bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Can teacher quality be profiled? A cluster analysis of teachers' beliefs, practices and students' perceptions of effectiveness
Authors: Witter Michael , Hattie John 
Published: November 2023

AbstractA critical aim of teacher quality research is to identify and distil its multiple components. While many such components have been identified in the literature, there is a scarcity of research that has attempted to empirically investigate how these elements integrate within a larger profile of teacher quality, including how particular teachers' beliefs, behaviours and outcomes cluster into unique profiles of teachers. In this study, a group of Australian high‐school teachers completed an extensive teacher beliefs questionnaire, undertook the Visible Classroom program to record and document their use of high‐leverage teaching practices and had their students complete a survey based on perceptions of effective teaching. The results were analysed using cluster analysis to determine if distinct groups of teachers could be identified based on similarities in beliefs, behaviours and student perceptions of teaching. The results suggested multiple distinct clusters of teachers with distinguishing types of beliefs, frequency of practices and student perceptions of teaching. Most notably, the results pointed to a unique cluster of teachers who were most distinguishable in their self‐efficacy, intrinsic motivation and personal responsibility beliefs, as well as highly active teaching behaviours in the classroom. This group also possessed the highest levels of student perceptions of teaching. The findings provide new insights into the complex profiles that shape teacher quality and implications for future research.
Combining intransitive and higher‐order effects in a coupled oscillator framework: A case study of an ant community
Authors: Vandermeer John , Perfecto Ivette 
Published: November 2023

