bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing the Effectiveness of Environmental Approach-Based Learning in Developing Science Process Skills and Cognitive Achievement in Young Children
Authors: AlAli Rommel Mahmoud , Al-Barakat Ali Ahmad
Published: November 2024

The current study assessed the effectiveness of an environmental approach-based learning method in developing primary science process skills and enhancing cognitive achievement among children. Utilizing validated instruments, this study involved 62 children who were divided into two groups: an experimental group of 32 children, who received instruction based on the environmental approach, and a control group of 30 children, who were taught using conventional methods. The results indicated that the experimental group achieved significantly higher scores on both the science process skills test and the achievement test compared to the control group. Statistical analyses confirmed these differences, demonstrating the superior performance of the experimental group. These findings provide robust evidence of the effectiveness of environmental approach-based learning in improving science process skills and cognitive achievement. It is recommended that early childhood science educators integrate environmental approach-based learning into their science education practices to enhance scientific understanding and engagement among young learners.
Examining the Factor Structure and Validity of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21
Authors: Jacobsen Grant , Casanova Madeline P. , Dluzniewski Alexandra , Reeves Ashley J. , Baker Russell T.
Published: November 2024

Background: The prevalence of mental health disorders calls for valid and reliable instruments that are easy to administer and assess for clinicians and researchers. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) is a commonly used instrument to assess psychological distress; however, model fit and internal reliability issues have been reported. Our objective was to assess the factorial and structural validity of the DASS-21. Methods: A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted on the full sample (n = 1036) to assess the proposed three-factor DASS-21 using a priori cut-off values. Because model fit indices were not met, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to identify a parsimonious model. The resulting three-factor structure (i.e., DASS-9) was then assessed using CFA and multigroup invariance testing procedures. Results: The proposed three-factor DASS-21 did not meet model fit criteria. The DASS-9 did meet recommended model fit criteria and was invariant between sex, injury status, mental health diagnosis, and activity level groups. Statistically different group means were found between mental health diagnosis and activity level groups, while no differences between sex or injury status groups were found. Conclusions: The current study provides support to use a condensed DASS-21 instrument, such as the DASS-9. Future research is necessary to establish the DASS-9 prior to its adoption in research and clinical practice. Additionally, there is a need to identify and review all condensed versions of the DASS-21, so individuals know which instrument can be used for clinical or research purposes.
SLDPSO-TA: Track Assignment Algorithm Based on Social Learning Discrete Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Cai Huayang , Zhou Ruping , Huang Pengcheng , Jing Yidan , Liu Genggeng
Published: November 2024

In modern circuit design, the short-circuit problem is one of the key factors affecting routability. With the continuous reduction in feature sizes, the short-circuit problem grows significantly in detailed routing. Track assignment, as a crucial intermediary phase between global routing and detailed routing, plays a vital role in preprocessing the short-circuit problem. However, existing track assignment algorithms face the challenge of easily falling into local optimality. As a typical swarm intelligence technique, particle swarm optimization (PSO) is a powerful tool with excellent optimization ability to solve large-scale problems. To address the above issue, we propose an effective track assignment algorithm based on social learning discrete particle swarm optimization (SLDPSO-TA). First, an effective wire model that considers the local nets is proposed. By considering the pin distribution of local nets, this model extracts and allocates more segments to fully leverage the role of track assignment. Second, an integer encoding strategy is employed to ensure that particles within the encoding space range correspond one-to-one with the assignment scheme, effectively expanding the search space. Third, a social learning mode based on the example pool is introduced to PSO, which is composed of other particles that are superior to the current particle. By learning from various objects in the example pool, the diversity of the population is improved. Fourth, a negotiation-based refining strategy is utilized to further reduce overlap. This strategy intelligently transfers and redistributes wire segments in congested areas to reduce congestion across the entire routing panel. Experimental results on multiple benchmarks demonstrate that the proposed SLDPSO-TA can achieve the best overlap cost optimization among all the existing methods, effectively reducing congestion in critical routing areas.
Transient and Steady-State Evaluation of Distributed Generation in Medium-Voltage Distribution Networks
Authors: Guillén-López Daniel , Serrano-Guerrero Xavier , Barragán-Escandón Antonio , Clairand Jean-Michel
Published: November 2024

