bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sphinx-in-the-Head: Group Signatures from Symmetric Primitives
Authors: Chen Liqun , Dong Changyu , Newton Christopher J. P. , Wang Yalan
Published: December 2023

Group signatures and their variants have been widely used in privacy-sensitive scenarios such as anonymous authentication and attestation. In this paper, we present a new post-quantum group signature scheme from symmetric primitives. Using only symmetric primitives makes the scheme less prone to unknown attacks than basing the design on newly proposed hard problems whose security is less well-understood. However, symmetric primitives do not have rich algebraic properties, and this makes it extremely challenging to design a group signature scheme on top of them. It is even more challenging if we want a group signature scheme suitable for real-world applications, one that can support large groups and require few trust assumptions. Our scheme is based on MPC-in-the-head non-interactive zero-knowledge proofs, and we specifically design a novel hash-based group credential scheme, which is rooted in the SPHINCS+ signature scheme but with various modifications to make it MPC (multi-party computation) friendly. The security of the scheme has been proved under the fully dynamic group signature model. We provide an implementation of the scheme and demonstrate the feasibility of handling a group size as large as 2
60
. This is the first group signature scheme from symmetric primitives that supports such a large group size and meets all the security requirements.
Intelligent Networking for Energy Harvesting Powered IoT Systems
Authors: Zhang Wen , Pan Chen , Liu Tao , Zhang Jeff (Jun) , Sookhak Mehdi , Xie Mimi
Published: December 2023

As the next-generation battery substitute for IoT system, energy harvesting (EH) technology revolutionizes the IoT industry with environmental friendliness, ubiquitous accessibility, and sustainability, which enables various self-sustaining IoT applications. However, due to the weak and intermittent nature of EH power, the performance of EH-powered IoT systems as well as its collaborative routing mechanism can severely deteriorate, rendering unpleasant data package loss during each power failure. Such a phenomenon makes conventional routing policies and energy allocation strategies impractical. Given the complexity of the problem, reinforcement learning (RL) appears to be one of the most promising and applicable methods to address this challenge. Nevertheless, although the energy allocation and routing policy are jointly optimized by the RL method, due to the energy restriction of EH devices, the inappropriate configuration of multi-hop network topology severely degrades the data collection performance. Therefore, this article first conducts a thorough mathematical discussion and develops the topology design and validation algorithm under energy harvesting scenarios. Then, this article develops
DeepIoTRouting
, a distributed and scalable deep reinforcement learning (DRL)-based approach, to address the routing and energy allocation jointly for the energy harvesting powered distributed IoT system. The experimental results show that with topology optimization,
DeepIoTRouting
achieves at least 38.71% improvement on the amount of data delivery to sink in a 20-device IoT network, which significantly outperforms state-of-the-art methods.
Investigating postsynaptic effects of a Drosophila neuropeptide on muscle contraction
Authors: Wasilewicz Lucas J. , Gagnon Zoe E. , Jung JaeHwan , Mercier A. Joffre
Published: December 2023

Distinguishing presynaptic and postsynaptic effects of neurohormones is a long-standing challenge in many model organisms. Here, postsynaptic actions of DPKQDFMRFamide are demonstrated by assessing its ability to potentiate contractions elicited by direct application of the neurotransmitter, glutamate, when axons are silent and when transmitter release is blocked. The peptide acts at multiple sites to increase contraction, increasing glutamate-induced depolarization at the cell membrane, acting on L-type channels, and acting downstream of calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
Effects of Dietary Bile Acids on Growth Performance, Lipid Deposition, and Intestinal Health of Rice Field Eel (Monopterus albus) Fed with High-Lipid Diets
Authors: Lei Wei , Li Jiamin , Fang Peng , Wu Shanshan , Deng Yao , Luo Ao , He Zhengwei , Peng Mo
Published: December 2023

The purpose of this trial was to study the positive effects of bile acids (BAs) on growth performance and intestinal health of rice field eel fed with high-lipid diets (HLDs). Rice field eels (initial weight 17.00 ± 0.10 g) were divided into four groups, each group containing four repetitions and feeding with different isonitrogenous diet: control diet containing 7% lipid content, HLDs containing the lipid content increased to 13%, HLDs supplementing with 0.025% BAs and 0.05% BAs, respectively. After 8 weeks, compared control group, the fish fed HLDs had no significant effect on weight gain rate and specific growth rate (P>0.05), but increased the lipid deposition in tissues and intestinal lipase activity, and damaged to intestinal oxidative stress, inflammatory response, physical barrier, and structural integrity (P<0.05). Dietary BAs significantly increased weight gain rate and specific growth rate in fish fed with HL diets (P<0.05) and reduced feed conversation rate (P<0.05). Further, the eels fed with BAs reduced the total lipid content in liver, muscle, and whole body (P<0.05). Dietary BAs decreased the activity of intestinal lipase (P<0.05). Meanwhile, BAs supplemented in HLDs improved intestinal antioxidant capacity through increasing the activities of T-SOD (total superoxide dismutase), GSH-PX (glutathione peroxidase), CAT (catalase), T-AOC (total antioxidant capacity), whereas reducing MDA (malondialdehyde) content (P<0.05). Moreover, dietary BAs regulated the mRNA expression related to inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and physical barrier in intestine, such as tnf-α, il-8, tlr-8, il-10, nrf2, keap1, claudin12, and claudin15 (P<0.05). Dietary BAs supplementation also enhanced the intestinal structural integrity characterized by increased fold height and lamina propria width (P<0.05). This study showed that dietary BAs supplemented in HLDs (13% lipid) could increase the growth performance of rice field eel, reduce lipid deposition in tissues and whole body, and enhance intestinal health.
Quantitative and Qualitative Phytochemical Analysis of Manilkara zapota (Sapodilla) Extract and Its Antibacterial Activity on Some Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria
Authors: Shahraki Shahla Hashemi , Javar Fereshteh Mohamadhasani , Rahimi Mehdi
Published: December 2023

