Conform Research Articles

Illumination diversity in multiwavelength extreme ultraviolet ptychography

With the development of high harmonic generation (HHG), lensless extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) imaging at nanoscale resolution has become possible with table-top systems. Specifically, ptychographic phase retrieval using monochromatic XUV illumination exhibits extraordinary robustness and accuracy to computationally reconstruct the object and the illumination beam profile. In ptychography, using structured illumination has been shown to improve reconstruction robustness and image resolution by enhancing high spatial-frequency diffraction. However, broadband imaging has remained challenging, as the required multiwavelength algorithms become increasingly demanding. One major aspect is the ability to separate the available information into different physically meaningful states, such as different spectral components. Here, we show that introducing spatial diversity between spectral components of an HHG beam can significantly improve the reconstruction quality in multiwavelength XUV ptychography. We quantify the diversity in the polychromatic illumination by analyzing the diffraction patterns using established geometry- and information-theory-based dissimilarity metrics. We experimentally verify the major influence of diversity by comparing ptychography measurements using HHG beams with Gaussian and binary structured profiles as well as with beams carrying wavelength-dependent orbital angular momentum. Our results demonstrate how structured illumination acts in twofold by separating the spectral information in a single diffraction pattern while providing maximized added information with every new scan position. We anticipate our work to be a starting point for high-fidelity polychromatic imaging of next-generation nanostructured devices at XUV and soft-X-ray wavelengths.

Use of Prenatal Exome Sequencing: Opinion Statement of the French Federation of Human Genetics Working Group.

Prenatal whole exome sequencing (pES) is increasingly prescribed for fetuses with ultrasound anomalies. Starting from the local French prenatal medicine practice, healthcare system and legal landscape, we aimed to address the broad medical and ethical issues raised by the use of pES for women and couples as well as for prenatal care providers. The French Federation of Human Genetics established a working group composed of clinicians and biologists from all over France to discuss pES challenges. A literature review was also performed. We emphasize the importance of non-directive information that helps couples make a decision that is consistent with their personal values and ideas. We address the difficulty of obtaining informed consent that respects the couple's autonomy, despite the complexity of the information and regardless of their level of education and cultural background. We address whether variants of uncertain significance and unsolicited results should be reported. We emphasize the need for national harmonization of access to pES and the need for multidisciplinary meetings in complex situations. We point out that the specific French context of healthcare financing and the French law have a major influence on medical care organization and support for couples. The outcome of the working group is the development of 12 proposals. This opinion statement, dedicated to prenatal care providers worldwide although linked to the French context, will provide food for thought and assist them in understanding the complexity and implications of pES.

Efficient coding in biophysically realistic excitatory-inhibitory spiking networks.

The principle of efficient coding posits that sensory cortical networks are designed to encode maximal sensory information with minimal metabolic cost. Despite the major influence of efficient coding in neuroscience, it has remained unclear whether fundamental empirical properties of neural network activity can be explained solely based on this normative principle. Here, we derive the structural, coding, and biophysical properties of excitatory-inhibitory recurrent networks of spiking neurons that emerge directly from imposing that the network minimizes an instantaneous loss function and a time-averaged performance measure enacting efficient coding. We assumed that the network encodes a number of independent stimulus features varying with a time scale equal to the membrane time constant of excitatory and inhibitory neurons. The optimal network has biologically-plausible biophysical features, including realistic integrate-and-fire spiking dynamics, spike-triggered adaptation, and a non-specific excitatory external input. The excitatory-inhibitory recurrent connectivity between neurons with similar stimulus tuning implements feature-specific competition, similar to that recently found in visual cortex. Networks with unstructured connectivity cannot reach comparable levels of coding efficiency. The optimal ratio of excitatory vs inhibitory neurons and the ratio of mean inhibitory-to-inhibitory vs excitatory-to-inhibitory connectivity are comparable to those of cortical sensory networks. The efficient network solution exhibits an instantaneous balance between excitation and inhibition. The network can perform efficient coding even when external stimuli vary over multiple time scales. Together, these results suggest that key properties of biological neural networks may be accounted for by efficient coding.

