bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Using different digital tools in designing and solving mathematical modelling problems
Authors: Koyunkaya Melike Yiğit , Dede Ayşe Tekin 
Published: March 2024

AbstractWhile existing studies acknowledge the importance of using technology in the mathematical modelling process, questions about how to integrate digital tools into mathematical modelling are not still answered. This study aims to examine pre-service mathematics teachers’ designing and solving mathematical modelling problems by using different digital tools through the collaboration of two different courses in their education program. The GeoGebra-supported modelling cycle was adopted as the conceptual framework of the study. The case study was used to design the research. The participants of the study were three volunteer pre-service secondary mathematics teachers, who were able to use and integrate digital tools in mathematics education. The pre-service teachers were asked to design a mathematical modelling problem by integrating different digital tools as the final assignment in both courses. The designed mathematical modelling problem, the video records of pre-service teachers’ explanations including the designing and solving process, and the video records of the focus group interview were the data of the study. The results showed that the pre-service teachers were able to design and solve an effective and comprehensive mathematical modelling problem using technology by combining their skills that they had learnt through different courses. In particular, they were able to use different digital tools in both designing and solving a mathematical modelling problem. Their solution also led to the extension of the adopted framework by adding new technological actions into the modelling stages.
The effects of online simulation-based collaborative problem-solving on students’ problem-solving, communication and collaboration attitudes
Authors: Chen Meng-Jun , She Hsiao-Ching , Tsai Pei-Yi 
Published: March 2024

AbstractDespite national curricula and instructional reforms calling for collaborative problem-solving skills (CPS), however, there is an absence of a theory-laden model showing how to effectively construct CPS for science learning. We therefore developed and validated a simulation-based CPS model that exploits its constructs, sequences, and causal relationships, and evaluating its effectiveness on students’ problem-solving. Over the span of a two-week physics science course, 57 ninth-grade students were recruited from two intact middle school classes to engage in this online simulation-based collaborative problem-solving (CPS) program. This program consisted of nine electrochemistry problem-solving lessons spread across four class sessions, each lasting 45 min. Results indicated that the simulation-based CPS model was validated and proven to contribute to effective problem-solving by linking PS solution proposing, peer communication, implementing PS solutions with simulation, and providing evidence-based explanations. The simulation-based CPS model successfully improved the performance of both high- and low-achieving students. With the support and presence of high-achievers, low-achievers’ collaboration attitude was boosted, which lead them to achieve similar learning success.
Can Climate Shocks Make Vulnerable Subjects More Willing to Take Risks?
Authors: Holden Stein T. , Tilahun Mesfin 
Published: March 2024

AbstractWhile economists in the past tended to assume that individual preferences, including risk preferences, are stable over time, a recent literature has developed and indicates that risk preferences respond to shocks, with mixed evidence on the direction of the responses. This paper utilizes a natural experiment with covariate (drought) and idiosyncratic shocks in combination with an independent field risk experiment. The risk experiment uses a Certainty Equivalent-Multiple Choice List approach and is played 1–2 years after the subjects were (to a varying degree) exposed to a covariate drought shock or idiosyncratic shocks for a sample of resource-poor young adults living in a risky semi-arid rural environment in Sub-Saharan Africa. The experimental approach facilitates a comprehensive assessment of shock effects on experimental risk premiums for risky prospects with varying probabilities of good and bad outcomes. The experiment also facilitates the estimation of the utility curvature in an Expected Utility (EU) model and, alternatively, separate estimation of probability weighting and utility curvature in three different Rank Dependent Utility models with a two-parameter Prelec probability weighting function. Our study is the first to comprehensively test the theoretical predictions of Gollier and Pratt (Econom J Econom Soc 64:1109–1123, 1996) versus Quiggin (Econ Theor 22(3):607–611, 2003). Gollier and Pratt (1996) build on EU theory and state that an increase in background risk will make subjects more risk averse while Quiggin (2003) states that an increase in background risk can enhance risk-taking in certain types of non-EU models. We find strong evidence that such non-EU preferences dominate in our sample.
Regional development is not a dinner party: a research agenda on power relations and the use of language in regional development studies
Authors: Calignano Giuseppe , Nilsen Trond 
Published: March 2024

