bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Cement Sheath–Rock Damage Mechanism—A Case Study on Water Injection Wells
Authors: Zhao Liang , Li Qi , Luo Xiangrong
Published: September 2023

In the field of water injection wells within oilfields, comprehending the intricate mechanics of water channeling and the resulting rock damage on the external cemented surface holds paramount significance for the efficient management of reservoirs. This paper presents a comprehensive study aimed at illuminating the complex nature of rock damage on the external cemented surface of casings and deciphering the underlying mechanisms that underpin water channeling occurrences. To this end, a robust constitutive model is established and refined to capture the multifaceted interactions inherent in rock damage on the cemented surface. This model introduces a modified bonding force approach to enhance shear stress precision and thoughtfully accounts for the profound effects of elastic–plastic behavior, cracking damage, and elastic-cracking coupling damage on damage progression. Subsequently, the refined model is employed to investigate rock damage on the external cemented surface of water injection wells, encompassing variations in confining pressure, rock width on the cemented surface, and the ratio of Young’s modulus between the cement sheath and the rock. The research findings emphasize the interplay between cracking and elastic damage as the catalyst for rock damage on the cemented surface. Impressively, the accuracy of the refined constitutive model for the cemented surface has advanced by over 5% compared to prior studies. The manipulation of confining pressure and the Young’s modulus ratio enhances peak fracture water pressure, signifying substantive strides in comprehending damage propagation mechanics. Furthermore, the study discerns the negligible influence of rock width on the cemented surface regarding damage patterns. These findings have important implications for the effective management of water injection wells, providing insights for the restoration of water channeling wells and proactive measures against water channeling phenomena. They also contribute to the refinement of well cementing practices and the proficient management of water channeling and water flooding in oilfields. The research findings have profound implications for the domain of water injection wells, offering novel insights into the restoration of water channeling wells and the implementation of preemptive measures against water channeling phenomena. These findings hold the potential to guide the refinement of well cementing practices and the adept management of water channeling and water flooding wells within the studied oilfield.
On the Geometry of the Null Tangent Bundle of a Pseudo-Riemannian Manifold
Authors: Abbassi Mohamed Tahar Kadaoui , Boulagouaz Khadija , Calvaruso Giovanni
Published: September 2023

When we consider a non-definite pseudo-Riemannian manifold, we obtain lightlike tangent vectors that constitute the null tangent bundle, whose fibers are lightlike cones in the corresponding tangent spaces. In this paper, we define and study a class of “g-natural” metrics on the tangent bundle of a pseudo-Riemannian manifold and we investigate the geometry of the null tangent bundle as a lightlike hypersurface equipped with an induced g-natural metric.
A Novel Approach for Individual Design Perception Based on Fuzzy Inference System Training with YUKI Algorithm
Authors: Benaissa Brahim , Kobayashi Masakazu , Kinoshita Keita , Takenouchi Hiroshi
Published: September 2023

This paper presents a novel approach for individual design perception modeling using the YUKI algorithm-trained Fuzzy Inference System. The study focuses on understanding how individuals perceive design based on personality traits, particularly openness to experience, using the YUKI algorithm and Fuzzy C-means clustering algorithm. The approach generates several Sugeno-type Fuzzy Inference System models to predict design perception, to minimize the Root Mean Squared Error between the model prediction and the actual design perception of participants. The results demonstrate that the suggested method offers more accurate predictions compared to the traditional Fuzzy C-means Fuzzy Inference System and Deep Artificial Neural Networks, and the Root Mean Square deviation for individual design perceptions falls within a satisfactory range of 0.84 to 1.32. The YUKI algorithm-trained Fuzzy Inference System proves effective in clustering individuals based on their level of openness, providing insights into how personality traits influence design perception.
Interval Type-3 Fuzzy Aggregation for Hybrid-Hierarchical Neural Classification and Prediction Models in Decision-Making
Authors: Ramírez Martha , Melin Patricia , Castillo Oscar
Published: September 2023

In all organizations, many decision analysts acquire their skills through the experience of facing challenges to structure complex problems. Therefore, every day, the use of tools to integrate indicators through multi-attribute ordering, component-based separation, and clustering to reduce the criteria required for decision-making and the achievement of goals and objectives is more frequent. Thus, our proposal consists of a new hybrid-hierarchical model for the classification and prediction of country indicators such as inflation, unemployment, population growth, and labor force, among others, in a decision-making environment using unsupervised neural networks and type-3 fuzzy systems. The contribution is achieving a type-3 fuzzy aggregation method in which the hierarchy is first represented by neural networks and later a set of type-1, type-2, and type-3 systems to combine the results, which allows multiple indicators to be separated and then integrated in an appropriate fashion. We can point out as one of the advantages of utilizing the method that the user can evaluate a range of qualities in multiple variables through the classification and prediction of time series attributes and assess a range of qualities for decision-making with uncertainty, according to the results of the simulations carried out.
Sharp Power Mean Bounds for Two Seiffert-like Means
Authors: Yang Zhenhang , Zhang Jing
Published: September 2023

