mdpi-ai/citelens huggingface dataset:
Overexpression of Transmembrane Phosphatase with Tensin homology (TPTE) in prostate cancer is clinically significant, suggesting its potential as a valuable biomarker
Field: ONCOLOGY

Purpose Cancer testis antigens (CTAs) are a family of proteins typically expressed in male testicles but overexpressed in various cancer cell types. Transmembrane Phosphatase with Tensin homology (TPTE) is expressed only in the testis of healthy individuals and is a member of the family of CTAs. The current study, for the first time, examined the significance of TPTE expression in prostate cancer (PCa) tissues by generating a novel antibody marker targeting TPTE protein. Methods Polyclonal antibodies were prepared for TPTE-p1 and TPTE-p2 peptides, which are derived from the extracellular domains of TPTE. Anti-TPTE-p2 antibody was then used to study the extent and pattern of TPTE expression in 102 PCa and 48 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) tissue samples by immunohistochemistry. The viability of cancer cell lines (PC-3 and MCF-7 cells) was also evaluated in the presence of anti-TPTE-p2 antibody using the MTT test. Results The immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated a significant increase in cytoplasmic and membrane TPTE expression in the PCa samples compared to the BPH group (both P < 0.0001). Cytoplasmic TPTE expression was positively correlated with Gleason score and PSA levels (P = 0.03 and P = 0.001, respectively). Significant correlations were identified between the levels of PSA and perineural invasion and the membrane expression (P = 0.01, P = 0.04, respectively). Moreover, anti-TPTE-p2 antibody inhibited PC-3 and MCF-7 cells proliferation compared to the control group for 24 h (P < 0.001 and P = 0.001, respectively) as well as for 48 h (P = 0.001 and P = 0.001, respectively). Conclusion Our findings indicate that increased TPTE expression is associated with progression of disease. The ability of anti-TPTE-p2 antibody to recognize and target the TPTE protein makes it a potential biomarker to assess and/or target the PCa.
Impact of Gamification on Students’ Learning Outcomes and Academic Performance: A Longitudinal Study Comparing Online, Traditional, and Gamified Learning
Field: EDUCATION

This study aims to examine the influence of gamification in students’ learning outcomes and academic performance. A longitudinal study was conducted to compare students’ academic performance in online learning (2020–2021), traditional learning (2021–2022), and gamified learning (2022–2023). The longitudinal study lasted 3 years and a total of 1001 higher education students were involved. Three research questions were set to be explored and students’ viewpoints and experiences were also examined through a questionnaire of 20 questions. This study follows a quantitative research approach. The data refers to students’ academic performance, success rate, excellence rate, withdrawal rate, engagement, motivation, and perspectives. In the laboratory part of the course, gamified learning yielded better outcomes over online learning and traditional learning in success rate (39% and 13%), excellence rate (130% and 23%), average grade (24% and 11%), and retention rate (42% and 36%) respectively. In the theoretical part of the course, gamified learning resulted in better outcomes over online learning and traditional learning in success rate (19% and 14%), in excellence rate (125% and 79%), and in average grade (25% and 12%) respectively. In the overall course, gamified learning yielded better outcomes over online learning and traditional learning in success rate (14% and 14%), in excellence rate (122% and 70%), and in average grade (25% and 17%) respectively. The highest increase was observed in students’ excellence rate. Students highly regarded gamification as an effective educational approach that can increase their learning outcomes, engagement, productivity, and motivation and trigger both their both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. The learning experience become more enjoyable and students’ basic needs in terms of autonomy, competence and sufficiency, and relatedness and sense of belonging were met. Traditional learning also resulted in better learning outcomes when compared to online learning. Gamification emerged as an effective learning approach which leads to improved learning outcomes and academic performance, learning motivation, engagement, and retention rate over online learning and traditional learning in both theoretical and applied course settings.
A brief version of the Attitudes to Ageing Questionnaire for older Chinese adults: development and psychometric evaluation
Field: PSYCHOLOGY

