bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring STEM Teacher Educators’ Gender Awareness and Understanding of Gender-responsive Pedagogies in Kazakhstan
Authors: Almukhambetova Ainur
Published: February 2024

This qualitative interview-based study aims to fill the niche in global scholarly research on the major hindrances of women’s participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) by exploring STEM teacher educators’ gender awareness and understanding of gender-responsive pedagogies in Kazakhstan. Twenty-two teacher educators from five teacher training universities participated in the study. The study is framed by the 4Rs framework (based on Fraser’s social justice theory), which uses the concepts of recognition, redistribution, representation, and reconciliation with respect to socio-economic and cultural processes that marginalize women from educational and employment opportunities. The study’s results offer some important insights into tensions in STEM teacher education that might have an influence on the educational and career pathways of women in STEM in the Central Asian context.
Medium of Instruction, National Identity and Attitudes Towards Gender Roles in Kazakhstan
Authors: Nam Alexandra
Published: February 2024

In Kazakhstan, most educational institutions provide instruction in Kazakh or Russian. This research uses the concepts of civic and ethnic nationalism (Smith, National Identity, University of Nevada Press, 1991) and gendered nationalism (Yuval-Davis and Anthias, Women-Nation-State, St. Martin’s Press, 1989) to look at the differences in national identity and attitudes toward gender roles between university students studying in Kazakh-medium and Russian-medium groups. Mixed-methods design of the study allowed the collection of complementary data on the topic. Around 102 ethnic Kazakh university students in Astana completed a survey (56 and 46 students from Kazakh-medium and Russian-medium groups, respectively). Twenty-four survey respondents were interviewed in-depth for complementary qualitative data on students’ experiences of encountering narratives of national identity and gender in school and university classrooms. The study found that students studying in the Kazakh language reported higher knowledge of the Kazakh language, a stronger sense of national identity, and more traditional attitudes towards gender roles than students studying in the Russian language. These findings were likewise reflected in students’ experiences of encountering narratives of national identity and gender in school and university classrooms, suggesting the pivotal role education plays in forming national identity and gender roles.
Access to Education and Labour Market Participation of Ethnic Minorities in Kazakhstan: The Case of Uzbeks
Authors: Tolesh Fariza
Published: February 2024

Minority language rights have been a sensitive matter in Kazakhstan for some time. While much research has been conducted on the situation of Slavic ethnic groups, scholars have overlooked the experiences of ethnic Uzbeks in accessing education and employment in the Kazakhstani labour market. This study seeks to fill that gap by conducting 20 interviews with ethnic Uzbeks and using descriptive statistics within the 4Rs framework to gain insights into ethnic Uzbek experiences in the Kazakhstani system. Churchill’s typology is employed to analyse policy responses to the linguistic and educational needs of ethnic Uzbeks. The study’s findings demonstrate that, despite some level of discrimination, ethnic Uzbeks in Kazakhstan face no insurmountable barriers to accessing education and professional development. However, the use of the Uzbek language appears to be declining among this population, indicating a substantial language shift, whereby a community uses less of their traditional language in favour of a dominant or majority language. It is possible that the government’s language policies, which prioritise the use of Kazakh and Russian, are contributing to this assimilation trend.
Null energy condition violation during inflation and pulsar timing array observations
Authors: Ye Gen , Zhu Mian , Cai Yong
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Recently, evidence of stochastic gravitational wave background (SGWB) signals observed by pulsar timing array (PTA) collaborations, has prompted investigations into their origins. We explore the compatibility of a proposed inflationary scenario, incorporating an intermediate null energy condition (NEC)-violating phase, with the PTA observations. The NEC violation potentially amplifies the primordial tensor power spectrum, offering a promising explanation for PTA observations. Numerical analyses, primarily focused on NANOGrav’s 15-year results, reveal the model’s compatibility with PTA data. Notably, the model predicts a nearly scale-invariant GW spectrum in the mHz frequency range, which sets our scenario apart from other interpretations predicting a red primordial GW spectrum on smaller scales.
N4-acetylcytidine modifies primary microRNAs for processing in cancer cells
Authors: Zhang Hailong , Lu Runhui , Huang Jiayi , Li Lian , Cao Yingting , Huang Caihu , Chen Ran , Wang Yanli , Huang Jian , Zhao Xian , Yu Jianxiu
Published: February 2024

N4 acetylcytidine (ac4C) modification mainly occurs on tRNA, rRNA, and mRNA, playing an important role in the expression of genetic information. However, it is still unclear whether microRNAs have undergone ac4C modification and their potential physiological and pathological functions. In this study, we identified that NAT10/THUMPD1 acetylates primary microRNAs (pri-miRNAs) with ac4C modification. Knockdown of NAT10 suppresses and augments the expression levels of mature miRNAs and pri-miRNAs, respectively. Molecular mechanism studies found that pri-miRNA ac4C promotes the processing of pri-miRNA into precursor miRNA (pre-miRNA) by enhancing the interaction of pri-miRNA and DGCR8, thereby increasing the biogenesis of mature miRNA. Knockdown of NAT10 attenuates the oncogenic characters of lung cancer cells by regulating miRNA production in cancers. Moreover, NAT10 is highly expressed in various clinical cancers and negatively correlated with poor prognosis. Thus, our results reveal that NAT10 plays a crucial role in cancer initiation and progression by modulating pri-miRNA ac4C to affect miRNA production, which would provide an attractive therapeutic strategy for cancers.
Horizontal migration of zooplankton in lake–wetland interfaces. Can temperature-driven surface exchange flows modulate its patterns?
Authors: Pereira Joana Luísa , Lopes Ana Sofia , Silva Júlia , Vidal Tânia , Abrantes Nelson , Santos Daniela , Brito Moisés , Ferreira Rui M. L. , Gonçalves Fernando J. M. , Ricardo Ana Margarida
Published: February 2024

