National University Research Articles

Publication Trends and Hot Spots of ChatGPT's Application in the Medicine.

This study aimed to analyze the current landscape of ChatGPT application in the medical field, assessing the current collaboration patterns and research topic hotspots to understand the impact and trends. By conducting a search in the Web of Science, we collected literature related to the applications of ChatGPT in medicine, covering the period from January 1, 2000 up to January 16, 2024. Bibliometric analyses were performed using CiteSpace (V6.2., Drexel University, PA, USA) and Microsoft Excel (Microsoft Corp.,WA, USA) to map the collaboration among countries/regions, the distribution of institutions and authors, and clustering of keywords. A total of 574 eligible articles were included, with 97.74% published in 2023. These articles span various disciplines, particularly in Health Care Sciences Services, with extensive international collaboration involving 73 countries. In terms of countries/regions studied, USA, India, and China led in the number of publications. USA ot only published nearly half of the total number of papers but also exhibits a highest collaborative capability. Regarding the co-occurrence of institutions and scholars, the National University of Singapore and Harvard University held significant influence in the cooperation network, with the top three authors in terms of publications being Wiwanitkit V (10 articles), Seth I (9 articles), Klang E (7 articles), and Kleebayoon A (7 articles). Through keyword clustering, the study identified 9 research theme clusters, among which "digital health"was not only the largest in scale but also had the most citations. The study highlights ChatGPT's cross-disciplinary nature and collaborative research in medicine, showcasing its growth potential, particularly in digital health and clinical decision support. Future exploration should examine the socio-economic and cultural impacts of this trend, along with ChatGPT's specific technical uses in medical practice.

Tonsillectomies are associated with an increased risk of meningococcal carriage.

Neisseria meningitidis is a commensal organism with the potential to cause life-threatening disease. Colonisation is most common in adolescence and young adulthood. Various social factors have been associated with an increased risk of meningococcal carriage, but less is known about host factors that may influence the carriage status. Tonsillectomies have been shown to alter the pharyngeal microflora. This study assessed whether a history of tonsillectomy affects the risk of meningococcal colonisation. Oropharyngeal swabs were collected from 15- to 16-year-old adolescents and 18- to 20-year-old young adults. Conventional culture methods and qPCR were used to detect meningococci. 16S qPCR was done to assess bacterial abundance in the samples. Data on history of tonsillectomies were collected from a central national database and the national university hospital. A total of 722 samples were collected; 197 from adolescents and 525 from young adults. Thirty-five participants were colonised with meningococci (4.8%). Eighty-eight participants had undergone a tonsillectomy, of which 10 (11.4%) carried meningococci, compared to 4% of those that had not. Prior tonsillectomy was associated with a threefold increased risk of meningococcal colonisation (OR 3.10, 95% CI 1.44-6.70, p = 0.004). Tonsillectomies remained a risk factor after adjusting for age, sex, recent antibiotic use and meningococcal vaccinations (aOR 2.49, 95% CI 1.13-5.48, p = 0.024). A history of tonsillectomy is associated with an increased risk of meningococcal colonisation. More studies are needed to shed light on the effects of tonsillectomies on the pharyngeal microbiome.

The association between night eating syndrome and GERD symptoms among university students at An-Najah National University in Palestine: a cross-sectional study.

Night eating syndrome (NES) is a kind of eating disorder. NES association with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms among university students is still not fully understood. We aimed to determine the relationship between NES and the presence of GERD symptoms among university students at An-Najah National University in Palestine. This study involved undergraduate students from An-Najah National University. The data were collected through online surveys from November to December 2023. The sampling frame involved voluntary sampling, as the data were collected using a structured questionnaire to collect data on sociodemographic variables, medical history, lifestyle habits, nutritional status, GERD risk, and NES. The GERD questionnaire (GerdQ) was used to assess symptoms, while the Arabic version of the validated Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ) was used to assess night eating. Physical activity was assessed using the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (SF-IPAQ), and adherence to a Mediterranean diet was assessed using the validated Arabic version of the MEDAS. Both univariate and multivariate analyses were also conducted to assess the study hypotheses. The study involved 554 participants, 59.9% female. A total of 33.4% reported GERD symptoms, with 10.3% having NES. A strong association was observed between GERD and NES and between GERD and physical activity. Night eating syndrome (AOR = 2.84, CI = 1.07-3.19), high physical activity (AOR = 0.473, CI = 1.05-3.19), and non-smoking (AOR = 0.586, CI = 1.27-7.89) were identified as independent predictors of GERD symptoms. This study revealed that 33.4% of undergraduate students were at risk of GERD, with night eaters having a greater risk. GERD risk was negatively associated with physical activity level and smoking status. No associations were found between GERD risk and weight status, Mediterranean diet adherence, sociodemographic factors, or sleep disturbances.

