bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Citizen involvement in research on technological innovations for health, care or well-being: a scoping review
Authors: van Leersum Catharina Margaretha , Jaschinski Christina , Bults Marloes , van der Zwart Johan
Published: September 2024

Citizen science can be a powerful approach to foster the successful implementation of technological innovations in health, care or well-being. Involving experience experts as co-researchers or co-designers of technological innovations facilitates mutual learning, community building, and empowerment. By utilizing the expert knowledge of the intended users, innovations have a better chance to get adopted and solve complex health-related problems. As citizen science is still a relatively new practice for health and well-being, little is known about effective methods and guidelines for successful collaboration. This scoping review aims to provide insight in (1) the levels of citizen involvement in current research on technological innovations for health, care or well-being, (2) the used participatory methodologies, and (3) lesson’s learned by the researchers.

A scoping review was conducted and reported in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The search was performed in SCOPUS in January 2021 and included peer-reviewed journal and conference papers published between 2016 and 2020. The final selection (N = 83) was limited to empirical studies that had a clear focus on technological innovations for health, care or well-being and involved citizens at the level of collaboration or higher. Our results show a growing interest in citizens science as an inclusive research approach. Citizens are predominantly involved in the design phase of innovations and less in the preparation, data-analyses or reporting phase. Eight records had citizens in the lead in one of the research phases.

Researcher use different terms to describe their methodological approach including participatory design, co-design, community based participatory research, co-creation, public and patient involvement, partcipatory action research, user-centred design and citizen science. Our selection of cases shows that succesful citizen science projects develop a structural and longitudinal partnership with their collaborators, use a situated and adaptive research approach, and have researchers that are willing to abandon traditional power dynamics and engage in a mutual learning experience.
“I am there just to get on with it”: a qualitative study on the labour of the patient and public involvement workforce
Authors: Papoulias Stan , Brady Louca-Mai
Published: September 2024

Background

Workers tasked with specific responsibilities around patient and public involvement (PPI) are now routinely part of the organizational landscape for applied health research in the United Kingdom. Even as the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has had a pioneering role in developing a robust PPI infrastructure for publicly funded health research in the United Kingdom, considerable barriers remain to embedding substantive and sustainable public input in the design and delivery of research. Notably, researchers and clinicians report a tension between funders’ orientation towards deliverables and the resources and labour required to embed public involvement in research. These and other tensions require further investigation.

Methods

This was a qualitative study with participatory elements. Using purposive and snowball sampling and attending to regional and institutional diversity, we conducted 21 semi-structured interviews with individuals holding NIHR-funded formal PPI roles across England. Interviews were analysed through reflexive thematic analysis with coding and framing presented and adjusted through two workshops with study participants.

Results

We generated five overarching themes which signal a growing tension between expectations put on staff in PPI roles and the structural limitations of these roles: (i) the instability of support; (ii) the production of invisible labour; (iii) PPI work as more than a job; (iv) accountability without control; and (v) delivering change without changing.

Conclusions

The NIHR PPI workforce has enabled considerable progress in embedding patient and public input in research activities. However, the role has led not to a resolution of the tension between performance management priorities and the labour of PPI, but rather to its displacement and – potentially – its intensification. We suggest that the expectation to “deliver” PPI hinges on a paradoxical demand to deliver a transformational intervention that is fundamentally divorced from any labour of transformation. We conclude that ongoing efforts to transform health research ecologies so as to better respond to the needs of patients will need to grapple with the force and consequences of this paradoxical demand.
The tales of two cities: use of evidence for introducing 20 miles per hour speed limits in Edinburgh and Belfast (United Kingdom)
Authors: Milton Karen , Baker Graham , Cleland Claire L. , Cope Andy , Hunter Ruth F. , Jepson Ruth , Kee Frank , Kelly Paul , Williams Andrew J. , Kelly Michael P.
Published: September 2024

Background

In 2016, large-scale 20 miles per hour speed limits were introduced in the United Kingdom cities of Edinburgh and Belfast. This paper investigates the role that scientific evidence played in the policy decisions to implement lower speed limits in the two cities.

Methods

Using a qualitative case study design, we undertook content analysis of a range of documents to explore and describe the evolution of the two schemes and the ways in which evidence informed decision-making. In total, we identified 16 documents for Edinburgh, published between 2006 and 2016, and 19 documents for Belfast, published between 2002 and 2016.

Findings

In both cities, evidence on speed, collisions and casualties was important for initiating discussions on large-scale 20 mph policies. However, the narrative shifted over time to the idea that 20 mph would contribute to a wider range of aspirations, none of which were firmly grounded in evidence, but may have helped to neutralize opposing discourses.

Discussion and conclusions

The relationship between evidence and decision-making in Edinburgh and Belfast was neither simple nor linear. Widening of the narrative appears to have helped to frame the idea in such a way that it had broad acceptability, without which there would have been no implementation, and probably a lot more push back from vested interests and communities than there was.
A Bayesian approach for estimating the uncertainty on the contribution of nitrogen fixation and calculation of nutrient balances in grain legumes
Authors: Palmero Francisco , Hefley Trevor J. , Lacasa Josefina , Almeida Luiz Felipe , Haro Ricardo J. , Garcia Fernando O. , Salvagiotti Fernando , Ciampitti Ignacio A.
Published: September 2024

Background

The proportion of nitrogen (N) derived from the atmosphere (Ndfa) is a fundamental component of the plant N demand in legume species. To estimate the N benefit of grain legumes for the subsequent crop in the rotation, a simplified N balance is frequently used. This balance is calculated as the difference between fixed N and removed N by grains. The Ndfa needed to achieve a neutral N balance (hereafter $$\theta$$
θ
) is usually estimated through a simple linear regression model between Ndfa and N balance. This quantity is routinely estimated without accounting for the uncertainty in the estimate, which is needed to perform formal statistical inference about $$\theta$$
θ
. In this article, we utilized a global database to describe the development of a novel Bayesian framework to quantify the uncertainty of $$\theta$$
θ
. This study aimed to (i) develop a Bayesian framework to quantify the uncertainty of $$\theta$$
θ
, and (ii) contrast the use of this Bayesian framework with the widely used delta and bootstrapping methods under different data availability scenarios.

