bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inherited Germline Variants in Urinary Tract Cancer: A Multicenter Whole-Exome Sequencing Analysis and Correlation With Clinical Features and Tumor Genomics
Authors: Kohlmann Wendy , Nix David A. , Pauley Kristen , Greenberg Samantha , Atkinson Aaron , Boucher Kenneth M. , Kolesar Jill , Singer Eric A. , Edge Stephen B. , Churchman Michelle L. , Graham Laura , Salhia Bodour , Sanchez Alejandro , Zakharia Yousef , Nepple Kenneth G. , Schneider Bryan P. , Byrne Lindsey , Jain Rohit K. , Chahoud Jad , Feng Bing-Jian , Gupta Sumati
Published: July 2024

PURPOSE

This study investigates a real-world multicenter cohort of patients with urinary tract cancer (UTC), with primary disease sites including the bladder, urethra, and upper tract, who enrolled for research molecular testing of their germline and tumor. The purpose of this study was to evaluate factors that could affect the likelihood of identifying a clinically actionable germline pathogenic variant (PV).

METHODS

Patients with UTC were identified from 10 cancer institutes of the Oncology Research Information Exchange Network consortium. The data set comprised abstracted clinical data with germline and tumor genomic data, and comparative analyses were conducted.

RESULTS

Clinically actionable germline PVs in cancer predisposition genes were identified in 16 (4.5%) of 354 patients. A higher proportion of patients with the urethra and the upper tract as the primary sites of disease had PVs with a prevalence of 11% (5/45), compared with only 3.6% (11/308) in those with the bladder as the primary site of disease ( P = .04). There were no significant differences in markers of genomic instability (such as tumor mutational burden, microsatellite instability [MSI], and loss of heterozygosity, copy number, and chromosomal instability) between those with PVs and those without ( P > .05). Of the PVs identified, 10 (62%) were in homologous recombination repair (HRR) genes, three (19%) in mismatch repair (MMR) genes, and three (19%) in genes associated with other pathways.

CONCLUSION

Tissue-based assessment of genomic instability, such as MSI, does not reliably indicate germline PV. A comprehensive clinical germline testing approach that includes HRR genes in addition to MMR genes is likely to yield PVs in approximately one of 10 patients with nonbladder primary disease sites such as the upper tract and the urethra.
Consideration of a Novel Surgical Approach in the Management of Gastric Adenocarcinoma and Proximal Polyposis Syndrome
Authors: Judge Sean J. , Gearty Sofia V. , Catchings Amanda , Ranganathan Megha , Roehrl Michael H. , Vardhana Santosha A. , Tang Laura , Stadler Zsofia K. , Strong Vivian E.
Published: July 2024

Investigators at MSKCC highlight a novel surgical approach to manage GAPPS.
Challenges in Assessment and Management of Postoperative Agitation and Delirium in a Stroke Patient with Limited English Proficiency: Case Report
Authors: Chwa Jason S. , Bradley Anthony S. , Szokol Joseph , Dhillon Anahat K. , Luan-Erfe Betty M.
Published: July 2024

While Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 mandates use of interpreters for patients with limited English proficiency, significant disparities persist in intensive postsurgical care. We present the case of a 60-year-old Vietnamese-speaking man with a Type A aortic dissection requiring postoperative mechanical ventilation and stroke care. Despite use of a remote video interpreter, our language-discordant nursing and physician providers faced challenges in managing agitation and delirium and assessing neurological function. This case highlights the need for adequate interpretation equipment, linguistic diversity among providers, and interventions to promote and enable consistent certified and professional medical interpreter use.
Νομική προστασία (ατομικά - κοινωνικά - πολιτικά και αστικά δικαιώματα) μεταναστών (υπηκόων τρίτων χωρών) στην Ελλάδα
Authors: Παπαδημητροπούλου Ασπασία
Published: July 2024

Η διδακτορική διατριβή πραγματεύεται τη νομική προστασία των μεταναστών (υπηκόων τρίτων χωρών) που ζουν στην Ελλάδα και τα δικαιώματα τους. Αναλύει τα ατομικά, κοινωνικά, πολιτικά και αστικά δικαίωμα τους, διατυπώνει κριτική στην ισχύουσα νομοθεσία, όπως και προτάσεις για την βελτίωση της. Η έρευνα βασίστηκε στη μελέτη και ανάλυση της βιβλιογραφίας και της νομοθεσίας και εμπλουτίστηκε από την εμπειρική διερεύνηση του θέματος, δεδομένης της καθημερινής ενασχόλησης της ερευνήτριας ως δικηγόρου με υποθέσεις υπηκόων τρίτων χωρών. Το βασικό συμπέρασμα στο οποίο οδηγεί η έρευνα είναι ότι η υφιστάμενη νομοθεσία είναι ανεπαρκής ως προς την προστασία των δικαιωμάτων των μεταναστών. Επίσης εντοπίστηκαν προβλήματα στην εφαρμογή του δικαίου. Η νομοθεσία πρέπει να εφαρμοστεί ορθά από τους εμπλεκόμενους κρατικούς λειτουργούς και να βελτιωθεί περαιτέρω, ακολουθώντας τις επιταγές του Διεθνούς και του Ευρωπαϊκού Δικαίου, ώστε τα δικαιώματα των μεταναστών στην Ελλάδα να προστατεύονται επαρκώς.
Η βελτιστοποίηση της διαγνωστικής απόδοσης της αλληλούχισης επόμενης γενιάς του DNA (Next Generation Sequencing/NGS) στην ιατρική γενετική, μέσω βιοπληροφορικών και εργαστηριακών διαδικασιών
Authors: Τηλέμης Φαίδων-Νικόλαος
Published: July 2024