Machine Learning-Based Prediction of Suicidal Thinking in Adolescents by Derivation and Validation in 3 Independent Worldwide Cohorts: Algorithm Development and Validation Study.

Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among adolescents and is associated with clusters of suicides. Despite numerous studies on this preventable cause of death, the focus has primarily been on single nations and traditional statistical methods. This study aims to develop a predictive model for adolescent suicidal thinking using multinational data sets and machine learning (ML). We used data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey with 566,875 adolescents aged between 13 and 18 years and conducted external validation using the Youth Risk Behavior Survey with 103,874 adolescents and Norway's University National General Survey with 19,574 adolescents. Several tree-based ML models were developed, and feature importance and Shapley additive explanations values were analyzed to identify risk factors for adolescent suicidal thinking. When trained on the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey data from South Korea with a 95% CI, the XGBoost model reported an area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve of 90.06% (95% CI 89.97-90.16), displaying superior performance compared to other models. For external validation using the Youth Risk Behavior Survey data from the United States and the University National General Survey from Norway, the XGBoost model achieved AUROCs of 83.09% and 81.27%, respectively. Across all data sets, XGBoost consistently outperformed the other models with the highest AUROC score, and was selected as the optimal model. In terms of predictors of suicidal thinking, feelings of sadness and despair were the most influential, accounting for 57.4% of the impact, followed by stress status at 19.8%. This was followed by age (5.7%), household income (4%), academic achievement (3.4%), sex (2.1%), and others, which contributed less than 2% each. This study used ML by integrating diverse data sets from 3 countries to address adolescent suicide. The findings highlight the important role of emotional health indicators in predicting suicidal thinking among adolescents. Specifically, sadness and despair were identified as the most significant predictors, followed by stressful conditions and age. These findings emphasize the critical need for early diagnosis and prevention of mental health issues during adolescence.

Propuesta de Estrategia para la vinculación y seguimiento de las personas graduadas de los planes de estudio de la Escuela de Bibliotecología, Documentación e Información de la Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica (2022-2026)

For the present investigation, a compilation and organization of information sources was carried out that dealt with the issue of linking and monitoring the graduates of the different study programs of the career of the School of Library Science, Documentation and Information (EBDI) of the National University of Costa Rica. The selected contents of the sources consulted were analyzed, identifying the current need to create a strategy that would guide and coordinate all the new initiatives to strengthen the link and facilitate the follow-up of these professionals with the EBDI, taking into account the topics of interest identified for updating, and continuous training. This proposal has the objective of strengthening the link, monitoring and communication between both parties considered through a strategy for the period 2022-2026 that would facilitate updated knowledge of labor market conditions, the management of alliances and the interests of updating and education. permanent considering the experience and learning achieved by graduates. This academic exercise was carried out with a mixed approach in which different techniques and sources of qualitative and quantitative information were used, facilitating the obtaining of results such as: a description of the context and identification of the updating needs of the people graduates, the identification of the context and needs of both the graduates and the EBDI in maintaining constant links and communication with each other and a strategy proposal for linking and monitoring these professionals with the EBDI.