Results

The delta method, bootstrapping, and Bayesian inference provided nearly equivalent numerical values when the range of values for Ndfa was thoroughly explored during data collection (e.g., 6–91%), and the number of observations was relatively high (e.g., $$\ge 100$$

≥
100

). When the Ndfa tested was narrow and/or sample size was small, the delta method and bootstrapping provided confidence intervals containing biologically non-meaningful values (i.e. < 0% or > 100%). However, under a narrow Ndfa range and small sample size, the developed Bayesian inference framework obtained biologically meaningful values in the uncertainty estimation.

Conclusion

In this study, we showed that the developed Bayesian framework was preferable under limited data conditions ─by using informative priors─ and when uncertainty estimation had to be constrained (regularized) to obtain meaningful inference. The presented Bayesian framework lays the foundation not only to conduct formal comparisons or hypothesis testing involving $$\theta$$
θ
, but also to learn about its expected value, variance, and higher moments such as skewness and kurtosis under different agroecological and crop management conditions. This framework can also be transferred to estimate balances for other nutrients and/or field crops to gain knowledge on global crop nutrient balances.
First case of autochthonous Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in a Norwegian dog
Authors: Robbestad Julie , Jiménez-Meléndez Alejandro , Robertson Lucy J. , Vatne Liva I. , Hauback Mari N. , Nerhagen Sivert
Published: September 2024

A fifteen-month-old Pembroke Welsh corgi with respiratory distress, exercise intolerance, and moderate regenerative anemia was referred to The Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Small Animal Hospital.

Hematology revealed moderate regenerative anemia without evidence of hemolysis. Thoracic radiographs showed a generalized mixed interstitial to alveolar lung pattern and enlarged pulmonary arteries. Changes suggestive of moderate pulmonary hypertension were noted on echocardiography. Baermann fecal diagnostic flotation identified large numbers of Angiostrongylus vasorum larvae, and the AngioDetect serological antigen test was positive. The dog was treated with a two-week course with fenbendazole (51 mg/kg q24h po) and topical imidacloprid/moxidectin (250 mg/62.5 mg) and a one-week course with sildenafil (0.45 mg/kg q12h po). Complete clinical, clinicopathological and echocardiographic resolution was observed after only four weeks. Rapid improvement of echocardiographic abnormalities in cases with suspected pulmonary hypertension is not usually reported in cases with angiostrongylosis.

Infection with A. vasorum should be considered in dogs with respiratory signs and bleeding tendencies, even in countries with no endemic history or reported cases.
Nucleoporin 153 deficiency in adult neural stem cells defines a pathological protein-network signature and defective neurogenesis in a mouse model of AD
Authors: Colussi Claudia , Bertozzi Alessia , Leone Lucia , Rinaudo Marco , Sollazzo Raimondo , Conte Federica , Paccosi Elena , Nardella Luca , Aceto Giuseppe , Li Puma Domenica Donatella , Ripoli Cristian , Vita Maria Gabriella , Marra Camillo , D’Ascenzo Marcello , Grassi Claudio
Published: September 2024

Background

Reduction of adult hippocampal neurogenesis is an early critical event in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), contributing to progressive memory loss and cognitive decline. Reduced levels of the nucleoporin 153 (Nup153), a key epigenetic regulator of NSC stemness, characterize the neural stem cells isolated from a mouse model of AD (3×Tg) (AD-NSCs) and determine their altered plasticity and gene expression.

Methods

Nup153-regulated mechanisms contributing to NSC function were investigated: (1) in cultured NSCs isolated from AD and wild type (WT) mice by proteomics; (2) in vivo by lentiviral-mediated delivery of Nup153 or GFP in the hippocampus of AD and control mice analyzing neurogenesis and cognitive function; (3) in human iPSC-derived brain organoids obtained from AD patients and control subjects as a model of neurodevelopment.

Results

Proteomic approach identified Nup153 interactors in WT- and AD-NSCs potentially implicated in neurogenesis regulation. Gene ontology (GO) analysis showed that Nup153-bound proteins in WT-NSCs were involved in RNA metabolism, nuclear import and epigenetic mechanisms. Nup153-bound proteins in AD-NSCs were involved in pathways of neurodegeneration, mitochondrial dysfunction, proteasomal processing and RNA degradation. Furthermore, recovery of Nup153 levels in AD-NSCs reduced the levels of oxidative stress markers and recovered proteasomal activity. Lentiviral-mediated delivery of Nup153 in the hippocampal niche of AD mice increased the proliferation of early progenitors, marked by BrdU/DCX and BrdU/PSANCAM positivity and, later, the integration of differentiating neurons in the cell granule layer (BrdU/NeuN+ cells) compared with GFP-injected AD mice. Consistently, Nup153-injected AD mice showed an improvement of cognitive performance in comparison to AD-GFP mice at 1 month after virus delivery assessed by Morris Water Maze. To validate the role of Nup153 in neurogenesis we took advantage of brain organoids derived from AD-iPSCs characterized by fewer neuroepithelial progenitor loops and reduced differentiation areas. The upregulation of Nup153 in AD organoids recovered the formation of neural-like tubes and differentiation.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that the positive effect of Nup153 on neurogenesis is based on a complex regulatory network orchestrated by Nup153 and that this protein is a valuable disease target.
Advancements in extracellular vesicle targeted therapies for rheumatoid arthritis: insights into cellular origins, current perspectives, and emerging challenges
Authors: Jouybari Maryam Talebi , Mojtahedi Fatemeh , Babaahmadi Mahnaz , Faeed Maryam , Eslaminejad Mohammadreza Baghaban , Taghiyar Leila
Published: September 2024

