Research Techniques Research Articles

Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Minimally Invasive Surgery Training: A Scoping Review

Background/Objectives: Among the scientific literature, the significant potential of the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) stands out. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive review to analyze the scientific literature on AI applications in MIS training, selecting the main applications, limitations, opportunities and challenges in this field of research. Methods/Design: A literature search was conducted in scientific databases. The search was performed with titles or abstracts, using keywords. First, studies unrelated to the topic of study were eliminated. Next, the selection was limited to articles in English. The exclusion criteria for the search were reviews, letters, case reports, industrial articles and conference abstracts. Next, only studies published in the last ten years (2014–2024) were evaluated, with priority given to publications in the last five years (2019–2024) in surgical training in AI and MIS. Finally, the full text was reviewed to add or exclude the study from this review. Results: Of the 54 studies included in this review, 18 studies were related to skills assessment, 30 studies analyzed aspects of surgical training itself, 12 studies were related to learning aspects of surgical planning, 7 studies were based on gesture recognition and 3 studies were based on surgical action recognition to measure surgical performance during MIS training. A brief description of the main AI techniques was included in this review. Conclusions: The application of AI in MIS surgical training is still a developing field of research, which presents great potential for exploring future applications, challenges, opportunities and drawbacks, as well as synergies between the technical and clinical research fields.

Adaptation Study of Pragmatics Profile to Turkish

Introduction: Pragmatic skills play an important role in communicating and being involved in social life. It is known that children with special needs have difficulty with pragmatic skills, which is called the social use of language. Measurement and evaluation processes are very important to plan the educational processes of children with special needs, prepare effective intervention programs, and determine the steps to be followed in education processes. Accordingly, it is important to determine which functions of the pragmatic component children with special needs have difficulty with in terms of the development of both language skills and other related skills to develop appropriate solutions. It is known that evaluations made through interviews with parents are very useful, especially in early childhood and in studies with children with special needs. In this respect, it is thought that it is very important to adapt The Pragmatics Profile for People who Use Alternative and Augmentative Communication to Turkish since few evaluation tools in Türkiye allow the pragmatic skills of children with both special needs and typical development to be evaluated as a result of interviews with parents. In this direction, the study aims to adapt the Pragmatics Profile to Turkish. Method: The study is a measurement tool adaptation study. In cross-cultural adaptation studies, the adaptation process and the translators and experts involved in the process are very important. In this study, the adaptation process meticulously adhered to the steps of initial translation, synthesis of translations, back-translation, expert committee review, and testing of the pre-final version. Findings: It is thought that both the linguistic equivalence and structural validity of the tool are ensured in the context of the linguistic competencies of the translators involved in the adaptation study, the experiences of the field experts in research methods and techniques, their expertise in the measurement and evaluation of language skills, and the completeness of the adaptation process. Discussion: The adapted Pragmatic Profile was found to be a valid and reliable measurement tool for the assessment of pragmatic language skills of children with hearing loss and hearing children. It is thought that the assessments to be made with the Pragmatic Profile will provide comprehensive information to special education specialists and researchers about the pragmatic difficulties experienced by children.

Global Research Hotspots and Trends in Advances of the Ilizarov Technique: A Bibliometric Mapping.

An updated bibliometric analysis is needed to address the lack of comprehensive understanding of Ilizarov technique's research trends and hotspots, fostering collaboration and technology adoption. CiteSpace was utilized to perform co-citation analyzes on authors, countries, institutions, journals and cited journals, authors and cited literature, along with keywords. This approach aimed to identify leaders, collaborating institutions, and research hotspots associated with the Ilizarov technique, while also predicting future development trends. Data relevant to Ilizarov technologies from 1994 to 2023 were extracted from Science Net's core collection. Excel was utilized to develop an exponential function for forecasting annual publication numbers. CiteSpace V5.5 was used to conduct co-citation analyzes, which included authors, countries (regions), institutions, journals, citation journals, authors, citations, and keywords. Burst detection algorithms were applied to analyze countries (regions), institutions, and keywords, with keyword clustering achieved using the logarithmic likelihood ratio. A total of 2030 studies were collected, with annual publications on the Ilizarov technique fitting an exponential model Y = 3E-37e0.0439x (R2 = 0.7979). Morasiewicz Piotr from the University of Opole in Poland emerged as the most prolific author. The leading countries included the USA and China, and notable institutions included the Egyptian Knowledge Bank and the Ilizarov National Scientific Center for Restorative Traumatology and Orthopaedic. Research outputs appeared primarily in orthopedics and surgery, with a focus on keywords such as management, the Ilizarov technique, external fixation, distraction osteogenesis, reconstruction, and the Ilizarov method. Based on current global trends, the number of publications in the Ilizarov field will continue to increase. Future studies will likely place more emphasis on advancing application concepts and device development.