PREVENTION OF PROFESSIONAL BURNOUT OF TEACHERS IN CONDITIONS OF MIXED LEARNING

The article is dedicated to the issue of preventing professional burnout among teachers in blended learning environments. This form of education combines online resources with traditional classroom sessions. It is highlighted that the conditions under which blended learning is organized negatively affect the teaching staff, causing them significant emotional tension and stress. All of this leads to the depletion of internal resources and professional burnout of teachers, which underscores the importance of addressing the prevention of professional burnout in blended learning contexts. The article presents the results of three stages of research on the level of emotional burnout among teachers from the Department of Social Technologies at Kyiv National Aviation University and the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy at Kyiv National University of Economics, conducted in 2022 and 2023. The aim of the article is to review and characterize the methods of professional burnout among higher education institution teachers in blended learning conditions. To accomplish this objective, a variety of research methods were employed, including the analysis, organization, synthesis, categorization, comparison, and summarization of fundamental theoretical ideas from scholarly texts pertinent to the issue under investigation. Additionally, empirical and statistical approaches were adopted, such as monitoring the educational process, conducting educational experiments, administering surveys, and performing mathematical analysis of the findings. The practical outcome of the research presented in the article includes specific recommendations for harmonizing the psychophysical state of teachers suffering from professional burnout at all three levels of regulation of the psychophysical state, namely: physiological, emotional-volitional, and value-meaningful.

PhD Thesis on AI: a New Challenge of the Digital Era

An analytical review of the models and risks in the researcher’s reproduction system in the scientific specialty “1.2.1. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning” is presented. The issues of graduate school management and regulatory barriers in the training of young scientists are considered. Successful practices for defending a PhD thesis at leading national research universities have been identified and categorized. The justifications for the need to protect a PhD thesis by machine learning engineers are given. Proposals for changes to the scientific model of postgraduate studies and for AI augmentation of scientific research have been summarized, which help overcome risks in assigning qualification based on the textual results of scientific work.

Challenges and tensions in the role of the LMS for medical education

In the context of discussions of a “next generation LMS” and other contemporary challenges in higher education, this case study looks at the iterative process a team of educational designers and Medical School academics at Australian National University used in a review of the ANU's Medical School LMS sites. Adopting the framework of the actor network theory, this reflective process discovered the tensions, dynamics and issues involved, and worked to gain and maintain key Medical School staff engagement and support for the review and for any changes that might be recommended. This paper reflects on emerging possible models for technology-enhanced learning beyond our current institutional LMS while acknowledging the institutional constraints on learning innovation within the global higher education context. Next generation LMS models may provide a more flexible future solution that could be applicable not just to medical education, but to higher education generally.

A Bibliometric Analysis of the Outdoor Thermal Environment Based on CiteSpace

The outdoor thermal environment (OTE) is closely related to sustainable urban development and human living, and related research has attracted widespread attention. The research hotspots and research frontiers were obtained using CiteSpace to analyze 4473 relevant studies published in English from the Web of Science (WOS) core database from 1998 to 2023. The results show that (1) Hong Kong Polytechnic University, National University of Singapore, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tsinghua University, and Harbin Institute of Technology are important in OTE research. China has the largest number of publications in the field of OTE, but the United States has the greatest centrality and significant influence. (2) The focus of OTE keyword clustering research is divided into four main categories: thermal environment perception, the thermal environment index, thermal environment quality, and thermal environment optimization. (3) The frontiers of OTE research have changed from focusing on environmental quality, thermal perception, numerical simulation, urban space, and thermal adaptation to thermal mitigation, energy conservation, energy consumption, and optimization strategies. Visualization research in the field of OTE helps to provide references for the direction of future research on improving climate change, human thermal comfort, urban planning, and pre-planning.

Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical evaluation of hyperplastic soft tissues surrounding dental implants in fibular jaws

In reconstructive surgery, complications post-fibula free flap (FFF) reconstruction, notably peri-implant hyperplasia, are significant yet understudied. This study analyzed peri-implant hyperplastic tissue surrounding FFF, alongside peri-implantitis and foreign body granulation (FBG) tissues from patients treated at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Seoul National University Dental Hospital. Using light microscopy, pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia, anucleate and pyknotic prickle cells, and excessive collagen deposition were observed in FFF hyperplastic tissue. Ultrastructural analyses revealed abnormal structures, including hemidesmosome dilation, bacterial invasion, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) swelling. In immunohistochemical analysis, unfolded protein-response markers ATF6, PERK, XBP1, inflammatory marker NFκB, necroptosis marker MLKL, apoptosis marker GADD153, autophagy marker LC3, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and angiogenesis markers were expressed variably in hyperplastic tissue surrounding FFF implants, peri-implantitis, and FBG tissues. NFκB expression was higher in peri-implantitis and FBG tissues compared to hyperplastic tissue surrounding FFF implants. PERK expression exceeded XBP1 significantly in FFF hyperplastic tissue, while expression levels of PERK, XBP1, and ATF6 were not significantly different in peri-implantitis and FBG tissues. These findings provide valuable insights into the interconnected roles of ER stress, necroptosis, apoptosis, and angiogenesis in the pathogenesis of oral pathologies, offering a foundation for innovative strategies in dental implant rehabilitation management and prevention.