AbstractRegional development is not a dinner party, but rather a largely contested matter in which its political dimension and power relations play key roles. This paper calls for a research agenda to understand more about how power relations and the use of language—specifically, metaphors—can be integrated into regional development studies. In contrast to major strands of the regional development literature, an important contribution of this paper is that we treat regional development processes not as a purely economistic process, but rather as a conflictual process in which different opinions or even divergent views emerge and compete through different language relationships. This occurs on a multitude of occasions, such as when there is a discussion about building new infrastructure and its related socio-economic and environmental impacts, when people have different views on possible regional futures or when certain regional economic sectors are prioritised by politicians and policymakers. We address three main research questions. (1) What can scholars in the field of regional development learn from previous studies of power relations in the fields of economic geography and political science? (2) What are the most promising research tendencies in which the study of politics and power relations can be embedded? (3) Through which original lens (i.e., language) and methodology (i.e., narratives) might empirical analyses best be conducted on the topics we illustrate?
Research on Reconfiguration Strategies for Self-reconfiguring Modular Robots: A Review
Authors: Dai Ye , He Shilong , Nie XinLei , Rui Xukun , Li ShiKun , He Sai 
Published: March 2024

AbstractWith the progress of science and technology, the traditional robot workplace is fixed, single-function, and inflexible, and may not work properly in some special places, while the modular robot with self-reconfiguration function is a robot that can adapt to new environments and can rely on new task settings, which has a series of universal modules and relies on mutual communication between modules and autonomous reorganization movements to cope with changes in the environment or tasks and recover from the state of destruction. This paper summarizes the representative international research results from the perspective of the hardware design of robots in two aspects based on the design characteristics of self-reconfiguring modular robots around the reconfiguration strategy planning method. At the same time, some existing problems and shortcomings are pointed out on this basis to provide ideas as well as perspectives for future research development.
Assessing Hierarchies by Their Consistent Segmentations
Authors: Gutman Zeev , Vij Ritvik , Najman Laurent , Lindenbaum Michael 
Published: March 2024

AbstractCurrent approaches to generic segmentation start by creating a hierarchy of nested image partitions and then specifying a segmentation from it. Our first contribution is to describe several ways, most of them new, for specifying segmentations using the hierarchy elements. Then, we consider the best hierarchy-induced segmentation specified by a limited number of hierarchy elements. We focus on a common quality measure for binary segmentations, the Jaccard index (also known as IoU). Optimizing the Jaccard index is highly nontrivial, and yet we propose an efficient approach for doing exactly that. This way we get algorithm-independent upper bounds on the quality of any segmentation created from the hierarchy. We found that the obtainable segmentation quality varies significantly depending on the way that the segments are specified by the hierarchy elements, and that representing a segmentation with only a few hierarchy elements is often possible.
Large-landscape connectivity models for pond-dwelling species: methods and application to two invasive amphibians of global concern
Authors: Vimercati Giovanni , Rödder Dennis , Vuilleumier Séverine , Berronneau Maud , Secondi Jean 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Context
Functional connectivity models are essential in identifying major dispersal pathways and developing effective management strategies for expanding populations of invasive alien species. However, the extrapolation of models parameterized within current invasive ranges may not be applicable even to neighbouring areas, if the models are not based on the expected responses of individuals to landscape structure.

Objectives
We have developed a high-resolution connectivity model for both terrestrial and aquatic habitats using solely potential sources. The model is used here for the invasive, principally-aquatic, African clawed frog Xenopus laevis, which is a species of global concern.

Methods
All ponds were considered as suitable habitats for the African clawed frog. Resistance costs of lotic aquatic and terrestrial landscape features were determined through a combination of remote sensing and laboratory trials. Maximum cumulative resistance values were obtained via capture-mark-recapture surveys, and validation was performed using independently collected presence data. We applied this approach to an invasive population of the American bullfrog, Lithobates catesbeianus, in France to assess its transferability to other pond-dwelling species.

Results
The model revealed areas of high and low functional connectivity. It primarily identified river networks as major dispersal pathways and pinpointed areas where local connectivity could be disrupted for management purposes.

