bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recommendations for analysing and meta-analysing small sample size software engineering experiments
Authors: Kitchenham Barbara , Madeyski Lech
Published: August 2024

Context

Software engineering (SE) experiments often have small sample sizes. This can result in data sets with non-normal characteristics, which poses problems as standard parametric meta-analysis, using the standardized mean difference (StdMD) effect size, assumes normally distributed sample data. Small sample sizes and non-normal data set characteristics can also lead to unreliable estimates of parametric effect sizes. Meta-analysis is even more complicated if experiments use complex experimental designs, such as two-group and four-group cross-over designs, which are popular in SE experiments.

Objective

Our objective was to develop a validated and robust meta-analysis method that can help to address the problems of small sample sizes and complex experimental designs without relying upon data samples being normally distributed.

Method

To illustrate the challenges, we used real SE data sets. We built upon previous research and developed a robust meta-analysis method able to deal with challenges typical for SE experiments. We validated our method via simulations comparing StdMD with two robust alternatives: the probability of superiority ($$\hat{p}$$

p
^

) and Cliffs’ d.

Results

We confirmed that many SE data sets are small and that small experiments run the risk of exhibiting non-normal properties, which can cause problems for analysing families of experiments. For simulations of individual experiments and meta-analyses of families of experiments, $$\hat{p}$$

p
^

and Cliff’s d consistently outperformed StdMD in terms of negligible small sample bias. They also had better power for log-normal and Laplace samples, although lower power for normal and gamma samples. Tests based on $$\hat{p}$$

p
^

always had better or equal power than tests based on Cliff’s d, and across all but one simulation condition, $$\hat{p}$$

p
^

Type 1 error rates were less biased.

Conclusions

Using $$\hat{p}$$

p
^

is a low-risk option for analysing and meta-analysing data from small sample-size SE randomized experiments. Parametric methods are only preferable if you have prior knowledge of the data distribution.
Data vs. Derision: The Ethics of Language in Scientific Publication. The Younger Dryas Impact Hypothesis as a Case Study
Authors: Powell James Lawrence
Published: August 2024

Throughout the history of science, novel ideas that diverge from mainstream thought have often been met with condemnation, derision, and ad hominem attacks. These reactions have sometimes led to the premature rejection of such ideas, only for them to be later revived and even accepted as the prevailing paradigm. While robust debate is essential in science, the use of derogatory language is unethical, for it discourages research on existing hypotheses, deters funders, corrupts the scientific record, and delays or prevents the advancement of science. In this article, I discuss the case of unethical language repeatedly used against proponents of the hypothesis that an extraterrestrial impact event triggered the Younger Dryas cool period.
The Influence of Trait Mindfulness and Self-Regulatory Efficacy on Academic Cheating Intention
Authors: Armanyous Christina , Paparo Josephine
Published: August 2024

Academic cheating is a pervasive issue in tertiary education, with implications for the competency of university graduates and their future ethical workplace behavior. Past research indicates that understanding academic cheating according to its different levels of severity allows for a more nuanced understanding of its aetiological factors, and an investigation into dispositional traits can further aid this. The primary aim of this study was to explore the synergistic relationships between trait mindfulness, self-regulatory efficacy, and academic cheating intention using purpose-designed vignettes, with a view to providing a foundation for the development of targeted academic cheating interventions. The secondary aim of this study was to examine these relationships in the context of minor and serious academic cheating intention (MACI and SACI), to better capture the nuances of academic cheating. First-year university students from an Australian university (N = 200) completed a questionnaire measuring trait mindfulness and self-regulatory efficacy and responded to vignettes corresponding to MACI and SACI. The results of this study indicated that high self-regulatory efficacy was correlated with low overall academic cheating intention (OACI), as well as lower MACI and SACI. Self-regulatory efficacy also amplified relations between trait mindfulness and OACI, such that high trait mindfulness was associated with lower OACI, in the context of high self-regulatory efficacy. This result was replicated for MACI, but not SACI. Interestingly, no direct associations were found between trait mindfulness and any of the measures of academic cheating intention. These results highlight the necessity of developing nuanced understandings of academic cheating. They further point to the potential role of self-regulatory skills in developing future interventions, while de-emphasizing the relevance previously attributed to mindfulness in supporting students at risk of academic misconduct.
Advancements and Challenges in Mobile Robot Navigation: A Comprehensive Review of Algorithms and Potential for Self-Learning Approaches
Authors: Al Mahmud Suaib , Kamarulariffin Abdurrahman , Ibrahim Azhar Mohd , Mohideen Ahmad Jazlan Haja
Published: August 2024

