Search Results (14,739)

Researching teachers’ 21st-century competences is critical for developing a sustainable, quality educational environment and accomplishing the objective of quality education. A lifelong learning philosophy ensures teacher development, paving the way for quality education (SDG4). In this study, a valid and reliable scale was established to provide the target group of middle school teachers with 21st-century abilities to enhance their quality teaching process and long-term professional growth. In this context, the developed scale has 33 items. The factor analysis results revealed that the scale is three-dimensional and accounts for 63.66% of the overall variation. Furthermore, second-order confirmatory factor analysis confirmed that the proposed model satisfied the acceptable fit criteria. Positive correlations between factors were observed, and reliability analysis revealed a high internal consistency (α = 0.947), thereby validating the scale’s reliability, validity, and practical utility. In conclusion, the scale developed is a valuable assessment tool for assessing teachers’ 21st-century skills, and the data gathered from it can help improve secondary teacher quality and create professional development programs. In this regard, contributions will be made to the development of long-term policies. Teacher development should be considered critical to achieving “quality education”, which is one of the Sustainable Development Goals. Full article

Background/Objectives: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the leading causes of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis (VAT), with a worldwide spread of difficult-to-treat high-risk clones. This study aimed to investigate the virulence potential and to characterize phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in P. aeruginosa causing VAP/VAT in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), University Hospital of Split, Croatia. Methods: The study included P. aeruginosa isolates obtained from ICU patients who met the criteria for VAP or VAT, between January 2023 and January 2024. Isolates were identified using MALDI-TOF MS and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility (AST). A subset of phenotypically multidrug-resistant (MDR) isolates was further analyzed using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and multilocus sequence typing. Results: A high rate of resistance was detected to ceftazidime (23.4%), imipenem (39.6%), and meropenem (43.8%). WGS confirmed the presence of multiple AMR genes, including the bla_VIM-2 gene, whose genetic environment highlights a complex MDR locus integrating multiple AMR determinants and mobile genetic elements. All tested isolates possessed genes for class C (bla_PDC34, bla_PDC374 or bla_PDC16) and class D (bla_OXA-2, bla_OXA-10 or bla_OXA-50) β-lactamases, fosA, aph(3′)-IIb and crpP genes. Additionally, WGS analysis revealed the presence of numerous virulence genes including those for adherence (Type IV pili and Fap protein production), motility (such as flgF), biofilm formation (e.g., algE and mucE), quorum sensing (lasI, lasR, rhlI and rhlR), exotoxin (toxA and plcH) and exoenzyme activity (exoU, exoT, exoS, exoY, pcrV, hcp1 and lasA). The isolates belonged to four different sequence types: ST235, ST446, the high-risk ST253 and the widely distributed ST395. Phylogenomic comparison demonstrated that the isolates from this study do not originate from a single clonal source, but instead represent multiple globally distributed high-risk P. aeruginosa lineages introduced into the clinical setting. Conclusions: Due to the emergence of high-risk clones with broad AMR and strong virulence potential, ineffectiveness of standard empirical therapy may be anticipated, highlighting the urgent need for new therapeutic approaches (including those targeting major virulence factors). Full article

Endophytic fungi enhance plant growth and stress resilience, yet their molecular roles in the roots of the endangered tree Phoebe bournei remain unclear. A comparative RNA-seq analysis was performed on root transcriptomes from wild, endophyte-colonized adult trees (OT) and axenically grown seedlings (ST). Unmapped reads were analyzed against the NCBI nucleotide (NT) database using BLASTN (v2.17.0), revealing Rhizophagus irregularis as the predominant endophytic fungus. Differential expression analysis identified 5891 DEGs, which were significantly enriched in pathways related to plant–pathogen interactions, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, plant hormone signal transduction, and MAPK signaling. Key upregulated genes included PbMPK3, PbCML42, PbCML41.2, and PbGSTU28, suggesting enhanced ROS scavenging, calcium signaling, and defense activation. RT-qPCR validation confirmed the transcriptomic trends for selected genes. Our findings reveal that root endophytic fungi modulate a coordinated network involving immune priming, phytohormone regulation, and redox homeostasis, thereby supporting root development and enhancing resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses in P. bournei. This study provides foundational molecular insights into beneficial plant–endophyte interactions and identifies candidate genes that are valuable for the conservation and breeding of this threatened species. Full article

