bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the potential of shared space street concept in Pasar Sentral Medan
Authors: Zuhra S , Irwansyah M , Qadri L
Published: August 2024

The practice of shared space street has gained many benefits, especially for commercial space. It gained more social interaction, increase pedestrians, vehicles reduction, livability, road safety, and brings economic wealth to the locality. The concept is based on the sharing of space between pedestrians, and vehicles which affects Pasar Sentral Medan. The current condition of the Pasar Sentral Medan corridor shows the dominance of vehicles, lack of space for pedestrians, and occurs disorderly mixed traffic in one particular space. The disorderly mixed traffic creates density and irregularity in the corridor. The phenomenon of mixed traffic in Pasar Sentral Medan is a basic concept of shared space street. This study aims to evaluate the potential of shared space street (SSS) in Pasar Sentral Medan, whether Pasar Sentral Medan has a similar characteristic to the shared space street concept as a consideration to implementation as a solution to its problems. This study uses a qualitative descriptive method. The data collection techniques comprise observation, documentation, and literature review. The results showed that Pasar Sentral Medan naturally has a traffic concept that leads to shared space characteristics, mixed traffic in a high-density street, the character area as a strategic commercial-historical area that attracts pedestrians, and low-driving speed vehicles. This characteristic potential can be developed with shared space street concept to address the problems of density, pedestrianization, irregularity in the commercial corridor area and provide high-quality, attractive, and durable spaces.
Mountainous Socio-economic and Geographical Factors in recent Aceh Gayo Vernacular Architecture
Authors: Wulandari Elysa , Idawati Dyah Erti , Nasution Burhan , Sabila Farisa , Haq Zia Ul
Published: August 2024

Gayo’s vernacular architecture is located in the mountainous area of Bukit Barisan, Sumatra, where people live on a land-based basis, beginning to be influenced by modernization in their means of life. The purpose of this research is to explore the influence of geographical, socio-economic mountains, and technological modernity on the realization of vernacular architecture of the Gayo community nowadays. This research is important in relation to the issue of community cultural identity being eroded by modernization. The research approach is an interpretative phenomenological exploration of the development of Gayo vernacular architecture in the three villages of Serule, Nosar, and Paya Tumpi Baru. The method of this research is qualitative descriptive. Data collection methods were observation, interviews, and desk studies related to the history of architectural development and local communities. The method of analysis is dynamically cross-checking between data, interpreting the pattern of mutual influence. The results of the study show that the residential architecture is generally of the small-medium-sized landed house type. Activities in the home environment are very limited with low complexity, dominated by children and older women. Still carrying out the Gayo cultural residential tradition which is very friendly. On the other hand, the community has a temporary house in the garden as a second home. Houses grow in a linear pattern, on limited land. The conclusion of the study shows that geographical factors and community economic activities, and modernity do not shape architectural dynamics. Architectural innovation is limited to combining local and modern materials. The general character of Gayo’s vernacular architecture tends to be subsistence, possibly due to long experience of cultural isolation.
Conceptual framework of sustainable interior design (SID) criteria and components to hotel’s operational performance effectiveness
Authors: S.N. Che Abdullah , N. Khalil , S.N. Haron , M.Y. Hamid , S.I Abdullah Sani , A. Ajis
Published: August 2024

Maintaining the hotel’s operational stage and its tangible value is significant for hotel industry as the industry relies on customer satisfaction towards the service. Since the hotel industry services are vary and complex, it is crucial to recognize the contextual characteristics and understand the surrounding environment of operations through its performance effectiveness during its operational. However, issues on the maintenance management of aesthetic performance, service hospitality and awareness on sustainable interiors products are significant concerns in the hotel’s performance in operational stage. Hence, this paper aims to develop a conceptual framework consisting of the sustainable interior design (SID) criteria and components that relates to hotel’s operational performance effectiveness. A semi-structured interview was carried out in this study involving 18 experts comprises of interior designers’, architects, and maintenance managers of green certified hotels. The data is analysed using ATLAS.ti9© qualitative software. The findings revealed that there are eight (8) sustainable interior design (SID) components consists of biophilic, energy efficiency, water consumption, health and social flexibility, environmental comfort, ergonomics, green awareness as well as sustainable site planning and management. It was found that there are 37 SID components sub-divided from the criteria which relates to the hotel’s performance effectiveness. This study is significant for the hoteliers in identifying critical elements contributed to the successful performance by integrating facilities management to the SID.
Reconnecting Children with Nature: A Review on Application of Biophilic Elements at Children’s Space
Authors: Muhsein Aida Syaqirah , Mustapa Nor Diyana , Ibrahim Ismi Luqman Hamadi
Published: August 2024

