Elaboration Process Research Articles

Regulation of energy metabolism by non-coding RNAs in livestock species: a review.

The optimisation of livestock production relies on efficient energy metabolism. This review focused on elaborate regulatory processes governed by non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs). It explores the complex energy metabolism processes in livestock, elucidating the functions of ncRNAs in the expression of genes and pathways. miRNAs have been identified as significant regulators of glycolysis and glucose metabolism, whereas lncRNAs are known to affect adipogenesis and mitochondrial activity. Moreover, circRNAs have a substantial influence on the regulation of energy. In addition, this is not only enriching non-coding RNA-mediated energy control but also sheds light on possible applications. It is derived from its ability to condense complex molecular systems, thereby offering crucial insights to researchers. Through a comprehensive analysis of the intricate relationship between ncRNAs and energy metabolism, the information of this review provides a valuable framework for the implementation of focused interventions that hold the potential to significantly enhance the efficiency of livestock production.

HKA-Net: clinically-adapted deep learning for automated measurement of hip-knee-ankle angle on lower limb radiography for knee osteoarthritis assessment

BackgroundAccurate measurement of the hip-knee-ankle (HKA) angle is essential for informed clinical decision-making in the management of knee osteoarthritis (OA). Knee OA is commonly associated with varus deformity, where the alignment of the knee shifts medially, leading to increased stress and deterioration of the medial compartment. The HKA angle, which quantifies this alignment, is a critical indicator of the severity of varus deformity and helps guide treatment strategies, including corrective surgeries. Current manual methods are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and prone to inter-observer variability. Developing an automated model for HKA angle measurement is challenging due to the elaborate process of generating handcrafted anatomical landmarks, which is more labor-intensive than the actual measurement. This study aims to develop a ResNet-based deep learning model that predicts the HKA angle without requiring explicit anatomical landmark annotations and to assess its accuracy and efficiency compared to conventional manual methods.MethodsWe developed a deep learning model based on the variants of the ResNet architecture to process lower limb radiographs and predict HKA angles without explicit landmark annotations. The classification performance for the four stages of varus deformity (stage I: 0°–10°, stage II: 10°–20°, stage III: > 20°, others: genu valgum or normal alignment) was also evaluated. The model was trained and validated using a retrospective cohort of 300 knee OA patients (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 3 or higher), with horizontal flip augmentation applied to double the dataset to 600 samples, followed by fivefold cross-validation. An extended temporal validation was conducted on a separate cohort of 50 knee OA patients. The model's accuracy was assessed by calculating the mean absolute error between predicted and actual HKA angles. Additionally, the classification of varus deformity stages was conducted to evaluate the model's ability to provide clinically relevant categorizations. Time efficiency was compared between the automated model and manual measurements performed by an experienced orthopedic surgeon.ResultsThe ResNet-50 model achieved a bias of − 0.025° with a standard deviation of 1.422° in the retrospective cohort and a bias of − 0.008° with a standard deviation of 1.677° in the temporal validation cohort. Using the ResNet-152 model, it accurately classified the four stages of varus deformity with weighted F1-score of 0.878 and 0.859 in the retrospective and temporal validation cohorts, respectively. The automated model was 126.7 times faster than manual measurements, reducing the total time from 49.8 min to 23.6 sec for the temporal validation cohort.ConclusionsThe proposed ResNet-based model provides an efficient and accurate method for measuring HKA angles and classifying varus deformity stages without the need for extensive landmark annotations. Its high accuracy and significant improvement in time efficiency make it a valuable tool for clinical practice, potentially enhancing decision-making and workflow efficiency in the management of knee OA.

The Effects of Climate Change Meta-Knowledge on Selective Exposure, Selective Elaboration, and Behavioral Intentions

This experiment investigates how individuals’ meta-knowledge (the self-perception of one’s knowledge) influences selective exposure to and elaboration of information about climate change with climate change self-schema as possible mediator. Participants’ ( N = 510) meta-knowledge was manipulated by receiving fake feedback after a climate change knowledge test. There were no group differences in selective exposure and selective elaboration. Correlational evidence tentatively speaks for a “rich-get-richer” process of information selection and elaboration. This could be explained through climate change self-schemas which differed significantly between conditions ( d = 0.26) and correlated positively with selective exposure ( r = .36) and elaboration ( r = .28).