Background and Objective: Colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastasis (CRLM) represents a major clinical challenge, and acquired resistance to radiotherapy (RT) significantly limits therapeutic efficacy. A deep and comprehensive understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving RT resistance is urgently required to develop effective combination strategies. Here, we aimed to dissect the dynamic cellular landscape of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and identify key epigenetic regulators mediating radioresistance in CRLM by integrating cutting-edge single-cell and spatial omics technologies. Methods and Results: We performed integrated single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and spatial transcriptomics (ST) on matched pre- and post-radiotherapy tumor tissues collected from three distinct CRLM patients. Employing a robust machine-learning framework on the multi-omics data, we successfully identified MORF4L1 (Mortality Factor 4 Like 1), an epigenetic reader, as a critical epigenetic mediator of acquired radioresistance. High-resolution scRNA-seq analysis of the tumor cell compartment revealed that the MORF4L1-high subpopulation exhibited significant enrichment in DNA damage repair (DDR) pathways, heightened activity of multiple pro-survival metabolic pathways, and robust signatures of immune evasion. Pseudotime trajectory analysis further confirmed that RT exposure drives tumor cells toward a highly resistant state, marked by a distinct increase in MORF4L1 expression. Furthermore, cell–cell communication inference demonstrated a pronounced, systemic upregulation of various immunosuppressive signaling axes within the TME following RT. Crucially, high-resolution ST confirmed these molecular and cellular interactions in their native context, revealing a significant spatial co-localization of MORF4L1-expressing tumor foci with multiple immunosuppressive immune cell types, including regulatory T cells (Tregs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), thereby underscoring its role in TME-mediated resistance. Conclusions: Our comprehensive spatial and single-cell profiling establishes MORF4L1 as a pivotal epigenetic regulator underlying acquired radioresistance in CRLM. These findings provide a compelling mechanistic rationale for combining radiotherapy with the targeted inhibition of MORF4L1, presenting a promising new therapeutic avenue to overcome treatment failure and improve patient outcomes in CRLM. Full article

Background: Hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA quinate hydroxycinnamoyl-transferase (HQT) is an essential enzyme for chlorogenic acid (CGA) biosynthesis in plants. Multiple HQT-encoding genes potentially involved in CGA synthesis in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) have been predicted. However, the functions of these genes have not been verified. Methods: In this study, the gene IbHQT1 was isolated from the sweet potato cultivar ‘Nanshu-88’ and functionally characterized using transgenic technology. Results: IbHQT1 encodes a protein comprising 431 amino acids, with conserved HXXXD and DFGWG motifs characteristic of BAHD acyltransferase family members. A phylogenetic analysis indicated that IbHQT1 has a close evolutionary relationship with StHQT in Solanum tuberosum. According to qPCR data, IbHQT1 is highly expressed in young leaves, and its expression is affected by exogenous MeJA (100 µM), ABA (100 µM), GA₃ (50 µM), and SA (100 µM). Analyses of cis-acting regulatory elements indicated that the IbHQT1 promoter contains multiple elements responsive to MeJA, ABA, SA, GA₃, and light. In plants overexpressing IbHQT1, CGA contents in mature leaves and storage roots increased 1.30- to 1.44-fold and 1.28- to 1.43-fold, respectively. Conversely, in IbHQT1-RNAi lines, CGA contents in mature leaves and storage roots decreased by 16–38% and 18–40%, respectively. Conclusions: These findings indicate that IbHQT1 positively regulates CGA biosynthesis in sweet potato plants. Full article