A molecule’s antibacterial and antiviral action is exclusively linked to substances that selectively eradicate bacteria and viruses or inhibit their growth without significantly damaging adjacent tissues. The purpose of this research is to evaluate quantitative and qualitative phytochemical analysis and the antibacterial effects of Manilkara zapota fruit extract on some Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus cereus, and Listeria monocytogenes) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae) bacteria in laboratory conditions. Qualitative chemical screening was used to identify different classes of active chemical compounds, and quantitative analysis of the chemical composition of the plant was used to measure the contents of flavonoid, total phenol, anthocyanin, and antioxidant activity. Antibacterial effects of Manilkara zapota ethanol extract were determined by disk diffusion methods, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Qualitative chemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, quinones, terpenoids, and glycosides while the presence of saponins was not observed. The bacterial inhibition zones against Listeria monocytogenes, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Bacillus cereus are 15.44 ± 0.33, 12.23 ± 0.11, 8.85 ± 0.2, 14.22 ± 0.33, 15 ± 0.44, 9.33 ± 0.13, 10.33 ± 0.36 and 14.55 ± 0.45 mm, respectively. MIC and MBC of the extract in Gram-positive bacteria were 25 and 50, and in Gram-negative bacteria were 50 and 100 mg/ml, respectively. The findings imply that Manilkara zapota extract includes a good amount of plant compounds and can be a significant source for a variety of uses, including antibacterial.
A Numerical Approach for Diffusion‐Dominant Two‐Parameter Singularly Perturbed Delay Parabolic Differential Equations
Authors: Worku Solomon Woldu , Duressa Gemechis File
Published: December 2023

A numerical scheme is developed to solve a large time delay two‐parameter singularly perturbed one‐dimensional parabolic problem in a rectangular domain. Two small parameters multiply the convective and diffusive terms, which determine the width of the left and right lateral surface boundary layers. Uniform mesh and piece‐wise uniform Shishkin mesh discretization are applied in time and spatial dimensions, respectively. The numerical scheme is formulated by using the Crank–Nicolson method on two consecutive time steps and the average central finite difference approximates in spatial derivatives. It is proved that the method is uniformly convergent, independent of the perturbation parameters, where the convection term is dominated by the diffusion term. The resulting scheme is almost second‐order convergent in the spatial direction and second‐order convergent in the temporal direction. Numerical experiments illustrate theoretical findings, and the method provides more accurate numerical solutions than prior literature.
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia with Myeloid Mutations Is a High-Risk Disease Associated with Clonal Hematopoiesis
Authors: Saygin Caner , Zhang Pu , Stauber Jacob , Aldoss Ibrahim , Sperling Adam S. , Weeks Lachelle D. , Luskin Marlise R. , Knepper Todd C. , Wanjari Pankhuri , Wang Peng , Lager Angela M. , Fitzpatrick Carrie , Segal Jeremy P. , Gharghabi Mehdi , Gurbuxani Sandeep , Venkataraman Girish , Cheng Jason X. , Eisfelder Bart J. , Bohorquez Oliver , Patel Anand A. , Umesh Nagalakshmi Sheethal , Jayaram Savita , Odenike Olatoyosi M. , Larson Richard A. , Godley Lucy A. , Arber Daniel A. , Gibson Christopher J. , Munshi Nikhil C. , Marcucci Guido , Ebert Benjamin L. , Greally John M. , Steidl Ulrich , Lapalombella Rosa , Shah Bijal D. , Stock Wendy
Published: December 2023

Myeloid neoplasms arise from preexisting clonal hematopoiesis (CH); however, the role of CH in the pathogenesis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is unknown. We found that 18% of adult ALL cases harbored TP53, and 16% had myeloid CH-associated gene mutations. ALL with myeloid mutations (MyM) had distinct genetic and clinical characteristics, associated with inferior survival. By using single-cell proteogenomic analysis, we demonstrated that myeloid mutations were present years before the diagnosis of ALL, and a subset of these clones expanded over time to manifest as dominant clones in ALL. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed upregulation of genes associated with cell survival and resistance to apoptosis in B-ALL with MyM, which responds better to newer immunotherapeutic approaches. These findings define ALL with MyM as a high-risk disease that can arise from antecedent CH and offer new mechanistic insights to develop better therapeutic and preventative strategies.

Significance:

CH is a precursor lesion for lymphoblastic leukemogenesis. ALL with MyM has distinct genetic and clinical characteristics, associated with adverse survival outcomes after chemotherapy. CH can precede ALL years before diagnosis, and ALL with MyM is enriched with activated T cells that respond to immunotherapies such as blinatumomab.

See related commentary by Iacobucci, p. 142.
My Research Journey in Self-Publishing
Authors: Baverstock Alison
Published: December 2023

In this article, Alison Baverstock reflects on her research into self-publishing: its methods, its impact, and the motivation and demographics of those involved. She considers its initial frosty reception and its new position at the core of an area of great significance to the publishing industry, the wider creative economy, and society at large.
Kin Term Borrowings in the World’s Languages
Authors: Honkola Terhi , Jordan Fiona M.
Published: December 2023

The universality of kinship terms means they are regarded, like much basic vocabulary, as resistant to borrowing. Kin term borrowings are documented at varying frequencies, but their role in the dynamics of change in this core social domain is understudied. We investigated the dimensions and the sociolinguistic contexts of kinship borrowings with 50 kinship categories from a global sample of 32 languages, a subset extracted from the World Loanword Database. We found that more borrowings take place in affinal kin categories and in generations denoting relatives older than ego. Close kin categories also have borrowings, but the borrowed items usually coexist with other, presumably non-borrowed variants. Colonisation and the spread of cultures and religions were main inducing forces for kin term borrowings; new terms often enter a language via bilingualism. These tentative patterns can be studied further with larger datasets in future systematic studies of kinship borrowings.
On the Benefits of Using Maximal Reliability in Educational and Behavioral Research
Authors: Raykov Tenko
Published: December 2023