A Machine‐Learning Approach to Understanding Performance of Canadian Nonprofit Sport Organizations

ABSTRACTPrevious approaches to model the performance of nonprofit organizations and their determinants largely rely on linearity and monotonicity assumptions. This research note makes a methodological contribution by jointly using descriptive and predictive models, particularly advanced machine‐learning algorithms that allow for the consideration of non‐linear or non‐monotonic relationships, to understand the relevance of factors associated with the performance of nonprofit sport clubs as well as the nature of relationships. Data were collected via an online survey with 126 representatives of Canadian sport clubs, in which four performance domains were considered: Member relationship, service quality, financial stability, and sporting success. Explanatory linear regressions and four machine‐learning models (i.e., ridge regression, bagged regression, random forest, and gradient boosting machine) are used. The results reveal that machine‐learning models increase the explanatory power compared to linear models. The random forest outperforms the other models in terms of root mean squared error and, partly, mean absolute error, and R square (even though absolute levels of R square are low at times, particularly for financial stability and sporting success, where the presence or absence of a high‐volume donor or high‐performance sports mission might help or hinder performance). Non‐linear relationships are found for several predictors across the four dimensions that were considered, such as the use of outside knowledge, trust, coopetition, age, and tenure of the club representative. We showcase the use of joint computational techniques in nonprofit research to serve two relevant goals: enhance the explanatory power and maintain the interpretability of predictive models.

Poverty and Academic Achievement in the Light of Teachers' Experiences and Perceptions: A Phenomenological Study

Purpose: The principal objective of this study is to elucidate the experiences and perceptions of teachers regarding poverty and academic achievement, and to ascertain the extent to which these experiences and perceptions are reflected in their professional practices. The research will analyze how teachers perceive the impact of poverty on students' academic achievement, how teachers' perceptions of poverty and academic achievement affect their teaching strategies and classroom practices, and which strategies teachers should develop to increase the academic achievement of poor students. Furthermore, the link between poverty and education will be evaluated through the eyes of teachers. Design/Methodology/Approach: This study was conducted with a qualitative, descriptive phenomenological research design and interpretive paradigm. The aim of this approach is to explore lived experiences, events or situations as they are, and to examine how these experiences are perceived and made sense of by individuals. The study sample comprises teachers employed in the Karatay, Meram and Selçuklu districts of Konya province. Ten teachers employed at Anatolian, Science and Social Sciences High Schools, which are distinguished by their academic excellence, were selected through the criterion sampling method, which is a sub-sample of the more commonly used purposeful sampling technique in qualitative research. A focus group interview was utilized as the primary data collection instrument in the study. The data analysis of the research was conducted using a descriptive phenomenological method with the NVIVO 14 software package. Findings: The research demonstrated that poverty has a detrimental impact on students' access to learning resources, the quality of practical education, motivational and emotional effects, academic performance and development. Conversely, it was determined that the implementation of strategies such as access to resources, academic support, motivation, and psychological assistance could prove effective in enhancing the academic performance of underprivileged students. Highlight: In regard to the interrelationship between poverty and education, the availability of resources, learning assistance, motivation, self-assurance, and psychological and social support have been demonstrated to enhance academic performance. Poverty has a profound impact on students' access to education, learning processes and academic achievement. The attainment of success in education is contingent upon both the individual efforts of the student and the socioeconomic conditions in which they live.

