bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Relationship Between Organizational Trust and Teacher Autonomy: The Mediating Role of Self‐Efficacy Beliefs
Authors: Çolak İbrahim
Published: February 2025

Increasing numbers of studies have concentrated on teacher autonomy which is considered a crucial component in the work of teachers. This study explores the mediating role of teachers' self‐efficacy beliefs in the relationship between organizational trust and teacher autonomy. Data were drawn from 326 teachers working in a southwest city of Türkiye. The study utilized structural equation modeling to investigate the relationships between organizational trust, self‐efficacy beliefs, and the dimensions of teacher autonomy. The results revealed positive links between organizational trust, self‐efficacy beliefs, and each dimension of teacher autonomy. The results also revealed that self‐efficacy beliefs significantly mediate the relationship between organizational trust and curriculum autonomy, teaching autonomy, communicative autonomy, and professional development autonomy. In addition, organizational trust was found to play an indirect but crucial role with both teaching autonomy and curriculum autonomy. The findings emphasize the importance of creating an environment characterized by trust in schools and addressing teachers' self‐efficacy beliefs in an effort to support teacher autonomy. Practical implications and potential directions for further research are discussed aligned with the results of the study.
A Survey Study of Bhutanese School Guidance Counselors' Roles, Responsibilities, Challenges, and Resources
Authors: Larran Julie , Hein Sascha
Published: February 2025

This study explores the young profession of school guidance counseling in Bhutan. It investigated Bhutanese school guidance counselors' demographic characteristics, activities, roles, and responsibilities. The characteristics were assessed using quantitative survey measures, including the International Survey of School Counseling Activities (ISSCA). We further investigated their self‐reported challenges and resources using open‐ended questions analyzed using content analysis and the analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT). Finally, we examined differences between the views of school guidance counselors in Bhutan and those of Bhutanese school stakeholders (school teachers and principals). Responses were obtained from 162 (90.5%) of the 179 school guidance counselors active at the time in Bhutan, 49 school teachers, and 16 school principals. The ISSCA results revealed that Bhutanese school guidance counselors, on average, rated the appropriateness of school guidance counseling activities higher compared to their school principal and school teacher colleagues but rated the activities of dealing with discipline cases and taking on administrative duties lower. The SWOT analysis further shed light on their challenges and resources, including the effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic. The discussion of results, interpreted using Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Theory (Bronfenbrenner 1995) suggests that Bhutan's school guidance counseling profession needs more clearly defined roles, more time to establish itself, more initiatives to overcome stigma towards counseling, more material resources such as a counseling room and that schools need to make sure there is sufficient time and opportunities for students to see the school guidance counselor.
The Effects of a Universal, School‐Based Mental Health Literacy Program to Improve Resilience and Self‐Efficacy Among 5–6th Grade Students From Three, Title 1 School in Rural Alabama: Advocates 4 All Youth
Authors: Dadematthews Adefunke , Pangelinan Melissa M. , Bowen Anne E. , Simon Stacey L. , Chandrasekhar Jessica L. , Kaar Jill L.
Published: February 2025

Advocates 4 ALL Youth (ALLY) is a universal, 6‐week mental health literacy program, implemented in schools during the school day by community volunteers. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of the ALLY program on youth who endorsed negative affect (i.e., self‐reported symptoms of both depression and anxiety). Using a randomized controlled trial design, 5–6th grade students (11–13 years) attending three rural elementary schools in low‐income and predominant African American communities were invited to participate. A total of 109 students (91% African American/Black) participated in the program (91% participation rate) and were randomized into treatment group—who received ALLY (n = 57) or control group (n = 52). All students completed a pre–post‐assessment (baseline and post‐program). A total of 58% youth in the treatment group endorsed negative affect at baseline and this was reduced to 53% post‐program delivery (p < 0.01). No change in negative affect was reported in control group (44% pre and 44% post with self‐reported negative affect). These results suggest that participants at greatest risk for mental health issues may benefit from ALLY.
A Systematic Review of Barriers to Breast Cancer Screening, and of Interventions Designed to Increase Participation, Among Women of Black African and Black Caribbean Descent in the UK
Authors: Aliu Anietie E. , Kerrison Robert S. , Marcu Afrodita
Published: February 2025

Background

Compared with the general population, Black African and Black Caribbean women, living in the UK, are less likely to participate in breast cancer screening.

Aims

The aims of this review were to: (1) systematically describe the barriers to breast cancer screening, experienced by women of Black African and Black Caribbean descent, living in the UK and (2) identify which barriers interventions attempting to reduce inequalities have targeted, and whether they have been effective at increasing participation in breast cancer screening, among women of Black African and Black Caribbean descent.

Methods

We conducted a mixed‐methods systematic review of primary research published in peer‐reviewed journals. Seven databases were searched, yielding eight articles for inclusion in the review.

