bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Global tracking of access and quality in early childhood care and education
Authors: Raikes Abbie , Rao Nirmala , Yoshikawa Hirokazu , Cohrssen Caroline , Behrman Jere , Cappa Claudia , Devercelli Amanda , Lopez Boo Florencia , McCoy Dana , Richter Linda ,   the UKRI GCRF Harnessing the power of global data to support young children’s learning and development research group
Published: May 2023

Investments in early childhood care and education (ECCE) have contributed to a growing demand for internationally comparable data. Yet data on access to quality ECCE are not routinely collected in many countries, leading to limited information on equitable access to ECCE, quality of provision, and the impact on learning and wellbeing outcomes. This paper outlines the current status of global measurement of access to quality ECCE and identifies issues with definitions, availability, and accuracy of ECCE data across countries and outlines paths forward. We argue that estimates of access to ECCE should be based on children’s participation in quality ECCE across multiple program types, rather than enrollment or attendance alone, given the critical importance of dosage and participation for ensuring positive benefits from ECCE. Governments, international organizations, and researchers all have roles to play in setting standards to define and monitor ECCE, generating workable tools for measuring nationally, and globally investing in national monitoring systems and routine household surveys to obtain accurate estimates of access to quality ECCE.
Benefits of maternally-administered infant massage for mothers of hospitalized preterm infants: a scoping review
Authors: McCarty Dana B. , Willett Sandra , Kimmel Mary , Dusing Stacey C.
Published: May 2023

Objectives

Infant massage (IM) is a well-studied, safe intervention known to benefit infants born preterm. Less is known about the benefits of maternally-administrated infant massage for mothers of preterm infants who often experience increased rates of anxiety and depression in their infants’ first year of life. This scoping review summarizes the extent, nature, and type of evidence linking IM and parent-centered outcomes.

Methods

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) protocol was followed using three databases: PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL. Thirteen manuscripts evaluating 11 separate study cohorts met pre-specified inclusion criteria.

Results

Six primary topics related to the influence of infant massage on parent outcomes emerged: 1) anxiety, 2) perceived stress, 3) depressive symptoms, 4) maternal-infant interaction, 5) maternal satisfaction, and 6) maternal competence. Emerging evidence supports that infant massage, when administered by mothers, benefits mothers of preterm infants by reducing anxiety, stress, and depressive symptoms and improving maternal-infant interactions in the short-term, but there is limited evidence to support its effectiveness on these outcomes in longer periods of follow-up. Based on effect size calculations in small study cohorts, maternally-administered IM may have a moderate to large effect size on maternal perceived stress and depressive symptoms.

Conclusions

Maternally-administered IM may benefit mothers of preterm infants by reducing anxiety, stress, depressive symptoms, and by improving maternal-infant interactions in the short-term. Additional research with larger cohorts and robust design is needed to understand the potential relationship between IM and parental outcomes.
Gender differences in peer reviewed grant applications, awards, and amounts: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Schmaling Karen B. , Gallo Stephen A.
Published: May 2023

Background

Differential participation and success in grant applications may contribute to women’s lesser representation in the sciences. This study’s objective was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to address the question of gender differences in grant award acceptance rates and reapplication award acceptance rates (potential bias in peer review outcomes) and other grant outcomes.

Methods

The review was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021232153) and conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 standards. We searched Academic Search Complete, PubMed, and Web of Science for the timeframe 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2020, and forward and backward citations. Studies were included that reported data, by gender, on any of the following: grant applications or reapplications, awards, award amounts, award acceptance rates, or reapplication award acceptance rates. Studies that duplicated data reported in another study were excluded. Gender differences were investigated by meta-analyses and generalized linear mixed models. Doi plots and LFK indices were used to assess reporting bias.

Results

The searches identified 199 records, of which 13 were eligible. An additional 42 sources from forward and backward searches were eligible, for a total of 55 sources with data on one or more outcomes. The data from these studies ranged from 1975 to 2020: 49 sources were published papers and six were funders’ reports (the latter were identified by forwards and backwards searches). Twenty-nine studies reported person-level data, 25 reported application-level data, and one study reported both: person-level data were used in analyses. Award acceptance rates were 1% higher for men, which was not significantly different from women (95% CI 3% more for men to 1% more for women, k = 36, n = 303,795 awards and 1,277,442 applications, I2 = 84%). Reapplication award acceptance rates were significantly higher for men (9%, 95% CI 18% to 1%, k = 7, n = 7319 applications and 3324 awards, I2 = 63%). Women received smaller award amounts (g = -2.28, 95% CI -4.92 to 0.36, k = 13, n = 212,935, I2 = 100%).

Conclusions

The proportions of women that applied for grants, re-applied, accepted awards, and accepted awards after reapplication were less than the proportion of eligible women. However, the award acceptance rate was similar for women and men, implying no gender bias in this peer reviewed grant outcome. Women received smaller awards and fewer awards after re-applying, which may negatively affect continued scientific productivity. Greater transparency is needed to monitor and verify these data globally.
Handling mode and polarization in fiber by fs-laser inscribed (de)multiplexer and silicon switch array
Authors: Li Kang , Yang Min , Cai Chengkun , Cao Xiaoping , Yan Guofeng , Wu Guangze , Wan Yuanjian , Wang Jian
Published: May 2023