AbstractA growing body of literature recognizes that pairwise species interactions are not necessarily an appropriate metaphorical molecule of community ecology. Two examples are intransitive competition and nonlinear higher‐order effects. While these two processes have been discussed extensively, the explicit analysis of how the two of them behave when simultaneously part of the same dynamic system has not yet been explored theoretically. A concrete situation exists on coffee farms in Puerto Rico in which three ant species form an intransitive competitive triplet, and that triplet is strongly influenced, nonlinearly, by a fly parasitoid that modifies the competitive ability of one of the species. Using this arrangement as a template, we explore the dynamical consequences with a simple ordinary differential equation (ODE) model. Results are complicated and include alternative periodic and chaotic attractors. The qualitative structures of those complications, however, may be approximately retrieved from the basic natural history of the system.
RMB exchange rate forecasting using machine learning methods: Can multimodel select powerful predictors?
Authors: Yu Xing , Li Yanyan , Wang Xinxin 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThis paper aims to study the phased influencing factors of renminbi (RMB) exchange rate (CNY against USD) and investigate the predictability of the factors selected by multimodel. We first take the time points when China's main exchange reform policies are launched as the demarcation points and divide the entire sample from July 2005 to December 2020 into three periods. Then, we select the potential predictors using several sources, including all factors (without any selection), the factors selected by each of the five commonly used machine learning methods, the significantly correlated factors selected by traditional regression analysis method, and multimodel‐driven factors. Finally, we predict the exchange rate based on the above selected factors and compare the prediction results. The research results show that the main influencing factors are different in different periods, and the influence of phase events cannot be ignored. Even if their influence on the exchange rate has decreased as a result of the “811” exchange rate reform, the money supply and foreign exchange reserves continue to be the primary drivers of RMB exchange rates during the whole period of the sample. Additionally, RMB exchange rate forward is a robust influencing factor in all periods. By comparing the forecast errors, we find that the prediction accuracy of the factors selected based on multimodel is higher than that of the factors selected based on a single method or the tradition method. The findings of this paper provide the following insights for exchange rate managers: In exchange rate risk management, it is important to pay attention to the impact of macroeconomic factors such as foreign exchange reserves and the impact of staged events, and market expectations of exchange rates are equally important. At the technical level, it is recommended to improve the forecasting accuracy by forecasting exchange rates based on common factors selected by multiple better machine learning methods simultaneously rather than those selected by a single method.
Productivity amelioration of stepped solar still using phase change material and evacuated tube collector
Authors: Grewal Rahul , Manchanda Himanshu , Kumar Mahesh 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThis study investigates the individual and cumulative effects of phase change material (PCM) and evacuated tube collector (ETC) on the performance of a stepped solar still (SSS). Experiments have been performed on SSS, SSS loaded with PCM (SSS‐PCM), SSS coupled with ETC (SSS‐ETC), and SSS loaded with PCM and coupled with ETC (SSS‐PCM‐ETC). An innovative way of loading paraffin wax as PCM is introduced to utilize solar energy efficiently for the distillation process during off‐sunshine hours. ETC is used to provide pre‐heated RO wastewater to the distillation unit. The distillate output was observed maximum for SSS‐PCM‐ETC (4.97 kg/m2 day) which is 99% more than that of the SSS unit. The PCM and ETC individually with SSS unit increases the distillate output by 31% and 24%, respectively. The working time of the distillation unit was observed to be increased by 3 h by the use of PCM. The total heat transfer coefficient was evaluated at the maximum for SSS‐PCM‐ETC and was observed in the range of 16.94–167.04 W/m2 °C. The thermal energy efficiencies of SSS, SSS‐ETC, SSS‐PCM, and SSS‐PCM‐ETC were evaluated as 28.65%, 35.59%, 43.88%, and 44.04%, respectively. SSS‐PCM‐ETC is found to be the most economic with the best environmental conservation having maximum values of daily productive cost ($0.69) and carbon credits earned ($184.8).
Contacting of inserts with the integrated metal/plastic injection moulding
Authors: Sturm I. , Koyuncu C. , Hopmann C. , Zimmermann C. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThe integrated metal/plastic injection moulding enables the production of plastics components with integrated conductor tracks and contacted inserts using an injection moulding machine. For this purpose, first a plastics carrier, which contains a groove for the later conductor track, is injection moulded and following electrical inserts are placed along the groove. The conductor track is then die‐casted from metallic solder. By using thermally conductive plastics, heat generated along the conductive paths and at the electrical inserts can be dissipated. A mechanical, electrical and optical characterisation of the material composite consisting of plastics carrier, metallic conductor track and electrical insert is carried out. In addition, process and material parameters that have an influence on the contacting of electrical inserts in connection with thermally conductive plastics in the integrated metal/plastic injection moulding are analysed. The results show that through the use of thermally conductive plastics, significant advantages in terms of heat dissipation and contact quality between the insert and the conductor track can be achieved.
A comparative study on the cucurbit[7]uril‐based indicator displacement assay for methyl Viologen. A theoretical and experimental perspective
Authors: Pavez Paulina , Fierro Angélica , Rojas Mabel , García‐Rio Luis , Dinamarca‐Villarroel Luis , Fuentealba Denis , Droguett Kevin , Santos José G. , Aliaga Margarita E. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractOne colorimetric and one fluorescent‐indicator displacement assay (IDA) were studied to assess their interaction with methyl viologen (MV), an herbicide commercially known as paraquat. The host–guest complexes formed by cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) and the 4‐nitroaniline (NA) or Berberine (Be) dyes function as colorimetric‐ and fluorescent‐IDA for MV, respectively. The CB[7]@NA and CB[7]@Be complexes were characterized by UV–vis, fluorescence spectroscopy, and dynamic simulations. Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) experiments and dynamic simulations were employed to obtain thermodynamic data for the formation of the 1:1 inclusion complexes. Finally, NA is proposed as a reference colorimetric dye for determining CB[7]‐binding affinities using competitive host–guest titrations, and the fluorescent‐IDA as the best assay proposed, as it exhibits a high binding constant, a good detection limit of 2.7 × 10−6 mol L‐1, good linearity in the range from 4 × 10−6 mol L‐1 to 3.5 × 10−5 mol L‐1, in aqueous solution.
Enhanced fungicidal efficacy and improved interfacial properties with the co‐delivery of prothioconazole and tebuconazole using polylactic acid microspheres
Authors: Li Shujing , Sun Jing , Gao Yue , Zou Aihua , Cheng Jiagao 
Published: November 2023