Exploring AI Amid the Hype: A Critical Reflection Around the Applications and Implications of AI in Journalism

Over the last decade, AI has increasingly been adopted by newsrooms in the form of different tools aiming to support journalists and augment the capabilities of the profession. The main idea behind the adoption of AI is that it can make journalists’ work more efficient, freeing them up from some repetitive or routine tasks while enhancing their research and storytelling techniques. Against this idea, and drawing on the concept of “hype”, we employ a critical reflection on the lens often used to talk about journalism and AI. We suggest that the severe sustainability crisis of journalism, rooted in growing pressure from platforms and major corporate competitors, changing news consumption habits and rituals and the growing technologization of news media, leads to the obsessive pursuit of technology in the absence of clear and research-informed strategies which cater to journalism’s civic role. As AI is changing and (re)shaping norms and practices associated with news making, many questions and debates are raised pertaining to the quality and plurality of outputs created by AI. Given the disproportionate attention paid to technological innovation with little interpretation, the present article explores how AI is impacting journalism. Additionally, using the political economy framework, we analyze the fundamental issues and challenges journalism is faced with in terms of both practices and professional sustainability. In the process, we untangle the AI hype and attempt to shed light on how AI can help journalism regain its civic role. We argue that despite the advantages AI provides to journalism, we should avoid the “shiny things perspective”, which tends to emphasize productivity and profitability, and rather focus on the constructive synergy of humans and machines to achieve the six or seven things journalism can do for democracy. Otherwise, we are heading toward “alien intelligence” which is agnostic to the core normative values of journalism.

The Effect of Financial Literacy, Lifestyle, and Self-Control on the Consumptive Behavior of Students

This study aims to determine the Influence of financial literacy, lifestyle, and self-control affect the consumptive behavior of students. The research method used is quantitative through the type of correlation research. The use of this research sample is students of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Economics with a total of 93 students. The research technique used Propotional Random Sampling and Accidental Sampling with data collection in this study by distributing questionnaires. Based on the results of data analysis, partially there is a positive influence on financial literacy variables with a t value> t table (2.187> 1.990), lifestyle variables with a t value> t table (7.047> 1.990), self-control variables with a t value> t table (2.772> 1.990). So that through simultaneous good impact between financial literacy variables, lifestyle, and self-control on consumptive behavior. This is evidenced by the value of F count> F table (19.951> 2.70) with a significant 5%. It can be concluded that partially or simultaneously the variables of financial literacy, lifestyle, and self-control have a positive effect on consumptive behavior. The results of the coefficient of determination test on variables X1, X2, and X3 are 0.382, this means that consumptive behavior is influenced by the variables of financial literacy (X1), lifestyle (X2), and self-control (X3) by 38.2% while the remaining 61.8% is influenced by other variables.

Big Data and Machine Learning in ESG Research*

AbstractThe wide applications of machine learning techniques to big data allow researchers to dig deep into novel large‐scale data sets, such as job postings, earnings calls, and news reports. They also equip researchers with powerful tools to study important but subtle/challenging topics that are impossible to explore before on a large scale, such as corporate culture and climate risk exposure. In this review, I survey various applications of different machine learning techniques in ESG research, beginning with foundational methods such as bag‐of‐words, progressing through topic modeling, word embedding, and BERT, and culminating with generative artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced machine learning approaches. I conclude by outlining future directions for using big data and machine learning in ESG research.

Silica Nanoparticle-Protein Aggregation and Protein Corona Formation Investigated with Scattering Techniques.

Protein-nanoparticle interactions and the resulting corona formation play crucial roles in the behavior and functionality of nanoparticles in biological environments. In this study, we present a comprehensive analysis of protein corona formation with superfolder green fluorescent protein (sfGFP) and bovine serum albumin in silica nanoparticle dispersions using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). For the first time, we subtracted the scattering of individual proteins in solution and individual nanoparticles from the protein-nanoparticle complexes. This approach effectively isolated the contributions of specific components within the corona. Our form factor analysis revealed consistent core-shell sphere thicknesses but varied attractive interaction strengths of the nanoparticle complexes, influenced by the protein corona and the surface properties of silica and aminated silica nanoparticles. Interestingly, fractal analysis of nanoparticles showed a transition from surface to mass fractals for sfGFP samples at high protein:nanoparticle molar ratios of over 264,000:1. DLS analysis highlighted aggregation behaviors, including the increasing size of protein-nanoparticle complexes and significant aggregation of both free proteins and complexes at ∼264,000 molar ratio. Large polydispersity and heterogeneous protein aggregation were observed at these high molar ratios. Both SAXS and DLS revealed transitions and changes in protein-nanoparticle interactions at molar ratios of 4000 to 44,000, consistent with corona formation, while pronounced aggregation was observed at a molar ratio of ∼264,000. These findings advance our understanding of the structural complexities in protein-nanoparticle association and suggest further avenues for refining characterization techniques in protein corona research.