This note is concerned with the benefits that can result from the use of the maximal reliability and optimal linear combination concepts in educational and psychological research. Within the widely used framework of unidimensional multi-component measuring instruments, it is demonstrated that the linear combination of their components that possesses the highest possible reliability can exhibit a level of consistency considerably exceeding that of their overall sum score that is nearly routinely employed in contemporary empirical research. This optimal linear combination can be particularly useful in circumstances where one or more scale components are associated with relatively large error variances, but their removal from the instrument can lead to a notable loss in validity due to construct underrepresentation. The discussion is illustrated with a numerical example.
Truncation error correction by designing input-adjustment-output coefficients for dynamic matrix control based on cubic spline function
Authors: Chen Gaige , Cao Yugang , Qing Didi , Wang Youming
Published: December 2023

The truncation error is an important problem in the dynamic matrix control (DMC) algorithm. Generally, the dynamic information of a plant for the traditional DMC algorithm is determined by the step response. However, the step response of the plant is limited in practice, which leads to the truncation error of the modeling horizon in the feedback correction of DMC algorithm. A truncation error correction method based on cubic spline function is proposed for DMC algorithm, which is realized by designing coefficients and tracking the dynamic response of the system. In the feedback correction of DMC algorithm, the relationship between the correction parameter and the correction difference is constructed by the fitting of cubic spline functions on the intervals. A truncation error correction procedure is presented to calculate the correction parameters by inputting of the correction difference into the relationship. Then, the control increment and predicted model output are computed based on the correction parameters and updated shift matrix. Finally, numerical experiments demonstrate that the control performance of the proposed DMC algorithm has been much improved compared to that of traditional DMC algorithm.
Nidradaan (Gift of Sleep): A Corporate Social Innovation by Agarwal Packers and Movers for Truck Drivers in India
Authors: Raju Prageetha G. , M. Rajanikanth
Published: December 2023

Has anyone heard of organizations giving its employees a gift of sleep? This is given to truck drivers in India who drive miles in all weathers without proper sleep to ensure that the goods consigned reach in specified time. Lack of proper sleep leads to deadly road accidents. Out of 139,000 deaths due to road accidents, around 26,678 drivers die due to lack of sleep (NCRB). The present case based entirely on published sources portrays a CSI initiative of APML which is first of its kind working for improving the condition of drivers thereby curtailing the shortage since 2012.
Oral mucosal diseases and psychosocial factors: progress in related neurobiological mechanisms
Authors: Zhou Huirong , Lin Xiaoping
Published: December 2023

The aetiology of oral mucosal diseases, such as recurrent aphthous ulcer (RAU), oral lichen planus (OLP) and burning mouth syndrome (BMS), involves many factors, and it remains difficult for clinicians to effectively relieve disease symptoms and formulate coping strategies. With the rapid development of psychology, the role of mental and psychological factors in RAU, OLP and BMS has gradually attracted researchers attention, but the specific mechanism has not been completely determined. This narrative review describes the potential neurobiological mechanism of oral mucosal diseases and detailed psychological factors after introducing relevant research into psychological factors and oral mucosal diseases. Future research strategies and innovations needed to understand and treat oral mucosal diseases and psychological factors, as well as how to prevent oral mucosal diseases by regulation of the neuroendocrine system, are also discussed.
Measuring the Macrotexture of Pavement Surface Using an Image Processing Technique
Authors: Roy Nabanita , Baditha Anil Kumar , Biswas Soumyarup , Kuna Kranthi Kumar
Published: December 2023

The objective of this study was to propose an image processing-based index for measuring pavement macrotexture at the network level. This index enables macrotexture to be measured easily and inexpensively using images collected at traffic speed. The study involved collecting pavement surface images at a constant traffic speed on a test section specifically designed and constructed for this purpose, with three surface course mixes that are commonly used in India, namely, bituminous concrete, stone matrix asphalt, and gap-graded rubberized bituminous mix. Additionally, macrotexture data with regard to mean texture depth (MTD) from the sand patch test and mean profile depth (MPD) from laser sensor-based measurements were obtained at the locations where the images were captured. The surface macrotexture index (SMI), which was derived from wavelet transform-based image texture analysis, was compared with the MTD and MPD data. The results showed that the SMI is an accurate indicator of pavement surface macrotexture. In addition, the study showcased the application of an unsupervised machine learning algorithm to identify and replace outliers in the SMI data that resulted from isolated spots with dirt, pavement markings, and wet surfaces. The research also established relationships between the proposed SMI and MTD/MPD. These relationships are reliable and can be used to predict the commonly used pavement surface construction quality measure MTD and the network-level skid resistance indicator MPD.
Forming method, crystallinity, and mechanical performance of buckypaper/carbon fiber/polyether ether ketone multi-scale thermoplastic composites
Authors: Jin Ziang , Sun Shouzheng , Liu Mingyu , Joshi Sunil Chandrakant , Han Zhenyu , Zheng Zheng , Qiang Guiyan
Published: December 2023

Carbon fiber/polyether ether ketone thermoplastic composites formed by automated fiber placement are susceptible to delamination damage. The interlaminar mechanical performance of carbon fiber/polyether ether ketone laminates can be enhanced in situ by doping carbon nanotubes in the plies. In this paper, the interfacial bonding energy between polyether ether ketone and buckypaper is analyzed by molecular dynamics. A novel method for preparing buckypaper/polyether ether ketone reinforcement materials and buckypaper/carbon fiber/polyether ether ketone multi-scale thermoplastic composites is proposed. The microstructure, crystallinity, and mechanical properties are analyzed. The results show that the polyether ether ketone resin fully penetrate the buckypaper interior and have a good interfacial bonding property. The buckypaper/polyether ether ketone composite films have a dense structure and are well-doped into the plies of carbon fiber/polyether ether ketone laminates. Compared with carbon fiber/polyether ether ketone laminates, the crystallinity, interlaminar shear strength, Model-I fracture toughness, and Model-II fracture toughness of buckypaper/carbon fiber/polyether ether ketone laminates are increased by 22.3%, 22.2%, 20%, and 9.5%, respectively.
Elastodynamic modeling and structural error compensation for a 5-DOF parallel mechanism with subclosed loops
Authors: Wang Xuhao , Wang Shuangshuo , Wu Mengli , Lv Dongyang , Shi Xusheng , Li Binglin , Guo Zhiyong
Published: December 2023