The mean is a subject of extensive study among scholars, and the pursuit of optimal power mean bounds is a highly active field. This article begins with a concise overview of recent advancements in this area, focusing specifically on Seiffert-like means. We establish sharp power mean bounds for two Seiffert-like means, including the introduction and establishment of the best asymmetric mean bounds for symmetric means. Additionally, we explore the practical applications of these findings by extending several intriguing chains of inequalities that involve more than ten means. This comprehensive analysis provides a deeper understanding of the relationships and properties of these means.
Interfacial Tuning of Polymeric Composite Materials for High-Performance Energy Devices
Authors: Vedhanarayanan Balaraman , Lakshmi K. C. Seetha , Lin Tsung-Wu
Published: September 2023

Polymeric composite materials attracted attention when pristine polymers alone could not fulfill the necessity of high-performance functional materials for wide applications. Mixing two or more polymers (blends) together or compositing the polymers with inorganic compounds/carbon-based nanomaterials greatly solved the problem associated with the mechanical, thermal, and electronic properties along with the chemical stability, which paves a new pathway for optimizing the functional properties of active materials. However, a mere mixing of individual components sometimes would not provide enhanced properties due to the formation of phase-separated, larger domains of components. In particular, the grain boundaries of components, also known as “interfaces”, actually determine the properties of these composite materials. The tuning of interfacial properties is significant to achieve composites with higher electrical conductivity and better charge transfer kinetics if they are targeted toward high-performance energy devices. This review aims to provide an overview of recent advancements in the area of polymeric composite materials with tuned interfacial characteristics towards energy conversion (solar cells, photocatalytic hydrogen production, and nanogenerators) and energy storage (supercapacitors and metal-ion batteries) devices with very recent representative examples.
Ensemble-Based Short Text Similarity: An Easy Approach for Multilingual Datasets Using Transformers and WordNet in Real-World Scenarios
Authors: Gagliardi Isabella , Artese Maria Teresa
Published: September 2023

When integrating data from different sources, there are problems of synonymy, different languages, and concepts of different granularity. This paper proposes a simple yet effective approach to evaluate the semantic similarity of short texts, especially keywords. The method is capable of matching keywords from different sources and languages by exploiting transformers and WordNet-based methods. Key features of the approach include its unsupervised pipeline, mitigation of the lack of context in keywords, scalability for large archives, support for multiple languages and real-world scenarios adaptation capabilities. The work aims to provide a versatile tool for different cultural heritage archives without requiring complex customization. The paper aims to explore different approaches to identifying similarities in 1- or n-gram tags, evaluate and compare different pre-trained language models, and define integrated methods to overcome limitations. Tests to validate the approach have been conducted using the QueryLab portal, a search engine for cultural heritage archives, to evaluate the proposed pipeline.
Cell-Tissue Interaction: The Biomimetic Approach to Design Tissue Engineered Biomaterials
Authors: Nitti Paola , Narayanan Athira , Pellegrino Rebecca , Villani Stefania , Madaghiele Marta , Demitri Christian
Published: September 2023

The advancement achieved in Tissue Engineering is based on a careful and in-depth study of cell–tissue interactions. The choice of a specific biomaterial in Tissue Engineering is fundamental, as it represents an interface for adherent cells in the creation of a microenvironment suitable for cell growth and differentiation. The knowledge of the biochemical and biophysical properties of the extracellular matrix is a useful tool for the optimization of polymeric scaffolds. This review aims to analyse the chemical, physical, and biological parameters on which are possible to act in Tissue Engineering for the optimization of polymeric scaffolds and the most recent progress presented in this field, including the novelty in the modification of the scaffolds’ bulk and surface from a chemical and physical point of view to improve cell–biomaterial interaction. Moreover, we underline how understanding the impact of scaffolds on cell fate is of paramount importance for the successful advancement of Tissue Engineering. Finally, we conclude by reporting the future perspectives in this field in continuous development.
Climatic Warming-Induced Drought Stress Has Resulted in the Transition of Tree Growth Sensitivity from Temperature to Precipitation in the Loess Plateau of China
Authors: Zhang Qindi , Fu Shaomin , Guo Hui , Chen Shaoteng , Li Zongshan
Published: September 2023