AbstractBACKGROUNDProthioconazole (PTC) is one of the leading fungicide products worldwide. However, excessive use of PTC facilitates the development of resistance. Pesticide compounding technology plays an important role in reducing pesticide resistance. Microspherization technology for the construction of pesticide dual‐loaded systems has recently provided a new direction for researching novel and efficient pesticide formulations. In this study, prothioconazole‐tebuconazole@polylactic acid microspheres (PTC‐TBA@PLA MS) were constructed by combining these two technologies.RESULTSThe final PTC‐TBA@PLA MS were selected by an orthogonal method, which were uniformly spherical with smooth surface. The resultant drug loading (DL) and average particle size of PTC‐TBA@PLA MS were 31.34% and 22.3 μm, respectively. A PTC‐TBA@PLA MS suspending agent (SC) with a high suspension rate of 94.3% was prepared according to the suspension rate, dumping ability and stability. Compared with a commercial SC, the PTC‐TBA@PLA MS SC had a larger cumulative release and better interfacial properties. Biological experiments showed that PTC‐TBA@PLA MS SC had an obviously improved bactericidal effect than the commercial SC.CONCLUSIONThe constructed PTC‐TBA@PLA MS system detailed here is expected to reduce the risk of resistance and the frequency of pesticide use while enhancing fungal control. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Does digital inclusive finance matter in sustainable tourism development at the county level? Evidence from the Wuling Mountain area in China
Authors: Wang Menghan , Su Ming Ming , Gan Chang , Peng Xin , Wu Zhaoliang , Voda Mihai 
Published: November 2023

AbstractAs a new financial instrument under the strategy of digital economic development, digital inclusive finance has become an effective way to fill the market gap that exists in traditional finance. Inclusive financial resources are needed for tourism development and recovery in less‐developed regions, especially in the context of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Understanding the impact of DIF on tourism development is the key to promoting high‐quality economic growth in China. Although previous studies have explored the factors influencing tourism development, the effect of DIF on sustainable tourism development is still at its earlier stage and is not well researched. Therefore, this study aims to explore the direct impact of DIF on tourism development and examines whether there is threshold effect. Based on panel data from 63 counties in the Wuling Mountain Area, China, from 2014 to 2019, this research applied a series of panel regression models to explore whether the DIF can promote sustainable tourism development. The results indicate that the DIF plays a positive role in improving sustainable tourism development. Considering regions, types of counties, and different dimensions of the DIF, there are differences in positive effects of DIF on sustainable tourism development. The impact of DIF on tourism development is dynamic and non‐linear. Finally, practical implications for enhancing the promotion and development of DIF and achieving sustainable tourism development are discussed, particularly for less‐developed regions.
An edge‐assisted federated contrastive learning method with local intrinsic dimensionality in noisy label environment
Authors: Wu Siyuan , Zhang Guoming , Dai Fei , Liu Bowen , Dou Wanchun 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThe advent of federated learning (FL) has presented a viable solution for distributed training in edge environment, while simultaneously ensuring the preservation of privacy. In real‐world scenarios, edge devices may be subject to label noise caused by environmental differences, automated weakly supervised annotation, malicious tampering, or even human error. However, the potential of the noisy samples have not been fully leveraged by prior studies on FL aimed at addressing label noise. Rather, they have primarily focused on conventional filtering or correction techniques to alleviate the impact of noisy labels. To tackle this challenge, a method, named DETECTION, is proposed in this article. It aims at effectively detecting noisy clients and mitigating the adverse impact of label noise while preserving data privacy. Specially, a confidence scoring mechanism based on local intrinsic dimensionality (LID) is investigated for distinguishing noisy clients from clean clients. Then, a loss function based on prototype contrastive learning is designed to optimize the local model. To address the varying levels of noise across clients, a LID weighted aggregation strategy (LA) is introduced. Experimental results on three datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of DETECTION in addressing the issue of label noise in FL while maintaining data privacy.
Unbounded expansion of polynomials and products
Authors: Mudgal Akshat 
Published: November 2023

AbstractGiven $$d,s \in {\mathbb {N}}$$

d
,
s
∈
N

, a finite set $$A \subseteq {\mathbb {Z}}$$

A
⊆
Z

and polynomials $$\varphi _1, \dots , \varphi _{s} \in {\mathbb {Z}}[x]$$

φ
1

,
⋯
,

φ
s

∈
Z

[
x
]

such that $$1 \le \deg \varphi _i \le d$$

1
≤
deg

φ
i

≤
d

for every $$1 \le i \le s$$

1
≤
i
≤
s

, we prove that $$\begin{aligned} |A^{(s)}| + |\varphi _1(A) + \cdots + \varphi _s(A) | \gg _{s,d} |A|^{\eta _s}, \end{aligned}$$

|

A

(
s
)

|
+
|

φ
1

(
A
)