Mobile robot navigation has been a very popular topic of practice among researchers since a while. With the goal of enhancing the autonomy in mobile robot navigation, numerous algorithms (traditional AI-based, swarm intelligence-based, self-learning-based) have been built and implemented independently, and also in blended manners. Nevertheless, the problem of efficient autonomous robot navigation persists in multiple degrees due to the limitation of these algorithms. The lack of knowledge on the implemented techniques and their shortcomings act as a hindrance to further development on this topic. This is why an extensive study on the previously implemented algorithms, their applicability, their weaknesses as well as their potential needs to be conducted in order to assess how to improve mobile robot navigation performance. In this review paper, a comprehensive review of mobile robot navigation algorithms has been conducted. The findings suggest that, even though the self-learning algorithms require huge amounts of training data and have the possibility of learning erroneous behavior, they possess huge potential to overcome challenges rarely addressed by the other traditional algorithms. The findings also insinuate that in the domain of machine learning-based algorithms, integration of knowledge representation with a neuro-symbolic approach has the capacity to improve the accuracy and performance of self-robot navigation training by a significant margin.
Traveling Phase Interfaces in Viscous Forward–Backward Diffusion Equations
Authors: Geldhauser Carina , Herrmann Michael , Janßen Dirk
Published: August 2024

The viscous regularization of an ill-posed diffusion equation with bistable nonlinearity predicts a hysteretic behavior of dynamical phase transitions but a complete mathematical understanding of the intricate multiscale evolution is still missing. We shed light on the fine structure of propagating phase boundaries by carefully examining traveling wave solutions in a special case. Assuming a trilinear constitutive relation we characterize all waves that possess a monotone profile and connect the two phases by a single interface of positive width. We further study the two sharp-interface regimes related to either vanishing viscosity or the bilinear limit.
Structural, Biochemical, and Phylogenetic Analysis of Bacterial and Fungal Carbohydrate Esterase Family 15 Glucuronoyl Esterases in the Rumen
Authors: Gruninger Robert J. , Kevorkova Maya , Low Kristin E. , Jones Darryl R. , Worrall Liam , McAllister Tim A. , Abbott D. Wade
Published: August 2024

Glucuronoyl esterases (GEs) are carbohydrate active enzymes in carbohydrate esterase family 15 which are involved in the hydrolysis of lignin-carbohydrate complexes. They are encoded by a wide range of aerobic and anaerobic fungi and bacteria inhabiting diverse environments. The rumen microbiome is a complex microbial community with a wide array of enzymes that specialize in deconstructing plant cell wall carbohydrates. Enzymes from the rumen tend to show low similarity to homologues found in other environments, making the rumen microbiome a promising source for the discovery of novel enzymes. Using a combination of phylogenetic and structural analysis, we investigated the structure-function relationship of GEs from the rumen bacteria Fibrobacter succinogenes and Ruminococcus flavefaciens, and from the rumen fungus, Piromyces rhizinflata. All adopt a canonical α/β hydrolase fold and possess a structurally conserved Ser-His-Glu/Asp catalytic triad. Structural variations in the enzymes are localized to loops surrounding the active site. Analysis of the active site structures in these enzymes emphasized the importance of structural plasticity in GEs with non-canonical active site conformations. We hypothesize that interkingdom HGT events may have contributed to the diversity of GEs in the rumen, and this is demonstrated by the phylogenetic and structural similarity observed between rumen bacterial and fungal GEs. This study advances our understanding of the structure-function relationship in glucuronoyl esterases and illuminates the evolutionary dynamics that contribute to enzyme diversity in the rumen microbiome.
Entanglements of Technologies, Agency and Selfhood: Exploring the Complexity in Attitudes Toward Mental Health Chatbots
Authors: Meadows Robert , Hine Christine
Published: August 2024

Whilst chatbots for mental health are becoming increasingly prevalent, research on user experiences and expectations is relatively scarce and also equivocal on their acceptability and utility. This paper asks how people formulate their understandings of what might be appropriate in this space. We draw on data from a group of non-users who have experienced a need for support, and so can imagine self as therapeutic target—enabling us to tap into their imaginative speculations of the self in relation to the chatbot other and the forms of agency they see as being at play; unconstrained by a specific actual chatbot. Analysis points towards ambiguity over some key issues: whether the apps were seen as having a role in specific episodes of mental health or in relation to an ongoing project of supporting wellbeing; whether the chatbot could be viewed as having a therapeutic agency or was a mere tool; and how far these issues related to matters of the user’s personal qualities or the specific nature of the mental health condition. A range of traditions, norms and practices were used to construct diverse expectations on whether chatbots could offer a solution to cost-effective mental health support at scale.
The GDL Vulnerability Index (GVI)
Authors: Smits Jeroen , Huisman Janine
Published: August 2024