Ongoing climate warming poses significant threats to forest ecosystems, particularly in drylands. Here, we assess the intricate responses of tree growth to climate change across two warming phases (1910–1940 and 1970–2000) of the 20th century in the Loess Plateau of China. To achieve this, we analyzed a dataset encompassing 53 ring-width chronologies extracted from 13 diverse tree species, enabling us to discern and characterize the prevailing trends in tree growth over these warming phases. The difference in the primary contributors over two warming phases was compared to investigate the association of tree growth with climatic drivers. We found that the first warming phase exerted a stimulating effect on tree growth, with climate warming correlating to heightened growth rates. However, a contrasting pattern emerged in the second phase as accelerated drought conditions emerged as a predominant limiting factor, dampening tree growth rates. The response of tree growth to climate changed markedly during the two warming phases. Initially, temperature assumed a dominant role in driving the tree growth of growth season during the first warming phase. Instead, precipitation and drought stress became the main factors affecting tree growth in the second phase. This drought stress manifested predominantly during the early and late growing seasons. Our findings confirm the discernible transition of warming-induced tree growth in water-limited regions and highlight the vulnerability of dryland forests to the escalating dual challenges of heightened warming and drying. If the warming trend continues unabated in the Loess Plateau, further deterioration in tree growth and heightened mortality rates are foreseeable outcomes. Some adaptive forest managements should be encouraged to sustain the integrity and resilience of these vital ecosystems in the Loess Plateau and similar regions.
Transfer Learning Allows Accurate RBP Target Site Prediction with Limited Sample Sizes
Authors: Vaculík Ondřej , Chalupová Eliška , Grešová Katarína , Majtner Tomáš , Alexiou Panagiotis
Published: September 2023

RNA-binding proteins are vital regulators in numerous biological processes. Their disfunction can result in diverse diseases, such as cancer or neurodegenerative disorders, making the prediction of their binding sites of high importance. Deep learning (DL) has brought about a revolution in various biological domains, including the field of protein–RNA interactions. Nonetheless, several challenges persist, such as the limited availability of experimentally validated binding sites to train well-performing DL models for the majority of proteins. Here, we present a novel training approach based on transfer learning (TL) to address the issue of limited data. Employing a sophisticated and interpretable architecture, we compare the performance of our method trained using two distinct approaches: training from scratch (SCR) and utilizing TL. Additionally, we benchmark our results against the current state-of-the-art methods. Furthermore, we tackle the challenges associated with selecting appropriate input features and determining optimal interval sizes. Our results show that TL enhances model performance, particularly in datasets with minimal training data, where satisfactory results can be achieved with just a few hundred RNA binding sites. Moreover, we demonstrate that integrating both sequence and evolutionary conservation information leads to superior performance. Additionally, we showcase how incorporating an attention layer into the model facilitates the interpretation of predictions within a biologically relevant context.
Fiber-Optic-Based System for High-Resolution Monitoring of Stretch in Excised Tissues
Authors: Velarte Antonio , Otin Aranzazu , Giménez-Gómez Pablo , Muñoz-Berbel Xavier , Pueyo Esther
Published: September 2023

Cardiovascular diseases cause a high number of deaths nowadays. To improve these statistics, new strategies to better understand the electrical and mechanical abnormalities underlying them are urgently required. This study focuses on the development of a sensor to measure tissue stretch in excised tissues, enabling improved knowledge of biomechanical properties and allowing greater control in real time. A system made of biocompatible materials is described, which is based on two cantilevered platforms that integrate an optical fiber inside them to quantify the amount of stretch the tissues are exposed to with a precision of μm. The operating principle of the sensor is based on the variation of the optical path with the movement of the platforms onto which the samples are fixed. The conducted tests highlight that this system, based on a simple topology and technology, is capable of achieving the desired purpose (a resolution of ∼1 μm), enabling the tissue to be bathed in any medium within the system.
Rapid Isolation of Low-Level Carbapenem-Resistant E. coli from Water and Foods Using Glycan-Coated Magnetic Nanoparticles
Authors: Caliskan-Aydogan Oznur , Sharief Saad Asadullah , Alocilja Evangelyn C.
Published: September 2023

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) are one of the major global issues needing attention. Among them, carbapenemase-producing (CP) E. coli strains are commonly found in clinical and biological samples. Rapid and cost-effective detection of such strains is critical in minimizing their deleterious impact. While promising progress is being made in rapid detection platforms, separation and enrichment of bacteria are required to ensure the detection of low bacterial counts. The current separation methods, such as centrifugation, filtration, electrophoresis, and immunomagnetic separation, are often tedious, expensive, or ineffective for clinical and biological samples. Further, the extraction and concentration of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB) are not well documented. Thus, this study assessed the applicability of cost-effective glycan-coated magnetic nanoparticles (gMNPs) for simple and rapid extraction of CP E. coli. The study included two resistant (R)strains: Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing E. coli (R: KPC) and New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM)-producing E. coli (R: NDM). A susceptible E. coli (S) strain was used as a control, a reference bacterium. The gMNPs successfully extracted and concentrated E. coli (R) and E. coli (S) at low concentrations from large volumes of buffer solution, water, and food samples. The gMNPs concentrated up to two and five times their initial concentration for E. coli (R) and E. coli (S) in the buffer solution, respectively. In water and food samples, the concentration of E. coli (S) and E. coli (R) were similar and ranged 1–3 times their initial inoculation. A variation in the concentration from different food samples was seen, displaying the impact of food microstructure and natural microflora. The cost-effective and rapid bacterial cell capture by gMNPs was achieved in 15 min, and its successful binding to the bacterial cells in the buffer solution and food matrices was also confirmed using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). These results show promising applications of gMNPs to extract pathogens and ARB from biological samples.
Numerical Simulation of Street Canyon Morphology and Microclimate in Hot Summer and Cold Winter Zone
Authors: Zhou Zhiyi , Wang Pengfei , Deng Jun , Ouyang Cheng , Xu Yuxuan , Jiang Wanping , Ma Kai
Published: September 2023