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains a challenging chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by persistent joint inflammation and damage. While modern regenerative strategies, encompassing cell/stem cell-based therapies, gene therapy, and tissue engineering, have advanced tissue repair efforts, a definitive cure for RA remains elusive. Consequently, there is growing interest in developing targeted therapies that directly address the underlying mechanisms driving RA pathogenesis, such as extracellular vesicles (EVs). These small membrane-bound particles can modulate immune responses within the inflammatory microenvironment of damaged cartilage. To launch the clinical potential of EVs, they can be isolated from various cell types through several techniques. EVs can carry various bioactive molecules and anti-inflammatory or pro-regenerative drugs, deliver them directly to the affected joints, and affect the behavior of injured cells, making them a compelling choice for targeted therapy and drug delivery in RA patients. However, there are still several challenges and limitations associated with EV-based therapy, including the absence of standardized protocols for EV isolation, characterization, and delivery. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the cellular sources of EVs in RA and delves into their therapeutic potential and the hurdles they must overcome.
Soluble immune checkpoint molecules in cancer risk, outcomes prediction, and therapeutic applications
Authors: Chen Lin , Chao Yuqing , Li Wenjing , Wu Zhixia , Wang Qinchuan
Published: September 2024

Immunotherapy has emerged as a pivotal modality in cancer treatment, with immune checkpoint inhibitors effectively combating malignancies by impeding crucial pathways within the immune system and stimulating patients’ immune responses. Soluble forms of immune checkpoints exhibit a remarkable diversity and can be readily tracked in circulation, holding immense potential as biomarkers for cancer treatment. An increasing number of studies focused on soluble immune checkpoints in cancer have emerged thanks to technological advancements. In this systematic review, we comprehensively summarized the recent studies on soluble immune checkpoints in human cancer risk prediction, outcome prediction, therapeutic applications, and potential molecular mechanisms, which demonstrated the promising future of soluble immune checkpoints in clinical applications. The clinical relevance of soluble immune checkpoints has been recognized in multiple cancers, yet the therapeutic applications and mechanisms remain obscure. Interpreting the impacts and mechanisms of soluble immune checkpoints could shed a light on the novel strategies of cancer screening, treatments, and outcome prediction.
In human–machine trust, humans rely on a simple averaging strategy
Authors: Love Jonathon , Gronau Quentin F. , Palmer Gemma , Eidels Ami , Brown Scott D.
Published: September 2024

With the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in our lives, attention is increasingly turning to the way that humans and AI work together. A key aspect of human–AI collaboration is how people integrate judgements or recommendations from machine agents, when they differ from their own judgements. We investigated trust in human–machine teaming using a perceptual judgement task based on the judge–advisor system. Participants ($$n=89$$

n
=
89

) estimated a perceptual quantity, then received a recommendation from a machine agent. The participants then made a second response which combined their first estimate and the machine’s recommendation. The degree to which participants shifted their second response in the direction of the recommendations provided a measure of their trust in the machine agent. We analysed the role of advice distance in people’s willingness to change their judgements. When a recommendation falls a long way from their initial judgement, do people come to doubt their own judgement, trusting the recommendation more, or do they doubt the machine agent, trusting the recommendation less? We found that although some participants exhibited these behaviours, the most common response was neither of these tendencies, and a simple model based on averaging accounted best for participants’ trust behaviour. We discuss implications for theories of trust, and human–machine teaming.
Perceptual comparisons induce lasting and generalizing changes to face memory reports
Authors: Teoh Jerrick , Saito Joseph M. , Yeo Yvanna , Winter Sophia , Fukuda Keisuke
Published: September 2024

Humans are often tasked to remember new faces so that they can recognize the faces later in time. Previous studies found that memory reports for basic visual features (e.g., colors and shapes) are susceptible to systematic distortions as a result of comparison with new visual input, especially when the input is perceived as similar to the memory. The current study tested whether this similarity-induced memory bias (SIMB) would also occur with more complex face stimuli. The results showed that faces that are just perceptually encoded into visual working memory as well as retrieved from visual long-term memory are also susceptible to SIMB. Furthermore, once induced, SIMB persisted over time across cues through which the face memory was accessed for memory report. These results demonstrate the generalizability of SIMB to more complex and practically relevant stimuli, and thus, suggest potential real-world implications.
Use of E-Nose in inspecting the effect of processing type on the aroma of garlic (Allium Sativum L.): a critical hint in the quality assessment
Authors: Makarichian Alireza , Chayjan Reza Amiri , Ahmadi Ebrahim , Mohtasebi Seyed Saeid , Zafari Doostmorad
Published: September 2024

Controlling the quality and health of foodstuffs is of great importance. The quality of foods like garlic is strongly influenced by the conditions of processing. Fungal infection is one of the most common hazards of garlic productivity that can affect its processing as well. This research aimed to use the E-Nose to investigate the aroma of garlic as a quality control factor influenced by different treatments such as type of processing, type of fungal infection, and time elapsed since the date of inoculation. The data was investigated and categorized through different methods such as principal component analysis (PCA), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), Support vector machine (SVM), and backpropagation neural network (BPNN). The Index of deterioration toughness increased during the monitoring period. In the analysis of the data related to the unprocessed whole (UW), dried slices (DS), garlic powder (PO), and garlic tablet (TA), the PCA included 55%, 75%, 47%, and 53% of the data, respectively. The LDA was able to classify the aroma of UW, DS, PO, and TA samples based on the TFI treatment with an accuracy of 90%, 93.33%, 88.89%, and 60%, respectively. Also, the BPNN classified the aromas of UW, DS, PO, and TA samples based on the TEI treatment with an accuracy of 90%, 95.6%, 72.2%, and 82.2%, respectively. The results revealed that the aroma alteration can be used as a comprehensive factor in the quality control of processed products. As well, the type of processing had significant effects on the severity of decay caused by fungal infection.