In this paper we present the GDL Vulnerability Index (GVI), a new composite index to monitor and analyse the human components of vulnerability to climate change, natural disasters, and other kinds of shocks, for societies and geographic areas across the globe. The GVI is a simple and flexible index designed for use by experts as well as non-experts in the climate field, including researchers, (local) politicians, NGO’s, journalists, advocacy groups and grassroot movements. The GVI is based on an additive formula that summarizes the essence of seven socioeconomic dimensions of vulnerability into a single number. This formula approach sets this index apart from other existing indices. Any person who knows the values of the underlying indicators can compute the vulnerability score of an area by filling in these values in the GVI formula. Validity tests show that the data-driven GVI measures the vulnerability dimensions coping capacity, adaptive capacity and susceptibility as well as major expert-based indices. This offers great prospects for use in situations where no other vulnerability information is available. Here we explain the construction of the GVI, test its validity and present GVI values for (almost) all countries of the world and for major global regions.
Assessing the Measurement Quality of Justice Evaluations of Earnings in Europe
Authors: Moya Cristóbal , Adriaans Jule
Published: August 2024

How individuals perceive the fairness of their pay carries profound implications for individuals and society. Perceptions of pay injustice are linked to a spectrum of negative outcomes, including diminished well-being, poor health, increased stress, and depressive symptoms, alongside various detrimental effects in the work domain. Despite the far-reaching impact of these justice evaluations, validity evidence on their measurement in survey research is missing. Two measurement strategies dominate applied justice research with surveys: Asking for evaluations using a response scale or relying on measures of the just reward to capture fairness. It remains an unresolved question which of these two prevailing approaches—corresponding to the concepts of expressed justice and experienced justice, respectively—yields more robust and high-quality assessments, especially in cross-country research contexts where measurement consistency is critical. This study evaluates the measurement quality of these two approaches using the European Social Survey, which encompasses 29 countries. Our comparative analysis of experienced and expressed justice for gross and net earnings offers comprehensive insights into measurement choices in cross-national surveys. We find that nonresponse to income questions significantly undermines the measurement quality of experienced justice due to its dependence on actual earnings data. Moreover, while both experienced and expressed justice correlate with related concepts as anticipated, the patterns are more consistently observed in expressed justice. These findings suggest that survey practitioners aiming to measure distributive justice of earnings may favor expressed justice instruments, particularly those utilizing rating scales, for efficient and rigorous evaluation.
AI-Assisted Sensor System for the Acetone and Ethanol Detection Using Commercial Metal Oxide-Based Sensor Arrays and Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Heng Sinn Yen , Yap Keenan Zhihong , Lim Wei Yin , Ramakrishnan Narayanan
Published: August 2024

In recent decades, the traditional landscape of volatile organic compound (VOC) sensing has adopted a new perspective in enhancing the detection of useful VOCs using data intelligence to extract constructive insights of the sensor behaviour towards multiple gases. In the domain of gas sensing, VOCs such as acetone and ethanol have been widely used in sensor testing due to their closely related chemical properties, which poses a challenge in discrimination. Therefore, this study aims to discriminate acetone from ethanol with the use of readily available commercial metal oxide (MOx) sensors through the implementation of Deep Learning (DL) techniques. The data set obtained after exposing a sensing array comprising various MOx sensors to acetone and ethanol was converted to a time-frequency representation known as a scalogram to train and test a multi-input convolutional neural network (CNN). The results show that training the CNN model on the sensor array data set yields better results than with an individual sensor data set. The findings of this research substantiated the ability of DL models to better capture the dynamic interaction of the sensors with acetone and ethanol, leading to the implication of the DL classifier having the capacity to reject sensor inconsistencies and variations in the responses. This research holds promise for advancing health monitoring and disease detection, as the combination of MOx sensors and DL techniques is expected to make significant future contributions in these areas.
Multistage strategy for ground point filtering on large-scale datasets
Authors: Teijeiro Paredes Diego , Amor López Margarita , Buján Sandra , Richter Rico , Döllner Jürgen
Published: August 2024

Ground point filtering on national-level datasets is a challenge due to the presence of multiple types of landscapes. This limitation does not simply affect to individual users, but it is in particular relevant for those national institutions in charge of providing national-level Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) point clouds. Each type of landscape is typically better filtered by different filtering algorithms or parameters; therefore, in order to get the best quality classification, the LiDAR point cloud should be divided by the landscape before running the filtering algorithms. Despite the fact that the manual segmentation and identification of the landscapes can be very time intensive, only few studies have addressed this issue. In this work, we present a multistage approach to automate the identification of the type of landscape using several metrics extracted from the LiDAR point cloud, matching the best filtering algorithms in each type of landscape. An additional contribution is presented, a parallel implementation for distributed memory systems, using Apache Spark, that can achieve up to $$34\times$$

34
×

of speedup using 12 compute nodes.
From source to sink: part 1—characterization and Lagrangian tracking of riverine microplastics in the Mediterranean Basin
Authors: Weiss Lisa , Estournel Claude , Marsaleix Patrick , Mikolajczak Guillaume , Constant Mel , Ludwig Wolfgang
Published: August 2024