The design of street canyons has become a focus of attention under the requirements of high-quality urban modernization, while existing research has gradually broken through the basic norms of aesthetic design to include ecological considerations. However, it is only in recent decades that relevant research has been carried out in super and super-large cities in China. In this article, we take Nanchang, one of the largest cities in China, as an example, and use ENVI-met software (v5.5.1.) to simulate and analyze the street canyon of the city. Certain measurements were made and verified to compare the microclimatic conditions of street canyons at different scales. The relationship between street canyon morphology and outdoor thermal comfort was explored in terms of near-surface air temperature, wind speed, and thermal comfort indicators. The results show that there is a high correlation between the morphology of street canyons, such as orientation, aspect ratio interface continuity, and outdoor thermal comfort. Therefore, starting from adjusting the morphological characteristics of street canyons, practical suggestions can be provided for urban planners to guide the sustainable development of contemporary cities and improve the comfort of urban street spaces.
Insights into a Removal Mechanism of Triclosan Using an Electroactivated Persulfate-Coupled Carbon Membrane System
Authors: Li Junjing , Wu Di , Zhang Hongying , Wang Liang , Wang Hong , Ba Zhengchun
Published: September 2023

Triclosan (TCS), a broad-spectrum bacteriostatic agent with bactericidal and disinfectant properties, is one of the emerging pollutants of great interest. The electrically activated persulfate-coupled carbon membrane system was studied in this paper. The removal of triclosan achieved 90% within 40 min. Complete degradation can be achieved within 90 min. The electrode was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The optimal reaction conditions were explored. The catalytic mechanism of the reaction was investigated. It was proved that hydroxyl radicals, sulfate radicals, and singlet oxygen were the main reactive oxygen species in the reaction process by the free radical quenching experiment and electron paramagnetic resonance spectrometer. The degradation path and mechanism of triclosan were investigated.
Effects of Dietary Bacillus natto Productive Protein on the Skin: In Vitro Efficacy Test and Single-Armed Trial
Authors: Igari Naoki , Ninomiya Ryo , Kawakami Satoshi
Published: September 2023

The dietary bacillus natto productive protein (BNPP) is a functional food ingredient that contains Bacillopeptidase F. BNPP is reported to improve blood flow. Based on previous research, we investigated the effect of BNPP on the skin. In vitro tests were performed to evaluate BNPP for its inhibitory effects on tyrosinase, elastase, and active oxygen (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)) radical scavenging activities. In addition, a small-scale, single-armed trial of 15 female participants aged 40–65 years were conducted to assess the effects on human skin of BNPP, administered 250 mg/day orally, for 6 weeks. The beneficial effects of BNPP on the skin were shown by the evaluation of the tyrosinase inhibitory (0.01% and 0.1%), elastase inhibitory (0.00001% to 0.001%), and DPPH radical scavenging (1% and 10%) activities. In addition, the results suggested that the oral administration of BNPP may significantly enhance skin rosiness and also achieve significant improvement in skin conditions, defined as complexion, skin elasticity and resilience, moist feeling, skin texture, cosmetic adhesion, fine lines, under-eye darkness, eye bags, sagging cheeks, and sagging mouth. Furthermore, to investigate the use of BNPP as cosmetics, a skin irritation study was conducted using a cultured human skin model. The results showed that BNPP is non-irritant. In addition, to confirm the stability of BNPP, the quality of BNPP at the time of manufacture and three years and six months after manufacture was examined. The results showed no quality problems. These results suggest that the BNPP could be used as cosmetic purposes.
A High-Efficiency Modular Multiplication Digital Signal Processing for Lattice-Based Post-Quantum Cryptography
Authors: Nguyen Trong-Hung , Pham Cong-Kha , Hoang Trong-Thuc
Published: September 2023