A role of Lhx2 in the migration and axonal projection of cortical postmitotic neurons in the cortical upper layer of the mouse neocortex

The transcription factor LHX2 contains a LIM domain and plays an important role in the development of the vertebrate nervous system. Although much research has been conducted on the function of Lhx2 during cerebral development, its role in postmitotic neuron differentiation in the cerebral cortex remains unknown. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the function of Lhx2 in dynamic and elaborate developmental processes, including neurogenesis. We first created and confirmed an Lhx2-BAC Gfp transgenic model to three-dimensionally confirm the spatiotemporal expression pattern of Lhx2 during brain development. On this basis, we used the bilateral in utero electroporation technique to express the dominant-negative form of LHX2. LHX2 was confirmed to be important for the migration and callosal projection of postmitotic neurons that form the upper layer of the cerebral cortex during neurogenesis. Additionally, transcriptome analysis confirmed that LHX2 affected the genes involved in neuronal migration and axonal projection. We demonstrated that Lhx2 is important for postmitotic neurons in the cerebral cortex, which migrate to normal positions and extend nerve axons. Taken together, our findings can provide important clues to understanding the relationship between human Lhx2 gene mutations and brain developmental diseases.

Word Type and Frequency Effects on Lexical Decisions Are Process-dependent and Start Early.

When encountering letter strings, we rapidly determine whether they are words. The speed of such lexical decisions (LDs) is affected by word frequency. Apart from influencing late, decision-related, processing stages, frequency has also been shown to affect very early stages, and even the processing of nonwords. We developed a detailed account of the different frequency effects involved in LDs by (1) dividing LDs into processing stages using a combination of hidden semi-Markov models and multivariate pattern analysis applied to EEG data and (2) using generalized additive mixed models to investigate how the effect of continuous word and nonword frequency differs between these stages. We discovered six stages shared between word types, with the fifth stage consisting of two substages for pseudowords only. In the earliest stages, visual processing was completed faster for frequent words, but took longer for word-like nonwords. Later stages involved an orthographic familiarity assessment followed by an elaborate decision process, both affected differently by frequency. We therefore conclude that frequency indeed affects all processes involved in LDs and that the magnitude and direction of these effects differ both by process and word type.

Modeling and analyzing Social Networks of Games

Digital games are dynamic environments where the players interact with the games and, commonly, also with other players. The interactions generate many types of relationships, such as to be friends or to share games with other players, and to buy, play or like the games. These relationships can be seen as a social network; in this context, a Social Network of Games (SNG). During gameplay, the player produces a vast amount of data continuously, including data that represents his/her experiences, preferences, and even behavioral patterns. These data can be used to understand the players’ preferences, which is known in the literature as Player Modeling, and also to improve the attractiveness of new games. However, both tasks require analyzing a vast amount of data that cannot be done manually; it must be performed by algorithms of a research area known as Knowledge Discovery in Databases (KDD). It is possible to employ KDD techniques in the data of an SNG to model the players, as well as to identify intrinsic features of the games. In our work, we explore a real SNG using a novel KDD technique aimed at identifying common features among popular games, which may represent why the games are popular. To this end, it is necessary to analyze games developed by non-influencer makers, because influencers may receive biased attention that is not necessarily motivated by the quality of their games. Therefore, we first focus on detecting the game influencers to filter their games out; empirical experiments show that a novel approach we developed detects influencers with high accuracy in an automatic manner, even when using data from distinct nationalities for training and testing. Then, we perform a detailed analysis of the features of the games, searching for combinations of objects that occur in the popular games developed by non-influencer makers, where each object can be either a game item or a non-player character, so to support game designers in the elaboration process of new games. This case study introduces a new pattern of design for Platform Games. Additionally, we present an extensive analysis of object combinations that commonly occur in popular games. All experiments were performed on real-world players and games from the worldwide well-known platform of video games Super Mario Maker (Nintendo, Kyoto, Japan).