Graphical Abstract
Interventional radiology in trauma: current role and prospects
Authors: Ahmed Yousef Hisham
Published: September 2024

Trauma is a major cause of death worldwide. Interventional radiology provides a set of minimally invasive and effective options that are being integrated as part of the multidisciplinary care plan offered to the trauma patient. However, there are still a lot of areas of development that need to be explored. This article reviews the current role of endovascular interventions in trauma setting, the latest efforts to find the optimum ways to use them and highlights areas of knowledge and gaps in the literature.
RFLP-kenzy: a new bioinformatics tool for in silico detection of key restriction enzyme in RFLP technique
Authors: Laref Nora , Belkheir Khadidja , Belazreg Mohamed , Hireche Abdelhadi
Published: September 2024

Background

Today, several bioinformatics tools are available for analyzing restriction fragment length data. RFLP-kenzy is a new bioinformatic tool for identifying restriction key enzyme that cut at least 1 sequence and a maximum of n-1 sequence.

Results

This bioinformatic tool helps researchers to select appropriate enzymes that yield different RFLP patterns, especially from overly identical sequences with single nucleotide mutation or other small variations. By using RFLP-kenzy, multiple DNA sequences could be analyzed simultaneously and the key enzymes list is provided. The present paper also demonstrates the ability of RFLP-kenzy to identify the key enzymes through the analysis of 16S rRNA sequences and the complete genome of various genera of microorganisms.

Conclusion

From the results, several key enzymes were provided indicating the importance of this new tool in the selection of appropriate restriction enzymes.
Functional renormalisation group approach to the finite-temperature Bose polaron
Authors: Isaule Felipe
Published: September 2024

The functional renormalisation group (FRG) approach is employed to study Bose polarons at finite temperatures in the regime of strong attractive bath-impurity interactions. Both two- and three-dimensional configurations are considered. The appearance of two polaron quasiparticle branches at finite temperatures is revealed, consistent with recent findings by other analytical techniques. Ground-state polaron energies are also reported for selected interactions and temperatures within the gas superfluid phase. The findings of this work present the FRG as a useful tool for studying finite-temperature polarons in quantum gases.
Instantaneous visual genotyping and facile site-specific transgenesis via CRISPR-Cas9 and phiC31 integrase
Authors: Ma Junyan , Zhang Weiting , Rahimialiabadi Simin , Ganesh Nikkitha Umesh , Sun Zhengwang , Parvez Saba , Peterson Randall T. , Yeh Jing-Ruey Joanna
Published: September 2024

Here, we introduce ‘TICIT’, targeted integration by CRISPR-Cas9 and integrase technologies, which utilizes the site-specific DNA recombinase – phiC31 integrase – to insert large DNA fragments into CRISPR-Cas9 target loci. This technique, which relies on first knocking in a 39-basepair phiC31 landing site via CRISPR-Cas9, enables researchers to repeatedly perform site-specific transgenesis at the exact genomic location with high precision and efficiency. We applied this approach to devise a method for the instantaneous determination of a zebrafish's genotype simply by examining its color. When a zebrafish mutant line must be propagated as heterozygotes due to homozygous lethality, employing this method allows facile identification of a population of homozygous mutant embryos even before the mutant phenotypes manifest. Thus, it should facilitate various downstream applications, such as large-scale chemical screens. We demonstrated that TICIT could also create reporter fish driven by an endogenous promoter. Further, we identified a landing site in the tyrosinase gene that could support transgene expression in a broad spectrum of tissue and cell types. In sum, TICIT enables site-specific DNA integration without requiring complex donor DNA construction. It can yield consistent transgene expression, facilitate diverse applications in zebrafish, and may be applicable to cells in culture and other model organisms.
The non-canonical bivalent gene Wfdc15a controls spermatogenic protease and immune homeostasis
Authors: Tomizawa Shin-ichi , Fellows Rachel , Ono Michio , Kuroha Kazushige , Dočkal Ivana , Kobayashi Yuki , Minamizawa Keisuke , Natsume Koji , Nakajima Kuniko , Hoshi Ikue , Matsuda Shion , Seki Masahide , Suzuki Yutaka , Aoto Kazushi , Saitsu Hirotomo , Ohbo Kazuyuki
Published: September 2024

Male infertility can be caused by chromosomal abnormalities, mutations and epigenetic defects. Epigenetic modifiers pre-program hundreds of spermatogenic genes in spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) for expression later in spermatids, but it remains mostly unclear whether and how those genes are involved in fertility. Here, we report that Wfdc15a, a WFDC family protease inhibitor pre-programmed by KMT2B, is essential for spermatogenesis. We found that Wfdc15a is a non-canonical bivalent gene carrying both H3K4me3 and facultative H3K9me3 in SSCs, but is later activated along with the loss of H3K9me3 and acquisition of H3K27ac during meiosis. We show that WFDC15A deficiency causes defective spermiogenesis at the beginning of spermatid elongation. Notably, depletion of WFDC15A causes substantial disturbance of the testicular protease-antiprotease network and leads to an orchitis-like inflammatory response associated with TNFα expression in round spermatids. Together, our results reveal a unique epigenetic program regulating innate immunity crucial for fertility.
ExoJ – a Fiji/ImageJ2 plugin for automated spatiotemporal detection and analysis of exocytosis
Authors: Liu Junjun , Verweij Frederik Johannes , van Niel Guillaume , Galli Thierry , Danglot Lydia , Bun Philippe
Published: September 2024

