bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Should I stay or should I go? Three-year-olds’ reactions to appropriate motives to interrupt a joint activity
Authors: Bonalumi Francesca , Siposova Barbora , Christensen Wayne , Michael John
Published: July 2023

Understanding when it is acceptable to interrupt a joint activity is an important part of understanding what cooperation entails. Philosophical analyses have suggested that we should release our partner from a joint activity anytime the activity conflicts with fulfilling a moral obligation. To probe young children’s understanding of this aspect, we investigated whether 3-year-old children (N= 60) are sensitive to the legitimacy of motives (selfish condition vs. moral condition) leading agents to intentionally interrupt their joint activity. We measured whether children protested or released their partner by scoring their reactions. Our results indicate that children did not manifest different reactions when the motive behind their partner leaving was moral than when the motive was selfish. However, our data showed a stable pattern: regardless of the partner’s motives, some 3-year-olds take initiatives to release their partners from joint activity, suggesting that measuring release is a valuable tool for investigating joint action.
Identification and characteristics of wheat Lr orthologs in three rye inbred lines
Authors: Krępski Tomasz , Olechowski Mateusz , Samborska-Skutnik Izabela , Święcicka Magdalena , Grądzielewska Agnieszka , Rakoczy-Trojanowska Monika
Published: July 2023

The genetic background of the immune response of rye to leaf rust (LR), although extensively studied, is still not well understood. The recent publication of the genome of rye line Lo7 and the development of efficient transcriptomic methods has aided the search for genes that confer resistance to this disease. In this study, we investigated the potential role of rye orthologs of wheatLrgenes (Lr1,Lr10,Lr21,Lr22a, andRGA2/T10rga2-1A)in the LR seedling-stage resistance of inbred rye lines D33, D39, and L318. Bioinformatics analysis uncovered numerousLrorthologs in the Lo7 genome, namely, 14ScLr1, 15ScRga2, and 2ScLr21paralogs, and 1 each ofScLr10andScLr22agenes. The paralogs ofScLr1,ScRga2, andScLr21were structurally different from one another and their wheat counterparts. According to an RNA sequencing analysis, only four wheatLrgene orthologs identified in the Lo7 genome (ScLr1_3,ScLr1_4,ScLr1_8, andScRga2_6) were differentially expressed; all four were downregulated after infection with compatible or incompatible isolates ofPuccinia reconditaf. sp.secalis(Prs). Using a more precise tool, RT-qPCR, we found that two genes were upregulated at 20 h post-infection, namely,ScLr1_4andScLr1_8in lines D33 and D39, respectively, both of which have been found to be resistant to LR under field conditions and after treatment with a semi-compatiblePrsstrain. We were unable to discern any universal pattern of gene expression afterPrsinfection; on the contrary, all detected relationships were plant genotype-,Prsisolate-, or time-specific. Nevertheless, at least someLrorthologs in rye (namely,ScLr1_3 ScLr1_4,ScLr1_8, andScRga2_6), even though mainly downregulated, may play an important role in the response of rye to LR.
Systemic immune-inflammation index as a predictor of prognosis after carotid artery stenting compared with C-reactive protein
Authors: Morikawa Shuji , Okumura Kenji , Inoue Naoya , Ogane Takashi , Takayama Yohei , Murohara Toyoaki
Published: July 2023

Background

Immune-inflammatory processes are highly associated with the progression of atherosclerosis. The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) is a potential predictor for clinical outcomes in patients with stroke and ischemic heart disease. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether SII can accurately predict the short- and long-term prognoses in patients who underwent carotid artery stenting (CAS) compared to that with C-reactive protein (CRP).

Methods

This study was a single-center retrospective investigation. Overall, 129 patients who underwent CAS were categorized into tertiles based on their SII levels. We primarily investigated the long-term major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) and secondarily the in-hospital and long-term stroke incidence, as well as all-cause death.

Results

The in-hospital stroke rate tended to increase with a rise in SII (P= 0.13). Over the 5-year follow-up period, the Kaplan–Meier overall incidence of MACCE was 9.3%, 16.3%, and 39.5% in the lowest to highest tertiles, respectively (log-rank trend test,P<0.001). The rates of stroke and MACCE during the long-term follow-up were significantly higher with increasing SII. Cox regression analysis showed that the highest tertile of SII (>647) was a predictor of the incidence of long-term stroke (hazard ratio (HR), 21.3; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.41–188;P= 0.006) and MACCE (HR, 3.98; 95% CI, 1.80–8.81;P<0.001). However, after adjusting for both SII and CRP, only SII remained a significant independent predictor, whereas CRP became less relevant. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of long-term MACCE showed that the area under the curve (AUC) for SII (AUC, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.60–0.84;P<0.001) was greater than that of CRP (AUC, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.51–0.77;P= 0.040).