Forming a bond with nature is very important in children’s lives to improve their well-being as a child and later as adults. However, nowadays, children are disconnected from the natural and outdoor environments. Children’s leisure activities have changed from being actively involved in outdoor activities to passively being confined to indoor activities aided by gadgets. Children face various problems as the consequences of being disconnected from nature. Hence, it is important to reconnect children with nature by including nature through biophilic design in their spaces. However, limited is known on the trends of biophilic design application at children’s spaces. Also, limited is known on the benefits of biophilic patterns in children’s spaces on children. Based on a systematic review, this paper presents a review on the trends of biophilic design application in children’s spaces that include the biophilic pattern used, the benefits of biophilic elements on children, study context, respondents and participants. The review also highlights the methodology used with children in the studies. The result shows evidence that children’s spaces, such as schools, should implement biophilic elements to strengthen the relationship between children and nature and improve their well-being. Gaps from previous research were discussed. Also, directions for future study were outlined.
Methodological Frameworks For Street And Road Environment Improvement With Due Regard To Inclusion Requirements
Authors: Pavlenko Tetiana , Lytvynenko Tetyana , Ivasenko Viktoriia
Published: August 2024

The article identifies the main issues and, accordingly, the identified research topic relevance to improve the street and road environment, with due regard to inclusion requirements. As a result, the authors analysed the basic terminological research apparatus and defined the term «street and road environment». Based on preliminary research topic results, the basic principles, techniques and appropriate means of street and road environment improvement are formulated with the consideration of inclusion requirements. Criteria for the street and road environment assessing, with the consideration of inclusion requirements, which control design and reconstruction tools utilization efficiency, are also presented. According to submittal, the algorithm of street and road environment development is determined. The main process stages and decision-making options depending on certain criterion compliance are substantiated.
Design features of the new system for reconstruction and renovation of large panel buildings
Authors: Shmukler Valeriy , Reznik Petro , Krul Yuriy , Volodymyrov Anton , Binkevych Kostiantyn
Published: August 2024

This paper is devoted to the issue of post-war reconstruction of damaged buildings and, in particular, panel construction as the most massive in Ukraine. The main structural features of large panel system (LPS) buildings are given and the existing experience of their renovation. Taking into account the state of the industrial base in Ukraine and the impossibility of quick rebuilding of panel houses from the elements of this construction system (precast panels), a new precast-monolithic frame is proposed, which is based on the production of structural elements in a permanent formwork printed using a 3DCP. Basic solutions for columns, beams and slabs have been developed. As an implementation, numerical simulation of a damaged 16-storey panel building with the proposed superstructure system is performed. The obtained results confirmed compliance with all the requirements of regulatory documents for the ULS and SLS limit states and al-lowed the reconstruction of the building to be implemented.
Experimental research of combined horizontal settling tank for drinking watersupply
Authors: Epoyan S , Airapetian T , Haiduchok O , Blahodarna H , Kravchuk O
Published: August 2024

Nowadays, the war in Ukraine brings not only material and human losses, but also significant environmental damage. The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine led to serious environmental consequences for the country’s northern, southern and eastern regions. Water treatment from surface sources occurs according to various technological schemes. Still, the most common scheme for water treatment plant with productivity of 30,000 m3/day or more is a two-stage scheme with a horizontal settling tank in the first stage and rapid sand filters in the second stage. Disadvantages of horizontal settling tank are uneven water distribution across the sump, longitudinal circulation, an insufficiently efficient drainage system for clarified water, and unsatisfactory operation at low temperatures. To intensify the operation of horizontal settling tanks, we proposed next solution: to place thin-layer continuous settlers with countercurrent water movement at the beginning of the sedimentation zone. Such an arrangement makes it possible to retain suspended particles at the facility’s beginning, reduce the mud load on the horizontal settler and increase the water velocity in thin-layer settlers. This research aims to intensify the operation of horizontal settling tanks and improve the quality of water clarification. Experimental studies of the combined horizontal settling tank design were conducted. It shows the efficiency of its work, improving the quality of water treatment.
Improvement of Concrete Parameters by the Method of Sodium Silicates Impregnation by Internal Vacuum Tamping
Authors: Shumakov I , Miroshnikov V , Younis B , Buhaievskyi S , Bratishko S
Published: August 2024

A fundamentally new technology of intensive saturation of the porous space of concrete or reinforced concrete has been developed, which makes it possible to significantly increase the degree of filling the pores and, therefore, to extent increase the strength and density of the material being saturated with a hardening liquid. The results of the experiments show that the strength of concrete has increased, and the water absorption rate has significantly decreased. This is achieved by creating an internal vacuum in the cement matrix. The structure of the porous space of concrete after impregnation became significantly denser: capillaries, pores, microcracks and various defects were filled with sodium silicate and created a structure that practically does not allow moisture to penetrate into the concrete body, the water absorption value decreased to 1.15%.
Weight and size characteristics of heat exchange equipment of hybrid Flash/ORC power plants: case of application in WHR cogeneration plants
Authors: Redko Andriy , Pavlovskyi Serhii , Redko Oleksandr , Ujma Adam , Zadiranov Vadym
Published: August 2024

