bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Teaching Practices at Harvard Engineering
Authors: Habbal Fawwaz , Kolmos Anette , Hadgraft Roger G. , Holgaard Jette Egelund , Reda Kamar 
Published: December 2023

AbstractIn the previous chapters, we discussed critical components of effective learning curriculum. We pointed out that problem-solving skills are critical for engineers of this century. In particular, we pointed out the importance of systems thinking as the core of the learning, and the design process as the tool to achieve the goal of addressing large-scale human challenges.
Geodesics on an arbitrary ellipsoid of revolution
Authors: Karney Charles F. F. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe algorithms given in Karney (J. Geodesy 87:43–55, 2013), to compute geodesics on terrestrial ellipsoids, are extended to apply to ellipsoids of revolution with arbitrary eccentricity. For the direct and inverse geodesic problems, this entails implementing the formulation in terms of elliptic integrals given by Legendre and Cayley. The integral for the area of geodesic polygons is computed in terms of the discrete sine transform of the integrand. In all cases, accuracy close to full machine precision is achieved. An open-source implementation of these algorithms is available.
Impact of plastic-related compounds on the gene expression signature of HepG2 cells transfected with CYP3A4
Authors: Rosellini Matteo , Omer Ejlal A. , Schulze Alicia , Ali Nadeen T. , Boulos Joelle C. , Marini Federico , Küpper Jan-Heiner , Efferth Thomas 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe presence of plastic and microplastic within the oceans as well as in marine flora and fauna have caused a multitude of problems that have been the topic of numerous investigations for many years. However, their impact on human health remains largely unknown. Such plastic and microplastic particles have been detected in blood and placenta, underlining their ability to enter the human body. Plastics also contain other compounds, such as plasticizers, antioxidants, or dyes, whose impact on human health is currently being studied. Critical enzymes within the metabolism of endogenous molecules, especially of xenobiotics, are the cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYPs). Although their importance in maintaining cellular balance has been confirmed, their interactions with plastics and related products are poorly understood. In this study, the possible relationship between different plastic-related compounds and CYP3A4 as one of the most important CYPs was analyzed using hepatic cells overexpressing this enzyme. Beginning with virtual compound screening and molecular docking of more than 1000 plastic-related compounds, several candidates were identified to interact with CYP3A4. In a second step, RNA-sequencing was used to study in detail the transcriptome-wide gene expression levels affected by the selected compounds. Three candidate molecules ((2,2′-methylenebis(6-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol), 1,1-bis(3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)ethane, and 2,2′-methylenebis(6-cyclohexyl-4-methylphenol)) had an excellent binding affinity to CYP3A4 in-silico as well as cytotoxic effects and interactions with several metabolic pathways in-vitro. We identified common pathways influenced by all three selected plastic-related compounds. In particular, the suppression of pathways related to mitosis and ‘DNA-templated DNA replication’ which were confirmed by cell cycle analysis and single-cell gel electrophoresis. Furthermore, several mis-regulated metabolic and inflammation-related pathways were identified, suggesting the induction of hepatotoxicity at different levels. These findings imply that these compounds may cause liver problems subsequently affecting the entire organism.
Risk assessment and optimal scheduling of serial projects
Authors: Zhang Zixuan , Chronopoulos Michail , Dimitrova Dimitrina S. , Kyriakou Ioannis 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe valuation and planning of complex projects are becoming increasingly challenging with rising market uncertainty and the deregulation of many industries, which have also raised the need for efficient risk management. We take the perspective of a private firm interested in sequential capacity expansion of a project and develop a framework for measuring the downside risk of the serial project and optimising the sequence of the stages. Under general distributional assumptions for the duration of each stage, we present an accurate representation of the project’s net present value (NPV) distribution based on a Pearson curve fit, leading to closed-form expressions for the associated risk measures. We then assess the impact of duration variability on the value at risk and demonstrate its role in stochastic project scheduling. We also account for the trade-off between maximising the expected NPV and minimising the risk exposure, and obtain the optimal schedule for risk-averse decision-makers. It becomes obvious that both the duration variability of each stage and the decision-makers’ risk preferences can significantly affect the optimal sequence of the stages and that high duration variability is not always undesirable, even for risk-averse decision-makers.
Characterization and geophysical evaluation of the recent 2023 Alausí landslide in the northern Andes of Ecuador
Authors: Macías Lucia , Quiñonez-Macías María , Toulkeridis Theofilos , Pastor José Luis 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe province of Chimborazo located in the northern Andes of Ecuador presents many intrinsic factors, which contribute to the occurrence of mass movements, leaving in many of the cases registered damages of materials and loss of life. The recent landslide of March 26, 2023, in the Alausí canton is an event of great interest due to the magnitude of the occurred destruction and the corresponding fatalities. Therefore, there are two predominant objectives of the current study, of which the first has been to determine the most relevant characteristics of this mass movement by identifying and analyzing the geomorphology of the recorded slope movement and the lithological units involved, by field work and through geophysical surveys. Secondly, we performed a preliminary study of the possible triggers of the movement by means of the historical analysis of the precipitations during the months of January to March of the last decade and the study of the recent seismic series. However, through the obtained analysis, it is determined that the study site is composed of three distinctive lithological units. The observed mass movement is of the rotational type, as result of the intense rainfall that occurred during the first quarter of 2023, being hereby the most probable triggering factor. This corresponds to a 600% increase in the average monthly rainfall compared to the period from 2010 to 2022.
Genetic Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Case Control Study
Authors: Ahmad Hosam M. , Zaki Zaki M. , Mohamed Asmaa S. , Ahmed Amr E. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractVitamin D effects are mediated by vitamin D receptors (VDRs), which are influenced by various genetic polymorphisms, including ApaI and BsmI. These polymorphisms have been linked to several diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This study aimed to compare the frequency and association of VDR ApaI and BsmI gene polymorphisms, serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-(OH)-D) levels, and calcium (Ca) levels between a RA group and a matched healthy control group. In one hundred RA patients and fifty healthy controls, the genotypes of the VDR ApaI and BsmI gene polymorphisms were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP). Both Serum 25-(OH)-D level and calcium level were measured in the two groups. There was no significant difference between the cases and controls regarding the VDR ApaI gene polymorphism (p = 0.89). A significant difference was observed between the cases and controls in terms of the VDR BsmI gene polymorphism (p = < 0.001). The serum levels of 25-(OH)-D and calcium were significantly lower in the RA group compared to the control group (p = 0.04 and < 0.001 respectively). Significantly higher serum vitamin D levels were associated with the aa genotype (p = 0.007). Significantly increased calcium levels were associated with the AA genotype (p = 0.02). No significant difference was found among BsmI polymorphisms regarding vitamin D and Ca levels (p = 0.25 and 0.87 respectively). Vitamin D receptor gene BsmI polymorphism but not ApaI polymorphism could be a marker of RA susceptibility. Vitamin D and Ca levels are negatively affected by RA. Vitamin D receptor gene ApaI polymorphism contributes to vitamin D and Ca levels.
An Egalitarian Perspective on Information Sharing: The Example of Health Care Priorities
Authors: Lindberg Jenny , Broström Linus , Johansson Mats 
Published: December 2023

