bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Designing an International Large-Scale Assessment of Professional Competencies and Employability Skills: Emerging Avenues and Challenges of OECD’s PISA-VET
Authors: Rausch Andreas , Abele Stephan , Deutscher Viola , Greiff Samuel , Kis Viktoria , Messenger Sally , Shackleton Jenny , Tramonte Lucia , Ward Michael , Winther Esther 
Published: June 2024

AbstractGlobally, vocational education and training (VET) is considered important for ensuring the supply of skilled labour to the economy and economic competitiveness but also for helping the next generation with the transition to working life and integration into society. However, despite this importance, there are no international comparative studies on the effectiveness of the very different VET systems. In March 2024, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published the ‘Analytical and Assessment Framework’ for PISA-VET, an international study on professional competencies and employability skills in VET. In this paper, some of the lead experts that contributed to the framework provide an outline of the aims of the initiative, the target groups, the assessment approaches as well as strength and weaknesses to stimulate discussion in the scientific community. VISA-VET aims to deliver comprehensive data, inform decision making, facilitate peer learning between countries, and promote the image of VET, in general. Target populations are learners toward the end of their VET programmes in the occupational areas of automotive technicians, electricians, business and administration, health care, or tourism and hospitality. Assessment approaches to domain-specific professional skills are simulation-based questions, digital simulations, and live or recorded demonstrations. The professional skills assessments are expanded by the assessment of employability skills and comprehensive data collections on national contextual and system-level factors. This paper discusses the selection and breakdown of occupational areas, the various assessment approaches and possible supplementary studies. Its overall aim is to initiate a broader discussion in the scientific community about the design of and expected insights from PISA-VET.
Impact of device resistances in the performance of graphene-based terahertz photodetectors
Authors: Castelló O. , Baptista Sofía M. López , Watanabe K. , Taniguchi T. , Diez E. , Velázquez-Pérez J. E. , Meziani Y. M. , Caridad J. M. , Delgado-Notario J. A. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractIn recent years, graphene field-effect-transistors (GFETs) have demonstrated an outstanding potential for terahertz (THz) photodetection due to their fast response and high-sensitivity. Such features are essential to enable emerging THz applications, including 6G wireless communications, quantum information, bioimaging and security. However, the overall performance of these photodetectors may be utterly compromised by the impact of internal resistances presented in the device, so-called access or parasitic resistances. In this work, we provide a detailed study of the influence of internal device resistances in the photoresponse of high-mobility dual-gate GFET detectors. Such dual-gate architectures allow us to fine tune (decrease) the internal resistance of the device by an order of magnitude and consequently demonstrate an improved responsivity and noise-equivalent-power values of the photodetector, respectively. Our results can be well understood by a series resistance model, as shown by the excellent agreement found between the experimental data and theoretical calculations. These findings are therefore relevant to understand and improve the overall performance of existing high-mobility graphene photodetectors.
Graphical Abstract
A Methodology for Vulnerability Assessment of Cultural Heritage in Extreme Climate Changes
Authors: Cacciotti Riccardo , Sardella Alessandro , Drdácký Miloš , Bonazza Alessandra 
Published: June 2024

AbstractVulnerability evaluation plays a key role in risk assessment and reduction and is essential for defining strategies for climate change adaptation and mitigation. In dealing with the safeguarding of cultural heritage at risk, we are still far from adopting and applying an agreed methodology for vulnerability assessment. With the aim to support practitioners, heritage managers, and policy and decision makers to undertake actions that address the protection of cultural heritage at risk, the methodology set up in the framework of the Interreg Central Europe STRENCH is illustrated and discussed here. Based on three major requirements (susceptibility, exposure, and resilience) and a continuous consultation with local stakeholders, the proposed methodology is applicable for evaluating the vulnerability of built heritage and cultural landscape exposed to hydrometeorological hazards, such as heavy rains, floods, and droughts. The results obtained through its validation on 15 case studies from seven Central European regions are shown to underline the strengths and limitations of the methodological approach. Iterative consultation with local stakeholders was fundamental for the definition of the criteria/subcriteria and related values for the assessment of the requirements. Application to further sites in other contexts would surely contribute to strengthening the reliability of the methodological approach.