The emergence of dynamic optical switching has opened up new perspectives for lightening the ever growing load on the electrical switches and routers, to meet the increasing demand on high-speed and flexible data processing and management in fiber-optic communications. Despite diversity schemes of optical switching in the single-mode regime, multi-mode switching of the hybrid fiber and chip system enabled by photonic integrated circuits, especially for the fiber-chip-fiber system, is still an outstanding challenge. Here, we propose and demonstrate the mode and polarization transmission and switching fiber-chip-fiber system with few-mode fibers (FMFs), including the FMF links for mode- and polarization-division multiplexing data transmission, the femtosecond (fs)-laser inscribed 3-dimensional (3D) photonic lantern silica chip for (de)multiplexing and coupling between FMFs and chip, and the topology-optimized N × N non-blocking 2-dimensional (2D) silicon switch array chip for switching and routing. Using 30-Gbaud quadrature phase-shift keying signals on wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) channels, the WDM-compatible hybrid mode/polarization transmission, switching and routing system with FMFs, fs-laser inscribed silica (de)multiplexing chip and silicon switch array chip are demonstrated in the experiment with favorable operation performance. The demonstration may open the door for developing robust multi-dimensional optical data processing in fiber-optic communication systems with versatile fibers and chips.
Comparable detection of nasopharyngeal swabs and induced sputum specimens for viral nucleic acid detection of suspected novel coronavirus (SARS-Cov-2) patients in Fayoum governorate, Egypt
Authors: Ali Doaa Y. , Hussein Rasha A. , ELshafie Shahira Morsy , Mohamed Reem Amgad , Abd El Reheem Fadwa
Published: May 2023

Background

The most commonly utilized samples for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) detection using real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) are nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) and oropharyngeal swabs. However, there are some drawbacks. For SARS-CoV-2 detection, induced sputum might be analyzed and may be equivalent to pharyngeal swabs. This study was done to assess the potential superiority of induced sputum over NPS for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Sixty symptomatic COVID-19 patients who attended Fayoum University Hospitals in Fayoum Governorate, Egypt, were included in this cross-sectional descriptive study. Paired NPS and induced sputum samples were collected from each subject on the third and tenth days after symptoms began for RT-qPCR SARS-COV2 diagnosis.

Results

At day 3, 52 (86.7%) of NPS and 48 (80.00%) of induced sputum specimens had positive RT-qPCR results with a significant statistical difference (P = 0.001). At day 10, 41 induced sputum samples (68.3%) were negative, while 19 (31.7%) were positive. Only three (5.0%) of the 19 positive induced sputum samples tested positive for NPS. NPS samples had a higher viral load than induced sputum samples at day 3 [25 (41.7%) vs. 23 (38.3%)]. At day 10, induced sputum samples had a higher viral load than NPS [9 (15.0%) vs. 6 (10.0%)]. A statistically significant positive correlation between the viral load value of the NPS and the induced sputum sample at day 3 (r = 0.497, p = 0.00) denoting similarity in the results of the two types of samples. By ROC analysis, the highest area under the curve for the overall CT value of the induced sputum was (0.604), with a statistically significant difference (p value = 0.0418).

Conclusion

In the early stages of the disease, induced sputum and NPS tests had comparable results, but NPS yielded more false negative results later in the disease course than an induced sputum sample, which yielded higher sample positivity and viral load than NPS. Furthermore, induced sputum collection is a straightforward, non-invasive, and risk-free method. As a result, induced sputum could be useful for COVID-19 confirmation in patients with radiologically or epidemiologically suspected COVID-19 who have a negative NPS or in difficult-to-diagnose COVID-19 patients.
Evaluation of the dataset quality in gamma passing rate predictions using machine learning methods
Authors: Quintero Paulo , Benoit David , Cheng Yongqiang , Moore Craig , Beavis Andrew
Published: May 2023

Objective:

Gamma passing rate (GPR) predictions using machine learning methods have been explored for treatment verification of radiotherapy plans. However, these methods presented datasets with unbalanced number of plans having different treatment conditions (heterogeneous datasets), such as anatomical sites or dose per fractions, leading to lower model interpretability and prediction performance.

Methods:

We investigated the impact of the dataset composition on GPR binary classification (pass/fail) using random forest (RF), XG-boost, and neural network (NN) models. 945 plans were used to create one reference dataset (randomly assembled) and 24 customized datasets that considered four heterogeneity factors independently (anatomical region, number of arcs, dose per fraction, and treatment unit). 309 predictor features were extracted and calculated from plan parameters, modulation complexity metrics, and radiomic analysis (leave-trajectory maps, 3D dose distributions, and portal dosimetry images). The models’ performances were measured using the area under the curve from the receiver operating characteristic (ROC-AUC).

Results:

Radiomics features for reference models increased ROC-AUC values up to 13%, 15%, and 5% for RF, XG-Boost, and NN, respectively. The datasets with higher heterogeneous conditions presented the lower ROC-AUC values (RF: 0.72 ± 0.11, XG-Boost: 0.67 ± 0.1, NN: 0.89 ± 0.05) compared to models with less heterogeneous treatment conditions (RF: 0.88 ± 0.06, XG-Boost: 0.89 ± 0.07, NN: 0.98 ± 0.01). The ten most important features for each heterogeneity dataset group demonstrated their correlation with the treatments’ physical aspects and GPR prediction.

Conclusion:

Improvements in data generalization and model performances can be associated with datasets having similar treatment conditions. This analysis might be implemented to evaluate the dataset quality and model consistency of further ML applications in radiotherapy.