Results

Barriers to breast cancer screening participation were categorised into six analytical themes: ‘Understanding of, and concerns about, breast screening, the procedure and the reliability of test results’, ‘Misconceptions about, and lack of understanding of, the causes of breast cancer and personal risk’, ‘Emotional responses to cancer and screening’, ‘General barriers to accessing healthcare services (including breast screening)’, ‘Beliefs about cancer as a treatable disease’ and ‘Religious beliefs, cultural taboos and stigma’. These findings derive largely from studies with women who were not eligible for screening. Four studies testing interventions to promote uptake among ethnic minority groups were identified. None of them targeted Black African or Black Caribbean women, specifically; however, it was possible to extract data, for these groups, from the studies.

Conclusion

Further research with women who are eligible for screening (but do not attend) is needed to verify the findings of this review. Studies targeting barriers experienced by Black women, particularly, are needed to reduce inequalities.
Coping, Emotional Processing, and Cancer‐Related Symptoms in Breast Cancer Survivors: Cross‐Sectional Secondary Analysis of the REPAT Study
Authors: Harel Keren , Czamanski‐Cohen Johanna , Cohen Miri , Caspi Opher , Weihs Karen L.
Published: February 2025

Objective

As survival rates from breast cancer increase, the post‐treatment period poses several challenges, including a high burden of cancer‐related symptoms that interfere with quality of life. This study aims to provide a better understanding of the relationship between coping (approach and avoidance), emotional processing (emotional awareness and acceptance of emotions), and cancer‐related symptoms.

Methods

This is a cross‐sectional, secondary analysis of baseline data from a randomized controlled trial entitled “The Role of Emotional Processing in Art Therapy” (REPAT) study. Participants included 179 breast cancer survivors 6.1 months on average after completing primary treatment. Participants completed questionnaires measuring approach and avoidance coping, acceptance of emotions, cancer‐related symptoms (depression, fatigue, and pain), and the Level of Emotional Awareness a performance scale. Hierarchical linear regressions were performed while adjusting for background variables.

Results

Participants experienced significant depressive symptoms (51.7%), fatigue (78.8%), pain interference (78%), and pain intensity (66%). There were strong correlations between depression, cancer‐related fatigue, and pain. After adjusting for confounders, acceptance of emotions was negatively associated with depression, and avoidance coping was positively associated with depression, cancer‐related fatigue, and pain interference. Emotional awareness and approach coping were not associated with cancer‐related symptoms, but both were significantly associated with acceptance of emotions.

Conclusions

Breast cancer survivors' post‐treatment period presents the challenge of dealing with elevated cancer‐related symptoms. Regardless, breast cancer survivors with high acceptance of emotions and low avoidance coping experienced fewer cancer‐related symptoms.
“Shortening time to pregnancy in infertile women by personalizing treatment of microbial imbalance through Emma & Alice: A multicenter prospective study”
Authors: Iwami Nanako , Komiya Shinnosuke , Asada Yoshimasa , Tatsumi Kenichi , Habara Toshihiro , Kuramoto Takeshi , Seki Moritoshi , Yoshida Hiroaki , Takeuchi Kazuhiro , Shiotani Masahide , Mukaida Tetsunori , Odawara Yasushi , Mio Yasuyuki , Kamiya Hirobumi
Published: February 2025

Purpose

To evaluate the impact of Endometrial Microbiome Metagenomic Analysis and Analysis of Infectious Chronic Endometritis (EMMA & ALICE) on pregnancy outcomes following recommended treatments in women with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) or recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL).

Methods

This prospective, multicenter cohort study included 527 women under 42 years old with RIF or RPL across 14 IVF centers in Japan. Endometrial samples were analyzed using EMMA & ALICE, and patients received antibiotics, probiotics, or no treatment based on test results. Pregnancy outcomes were assessed using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and multivariate generalized linear models.

Results

Amongst participants, 43.4% had a normal Lactobacillus‐dominated microbiota, 20.9% had dysbiosis, and 35.7% had mild dysbiosis or ultralow biomass. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed significantly higher ongoing pregnancy rates in the dysbiosis group treated with antibiotics and probiotics compared to other groups (p = 0.031). Post‐treatment, ongoing pregnancy rates in the dysbiosis and mild dysbiosis groups were comparable to the normal group.

Conclusions

EMMA & ALICE‐guided antimicrobial and probiotic treatments improved pregnancy outcomes, enabling the dysbiosis group to achieve pregnancy earlier than the normal group. Addressing uterine dysbiosis may reduce the time to pregnancy in patients with RIF and RPL.