A Jacobian smoothing inexact Newton method for solving the nonlinear complementary problem
Authors: Sánchez W. , Arias C. A. , Perez R. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractIn this paper, we propose a Jacobian smoothing inexact Newton-type algorithm for solving the nonlinear complementarity problem by reformulating it as a system of nonlinear equations. We show that the algorithm converges up to q-quadratically and present numerical experiments that show its good local performance. In order to compare in terms of time our algorithm with other known algorithms, we introduce a new normalized measurement that we call time index.
The importance of ultrasound-guided biopsy: lesson from a case of liver metastasis from uveal melanoma
Authors: Boe Maria , Vicari Susanna , Boccatonda Andrea , Piscaglia Fabio 
Published: June 2024

AbstractMelanoma is an extremely aggressive malignant neoplasm. Uveal melanoma is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults, representing 3–5% of all melanomas. Liver metastases can be clinically detected in 10–20% of patients with metastatic disease from cutaneous melanoma. However, while liver is typically not the first site of disease spread in cutaneous melanoma, ocular melanoma has been showed to primarily metastasize from the eye to the liver; indeed, liver metastases are detected in approximately 87% of patients with metastatic uveal melanoma. Therefore, liver metastasis can be challenging to identify in early stages, thus being essentially asymptomatic until the disease has advanced. Here we report the case of a patient who came to our ultrasound unit reporting a large liver mass. Both contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging did not establish a definitive diagnosis. The final diagnosis was made only through an ultrasound-guided biopsy of the mass, thus revealing a uveal melanoma metastasis. This is followed by a review of the literature on imaging follow-up of patients with melanoma.
‘You Also Have to Let People Go’—Effects of Formative Experiences with Dying and Death on Medical Trainees’ Attitudes
Authors: Jedlicska Nana , Rossmanith Carolin , Lichtenberg Sabrina , Srnová Dagmara , Wijnen-Meijer Marjo , Gartmeier Martin , Berberat Pascal O. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThis study investigates the effects of medical students’ and residents’ formative patient death experiences on their understanding of the role of the physician in dealing with dying patients. Analyses revealed a change in attitude, an acceptance of death as ‘part of life’. Thoughtful and comprehensive care, allowing patients to die and enabling them to have a beautiful death, were identified as the physician’s duty. Honesty, well timing and completeness were determined as the guiding principles of communication. The importance of distancing and keeping in control to practice the medical profession was stressed. The burdensome nature of making therapeutic decisions was emphasized.
Lithospheric Evolution of the South‐Central United States Constrained by Joint Inversion of Receiver Functions and Surface Wave Dispersion
Authors: Wang Tuo , Gao Stephen S. , Liu Kelly H. , Mickus Kevin L. , Chen Ling 
Published: June 2024

AbstractIn the present study, we use broadband seismic data recorded by 190 stations of the EarthScope program's Transportable Array to construct a 3‐D shear wave velocity model for the upper 180 km using a non‐linear Bayesian Monte‐Carlo joint inversion of receiver functions (RFs) and Rayleigh wave dispersion curves. Ambient noise and teleseismic data are used for obtaining Rayleigh wave phase velocity dispersion curves. A resonance removal filtering technique is applied to the RFs contaminated by reverberations from the thick sedimentary layers that cover most of the region. Our observations of the higher crustal shear velocities (∼3.40 km/s) beneath the Sabine Block (SB), along with the estimated relatively thicker crust (∼34.0 km) and lower crustal Vp/Vs estimates (∼1.80) in comparison with the rest of the Gulf Coastal Plain (GCP) (∼3.10 km/s for crustal shear velocities, ∼29.0 km for crustal thickness, and ∼1.90 for crustal Vp/Vs estimates), indicating that this crustal block has different crustal properties from the surrounding coastal plain regions. The southern Ouachita Mountains have a thin crust (∼30.0 km) and low mean crustal Vp/Vs value (∼1.73), suggesting that lower crustal delamination has occurred in this region. Low velocities in the upper mantle beneath most of the GCP are interpreted as a combined result of thin lithosphere, higher‐than‐normal temperatures, and possibly compositional variations.