Exocytosis is a dynamic physiological process that enables the release of biomolecules to the surrounding environment via the fusion of membrane compartments to the plasma membrane. Understanding its mechanisms is crucial, as defects can compromise essential biological functions. The development of pH-sensitive optical reporters alongside fluorescence microscopy enables the assessment of individual vesicle exocytosis events at the cellular level. Manual annotation represents, however, a time-consuming task that is prone to selection biases and human operational errors. Here, we introduce ExoJ, an automated plugin based on Fiji/ImageJ2 software. ExoJ identifies user-defined genuine populations of exocytosis events, recording quantitative features including intensity, apparent size and duration. We designed ExoJ to be fully user-configurable, making it suitable for studying distinct forms of vesicle exocytosis regardless of the imaging quality. Our plugin demonstrates its capabilities by showcasing distinct exocytic dynamics among tetraspanins and vesicular SNARE protein reporters. Assessment of performance on synthetic data shows that ExoJ is a robust tool that is capable of correctly identifying exocytosis events independently of signal-to-noise ratio conditions. We propose ExoJ as a standard solution for future comparative and quantitative studies of exocytosis.
Gut Analysis Toolbox – automating quantitative analysis of enteric neurons
Authors: Sorensen Luke , Humenick Adam , Poon Sabrina S. B. , Han Myat Noe , Mahdavian Narges S. , Rowe Matthew C. , Hamnett Ryan , Gómez-de-Mariscal Estibaliz , Neckel Peter H. , Saito Ayame , Mutunduwe Keith , Glennan Christie , Haase Robert , McQuade Rachel M. , Foong Jaime P. P. , Brookes Simon J. H. , Kaltschmidt Julia A. , Muñoz-Barrutia Arrate , King Sebastian K. , Veldhuis Nicholas A. , Carbone Simona E. , Poole Daniel P. , Rajasekhar Pradeep
Published: September 2024

The enteric nervous system (ENS) consists of an extensive network of neurons and glial cells embedded within the wall of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Alterations in neuronal distribution and function are strongly associated with GI dysfunction. Current methods for assessing neuronal distribution suffer from undersampling, partly due to challenges associated with imaging and analyzing large tissue areas, and operator bias due to manual analysis. We present the Gut Analysis Toolbox (GAT), an image analysis tool designed for characterization of enteric neurons and their neurochemical coding using two-dimensional images of GI wholemount preparations. GAT is developed in Fiji, has a user-friendly interface, and offers rapid and accurate segmentation via custom deep learning (DL)-based cell segmentation models developed using StarDist, as well as a ganglia segmentation model in deepImageJ. We apply proximal neighbor-based spatial analysis to reveal differences in cellular distribution across gut regions using a public dataset. In summary, GAT provides an easy-to-use toolbox to streamline routine image analysis tasks in ENS research. GAT enhances throughput, allowing rapid unbiased analysis of larger tissue areas, multiple neuronal markers and numerous samples.
Η συμβολή του διαδικαστικού δράματος στην ενίσχυση των δεξιοτήτων κριτικής σκέψης των μαθητών του δημοτικού σχολείου
Authors: Δήμα Αικατερίνη
Published: September 2024

Η παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή εστιάζει σε μια πρωτότυπη μελέτη, η οποία βασίστηκε στη φιλοσοφία του διαδικαστικού δράματος και των τεχνικών αυτού και στόχο είχε την καλλιέργεια των δεξιοτήτων της κριτικής σκέψης των μαθητών/-τριών του δημοτικού σχολείου. Το οιονεί πείραμα εφαρμόστηκε το 2021 και ακολούθησε έναν συνδυασμό μεθοδολογιών, όπου προέκυψαν ποσοτικά και ποιοτικά δεδομένα, με σκοπό την ανάπτυξη πέντε εκ των δεξιοτήτων της κριτικής σκέψης. Η πρωτοτυπία έγκειται στο γεγονός ότι υλοποιήθηκε κατά τη διάρκεια του ωρολογίου προγράμματος του δημοτικού σχολείου, η ηλικιακή ομάδα του δείγματος ανήκε στη βαθμίδα της Πρωτοβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης, εφαρμόστηκε, συμπληρωματικά, η μέθοδος της Διαδικασίας Αναλυτικής Ιεράρχησης και αξιοποιήθηκαν οι καινοτόμες πρακτικές του διαδικαστικού δράματος για την καλλιέργεια της κριτικής σκέψης. Η επιλογή των δέκα δημοτικών σχολείων του Νομού Αργολίδας και των επτά του Νομού Ιωαννίνων έγινε με τυχαία δειγματοληψία. Πραγματοποιήθηκε, αρχικά, η πιλοτική έρευνα και ακολούθησε η κυρίως έρευνα, όπου και υλοποιήθηκαν δεκαπέντε παρεμβάσεις βασισμένες στις τεχνικές του διαδικαστικού δράματος. Η πειραματική ομάδα της κυρίως έρευνας αποτελείτο από 154 μαθητές/-τριες ηλικίας 8-10 ετών και η ομάδα ελέγχου από 160 μαθητές/-τριες της ίδιας ηλικίας. Επιλέχθηκαν προσεκτικά τα ερευνητικά εργαλεία που χρησιμοποιήθηκαν και η μελέτη ολοκληρώθηκε με την τριγωνοποίηση των ποσοτικών και ποιοτικών δεδομένων που συλλέχθηκαν. Τα αποτελέσματα της έρευνας κατέδειξαν ότι ένα στοχευμένο πρόγραμμα παρέμβασης βασισμένο στις καινοτόμες πρακτικές του διαδικαστικού δράματος δύναται να αναπτύξει τις δεξιότητες της κριτικής σκέψης των μαθητών/-τριών του δημοτικού σχολείου.
Η ηθική της αλληλεγγύης στο έργο του Albert Camus.
Authors: Λαμπρακοπούλου Αικατερίνη-Αργυρώ
Published: September 2024