Trial registration

University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN), UMIN000036917.
School Science: An Approach to Rethinking What Students Learn and How They Might be Better Engaged
Authors: Cirkony Connie , Fragkiadaki Glykeria , Gunstone Richard
Published: February 2025

For decades, two critical challenges have plagued school science in the years it is compulsory for students in many educational contexts across the globe: how best to identify what science is meaningful for all students to learn during their formal school science education, and how to keep these students engaged in the learning of this science. Diverse science curriculum movements over these decades and throughout the English‐speaking world have provided different conceptualizations about the science content and process students should learn, and suggested many pedagogical practices to engage students in that learning. However, the two intertwined challenges of specific concern for this article clearly remain: what science to include and how to foster student engagement with that science. In this paper, we first seek to provide insights relevant to these two challenges via reviews of extant research in three quite broad and important areas of scholarship: (a) the concepts of imagination and creativity, considered particularly through current cultural‐historical approaches to early years science learning; (b) the long‐standing support around the globe for a range of inquiry‐based approaches; and (c) the German constructs of Didaktik and Bildung as existing paths from a non‐Anglo context that assist the determination of choices of science for curriculum inclusion or rejection. We then consider how these three discussions can lead to considerations of school science curriculum that better address the two challenges. Though simple solutions for these complex and multifaceted challenges are unlikely and beyond the aim of this paper, interrelated aspects of our three discussions point to curriculum‐focussed initiatives focussing on “big ideas” as a way to determine content. We conclude by briefly illustrating these considerations via the example of school science curriculum structured via the big ideas of science: that is, those that are argued to be fundamental to the learner over the course of their compulsory science education.
Enhanced Activity and Stability for Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction to Ammonia over Low‐Coordinated Cobalt
Authors: Sun Wanping , Xu Ying , Yang Li , Wen Weidong , Zhang Huabin , Yu Xin‐Yao
Published: February 2025

It is still challenging to develop an effective strategy to simultaneously enhance the activity and stability of electrocatalysts for electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (eNO3RR). Herein, taking metallic cobalt as an example, it is demonstrated that the construction of low‐coordinated cobalt nanosheets (L‐Co NSs) by H2 plasma etching of electrodeposited cobalt nanosheets (Co NSs) can greatly enhance the activity and stability of metallic cobalt for eNO3RR. Compared with Co NSs, at −0.4 V versus RHE, the nitrate removal rate, ammonia partial current density, and ammonia yield are increased by L‐Co NSs from 82.14% to 98.57%, from 476 to 683 mA cm−2, and from 2.11 to 2.54 mmol h−1 cm−2, respectively. In addition, L‐Co NSs demonstrate negligible activity decay after 30 cycles of stability test, while the Co NSs show significant activity decline. In situ electrochemical characterizations and theoretical calculations verify that the abundance of Co vacancies in L‐Co NSs not only contribute to the optimized electronic structure and enhanced desorption of key intermediate to boost the activity but also facilitate the transformation of Co(OH)2 to Co0 to promote the stability. Furthermore, L‐Co NSs exhibit favorable performance in removing nitrate from simulated wastewater and air plasma discharge‐electrocatalytic reduction cascade system to produce ammonia.
Uncovering the Origin of Light‐Promoted Synergetic Effect and Y Doping in Enhancing Photothermocatalytic Dry Reforming of Methane on Ni/Ni‐Y2‐Al2O3
Authors: Chen Zhi , Ji Lei , Li Yuanzhi , Wu JiChun
Published: February 2025

Photothermocatalytic dry reforming of methane (DRM) can convert CH4 and CO2 into syngas, offering an effective approach to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, photothermocatalytic DRM reaction generally needs a high light intensity surpassing 192 kW m−2 to attain high light‐fuel conversion. Also, catalysts applied to photothermocatalytic DRM are liable to inactivation due to carbon deposition. Herein, a nanocomposite of Ni nanoparticles supported on Ni‐ and Y‐doped Al2O3 (Ni/Ni‐Y2‐Al2O3) is prepared. It achieves high H2 and CO production rates with a light‐to‐fuel efficiency (29.2%) at a lower intensity (80.1 kW m−2). Meanwhile, it sustains excellent photothermocatalytic durability and accomplishes a 37‐fold reduction in carbon deposition rate compared to Ni/Al2O3. The substantially enhanced catalytic activity and carbon resistance of Ni/Ni‐Y2‐Al2O3 are correlated with accelerating carbon species (C*) oxidation (the rate‐determining steps of DRM). This acceleration derives from the synergetic effect and carbonate species resulting from Y doping, which participate in C* oxidation via two separate reaction pathways. When in light, the synergetic effect further facilitates C* oxidation. Simultaneously, light immensely reduces activation energy, activates the NiO bonds at the interface region, and expedites the reaction between carbonate species and C* in the interface, enhancing catalytic activity and carbon resistance.
STEM Faculty Professional Development: Measuring the Impact on College Student Grades and Identifying Critical Program Components
Authors: McCarthy Hintz Mary F. , Tashiro Lynn M. , Kusnick Judi , Solanki Sabrina , Cyrenne De‐Laine M. , Xu Di
Published: February 2025