Conclusion

SII was shown to be an independent predictor of long-term prognosis in patients who underwent CAS and was suggested to be superior to CRP as an inflammatory prognosis predictor.
Machine learning‐based identification and related features of depression in patients with diabetes mellitus based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Lee Ji-Yoon , Won Doyeon , Lee Kiheon
Published: July 2023

Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) are twice as likely as nondiabetic individuals to develop depression, which is a prevalent but often undiagnosed psychiatric comorbidity. Patients with DM who are depressed have poor glycemic control, worse quality of life, increased risk of diabetic complications, and higher mortality rate. The present study aimed to develop machine learning (ML) models that identify depression in patients with DM, determine the best performing model by evaluating multiple ML algorithms, and investigate features related to depression. We developed six ML models, including random forest, K-nearest neighbor, support vector machine (SVM), Adaptive Boosting, light gradient-boosting machine, and Extreme Gradient Boosting, based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The results showed that the SVM model performed well, with a cross-validated area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.835 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.730–0.901). Thirteen features were related to depression in patients with DM. Permutation feature importance showed that the most important feature was subjective health status, followed by level of general stress awareness; stress recognition rate; average monthly income; triglyceride (mg/dL) level; activity restriction status; European quality of life (EuroQoL): usual activity and lying in a sickbed in the past 1 month; EuroQoL: pain / discomfort, self-care, and physical discomfort in the last 2 weeks; and EuroQoL: mobility and chewing problems. The current findings may offer clinicians a better understanding of the relationship between DM and depression using ML approaches and may be an initial step toward developing a more predictive model for the early detection of depressive symptoms in patients with DM.
Biomarkers related to gas embolism: Gas score, pathology, and gene expression in a gas bubble disease model
Authors: Velázquez-Wallraf Alicia , Caballero Maria José , Fernández Antonio , Betancor Mónica B. , Saavedra Pedro , Hemingway Holden W. , Bernaldo de Quirós Yara
Published: July 2023

Fish exposed to water supersaturated with dissolved gas experience gas embolism similar to decompression sickness (DCS), known as gas bubble disease (GBD) in fish. GBD has been postulated as an alternative to traditional mammals’ models on DCS. Gas embolism can cause mechanical and biochemical damage, generating pathophysiological responses. Increased expression of biomarkers of cell damage such as the heat shock protein (HSP) family, endothelin 1 (ET-1) or intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) has been observed, being a possible target for further studies of gas embolism. The GBD model consisted of exposing fish to supersaturation in water with approximately 170% total dissolved gas (TDG) for 18 hours, producing severe gas embolism. This diagnosis was confirmed by a complete histopathological exam and the gas score method. HSP70 showed a statistically significant upregulation compared to the control in all the studied organs (p <0.02). Gills and heart showed upregulation of HSP90 with statistical significance (p = 0.015 and p = 0.02, respectively). In addition, HSP70 gene expression in gills was positively correlated with gas score (p = 0.033). These results suggest that gas embolism modify the expression of different biomarkers, with HSP70 being shown as a strong marker of this process. Furthermore, gas score is a useful tool to study the abundance of gas bubbles, although individual variability always remains present. These results support the validity of the GBD model in fish to study gas embolism in diseases such as DCS.
Aminopeptidase MNP-1 triggers intestine protease production by activating daf-16 nuclear location to degrade pore-forming toxins in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Chen Feng , Pang Cuiyun , Zheng Ziqiang , Zhou Wei , Guo Zhiqing , Xiao Danyang , Du Hongwen , Bravo Alejandra , Soberón Mario , Sun Ming , Peng Donghai
Published: July 2023

Pore-forming toxins (PFTs) are effective tools for pathogens infection. By disrupting epithelial barriers and killing immune cells, PFTs promotes the colonization and reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms in their host. In turn, the host triggers defense responses, such as endocytosis, exocytosis, or autophagy. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) bacteria produce PFT, known as crystal proteins (Cry) which damage the intestinal cells of insects or nematodes, eventually killing them. In insects, aminopeptidase N (APN) has been shown to act as an important receptor for Cry toxins. Here, using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as model, an extensive screening of APN gene family was performed to analyze the potential role of these proteins in the mode of action of Cry5Ba against the nematode. We found that one APN, MNP-1, participate in the toxin defense response, since the mnp-1(ok2434) mutant showed a Cry5Ba hypersensitive phenotype. Gene expression analysis in mnp-1(ok2434) mutant revealed the involvement of two protease genes, F19C6.4 and R03G8.6, that participate in Cry5Ba degradation. Finally, analysis of the transduction pathway involved in F19C6.4 and R03G8.6 expression revealed that upon Cry5Ba exposure, the worms up regulated both protease genes through the activation of the FOXO transcription factor DAF-16, which was translocated into the nucleus. The nuclear location of DAF-16 was found to be dependent on mnp-1 under Cry5Ba treatment. Our work provides evidence of new host responses against PFTs produced by an enteric pathogenic bacterium, resulting in activation of host intestinal proteases that degrade the PFT in the intestine.
Impact of the pentose phosphate pathway on metabolism and pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Kim Jisun , Kim Gyu-Lee , Norambuena Javiera , Boyd Jeffrey M. , Parker Dane
Published: July 2023