Lake ecology can be affected by exchange flows driven by horizontal temperature gradients in lake–wetland interfaces. In this work, we investigate the hypothesis that thermally driven flows modulate the horizontal migration patterns of freshwater zooplankters. A 48-h field campaign in a shallow lake (Lake Vela, Quiaios, Portugal) was carried out to test this hypothesis. Thermal differences between the littoral and limnetic areas were measured along two transects featuring a Schoenoplectus lacustris and a Myriophyllum aquaticum stand in the littoral. In parallel, the physiochemistry and chlorophyll a, as a proxy for food availability differences between the littoral and the limnetic zones, were monitored. Zooplankton samples were collected for assessing overall and group-specific number-density differences. The diel period (day or night) and the site (littoral or limnetic zone) did not interact significantly to modulate the variation patterns for the studied physiochemical variables, indicating that these parameters should not explain horizontal zooplankton distribution patterns. The expected patterns for zooplankton diel horizontal migration as driven by the presence of visual predators were occasionally confirmed by our limnetic versus littoral abundance records through time, depending on the transect. Group-specific abundance patterns indicate particular features: copepods always preferred the littoral over the limnetic zone regardless of the diel period; chydorids always preferred the littoral zone regardless of the macrophyte stand involved; bosminids tended to preferentially concentrate in the limnetic zone. No consistent relationship was identified between the expected flow direction due to temperature differences and zooplankton abundance changes, although it occasionally occurred through the dataset.
Families of relatively exact Lagrangians, free loop spaces and generalised homology
Authors: Porcelli Noah W.
Published: February 2024

We prove that (under appropriate orientation conditions, depending on R) a Hamiltonian isotopy $$\psi ^1$$

ψ
1

of a symplectic manifold $$(M, \omega )$$

(
M
,
ω
)

fixing a relatively exact Lagrangian L setwise must act trivially on $$R_*(L)$$

R

∗

(
L
)

, where $$R_*$$

R

∗

is some generalised homology theory. We use a strategy inspired by that of Hu et al. (Geom Topol 15:1617–1650, 2011), who proved an analogous result over $${\mathbb {Z}}/2$$

Z
/
2

and over $${\mathbb {Z}}$$
Z
under stronger orientation assumptions. However the differences in our approaches let us deduce that if L is a homotopy sphere, $$\psi ^1|_L$$

ψ
1

|

L

is homotopic to the identity. Our technical set-up differs from both theirs and that of Cohen et al. (in: Algebraic topology, Springer, Berlin, 2019) and Cohen (in: The Floer memorial volume, Birkhäuser, Basel). We also prove (under similar conditions) that $$\psi ^1|_L$$

ψ
1

|

L

acts trivially on $$R_*({\mathcal {L}}L)$$

R

∗

(
L
L
)

, where $${\mathcal {L}}L$$

L
L

is the free loop space of L. From this we deduce that when L is a surface or a $$K(\pi , 1)$$

K
(
π
,
1
)

, $$\psi ^1|_L$$

ψ
1

|

L

is homotopic to the identity. Using methods of Lalonde and McDuff (Topology 42:309–347, 2003), we also show that given a family of Lagrangians all of which are Hamiltonian isotopic to L over a sphere or a torus, the associated fibre bundle cohomologically splits over $${\mathbb {Z}}/2$$

Z
/
2

.
Prehospital management of chest injuries in severely injured patients—a systematic review and clinical practice guideline update
Authors: Waydhas Christian , Prediger Barbara , Kamp Oliver , Kleber Christian , Nohl André , Schulz-Drost Stefan , Schreyer Christof , Schwab Robert , Struck Manuel Florian , Breuing Jessica , Trentzsch Heiko
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Our aim was to review and update the existing evidence-based and consensus-based recommendations for the management of chest injuries in patients with multiple and/or severe injuries in the prehospital setting. This guideline topic is part of the 2022 update of the German Guideline on the Treatment of Patients with Multiple and/or Severe Injuries.

Methods

MEDLINE and Embase were systematically searched to May 2021. Further literature reports were obtained from clinical experts. Randomised controlled trials, prospective cohort studies, cross-sectional studies, and comparative registry studies were included if they compared interventions for the detection and management of chest injuries in severely injured patients in the prehospital setting. We considered patient-relevant clinical outcomes such as mortality and diagnostic test accuracy. Risk of bias was assessed using NICE 2012 checklists. The evidence was synthesised narratively, and expert consensus was used to develop recommendations and determine their strength.

Results

Two new studies were identified, both investigating the accuracy of in-flight ultrasound in the detection of pneumothorax. Two new recommendations were developed, one recommendation was modified. One of the two new recommendations and the modified recommendation address the use of ultrasound for detecting traumatic pneumothorax. One new good (clinical) practice point (GPP) recommends the use of an appropriate vented dressing in the management of open pneumothorax. Eleven recommendations were confirmed as unchanged because no new high-level evidence was found to support a change.