The Mediterranean Sea is one of the most critically polluted areas due to its semi-enclosed structure and its highly anthropized shoreline. Rivers are significant vectors for pollutant transfers from the continental to the marine environment. In this context, a 3D Lagrangian simulation of the dispersion of riverine microplastics (MPs) was performed, which included the application of a recently developed model that reassessed the MP fluxes discharged by rivers. MP physical properties from river samples were further investigated to approximate vertical displacement in modeled ocean currents. The use of a high-resolution circulation model, integrating Stokes drift, turbulent diffusion, and MP sinking and rising velocities, enabled us to establish stock balances. Our simulation suggested that 65% of river inputs may be made of floating MPs drifting in the surface layer and 35% of dense MPs sinking to deeper layers. The Eastern Mediterranean tends to accumulate floating MPs, primarily originating from the Western Mediterranean Basin, where major river sources are concentrated. After 2 years of simulation, modeled stranding sequestered 90% of the MP inputs, indicating relatively short average residence times from a few days to months at most for particles at sea. Although spatial distribution patterns stabilized after this period and a steady state may have been approached, the surface concentrations we modeled generally remained below field observations. This suggested either an underestimation of sources (rivers and unaccounted sources), by a factor of 6 at most, or an overestimation of MP withdrawal through stranding, to be reduced from 90 to around 60% or less if unaccounted sinks were considered.

Graphical abstract
Hyperalgesic Effect Evoked by il-16 and its Participation in Inflammatory Hypernociception in Mice
Authors: González-Rodríguez Sara , Sordo-Bahamonde Christian , Álvarez-Artime Alejandro , Baamonde Ana , Menéndez Luis
Published: August 2024

The systemic administration of interleukin-16 (IL-16, 3–30 ng/kg) induced thermal hyperalgesia in mice, that was prevented by the acute injection of an anti-CD4 antibody (1 µg/kg), the depletion of circulating white blood cells by cyclophosphamide or the specific reduction of circulating CD4+ cells provoked by a high dose of an anti-CD4 antibody (30 µg/mouse, 24 h before). IL-16-induced hyperalgesia was locally inhibited after intraplantar (i.pl.) administration of the non-selective cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor diclofenac, the COX-1 inhibitor SC-560, the COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib, the TRPV1 antagonist capsazepine or the TRPA1 antagonist HC030031, thus demonstrating that prostaglandins and TRP channels are involved in this effect. The i.pl. administration of low doses of IL-16 (0.1–1 ng) evoked local hyperalgesia suggesting the possibility that IL-16 could participate in hypernociception associated to local tissue injury. Accordingly, IL-16 concentration measured by ELISA was increased in paws acutely inflamed with carrageenan or chronically inflamed with complete Freund´s adjuvant (CFA). This augmentation was reduced after white cell depletion with cyclophosphamide or neutrophil depletion with an anti-Ly6G antibody. Immunofluorescence and flow cytometry experiments showed that the increased concentration of IL-16 levels found in acutely inflamed paws is mainly related to the infiltration of IL-16+ neutrophils, although a reduced number of IL-16+ lymphocytes was also detected in paws inflamed with CFA. Supporting the functional role of IL-16 in inflammatory hypernociception, the administration of an anti-IL-16 antibody dose-dependently reduced carrageenan- and CFA-induced thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia. The interest of IL-16 as a target to counteract inflammatory pain is suggested.

Graphical Abstract
Effect of High-Pressure Processing on the Antioxidant and Antibacterial Properties of Honey
Authors: Faraz Ayesha , Williams Mark , Fernando WMAD Binosha , Jayasena Vijay
Published: August 2024

High pressure processing (HPP) have the potential to be used as an alternative to commercial thermal processing of honey. Its impact on the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of honey have yet to be understood properly. This study focuses on the effects of HPP on the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of honey. Six different honey samples were subjected to HPP at 400 and 600 MPa for 10 and 15 min. The antioxidant properties were measured in terms of total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging assay, and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) free radical scavenging assay. The antibacterial activity was measured as the minimum bacteriocidal and minimum bacterial inhibition concentration of honey against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and E. coli. HPP decreased the total phenolic content and increased the total flavanoid content. There was an increase in the antibacterial activity of HPP honey against S. aureus, whereas no significant changes were observed against P. aeruginosa, and E. coli. It was evident that the changes in the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of honey samples were dependent on the HPP processing parameters and the type of honey.
The genus Peniophora (Russulales, Basidiomycota) from Patagonia revisited
Authors: Rajchenberg Mario , de Errasti Andrés , Gorjón Sergio Pérez
Published: August 2024

The identity of Peniophora specimens from Patagonia is examined based on morphological, cultural, and biological features as well as phylogenetic analyses of nuclear ribosomal ITS and 28S sequences. Three new species are described from Patagonia: Peniophora patagonica, P. pitrae, and P. revoluta. In total, five species are known in the area, growing on endemic trees in Southern Argentina. Peniophora cinerea and P. rufomarginata are excluded from the Patagonian records, and the presence of P. incarnata and P. lycii is confirmed by molecular methods. A key to Peniophora species from Patagonia is presented.
Sarcopenia and self-reported markers of physical frailty in patients with osteoporosis
Authors: Nielsen B. R. , Andersen H. E. , Hovind P. , Jørgensen N. R. , Schwarz P. , Kristensen S. H. , Suetta C.
Published: August 2024

Summary

Bone and muscle impairment, named osteoporosis and sarcopenia, may co-occur with age, and patients with both disorders might exhibit physical frailty. One-hundred sixty-three patients were included. 14.2% had both disorders and presented more frequent with previous fall, reduced daily activity level, walk/balance challenges, and need of walking aid, indicating overall frailty.