Ο συνολικός αριθμός των σπανίων παθήσεων εκτιμάται ότι είναι 7.000-8.000, και περίπου στο 80% εξ’ αυτών έχει αναγνωριστεί η υποκείμενη γενετική αιτιολογία. Σήμερα, ισχυρό εργαλείο για τον προσδιορισμό της μοριακής αιτιολογίας των σπανίων παθήσεων αποτελεί η τεχνολογία αλληλούχησης των εξονίων του γονιδιώματος (WES), καθώς η διαγνωστική της απόδοση κυμαίνεται στο 30-50%, υψηλότερη συγκριτικά με τις συμβατικές μεθοδολογίες. Ωστόσο, παρά την εφαρμογή της, περισσότεροι από τους μισούς ασθενείς με σπάνιο γενετικό νόσημα παραμένουν αδιάγνωστοι, κυρίως λόγω των αδυναμιών στην ανίχνευση διαφορετικών κατηγοριών αιτιοπαθογόνων παραλλαγών και της περιορισμένης εμπειρίας στην έγκυρη ταξινόμηση των σημειακών παραλλαγών (SNVs). Οι πρόσφατες τεχνολογικές και βιοπληροφορικές εξελίξεις έχουν συμβάλει στην ανάπτυξη αποτελεσματικών βιοπληροφορικών εργαλείων, ικανών να ανιχνεύουν παραλλαγές αριθμού αντιγράφων (CNVs) και μικρές επαναλαμβανόμενες αλληλουχίες (STRs) από δεδομένα WES, οι οποίες δεν μπορούσαν να εντοπιστούν πρωτύτερα και θεωρούνταν ότι διέφευγαν της ανίχνευσης. Στην παρούσα διατριβή, με στόχο την περαιτέρω βελτίωση της διαγνωστικής απόδοσης του WES, από τους 1560 συνολικά εξετασμένους ασθενείς του Εργαστηρίου Ιατρικής Γενετικής στους 820 που παρέμεναν χωρίς διάγνωση πραγματοποιήθηκε επανεξέταση των βιοπληροφορικών δεδομένων, χρησιμοποιώντας και αξιολογώντας παράλληλα νέα και πρόσφατα ανεπτυγμένα βιοπληροφορικά εργαλεία που επιτρέπουν την ανίχνευση CNVs και STRs από δεδομένα WES. Για τον εντοπισμό των CNVs χρησιμοποιήθηκε το εργαλείο ExomeDepth, ενώ για τα STRs το ExpansionHunter. Συγκεκριμένα, από τα 820 περιστατικά υλοποιήθηκε: α) επανεξέταση των SNVs σε συνδυασμό με ανίχνευση των CNVs σε 36, β) επανανάλυση αποκλειστικά των SNVs σε 84 και γ) ανίχνευση μόνο των CNVs σε 700, εκ των οποίων 10 χρησιμοποιήθηκαν πιλοτικά και για την εκτίμηση του μεγέθους των επεκτάσεων STRs. Από την εκ νέου ανάλυση των 820 αδιάγνωστων περιστατικών αιτιοπαθογόνο εύρημα ταυτοποιήθηκε στα 74 (στα 60 CNV και στα 14 SNV), με αποτέλεσμα να αποσαφηνιστεί η υποκείμενη γενετική αιτία στο 9% αυτών των περιστατικών και το ποσοστό της συνολικής διαγνωστικής απόδοσης του WES να αυξηθεί κατά 4,8%, φτάνοντας από το 47,4% (740/1560) στο 52,2% (814/1560). Επιπλέον, με το ExpansionHunter προσδιορίστηκε ο ακριβής αριθμός επαναλήψεων για κάθε αλληλόμορφο των ήδη ανευρεθεισών επεκτάσεων STRs και στα 10 περιστατικά WES που χρησιμοποιήθηκαν. Συνεπώς, η εκ νέου ανάλυση των υφιστάμενων δεδομένων αλληλούχησης WES προσφέρει τη δυνατότητα να αυξηθεί η διαγνωστική απόδοση υπό το πρίσμα της βελτιωμένης βιοπληροφορικής ροής και της επικαιροποιημένης βιβλιογραφίας. Συγχρόνως, το WES επιτρέπει τον εντοπισμό SNVs σε συνδυασμό με CNVs και STRs από μία μόνο μέθοδο, ελαχιστοποιώντας το κόστος και τον χρόνο για την τελική διάγνωση, λόγοι για τους οποίους θα πρέπει να αποτελεί τη σύγχρονη μέθοδο αναφοράς για τη διερεύνηση ασθενών με σπάνια γενετικά νοσήματα.
Deconcentration of Infrastructure and Spatial Diversification of Entrepreneur-ship in Powiats in Poland in 2010-2020
Authors: Drozdowski Grzegorz , Dziekański Paweł
Published: July 2024