Η ΔΔ μελετά το ηθικό νόημα της αλληλεγγύης, όπως αυτό παρουσιάζεται στο έργο του φιλοσόφου και συγγραφέα, Albert Camus, αποσκοπώντας στη διερεύνηση των εκλεκτικών συγγενειών που εμφανίζονται στην έννοια αυτή μεταξύ της χριστιανικής αγάπης και της αναρχικής αλληλοβοήθειας. Εκκινώντας από μία παρουσίαση των ιστορικών καταβολών και της κοινωνικο-φιλοσοφικής θεμελίωσης της έννοιας της αλληλεγγύης, η μελέτη εντοπίζει την αλληλεγγύη στην ιδιότυπη ανθρωπιστική ηθική του Albert Camus. Αξιοποιώντας τα μεθοδολογικά εργαλεία της ερμηνευτικής προσέγγισης, μέσω της ανάλυσης περιεχομένου και του πλαισίου εκφοράς των φιλοσοφικών θέσεων και με όχημα την κοινωνιολογική ορολογία της "εκλεκτικής συγγένειας", επιχειρείται μία κριτική αποτύπωση της αμφίθυμης σχέσης της αλληλεγγύης και του χριστιανισμού στο έργο του Γαλλοαλγερινού λογοτέχνη και φιλοσόφου, ενώ ακόμα αναπτύσσεται, με συγκεκριμένες αναφορές στα έργα και τους ήρωες του Camus, το επιχείρημα ότι η εξέγερση αποτελεί την απάντηση του συγγραφέα στο παράλογο και της εξορία της ανθρώπινης ύπαρξης. Τέλος, η διατριβή ανιχνεύει, κυρίως μέσα από το εμβληματικό έργο "Ο Επαναστατημένος Άνθρωπος", την αλληλοτροφοδοτούμενη σχέση εξέγερσης και αλληλεγγύης, η οποία συνηγορεί προς την ανάδειξη των αναρχικών πτυχών της σκέψης του Camus.
Σχολική Δέσμευση και ικανοποίηση από τη ζωή σε μαθητές Δημοτικού σχολείου
Authors: Τσουβέλας Γιώργος , Παπουλίδη Ασημένια
Published: September 2024

Προηγούμενες μελέτες εξέταζαν το φαινόμενο της σχολικής δέσμευσης (συμπεριφορική - γνωστική -   συναισθηματική), κυρίως, μέσα από μοντέλα ελλειμμάτων, που εστίαζαν σε έννοιες όπως η σχολική διαρροή, οι απουσίες από το σχολικό περιβάλλον αλλά και η σχολική επίδοση. Στο πλαίσιο της παρούσας μελέτης η σχολική δέσμευση προσεγγίζεται μέσα από την οπτική της θετικής ψυχολογίας και της θετικής εκπαίδευσης με στόχο να αναδειχθεί μια νέα αναπτυξιακή προοπτική ενδυνάμωσης και ενίσχυσης των ικανοτήτων των παιδιών και να επεκταθούν οι εκπαιδευτικοί στόχοι προκειμένου να περιλαμβάνουν δράσεις και ενέργειες που προωθούν τη ψυχική ευημερία των μαθητών. Στη μελέτη συμμετείχαν 115 μαθητές της έκτης δημοτικού (44.3% αγόρια) που φοιτούσαν σε ιδιωτικά σχολεία της Αθήνας. Χορηγήθηκαν οι κλίμακες Πολυδιάστατη Κλίμακα ικανοποίησης από τη ζωή για μαθητές, κλίμακα Σχολικής Δέσμευσης και ένα αυτοσχέδιο ερωτηματολόγιο δημογραφικών στοιχείων στο οποίο ζητούνταν από τους μαθητές να αναφέρουν το φύλο, την ημερομηνία γέννησης, το αν έχουν αδέρφια, τον μέσο όρο επίδοσης της προηγούμενης χρονιάς στα μαθήματα των Μαθηματικών και της Γλώσσας και το επίπεδο εκπαίδευσης των γονέων. Η επιβεβαιωτική ανάλυση παραγόντων έδειξε ότι η κλίμακα της σχολικής δέσμευσης εμφάνισε ικανοποιητικούς δείκτες καλής προσαρμογής. Οι παράγοντες της σχολικής δέσμευσης συσχετίστηκαν θετικά με όλους τους παράγοντες της ικανοποίησης από τη ζωή. Οι υψηλότερες συσχετίσεις εντοπίστηκαν ανάμεσα στην ικανοποίηση από το σχολείο και τη συναισθηματική και συμπεριφορική δέσμευση. Διενεργήθηκε ιεραρχική πολλαπλή παλινδρόμηση με τη μέθοδο stepwise προκειμένου να ελεγχθεί η στατιστική πρόβλεψη της ικανοποίησης από το σχολείο από τους δείκτες της σχολικής δέσμευσης και δημογραφικούς παράγοντες. Η ικανοποίηση από το σχολικό περιβάλλον προβλέφθηκε από τους παράγοντες της σχολικής δέσμευσης α) συναισθηματική και β) γνωστική δέσμευση και από το φύλο. Δημογραφικοί και παράγοντες που σχετίζονταν με την επίδοση κατά την προηγούμενη χρονιά δεν συνέβαλαν στην πρόβλεψη της ικανοποίησης από το σχολείο. Όπως προέκυψε από μοντέλο δομικών εξισώσεων η λανθάνουσα μεταβλητή της σχολικής δέσμευσης εμφάνισε πλήρη διαμεσολάβηση ανάμεσα στη σχέση της ικανοποίησης από την οικογένεια και την ικανοποίηση από το σχολείο. Τόσο οι εκπαιδευτικοί όσο και οι πολιτικές εκπαίδευσης θα είναι χρήσιμο να συμπεριλάβουν δράσεις στο αναλυτικό πρόγραμμα και σε διαθεματικές δραστηριότητες για την προώθηση κοινωνικών και συναισθηματικών δεξιοτήτων και αλληλεπιδράσεων που θα έχουν ως αποτέλεσμα τόσο την αύξηση της σχολικής δέσμευσης όσο και της ικανοποίησης από το σχολικό πλαίσιο.
Η Ρωσική Επανάσταση, ο λιμός του 1921-1923 και η διεθνής ανθρωπιστική βοήθεια
Authors: Μπουρούτης Ανδρέας
Published: September 2024