The Responses of Soil Nitrogen Transformations to Rainfall Reduction Mainly Occurred in the Early Growing‐Season in a Temperate Meadow
Authors: Yang Xuechen , Sternberg Marcelo , Song Wenzheng , Zhong Shangzhi , Chai Hua , Li Junqin , Yao Yuan , Meng Bo , You Mengyang , Jiang Qi , Yue Xiuquan , Li Lu‐Jun , Ma Jian‐Ying , Sun Wei 
Published: June 2024

AbstractDrought is expected to increase in temperate regions in the coming decades due to global climate change and will strongly affect nitrogen (N) transformation and balance. However, the underlying mechanisms (soil microenvironment vs. biotic community) of rainfall reduction induced changes in soil N transformation rates, and whether the responses of soil N transformation rates to rainfall reduction vary over time remains poorly understood. In this study, we experimentally examined rainfall reduction effects on soil N transformation rates over two (the second and third experimental years) growing‐seasons in a temperate meadow. We applied four treatments: ambient rainfall, 30%, 50%, and 70% reduction in rainfall. Our findings demonstrated that, 70% rainfall reduction significantly decreased the average net N mineralization and nitrification rates by 68.4% and 72.0%, respectively. Soil nitrous oxide emission was profoundly varied between the experimental years, with it was sensitive no only to changes in annual precipitation amount, but also to seasonal distribution, the highest emissions appeared at the early growing‐season. Moreover, plant diversity, microbial biomass, and soil NO3−‐N content mainly regulated soil N transformation rates in response to rainfall reduction in the greater annual precipitation year; but soil N transformation rates were mainly controlled by soil water content in the less annual precipitation year. We suggest that to accurately project future ecosystem functions and improving the prediction of N cycling responses to changing precipitation patterns, stronger focus should be allocated not only to changes in precipitation amounts, but also to inter‐ and intra‐annual differences in precipitation distribution.
Stochastic Latent Transformer: Efficient Modeling of Stochastically Forced Zonal Jets
Authors: Shokar Ira J. S. , Kerswell Rich R. , Haynes Peter H. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractWe present a novel probabilistic deep learning approach, the “stochastic latent transformer” (SLT), designed for the efficient reduced‐order modeling of stochastic partial differential equations. Stochastically driven flow models are pertinent to a diverse range of natural phenomena, including jets on giant planets, ocean circulation, and the variability of midlatitude weather. However, much of the recent progress in deep learning has predominantly focused on deterministic systems. The SLT comprises a stochastically‐forced transformer paired with a translation‐equivariant autoencoder, trained toward the Continuous Ranked Probability Score. We showcase its effectiveness by applying it to a well‐researched zonal jet system, where the interaction between stochastically forced eddies and the zonal mean flow results in a rich low‐frequency variability. The SLT accurately reproduces system dynamics across various integration periods, validated through quantitative diagnostics that include spectral properties and the rate of transitions between distinct states. The SLT achieves a five‐order‐of‐magnitude speedup in emulating the zonally‐averaged flow compared to direct numerical simulations. This acceleration facilitates the cost‐effective generation of large ensembles, enabling the exploration of statistical questions concerning the probabilities of spontaneous transition events.