Motivation: Green infrastructure, infrastructure and entrepreneurship serve to improve the quality of life, and social equality and reduce environmental risks and ecological shortages, or improve territorial cohesion. Entrepreneurship and infrastructure must be built based on the region's available potential.
Aim: The article aims to analyze the spatial diversity of infrastructure and its impact on entrepreneurship in powiats in Poland in the year 201o-2020. Technique for Order Preferences by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) was used to construct the synthetic measure. Empirical data were collected in the spatial coverage of power ties for the years 2010-2020.
Results: There is spatial diversity of entrepreneurship, infrastructure and green infrastructure in powiats in Poland. The effects generated by infrastructure, and green infrastructure may have a positive impact on minimising the impact of external factors causing disruptions to regional systems. The synthetic entrepreneurship measure ranged from 0.11 to 0.46 in 2010, and from 0.23 to 0.72 in 2020. For the synthetic infrastructure measure, values ranged from 0. 14 to 0.45 in 2010 and 0.16 to 0.53 in 2020. The synthetic green infrastructure measure was 0.28-0.52 in 2010 and 0.32-0.60 in 2020, respectively. Infrastructure is very important for the processes taking place in the local economy. It constitutes an investment proposal and an offer of conditions necessary for conducting business activity.
Probiotics - should pediatricians and neonatologists use them? A literature review
Authors: Marcicka Justyna , Mądry Wojciech , Mazurkiewicz Aleksandra , Kołodziej Magdalena , Męczyńska Joanna , Saiuk Nazarii , Kozicz Michał Andrzej , Seredyński Tomasz , Wojciechowska Adriana , Salasa Weronika
Published: July 2024

In recent years, interest in probiotics in publications has been steadily increasing. This is associated with the discovery of the relationship between disruptions in the gut microbiome and dysfunction of the immune system, and consequently, the development of various diseases and allergies.
The composition of the natural gut microbiota in newborns can undergo changes, and as a result, we can influence it both prenatally and postnatally. According to available research, factors influencing it include the timing and method of delivery, maternal antibiotic use during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as well as antibiotic use in newborns after birth, and the method of feeding the child.
It is suspected that disturbances in the composition of gut microbiota from the earliest stages of life contribute to the development of disorders such as functional gastrointestinal disorders (diarrhea, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome), inflammatory bowel diseases, allergies, atopic dermatitis, neurodevelopmental disorders (autism spectrum disorders), and increased risk of obesity in later years of the child's life.
When significant dysbiosis occurs, stimulating the growth of protective and nutritive autochthonous bacteria on the intestinal epithelium is difficult to achieve in any other way than using appropriately selected probiotic strains. However, it is important to remember to choose probiotics with a well-researched quantitative and qualitative composition, and to select them depending on the underlying disease, as well as the age and other conditions of the patient.
The Impact of Physical Activity on Gut Microbiota: An In-Depth Literature Review
Authors: Palacz Karolina Alicja , Lenartowicz Iwona , Brzozowska Patrycja , Frańczuk Agata , Nowińska Bianka , Makłowicz Aleksandra
Published: July 2024

Introduction. The human body is home to a diverse community of microorganisms known as the microbiota. These microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, play crucial roles in maintaining overall health. They colonize the digestive tract shortly after birth, and the composition of the gut microbiota changes throughout an individual's life, largely influenced by diet and physical activity. Breastfeeding has long-term beneficial effects on the gut microbiota and gene expression in intestinal cells. Regular exercise not only improves cardiovascular and respiratory health but also affects metabolic, immunological, neural, and microbial pathways. This review explores how diet and physical activity impact the composition and diversity of gut microbiota, highlighting important findings and their implications for health.
Aim of study. This study aims to review how physical activity influences gut microbiota, investigating the effects of different types and intensities of exercise on microbial composition and diversity, and their implications for overall health.
Materials and methods. A non-systematic examination of the scientific literature was conducted using specific keywords such as gut microbiota, physical activity, sport, and microbiome. The examination took place on PubMed, with scrutiny of a total of 31 references published up to 2023.
Conclusions. This review highlights the crucial role of gut microbiota in maintaining good health and its complex interaction with diet and physical activity. Regular exercise has a positive impact on the diversity of microbiota, especially when started at a young age. Imbalance in gut bacteria is linked to various diseases, underscoring the significance of a healthy microbiome. Encouraging physical activity and a nutritious diet can improve gut health, and more research is needed to understand the mechanisms and potential health indicators involved.
An comprehensive examination of the therapeutic and dietary attributes of Stevia
Authors: Kotowicz Zuzanna , Kwaśniak Ksenia , Magierska Agata , Kmiotek Weronika , Foryś Angelika , Miłek Magdalena , Banach Mariola , Ślusarczyk Monika , Stawska Weronika , Niemczyk Anna
Published: July 2024

Introduction
Stevia rebaudiana, an indigenous plant of South America, is becoming increasingly popular because of its potent sweetness obtained from steviol glycosides, which are considerably sweeter than sucrose. Due to its low calorie content and this characteristic, Stevia is considered a favoured sugar alternative in a wide range of food products. In addition to being a substitute for sugar, Stevia provides a range of metabolic benefits. Studies have shown that extracts from this plant have antihypertensive and antihyperlipidemic qualities, can control blood glucose and insulin levels, enhance kidney function, and may have potential anticancer effects. The wide range of advantageous characteristics linked to Stevia highlights its promise as a subject for further exploration of its health-promoting effects. This article offers an analysis of scientific research and reliable sources, presenting the metabolic advantages and health impacts of steviol glycosides obtained from Stevia in the human body.
 
