bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Markov-switching decision trees
Authors: Adam Timo , Ötting Marius , Michels Rouven 
Published: May 2024

AbstractDecision trees constitute a simple yet powerful and interpretable machine learning tool. While tree-based methods are designed only for cross-sectional data, we propose an approach that combines decision trees with time series modeling and thereby bridges the gap between machine learning and statistics. In particular, we combine decision trees with hidden Markov models where, for any time point, an underlying (hidden) Markov chain selects the tree that generates the corresponding observation. We propose an estimation approach that is based on the expectation-maximisation algorithm and assess its feasibility in simulation experiments. In our real-data application, we use eight seasons of National Football League (NFL) data to predict play calls conditional on covariates, such as the current quarter and the score, where the model’s states can be linked to the teams’ strategies. R code that implements the proposed method is available on GitHub.
Factors influencing clinician-educators’ assessment practice in varied Southern contexts: a health behaviour theory perspective
Authors: Sims Danica Anne , Lucio-Ramirez César Alberto , Cilliers Francois J. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractIn many contexts, responsibility for exit-level assessment design and implementation in undergraduate medical programmes lies with individuals who convene clinical clerkships. Their assessment practice has significant consequences for students’ learning and the patients and communities that graduates will serve. Interventions to enhance assessment must involve these assessors, yet little is known about factors influencing their assessment practice. The purpose of this study was to explore factors that influence assessment practice of clerkship convenors in three varied low-and-middle income contexts in the global South. Taking assessment practice as a behaviour, Health Behaviour Theory (HBT) was deployed as a theoretical framework to explore, describe and explain assessor behaviour. Thirty-one clinician-educators responsible for designing and implementing high-stakes clerkship assessment were interviewed in South Africa and Mexico. Interacting personal and contextual factors influencing clinician-educator assessment intention and action were identified. These included attitude, influenced by impact and response appraisal, and perceived self-efficacy; along with interpersonal, physical and organisational, and distal contextual factors. Personal competencies and conducive environments supported intention to action transition. While previous research has typically explored factors in isolation, the HBT framing enabled a systematic and coherent account of assessor behaviour. These findings add a particular contextual perspective to understanding assessment practice, yet also resonate with and extend existing work that predominantly emanates from high-income contexts in the global North. These findings provide a foundation for the planning of assessment change initiatives, such as targeted, multi-factorial faculty development.
Readiness of teachers for blended learning: A scale development study
Authors: Çemçem Gülsemin Durmuş , Korkmaz Özgen , Kukul Volkan 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe aim of this study is to create a new scale to assess teachers' readiness for blended learning. There are 317 active teachers volunteering in the study from various educational levels. Exploratory factor analysis was carried out to examine the construct validity of the scale with the data obtained. Following principal component analysis, 6 items were removed from the scale as they spread to different factors, and the remaining 25 items were refactored and grouped into 4 factors. Confirmatory factor analysis was carried out to confirm the factor structures of the scale. The obtained model confirmed the factor structure created in the exploratory factor analysis. Differences between the bottom and top 27% groups were investigated to evaluate item discriminability. For reliability analyses, internal consistency coefficients and stability analyses were performed. A five-point Likert scale with 25 items is used to assess how prepared the teachers are for blended learning. The items are categorized into four factors. The scale's Cronbach alpha coefficient value is 0.943 and McDonald’s ω value is .942. Analyses demonstrate that the scale is a valid and reliable tool for assessing teachers' readiness for blended learning.
Development of a platform for state online education services: Design concept based on meta-universe
Authors: Chen Guomin , Jin Yingwei , Chen Pengrun 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe incorporation of metaverse technology in education, particularly within standardized state educational frameworks, holds promise for significant improvements in learning outcomes. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of integrating an online metaverse platform into state educational services, thereby fostering the development of digital environments. A total of 278 students from middle and high school levels in China participated in the study. Academic achievement tests, alongside the Engagement Level Scale (ELS) and Motivation Level Scale (MLS), were employed as measurement tools. The utilization of the metaverse platform, hosting the state-approved curriculum for seventh and tenth grades, resulted in notable enhancements in students’ academic performance, engagement, and motivation. Among seventh graders, the most significant improvements in academic performance were observed in mathematics (5.897), literature (5.101), and history (5.767). For tenth graders, enhancements were noted in Chinese language (7.500), literature (5.800), and chemistry (5.650). Moreover, improvements in engagement and motivation were statistically significant. Seventh graders in the experimental group exhibited higher levels of intrinsic motivation (6.45), extrinsic motivation (5.28), and self-regulation (7.18) compared to the control group. For tenth graders, the respective increases were 5.70, 4.00, and 4.65 for each subscale. The practical and scientific significance lies in demonstrating the potential of enhancing educational outcomes and student motivation through the implementation of an online metaverse platform, which could be integrated into state school curricula.
Longitudinal Profiles of Cultural Identity Processes and Associations with Psychosocial Outcomes Among Adolescents Participating in the Identity Project in Italy
Authors: Ceccon Chiara , Moscardino Ughetta , Altoè Gianmarco , Lionetti Francesca , Umaña-Taylor Adriana J. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractCultural identity formation is a complex developmental task that influences adolescents’ adjustment. However, less is known about individual variations in trajectories of cultural identity processes and how they relate to youth psychosocial outcomes. Using a person-centered approach, this study investigated patterns of change over a year in cultural identity exploration and resolution, respectively, among ethnically diverse adolescents in Italy. The sample included 173 high school students (Mage = 15 yrs, SD = 0.62, range = 14–17; 58.4% female; 26% immigrant background) who had participated in the Identity Project, a school-based intervention targeting ethnic-racial identity development. Longitudinal latent profile analysis revealed only one profile of change for exploration, whereas four unique profiles for resolution emerged (“stable low,” “stable average,” “increase low-to-average,” “increase high-to-higher”). Overall, youth in the resolution-increase profiles reported the best outcomes. The findings highlight the heterogeneity of adolescents’ resolution trajectories and the benefits of an increased sense of clarity concerning one’s cultural identity for positive psychosocial functioning.
Simulated maximum likelihood estimation of the sequential search model
Authors: Chung Jae Hyen , Chintagunta Pradeep , Misra Sanjog 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
We propose a new approach to simulate the likelihood of the sequential search model. By allowing search costs to be heterogeneous across consumers and products, we directly compute the joint probability of the search and purchase decisions when consumers are searching for the idiosyncratic preference shocks in their utility functions. Under the assumptions of Weitzman’s sequential search algorithm, the proposed procedure recursively makes random draws for each quantity that requires numerical integration while enforcing the conditions stipulated by the algorithm. In an extensive simulation study, we compare the proposed method with existing likelihood simulators that have recently been used to estimate the sequential search model. The proposed method attributes the uncertainty in the search order to the consumer-product-level distribution of search costs and the uncertainty in the purchase decision to the distribution of match values across consumers and products. This results in more precise estimation and an improvement in prediction accuracy. We also show that the proposed method allows for different assumptions on the search cost distribution and that it recovers consumers’ relative preferences even if the utility function and/or the search cost distribution is mis-specified. We then apply our approach to online search data from Expedia for field-data validation. From a substantive perspective, we find that search costs and “position” effects affect products in the lower part of the product listing page more than they do those in the upper part of the page.
Eculizumab for adult patients with atypical haemolytic-uraemic syndrome: full dataset analysis of Japanese post-marketing surveillance
Authors: Maruyama Shoichi , Ikeda Yoichiro , Kaname Shinya , Kato Noritoshi , Matsumoto Masanori , Ishikawa Yumiko , Shimono Akihiko , Miyakawa Yoshitaka , Nangaku Masaomi , Shibagaki Yugo , Okada Hirokazu 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Background
Eculizumab has been approved for atypical haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (aHUS) in Japan since 2013. Post-marketing surveillance enrolled patients with aHUS who received ≥ 1 dose of eculizumab to assess eculizumab safety and effectiveness.