Long-term survival rates of tapered self-tapping bone-level implants after immediate placement: a positional effective rationale

BackgroundImmediate implant placement has gained popularity due to its several advantages. However, immediate placement has its challenges, including concerns about primary stability and bone formation around the implant. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the clinical outcomes of tapered, sand-blasted, and acid-etched internal submerged dental implants in various regions of the jaw bones and to provide a positional rationale for immediate implant placement.MethodsBetween 2009 and 2018, a single surgeon at Seoul National University Dental Hospital in Seoul, Korea, immediately inserted 49 dental implants with tapered bone-level design after extraction, in a total of 34 patients. The clinical outcomes were collected and evaluated, focusing on location of implant placement and marginal bone loss (MBL), with consideration of other parameters such as implant diameter and length.ResultsOf 49 immediately installed Luna® (Shinhung Co., Seoul, Korea) dental implants, 23 were placed in the mandible, and 26 were set in the maxilla. The mean age of patients at the time of installation was 65.91 years, ranging from 40 to 86 years. The average follow-up period was 7.43 years, with a range of 5 to 14 years. After a 5-year retrospective evaluation of tapered, sand-blasted, and acid-etched internal submerged dental implants for immediate implant placement, the cumulative survival rate was 93.88%, with 100% survival rate in the mandible and premolar region of both the maxilla and mandible.ConclusionsAfter a 5-year evaluation, tapered, sand-blasted, and acid-etched internal submerged dental implants demonstrated good efficacy for immediate placement in various locations within the dental arches, exhibiting effective clinical performance.

Ultrasound biomicroscopy analysis of ciliary muscle dynamics and its relation to intra-ocular pressure after phacoemulsification in dogs

IntroductionThis study investigates the relationship between ciliary muscle dynamics, thickness, and the regulation of intraocular pressure (IOP), focusing on the progression of cataracts and changes post-phacoemulsification. It explores how these factors impact canine ocular health, particularly in the context of cataract development and subsequent surgical intervention.Materials and methodsData was collected using Ultrasound Biomicroscopy (UBM) from dogs at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of Chungbuk National University, Korea. The study involved 57 eyes from 35 dogs, categorized into five groups: 13 normal eyes, 14 with incipient cataracts, 12 with immature cataracts, 6 with mature cataracts, and 12 post-phacoemulsification. UBM measurements assessed various ciliary muscle parameters including ciliary body axial length (CBAXL), ciliary process-sclera angle (CPSA), longitudinal fibers of ciliary muscle thickness (Lf-CMT), and longitudinal and radial fibers of ciliary muscle thickness (LRf-CMT).ResultsFindings indicated a decrease in CBAXL and an increase in Lf-CMT as cataracts progressed in severity. Post-phacoemulsification, there was a notable increase in CBAXL and a decrease in CPSA, Lf-CMT, and LRf-CMT, compared to both cataractous and normal eyes. Regression analysis revealed a significant positive association between CBAXL and IOP, alongside a negative association between Lf-CMT and IOP. These findings suggest that variations in ciliary muscle dynamics and thickness, as influenced by cataract progression and phacoemulsification, have distinct impacts on intraocular pressure.DiscussionThe study proposes that phacoemulsification leads to ciliary muscle contraction, causing an inward and anterior movement of the ciliary muscle. This movement results in the narrowing of the ciliary cleft and constriction of the unconventional outflow pathway, potentially causing an increased risk of glaucoma post-surgery. Our research contributes to understanding the anatomical and physiological changes in the canine eye following cataract surgery and underscores the importance of monitoring IOP and ciliary muscle dynamics in these patients.