Digital Literacy and Support Available for Academics at a University (Pilot Study)

Without a doubt, technology is an integral part of the education sector in the 21st Century (Scull et al., 2020). In addition to being a subject matter expert in their specialist area of knowledge, academics are expected to possess digital capabilities that will allow them to deliver current and state of the art curriculum to their students (Newland and Handley, 2016). Digital literacy is defined as ‘those capabilities which fit an individual for living, learning and working in a digital society’ (Jisc, 2014). Incorporating digital literacy into a suitable continuing professional development (CPD) series may ensure the training and development of the academic workforce (Matthews, 2021). The importance digital literacy as a form of continued professional development (CPD) was most evident during the COVID-19 pandemic when all academics had to shift their teaching to an online environment (Antonopoulou et al., 2021). Many academics had to do a crash course in digital literacy to be able to create suitable online learning environments. Digital literacy can be indicative of teaching success and the development of professional identity in the fast-evolving education sector (Mardiana, 2020). Current literature shows that in addition to prior education and qualifications, experience with digital teaching technologies is a major influence in the development of digital literacy, which may impact their professional identity (Watts, 2018). Incorporating digital literacy into CPD and using a suitable model such as Kennedy’s model for CPD may improve the digital literacy of academics. A study conducted by Butson, 2019 revealed that newly appointed academics felt left behind due to the fast pace of technology in their workplace. Another study conducted by Sanchez and colleagues (2021) also demonstrated teachers experiencing low self- perception of their digital literacy skills during their employment. Hence, “being component” in workplace technologies is strongly connected to the construction of professional identity (Avidov-Ungar and Forkosh-Baruch, 2018). Therefore, it can be suggested the role an institution plays in developing digital capabilities of academics is important not just for successful and efficient delivery of high-quality teaching, but also for the well-being of the academics in the workplace and to develop the professional identity. Also, understanding the baseline digital capability of its employees and whether additional support is required to develop digital literacy can provide invaluable insight in professional development of an academic during its employment at an institution. The aim of this study is to evaluate the self-perceived digital literacy of academics employed at a university and the support they have received in developing their digital literacy during their employment. The aims also include to identify support that staff require to build their DL and how Kennedy’s 3 lens of CPD may assist in improving DL programs at universities (Kennedy, 2014).

EXTH-03. CAR T-CELLS TARGETED TO B7-H3 OR HER2 FUNCTION INDEPENDENTLY OF ANTIGEN DENSITY IN XENOGRAFT MODELS OF EPENDYMOMA

Abstract BACKGROUND Targeted treatment options are desperately needed for ependymomas (EPN). Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells have immense potential to positively transform treatment outcomes; however, little is known regarding antitumor efficacy of CAR T-cells against EPNs. Specifically, antigen density has emerged as a major influencer of CAR T-cell potency. However, the specific high and low antigen density thresholds governing CAR T-cell efficacy for EPN are unknown. The goal of this project is to determine the role of antigen density in CAR T-cell potency against EPN. METHODS Using quantitative flow cytometry, we determined antigen density of B7-H3 and HER2 (the two CAR targets currently in pediatric EPN clinical trials), on EPN patient derived cell lines (1425, ST1, CPITT, ST2, EPI, L46SJ). We generated B7-H3 and HER2-CAR T-cells with CD28z signaling domain and compared long-term cytolytic activity, expansion, and cytokine production against EPNs. RESULTS We found that all EPN cell lines express remarkably high yet variable density of B7-H3 (62,700 – 335,440 molecules/ cell). In contrast, surface density of HER2 was consistently and significantly lower (860 – 24,488 molecules/ cell). In repeated-stimulation assays, B7-H3-CAR T-cells killed 7-10 times and expanded up to 325,360-fold when cultured against EPN. However, we observed no significant difference in total expansion or correlation with antigen density against EPNs. Surprisingly, expansion of HER2-CAR T-cells against EPNs was drastically higher and greatly exceeded that of B7-H3-CAR-T cells against the same EPN cells despite much lower antigen density. CONCLUSIONS Our work shows that both B7-H3 and HER2 are good targets against EPN, despite drastic differences in antigen density. Results suggest that lower antigen density of HER2 may be superior for CAR T-cell activity. Future work will validate whether HER-CAR T-cells have superior antitumor efficacy in vivo to further delineate role of antigen density thresholds in CAR T-cell potency.

Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) Stigma Scale for India (ISSSI): A Protocol for Scale Development.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic blood disorder presenting a substantial public health challenge. India, holding the second-highest prevalence globally, exhibits diverse clinical manifestations. The recently launched National SCD Elimination Mission (NSEM) in India has contributed to an increased identification of cases. The national program should extend its services beyond screening and clinical management. The outcome of the disease is influenced by a multitude of factors impacting healthcare utilization, with stigma emerging as a major influencer. Addressing stigma at the right time is crucial to comprehensive disease care. Understanding and quantifying the type and level of stigma in the ecosystem are fundamental steps toward tackling this pressing issue, necessitating the development of a scale. The existing three scales developed and utilized in African and American contexts may not be suitable for the Indian SCD community due to phenotypic, socio-cultural, and contextual variations. Therefore, developing, modifying, and creating a locally applicable scale is imperative. This protocol paper outlines the process of developing, refining, and evaluating the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-SCD Stigma Scale for India (ISSSI), which will be developed by Indian researchers led by the ICMR.

Reducing amylose content in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using a novel Wx-D1 null allele generated by chemical mutagenesis.

Amylose has a major influence over starch properties and end-use quality in wheat. The granule-bound starch synthase I, encoded by Wx-1, is the single enzyme responsible for amylose synthesis. Natural null mutants of Wx-1 appear at extremely low frequencies, particularly in the Wx-D1 locus, where only four spontaneous null variants have been identified, with different geographic origins. The current study identified an induced Wx-D1 null mutant (M4-9484) from the M4 generation of an ethyl methanesulfonate-mutagenized population of wheat cv. 'SM126'. The sequencing showed that the complete Wx-D1 ORF sequences of 'SM126' and M4-9484 were 2862 bp long and that there was one SNP mutation between them. The mutation was located at the RNA splice site within the junction of exon 8 and intron 8, which led to abnormal transcription of Wx-D1, with five different aberrant transcripts being identified in the mutant. The Wx-D1 null allele resulted in amylose and total starch content being decreased in M4-9484 in comparison with the wild-type 'SM126', with higher swelling capacity and being fully pasted at higher temperatures than the wild-type parent. The mutation of the Wx-D1 null gene affects the formation of amylose directly, resulting in significantly altered starch properties. This discovery offers valuable insights for enhancing wheat starch quality and contributes to the diversification of starch characteristics. It also deepens our understanding of the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying amylose synthesis, thereby supporting breeding programs. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Gritty Philadelphia: Orientation to local ideology as a predictor of sound change

Abstract Local orientation has been shown to influence speakers’ participation in local dialect norms and ongoing sound changes since the beginning of modern sociolinguistics (e.g., Labov, 1963). I argue here that local orientation is best understood as an orientation to the ideological imagined place, rather than to the actual physical hometown itself. Analysis of the effect of orientation to the imagined Philadelphia shows that speakers’ personal orientation impacts their adoption of an ongoing change. This change is best understood when orientation is considered alongside a major structural influence on young speakers—secondary school attendance—using a bipartite network analysis. The sound change under investigation, a change in the conditioning of a split in /æ/, is highly abstract and complex, making it an unlikely candidate for overt or intentional identity work. Nevertheless, a regression analysis finds strong effects of both structural influences and personal orientation on speakers’ advancement in this abstract change.