The Use of Diversified Tools and Methodologies in The Process of Preparing Course Completion Work in Distance Education

Objective: This article proposes to reflect on the process of elaboration of the Course Completion Work (CBT) in the Distance Education (RBS) modality, from the experience experienced by the authors, so that its objective is to contribute to the development of the field in question. Theoretical Reference: In EAD, there are different pedagogical strategies in the achievement of student training in professionals, and CBT is a relevant practice whose methodological design must be constructed in order to contemplate dialogical moments with a view to the best performance of the academics in terms of learning (Oliveira; Flores, 2019). The relevance of CBT as an activity and experience is relevant (Richartz, 2019), so that studying from an EAD Bachelor's course allows us to establish insights both into performing such activity specifically and to think about distance learning in a general way with regard to the development of skills and competencies (Ordones, 2022). Method: Bibliographic review was used to illustrate the processes of a CBT followed by presentation of the report of the experience with the use of diversified tools. Results and discussion: Considering both the advances and the challenges of distance education, among the results discussed in the manuscript stands out its contribution to the discussion about the importance of proposing efficient methodologies in dealing with the strategic use of different educational technologies in order to provide a meaningful learning. Implications of Research: The relevance of the experience exposed in relation to EAD's commitment to academic research is highlighted. Originality/Value: Originality in the field of studies on CBTs in Bachelor's degree courses at EAD, expressing scientific rigor and impact on training, contributing to the strengthening of the professional competences of the academics.

I’m writing in Tunisian: Orthography and identity in written Tunisian Arabic

In recent years the amount of written vernacular Arabic has increased dramatically. But encoding an unstandardized language in writing is not straightforward and mechanical; rather, it is a complex process that balances practical considerations with ideological stances such as autonomy from the standard language. This study examines how writers of Tunisian Arabic (or derja) are navigating this elaboration process. Using a quantitative analysis of a 279,000-word corpus of print literary works written in Tunisian Arabic (2014–2021) and a 5.8-million-word corpus of internet forum posts (2010–2021), this paper explores how Tunisians writing in derja make orthographic choices to collectively position themselves in relation to the larger Arab world. The study finds that forum writers who have advocated for an improved status for Tunisian Arabic use more phonemic spelling forms—more closely representing Tunisian pronunciation—while those who have advocated for Standard Arabic are more conservative in their spelling choices. The authors of Tunisian Arabic novels and translations—pulled between issues of elaboration and readability—are a bit more conservative than the pro- derja group. These results show how writers in unstandardized or not-yet-standardized languages like Tunisian Arabic use orthography to express national identity stances in relation to supranational languages and identities.

HUMAN THOUGHT PROCESS ON HOTEL ADVERTISEMENTS:

Conceptual Blending (CB) is a framework within Cognitive Linguistics to create meaning construction that determines brain cognitive functions upon reading hotel advertisements which the study aimed to illustrate and elaborate. The study utilized advancement theory of CB by applying intertextuality concept to create multiple meanings done from prior studies. The study also utilized qualitative method to analyze a poster from ANA Intercontinental Manza Beach Resort through applying non-participant observation, purposive sampling, and triangulation theory methods. To analyze the data, the concepts of data collection, data condensation, data display and data conclusion were used. The study found that the processes of composition, completion, and elaboration within blended space of CB built the meaning construction within human brain. Composition stage created arrays of features from composing features within input spaces that build up new concepts within completion stage. The completion stage then created new concepts based on cultural knowledge combining all the features composed within composition process and the meanings were broaden by elaboration stage which cleared out what the new concepts actually meant for. These processes created the emergent structure which carries novelty meanings from the analysis. In this stage, the meaning has been completely concluded from all the elaborated meaning happening on prior stages.