Streptococcus agalactiae is a major cause of bovine mastitis, which affects the quality and yield of milk. The main strategy for controlling this pathogen on dairy farms is the use of antibiotics. This study investigated the clonality, serotype distribution, antimicrobial susceptibility, and presence of resistance and virulence genes in 46 S. agalactiae isolates obtained from raw bovine milk in northeastern Brazil. Capsular types were determined using multiplex PCR and antibiotic susceptibility profiles were determined using disc diffusion or the gradient strip method. Clonal diversity was evaluated via pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Eight isolates were sequenced using short- and long-read methods. There was high overall genetic diversity, whereas the resistance and virulence profiles were largely homogeneous within herds. Tetracycline and macrolide resistance was frequent and mediated by tetO and ermB and less frequently by tetM. Genome analysis demonstrated that resistance genes are present in mobile genetic elements that are also present in human isolates, and phylogenomic analyses identified ST-103 as the predominant and multi-host-adapted lineage, whereas ST-91 clustered with the bovine-adapted lineage. These findings expand the molecular epidemiology of S. agalactiae in dairy farms of a region in northeast Brazil and highlight the importance of surveillance strategies for guiding mastitis control and mitigating the spread of antimicrobial resistance. Full article

OsHKT1;1, a member of the high-affinity K⁺ transporter (HKT) family, plays a key role in Na⁺ homeostasis and salinity tolerance in rice. In our previous study, multiple potential OsHKT1;1 splicing variants were identified, as well as the full-length (FL) OsHKT1;1 transcript from the salt-tolerant rice Pokkali. However, most previous studies focused solely on the full-length protein, leaving the transport functions of splice variants largely unexamined. In this study, we focused on the splice variant OsHKT1;1-V2 and compared its function and gene expression with those of OsHKT1;1-FL. Two-electrode voltage clamp experiments using Xenopus laevis oocytes revealed that the 1st start codon of OsHKT1;1-V2 is functional to exhibit bidirectional currents in bath solutions containing NaCl. Unlike the Na⁺-selective feature of OsHKT1;1-FL, OsHKT1;1-V2 primarily mediated Cl⁻ transport with weak Na⁺ selectivity, which was supported by the higher Cl⁻ accumulation in OsHKT1;1-V2–expressing oocytes. Subcellular localization analyses using oocytes and Arabidopsis mesophyll cells indicated plasma membrane localization of OsHKT1;1-V2, similar to OsHKT1;1-FL. Functional assays using a yeast mutant further indicated that OsHKT1;1-FL, but not OsHKT1;1-V2, mediates Na⁺ uptake. The same OsHKT1;1 variants were identified in the japonica cultivar Nipponbare, and OsHKT1;1-V2 of the cultivar showed Cl⁻ transport properties similar to the one from Pokkali. Quantitative PCR analyses revealed higher abundance of OsHKT1;1-FL transcripts in Nipponbare than in Pokkali with markedly lower OsHKT1;1-V2 levels in Pokkali under salt stress. This study provides a new insight into HKT-mediated ion homeostasis under salinity stress. Full article

Biopolymer-based films have attracted increasing attention as sustainable and bioactive materials for wound management. Among them, chitosan (CTS) and starch (ST) blend represent promising candidate due to their natural origin, biodegradability, and intrinsic biological activity; however, their mechanical weakness and limited stability necessitate additional modification. This study reports the development and characterization of CTS-ST thin films crosslinked with dialdehyde alginate (ADA), synthesized via controlled oxidation. Two ADA variants differing in aldehyde group content were prepared to investigate the effect of crosslinking on the structural, physicochemical, and biological performance of the materials. The films were fabricated by blending 2% w/v CTS and ST in varying mass ratios (75/25, 50/50, and 25/75), followed by the addition of ADA (5% w/w) and glycerol (5% w/w) as a plasticizer. The mixtures were then cast onto plates and dried under ambient conditions. Comprehensive characterization included Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, moisture content analysis, contact angle measurements, antioxidant activity assay, hemolysis testing, and cytotoxicity evaluation using human keratinocyte cells. The results demonstrated that both the ADA variant and CTS/ST ratio significantly influenced crosslinking efficiency, hydrophilicity, and antioxidant behavior. All samples exhibited non-hemolytic behavior and no significant cytotoxic effects, indicating their favorable biocompatibility. The combination of biostability, antioxidant ability, and absence of cytotoxic effects highlights the potential of ADA-crosslinking CTS/ST films for further development as wound dressing materials and other biomedical applications. Full article

