bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Initiatives for promoting educator wellbeing: a Delphi study
Authors: P Patrick , A Reupert , E Berger , Z Morris , Z Diamond , M Hammer , R Hine , C Fathers 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Background
Growing demands on educators have resulted in increased levels of burnout and stress and decreasing wellbeing. This study aimed to establish expert consensus on the key characteristics required in prospective educator wellbeing initiatives.

Methods
The Delphi approach is a process of forecasting that is based on the aggregated opinion of panel members (or experts) within a field of study. Using a Delphi approach, academic and practitioner expertise were sought over a two-rounds, with 17 and 14 participants in each round respectively. The study aimed to identify how systemic factors (e.g., leadership) could be utilised to promote educator wellbeing. The study also sought expert consensus on enablers and barriers for engagement in educator wellbeing initiatives.

Results
Findings highlighted the importance of fostering positive relationships with colleagues, communities and families, and the active role of wellbeing teams to promote wellbeing initiatives. The need for leaders to address their own wellbeing and build trust within teams was also identified. Panel members identified the need for prospective funding to prioritise wellbeing initiatives. There was also a preference for ongoing initiatives rather than stand-alone wellbeing events that conveyed the ongoing importance of managing one’s wellbeing.

Conclusions
This paper presents practical recommendations that can be used to inform the development and evaluation of future initiatives and policy. Applying the consensus derived from this study is likely to make wellbeing initiatives more viable and facilitate uptake amongst educators.
Investigating learning burnout and academic performance among management students: a longitudinal study in English courses
Authors: Pham Thi Thuy Dung , Duong Nam Tien 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis study aims to move away from the cross-sectional approach related to burnout and conduct a longitudinal study to explore the factors influencing learning burnout among management students. The study primarily adopts a questionnaire survey, with students majoring in business management. Descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling (SEM) are used to analyze the data and validate the hypotheses. The findings are: (1) There is a significant negative relationship between English anxiety and self-efficacy and a significant positive relationship between past English learning performance and self-efficacy. (2) The changes in self-efficacy are negatively related to the changes in burnout, while the changes in workload are positively related to the changes in burnout. Additionally, there is a positive relationship between English anxiety and learning burnout. (3) There is a significant negative relationship between English learning performance and burnout. The direct impact of self-efficacy on English learning performance is not supported, but it has an indirect effect through the mediating role of burnout. The study proposes strategies to improve student outcomes and well-being: (1) making English courses more engaging to boost performance and confidence, reducing learning burnout; (2) encouraging and supporting students to enhance self-efficacy and motivation; (3) assigning tasks seen as useful and interesting to lessen perceived workload and emotional exhaustion; (4) and considering English anxiety in admissions to decrease learning burnout, especially as schools gain more autonomy in their policies.
Lipid metabolism in tumor-infiltrating regulatory T cells: perspective to precision immunotherapy
Authors: Shan Yukai , Xie Tianao , Sun Yuchao , Lu Ziyi , Topatana Win , Juengpanich Sarun , Chen Tianen , Han Yina , Cao Jiasheng , Hu Jiahao , Li Shijie , Cai Xiujun , Chen Mingyu 
Published: April 2024

AbstractRegulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential to the negative regulation of the immune system, as they avoid excessive inflammation and mediate tumor development. The abundance of Tregs in tumor tissues suggests that Tregs may be eliminated or functionally inhibited to stimulate antitumor immunity. However, immunotherapy targeting Tregs has been severely hampered by autoimmune diseases due to the systemic elimination of Tregs. Recently, emerging studies have shown that metabolic regulation can specifically target tumor-infiltrating immune cells, and lipid accumulation in TME is associated with immunosuppression. Nevertheless, how Tregs actively regulate metabolic reprogramming to outcompete effector T cells (Teffs), and how lipid metabolic reprogramming contributes to the immunomodulatory capacity of Tregs have not been fully discussed. This review will discuss the physiological processes by which lipid accumulation confers a metabolic advantage to tumor-infiltrating Tregs (TI-Tregs) and amplifies their immunosuppressive functions. Furthermore, we will provide a summary of the driving effects of various metabolic regulators on the metabolic reprogramming of Tregs. Finally, we propose that targeting the lipid metabolism of TI-Tregs could be efficacious either alone or in conjunction with immune checkpoint therapy.
Spatial transcriptomics reveals segregation of tumor cell states in glioblastoma and marked immunosuppression within the perinecrotic niche
Authors: Liu Mengyi , Ji Zhicheng , Jain Vaibhav , Smith Vanessa L. , Hocke Emily , Patel Anoop P. , McLendon Roger E. , Ashley David M. , Gregory Simon G. , López Giselle Y. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractGlioblastoma (GBM) remains an untreatable malignant tumor with poor patient outcomes, characterized by palisading necrosis and microvascular proliferation. While single-cell technology made it possible to characterize different lineage of glioma cells into neural progenitor-like (NPC-like), oligodendrocyte-progenitor-like (OPC-like), astrocyte-like (AC-like) and mesenchymal like (MES-like) states, it does not capture the spatial localization of these tumor cell states. Spatial transcriptomics empowers the study of the spatial organization of different cell types and tumor cell states and allows for the selection of regions of interest to investigate region-specific and cell-type-specific pathways. Here, we obtained paired 10x Chromium single-nuclei RNA-sequencing (snRNA-seq) and 10x Visium spatial transcriptomics data from three GBM patients to interrogate the GBM microenvironment. Integration of the snRNA-seq and spatial transcriptomics data reveals patterns of segregation of tumor cell states. For instance, OPC-like tumor and NPC-like tumor significantly segregate in two of the three samples. Our differentially expressed gene and pathway analyses uncovered significant pathways in functionally relevant niches. Specifically, perinecrotic regions were more immunosuppressive than the endogenous GBM microenvironment, and perivascular regions were more pro-inflammatory. Our gradient analysis suggests that OPC-like tumor cells tend to reside in areas closer to the tumor vasculature compared to tumor necrosis, which may reflect increased oxygen requirements for OPC-like cells. In summary, we characterized the localization of cell types and tumor cell states, the gene expression patterns, and pathways in different niches within the GBM microenvironment. Our results provide further evidence of the segregation of tumor cell states and highlight the immunosuppressive nature of the necrotic and perinecrotic niches in GBM.
Extracellular vesicle encapsulated nicotinamide delivered via a trans-scleral route provides retinal ganglion cell neuroprotection
Authors: Kim Myungjin , Kim Jun Yong , Rhim Won-Kyu , Cimaglia Gloria , Want Andrew , Morgan James E. , Williams Pete A. , Park Chun Gwon , Han Dong Keun , Rho Seungsoo 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe progressive and irreversible degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons is the major characteristic of glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a cofactor and metabolite of redox reaction critical for neuronal survival. Supplementation with nicotinamide (NAM), a precursor of NAD, can confer neuroprotective effects against glaucomatous damage caused by an age-related decline of NAD or mitochondrial dysfunction, reflecting the high metabolic activity of RGCs. However, oral supplementation of drug is relatively less efficient in terms of transmissibility to RGCs compared to direct delivery methods such as intraocular injection or delivery using subconjunctival depots. Neither method is ideal, given the risks of infection and subconjunctival scarring without novel techniques. By contrast, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have advantages as a drug delivery system with low immunogeneity and tissue interactions. We have evaluated the EV delivery of NAM as an RGC protective agent using a quantitative assessment of dendritic integrity using DiOlistics, which is confirmed to be a more sensitive measure of neuronal health in our mouse glaucoma model than the evaluation of somatic loss via the immunostaining method. NAM or NAM-loaded EVs showed a significant neuroprotective effect in the mouse retinal explant model. Furthermore, NAM-loaded EVs can penetrate the sclera once deployed in the subconjunctival space. These results confirm the feasibility of using subconjunctival injection of EVs to deliver NAM to intraocular targets.
Green and sustainable AI research: an integrated thematic and topic modeling analysis
Authors: Raman Raghu , Pattnaik Debidutta , Lathabai Hiran H. , Kumar Chandan , Govindan Kannan , Nedungadi Prema 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis investigation delves into Green AI and Sustainable AI literature through a dual-analytical approach, combining thematic analysis with BERTopic modeling to reveal both broad thematic clusters and nuanced emerging topics. It identifies three major thematic clusters: (1) Responsible AI for Sustainable Development, focusing on integrating sustainability and ethics within AI technologies; (2) Advancements in Green AI for Energy Optimization, centering on energy efficiency; and (3) Big Data-Driven Computational Advances, emphasizing AI’s influence on socio-economic and environmental aspects. Concurrently, BERTopic modeling uncovers five emerging topics: Ethical Eco-Intelligence, Sustainable Neural Computing, Ethical Healthcare Intelligence, AI Learning Quest, and Cognitive AI Innovation, indicating a trend toward embedding ethical and sustainability considerations into AI research. The study reveals novel intersections between Sustainable and Ethical AI and Green Computing, indicating significant research trends and identifying Ethical Healthcare Intelligence and AI Learning Quest as evolving areas within AI’s socio-economic and societal impacts. The study advocates for a unified approach to innovation in AI, promoting environmental sustainability and ethical integrity to foster responsible AI development. This aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing the need for ecological balance, societal welfare, and responsible innovation. This refined focus underscores the critical need for integrating ethical and environmental considerations into the AI development lifecycle, offering insights for future research directions and policy interventions.
Exogenous melatonin strengthens saline-alkali stress tolerance in apple rootstock M9-T337 seedlings by initiating a variety of physiological and biochemical pathways
Authors: Xian Xulin , Zhang Zhongxing , Wang Shuangcheng , Cheng Jiao , Gao Yanlong , Ma Naiying , Li Cailong , Wang Yanxiu 
Published: April 2024