In order to reduce the adverse effects of structural errors on a novel 5-degrees of freedom (DOF) parallel kinematic mechanism (PKM) with subclosed loops, studies on the elastodynamic modeling and structural error compensation are conducted in this paper. First, considering that introduction of subclosed loops significantly increased the complexity and difficulty of elastodynamic modeling, an equivalent unit modeling method for the branch chain with subclosed loop is proposed based on force analysis and deformation compatibility condition. Then, elastodynamic model of the whole 5-DOF PKM is established with the matrix structural analysis based method. Second, by defining a six-dimensional error (three translational errors and three rotational errors) for each node, structural error model of the PKM is constructed based on closed-loop vector method. To consider the coupling effects of static and dynamic structural errors, the dynamic structural errors derived by above elastodynamic model would be substituted into the structural error model along with given static structural errors. Finally, structural error compensation optimization model is established and structural errors are compensated by adjusting the driven parameters based on the improved particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm. Numerical simulations are conducted to verify the proposed elastodynamic modeling and structural error compensation methods. After compensation, the position errors along x, y, and z directions are respectively decreased by 68.036%, 81.409%, and 90.625%, and the angle errors around x and y directions are respectively decreased by 91.426% and 62.042%.
Mother nature: Applicability to contemporary attachment styles
Authors: Jenkins Matthew , Egger Sabine
Published: December 2023

Objectives

Explore humanity's shifting attachment to the natural world using established attachment theories as a framework.

Methods

Investigate the analogy between human-nature connection and caregiver-child attachment styles. Draw on indigenous case studies, sociology and anthropology to highlight contemporary repercussions of this ‘detachment’.

Results

Factors such as rapid population growth and urbanisation have disrupted the secure attachment with nature, which is evidenced in ancient egalitarian societies. These factors can be mapped onto contemporary attachment domains.

Conclusions

There is an urgent need to re-establish a secure attachment to nature. This may be a pivotal strategy in addressing both mental health and environmental challenges, particularly in the context of the escalating climate crisis.
Foreign policy and citizens’ ontological security: An experimental approach
Authors: Riemer Ofek
Published: December 2023

Ontological security theory posits that states seek to provide their citizens not just physical but also cognitive security, mostly through routinised foreign policy practices that reinforce notions of the national Self. Several studies established this theoretical assertion at the individual level, using various qualitative methods. This study adds to the literature by taking an experimental approach to provide further empirical support. It develops a novel index for the measurement of foreign policy behaviour’s effect on individual citizens’ ontological security and employs it in a survey experiment. The experiment examines whether Jewish-Israelis experience change in their sense of ontological security due to their state’s deviation from its long-standing offensive–defensive security doctrine. The findings demonstrate that citizens indeed form an attachment to their state’s foreign policy practices and that deviation from them can impair their sense of ontological security. This suggests that seemingly rational, strategically warranted policies might sometimes bear unexpected costs for policymakers.
Changes in Sleep, Stress, and Fatigue Were Not Prospectively Associated With Running-Related Injuries Among High School Cross Country Runners
Authors: Joachim Mikel R. , Heiderscheit Bryan C. , Kliethermes Stephanie A.
Published: December 2023

Background:

Running-related injuries (RRI) are common among adolescent runners; however, our understanding of RRI risk factors in this population is limited. Sleep, stress, and fatigue are risk factors in other youth sports but have not been studied in high school runners. This study prospectively assessed the effect of changes in sleep duration and quality, stress, and fatigue on RRI among high school cross country runners.

Hypothesis:

Less and poorer quality sleep and greater stress and fatigue, compared with the previous week, would be associated with RRI.

Study Design:

Prospective, observational study.

Level of Evidence:

Level 2b.

Methods:

Runners completed a preseason demographics and injury history survey and daily surveys regarding sleep duration and quality, stress, fatigue, and current RRI. Values were summed within each week, and change scores were calculated relative to the previous week. Runners completing ≥75% of daily surveys were analyzed; sensitivity analyses for those completing ≥50% and ≥90% were also conducted. Generalized estimating equations assessed the association between change in each predictor, including its interaction with sex, and RRI, controlling for year in school, previous RRI, and repeated observations.

Results:

A total of 434 runners enrolled in the study; 161 (37%) completed ≥75% of daily surveys. No associations between change in sleep duration, sleep quality, or fatigue and RRI were observed ( P values ≥0.24). A significant change in stress × sex interaction with RRI was observed ( P < 0.01). Associations among boys ( P = 0.06) and girls ( P = 0.07) were marginally significant. Sensitivity results were similar.

Conclusion:

Short-term changes in sleep duration, quality, and fatigue were not associated with RRI, but a significant interaction between change in stress and sex suggests that stress may influence RRI risk in high school cross country runners.

Clinical Relevance:

Large changes in stress levels should be monitored throughout the season, as these changes may precede RRI occurrence in this population.
Novel and Engaging Teaching Method for Pulmonary Physiology
Authors: Ulrich Lisa M. , Palacios Sabrina , Boyer Debra , Kirkby Stephen
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary physiology is a challenging, necessary component of pediatric pulmonary fellowship education. Our pediatric pulmonology fellowship program provided this education utilizing a flipped classroom approach but satisfaction with the method was declining. Evidence suggests that adult learners benefit from an engaging lecture method, but no evidence exists to compare the flipped classroom approach to the engaging lecture approach for pulmonary physiology education.

OBJECTIVE

To develop the most effective physiology curriculum for pediatric pulmonary fellows by comparing the flipped classroom approach to an engaging lecture method.

METHODS

Five physiology teaching sessions were assigned to the flipped classroom method and 5 to the engaging lecture style. Anonymous surveys assessing satisfaction, utilizing a five-point Likert scale, were completed by fellows at the end of each session. An unpaired t-test was used to compare responses.