Augmented Narrative Advertising: Consumer Responses to AR Story Filters and Product Placement Primes

We investigated augmented narrative advertising (ANA), which integrates storytelling with digitally embedded product placements using an augmented reality (AR) story filter. With a sample of 130 U.S. college students, we compared AR- and non-AR narrative advertising formats, while also examining the impact of product placement primes (PPPs) in a health context. Our findings illuminated the capability of ANA to prompt positive shifts in an individual’s health beliefs, attitudes, and behavioral intentions within narratives, while also highlighting its advantages in product placement, thereby contributing to the discussion surrounding AR technology. Additionally, PPPs enhanced advertising effectiveness without compromising story engagement, indicating their compatibility with traditional advertising alongside ANA formats. Moreover, we delved into the underlying processes of transportation, elaboration, and engagement to deepen our comprehension of the persuasive prowess of ANA. Our study underscores the intricacies of ANA and emphasizes the necessity for further investigation. These insights provide valuable guidance for advertisers aiming to utilize AR technology to boost brand engagement and influence consumer behavior in the digital landscape.

Implementation of WHO guidelines for cervical cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment: knowledge and perceptions of health providers from Argentina

BackgroundThe 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on cervical cancer screening and treatment provide countries with evidence-based recommendations to accelerate disease elimination. However, evidence shows that health providers’ adherence to screening guidelines is low. We conducted a study in Argentina to analyze health providers’ knowledge and perceptions regarding the 2021 WHO Guidelines.MethodsA qualitative study was conducted based on individual, semi-structured interviews with health providers specializing in gynecology (n = 15). The themes explored were selected and analyzed using domains and constructs of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.ResultsAlthough health providers perceive WHO as a reliable institution, they do not know the 2021 guidelines, its supporting evidence, and its elaboration process. Their clinical practice is mainly guided by local recommendations developed by national professional medical associations (PMAs). For interviewees, WHO guidelines should be disseminated through health authorities and national PMAs, mainly through in-service training. Health providers had a positive assessment regarding WHO Recommendation 1 (screen, triage, and treatment for women aged 30 + with HPV-testing every 5 to 10 years) and perceived a favorable climate for its implementation. HPV-testing followed by triage was considered a low-complexity practice, enabling a better detection of HPV, a better selection of the patients who will need diagnosis and treatment, and a more efficient use of health system resources. However, they suggested adapting this recommendation by removing screening interval beyond 5 years. WHO Recommendation 2 (screen-and-treat approach with HPV-testing for women aged 30 + every 5 to 10 years) was predominantly rejected by interviewees, was considered an algorithm that did not respond to women’s needs, and was not adequate for the Argentinean context. Regarding the HPV-test modality, clinician-collected tests were the preferred mode. Health providers considered that HPV self-collection should be used primarily among socially vulnerable women to increase screening coverage.ConclusionWHO guidelines should be widely disseminated among health providers, especially in settings that could benefit from a screen-and-treat approach. Identifying areas of partnership and collaboration with PMAs in implementing WHO guidelines is essential.

Endothelial cell transitions in zebrafish vascular development.

In recent decades, developmental biologists have come to view vascular development as a series of progressive transitions. Mesoderm differentiates into endothelial cells; arteries, veins and lymphatic endothelial cells are specified from early endothelial cells; and vascular networks diversify and invade developing tissues and organs. Our understanding of this elaborate developmental process has benefitted from detailed studies using the zebrafish as a model system. Here, we review a number of key developmental transitions that occur in zebrafish during the formation of the blood and lymphatic vessel networks.

Research on the Influence of Retrieval Practice on ESL Vocabulary Memory

The approaches and methods that can maximize the teaching and learning efficiency in education settings tremendously interest teachers. Retrieval practice is not a way that produces learning, but also a retrieval event may represent a more fruitful and mighty learning activity than an encoding event. Based on this theoretical foundation, a pilot study has been designed and conducted to test the effectiveness of retrieval practice in vocabulary memorization in a university setting. In this study, 10 participants (from English Major and Business Major) have been voluntarily recruited from Guangzhou Xinhua University. According to the parallel contrast between the experimental and control groups, the differences in scores in the vocabulary tests were collected and greatly marked statistical significance. In this study, retrieval practice has been testified as an effective strategy in learners' long-term retention of vocabulary memorization. The findings support the theory that retrieval practice improves and strengthens learning by retrieval-specific mechanisms rather than simply elaborative study processes. Retrieval practice is an effective tool to enhance vocabulary learning and remembering in an ESL context.