Quantifying risk of a noise-induced AMOC collapse from northern and tropical Atlantic Ocean variability

Abstract The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) exerts a major influence on global climate. There is much debate about whether the current strong AMOC may collapse as a result of anthropogenic forcing and/or internal variability. Increasing the noise in simple salt-advection models can change the apparent AMOC tipping threshold. However, it's not clear if `present-day' variability is strong enough to induce a collapse.
Here, we investigate how internal variability affects the likelihood of AMOC collapse. We examine internal variability of basin-scale salinities and temperatures in four CMIP6 pre-industrial simulations. We fit this to an empirical, process-based AMOC box model, and
find that noise-induced AMOC collapse (defined as a decade in which the mean AMOC strength falls below $5 \ \rm{Sv}$) is unlikely, however, if the AMOC is pushed closer to a bifurcation point due to external climate forcing, noise-induced tipping becomes more likely.
Surprisingly, we find a case where forcing temporarily overshoots a stability threshold but noise decreases the probability of collapse. Accurately modelling internal decadal variability is essential for understanding the increased uncertainty in AMOC projections.

An Exploratory Study of Small-Group Learning Interactions in Pre-Clerkship Medical Education: Uncovering a Mismatch Between Student Perceptions and Real-Time Observations

Small-group learning is a mainstay of medical education, and group functioning can have a major influence on these learning experiences. Our objective was to explore verbal exchange patterns within small-group learning sessions and examine how different patterns related to tutor involvement, tutor expertise, and participants’ perceptions. A non-participant observer collected group interactivity data using a real-time mobile device-based system. Verbal interaction patterns were visualized and analyzed using social network analysis and correlated with participant survey data and aggregate course grades. There were 46 observations across 30 separate groups. Group interactions clustered into four patterns defined by (1) tutor involvement (high vs. low) and (2) interactivity (high vs. low). Interaction patterns were largely stable for a given group and groups with content expert facilitators were generally less interactive. Students reported objectively fewer interactive groups as more interactive and enjoyable. There were no significant intergroup differences in aggregate course grades. Paradoxically, student perceptions were not aligned with observed interactivity data, and tutor content expertise influenced group interactivity. These findings suggest the need to better manage learner expectations of small-group learning, and to explicitly reflect on and develop skills for effective collaborative learning with both faculty and students.

Exploring phyto- and zooplankton community structure, spatial variation, and driving forces shaping the community from a large-scale freshwater dominated estuary

Abstract Plankton is essential to estuarine food webs, providing key food for species like fish larvae, and understanding their dynamics helps us comprehend ecological interactions and energy transfer in aquatic ecosystems. This study examined the plankton community structure, diversity, variability and the environmental variables of water that influenced these communities in a freshwater-dominated estuary along the Northern Bay of Bengal during the dry season. A variety of tools were employed, including a dissecting microscope, a Sedgwick-Rafter cell, and a Hanna multi-parameter meter, to obtain detailed and comprehensive data. From the analyses, in total 37 genera of phytoplankton belonging to 11 classes such as Bacillariophyceae (66%), Coscinodiscophyceae (28%), Fragilariophyceae (1%), Euglenophyceae (1%), Cyanophyceae (1%), others (3%) were recorded. Zooplankton, consisting of multicellular organisms, was represented by 11 genera across five classes, with Monogononta (53%) and Insecta (29%) being the most prevalent. Phytoplankton exhibited a mean abundance of 180,000 ± 20,200 cells L⁻¹ whereas zooplankton showed a mean abundance of 3,000 ± 200 cells L⁻¹. The diversity indices (H’), evenness (J’) and dominance (D) ranged from 1.188 ± 0.015 to 0.19 ± 0.006, 0.9377 ± 0.002 to 0.5118 ± 0.006, 0.365 ± 0.001 to 0.143 ± 0.002 respectively, suggested low to moderate plankton diversity with a suppressed community and moderate to high dominance in the river water. Based on the similarity percentage (SIMPER) and analysis of similarity (ANOSIM), Phytoplankton and zooplankton varied significantly between stations while non-metric multi-dimensional scaling (nMDS) indicated greater consistency in phytoplankton communities across stations compared to zooplankton. Furthermore, Pearson's correlation coefficient (rs) and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) identified transparency, sulfates, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, TDS, pH, and salinity as major influencers of plankton abundance; nitrate had a moderate effect. Spearman's rank correlations showed significant positive (p < 0.05) correlations between diversity indices and environmental variables.