Conclusion

Some evidence suggests that ultrasound should be considered to identify pneumothorax in the prehospital setting. Otherwise, the recommendations from 2016 remained unchanged.
Precise colocalization of sorghum’s major chilling tolerance locus with Tannin1 due to tight linkage drag rather than antagonistic pleiotropy
Authors: Schuh Anthony , Felderhoff Terry J. , Marla Sandeep , Morris Geoffrey P.
Published: February 2024

Chilling tolerance in crops can increase resilience through longer growing seasons, drought escape, and nitrogen use efficiency. In sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench), breeding for chilling tolerance has been stymied by coinheritance of the largest-effect chilling tolerance locus, qSbCT04.62, with the major gene underlying undesirable grain proanthocyanidins, WD40 transcriptional regulator Tannin1. To test if this coinheritance is due to antagonistic pleiotropy of Tannin1, we developed and studied near-isogenic lines (NILs) carrying chilling tolerant haplotypes at qCT04.62. Whole-genome sequencing of the NILs revealed introgressions spanning part of the qCT04.62 confidence interval, including the Tannin1 gene and an ortholog of Arabidopsis cold regulator CBF/DREB1G. Segregation pattern of grain tannin in NILs confirmed the presence of wildtype Tannin1 and the reconstitution of a functional MYB-bHLH-WD40 regulatory complex. Low-temperature germination did not differ between NILs, suggesting that Tannin1 does not modulate this component of chilling tolerance. Similarly, NILs did not differ in seedling growth rate under either of two contrasting controlled environment chilling scenarios. Finally, while the chilling tolerant parent line had notably different photosynthetic responses from the susceptible parent line – including greater non-photochemical quenching before, during, and after chilling – the NIL responses match the susceptible parent. Thus, our findings suggest that tight linkage drag, not pleiotropy, underlies the precise colocalization of Tan1 with qCT04.62 and the qCT04.62 quantitative trait nucleotide lies outside the NIL introgressions. Breaking linkage at this locus should advance chilling tolerance breeding in sorghum and the identification of a novel chilling tolerance regulator.
Existence of conformal symplectic foliations on closed manifolds
Authors: Gironella Fabio , Toussaint Lauran
Published: February 2024

We study the existence of symplectic and conformal symplectic (codimension-1) foliations on closed manifolds of dimension $$\ge 5$$

≥
5

. Our main theorem, based on a recent result by Bertelson–Meigniez, states that in dimension at least 7 any almost contact structure is homotopic to a conformal symplectic foliation. In dimension 5 we construct explicit conformal symplectic foliations on every closed, simply-connected, almost contact manifold, as well as honest symplectic foliations on a large subset of them. Lastly, via round-connected sums, we obtain, on closed manifolds, examples of conformal symplectic foliations which admit a linear deformation to contact structures.
Subthalamic high-frequency deep brain stimulation reduces addiction-like alcohol use and the possible negative influence of a peer presence
Authors: Vignal Lucie , Vielle Cassandre , Williams Maya , Maurice Nicolas , Degoulet Mickael , Baunez Christelle
Published: February 2024

Rationale

The immediate social context significantly influences alcohol consumption in humans. Recent studies have revealed that peer presence could modulate drugs use in rats. The most efficient condition to reduce cocaine intake is the presence of a stranger peer, naive to drugs. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the Subthalamic Nucleus (STN), which was shown to have beneficial effects on addiction to cocaine or alcohol, also modulates the protective influence of peer’s presence on cocaine use.

Objectives

This study aimed to: 1) explore how the presence of an alcohol-naive stranger peer affects recreational and escalated alcohol intake, and 2) assess the involvement of STN on alcohol use and in the modulation induced by the presence of an alcohol-naïve stranger peer.

Methods

Rats with STN DBS and control animals self-administered 10% (v/v) ethanol in presence, or absence, of an alcohol-naive stranger peer, before and after escalation of ethanol intake (observed after intermittent alcohol (20% (v/v) ethanol) access).

Results

Neither STN DBS nor the presence of an alcohol-naive stranger peer modulated significantly recreational alcohol intake. After the escalation procedure, STN DBS reduced ethanol consumption. The presence of an alcohol-naive stranger peer increased consumption only in low drinkers, which effect was suppressed by STN DBS.

Conclusions

These results highlight the influence of a peer’s presence on escalated alcohol intake, and confirm the role of STN in addiction-like alcohol intake and in the social influence on drug consumption.
Value of radiological depth of invasion in non-pT4 Oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma: implication for preoperative MR T-staging
Authors: Huang Wenjie , Zhang Yu , Fu Gui , Huang Manqian , Luo Guangfeng , Xie Hui , Liang Zhiying , Cao Di , Li Shuqi , Luo Chao , Li Haojiang , Gao Jiexin , Nie Rongcheng , Ruan Guangying , Li Hao , Liu Lizhi
Published: February 2024

Objective

The prognostic stratification for oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) is heavily based on postoperative pathological depth of invasion (pDOI). This study aims to propose a preoperative MR T-staging system based on tumor size for non-pT4 OTSCC.