Aim of the study
This review aims to identify the metabolic benefits of Stevia rebaudiana on the human body. The main objective is to present its action as a component in the fight against obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and cancer cells.
Material and method
This article presents the current state of knowledge about the range of metabolic benefits of Stevia rebaudiana. Publications describing the effects of Stevia rebaudiana use on the metabolism and health of the human body were reviewed using the PubMed platform. The search included the keywords 'stevia', 'artificial sweetener', 'sugar substitute', 'obesity'.
The use of artificial intelligence in radiology: new possibilities for diagnostic imaging. A literature review
Authors: Stawska Weronika , Miłek Magdalena , Kwaśniak Ksenia , Foryś Angelika , Banach Mariola , Niemczyk Anna , Ślusarczyk Monika , Magierska Agata , Kotowicz Zuzanna , Kmiotek Weronika
Published: July 2024

Introduction and purpose: Rapid advances in technology enable innovative solutions to be implemented in modern medicine, relieving healthcare workers by speeding up diagnosis and improving the quality of treatment. The subject of this review is Artificial Intelligence (AI), an innovative form of help in the daily practice of doctors. It offers the opportunity to relieve healthcare workers by accelerating the diagnosis process and improving the quality and effectiveness of treatment. 
The aim of this paper is to present the current state of knowledge, assess the effectiveness of algorithms in the recognition and interpretation of abnormalities in medical images compared to specialists in radiology and discuss the challenges associated with the implementation of AI in various medical specialties.
Brief description of the state of knowledge: Artificial intelligence, especially through machine learning and deep learning techniques, has found wide application in radiology. Many facilities around the world use advanced AI systems in the day-to-day work of radiologists, including the Mayo Clinic, Massachusetts General Hospital, and the University of Tokyo Hospital. 
Summary: Studies show that while AI algorithms can perform worse than radiologists in some areas, they are at the forefront of others, especially in detecting subtle abnormalities. The effective implementation of artificial intelligence requires addressing regulatory, ethical, and training issues. Despite these challenges, artificial intelligence has the potential to play    a key role in the future of radiology and revolutionize medical practice, opening new perspectives and improving the quality of health care.
Construction and Implementation of a Digital System for Logistics Majors from the Perspective of Smart Education
Authors: Zuo Lingqun , Xu Chonghao , Wang Shan , Li Jisen
Published: July 2024

Background: Faced with the new demand for logistics engineering talents in the modern logistics industry's mathematical transformation and upgrading, building an applied logistics engineering talent training system that meets the requirements of the new era is a key task of current teaching reform.
Contribution: The contribution of this experiment is focuses on the current situation of school enterprise integration in school logistics engineering construction, and proposes a construction.
Method:  This experiment using framework method to strengthen the logistics engineering profession, clarify integration goals, build targeted curriculum systems, establish assessment and evaluation frameworks, and improve the mechanism of industry education integration.
Results: The collaborative educational role of logistics professional construction and innovation and entrepreneurship education and cultivate more comprehensive logistics professionals. Based on this, this article will conduct a digital system for logistics majors from the perspective of smart education in vocational colleges under the background of intelligent logistics.

Conclusion: Curriculum construction is built on a dynamic and authentic practical process, which reflects the logical interaction between curriculum builders and courses, shifting understanding from project logic to subjective logic
First record of Glyphonycteris daviesi to the state of Roraima in Brazil
Authors: Brito de Oliveira Marcione , de Araujo Luiza Rose , Crawshaw Danielle , Escarlate-Tavares Fabricio
Published: July 2024

El género Glyphonycteris comprende 3 especies que habitan en tierras bajas y montañas boscosas de América Central y del Sur.  De las 3 especies que se encuentran en Brasil, Glyphonycteris daviesi se reporta en bosques húmedos pero se sabe poco sobre sus límites de distribución.  Partimos de un ejemplar depositado en la Colección de Mamíferos del Departamento de Vertebrados del Museo Nacional, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.  Analizamos las características externas, craneales y dentales que han sido reportadas como diagnósticas en estudios previos y documentamos ocurrencias georreferenciadas de la especie en Brasil.  Verificamos que el espécimen se trata de un individuo de G. daviesi.  Por lo tanto, presentamos el primer registro de esta especie para el estado de Roraima, aproximadamente a 407 km al noroeste del registro anterior más cercano en Manaus.  Este registro pertenece a un macho, dentro de la distribución potencial para la especie según la IUCN.  El paisaje del que proviene el registro está compuesto principalmente por campinaranas (ecosistemas amazónicos asociados a suelos pobres y arenosos con inundaciones periódicas), bosques húmedos y llanuras aluviales.  Confirmamos que G. daviesi está presente en regiones de bosques húmedos tropicales conservados, corroborando otros reportes, y en tipos de vegetación variados, desde campos hasta áreas boscosas.
Predation attempt by a long-tailed weasel Neogale frenata on a Holcosus gaigeae lizard
Authors: Nahuat-Cervera Pedro E. , Arellano-Ciau J. Ismael
Published: July 2024

La comadreja de cola larga, Neogale frenata es un mamífero pequeño que se distribuye desde el sur de Canadá hasta el norte de Sudamérica, cuya dieta consiste principalmente de pequeños mamíferos, alimentándose ocasionalmente de reptiles.  En este documento se describe el intento de depredación de N. frenata sobre la lagartija Holcosus gaigeae.  La conducta se registró durante un recorrido de observación de aves en el municipio de Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Quintana Roo, México.  Se registraron 2 eventos en los que se observó a la comadreja tratar de posicionarse atrás de la lagartija para aproximarse y perseguirla activamente.  Este comportamiento de depredación coincide con las estrategias de caza reportadas previamente para N. frenata para presas de tamaño mediano y representa el primer registro de interacción entre estas 2 especies.
Attentional biases in neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions
Authors: Palmer Sarah Jane
Published: July 2024

People with neurological conditions have been observed to display attentional bias towards facial expressions in others. This article discusses some of the literature around attentional bias, and what that might mean for the individual and those working with them.
Experiences of homeless individuals using ambulance services: a narrative review
Authors: Hichisson Andrew David
Published: July 2024

Background:

Homeless individuals are vulnerable and have a higher burden of illness. Barriers to care exist and experiences can be negative, contributing to increased morbidity and mortality. The experiences of homeless individuals accessing healthcare through ambulance services is underexplored.