Achieving successful gas plant construction: A risk modelling framework with quantitative risk-based approach to schedule management

The construction of gas plants often experiences delays caused by various factors, which can lead to significant financial and operational losses. This research aims to develop an accurate risk model to improve the schedule performance of gas plant projects. The model uses Quantitative Risk Analysis (QRA) and Monte Carlo simulation methods to identify and measure the risks that most significantly impact project schedule performance. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify the risk variables that may cause delays. The risk model, pre-simulation modeling, result analysis, and expert validation were all developed using a Focused Group Discussion (FGD). Primavera Risk Analysis (PRA) software was used to perform Monte Carlo simulations. The simulation output provides information on probability distribution, histograms, descriptive statistics, sensitivity analysis, and graphical results that aid in better understanding and decision-making regarding project risks. The research results show that the simulated project completion timeline after mitigation suggested an acceleration of 61–65 days compared to the findings of the baseline simulation. This demonstrates that activity-based mitigation has a major influence on improving schedule performance. This research makes a significant contribution to addressing project delay issues by introducing an innovative and effective risk model. The model empowers project teams to proactively identify, measure, and mitigate risks, thereby improving project schedule performance and delivering more successful projects.

The LTAR Cropland Common Experiment at Lower Chesapeake Bay.

The Lower Chesapeake Bay (LCB) Long-Term Agroecosystem Research (LTAR) Common Experiment (CE) located in Beltsville, MD, focuses on research of concern to producers of the major regional crops, which are corn (Zea mays L.), soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and various forage species. Livestock production in the region includes broiler and laying chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus L.) and dairy and beef cattle (Bos taurus L.). The LCB region is among the most heavily populated in the United States. Urban development pressure is high for both farms and natural areas. The need to restore Chesapeake Bay water quality is a major influence on regional agricultural practices. Conservation practices such as cover cropping, no-till agriculture, and nutrient management planning are more common in the region compared to nationally. However, farmers still face management challenges implementing practices that address water quality and the rise of herbicide-resistant weeds. Researchers at the LCB site recognize the need to protect the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays and maintain farmer profitability. The LCB CE compares a 3-year crop rotation system featuring alternative crop management (cover crop intensification, crop rotation diversification, and integrated weed management [IWM]) with a prevailing 2-year system (no cover crops and no IWM), both under continuous no-tillage, to identify the optimal balance to promote the sustainability of regional cropping systems. The LTAR LCB site provides data-driven tools and solutions to support farmers in the mid-Atlantic region.

KH. Ahmad Dahlan and KH. Imam Zarkasyi about Islamic Education

At the beginning of the 20 th century, muslim people thought that they would be considered infidels if their children were sent to dutch east indies gofernment schools which used the western system, namely wearing trousers, suits, ties and so on. This assumption has a major influence on the muslim economy, resulting in muslim communities not having access to government sectors and private companies. To improve the educational conditions of muslims in indonesia, especially muslims, one of the reform figures, namely KH Ahmad Dahlan, founder of the muhammadiyah organisation in 1912, who came from kauman yogyakarta, was also famous as asocial and religious activist, offering a new education system by collaborating religious knouledge and general acience. According to him, only through education like this, the condition of muslims in indonesia can develop better in terms of economics and economic education. Then KH. Imam zarkasyi also reformed islamic education which was divided into four groups. These include, in the fields of educational methods and systems, islamic boarding school structure and management, islamic boarding school curriculum as well as islamic boarding school mindset and freedom.