Higher education institutions commonly provide faculty professional development (PD) in teaching and learning, with the goal of enhancing student outcomes by improving instructional quality. Yet few existing studies link PD participation with student outcome measures. Empirical evidence on the impact of PD on student performance in higher education, particularly in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education is limited. Using institutional data from a large state university in California, we address this gap by estimating the impact of two online PD programs on student performance: an asynchronous program about developing online courses, open to faculty from all disciplines; and a synchronous program designed exclusively for STEM faculty, concentrating on STEM‐specific challenges and active learning strategies in online instruction. Using a difference‐in‐difference approach, our results indicate that both PD programs improved student grades, while only the STEM‐specific PD improved DFW rates and addressed equity gaps. To explain the difference in results between the two PD programs, we invoke a theoretical model positing that to improve student outcomes, faculty PD must teach strategies known to improve student performance, it must teach that content in ways known to improve faculty learning, and it must support faculty as they implement new strategies.
Concomitant Use of Etrasimod With Opioids or Antidepressants in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis—A Safety Analysis
Authors: Afzali Anita , Regueiro Miguel , Yarur Andres J. , Zabana Yamile , Ng Siew C. , Menon Sujatha , McDonnell Aoibhinn , Lazin Krisztina , Keating Michael , Bhattacharjee Abhishek , Branquinho Diogo , Bananis Eustratios , Peyrin‐Biroulet Laurent
Published: February 2025

Background

Etrasimod is an oral, once‐daily (q.d.), selective sphingosine 1‐phosphate (S1P)1,4,5 receptor modulator for the treatment of moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis (UC). Unlike the S1P receptor modulator ozanimod, etrasimod does not have a molecular structure to inhibit monoamine oxidase (MAO). Coadministration of drugs that inhibit MAO with opioids and antidepressants may increase the risk of adverse events (AEs).

Aims

This post hoc analysis evaluated the incidence of AEs potentially related to serotonin syndrome in patients taking etrasimod and concomitant opioids or antidepressants in the Phase 3 ELEVATE UC 52 and ELEVATE UC 12 trials.

Methods

Safety data pooled from both trials were analysed in subgroups of patients receiving etrasimod 2 mg q.d. (up to 52 weeks of exposure) with/without concomitant opioids or antidepressants. We report the proportions of patients who had ≥ 1 concurrent AE potentially associated with serotonin syndrome, including hypertension‐related events.

Results

Among 527 patients receiving etrasimod, 77 (14.6%) and 35 (6.6%) were taking concomitant opioids or antidepressants, respectively. The incidence of AEs potentially related to serotonin syndrome, including hypertension‐related AEs, was low (≤ 8.6%) and generally comparable in all subgroups. No reported AEs were serious or led to treatment discontinuation among patients taking these concomitant medications.

Conclusions

The incidence of AEs was low and comparable in patients receiving etrasimod with or without concomitant opioids or antidepressants. This analysis further supports the low likelihood of clinically relevant drug–drug interactions between etrasimod and medications commonly prescribed to patients with UC, such as opioids or antidepressants.

(ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03945188; NCT03996369).
Treatment of focal junctional tachycardia using ivabradine in a dog
Authors: Escalda Joao , Partington Catheryn , Matos Jose Novo
Published: February 2025

A 10‐year‐old labrador retriever was referred as an emergency due to ascites and lethargy. Physical examination revealed a regular tachycardia at 160 beats per minute with a Grade 3/6, left apical systolic heart murmur. The dog was diagnosed with severe myxomatous mitral valve disease with biventricular congestive heart failure (mild pulmonary oedema and severe ascites) and focal junctional tachycardia. Congestive heart failure was managed with pimobendan, furosemide and benazepril/spironolactone. Ivabradine, a funny channel blocker, was used for rate control of the focal junctional tachycardia, and the dog achieved adequate rate control with monotherapy. The dog was euthanased 10 months after the initial presentation due to refractory congestive heart failure. This case report suggests that ivabradine might be useful for rate control in focal junctional tachycardia, but further studies are required to confirm this observation.
The Healthcare Subsidy Assessment Survey: A Novel and Validated Poverty Assessment Tool to Inform Medical Cost Subsidization in Rural Uganda
Authors: Campbell Peter M. , Yu Allen T. , Kalumuna Anna T. , Nanyiri Job , Mukisa Daniel , Azirembuzi Jotham , Binoga Moses B. , Giibwa Angellica , Melendez Chelsia , Merchant Rutvij R. , Damoi Joseph Okello , Zhang Linda P.
Published: February 2025

Background

Approximately 30% of the global burden of disease is surgical, but two‐thirds of the world's population cannot access safe, affordable, and timely surgical care. An ambulatory surgical center (ASC) in Uganda offers subsidized and free care to some patients, but identifying patients in greatest need is challenging. We aimed to develop an unbiased tool appropriate for medical settings to determine subsidy eligibility to prevent catastrophic healthcare expenditure (CHE) for ASC's patients.

Methods

Utilizing a modified simple poverty scorecard (SPS), expert opinions, and literature review, the center developed a new poverty assessment tool (PAT), the healthcare subsidy assessment (HSA). The HSA was implemented alongside the SPS at ASC. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to refine the HSA and establish a correlation between the original HSA and SPS to predict CHE likelihood.