Aims:

The study aims to describe why homeless individuals access healthcare through ambulance services and identify lived experiences.

Methods:

A narrative literature review was undertaken using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses methodology, with Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tools used to assess quality before thematic synthesis.

Results:

Twenty-three studies were included. Six themes were identified including frequency of ambulance use and clinical characteristics, why healthcare is accessed through ambulance services and the experiences of homeless individuals and paramedics.

Conclusions:

Evidence relating to homeless individuals accessing healthcare through ambulance services is limited. However, it is clear this group uses these services more often than non-homeless individuals, likely because of their higher chronic illness burden. Services should be developed to meet the needs of homeless individuals and to help ensure demand on ambulance services is manageable and affordable.
Mental wellbeing of student paramedics before and after first ambulance placement
Authors: Finney Owen , Snowdon Kate
Published: July 2024

Background:

Emergency ambulance workers are at risk of poor mental wellbeing. Student paramedics in the UK attend ambulance placements, which expose them to the same stresses; they also have their own stress factors. Little research has explored how these placements affect student mental wellbeing.

Aim:

This pilot study aims to address this gap into the ways in which students'mental wellbeing may be affected by ambulance placements.

Methods:

A mixed-method approach, using the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS), with two questionnaires including wellbeing scores and open questions, was used to collect quantitative and qualitative data on first-year student paramedics before and after their first ambulance placement.

Results:

Twenty participants were included in the final analysis, three-quarters of whom witnessed at least one traumatic event during their placement. There was a statistically insignificant difference between wellbeing scores before and after the placement. There were five themes: positive learning experience; theory-practice gap; student-mentor relationship; student resilience; and career consolidation.

Conclusion:

Mental wellbeing did not change significantly after the first ambulance placement. Placement was overall a positive experience that confirmed career choice and narrowed the theory-practice gap. Mentor support was protective during traumatic events. A similar, larger study could track student wellbeing throughout their course and identify factors that may protect or damage wellbeing.
Settling into a new GP
Authors: Green Jennifer
Published: July 2024

As more paramedics transition across various roles, Band 6 paramedic, Jennifer Green shares her journey in a new monthly column in 2024, as she makes her way from the ambulance setting into general practice
Effects of Conveyor Movement, Layer Rearrangement and Sample Mixing on Pest Mortality in Milled Rice Subjected to Radio Frequency Heating
Authors: Gu Fang , Liu Jiaxing , Li Rui , Ramaswamy Hosahalli , Wang Shaojin
Published: July 2024

Highlights

Hot air-assisted RF heating accelerated temperature rise of samples.

Thermal holding after RF heating improved heating uniformity and pest mortality.

Layer rearrangement, conveyor movement, and mixing enhanced RF heating efficiency.

Abstract. Application ofradio frequency (RF) treatment has been studied for disinfesting agricultural products, and RF heating non-uniformity has been demonstrated to directly influence pest mortality in treated products. The purpose of this study was to investigate the combined effects of holding time after conveyor movement, layer rearrangement, and sample mixing on the mortality of Rhyzopertha dominica (R. dominica) in milled rice treated with hot air-assisted RF heating. Results showed that hot-air assistance during the process of RF heating can lead to a rapid temperature rise and improve the temperature distribution. RF heating followed by holding samples in hot air for specific time periods effectively improved the heating uniformity of samples and raised the mortality of R. dominica in milled rice. Compared with the stationary conditions, conveyor movement, layer rearrangement, and sample mixing improved the hot air-assisted RF heating uniformity of the sample, raised pest mortality and reduced the thermal holding time after RF treatment required to achieve 100% pest mortality in milled rice. The findings of this study provide a valuable proof of concept for improving RF heating uniformity and optimizing parameters in RF disinfestation protocols for milled rice. Keywords: Heating uniformity, Milled rice, Mixing, Pest mortality, Radio frequency heating.
Towards a digital zemiology
Authors: Elias Jessica
Published: July 2024

Surveillance capitalism (Zuboff, 2019) represents an unprecedented shift in modes and asymmetries of power. Operating within and through the digital sphere, this new era of capitalism has drastic implications for our understandings of modern surveillance, corporate power, and social control. The digital, in its diffuse simultaneously online and offline form, represents the spatialisation of control within which the user and the data they produce are commodified and their identities consolidated and dissected into knowable, marketable demographics which, once reassembled, no longer represent the human being once behind them (Hammond, 2016; Brusseau, 2020). The digital represents a new frontier of harm production, as user-generated data is exploited to serve corporate interests and the normalisation of digital surveillance has given way to user apathy and technological reliance, undermining user autonomy and opportunities for resistance, while commodifying not only our identities but the entirety of the human experience. Within this context an opportunity emerges to develop a zemiology informed by the digital context that can confront the deepening harms of technologisation and consider the future of resistance. By interrogating the intersection between developments in digital technology and harm production, this article aims to acknowledge the proliferation of normalised corporate surveillance through a development in capitalism (Zuboff, 2015; 2019), and to outline opportunities for theoretical development presented by the digital context, drawing upon works within zemiology (Pemberton, 2016), surveillance studies (Murakami Wood, 2007; Murakami Wood and Ball, 2013), postphenomenology (Ihde, 1990; Verbeek, 2011; Wood, 2021; 2022), and disconnection studies (Kuntsman and Miyake, 2022), to present an invitation to both a unique theoretical orientation and an emerging field of study: digital zemiology.
AI in the discourse of the relationships between technology and education
Authors: Rodríguez Illera José Luis
Published: July 2024