RESULTS

Seven pediatric pulmonary fellows enrolled in the study. The average attendance per session was 5 fellows. There was no significant difference in fellows’ perceived understanding of the assigned physiology topic prior to the flipped classroom versus engaging lecture sessions. Fellows’ perceived understanding of the topics improved after both session types, with significantly more improvement after the engaging lecture sessions. Fellows also reported that engaging lecture sessions were more useful and improved their test-taking confidence. They were more likely to recommend engaging lecture sessions to future pulmonary fellows.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric pulmonary fellows benefited from the use of the engaging lecture style for physiology education.
The unsolved problem of musculoskeletal hydatid disease: two case reports
Authors: Ntombela Philani , Linda Zweli , Hlapolosa Tiego , Jingo Maxwell
Published: December 2023

Background

Hydatidosis is a parasitic infection caused by Echinococcus granulosus and humans are usually an accidental intermediate host. Involvement of the musculoskeletal system is reported to occur in 0.5% to 4% of the cases.

Case presentation

We present our experience with two cases of musculoskeletal hydatidosis in black African patients that required orthopaedic surgical intervention. A 51-year-old black African female presented with right hip hydatid disease and a 37-year-old black African female presented with the disease affecting the left shoulder. Both patients presented with joint pain and reduced range of motion. The patient with involvement of the shoulder had a background history of human immunodeficiency virus, this was not present with the other patient. Diagnostic work-up confirmed peri-articular hydatid disease and both patients were surgically managed with arthroplasty. Post-operative complications encountered include hardware loosening from bone lysis and hardware failure.

Discussion

The medical literature describes a limited number of cases of peri-articular musculoskeletal hydatid disease. Patients are often subjected to many investigations, prolonged treatment periods and multiple surgeries. Concurrent use of medical and surgical treatment is advocated however, the choice of surgery is individualised.

Conclusion

Hydatid disease must always feature in the differential diagnosis of multiple lytic bone lesions and radical surgical intervention may be required from the outset.
Impact of Preeclampsia and Parity on Sex-based Discrepancies in Subclinical Carotid Atherosclerosis in Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Perea Verónica , Vinagre Irene , Serés-Noriega Tonet , Viñals Clara , Mesa Alex , Pané Adriana , Milad Camila , Esmatjes Enric , Conget Ignacio , Giménez Marga , Amor Antonio J
Published: December 2023

Context

The excess risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events is roughly twice as high in women than in men with type 1 diabetes.

Objective

To evaluate the impact of preeclampsia and parity on sex-based discrepancies in preclinical atherosclerosis and on the diagnostic performance of a cardiovascular risk scale.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Single tertiary hospital.

Patients

A total of 728 people with type 1 diabetes (48.5% women) without cardiovascular disease and age ≥40 years, nephropathy, and/or ≥10 years of diabetes duration with another risk factor.

Intervention

Standardized carotid ultrasonography.

Main Outcome Measures

Carotid plaque determined by ultrasonography and cardiovascular risk estimated according to the Steno T1 Risk Engine (Steno-Risk).

Results

Nulliparous women and parous women without previous preeclampsia had a lower risk for carotid plaque than men (adjusted odds ratio: .48, 95% confidence interval [.28-.82]; adjusted odds ratio: .51 [.33-.79], respectively), without differences in the preeclampsia group. The prevalence of carotid plaque increased as the estimated cardiovascular risk increased in all subgroups except for preeclampsia group. The area under the curve of the Steno-Risk for identifying ≥2 carotid plaques was lower in the preeclampsia group (men: .7886; nulliparous women: .9026; women without preeclampsia: .8230; preeclampsia group: .7841; P between groups = .042). Neither the addition of parity nor preeclampsia in the Steno-Risk led to a statistically significant increase in the area under the curve.

Conclusion

The risk for carotid plaque in women compared with men decreased as exposure to obstetric factors diminished. However, the addition of these factors did not improve the prediction of the Steno-Risk.
How to Build a Hybrid: The Structure of Imagination
Authors: Shen Yeshayahu , Gil David
Published: December 2023

How do we conjure up novel and unfamiliar entities in our imagination? Thomas Ward and others have suggested that we do so by deriving such entities from ordinary familiar ones. Hybrids, however, pose a challenge to this view since they are not derived from any one single familiar entity. Nevertheless, we argue here that the construction of hybrid entities is indeed governed by principles forming part of our structured imagination. These principles refer to a set of five abstract schemas, defined in terms of properties such as parts, symmetry, and spatial orientation. These schemas, alongside the absence of a schema, together constitute a schematological hierarchy: humanoid (e.g., man) > canoid (e.g., dog) > carroid (e.g., car) > culteroid (e.g., knife) > arboid (e.g., tree) > other (e.g., sponge). When forming a hybrid out of two or more entities, or parents, the overall shape of the hybrid is selected in accordance with the following three principles: (1) coherence: presence of a schema is preferred to absence of a schema; (2) accessibility: a schema corresponding to that of one of the parents is preferred to some other schema; and (3) height: a schema higher on the schematological hierarchy is preferred to a schema lower on the schematological hierarchy. To test these principles empirically, we conducted a large-scale experiment, in which art and design students were given pairs of words denoting familiar objects and asked to draw images of hybrid entities formed from these word pairs. The resulting corpus of 356 hybrids was found to provide strong empirical support for the above three principles. In doing so, it showed how human creativity is not unbound, but rather subject to substantive cognitive constraints, constituting our structured imagination.
Employer Concentration and Wages for Specialized Workers
Authors: Thoresson Anna
Published: December 2023

This paper studies how wages respond to a sudden change in employer concentration by using the deregulation of the Swedish pharmacy industry. The reform involved a substantial and policy-driven increase in the number of employers that varied by local labor market. Exploiting this variation, elasticities of wages with respect to labor market concentration are estimated between −0.025 and −0.061. The positive wage effects from reduced employer con centration are most prevalent for more mobile workers as well as younger and foreign-born workers. Overall, the paper finds that employer concentration matters for wages in a context where skills are industry specific. (JEL J24, J31, J42, L13, L81, L88)
Estimating the Distaste for Price Gouging with Incentivized Consumer Reports
Authors: Holz Justin , Jiménez-Durán Rafael , Laguna-Müggenburg Eduardo
Published: December 2023