Methods
We evaluated serious adverse events and effectiveness endpoints, i.e., haematologic normalization, a decrease of ≥ 25% in serum creatinine (sCr) levels, and complete thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) response in adult patients with aHUS without other underlying diseases. In addition, the difference of baseline characteristics between patients who did and did not meet effectiveness endpoints was examined.

Results
In this safety and effectiveness analysis, 79 adult patients were included; median age was 54.0 years, median treatment duration was 30 weeks. Total exposure time of eculizumab was 75.51 patient-years, and 94 serious adverse events were reported in 39 patients. No unexpected safety signals were identified in this population. Mean platelet count, lactate dehydrogenase and estimated glomerular filtration rate significantly improved after 7 days of treatment. Complete TMA response, haematologic normalization and the improvement of sCr levels were met by 35.3%, 40.4% and 51.3% of patients, respectively. Median treatment duration was shorter in patients who did not achieve complete TMA response (6 weeks) than in patients who did (114 weeks). Multivariate analysis suggested that the time from the most recent TMA episode to start of eculizumab treatment was negatively associated with kidney function improvement.

Conclusions
No unexpected safety signals of eculizumab were identified in Japanese patients with aHUS in a real-world setting. Renal outcomes were negatively associated with the time from the most recent TMA episode to the initiation of eculizumab treatment.

Graphical abstract
Arterial stiffness and incident chronic kidney disease: a large population-based cohort study
Authors: Beros Angela , Sluyter John , Hughes Alun , Hametner Bernhard , Wassertheurer Siegfried , Scragg Robert 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Background/aims
Evidence from large population-based cohorts as to the association of arterial stiffness and incident chronic kidney disease (CKD) is mixed. This large population-based study aimed to investigate whether arterial stiffness, assessed oscillometrically, was associated with incident CKD.

