bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimising Curriculum Quality Assessment in Application‐Oriented Universities: A Student‐Centric Approach Using Entropy and Cloud Model
Authors: Fu Yanmei
Published: October 2024

Classroom instruction is the cornerstone of teaching methodologies, supported by educational and pedagogical research. It is the primary way students acquire knowledge and skills. The quality of the curriculum directly affects the effectiveness of personnel training. Assessing the curriculum quality is crucial for improving classroom instruction. Establishing a scientifically sound evaluation framework is essential for fostering a strong educational ecosystem and creating a sustainable mechanism for long‐term educational advancement. This study addresses the challenges in assessing course quality in application‐oriented universities. It identifies assessment parameters through expert consultation and adopts a ‘student perception’ perspective. Using the entropy weight method, the importance of each parameter is determined. A curriculum quality evaluation model based on the cloud model is then formulated. Finally, the practical application of this evaluation model is demonstrated. This approach provides a theoretical basis for refining curriculum quality evaluation systems in higher education institutions.
Effects of AI Affordances on Student Engagement in EFL Classrooms: A Structural Equation Modelling and Latent Profile Analysis
Authors: Xu Jinfen , Li Juan
Published: October 2024

Various AI technologies have been extensively introduced in language learning, showing positive impacts on students' learning, especially on their classroom‐based engagement. Yet, AI's comprehensive affordances as well as influences across different cohorts of student engagement remain underexplored. Given this, the current study, employing structural equation modelling (SEM), delineated the factor structures and predictive relationships of AI affordances and student engagement. Besides, to clarify the variations across different engagement subgroups, the study also explored latent profiles of student engagement and their moderating effects through latent profile analysis (LPA). SEM and LPA were conducted using AMOS 23 and Mplus 8, respectively. The participants comprised 408 undergraduate students from various universities in China, who have engaged in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learning within AI‐empowered classroom environments. Factor analysis indicated that both AI affordances and student engagement exhibited two second‐order factor structures. AI affordances were categorised into four dimensions: convenience, interactivity, personalisation and social presence. Student engagement was also divided into four dimensions: cognitive, behavioural, emotional and social engagement. Additionally, AI affordances significantly affected student engagement, with this impact being moderated by different student engagement profiles. Student engagement was segmented into three sub‐groups: non/low engagement, high engagement and moderate engagement. Therein, AI affordances showed a notable effect on the non‐/low engagement group. These findings provide a solid foundation for future research in the integration of AI technologies with language learning.
Extracting reproductive parameters from GPS tracking data for a nesting raptor in Europe
Authors: Oppel Steffen , Beeli Ursin M. , Grüebler Martin U. , van Bergen Valentijn S. , Kolbe Martin , Pfeiffer Thomas , Scherler Patrick
Published: October 2024

Understanding population dynamics requires estimation of demographic parameters like mortality and productivity. Because obtaining the necessary data for such parameters can be labour‐intensive in the field, alternative approaches that estimate demographic parameters from existing data can be useful. High‐resolution biologging data are frequently available for large‐bodied bird species and can be used to estimate survival and productivity. We extend existing approaches and present a freely available tool (‘NestTool') that uses GPS tracking data at hourly resolution to estimate important productivity parameters such as home range establishment, breeding initiation, and breeding success. NestTool first extracts 42 movement metrics such as time spent within a user‐specified radius, number of revisits, home range size, and distances between most frequently used day and night locations from the raw tracking data for each individual breeding season. These variables are then used in three independent random forest models to predict whether individuals exhibited home range behaviour, initiated a nesting attempt, and successfully raised fledglings. We demonstrate the use of NestTool by training models with data from 258 individual red kites Milvus milvus from Switzerland tracked for up to 7 years, and then applied those models to tracking data from different red kite populations in Germany where detailed observations of nests and their outcomes existed for validation. The models achieved > 90% accurate classification of home range and nesting behaviour in validation data, but slightly lower (80–90%) accuracy in classifying the outcome of nesting attempts, because some individuals frequently returned to nests despite having failed. NestTool provides a graphical user interface that allows users to manually annotate individual seasons for which model predictions exceed a user‐defined threshold of uncertainty. NestTool will facilitate the estimation of demographic parameters from tracking data to inform population assessments, and we encourage ornithologists to test NestTool for different species.
Identifying potential outcomes of patient engagement in primary care quality improvement: a modified Delphi study
Authors: Pandhi Nancy , Jacobson Nora , Crowder Madison , Quanbeck Andrew , Davis Sarah
Published: October 2024

Rationale

A barrier to dedicating resources towards patient engagement in primary care quality improvement is the lack of clearly identified outcomes that might result from these initiatives.

Aims and objectives

We sought to identify these potential outcomes at three healthcare levels as defined by the Institute of Medicine: 1) Micro/Direct Care; 2) Meso/Microsystem; and 3) Macro/Clinic/System using a Modified Delphi technique.

Method

Two focus groups of patients and primary care clinician leaders generated a first set of outcomes. These outcomes were then vetted and expanded through three web‐based surveys sent to twelve national experts. Experts indicated the level of agreement with prior elicited outcomes and generated potential new outcomes.