Background: Positive attitudes toward aging are considered essential for achieving psychological well-being in later life. However, there is currently a lack of a concise and comprehensive measurement tool specifically designed to assess attitudes toward aging among the elderly population in China. To address this gap, the present study aimed to develop a brief version of the Attitudes to Ageing Questionnaire tailored to older Chinese individuals and evaluate its psychometric properties. Methods: Initially, a sample of community-dwelling older adults (Sample 1: n = 442, aged 60–88) was utilized to establish a new scale format. Subsequently, two convenience samples (Sample 2: n = 311, aged 60–90; Sample 3: n = 164, aged 60–89) were employed to evaluate the psychometric properties of this scale, including factor structure, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity. Results: We selected 12 items from the original questionnaire to create the brief scale. The brief scale maintained the three-factor structure of the full-format version, encompassing psychosocial loss, physical change, and psychological growth, and demonstrated adequate psychometric properties. Conclusions: This development process shortens the administration time of the questionnaire while avoiding excessive loss of information. The newly developed scale serves as a reliable and valid assessment tool for measuring attitudes toward aging among older Chinese individuals and is well-suited for implementation in large-scale surveys that utilize an extensive array of questionnaires. This tool can be applied to assessing the effectiveness of interventions aimed at eliminating ageism.
Analysis of English Classroom Teaching Behavior Mode in Environmental Protection Field Based on Deep Learning
Field: AI

Learning is to use algorithms to enable machines to learn rules from a large amount of historical data, so as to intelligently identify new samples or predict the future. Deep learning can promote students’ understanding of knowledge, conduct in-depth processing of new knowledge, integrate it with the original knowledge, and apply it to new situations, solve intelligent audio–visual listening from the perspective of deep learning, and focus on cultivating students’ in-depth learning ability and individual differences in innovative thinking. As the main position of ecological education, schools should effectively strengthen the publicity and education of ecological ideas and low-carbon concepts, and integrate them into education and teaching to effectively improve students’ awareness of environmental protection. This study aims to explore the effectiveness of flipped classroom teaching model based on deep learning. Therefore, from the perspective of deep learning, this paper combs the theory of deep learning, constructs a new model of smart classroom, and provides ideas and directions for model reform. In this study, the flipped classroom teaching model based on deep learning was applied to English teaching, and an 8-week teaching experiment was conducted. In addition, this paper believes that it is of great practical significance to carry out environmental protection education with the help of English teaching.
When perceived similarity overrides demographic similarity: examining influences on STEM students’ developmental mentor networks
Field: EDUCATION

Background: While dyadic faculty–mentored relationship research currently saturates the mentoring literature, recent developments suggest the need for a broader consideration of a student's mentor network. Research taking a network approach may provide deeper insights into the formation and benefits of mentorship for undergraduate students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Utilizing Developmental Mentor Network Theory and ego-centric social network analysis, this pre-registered study evaluates how the characteristics of mentees and mentors relate to both the content of support and structure of mentor networks in a large sample of White and Hispanic/Latino(a) STEM undergraduates across 12 universities. Results: Results were nuanced but showed that perceived psychological similarity with their mentor(s) predicted both dyadic and network average levels of mentor support (i.e., psychosocial, career, role modeling) and relational satisfaction. Furthermore, results point to homophily and engagement in undergraduate research effects on mentor network structures. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of using a network approach to deepen our understanding of the factors (e.g., psychological similarity) that may influence the formation and maintenance of robust and diverse supportive mentoring networks.
The strength of conspiracy beliefs versus scientific information: the case of COVID 19 preventive behaviours
Field: PSYCHOLOGY

Controlling the spread of COVID-19 requires individuals to adopt preventive behaviours, but conspiracy beliefs about its origin are spreading. The aim of this paper is to better comprehend the strength of conspiracy beliefs versus objective COVID-19 information to predict people’s adherence to protective behaviours (getting vaccinated, being tracked through APPs, and keeping social distance from infected people). Study 1 shows that COVID-19 implicit theories detected in the Pre-study were activated as independent factors that constitute people’s interpretations of the virus origin. These beliefs were related to a lesser intention to engage in preventive behaviours and a higher level of mistrust in institutional information, although some beliefs generate positive expectations about COVID-19 consequences. In Study 2, conducted with a different sample, official COVID-19 information was included as an independent variable, but this new variable did not further explain results. Lastly, Study 3 consisting of both previous samples confirmed that conspiracy beliefs had a direct effect on a lesser willingness to engage in preventive actions, a higher mistrust, and positive expectations about COVID-19 consequences. We conclude that objective COVID-19 information did not buffer the effect of conspiracy beliefs; they interfere with actions to prevent it by taking institutions as scapegoats or complicit with secret powers.
Predictors of non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents with depressive disorder: the role of alexithymia, childhood trauma, and body investment
Field: PSYCHOLOGY