+
⋯
+

φ
s

(
A
)

|

≫

s
,
d

|
A
|

η
s

,

for some $$\eta _s \gg _{d} \log s / \log \log s$$

η
s

≫
d

log
s
/
log
log
s

. Moreover if $$\varphi _i(0) \ne 0$$

φ
i

(
0
)

≠
0

for every $$1 \le i \le s$$

1
≤
i
≤
s

, then $$\begin{aligned} |A^{(s)}| + |\varphi _1(A) \dots \varphi _s(A) | \gg _{s,d} |A|^{\eta _s}. \end{aligned}$$

|

A

(
s
)

|
+
|

φ
1

(
A
)

⋯

φ
s

(
A
)

|

≫

s
,
d

|
A
|

η
s

.

These generalise and strengthen previous results of Bourgain–Chang, Pálvölgyi–Zhelezov and Hanson–Roche-Newton–Zhelezov. We derive these estimates by proving the corresponding low-energy decompositions. The latter furnish further applications to various problems of a sum-product flavour, including questions concerning large additive and multiplicative Sidon sets in arbitrary sets of integers.
Stomach engineering: region-specific characterization of the decellularized porcine stomach
Authors: Shigeta Yusuke , Saleh Tarek , Benedetti Giada , Caciolli Lorenzo , Chang Jinke , Zambaiti Elisa , Wu Lei , Khalaf Sahira , Song Wulei , Pellegata Alessandro Filippo , Giobbe Giovanni Giuseppe , De Coppi Paolo 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Purpose
Patients affected by microgastria, severe gastroesophageal reflux, or those who have undergone subtotal gastrectomy, have commonly described reporting dumping syndromes or other symptoms that seriously impair the quality of their life. Gastric tissue engineering may offer an alternative approach to treating these pathologies. Decellularization protocols have great potential to generate novel biomaterials for large gastric defect repair. There is an urgency to define more reliable protocols to foster clinical applications of tissue-engineered decellularized gastric grafts.

Methods
In this work, we investigated the biochemical and mechanical properties of decellularized porcine stomach tissue compared to its native counterpart. Histological and immunofluorescence analyses were performed to screen the quality of decellularized samples. Quantitative analysis was also performed to assess extracellular matrix composition. At last, we investigated the mechanical properties and cytocompatibility of the decellularized tissue compared to the native.

Results
The optimized decellularization protocol produced efficient cell removal, highlighted in the absence of native cellular nuclei. Decellularized scaffolds preserved collagen and elastin contents, with partial loss of sulfated glycosaminoglycans. Decellularized gastric tissue revealed increased elastic modulus and strain at break during mechanical tensile tests, while ultimate tensile strength was significantly reduced. HepG2 cells were seeded on the ECM, revealing matrix cytocompatibility and the ability to support cell proliferation.

Conclusion
Our work reports the successful generation of acellular porcine gastric tissue able to support cell viability and proliferation of human cells.
Prediction of disease recurrence or residual disease after primary endoscopic resection of pT1 colorectal cancer—results from a large nationwide Danish study
Authors: Ose Ilze , Levic Katarina , Thygesen Lau Caspar , Bulut Orhan , Bisgaard Thue , Gögenur Ismail , Kuhlmann Tine Plato 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Purpose
Risk assessment of disease recurrence in pT1 colorectal cancer is crucial in order to select the appropriate treatment strategy. The study aimed to develop a prediction model, based on histopathological data, for the probability of disease recurrence and residual disease in patients with pT1 colorectal cancer.

Methods
The model dataset consisted of 558 patients with pT1 CRC who had undergone endoscopic resection only (n = 339) or endoscopic resection followed by subsequent bowel resection (n = 219). Tissue blocks and slides were retrieved from Pathology Departments from all regions in Denmark. All original slides were evaluated by one experienced gastrointestinal pathologist (TPK). New sections were cut and stained for haematoxylin and eosin (HE) and immunohistochemical markers. Missing values were multiple imputed. A logistic regression model with backward elimination was used to construct the prediction model.