Conclusion
Our model predicts how the dispersal of individuals connect suitable lentic habitats, through river networks and different land use types. The approach can be applied to species of conservation concern or interest in pond ecosystems and other wetlands, including aquatic insects, birds and mammals, for which distribution data are limited or challenging to collect. It serves as a valuable tool for forecasting colonization pathways in expanding populations of both native and invasive alien species and for identifying regions suitable for preventive or adaptive control measures.
Environmental, industrial, and health benefits of Moringa oleifera
Authors: Mahaveerchand Harshika , Abdul Salam Abdul Ajees 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe rise of air, water, and soil pollution poses a significant threat to global health, leading to widespread disease and premature mortality. Soil health is vital, ensuring the production of safe food, but it is compromised by pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides, plastics, and excessive fertilization, resulting in the depletion of beneficial microorganisms and subsequently groundwater contamination. Water bodies are polluted due to contamination from industrial effluents, domestic wastewater, agricultural runoff, and oil spillage, further intensifying environmental pollution. On the other hand, atmospheric pollution, characterized by high emissions of gases, volatile compounds, greenhouse gases, not only impacts the climate but also poses serious risks to human health, leading to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular issues, and increased cancer risks. Thus, the strategic utilization of traditional plants emerges as a potent tool for environmental restoration and improving human health. The plants possess natural filtering capabilities, absorbing pollutants from air, soil, and water, thus mitigating their adverse effects. Through phytoremediation, plants can be actively used to extract and remove contaminants, contributing to detoxification and improving water and soil quality. Additionally, plants offer various health benefits. Moringa oleifera or the drumstick plant belonging to the Moringaceae family is one such indigenous plant with wide applications, that can be grown in extreme arid conditions. Since ancient times, this plant has been used for treating skin infections, anaemia, and blood impurities. This plant thrives in diverse climates addressing over 300 different aliments. Rich in phytochemicals and bioactive compounds, M. oleifera serve as a superfood, offering high nutritional values and exhibiting potential for drug development with fewer side effects. Extensive research has elucidated the diverse properties and applications of M. oleifera, however, in-depth research is needed to identify bioactive molecules, phytochemicals, and protein compounds involved, which will aid in understanding of the mechanisms of action of the plant's diverse functions. Although studies have reported several of individual M. oleifera attributes, there is no comprehensive study available addressing its diverse applications. This review covers the findings of past three decades and provides a detailed outline of M. oleifera plant and its various parts, its applications in environmental, industrial, food and health aspects documented to date.
Prolactin-secreting tumors, dopamine agonists and pregnancy: a longitudinal experience of a tertiary neuroendocrine center
Authors: Prencipe Nunzia , Bona Chiara , Cuboni Daniela , Berton Alessandro Maria , Bioletto Fabio , Varaldo Emanuele , Aversa Luigi Simone , Sibilla Michela , Gasco Valentina , Ghigo Ezio , Grottoli Silvia 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Prolactin (PRL)-secreting tumours are associated with infertility and can be reverted by dopamine agonist (DA) therapy. The suspension of DA is recommended once pregnancy is established, as all DAs cross the placenta. The aim of the study was to evaluate the rate of maternal-foetal complications in women treated with cabergoline (CAB) or bromocriptine (BRM) for prolactinoma during gestation and the effect of pregnancy on prolactinoma progression.

Methods
This was a retrospective observational study involving 43 women affected by prolactinoma who became pregnant during therapy with CAB or BRM for a total of 58 pregnancies. For each patient, medical records were analysed by integrating the data with outpatient or telephone interview.

Results
At the time of conception, 18 women were in the BRM group, while 40 were in CAB group. No differences were found in obstetric or neonatal outcomes between the two groups. There was a significant difference (p = 0.046) in child complications reported in maternal interview found exclusively in the CAB group. No further confounding factors were detected. Disease remission rate after the first pregnancy was 42.9% and the main predictor was a lower PRL nadir before pregnancy (p = 0.023). No difference was detected between the two groups in terms of tumor remission. Breastfeeding did not modify the outcome.