AbstractMelatonin (MT) is an important plant growth regulator that significantly regulates the growth and development of plants. Previous studies confirmed the effectiveness of MT in improving plant stress tolerance. In this study, annual M9-T337 seedlings were selected as subjects, and five treatments were applied: control (CK), in which only half the concentration of Hoagland was applied; Saline-alkaline stress treatment (SA, 100 mmol·L−1 saline-alkaline solution); melatonin treatment (MT, CK + 200 μmol L−1 exogenous MT); Saline-alkaline + melatonin treatment (MS, SA + 200 μmol L−1 exogenous MT); and saline-alkaline stress + melatonin + inhibitor treatment (HS, additional 100 μmol L−1 p-CPA treatment to MS). The results showed that saline-alkaline stress negatively affected the growth of M9-T337 seedlings by reducing photosynthetic capacity, increasing Na+, promoting reactive oxygen species such as H2O2, and changing the osmotic content and antioxidant system. However, the application of exogenous MT effectively alleviated saline-alkaline damage and significantly promoted the growth of M9-T337 seedlings. It significantly increased plant height, diameter, root length, root surface area, volume and activity. Furthermore, MT alleviated osmotic stress by accumulating proline, soluble sugars, soluble proteins and starch. MT improved photosynthetic capacity by delaying chlorophyll degradation and regulating gas exchange parameters as well as fluorescence parameters in leaves. Additionally, MT reduced the Na+/K+ ratio to reduce ion toxicity by upregulating the expression of Na+ transporter genes (MhCAX5, MhCHX15, MhSOS1, and MhALT1) and downregulating the expression of K+ transporter genes (MhSKOR and MhNHX4). In addition, MT can increase antioxidant enzyme activity (superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase(POD), catalase (CAT), ascorbic acid oxidase (AAO), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR)) in the ASA-GSH cycle and increase ascorbic acid (AsA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) levels to counteract the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and Superoxide anion free radicals (O2−), reducing oxidative damage. Exogenous MT promotes M9-T337 seedlings growth under saline-alkaline stress by responding synergistically with auxin (IAA), gibberellin (GA3) and zeatin (ZT) to saline-alkaline stress. Our results confirm that MT has the potential to alleviate Saline-alkaline stress by promoting root growth, increasing biomass accumulation and photosynthetic capacity, strengthening the antioxidant defense system, maintaining ionic balance, the ascorbate–glutathione cycle and the Osmoregulation facilitates and regulates endogenous hormone levels in M9-T337 seedlings.
Graphical Abstract
Epstein–Barr virus, Cytomegalovirus, and Herpes Simplex-1/2 reactivations in critically ill patients with COVID-19
Authors: Mattei Alessia , Schiavoni Lorenzo , Riva Elisabetta , Ciccozzi Massimo , Veralli Roberta , Urselli Angela , Citriniti Vincenzo , Nenna Antonio , Pascarella Giuseppe , Costa Fabio , Cataldo Rita , Agrò Felice Eugenio , Carassiti Massimiliano 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Objectives
To assess the incidences of Herpes Simplex-1 and 2 (HSV-1, HSV-2), Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV) reactivations in critically ill COVID-19 patients. To determine the association between viral reactivation and in-hospital mortality, Intensive Care Unit Bloodstream infection (ICU–BSI), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).

