bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trefoil Factor Protein 3 (TFF3) as a Guardian of the Urinary Bladder Epithelium
Authors: Erman Andreja , Dragin Jerman Urška , Peskar Dominika , Šešelja Kate , Bazina Iva , Baus Lončar Mirela
Published: November 2024

Summary

Trefoil factor family (TFF) peptides have been examined primarily in the gastrointestinal tract, where they play an important role in the epithelial regeneration. The therapeutic effects of TFFs, particularly the TFF3 protein, have been well studied in humans and in animal models of gastrointestinal injury, whereas little is known about their occurrence and function in the urinary bladder. In this study, we investigated the presence, location, and function of Tff3 in the urinary bladders of wild-type mice (Tff3WT) and compared them with Tff3 knockout mice (Tff3KO) using molecular and microscopic methods at the light and electron microscopic level. Our results show that Tff3 is expressed in the superficial cells of the urothelium, where it colocalizes with the uroplakin UP1b as one of the fundamental structural components of the apical plasma membrane, which is an important component of the blood-urine permeability barrier. Analysis of the urothelium with experimentally induced injury revealed that injury is more severe in Tff3KO mice and urothelial regeneration is attenuated compared with Tff3WT mice, suggesting that Tff3 plays a fine-tuned role in homeostasis and protection of the urothelium. This study provides the first data on the precise location and function of Tff3 in the bladder epithelium. (J Histochem Cytochem XX. XXX–XXX, XXXX)
Biofilm dispersal patterns revealed using far-red fluorogenic probes
Authors: Prentice Jojo A. , Kasivisweswaran Sandhya , van de Weerd Robert , Bridges Andrew A.
Published: November 2024

Bacteria frequently colonize niches by forming multicellular communities called biofilms. To explore new territories, cells exit biofilms through an active process called dispersal. Biofilm dispersal is essential for bacteria to spread between infection sites, yet how the process is executed at the single-cell level remains mysterious due to the limitations of traditional fluorescent proteins, which lose functionality in large, oxygen-deprived biofilms. To overcome this challenge, we developed a cell-labeling strategy utilizing fluorogen-activating proteins (FAPs) and cognate far-red dyes, which remain functional throughout biofilm development, enabling long-term imaging. Using this approach, we characterize dispersal at unprecedented resolution for the global pathogen Vibrio cholerae. We reveal that dispersal initiates at the biofilm periphery and approximately 25% of cells never disperse. We define novel micro-scale patterns that occur during dispersal, including biofilm compression during cell departure and regional heterogeneity in cell motions. These patterns are attenuated in mutants that reduce overall dispersal or that increase dispersal at the cost of homogenizing local mechanical properties. Collectively, our findings provide fundamental insights into the mechanisms of biofilm dispersal, advancing our understanding of how pathogens disseminate. Moreover, we demonstrate the broad applicability of FAPs as a powerful tool for high-resolution studies of microbial dynamics in complex environments.
A recurrent neural network and parallel hidden Markov model algorithm to segment and detect heart murmurs in phonocardiograms
Authors: McDonald Andrew , Gales Mark J. F. , Agarwal Anurag
Published: November 2024

The detection of heart disease using a stethoscope requires significant skill and time, making it expensive and impractical for widespread screening in low-resource environments. Machine learning analysis of heart sound recordings can improve upon the accessibility and accuracy of diagnoses, but existing approaches require further validation on larger and more representative clinical datasets. For many previous algorithms, segmenting the signal into its individual sound components is a key first step. However, segmentation algorithms often struggle to find S1 or S2 sounds in the presence of strong murmurs or noise that significantly alter or mask the expected sound. Segmentation errors then propagate to the subsequent disease classifier steps. We propose a novel recurrent neural network and hidden semi-Markov model (HSMM) algorithm that can both segment the signal and detect a heart murmur, removing the need for a two-stage algorithm. This algorithm formed the ‘CUED_Acoustics’ entry to the 2022 George B. Moody PhysioNet challenge, where it won the first prize in both the challenge tasks. The algorithm’s performance exceeded that of many end-to-end deep learning approaches that struggled to generalise to new test data. As our approach both segments the heart sound and detects a murmur, it can provide interpretable predictions for a clinician. The model also estimates the signal quality of the recording, which may be useful for a screening environment where non-experts are using a stethoscope. These properties make the algorithm a promising tool for screening of abnormal heart murmurs.
Utilization of Artificial Intelligence for the automated recognition of fine arts
Authors: Chen Ruhua , Ghavidel Aghdam Mohammad Reza , Khishe Mohammad
Published: November 2024