Results

Included outcomes achieved at least 80% agreement. The final list of 46 consensus‐derived outcomes was categorized across levels. 22 were at the Micro‐level, 9 were at the Meso‐level, and 15 were at the Macro‐level.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest outcomes across all health system levels have the potential for progress when patients are engaged in primary care quality improvement initiatives. Future programs should consider validating and measuring these outcomes as part of their interventions.
A new heteroskedasticity‐robust test for explosive bubbles
Authors: Harvey David I. , Leybourne Stephen J. , Taylor A. M. Robert , Zu Yang
Published: October 2024

We propose a new class of modified regression‐based tests for detecting asset price bubbles designed to be robust to the presence of general forms of both conditional and unconditional heteroskedasticity in the price series. This modification, based on the approach developed in Beare (2018) in the context of conventional unit root testing, is achieved by purging the impact of unconditional heteroskedasticity from the data using a kernel estimate of volatility before the application of the bubble detection methods proposed in Phillips, Shi and Yu (2015) (PSY). The modified statistic is shown to achieve the same limiting null distribution as the corresponding (heteroskedasticity‐uncorrected) statistic from PSY would obtain under homoskedasticity, such that the usual critical values provided in PSY may still be used. Versions of the test based on regressions including either no intercept or a (redundant) intercept are considered. Representations for asymptotic local power against a single bubble model are also derived. Monte Carlo simulation results highlight that neither one of these tests dominates the other across different bubble locations and magnitudes, and across different models of time‐varying volatility. Accordingly, we also propose a test based on a union of rejections between the with‐ and without‐intercept variants of the modified PSY test. The union procedure is shown to perform almost as well as the better of the constituent tests for a given DGP, and also performs very well compared to existing heteroskedasticity‐robust tests across a large range of simulation DGPs.
Response to tigilanol tiglate in dogs with mast cell tumors
Authors: Musser Margaret L. , Jones Pamela D. , Goodson Teresa L. , Roof Erin , Johannes Chad M.
Published: October 2024

Background

Information regarding response rate to tigilanol tiglate for mast cell tumors in dogs is limited.

Objectives

Report the response rate and durability of tigilanol tiglate intratumoral treatment in dogs with mast cell tumors presented to veterinary oncologists.

Animals

One hundred forty‐nine dogs; 151 individual tumors.

Methods

Multicenter, retrospective survey‐based study. Veterinary oncologists subscribed to the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) oncology listserv were solicited for information from dogs treated with tigilanol tiglate. An electronic survey was used to collect information at initial treatment, 1 month and 1 year after treatment.

Results

Most tumors were cutaneous, occurred on the limbs and were cytologically low grade. Seventy‐five percent of dogs achieved a complete response after 1 dose of tigilanol tiglate 1 month after treatment. This response was durable at 1 year in 64% of dogs for which data were available (n = 88). Wound formation, an expectation after treatment, occurred after a median of 7 days (range, 1‐91 days), with a median wound area of 4.71 cm2 (range, 0.09‐100 cm2). Wounds took a median of 30 days to heal completely (range, 14‐154 days). A moderate association between tumor volume and wound size was confirmed.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Tigilanol tiglate is an effective local treatment option for mast cell tumors in dogs with a predictable clinical course and response. Because of the unique mode of action and clinical course, client education and careful case selection is necessary before electing tigilanol tiglate for local treatment.
Do investors gain by selling the tails of return distributions?
Authors: Bakshi Gurdip , Crosby John , Gao Xiaohui
Published: October 2024

This paper examines whether investors gain by selling the tails of return distributions. To address this, we develop a way of ranking and scoring actively managed funds and investment strategies, which accounts for ambiguity aversion and risk aversion in decision‐making. Using data relating to options on the S&P 500 equity index and Treasury bond futures and to hedge funds, we provide evidence that suggests a negative answer to this question. We reinforce this evidence with data from options on the STOXX 50, FTSE, and Nikkei equity indices.
The Mediating Role of Depressive Symptoms and Treatment Burden on Health‐Related Quality of Life Among Multimorbid Patients With Hypertension: A Multi‐Group Analysis
Authors: Lee Jihyang , Kim Su‐Young , Lee Kyoung Suk
Published: October 2024

Multimorbidity negatively affects health‐related quality of life (HRQoL), though the underlying mechanism remained unclear. This study aims to investigate the mediating role of depressive symptoms and multimorbidity treatment burden (MTB) in the association between disease burden and HRQoL in multimorbid patients with hypertension and to determine differences in mediating effects between and within age groups (< 60 years vs. 60 and above). Disease burden, depressive symptoms, MTB, and HRQoL were assessed by self‐reported questionnaires. We conducted path analysis with all subjects and multi‐group path analyses with two age groups. Results from the path analysis with all subjects (n = 498) showed a significant direct effect of disease burden on HRQoL and a significant indirect effect via depressive symptoms and MTB. No significant differences in mediating effects were found between age groups. However, in the older patients, depressive symptoms had a greater indirect effect than MTB. Our results underscore the importance of addressing both depressive symptoms and MTB in interventions tailored to the patient's age.
Effect of Oral Frailty on Postoperative Infection in Patients Undergoing Abdominal Visceral Surgery
Authors: Ikuno Tamao , Ida Mitsuru , Momota Yoshihiro , Kawaguchi Masahiko
Published: October 2024

Objectives

To assess effects of the oral frailty index‐8 (OFI‐8) on the incidence of postoperative infection.