Research on the Influence of Retrieval Practice on ESL Vocabulary Memory

The approaches and methods that can maximize the teaching and learning efficiency in education settings tremendously interest teachers. Retrieval practice is not a way that produces learning, but also a retrieval event may represent a more fruitful and mighty learning activity than an encoding event. Based on this theoretical foundation, a pilot study has been designed and conducted to test the effectiveness of retrieval practice in vocabulary memorization in a university setting. In this study, 10 participants (from English Major and Business Major) have been voluntarily recruited from Guangzhou Xinhua University. According to the parallel contrast between the experimental and control groups, the differences in scores in the vocabulary tests were collected and greatly marked statistical significance. In this study, retrieval practice has been testified as an effective strategy in learners' long-term retention of vocabulary memorization. The findings support the theory that retrieval practice improves and strengthens learning by retrieval-specific mechanisms rather than simply elaborative study processes. Retrieval practice is an effective tool to enhance vocabulary learning and remembering in an ESL context.

Liquid bath-assisted combustion activation preparation of nitrogen/sulfur-doped porous carbon for sodium-ion battery applications

A liquid-bath-assisted salt-template combustion activation method has been developed to overcome the shortcomings of the conventional template method, including elaborate processes and environmental pollution. Herein, N/S double-doped porous carbon material (ECSK-15) with high specific surface area (1148.60 m2 g−1) is synthesized through it for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs). Benefitting from this approach, the number of ion diffusion channels and the ion exchange rate of the product are significantly increased. When using ether-based electrolyte, after 1000 cycles at a large current density of 2 A g−1, the reversible capacity could still be maintained at 135.60 mA h g−1. The assembled full cell exhibits a high reversible capacity of 480.49 mAh g−1 at a current rate of 0.5 A g−1. The energy density is calculated to be 204.11 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 160.71 W kg−1. This work provides a porous carbon anode material with good sodium-ion storage capacity and rate performance for application in SIBs.

Preparatory activity of anterior insula predicts conflict errors: integrating convolutional neural networks and neural mass models

Preparatory brain activity is a cornerstone of proactive cognitive control, a top-down process optimizing attention, perception, and inhibition, fostering cognitive flexibility and adaptive attention control in the human brain. In this study, we proposed a neuroimaging-informed convolutional neural network model to predict cognitive control performance from the baseline pre-stimulus preparatory electrophysiological activity of core cognitive control regions. Particularly, combined with perturbation-based occlusion sensitivity analysis, we pinpointed regions with the most predictive preparatory activity for proactive cognitive control. We found that preparatory arrhythmic broadband neural dynamics in the right anterior insula, right precentral gyrus, and the right opercular part of inferior frontal gyrus (posterior ventrolateral prefrontal cortex), are highly predictive of prospective cognitive control performance. The pre-stimulus preparatory activity in these regions corresponds to readiness for conflict detection, inhibitory control, and overall elaborate attentional processing. We integrated the convolutional neural network with biologically inspired Jansen-Rit neural mass model to investigate neurostimulation effects on cognitive control. High-frequency stimulation (130 Hz) of the left anterior insula provides significant cognitive enhancement, especially in reducing conflict errors, despite the right anterior insula’s higher predictive value for prospective cognitive control performance. Thus, effective neurostimulation targets may differ from regions showing biomarker activity. Finally, we validated our theoretical finding by evaluating intrinsic neuromodulation through neurofeedback-guided volitional control in an independent dataset. We found that left anterior insula was intrinsically modulated in real-time by volitional control of emotional valence, but not arousal. Our findings further highlight central role of anterior insula in orchestrating proactive cognitive control processes, positioning it at the top of hierarchy for cognitive control.