Fine art recognition, traditionally dependent on human expertise, is undergoing a significant transformation with the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and deep learning. This article introduces a novel AI-based approach for fine art recognition, utilizing Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and advanced feature extraction techniques. Addressing the inherent challenges within this domain, we present a systematic methodology to enhance automated fine art recognition. By leveraging critical dataset characteristics such as objective type, genre, material, technique, and department, our method exhibits exceptional performance in classifying fine art pieces across diverse attributes. Our approach significantly improves accuracy and efficiency by integrating advanced feature extraction techniques with a customized CNN architecture. Experimental validation on a benchmark dataset highlights the efficacy of our method, indicating substantial contributions to the interdisciplinary field of fine art analysis.
AFCF-Net: A novel U-Net based asymmetric feature calibration and fusion network for skin lesion image segmentation
Authors: Ji Zhanlin , Yu Zidong , Liu Chunling , Wang Zhiwu , Hao Shengnan , Ganchev Ivan
Published: November 2024

Skin lesion segmentation plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases. By using deep neural networks to segment lesion areas, doctors can more accurately assess the severity of health-related conditions of patients and promptly implement appropriate treatment measures, thereby enhancing treatment outcomes and improving the quality of life (QoL) of patients. However, existing segmentation networks still face challenges in balancing segmentation performance and efficiency. To address this issue, a novel network, named AFCF-Net, is proposed in this paper for skin lesion segmentation tasks. Firstly, the proposed network employs a newly designed spatial channel feature calibration convolution (SCFCConv) to enhance its ability to perceive spatial and channel features. Secondly, AFCF-Net utilizes newly designed feature symmetric fusion convolution (FSFConv) in skip connections to selectively fuse features from different levels, thereby enhancing its sensitivity to texture, edges, and other detailed features. In addition, a feature attention recombination module (FARM) is added to the bottleneck of the proposed network to comprehensively acquire and utilize contextual information at different scales, thus improving the network’s generalization ability. Finally, a newly designed multi-level feature aggregation branch is introduced as an additional decoder for AFCF-Net to supplement key features lost during the original decoding process. Experiments, conducted on four skin image datasets, demonstrate that the proposed AFCF-Net network achieves better segmentation performance with fewer parameters and computational resources, compared to state-of-the-art segmentation networks. Additionally, AFCF-Net exhibits stronger generalization ability.
Assessment of the psychometric properties of the eHealth Literacy Scale for Brazilian adolescents
Authors: Barbosa Mariane Carolina Faria , Baldiotti Ana Luiza Peres , Resende Júlia Lara , Perazzo Matheus de França , Firmino Ramon Targino , Granville-Garcia Ana Flávia , Paiva Saul Martins , Ferreira Fernanda de Morais
Published: November 2024

With the increase in digitalization of adolescents and health services, the population must demonstrate digital health literacy skills to be able to navigate online health information, as well as identify, evaluate, and apply relevant information. The present study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the adapted version of the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS-BrA) for Brazilian adolescents. This study was conducted between September 2022 and May 2023, involving a total of 260 adolescents aged 13 to 19, with a mean age of 15.64 years (SD = 1.84), all of whom were enrolled in public schools in Brazil. Structural validity was evaluated by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The reliability of the instrument was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha (α) and McDonald’s omega (ω), and test-retest reliability. Questionnaires about sociodemographic aspects, health-related characteristics, and internet use were administered and used as discriminant validation measures. Convergent Validity was determined by correction with the domains of the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Bref (WHOQOL-Bref) instrument. For test-retest reliability, 67 participants completed the eHEALS-BrA a fortnight later. The average eHEALS-BrA score was 28.05 points (SD = 5.05). CFA revealed that the model with the best fit had a single factor (χ2 = 49.884 [df = 20, p = 0.0002], CFI = 0.934, TLI = 0.908, RMSEA = 0.076(CI:0.05–0.10), and SRMR = 0.045). The instrument demonstrated good reliability, with satisfactory internal consistency (α and ω = 0.71) and stability (ICC = 0.82, 95% CI:0.70–0.89). The eHEALS-BrA was correlated with the physical, psychological, and environmental domains of the WHOQOL-Bref (p = 0.001) (convergent validity). Higher scores were found among male adolescents, individuals who practiced physical activity, those with better self-rated health, those who considered the internet useful for searching for health information (discriminant validity), and those with better self-rated skills related to using the internet (convergent validity) (p < 0.05). The eHEALS-BrA demonstrated adequate psychometric properties for measuring digital health literacy in Brazilian adolescents.
Development and feasibility of an mHealth intervention for psychoeducational support of Nigerian women diagnosed with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy: A pilot randomized controlled trial
Authors: Akingbade Oluwadamilare , Hong Ka Yi , Ayo Oluwabukola Sharon , Alade Adetutu Sefinat , Lawal Moshood Akinwumi , Somoye Ibironke Elizabeth , Adediran Victoria , Sado Olamide , Chow Ka Ming
Published: November 2024

Background

Breast cancer (BC) remains a significant health burden globally, with high incidence and mortality rates, particularly in Nigeria. Chemotherapy, a common treatment modality for BC, often leads to various physical and psychological side effects, impacting patients’ quality of life. Despite the growing use of mobile health (mHealth) interventions to provide psychoeducational support, there is a paucity of evidence regarding their feasibility and acceptability among Nigerian women with BC.