Purpose

In older adults, sarcopenia (muscle impairment) and physical frailty may accompany osteoporosis (bone brittleness), yet osteoporosis is typically assessed without evaluating these conditions, even though coexistence may contribute to exacerbated negative health outcomes. We aimed at evaluating the prevalence of sarcopenia and impaired muscle domains in osteoporotic patients and explore the risk of osteosarcopenia from markers of physical frailty.

Methods

In Copenhagen, Denmark, osteoporotic patients aged 65 + were assessed cross-sectionally in 2018–2019. Evaluations included muscle mass, strength, and function; bone mineral density; and self-reported physical activity, fall, balance challenges, dizziness, and the need of walking aid. Low bone mass, low-energy fracture, or treatment with anti-osteoporotic medication defined patient with osteoporosis, and sarcopenia was defined by low muscle strength and mass. Osteosarcopenia was defined from the coexistence of both conditions.

Results

One-hundred sixty-three patients with osteoporosis were included. Of those, 23 (14.2%) exhibited sarcopenia, hence osteosarcopenia. Hand-grip-strength, 30-s-chair-stand-test, relative-appendicular-lean-muscle-mass, and gait-speed were below cut-off levels in 21.0%, 30.9%, 28.8%, and 23.6% of the patients, respectively.

Previous fall, activity level, walk and balance challenges, and need of walking aid were statistically (or borderline) significantly more often affected in the osteosarcopenic group compared with the solely osteoporotic. Logistic regression analysis, however, revealed that only the need for walking aid significantly increased the risk of an osteosarcopenia diagnosis (odds ratio 5.54, 95% CI (1.95–15.76), p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Sarcopenia and impaired muscle domains were frequent in osteoporotic patients, as were markers of physical frailty, indicating the need of thorough examination of osteoporotic patients.
Post-Bariatric Hypoglycemia: an Impaired Metabolic Response to a Meal
Authors: Aydin Ömrüm , Meijnikman Abraham S. , de Jonge Patrick A. , van Stralen Karlijn , Börger Hanneke , Okur Kadriye , Iqbal Zainab , Warmbrunn Moritz V. , Acherman Yair I. Z. , Bruin Sjoerd , Winkelmeijer Maaike , Schimmel Alinda W. M. , Holst Jens J. , Poulsen Steen S. , Bäckhed Fredrik , Nieuwdorp Max , Groen Albert K. , Gerdes Victor E. A.
Published: August 2024

Aims/Hypothesis

Post-bariatric hypoglycemia (PBH) is caused by postprandial hyperinsulinemia, due to anatomical alterations and changes in post-prandial metabolism after bariatric surgery. The mechanisms underlying the failing regulatory and compensatory systems are unclear. In this study, we investigated the differences in post-prandial hormones and metabolic profiles between patients with and without PBH.

Methods

We performed a mixed meal test (MMT) in 63 subjects before and 1 year after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery. Blood was withdrawn at 0, 10, 20, 30, 60, and 120 min after ingestion of a standardized meal. Glucose, insulin, GLP-1, FGF-19, and FGF-21 were measured and untargeted metabolomics analysis was performed on blood plasma to analyze which hormonal and metabolic systems were altered between patients with and without PBH.

Results

Out of 63, a total of 21 subjects (33%) subjects developed PBH (glucose < 3.1 mmol/L) after surgery. Decreased glucose and increased insulin excursions during MMT were seen in PBH (p < 0.05). GLP-1, FGF-19, and FGF-21 were elevated after surgery (p < 0.001), but did not differ between PBH and non-PBH groups. We identified 20 metabolites possibly involved in carbohydrate metabolism which differed between the two groups, including increased carnitine and acylcholines in PBH.

Conclusion

Overall, 33% of the subjects developed PBH 1 year after RYGB surgery. While GLP-1, FGF-19, and FGF-21 were similar in PBH and non-PBH patients, metabolomics analysis revealed changes in carnitine and acyclcholines that are possibly involved in energy metabolism, which may play a role in the occurrence of PBH.