As power generation systems with increasingly higher capacities are interconnected with distribution networks, a pressing need arises for a thorough analysis of their integration and the subsequent impacts on medium-voltage lines. This study conducts a comprehensive evaluation, encompassing both steady-state and transient behaviours, leading to a holistic assessment of a real-world biogas generation system integrated into a medium-voltage network. Although the methodology does not introduce revolutionary concepts, its detailed application on a real feeder under various operating conditions adds practical value to the existing body of knowledge. The methodology explores various aspects, including voltage profiles, load capacity, power losses, short-circuit currents, and protection coordination in steady-state conditions. Additionally, a transient analysis is performed to examine the system’s response under fault conditions. This systematic approach provides a deep understanding of the system’s behaviour across diverse operational scenarios, enriching the field with practical insights. The key contributions of this study include identifying the effects of distributed generation systems (DGSs) on short-circuit currents, protection coordination, and defining voltage levels that briefly exceed the CBEMA quality curve. The benefits of incorporating a generation system into a distribution network are discussed from various technical perspectives. In a peak demand scenario, with a 1.72 MW generation capacity, the phase current experiences a notable reduction of 35.78%. Concurrently, the minimum peak demand voltage increases from 12.62 to 12.83 kV compared to a nominal voltage of 12.7 kV. Furthermore, the contribution of the generation system to the short-circuit current remains minimal, staying below 4% even under the most adverse conditions. However, our findings reveal that voltage levels exceed the upper limit of the CBEMA quality curve briefly during a single-phase fault with generation, which could potentially damage electronic equipment connected to the grid. Nonetheless, the likelihood of encountering a single-phase grounding fault with zero resistance remains low.
Sky Temperature Forecasting in Djibouti: An Integrated Approach Using Measured Climate Data and Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Abdi Hamda , Idris Abdou , Tran Le Anh Dung
Published: November 2024

Buildings exchange heat with different environmental elements: the sun, the outside air, the sky, and outside surfaces (including the walls of environmental buildings and the ground). To correctly account for building energy performance, radiative cooling potential, and other technical considerations, it is essential to evaluate sky temperature. It is an important parameter for the weather files used by energy building simulation software for calculating the longwave radiation heat exchange between exterior surfaces and the sky. In the literature, there are several models to estimate sky temperature. However, these models have not been completely satisfactory for the hot and humid climate in which the sky temperature remains overestimated. The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the sky temperature measurement conducted, for the first time, in Djibouti, with a pyrgeometer, a tool designed to measure longwave radiation as a component of thermal radiation, and an artificial neural network (ANN) model for improved sky temperature forecasting. A systematic comparison of known correlations for sky temperature estimation under various climatic conditions revealed their limited accuracy in the region, as indicated by low R2 values and root mean square errors (RMSEs). To address these limitations, an ANN model was trained, validated, and tested on the collected data to capture complex patterns and relationships in the data. The ANN model demonstrated superior performance over existing empirical correlations, providing more accurate and reliable sky temperature predictions for Djibouti’s hot and humid climate. This study showcases the effectiveness of an integrated approach using pyrgeometer-based sky temperature measurements and advanced machine learning techniques ANNs for sky temperature forecasting in Djibouti to overcome the limitations of existing correlations and improve the accuracy of sky temperature predictions, particularly in hot and humid climates.
Research on Fault Diagnosis of Ship Diesel Generator System Based on IVY-RF
Authors: Ouyang Hui , Li Weibo , Gao Feng , Huang Kangzheng , Xiao Peng
Published: November 2024

Ship diesel generator systems are critical to ship navigation. However, due to the harsh marine environment, the systems are prone to failures, and traditional fault diagnosis methods are difficult to meet requirements regarding accuracy, robustness, and reliability. For this reason, this paper proposes a fault diagnosis method for a ship diesel generator system based on the IVY algorithm-optimized random forest (IVY-RF). Firstly, a model of a ship diesel generator system was constructed using MATLAB/Simulink, and the operation data under fault and normal working conditions were collected. Then, the data were preprocessed and time-domain features were extracted. Finally, the IVY-optimized random forest model was used to identify, diagnose, and classify faults. The simulation results show that the IVY-RF method could identify faulty and normal states with 100% accuracy and distinguish 12 types with 100% accuracy. Compared to seven different algorithms, the IVY-RF improved accuracy by at least 0.17% and up to 67.45% on the original dataset and by at least 1.19% and up to 49.40% in a dataset with 5% noise added. The IVY-RF-based fault diagnosis method shows excellent accuracy and robustness in complex marine environments, providing a reliable fault identification solution for ship power systems.
Simulation of Ozone Distribution in an Innovative Drying and Sanitising Cabinet Chamber
Authors: Cebulski Damian , Cyklis Piotr
Published: November 2024