Objective

To develop and investigate the feasibility and acceptability of a mHealth psychoeducational intervention (mPEI) named the ChEmo Nurse Breast cancer Application (CENBA) programme.

Methods

A multi-centre, assessor-blinded, parallel-group pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) was conducted at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). Thirty women newly diagnosed with BC and undergoing chemotherapy were randomly assigned to an intervention or a control group. The intervention group received the CENBA programme, which included BC education, coping skills training, a discussion forum, and nurse-led consultations, delivered via a mobile application and phone calls over six weeks. The control group received standard care. Feasibility was assessed through consent, attrition, and completion rates, while acceptability was explored via qualitative interviews.

Results

The completion rate was 93.3%. Qualitative data indicated that participants found the intervention beneficial, particularly appreciating the educational content and the emotional support provided through the discussion forum and nurse consultations.

Conclusion

The CENBA programme was perceived as a feasible and acceptable mHealth intervention for providing psychoeducational support to Nigerian women with BC undergoing chemotherapy. These findings suggest that the CENBA programme could be a valuable tool in addressing the psychoeducational needs of this population, warranting further investigation in a full-scale RCT.

Trial registration

This manuscript reports a feasibility study preceding the full trial, which was registered with the United States Clinical Trials registry (number NCT05489354).
Bacterial lipopolysaccharide model of neuroinflammation-associated neurodegeneration in Wistar rats: A comparison between different durations of lipopolysaccharide induction
Authors: Blossom Vandana , Ullal Sheetal Dinkar , Rai Rajalakshmi , Chakraborthi Shrijeet , Kumar Nayanatara Arun , Pai Mangala M. , Vadgaonkar Rajanigandha
Published: November 2024

Background and Aim: Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation can be the most dependable animal model for studying neurodegeneration mechanisms driven by systemic inflammation-induced neuroinflammation. Hence, this study aimed to standardize the LPS model of neuroinflammation by comparing the effect of relatively low-dose LPS administered for different durations on the induction of neurodegeneration in Wistar rats.

Materials and Methods: Six groups of six adult Wistar rats per group were used in the study. Group 1 was the control group, and the other five were administered single weekly dose of LPS (170 μg/kg) for increasing durations, ranging from 4 weeks to 8 weeks. The study endpoints included behavioral parameters, neuronal assay results, and the expression of microglia and astrocytes in the frontal cortex, dentate gyrus, and hippocampus.

Results: We observed a significant reduction in the number of neurons and an increase in glial cells at 5 weeks of exposure, along with a decline in memory. Thereafter, these changes were gradual until 7 weeks of exposure. However, at 8 weeks of exposure, there was no further statistically significant worsening compared with the group exposed for 7 weeks.

Conclusion: To effectively induce neuroinflammation and cause neuronal damage, a minimum of five weekly LPS administrations at a dose of 170 μg/kg is required. Moreover, our results recommend a maximum of 7 weeks of LPS exposure to create a chronic inflammatory model of neuroinflammation.

Keywords: astrocyte, lipopolysaccharide, mental health, microglia, neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation.
Global Prevalence and Clinical Manifestations of Celiac Disease Among First-Degree Relatives: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Karimzadhagh Sahand , Abbaspour Elahe , Ghodous Shahriar , Poursadrolah Selvana , Jafari Maryam , Mazloom Sina , Mosavi Mohadese , Makharia Govind K. , Rostami-Nejad Mohammad
Published: November 2024

INTRODUCTION:

First-degree relatives (FDRs) of patients with celiac disease (CeD) are at high risk for developing CeD. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate CeD prevalence and clinical manifestations by analyzing studies that used the anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody test for screening.

METHODS:

In this systematic review with meta-analysis, studies published in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus were searched up to January 11, 2024, using keywords related to CeD and FDRs. Random-effects models were used, with heterogeneity assessed using the Cochran Q test and the I
2 statistic performed in STATA 18.

RESULTS:

Of 8,764 studies screened, 34 studies involving 10,016 FDRs of patients with CeD were included. The pooled estimates for seroprevalence and the biopsy-confirmed CeD prevalence in FDRs were 11% (95% CI: 9%–13%) and 7% (95% CI: 6%–9%), respectively. Daughters and sisters had the highest prevalence rates at 23% and 14%, compared with sons and brothers at 6% and 9%, respectively. Regional analysis revealed the highest seroprevalence estimates in Hungary (24%) and Cuba (19%), while the highest prevalence of biopsy-confirmed CeD was reported in Serbia (16%) and the United States (15%). Abdominal pain (42%), bloating (39%), and flatulence (38%) were the most common gastrointestinal symptoms, while 34% of FDRs with CeD were asymptomatic. In addition, pallor was the most frequent nongastrointestinal symptom (54%).