Purpose This study analyzes the relationship of alexithymia, childhood trauma, and body investment to non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behaviors in adolescents with depressive disorder and whether they have predictive and diagnostic value for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behaviors in adolescents with depressive disorder. Patients and methods A total of 225 patients with a diagnosis of adolescent depressive disorder were included in the study and were divided into two groups according to the DSM-5 criteria: 98 cases without NSSI and 127 cases with NSSI. Compare the demographic data, 24-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-24), 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), and Body Investment Scale (BIS) scores between two groups. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors contributing to NSSI behaviors in adolescents with depression, and establish four predictive models. Based on the models’ predictive probability, the ROC curves were plotted to calculate the value of the predictive diagnostic effect. Results The group without NSSI had lower scores than the group with NSSI on HAMD-24 total score, TAS-20 total score, difficulty identifying feelings, difficulty describing feelings, and externally focused thinking, as well as lower scores on CTQ-SF total score, physical neglect, emotional neglect, physical abuse, and emotional abuse. In contrast, the BIS total score, body image feelings and attitudes, body care, and body protection factor scores were higher for the group without NSSI. The BIS body care factor score and the CTQ-SF emotional abuse factor score were significantly linked with adolescents diagnosed with depressive disorder who exhibited NSSI behaviors. These results provide a good diagnostic model for adolescents with depressive disorder. Conclusion Low levels of body care and childhood emotional abuse may independently contribute to the implementation of NSSI in adolescents with depressive disorder. Body investment and childhood trauma are valuable in diagnosing and predicting NSSI behaviors and should be considered as potentially important factors in clinical treatment.
Early Parenting Interactions and First-Time Mothers’ Postnatal Depression and Parental Competence
Field: PSYCHOLOGY

Objectives: Schema Therapy, an approach that integrates cognitive-behavioural and attachment principles, helps us understand the impact of early interactions with caregivers on adult mental health. These early interactions can be assessed through Schema Therapy-informed tools; however, these tools have yet to be used with a postnatal population, which represents a period of vulnerability for new mothers. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the impact of positive and negative early parenting interactions on a first-time mother’s mental health and her sense of competence during the postnatal period, using recently revised and newly developed Schema Therapy-informed tools. Design: This is a cross-sectional study. Method: First-time mothers (N = 220) participated in an online survey within 12 months post-birth. Participants completed the Positive Parenting Schema Inventory (PPSI), Young Parenting Inventory—Revised (YPI-R2), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and Parenting Sense of Competence (PSOC) scale. The data were analysed using hierarchical multiple regression and mediational analysis. Results: Negative early interactions with mothers and fathers led to greater postnatal depressive symptomology, while positive early interactions with mothers led to fewer postnatal depressive symptoms. Mediation analyses revealed that postnatal depressive symptoms mediated early parenting interactions and participants’ sense of parenting competence as a new mother. Conclusions: The protective effects of positive early interactions with caregivers can help first-time mothers’ postnatal emotional adjustment and their sense of competence through diminished postnatal depressive symptoms. However, the enduring effects of negative early interactions with caregivers can contribute to a first-time mother’s risk of developing postnatal depression and negatively affect her sense of parental competence.
Schools’ Challenges in Distance Learning during Emergency Education: Focus Group Methodology
Field: EDUCATION

The present research uses the focus group discussion methodology to report the challenges met by the educational system in distance education during emergency education. It shows the different potentialities of this use. In doing this, it studies the practices used by schools during emergency education. Furthermore, the research verifies the suggestions given by a group of educationists to cope with challenges in emergency education. A focus group of nine participants met in the frame of a Ph.D. course to discuss the issues in which the present research is interested, and the number of discussion sessions was four. The research results indicated that the reasons varied for agreement and disagreement in the FGDs, where these reasons were mostly experience-based, perception-based, affiliation-based, inconsideration-based, compromise-based, and suggestion-based. Moreover, the types of agreement and disagreement were mostly complementary, vis-à-vis agreement-with-objection and agreement-with-advancement. The facilitator performed the following different functions: (1) initiator, (2) caring about the different voices in the FGD, and thus encouraging equity in the FGD, (3) making the discussion smooth, (4) advancing the discussion, (5) and orchestrating the discussion. In addition, the discussion of the participants addressed challenges related to the teachers, to the Ministry of Education, and to the resources. The schools’ and the Ministry of Education’s practices included different actions in an attempt to overcome the challenges of distance education: holding workshops related to distance education, suggesting the schools as places for the teachers to teach their online lessons, and making declarations for the public and families. The suggestions given by the participants to maintain and improve online learning included communicating with the students and holding workshops for the professional development of teachers at regular times. Close relationships between the Ministry of Education, the schools, and the parents were recommended in order to maintain an acceptable level of distance education.
Incorporating uncertainty within dynamic interoceptive learning
Field: PSYCHOLOGY