In Vivo Reactive Astrocyte Imaging in Patients With Schizophrenia Using Fluorine 18–Labeled THK5351

ImportanceIn vivo imaging studies of reactive astrocytes are crucial for understanding the pathophysiology of schizophrenia because astrocytes play a critical role in glutamate imbalance and neuroinflammation.ObjectiveTo investigate in vivo reactive astrocytes in patients with schizophrenia associated with positive symptoms using monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B)–binding fluorine 18 ([18F])–labeled THK5351 positron emission tomography (PET).Design, Setting, and ParticipantsIn this case-control study, data were collected from October 1, 2021, to January 31, 2023, from the internet advertisement for the healthy control group and from the outpatient clinics of Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul, South Korea, for the schizophrenia group. Participants included patients with schizophrenia and age- and sex-matched healthy control individuals.Main Outcomes and MeasuresStandardized uptake value ratios (SUVrs) of [18F]THK5351 in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and hippocampus as primary regions of interest (ROIs), with other limbic regions as secondary ROIs, and the correlation between altered SUVrs and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) positive symptom scores.ResultsA total of 68 participants (mean [SD] age, 32.0 [7.0] years; 41 men [60.3%]) included 33 patients with schizophrenia (mean [SD] age, 32.3 [6.3] years; 22 men [66.7%]) and 35 healthy controls (mean [SD] age, 31.8 [7.6] years; 19 men [54.3%]) who underwent [18F]THK5351 PET scanning. Patients with schizophrenia showed significantly higher SUVrs in the bilateral ACC (left, F = 5.767 [false discovery rate (FDR)–corrected P = .04]; right, F = 5.977 [FDR-corrected P = .04]) and left hippocampus (F = 4.834 [FDR-corrected P = .04]) than healthy controls. Trend-level group differences between the groups in the SUVrs were found in the secondary ROIs (eg, right parahippocampal gyrus, F = 3.387 [P = .07]). There were positive correlations between the SUVrs in the bilateral ACC and the PANSS positive symptom scores (left, r = 0.423 [FDR-corrected P = .03]; right, r = 0.406 [FDR-corrected P = .03]) in patients with schizophrenia.Conclusions and RelevanceThis case-control study provides novel in vivo imaging evidence of reactive astrocyte involvement in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Reactive astrocytes in the ACC may be a future target for the treatment of symptoms of schizophrenia, especially positive symptoms.

Actitudes lingüísticas de guanacastecos hacia la variedad lingüística del español del Valle Central

In this research paper, a study based on linguistic behaviors present in Guanacaste speakers has been performed. The study addresses the linguistic varieties of Spanish in the Central Valle of a student sample from the National University of Costa Rica.The main objective is to analyze the linguistic behaviors of a group of Guanacaste speakers towards the linguistic varieties of Spanish within Central Valle. To accomplish this objective, a five-level Likert scale questionnaire is being proposed as the instrument to collect data on linguistic behaviors from Spanish from Central Valle. Moreover, in the same questionnaire, there have been included three open questions. This qualitative approach is being used to collect valuable information to complement the statistical data. Subsequently, the information obtained from the questionnaires is analyzed using statistical tools such as comparative charts and graphs. The objective would be to determine the linguistic behaviors of Guanacaste students from Chorotega and Omar Dengo’s National University sites. Regarding the results, the majority of the students interviewed (migrated and non-migrated) are aware of the linguistic differences between Guanacaste and Vallecentraleños speakers, linguistic prejudices still persist in the popular belief of some Costa Rican speakers; and finally, related with the linguistic variety under study, the Spanish from the Central Valley, there co-occur accommodation processes or linguistic adaptations, linguistic insecurity, linguistic change (manifested with the phenomenon of migration), attitudes of loyalty and linguistic identity reinforced with attitudes of greater awareness and acceptance of the linguistic and cultural diversity of Costa Rica. It may be concluded that in regard to the perception of the interviewed speakers, the historical division between the varieties of Spanish from Guanacaste and the Central Valley has been kept. However, the study of such linguistic varieties shows a leveling and progressive approach of both linguistic varieties, it is especially notable in those students who have lived abroad. The present study has five sections: the introduction; the theoretical frame; the methodological framework; the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the linguistic behaviors within the areas of the present study (Guanacaste and Central Valley) and finally, conclusions.