Results

A 21‐question HSA was developed, and 175 patients completed both the HSA and SPS. The questionnaires had a correlation of R2 = 0.294, p < 0.001. PCA identified six distinct components, and the HSA was refined to an 11‐question survey (rHSA). After rescaling to 100 for comparison to the SPS and the original HSA, rHSA scores were significantly different between both (p < 0.001) but had an improved correlation with the SPS (R2 = 0.457, p < 0.001) and a strong correlation with the original HSA (R2 = 0.621, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

We successfully developed and validated the rHSA, a novel PAT tailored for a healthcare setting to better identify and support patients at risk.
Toward a Consensual Definition for Smart Tourism and Smart Tourism Tools
Authors: Galvão António , Abreu Fernando Brito e , Melo João Joanaz de
Published: February 2025

Smart Tourism (ST) stems from the concepts of e-tourism, which is focused on the digitalization of processes within the tourism industry, and digital tourism, which also considers the digitalization of the tourist experience. The earlier ST references found regard ST destinations and emerge from the development of Smart Cities.

Our initial literature review on the ST concept and Smart Tourism Tools (STT) revealed significant research uncertainties: ST is poorly defined and frequently linked to the concept of Smart Cities; different authors have different, sometimes contradictory, views on the goals of ST; STT claims are often only based on technological aspects, and their “smartness” is difficult to evaluate; often the term “Smart” describes developments fueled by cutting-edge technologies, which lose that status after a few years.

This chapter is part of the ongoing initiative to build an online observatory that provides a comprehensive view of STTs’ offerings in Europe, known as the European STT Observatory. To achieve this, the observatory requires methodologies and tools to evaluate “smartness” based on a sound definition of ST and STT while also being able to adapt to technological advancements. In this chapter, we present the results of a participatory approach where we invited ST experts from around the world to help us achieve this level of soundness. Our goal is to make a valuable contribution to the discussion on the definition of ST and STT.
Another Generalization of Connexive Logic C
Authors: Omori Hitoshi , Wansing Heinrich
Published: February 2025

The present article aims at generalizing the approach to connexive logic thatwas initiated in [27], by following thework by Paul Egré and Guy Politzer. To this end, a variant of the connexive modal logic CK is introduced and some basic results including soundness and completeness results are established. A tableau calculus is also presented in an appendix.
Introduction
Authors: Hayenhjelm Madeleine , Nordlund Christer
Published: February 2025

Is there a moral line to be drawn at the human germline? For a long time, the dominant view on gene technology was that there is a moral line drawn at the human germline such that somatic gene editing as part of therapy is morally permissible, but heritable gene editing of early embryos or germline cells is not. The germline has been interchangeably referred to as a “boundary,” a “barrier,” and a “red line.” This previously dominant position has slowly weakened over the past decade. Has the germline as a moral boundary lost its relevance? The aim of the book The Risks and Ethics of Human Gene Editing is to provide a philosophical guide to these arguments, both old and new. This first chapter introduces the book and its main research questions: Is there, after all, something particularly morally problematic about editing the human germline? Is there something unique about such germline editing, and, if so, does this suggest that we ought not to edit the human germline, or only in particular circumstances or for particular purposes? What would be a wise and responsible approach to editing the human germline from a moral perspective?
Human Germline as a Moral Boundary: Categorical, Conditional, or Precautionary?
Authors: Hayenhjelm Madeleine , Nordlund Christer
Published: February 2025

The chapter explores the matter of a sufficiently cautious boundary and where that could be drawn based on the three distinctions from the second chapter and the various ethical considerations discussed throughout the book. It is argued that a sufficiently precautionary approach would need to take all three dimensions of risk into account: risk of harm, epistemic risk, and risk of making irreparable moral mistakes. Until these risks have been sufficiently addressed, human germline editing should be treated with great caution. In conclusion, the germline could thus, for now, be regarded as a kind of locum tenens moral principle.
A New Pair of Scissors and Moral Alarm Bells
Authors: Hayenhjelm Madeleine , Nordlund Christer
Published: February 2025

The chapter gives a short background to the ethical debates surrounding the gene editing tool CRISPR. It discusses the early worries and alarm bells when the first studies came out that demonstrated that heritable germline editing on humans was realistically possible as well as the subsequent calls for ethics. Three key distinctions that has done a lot of moral boundary work in this debate are presented: between somatic and germline interventions; between research and clinical application; and between therapy and enhancement.
Three Moral Perspectives on the Permissibility of Germline Editing
Authors: Hayenhjelm Madeleine , Nordlund Christer
Published: February 2025

The chapter identifies and explores three distinct moral outlooks found in the gene editing debate with different implications on what the relevant moral questions and answers are with regard to germline gene editing. The Technical View equates ethical questions with questions about the direct risks of the intervention itself, that is if it is sufficiently safe and precise. The Democratic View stress that ethical questions are not only technical questions, but also pertain to values and must find solutions that all affected parties can agree upon. Finally, the Moral View treats the ethical questions from a moral philosophy perspective. It takes safety and democratic legitimacy seriously but asks further questions: Does the technology promote what is genuinely good, or is there an aspect of it that violates fundamental moral norms or principles?
Moral Theory and Moral Reasons
Authors: Hayenhjelm Madeleine , Nordlund Christer
Published: February 2025