Calculations of the characteristics concerning the heat exchange equipment of the Flash/ORC power plant for the usage in waste heat recovery (WHR) cogeneration plants are presented. The use of hybrid power plants with water steam and organic working fluids, on the one hand, leads to an increase in the mass of the heat exchange equipment, and on the other hand, it ensures the generation of electrical energy and heat at high temperatures of the heat source, when the use of high-temperature working fluids is limited their thermal stability (for example, the thermal stability of silaxanes is about 300 ºC). Calculations are performed for a heat source with temperatures of 250ºC and 350 ºC. The generated electrical power of the power plant at a heat source temperature of 350ºC is 460 kW. The generated thermal power by capacitors is 1755.3 kW. The mass of the capacitors of the second and third circuits is 5000 kg and 14500 kg, respectively. It is shown that when the temperature of the heat source decreases to 250ºC with a double-circuit design, the mass of the heat exchange equipment decreases. Thus, the mass of the condenser is 12700 kg, and the generated thermal power is 1430.2 kW. The values of the heat exchange surface area of a direct-flow steam generator with flue gases, and an intermediate steam generator between the stages of the thermal circuit of a regenerative heat exchanger, as well as a water-cooled condenser are given. When the condenser is cooled by atmospheric air, the surface area of the condenser increases significantly. A characteristic feature of organic working fluids is the low efficiency of heat exchange in heat exchangers, especially at low temperatures. The heat transfer coefficient in heat exchangers with organic working fluids is about 1500-2800 W/(m2•K), which causes an increase in the heat exchange surface area. In this case, it is necessary to reduce the diameters of pipes in the heat exchangers of the steam generator, to use the pipes with internal ribs, and coil pipes in order to reduce the pipe length. The use of steam generators with coil steam-generating channels, characterized by a higher heat exchange intensity, is promising. The selection of the optimal structure and parameters of the ORC installation is carried out taking into account the mutual influence of steam turbine units on the efficiency of working processes in general.
Use of Phosphogypsum for Construction and Repair of Motor Roads
Authors: Krayushkina Kateryna , Dubyk Oleksandr , Talavira Hennadii , Karpenko Anatoliy
Published: August 2024

Current economic relations show that the market for road construction materials needs competitive products of relatively low cost. Such products can be obtained, inter alia, using local natural raw materials, industrial waste and processing. The article is devoted to the current topic of using industrial waste in the field of road construction for the purpose of recycling and rational use of traditional road building materials. In recent years, against the backdrop of a significant increase in road construction, options for using phosphogypsum for the construction of roads of all categories are being actively proposed. Currently, about 50 million tons of phosphogypsum have been accumulated in the dumps of industrial enterprises, and these numbers are increasing every year. Phosphogypsum is calcium sulfate dihydrate and can be used as a binder for strengthening soils, constructing foundations, during repair work, in asphalt concrete and cement concrete mixtures. The use of phosphogypsum is possible both in its pure form and modified to improve the performance properties of the final product. The article presents the positive results of experiments on the use of phosphogypsum modified with sulfur in crushed stone-sand mixtures for the construction of foundations, asphalt concrete and cement concrete mixtures. The purpose of this study is to analyze ways to reduce the cost of construction, reconstruction and major repairs of low-category roads by using production and consumption waste in the structural layers of road pavements.
Energy Efficient Reconstruction of Damaged Mass Housing Estates in Ukraine: Theoretical Aspects and German Practice
Authors: Morshchavka A , Polívka J , Shvets L
Published: August 2024

The paper aims to investigate the significance of energy efficiency during Ukraine’s post-war recovery and strategies to improve energy efficiency in buildings in mass housing estates. The motivation for improving energy efficiency is to strengthen the country’s energy independence, reduce the burden on the national budget, meet political commitments, and reduce negative environmental impacts. Currently, energy efficiency in Ukraine lags behind that of European Union countries, necessitating a review of policies and strategies in this field. The inefficient energy use by outdated housing structures has a negative impact on overall energy efficiency. To improve energy efficiency in the housing stock, it is crucial to target Soviet-era mass housing estates, which represent a considerable proportion of the country’s housing supply and fail to meet modern standards. This article provides an overview of the energy-efficient renovation strategies applied in Germany. These endeavors involve reducing heat losses caused by convection and conduction, regulating solar gains, and improving the energy efficiency of technical systems that cater to building services and occupant comfort.
Predictive modelling and analysis of the level of socio-economic tension in regional systems for sustainable territories renovation
Authors: Klebanova Tamara , Guryanova Lidiya , Rudachenko Olha , Gvozdytsky Vitalii , Panasenko Oksana
Published: August 2024