Subjects and Methods

This retrospective study included patients aged ≥ 65 years who underwent elective abdominal visceral surgery under general anaesthesia. Oral frailty was assessed using OFI‐8 (total score, 0–11), with higher scores indicating poorer oral health. The primary outcome measure was incidence of postoperative infection. The association between incidence of postoperative infection and OFI‐8 score was evaluated using multiple logistic regression analysis adjusted for clinically relevant preoperative and intraoperative covariates.

Results

Data of 791 patients (mean age, 74 years; mean OFI‐8 score, 3.4) were analysed. The OFI‐8 score had a linear association (P for nonlinear effect on postoperative infection = 0.43) with a composite postoperative infection at a rate of 14.2% (95% confidence interval: 11.8–16.7). The adjusted odds ratio of the OFI‐8 score for the primary outcome was 1.10 (95% confidence interval: 1.00–1.21), indicating that patients with higher OFI‐8 scores tended to have postoperative infections.

Conclusion

This study's findings suggest that patients with higher OFI‐8 scores were more likely to develop postoperative infection after undergoing elective abdominal visceral surgery.
Comparing the effectiveness of individual occupation‐based reminiscence therapy at home and in a dementia care centre on cognitive function in older adults with mild dementia: a pilot randomised controlled trial
Authors: Jung Ha Yeong , Kwon Jae Sung
Published: October 2024

Background

The need for research on individual home therapies to promote continued community‐dwelling among older adults with mild dementia is growing. This study aimed to compare the effects of individual occupation‐based reminiscence therapy at home (IOBRT‐H) and individual occupation‐based reminiscence therapy in a dementia care centre (IOBRT‐DCC) on cognitive function, depression, and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) among community‐dwelling older adults with mild dementia.

Methods

This study was a randomised controlled trial. Twenty‐six community‐dwelling older adults with mild dementia were randomised to the IOBRT‐H (n = 13) and IOBRT‐DCC (n = 13) groups. The intervention was conducted for 10 weeks, with one session a week and each session lasting 60 min for both groups. Cognitive function was assessed using the Allen Cognitive Level Screen (ACLS), depression with the short form of the Geriatric Depression Scale Korean version (SGDS‐K), and IADL using the Seoul‐Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (S‐IADL).

Results

Both the IOBRT‐H and IOBRT‐DCC groups showed significant improvements in ACLS scores (P < 0.01 and P < 0.01, respectively). The SGDS‐K score decreased only in the IOBRT‐H group (P < 0.01). Between the groups, the IOBRT‐H group had significantly greater improvements in both ACLS and SGDS‐K scores than the IOBRT‐DCC group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.05, respectively).

Conclusion

This study's results indicated the potential for applying IBORT‐H as an intervention to improve cognitive function and reduce depression in community‐dwelling older adults with mild dementia. We expect the findings of this study to serve as useful foundational data for developing home‐visiting cognitive programs.
Taiwan Strait: An ocean‐current‐dominated shallow‐water setting with a river‐fed detached muddy contourite deposit
Authors: Shan Xin , Dalrymple Robert W. , Shi Xuefa , Qiao Shuqing , Liu Chenguang , Yao Zhengquan , Jin Lina , Hua Qingfeng , Feng Han , Liu Shan , Liu Shihao , Liu Char‐Shine , Liu Paul
Published: October 2024

Contourites (contour‐current deposits) are commonly associated with deep‐water environments, but this study documents a shallow‐water, muddy contourite drift in the centre of Taiwan Strait. The drift body (water depths of 30 to 70 m, 220 km long, 50 to 70 km wide, 0 to 30 m thick), with its long axis approximately colinear with the Taiwan Strait Current, is flanked on both sides by moats. Compositional data show that the drift is composed of sediment carried northward by the Taiwan Strait Current from the Choshui River draining Taiwan. The coast‐normal Changyun Ridge directly offshore of the Choshui River splits the Taiwan Strait Current into two branches that occupy the moats. Oblique cross‐drift flow from west to east contributes to drift growth. The dispersal system shows a down‐current fining from sands on the Changyun Ridge (ca 100 km long, 25 to 45 km wide) to the fine‐grained elongate drift; these together represent the asymmetrical subaqueous portion of the Choshui delta. Cores show that the drift is <8 kyr old, with sedimentation rates up to 7.8 m/ka. It coarsens upward during the initial phase of drift growth, perhaps due to an increase in current strength, with smaller‐scale textural bedding attributed to fluctuating current strengths or variations in wave energy depending on the location. Seismic data show that the southern end of the drift is migrating westward, due to elongation of the Changyun Ridge, whereas the middle and distal end are migrating eastward because of cross‐drift flow. Erosion by the eastern branch of the Taiwan Strait Current detached the drift from the coeval coastal mud belt. The influence of tidal currents is small because of the destructive interference of tidal waves entering from the two ends, creating weak rotary tidal currents over the drift. Wave energy is small within the Strait but larger waves arriving from the East China Sea are thought to be responsible for upward coarsening of the more exposed northern end. Taiwan Strait serves as a starting point for developing a facies model for ocean‐current‐dominated straits and seaways.
IDENTIFICATION OF PLANTS OF THE FAMILY FABACEAE USING MOLECULAR BARCODAING ANALYSIS
Authors: Kali B.R. , Sutula M.Y. , Akhmetollayeva A.S. , Manabayeva S.A.
Published: October 2024