Advances in knowledge:

Dataset heterogeneities decrease ML model performance and reliability.
MR texture analysis in the differentiation of renal oncocytoma with localized renal cell carcinoma subtypes
Authors: Wang Yichen , Zhang Xinxin , Wang Sicong , Chen Yan
Published: May 2023

Objectives

We aimed to explore the diagnostic efficacy of MR texture analysis and imaging signs in the differentiation of renal oncocytoma from renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

Methods

From January 2015 to March 2019, a total of 168 localized solid renal masses (37 oncocytomas, 131 RCCs) were retrospectively included. Two radiologists reviewed complete MR images and recorded imaging presentation. Texture parameters were extracted from 3D ROIs on axial FSE-T2WI. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used for feature selection and nomogram construction. The diagnostic performances were assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

Results

Cystic change, hemorrhage, SEI and four texture parameters significantly correlated with oncocytoma in the training cohort. For differentiating oncocytoma from RCC, the nomogram yielded an AUC of 0.874 in the training cohort and 0.830 in the testing cohort. For differentiating oncocytoma from chRCC, the nomogram had an AUC of 0.889 in the training cohort and 0.861 in the testing cohort. For differentiating oncocytoma from pRCC, the nomogram had an AUC of 0.932 in the training cohort and 0.792 in the testing cohort. For differentiating oncocytoma from ccRCC, the nomogram had an AUC of 0.829 in the training cohort and 0.813 in the testing cohort.

Conclusion

The diagnostic nomogram combining MR texture parameters with imaging signs performed well in differentiating oncocytomas with localized RCC and its subtypes.

Advances in knowledge

Few articles reported using the combination of MR texture analysis with imaging signs in differentiating RCC from oncocytoma. Our study established a useful nomogram in subtype characterization.
Third molar position after completion of orthodontic treatment: a prospective follow-up
Authors: Butaye Charlotte , Miclotte Annelie , Begnoni Giacomo , Zhao Zuodong , Zong Chen , Willems Guy , Verdonck Anna , Jacobs Reinhilde , Cadenas de Llano-Pérula Maria
Published: May 2023

Objectives:

To prospectively follow up a previously reported sample, analyzing (1) changes in third molar (M3) position after completion of 2 different types of orthodontic treatment: (2) non-extraction treatment with (HG) vs without cervical headgear (non-HG) and (3) first or second premolar extractions (PM1-2) compared to a non-extraction group (NE).

Methods:

A total of 474 patients were prospectively followed up. Panoramic radiographs were taken pre- (T1), post-treatment (T2) and at follow-up (T3). T3 records (a mean of three years after treatment) were available for 135 (HG vs non-HG) and 134 patients (PM1-2 vs NE), respectively. Angulation, vertical position, relation with the mandibular canal and mineralization status of M3 at T2 and T3 were statistically compared.

Results:

The HG group presented more M3 with ideal vertical orientation at T3. In NE-cases, further improvement in angulation and orientation can be expected after debonding, as well as a deterioration in the relationship with the mandibular canal. Extractions accelerated upper M3 vertical eruption and PM2 extractions led to long-term larger lower retromolar spaces.

Conclusions:

The use of cervical headgear increased upper M3 uprighting three years after debonding, while little changes in M3 position were found after orthodontic treatment with extractions. However, PM2 extractions led to larger retromolar spaces and better M3 angulation in the long term.
Refinement of image quality in panoramic radiography using a generative adversarial network
Authors: Kim Hak-Sun , Ha Eun-Gyu , Lee Ari , Choi Yoon Joo , Jeon Kug Jin , Han Sang-Sun , Lee Chena
Published: May 2023

Objective:

We aimed to develop and assess the clinical usefulness of a generative adversarial network (GAN) model for improving image quality in panoramic radiography.

Methods:

Panoramic radiographs obtained at Yonsei University Dental Hospital were randomly selected for study inclusion (n = 100). Datasets with degraded image quality (n = 400) were prepared using four different processing methods: blur, noise, blur with noise, and blur in the anterior teeth region. The images were distributed to the training and test datasets in a ratio of 9:1 for each group. The Pix2Pix GAN model was trained using pairs of the original and degraded image datasets for 100 epochs. The peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and structural similarity index measure (SSIM) were obtained for the test dataset, and two oral and maxillofacial radiologists rated the quality of clinical images.

Results:

Among the degraded images, the GAN model enabled the greatest improvement in those with blur in the region of the anterior teeth but was least effective in improving images exhibiting blur with noise (PSNR, 36.27 > 32.74; SSIM, 0.90 > 0.82). While the mean clinical image quality score of the original radiographs was 44.6 out of 46.0, the highest and lowest predicted scores were observed in the blur (45.2) and noise (36.0) groups.