Staphylococcus aureus is an important pathogen that leads to significant disease through multiple routes of infection. We recently published a transposon sequencing (Tn-seq) screen in a mouse acute pneumonia model and identified a hypothetical gene (SAUSA300_1902, pgl) with similarity to a lactonase of Escherichia coli involved in the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) that was conditionally essential. Limited studies have investigated the role of the PPP in physiology and pathogenesis of S. aureus. We show here that mutation of pgl significantly impacts ATP levels and respiration. RNA-seq analysis of the pgl mutant and parent strains identified compensatory changes in gene expression for glucose and gluconate as well as reductions in the pyrimidine biosynthesis locus. These differences were also evident through unbiased metabolomics studies and 13C labeling experiments that showed mutation of pgl led to reductions in pyrimidine metabolism including decreases in ribose-5P, UMP and GMP. These nucleotide reductions impacted the amount of extracellular DNA in biofilms and reduced biofilm formation. Mutation also limited the capacity of the strain to resist oxidant damage induced by hydrogen peroxide and paraquat and subsequent intracellular survival inside macrophages. Changes in wall teichoic acid impacted susceptibility to hydrogen peroxide. We demonstrated the importance of these changes on virulence in three different models of infection, covering respiratory, skin and septicemia, demonstrating the need for proper PPP function in all models. This work demonstrates the multifaceted role metabolism can play in multiple aspects of S. aureus pathogenesis.
General knowledge and practice of household dog owners regarding gastrointestinal parasites in Cebu, Philippines
Authors: Urgel Marysia Frances M. , Ybañez Rochelle Haidee D. , Ybañez Adrian P. , Delan Elmie S.
Published: July 2023

Background and Aim: Canine gastrointestinal tract (GIT) parasites are of public health and veterinary concern and are harmful to both humans and animals. The risk of transmitting GIT parasites can be minimized depending on dog owners’ knowledge and management practices. Therefore, this study aimed to assess dog owners’ general knowledge and practices regarding GIT parasites.

Materials and Methods: A structured questionnaire containing 10-point Likert statements was administered to 130 respondents in Cebu, Philippines, to obtain information about their profile (age, sex, civil status, and educational attainment) and data regarding their home environment, number of dogs and other pets owned, and their knowledge and practices regarding canine GIT parasites. These respondents had previously provided canine stool samples for fecalysis.

Results: Most respondents were female (65.4%), 18–24 years old (55.4%), single (71.5%), and educated to college level (49.2%). Housing styles were mostly gated (76.9%), and >50% had a garden. The majority owned 1–3 dogs (56.9%) and did not own any other pets (73.8%). All knew about canine GIT parasites. There was a significant association between GIT parasite positivity in dogs and the owner’s sex (p = 0.005). Gastrointestinal parasite positivity was also associated with the owner’s knowledge about the transmission of parasites from the mother’s milk to her puppies (p = 0.001), canine intestinal parasites potentially causing weight loss, diarrhea, and vomiting (p = 0.001), and dogs potentially becoming infected with parasites from licking or sniffing the soil or grass where other animals have been (p = 0.005). Moreover, there was a significant association between GIT parasite positivity and the owner’s practice of daily cleaning of the areas where the dog defecated (p = 0.001), deworming every 6–12 months (p = 0.001), and unfailingly following the vaccination and deworming schedule (p = 0.006). Finally, the summative knowledge and practice level of the owners were significantly associated with GIT parasite positivity (p = 0.001).

Conclusion: This study highlights the need for continuous education of dog owners to maintain good knowledge and practices to prevent GIT parasite infection. Frequent deworming (once a month) of adult dogs is recommended.

Keywords: dogs, intestinal parasites, soil, vaccination.
Principles of urate-lowering therapy: eight steps to success
Authors: Zhelyabina O. V. , Eliseev M. S. , Lila A. M.
Published: July 2023

Treatment of such a serious systemic disease as gout is often carried out incorrectly, despite the presence of a large number of recommendations and drugs. The reluctance of some doctors to follow current recommendations for the management of patients with gout is one of the factors for poor adherence of patients to therapy. The review considers modern approaches to the treatment of gout, which provide for long-term strategies for lowering of serum uric acid level.
Mesenteric panniculitis in rheumatologist practice
Authors: Egorova O. N. , Datsina A. V.
Published: July 2023

Mesenteric panniculitis (MPn) is a rare form of adipose tissue inflammation, mainly of the intestinal mesentery, less often of the omentum, preand retroperitoneal tissue. There are not many descriptions of MPn in rheumatic diseases in the literature: in systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, Sjogren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis, mesenteric form (MF) of idiopathic lobular panniculitis (ILPn) and IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD). Given the polymorphism of clinical manifestations, including systemic ones, it is of interest to look at the problem of MPn from the perspective of a rheumatologist.

Objective: to evaluate the clinical and laboratory features of MPn in modern rheumatological practice.

Material and methods. The study included 64 patients (19 men and 45 women aged 19 to 76 years, median disease duration 28.6 [0.3; 243] months). Laboratory and instrumental studies were carried out according to a single algorithm, which included standard clinical, immunological methods, as well as the determination of fecal calprotectin and tumor markers, ultrasound of the skin and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), computed tomography of the chest and abdominal organs, abdominal positron emission tomography, pathomorphological examination of biopsies of the skin, pancreas and mesentery.