The Fabaceae family in Kazakhstan comprises 42 genera and about 650 species. Leguminous crops, such as beans, peas, soybeans, and peas, as well as forage plants like clover, alfalfa, sainfoin, and sweet clover, are rich in protein and widely used in the food and feed industries. They are also utilized in the production of biodegradable materials, oils, dyes, and biodiesel fuel. DNA barcoding is effective for species identification within Fabaceae despite their morphological variability, highlighting the importance of preserving their diversity. To assess the genetic diversity of 15 Fabaceae species in the Karaganda region, three pairs of primers were used. The chloroplast markers matK and rbcL, as well as the nuclear marker ITS, were employed. The obtained sequences were analyzed using Vector NTI and MEGA11, registered in the GenBank NCBI database, and voucher specimens are stored in the herbarium of the National Center for Biotechnology in Astana. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of DNA barcoding for species identification of Fabaceae based on the analysis of ITS, rbcL, and matK markers using the maximum likelihood method. The results underscore the significance of selecting markers considering their variability for accurate phylogenetic analysis and the necessity of further population studies to preserve biological diversity in Kazakhstan.
DEVELOPMENT OF MACHINE-LEARNT TURBULENCE CLOSURES FOR WAKE MIXING PREDICTIONS IN LOW-PRESSURE TURBINES
Authors: Frey Marioni Yuri , Adami Paolo , Vazquez Diaz Raul , Cassinelli Andrea , Sherwin Spencer J. , Montomoli Francesco
Published: October 2024

In this work, a DNS – Machine Learning (ML) framework is developed for low-pressure turbine (LPT) profiles to inform turbulence closures in Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) calculations. This is done by training the coefficients of Explicit Algebraic Reynolds Stress Models (EARSM) with shallow artificial neural networks (ANN). DNS data are generated with the incompressible Navier–Stokes solver in Nektar++ and validated against experiments. All calculations include moving bars upstream of the profile to capture the effect of incoming wakes. The resulting formulations are then implemented in the Rolls-Royce solver HYDRA and tested. The aim is to improve mixing predictions in LPT wakes, compared to the baseline k-ω SST, in terms of velocity profiles, turbulent kinetic energy production and mixing losses. LPT calculations are run at Reynolds numbers spanning from ≈ 80k to ≈ 300k, to cover the range of aircraft engine applications. Models for the low and high Reynolds datasets are trained separately and a method is developed to merge the two together. The resulting model is tested on an intermediate Reynolds case. This process is followed for two computational domains: one starting downstream of the profile trailing edge and one including the last portion of the profile. Finally, the developed closures are tested on the entire profile, including transition in the simulation. This work explains the methodology used to develop ML-driven closures and shows how it is possible to combine models trained on different datasets.
Insights into the genesis of oxygen vacancies and atomically dispersed Niδ− species in anatase TiO2: A spectroscopic study
Authors: Zhang Xiaoqiang , Feng Yuteng , Zhang Wei , Liang Changhui , Li Huixiang , Li Yongxin , Zhang Z. Conrad
Published: October 2024

Oxygen vacancies are commonly observed defects in metal oxides that contribute to the unique physiochemical properties of these materials. Despite the abundant evidence of oxygen vacancies in transition metal oxides and their intriguing properties in catalysis, there remain questions in understanding their formation, structure, and properties. In this study, we employ in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy to investigate the genesis of oxygen vacancies and Ni species, focusing on the significance of Ni species relating to the reduction temperature. Our findings reveal a reduction temperature dependence on the formation of oxygen vacancies and atomically dispersed Niδ− species in anatase TiO2 (TiO2-A). In pristine TiO2-A, the reduction temperature between 300 and 400 °C led to the creation of a substantial number of oxygen vacancies. With supported Ni on TiO2-A, oxygen vacancies are favorably formed at 200 °C. As the reduction temperature is increased to 300 °C, Ni species migrate to the oxygen vacancies and become stabilized by forming Niδ− species while reducing the number of oxygen vacancies. Subsequent oxidation at 300 °C led to the oxidation of some Niδ− species alongside the liberation of the oxygen vacancies they previously occupied. These findings shed light on the mechanisms in forming oxygen vacancies and Niδ− species.
The British Preschool Children’s Play Survey: When, Where, and How Adventurously Do British Preschool-Aged Children Play?
Authors: Dodd Helen F. , Hesketh Kathryn
Published: October 2024