Thirty-four states prohibit price increases during emergencies, and individuals take costly actions to report violators. We measure experimentally the willingness to pay to report sellers who increase prices of personal protective equipment. Over 75 percent of subjects pay to report, even if others are willing to buy at those prices. We argue that reports contain information about a desire to prevent or punish third-party transactions at unfair or illicit prices. Reports are partially driven by a distaste for firm profits or markups, implying that the distribution of surplus between producers and consumers matters for welfare. (JEL C93, D22, D63, D91, H12, K22)
Diversity and modularity of tyrosine-accepting tRNA-like structures
Authors: Sherlock Madeline E. , Langeberg Conner J. , Kieft Jeffrey S.
Published: December 2023

Certain positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses contain elements at their 3′ termini that structurally mimic tRNAs. These tRNA-like structures (TLSs) are classified based on which amino acid is covalently added to the 3′ end by host aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase. Recently, a cryoEM reconstruction of a representative tyrosine-accepting tRNA-like structure (TLSTyr) from brome mosaic virus (BMV) revealed a unique mode of recognition of the viral anticodon-mimicking domain by tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase. Some viruses in thehordeivirusgenus ofVirgaviridaeare also selectively aminoacylated with tyrosine, yet these TLS RNAs have a different architecture in the 5′ domain that comprises the atypical anticodon loop mimic. Herein, we present bioinformatic and biochemical data supporting a distinct secondary structure for the 5′ domain of thehordeivirusTLSTyrcompared to those inBromoviridae. Despite forming a different secondary structure, the 5′ domain is necessary to achieve robust in vitro aminoacylation. Furthermore, a chimeric RNA containing the 5′ domain from the BMV TLSTyrand the 3′ domain from ahordeivirusTLSTyrare aminoacylated, illustrating modularity in these structured RNA elements. We propose that the structurally distinct 5′ domain of thehordeivirusTLSTyrs performs the same role in mimicking the anticodon loop as its counterpart in the BMV TLSTyr. Finally, these structurally and phylogenetically divergent types of TLSTyrprovide insight into the evolutionary connections between all classes of viral tRNA-like structures.
H κατανόηση του χημικού δεσμού από μαθητές Α’ Λυκείου: Ανάλυση απαντήσεων σε μεταγνωστικές ερωτήσεις
Authors: Παππά Ελένη , Πύργας Ευάγγελος , Τσαπαρλής Γεώργιος
Published: December 2023

Ένα από τα ζητούμενα της έρευνας ήταν η δυσκολία κατανόησης των δύο ειδών δεσμού που διδάσκονται στην Α' Λυκείου. Η έρευνα πραγματοποιήθηκε το σχολικό έτος 2012 -2013 σε τρία επαρχιακά γενικά λύκεια. Ζητήθηκε από 66 μαθητές της Α' Λυκείου να απαντήσουν σε μεταγνωστικές ερωτήσεις που αφορούν τον ιοντικό και τον ομοιοπολικό δεσμό. Οι περισσότεροι μαθητές θεώρησαν τον ομοιοπολικό δεσμό δυσκολότερο. Οι απαντήσεις ταξινομήθηκαν σύμφωνα με τις τέσσερις κατηγορίες της μεταγνώσης του Flavell. Οι περισσότερες απαντήσεις ανήκαν στην κατηγορία μεταγνωστικής γνώσης και ακολούθησαν οι απαντήσεις μεταγνωστικής εμπειρίας, ενώ ελάχιστες ταξινομήθηκαν στις κατηγορίες έργα και στόχοι και στρατηγικές ή ενέργειες.
Εξ αποστάσεως διδασκαλία στις Φυσικές Επιστήμες στην Covid-19 εποχή: Μία καταγραφή της οπτικής των εκπαιδευτικών Πρωτοβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης
Authors: Στόγιος Ισαάκ , Γαλάνη Αποστολία , Μαυρικάκη Ευαγγελία , Σκορδούλης Κωνσταντίνος , Μπόικος Ηλίας
Published: December 2023

Η πανδημική κρίση του COVID-19 από την πρώτη στιγμή της εμφάνισής της επηρέασε, ανάμεσα σε άλλα, και τα εκπαιδευτικά συστήματα σε όλο τον κόσμο. Στοιχεία της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης και της UNESCO αναφέρουν ότι 195 χώρες πήραν μέτρα καθολικής αναστολής της δια ζώσης εκπαίδευσης σε όλες τις βαθμίδες τα οποία επηρέασαν περίπου 1,6 δις εκπαιδευομένων (UNESCO, 2021). Η παρούσα εργασία παρουσιάζει μία έρευνα η οποία έχει ως στόχο να διερευνήσει τις πρακτικές που ακολούθησαν οι εκπαιδευτικοί πρωτοβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης κατά τη διδασκαλία των Φυσικών Επιστημών (ΦΕ) κατά την περίοδο αναστολής λειτουργίας των εκπαιδευτικών δομών λόγω της πανδημίας Covid-19. Επίσης, συγκρίνει τις πρακτικές που ακολουθήθηκαν στη δια ζώσης και την εξ αποστάσεως εκπαίδευση και εξετάζει κατά πόσο επηρεάστηκε η μαθησιακή διαδικασία.
Διερεύνηση των νοητικών μοντέλων των παιδιών με τη μέθοδο ανάλυσης δικτυών: Μια εφαρμογή για την έννοια της δύναμης
Authors: Κανελλιά Ελένη , Βαϊοπούλου Γιούλη , Γκέβρου Μαρία , Σταμοβλάσης Δημήτριος
Published: December 2023