The Number Theoretic Transform (NTT) has been widely used to speed up polynomial multiplication in lattice-based post-quantum algorithms. All NTT operands use modular arithmetic, especially modular multiplication, which significantly influences NTT hardware implementation efficiency. Until now, most hardware implementations used Digital Signal Processing (DSP) to multiply two integers and optimally perform modulo computations from the multiplication product. This paper presents a customized Lattice-DSP (L-DSP) for modular multiplication based on the Karatsuba algorithm, Vedic multiplier, and modular reduction methods. The proposed L-DSP performs both integer multiplication and modular reduction simultaneously for lattice-based cryptography. As a result, the speed and area efficiency of the L-DSPs are 283 MHz for 77 SLICEs, 272 MHz for 87 SLICEs, and 256 MHz for 101 SLICEs with the parameters q of 3329, 7681, and 12,289, respectively. In addition, the N−1 multiplier in the Inverse-NTT (INTT) calculation is also eliminated, reducing the size of the Butterfly Unit (BU) in CRYSTAL-Kyber to about 104 SLICEs, equivalent to a conventional multiplication in the other studies. Based on the proposed DSP, a Point-Wise Matrix Multiplication (PWMM) architecture for CRYSTAL-Kyber is designed on a hardware footprint equivalent to 386 SLICEs. Furthermore, this research is the first DSP designed for lattice-based Post-quantum Cryptography (PQC) modular multiplication.
Epithelial Membrane Protein-3 and Chitinase-3-like Protein-1 as New Prognostic Predictors of Glioma, a Two-Gene Study
Authors: Shen Kecheng , Zhu Jiandong , Zhou Shijie , Jin Xin , Zhai Weiwei , Sun Liang , Wu Jiang , Yu Zhengquan
Published: September 2023

Background: Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common primary intracranial tumor, with a high degree of malignancy, poor therapeutic effect, and poor prognosis. According to previous studies, CHI3L1 and EMP3 are two independent tumor predictors that are of great significance for the prognostic prediction of other tumors, and their expression levels may be related to the prognosis of glioma patients. Methods: using Oncomine, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA), cBioPortal, LinkedOmics, and other databases, 693 glioma patients were screened to analyze the relationship between EMP3 and CHI3L1 expression and prognosis in glioma patients. Results: low-grade glioma patients with a low expression of EMP3/CHI3L1 had a better prognosis, and the combination of EMP3/CHI3L1 is a new predictor for glioma patients. Conclusion: We used the TCGA and CGGA databases to analyze the effect of EMP3 and CHI3L1 expression on the prognosis of glioma patients and their correlation with gene expression using bioinformation analysis. The results showed that low-grade glioma patients with a low expression of EMP3 and CHI3L1 had a better prognosis, and EMP3 and CHI3L1 co-expression genes were correlated. The combination of these two factors could be a new prognostic index for glioma patients.
Salivary Duct Carcinoma with Rhabdoid Features of the Parotid Gland with No E-Cadherin Expression: A Report with Anti-HER2 Therapy and Review of the Literature
Authors: Jain Richa , Sansoni E. Ritter , Angel Jacqueline , Gleysteen John P. , Hayes D. Neil , Owosho Adepitan A.
Published: September 2023

Salivary duct carcinoma with rhabdoid features (SDC-RF) is a rare form of salivary gland neoplasm that was recently described. We report a case of SDC-RF of the parotid gland with loss of E-cadherin and decreased β-catenin expression in a 73-year-old male who presented with right facial/neck swelling and intermittent pain. Morphologically, the tumor presented with a discohesive infiltrate of isolated and cords of pleomorphic round cells containing moderate amount of eosinophilic to fine-vacuolated cytoplasm and hyperchromatic nuclei infiltrating through fibroadipose tissue and salivary parenchyma. Immunophenotypically, the tumor was positive for Cytokeratins Oscar and 7, GATA3, GCDFP, HER2, and an androgen receptor but negative for CK20, S100, p40, Melan A, CDX2, TTF1, ER, SATB2, DOG1, synaptophysin, and chromogranin. Due to its diffuse infiltrating pattern, involvement of the parapharyngeal space, supraclavicular fat pad, dermis, and skin without a defined surgical target, the tumor was deemed unresectable. Anti-HER2 therapy (Herceptin and Pertuzumab) was utilized. At the last follow-up, the patient is alive, with complete locoregional control and brain metastases. An electronic search was performed in the following registries for papers published up to June 2023: PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science. For the database searches, the keywords searched were “salivary gland”, “salivary duct carcinoma”, and “salivary duct carcinoma with rhabdoid features”. Our review of the literature identified 30 cases of SDC-RF that reveal there is a predilection for males (83%), parotid gland (72%), and patients older than the 6th decade of life (83%). Immunophenotypically, all SDC-RF cases except one were positive for AR and GCDFP (97%), 81% were positive for HER2, and loss or decreased expression of E-cadherin in 93% of cases. In conclusion, we described a rare case of SDF-RF of the parotid gland with no E-cadherin expression, decreased β-catenin expression, and its immunophenotypic profile.
Design Thinking in Secondary Education: Required Teacher Skills
Authors: Novo Carolina , Tramonti Michela , Dochshanov Alden Meirzhanovich , Tuparova Daniela , Garkova Boiana , Eroglan Fatma , Uğraş Tuba , Yücel-Toy Banu , Vaz de Carvalho Carlos
Published: September 2023