Conclusion:

The GAN model developed in this study has the potential to improve panoramic radiographs with degraded image quality, both quantitatively and qualitatively. As the model performs better in refining blurred images, further research is required to identify the most effective methods for handling noisy images.
Η εξήγηση της θείας Λειτουργίας υπό του Μελέτιου Συρίγου (1585-1664)
Authors: Μαρκάκης Νεκτάριος
Published: May 2023

Ο Μελέτιος Συρίγος έζησε τον 17ο αιώνα και ήταν κληρικός του Οικουμενικού Πατριαρχείου. Την εποχή αυτή ο πατριάρχης Μόσχας Νίκων απέστειλε μια επιστολή στον Οικουμενικό Πατριάρχη Παΐσιο με την οποία ζητούσε να μάθει την ορθή λειτουργική πράξη για να διορθώσει τα λάθη που είχαν αλλοιώσει την θεία λατρεία στην Ρωσία. Ο Οικουμενικός Πατριάρχης ανέθεσε στον Μελέτιο Συρίγο να απαντήσει στις ερωτήσεις της επιστολής του Νίκωνα. Ο Μελέτιος απάντησε στα ερωτήματα με μια επιστολή. Η πρώτη απάντηση είναι ένα εκτενές κείμενο – υπόμνημα με το οποίο ερμηνεύει την Θεία Λειτουργία. Το υπόμνημα αυτό αποτελείται από τέσσερα μέρη. α. Την Εισαγωγή. β. Την εξήγηση από την ακολουθία της Προσκομιδής έως την ανάγνωση του Ευαγγελίου όταν η Θεία Λειτουργία τελείται μόνο με έναν ιερέα και τον διάκονο, γ. από την ένδυση του αρχιερέα έως την απόλυση όταν λειτουργεί και ο αρχιερεύς, και δ. την αναλυτική ερμηνεία για την Κοινωνία των λειτουργών και για τον εμβαπτισμό των μερίδων μνημονεύσεως. Στο κείμενο του Μελετίου υπάρχει έντονο το στοιχείο του συμβολισμού και η ερμηνεία βασίζεται σε χωρία της Αγίας Γραφής. Η έρευνα έδειξε ότι έχει επηρεαστεί κυρίως από τα κείμενα του Διονυσίου του Αρεοπαγίτου, από τον Μάξιμο Ομολογητή, από τον Γερμανό Κωνσταντινουπόλεως και λιγότερο από τον Συμεών Θεσσαλονίκης. Μια συγκριτική μελέτη με τα υπομνήματα της μεταβυζαντινής εποχής δείχνει ότι η δομή του κειμένου του Μελετίου παρουσιάζει πρωτοτυπία. Το κείμενο βρίσκεται σε χειρόγραφους κώδικες του Αγίου Όρους και του Μετοχίου του Παναγίου Τάφου στην Κωνσταντινούπολη (φυλάσσονται στην Εθνική Βιβλιοθήκη της Ελλάδος) όπου και τους ερευνήσαμε. Σύμφωνα με την σχετική βιβλιογραφία, αξιόλογοι χειρόγραφοι κώδικες που εμπεριέχουν το εν λόγω κείμενο βρίσκονται στο Πανεπιστήμιο του Leiden και στην Εθνική Βιβλιοθήκη της Μόσχας. Υπάρχει και σε έντυπη έκδοση της Αγίας Πετρούπολης, όπου παράλληλα υπάρχει και η ρωσική μετάφραση. Οι πιο γνωστές έντυπες εκδόσεις οι οποίες εμπεριέχουν το κείμενο είναι του Γερμανού Αφθονίδη και του Καλλινίκου Δελικάνη. Το υπόμνημα του Μελετίου διαδραμάτισε καθοριστικό ρόλο στην διαδικασία διορθώσεως του λειτουργικού τυπικού της Ρωσίας με συνοδική απόφαση του 1656. Παράλληλα κατέστη πρότυπο για επόμενα ερμηνευτικά υπομνήματα της Θείας Λειτουργίας. Οι Θεόφιλος Καμπανίας και Νεόφυτος Μεταξάς το αντιγράφουν, ενώ ο Καισάριος Δαπόντε μεταγράφει το κείμενο του Μελετίου σε ποιητική απόδοση. Επιπλέον το κείμενο αυτό προβάλει τον πρωταγωνιστικό ρόλο του Οικουμενικού Πατριαρχείου σε θέματα αποφάσεων για ζητήματα που αφορούν την Εκκλησία γενικά και διασώζει τελετουργικά στοιχεία του Οικουμενικού Πατριαρχείου κατά τον 17ο αιώνα.
Evidence-based policy lifecycle management: The H2020 DECIDO experience
Authors: Filograna Antonio , Perossini Fabio , Prette Davide
Published: May 2023

Public administrations are an integral part of every state, and are currently changing to gradually improve weak policies in emergency management. Policies addressing emergencies such as floods, poverty and Ukrainian refugees are current issues in most European countries. Citizen engagement methodologies, data and digital technologies support this endeavour, yet the opportunities they offer are not still fully exploited in Europe. Furthermore, citizen perception of those policies could be more synchronised. In parallel, digital transformation, intensified by the exceptional circumstances of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis, is both imperative and inevitable for almost every aspect of the modern world and economy but a big issue remains to be addressed to boost the citizens’ participation in policy lifecycle development and in their evidencing real achievements. This creates both new needs and solutions for public administrations. This paper aims to identify the open needs encountered by public administrations, involving reflections on available methodologies, data, and tools towards evidence-based policy-making tailored to these needs. To accomplish that, knowledge, as represented by extensive desk research, was integrated with experience undertaken in the city of Turin, including the outcome of qualitative interviews with public administration experts. Key findings are discussed in detail concluding with a public administration needs ecosystem, mapping the needs, and uncovering similarities to support the replication of practices and procedures in different policymaking settings.
Fully automated public transportation mobility: the hidden challenges for a commercial deployment
Authors: Konstantas Dimitri , Fournier Guy
Published: May 2023