Common designs of workwear drying units require not only energy efficiency but also effective disinfection. One possibility of sanitising clothes during drying is to use the ozone generated inside the drying chamber. This process requires precise management of airflow and a uniform distribution of ozone in the chamber. Therefore, optimising the shape of the drying chamber must include not only the correct flow of drying air but also the correct distribution of ozone. This paper addresses the difficult problem of modelling the flow of sanitising ozone in an innovative drying chamber. The innovative shape of the chamber is shown in this article. Due to the low percentage of ozone in the air (up to 10 ppm), CFD simulation models of the usual mixture type are too inaccurate; therefore, special models have to be used. Therefore, this paper presents an experimentally verified methodology to simulate ozone flow in an innovative drying and sanitising cabinet using two methods: Discrete Phase Model (DPM) and Species Transport (ST). The DPM method uses a Euler–Lagrange approach to qualitatively assess the spread of ozone particles, treated with a description of the movement of the particles and not as a continuous gaseous substance. On the other hand, this already allows the verification of ozone concentrations, with an appropriate conversion of the measured quantities. The ANSYS/FLUENT 2023R1 program was used for the simulations after careful selection of the mesh, closing models, boundary conditions, etc. Simulations made it possible to analyse the distribution of ozone in the workspace and assess the effectiveness of the sanitisation process. The results of the simulations were verified on the basis of empirical tests, which showed the correctness of the model and the correct distribution of the sanitising ozone in the entire volume of the drying chamber in the innovative drying–sanitising chamber. The complete simulation of the air and ozone distribution using the presented models allowed for the optimisation of the opening and shapes, which contributed to improving the energy efficiency of the unit and increasing the efficiency of the sanitisation processes, making the described methodology very effective for optimising the chambers of various types of dryers.
Submerged Membrane Bioreactor Configurations for Biological Nutrient Removal from Urban Wastewater: Experimental Tests and Model Simulation
Authors: Mouthón-Bello Javier A. , Coronado-Hernández Oscar E. , Fuertes-Miquel Vicente S.
Published: November 2024

Pilot-scale experimental measurements and simulations were utilised to evaluate the nutrient removal efficiency of three submerged membrane bioreactor designs. This study compared setups with post- and pre-denitrification processes. A 625 L pilot plant for treating primary effluent provided the operational data necessary for calibrating the activated sludge model, specifically for chemical oxygen demand and nitrogen removal under steady-state flow. Identical influent conditions were maintained for all configurations while varying the sludge retention times (from 5 to 100 d), hydraulic retention times (ranging from 4 to 15 h), return activated sludge flow rates (between 0.1 and 3.0), and aerobic volume fractions (from 0.3 to 1.0). The pilot plant tests showed high COD and ammonia removal (above 90%) but moderate total nitrogen removal (above 70%). The simulation results successfully forecasted the effluent concentrations of COD and nitrogen for each configuration. There were noticeable variations in the kinetic parameters, such as mass transfer coefficients and biomass decay rates, related to the activated sludge model. However, increasing the sludge retention time beyond 20 d, hydraulic retention time beyond 8 h, return activated sludge rates above 2.0, or aerobic volume fractions beyond 0.4 did not significantly enhance nutrient removal. The post-denitrification setup showed a clear benefit in nitrogen removal but required a greater oxygen supply.
Numerical Simulation of Flow and Flame Dynamics of a Pool Fire Under Combined Effects of Wind and Slope
Authors: Sun Yujia , Jiang Lin , Chen Yue
Published: November 2024

Wind has a significant effect on pool fire behavior, which is relevant to many fire conditions, such as wildfires, building fires, and oil transportation fires. Although fire behavior and morphology changes have received considerable attention and been widely researched, there are few works concerning the flow and flam dynamics of pool fire. A large eddy simulation model is adopted to investigate the flow and flame dynamics of a rectangular pool fire considering the combined effects of wind and slope. The results show that, with a wind speed of 0.5 m/s, a flame develops immediately downstream of the fire source and sustains two flanks of plume. Further downstream, the plume starts to rise due to buoyant force. Temperature, velocity, and vorticity distributions show significantly different shapes at different streamwise locations. Near the fire source, the flame is confined to a small region around the fire source. The air circulation downstream shows a cylindrical spiring pattern. When the wind speed increases, the temperature and velocity become more parallel to the surface and their maximum values increase. On the contrary, the temperature fluctuations and turbulent kinetic energy decrease with the wind speed, and they are more frequent near the flame tails.
Will Food Safety Incidents Stimulate the Public’s Desire for Food Safety Governance?
Authors: Mao Xixi , Hao Changlong
Published: November 2024

This paper, grounded in the Stimulus–Organism–Response (SOR) model and event system theory, examines the mechanisms through which public recognition—specifically novel, disruptive, and critical recognition—of the intensity of food safety incidents influences willingness to engage in food safety governance. Risk perception is identified as a mediating variable, while risk communication serves as a moderating variable. Based on survey data, the study found that various forms of public recognition significantly impact governance willingness. Furthermore, risk perception plays a crucial mediating role, and risk communication has a notable moderating effect on the relationship between risk perception and food safety governance willingness. These findings illuminate the intrinsic connection between public recognition of food safety incidents and governance willingness, offering robust theoretical support and practical guidance for enhancing food safety governance. This research contributes to the ongoing improvement and optimization of food safety governance systems.
Different Pretreatment Methods to Strengthen the Microwave Vacuum Drying of Honeysuckle: Effects on the Moisture Migration and Physicochemical Quality
Authors: Yang Xiaoping , Ma Zhengying , Wan Fangxin , Chen Ao , Zhang Wenkang , Xu Yanrui , Zang Zepeng , Huang Xiaopeng
Published: November 2024