In this chapter, three types of basic philosophical approaches to moral analyses are outlined to provide context and analytical tools for the subsequent analysis of and discussion about the arguments for or against human germline editing. According to the first approach, moral rightness is determined by the value of the consequences (value maximization). In the second approach, it is not only the consequences that determine the moral rightness of an action, but moral boundaries, principles, and norms that regulate what is permissible or not (moral permissibility). The third approach is about the pursuit of ideals, which deals with arguments about the desirability of various futures and to what extent our actions prevent or enable such futures. The chapter argues that even though these approaches are typically associated with specific moral theories they can be understood as distinct modes of reasoning in their own right. The chapter argues that when it comes to addressing the ethics of new and potentially disruptive technologies it becomes more important to include also the kinds of moral considerations raised by third kind of approach.
Consequence Arguments for and Against Germline Editing
Authors: Hayenhjelm Madeleine , Nordlund Christer
Published: February 2025

This chapter explores various consequence-based arguments on the ethics of germline gene editing. First, the chapter distinguishes between descriptive and normative consequence arguments. Second, it takes a deep dive into arguments related to risks and safety, on the one hand, and into arguments related to prospective benefits, on the other. Both arguments for and against germline gene editing appeal to different kinds of consequence-arguments. The chapter highlight various questions raised by a focus on the potential consequences. This includes the question of who the beneficiary of germline gene editing is, whether germline gene editing can be considered to be a therapeutic, and how germline gene editing compares to embryo selection. The chapter distinguishes between descriptive and normative consequence arguments and between weak and strong normative consequence arguments. A key take away is how different techno-optimists and techno-pessimists assess the expected outcomes of germline gene editing.
Enhancement Arguments
Authors: Hayenhjelm Madeleine , Nordlund Christer
Published: February 2025

The chapter takes a closer look at arguments for and against germline gene editing for human enhancement, including radical human enhancement. On the one hand, there are hopes of taking control of evolution, dreams of perfecting humankind and reaching a posthuman Utopia, and visions of saving humanity from natural disasters, while on the other hand, there are fears about jeopardizing the existence of humanity itself. Even though these arguments are indeed speculative, it is stressed in the chapter that they raise some difficult questions about the kind of future we value, who we might want to be in that future, and who would and would not truly benefit from such interventions.
Lingering Concerns
Authors: Hayenhjelm Madeleine , Nordlund Christer
Published: February 2025

Is there something particularly morally problematic about human germline gene editing, to the extent that it would warrant another moral approach than weighing the pros against the cons, or asking whether it violates any moral principles or norms? In this chapter the ethical arguments discussed in the previous chapters is revisited via the perspective of risk. The relevant risks are divided into three different kinds—technical, social, and moral and metaphysical risks—and it is also discussed what the “most severe kind of risks” would be. Are there things that we could not live with having permanently lost? If so, are any such losses that we could bring about through some practices of germline gene editing? What would that be and is it a realistic risk?
Assessing Feasibility with IAMs
Authors: Hollnaicher Simon
Published: February 2025

This chapter explores how Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) can contribute to feasibility assessments of climate goals, building on the conceptual groundwork established in earlier chapters. It argues that feasibility judgments require considering all relevant constraints simultaneously and accounting for complex, dynamic pathways of change – strengths inherent to IAMs. Solvable scenarios within IAMs can serve as evidence for the feasibility of specific climate goals, but such evidential claims depend on context-sensitive background assumptions. The chapter critically examines current methods of evaluating these assumptions, arguing that existing practices of model evaluation in IAMs fall short. Empirical testing approaches, including “appeals to the past,” fail to provide robust support due to high uncertainty and misaligned epistemic aims. The chapter critiques one recent empirical framework for assessing feasibility with IAMs (Brutschin et al., 2021) in more detail, arguing that it does not adequately address these issues. The chapter argues that feasibility assessment must pay closer attention to value judgments. Bringing in the perspective of values in science will provide a more solid and transparent ground for assessing feasibility with IAMs.
Nonconservative Single-Degree-of-Freedom Systems
Authors: He Zeng , Jiang Wen , Wang Lin
Published: February 2025

In order to find the singular points for the equation, we set

$$\ddot{u}=\dot{u}=0$$

u
¨

=

u
˙

=
0

in the original equation and obtain.
Traveling Waves
Authors: He Zeng , Jiang Wen , Wang Lin
Published: February 2025