AbstractIn health care, the provision of pertinent information to patients is not just a moral imperative but also a legal obligation, often articulated through the lens of obtaining informed consent. Codes of medical ethics and many national laws mandate the disclosure of basic information about diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment alternatives. However, within publicly funded health care systems, other kinds of information might also be important to patients, such as insights into the health care priorities that underlie treatment offers made. While conventional perspectives do not take this as an obligatory part of the information to be shared with patients, perhaps through viewing it as clinically “non-actionable,” we advocate for a paradigm shift. Our proposition diverges from the traditional emphasis on actionability. We contend that honoring patients as equal moral agents necessitates, among other principles, a commitment to honesty. Withholding specific categories of information pertinent to patients’ comprehension of their situation is inherently incompatible with this principle. In this article, we advocate for a recalibration of the burden of proof. Rather than requiring special justifications for adding to the standard set of information items, we suggest that physicians should be able to justify excluding relevant facts about the patient’s situation and the underlying considerations shaping health care professionals’ choices. This perspective prioritizes transparency and empowers patients with a comprehensive understanding, aligning with the ethos of respect for the patient as person.
Implementation of ambiguous governance instruments in higher education
Authors: Elken Mari , Borlaug Siri B. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe article examines how higher education institutions respond to ambiguous governance instruments. A key focus is how ambiguity is tackled in the interpretation and implementation processes. Building on theoretical perspectives from institutional analysis of organisations, an empirical point of departure is the analysis of ten higher education institutions in Norway and their response on the introduction of development agreements. The findings point out two important dimensions in analysing implementation processes: focusing on the change dynamics and the degree of internal integration. In combination, these point towards distinct patterns in organisational responses to ambiguous policy instruments.
Multiple gene-drug prediction tool reveals Rosiglitazone based treatment pathway for non-segmental vitiligo
Authors: Zhao Sijia , Chen Xi , Dutta Kuheli , Chen Jia , Wang Juan , Zhang Qian , Jia Hong , Sun Jianfang , Lai Yongxian 
Published: December 2023