Methods
The study population comprised 4838 participants from the Vitamin D Assessment (ViDA) Study without known CKD (mean ± SD age = 66 ± 8). Arterial stiffness was assessed from 5 April, 2011 to 6 November, 2012 by way of aortic pulse wave velocity, estimated carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, and aortic pulse pressure. Incident CKD was determined by linkage to national hospital discharge registers. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to assess the risk of CKD in relation to chosen arterial stiffness measures over the continuum and quartiles of values.

Results
During a mean ± SD follow-up of 10.5 ± 0.4 years, 376 participants developed incident CKD. Following adjustment for potential confounders, aortic pulse wave velocity (hazard ratio (HR) per SD increase 1.69, 95% CI 1.45–1.97), estimated carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (HR per SD increase 1.84, 95% CI 1.54–2.19), and aortic pulse pressure (HR per SD increase 1.37, 95% CI 1.22–1.53) were associated with the incidence of CKD. The risk of incident CKD was, compared to the first quartile, higher in the fourth quartile of aortic pulse wave velocity (HR 4.72, 95% CI 2.69–8.27; Ptrend < 0.001), estimated carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (HR 4.28, 95% CI 2.45–7.50; Ptrend  < 0.001) and aortic pulse pressure (HR 2.71, 95% CI 1.88–3.91; Ptrend  < 0.001).

Conclusions
Arterial stiffness, as measured by aortic pulse wave velocity, estimated carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, and aortic pulse pressure may be utilised in clinical practice to help identify people at risk of future CKD.

Trial registration
www.anzctr.org.au identifier:ACTRN12611000402943.

Graphical abstract
Use of Integrated Metabolic Maps as a Framework for Teaching Biochemical Pathways in the Pre-clinical Medical Curriculum
Authors: Nguyen Kenny , Silveira Jay R. , Lounsbury Karen M. 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Introduction
The Larner College of Medicine has steadily transitioned to primarily active learning-based instruction. Although evaluations praise session formats, students often highlight difficulties in synthesizing preparatory materials to integrate biochemical pathways. A student/faculty collaboration led to the development of interactive metabolic maps that illustrate pathways and link to a broader framework of metabolism.

Methods
A review of the session materials identified relevant biochemical pathways, and for each pathway, we created a fillable visual diagram to highlight the interactions between all substrates, enzymes, and cofactors. Implementation of the metabolic maps began for first-year medical students in fall 2022. Evaluation data included standard student session evaluations (Likert scale and qualitative comments) and a survey specific to the metabolic maps.

Results
After implementing the maps, student ratings of biochemistry/metabolism session materials significantly improved (3.2 ± 1.04 to 4.3 ± 0.87, p < 0.001), and students made positive comments about their effectiveness. Most students (77.8%) used the metabolic maps to aid in studying biochemistry content for exams and found the metabolic maps important for integrating information about metabolic pathways. The median performance on metabolism-specific questions was higher, although not statistically significant (69.23 to 77.28, ns).

Discussion
The implementation of integrated metabolic maps improved student satisfaction of biochemistry/metabolism session materials. Limitations include confounding factors related to student population differences and other simultaneous curriculum changes. Implementing interactive visual aids to integrate metabolism pathways and concepts is applicable to any medical curriculum, and other longitudinal topics may benefit from this type of curricular framework.
Post-earthquake building services downtime distribution: a case study of the 2016 Kumamoto, Japan, earthquake
Authors: Nishino Tomoaki 
Published: May 2024

AbstractSeismic damage to building services systems, that is, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems in buildings related to energy and indoor environments, affects the functionality of buildings. Assessing post-earthquake functionality is useful for enhancing the seismic resilience of buildings via improved design. Such assessments require a model for predicting the time required to restore building services. This study analyzes the downtime data for 250 instances of damage to building services components caused by the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake in Japan, presumably obtained from buildings with minor or no structural damage. The objectives of this study are (1) to determine the empirical downtime distribution of building services components and (2) to assess the dependence of the downtime on explanatory variables. A survival analysis, which is a statistical technique for analyzing time-to-event data, reveals that (1) the median downtime of building services components was 90 days and, 7 months after the earthquake, the empirical non-restoration probability was approximately 32%, (2) the services type and the building use are explanatory variables having a statistically significant effect on the downtime of building services components, (3) the log-logistic regression model reasonably captures the trend of the restoration of building services components, (4) medical and welfare facilities and hotels restored building services components relatively quickly, and (5) the 7-month restoration probability was observed to be highest for electrical systems, followed by sanitary systems, then heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, and finally life safety systems. These results provide useful information to support the resilience-based seismic design of buildings.
MIIP downregulates PD-L1 expression through HDAC6 in cutaneous melanoma
Authors: Li Ting , Xing Ruwei , Xiang Lijie , Liu Haotian , Wei Junqiang , Lu Jia , Li Tao , Yang Jilong 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Immune checkpoint inhibitors have improved the objective response rate and survival of melanoma patients. However, there are still many melanoma patients suffering from disease progression due to primary or secondary immune checkpoint inhibitor resistance, as is observed in the failure of anti-PD1/PD-L1 therapy. While the expression of valuable markers, such as TMB, MSI, and PD-L1, could serve as effective predictors of anti-checkpoint inhibitor therapies, tumor cell PD-L1 expression and its regulating mechanism would significantly affect the anti-PD-1 immunotherapy response and efficacy. Therefore, it is urgent to determine the function of PD-1/PD-L1 expression in melanoma and its associated pathways to enhance the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapies.