In this study, we analyzed the effects of three pretreatment methods—microwave, steam, and blanching—on the quality of Honeysuckle to determine the optimal pretreatment method; we then investigated the influence of different drying temperatures, vacuum levels, and rotation speeds on the drying characteristics, color, and active ingredient content of the Honeysuckle that was pretreated by the optimal pretreatment method during rotary microwave vacuum drying. The results indicated that a microwave pretreatment for 75 s was the optimal pretreatment method, which enhanced the retention of active ingredients and effectively improved the browning of the material. During the process of rotary microwave vacuum drying, as the temperature increased, the vacuum level rose, and the rotation speed increased, the drying rate gradually increased. However, excessively high vacuum levels and rapid rotation speeds could actually decrease the drying rate. In addition, the total phenols, total flavonoids, antioxidant activity, and various active ingredients of Honeysuckle dried by rotary microwave vacuum were effectively preserved. Furthermore, its rehydration properties and color were significantly superior to those dried through sun drying. The TIOPSIS method analysis showed that the optimal process parameters were a temperature of 50 °C, a vacuum level of −0.070 MPa, and a rotation speed of 35 Hz, which exhibited the highest relative closeness (0.76). The comprehensive analysis indicated that microwave pretreatment followed by rotary microwave vacuum drying was a promising drying method with potential applications in the dehydration of agricultural products and medicinal plants.
Forecasting Hydropower with Innovation Diffusion Models: A Cross-Country Analysis
Authors: Ahmad Farooq , Finos Livio , Guidolin Mariangela
Published: November 2024

Hydroelectric power is one of the most important renewable energy sources in the world. It currently generates more electricity than all other renewable technologies combined and, according to the International Energy Agency, it is expected to remain the world’s largest source of renewable electricity generation into the 2030s. Thus, despite the increasing focus on more recent energy technologies, such as solar and wind power, it will continue to play a critical role in energy transition. The management of hydropower plants and future planning should be ensured through careful planning based on the suitable forecasting of the future of this energy source. Starting from these considerations, in this paper, we examine the evolution of hydropower with a forecasting analysis for a selected group of countries. We analyze the time-series data of hydropower generation from 1965 to 2023 and apply Innovation Diffusion Models, as well as other models such as Prophet and ARIMA, for comparison. The models are evaluated for different geographical regions, namely the North, South, and Central American countries, the European countries, and the Middle East with Asian countries, to determine their effectiveness in predicting trends in hydropower generation. The models’ accuracy is assessed using Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), and Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE). Through this analysis, we find that, on average, the GGM outperforms the Prophet and ARIMA models, and is more accurate than the Bass model. This study underscores the critical role of precise forecasting in energy planning and suggests further research to validate these results and explore other factors influencing the future of hydroelectric generation.
The New Deep-Underground Direct Measurement of 22Ne(α, γ)26Mg with EASγ: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Mercogliano Daniela , Best Andreas , Rapagnani David
Published: November 2024

22Ne(α, γ)26Mg is pivotal in the understanding of several open astrophysical questions, as the nucleosynthesis beyond Fe through the s-process, but its stellar reaction rate is still subject to large uncertainties. These mainly arise from its extremely low rate in the Gamow energy region, whose measurement is hampered by the unavoidable presence of the cosmic ray background noise. A possibility to overcome this issue is to perform the measurement in a quasi background-free environment, such as that offered by the underground Bellotti Ion Beam Facility at LNGS. This is the key idea of EASγ experiment. In this study, the signal from the de-excitation of the compound nucleus 26Mg has been simulated and its detection has been investigated both on surface and deep-underground laboratories. The simulation results show the enhancement in sensitivity achieved by performing the measurement deep underground and with an additional shielding, yielding to unprecedented sensitivity.
Placebo Effects: Neurological Mechanisms Inducing Physiological, Organic, and Belief Responses—A Prospective Analysis
Authors: Niazi Sarfaraz K.
Published: November 2024

The placebo effect can induce physiological or clinical neurological and organic responses despite the recipient receiving no active ingredients; these responses are based instead on the recipient’s perceptions. Placebo effects come from the rostral anterior cingulate cortex, pontine nucleus, and cerebellum of the brain; this information provides a better understanding of placebo effects and can also help us understand the mechanism of the modulation of neurotransmitters from the use of psychedelic substances, activity of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, the process of transcranial magnetic stimulation, and deep brain stimulation, as well as aid in developing novel therapies, challenging the validity of controlled clinical trials (RCTs) that the regulatory agencies now appreciate. Education about how placebo effects bring in social, political, and religious beliefs and whether these can be modulated may help reduce global confrontations.
Effect of Nutrient Management During the Nursery Period on the Growth, Tissue Nutrient Content, and Flowering Characteristics of Hydroponic Strawberry in 2022
Authors: Choi Su-Hyun , Kim Dae-Young , Lee Sun Yi , Lee Kyoung Hee
Published: November 2024