A conceptual scheme of a monitoring mechanism for early diagnosis of crisis socio-economic situations in regions and the choice of preventive measures aimed at reducing the level of socio-economic tension (SET) in regional systems operating under the influence of “shocks” is proposed. Implementation of the modules of the proposed mechanism for these regions of Ukraine was carried out, analysis and predictive modelling of the level of socio-economic tension in the regional systems of Ukraine was carried out using such machine learning methods as cluster analysis, taxonomy, reduction methods, classification methods with training, regression analysis on panel data, vector autoregressive models and error correction models. The results obtained made it possible to single out regions with different types of development. An analysis of the regions by the level of economic tension showed that 79% of the regions of Ukraine belong to regions with a high level of economic tension. The share of regions (58%), which are characterized by crisis development, remains high. Inertial and alternative scenarios for the socio-economic development of the region have been formed, and the best scenarios have been identified to reduce the level of SET. The proposed management mechanisms are universal and can be used for adapting regional strategies.
Analysis of variable fluidic properties with varying magnetic influence on an unsteady radiated nanofluid flow on the stagnant point region of a spinning sphere: a numerical exploration
Authors: Bag Raju , Kundu Prabir Kumar
Published: August 2024

The purpose of this article is to invent the impact of inconstant properties of fluids on the nanofluidic stream towards the stagnation area of a revolving sphere. The motion is treated as an unsteady radiated flow with a nonlinear sort of heat radiation. It is presumed to have Brownian motion & thermophoretic impact in our flow model. Additionally, a variable magnetic influence is addressed perpendicularly on the spherical surface. A suitable alteration has been applied to make dimensionless of our prime flow profiles. The translated equations and the limiting restrictions are solved through a numerical approach. The well established method RK4 Shooting technique is utilized here with Maple 2017 software. In the exploration of the consequences of requisite parameters on thermal, concentration, and flow features, numerous schematics are involved. The nature of physical quantities like Nusselt numbers, friction coefficients, and Sherwood numbers is stated in a tabular manner. It is perceived from the outcomes that the fluid velocity towards the x-direction is reduced for the variable viscosity parameter, whereas the unsteadiness parameter promotes it. The enhancement of inconstant thermal conductivity brings a positive influence on the thermal profile of fluid. Nusselt number drops against the thermal radiation & variable viscosity with a rates 4.50% and 25.88% correspondingly.
Preparation of modified ether polycarboxylic acid water reducing agent and evaluation
Authors: Shi Yunhai , Lu Kai , He Zejian , Chen Yulong , Zhou Mi
Published: August 2024

Water reducing agent as an important admixture. It is used to decrease the initial water content in cement paste, improving its fluidity. Polycarboxylic acid water reducing agent (PCE) is a high-performance type with advantages such as low dosage, high water reduction rate, environmental friendliness, and a simple synthesis process. In this study, the third monomer (TPEG-SAA-SHES) was synthesized by modifying isopentenol polyoxyethylene ether (TPEG) with sodium hydroxyethyl sulfonate (SHES). Subsequently, a modified ether polycarboxylic acid-based water reducing agent (PCE-S) was synthesized with TPEG and acrylic acid (AA). The experimental conditions for the synthesis of PCE-S were optimized through orthogonal tests. The synthesized PCE-S showed a certain degree of improvement in the initial net slurry flow compared to PCE, with a maximum enhancement of 19.64%. The adsorption increased by 18.25% when the TSS dosage was 5%. PCE-S enhances the hydration products of cement, increasing the compactness of the structure. The product is environmentally friendly, safe, and durable, effectively reducing the dosage of additives and helping to cut costs. It lays the foundation for the next industrialized mass production.
The ranks of homology of complexes of projective modules over finite groups
Authors: Carlson Jon
Published: August 2024

We show that counterexamples of Iyengar and Walker to the algebraic version of Gunnar Carlsson’s conjecture on the rank of the homology of a free complex can be extended to examples over any finite group with many choices of the complex.
Meromorphic connections on the projective line with specified local behavior
Authors: Sage Daniel
Published: August 2024

A meromorphic connection on the complex projective line induces formal connections at each singular point, and these formal connections constitute the local behavior at the singularities. In this primarily expository paper, we discuss the extent to which specified local behavior at singular points determines the global connection. In particular, given a finite set of points and a collection of “formal types” at these points, does there exist a moduli space of meromorphic connections with this local behavior, and if so, when is this moduli space nonempty or a singleton? In this paper, we discuss variants of these problems (for example, the Deligne–Simpson and rigidity problems) as the allowed singularities get progressively more complicated: first connections with only regular singularities, next connections with additional unramified irregular singularities allowed, and finally the general case.
Constructing Social Rights for the Poor
Authors: Leisering Lutz , Weible Katrin
Published: August 2024