DISCUSSION:

Approximately 1 in 14 FDRs of patients with CeD is estimated to have CeD, with 1 in 4 daughters, 1 in 7 sisters, 1 in 11 brothers, 1 in 16 sons, and 1 in 20 fathers and mothers could be affected. Routine screening for FDRs could support early detection and management of CeD.
KONSTRUKSI YAHUDI DI BARAT DAN TIMUR: ANALISIS MULTIMODAL HALLIDAY PADA NOVEL GRAFIS
Authors: Nursani Asyipa , Firmonasari Aprillia
Published: November 2024

This research aims to analyze how Jewish identity is constructed in the West and the East, as represented in the graphic novels Fagin the Jew by Will Eisner and The Last Jew in Penang by Zayn Gregory and Arif Rafhan , using Halliday's multimodal approach. This approach focuses on various modes of communication, such as verbal, visual, gestural, and spatial, in constructing the narrative of Jewish identity in both novels. Fagin the Jew portrays Jewish identity in the Western context, specifically in 19th-century London, emphasizing antisemitic stereotypes and social marginalization. In contrast, The Last Jew in Penang depicts Jewish identity in the multicultural environment of Southeast Asia, where Jewish identity is more accepted and assimilated into the local community. The findings reveal that cultural differences significantly influence the representation of Jewish identity in these two novels. Through an analysis of verbal, visual, gestural, and spatial modes, it is found that Western graphic novels tend to depict Jewish identity in narratives of prejudice and alienation, while Eastern graphic novels highlight narratives of coexistence and adaptation. This research concludes that multimodality plays a crucial role in reflecting the complexity of Jewish identity shaped by differing historical, social, and cultural contexts in the West and the East.
Teaching About White Nationalism
Authors: Ribet Beth , Bunnage Leslie
Published: November 2024

U.S. white nationalism is virulent and escalating, expressing itself through a variety of digital and media spheres, violent assaults on Black, Jewish, Muslim, migrant and indigenous communities, and via increasing participation and alliance-building in mainstream politics. Notwithstanding the public presence, impact, and persistence of white nationalist organizations, education remains thin. These educational deficits have alarming implications, signaling a lack of public readiness to engage and challenge white nationalist movement building. Fostering a conversation between educators is therefore both productive and compelling. Such dialogue can catalyze increased communal and scholarly commitment to providing education about white nationalism, grounded in the premise that critical education is a necessary element of effective racial justice work. As a contribution to this vital discourse, we attend to the complex ethical challenges involved in the process of learning about white supremacist organizing, using the example of U.S. white nationalism.
De-Centering "The" Survey: The Value of Multiple Introductory Surveys to Art History
Authors: Kerin Melissa R. , Lepage Andrea
Published: November 2024

This essay stems from our concern that art historians still conceive of "The" Survey in terms that privilege Western artistic traditions. In this article, we offer an alternative that we designate as the multi-survey model (MSM) or approach. "The survey" becomes "the surveys" that introduce students to Western arts and the art forms of often underrepresented regions. Twenty-one percent of the schools surveyed in our peer review employ similar models, and yet the MSM has yet to attract critical scholarly attention. This essay addresses a void in present scholarship and elaborates upon three main goals of the MSM, all of which help to de-center the survey from Western origins and to challenge the discourse that positions Western art as normative. First, the MSM creates opportunities for students to delve into the particularities of a specific region and its narratives of art, which often exist outside Western art historical discourse. Second, the MSM produces a productive dialogue between the Western survey and the regional surveys of Africa, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East, Pacific Cultures, and other regions. Last, students investigate agency of representation, and in particular how the arts of Asia and the Americas are presented in the Western world. The MSM deliberately concedes global coverage in favor of capitalizing upon the strengths of faculty members in small art history departments. The MSM ensures that students engage with a variety of cultural perspectives early in their art history careers and bolsters our efforts to create a more globally aware citizenry at the college level.
Building a Foundation for Survey: Employing a Focused Introduction
Authors: Swan Glenda M.
Published: November 2024

This paper discusses the impact of introducing a multi-day introduction in an art history survey course in order to promote student awareness of the transferability of the skills and strategies of visual analysis to other contexts and courses outside of the discipline. Class discussion, course activities, and supplemental support materials were developed with the goal of generating student interest, investment, and self-efficacy in connection with art historical methodology and study strategies. Student performance and feedback in a recent survey course employing this introduction was then compared to earlier offerings of the course that did not employ this introduction. Preliminary results suggest the potential effectiveness of this approach. The observable behavior of students indicated greater enthusiasm and participation with the course. Academic metrics of student performance on course assessments demonstrated improvement in every area, at both the beginning and end of the semester. The teaching assessment instrument given at the end of the semester also showed an increase in students' own evaluation of the effectiveness of the course in developing both their knowledge and broader academic skills.
Bloom's Taxonomy for Art History. Blending A Skills-Based Approach into The Traditional Introductory Survey
Authors: La Follette Laetitia
Published: November 2024