Results and discussion. 89% of patients had abdominal pain, 48.4% had nausea, 53.1% had weakness, 44% had subfebrile fever, 32.8% had articular syndrome, and 29.6% – skin and pancreas involvement. Median ESR was 34 [11; 52] mm/h, CRP level – 14 [2; 72] mg/l. Most of the immunological parameters remained within the normal range, but in some cases there was an increase in the concentration of rheumatoid factor, antibodies to the cyclic citrullinated peptide, IgG4. The level of tumor markers CA 125, CEA, CA 19–9 and TumorM2-PK was increased 2 times or more in 5 patients. In our study, all radiological signs and all degrees of severity of MPn were observed. An additional examination confirmed the presence of MF ILPn, RA, IgG4-RD, gastrointestinal, malignant, hematological and other diseases, which made it possible to identify five diagnostic blocks.

Conclusion. Early diagnosis and correct interpretation of the described changes require a lot of work-up and a multidisciplinary approach, which contributes to accurate and timely recognition of the disease.
Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome: current aspects of pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment
Authors: Klimenko A. A. , Gaffarova A. S. , Demidova N. A.
Published: July 2023

Catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome (CAPS) is a life-threatening condition associated with the development of thrombotic occlusion of microvasculature vessels, with a mortality rate of about 50%.

The pathogenesis of CAPS is based on cellular activation, complement system induction, cytokine stimulation, inhibition of anticoagulant factors and fibrinolysis, which leads to progressive thrombotic microangiopathy, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Classification criteria for CAPS include microthrombotic involvement of ≥3 organs (most commonly lungs, kidneys, and central nervous system) for ≤1 week with high titers of antiphospholipid antibodies.

Differential diagnosis is carried out with DIC, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, hemolytic uremic syndrome, HELLP syndrome, sepsis. Treatment of CAPS in the acute phase involves anticoagulant and immunosuppressive therapy (glucocorticoids, plasmapheresis, IV immunoglobulin, rituximab, eculizumab). Timely diagnosis and adequately selected treatment of CAPS can reduce mortality from 50 to 30%.

Further study of CAPS is needed to improve the prognosis and increase the life expectancy of patients.
Switching biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and Janus kinase inhibitors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Bobkova A. O. , Lila A. M.
Published: July 2023

The goal of treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is to achieve remission or low disease activity. A wide range of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs is used for the treatment of RA, including biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) and Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi). However, even with the use of bDMARDs and JAKi, this goal can be achieved only in 40–60% of patients. Insufficient response to bDMARs and JAKi is the reason for switching to other drugs from the same group, such as tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors, and to drugs with a different mechanism of action. The need to change therapy may be associated with its ineffectiveness due to various immune, genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, with the development of adverse reactions, as well as with comorbid pathology. To date, there is no certain predictors of effectiveness of a particular bDMARDs and JAKi and of the need and strategy for changing the therapy.

The review considers the effectiveness of various classes of bDMARDs and JAKi in RA, the frequency and risk factors associated with the need to switch patients to other drugs, the role of chemokines as promising markers of response to RA treatment.
EURO/DOLAR PARİTESİNİN TÜRKİYE TURİZMİNE ETKİSİ: YAPISAL KIRILMALI EKONOMETRİK BİR ANALİZ
Authors: ŞEYRANLIOĞLU Onur
Published: July 2023

Bu araştırmada, Euro/Dolar paritesinin Türkiye turizmine etkilerinin 2003-2022 dönemi aylık frekanslı verilerle incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Kurulan modellerde BİST Turizm Pay Endeksi, turizm gelirleri ve turistlerin kişi başı ortalama turizm harcaması bağımlı değişken olarak kullanılmıştır. Araştırmada serilerin durağanlıkları geleneksel ve yapısal kırılmalı birim kök testleri ile sınanmıştır. Kurulan modellerde uzun dönemli ilişkilerin tespit edilebilmesi için yapısal kırılmalı Gregory ve Hansen (1996) ile Hatemi J (2008) eşbütünleşme testleri kullanılmıştır. Uzun dönemli ilişki tespit edilen modellerde katsayı tahmini FMOLS yöntemi ile yapılmıştır. Bulgularda, Euro/Dolar paritesi ile turizm gelirleri arasında uzun dönemli ilişki tespit edilmiştir. FMOLS bulgularında ise Euro/Dolar paritesindeki artışların Türkiye’nin turizm gelirlerini arttırdığı görülmüştür. Bu araştırma ile Euro/Dolar paritesinin Türkiye’nin turizm sektörü göstergelerine etkisi yapısal kırılmalı ekonometrik yöntemler ile analiz edilerek çok kısıtlı olan literatüre katkı sağlanmaya çalışılmıştır.
Diagnostic accuracy of extended HPV DNA genotyping and its application for risk-based cervical cancer screening strategy
Authors: Xie Hongyu , Rao Xuan , Li Junyan , Yao Lifang , Ji Ying , Zhang Juan , Wang Hui , Wang Xinyu , Li Xiao
Published: July 2023

Objectives

To evaluate the consistency of 14 high-risk HPVs (hr-HPVs) detection between extended HPV DNA genotyping and a well-validated partial HPV genotyping kit, and to explore the diagnostic accuracy of risk stratification strategy based on extended HPV genotyping for cervical cancer (CC) screening.