Στη παρούσα εργασία, παρουσιάζεται μια μέθοδος διερεύνησης των νοητικών αναπαραστάσεων των μαθητών που βασίζεται στην Ανάλυση Δικτύων (Network Analysis, ΝΑ). Εξετάζονται ερευνητικά ερωτήματα που  σχετίζονται με την φύση της γνώσης των παιδιών πριν υιοθετήσουν την επιστημονική άποψη, και συγκεκριμένα διερευνάται η συνεκτικότητα συγκεκριμένων νοητικών μοντέλων για τη δύναμη. Τα δεδομένα συλλέχθηκαν με το ερωτηματολόγιο κλειστού τύπου Force-RQ από μαθητές δημοτικού. Η αξιολόγηση των νοητικών αναπαραστάσεων- δικτύων που βασίζεται στην τοπολογία αλλά και στα ποσοτικά μέτρα κεντρικότητας των δικτύων, ανέδειξε την συνεκτικότητα συγκεκριμένων νοητικών μοντέλων. Συζητείται η διεύρυνση της μεθόδου σε περισσότερες εφαρμογές στο πεδίο της εννοιολογικής αλλαγή.
Οι αντιλήψεις πρωτοετών φοιτητών Φυσικής για την ποιότητα των πειραματικών μετρήσεων
Authors: Γεωργόπουλος Κωνσταντίνος , Στύλος Γεώργιος , Πανάγου Δημήτρης , Κώτσης Κωνσταντίνος
Published: December 2023

Η παρούσα εργασία διερευνά τις αντιλήψεις 70 πρωτοετών φοιτητών/τριών του Τμήματος Φυσικής του Πανεπιστημίου Ιωαννίνων σχετικά με την αξιοπιστία των πειραματικών δεδομένων και ειδικότερα για την ανάγκη λήψης επαναληπτικών μετρήσεων καθώς και τις επιπτώσεις του εύρους της μέτρησης που σχετίζεται με τα δεδομένα. Το ερευνητικό εργαλείο αποτελείται από 6 σενάρια εργασίας (ανοικτού τύπου ερωτήσεις). Οι απαντήσεις τους κατηγοριοποιήθηκαν σε δύο ομάδες: Το «πρότυπο σημείου» (Point paradigm) και το πρότυπο ομάδων σημείων (set paradigm). Τα αποτελέσματα της έρευνας αναδεικνύουν πως οι ακολουθούμενες διαδικασίες και οι αιτιολογήσεις των φοιτητών/τριών σχετικά με τις πειραματικές μετρήσεις  και τη σύγκριση συνολικά των δεδομένων χαρακτηρίζονται, κυρίως, από την αντίληψη του «πρότυπου σημείου»
Μικροσκοπική προσέγγιση της εντροπίας μέσω του παραδείγματος της τήξης του πάγου
Authors: Μπακάλη Βάια , Ασημόπουλος Στέφανος
Published: December 2023

Στοχεύοντας στην εννοιολογική κατανόηση της εντροπίας και των εμπλεκόμενων με αυτή εννοιών σε μια μικροσκοπική προσέγγιση, αναπτύχθηκε μια Διδακτική Μαθησιακή Ακολουθία. Οι εκπαιδευόμενες, φοιτήτριες Παιδαγωγικού τμήματος, με αφετηρία τις έννοιες που έχουν διδαχθεί και τα μοντέλα που χρησιμοποίησαν στις προηγούμενες ενότητες της ΔΜΑ, κλήθηκαν να αιτιολογήσουν τη μεταβολή της εντροπίας στο φαινόμενο της τήξης του πάγου. Αναλύοντας και ερμηνεύοντας τον λόγο και τα προτεινόμενα μοντέλα τους, αναδείχθηκαν οι εξελισσόμενες αντιλήψεις τους αναφορικά με τις έννοιες και οι δυσκολίες που αντιμετώπισαν με τα εν λόγω μοντέλα. Τα δεδομένα αυτά υπέδειξαν αλλαγές που εισάγονται στη σχεδιασμένη ΔΜΑ μετά την πιλοτική εφαρμογή της.
Διαμόρφωση σχολικής αυλής με βιοκλιματικά κριτήρια. Η περίπτωση του 27ου Δημοτικού σχολείου Θεσσαλονίκης
Authors: Μπουχώρη Αικατερίνη , Μαλανδράκης Γεώργιος
Published: December 2023

Σκοπός της παρούσας μελέτης ήταν να διερευνηθεί ο βαθμός επίδρασης μίας διδακτικής παρέμβασης στις γνώσεις και τις αντιλήψεις μαθητών/μαθητριών ΣT΄ τάξης αναφορικά με τη βιοκλιματική σχολική τους αυλή. Οι 23 συμμετέχοντες/συμμετέχουσες κλήθηκαν αρχικά να ζωγραφίσουν την ιδανική βιοκλιματική αυλή. Ακολούθησε μία παρέμβαση 3 εβδομάδων και κλήθηκαν εκ νέου να ζωγραφίσουν την αυλή. Τα στοιχεία που απεικονίζονταν στα αρχικά και στα τελικά ιχνογραφήματα ταξινομήθηκαν ως προς τη χρήση τους σε 11 κατηγορίες. Η ποιοτική και ποσοτική ανάλυση των δεδομένων ανέδειξε στατιστικά σημαντικές διαφορές σε 5 κατηγορίες. Αν και τα αποτελέσματα δεν ήταν ικανοποιητικά στο σύνολό τους, ωστόσο προέκυψαν και ενθαρρυντικά στοιχεία, τα οποία δεν μπορούν να αγνοηθούν.
Διερεύνηση γνώσεων των μαθητών Λυκείου σε σχέση με τα ιστορικά στοιχεία της Φυσικής
Authors: Καρδαράς Ιωάννης , Τόλη Γεωργία , Τσακστάρα Βαΐτσα , Καλλέρη Μαρία
Published: December 2023