AbstractVitiligo is a skin disease characterized by selective loss of melanocytes, which seriously affects the appearance and causes great psychological stress to patients. In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of two vitiligo microarray datasets from the GEO database using bioinformatics tools to identify 297 up-regulated mRNAs and 186 down-regulated mRNAs, revealing important roles for pathways related to melanin synthesis, tyrosine metabolism, and inflammatory factors, such as “PPAR signaling pathway”, “tyrosine metabolism”, “nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) pathway”, “melanogenesis”, and “IL-17 signaling pathway”. Combining the Search Tool for Interacting Chemicals (STITCH) database 5.0 and the drug-gene interaction database 3.0 (DGIdb), we identified that the PPAR-γ agonist rosiglitazone may promote melanin synthesis via EDNRB. Next, we investigated the mechanism of rosiglitazone and PPAR-γ pathway in promoting melanin production. Consistent with the results of bioinformatics analysis, the expression levels of PPAR-γ, EDNRB, and TYR were significantly reduced in human non-segmental vitiligo skin along with the reduction of MITF, a key gene for epidermal melanogenesis. Meanwhile, rosiglitazone increased melanin synthesis capacity in melanocytes and zebrafish by activating PPAR-γ and upregulating TYR, TYRP-1, and TYRP-2. Conversely, treatment of melanocytes with the PPAR-γ antagonist GW resulted in inhibition of melanin synthesis and expression of melanin-related factors. At the same time, simultaneous treatment of rosiglitazone with GW reversed the inhibitory effect of GW on melanin synthesis. In this study, we identified that rosiglitazone, an important insulin sensitizer, promotes melanin synthesis in melanocytes by increasing PPAR-γ activity and upregulating the expression levels of EDNRB and TYR. These findings may provide new ideas for exploring the pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets of non-segmental vitiligo.
Machine-learning based process monitoring for automated composites manufacturing
Authors: Mujtaba Ahmed , Islam Faisal , Kaeding Patrick , Lindemann Thomas , Gangadhara Prusty B. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Automated fibre placement (AFP) is an advanced robotic manufacturing technique which can overcome the challenges of traditional composite manufacturing. The interlaminar strength of AFP-manufactured composites depends on the in-situ thermal history during manufacturing. The thermal history is controlled by the choice of processing conditions and improper interfacial temperatures may result in insufficient bonding. Being able to better predict such maintenance issues in real-time is an important focus of smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0 to improve manufacturing operations. The data analysis of real-time temperature measurements during AFP composites manufacturing requires the temperature profiles from Finite Element Analysis (FEA) based simulations of the AFP process to better predict the quality of layup. However, the FEA simulations of the AFP process are computationally expensive. This study focuses on developing a digital tool enabling real-time process monitoring and predictive maintenance of the AFP process. The digital tool constitutes a machine learning-based surrogate model based on results from Finite Element Analysis (FEA) simulations of the AFP process to predict the in-situ thermal profile during AFP manufacturing. Multivariate Linear Regression, Multivariate Polynomial Regression, Support Vector Machine, Random Forest and Artificial Neural Network (ANN)-based models are compared to conclude that ANN based surrogate model performs best by predicting the important parameters of thermal profiles with a mean absolute percentage error of 1.56% on additional test data and reducing the time by four orders of magnitude as compared to FEA simulations. The predicted thermal profile can be compared with the real-time in-situ temperatures during manufacturing to predict the quality of the layup. A GUI application is developed to provide predicted thermal profiles data for analysis in conjunction with real-time temperatures during manufacturing enabling monitoring and predictive maintenance of the AFP process and paving way for the development of a digital twin of the AFP composites manufacturing process.
The Social Insurance Literacy Questionnaire (SILQ): Development and Psychometric Evaluation
Authors: Ståhl Christian , Karlsson Elin , Wenemark Marika , Sandqvist Jan , Årestedt Kristofer 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Purpose
For clients to understand social insurance decisions and processes, information from authorities needs to be comprehensible, and clients need sufficient individual abilities. These dimensions are captured by the concept social insurance literacy, which has been operationalized into a measure, the Social Insurance Literacy Questionnaire (SILQ). The aim of this study was to describe the development of the SILQ and evaluate its psychometric properties using Rasch measurement theory.

Methods
The development of the SILQ included a Delphi study and cognitive interviews. A preliminary version, divided on four scales corresponding to the domains of the concept (obtaining information, understanding information, acting on information, and system comprehensibility) was psychometrically evaluated according to Rasch measurement theory, in a survey to a stratified random sample of people on sick leave (n = 1151) sent out in the fall of 2020.

Results
Overall, the items in the final version of the SILQ demonstrated good fit to the Rasch model, and the response scale worked as intended. Unidimensionality was supported for all scales, but minor problems with local dependency was detected for three items. The person separation was 0.80 for the Obtain scale, 0.82 for the Understand scale, 0.68 for the Act scale, and 0.81 for the System scale. Corresponding ordinal alpha values were 0.91, 0.91, 0.86, and 0.91, respectively.