Methods

Baseline data from a clinical trial of recombinant HPV 9-valent vaccine in China was analyzed. All enrolled women aged 20–45 years received cervical cytology, HPV detection by extended and partial HPV genotyping kits. Those who met the indications would further receive colposcopy. The primary endpoints were cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3 or worse (CIN2+/CIN3+).

Results

A total of 8,000 women were enrolled between April 2020 and July 2020 and 83/33 cases were diagnosed as CIN2+/CIN3+. The overall agreement between the extended and partial HPV genotyping was 92.66 %. And the agreement further increased with the progression of lesions, which lead to similarly high sensitivity and negative predictive value of these kits. A stratified triage strategy of CC screening was constructed based on the immediate CIN2+/CIN3+ risk of specific HPV. Compared with the conventional HPV primary CC screening strategy, the risk-based strategy had higher specificity for CIN (CIN2+: 94.84 vs. 92.46 %, CIN3+: 96.05 vs. 91.92 %), and needed fewer colposcopies for detecting one cervical disease.

Conclusions

Extended HPV genotyping had good agreement with a well-validated partial HPV genotyping CC primary screening kit in hr-HPV detection. Extended HPV genotyping could facilitate risk-based stratified management strategy and improve the diagnostic accuracy of primary CC screening.
A new online resource for chemical safety and green chemistry in science education
Authors: Tveit Svein , Faegri Karoline
Published: July 2023

Science and chemistry teachers often feel that they have insufficient knowledge about the legal requirements concerning proper handling of chemicals. To help teachers and technicians, we have developed an online resource with information and tools for the various aspects of chemical safety, such as legislation, risk assessment, storage, labelling and waste handling, including a framework for routines and training for staff and students. Additionally, the resource introduces the concept of green chemistry, an emerging field within chemistry education, and provides examples on how teachers could work with green chemistry principles in the science and chemistry classroom. The aim is that this extensive online material, covering the most important aspects of health, safety and environmental work in school science education, can serve as a useful resource for school leaders, teachers, technicians and science teacher educators in their work with these issues. The resource was developed by partners from the Universities of Helsinki, Ljubljana, Oslo, and Stockholm and co-funded by the Erasmus+ program of the European Union. The content is published in five languages and is freely available at https://chesse.org.
Enhancing learner motivation by adapting strategies from the ARCS model: experience from Chinese online course design and teaching
Authors: Song Chenqing , Kao Qifei
Published: July 2023

Compared with traditional language teaching in a face-to-face setting, online language teaching elicits new challenges that require instructors to adopt new strategies when designing and delivering online courses. One of the challenges, according to our literature review (Cull, S., Reed, D., & Kirk, K. (2010, June 23–25, 28–29). Student motivation and engagement in online courses [Workshop session]. In Teaching geoscience online – a workshop for digital faculty, Virtual workshop. https://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/online/motivation.html) and our instructors’ observations of online Chinese courses, was that college students suffered from loss of learning motivation, which impacted their learning experiences and outcomes, resulting in a downhill, vicious cycle. This paper discusses various adaptations that we designed to improve learner motivation by applying Keller’s ARCS model (Keller, J. M. (1983). Motivational design of instruction. In C. M. Reigeluth (Ed.), Instructional-design theories and models: An overview of their current status (pp. 383–434). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Keller, J. M. (1984). The use of the ARCS model of motivation in teacher training. Aspects of Educational Technology, 17, 140–145, Keller, J. M. (1987). Development and use of the ARCS model of instructional design. Journal of Instructional Development, 10(3), 2–10, Keller, J. M. (2010). Motivational design for learning and performance. Springer) during the process of (re)designing online Chinese courses from 2018 to 2020. Among many theories and models of learner motivation, Keller’s ARCS model stands out with its focus on instructional design, with four main practical categories: attention; relevance; confidence and satisfaction. This model further provides detailed subcategories for improving learner motivation, e.g., increasing variations in course material layout to capture students’ interest and providing real-time, encouraging feedback to enhance students’ beliefs in their competence. Our contextualised discussion of the ARCS model will benefit teachers and course designers seeking to enhance learner motivation in their online courses.
Möbius edge band and Weyl-like semimetal flat-band in topological photonic waveguide array by synthetic gauge flux
Authors: Liu Zhenzhen , Wei Guochao , Wu Huizhou , Xiao Jun-Jun
Published: July 2023

The presence of π gauge flux enabled by positive and negative hopping amplitude can lead to Möbius bands, which was recently demonstrated in both realistic acoustic and photonic lattices, twisted at k = π. Here, we show that the artificial gauge flux configuration can be achieved by exploiting the interactions between photonic s and p orbital-like fundamental modes in circular and peanut-shaped waveguides, respectively. By manipulating the interplay between the gauge fields and the crystal symmetry, we show that breaking the primitive translation symmetry through lattice site dimerization and deformation can cause the original Dirac semimetal phase, characterized by a four-fold Dirac point at the Brillouin zone center, to transform into various topological phases. The designed photonic waveguide array supports topological phases such as Möbius insulator and Weyl-like semimetal phases. Noticeably different to the existing cases, we explicitly show that the twisting Möbius bands cross each other at k = 0 due to the lattice gauging with alternating sign, which results in distinct beam dynamics excitation. We also present Weyl-like flat-band edge states in such photonics waveguide arrays. Our results suggest that such s − p hybridized photonic waveguide array servers as a convenient and flexible platform for studying topological physics, particularly in simulating the effects of gauge field in alternative configuration.
Exploring Must-know Criteria for Effective Customer Segmentation in Online Market Using AHP
Authors: Sekandari Elham , Aghaei Iman
Published: July 2023