During the past few years, many projects and initiatives were undertaken deploying and testing automated vehicles for public transportation and logistics. However, in spite of their ambition, all of these deployments stayed on the level of elaborated experimentation deploying no more than 4 to 5 Automated Vehicles in rather small sites (few Kms of roads) and never really reached the level of large scale “commercial” deployment of transport services. The reasons for this are many, but the most important being the lack of economic viability and commercially realistic models, the lack of scalability of the business and operating models, and the lack of inclusive citizen/user-centric services required for the large end-user acceptance and adoption of the solutions. In this paper, based on the experience gained in the H2020 AVENUE project, we present the missing pieces of the puzzle, and which will be addressed in the Horizon Europe project ULTIMO. In the AVENUE project we deployed public transportation services with AVs in 4 cities in Europe, where we were able to study, from one side, the full process in putting the vehicles on the road, identifying the obstacles for the different cities, and, from the other side, during the service deployment identify the passenger, and operator needs, both as needed transport and passenger services but also as economic requirements and restrictions, identifying this way the missing parts for a full scale commercial deployment.
Microstructural characterization of near-surface microstructures on rail wheels in service – an insight into “stratified surface layers”
Authors: Freisinger Matthias , Trausmuth Andreas
Published: May 2023

Background: To decrease maintenance costs and improve safety in rail transportation, the understanding of rail and wheel defects is vital. Studies on “white etching layers” (WEL) on rails and wheels, prone to fatigue crack initiation, have been extensively studied. Recently, a relative named “brown etching layer” (BEL) and its combination, the so-called “stratified surface layer” (SSL), are observed in the field. This study presents an investigation on a rail wheel affected by mechanical and thermal loadings from service with focus on the different evolved layers in the near-surface region.

Methods: Optical microscopy is performed on etched cross-sectional cuts to identify different evolved microstructures (WEL, BEL, SSL), further, specific regions are investigated in detail by scanning electron microscopy to evaluate the microstructural characteristics.  To analyze the change in mechanical properties, low-load Vickers hardness investigations are executed in distinctive zones.

Results: This study highlights the broad variety of evolved microstructures, however, a rough classification of WEL (fine mesh-like microstructure, 900 – 1200 HV0.0.1) and BEL (globular cementite particles, 400 – 600 HV0.01) is given. Further, results indicate that the BEL is commonly accompanied by a WEL, representing an SSL.

Conclusions: The complex loading situation in a wheel-rail contact can lead to the formation of WEL, BEL and SSL. The observation of numerous initiated fatigue cracks within these regions demonstrates the relevance of in-depth studies on evolved microstructures in wheel-rail contacts.
Find your PEOPLE: Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) community of care
Authors: Kim Kayoung
Published: May 2023

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) is an integral academic practice that provides professional development opportunities for faculty and enhances students’ classroom learning experiences. However, institutions vary significantly in valuing and implementing a culture of SoTL, creating a discrepancy which prohibits educators from fully embracing the identity of a SoTL scholar. Acknowledgment of SoTL work in tenure and promotion guidelines is not as widespread across different institutions, which could deter junior/instructional faculty from entering (and staying in) the SoTL space. Various academic disciplines differ on how SoTL work is valued. Without an intentional institution-based SoTL initiative, many may regard SoTL merely as a side addition to their professional career. 

However, SoTL is a field that systematically examines processes and practices in teaching and learning. It provides valuable insights and tools for teaching professionals to reflect on their teaching methods, explore evidence-based best practices, and transform student learning experiences. Research demonstrates educational benefits for students both as the primary beneficiary of SoTL and as active student partners in SoTL initiatives. Therefore, considering its nature of enhancing classroom experiences, SoTL is applicable to all teaching professionals, regardless of the respective institutional policies or narratives around it.

The future of SoTL programming/initiatives should build on the idea that SoTL is not a one-time project; instead, it should weave in the intersections of teaching and research identities, and in response, create a SoTL community of care that focuses on continuous improvement and mutual support. Dissemination of SoTL should be an open invitation to all teaching bodies so that the SoTL scholar identity is embraced as one of their core professional identities. This article concludes by proposing a PEOPLE framework for the SoTL community of care.
use of SGLT2 inhibitors in the treatment of cognitive disorders
Authors: Lato Marta , Iberszer Konrad , Litwiniuk Maria , Zaniuk Marcin , Hurkała Kamil , Antonik Dominika , Denys Barbara , Góra Karolina , Zimnicki Patryk , Zdziennicki Wojciech
Published: May 2023

Background:Dementia is a progressive and irreversible disease entity that affects memory, verbal fluency, thinking and the performance of daily activities.The most common type of dementia is alzheimer's disease(AD).Currently, there are no specific therapies with established efficacy against cognitive decline or AD.Objective:The aim of this study is to summarize the current knowledge about the effectiveness of SGLT2 inhibitors(SGLT2i) in the treatment of cognitive disorders.Method and material:The article was created based on the PubMed database and the Polish Journal of Endocrinology.Articles were searched in English using the following keywords: SGLT2ihibitors;dementia;Alzheimer type 3 diabetes mellitus.State of knowledge:Patients with type 2 diabetes (TD2) are 1.5-2 times more likely to develop dementia than the general population.Dementia among diabetic patients is characterized by an earlier age of onset, slightly worse overall cognitive status and a higher prevalence of cognitive impairment in male patients.Diabetes and pre-diabetes shorten the time from the onset of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to the development of full-blown dementia.Conclusions:The use of SGLT2i is associated with reduced mortality from dementia, in contrast to insulin and sulfonylurea derivatives.SGLT2 inihibitors prevent cognitive impairment more potently than dipeptidylpeptidase-4 inhibitors. Taking empagliflozin for one month, is associated with improved cognitive function and increased scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment scale.
Order-Optimal Correlated Rounding for Fulfilling Multi-Item E-Commerce Orders
Authors: Ma Will
Published: May 2023