Strengthening Tolerance Character as A Form of Civic Disposition Through Community Engagement In Multicultural Societies

The character of tolerance is important to be developed in a multicultural country like Indonesia. Communities in society need to be developed massively to participate in providing understanding related to diversity, tolerance, and peace. This community can play a role in strengthening the character of tolerance as a form of citizenship for Indonesian citizens. This study aims to describe the role of the community in strengthening the character of tolerance based on a multicultural society, and analyze the implications of activities to strengthen the character of tolerance by the community in developing civic character. This research uses a case study method with a qualitative approach and with research techniques in the form of interviews, observations, and documentation. The data analysis in this study uses the Miles, Huberman, and Saldana model, namely data collection, data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawn. The results of this study show that 1) the role of the SRILI community in strengthening the character of tolerance based on a multicultural society is by holding activities such as conflict resolution training, interfaith dialogue, and overcoming prejudice. 2) Strengthening the character of tolerance can have implications for civic dispositions such as respect for diversity, being inclusive and open, respecting minority rights, commitment to Pancasila, and training critical and reflective thinking skills.

Mproving the Quality of Human Resources at Private Universities in the Mekong Delta – Vietnam

The quality of human resources at private universities in the Mekong Delta is pivotal to the region’s socio-economic development and the success of its higher education system. Despite notable growth, these institutions face underqualified faculty, limited professional development, and insufficient industry partnerships, which hinder their ability to meet the demands of a competitive job market. This paper adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative research techniques to explore the key issues affecting human resource quality at private universities. Through surveys and interviews with faculty members, administrators, and industry stakeholders, the study gathers insights into current challenges and potential areas for improvement. Additionally, the research analyzes secondary data from policy documents, institutional reports, and case studies of successful models from other regions and countries. The findings emphasize the necessity of comprehensive faculty development programs, including ongoing professional training, research opportunities, and competitive compensation to attract and retain qualified educators. The study also underscores the importance of aligning academic programs with industry needs through enhanced collaboration between universities and businesses. Furthermore, government support in the form of policy reforms, funding, and quality assurance measures is deemed essential to create parity between public and private institutions. Moreover, the research highlights the need for digital transformation at private universities to address the rising demand for online and hybrid learning models. By leveraging a robust methodological framework, this research provides actionable strategies for private universities in the Mekong Delta to strengthen their human resource capabilities and produce a skilled workforce that supports regional and national development.

The role of ultrasound combined with water bath in the establishment of animal models of rat urethral stricture

Urinary tract injuries represent a significant clinical challenge, necessitating precise diagnosis and effective treatment strategies. Rat models are preferred for studying urinary tract injuries due to their size, visibility of external genitalia, and robust reproductive and growth capabilities. However, there is a lack of standardized methodologies for evaluating the endpoints of rat urinary tract injury models. This study aimed to investigate the methodology of model establishment, imaging evaluation techniques, and endpoint effectiveness. Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to groups, including a blank control group and surgical groups. The surgical groups underwent urethral injury induced by recombinant transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) solution, followed by the random selection of one surgical group (n = 6) to receive treatment with mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) exosomes. High-frequency ultrasonography using a GE E10 device combined with a water bath method was employed to evaluate the urethral conditions of all rats. Ultrasonographic characteristics were scored for all surgical group rats, and an intergroup analysis was conducted between the surgical group and the control group rats. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 22.0 software. Ultrasonographic assessment revealed significant differences in urethral echogenicity between the normal group and the surgical group, with noticeable changes in urethral morphology post-injury. Histopathological examination confirmed more severe urethral stenosis in the TGF group compared to the MSC group. High-frequency ultrasound could effectively differentiate between the two groups of rats. Additionally, there were significant differences in the scoring of ultrasonographic characteristics between the two groups. Urethral stricture presents a complex challenge in urology, often requiring invasive treatment modalities. The establishment of animal models plays a crucial role in understanding and addressing this condition. TGF-β1 induced fibrosis and MSC therapy represent promising avenues for urethral stricture management. High-frequency ultrasound combined with the immersion method offers a non-invasive and cost-effective approach for evaluating rat urethral stricture models. This study highlights the practicality of high-frequency ultrasound combined with the water bath method in evaluating rat urethral stricture models, as it can effectively differentiate between rats in the pure TGF-β1 induced group and those in the MSC treatment group based on urethral changes. The results underscore the importance of standardized methodologies for model assessment and the potential of non-invasive imaging techniques in preclinical research. Overall, this study contributes to advancing our understanding of urinary system injuries and holds implications for future therapeutic interventions in urology.

Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Markers Based on Hyper-Seq Revealed the Genetic Diversity and Genetic Relationship of Horsfieldia hainanensis in China

Horsfieldia hainanensis is China’s second-class key protected wild plant with high scientific research, timber, and medicinal values. In this study, the SNP molecular marker technology was used to determine the genetic diversity, genetic structure, genetic differentiation, genetic relationship, and its influencing factors of H. hainanensis populations. It provided a scientific basis for the formulation of its protection strategy. The results showed that (1) the genetic diversity of H. hainanensis populations exhibited a very low level (π = 0.0011). (2) The overall genetic differentiation of H. hainanensis populations was relatively large. There was a significant genetic differentiation between Hainan populations and Guangxi and Yunnan populations on the mainland (FST = 0.556); the genetic differentiation between Guangxi and Yunnan populations was relatively smaller (FST = 0.242). There is a natural water barrier around Hainan Island that reduces the gene exchange between island populations and mainland populations. Therefore, geographical isolation is one of the main factors affecting the genetic differentiation of H. hainanensis populations (p = 0.0103 < 0.05). (3) The genetic relationship between Hainan populations and Yunnan and Guangxi populations was relatively distant, while the genetic relationship between Yunnan and Guangxi populations was relatively closer. In conclusion, it is recommended that during in situ protection, the Guangxi population with higher genetic diversity should be preferentially protected, especially the populations in NG and SL should be regarded as the key protected populations of wild populations. The gene exchange between Yunnan population (MLP) and Guangxi populations (NG, SL, DX1, and DX2) should be enhanced by means of artificial pollination in different localities. During ex situ protection, the germplasm resource collection work of the population (NG, SL) with higher genetic diversity should be carried out preferentially. The technical research on tissue culture and rapid propagation should be actively carried out. A germplasm resource nursery should be established. The individuals should be planted according to provenance and family, but the planting distance between individuals can be appropriately reduced to increase the gene exchange between individuals and make up for the defects during in situ protection.

Mapping Hotspots and Emerging Trends in Global Wetlands Research: A Scientometric Analysis (2002–2022)

Recent studies have focused on wetlands due to their benefits for human spiritual satisfaction and mental health. This paper conducted a scientometric analysis of 2,388 studies published in the Web of Science database between 2002 and 2022. Using VOSviewer, Origin, and CiteSpace software, this study identified research hotspots and emerging trends in wetland research. The analysis revealed an upward trend in global wetland research publications, with notable contributions from researchers in the United States, China, Australia, Canada, and India. Network keyword co-occurrence analysis highlighted primary research themes, including constructed wetlands, climate change, wastewater treatment, phytoremediation, restoration, and hydrology. The United States emerged as the central hotspot for wetland research, with China, Canada, Australia, and other countries following. Given the growing recognition of wetlands' importance, wetland research is expected to gain even more global attention. Moreover, improvements in the quality of wetland tourism research are recommended, as most related publications have low citation rates. This paper provides a methodological overview of scientometric techniques applicable to global wetland research, offering scholars a framework for using scientometric analysis to enhance their future research. The increasing recognition of wetlands' crucial role in human well-being, encompassing both spiritual satisfaction and mental health, has led to a surge in research interest in this field. This study presents a comprehensive scientometric analysis of 2,388 wetland-related publications indexed in the Web of Science database between 2002 and 2022. Employing VOSviewer, Origin, and CiteSpace software, we mapped research hotspots and identified emerging trends within global wetland research. Our analysis reveals a significant upward trend in the volume of publications, highlighting the growing international attention to wetland ecosystems. The United States, China, Australia, Canada, and India have emerged as leading contributors to this research landscape. A network keyword co-occurrence analysis identified core research themes such as constructed wetlands, climate change, wastewater treatment, phytoremediation, ecological restoration, and hydrology. The United States is a central hub for wetland research, with China, Canada, and Australia also demonstrating substantial research activity. Given the escalating importance of wetlands in addressing global challenges, this research area is expected to attract further scholarly attention. We recommend a greater emphasis on enhancing the quality and impact of wetland tourism research, which currently exhibits low citation rates. Furthermore, this paper provides a methodological framework, demonstrating the application of scientometric techniques in global wetland research, thus empowering scholars to utilise such analytical approaches to refine their research. Our study offers a valuable and comprehensive overview of the key research areas, emerging topics, and influential contributors within the field of global wetland research.