Design Thinking (DT) is a design process originally used in the conception and validation of innovative and technologically efficient human-centered solutions for ill-formed problems. Being an iterative and collaborative process with a human point of view, DT allows adopters to improve several intrapersonal and interpersonal skills, like collaboration, creative thinking, leadership, presentation, project management, ethics, storytelling, negotiation, empathy, willingness to learn, etc. As such, DT has been adopted in several other areas and has also become highly relevant in educational contexts to develop the aforementioned skills in students. It has also been shown to contribute to minimizing the school dropout problem by keeping students motivated and integrated in the school context. Nevertheless, to be successfully implemented, DT requires that the overall educational context is adapted and that teachers are trained to be able to guide, support, and give feedback to students. With that objective in mind and following an analysis of the current situation in secondary education schools in four European countries, a teacher training model was designed to organize and systematize the process of developing teachers’ abilities to manage an educational DT approach. This article presents the analysis of the current situation from the point of view of teachers and students and gives some hints on the resulting teacher training model for integrating Design Thinking skills within secondary education.
Empowering Novice Teachers: The Design and Validation of a Competence Model to Manage Verbal Aggressive Behaviour in the Classroom
Authors: Franco Delphine , Vanderlinde Ruben , Valcke Martin
Published: September 2023

(1) Background: Dealing with students’ maladaptive behaviour in the classroom, such as verbal aggressive behaviour, is challenging, particularly for novice teachers. They often encounter limited opportunities for training and practice in handling such incidents during their pre-service education, rendering them ill-equipped and uncertain when confronted with instances of verbal aggression during their initial teaching experiences. This article reports on the design and validation of a verbal aggression management competence model to guide and substantiate novice teachers’ immediate reactions. (2) Methods: The model’s construction and validation processes were informed by a dual-pronged approach, encompassing a literature analysis to explore theoretical concepts and semi-structured interviews involving 32 educational experts to validate its practical applicability. (3) Results: The design and validation processes resulted in a comprehensive competence model consisting of concrete steps to be taken during or immediately following an incident and overarching attitudes to be adopted throughout the incident managing process. (4) Conclusions: This study contributes a structured framework to empower novice teachers, offering tools to address verbal aggressive behaviour within the classroom environment. Furthermore, it highlights the potential of incorporating this model into teacher education programs, facilitating the competence development of future teachers, and fostering conducive learning environments.
Decolonizing Technologies through Emergent Translanguaging Literature from the Margin: An English as a Foreign Language Writing Teacher’s Poetic Autoethnography
Authors: Yang Shizhou
Published: September 2023

Many scholars have portrayed technological advances as conducive to English language teaching and learning, without questioning their possible colonial assumptions about languages and literacies. Drawing on critical pedagogy and Global South epistemologies, I reconceptualize decolonization as a humanizing project in the contact zones between English and non-English languages. This poetic autoethnography, informed by my memories of my own experience as an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learner in China, alongside a wide range of artifacts from a senior seminar course in an international college in a Thai private university, illustrates how educational technologies can be decolonized by producing (and publishing) emergent translanguaging literature that repositions teachers and students from marginalized backgrounds as co-creators of new knowledge about languages and literacies in the global context.
A Holistic Investigation of the Relationship between Digital Addiction and Academic Achievement among Students
Authors: Tülübaş Tijen , Karakose Turgut , Papadakis Stamatios
Published: September 2023

Digital addiction (DA), an umbrella term referring to addiction to any type of digital media, such as the internet, smartphone, digital games, and social media, is a significant factor influencing students’ academic achievement (AA). Many scholars have contributed to this line of research from around the world. Nevertheless, the literature lacks a holistic investigation of how the DA–AA research field evolved, which could guide future studies. The current study aims to address this void and conducts a combined bibliometric and science mapping analysis of research addressing the relationship between DA and AA. Data were retrieved from the WoS database, considered one of the optimal databases for such studies with its comprehensive coverage of quality journals. One hundred eighteen articles were included in the final dataset and were analyzed using the SciMAT software, which allowed analysis over three consecutive periods and yielded comparable results regarding the conceptual and thematic evolution of the DA–AA domain. The results indicated an increased research interest in the topic, especially during the last five years. The science mapping analysis showed that the most-studied types of addiction were smartphone addiction for the first two periods and social media addiction for the last. Research in the DA–AA domain which focused on understanding the addictive use of smartphones during the first period, evolved to address factors such as self-efficacy or life satisfaction leading to smartphone addiction and lower grades. During the third period, the number of factors addressed gained significant variety and covered family-related and personal factors.
CPL-Net: A Malware Detection Network Based on Parallel CNN and LSTM Feature Fusion
Authors: Lu Jun , Ren Xiaokai , Zhang Jiaxin , Wang Ting
Published: September 2023