Problem definition: We study the dynamic fulfillment problem in e-commerce, in which incoming (multi-item) customer orders must be immediately dispatched to (a combination of) fulfillment centers that have the required inventory. Methodology/results: A prevailing approach to this problem, pioneered by Jasin and Sinha in 2015 , has been to write a “deterministic” linear program that dictates, for each item in an incoming multi-item order from a particular region, how frequently it should be dispatched to each fulfillment center (FC). However, dispatching items in a way that satisfies these frequency constraints, without splitting the order across too many FCs, is challenging. Jasin and Sinha in 2015 identified this as a correlated rounding problem and proposed an intricate rounding scheme that they proved was suboptimal by a factor of at most [Formula: see text] on a q-item order. This paper provides, to our knowledge, the first substantially improved scheme for this correlated rounding problem, which is suboptimal by a factor of at most [Formula: see text]. We provide another scheme for sparse networks, which is suboptimal by a factor of at most d if each item is stored in at most d FCs. We show both of these guarantees to be tight in terms of the dependence on q or d. Our schemes are simple and fast, based on an intuitive idea; items wait for FCs to “open” at random times but observe them on “dilated” time scales. This also implies a new randomized rounding method for the classical Set Cover problem, which could be of general interest. Managerial implications: We numerically test our new rounding schemes under the same realistic setups as Jasin and Sinha and find that they improve runtimes, shorten code, and robustly improve performance. Our code is made publicly available online.

History: This paper was selected for Fast Track in the M&SOM Journal from the 2022 MSOM Supply Chain Management SIG Conference.

Funding: This research was partially funded by a grant from Amazon.com Inc., which was awarded through collaboration with the Columbia Center of AI Technology (CAIT).
Can Purpose Foster Stakeholder Trust in Corporations?
Authors: Gulati Ranjay , Wohlgezogen Franz
Published: May 2023

As part of institutional changes toward more responsible capitalism, firms increasingly articulate a purpose beyond simply profit as a central tenet of their governance. Management scholarship has noted the potential advantages of such purpose-focus for stakeholder trust. However, some consumers, employees, and shareholders have expressed skepticism about the veracity of firms’ purpose claims and raised concerns about purpose-washing. We propose two distinct influence pathways—one cognitive, one affect-based—by which corporate purpose can influence stakeholder trust. First, purpose constitutes a signal of firm intent and quality that expresses a firm’s public, enduring commitments. It fosters cognitive trust by providing clarity and assurance regarding the firm’s future conduct, allowing stakeholders to better calculate relational and reputational risk and the instrumental value of exchange—even when they do not share the firm’s prosocial mission, principles for stakeholder relations, or its conception of virtues. Second, purpose presents a moral appeal to stakeholders. This appeal can stimulate positive affective responses, activate stakeholders’ hedonic and eudaemonic motives tied to their moral identity, and thus provide intuitive cues to trust the firm. By sharply delineating the pathways by which purpose can shape interorganizational trust, we not only illuminate how purpose can yield trust benefits but also when it is ineffectual and causes stakeholder backlash. This clarifies the role of purpose in shaping relational governance and multistakeholder cooperation and contributes to research on strategic and moral commitments as foundations of interorganizational trust.

History: This paper has been accepted for the Strategy Science Special Issue on Corporate Purpose.
PLANTAS MEDICINAIS EM ÁREAS URBANAS: FERRAMENTA PARA ABORDAR A EDUCAÇÃO EM SAÚDE COM NÚCLEOS FAMILIARES
Authors: Oliveira-Souza Lorraynne , Candido-Fonseca Irene , Gouvêa-Silva João Gabriel , Defaveri Anna Carina Antunes e , Silva João Carlos , Ramos Ygor Jessé
Published: May 2023

O presente estudo teve por objetivo compreender e documentar o conhecimento acerca do uso plantas medicinais dos responsáveis dos educandos do Centro de Responsabilidade Socioambiental do Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro que residem em áreas urbanas e incentivar a interação entre responsável-aluno no ambiente de aprendizagem. Foram realizadas reuniões mensais com atividades participativas em cinco etapas diferentes para atingir os objetivos propostos. O grupo foi composto por 68 responsáveis, sendo 75% representado pelo sexo feminino e 25% pelo sexo masculino com uma variação de faixa etária entre 25 a 75 anos. Os responsáveis mencionaram a utilização de 65 espécies distribuídas em 35 famílias. Conclui-se que o presente estudo evidencia uma metodologia de educação em saúde exitosa, que aproxima a comunidade científica da população, gerando conhecimento, saúde e autonomia para o indivíduo.
HOSPEDABILIDADE DE PITAYA-VERMELHA (Hylocereus undatus (Haw.) Britton & Rose) A ESPÉCIES DE NEMATOIDES
Authors: Santos Rodrigo Souza , Martinelli Paulo Roberto Pala , Da Silva Rodrigo José
Published: May 2023