Background: Outdoor, adventurous play supports physical activity and might help to prevent mental health problems, yet data on preschool-aged children’s outdoor play are scarce. Method: Data were collected from a nationally representative sample of 1166 parents/caregivers of children aged 2–4 years (52% male; 88% white) living in Britain. Caregivers reported time children spent playing in 7 locations and corresponding adventure level. Responses were used to derive: total play time, outdoor play time, and adventurous play time (in hours per year). Associations between sociodemographic characteristics and play outcomes were examined, controlling for relevant confounding variables. Results: Outside of childcare, preschool-aged children spent approximately 4 hours per day playing, with 1 hour 45 minutes spent playing outdoors. Most outdoor play happened in gardens at home. Away from home, children most often played in playgrounds and green spaces. Levels of adventurous play were reported to be highest at indoor play centers, followed by playgrounds and green spaces. Total play differed significantly by location, with children in rural areas spending more time playing (vs urban areas). Child ethnicity was associated with play and outdoor play, with children belonging to minority ethnic groups (vs white) playing less. Child sex was also a significant predictor of outdoor play time: boys (vs girls) spent more time playing outdoors, driven primarily by time spent in green spaces. No associations were found for adventurous play. Conclusions: These results highlight how inequalities in access to outdoor space at home and good quality local play spaces may impact young children’s play opportunities and, in turn, exacerbate health inequalities.
Reconstruction of the human amylase locus reveals ancient duplications seeding modern-day variation
Authors: Yilmaz Feyza , Karageorgiou Charikleia , Kim Kwondo , Pajic Petar , Scheer Kendra ,   Human Genome Structural Variation Consortium, Beck Christine R. , Torregrossa Ann-Marie , Lee Charles , Gokcumen Omer , Audano Peter A. , Austine-Orimoloye Olanrewaju , Beck Christine R. , Eichler Evan E. , Hallast Pille , Harvey William T. , Hastie Alex R. , Hoekzema Kendra , Hunt Sarah , Korbel Jan O. , Kordosky Jennifer , Lee Charles , Lewis Alexandra P. , Marschall Tobias , Munson Katherine M. , Pang Andy , Yilmaz Feyza
Published: October 2024

Previous studies suggested that the copy number of the human salivary amylase gene,
AMY1
, correlates with starch-rich diets. However, evolutionary analyses are hampered by the absence of accurate, sequence-resolved haplotype variation maps. We identified 30 structurally distinct haplotypes at nucleotide resolution among 98 present-day humans, revealing that the coding sequences of
AMY1
copies are evolving under negative selection. Genomic analyses of these haplotypes in archaic hominins and ancient human genomes suggest that a common three-copy haplotype, dating as far back as 800,000 years ago, has seeded rapidly evolving rearrangements through recurrent nonallelic homologous recombination. Additionally, haplotypes with more than three
AMY1
copies have significantly increased in frequency among European farmers over the past 4000 years, potentially as an adaptive response to increased starch digestion.
People consistently view elections and civil liberties as key components of democracy
Authors: Chu Jonathan A. , Williamson Scott , Yeung Eddy S. F.
Published: October 2024

How do people around the world define democracy? Answering this question is critical as countries face democratic backsliding and authoritarian governments promote alternative notions of democracy. Indeed, some scholars argue that people from different backgrounds understand democracy differently. By contrast, we discovered very consistent views about what constitutes a “democratic” country from conjoint survey experiments conducted in Egypt, India, Italy, Japan, Thailand, and the United States. Across countries (
N
= 6150) and diverse subgroups within countries, people similarly emphasized free and fair elections and civil liberties as being the key determinants of democracy. Countries that produce desirable social and economic outcomes are also considered more democratic, but these and other factors exert a smaller and less consistent effect than elections and civil liberties.
The development and impact of tin selenide on thermoelectrics
Authors: Qin Bingchao , Kanatzidis Mercouri G. , Zhao Li-Dong
Published: October 2024

Thermoelectric technology experienced rapid development over the past 20 years, with the most promising applications being in both power generation and active cooling. Among existing thermoelectrics, tin selenide (SnSe) has had particularly rapid development owing to the unexpectedly high thermoelectric efficiency that has been continuously established over the past decade. Several transport mechanisms and strategies used to interpret and improve the thermoelectric performance of SnSe have been important for understanding and developing other material systems with SnSe-like characteristics. Similar to other thermoelectrics, building commercially viable SnSe-based devices requires advances in device efficiency and service stability. Further optimization across all material systems should enable thermoelectric technology to play a critical role in the future global energy landscape.
Are implantable, living pharmacies within reach?
Authors: Rivnay Jonathan , Sheehan Paul E. , Veiseh Omid
Published: October 2024

Cell-based drug factories could produce therapies on demand inside patients
Fly-fishing for flagella
Authors: Caulton Simon G. , Lovering Andrew L.
Published: October 2024

Molecular grappling hooks are the tools of a sticky bacterial predator
Electric pulses rejuvenate batteries
Authors: Jin Chengbin , Tao Xinyong
Published: October 2024

Dielectrophoresis allows “dead” material to recover its activity
Most meteorites traced to three space crackups
Authors: Voosen Paul
Published: October 2024

Young asteroid families seed more than 70% of extraterrestrial rocks found on the planet
Firing Analysis of a Memristive Synapse-Coupled Heterogeneous Neural Network with Activation Gradient
Authors: Zhu Kailing , Bai Yulong , Jiang Jiawei , Dong Qianqian
Published: October 2024

Different functional areas of the brain are composed of varying numbers of heterogeneous neurons, which transmit signals via synapses. As an electronic element, memristor can store resistance values and simulate the memory properties of synapses. At present, research on coupling heterogeneous neurons through memristive synapses is relatively scarce. A heterogeneous neural network model is proposed in this paper, where the memristor acts as a coupled synapse between a Two-Dimensional Hindmarsh–Rose (2D HR) neuron and a Three-Dimensional Hopfield Neural Network (3D HNN) neuron. The activation function of the neural network can simulate the firing behavior and nonlinearly transform the input signals. Therefore, an activation gradient is added to the 3D HNN neuron. In this paper, heterogeneous neurons and activation gradients are simultaneously introduced into the neural network. The model provides a more realistic artificial neural network, which can simulate the diversity of neurons in the brain. The firing behaviors varying with the coupling strength between the memristor and neurons are analyzed, and the influence of the activation gradient on the neural network model is studied. Various firing patterns are discovered, including chaotic/periodic spiking, chaotic/periodic bursting, stochastic bursting and transient chaotic spiking. By observing the Lyapunov Exponents (LEs) and bifurcation diagram under the initial values of two memristors, it is found that there are infinitely many attractors, indicating the extreme multistability firing in this heterogeneous neural network model. Finally, circuit design is implemented by Multisim simulation, and hardware implementation is completed on the Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) platform.
Moral Logics of Bureaucratic Indifference
Authors: Shiff Talia
Published: October 2024