Methods

Retrospectively, 280 patients with biopsy-confirmed, non-metastatic, pT1-3 OTSCC, treated between January 2010 and December 2017, were evaluated. Multiple MR sequences, including axial T2-weighted imaging (WI), unenhanced T1WI, and axial, fat-suppressed coronal, and sagittal contrast-enhanced (CE) T1WI, were utilized to measure radiological depth of invasion (rDOI), tumor thickness, and largest diameter. Intra-class correlation (ICC) and univariate and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate measurement reproducibility, and factors’ significance, respectively. Cutoff values were established using an exhaustive method.

Results

Intra-observer (ICC = 0.81–0.94) and inter-observer (ICC = 0.79–0.90) reliability were excellent for rDOI measurements, and all measurements were significantly associated with overall survival (OS) (all p < .001). Measuring the rDOI on axial CE-T1WI with cutoffs of 8 mm and 12 mm yielded an optimal MR T-staging system for rT1-3 disease (5-year OS of rT1 vs rT2 vs rT3: 94.0% vs 72.8% vs 57.5%). Using multivariate analyses, the proposed T-staging exhibited increasingly worse OS (hazard ratio of rT2 and rT3 versus rT1, 3.56 [1.35–9.6], p = .011; 4.33 [1.59–11.74], p = .004; respectively), which outperformed pathological T-staging based on nonoverlapping Kaplan–Meier curves and improved C-index (0.682 vs. 0.639, p < .001).

Conclusions

rDOI is a critical predictor of OTSCC mortality and facilitates preoperative prognostic stratification, which should be considered in future oral subsite MR T-staging.

Clinical relevance statement

Utilizing axial CE-T1WI, an MR T-staging system for non-pT4 OTSCC was developed by employing rDOI measurement with optimal thresholds of 8 mm and 12 mm, which is comparable with pathological staging and merits consideration in future preoperative oral subsite planning.

Key Points

• Tumor morphology, measuring sequences, and observers could impact MR-derived measurements and compromise the consistency with histology.

• MR-derived measurements, including radiological depth of invasion (rDOI), tumor thickness, and largest diameter, have a prognostic impact on OS (all p < .001).

• rDOI with cutoffs of 8 mm and 12 mm on axial CE-T1WI is an optimal predictor of OS and could facilitate risk stratification in non-pT4 OTSCC disease.
Validation of key Arctic energy and water budget components in CMIP6
Authors: Winkelbauer Susanna , Mayer Michael , Haimberger Leopold
Published: February 2024

We investigate historical simulations of relevant components of the Arctic energy and water budgets for 39 Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) models and validate them against observation-based estimates. We look at simulated seasonal cycles, long-term averages and trends of lateral transports and storage rates in atmosphere and ocean as well as vertical fluxes at top-of-atmosphere and the surface. We find large inter-model spreads and systematic biases in the representation of annual cycles and long-term averages. Surface freshwater fluxes associated with precipitation and evaporation as well as runoff from Arctic lands tend to be overestimated by most CMIP6 models and about two thirds of the analysed models feature an early timing bias of one month in the runoff cycle phase, related to an early snow melt bias and the lack of realistic river routing schemes. Further, large biases are found for oceanic volume transports, partly because data required for accurate oceanic transport computations has not been archived. Biases are also present in the simulated energy budget components. The net vertical energy flux out of the ocean at the Arctic surface as well as poleward oceanic heat transports are systematically underestimated by all models. We find strong anti-correlation between average oceanic heat transports and mean sea ice cover, atmospheric heat transports, and also the long-term ocean warming rate. The latter strongly suggests that accurate depiction of the mean state is a prerequisite for realistic projections of future warming of the Arctic. Our diagnostics also provide useful process-based metrics for model selection to constrain projections.
Cryptic exon inclusion is a molecular signature of LATE-NC in aging brains
Authors: Chung Mingee , Carter E. Kathleen , Veire Austin M. , Dammer Eric B. , Chang Jianjun , Duong Duc M. , Raj Nisha , Bassell Gary J. , Glass Jonathan D. , Gendron Tania F. , Nelson Peter T. , Levey Allan I. , Seyfried Nicholas T. , McEachin Zachary T.
Published: February 2024

The aggregation, mislocalization, and phosphorylation of TDP-43 are pathologic hallmarks of several neurodegenerative diseases and provide a defining criterion for the neuropathologic diagnosis of Limbic-predominant Age-related TDP-43 Encephalopathy (LATE). LATE neuropathologic changes (LATE-NC) are often comorbid with other neurodegenerative pathologies including Alzheimer’s disease neuropathologic changes (ADNC). We examined whether TDP-43 regulated cryptic exons accumulate in the hippocampus of neuropathologically confirmed LATE-NC cases. We found that several cryptic RNAs are robustly expressed in LATE-NC cases with or without comorbid ADNC and correlate with pTDP-43 abundance; however, the accumulation of cryptic RNAs is more robust in LATE-NC with comorbid ADNC. Additionally, cryptic RNAs can robustly distinguish LATE-NC from healthy controls and AD cases. These findings expand our current understanding and provide novel potential biomarkers for LATE pathogenesis.
Comparison between the open and the laparoscopic approach in the primary ventral hernia repair: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Martins Márcia Regina , Santos-Sousa Hugo , do Vale Miguel Alves , Bouça-Machado Raquel , Barbosa Elisabete , Sousa-Pinto Bernardo
Published: February 2024

Background

Ventral hernia repair underwent various developments in the previous decade. Laparoscopic primary ventral hernia repair may be an alternative to open repair since it prevents large abdominal incisions. However, whether laparoscopy improves clinical outcomes has not been systematically assessed.