Malware is a significant threat to the field of cyber security. There is a wide variety of malware, which can be programmed to threaten computer security by exploiting various networks, operating systems, software and physical security vulnerabilities. So, detecting malware has become a significant part of maintaining network security. In this paper, data enhancement techniques are used in the data preprocessing stage, then a novel detection mode—CPL-Net employing malware texture image—is proposed. The model consists of a feature extraction component, a feature fusion component and a classification component, the core of which is based on the parallel fusion of spatio-temporal features by Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Long Short-Term Memory networks (LSTM). Through experiments, it has been proven that CPL-Net can achieve an accuracy of 98.7% and an F1 score of 98.6% for malware. The model uses a novel feature fusion approach and achieves a comprehensive and precise malware detection.
Enhanced Grey Wolf Optimization Algorithm for Mobile Robot Path Planning
Authors: Liu Lili , Li Longhai , Nian Heng , Lu Yixin , Zhao Hao , Chen Yue
Published: September 2023

In this study, an enhanced hybrid Grey Wolf Optimization algorithm (HI-GWO) is proposed to address the challenges encountered in traditional swarm intelligence algorithms for mobile robot path planning. These challenges include low convergence accuracy, slow iteration speed, and vulnerability to local optima. The HI-GWO algorithm introduces several key improvements to overcome these limitations and enhance performance. To enhance the population diversity and improve the initialization process, Gauss chaotic mapping is applied to generate the initial population. A novel nonlinear convergence factor is designed to strike a balance between global exploration and local exploitation capabilities. This factor enables the algorithm to effectively explore the solution space while exploiting the promising regions to refine the search. Furthermore, an adaptive position update strategy is developed by combining Levy flight and golden sine. This strategy enhances the algorithm’s solution accuracy, global search capability, and search speed. Levy flight allows longer jumps to explore distant regions, while golden sine guides the search towards the most promising areas. Extensive simulations on 16 standard benchmark functions demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed HI-GWO algorithm. The results indicate that the HI-GWO algorithm outperforms other state-of-the-art intelligent algorithms in terms of optimization performance. Moreover, the performance of the HI-GWO algorithm is evaluated in a real-world path planning experiment, where a comparison with the traditional grey wolf algorithm and ant colony algorithm validates the superior efficiency of the improved algorithm. It exhibits excellent optimization ability, robust global search capability, high convergence accuracy, and enhanced robustness in diverse and complex scenarios. The proposed HI-GWO algorithm contributes to advancing the field of mobile robot path planning by providing a more effective and efficient optimization approach. Its improvements in convergence accuracy, iteration speed, and robustness make it a promising choice for various practical applications.
Active Aging and Smart Public Parks
Authors: Boavida João , Ayanoglu Hande , Pereira Cristóvão Valente , Hernandez-Ramirez Rodrigo
Published: September 2023

The global population is aging, with the percentage of people over 60 expected to rise from 12% to 22% and 33% residing in developed countries. However, most cities lack the appropriate infrastructure to support aging citizens in active aging and traversing the urban landscape, negatively impacting their quality of life. Studies have shown that public parks and green spaces can contribute to a higher quality of life and wellbeing. Also, smart cities are intended to improve the wellbeing and health of their inhabitants. However, most solutions are typically implemented indoors and tend to overlook the needs of older adults. A smart city should consider the increasing rate of aging and give more importance to outdoor environments as a key aspect of quality of life. The article’s main purpose is to provide a comprehensive background to understand the current knowledge on smart public parks and highlight the significance of new research in the field to promote active aging. The article is expected to inspire new research ideas by identifying gaps in knowledge. Open and challenging issues in emerging smart park solutions are proposed for further work.
Attitudes toward End-of-Life Resuscitation: A Psychometric Evaluation of a Novel Attitude Scale
Authors: Chiu Aih-Fung , Huang Chin-Hua , Chiu Chun-Fung , Hsieh Chun-Man
Published: September 2023

Aim. With the advent of an aging society and the development of end-of-life care, there is an increasing need to understand the older generation’s attitude toward end-of-life resuscitation. The study aimed to develop and validate a novel attitude scale toward end-of-life resuscitation in older inpatients. Method. Instrumental development and a psychometric evaluation were used. First, a new attitude scale toward end-of-life resuscitation was formulated from literature views, expert content validity, and face validity. Next, the new scale was evaluated using a principal component analysis and internal consistency reliability in a sample from 106 medical–surgical inpatients in a southern Taiwan hospital 1 enrolled through convenience sampling. Serving as an indicator of concurrent validity, a logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the association between scores on the scale and intention to discuss end-of-life CPR issues. Results: After being validated by the expert content validity and face validity, a draft of a 20-item scale was created. Throughout the exploratory factor analysis, two items with low factor loadings were removed from the draft scale and an 18-item scale of attitude was generated. This 18-item scale had a three-factor structure that accounted for 64.1% of the total variance; the three components were named ‘stress, avoidance, and ignorance’, ‘a peaceful death’, and ‘self-determination and ambivalence’. The Cronbach’s alpha of the total scale and three components were 0.845, 0.885, 0.879, and 0.857, respectively, which indicated a favorable reliability. Scores on the scale were significantly associated with the intention to discuss end-of-life CPR issues, which also indicated a favorable concurrent validity. Conclusions: A 18-item attitude scale with three factors is a valid scale to measure the attitude toward end-of-life resuscitation. The result provides preliminary evidence of the psychometric properties of the scale. Further research with larger samples or other populations is required.
Can Overtourism at Heritage Attractions Really Be Sustainably Managed? Lights and Shadows of the Experience at the Site of the Alhambra and Generalife (Spain)
Authors: García-Hernández María , de la Calle-Vaquero Manuel , Chamorro-Martínez Victoria
Published: September 2023