Universal social rights are the core of the welfare state. However, in the Global South, until recently only the minority of workers in formal employment and public sector employees enjoyed the right to social security. This has changed since the 2000s through the rise of non-contributory ‘social cash transfers’ (SCT) for the poor. We investigate what entitlements to SCT have been created, and how close they come to human rights standards, based on a self-constructed dataset that covers the entire Global South. In conjunction with the analysis of SCT, the chapter also makes a more general contribution to the conceptual analysis of social rights. We argue that rights-based social security has a multidimensional and systemic nature that requires complex institutional designs, and these may be elusive in many countries of the Global South. First, multidimensionality: the right to social security is multidimensional, and social security must be designed in a way to meet human rights standards in all dimensions. Universal coverage, on which policymakers focus (‘universal social protection’), is only one of these dimensions. Second, systemic design: the ensemble of all programmes in a country (the national SCT system or ‘regime’) counts when it comes to assessing the human rights quality of social security. Therefore, the challenge is to design composite systems rather than only single programmes, on which policymakers focus. Third, institutional designs must be systemic also in normative terms: to be accepted as socially just, a national SCT system needs to combine diverse normative principles, and these must be rooted in citizens’ beliefs and attitudes as well as national politics—reference to broad global ideas such as universalism, inclusiveness, or even human rights is not enough. These three requirements are demanding, and we find that most SCT designs do not meet human rights standards. At the same time, we argue that the right to social security is only broadly defined and can be realized through a variety of institutional designs, thereby creating leeway for rights-based policies.
Gender in Welfare in the South
Authors: Sambo Cleopas Gabriel
Published: August 2024

This chapter focuses on gender in the implementation of social assistance programs, particularly cash transfers, in the Global South. While social cash transfers (SCTs) target the most vulnerable populations, they are designed not only for consumption soothing but also to address the underlying structures that perpetuate vulnerability and deprivation. In Zambia, where evidence of gendered poverty is prevalent, SCTs have prioritized women as recipients and ‘managers’ of the transfer within households, intending to foster their empowerment. However, current scholarship on the feminization of poverty suggests that merely centring women as transfer recipients without critically examining the norms contributing to their subjugation may hinder their progress towards empowerment. Drawing on interviews with individuals in poverty who receive cash transfers, this chapter examines the inherent contradictions between assumptions and realities of gender and empowerment in SCT households in Zambia. It interrogates the impact of gender norms embedded in this welfare programme on intra-household dynamics and the subsequent consequences for the empowerment of both men and women benefiting from such programmes. The chapter argues that the indiscriminate adoption of gender norms originating from the Global North, although perceived as progressive, often reinforces existing stereotypes and perpetuates gendered inequalities. It emphasizes the need for gender-sensitive social protection interventions encompassing broader livelihood strategies. It demonstrates the complexity of gender as a social category in welfare programming, particularly within the Global South.
Absenteeism and Delayed Enrollment
Authors: Colvin Molly , Reesman Jennifer Linton , Glen Tannahill
Published: August 2024

Although attenuated learning progress was predicted in the early days of school closures, two major unanticipated challenges developed that have persistently impeded efforts to remediate learning losses. Chronic absenteeism, which is negatively associated with cognitive and psychosocial development as well as vocational achievement, has dramatically increased, even though schools have reopened. Chronic absenteeism rates have doubled in some areas, compared to 2019, and marginalized groups have been disproportionately affected. Schools have also suffered critical declines in student enrollment, and they have experienced delayed school entry; nationwide, more than 200,000 students have simply been lost to the system. These factors are known to impact educational and vocational attainment and long-term economic, health, and cognitive outcomes.
Disrupted Delivery of Special Education Services and Accommodations
Authors: Colvin Molly , Reesman Jennifer Linton , Glen Tannahill
Published: August 2024

Special education services and accommodations provided in the educational system were significantly disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. This chapter reviews the basics of special education services, including the laws, regulations, and processes that govern identification and implementation of these services. Delayed initiation of both early intervention and special education services occurred, and the scale of this is reviewed, as well as its impact on children with disabilities. Specific services that were most likely to be impacted included those serving children with the most needs. Potential remedies for disruption are reviewed, and a case illustration of a child who experienced delayed identification of disability, disrupted service delivery, and required support to receive compensatory services is included.
Biological Ornament, Difficult Ornament
Authors: Mlinko Ange
Published: August 2024

Different landscapes elicit different imaginative responses. The tropical abundance of Florida provides a new template for poetry in English, which originated in a northern climate. Renaissance poets and critics in England debated the merits of the plain style versus the ornate Petrarchists in a “poetomachia,” and twentieth-century American poets inherited a version of this “style war.” Poets signal peacockery with rich vocabulary, puns, rhyme, elaborate syntax, macaronics, and stanzaic complexity. These were dubbed “difficult ornaments” by classical rhetoricians, and they correspond to “biological ornaments” that zoologists identify in the animal world that decorate, and often hinder, the body. The classic example is the peacock, so it is no accident that the poets who most delight in difficult ornaments, like Wallace Stevens and James Merrill, took peacocks as figures for their poetry.
Elizabeth Bishop
Authors: Mlinko Ange
Published: August 2024