Objectives

The aim is to compare the clinical outcomes of the laparoscopic versus open approach of primary ventral hernias.

Methods

A systematic search of MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials was conducted in February 2023. All randomized controlled trials comparing laparoscopy with the open approach in patients with a primary ventral hernia were included. A fixed-effects meta-analysis of risk ratios was performed for hernia recurrence, local infection, wound dehiscence, and local seroma. Meta-analysis for weighted mean differences was performed for postoperative pain, duration of surgery, length of hospital stay, and time until return to work.

Results

Nine studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The overall hernia recurrence was twice less likely to occur in laparoscopy (RR = 0.49; 95%CI = 0.32–0.74; p < 0.001; I
2 = 29%). Local infection (RR = 0.30; 95%CI = 0.19–0.49; p < 0.001; I
2 = 0%), wound dehiscence (RR = 0.08; 95%CI = 0.02–0.32; p < 0.001; I
2 = 0%), and local seroma (RR = 0.34; 95%CI = 0.19–0.59; p < 0.001; I
2 = 14%) were also significantly less likely in patients undergoing laparoscopy. Severe heterogeneity was obtained when pooling data on postoperative pain, duration of surgery, length of hospital stay, and time until return to work.

Conclusion

The results of available studies are controversial and have a high risk of bias, small sample sizes, and no well-defined protocols. However, the laparoscopic approach seems associated with a lower frequency of hernia recurrence, local infection, wound dehiscence, and local seroma.
Exploring reciprocal causation: bidirectional mendelian randomization study of gut microbiota composition and thyroid cancer
Authors: Zhou Jiating , Zhang Xuan , Xie Zilan , Li Zhi
Published: February 2024

Background

While an association between gut microbiota composition and thyroid cancer (TC) has been observed, the directionality and causality of this relationship remain unclear.

Methods

We conducted a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the causal effect between gut microbiota composition and TC. Gut microbiota data were derived from a diverse population encompassing various ethnicities (n = 18,340 samples), while TC data were sourced from an European population (n = 218,792 samples). Instrumental variables, represented by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), were employed to assess the causal relationship using multiple MR methods, including inverse-variance weighting (IVW), weighted median, weighted mode, MR-Egger, and simple mode. F-statistics and sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the robustness of the findings.

Results

Our investigation identified a comprehensive set of 2934 instrumental variables significantly linked to gut microbiota composition (p < 1 × 10-5). The analysis illuminated notable candidates within the phylum Euryarchaeota, including families Christensenellaceae and Victivallaceae, and genera Methanobrevibacter, Ruminococcus2, and Subdoligranulum, which emerged as potential risk factors for TC. On the other hand, a protective influence against TC was attributed to class Betaproteobacteria, family FamilyXI, and genera Anaerofilum, Odoribacter, and Sutterella, alongside order Burkholderiales. Further enhancing our insights, the integration of 7 instrumental variables from TC data (p < 1 × 10-5) disclosed the regulatory potential of one family and five genera. Notably, the genus Coprobacter innocuum group (p = 0.012, OR = 0.944) exhibited the highest probability of regulation. Our meticulous analyses remained free from significant bias, heterogeneity, or horizontal pleiotropy concerns.

Conclusion

Through a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization approach, we elucidated a potential bidirectional causal relationship between gut microbiota composition and TC. Specific microbial taxa were associated with an increased risk or conferred protection against TC. These findings advance our understanding of the complex interplay between the gut microbiota and TC pathogenesis, offering new insights into the therapeutic potential of modulating the gut microbiota for managing TC.
On the Parameterized Intractability of Determinant Maximization
Authors: Ohsaka Naoto
Published: February 2024

In the Determinant Maximization problem, given an $$n \times n$$

n
×
n

positive semi-definite matrix $${\textbf {A}} $$
A
in $$\mathbb {Q}^{n \times n}$$

Q

n
×
n

and an integer k, we are required to find a $$k \times k$$

k
×
k

principal submatrix of $${\textbf {A}} $$
A
having the maximum determinant. This problem is known to be -hard and further proven to be [1]-hard with respect to k by Koutis (Inf Process Lett 100:8–13, 2006); i.e., a $$f(k)n^{{{\,\mathrm{\mathcal {O}}\,}}(1)}$$

f

(
k
)

n

O

(
1
)

-time algorithm is unlikely to exist for any computable function f. However, there is still room to explore its parameterized complexity in the restricted case, in the hope of overcoming the general-case parameterized intractability. In this study, we rule out the fixed-parameter tractability of Determinant Maximization even if an input matrix is extremely sparse or low rank, or an approximate solution is acceptable. We first prove that Determinant Maximization is -hard and [1]-hard even if an input matrix is an arrowhead matrix; i.e., the underlying graph formed by nonzero entries is a star, implying that the structural sparsity is not helpful. By contrast, Determinant Maximization is known to be solvable in polynomial time on tridiagonal matrices (Al-Thani and Lee, in: LAGOS, 2021). Thereafter, we demonstrate the [1]-hardness with respect to the rankr of an input matrix. Our result is stronger than Koutis’ result in the sense that any $$k \times k$$

k
×
k

principal submatrix is singular whenever $$k > r$$

k
>
r

. We finally give evidence that it is [1]-hard to approximate Determinant Maximization parameterized by k within a factor of $$2^{-c\sqrt{k}}$$