O fruto da pitaya possui aspecto exótico, sabor agradável e constituintes nutracêuticos. Essa fruta tem obtido popularidade, viso o aumento de sua aceitação nos mercados consumidores nacionais e internacionais. A partir do aumento da área plantada, diversos relatos da associação com nematoides foram registrados, cuja interação causa debilidade das plantas e, consequentemente, diminuição na produtividade. Entretanto, estudos sobre hospedabilidade da pitaya e espécies de nematoides são escassos no Brasil. Nesse sentido, o presente trabalho apresenta uma investigação da reação da pitaya-vermelha (Hylocereus undatus) a três espécies de fitonematoides Meloidogyne incognita, Meloidogyne javanica e Rothylenchulus reniformis. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação no campo experimental do Instituto Taquaritinguense de Ensino Superior (ITES), Taquaritinga, SP, a partir de mudas transplantadas para vasos de 5 L contendo substrato estéril. Realizou-se a inoculação nas mudas após 60 dias do transplante, com 548 ovos + J2 por mL para M. incognita, 352 ovos + J2 por mL para M. javanica e 220 ovos + J2 por mL para R. reniformis. Decorridos 120 dias da inoculação, as raízes foram processadas para extração dos ovos e determinação do fator de reprodução (FR) dos nematoides. Sob as condições avaliadas, a pitaya-vermelha demonstrou-se resistente a M. incognita e R. reniformis e susceptível a M. javanica.
A Flexible Route to Synthesis and Molecular Docking of Some New Quinoline Derivatives through Imine and Cyclization Processes
Authors: Othman Layla A. , Mohammed Shireen R. , Ali Maher K.
Published: May 2023

The current assignment depicts the structure of recent quinoline derivatives. This method begins with the structure of imine derivatives through the condensation reaction of ethyl 2-aminobenzoate with various substituted aliphatic aldehydes and ketones in the existence of sodium hydroxide as a catalyst. While the second step includes the intra-cyclization process of the imine compounds in presence of a base like tertiary butoxide that resolute installs the hydroxyl- group on the bicyclic skeleton and aromatic amines. The molecular docking program Flare V4.0 was applied to investigate the biological activities of divers produced compounds against E.coli bacteria. Spectral data support the compounds of each the recent outputs acquired during this assignment.
Impact Assessment of Diwali Fireworks Emissions on the Air at Special Locations in Delhi During Three Consecutive Years
Authors: Rajpoot Subhadra
Published: May 2023

India is renowned as a place of celebrations. Festivals commemorate not only the change of the seasons but also the harvest, peace, and the birthdays of saints, gurus, prophets, as well as gods and goddesses. When it comes to their religious beliefs, Indians are noted for having a varied range of customs, including fasting, abstinence, and other behaviours. One of the biggest Hindu holidays, Diwali, takes place every year between October and January. The Hindu holidays of Navratri, Dussehra, Durga Puja, and Diwali all fall during these months. A significant amount of dry garbage is produced during and after these festival days. Due to the lack of disposal space during holidays like Diwali and other overlooked issues like extensive firecracker burning, especially in the late hours, which is a substantial producer of aerosols, black carbon (BC), organics, and trace gases, the amount of dry trash increases. It was discovered that frequent sparkler use was connected to incidents of short-term air quality impairment. An afternoon following Diwali in every year, the Indo-Gangetic Plain experiences an increase in air pollution levels that make it difficult to breathe. On Friday, Delhi had its worst post-Diwali air quality in five years due to a deadly concoction of poisonous gases from firecrackers and stubble. To calculate the impact of Diwali on Delhi's air quality, we used hourly data on PM 2.5 particle content from last three years 2020 to 2022. By estimating the Diwali influence on air quality using the event study method and a difference-in-difference regression framework, we improve on previous research. According to the findings, Diwali is associated with a marginal but statistically significant rise in air pollution. In different parts of Delhi, the impact varies. This is the first causal estimate of the air pollution caused by igniting Diwali firecrackers that we are aware of.
1,3,4-Thiadiazole: A Promising Pharmacophore
Authors: Chaudhary Nidhi , Dubey Ranjana , Ram Tilak , Panwar Hament
Published: May 2023

Active pharmaceutical ingredients (A.P.I.) are made up of various heteroatomic moieties. Numerous heterocycle scaffolds are regarded as crucial structures. More frequently, presence of various heteroatoms viz. nitrogen, sulphur, halogens, and oxygen atoms at different position in 5- or 6-membered rings contributed them as valued source of therapeutic profiles in literature of medicinal chemistry. In the current study, numerous novels 1,3,4-thiadiazole derivatives were created using a multi-step synthetic method. These thiadiazole derivatives comprised 2-amino-5-phenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole, piperazine, acetophenones, and quinolin-5-ol. 1H-NMR, IR, Mass, and elemental analyses were used to describe these thiadiazole derivatives (C, H, N). The antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticidal efficacy of thiadiazole 4a-4i mimics was investigated.
Green Corrosion Inhibitory Efficiency of Isolated Flavonoid from Spermacoce hispida Leaves on Mild Steel in Acid Medium
Authors: Durgadevi S. , Rose A. Leema
Published: May 2023

Investigations on the effectiveness and inhibitory activity of the isolated flavonoid (Rutin) from Spermacoce hispida plants against corrosion of metal in a 1M HCl acidic solution include mass loss analysis, potentiostatic curves, and electrochemical methods. Plant extracts have been found to exhibit excellent inhibitory properties against corrosion of metals in different environments. The base metal's ability to stop corrosion improves when the green inhibitor is absorbed, and the rate of steel corrosion decreases. According to weight loss measurements, the highest corrosion inhibition efficacy is 87.99%. The electrochemical impedance study revealed that when the rutin concentration in S. hispida leaves increased, the IE value rose along with the Rct and Cdl values. As a consequence of adsorption, this pure flavonoid extract binds to the metal surface, with the adsorption kinetics being characterized by the Langmuir isotherm. According to the findings of this study, the extracted flavonoid from S. hispida leaf extract seems to be a powerful and environmentally benign basic metal inhibitor in an acid medium.
Agricultural Machinery Operator Monitoring System (Ag-OMS): A Machine Learning Approach for Real-Time Operator Safety Assessment
Authors: Irumva Terenceno , Mwunguzi Herve , Pitla Santosh Kumar , Lowndes Bethany , Yoder Aaron M. , Siu Ka-Chun
Published: May 2023

Highlights

A machine learning-based real-time monitoring system for agricultural machinery operators was developed.