For a number of years, heritage resources have suffered the negative effects of tourist pressure. Overtourism has been generating a wide-ranging debate on this issue. This work focuses on the strategies and measures adopted to address overtourism during the last 30 years at heritage attractions, which are much less studied than urban heritage centres. Specifically, it analyses measures relating to the management of site capacities based on the concept of tourist carrying capacity, using content analysis as a methodology. We have used the Alhambra in Granada as a case study as one of the most visited Spanish World Heritage Sites. The results obtained reflect a strong consensus on the need to introduce measures to restrict tourist activity, although these measures imply a great effort in terms of management and tend to be taken advantage of by some stakeholders for their own benefit. The extensive time frame of the measures adopted allows us to reflect on the possibilities and limitations of dealing with overtourism by using capacity management strategies and to extract useful conclusions for other heritage sites with similar problems.
Management and 1-Year Outcome in Elderly Patients with Hip Fracture Surgery Receiving Anticoagulation (Warfarin or DOAc) or P2Y12 Antiplatelet Agents
Authors: Rostagno Carlo , Rubbieri Gaia , Zeppa Mattia , Cartei Alessandro , Ceccofiglio Alice , Mannarino Giulio Maria , Palareti Gualtiero , Grandone Elvira
Published: September 2023

(1) Background: Little prospective data exist regarding the perioperative management and long-term prognosis of elderly patients receiving treatment with antithrombotic drugs and undergoing urgent surgery for a hip fracture. (2) Methods: The study included patients who required hip surgery and were receiving warfarin, DOAc or P2Y12 antiplatelet agents at the moment of trauma. Ongoing antithrombotic treatment was managed according to existing recommendations. The endpoints of the study were the time to surgery, perioperative bleeding, the need for transfusion and, finally, mortality, major cardiovascular events and re-hospitalization at 6 and 12 months. (3) Results: The study included a total of 138 patients. The mean age was 86 years; 75.4% were female. Eighty-two received DOAc, thirty-six received warfarin and twenty received P2Y12 inhibitors. The controls were 283 age- and sex-matched patients who did not receive antithrombotic treatment. A total of 38% of patients receiving warfarin underwent surgery <48 h, 52% receiving DOAc, 55% receiving P2Y12 inhibitors and, finally, 82% in the control group. Perioperative bleeding and the need for transfusion were not different between the four groups. Mortality at 6 months was higher in patients receiving warfarin and P2Y12 inhibitors (30% and 25%) in comparison to DOAc and the control group (11.6% and 10% p < 0.0001). Similarly, the other endpoints were more frequent in patients receiving warfarin and P2Y12 inhibitors. The trend was maintained for 12 months. No significant differences in mortality were found between early (<48 h) and late (>48 h) surgery independent of the type of treatment. (4) Conclusions: Our study confirmed that anticoagulants delay surgery in patients with hip fractures; however, intervention > 48 h is not associated with a poorer prognosis. This finding is relevant as it underlines that, in patients at high risk of postoperative cardiovascular complications, the careful management of anticoagulation before surgery may compensate for the delay of surgery with a very low in-hospital mortality rate (<1%). One-year survival was significantly lower in patients receiving warfarin, probably related to their worse risk profile at the moment of trauma survival.
Impact of Dry Eye Disease on the Uncorrected Distance Visual Acuity after Small Incision Lenticule Extraction
Authors: Shen Yan , Wang Jiajia , Zhou Xingtao , Yu Zhiqiang , Hong Jiaxu , Le Qihua
Published: September 2023

The aim of this study was to explore the impact of dry eye disease (DED) on the uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) and refractive status after small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE). This prospective cohort study enrolled 29 patients (DED group, 11 eyes; non-DED group, 18 eyes) who underwent SMILE in our center from July to September 2022. The examinations on DED, refractive status and UDVA were performed before surgery, and on day 7 and 20 after surgery. The results showed that on day 20 after SMILE, subjects in the non-DED group reported greater changes of ocular surface disease index value increase and tear-film breakup time reduction compared to baseline than those in the DED group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.048, respectively). Compared to preoperative status, DED patients had greater improvements of UDVA and better optometric outcomes on day 20 after surgery than non-DED subjects (p = 0.008 and 0.026, respectively). Multiple linear regression analysis showed age, contact lens daily wearing time, and tear meniscus height before surgery were of the highest value to predict UDVA on day 20 after SMILE in contact lens wearers (p = 0.006, 0.010 and 0.043, respectively). In conclusion, preoperative tear function could affect UDVA after SMILE. The impact of DED on UDVA and refraction should be taken into consideration before surgery.