Implementing quality assurance in tertiary-level colleges in Bangladesh: readiness and leadership support

Bangladesh’s college sector is in crisis. Poor governance and leadership, staff and student quality, inadequate resources and a weak accountability and monitoring system are among the many challenges. In 2017, the Government of Bangladesh established large-scale Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training for leaders, teachers and policymakers from the National University affiliated colleges to build capacity and improve the overall quality of teaching and learning. This mixed-method study uses Holt’s Readiness Instrument and Focus Group Discussions to identify participant readiness and leadership support in implementing quality assurance activities in these colleges. The study shows that CPD participants are generally more ready to implement quality assurance activities than non-participants. However, the study indicates a lack of leadership support for implementing quality assurance activities in the colleges. The article concludes that, irrespective of participant readiness, committed senior leaders are critical for success and improving institutional readiness to implement quality assurance activities.

Creation of a sexual risk index from the American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA) III to compare nontraditional and traditional student sexual risk

Objective To examine the utility of a novel sexual risk index (SRI) to better use National College Health Assessment (NCHA) sexual health-related questions. Methods The first phase included discussions, testing, and recoding of the initial set of items. In the second phase, a correlation analysis was run; items were systematically removed to achieve a Cronbach’s alpha of .714. Results All currently enrolled students in Spring 2020 at medium-sized, 4-year public university in Florida were recruited (n = 4,850) for the NCHA. Of the 441 total respondents, 223 students were included in the SRI analyses. Most had very low SRI scores, indicating few sexual risks. Nontraditional students were half as likely to experience academic challenges as compared to traditional students (TS; OR = .487, p = .033), while increasing SRI scores (OR = 1.182, p = .022) and decreasing GPA scores (OR = −1.975, p < .001) were associated with an increased likelihood of self-reporting academic challenges. Conclusions Results suggest high utility and reliability of the SRI. The use of the SRI provides a better overall picture of sexual risk-taking through a score rather than comparison of individual NCHA items.

Risk of Ischemic Stroke in Relation to Helicobacter pylori Infection and Eradication Status: A Large-Scale Prospective Observational Cohort Study.

: A few studies have suggested the association between Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection and ischemic stroke. However, the impact of HP eradication on stroke risk has not been well evaluated. This study aimed to assess the influence of HP eradication on the incidence of ischemic stroke, considering the potential effect of sex. : This prospective observational cohort study was conducted at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, from May 2003 to February 2023, and involved gastroscopy-based HP testing. Propensity score (PS) matching was employed to ensure balanced groups by matching patients in the HP eradicated group (n=2,803) in a 3:1 ratio with patients in the HP non-eradicated group (n=960). Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to evaluate the risk of ischemic stroke. : Among 6,664 patients, multivariate analysis after PS matching indicated that HP eradication did not significantly alter the risk of ischemic stroke (hazard ratio, 0.531; 95% confidence interval, 0.221 to 1.270; p=0.157). Sex-specific subgroup analyses, both univariate and multivariate, did not yield statistically significant differences. However, Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a potential trend: the females in the HP eradicated group exhibited a lower incidence of ischemic stroke than those in the HP non-eradicated group, although this did not reach statistical significance (p=0.057). : This finding suggests that HP eradication might not impact the risk of ischemic stroke. However, there was a trend showing that females potentially had a lower risk of ischemic stroke following HP eradication, though further investigation is required to establish definitive evidence.

Solar zenith angle-based calibration of Himawari-8 land surface temperature for correcting diurnal retrieval error characteristics