2

-
c

k

for some universal constant $$c > 0$$

c
>
0

. Our hardness result is conditional on the Parameterized Inapproximability Hypothesis posed by Lokshtanov et al. (in: SODA, 2020), which asserts that a gap version of Binary Constraint Satisfaction Problem is [1]-hard. To complement this result, we develop an $$\varepsilon $$
ε
-additive approximation algorithm that runs in $$\varepsilon ^{-r^2} \cdot r^{{{\,\mathrm{\mathcal {O}}\,}}(r^3)} \cdot n^{{{\,\mathrm{\mathcal {O}}\,}}(1)}$$

ε

-

r
2

·

r

O

(

r
3

)

·

n

O

(
1
)

time for the rank r of an input matrix, provided that the diagonal entries are bounded.
d-Amino acids differentially trigger an inflammatory environment in vitro
Authors: Yap Siew Hwei , Lee Cheng Siang , Zulkifli Nur Diyana , Suresh Darshinie , Hamase Kenji , Das Kumitaa Theva , Rajasuriar Reena , Leong Kok Hoong
Published: February 2024

Studies in vivo have demonstrated that the accumulation of d-amino acids (d-AAs) is associated with age-related diseases and increased immune activation. However, the underlying mechanism(s) of these observations are not well defined. The metabolism of d-AAs by d-amino oxidase (DAO) produces hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a reactive oxygen species involved in several physiological processes including immune response, cell differentiation, and proliferation. Excessive levels of H2O2 contribute to oxidative stress and eventual cell death, a characteristic of age-related pathology. Here, we explored the molecular mechanisms of d-serine (d-Ser) and d-alanine (d-Ala) in human liver cancer cells, HepG2, with a focus on the production of H2O2 the downstream secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine, and subsequent cell death. In HepG2 cells, we demonstrated that d-Ser decreased H2O2 production and induced concentration-dependent depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). This was associated with the upregulation of activated NF-кB, pro-inflammatory cytokine, TNF-α, and chemokine, IL-8 secretion, and subsequent apoptosis. Conversely, d-Ala-treated cells induced H2O2 production, and were also accompanied by the upregulation of activated NF-кB, TNF-α, and IL-8, but did not cause significant apoptosis. The present study confirms the role of both d-Ser and d-Ala in inducing inflammatory responses, but each via unique activation pathways. This response was associated with apoptotic cell death only with d-Ser. Further research is required to gain a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying d-AA-induced inflammation and its downstream consequences, especially in the context of aging given the wide detection of these entities in systemic circulation.
Are midwives trained to recognise perinatal depression symptoms? Results of MAMA (MAternal Mood Assessment) cross-sectional survey in Italy
Authors: Ravaldi Claudia , Mosconi Laura , Crescioli Giada , Lombardo Giulia , Russo Ilenia , Morese Angelo , Ricca Valdo , Vannacci Alfredo
Published: February 2024

Purpose

To assess the knowledge, clinical experience, and attitudes of Italian midwives toward perinatal depression (PND) and to explore how these factors impact the quality of care.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional online survey among 152 midwives employed in public hospitals across Italy. The questionnaire covered a range of topics, including demographic data, professional experience, knowledge of PND symptoms, risk factors, and clinical management, as well as communication skills and personal experiences with PND cases.

Results

A concerning 76.3% of midwives displayed inadequate knowledge of PND based on current scientific literature. Those with a more comprehensive understanding were notably more confident in their practice, expressing significantly fewer apprehensions about communicating with mothers (25.8% vs 74.2%) and lesser concerns about the mothers’ future well-being (38.9% vs 62.95%). The survey results also emphasised the midwives’ call for specialised guidelines and formal training in PND management and underscored the value of communication skills, continuity of care, and family engagement in supporting affected mothers.

Conclusion

This inaugural study sheds light on the current state of knowledge and attitudes among Italian midwives regarding PND. It pinpoints crucial areas for educational enhancement and practice improvement, suggesting that elevated levels of midwife expertise in PND could significantly elevate the standard of care and expedite early diagnosis and treatment.
Estimation of full-scale performance of energy-saving devices using Boundary Layer Similarity model
Authors: Sadakata Katsuaki , Hino Takanori , Takagi Youhei
Published: February 2024

The recent global trend toward decarbonization is also occurring in the maritime industry and there is an urgent need to improve the fuel efficiency of ships. Various energy-saving devices (ESDs) are adopted for this purpose. However, because of the difference in the boundary layer thickness between full-scale and model-scale, it is difficult to estimate the actual performance of ESDs in a tank test. As a solution to overcome this difficulty, the Boundary Layer Similarity model (BLS model) is proposed in which only the stern part of the hull is extracted to shorten the model length and to make its boundary layer thickness equivalent to that of a full-scale ship. By using this BLS model, the performance of ESDs on a full-scale can be estimated in a model test. In the present paper, the applicability of the BLS model is investigated by CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulations of performance estimation of an energy-saving fin in different locations for a bulk carrier. It is found that the BLS model is capable of predicting the full-scale performance of the fins by the model-scale simulations. Moreover, the flow fields affected by the fins with the BLS model are similar to those of full-scale. It is expected that the use of the BLS model enables the prediction of the full-scale performance of ESDs in a model test.
Elderly-centered usability heuristics for augmented reality design and development
Authors: Nishchyk Anna , Sanderson Norun Christine , Chen Weiqin
Published: February 2024