Considering the advancement of technology, companies need to update their knowledge regarding consumer behavior and try to adapt to these changes to stay profitable. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the relative importance of market segmentation categories when assessing consumers’ online buying behavior. The data were collected through a standard AHP questionnaire from 71 individuals who lived in North Cyprus and have online shopping experience. The results were analyzed using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) methodology by Expert Choice software. Findings demonstrated that age, gender, and marital status are the most critical factors in determining online consumer behavior. However, group influence, adaptability, and brand loyalty were found to be the least important factors that can stimulate consumers to shop online. Managers are encouraged to target their consumers based on the essential categories since running marketing campaigns and advertising costs money and time. They can also benefit from the results of this study and apply more target-oriented segmentation strategies to enhance their companies’ performance. This paper provides a pioneering instrument to assess the relative importance of market segmentation categories in online market.
Die phänomenologischen Wurzeln der Gesprächsanalyse und das Politische bei Hannah Arendt: Ein Kombinationsvorschlag zur Analyse sprachlicher Interaktionen
Authors: Lindinger Isabel
Published: July 2023

Hannah Arendt's political theory remains influential in both the Humanities and the Social Sciences, including in sociology, educational sciences and political education. Arendt's works are utilized in different ways in these contexts. Within sociolinguistics and conversational linguistics, however, this does not seem to be the case. The present article aims to overcome this shortcoming by exploring opportunities for analytically integrating Arendt's understanding of the political and the conversation analysis point of view. Combining these two perspectives results in the added value of expanding the interpretive framework to include Arendt's dimensions of subjectivity, intersubjectivity, and access to the world. In line with this goal, the respective phenomenological influences of both approaches, Arendt’s political theory and the phenomenological precursors of conversation analysis, are considered separately. After providing an overview of the phenomenological roots for socio- and conversation analysis (Edmund Husserl, Alfred Schütz, Harold Garfinkel), Arendt's concept of the political is discussed. Subsequently, the analytical nexus of the approaches are elaborated on in the form of three theses. It is argued that Arendt developed an innovative phenomenological concept of plurality which has the potential of forming the basis for an interpretive tool for the analysis of oral interaction (in line with Garfinkel’s ethnomethodology).
Die Bildung des Europäers – Kollektive und persönliche Identitäten im literarischen Werk von Maxim Biller
Authors: Schluß Jörg Henning , Vicentini-Lerch Caroline
Published: July 2023

The Formation of the European – Collective and Personal Identities in the Literary Works of Maxim Biller. “In a way, ‘Bildung’ (formation/culture) is unavoidable, like catarrh with an east wind,” Roland Reichenbach once paraphrased Theodor Fontane. Of course, a CV, a “curriculum vitae” (as Victor Klemperer called his diaries) may not be as institutionalized or professionalized as we expect from educational institutions. At the same time, some biographies and family dictionaries (Lessico famigliare, Natalia Ginzburg) seem to give more than enough reason for the formation of the person in the turmoil of the 20th and early 21st centuries, without a “harmonious whole” being able to emerge from it, of course, as it still did appear ideal to Wilhelm von Humboldt in the 19th century. Of course, this formation, which is not able to be an identity, i.e. equality with oneself, only happens when the person deals with their collective and individual becoming. If it does this in the form of ‘permanently fixed expressions of life’ (Dilthey), then this enables us as scholars in education to trace this fragmentary formation of the person in an exemplary manner. Maxim Biller, whose family history stretches from the Soviet Union through Czechoslovakia to Germany, Israel, and England, is a writer who has undertaken this questioning of himself and others in more or less fictitious and unsparingly autobiographical texts. These reflective processes of formation are traced in this article and the question is asked about how collective and familial influences can be turned around using the example of the multifaceted reconstruction of a European migration biography in the course of autobiographical literary work in such a way that, although no identity is formed, a consistent self is formed. This knowledge could become pedagogically relevant to develop ideas on how to deal with the breaks in the lives of people with migration experiences in the 21st century.
Volksschullehrer-Wissen sammeln und verbreiten. Das Deutsche Schulmuseum bzw. die Deutsche Lehrerbücherei in Berlin 1876–1914
Authors: Mattes Monika
Published: July 2023

The article examines the book collection of the German School Museum (since 1908 German Teachers’ Library) on the one hand according to its ‘content’ and on the other hand according to its social and cultural functionality for the elementary school teachers organized in the Berlin Teachers’ Association. How did the collections contribute to the socio- cultural self-assertion and professional identity of elementary school teachers in the German Empire? How and with what profile was the German Teachers’ Library able to establish itself as an actor in the field of pedagogical knowledge around 1900, i.e. in the years when the need for knowledge for the ‘Volksschule’ changed profoundly due to rapid social and economic-technological modernization?
Reality as a Basis of Education to the Good in Josef Pieper’s Works
Authors: Nemec Rastislav , Blaščíková Andrea
Published: July 2023