Results
The final prediction model for disease recurrence demonstrated good performance with AUC of 0.75 [95% CI 0.72–0.78], HL chi-squared test of 0.59 and scaled Brier score of 10%. The final prediction model for residual disease demonstrated medium performance with an AUC of 0.68 [0.63–0.72].

Conclusion
We developed a prediction model for the probability of disease recurrence in pT1 CRC with good performance and calibration based on histopathological data. Together with lymphatic and venous invasion, an involved resection margin (0 mm) as opposed to a margin of ≤ 1 mm was an independent risk factor for both disease recurrence and residual disease.
Prediction of hematocrit decline and the impact of peri-operative fluid use in lumbar spinal fusion surgery
Authors: Walker I. S. , Vlok A. J. , Esterhuizen T. M. , van der Horst A. 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Purpose
Peri-operative blood loss unaccounted for and post-operative hematocrit decline could have a significant impact on the outcome of elective spinal surgery patients. The study assesses the accuracy of predictive models of hematocrit decline and blood loss in spinal surgery and determines the impact of peri-operative fluid administration on hematocrit levels of patients undergoing first-time single level lumbar fusion surgery for degenerative spine disease and the trend thereof in the first 24 h post-operatively.

Methods
Clinical and biochemical parameters were prospectively collected in patients undergoing single level lumbar spinal surgery. Predictive models were applied to assess their accuracy in intra-operative blood loss and post-operative hematocrit decline.

Results
High correlation (0.98 Pearson correlation coefficient) occurred between calculated (predicted) and recorded hematocrit from hours 2 to 6 post-operatively. Predictive accuracy declined thereafter yet remained moderate. Patients received an average intra-operative fluid volume of 545.45 ml per hour (47% of estimated total blood volume). A significant hematocrit decline occurred post-induction (43.47–39.78%, p < 0.001) with total fluid volume received being the significant contributing variable (p < 0.001). Hypertensive patients were the only subgroup to drop below the safe hematocrit threshold of 30%.

Conclusion
Iatrogenic hemodilution can accurately be predicted for the first six hours post-operatively, with high risk patients identifiable. Fluid therapy should be goal directed rather than generic, and good communication between the surgeon and anesthesiologist remains the cornerstone to manage physiological changes secondary to blood loss. Although helpful, predictive formulas are not universally applicable to all phenotypes.
Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical Modeling of Brine Migration in a Heated Borehole Test in Bedded Salt
Authors: Tounsi Hafssa , Rutqvist Jonny , Hu Mengsu , Kuhlman Kristopher 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThis research paper focuses on the thermo-hydro-mechanical (THM) modeling of brine migration in a heated borehole test conducted as part of the ongoing Brine Availability Test in Salt (BATS) at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) in New Mexico. It is a component of the international collaboration project DECOVALEX-2023 (DEvelopment of COupled models and their VALidation against EXperiments), which aims to understand the THM processes governing brine flow in heated rock salt repositories through collaborative analysis by multiple research teams. Using the TOUGH–FLAC simulator, THM simulations were performed and compared with data from the BATS phase 1a. This experiment involved two identical horizontal-borehole arrays, one heated and one serving as a control, both equipped with sensor arrays. Analysis of measurements revealed water flow rate surges during heater power transitions, with the highest jump observed during cooling. Acoustic emission activity exhibited distinct patterns in response to heater power changes, suggesting that damage to rock salt is particularly pronounced during the cooling phase. The THM simulations successfully captured these phenomena, highlighting the significance of thermal effects, brine migration, and mechanical behavior in predicting brine availability in heated and damaged rock salt. Our modeling also revealed the critical interplay between heating and cooling-induced damage and its influence on flow properties, particularly affecting brine inflow estimation. Notably, we found that cooling-induced brine inflow spikes result from increased permeability due to tensile dilatancy. These findings have important implications for the development of robust containment strategies and enhance our understanding of the complex processes involved in repository performance.