The objective of a strawberry nursery is to produce numerous runners and improve the quality of the runner plants, ensuring their uniformity and health. About 80% of the strawberry nurseries in Wanju-gun, Republic of Korea, are cultivated by the growers themselves, which results in variations in the cultivation techniques. Different methods are employed to reduce the nitrogen levels to promote floral bud initiation in the later nursery stage, and these methods vary between farms. This study was conducted on the ‘Sulhyang’ cultivar (Fragaria × ananassa Dutch. cv. Sulhyang) to measure the nutrient content in runner plants obtained from eight growers using various cultivation methods, supply EC levels, nutrient solution termination times, etc., and to correlate the nutrient levels with floral bud initiation during the nursery period. Four investigations were conducted at 15-day intervals from Julian day 214 (2 August) to Julian day 259 (16 September) in 2022, focusing on nutrient management during the nursery period, runner plant growth, petiole nitrate nitrogen content (NO3-N), and soluble solid content (SSC). The NO3-N content decreased, and the SSC/NO3-N ratio increased near the transplanting period, as assessed using a rapid inorganic nutrient diagnostic device. The proportion of runner plants that had advanced to stage 3 or above in floral bud initiation was investigated using a stereomicroscope. As a result, differences in the percentage of floral bud initiation were confirmed based on the varying nutrient management among the farms. In this study, on Julian day 243 (31 August 2022), there was a strong negative correlation (r = −0.86, r2 = 0.73) between the NO3-N content in the runner plants and the percentage of floral bud initiation. These results emphasize the importance of nutrient management during the nursery period, especially for strawberry self-propagating growers, and demonstrate a strong correlation between nutrient content and floral bud initiation in strawberries.
A Geographic Information System-Based Model and Analytic Hierarchy Process for Wind Farm Site Selection in the Red Sea
Authors: Albraheem Lamya , Almutlaq Fahad
Published: November 2024

The wind is one of the most important sources of renewable energy. However, it is associated with many challenges, with one of the most notable being determining suitable locations for wind power farms based on different evaluation criteria. In this study, we investigated the suitability of wind farm sites in the Red Sea off the coast of Saudi Arabia using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and a Geographic Information System (GIS). We assessed the suitability of offshore locations for wind energy projects, differentiating between fixed and floating turbines, and identified a 4180 km2 area as less suitable, whereas the 33,094 km2, 20,618 km2, and 11,077 km2 areas were deemed suitable, very suitable, and extremely suitable, respectively. These findings highlight the differences in suitability levels based on specific geographical features. Moreover, the extremely suitable location, which has the largest area of 3032 km2, has the capacity to generate an annual energy output of 56,965,410 MWh/year.
Exposure to Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields Enhances Melanin Synthesis by Activating the P53 Signaling Pathway in Mel-Ab Melanocytes
Authors: Kim Ju Hwan , Kang Dong-Jun , Seok Jun Young , Kim Mi-Hye , Kim Dong-Seok , Jeon Sang-Bong , Choi Hyung-Do , Moon Jung Ick , Kim Nam , Kim Hak Rim
Published: November 2024

The skin is the largest body organ that can be physiologically affected by exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs). We investigated the effect of RF-EMFs on melanogenesis; Mel-Ab melanocytes were exposed to 1760 MHz radiation with a specific absorption rate of 4.0 W/kg for 4 h/day over 4 days. Exposure to the RF-EMF led to skin pigmentation, with a significant increase in melanin production in Mel-Ab melanocytes. The phosphorylation level of cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) and the expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), which regulate the expression of tyrosinase, were significantly increased in Mel-Ab after RF-EMF exposure. Interestingly, the expression of tyrosinase was significantly increased, but tyrosinase activity was unchanged in the RF-EMF-exposed Mel-Ab cells. Additionally, the expression of p53 and melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), which regulate MITF expression, was significantly increased. These results suggest that the RF-EMF induces melanogenesis by increasing phospho-CREB and MITF activity. Importantly, when Mel-Ab cells were incubated at 38 °C, the melanin production and the levels of tyrosinase significantly decreased, indicating that the increase in melanin synthesis by RF-EMF exposure is not due to a thermal effect. In conclusion, RF-EMF exposure induces melanogenesis in Mel-Ab cells through the increased expression of tyrosinase via the activation of MITF or the phosphorylation of CREB, which are initiated by the activation of p53 and MC1R.
Biallelic Germline BRCA1 Frameshift Mutations Associated with Isolated Diminished Ovarian Reserve
Authors: Helbling-Leclerc Anne , Falampin Marie , Heddar Abdelkader , Guerrini-Rousseau Léa , Marchand Maud , Cavadias Iphigenie , Auger Nathalie , Bressac-de Paillerets Brigitte , Brugieres Laurence , Lopez Bernard S. , Polak Michel , Rosselli Filippo , Misrahi Micheline
Published: November 2024