Elizabeth Bishop first visited Florida on a fishing trip to Naples in 1936 and moved to Key West the following year, where she lived off and on through the 1940s, producing renowned poems about her new home state: “Florida,” “The Bight,” “Jerónimo’s House,” “The Fish,” and “Roosters,” among others. This chapter explores these poems through a study of unpublished drafts, letters, and journals written in her Key West years, as well as the influence of Wallace Stevens and her mentor, Marianne Moore, both of whom had provided models for writing about Florida. This chapter also discusses her departure from Stevens’s stylistic excesses as well as the limits of a social realist style.
James Merrill
Authors: Mlinko Ange
Published: August 2024

James Merrill, the son of Florida natives, was raised partly in Palm Beach, on an estate called Merrill’s Landing. This landscape would reappear, dreamlike, in many Merrill poems, including “From the Cupola,” “Lost in Translation,” “Quatrains for Pegasus,” “Southern Belle,” and “Two from Florida.” In middle age, Merrill purchased a house in Key West and wrote further Florida poems, including “Clearing the Title.” This chapter discusses Merrill’s “sources” for poetry, including the springs of Florida, focusing on “Developers at Crystal River” as an emblematic poem about maternal love, ecological peril, and poetic sources. Florida becomes a means of avoiding stylistic and psychological rigidity through the figure of underground streams and limestone landscapes.
Refining computational inference of gene regulatory networks: integrating knockout data within a multi-task framework
Authors: Cui Wentao , Long Qingqing , Xiao Meng , Wang Xuezhi , Feng Guihai , Li Xin , Wang Pengfei , Zhou Yuanchun
Published: August 2024

Constructing accurate gene regulatory network s (GRNs), which reflect the dynamic governing process between genes, is critical to understanding the diverse cellular process and unveiling the complexities in biological systems. With the development of computer sciences, computational-based approaches have been applied to the GRNs inference task. However, current methodologies face challenges in effectively utilizing existing topological information and prior knowledge of gene regulatory relationships, hindering the comprehensive understanding and accurate reconstruction of GRNs. In response, we propose a novel graph neural network (GNN)-based Multi-Task Learning framework for GRN reconstruction, namely MTLGRN. Specifically, we first encode the gene promoter sequences and the gene biological features and concatenate the corresponding feature representations. Then, we construct a multi-task learning framework including GRN reconstruction, Gene knockout predict, and Gene expression matrix reconstruction. With joint training, MTLGRN can optimize the gene latent representations by integrating gene knockout information, promoter characteristics, and other biological attributes. Extensive experimental results demonstrate superior performance compared with state-of-the-art baselines on the GRN reconstruction task, efficiently leveraging biological knowledge and comprehensively understanding the gene regulatory relationships. MTLGRN also pioneered attempts to simulate gene knockouts on bulk data by incorporating gene knockout information.
Integrated multi-omics with machine learning to uncover the intricacies of kidney disease
Authors: Liu Xinze , Shi Jingxuan , Jiao Yuanyuan , An Jiaqi , Tian Jingwei , Yang Yue , Zhuo Li
Published: August 2024

The development of omics technologies has driven a profound expansion in the scale of biological data and the increased complexity in internal dimensions, prompting the utilization of machine learning (ML) as a powerful toolkit for extracting knowledge and understanding underlying biological patterns. Kidney disease represents one of the major growing global health threats with intricate pathogenic mechanisms and a lack of precise molecular pathology-based therapeutic modalities. Accordingly, there is a need for advanced high-throughput approaches to capture implicit molecular features and complement current experiments and statistics. This review aims to delineate strategies for integrating multi-omics data with appropriate ML methods, highlighting key clinical translational scenarios, including predicting disease progression risks to improve medical decision-making, comprehensively understanding disease molecular mechanisms, and practical applications of image recognition in renal digital pathology. Examining the benefits and challenges of current integration efforts is expected to shed light on the complexity of kidney disease and advance clinical practice.
Assessing next-generation sequencing-based computational methods for predicting transcriptional regulators with query gene sets
Authors: Lu Zeyu , Xiao Xue , Zheng Qiang , Wang Xinlei , Xu Lin
Published: August 2024