Methods
A cohort of 133 patients with histologically confirmed melanoma from Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital were included in this study. We performed immunohistochemical staining to detect the expression of Migration and invasion inhibitory protein (MIIP), HDAC6 and PD-L1. Kaplan–Meier and log-rank test were used for survival analysis. As for vitro, Western blot was used in melanoma cell lines to verify the signaling pathway that MIIP regulates PD-L1 expression.

Results
MIIP expression was decreased in melanoma and that the negative expression of MIIP was correlated with worse overall survival. The positive expression of HDAC6, a molecule that is downstream of MIIP, had a positive trend with decreased overall survival. At the same time, the positive expression of PD-L1, a crucial costimulatory molecule, was associated with decreased overall survival. Furthermore, there was a positive association between HDAC6 and PD-L1 protein expression (p < 0.01), and this correlation is more prominent in cutaneous melanoma than acral melanoma. In cutaneous melanoma cell lines, we found that increasing MIIP led to decreased HDAC6, pSTAT3, and PD-L1 expression. Knocking down MIIP led to increased HDAC6, pSTAT3, and PD-L1 expression. Combining the published results, showing that HDAC6 can regulate PD-L1 expression through STAT3, our present data suggest that MIIP inhibits the expression of PD-L1 by downregulating HDAC6 in melanoma. Most importantly, methods for targeting MIIP-HDAC6-PD-L1 pathways, such as treatment with HDAC6 inhibitors, might indicate a new therapeutic approach for enhancing immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies in melanoma.

Conclusions
Our findings highlight the immunomodulatory effects of MIIP in the inhibition of PD-L1 expression by downregulating HDAC6 in melanoma. Methods for targeting MIIP-HDAC6-PD-L1 pathways might be new therapeutic approaches for enhancing immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies in melanoma.
The mediating role of social connectedness in the relationship between smartphone use and psychological adjustment problems in Turkish youth
Authors: Yıldırım Murat , Geçer Ekmel , Bağcı Hakkı 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis study investigated the mediating role of social connectedness in the relationship between excessive smartphone use and psychological adjustment problems. 484 young adults (M = 27.04 ± 4.36 years and 72.1% females) participated in this study. Using an online survey, participants completed the Multidimensional Smartphone Use Scale, Social Connectedness Scale-Revised, and Brief Psychological Adjustment-6. The results showed that smartphone use had a significant predictive effect on social connectedness and psychological adjustment problems. Social connectedness also had a significant predictive impact on psychological adjustment problems. Further, social connectedness partially mediated the relationship between smartphone use and psychological adjustment problems. The findings are fruitful in terms of presenting evidence for tailoring prevention and intervention programs to mitigate the adverse consequences of smartphone use on psychological health.
The Power of Critique: A Tribute to Paulin Hountondji
Authors: Okeja Uchenna 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe emergence of African philosophy as a systematic field of inquiry can be traced to the trailblazing work of a few figures. Paulin Hountondji occupies a special place among these trailblazers. A true exemplar of the field, Hountondji’s work is neither limited by the linguistically circumscribed mapping of African philosophy nor the dichotomies and quarrels arising from methodological and stylistic difference in doing philosophy. I reiterate the crucial challenge he poses to current and future generations of scholars by reflecting on his approach to philosophy and the critical insights he offers on fundamental questions about the nature, conditions and fate of freedom in Africa.
Preparing conservatoire students for the music education workforce: conversations with alumni
Authors: Shaw Luan 
Published: May 2024

AbstractHigher music education institutions should continually review their curricula to ensure that their graduates are best equipped to support musical learning for children and young people. Perspectives on early careers in instrumental teaching were obtained via an alumni-led workshop and focus group at a UK conservatoire. Findings revealed that whilst extensive pedagogical training was offered, its value was not fully acknowledged across the institution and that more could be done to alleviate students’ anxieties about their developing musician identities and future stability. As new teachers, alumni are well placed to help prepare students for the professional realities of joining the music education workforce.