Graphical Abstract
Examining the role played by resources, goals and orientations in primary teachers’ decision- making for problem-solving lesson plans
Authors: Lupiáñez José Luis , Olivares Daniela , Segovia Isidoro
Published: August 2024

The decisions that teachers make in transforming the curriculum into specific lesson plans determine the real enactment or otherwise of curricular ideals. These decisions are shaped by the resources available and by each teacher’s goals and orientations. This exploratory study employs Schoenfeld’s decision-making model to examine how resources, goals and orientations influence lesson planning for mathematics problem solving, for different profiles of primary teachers in Chile. To this purpose, a survey was conducted among 40 teachers of varying degrees of ability and experience: some were beginning teachers, others were experienced but had no further training in teaching problem solving and a third group was composed of experienced teachers with specific training in this question. Interviews with two teachers from each profile revealed important differences between the three groups. Beginning teachers relied more heavily on official resources such as the official curriculum and standard textbooks, aligning themselves with school requirements. Experienced teachers with problem solving training demonstrated a strong inclination towards teaching through a problem solving approach. While beginning teachers acknowledged the importance of promoting problem solving strategies, they did not usually adapt problems to the mathematical content or to the age/competence of their students. Interestingly, all three groups under-utilised sections of curricular resources that emphasise the present curricular focus on problem solving. Finally, the study found that experience alone is not enough to develop a problem solving approach and that focused professional development programmes are needed to equip teachers with the necessary skills. In addition, a diagnostic teaching approach should be incorporated into initial teacher training.
Contributions to the characterization of the Schema using APOS theory: Graphing with derivative
Authors: Trigueros M. , Badillo E. , Sánchez-Matamoros G. , Hernández-Rebollar L. A.
Published: August 2024

This study contributes to Action, Process, Object, Schema (APOS) theory research by showing two approaches used by advanced mathematics students to construct relations between higher-order derivatives to solve complex problems. We show evidence of students’ ability to perform Actions on their graphing derivative Schema, that is, of its thematization. It also contributes to the literature on the learning of differential calculus by showing how advanced students use their knowledge to construct relations between concepts when facing complex situations. The work of three graduate students on transforming complex graphs and determining their properties and their relation to the domain structure is analyzed to determine their solution approaches. Their graphing derivative Schema is analyzed in depth in terms of the construction of relations among the Schema structures and assimilation and accommodation mechanisms involved in thematization in APOS theory. These findings are important in informing and developing didactic strategies to foster university students’ understanding of derivatives, which can smoothe the transition to the study of advanced mathematics courses.
Data Mining and in Silico Analysis of Ethiopian Traditional Medicine: Unveiling the Therapeutic Potential of Rumex abyssinicus Jacq.
Authors: Bultum Lemessa Etana , Kim Gwangmin , Lee Seon-Woo , Lee Doheon
Published: August 2024

Multicomponent traditional medicine prescriptions are widely used in Ethiopia for disease treatment. However, inconsistencies across practitioners, cultures, and locations have hindered the development of reliable therapeutic medicines. Systematic analysis of traditional medicine data is crucial for identifying consistent and reliable medicinal materials. In this study, we compiled and analyzed a dataset of 505 prescriptions, encompassing 567 medicinal materials used for treating 106 diseases. Using association rule mining, we identified significant associations between diseases and medicinal materials. Notably, wound healing—the most frequently treated condition—was strongly associated with Rumex abyssinicus Jacq., showing a high support value. This association led to further in silico and network analysis of R. abyssinicus Jacq. compounds, revealing 756 therapeutic targets enriched in various KEGG pathways and biological processes. The Random-Walk with Restart (RWR) algorithm applied to the CODA PPI network identified these targets as linked to diseases such as cancer, inflammation, and metabolic, immune, respiratory, and neurological disorders. Many hub target genes from the PPI network were also directly associated with wound healing, supporting the traditional use of R. abyssinicus Jacq. for treating wounds. In conclusion, this study uncovers significant associations between diseases and medicinal materials in Ethiopian traditional medicine, emphasizing the therapeutic potential of R. abyssinicus Jacq. These findings provide a foundation for further research, including in vitro and in vivo studies, to explore and validate the efficacy of traditional and natural product-derived medicines.
Comparative Neuroprotective Potential of Nanoformulated and Free Resveratrol Against Cuprizone-Induced Demyelination in Rats
Authors: El-Sayed Sara A. M. , Fouad Ghadha Ibrahim , Rizk Maha Z. , Beherei Hanan H. , Mabrouk Mostafa
Published: August 2024

Demyelination is a frequent yet crippling neurological disease associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). The cuprizone (CZ) model, which causes demyelination through oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, is a popular tool used by researchers to examine this process. The polyphenol resveratrol (RESV) has become a promising neuroprotective agent in seeking for efficient therapies. In a rat model given CZ, we created and examined iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) loaded with RESV (IONP-RESV) to see how effective they were as a therapeutic agent against free RESV. According to molecular mechanisms, exposure to CZ resulted in a marked downregulation of myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) expression and an overexpression of the inflammatory markers tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and S100β, which are indicators of demyelination and neuroinflammation. It is remarkable that these CZ-induced alterations could be reversed by therapy with either RESV or IONP-RESV. Interestingly, IONP-RESV showed even stronger anti-inflammatory activity, as shown by a more noticeable downregulation of TNF-α and S100β expression. These results were confirmed by histopathological examination of the cerebral cortices. Our findings support the better neuroprotective benefits of RESV-loaded IONPs over free RESV in reducing demyelination and neuroinflammation brought on by CZ. Owing to their pro-remyelinating, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, RESV-loaded IONPs show promise as a neurotherapeutic intervention in the future for neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