The article reviews some of the relationships between AI and education, emphasizing the metaphors used, the difficulties in finding points of agreement, as well as aspects of the social criticism that is made of AI (e.g. considering that it can be a form of unwanted deviation). AI appears as one more case of technology that comes to improve education, as happened in the past with other less “intelligent” technologies, although now with more arguments in its favor. Secondly, it explores the logical mechanisms (abduction) that are widely used in human reasoning but also in AI, showing how their uncontrolled use can lead to certain conversation algorithms being able to lie, something that teachers would not do. An ethical rather than logical question is raised that deserves to be explored later.
Communication Educators Facing the Arrival of Generative Artificial Intelligence: Exploration in Mexico, Peru, and Spain
Authors: Mateus Julio-César , Cappello Giancarlo , Lugo Nohemi , Guerrero-Pico Mar
Published: July 2024

This research explores university educators' perspectives on the opportunities, concerns, and considerations associated with Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in the training of professional communicators. Positioned at the early stages of ChatGPT's integration into educational settings, the study examines teachers' assignment instructions, assessments of ChatGPT's responses, and reflections on these outcomes. Employing a cross-sectional, qualitative methodology, the research involves a sample of 22 teachers from communication faculties in Mexico, Peru, and Spain. Utilizing Bloom’s taxonomy and an inductive approach for data analysis, the findings unveil nuanced views on GenAI's role in teaching practice. Teachers perceive ChatGPT as a tool with varying impacts depending on its application. They articulate distinct roles for ChatGPT, viewing it as either an ally or a rival, prompting discussions on anthropomorphizing technologies and emphasizing the need to empower students in GenAI tool usage, establish ethical protocols, and reconsider assessment methods, among other key considerations.
Teaching AI to the Next Generation: A Humanistic Approach
Authors: Trifonova Anna , Destéfano Mariela , Barajas Mario
Published: July 2024

This article proposes a comprehensive AI curriculum tailored for young learners aged 11 to 14, emphasizing a humanistic approach. We review other AI curricula proposals for children and young people and underline that they focus primarily on AI's technological benefits and on learning coding and logic. Our curriculum explores human cognition that is often overlooked in existing AI curriculum. Our proposal combines learning through construction, reflective discussions and project-based learning in order to approach AI from variety of angles. Implemented by CreaTIC Academy during 2023/24 school year as an out-of-school activity in a secondary (middle) school in Barcelona, Spain, this curriculum integrates technological, philosophical, cognitive, and cultural dimensions. It draws from diverse fields, including Philosophy of Mind, Cognitive Psychology and Philosophy of Children, and includes practical coding with tools like Scratch and AppInventor, as well as Machine Learning for Kids. Designed to be adaptable across various socio-economic contexts, our approach aims to promote a broader liberal education for children and help teachers implement AI activities in their classrooms.
Evaluating the evaluators: a comparative study of AI and Teacher Assessments in Higher Education
Authors: Karademir coskun Tugra , Alper Ayfer
Published: July 2024

This study aims to examine the potential differences between teacher evaluations and artificial intelligence (AI) tool-based assessment systems in university examinations. The research has evaluated a wide spectrum of exams including numerical and verbal course exams, exams with different assessment styles (project, test exam, traditional exam), and both theoretical and practical course exams. These exams were selected using a criterion sampling method and were analyzed using Bland-Altman Analysis and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) analyses to assess how AI and teacher evaluations performed across a broad range. The research findings indicate that while there is a high level of proficiency between the total exam scores assessed by artificial intelligence and teacher evaluations; medium consistency was found in the evaluation of visually-based exams, low consistency in video exams, high consistency in test exams, and low consistency in traditional exams. This research is crucial as it helps to identify specific areas where artificial intelligence can either complement or needs improvement in educational assessment, guiding the development of more accurate and fair evaluation tools.
Teacher professional development for a future with generative artificial intelligence – an integrative literature review
Authors: Brandão Anabela , Pedro Luís , Zagalo Nelson
Published: July 2024

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been part of every citizen's life for several years. Still, the emergence of generative AI (GenAI), accessible to all, has raised discussions about the ethical issues they raise, particularly in education. GenAI tools generate content according to user requests, but are students using these tools ethically and safely? Can teachers guide students in this use and use these tools in their teaching activities? This paper argues that teacher professional development (TPD) is an essential key trigger in adopting these emerging technologies. The paper will present an integrative literature review that discusses the components of TPD that may empower teachers to guide their students towards the ethical and safe use of GenAI. According to the literature review, one key component of TPD should be AI literacy, which involves understanding AI, its capabilities and limitations, and its potential benefits and drawbacks in education. Another essential component is hands-on activities that engage teachers, their peers, and students in actively using these tools during the training process. The paper will discuss the advantages of working with GenAI tools and designing lesson plans to implement them critically in the classroom.
Dinámicas, estrategias y retroalimentación aplicadas con gamificación mixta: ¿mejoran el bajo rendimiento cognitivo escolar?
Authors: Holguin-Alvarez Jhon , Cruz-Montero Juana , Ruiz Salazar Jenny , Atoche Wong Raquel Leonor , Merino-Flores Irene
Published: July 2024