Augmented reality (AR) technology is making rapid progress and gaining high popularity, substantially due to the variety of new possibilities that it can offer to its users, including the elderly population. However, there is a lack of guidelines, recommendations, and testing techniques to make AR effective, efficient, and satisfying for its potential users. Usability heuristics are an effective tool that can help to ensure the usability of AR systems and can be used as a guide for the design and development process as well as a checklist for usability testing. However, general well-known usability heuristics do not consider specific aspects of AR, such as hardware limitations, privacy and safety issues, comfort of use, and the high importance of the user’s environment. General heuristics also do not always consider different user groups such as the elderly and people with disabilities. In this study, we developed a set of usability heuristics for AR systems for elderly users. The development process was inspired by the eight-step methodology by Quiñones et al. (Comput Stand Interfaces 59:109–129, 2018) and consisted of two main stages: gathering the heuristics from previous publications through an integrative literature review, and content analysis and validation of the collected heuristics through expert judgment (interviews with AR experts with industrial and academic backgrounds). The proposed final set of usability heuristics consists of six categories with a total of 55 heuristics that can be used by AR designers, developers, and usability testers to ensure the usability of AR systems for elderly users.
A collaborative decision support framework for sustainable cargo composition in container shipping services
Authors: Bilican Mevlut Savas , Iris Çağatay , Karatas Mumtaz
Published: February 2024

This paper proposes a decision support system (DSS) for optimizing cargo composition, and resulting stowage plan, in a containership of a shipping company in collaboration with en-route ports in the service. Due to considerable growth in transportation over years, an increasing number of containers are being handled by containerships, and ports consequently. Trade imbalances between regions and recent disruptions, such as LA/LB/Shanghai port congestion, blocking of Suez canal, drought in Panama canal, typhoons at ports, COVID-19 restrictions and the lack- and then over-supply of empty containers, have resulted in an accumulation of containers in exporting ports around the world. These factors have underscored the urgency of sustainability and circular economy within the shipping industry. The demand for container transportation is higher than the ship capacities in the recent times. In this regard, it is essential for shipping companies to generate a cargo composition plan for each service by selecting and transporting containers with relatively high financial returns, while offering a realistic stowage plan considering ship stability, capacity limitations and port operations. Ultimately, the selected containers should enable a ship stowage plan which keeps the ship seaworthy obeying complex stability considerations and minimizes the vessel stay at the ports, and port carbon emissions consequently, through efficient collaboration with en-route ports. This study provides a bi-level programming based DSS that selects the set of containers to be loaded at each port of service and generates a detailed stowage plan considering revenue, stowage efficiency and quay crane operational considerations. Numerical experiments indicate that the proposed DSS is capable of returning high-quality solutions within reasonable solution times for all ship sizes, cargo contents and shipping routes, supporting the principles of the circular economy in the maritime domain.
Short-Term Spatiotemporal Variability in Seawater Carbonate Chemistry at Two Contrasting Reef Locations in Bocas del Toro, Panama
Authors: Pedersen Katelin , Cyronak Tyler , Goodrich Morgan , Kline David I. , Linsmayer Lauren B. , Torres Ralph , Tresguerres Martin , Andersson Andreas J.
Published: February 2024

There is growing concern about the effects of ocean acidification (OA) on coral reefs, with many studies indicating decreasing calcium carbonate production and reef growth. However, to accurately predict how coral reefs will respond to OA, it is necessary to characterize natural carbonate chemistry conditions, including the spatiotemporal mean and variability and the physical and biogeochemical drivers across different environments. In this study, spatial and temporal physiochemical variability was characterized at two contrasting reef locations in Bocas del Toro, Panama, that differed in their benthic community composition, reef morphology, and exposure to open ocean conditions, using a combination of approaches including autonomous sensors and spatial surveys during November 2015. Mean and diurnal temporal variability in both physical and chemical seawater parameters were similar between sites and sampling depths, but with occasional differences in extreme values. The magnitude of spatial variability was different between the two sites, which reflected the cumulative effect from terrestrial runoff and benthic metabolism. Based on graphical vector analysis of TA–DIC data, reef metabolism was dominated by organic over inorganic carbon cycling at both sites, with net heterotrophy and net calcium carbonate dissolution dominating the majority of observations. The results also highlight the potentially strong influence of terrestrial freshwater runoff on surface seawater conditions, and the challenges associated with evaluating and characterizing this influence on benthic habitats. The Bocas del Toro reef is a unique system that deserves attention to better understand the mechanisms that allow corals and coral reefs to persist under increasingly challenging environmental conditions.
Investigating the role of tumour-to-skin proximity in predicting nodal metastasis in breast cancer
Authors: Sivakanthan Thiviya , Tanner J. , Mahata B. , Agrawal A.
Published: February 2024

Background

Understanding the factors influencing nodal status in breast cancer is vital for axillary staging, therapy, and patient survival. The nodal stage remains a crucial factor in prognostication indices. This study investigates the relationship between tumour-to-skin distance (in T1–T3 tumours where the skin is not clinically involved) and the risk of nodal metastasis.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed data from 100 patients who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Besides patient demographics and tumour variables, a radiologist retrospectively reviewed pre-operative MRI to measure tumour-to-skin distance. R core packages were used for univariate (χ2 and T-Wilcoxon tests) and bivariate logistic regression statistical analysis.