Categorization of tractor operators’ behaviors in real-time into low, medium, and high-risk safety behaviors.

Visual and sound feedback alert system of Ag-OMS triggered when operators engaged in unsafe operating behaviors.

ABSTRACT. The 2015 CS-CASH (Central States Center for Agricultural Safety and Health, 2015) Injury Surveillance Surveys showed that around 19% of injuries to agricultural producers are related to tractors or large agricultural machinery, yet only a limited number of studies are found that address tools and methods for monitoring safety behaviors of agricultural machinery operators in real-time. The current safety behavior monitoring approaches require an in-person presence, which can be both time- and cost-inefficient, and the other available methods lack a feedback element to alert operators in real-time. As a result, the research presented in this study aimed to develop an automated approach to monitoring tractor operators' safety behaviors through the use of a trained machine learning (ML) model and a feedback system to alert operators when they engage in unsafe practices. For the ML model development, a skeleton-detecting algorithm called OpenPose was used to detect real-time human postures in a livestreaming video feed from a camera installed in the tractor cab. The model was then trained on three separate categories of tractor operators’ safety operating behaviors, and this trained classifier was used to label operators’ safety behaviors in real time based on the three safety classes. A feedback mechanism controlled by an onboard microcontroller was then used to alert the operators when unsafe operating behavior was detected to facilitate safe practices. This monitoring system, named Ag-OMS (Agricultural Machinery Operators Monitoring System), monitored the ingress/egress operators’ behaviors in real-time entering and exiting the tractor cab. The Ag-OMS successfully identified the ingress/egress operators’ behaviors with an accuracy of 97% on the testing datasets for all safety risk categories. Keywords: Ag-OMS, Machine learning (ML), Safety behaviors, OpenPose, Tractor operator.
Respiratory Health, Sleep Dysfunction, and Mental Health in Children and Adolescents With a Neuromuscular Disorder: A Descriptive Qualitative Study
Authors: Huston Meg , Withers Adelaide L , Lam Jenny , Wilson Andrew , Downs Jenny
Published: May 2023

Objectives: To explore how respiratory health and sleep problems affect mental health in children and adolescents with neuromuscular disorders (NMDs).Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was carried out with content analysis of in-depth interviews conducted with children with NMDs and their parents. Data were collected during semi-structured interviews with children with NMDs and their parents. A total of 14 families were recruited (17 parents and 7 children and adolescents with NMD aged 5–17 years). Each interview was conducted with 1–3 family member(s).Results: Engagement in community activities, meaningful relationships, feeling well, and achieving independence each contributed positively to children’s mental health. Additional challenges to mental health during periods of poor respiratory and/or sleep health included: 1) challenges to behavioral regulation, 2) changes to mood, and 3) challenges to thinking. Parents and children reported nurturing and coping self-management strategies when their physical and mental health were dually challenged in addition to medical management strategies such as non-invasive ventilation (NIV).Conclusions: This study supports the notion that changes in mental health may indicate poor physical health in children with NMDs. Treating respiratory and sleep problems, such as by early NIV implementation, may improve the mental health of children with NMDs and thus support their overall wellbeing and health outcomes.
Association Between Sleep and the Metabolic Syndrome Differs Depending on Age
Authors: Kang Kyung Wook , Kim Myeong-Kyu , Nam Tai-Seung , Kang Kyung Ho , Park Won-Ju , Moon Heui-Soo , Oh Hyung Geun , Rhee Eun-Jung , Joo Eun Yeon
Published: May 2023

Objectives: Sleep quality and duration are significantly associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS), especially among individuals in the middle-aged and elderly age groups; however, it is inconsistent among the age groups in previous studies. This study investigated the effect of age on the association between sleep and MetS in a large sample size.Methods: Health-related data on MetS in males and females (n=22,995; age: 23–79 years) were collected from annual health examinations, including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). MetS was diagnosed based on the 2009 Joint Interim Statement.Results: In total, 4,660 (20.3%) participants were diagnosed with MetS. The data showed a significant association between poor sleep quality (PSQI >5), shorter sleep durations (<6 hours), and MetS in the older group (≥40 years) after adjusting for age, smoking status, alcohol consumption, sex, and exercise. However, this association was not observed in the younger group (<40 years). Regardless of age, global PSQI scores and sleep durations were significantly related to abdominal obesity (male ≥90 cm, female ≥85 cm in waist circumference) and general obesity (body mass index ≥30 kg/m2).Conclusions: This study demonstrates that sleep quality and duration are related to obesity across all age groups and that sleep quality and duration are only related to MetS in older individuals. These findings suggest that satisfactory sleep in adults aged ≥40 years may play a crucial role in preventing MetS.