Με αφετηρία την Οκτωβριανή Επανάσταση το 1917, οι μπολσεβίκοι επέβαλαν την εξουσία τους ύστερα από τρία χρόνια αναταράξεων και συγκρούσεων. Με την επακόλουθη κατάρρευση της οικονομίας, η ανάγκη στήριξης των πόλεων οδήγησε στη σταδιακή κατάσχεση της σοδειάς των αγροτικών νοικοκυριών. Στη σωρεία των προβλημάτων που αντιμετώπιζε η ΕΣΣΔ το 1921, προστέθηκε το γεγονός ότι η αγροτική παραγωγή απέτυχε για δεύτερη συνεχόμενη χρονιά σε μεγάλο μέρος της υπαίθρου. Ο λιμός που ενέσκηψε οδήγησε σε ανθρωπιστική καταστροφή, με εκατοντάδες χιλιάδες θανάτους, αναγκάζοντας τους μπολσεβίκους να ζητήσουν διεθνή βοήθεια. Η Αμερικανική Διεύθυνση Περίθαλψης (American Relief Administration – ARA), παρά τις επιφυλάξεις των επαναστατών, δραστηριοποιήθηκε ενεργά στη Ρωσία από το 1921 έως το 1923. Στην κορύφωση της δράσης της, η ARA υποστήριξε και διέσωσε περισσότερους από 10 εκατομμύρια ανθρώπους. Στο άρθρο αναλύεται η πορεία της επανάστασης, από την επικράτησή της μέχρι την εκδήλωση της ανθρωπιστικής κρίσης, καθώς και ταχαρακτηριστικά που πήρε η δραστηριοποίηση της ARA και άλλων ανθρωπιστικών οργανώσεων στη Σοβιετική Ρωσία.
The effects of new product quality choices and customer behavior on the in-house refurbishing model versus the outsourcing model
Authors: Yuliana Yuliana , Ayuningtyas Agista , Kurdhi Nughthoh Arfawi , Siri Zailan , Zailani Suhaiza
Published: September 2024

Background Refurbishing encompasses the process of collecting used products, refurbishing them into new ones, and offering them to consumers. Within this framework, manufacturers can opt for either in-house refurbishing, managed internally, or outsource these operations to third parties and retailers. Methods Our study also takes into account the limited supply of remanufacturable products and incorporates customer behavior distinctions, differentiating between high-end and low-end customers in our models. The primary aim of this research is to formulate and analyze models for in-house refurbishing, refurbishing outsourcing to third parties, and refurbishing outsourcing to retailers. We seek to identify optimal solutions, conduct a comprehensive analysis, and implement strategies to maximize benefits. Additionally, we compare the in-house refurbishing model with the outsourcing refurbishing model. Leveraging multivariable function optimization techniques alongside the Karush-Kuhn-Tucker method, we endeavor to ascertain the optimal strategy, thereby facilitating a nuanced and methodical examination of the intricate dynamics governing profitability and sustainability within the refurbishing sector. Results Our study has applied rigorous mathematical modeling and optimization methodologies to identify optimal configurations for each model, aiming to enhance profitability across diverse parameters, including product quantities, quality selections, and pricing strategies. Conclusions Our analysis underscores that the in-house refurbishing approach tends to yield superior profits for profit-oriented enterprises, whereas outsourcing refurbishing to retailers is conducive to meeting environmental sustainability goals. Furthermore, our investigation has considered pivotal factors such as the constrained availability of remanufacturable products and consumer behavior, with a particular emphasis on discerning preferences among high-end and low-end clientele. We also perform sensitivity analyses to assess the impact of parameter variations on optimal outcomes. Our findings yield three distinct refurbishing models: the in-house refurbishing model, suitable for profit-driven companies under specific production cost parameters, and the outsourcing refurbishing to retailers model, tailored for environmentally-conscious companies, contingent upon particular production cost parameters.
Efficacy of different remineralization agents on microhardness and chemical composition of enamel white spot lesion
Authors: Ghanim Rahman Rafal , Diab Ban Sahib
Published: September 2024