An embedded end-to-end voice assistant

Voice assistants are spreading in various environments, such as houses and cars, bringing the possibility of controlling heterogeneous Internet of Things devices with simple voice commands. However, massive use of the cloud connection for speech processing requires an efficient and robust Internet connection and raises concerns in terms of privacy. Therefore, we propose an end-to-end solution able to work totally offline, based on a system architecture combining different Deep Learning models to implement all the steps of the speech elaboration process. Being interested in targeting the Italian language, we exploited the transfer learning paradigm, which allows leveraging models trained in English on large datasets and fine-tuning them to the target language on a smaller dataset. The proposed system architecture is configurable and easily extensible to other languages. Experimental results in an automotive application use case show that our solution outperforms the other embedded models and achieves performance comparable to state-of-the-art cloud-connected solutions for Automatic Speech Recognition. Moreover, overall latency is significantly reduced by eliminating the need to connect to the cloud.

THEORY OF SOCIAL REPRESENTATIONS AND USER SAFETY IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE: Construction of theoretical-methodological path

This research aimed to develop a theoretical-methodological path between the Theory of Social Representations and the safety of users of Primary Health Care. This is a theoretical essay, guided by productions in the fields of social sciences, politics, sociology, of philosophy and health, digital and in printed materials. Electronic databases: MEDLINE, LILACS, BDENF, VHL and Google Scholar were used. The content was deepened through consultations in books by classic authors that discuss the theory and its insertion in social reality. To support inferential analysis, Bradin's content analysis technique was used. For analytical and reflective scope, the discussion covered four topics, namely: The Theory of Social Representations: preliminary notes; Social Representations: intertwining and deepening based on Moscovici's postulates; The processes of elaboration of social representations: transforming the unfamiliar, or unfamiliarity itself, into the familiar; Arrival: outline of a theoretical path between the Theory of Social Representations and User Safety in Primary Health Care. The identification of how representations are created and how they are organized in everyday life, supporting the understanding of knowledge, feelings, values, symbols and culture that can influence and modify practices within primary care. Shared and socially constructed knowledge can influence new practices and behaviors regarding user safety in Primary Health Care.

TIME, PERSON AND PLACE BIAS: Expanding the view through the Theory of Scientific Quality Assumptions

The literature presents several classifications for methodological biases, however little is discussed about the possible biases related to the theoretical foundation adopted in the research. Based on the Theory of Assumptions of Scientific Quality, we present reflections and conceptual expansions related to theoretical-methodological biases in research. A critical-reflective text supported by a narrative review, whose material collection process was carried out in a non-systematic way, chosen exclusively and based on the line of argument and reflection that the authors intend to submit to appreciation and public debate. Describe the importance of explaining the theoretical foundation and possible biases related to central aspects of life, namely, the time, person and place for public health research and its intersection with the process of elaboration, development and reporting in scientific studies. Classify and describe the biased types of time, person and place referring to the conceptual and empirical planes and the important elaboration and description of the combination of both for scientific work. It is hoped that this article will raise discussions and reflections on the current theoretical-methodological process that permeates scientific work and encourages the use and adequate explanation of the foundation and its possible theoretical biases.

Disinfecting the Dead, Sanitizing Empire: The Cultural Memory of Fallen Soldiers in Cuba

AbstractThe misremembering by Americans of the Spanish-Cuban-American War was not an accident of either time or place. Rather, it was a collaboration between the citizenry, political and business elites, and the military-industrial complex centered on the cult of the fallen soldier. As businessmen carved up the Cuban landscape and the military occupied Guantanamo Bay, the war dead played one last service of memory. American commemoration of fallen soldiers acted as a shroud to obscure the practices of American imperialism. The recovery of the war dead thus provides an interesting example of how officials wanted Americans to remember the conflict. Most of the fallen died from disease rather than combat. Recovering the war dead thus entailed an elaborate process of sanitizing the “sick” dead and disinfecting the remains of warriors buried in foreign and tropical soil to repatriate them back to the United States. The metaphorical intersected with the medical in presenting dead soldiers from an imperialistic war with “clean and sterile bones” that would neither threaten the health of the general public nor their collective memory. Such a re-presentation would help shape how Americans remember a clean and sterile “Splendid Little War” without acknowledging the mucky details of empire-building.