Conclusion
This study is a first step toward exploring literacy in the social insurance field. The SILQ covers individual abilities and systems’ comprehensibility, and the results show that it has acceptable psychometric properties.
Metacognitive effects of instructional visuals: the role of cue use and judgment type
Authors: Jaeger Allison J. , Fiorella Logan 
Published: December 2023

AbstractPrior research suggests most students do not glean valid cues from provided visuals, resulting in reduced metacomprehension accuracy. Across 4 experiments, we explored how the presence of instructional visuals affects students’ metacomprehension accuracy and cue-use for different types of metacognitive judgments. Undergraduates read texts on biology (Study 1a and b) or chemistry (Study 2 and 3) topics, made various judgments (test, explain, and draw) for each text, and completed comprehension tests. Students were randomly assigned to receive only texts (text-only condition) or texts with instructional visualizations (text-and-image condition). In Studies 1b, 2 and 3, students also reported the cues they used to make each judgment. Across the set of studies, instructional visualizations harmed relative metacomprehension accuracy. In Studies 1a and 2, this was especially the case when students were asked to judge how well they felt they could draw the processes described in the text. But in Study 3, this was especially the case when students were asked to judge how well they would do on a set of comprehension tests. In Studies 2 and 3, students who reported basing their judgments on representation-based cues demonstrated more accurate relative accuracy than students who reported using heuristic based cues. Further, across these studies, students reported using visual cues to make their draw judgments, but not their test or explain judgments. Taken together, these results indicate that instructional visualizations can hinder metacognitive judgment accuracy, particularly by influencing the types of cues students use to make judgments of their ability to draw key concepts.
Harnessing the potential of chestnut shell extract to enhance fresh cheese: a sustainable approach for nutritional enrichment and shelf-life extension
Authors: Ferreira Sara M. , Matos Luís Carlos , Santos Lúcia 
Published: December 2023

AbstractA novel approach for enhancing the nutritional benefits and shelf-life of fresh cheese, while reducing food industry waste, is adding chestnut shell extract to the cheese. Chestnut shells are a great source of bioactive substances including phenolic compounds, with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant activities. The chestnut shell extract exhibited interesting antioxidant properties, resulting from the presence of catechin and gallic acid, 2.59 and 0.97 mgcompound∙gsample−1, respectively, in its composition. The incorporation of the phenolic extract did not influence the pH value of the cheese, with values within the range of 6.2–6.5. Additionally, the extract decreased the syneresis which is important in terms of stability. Regarding the antioxidant characteristics, incorporating the extract improved this biological property. The results proved that an increase in the extract concentration allows the inhibition of higher percentages of this radical. Cheese with extract exhibited higher acceptance, but visual components need improvement. Hence, incorporating chestnut shell extract into fresh cheese is a promising approach to adding value to dairy products and promoting sustainable food production. This study can be considered innovative and relevant because it allows the utilisation of agro-industrial by-products to increase the shelf life of fresh cheese, an extremely relevant parameter for the producer, promoting the circular economy.
Suboptimal Weight Loss 13 Years After Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Is Associated with Blunted Appetite Response
Authors: Nymo Siren , Lundanes Julianne , Eriksen Kevin , Aukan Marthe , Rehfeld Jens Frederik , Holst Jens Juul , Johnsen Gjermund , Græslie Hallvard , Kulseng Bård , Sandvik Jorunn , Martins Catia 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Purpose
Bariatric surgery remains the most efficient treatment to achieve a sustained weight loss. However, a large proportion of patients experience suboptimal weight loss (SWL). The exact mechanisms involved remain to be fully elucidated, but the homeostatic appetite control system seems to be involved. The aim of this study was, therefore, to compare the plasma concentration of gastrointestinal hormones, and appetite ratings, between those experiencing SWL and optimal weight loss (OWL) after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB).

Materials and Methods
Fifty participants from the Bariatric Surgery Observation Study (BAROBS) experiencing either SWL or OWL (< or ≥ 50% of excess weight loss (EWL), respectively) > 13 years post-RYGB were compared to 25 non-surgical controls. Plasma concentrations of acylated ghrelin (AG), total glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), total peptide YY (PYY), cholecystokinin (CCK), and subjective ratings of hunger, fullness, desire to eat (DTE), and prospective food consumption (PFC) were assessed in the fasting and postprandial (area under the curve (AUC)) states.

Results
Those experiencing OWL presented with higher basal AG and GLP-1 iAUC, and lower AG iAUC compared with SWL and controls. Additionally, both bariatric groups presented with higher PYY and CCK iAUC compared to controls. PFC tAUC was also lower in OWL compared to the SWL group. Total weight loss was positively correlated with GLP-1 tAUC and negatively correlated with fasting and tAUC DTE and PFC tAUC.

Conclusions
SWL > 13 years post-RYGB is associated with lower basal ghrelin, as well as a weaker satiety response to a meal. Future studies should investigate the causality of these associations.

Graphical Abstract