La educación digital en Latinoamérica ha traído consigo el desarrollo de estrategias apoyadas en el uso de plataformas y juegos de ocio y juegos serios. El objetivo fue diferenciar los efectos de dos metodologías: (a) gamificación mixta, (b) utilidad de plataformas lúdico-participativas en el bajo rendimiento escolar. Estas metodologías se han comparado en un diseño experimental. La evaluación se realizó en 150 escolares de Perú, clasificados en tres grupos de comparación (8,5 años de edad± 0,4). Se administraron 40 sesiones de aprendizaje con metodología D-E-R (dinámica, estrategia, retroalimentación) incluyendo el uso de las plataformas virtuales y el uso de videojuegos. La evaluación se desarrolló con pruebas sobre el aprendizaje en matemáticas, ciencias y comunicación, con los cuales se obtuvieron resultados significativos en los procesos cognitivos a partir de las actividades diseñadas con gamificación mixta sin ser discriminantes en los aprendizajes del área de comunicación. Se concluye que la gamificación reduce el bajo rendimiento para elevar los procesos cognitivos del razonamiento lógico, la deducción cognitiva en matemáticas, las habilidades en ciencias; y las de lectura y expresión oral. Se sugiere incluir variables basadas en una evaluación digital de la escritura de textos para superar las limitaciones.
An exploration of agency enactment in e-portfolio learning co-design
Authors: Zhang Peng , Tur Gemma
Published: July 2024

Although research has always related e-portfolios to self-regulated learning, recently agency, which includes individual, relational, and contextual domains, has also been highlighted. Likewise, agency has been explored in technological environments that support collaborative and co-design learning processes. This study, investigating the enactment of student agency within e-portfolio learning co-design in secondary education, focuses on how students perceive their agency within a co-design e-portfolio learning framework, which was coined as the Co-PIRS model in previous stages of research. Among the findings, it can be argued that students report a greater awareness of agency, characterized by competence beliefs (individual domain) in the showcase phase of e-portfolios, peer learning (relational domain), and the opportunities to make choices (contextual domain) in the implementation phase. The study also reveals students' positive attitudes towards reflection, which suggests the suitability of structuring collaboration in the co-design approach. These insights serve as a foundation for implementing e-portfolio co-design frameworks to empower students’ agency and provide educators with guidance.
ICT integration in FLT: An analysis of TPACK implementation in Spanish Primary Teacher Education
Authors: Gómez Sánchez Tania F. , Bobadilla-Pérez María , Rumbo Arcas Begoña , Fraga-Viñas Lucia , Galán-Rodríguez Noelia Mª
Published: July 2024

This study explores primary teachers´ initial training programs, focusing on Foreign Language Teaching (FLT) and its integration with technology. The research is grounded in two dimensions of contemporary society: plurilingual competence and digital literacy. The study employs the conceptual framework of "Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge" (TPACK) (Mishra & Kohler, 2006) and applies content analysis methodology. The scientific interest lies in the scarcity of studies examining this specific area within the Spanish context, because research on TPACK in FLT has primarily focused on Asia and the Middle East. To address this void, a comprehensive national study encompassing 39 public universities was conducted. This study involved an in-depth analysis of 496 course guides within the field of FLT in primary education teacher training programs. The research findings indicate that less than half of the subjects incorporate technology, and when they do, two prominent trends emerge: the integration of TPACK and the presentation of technology as a broad competency, not specifically tailored to FLT. The primary conclusion drawn from this study is that the incorporation of TPACK in this context is moderate, emphasizing the need for a more comprehensive integration of technology within FLT teacher training programs.
Analyzing teacher candidates' arguments on AI integration in education via different chatbots
Authors: Duran Volkan
Published: July 2024

The burgeoning role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education prompts crucial discussions regarding its implications for teaching and learning. This qualitative study probes the argumentative perspectives of 118 teacher candidates from Iğdır University on the integration of AI into educational practices. Employing Toulmin's (1958) model, we analyzed their arguments, which encompass claims, evidence, warrants, backings, rebuttals, and conclusions, to ascertain their stance on AI's pedagogical integration. Utilizing four distinct AI chatbots—GPT-4, Gemini AI, Claude 3 Haiku, and Mistral AI—the research deciphers thematic undercurrents within these dimensions. Moreover, a novel methodological contribution is made through 'negative space exploration', focusing on the unmentioned themes to identify latent biases and assumptions in the argumentation. The study's dual analytical approach, combining AI-driven theme identification and negative space exploration, resulted in an enriched understanding of the content. Key findings suggest a nuanced perception among participants: while AI chatbots are acknowledged for enhancing educational efficiency and enabling personalized learning, concerns regarding diminished human interaction, potential erosion of critical thinking skills, and ethical use persist. The analyses also highlight the need for a balanced AI implementation that supports, not supplants, traditional educational methods. This research contributes to the ongoing debate on effective AI integration in education and calls for responsible pedagogical adoption of AI technologies.
Nicolas Pesquès and the Ecology of Life-Writing: Human and Non-Human Relations in La Face nord de Juliau
Authors: Maclachlan Ian
Published: July 2024