This article reviews scholarship concerned with the ways in which morality shapes organizational practice on the frontlines of the state: how bureaucrats, who draw on, contest, and apply moral schemas while delegating rights, resources, and punishments on behalf of the state to discrete subjects, manage the reality of being on the frontlines. A central focus of this scholarship is on situations characterized by tensions between agency-codified regulations and moral values; in such situations, moral categorizations once relegated to the background of consciousness become visible and subject to debate and, in turn, shed important light on how morality informs organizational practice. Current theorizing on the interrelations between morality and organizational practice in client-serving bureaucracies could nonetheless be improved by greater scholarly attention to bureaucrats’ perceptions of moral incongruence, and to the micro-dynamic processes through which they seek to actualize their aspirations for moral resolution.
Microphysiological systems to advance human pathophysiology and translational medicine
Authors: Harriot Anicca D. , Ward Christopher W. , Kim Deok-Ho
Published: October 2024

Microphysiological systems (MPS) or “organ-on-a-chip” models are sophisticated tools that harness techniques from cell biology, tissue engineering, and microengineering to recapitulate human physiology. Typically, MPS are biofabricated three-dimensional (3-D) tissue constructs integrated into platforms designed to mimic the tissue microenvironment and provide functional outputs. Over the past decade, researchers have endeavored to manufacture high-throughput, high-fidelity MPS models of all major human organs. By incorporating patient-derived cells, researchers have produced biomimetic models of tissues with disease-linked genetic mutations capable of exhibiting patient heterogeneity. This work has demonstrated that MPS more closely model organotypic function and pathophysiology than traditional two-dimensional (2-D) culture systems. Moreover, investigators have shown that human MPS are better predictors of drug efficacy and toxicity than animal models. Thus, MPS have emerged as a promising candidate to improve the efficacy and safety of preclinical trials. In this mini-review, we provide an overview of current advances in MPS models, their applications in mechanistic research, and relevance to drug screening. Finally, we discuss current investments in MPS development by the United States federal government and research institutions around the world to advance translational medicine.
Acute contractile activity induces the activation of the mitochondrial integrated stress response and the transcription factor ATF4
Authors: Sanfrancesco Victoria C. , Hood David A.
Published: October 2024

Skeletal muscle relies on mitochondria to produce energy and support its metabolic flexibility. The function of the mitochondrial pool is regulated by quality control (MQC) processes. The integrated stress response (ISR), a MQC pathway, is activated in response to various cellular stressors. The transcription factor ATF4, the main effector of the ISR, ameliorates cellular stress by upregulating protective genes, such as CHOP and ATF5. Recent literature has shown that the ISR is activated upon mitochondrial stress, however, whether this includes acute exercise-induced stress is poorly defined. To investigate this, a mouse in situ hindlimb protocol was utilized to acutely stimulate muscles at 0.25, 0.5 and 1 tetanic contraction/per second for 9 mins, followed by a 1-hour recovery period. CAMKII and JNK2 were robustly activated 6-fold immediately following the protocol. ISR activation, denoted as the ratio of phosphorylated to total-eIF2a protein levels, was also elevated following recovery. Downstream, contractile activity induced an increase in the nuclear localization of ATF4. Robust 2-fold increases in the mRNA expression of ATF4 and CHOP were also observed following the recovery period. Changes in ATF4 mRNA were independent of transcriptional activation, as assessed using an ATF4 promoter-reporter plasmid. Instead, mRNA decay assays revealed an increase in ATF4 mRNA stability post-contractile activity, as a result of enhanced stabilization by the RNA binding protein, HuR. Thus, acute contractile activity is sufficient to induce mitochondrial stress and activate the ISR, corresponding to the induction of ATF4 with potential consequences for mitochondrial phenotype adaptations in response to repeated exercise.
Determination of Deformation Behaviors and Energy Absorption of Lightweight Composite Lattice Cylinders With Different Structures
Authors: Bozkurt Ilyas
Published: October 2024

The aim of this study is to determine the crushing performance of four different composite lattice cylinder structures (hexagonal, circular, square, and triangular) under quasistatic compression loading using the finite element method. The numerical model was developed by performing progressive damage analysis with the MAT-54 material model in the LS-DYNA finite element software. The crushing performance (peak force (PF), mean crushing force (MCF), crushing force efficiency (CFE), and specific energy absorption (SEA)) and damage types of composite cylinders for different lattice structures, specimen thicknesses, lengths, material types and compression directions (axial and tangential) were determined and compared with results from other studies in the literature. At the end of the study, it was determined that the PCF value of the square lattice structure was 19.3% higher than hexagonal lattice structure, 37.6% higher than the circular lattice structure, and 33.4% higher than triangular lattice structure for axial loading. The AL specimen exhibited the highest EA value with 171 J, while the CFRP specimen had the highest SEA value with 4.2 J/g. The CFE value was the highest for the AL specimen. The deformation behavior of lattice cylinders varied primarily according to the cell type.
Transient Stability Assessment Model With Sample Selection Method Based on Spatial Distribution
Authors: Li Yongbin , Wang Yiting , Li Jian , Zhao Huanbei , Wang Huaiyuan , Hu Litao
Published: October 2024