Metabolic Characterization and Geochemical Drivers of Active Hydrocarbon‐Degrading Microorganisms
Authors: Li Jibing , Huang Qihui , Cai Xixi , Zhao Xuan , Luo Chunling , Zhang Gan 
Published: June 2024

AbstractUnderstanding the metabolic characteristics and controlled geochemical factors of functional microorganisms in petroleum‐contaminated areas at different locations is pivotal for enhancing pollutant removal strategies. To address the existing research gap in this domain, we employed stable‐isotope‐probing (SIP) with multi‐isotope labeling substrates, combined with 16S amplicon sequencing, metagenomic sequencing, and geochemical factor analysis. Utilizing n‐hexadecane and phenanthrene as model compounds, our study revealed location‐specific differences in the composition of functional microorganisms. Despite these variances, key players such as Pseudomonas, Marinobacter, Alcanivorax, Ochrobactrum, and Sphingomonas consistently emerged as active degraders of n‐hexadecane and/or phenanthrene. Several genera, including Pseudomonas, Ochrobactrum, Alcanivorax, Nitriliruptoraceae, and Sphingobacterium, demonstrated versatility by effectively degrading both contaminants. SIP‐metagenomic binning facilitated the acquisition of genomes from key active degraders, such as Pseudomonas sp., Ochrobactrum sp., Sphingomonas sp., and Shinella sp. This enabled a comprehensive analysis of petroleum hydrocarbon degradation pathways and genes, encompassing PAH dioxygenase genes, alkB genes, phthalate, and salicylate‐related pathways. Environmental factor and variation partitioning analysis revealed that oil pollution significantly influences the functional microbial community (12%), followed by available potassium and available nitrogen. Geochemical parameters and geographic location independently explained 14% and 21% of total variations, respectively. Intriguingly, more than half (51%) of the variation in functional microbial community structure remains unexplained, possibly due to unmeasured environmental variables. Our study contributes valuable insights into the in situ bioremediation mechanism for petroleum‐contaminated soil, elucidating factors influencing functional microbial structures across locations. These findings provide a vital theoretical reference for in situ regulation and bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon pollution in diverse environmental contexts.
Inhibition of key DNA double strand break repair protein kinases enhances radiosensitivity of head and neck cancer cells to X-ray and proton irradiation
Authors: Fabbrizi Maria Rita , Doggett Thomas J. , Hughes Jonathan R. , Melia Emma , Dufficy Elizabeth R. , Hill Rhianna M. , Goula Amalia , Phoenix Ben , Parsons Jason L. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractIonising radiation (IR) is widely used in cancer treatment, including for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), where it induces significant DNA damage leading ultimately to tumour cell death. Among these lesions, DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) are the most threatening lesion to cell survival. The two main repair mechanisms that detect and repair DSBs are non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination (HR). Among these pathways, the protein kinases ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM), ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related (ATR) and the DNA dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-Pkcs) play key roles in the sensing of the DSB and subsequent coordination of the downstream repair events. Consequently, targeting these kinases with potent and specific inhibitors is considered an approach to enhance the radiosensitivity of tumour cells. Here, we have investigated the impact of inhibition of ATM, ATR and DNA-Pkcs on the survival and growth of six radioresistant HPV-negative HNSCC cell lines in combination with either X-ray irradiation or proton beam therapy, and confirmed the mechanistic pathway leading to cell radiosensitisation. Using inhibitors targeting ATM (AZD1390), ATR (AZD6738) and DNA-Pkcs (AZD7648), we observed that this led to significantly decreased clonogenic survival of HNSCC cell lines following both X-ray and proton irradiation. Radiosensitisation of HNSCC cells grown as 3D spheroids was also observed, particularly following ATM and DNA-Pkcs inhibition. We confirmed that the inhibitors in combination with X-rays and protons led to DSB persistence, and increased micronuclei formation. Cumulatively, our data suggest that targeting DSB repair, particularly via ATM and DNA-Pkcs inhibition, can exacerbate the impact of ionising radiation in sensitising HNSCC cell models.