This article provides an in-depth review of computational methods for predicting transcriptional regulators (TRs) with query gene sets. Identification of TRs is of utmost importance in many biological applications, including but not limited to elucidating biological development mechanisms, identifying key disease genes, and predicting therapeutic targets. Various computational methods based on next-generation sequencing (NGS) data have been developed in the past decade, yet no systematic evaluation of NGS-based methods has been offered. We classified these methods into two categories based on shared characteristics, namely library-based and region-based methods. We further conducted benchmark studies to evaluate the accuracy, sensitivity, coverage, and usability of NGS-based methods with molecular experimental datasets. Results show that BART, ChIP-Atlas, and Lisa have relatively better performance. Besides, we point out the limitations of NGS-based methods and explore potential directions for further improvement.
Immigration and Crime: Is the Relationship Nonlinear?
Authors: Kubrin Charis E , Luo Xiaoshuang Iris , Hipp John R
Published: August 2024

Research finds that immigration and crime are not related across neighbourhoods, contrary to social disorganization theory and consistent with the immigration revitalization thesis. This research, however, is largely silent as to any possible nonlinear effects. Yet social theory offers sound reasons for why the immigration–crime association may be nonlinear; explanations, including immigrant/ethnic enclave theory and immigrant victimization theory, underscore potential concentration effects—albeit in different ways. Using a novel dataset with information on crime in over 15,000 neighbourhoods across a diverse range of US cities, we examine whether or not the immigration–crime association is nonlinear. We find that for both violent and property crime, a nonlinear relationship best captures the relationship. In additional analyses, we determine the theoretical perspective with which the findings are most consistent.
Mainstreaming genetic testing in dermatology in the UK
Authors: O’Connor Cathal , Passby Lauren , Fields Carly , McGrath John , O’Toole Edel A , Rajan Neil
Published: August 2024

Genetic testing is being increasingly integrated into mainstream healthcare and is one of the latest advances dermatologists can offer to certain patients to improve their care. Developments in genetic skin disease continue to progress at pace, and dermatologists are well placed to phenotype and test for rare skin diseases in the clinic. Patients who have a molecular genetic diagnosis will inform rare disease research, natural history studies and clinical trials. By using new technologies, increasing awareness and improving access to care, we can help ensure that patients with rare diseases receive the support and treatment they deserve.
Cortical–subcortical interactions underlie processing of auditory predictions measured with 7T fMRI
Authors: Ara Alberto , Provias Vasiliki , Sitek Kevin , Coffey Emily B J , Zatorre Robert J
Published: August 2024

Perception integrates both sensory inputs and internal models of the environment. In the auditory domain, predictions play a critical role because of the temporal nature of sounds. However, the precise contribution of cortical and subcortical structures in these processes and their interaction remain unclear. It is also unclear whether these brain interactions are specific to abstract rules or if they also underlie the predictive coding of local features. We used high-field 7T functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate interactions between cortical and subcortical areas during auditory predictive processing. Volunteers listened to tone sequences in an oddball paradigm where the predictability of the deviant was manipulated. Perturbations in periodicity were also introduced to test the specificity of the response. Results indicate that both cortical and subcortical auditory structures encode high-order predictive dynamics, with the effect of predictability being strongest in the auditory cortex. These predictive dynamics were best explained by modeling a top–down information flow, in contrast to unpredicted responses. No error signals were observed to deviations of periodicity, suggesting that these responses are specific to abstract rule violations. Our results support the idea that the high-order predictive dynamics observed in subcortical areas propagate from the auditory cortex.
Multi-head CRF classifier for biomedical multi-class named entity recognition on Spanish clinical notes
Authors: Jonker Richard A A , Almeida Tiago , Antunes Rui , Almeida João R , Matos Sérgio
Published: August 2024

The identification of medical concepts from clinical narratives has a large interest in the biomedical scientific community due to its importance in treatment improvements or drug development research. Biomedical named entity recognition (NER) in clinical texts is crucial for automated information extraction, facilitating patient record analysis, drug development, and medical research. Traditional approaches often focus on single-class NER tasks, yet recent advancements emphasize the necessity of addressing multi-class scenarios, particularly in complex biomedical domains. This paper proposes a strategy to integrate a multi-head conditional random field (CRF) classifier for multi-class NER in Spanish clinical documents. Our methodology overcomes overlapping entity instances of different types, a common challenge in traditional NER methodologies, by using a multi-head CRF model. This architecture enhances computational efficiency and ensures scalability for multi-class NER tasks, maintaining high performance. By combining four diverse datasets, SympTEMIST, MedProcNER, DisTEMIST, and PharmaCoNER, we expand the scope of NER to encompass five classes: symptoms, procedures, diseases, chemicals, and proteins. To the best of our knowledge, these datasets combined create the largest Spanish multi-class dataset focusing on biomedical entity recognition and linking for clinical notes, which is important to train a biomedical model in Spanish. We also provide entity linking to the multi-lingual Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT) vocabulary, with the eventual goal of performing biomedical relation extraction. Through experimentation and evaluation of Spanish clinical documents, our strategy provides competitive results against single-class NER models. For NER, our system achieves a combined micro-averaged F1-score of 78.73, with clinical mentions normalized to SNOMED CT with an end-to-end F1-score of 54.51. The code to run our system is publicly available at https://github.com/ieeta-pt/Multi-Head-CRF.