The use of next-generation sequencing (NGS) has recently enabled the discovery of genetic causes of primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) with high genetic heterogeneity. In contrast, the causes of diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) remain poorly understood. Here, we identified by NGS and whole exome sequencing (WES) the cause of isolated DOR in a 14-year-old patient. Two frameshift mutations in BRCA1 (NM_007294.4) were found: in exon 8 (c.470_471del; p.Ser157Ter) and in exon 11 (c.791_794del, p.Ser264MetfsTer33). Unexpectedly, the patient presented no signs of Fanconi anemia (FA), i.e., no developmental abnormalities or indications of bone marrow failure. However, high chromosomal fragility was found in the patient’s cells, consistent with an FA diagnosis. RT-PCR and Western-blot analysis support the fact that the c. 791_794del BRCA1 allele is transcribed and translated into a shorter protein (del11q), while no expression of the full-length BRCA1 protein was found. DNA damage response (DDR) studies after genotoxic agents demonstrate normal activation of the early stages of the DDR and FANC/BRCA pathway. This is consistent with the maintenance of residual repair activity for the del11q BRCA1 isoform. Our observation is the first implication of bi-allelic BRCA1 mutations in isolated ovarian dysfunction or infertility in humans, without clinical signs of FA, and highlights the importance of BRCA1 in ovarian development and function.
Students and Clinical Teachers’ Experiences About Productive Feedback Practices in the Clinical Workplace from a Sociocultural Perspective
Authors: Fuentes-Cimma Javiera , Sluijsmans Dominique , Ortega-Bastidas Javiera , Villagran Ignacio , Riquelme-Perez Arnoldo , Heeneman Sylvia
Published: November 2024

For feedback to be productive, it relies on the interactions of participants, design elements, and resources. Yet, complexities in clinical education pose challenges for feedback practices in students and teachers, and efforts to improve feedback often ignore the influence of culture and context. A recent sociocultural approach to feedback practices recognized three layers to understand the complexity of productive feedback: the encounter layer, the design layer, and the knowledge layer. This study explores the sociocultural factors that influence productive feedback practices in clinical settings from the clinical teacher–student dyad perspective. A cross-sectional qualitative study in a physiotherapy clerkship involved semi-structured interviews with ten students and eight clinical educators. Convenience sampling was used, and participation was voluntary. Employing thematic analysis from a sociocultural perspective, this study examined feedback practices across the three layers of feedback practices. The analysis yielded different elements along the three layers that enable productive feedback practices in the clinical workplace: (1) the feedback encounter layer: dyadic relationships, mutual trust, continuity of supervision, and dialogue; (2) the feedback design layer: enabled learning opportunities and feedback scaffolding; (3) the knowledge domain layer in the clinical culture: Growing clinical experience and accountability. In the context of undergraduate clinical education, productive feedback practices are shaped by social–cultural factors. Designing feedback practices should consciously integrate these components, such as cultivating relationships, fostering guidance, enhancing feedback agency, and enabling supervised autonomy to promote productive feedback.
A Small Robot to Repair Asphalt Road Potholes
Authors: Bruno Salvatore , Cantisani Giuseppe , D’Andrea Antonio , Del Serrone Giulia , Di Mascio Paola , Knudsen Kristian , Loprencipe Giuseppe , Moretti Laura , Polidori Carlo , Ingwersen Søren Thorenfeldt , Venturini Loretta , Zani Marco
Published: November 2024

As part of the Horizon 2020 InfraROB project aimed at enhancing road safety through innovative robotic solutions, a compact autonomous vehicle has been developed to repair asphalt potholes. Central to this system is a 3D printer capable of extruding a novel cold-asphalt mixture, specifically designed for patching road surfaces. The printer is mounted on a small robot that autonomously navigates to potholes, while the human operator controls the operation from a secure location outside the traffic area. The system’s development involved several key steps: designing the repair mixture, constructing the 3D printer for mixture extrusion, implementing a photogrammetric technique to accurately measure pothole geometry for printing, and integrating the extrusion system with the robotic platform. Two preliminary tests were conducted in controlled environments at Sapienza University of Rome to check the reliability of calculation of the amount of material needed to fill in the potholes. Finally, the entire procedure was tested on an Italian motorway, demonstrating the system’s functionality without encountering operational issues.
Evaluation of Different Mode of Action Insecticides for the Control of Bemisia tabaci; Enhancement of Pesticide Efficacy
Authors: Dunn Jackie , Collins Debbie Ann , Audsley Neil
Published: November 2024

Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is a major pest worldwide, causing damage to a vast range of plants through its feeding on phloem sap and its vectoring of >100 plant viruses. Although not established in the UK, it is regularly introduced on planting material, which poses a significant plant health risk. Restrictions on pesticide use and increasing resistance to available active ingredients limit options for effective control of potential outbreaks. Alternative management options are required to mitigate this risk. There was high variability in the efficacy of the different modes of action products tested against two life stages (adults and larvae) as well as the Middle East–Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) and Mediterranean (MED) cryptic species of B. tabaci. For both adults and larvae, MEAM1 were more susceptible than MED insects, possibly due to differences in resistance developed against some active ingredients. All products tested were effective to varying degrees against MEAM1 adults with Tracer (spinosad), PREV-AM (orange oil), Sequoia (sulfoxaflor), and FLiPPER (fatty acids) having similar efficacies (59–78% mortality). In contrast, PREV-AM and FLiPPER were most effective against MED adults (74% and 65% mortalities, respectively). Both MED and MEAM1 larvae were highly susceptible to FLiPPER and PREV-AM (>95% mortality), and the efficacy of Tracer and FLiPPER can be enhanced by using in combination with PREV-AM, and this can be achieved by using low doses of each product. Synergy was measured between PREV-AM and Tracer against MEAM1 larvae, which has the potential to provide effective control with a reduced pesticide application.
Age of Information-Aware Networks for Low-Power IoT Sensor Applications
Authors: Chache Frederick M. , Maxon Sean , Narayanan Ram M. , Bharadwaj Ramesh
Published: November 2024

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a fast-growing field that has found a variety of applications, such as smart agriculture and industrial processing. In these applications, it is important for nodes to maximize the amount of useful information transmitted over a limited channel. This work seeks to improve the performance of low-powered sensor networks by developing an architecture that leverages existing techniques such as lossy compression and different queuing strategies in order to minimize their drawbacks and meet the performance needs of backend applications. The Age of Information (AoI) provides a useful metric for quantifying Quality of Service (QoS) in low-powered sensor networks and provides a method for measuring the freshness of data in the network. In this paper, we investigate QoS requirements and the effects of lossy compression and queue strategies on AoI. Furthermore, two important use cases for low-powered IoT sensor networks are studied, namely, real-time feedback control and image classification. The results highlight the relative importance of QoS metrics for applications with different needs. To this end, we introduce a QoS-aware architecture to optimize network performance for the QoS requirements of the studied applications. The proposed network architecture was tested with a mixture of application traffic settings and was shown to greatly improve network QoS compared to commonly used transmission architectures such as Slotted ALOHA.
A Therapeutic Proposal for Mini-Puberty in Male Infants with Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism: A Retrospective Case Series
Authors: Mesas-Aróstegui María Aurora , Hita-Contreras Fidel , López-Siguero Juan Pedro
Published: November 2024

Background: Male patients with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH) have impaired postnatal activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis that occurs during mini-puberty. The aim of this study was to report our experience using gonadotropin replacement therapy for mini-puberty in male infants with CHH and to establish treatment recommendations. Methods: The patients included in this retrospective case series (n = 9) were diagnosed in the postnatal period due to micropenis, with two being accompanied by cryptorchidism and four with other associated hormonal deficits. All patients started treatment with gonadotropins early after diagnosis, between 2 weeks and 5 months of age, with a schedule of discontinuous injections with subcutaneous human chorionic gonadotropin (62.5–500 IU) two times per week and recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone-alpha (37.5–75 IU) three times per week. Results: The data from our study show an early response, ranging from almost undetectable levels of testosterone at diagnosis to elevated levels after starting treatment, as well as a positive clinical response with increases in testicular volume and penis size in all cases without requiring complementary treatment with testosterone esters and without adverse effects. Conclusions: Our results show that gonadotropin replacement therapy is a well-tolerated and effective treatment for testicular and penile problems in male patients with CHH.
Two-Year Outcomes Using Fast-Acting, Sub-Perception Therapy for Spinal Cord Stimulation: A European, Real-World, Multicenter Experience
Authors: Bayerl Simon , Paz-Solis Jose , Matis Georgios , Rigoard Philippe , Kallewaard Jan Willem , Canos-Verdecho M. Angeles , Vesper Jan , Llopis Jose Emilio , Kyriakopoulos Georgios , Gulve Ashish , Raoul Sylvie , Papa Alfonso , Love-Jones Sarah , Williams Adam
Published: November 2024