Graphical Abstract
Amaurosis Post-Bilateral Neck Dissection: A Systematic Review
Authors: Hayat Jafar , Ali Yahya , Hussain Salman , Ramadhan Mohammad , Al-Gilani Maha
Published: August 2024

To discuss the prevalence of amaurosis post-bilateral radical neck dissections; and to provide a management algorithm that highlights the approaches undertaken in available literature to minimize incidence and maximally improve outcomes. This objective will be achieved by systematically reviewing and highlighting current literature. We systematically reviewed Pubmed, EMBASE, and Web of Science for articles pertaining to the management of amaurosis post-bilateral neck dissection. A comprehensive search of available literature was conducted by two independent authors to yield 23 articles to be included in the review. Due to the heterogeneity of study designs and outcome measures, findings were summarized and analyzed descriptively. 23 cases were reported between 1960 and 2021; n = 21 were reported through case reports. Neck dissection type alongside pharyngectomy (n = 7) and laryngectomy (n = 13) status were documented. Mean symptomatic onset was 7.3 ± 5.561 days; median onset n = 3. Seven reported symptoms post-operative day (POD) 0. n = 17 patients underwent bilateral radical neck dissections. n = 16 patients reported intraoperative hypotension. Investigations the patients underwent were documented. The most common causes of the disease included posterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (PION) (n = 8) and anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (AION) (n = 5). The mean transfused amount of blood was 750 ml. The most common management of amaurosis post-bilateral neck dissection were through high dose corticosteroids. Mannitol and acetazolamide were also documented managements of the condition. Overall, there is a paucity of evidence pertaining to the management of amaurosis post-bilateral neck dissection; highlighting the importance of reviewing the available literature and proposing a management algorithm.
Karl Heinrich Ulrichs (1825–1895): A 200-Year Jubilee with Pitfalls
Authors: Mildenberger Florian G.
Published: August 2024

For the opponents of the sexual reform movement, he was the father of all evil; for the proponents of the decriminalization of same-sex desire, he paved the way for objective research. With the term “Urning”, he gave homosexuals an anthropological dignity. The Hanoverian lawyer Karl Heinrich Ulrichs (1825–1895) was notorious during his lifetime and at times esteemed after his death, but it was not until the 1990s that he became the secret hero of sexual emancipation and sexual history/historiography. Streets and squares were named after him, but his life’s work was also often instrumentalized.
Probabilistic quantile multiple fourier feature network for lake temperature forecasting: incorporating pinball loss for uncertainty estimation
Authors: Liu Siyuan , Deng Jiaxin , Yuan Jin , Li Weide , Li Xi’an , Xu Jing , Zhang Shaotong , Wu Jinran , Wang You-Gan
Published: August 2024

Lake temperature forecasting is crucial for understanding and mitigating climate change impacts on aquatic ecosystems. The meteorological time series data and their relationship have a high degree of complexity and uncertainty, making it difficult to predict lake temperatures. In this study, we propose a novel approach, Probabilistic Quantile Multiple Fourier Feature Network (QMFFNet), for accurate lake temperature prediction in Qinghai Lake. Utilizing only time series data, our model offers practical and efficient forecasting without the need for additional variables. Our approach integrates quantile loss instead of L2-Norm, enabling probabilistic temperature forecasts as probability distributions. This unique feature quantifies uncertainty, aiding decision-making and risk assessment. Extensive experiments demonstrate the method’s superiority over conventional models, enhancing predictive accuracy and providing reliable uncertainty estimates. This makes our approach a powerful tool for climate research and ecological management in lake temperature forecasting. Innovations in probabilistic forecasting and uncertainty estimation contribute to better climate impact understanding and adaptation in Qinghai Lake and global aquatic systems.
Optimizing the Conversion of Bio-Oil from Haematococcus pluvialis to Fatty Acid Methyl Esters
Authors: Sanjurjo C. , Rodríguez E. , Bartolomé M. , González R. , Battez A. Hernández
Published: August 2024

Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae have emerged as a prevalent source of antioxidants in cosmetics and nutritional products. Additionally, numerous researchers have posited the potential of this microalgae to produce fatty acid methyl esters (FAME). Nevertheless, the optimization of the production of FAME from H. pluvialis oil has not been investigated. In this study, the transesterification reaction of H. pluvialis bio-oil was optimized using the response surface methodology, resulting in optimal experimental conditions for an oil to methanol ratio of 1:4.17, at a temperature of 80 °C, with a reaction time of 47 min. The resulting FAME was found to not comply with the biodiesel standard in terms of the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (6.02%), as well as kinematic viscosity (7.02 mm2/s). Further study is required to reduce these parameters in order to ensure biodiesel quality and compliance with the standard. Nevertheless, its high flash point value of 150 °C and its high thermal stability within the temperature range of 211–290 °C suggest the potential for utilization as a biolubricant.
Enactive Design-Based Research in Vocational and Continuing Education and Training
Authors: Poizat Germain , Drakos Artémis , Ambrosetti Élodie , Flandin Simon , Ria Luc , Leblanc Serge
Published: August 2024

The purpose of this article is to introduce a design-based research (DBR) approach developed in the field of vocational and continuing education, which is grounded in a pragmatic and phenomenologically inspired enactivist approach to activity. As a design-based methodology, our activity-centered and enactive DBR approach aims to generate knowledge related to design and to identify relevant design principles. After detailing the particularities of an activity-centered and enactive DBR approach, we focus on the results pertaining to design knowledge by identifying two broad design principles for vocational education and training, and five enactivist inspired principles for training design. A significant practical implication for researchers and practitioners in vocational and continuing education and training is that these enactivist inspired design principles provide promising pathways to enhance the connectivity between (i) work experiences, (ii) work and training practices, and (iii) learning contexts.
The Role of Intravenous Anesthetics for Neuro: Protection or Toxicity?
Authors: Wang Kaixin , Wang Yafeng , Zhang Tianhao , Chang Bingcheng , Fu Daan , Chen Xiangdong
Published: August 2024

The primary intravenous anesthetics employed in clinical practice encompass dexmedetomidine (Dex), propofol, ketamine, etomidate, midazolam, and remimazolam. Apart from their established sedative, analgesic, and anxiolytic properties, an increasing body of research has uncovered neuroprotective effects of intravenous anesthetics in various animal and cellular models, as well as in clinical studies. However, there also exists conflicting evidence pointing to the potential neurotoxic effects of these intravenous anesthetics. The role of intravenous anesthetics for neuro on both sides of protection or toxicity has been rarely summarized. Considering the mentioned above, this work aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved both in the central nerve system (CNS) and the peripheral nerve system (PNS) and provide valuable insights into the potential safety and risk associated with the clinical use of intravenous anesthetics.
Prognostic significance of HS2ST1 expression in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Chung Ting Ting , Kim Sang Kyum , Lee Seung Jin
Published: August 2024

Background

Heparan sulfate 2-O-sulfotransferase 1 (HS2ST1) catalyzes the sulfation of glucuronic acid residues in heparan sulfate proteoglycans, enabling these proteoglycans to interact with numerous ligands within tumor microenvironments. However, the prognostic role of HS2ST1 expression in cancer remains unclear.

Objective

This investigated HS2ST1 expression levels and their prognostic significance in various cancer types, demonstrated the prognostic value of HS2ST1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, and identified molecular signatures associated with HS2ST1 expression.

Methods

HS2ST1 expression and patient survival data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets were analyzed using the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) portal. We obtained gene expression and clinicopathological information on HCC patients from the TCGA and the Japan and France International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) databases and performed survival analyses. We also examined relevant protein networks, differentially expressed genes, gene set enrichments, and tumor immune microenvironment features associated with HS2ST1 expression.

Results

HS2ST1 exhibited higher expression in eight tumor types compared with normal tissues and was associated with poor prognoses in five tumors, including HCC. HS2ST1 status correlated with poor prognosis in two ICGC HCC cohorts. Elevated HS2ST1 expression in HCC tumors was associated with signaling pathways involved in cell cycle progression, protein secretion, and mTORC1 signaling. Moreover, HS2ST1 expression levels were inversely correlated with immune cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment.

Conclusion

Our study elucidates the prognostic significance of HS2ST1 expression in HCC patients and provides insights into the potential roles of HS2ST1 in signaling pathways and the tumor microenvironment.
Scientific policy advice on sustainable development: lessons learned from the Dialogue between Scientific Councils in Germany
Authors: Sokolovska Nataliia , Ellersiek Anne , Fecher Benedikt
Published: August 2024

This paper presents an in-depth case study about the Dialogue between Scientific Councils, also referred to as the Beirätedialog, which is a format for cross-sectoral science policy consulting on sustainable development in Germany. Set up to address current trends, it is designed to facilitate deliberation and collective knowledge creation between scientists and policymakers. Based on 4 years of participatory observation, we analyze to what extent this goal can be achieved and present some empirical insights about the main difficulties that occurred. We argue that creating a space for interaction does not guarantee collective knowledge production and identify key learnings that can help design such a process. In support of the growing interest in communication at the intersection of science and policymaking, our research seeks to deepen the understanding of the dynamics of co-creative processes and offer some insights on how to overcome the main challenges.