Optimization of chemical transfection in airway epithelial cell lines

BackgroundChemical transfection is a widely employed technique in airway epithelium research, enabling the study of gene expression changes and effects. Additionally, it has been explored for its potential application in delivering gene therapies. Here, we characterize the transfection efficiency of EX-EGFP-Lv105, an EGFP-expressing plasmid into three cell lines commonly used to model the airway epithelium (1HAEo-, 16HBE14o-, and NCI-H292).ResultsWe used six common and/or commercially available reagents with varying chemical compositions: Lipofectamine 3000 (L3000), FuGENE HD, ViaFect, jetOPTIMUS, EndoFectin, and calcium phosphate. Using L3000, 1HAEo- exhibited the highest transfection efficiency compared to 16HBE14o- and NCI-H292 (1HAEo-: 76.1 ± 3.2%, 16HBE14o-: 35.5 ± 1.2%, NCI-H292: 28.9 ± 2.23%). L3000 yielded the greatest transfection efficiency with the lowest impact on cellular viability, normalized to control, with a 11.3 ± 0.16% reduction in 1HAEo-, 16.3 ± 0.08% reduction in 16HBE14o-, and 17.5 ± 0.09% reduction in NCI-H292 at 48-hour post-transfection. However, jetOPTIMUS had a similar transfection efficiency in 1HAEo- (90.7 ± 4.2%, p = 0.94), but had significantly reduced cellular viability of 37.4 ± 0.11% (p < 0.0001) compared to L3000. In 16HBE14o-, jetOPTIMUS yielded a significantly higher transfection efficiency compared to L3000 (64.6 ± 3.2%, p < 0.0001) but significantly reduced viability of 33.4 ± 0.09% (p < 0.0001) compared to L3000. In NCI-H292, jetOPTIMUS yielded a lower transfection efficiency (22.6 ± 1.2%) with a significant reduction in viability (28.3 ± 0.9%, p < 0.0001). Other reagents varied significantly in their efficiency and impact on cellular viability in other cell lines. Changing the transfection mixture-containing medium at 6-hour post-transfection did not improve transfection efficiency or viability. However, pre-treatment of cell cultures with two rinses of 0.25% trypsin-EDTA improved transfection efficiency in 1HAEo- (85.2 ± 1.1% vs. 71.3 ± 1.0%, p = 0.004) and 16HBE14o- (62.6 ± 4.3 vs. 35.5 ± 1.2, p = 0.003).ConclusionsTransfection efficiencies can differ based on airway epithelial cell line, reagents, and optimization techniques used. Consideration and optimization of cell line and transfection conditions may be useful for improving nonviral genetic techniques in vitro.

From the Mosaic approach to cultural probes: why research improves when participants can choose

ABSTRACT In this article, we argue for increased participant choice in early years research and beyond. Drawing on relevant literature and our own empirical work, we demonstrate that giving participants more choice leads to richer data and more robust findings. We also show that more choice for participants is closely aligned with co-creation and participatory action research (PAR) techniques. We discuss the ethical reasons for moving away from the paternalistic, top-down research models which permeated most twentieth century research, and towards more collaborative methods which value the autonomy and expertise of participants, and others involved in the research, and so promote equality.