Create the future of food with children: Qualitative insights into children’s perception of plant-based meat, fish, and dairy alternatives

Children’s food preferences are a major influence on what is served for dinner in the household. However, little is known about children’s perceptions of plant-based foods. This study aimed to better understand how 9-to-11-year-old children perceive plant-based meat and dairy alternatives. Different types of plant-based alternatives were investigated: meat and fish substitutes (legumes, nuts), replacements (tofu, tempeh), and analogues, as well as dairy substitutes. These alternatives were placed in a meal context, considering the influence of dish composition. The study combined design probes, interviews, and cooking sessions as different qualitative methods to explore children’s perceptions. First, design probe packages with creative assignments were given to the children. Afterwards, one-to-one interviews were conducted to elaborate on the input gained from the assignments. Lastly, children created in small groups a pizza with plant-based alternatives. Results showed that taste was the topic mentioned most in both positive and negative ways. Initially, children generally had positive taste expectations for the analogues, while their taste expectations for substitutes and replacements were more negative. However, during the cooking session, there was no considerable difference in their actual taste perceptions of analogues, substitutes, and replacements. This highlights the importance of studying perceptions of plant-based alternatives in a real-life meal context, where substitutes and replacements can, next to analogues, also be an integral part of a meal. Although previous research shows that animal welfare is an important driver for children to choose plant-based alternatives, this study showed that animal welfare is linked to plant-based meat analogues only. Therefore, actively linking animal welfare to substitutes and replacements may help to guide children and their households towards a plant-forward diet with more plant-based ingredients such as vegetables, legumes, and grains.

Enhancing Air Quality Index Activity Guidelines for Preventing Cardiovascular Events in the General Adult Population

BackgroundThe public health relevance of daily Air Quality Index (AQI) activity guidelines for the general adult public in the United States to prevent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events is questionable. ObjectivesThe purpose of the study was to explore the utility of a policy tailoring activity guidance to calculated ASCVD risk rather than uniform recommendations to the general adult public as currently provided. MethodsWe calculated the number needed to treat (NNT) to prevent one ASCVD event per day by following activity recommendations across 10-year ASCVD risk scores (1% to 20%). Second, we modeled the benefits of tailoring recommendations to ASCVD risk. ResultsThe NNT decreased as ASCVD risk and/or AQI levels increased. At AQIs up to 151 (68% of days with AQIs above moderate in the United States), the NNTs remained untenably high (>2.7-55.3 million) across ASCVD risk. Under unhealthy conditions (AQIs 151-200), 28% of elevated AQIs, NNTs <1 million could be achieved by current guidance (15% exposure reduction), but only among the highest-risk individuals (ASCVD 18% to 20%) on the most polluted days (AQIs 192-200). Tailoring guidance to ASCVD risk could yield NNTs <1 million at risk thresholds of 7.5% and 10% if activity restrictions were more stringent (35% to 50% exposure reductions) during unhealthy conditions. ConclusionsASCVD risk has a major influence on the NNT to prevent cardiovascular events by following AQI guidance. It may be possible for a future policy to improve the utility of AQI activity guidance for the general adult public by tailoring activity recommendations to ASCVD risk.

Peran Guru dalam Membangun Pendidikan Karakter Melalui Nilai-Nilai Pancasila di Era Society 5.0

In the era of Society 5.0, technological developments have become an inseparable part of everyday life, which has a major influence on various sectors, including education. The challenges of globalization and digitalization require character building based on Pancasila values among students. Teachers play a strategic role in instilling and developing Pancasila values by integrating technology into the teaching and learning process. This study aims to investigate the role of teachers in building student character based on Pancasila in the era of Society 5.0. This research is a study that uses a library research type with a qualitative approach, and data is collected through documentation methods. The results of the study indicate the importance of teachers adapting to technology and implementing innovative teaching methods to strengthen the internalization of Pancasila values in students. In addition to functioning as educators, teachers also act as role models and facilitators in facing moral and social challenges in the digital era. In conclusion, the importance of the role of teachers in instilling and fostering values through character education for students in the era of Society 5.0 must be in line with the times so that various problems can be overcome in character education