With the phasor measurement units (PMUs) being widely utilized in power systems, a large amount of data can be stored. If transient stability assessment (TSA) method based on the deep learning model is trained by this dataset, it requires high computation cost. Furthermore, the fact that unstable cases rarely occur would lead to an imbalanced dataset. Thus, power system transient stability status prediction has the bias problem caused by the imbalance of sample size and class importance. Faced with such a problem, a TSA model based on the sample selection method is proposed in this paper. Sample selection aims to optimize the training set to speed up the training process while improving the preference of the TSA model. The typical samples which can accurately express the spatial distribution of the raw dataset are selected by the proposed method. Primarily, based on the location of training samples in the feature space, the border samples are selected by trained support vector machine (SVM), and the edge samples are selected by the assistance of the approximated tangent hyperplane of a class surface. Then, the selected samples are input to stacked sparse autoencoder (SSAE) as the final classifier. Simulation results in the IEEE 39‐bus system and the realistic regional power system of Eastern China show the high performance of the proposed method.
Examination of Transition Shock and Colleague Violence Among Newly Graduated Nurses: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Authors: Berşe Soner , Ağar Ali , Di̇rgar Ezgi , Tosun Betül
Published: October 2024

Background: The adaptation process for new nursing graduates is challenging, with transition shock and colleague violence impacting both individuals and institutions.

Objective: This study investigates transition shock and colleague violence among newly graduated nurses in Turkey during their adaptation process.

Methods: The study involved 235 newly graduated nurses from a state university in Turkey with at least six months of clinical experience. Data were collected using the Nursing Transition Shock Scale and the Exposure to Colleague Violence Scale.

Results: Among the participants, 27.23% experienced colleague violence and 56.17% witnessed it. The mean score on the Nursing Transition Shock Scale was 53.62 ± 15.39. Female nurses and younger age groups faced more challenges.

Conclusion: Supportive work environments, mentorship programs, and collaborative teamwork are crucial for newly graduated nurses. Updating nursing education programs to prepare students for these challenges is essential. This study underscores the need for targeted interventions.
Severe Cytomegalovirus Congenital Infection With Neurological Compromise a Case Series Study in Mexico
Authors: Flores-Medina Saúl , Figueroa Damian Ricardo , Arreola-Ramírez Gabriela , Plazola-Camacho Noemi , Villeda-Gabriel Graciela , Ochoa Sara A. , Cruz-Córdova Ariadnna , Xicohtencatl-Cortes Juan , Arellano-Galindo José
Published: October 2024

Four cases of serious congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections are described in this report. All cases were diagnosed postnatally using cerebrospinal fluid (3/4) or blood PCR (1/4) and histochemical study of the placenta (4/4). All infants were born prematurely. Maternal factors identified as significant were younger age at pregnancy and those from low‐income social strata. The major clinical findings among patients with congenital CMV infection were hydrocephalus and persistent thrombocytopenia. The children’s clinical condition did not improve over the course of the disease, leading to complications associated with extreme prematurity. Two of the children died, one of whom had severe brain malformations and showed neurological compromise at follow‐up, seizures, motor impairment, and severe cognitive delay. It is essential to perform antenatal screening for possible CMV infection among pregnant women, even in countries with high population seropositivity, such as Mexico, to establish prenatal interventions to reduce the risk of fetal damage.
Spatial Dynamics of T- and B-Cell Responses Predicts Clinical Outcome of Resectable and Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Kurebayashi Yutaka , Sugimoto Katsutoshi , Tsujikawa Hanako , Matsuda Kosuke , Nomura Rui , Ueno Akihisa , Masugi Yohei , Yamazaki Ken , Effendi Kathryn , Takeuchi Hirohito , Itoi Takao , Hasegawa Yasushi , Abe Yuta , Kitago Minoru , Ojima Hidenori , Sakamoto Michiie
Published: October 2024

Purpose:

Immunotherapies have led to a paradigm shift in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Studies have revealed the single-cell catalogs of tumor-infiltrating immune cells and the trajectories of their differentiation. Nevertheless, the spatial distribution of these immune cells with distinct phenotypes in the tumor microenvironment and their clinicopathologic significance in resectable and unresectable HCCs are still largely unclear.

Experimental Design:

We analyzed the spatial dynamics of intratumoral CD4 and CD8 T cells and their association with B and plasma cells using 283 surgically resected HCC samples, 58 unresectable HCC samples before combined immunotherapy [atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (Atezo + Bev)], and autopsy specimens from 50 cases of advanced-stage HCC through multiplex IHC combined with transcriptomic and driver gene mutation analyses. Classification based on the spatial dynamics of T- and B-cell responses (refined immunosubtype) was developed, and its clinicopathologic significance was analyzed.