Conclusion
Foetal exposure to DAs during the first weeks of embryogenesis is not associated with a greater risk of complications. The transient and mild developmental disorders recorded resolved spontaneously and the prevalence was substantially overlapping with that observed in the general population.
Functional mixtures-of-experts
Authors: Chamroukhi Faïcel , Pham Nhat Thien , Hoang Van Hà , McLachlan Geoffrey J. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractWe consider the statistical analysis of heterogeneous data for prediction, in situations where the observations include functions, typically time series. We extend the modeling with mixtures-of-experts (ME), as a framework of choice in modeling heterogeneity in data for prediction with vectorial observations, to this functional data analysis context. We first present a new family of ME models, named functional ME (FME), in which the predictors are potentially noisy observations, from entire functions. Furthermore, the data generating process of the predictor and the real response, is governed by a hidden discrete variable representing an unknown partition. Second, by imposing sparsity on derivatives of the underlying functional parameters via Lasso-like regularizations, we provide sparse and interpretable functional representations of the FME models called iFME. We develop dedicated expectation–maximization algorithms for Lasso-like regularized maximum-likelihood parameter estimation strategies to fit the models. The proposed models and algorithms are studied in simulated scenarios and in applications to two real data sets, and the obtained results demonstrate their performance in accurately capturing complex nonlinear relationships and in clustering the heterogeneous regression data.
On Affective Installation Art
Authors: Caldarola Elisa , Leñador Javier 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn this paper, we look at installation art through the lens provided by the notion of “affective artifact” (Piredda 2019). We argue that affective character is central to some works of installation art and that some of those works can expand our knowledge of our affective lives, while others can contribute to the construction of our identities. Sections (2), (3), and (4) set the stage for our discussion of affective installation artworks by, respectively, situating it within the debate on affective artifacts, looking at some general issues concerning the affective character of artworks, and sketching out a view of the ontology of installation art. In section (5), we discuss the affective character of six works of installation art. In section (6), we show how those artworks can reveal aspects of who we are. Section (7) concludes.
Renal mass imaging modalities: does body mass index (BMI) matter?
Authors: Son Young , Quiring Mark E. , Dalton Raeann M. , Thomas Brian , Davidson Noah , DeVincentz Dayna , Payne Collin , Parikh Sahil H. , Fink Benjamin A. , Mueller Thomas , Brown Gordon 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Accurate measurement of renal mass size is crucial in the management of renal cancer. With the burdensome cost of imaging yet its need for management, a better understanding of the variability among patients when determining mass size remains of urgent importance. Current guidelines on optimal imaging are limited, especially with respect to body mass index (BMI). The aim of this study is to discern which modalities accurately measure renal mass size and whether BMI influences such accuracy.

Methods
A multi-institutional chart review was performed for adult patients undergoing partial or radical nephrectomy between 2018 and 2021, with 236 patients ultimately included. Patients were categorized by BMI (BMI 1: 18.5–24.9, BMI 2: 25–29.9, BMI 3: 30–34.9, and BMI 4: ≥ 35). The greatest mass lengths were compared between the pathology report and the following: computerized tomography (CT), renal ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Results
The difference between greatest length on CT with contrast and MRI were significantly different when compared to pathologic measurement. BMI groups 3 and 4 were found to have a significant difference in size estimates compared to BMI 2 for CT with contrast. No difference was found between size estimates by BMI group for any other imaging modality.

Conclusion
CT with contrast becomes less accurate at estimating mass size for patients with BMI > 30. While contrast-enhanced CT remains a vital imaging modality for tissue enhancement in the context of unknown renal masses, caution must be used for mass size estimation in the obese population.
Sizeable net export of base cations from a Carpathian flysch catchment indicates their geogenic origin while the 26Mg/24Mg, 44Ca/40Ca and 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios in runoff are indistinguishable from atmospheric input
Authors: Novak Martin , Kochergina Yulia V. Erban , Andronikov Alexandre V. , Holmden Chris , Veselovsky Frantisek , Kachlik Vaclav , Hruška Jakub , Laufek Frantisek , Paces Tomas , Komarek Arnost , Sebek Ondrej , Stepanova Marketa , Curik Jan , Prechova Eva , Fottova Daniela , Andronikova Irina E. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractNutrient imbalances may negatively affect the health status of forests exposed to multiple stress factors, including drought and bark beetle calamities. We studied the origin of base cations in runoff from a small Carpathian catchment underlain by base-poor flysch turbidites using magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca) and strontium (Sr) isotope composition of 10 ecosystem compartments. Our objective was to constrain conclusions drawn from long-term hydrochemical monitoring of inputs and outputs. Annual export of Mg, Ca and Sr exceeds 5-to-15 times their atmospheric input. Mass budgets per se thus indicate sizeable net leaching of Mg, Ca and Sr from bedrock sandstones and claystones. Surprisingly, δ26Mg, δ44Ca and 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios of runoff were practically identical to those of atmospheric deposition and soil water but significantly different from bedrock isotope ratios. We did not find any carbonates in the studied area as a hypothetical, easily dissolvable source of base cations whose isotope composition might corroborate the predominance of geogenic base cations in the runoff. Marine carbonates typically have lower δ26 Mg and 87Sr/86Sr ratios, and silicate sediments often have higher δ26Mg and 87Sr/86Sr ratios than runoff at the study site. Mixing of these two sources, if confirmed, could reconcile the flux and isotope data.