Design
Observational retrospective cohort study.

Setting
COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit.

Patients
From November 2020 to May 2021, one hundred and twenty patients with COVID-19 severe pneumonia were enrolled and tested for HSV-1, HSV-2, CMV and EBV at the admission in ICU and weekly until discharge or death. The presence of VAP and ICU–BSI was evaluated according to clinical judgement and specific diagnostic criteria.

Measurements and main results
One hundred and twenty patients were enrolled. Multiple reactivations occurred in 75/120 (63%) patients, single reactivation in 27/120 patients (23%). The most reactivated Herpesvirus was EBV, found in 78/120 (65%) patients. The multivariate analysis demonstrated that viral reactivation is a strong independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality (OR = 2.46, 95% CI 1.02–5.89), ICU–BSI (OR = 2.37, 95% CI 1.06–5.29) and VAP (OR = 2.64, 95% CI 1.20–5.82).

Conclusions
Human Herpesviruses reactivations in critically ill patients with COVID-19 severe Pneumonia are associated with mortality and with a higher risk to develop both VAP and ICU–BSI.
Kinetics and synthesis of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) by a putative-mutant of Bacillus licheniformis
Authors: Ali Sikander , Lodhi Faiza Shabbir , Ahmad M. Usman , Khan Qaiser Farid , Asad-ur-Rehman  , Ahmed Abeera , Liaqat Iram , Aftab M. Nauman , Shah Tawaf Ali , Salamatullah Ahmad Mohammad , Wondmie Gezahign Fentahun , Bourhia Mohammed 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe present study deals with the kinetics of improved poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) production by an L-cysteine HCl-depressed mutant of Bacillus licheniformis. Production of biodegradable polymers is to eliminate use of materials derived from petrochemicals and also because of their environmental impact. For the current study, mutant strain (NA-21) & wild-type (IIB-isl19) were used for PHB production. Submerged culture with two-stage fermentation technique was used for PHB production. Results indicated that PHB production was improved with 300 mM of –HNO2. The superior mutant strain (NA-21) resulted in 2-fold more PHB as compared to the wild-type (IIB-isl9). It was selected, and resistance against L-cysteine HCl was developed. At 4 ppm concentration of L-cysteine HCl, PHB production by mutant strain (NA-cys4) was higher than its wild counterpart by 5.7-fold. Kinetic study of parameters including specific growth rate (µ h− 1), growth (Yx/s,Ys/x), product yield coefficients (Yp/s,Yp/x), volumetric rate constants (Qp, Qs, Qx) and specific rate constants (qp, qs, qx), were also accomplished. Moreover, Yp/x, Qp and qp = µ × Yp/x were found to be very significant as 1.254 ± 0.06 (g/g biomass), 0.134 ± 0.01 (g/l/h) and 0.168 ± 0.01 (g/g/h), respectively. The effect of fatty acids on PHB production highlighted the improvement in PHB production by 1.94-fold. The highest PHB production during the study was 16.35 ± 3.12 g/l which highlighted its significance (p ≤ 0.05) and impact on the overall process. The variation in PBH yield between wild-type and mutant B. licheniformis is possibly because of induced DNA interstrand thus making unstable thymidine-thymidine dymers. From the results, it was concluded that improved PHB production on industrial scale is fairly possible and it holds the potential to contribute significantly to plastic circularity in the future.
Detection of a recent large Hyuga-nada long-term slow slip event and estimation of its spatiotemporal slip distributions
Authors: Kawabata Hiroki , Seshimo Yukinari , Yoshioka Shoichi , Ortega-Culaciati Francisco 
Published: April 2024