The contemporary educational system is oriented on performance and productivity. German philosopher and sociologist Josef Pieper (1904–1997) was one of the big critics of this orientation and a defender of holistic education. The aim of this study is to analyse two of Pieper’s essays dedicated to education to the good – Total Education and Reality and the Good (both 1935) – and to present his concept of the “holistic education” that is based on them. In these two essays, Pieper analyses education as a formation of the spiritual soul in its ability to know and to act: knowledge is born as a result of our openness to reality in its divine root, and action is a response to this known good. Pieper identifies the educated man as being constantly open to the totality of reality, questioning unilateral, normative, performance-oriented and “specialized” education.
A continuing reverence for wood
Authors: Hubbe Martin A. , Buehlmann Urs
Published: July 2023

Our ancestors knew a great deal about wood. They had to in order to do well in life. Wood has played a dominant role in human infrastructure for many generations, and for most of that time woodcraft has depended on the decentralized knowledge passed down among families and guilds. This editorial, while celebrating the knowledge, skills, and insights of the woodworkers of past generations, also calls for a renewed attention to wood’s unique character, including characteristics that today are too often classified as “defects.” We may need to take lessons from generations past to truly derive the best value from wood resources.
Dimensional changes of starch microcellular foam during the exchange of water with ethanol and subsequent drying
Authors: Patel Sameerkumar V. , Venditti Richard A. , Pawlak Joel J.
Published: July 2023

Starch microcellular foams (SMCF) containing pores in the micron size range may be prepared by pore-preserving drying processes, developing highly porous, high specific surface area materials useful for applications such as opacifying pigments or as adsorbent materials. The objective of this research was to understand how the exchange of water with ethanol, used as a pore preserving step, affected the dimensional properties of the starch material during and after processing. SMCF were prepared from molded aquagels of cooked corn starch that were subjected to ethanol exchanges with different time intervals (6, 12, or 48 hrs) and number of exchanges (1, 2, or 3) and then air dried. To study the transformation of water-swollen starch into precipitated starch foam in ethanol, the volume of the starch material was measured in the wet state after each exchange and after final air drying. As water is replaced by ethanol, the starch material contracts, with the greatest contraction during the first ethanol exchange. The amount of contraction during air drying decreased with decreased starch water content just before air drying, presumably due to less pore collapse of the stiffer cell walls on drying. Interestingly, the minimum density of 0.37 g/cc SMCF was for the 12 hour exchange time, not the longest exchange time. Evidence of a skin-core morphology included SEM images as well as dimensional instability data on dried samples. The results indicate that SMCF of low density with fewer tendencies to deform during drying does not necessarily require extremely long exchange times.
Preparation and characterization of conductive paper via in-situ polymerization of pyrrole
Authors: Ding Chunyue , Qian Xueren , Shen Jing , An Xianhui
Published: July 2023

Electrically conductive paper was prepared via in-situ chemical oxidative polymerization of pyrrole by using ferric chloride as an oxidant and p-toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA) as a dopant. The deposition of polypyrrole (PPy) on the fiber surface was verified by ATR-FTIR and SEM analyses. Pyrrole concentration had a significant effect on the surface resistivity of conductive paper, especially when the pyrrole concentration was less than 1.8 g·L-1. The conductivity of the PPy-coated paper could be controlled by adjusting pyrrole concentration. The threshold concen-tration of pyrrole was 1.2 g·L-1 when the molar ratio of dopant to pyrrole was 2:1. Very little polymerization reaction in solution occurred when pyrrole concentration was less than 2.5 g·L-1. The pyrrole concentration should reach a higher value to prepare a relatively stable conductive paper with lower resistivity. The XPS results showed that the amount of the PPy coating increased, while the doping level first decreased then increased with the increase of pyrrole concentration. The SEM-EDXA results showed that there was no difference in the amount of PPy coated between the outer surface and the internal wall, but the doping level of the outer surface was higher than that of the internal wall.
Isolation and characterization of cellulose and lignin from steam-exploded lignocellulosic biomass
Authors: Ibrahim Maha M. , Agblevor Foster A. , El-Zawawy Waleed K.
Published: July 2023

The isolation of cellulose from different lignocellulosic biomass sources such as corn cob, banana plant, cotton stalk, and cotton gin waste, was studied using a steam explosion technology as a pre-treatment process for different times followed by alkaline peroxide bleaching. The agricultural residues were steam-exploded at 220 ºC for 1-4 min for the corn cob, 2 and 4 min for the banana plant, 3-5 min for the cotton gin waste, and for 5 min for the cotton stalk. The steamed fibers were water extracted followed by alkali extraction and finally peroxide bleaching to yield cellulose with different degrees of crystallinity. The degree of polymerization of the cellulose fraction ranged from 167.4 to 1615.7. Longer residence time of the steam explosion led to an increase in cellulose crystallinity. The ten isolated cellulose samples were further characterized by SEM, FT-IR, and thermal analysis. Four lignin preparations were also obtained from steam-exploded corn cob, banana plant, cotton stalk, and cotton gin waste after alkali treatment. The SEM micrographs of the lignin showed different morphological structure for the different agricultural residues. The FT-IR and TGA analyses showed that the steam pre-treatment led to an extensive cleavage of ether bonds, condensation reactions, and some demethylation of aromatic methoxyl groups in the lignin structure. The thermal stabilities of the isolated lignins were different for different agricultural residues.
Exploring Value Co-Creation in Sharing Platforms by Applying DART Framework
Authors: Svarcaite Asta , Gadeikiene Agne
Published: July 2023