The large-enrollment, lecture-based introductory survey still forms an essential part of art history curricula, particularly at public institutions of higher learning, despite recognition of some of its pedagogical drawbacks. This paper lays out the advantages of a blended model, one that adds student-centered activities in the form of team-based learning to the traditional lecture format. Bloom's taxonomy, translated for art history, became the logical framework for the types of activities and learning outcomes developed using team-based learning in this blended approach.
Making Pictures, Writing about Pictures, Discussing Pictures and Lecture-Discussion as Teaching Methods in Art History
Authors: Martikainen Jari M
Published: November 2024

This article discusses making pictures, writing about pictures, discussing pictures, and lecture-discussion as methods of teaching art history in Finnish Upper Secondary Vocational Education and Training (Qualification in Visual Expression, Study Programmes in Visual and Media Art Photography). A total of 25 students majoring in Visual Expression participated in the research by studying art history using picture-basedvisual and verbalmethods and reflecting on their learning experiences. This article introduces the concept of contextual subject-related didactics,' by which conceptions of contemporary art history, together with the objectives and aims of the curriculum, guide the choice of teaching methods. The article argues that various picture-based teaching methods intertwine reason and emotion, generating profound learning experiences in the field of art history, and developing knowledge of art history and the skills requires to act on the basis of such knowledge.
Multisensory and Active Learning Approaches to Teaching Medieval Art
Authors: Rose Marice , Hedrick Tera Lee
Published: November 2024

In this article, two professors share methods and examples of active learning in order to teach Western European and Byzantine medieval art through a multisensory lens. The course content and pedagogy are situated in the "sensory turn," a conceptual and methodological approach that began in anthropology and has transformed medieval art historical scholarship in recent years. The discipline of art history has traditionally focused on the visual impact of objects and monuments, but the sensory turn has prompted art historians and architectural historians to investigate how art objects and monuments engage all five senses, transforming the "period eye" into the broader "period sensorium." Research in experiential learning demonstrates that the object-based activities that involve the senses, including teaching outside the classroom and hands-on art making projects, are pedagogically appropriate, and students demonstrated success in learning the material, as well as increased engagement. The paper gives practical suggestions for readings and resources, such as local or campus library archives for the topic of medieval manuscripts, and local re-enactors for dress and applied arts. The methods can be used within general art history survey classes as well as dedicated medieval art courses.
Yay or Neigh? Frederic Remington's Bronco Buster, Public Art, and Socially-Engaged Art History Pedagogy
Authors: Borland Jennifer , Siddons Louise
Published: November 2024

This article outlines a collaborative, community-based project developed for two undergraduate art history courses at a large state university. The exercise focused on Frederic Remington's 1894-95 sculpture, the Bronco Buster, a large bronze image of a cowboy whipping a bucking bronco with the goal of taming it. An enlarged replica of Remington's sculpture was installed recently in the downtown district of this university town, raising questions about how it was selected and funded, as well as what message the sculpture sent about the town to its visitors. As we discussed our frustration with both the iconography and the selection process of the Bronco Buster, we wondered if we could translate it into powerful learning experiences for our art history students, tying their real-world, local experiences to the critical skills and historical knowledge that we teach in the classroom. In this essay, we describe and evaluate the semester-long collaborative learning experience that we designed and implemented. We discuss engaged scholarship and community interaction, consider the relevance of art history to contemporary life and politics, confront the pedagogical challenges posed by regionally, politically, and racially diverse student bodies, and generate a model for others invested in the connections between academic and everyday life.
Understanding the Student Perspective of Art History Survey Course Outcomes Through Game Development
Authors: Yavelberg Joshua , Donahue-Wallace Kelly
Published: November 2024

This heuristic, design-based research study examines student perceptions of their learning experience in the art history survey course as manifested through a game design process. With the purpose of improving upon the lecture model of the standard art history survey, two sections of a capstone class of interdisciplinary art and design studentswho had all taken the survey as part of their degree programsselected learning objectives and designed games to accompany the introductory class. The researchers used the game design process to understand first how students perceived the survey class, its learning objectives, and the students' experiences. Then the investigation addressed how these students designed games to aid learning of survey materials. The results offer survey course instructors significant insight into student perceptions of the structure and aims of art history's foundational class.
Understanding How Perceptions of Power and Identity Influence Student Engagement and Teaching in Undergraduate Art History Survey Courses
Authors: Black Rebecka A
Published: November 2024