Abstract: Nicolas Pesquès’s multi-volume work of poetic life-writing, La Face nord de Juliau (1988–), is examined here from an ecological perspective attuned to the weave of relations between the writing subject, the text, and the environment. In a discussion framed by Jacques Derrida’s remarks on the ‘autobiographical animal’, the article explores Pesquès’s treatment of language, subjectivity, the experience of exteriority, and human/non-human relations. The network of relations in play is examined from a range of anthropological angles, culminating in an extended and reworked sense, once again indebted to Derrida, of what anthropologists such as Alfred Gell describe as ‘distributed personhood’.
Perfect vortex Laguerre-Gauss beams as a carrier in the MMF/FSO communication system
Authors: Abd El-Mottaleb Somia A. , Bencheikh Abdelhalim
Published: July 2024

This paper presents a novel, to the best of our knowledge, high-speed transmission system that integrates a new structured light beam, specifically the perfect vortex Laguerre-Gaussian (PVLG) beam, with an optical code division multiple access (OCDMA) system utilizing a premutation vector (PV) code. The PVLG beams are distinguished by their unique shape, which remains nearly invariant during propagation regardless of the azimuthal order of the orbital angular momentum (OAM), facilitating the multiplexing of multiple OAM beams within the same spatial area. Additionally, the system employs hybrid multimode fiber (MMF) and free space optics (FSO) channels, with consideration of foggy weather conditions in the FSO channel. A comparative analysis between the performance of PVLG beams and standard LG beams is conducted. Performance evaluation metrics include the Q-factor, bit error rate (BER), and eye diagrams, providing comprehensive insights into received signal quality. The results demonstrate that the system utilizing PVLG beams outperforms the one using standard LG beams. Specifically, the system achieves a maximum MMF length of 0.35 km with a BER of approximately 10−4 and a Q-factor of around three when the MMF cable channel is used only. For the FSO channel, the achievable ranges are 1.1 km, 0.7 km, and 0.35 km under low fog (LF), medium fog (MF), and high fog (HF) conditions, respectively, maintaining the same BER and Q-factor values. Moreover, the hybrid MMF/FSO channel extends the transmission range to 1.2 km under LF conditions and to 0.45 km under HF conditions, with consistent BER and Q-factor values. Each of the four PVLG beams carries 40 Gbps, resulting in a total transmission capacity of 160 Gbps. Thus, the proposed system is well positioned to meet the high-speed data transmission demands of next-generation 6G networks.
Phase retrieval based on the distributed conditional generative adversarial network
Authors: Li Lan , Pu Shasha , Jing Mingli , Mao Yulong , Liu Xiaoya , Sun Qiyv
Published: July 2024

Phase retrieval is about reconstructing original vectors/images from their Fourier intensity measurements. Deep learning methods have been introduced to solve the phase retrieval problem; however, most of the proposed approaches cannot improve the reconstruction quality of phase and amplitude of original images simultaneously. In this paper, we present a distributed amplitude and phase conditional generative adversarial network (D-APUCGAN) to achieve the high quality of phase and amplitude images at the same time. D-APUCGAN includes UCGAN, AUCGAN/PUCGAN, and APUCGAN. In this paper, we introduce the content loss function to constrain the similarity between the reconstructed image and the source image through the Frobenius norm and the total variation modulus. The proposed method promotes the quality of phase images better than just using amplitude images to train. The numerical experimental results show that the proposed cascade strategies are significantly effective and remarkable for natural and unnatural images, DIV2K testing datasets, MNIST dataset, and realistic data. Comparing with the conventional neural network methods, the evaluation metrics of PSNR and SSIM values in the proposed method are refined by about 2.25 dB and 0.18 at least, respectively.
Spectrally-broadened femtosecond vortex beams in air with longitudinal pressure distribution
Authors: Yang Lianbin , Xu Litong , Xi Tingting
Published: July 2024

The spectral broadening of femtosecond vortex beams in air with different longitudinal pressure distributions is studied numerically. By introducing a symmetrical pressure distribution, a sufficiently broadened spectrum while preserving vortex characteristics of the beam for different input energies can be generated. The proposed pressure distribution involves an increase during the self-focusing stage, followed by a flat-top and symmetric decrease. This approach takes advantage of the mechanism that the strong Kerr nonlinearity in the high-pressure filamentation region results in a broader spectrum towards the blue side through the self-phase modulation and ionization, while the weak Kerr nonlinearity in the low-intensity regions before and after filamentation with low pressure leads to the decrease of the intensity fluctuation and the preservation of vortex characteristics due to weak modulation instability. Consequently, the resulting vortex beam exhibits a broad enough spectrum, and the transform-limit duration reaches a single cycle. This study provides a valuable approach for generating single-cycle vortex beams.
Scalable free-space photonic antennas in foundry SOI silicon photonic platforms
Authors: Rollinson John , Karlicek Robert F. , Hella Mona M.
Published: July 2024

We present a flexible, scalable, and low-noise design scheme for coupling free-space light into a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) electronic-photonic integrated circuit. The proposed scheme utilizes arrays of grating couplers with compact, inverse-designed power combining networks to couple a distributed optical collection area to a single output waveguide, forming a photonic antenna. Fabrication density compliance is maintained regardless of the antenna size, and the collection area can be scaled while maintaining a fixed noise floor. Using experimental grating array antennas fabricated in the GF45CLO platform, we demonstrate up to a 6.7× increase in the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a lens-less monolithic free-space photonic receiver using a 4×4 grating array.