Runoff Change Characteristics and Response to Climate Variability and Human Activities Under a Typical Basin of Natural Tropical Rainforest Converted to Monoculture Rubber Plantations

Climate variability and human activities are major influences on the hydrological cycle. However, the driving characteristics of hydrological cycle changes and the potential impact on runoff in areas where natural forests have been converted to rubber plantations on a long-term scale remain unclear. Based on this, the Mann–Kendall (MK) and Pettitt breakpoint tests and the Double Mass Curve method were employed to identify the variation characteristics and breakpoints of precipitation (P), potential evapotranspiration (ET0), and runoff depth (R) in the Wanquan River Basin (WQRB) during the 1970–2016 period. The changes in runoff attributed to P, ET0, and the catchment characteristics parameter (n) were quantified using the elastic coefficient method based on the Budyko hypothesis. The results revealed that the P and R in the WQRB exhibited statistically insignificant decreasing trends, while ET0 displayed a significant increasing trend (p &lt; 0.05). The breakpoint of runoff changes in the Jiabao and the Jiaji stations occurred in 1991 and 1983, respectively. The runoff changes show a negative correlation with both the n and ET0, while exhibiting a positive correlation with P. Moreover, it is observed that P and ET0 display higher sensitivity towards runoff changes compared to n. The decomposition analysis reveals that in the Dingan River Basin (DARB), human activities account for 53.54% of the runoff changes, while climate variability contributes to 46.46%. In the Main Wanquan River Basin (MWQRB), human activities contribute to 46.11%, whereas climate variability accounts for 53.89%. The research findings suggest that runoff is directly reduced by climate variability (due to decreased P and increased ET0), while human activities indirectly contribute to changes in runoff through n, exacerbating its effects. Rubber forest stands as the prevailing artificial vegetation community within the WQRB. The transformation of natural forests into rubber plantations constitutes the primary catalyst for the alteration of n in the WQRB. The research findings provide important reference for quantifying the driving force of hydrological changes caused by deforestation, which is of great significance for sustainable management of forests and water resources.

Understanding AI Usage in Academics among Vocational High School Students

The purpose of this study is to gauge the degree of knowledge that high school students pursuing vocational training have about using artificial intelligence in the classroom and to pinpoint the variables that impact that knowledge. As artificial intelligence (AI) permeates more and more industrial sectors, it is imperative that vocational high school students understand AI and be prepared for its future. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study included 500 Indonesian students enrolled in vocational high schools who represented a range of academic levels through qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys. The study's conclusions show that students at vocational high schools have differing levels of comprehension about artificial intelligence (AI), with a variety of factors like socioeconomic status, school curriculum, and access to technology playing a major influence. The research's ramifications include suggestions for creating more efficient.

The Emerging Role of gut Microbiota in Immunotherapy

The gastrointestinal tract contains a diverse and dynamic population of microorganisms called the gut microbiota, which is essential for immune system regulation. Recent studies have highlighted that gut microbiota has a major influence on the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint antagonists. This review explores the mechanisms of specific gut microbiota, such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, to enhance innate and adaptive immune responses, including activation of dendritic cells, polarization of macrophages, and stimulation of CD8+ T cells. In addition, this review discusses therapeutic strategies aimed at manipulating the gut microbiota to enhance the effects of immunotherapy, including fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), probiotics, and engineered microbiota. Although these approaches have promising potential, the challenges still remain with the variability of patients and microbiota manipulation. This review emphasizes how crucial it is to combine immunotherapy and the gut microbial community to create more individualized, effective cancer treatments, which will eventually improve patient outcomes and advance the area of cancer treatment.