Results:

We found that stem-like CD4 and CD8 T cells were mainly observed in T-cell aggregates and T-cell zone of tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS). The differentiation of T follicular helper cells was associated with the development of TLS, whereas the differentiation of CXCL13-expressing CD4 TCXCL13 cells with a phenotype resembling T peripheral helper cells was associated with the development of the lymphoplasmacytic microenvironment. The refined immunosubtype could predict clinical outcomes of resectable HCC after surgery and unresectable HCC after Atezo + Bev therapy. The immune microenvironment of metastatic lesions tended to reflect those of primary lesions.

Conclusions:

We revealed the spatial dynamics of T- and B-cell responses in HCC, which is closely associated with the clinical outcome after surgical resection or Atezo + Bev therapy.
Supplementary Table S5 from St. Jude Survivorship Portal: Sharing and Analyzing Large Clinical and Genomic Datasets from Pediatric Cancer Survivors
Authors: Matt Gavriel Y. , Sioson Edgar , Shelton Kyla , Wang Jian , Lu Congyu , Zaldivar Peraza Airen , Gangwani Karishma , Paul Robin , Reilly Colleen , Acić Aleksandar , Liu Qi , Sandor Stephanie R. , McLeod Clay , Patel Jaimin , Wang Fan , Im Cindy , Wang Zhaoming , Sapkota Yadav , Wilson Carmen L. , Bhakta Nickhill , Ness Kirsten K. , Armstrong Gregory T. , Hudson Melissa M. , Robison Leslie L. , Zhang Jinghui , Yasui Yutaka , Zhou Xin
Published: October 2024

Hyperlinks to portal sessions and video tutorials for each figure
Supplementary Figure S2 from St. Jude Survivorship Portal: Sharing and Analyzing Large Clinical and Genomic Datasets from Pediatric Cancer Survivors
Authors: Matt Gavriel Y. , Sioson Edgar , Shelton Kyla , Wang Jian , Lu Congyu , Zaldivar Peraza Airen , Gangwani Karishma , Paul Robin , Reilly Colleen , Acić Aleksandar , Liu Qi , Sandor Stephanie R. , McLeod Clay , Patel Jaimin , Wang Fan , Im Cindy , Wang Zhaoming , Sapkota Yadav , Wilson Carmen L. , Bhakta Nickhill , Ness Kirsten K. , Armstrong Gregory T. , Hudson Melissa M. , Robison Leslie L. , Zhang Jinghui , Yasui Yutaka , Zhou Xin
Published: October 2024

Variable and chart types on the portal
Supplementary Data from DNA Methylation-Derived Immune Cell Proportions and Cancer Risk in Black Participants
Authors: Semancik Christopher S. , Zhao Naisi , Koestler Devin C. , Boerwinkle Eric , Bressler Jan , Buchsbaum Rachel J. , Kelsey Karl T. , Platz Elizabeth A. , Michaud Dominique S.
Published: October 2024

Tables 1-13, Figures S1-S2
Supplementary Table S7 from Blocking Tryptophan Catabolism Reduces Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Invasive Capacity
Authors: Kuo Li-Wei , Crump Lyndsey S. , O’Neill Kathleen , Williams Michelle M. , Christenson Jessica L. , Spoelstra Nicole S. , Roy Micaela Kalani , Argabright Amy , Reisz Julie A. , D’Alessandro Angelo , Boorgula Meher P. , Goodspeed Andrew , Bickerdike Mike , Bitler Benjamin G. , Richer Jennifer K.
Published: October 2024

Differential gene expression list of Bulk RNA-seq for BT549 shTDO2-82 vs. shSCR Control
Supplementary Table S5 from Blocking Tryptophan Catabolism Reduces Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Invasive Capacity
Authors: Kuo Li-Wei , Crump Lyndsey S. , O’Neill Kathleen , Williams Michelle M. , Christenson Jessica L. , Spoelstra Nicole S. , Roy Micaela Kalani , Argabright Amy , Reisz Julie A. , D’Alessandro Angelo , Boorgula Meher P. , Goodspeed Andrew , Bickerdike Mike , Bitler Benjamin G. , Richer Jennifer K.
Published: October 2024

Differential gene expression list of Bulk RNA-seq for BT549 (under suspension condition) treated with AT-0174 vs. Vehicle
Supplementary Table S4 from Blocking Tryptophan Catabolism Reduces Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Invasive Capacity
Authors: Kuo Li-Wei , Crump Lyndsey S. , O’Neill Kathleen , Williams Michelle M. , Christenson Jessica L. , Spoelstra Nicole S. , Roy Micaela Kalani , Argabright Amy , Reisz Julie A. , D’Alessandro Angelo , Boorgula Meher P. , Goodspeed Andrew , Bickerdike Mike , Bitler Benjamin G. , Richer Jennifer K.
Published: October 2024

Significant GSEA of Bulk RNA-seq for BT549 (under suspension condition) treated with AT-0174 vs. Vehicle
Supplementary Figure S8 from Blocking Tryptophan Catabolism Reduces Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Invasive Capacity
Authors: Kuo Li-Wei , Crump Lyndsey S. , O’Neill Kathleen , Williams Michelle M. , Christenson Jessica L. , Spoelstra Nicole S. , Roy Micaela Kalani , Argabright Amy , Reisz Julie A. , D’Alessandro Angelo , Boorgula Meher P. , Goodspeed Andrew , Bickerdike Mike , Bitler Benjamin G. , Richer Jennifer K.
Published: October 2024

Treatment of AT-0174, epacadostat or StemRegenin reduces invasion in SUM159PT cells.