Student engagement in undergraduate art history survey courses has been a concern of art historians for decades. In this article I discuss my dissertation study in which I explored how perceptions of student and teacher identity, acting within classroom power dynamics, influence student engagement and pedagogy in undergraduate art history survey courses. Through concept mapping, interviews, and observations of three instructors and nine students in undergraduate art history survey courses at a public university in southeastern Texas, I explore perceptions of students and instructors regarding self, each other, course content, teaching style, and expectations of one another to understand how identity and power influence student engagement and pedagogy. I explored these perceptions through the theoretical lenses of power and identity. The results may offer insight as to how we address perceptions of declining student engagement in undergraduate art history survey courses.
Intersections: Art and the Museum as Sites for Civic Dialogue
Authors: Luarca-Shoaf Nenette
Published: November 2024

This essay describes the structure, pedagogy, and intent behind "Intersections," a gallery program at the Art Institute of Chicago that occurred monthly between November 2016 and March 2020. The program, which continues less frequently and in a virtual format today, positions artworks as catalysts for helping people make sense of current events and timely issues. In doing so, it reframes adult learning in the museum as collaborative, dialogic, and open-ended, rather than setting up an experience that is primarily expert-driven and informational. Art historical methods such as visual analysis and consideration of primary source texts, along with collaborative learning activities which have proven effective in the classroom, are harnessed by facilitators to support individual and collective meaning making in the museum. Art made in the United States from the 19th century to today offers important opportunities for making relevant connections between the past and contemporary issues, though measuring learning outcomes in a free-choice learning environment like the museum is challenging. The article describes initial attempts to gather qualitative and quantitative feedback on the impact that participating in Intersections has had, while asserting that the potentially transformative learning which results can encourage healthy civic discourse beyond the museum's walls.
Ungrading in Art History: Grade inflation, student engagement, and social equity
Authors: Ross Nancy
Published: November 2024

Traditional academic pedagogies require that professors assign students grades in a system that creates hierarchies of power of professor over student. This system assumes that grades serve as an intrinsic motivator for students to improve in an academic setting. Many studies suggest that professor-assigned grades do not function as assumed. This article explores one alternative to the traditional system, known as ungrading, a practice whereby students assign themselves grades after a semester of frequent feedback and reflective assignments. This study offers a thematic literature review of ungrading in many disciplines and a small study of ungrading in upper-division art history courses using both quantitative and qualitative data to determine effectiveness. We posit that in ungrading, students do not inflate their grades and they do take responsibility for their learning in a way that returns agency to students.
Building a Pedagogy of Idea Generation and Embodied Inquiry
Authors: Joranson Kate
Published: November 2024

What futures become possible when we center questions, inquiry, and affective responses in research processes? What does it mean to support encounters with new ideas? In this article, I explore non-extractive models of teaching and learning, sharing ways of making space for idea generation, an under-described part of research and creative practice. The coming-up-with-ideas part of creative and scholarly work can be challenging to articulate, share, and teach. What if we paused and stretched this part out, making it more visible? By browsing physical collections of books in community with one another, during "curated browsing" experiences, we give ourselves - both faculty and students alike - space and time to meander, wonder, share observations, and disrupt transactional models of learning and scholarship. We build an awareness of how ideas are informed by power structures, and co-create humanizing spaces where knowledge is relational and embodied. By centering inquiry and idea generation, we activate the intersection of research, pedagogy, and lived experience.
Physico-chemical and biological properties of pumpkin pectin
Authors: Jasim Shabeeb Munshid , Mamedov E I , Koltsov V A , Rodionov Yu V , Rybin G V , Kalmykova E N
Published: November 2024

This study presents the findings of pectin's isolation and purification process derived from the Michurinskaya pumpkin variety. The researchers employed infrared spectroscopy and acid-base titration techniques to determine the presence of free carboxyl groups and the degree of esterification. Additionally, the physicochemical properties of the resulting polysaccharide, including kinematic viscosity and molecular weight, were investigated using viscometry. Furthermore, the fungicidal activity of the resulting polysaccharide was assessed. The acidic polysaccharide, pectin, was extracted from the Michurinskaya pumpkin cultivar using the salt extraction method, yielding 29 %. The overall concentration of OM e- and OAc groups (36.3%) and free carboxyl groups (6.48%) was measured using acid-base titration techniques. Infrared (IR) spectroscopy data validated the obtained results. The spectra revealed signals inside the 1319-1408 cm-1 region, corresponding to OMe groups. Free carboxyl groups were also present in the 1730-1760 cm-1 range. The molecular weight of pectin measured using the viscometry method was 2.5 kDa. The findings of the antifungal activity investigation indicated that the isolated pectin derived from pumpkins demonstrates inhibitory properties against the growth of Penicillium sp.
Occurrence and persistence of antibiotic resistance genes in wastewater treatment plants in Aracaju/SE/Brazil
Authors: Trindade Paulo Ricardo Conceição Marques , Dolabella Silvio Santana , Jain Sona , Nascimento Luiz Fernando  de Jesus , Sacramento Andrey  Guimarães , Barbosa Flávio Henrique Ferreira , Teixeira Barbosa Ana Andréa
Published: November 2024

Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest threats to public health in the 21st century and the presence of antibiotic resistant determinants in wastewater may reflect the current local clinical resistance situation. The objective of this study was to detect the presence of antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) in Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) localized in Aracaju/SE/Brazil and verify the role of WWTPs in limiting the spread of these contaminants in the environment. Samples of raw and treated sewage were collected from four WWTPs, and subjected to DNA extraction, PCR amplification and sequencing to detect ARGs for the most consumed antibiotics by the local population. The ARGs blaTEM, gyrA, sul1, aacC2, qnrS, ermB and tetM were detected in 100% of the raw sewage samples, while in the treated samples their prevalence was 100% for blaTEM, gyrA and sul1, 75% for aacC2 and 50% for qnrS, ermB and tetM. This study concluded that the consumption of antibiotics is intrinsic to the prevalence of ARGs in WWTPs. Considering that the treated effluent is released into nature and that the WWTPs were not designed to remove these emerging contaminants, the need for permanent monitoring and investments in efficient removal technologies is needed. Effluent analysis is an important surveillance tool for determining strategies to contain the environmental spread of antibiotic resistance.
Existence of solutions for a class of quasilinear Schrödinger equations with Choquard-type nonlinearity
Authors: Shen Zifei , Yang Ning
Published: November 2024

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μ

{{I}}_{\mu }

is the Riesz potential. Our work is finding the positive solutions and the ground-state solutions. Using a change of variables method, we overcome the difficulties which the quasilinear term may bring us and consider the corresponding functional with variational arguments. Then, we establish the nonexistence results via the Pohožaev identity.
Getrennte Wege der Rezeption: Susanne Hornfecks Roman Ina aus China in Taiwan und Festlandchina
Authors: Weicheng Yu
Published: November 2024

Hornfeck’s novel “Ina aus China” tells the story of a little girl who is taken from Shanghai to safety in Germany before the Japanese attack on China, and who moves to Taipei after the end of the civil war. Its popularity in Taiwan, Germany, and mainland China differs significantly. While research on Hornfeck’s work has stagnated in mainland China since the publication of translations by Huang Lingxiao and Nelly Ma in 2010, the publisher’s marketing strategy has made Hornfeck famous in Taiwan. Dedicated to the translation and publication of Hornfeck’s novel and its reception in academic and non-academic contexts, this paper addresses the influence of censorship, collective memory, marketing strategies on its reception in the People’s Republic and in Taiwan.
Price estimation and visual evaluation of actual white fabrics used for dress shirts and their photographic images
Authors: Maruyama Tomoya , Kim KyoungOk , Takatera Masayuki
Published: November 2024

Consumers recognize the appearance and texture of fabric through viewing photographic images on E-commerce. However, the relationship between evaluations of the actual fabric and its image remains unclear. To understand the evaluation difference between actual fabric and its image, we investigated the relationship of visual evaluations including the price evaluation between actual white fabrics used for dress shirts and their photographic images concerning the online purchase of items presented by their photos. Participants evaluated the impressions of 24 white fabrics (actual fabrics and their images), comparing them with a standard white fabric. Participants also estimated the prices of shirts hypothetically made from different fabrics. We compared the difference between the results for actual fabrics and images. We also carried out a principal component analysis of those impressions and examined the relationship among principal component analysis results, weave structure, and fabric materials and price estimation. In a comparison of actual fabric and image evaluations, the impression of glossiness and brightness differed, with the actual fabrics being rated significantly higher in terms of glossiness and brightness. These differences are due to the difference in media (i.e., direct viewing versus screen display), although the visual environment of the lighting and displays may have had an effect. In principal component analysis, the first principal components were Delicateness and Glossiness for both actual fabrics and their images. The second principal components were Lightness and Coolness for the images of fabrics and Lightness, Coolness, and Softness for the actual fabrics. Fabrics evaluated highly in the first principal component had high price estimations. Thus, it is clear that Delicateness and Glossiness affected the price evaluation for both actual white fabrics and their images. Fabrics with a high value of Delicateness and Glossiness were a poplin made of at least 95% cotton. In contrast, fabrics containing linen and having a small repeating dobby pattern with roughness were evaluated as having low Delicateness and Glossiness and were assessed at a lower price. Additionally, even in the case of blended fabrics such as a cotton–polyester fabric, the expected price was high for diagonal patterns such as stripes and checks. These results will be helpful in the procurement of fabrics with which to make clothing and in the marketing of clothing for E-commerce.
Recommendations for European laboratories based on the KDIGO 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Cavalier Etienne , Zima Tomáš , Datta Pradip , Makris Konstantinos , Schaeffner Elke , Langlois Michel , Plebani Mario , Delanaye Pierre
Published: November 2024