The Constitutional Right of Collective Property of Quilombola Communities and the State's Action for its Achievement in Brazil

Objective: the objective of this study is to investigate the role of the State in the processes of granting collective property titles to quilombola communities in Brazil. Theoretical Framework: the theory of coloniality of power, developed by Aníbal Quijano, guides this research. The concept of coloniality of power is related to the fact that European colonization of Latin American territories influences current power relations. It provides a basis for the development of the research, especially by contributing to the understanding of the reasons why the rights of quilombola communities have not yet been fully realized. Method: the method used is hypothetical-deductive, with the bibliographic review technique. The documentary research technique is also used, with the analysis of documents from the National Institute of Colonization and Agrarian Reform (INCRA) on the administrative processes for granting quilombola titles. Results and Discussion: the results of the research show that the administrative processes for granting collective property titles to quilombola communities in Brazil are bureaucratic and time-consuming, requiring specific legal and technical advice, which most quilombola communities do not have. In the discussions, the coloniality of power is present in state action, since most quilombola territories are not titled, despite the fact that Decree No. 4,887/2003, which regulates the territorial rights of these peoples, is over 20 years old. Research Implications: the research implies contributing to theoretical discussions regarding quilombola territorial rights. Originality/Value: which is an emerging theme in the country, with potential impact on the search for solutions to the problems of quilombola land regularization.

CTCNet: a fine-grained classification network for fluorescence images of circulating tumor cells.

The identification and categorization of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in peripheral blood are imperative for advancing cancer diagnostics and prognostics. The intricacy of various CTCs subtypes, coupled with the difficulty in developing exhaustive datasets, has impeded progress in this specialized domain. To date, no methods have been dedicated exclusively to overcoming the classification challenges of CTCs. To address this deficit, we have developed CTCDet, a large-scale dataset meticulously annotated based on the distinctive pathological characteristics of CTCs, aimed at advancing the application of deep learning techniques in oncological research. Furthermore, we introduce CTCNet, an innovative hybrid architecture that merges the capabilities of CNNs and Transformers to achieve precise classification of CTCs. This architecture features the Parallel Token mixer, which integrates local window self-attention with large-kernel depthwise convolution, enhancing the network's ability to model intricate channel and spatial relationships. Additionally, the Deformable Large Kernel Attention (DLKAttention) module leverages deformable convolution and large-kernel operations to adeptly delineate the nuanced features of CTCs, substantially boosting classification efficacy. Comprehensive evaluations on the CTCDet dataset validate the superior performance of CTCNet, confirming its ability to outperform other general methods in accurate cell classification. Moreover, the generalizability of CTCNet has been established across various datasets, establishing its robustness and applicability. What is more, our proposed method can lead to clinical applications and provide some help in assisting cancer diagnosis and treatment. Code and Data are available at https://github.com/JasonWu404/CTCs_Classification .

Implementasi Pendekatan Saintifik (K13) pada Pembelajaran Fikih di Yayasan Perguruan Islam Azizi

This study aims to describe the implementation of the scientific approach (K13) in fiqh learning at Yayasan Perguruan Islam Azizi. The research used a qualitative method with field research and data collection techniques through observation, interviews, and documentation. Data analysis techniques included data reduction, data presentation, and verification or conclusion drawing. The data validity technique adopted the interactive model (Miles and Huberman). The results indicate that Yayasan Perguruan Islam Azizi still uses the 2013 curriculum (K13). Based on observations and interviews, the fiqh teachers at Yayasan Perguruan Islam Azizi have implemented the scientific approach in the learning process. This approach involves applying scientific steps such as observing, questioning, gathering information, reasoning, and communicating. It is expected to enhance students' understanding and skills in fiqh material and build critical and analytical thinking abilities. Thus, the implementation of the scientific approach in fiqh learning holds significant potential for continuous application to improve the quality of Islamic education.

Assessing the Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Programs in Reducing Anxiety and Depression in Chronic Illness Patients

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program in mitigating anxiety and depression levels in patients suffering from chronic illnesses. To this end, qualitative research techniques were employed, encompassing in-depth interviews and participant observation, in order to gather data from a cohort of twelve patients who had engaged in the MBSR program for a duration of 8 weeks at Sam Marie Clinic.Thematic analysis was subsequently implemented for the purpose of data analysis. Findings indicated that the MBSR program effectively reduced anxiety and depression levels by fostering heightened self-awareness, acceptance of emotions, and effective stress management.The study's findings offer crucial insights for the advancement of mindfulness-based psychosocial interventions in chronic disease patient care.