, the pre-shifting recognition schedule and gradient torque recovery strategy were developed to achieve flexible torque response during gear shifting. Finally, smooth switching logic was created to assure a seamless transition between the two strategies. Numerous simulation results indicate that compared with the single-motor drive strategy, the proposed strategy can increase energy efficiency by 8.1%, 4.02%, and 9.49% under NEDC, WLTC, and CLTC, respectively. During shifting, the longitudinal acceleration and jerk of the proposed strategy are significantly superior to those of the original strategy, thereby enhancing the vehicle’s dynamic performance and ride comfort. The results of the drum experiment validate the efficacy of the proposed method for energy consumption optimization and torque coordination control in the actual vehicle environment.
Changes in Phytohormone and Antioxidant Enzyme Activities during the Healing Process of Different Crabapple Rootstock–Scion Combinations
Authors: Shi Fenghou , Ni Yue , Qiu Yuhou , Shen Yongbao
Published: July 2023

By measuring the changes in phytohormones and related enzyme activities of Malus ‘Huabiao’ scions and different rootstocks during the healing process of grafting, this study aims to analyze the effects of different rootstocks on the physiological metabolism of the grafting healing site, thereby providing reference for the selection of M. ‘Huabiao’ grafting rootstocks. The live seedlings of 1-0 M. hupehensis, M. robusta and M. baccata were chosen as rootstocks, and M. ‘Huabiao’ scions were grafted with these seedlings in spring by pasting method. The dynamic changes in activities of indole acetic acid, zeatin riboside, methyl jasmonate content and peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase and L-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase at the healing site of grafting were measured, and the effects of different grafting combinations on the phytohormone and related enzyme activities at the grafted site were investigated. It was found that the M. ‘Huabiao’/M. hupehensis and M. ‘Huabiao’/M. robusta grafting combinations had significantly higher survival rate than M. ‘Huabiao’/M. baccata which only had a success rate of 63%. At the beginning of graft healing, the contents of three phytohormones in healing sites of all the three grafting combinations exhibited a significant decrease. However, in the mid and late stages, great differences were shown in phytohormone content. During the grafting healing process, the changes in three enzyme activities in healing sites of the three grafting combinations showed some regularities. In conclusion, M. hupehensis and M. robusta have strong grafting compatibility with M. ‘Huabiao’; thus, they are suitable to be selected as rootstocks for grafting and propagation of M. ‘Huabiao’. In addition, the changes in phytohormone content and enzyme activity in different grafting combinations reflect the strong affinity relationship between rootstock and scion grafting.
Improvement of ε-Poly-l-lysine Production by Co-Culture Fermentation Strategy
Authors: Pan Long , Zhang Cunjin , Yuan Xinyu , Zhang Yu , Chen Xusheng , Tian Cuizhu , Zhang Zishan , Tian Mengqing , Liao Aimei , Yu Guanghai , Hui Ming , Zeng Xin , Huang Jihong
Published: July 2023

ε-poly-l-lysine (ε-PL) has been routinely used as a natural and safe preservative for many years in the food industry. However, most existing production methods struggle to achieve low cost and high production simultaneously. In this work, we present a co-culture fermentation strategy to enhance ε-PL production. Specifically, we screened a strain from five different strains that could be co-cultured with Streptomyces albulus to raise the production of ε-PL. Subsequently, a single factor experiment and response surface design were used to optimize the conditions of co-culture fermentation to further improve the production of ε-PL. Moreover, the optimal fermentation process was successfully verified in a 2-L fermentor with fed batch fermentation. The production of ε-PL reached 27.07 ± 0.47 g/L by 144 h. Compared with single strain (S. albulus) fermentation, the production of ε-PL was increased by 31.47%. At the same time, the amount of bacteria increased by 19.62%, which means that the ε-PL synthesis ability of bacteria had been improved. All the obtained results showed great potential for co-culture fermentation in large-scale ε-PL production and provide a new fermentation strategy for ε-PL biosynthesis.
An Assessment of Spearfishing Catches along the Eastern Adriatic Coast
Authors: Jelić Mrčelić Gorana , Slišković Merica , Soldo Alen
Published: July 2023

The impact of recreational fishing on fish stocks was neglected for many years as it was considered minor and insignificant. Despite the increasing assessment of the impact of recreational fishing, little effort is made to effectively and systematically collect catch and effort data from recreational fishing and integrate them into official fishery statistics. The aim of this study is to provide the first empirical investigation to quantify the impact of spearfishing on coastal fish communities in the eastern Adriatic. In Croatia, continuous monitoring of spearfishing competitions started in 2005, but, in 2012, the rules for the competitions were changed, and the species and quantities per species were restricted. For the purpose of this analysis, only data collected during the seven-year period from 2005 to 2011 were used, which included a total of 46 competitions in which spearfishers fished without any limitations, as later data were not comparable. These data can provide a robust estimation of the impact of spearfishing on coastal communities. Instead of a general approach, future studies should adopt a species-specific approach. Compared to the results on the impacts of other fishing methods, the obtained results are useful for researchers, managers, and also policy makers to sustainably manage coastal ecosystems and the associated ecosystems services.