Results

Of 95 analysable datasets, patients’ median age was 51 years (IQR: 42–61), 97% were symptomatic (rest screen detected), and the median tumour size was 43 mm (IQR, 26–52). On multivariate analysis, increasing invasive tumour size (p = 0.02), ER positivity (p = 0.007) and shorter tumour-to-skin distance (p = 0.05) correlated with nodal metastasis.  HER2 was not included in multivariate analysis as there was no association with nodal status on univariate analysis. In node-positive tumours, as tumour size increased, the tumour-to-skin distance decreased (r = − 0.34, p = 0.026). In node-negative tumours, there was no correlation (r = + 0.18, p = 0.23).

Conclusion

This study shows that non-locally advanced cancers closer to the skin (and consequent proximity to subdermal lymphatics) are associated with a greater risk of nodal metastasis. Pre-operative identification of those more likely to be node positive may suggest the need for a second-look USS since a higher nodal stage may lead to a change in therapeutic strategies, such as upfront systemic therapy, node marking, and axillary clearance without the need to return to theatre following sentinel node biopsy.
Assessment of the acetylation process of wheat straw pulp as sustainable rheological modifier for non-polar fluids
Authors: Trejo-Cáceres M. , Sánchez M. Carmen , Martín-Alfonso J. E.
Published: February 2024

The main aim of this work was to study the role of the acetylation process of wheat straw pulp on its ability to rheologically modify two of the most important non-polar engineering fluid: bitumen and oil. Pulp was produced by a pilot-scale kraft pulping process from local wheat straw. Pulp was functionalized with acetic anhydride and sulfuric acid as a catalyst by modifying (temperature, pulp/acetic anhydride mass ratio, and reaction time. Further, chemical, morphological and thermal changes induced by the acetylation process were properly assessed. Acetylated wheat straw pulp dispersions in oil showed gel-like behaviour, with a mechanical spectrum characterized by higher values of the storage modulus (G′) and a minimum in the loss modulus (G″) at intermediate frequencies. The complex modulus (G*) for bitumen dispersions formulated with acetylated samples was up to 4 times higher than neat bitumen, and the phase angle (δ) indicated an enhancement in the elastic behavior parameters. The rheological response of these systems was associated with the microstructural network formed by pulp fibers and the balance between the physical and chemical changes of wheat straw fibers. According to the experimental results obtained, it can be concluded that acetylation is a relevant chemical treatment to modulate the rheological properties of wheat straw pulp dispersions in non-polar fluids, improving the compatibility between pulp fibers and these engineering fluids. Accordingly, this study provides valuable insights into the development of sustainable multiphasic materials (bitumen binders and semi-solid lubricants) for industrial applications.
Putting a New ‘Spin’ on Energy Information: Measuring the Impact of Reframing Energy Efficiency Information on Tumble Dryer Choices in a Multi-country Experiment
Authors: Ceolotto S. , Denny E.
Published: February 2024

It has been shown that consumers often underinvest in energy efficiency despite net benefits over the longer term. One possible explanation is that they do not properly understand energy information when provided in physical units, as in most energy labels. Prior studies have investigated the effect of reframing energy information into monetary units. Outcomes are mixed, and it is unclear whether this is due to the use of different products, methodologies or to studies being conducted in countries with different energy prices and labelling standards. This paper overcomes this ambiguity by testing the effect of providing monetary energy information using the same experiment in a multi-country setting. Results show that the intervention’s effectiveness varies considerably across countries. Moreover, they highlight the presence of within-country heterogeneities based on demographic characteristics, with monetary information being more effective for high-usage households but seemingly crowding out the motivation of those whose purchasing decisions depend on environmental considerations.
A constructivist and pragmatic training framework for blockchain education for IT practitioners
Authors: Leung Alven C. Y. , Liu Dennis Y. W. , Luo Xiapu , Au Man Ho
Published: February 2024

Blockchain is a newly emerging technology in the past decade that has significantly impacted various aspects. “Scientific popularization” among IT practitioners on this technology and its use cases become a pressing need. However, constructing an effective blockchain teaching approach for this purpose is a challenging task. A training framework consisting of constructivist and pragmatic approaches is proposed, aiming to provide IT practitioners with an effective Teaching and Learning (T &L) process about blockchain on both theory and application aspects. The outcomes of this study are to 1) propose an effective teaching methodology, 2) assess the effectiveness of constructivist and pragmatic approaches and 3) extract the elements facilitating blockchain T &L. Mixed quantitative and qualitative research methods were adopted, including questionnaires and knowledge quizzes. 1267 participants were involved in the training that implemented the proposed framework. Their performance and responses indicated that the framework is effective and flexible. The findings from this empirical research can serve as a reference for educators in blockchain to implement a systemic approach that facilitates the T &L process and improves the field of blockchain and education in the future.