The geostationary Himawari-8 satellite offers a unique opportunity to monitor sub-daily thermal dynamics over Asia and Oceania, and several operational land surface temperature (LST) retrieval algorithms have been developed for this purpose. However, studies have reported inconsistency between LST data obtained from geostationary and polar-orbiting platforms, particularly for daytime LST, which can arise from variations in viewing geometries and inherent differences in sensor types and LST algorithms. Despite this, previous research has primarily focused on analysing the directionality of LST without thoroughly exploring systematic differences between platforms. Hence, we presented a Solar Zenith Angle-based Calibration (SZAC) method to harmonise the daytime component of a split-window retrieved Himawari-8 LST (referred to here as the baseline) with the MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) LST. SZAC describes the spatial heterogeneity and magnitude of diurnal LST discrepancies from different platforms, which is anticipated to complement typical directionality analyses. We evaluated the harmonised LST data, referred to as the Australian National University LST with SZAC (ANUSZAC), against MODIS LST and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) LST, as well as in-situ LST from the OzFlux network. Two peer Himawari-8 LST products from Chiba University and the Copernicus Global Land Service were also collected for comparison. The median daytime bias of ANUSZAC LST against Terra-MODIS LST, Aqua-MODIS LST and VIIRS LST was 1.52 K, 0.98 K and −0.63 K, respectively, which demonstrated improved performance compared to baseline (5.37 K, 4.85 K and 3.02 K, respectively) and Chiba LST (3.71 K, 2.90 K and 1.07 K, respectively). All four Himawari-8 LST products showed comparable performance of unbiased root mean squared error (ubRMSE), ranging from 2.47 to 3.07 K, compared to LST from polar-orbiting platforms. In the evaluation against in-situ LST, the mean values of bias (ubRMSE) of baseline, Chiba, Copernicus and ANUSZAC LST during daytime were 4.23 K (3.74 K), 2.16 K (3.62 K), 1.73 K (3.31 K) and 1.41 K (3.24 K), respectively, based on 171,289 hourly samples from 20 OzFlux sites across Australia between 01/Jan/2016 and 31/Dec/2020. In summary, the SZAC method offers a promising approach to enhance the reliability of geostationary LST retrievals by incorporating the spatiotemporal characteristics observed by accurate polar-orbiting LST data. SZAC can also reduce LST angular effects due to its capability of quantifying spatial inhomogeneity of surface heat dynamics. Furthermore, it is possible to implement SZAC using LST data acquired by geostationary satellites in other regions, e.g., Europe, Africa and Americas. This could improve our understanding of the error characteristics of coincident imageries from geostationary and polar-orbiting platforms, allowing for targeted refinements and global harmonisations to further enhance applicability.

Clinical, Histopathological, and Immunohistochemical Characteristics of Predictive Biomarkers of Breast Cancer: A Retrospective Study.

Breast cancer is a complex disease with variability in clinical manifestation, response to current therapy, and biochemical and histological features among various subgroups. Histologic grading and immuno-histochemical evaluation of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2), and Ki-67 proliferation index play a crucial role in increasing the differential diagnostic value among various types of breast carcinoma. The aim of this study was to determine the histopathological and immuno-histochemical characteristics of breast tumors from a University Laboratory of Pathology in Greece. The study included female patients over 18 years of age, whose histopathological and immunohistochemical reports were stored in the archives of the First Department of Pathology of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. The study involved 197 female patients with a median age of 70 years and median tumor size of 2.6 cm. Most tumors were located at the left breast and ductal carcinoma was the most common histologic type (35.5%). Most tumors had histologic grade 2 (106, 53.8%), and were classified as TNM stage IIA (65, 33%). Most grade 1 and 2 tumors exhibited high expression of PR, whereas most grade 3 tumors had no PR expression. Moreover, patients with triple-negative cancer presented with grades 2 and 3 at a lower percentage compared to patients without a triple-negative phenotype (p=0.001). The study provided valuable insights into the histopathological and immuno-histochemical characteristics involved in the development and progression of breast cancer.

Construction of a competency evaluation index system for postgraduates of educational technology

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to determine the competency characteristics required for the employment of master’s degree students in educational technology.Design/methodology/approachA combined qualitative and quantitative method was used to consult multiple experts through a modified Delphi method. Competency characteristics were extracted from Chinese recruitment apps, national recruitment websites and university training programs. Ten senior teacher experts who teach educational technology master’s students were consulted through a questionnaire consultation to validate the proposed competency model. The weights of competency characteristics were determined through a combination of the analytic hierarchy process and entropy method.FindingsThe results show that when recruiting educational technology master’s students, more emphasis is placed on operational skills. The majority of companies tend to assess practical abilities rather than theoretical knowledge. Relevant knowledge of educational technology, psychology, computer science and education is considered to be the basic knowledge components of educational technology master’s students, while professional skills are the core skills required for their positions. Therefore, universities need to focus on training, educational technology graduate students in these areas of competence. The study also found that professional qualities (such as physical and mental fitness) and personality traits (interpersonal communication and interaction) receive more attention from companies and are essential competencies for educational technology master’s students.Originality/valueA competence model for educational technology master’s students is proposed, which includes aspects such as knowledge, personal skills/abilities, professional qualities and personality traits. The competence elements included in this model can serve as reference indicators for universities to cultivate the competence of educational technology master’s students, as well as reference points for recruiting units to help them select talents. This represents a new dimension in research related to the employment of educational technology master’s students. The study enriches the research objects and competence dictionary in the field of competence research.