Background/Objectives: Over the last 20 years, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has seen the development of various paresthesia-free paradigms. Recently, a novel modality has emerged (Fast-Acting Sub-perception Therapy, FAST) that engages the surrounding inhibition mechanism of action. We evaluated long-term, real-world outcomes of preferential FAST-SCS use in patients with chronic pain. Methods: In this multi-center, observational, consecutive case series, medical chart data from chronic pain patients preferentially using FAST-SCS (no exclusions) were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Data from 167 patients in 13 European centers were analyzed; 74% of patients suffered from persistent spine pain syndrome type 2 and 87% presented with low back and/or leg pain. At the last follow-up (mean 1.6 years), the numerical rating scale (NRS) overall pain score decreased by 5.1 ± 2.5 points versus baseline, from 8.0 ± 1.2 to 2.9 ± 2.2 (n = 167, p < 0.0001). 87% of patients reported ≥50% pain relief, and 55% were “high responders” with overall NRS pain scores ≤2/10. At the last follow-up, functional disability improved significantly (the Oswestry Disability Index reduced by 29.2 ± 21.5 points, n = 65, p < 0.0001) and patients had a significant gain in quality of life (EQ-5D-5L visual analog scale increased by 52.0 ± 26.9 points, n = 86, p < 0.0001). Results at the 2-year follow-up showed a sustained, substantial reduction in pain; 67% of patients were high responders and the NRS overall pain score decreased by 5.6 ± 2.4 versus baseline (n = 52, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Our real-world outcomes suggest that in patients with chronic low back and/or leg pain, FAST-SCS therapy provided durable and profound pain relief and led to significant improvements in disability and quality of life.
Transcriptomic Evidence for Cell-Autonomous Sex Differentiation of the Gynandromorphic Fat Body in the Silkworm, Bombyx mori
Authors: Yamamoto Fumiko , Yokoyama Takeshi , Su Yan , Suzuki Masataka G.
Published: November 2024

The classic model of sex determination in insects suggests that they do not have sex hormones and that sex is determined in a cell-autonomous manner. On the other hand, there is accumulating evidence that the development of secondary sexual traits is controlled in a non-cell-autonomous manner through external factors. To evaluate the degrees of the cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous regulation of secondary sexual trait development, we analyzed the dynamics of the sexually dimorphic transcriptome in gynandromorphic individuals of the mo mutant strain in the silkworm Bombyx mori. The silkworm possesses a female heterogametic sex-determination system (ZZ = male/ZW = female), where the master regulatory gene for femaleness, Feminizer (Fem), is located in the W chromosome. As a secondary sexual trait, we focused on the fat body, which shows remarkable differences between the sexes during the last instar larval stage. A comparison of the transcriptomes between the fat bodies of male and female larvae identified 232 sex-differentially expressed genes (S-DEGs). The proportions of ZZ and ZW cells constituting the fat body of the gynandromorphic larvae were calculated according to the expression level of the Fem. Based on the obtained values, the expression level of each S-DEG was estimated, assuming that the levels of S-DEG expression were determined according to the proportion of ZZ and ZW cells. The estimated expression levels of 207 out of 232 S-DEGs were strongly correlated with the corresponding S-DEG expression level of the gynandromorphic fat body, determined by RNA-seq. These results strongly suggest that most of the sexually dimorphic transcriptome in the fat body is regulated in a cell-autonomous manner.
Beyond Individual Tests: Youths’ Cognitive Abilities, Basic Reading, and Writing
Authors: Caemmerer Jacqueline M. , Scudder Audrey M. , Keith Timothy Z. , Reynolds Matthew R.
Published: November 2024

Broadly, individuals’ cognitive abilities influence their academic skills, but the significance and strength of specific cognitive abilities varies across academic domains and may vary across age. Simultaneous analyses of data from many tests and cross-battery analyses can address inconsistent findings from prior studies by creating comprehensively defined constructs, which allow for greater generalizability of findings. The purpose of this study was to examine the cross-battery direct effects and developmental differences in youths’ cognitive abilities on their basic reading abilities, as well as the relations between their reading and writing achievement. Our sample included 3927 youth aged 6 to 18. Six intelligence tests (66 subtests) and three achievement tests (10 subtests) were analyzed. Youths’ general intelligence (g, large direct and indirect effects), verbal comprehension–knowledge (large direct effect), working memory (large direct effect), and learning efficiency (moderate direct effect) explained their basic reading skills. The influence of g and fluid reasoning were difficult to separate statistically. Most of the cognitive–basic reading relations were stable across age, except the influence of verbal comprehension–knowledge (Gc), which appeared to slightly increase with age. Youths’ basic reading had large influences on their written expression and spelling skills, and their spelling skills had a large influence on their written expression skills. The directionality of the effects most strongly supported the direct effects from the youths’ basic reading to their spelling skills, and not vice versa.
Development of Polymer Hydrophobic Surfaces Through Combined Laser Ablation and Hot Embossing Processes
Authors: Ghadiri Zahrani Esmaeil , Fakharzadeh Jahromi Amirmohmmad , Azarhoushang Bahman
Published: November 2024

The development of hydrophobicity on polymer surfaces in mass production is one of the most critical challenges in the plastic industry. This paper deals with a novel combined hot embossing process in which femtosecond laser ablation is utilized to texture the embossing stamps. By controlling the process temperature and axial forces, the laser textures were transferred to polymer surfaces, successfully resulting in hydrophobicity. Four different polymers, including ABS, PP, PA, and PC, along with two different laser textures, namely ball and pyramid, were tested. The laser and hot embossing parameters under which the textures were transferred to the polymers are introduced. The critical micro- and nano-features of the transferred textures that resulted in high hydrophobic contact angles are also discussed. The results indicate that PP and ABS have higher contact angles, respectively, while under the given parameters, PA and PC did not exhibit hydrophobic surfaces.