Introduction: Interoception, the perception of the internal state of the body, has been shown to be closely linked to emotions and mental health. Of particular interest are interoceptive learning processes that capture associations between environmental cues and body signals as a basis for making homeostatically relevant predictions about the future. One method of measuring respiratory interoceptive learning that has shown promising results is the Breathing Learning Task (BLT). While the original BLT required binary predictions regarding the presence or absence of an upcoming inspiratory resistance, here we extended this paradigm to capture continuous measures of prediction (un)certainty.Methods: Sixteen healthy participants completed the continuous version of the BLT, where they were asked to predict the likelihood of breathing resistances on a continuous scale from 0.0 to 10.0. In order to explain participants' responses, a Rescorla-Wagner model of associative learning was combined with suitable observation models for continuous or binary predictions, respectively. For validation, we compared both models against corresponding null models and examined the correlation between observed and modeled predictions. The model was additionally extended to test whether learning rates differed according to stimuli valence. Finally, summary measures of prediction certainty as well as model estimates for learning rates were considered against interoceptive and mental health questionnaire measures.Results: Our results demonstrated that the continuous model fits closely captured participant behavior using empirical data, and the binarised predictions showed excellent replicability compared to previously collected data. However, the model extension indicated that there were no significant differences between learning rates for negative (i.e. breathing resistance) and positive (i.e. no breathing resistance) stimuli. Finally, significant correlations were found between fatigue severity and both prediction certainty and learning rate, as well as between anxiety sensitivity and prediction certainty.Discussion: These results demonstrate the utility of gathering enriched continuous prediction data in interoceptive learning tasks, and suggest that the updated BLT is a promising paradigm for future investigations into interoceptive learning and potential links to mental health.
Effects of Baduanjin practice on emotional, attention and cognitive function in acupuncturists: protocol for a clinical randomized controlled neuroimaging trial
Field: PSYCHOLOGY

Background In Chinese medicine, the mental focus and emotional stability of acupuncturists are key to optimal clinical outcomes. Many renowned acupuncturists utilize Traditional Chinese Qigong practices to enhance their concentration and emotional regulation abilities. Nevertheless, the existing literature lacks comprehensive evidence addressing this matter. Methods This study will enroll 99 acupuncturists and randomly allocate them to one of three groups: Baduanjin, aerobic exercise, or a waiting-list control. The Baduanjin group will undertake 24 weeks of training, with three one-hour sessions weekly. The aerobic group will engage in brisk walking for the same duration and frequency. The control group will not receive any specific training. Assessments of emotion regulation, attention, cognitive functions, finger sensation, and athletic ability will be conducted at baseline (−1 week), mid-intervention (12 weeks), and post-intervention (24 weeks). Additionally, 20 participants from each group will undergo fMRI scans before and after the intervention to explore brain functional and structural changes relating to emotion, attention, cognition, motor skills, and sensory perception. Discussion This study aims to contribute valuable insights into the effectiveness of Qigong practice, specifically Baduanjin, in enhancing emotional regulation, attention, and cognitive functions in acupuncturists and to investigate the neuroimaging mechanisms behind these effects. Ethics and dissemination Approved by the Sichuan Regional Ethics Review Committee on Traditional Chinese Medicine (No. 2023KL − 118) and adhering to the Declaration of Helsinki. Results will be shared through policy briefs, workshops, peer-reviewed journals, and conferences. Clinical trial registration www.chictr.org.cn, ChiCTR2300076447.
The Impact of Adjunct Medical Therapy on Survival after Spine Metastasis: A Systematic Review and Pooled Data Analysis
Field: ONCOLOGY

Targeted therapy has greatly improved the outlook for patients with spinal metastatic cancers. Scoring systems like the Tokuhashi or Tomita scores are commonly used to predict prognosis and inform surgical decisions, but they are outdated and fail to consider recent advancements. We aimed to investigate the current state of the literature and treatment options pertaining to advancements in targeted therapy compared to other forms of medical management for metastatic spinal tumors. This study represents the first comprehensive systematic review that encompasses the most common primary cancers that metastasize to the spine and evaluates the median overall survival (mOS) across five different medical treatment modalities as well as surgical intervention. Additionally, our study analyzes the tumor receptor status in conjunction with these treatments. A PubMed search was conducted, and according to the PRISMA guidelines, 28 articles out of 1834 met the inclusion criteria. The pooled data analysis highlighted the superior efficacy of targeted therapy, evidenced by a significant improvement in the mOS and lower hazard ratios in patients with lung and breast cancers who received targeted therapy compared to those who did not. Our study provides valuable insights into the recent advancements in the medical management of metastatic spinal tumors. Future indications include incorporating this literature into personalized treatment approaches for metastatic spinal tumors.