Background White spot lesions (WSLs) are frequently linked with low microhardness and mineral content changes. several strategies have been employed to deal with these problems. This investigation aimed to analyze the microhardness and mineral content changes after remineralization with bioactive glass (BAG) and casein phospho-peptide-amorphous calcium phosphate with fluoride (CPP-ACPF). Methods Twenty sound maxillary first premolars extracted were used to obtain a total of one hundred enamel samples. forty enamel slabs were split into four experimental groups (n = 10 each): Group I, BAG; Group II, BAG+CPP-ACPF; Group III, CPP-ACPF varnish; and Group IV, artificial saliva (negative control). To create artificial WSLs, all samples were preserved in a prepared demineralizing agent for 72 h before treatment with remineralizing agents. Vickers microhardness test was performed. Additionally, 60 enamel samples were selected for analysis using energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDX) and assigned to six experimental groups; the first four groups were similar to that used in the microhardness test along with Group V: WSLs, and Group VI: baseline. The statistical analyses employed in this study included Tukey’s HSD (p<0.05), one-way ANOVA, and Shapiro-Wilk. Result Regarding surface microhardness, the BAG+CPP-ACPF group showed the most favorable recovery, which was better than the outcomes of the BAG and CPP-ACPF groups. A statistically significant change (p <0.05) was not observed between them. Similarly, for mineral content change, the BAG+CPP-ACPF group demonstrated the greatest result, The BAG group came next, and the CPP-ACPF group came last. Conclusion The BAG+CPP-ACPF group might be regarded as the best course of treatment for enhancing both the surface microhardness and mineral content (Ca, P), while the control group (Artificial saliva) showed the least satisfactory results in comparison. After demineralization, mineral content and microhardness decreased in all samples. Therefore, BAG+CPP-ACPF significantly improved the surface microhardness and mineral content.
Demonstrating clean energy transition scenarios in sector-coupled and renewable-based energy communities
Authors: Maruf Md Nasimul Islam , Mahmud Shadman , Pasarín Iván S. , Giani Federico , Degrave Aurélien , Guerra Carlos Funez , Lopez Susana , Mesonero Ivan
Published: September 2024

Background Energy communities facilitate several advantages, including energy autonomy, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, poverty mitigation, and regional economic development. They also empower citizens with decision-making and co-ownership prospects in community renewable projects. Integrating renewable energy sources and sector coupling is a crucial strategy for flexible energy systems. However, demonstrating clean energy transition scenarios in these communities presents challenges, including technology integration, flexibility activation, load reduction, grid resilience, and business case development. Methods Based on the system of systems approach, this paper introduces a 4-step funnel approach and a 4-step reverse funnel approach to systematically specify and detail demonstration scenarios for energy community projects. The funnel approach involves four steps. First, it selects demonstration scenarios promoting energy-efficient state-of-the-art renewable technologies and storage systems, flexibility through demand side management techniques, reduced grid dependence, and economic viability. Second, it lists all existing and planned project technologies, analysing energy flows. Third, it plans actions at different levels to implement the demonstration scenarios. Fourth, it validates the strategies using key performance indicators (KPI) to quantify the effectiveness of the planned measures. Furthermore, the reverse funnel approach delves deeper into the demonstration scenarios. The four steps involve identifying stakeholder perspectives, describing scenario scopes, listing conditions for realisation, and outlining business models, including value chains and economic assumptions. Results This approach provides a detailed analysis of the demonstration scenarios, considering actors, objectives, boundary conditions, and business assumptions. The methodologies are exemplified in three diverse European energy communities extending across residential, commercial, tertiary, and industrial establishments, allowing power-to-x and sector coupling opportunities. The paper also suggested thirteen KPIs for validating renewable-focused energy community projects. Conclusions Finally, the paper recommends increased collaboration between energy communities, knowledge sharing, stakeholder engagement, transparent data collection and analysis, continuous feedback, and method improvement to mitigate policy, technology, business, and market uncertainties.
Differential roles for the oxygen sensing enzymes PHD1 and PHD3 in the regulation of neutrophil metabolism and function
Authors: Watts Emily , Willison Joseph , Arienti Simone , Sadiku Pranvera , Coelho Patricia , Sanchez-Garcia Manuel , Zhang Ailiang , Murphy Fiona , Dickinson Rebecca , Mirchandani Ananda , Morrison Tyler , Lewis Amy , Vermaelen Wesley , Ghesquiere Bart , Carmeliet Peter , Mazzone Massimilliano , Maxwell Patrick , Pugh Christopher , Dockrell David , Whyte Moira , Walmsley Sarah
Published: September 2024

Background Neutrophils are essential in the early innate immune response to pathogens. Harnessing their antimicrobial powers, without driving excessive and damaging inflammatory responses, represents an attractive therapeutic possibility. The neutrophil population is increasingly recognised to be more diverse and malleable than was previously appreciated. Hypoxic signalling pathways are known to regulate important neutrophil behaviours and, as such, are potential therapeutic targets for regulating neutrophil antimicrobial and inflammatory responses. Methods We used a combination of in vivo and ex vivo models, utilising neutrophil and myeloid specific PHD1 or PHD3 deficient mouse lines to investigate the roles of oxygen sensing prolyl hydroxylase enzymes in the regulation of neutrophilic inflammation and immunity. Mass spectrometry and Seahorse metabolic flux assays were used to analyse the role of metabolic shifts in driving the downstream phenotypes. Results We found that PHD1 deficiency drives alterations in neutrophil metabolism and recruitment, in an oxygen dependent fashion. Despite this, PHD1 deficiency did not significantly alter ex vivo neutrophil phenotypes or in vivo outcomes in mouse models of inflammation. Conversely, PHD3 deficiency was found to enhance neutrophil antibacterial properties without excessive inflammatory responses. This was not linked to changes in the abundance of core metabolites but was associated with increased oxygen consumption and increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS) production. Conclusions PHD3 deficiency drives a favourable neutrophil phenotype in infection and, as such, is an important potential therapeutic target.