The spread and development of sharing platforms can be seen in many countries around the world, especially in emerging economies. However, sharing platforms face challenges in retaining users and attracting new ones. The value co-creation can be used as a tool to ensure competitiveness, develop innovation, and strengthen relationships with consumers. Thus, this study aims to explore value co-creation in sharing platforms from the perspective of platform developers by applying the DART framework. Case study analysis was applied to the empirical study. Its results indicate that the dialogue dimension unfolds through interaction; the access develops through information and tools; the risk-benefit reveals the disadvantages of sources and the possible risks of using the sharing platform; the transparency is exposed through transparency about user reliability. A new sub-dimension emerges in the dialogue dimension – ‘networking’, where platform actors can participate in value co-creation as user groups and foster innovation. Since information overload can lead to undesirable user behavior, we propose to assess the ‘navigation’ sub-dimension by analyzing the access dimension. The results of the study contribute to value co-creation scientific literature by extending and adapting the DART framework for sharing-based business models and provide useful practical insights for sharing platform developers.
Measurement Properties of Patient Reported Outcome Scales: A Systematic Review
Authors: Stallwood Emma , Elsman Ellen B.M. , Monsour Andrea , Baba Ami , Butcher Nancy J. , Offringa Martin
Published: July 2023

CONTEXT

Recently a standard set for overall pediatric health outcomes in routine care was developed, which includes patient (or proxy) reported outcome measures (PROMs) for global health, cognitive functioning, and self-efficacy.

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether the following PROMs have sufficient measurement properties to be used in pediatric routine care: PROMIS Pediatric and Parent Proxy Scale - Global Health 7+2, PROMIS Parent Proxy Short Form - Cognitive Function 7a, and NIH Toolbox Self-Efficacy CAT Ages 13 to 17.

DATA SOURCES

Embase, Psych INFO, and Web of Science were searched from year of inception of each PROM to May 25, 2020; Medline to October 24, 2022.

STUDY SELECTION

English, full-text peer-reviewed articles that evaluated measurement properties of included PROMs were eligible.

DATA EXTRACTION

The COSMIN guideline for systematic reviews was used to appraise eligible studies and synthesize the overall evidence.

RESULTS

Screening >4000 titles yielded 4 to 6 eligible empirical studies for each PROM. The PROMIS instruments had sufficient content validity with low-quality evidence and at least low-quality evidence for sufficient structural validity and internal consistency. The NIH Toolbox lacked essential evidence for content validity.

LIMITATIONS

Assessments of measurement properties were based on information reported in the included studies; underreporting might have led to less favorable ratings.

CONCLUSIONS

The PROMIS instruments assessed in this review measure their intended construct for their targeted age group; clinicians can use these PROMs in pediatric routine care. Additional studies evaluating measurement properties, including content validity, are needed for the NIH Toolbox before it should be recommended for use in clinical practice.
La criptosporidiosis como enfermedad zoonótica, una revisión
Authors: Ramírez-Navarro Viviana , Lopera-Vásquez Ricaurte , Rodríguez-Gutiérrez Victoria
Published: July 2023

Introducción. Cryptosporidium spp. es un parásito protozoario del grupo de los coccidios, causante de diarreas, trastornos gastroentéricos y respiratorios (baja frecuencia) en diferentes especies de vertebrados a nivel mundial, principalmente en individuos jóvenes. Objetivo. Documentar las características más importantes de virulencia y patogenia del Cryptosporidium spp. así como, la descripción de sus variantes genéticas y su potencial zoonótico. Desarrollo. Existen más de diecinueve especies de Criptosporidium spp., donde se destacan C. parvum (humanos) C. bovis (bovinos), C. suis (porcinos) y C. ubiquitum (aves), debido a su alta capacidad infectiva dada por la diversidad de sus factores de virulencia. El parásito posee afinidad por los enterocitos y genera anomalías en la absorción y funciones secretoras del intestino. La criptosporidiosis varía en función del estado del huésped (edad, nutrición e inmunología), la fuente de contaminación (agua o ingesta), transmisión e higiene. Existen técnicas de diagnóstico, desde pruebas coproscópicas convencionales hasta pruebas de biología molecular. Conclusión. Factores como la variabilidad y los factores de virulencia del Cryptosporidium spp, se consideran mecanismos que favorecen la infección y dispersión del parasito a nivel individual y grupal en humanos y animales domésticos, al igual que la complejidad del ciclo de vida, la resistencia a condiciones ambientales, la capacidad infectiva y la interacción con el huésped consolidan al Cryptosporidium spp. como un agente zoonótico con efectos económicos importantes.
Patients and consultations
Authors: Clarke Angus , Ballard Lisa , Doheny Shane
Published: July 2023

A rejoinder to the review by Elywn and colleages.