Acoustic assessment in mandarin-speaking Parkinson’s disease patients and disease progression monitoring and brain impairment within the speech subsystem
Authors: Diao Yu , Xie Hutao , Wang Yanwen , Zhao Baotian , Yang Anchao , Hlavnicka Jan , Zhang Jianguo 
Published: June 2024

AbstractApproximately 90% of Parkinson’s patients (PD) suffer from dysarthria. However, there is currently a lack of research on acoustic measurements and speech impairment patterns among Mandarin-speaking individuals with PD. This study aims to assess the diagnosis and disease monitoring possibility in Mandarin-speaking PD patients through the recommended speech paradigm for non-tonal languages, and to explore the anatomical and functional substrates. We examined total of 160 native Mandarin-speaking Chinese participants consisting of 80 PD patients, 40 healthy controls (HC), and 40 MRI controls. We screened the optimal acoustic metric combination for PD diagnosis. Finally, we used the objective metrics to predict the patient’s motor status using the Naïve Bayes model and analyzed the correlations between cortical thickness, subcortical volumes, functional connectivity, and network properties. Comprehensive acoustic screening based on prosodic, articulation, and phonation abnormalities allows differentiation between HC and PD with an area under the curve of 0.931. Patients with slowed reading exhibited atrophy of the fusiform gyrus (FDR p = 0.010, R = 0.391), reduced functional connectivity between the fusiform gyrus and motor cortex, and increased nodal local efficiency (NLE) and nodal efficiency (NE) in bilateral pallidum. Patients with prolonged pauses demonstrated atrophy in the left hippocampus, along with decreased NLE and NE. The acoustic assessment in Mandarin proves effective in diagnosis and disease monitoring for Mandarin-speaking PD patients, generalizing standardized acoustic guidelines beyond non-tonal languages. The speech impairment in Mandarin-speaking PD patients not only involves motor aspects of speech but also encompasses the cognitive processes underlying language generation.
Using a smartwatch and smartphone to assess early Parkinson’s disease in the WATCH-PD study over 12 months
Authors: Adams Jamie L. , Kangarloo Tairmae , Gong Yishu , Khachadourian Vahe , Tracey Brian , Volfson Dmitri , Latzman Robert D. , Cosman Joshua , Edgerton Jeremy , Anderson David , Best Allen , Kostrzebski Melissa A. , Auinger Peggy , Wilmot Peter , Pohlson Yvonne , Jensen-Roberts Stella , Müller Martijn L. T. M. , Stephenson Diane , Dorsey E. Ray ,   the Parkinson Study Group Watch-PD Study Investigators and Collaborators, Adams Jamie L. , Tarolli Christopher , Waddell Emma , Jensen-Roberts Stella , Soto Julia , Hogarth Penelope , Wahedi Mastura , Wakeman Katrina , Espay Alberto J. , Gunzler Steven A. , Kilbane Camila , Spindler Meredith , Barrett Matthew J. , Mari Zoltan , Dumitrescu Liliana , Wyant Kara J. , Chou Kelvin L. , Poon Cynthia , Simuni Tanya , Williams Karen , Tanner Nijee Luthra Caroline , Yilmaz Eda , Feuerstein Jeanne , Shprecher David , Feigin Andrew , Botting Erica 
Published: June 2024

AbstractDigital measures may provide objective, sensitive, real-world measures of disease progression in Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, multicenter longitudinal assessments of such measures are few. We recently demonstrated that baseline assessments of gait, tremor, finger tapping, and speech from a commercially available smartwatch, smartphone, and research-grade wearable sensors differed significantly between 82 individuals with early, untreated PD and 50 age-matched controls. Here, we evaluated the longitudinal change in these assessments over 12 months in a multicenter observational study using a generalized additive model, which permitted flexible modeling of at-home data. All measurements were included until participants started medications for PD. Over one year, individuals with early PD experienced significant declines in several measures of gait, an increase in the proportion of day with tremor, modest changes in speech, and few changes in psychomotor function. As measured by the smartwatch, the average (SD) arm swing in-clinic decreased from 25.9 (15.3) degrees at baseline to 19.9 degrees (13.7) at month 12 (P = 0.004). The proportion of awake time an individual with early PD had tremor increased from 19.3% (18.0%) to 25.6% (21.4%; P < 0.001). Activity, as measured by the number of steps taken per day, decreased from 3052 (1306) steps per day to 2331 (2010; P = 0.16), but this analysis was restricted to 10 participants due to the exclusion of those that had started PD medications and lost the data. The change of these digital measures over 12 months was generally larger than the corresponding change in individual items on the Movement Disorder Society—Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale but not greater than the change in the overall scale. Successful implementation of digital measures in future clinical trials will require improvements in study conduct, especially data capture. Nonetheless, gait and tremor measures derived from a commercially available smartwatch and smartphone hold promise for assessing the efficacy of therapeutics in early PD.