Η διεθνής έρευνα έχει καταδείξει τη σπουδαιότητα της διδασκαλίας της Ιστορίας της Φυσικής στην πληρέστερη κατανόηση των εννοιών και των φαινομένων της Φυσικής από τους μαθητές. Παρόλα αυτά, στη σύγχρονη εκπαιδευτική διαδικασία, δε δίνεται η αρμόζουσα σημασία κατά τη διδασκαλία με αποτέλεσμα η γνώση που αποκτούν οι μαθητές να είναι ελλιπής. Σε αυτή την εργασία παρουσιάζουμε τα αποτελέσματα της στατιστικής ανάλυσης  δεδομένων που ελήφθησαν μετά την επεξεργασία του ερωτηματολογίου που δόθηκε σε μαθητές/τριες τριών Λυκείων και είχε ως σκοπό τη διερεύνηση  της γνώσης των μαθητών σχετικά με σημαντικούς επιστήμονες της Φυσικής των οποίων οι ανακαλύψεις συνετέλεσαν σημαντικά στη διαμόρφωσή της.
Ανάπτυξη καινοτομικού οπτικοακουστικού υλικού στο Δημοτικό σχολείο για το περιεχόμενο της νανοτεχνολογίας
Authors: Μακαρίου Ουρανία , Μπούζας Βασίλειος
Published: December 2023

Η Νανοτεχνολογία εξειδικεύεται στη μελέτη δομών με διαστάσεις νανοκλίμακας. Τα μεγέθη αυτά βρίσκονται μακριά από την αισθητηριακή μας αντίληψη και ως εκ τούτου παρουσιάζει δυσκολίες η προσέγγιση και κατανόησή τους. Τα οπτικοακουστικά υλικά προβάλλονται ως μέσα που μπορούν να συνεισφέρουν στην αντιμετώπιση αυτής της πρόκλησης. Υπό αυτήν την οπτική, στην παρούσα εργασία, περιγράφεται η μεθοδολογία για την ανάπτυξη ενός οπτικοακουστικού υλικού σε μορφή animation με θέμα την όψη του περιεχομένου της Νανοτεχνολογίας που αφορά το Μέγεθος. Αναλυτικότερα, περιγράφονται τα επτά βήματα της διαδικασίας σχεδιασμού ενός animation και ειδικότερα παρουσιάζεται, το τέταρτο, το animated storyboard-animatic με τίτλο «Μάκρο-μίκρο-νάνο κόσμος».
Ετοιμότητα εφαρμογής προγραμμάτων STEM των εκπαιδευτικών Πρωτοβάθμιας
Authors: Παπαγιαννοπούλου Θεανώ , Βαϊοπούλου Γιούλη , Σταμοβλάσης Δημήτριος
Published: December 2023

Η διεπιστημονική προσέγγιση STEM έχει ως πρωταρχικό στόχο την ικανότητα των μαθητών να επιλύουν προβλήματα του πραγματικού κόσμου. Στην παρούσα μελέτη, ερευνήθηκε η στάση και η ετοιμότητά των εκπαιδευτικών Πρωτοβάθμιας Εκπαίδευσης να την εφαρμόσουν. Ένα προσαρμοσμένο ερωτηματολόγιο χρησιμοποιήθηκε για τη συλλογή δεδομένων από 348 διδάσκοντες. Από την ανάλυση της επίδρασης των ατομικών διαφορών στις υπό διερεύνηση διαστάσεις, παρατηρήθηκε στατιστικά σημαντική σχέση μεταξύ του εκπαιδευτικού υποβάθρου, της ηλικίας, των ετών διδακτικής εμπειρίας, καθώς και του εκπαιδευτικού κλάδου ως προς την ετοιμότητα των διδασκόντων, ενώ η συναισθηματική ετοιμότητα και η αυτοαποτελεσματικότητα μπορούν να προβλέψουν τη στάση τους.
Διερευνητικά συμπεριληπτικά επαυξημένα παιχνίδια εναλλακτικής πραγματικότητας (IB-ARGI): Η προσέγγιση και οι αντιλήψεις φοιτητών/φοιτητριών
Authors: Σοφιανίδης Άγγελος , Σκραπαρλής Χρήστος , Στυλιανίδου Νάγια
Published: December 2023

Στη παρούσα εργασία παρουσιάζεται η προσέγγιση των Διερευνητικών Συμπεριληπτικών Επαυξημένων Εναλλακτικών Παιχνιδιών Πραγματικότητα (IB-ARG) και οι αντιλήψεις φοιτητών/φοιτητριών του Παιδαγωγικού Τμήματος Νηπιαγωγών που συμμετείχαν σε ένα IB-ARG στη γνωστική περιοχή του μαγνητισμού στο πλαίσιο εργαστηρίου ΦΕ. Στην έρευνα συμμετείχαν 65 φοιτητές/φοιτήτριες μέσω ερωτηματολογίου. Τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν τη θετική επίδραση που είχε η προσέγγιση στη συμμετοχή τους στο εργαστήριο, τη θετική στάση τους απέναντι στα βασικά χαρακτηριστικά της και την προοπτική χρήση της ως μελλοντικοί/μελλοντικές εκπαιδευτικοί.
Μια διδακτική μαθησιακή ακολουθία για την προώθηση διαδικαστικής και δηλωτικής γνώσης με τη χρήση ρομπότ κοινωνικής αρωγής: Βασικές αρχές διδακτικού σχεδιασμού και η αποτελεσματικότητά τους
Authors: Χριστοδούλου Παναγιώτα , Πνευματικός Δημήτριος
Published: December 2023

Η αξιοποίηση των Ρομπότ Κοινωνικής Αρωγής (ΡΚΑ) στην διδασκαλία απαιτεί τον μετασχηματισμό της. Η παρούσα μελέτη έχει διττό στόχο. Αφενός να παρουσιάσει τις βασικές αρχές διδακτικού σχεδιασμού μιας Διδακτικής Μαθησιακής Ακολουθίας (ΔΜΑ) για την προώθηση της διαδικαστικής και δηλωτικής γνώσης με τη χρήση ΡΚΑ. Αφετέρου να διερευνήσει την αποτελεσματικότητά τους. Ακολουθήθηκε ένας οιονεί πειραματικός σχεδιασμός με μετρήσεις πριν και μετά την παρέμβαση με 104 συμμετέχοντες. Τα αποτελέσματα υποστήριξαν την αποτελεσματικότητα των αρχών διδακτικού σχεδιασμού της ΔΜΑ. Η μελέτη προτείνει μία νέα θεώρηση της διδασκαλίας υπό το πρίσμα της Επιστήμης του Σχεδιασμού.