Database URL: https://github.com/ieeta-pt/Multi-Head-CRF
Scout images acquired prior to cone beam CT acquisitions: reproducibility of findings and added diagnostic information
Authors: Christensen Jennifer , Matzen Louise Hauge , Hedegaard Mette , Spin-Neto Rubens
Published: August 2024

Objectives

The aim of the present study was to assess the reproducibility of findings in cone beam CT (CBCT) scout images. Furthermore, the study aimed to assess whether a scout image shows pathology not seen within the CBCT volume (ie, added diagnostic information) and therefore must be assessed on the same terms as the full volume.

Methods

Using a retrospective design, 233 CBCT reports and scout images were assessed. Kappa statistics and percentage of accordance were used to evaluate intra- and inter-observer reproducibility as well as agreement between scout and CBCT report.

Results

Intra- and inter-observer reproducibility was overall low (kappa ranging from −0.008 to 1.000). Agreement between findings reported in the CBCT and scout was also low. One hundred fourteen impacted teeth, one apical periodontitis, and two sinus conditions seen in the scout image were not registered in the full volume report due to the extended size of the scout image.

Conclusions

Reproducibility of findings in scout images compared to CBCT volumes was low, and the scout showed very little additional diagnostic information.

Advances in knowledge

This study shows that although the reproducibility of viewing scout images is low, rare findings can go undetected if the scout is not assessed. Legislation regarding interpretation of scout images needs to be discussed.
House Prices and Misallocation: The Impact of the Collateral Channel on Productivity
Authors: Basco Sergi , Lopez-Rodriguez David , Moral-Benito Enrique
Published: August 2024

This paper investigates the impact of local house price booms on capital misallocation within industries. Using the geographical variation provided by the Spanish housing boom (2003–7), we show that firms exposed to positive local house price shocks received more bank credit and their investment grew more when they had a higher proportion of real estate assets. This collateral channel results in an increasing dispersion of the capital-labour ratio within industries. A counterfactual calculation suggests that the capital misallocation generated by this channel can account for around 40% of the total factor productivity decline experienced by the Spanish economy during the housing boom.
Self-assessment for primary English language teachers in Europe
Authors: Kemsies Ronald , Hellmayr Georg
Published: August 2024

In this article we introduce a practical self-assessment tool for primary English language teachers which can be used in pre-service as well as in in-service contexts. It consists of methodological descriptors that have been derived from a qualitative analysis of representative textbooks. Through the application of thematic coding, common approaches and techniques could be identified and systematically structured. With the help of scales underneath each descriptor primary teachers can rate their individual progress and reflect on their didactic strengths and weaknesses. We also discuss some considerations when implementing the framework regarding teacher education and curricular requirements, as well as some limitations.
Silence in the Classroom: Reflections on Teaching Poetry in UK Secondary Schools and Universities
Authors: Blackmore John
Published: August 2024

This extended contribution to English’s forum on teaching poetry seeks to shift discussion away from the capabilities, expectations, and motivations of students in university poetry seminars and invite university educators to reflect on how aspects of their practice consciously and unconsciously effect how poetry is understood by new generations. The article recounts how the author’s understanding of silence in poetry classrooms in schools and universities has developed over time. In doing so, it models processes of reflective practice and reflexivity that might be less familiar to university teaching colleagues than it is to those who have undertaken training to teach in schools. The article argues that engaging with processes of reflective practice not only stands to benefit individual poetry teachers and their students, but can also empower us to think more critically and collectively about the purposes we serve and the principles that underpin our work as educators in the discipline of English.
Screening and detection of atrial fibrillation in primary care: current practice and future perspectives
Authors: Brik Tessa , Harskamp Ralf E , Himmelreich Jelle C L
Published: August 2024

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia associated with an increased risk of stroke, which can be effectively reduced by prophylaxis initiation and integrated care to reduce cardiovascular risk and AF-related complications. Screening for AF has the potential to improve long-term clinical outcomes through timely AF detection in asymptomatic patients. With the central role of primary care in most European healthcare systems in terms of disease detection, treatment, as well as record keeping, primary care is ideally situated as a setting for AF screening efforts. In this review, we provide an overview of evidence relating to AF screening in primary care. We discuss current practices of AF detection and screening, evidence from AF screening trials conducted in primary care settings, stakeholder views on barriers and facilitators for AF screening in primary care, and important aspects that will likely shape routine primary care AF detection as well as AF screening efforts. Finally, we present a potential outline for a primary care–centred AF screening trial coupled to integrated AF care that could further improve the benefit of AF screening.