The 2024 Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines for chronic kidney disease (CKD) evaluation and management bring important updates, particularly for European laboratories. These guidelines emphasize the need for harmonization in CKD testing, promoting the use of regional equations. In Europe, the European Kidney Function Consortium (EKFC) equation is particularly suited for European populations, particularly compared to the CKD-EPI 2021 race-free equation. A significant focus is placed on the combined use of creatinine and cystatin C to estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFRcr-cys), improving diagnostic accuracy. In situations where eGFR may be inaccurate or clinically insufficient, the guidelines encourage the use of measured GFR (mGFR) through exogenous markers like iohexol. These guidelines emphasize the need to standardize creatinine and cystatin C measurements, ensure traceability to international reference materials, and adopt harmonized reporting practices. The recommendations also highlight the importance of incorporating risk prediction models, such as the Kidney Failure Risk Equation (KFRE), into routine clinical practice to better tailor patient care. This article provides a European perspective on how these KDIGO updates should be implemented in clinical laboratories to enhance CKD diagnosis and management, ensuring consistency across the continent.
The crystal structure of (2,7-dimethoxynaphthalene-1,8-diyl)bis((3-nitrophenyl)methanone), C26H18N2O8
Authors: Li Kun , Iitsuka Hiroaki , Ohisa Shinji , Nishijima Takahiro , Noguchi Keiichi , Yonezawa Noriyuki , Okamoto Akiko
Published: November 2024

C26H18N2O8, triclinic, P1̄ (no. 2), a = 8.41284(15) Å, b = 10.9410(2) Å, c = 12.9659(2) Å, α = 114.567(1)°, β = 97.779(1)°, γ = 91.504(1)°, V = 1070.90(3) Å3, Z = 2, R

gt
(F) = 0.0382, wR
ref(F
2) = 0.1083, T = 193 K.
Comparison of three different industrial lignin-based porous carbon electrodes for electrochemical applications
Authors: Ma Yuyang , Yi Yanjie , Hou Yi , Lei Lirong , Hu Songqing
Published: November 2024

In order to fully utilize industrial lignin, a comparative study was conducted on the properties of porous carbon electrodes prepared by activating different industrial lignin as precursors. The results revealed that carbon electrodes prepared with sodium lignosulfonate (CM-S) exhibited superior specific surface area (SSA) (1,593.5 m2 g−1) and pore volume (PV) (1.03 cm3 g−1) due to the largest relative molecular mass (Mn = 4,539, Mw = 7,290), which is greater than that prepared with alkali lignin (CM-A) and kraft lignin (CM-K), and displayed a well-developed micro-mesoporous macropore hierarchy which was feasible for the efficiency of electron mobility. The electrochemical properties of materials were evaluated, and CM-S showed a mass-specific capacitance of 201 F g−1 at 0.2 A g−1 current density, along with an impressive capacitance retention rate of 54.7 % at 10 A g−1 current density, which is more potential than CM-A and CM-K (specific capacitances: 100 F g−1 and 75 F g−1 respectively). Additionally, maximum energy and power density of CM-S were measured to be 6.98 W h kg−1 and 2306 W kg−1 with excellent retention rate of 95.5 % after 10,000 charge–discharge cycles at a current density of 5 A g−1. Comparatively, sodium lignosulfonate, compared with alkali lignin and kraft lignin, emerges as a more ideal precursor material for porous carbon electrode.
Development and blocking assessment of high softening point asphalt system
Authors: Wang Yang , Feng Youlong , Cui Zijing , Li Long , Guo Le , Zhang Yujie , Yan Chenzhengzhe
Published: November 2024

The technology of oil and gas well plugging and profiling currently represents a favourable means of promoting the development of water injection and ensuring stable production from oil reservoirs in oil fields. The use of emulsified asphalt is significantly limited by several factors, including its insufficient resistance to high temperatures, demanding requirements for sealing strength, and susceptibility to destabilisation in high salinity conditions. Nevertheless, it presents favorable injection performance and does not cause soil contamination. To improve the selective water plugging in seam-hole reservoirs with high salt content and temperature, a novel high softening point emulsified asphalt blocker was developed in this work using petroleum asphalt powder, sodium lauryl diphenyl ether disulfonate, and propylene glycol alginate as the primary monomers. The stability of the system in terms of temperature and salt resistance as well as the sealing performance under different permeable seam hole layers were investigated. The studies showed that the novel blocking agent remained stable for at least 20 days at room temperature and remained fluid for at least 3 h at 130 °C. The system exhibited excellent salt resistance and maintained a suitable viscosity in highly mineralized conditions. With an injection volume of 1 PV and a permeability ranging from 2,014 mD to 3,321 mD, the slit reservoirs achieved an average blocking rate of 88.9 %.
REVISTAS CULTURAIS LATINO-AMERICANAS DOS SÉCULOS XX-XXI: TEORIA, CIRCULAÇÃO E SUPORTES
Authors: Crespo Regina Aída , Maíz Claudio , Fonseca Claudia Lorena
Published: November 2024

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