Let the solution of the equation be

$$u\left( {x,t} \right) = ae^{{i\left( {kx - \omega t} \right)}}$$

u

x
,
t

=
a

e

i

k
x
-
ω
t

. Substituting this into the given equation gives

$$k - \omega = 0 \Rightarrow c_{0} = \frac{\omega }{k} = 1$$

k
-
ω
=
0
⇒

c
0

=

ω
k

=
1

. It can be seen that the phase speed

$${c}_{0}$$

c
0

is constant and hence the solution to the given equation is a non-dispersive wave.
Beyond cyborgs: the cybork idea for the de-individuation of (artificial) intelligence and an emergence-oriented design
Authors: Cabitza Federico , Natali Chiara , Varanini Francesco , Gunkel David
Published: February 2025

This article contributes to the philosophical inquiry of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by reframing the question “Where is the intelligence of Artificial Intelligence?” into “Where does AI intelligently operate?”. This rephrasing challenges our understanding of AI’s role in social practices and its integration into the human experience. Central to this discourse is the concept of the ‘cybork’ (a portmanteau of ‘cyborg’ and ‘work’), which symbolizes not just a physical entity but a dynamic system of actions and interactions within a socio-technical landscape: work accomplished with machines. In this framework, intelligence in AI lies not in any function of isolated systems, but rather in the situated context of their use within collective and meaningful practices that give technology its sense and direction. Conversely, technology both enables and shapes these practices to the extent that distinguishing between the two can seem unnecessary, or even detrimental, to the optimal design of and for work practices. The cybork embodies this integration and entanglement, transcending the traditional boundaries between individuals and collectives, entities and actions. It reveals the inseparability and co-dependence of humans and technology, where technological artifacts become extensions of human capabilities, embody collective human history and development, and serve as both products and participants in societal practices, fundamentally shaping our interaction with the world.
Does testing young children influence educational attainment and wellbeing?
Authors: Green Colin P. , Nyhus Ole Henning , Salvanes Kari Vea
Published: February 2025

Should young children be tested? Proponents view early testing as a necessary instrument for early targeting. Others consider it detrimental to child mental health and with little impact on educational performance. We exploit variation in low-stakes test-taking in mathematics amongst primary school children in Norway, traditionally a low-testing environment. We examine the introduction of difficult mathematics tests. These tests were introduced to provide information for a larger randomised controlled trial (RCT) in Norwegian primary schools. We demonstrate zero effects of testing exposure on educational attainment, but evidence of heterogenous effects across gender and educational background of children. We find no negative effects on student welfare, but testing improves student perceptions of teaching practices, feedback and engagement.
Lasso multinomial performance indicators for in-play basketball data
Authors: Damoulaki Argyro , Ntzoufras Ioannis , Pelechrinis Konstantinos
Published: February 2025

A typical approach to quantify the contribution of each player in basketball uses the plus–minus method. The ratings obtained by such a method are estimated using simple regression models and their regularized variants, with response variable being either the points scored or the point differences. To capture more precisely the effect of each player, detailed possession-based play-by-play data may be used. This is the direction we take in this article, in which we investigate the performance of regularized adjusted plus–minus (RAPM) indicators estimated by different regularized models having as a response the number of points scored in each possession. Therefore, we use possession play-by-play data from all NBA games for the season 2021–2022 (322,852 possessions). We initially present simple regression model-based indices starting from the implementation of ridge regression which is the standard technique in the relevant literature. We proceed with the lasso approach which has specific advantages and better performance than ridge regression when compared with selected objective validation criteria. Then, we implement regularized binary and multinomial logistic regression models to obtain more accurate performance indicators since the response is a discrete variable taking values mainly from zero to three. Our final proposal is an improved RAPM measure which is based on the expected points of a multinomial logistic regression model where each player’s contribution is weighted by his participation in the team’s possessions. The proposed indicator, called weighted expected points (wEPTS), outperforms all other RAPM measures we investigate in this study.
Species-specific optimization of oxylipin ionization in LC–MS: a design of experiments approach to improve sensitivity
Authors: Schmidt Louis , Garscha Ulrike
Published: February 2025

Oxylipins are diverse bioactive signaling molecules, which occur in very low concentrations in complex matrices, posing challenges in achieving consistent and sensitive analysis. UHPLC-MS/MS is the preferred technique to separate and quantify these molecules, often optimized using a time-consuming trial-and-error approach. In this study, we applied the design of experiments (DoE) approach to systematically investigate the ionization properties of multiple oxylipin species. Fractional factorial and central composite designs were employed to detect relevant instrument parameters and optimize signal intensity in ESI–MS/MS analysis. Response surface modeling revealed distinct ionization and fragmentation behaviors between polar and apolar oxylipins, driven by their responses to interface temperature and collision-induced dissociation (CID) gas pressure. Particularly, prostaglandins and lipoxins benefit from higher CID gas pressure and lower temperatures compared to the lipophilic HODEs and HETEs to achieve optimal intensity in multiple reaction monitoring analysis. While global source parameters were optimized, analyte-specific entrance/exit potentials and collision energies required individual adjustments. The final method was applied to analyze seven oxylipin classes including leukotrienes, prostaglandins, lipoxins, resolvins, HETEs, HODES, and HoTrEs. Although improvements in lower limits of quantification were modest (< 1 pg on-column), signal-to-noise ratios increased two-fold for lipoxins and resolvins and three- to four-fold for leukotrienes and HETEs, enhancing detection at trace levels. This DoE-guided strategy provides a powerful tool to improve UHPLC-MS/MS analysis of oxylipins across various instrument vendors, guiding the way towards inter-laboratory comparability.