AbstractUsing horizontal and vertical GNSS time series data from the GSI in sotheastern Kyushu from January 1, 2017 to June 30, 2022, we detected a recent long-term slow slip event (L-SSE) that occurred in the Hyuga-nada region, southwest Japan, and estimated its spatiotemporal slip distribution. We performed such analysis considering the piecewise evolution of slip over time with time windows of 0.8 years to ensure a good signal-to-noise ratio in the horizontal displacements in each time window. The results showed that a slip of more than 2 cm occurred in the central part of Miyazaki Prefecture from 2018.5 to 2019.3 (the units were 0.1 years = 36.5 days). Then, the amount of slip increased and expanded slightly to the southern part of Miyazaki Prefecture from 2019.3 to 2020.1, and the amount of slip reached a maximum of 3.9 cm in the subsequent period (2020.1–2020.9). A smaller slip occurred at almost the same location in the following 0.8 years. Therefore, the duration of the L-SSE was approximately 3.2 years from approximately 2018.5 to 2021.7. The annual average maximum slip rate was approximately 4.9 cm/yr (3.9 cm/0.8 yr) during the period from 2020.1 to 2020.9. The maximum total slip was estimated to be approximately 12.9 cm, and the equivalent release moment was 4.9 × 1019 Nm, corresponding to Mw7.1. Compared to previous L-SSEs that occurred in the Hyuga-nada region, the annual average maximum slip rate was relatively low, and the main total slip was estimated at almost the same location on the plate interface. On the other hand, the slip duration of this L-SSE was the longest, and the release moment and moment magnitude were the greatest. The total slip area of more than approximately 10 cm in the Hyuga-nada L-SSE estimated in this study almost overlapped with the afterslip area of the December 3, 1996 Hyuga-nada earthquake, with a depth range of approximately 30–40 km. Short-term SSEs also occurred in the same depth range. These coincidental same depth ranges of interplate seismic events stem from large thermal gradients. The large thermal gradients play an important role in narrowing the depth range of frictional parameters (a–b) at the plate interface. In addition, the pore pressure and normal stress are closely related to the critical stiffness. In particular, contrasting values of pore pressure and normal stress at the shallow and deep sides of the mantle wedge corner may also contribute to transient aseismic slip within the same depth range.
Joint EURADOS-EANM initiative for an advanced computational framework for the assessment of external dose rates from nuclear medicine patients
Authors: Struelens Lara , Huet Christelle , Broggio David , Dabin Jérémie , Desorgher Laurent , Giussani Augusto , Li Wei Bo , Nosske Dietmar , Lee Yi-Kang , Cunha Lidia , Carapinha Maria J. R. , Medvedec Mario , Covens Peter 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Background
In order to ensure adequate radiation protection of critical groups such as staff, caregivers and the general public coming into proximity of nuclear medicine (NM) patients, it is necessary to consider the impact of the radiation emitted by the patients during their stay at the hospital or after leaving the hospital. Current risk assessments are based on ambient dose rate measurements in a single position at a specified distance from the patient and carried out at several time points after administration of the radiopharmaceutical to estimate the whole-body retention. The limitations of such an approach are addressed in this study by developing and validating a more advanced computational dosimetry approach using Monte Carlo (MC) simulations in combination with flexible and realistic computational phantoms and time activity distribution curves from reference biokinetic models.

Results
Measurements of the ambient dose rate equivalent Ḣ*(10) at 1 m from the NM patient have been successfully compared against MC simulations with 5 different codes using the ICRP adult reference computational voxel phantoms, for typical clinical procedures with 99mTc-HDP/MDP, 18FDG and Na131I. All measurement data fall in the 95% confidence intervals, determined for the average simulated results. Moreover, the different MC codes (MCNP-X, PHITS, GATE, GEANT4, TRIPOLI-4®) have been compared for a more realistic scenario where the effective dose rate Ė of an exposed individual was determined in positions facing and aside the patient model at 30 cm, 50 cm and 100 cm. The variation between codes was lower than 8% for all the radiopharmaceuticals at 1 m, and varied from 5 to 16% for the face-to face and side-by-side configuration at 30 cm and 50 cm. A sensitivity study on the influence of patient model morphology demonstrated that the relative standard deviation of Ḣ*(10) at 1 m for the range of included patient models remained under 16% for time points up to 120 min post administration.

Conclusions
The validated computational approach will be further used for the evaluation of effective dose rates per unit administered activity for a variety of close-contact configurations and a range of radiopharmaceuticals as part of risk assessment studies. Together with the choice of appropriate dose constraints this would facilitate the setting of release criteria and patient restrictions.