Graphical Abstract
Cost-effective, user-friendly detection and preconcentration of thrombin on a sustainable paper-based electrochemical platform
Authors: Raucci Ada , Sorrentino Giuseppina , Singh Sima , Borbone Nicola , Oliviero Giorgia , Piccialli Gennaro , Terracciano Monica , Cinti Stefano
Published: February 2025

Thrombin overexpression in serum serves as a critical biomarker and is implicated in several diseases associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Existing techniques for thrombin detection are time-consuming and require sophisticated equipment and extensive sample preparation procedures, which further delay the detection and increase the cost of the procedure. Early and accessible diagnosis at the point of care, especially in limited-resource countries, represents the first step of clinical interventions. To overcome these limitations, we have proposed an innovative, sustainable paper-based electrochemical detection platform for thrombin. In this work, a sustainable paper-based aptasensor was rationally designed, characterized, evaluated against conventional gold standard plastic-based substrates, and applied to human serum, yielding a detection limit of ~ 60 pM. The present method provides an efficient and user-friendly way for the detection of thrombin and potentially leading to better management and treatment outcomes for patients.

Graphical abstract
Multimodal neuroimaging insights into the neurobiology of healthy aging across the lifespan
Authors: Knudsen Laust Vind , Michel Tanja Maria , Farahani Ziba Ahangarani , Vafaee Manouchehr Seyedi
Published: February 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to advance our understanding of the neurobiology of healthy aging, which is crucial for improving quality of life and preventing age-related diseases. Despite its importance, a comprehensive investigation of this process has yet to be fully characterized.

Methods

We used a hybrid PET/MRI scanner to assess neurophysiological parameters in 80 healthy individuals aged 20–78. Cerebral amyloid-beta (Aβ) deposition and glucose metabolism were assessed using PET scans, while participants underwent simultaneous MRI scans.

Results

We found a positive correlation between Aβ-deposition and aging, and a negative correlation between glucose metabolism and aging. The insula showed the strongest negative correlation between glucose metabolism and age (Spearman’s r = -0.683, 95% CI [-0.79, -0.54], p < 0.0001), while the posterior cingulate cortex had the strongest positive correlation between Aβ-deposition and age (Spearman’s r = 0.479, 95% CI [0.28, 0.64], p < 0.0001). These results suggest a spatially dependent link between Aβ-deposition and metabolism in healthy older adults, indicating a compensatory mechanism in early Alzheimer’s. Additionally, Aβ-deposition was linked to changes in interregional neural communication.

Conclusions

Our study confirms previous findings on aging and offers new insights, particularly on the role of Aβ-deposition in healthy aging. We observed a linear increase in Aβ-deposition, alongside decreases in white matter integrity, cerebral blood flow, and glucose metabolism. Additionally, we identified a complex regional relationship between Aβ-deposition, glucose metabolism, and neural communication, possibly reflecting compensatory mechanisms.
Interventional factors influencing natural killer cell immunity in colorectal cancer: a systematic review
Authors: Soh Wai Sinn , Burns Grace L. , Senanayake Tharindu , Cameron Raquel , Duncanson Kerith , Eslick Guy D. , Prasad Sharmila S. , Smith Stephen R. , Keely Simon
Published: February 2025

Background and aim

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer globally. Despite advances in curative CRC surgery, metastatic disease remains a significant problem. Emerging evidence suggests that several commonly used perioperative interventions may influence cancer immunity through natural killer (NK) cell function or numbers. This systematic review aimed to identify the effects of standard perioperative interventions on NK cells in CRC patients.

Methods

A systematic search of four databases, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Scopus was performed up to 30th July 2024 using keywords associated with colorectal cancer, NK cells and perioperative medications. PRISMA guidelines were followed. Critical appraisal was undertaken using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tools for quasi-experimental studies and randomised controlled trials.

Results

The literature search identified 10,404 titles and abstracts for screening. Of these, 226 full-text papers were reviewed, and 16 studies were included for data extraction. Results were presented in a narrative synthesis due to study heterogeneity. In vivo studies consistently demonstrated a post-operative decrease in overall cytotoxic capacity and number of NK cells compared to pre-operative levels. This effect was observed across all examined medications, including fentanyl, morphine, propofol and oxycodone. Additionally, blood transfusion also resulted in decreased NK cell cytotoxicity and activity in CRC patients.

Conclusion

While surgical stress is one of the significant factor influencing NK cell cytotoxicity, this review indicates that perioperative intervention also contributes to decreased NK cell cytotoxicity. Our findings demonstrate that certain perioperative interventions (such as ketamine and morphine) can negatively impact NK cell cytotoxicity.