Quantum technology, a critical 21st-century strategic frontier science, has been a key technological competition between China and the U.S. This study employs natural language processing (NLP) techniques and a technology analytical framework to analyze the quantum technology policies of both countries. While the U.S. emphasized free-market innovation and global technological leadership on quantum technology from 2018 to 2024, China prioritized government-led development and socioeconomic stability. Moreover, the Chinese government adopts a systematic top-down approach characterized by government planning and direct intervention. However, the U.S. fosters innovation through market mechanisms and industry-academia collaboration. U.S. policies have gradually shifted from pure technological innovation to national security considerations. On the other hand, China has moved from breakthrough research to industrial deployment and application. These policy differences reflect distinct political systems and governance models, which may also resonate with their respective cultural traditions and philosophical foundations. Our findings fill a critical gap in comparative quantum technology policy research, offering significant insights for policymakers, researchers, and international stakeholders. Full article

Background: Catheter ablation is a validated treatment for ventricular arrhythmias (VA), but conventional radiofrequency (RF) energy may cause collateral injury due to non-selective thermal damage. Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA), a non-thermal modality based on irreversible electroporation, offers myocardial tissue selectivity and enhanced safety. While PFA is widely adopted for atrial arrhythmias’ ablation, its application in the ventricles remains an evolving frontier. Methods: We report a single-center experience using the Centauri PFA system integrated with a focal, contact-force sensing irrigated catheter (Tacticath™ SE, Abbott Laboratories, St. Paul, MN, USA) in four consecutive patients with drug-refractory VA. Two patients presented with frequent premature ventricular complexes (PVC) arising from the right and left ventricular outflow tract, respectively, while two had ischemic cardiomyopathy with recurrent scar-related ventricular tachycardia (VT). All procedures were guided by high-density mapping using the EnSite X system (Abbott Laboratories, St. Paul, MN, USA). Procedural safety, acute efficacy, and early follow-up outcomes were assessed. Results: All ablations achieved acute procedural success without complications. In both PVC cases, PFA led to immediate and complete suppression of ectopy, with a ≥95% reduction in arrhythmic burden at 12- and 9-months follow-up, respectively. In the VT cases, the arrhythmogenic substrate was effectively modified, rendering the clinical VT non-inducible. ICD interrogation during a 9-month follow-up showed complete absence of recurrent sustained VT. No coronary spasm, atrioventricular block, pericardial effusion, or other adverse events occurred. Conclusions: In this initial experience, focal PFA using a contact-force sensing catheter appeared feasible and effective for both focal and scar-related VA. This system provides an intuitive workflow similar to RF ablation. While our data suggest a favourable safety profile, larger studies are required to definitively confirm safety margins near critical structures. Full article

Improving the thermal performance of building envelopes is an effective approach for reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions in cold and heating-dominated regions. This study presents an experimentally calibrated thermal–economic optimization of external wall insulation systems for residential buildings in Northwest China, using Xi’an as a representative cold–dry continental climate. A guarded hot-box apparatus was employed to measure the steady-state thermal transmittance (U-value) of multilayer wall assemblies incorporating expanded polystyrene (EPS), extruded polystyrene (XPS), and rock wool at different insulation thicknesses. The measured U-values were integrated into a dynamic building energy simulation model (DeST-h), and the simulated energy demand was subsequently evaluated through life-cycle cost (LCC) analysis to identify cost-optimal insulation configurations. The results indicate a nonlinear reduction in heating energy demand with increasing insulation thickness, with diminishing marginal returns beyond approximately 50 mm. Among the investigated materials, XPS exhibits the most favorable thermal–economic performance. For the climatic and economic conditions of Xi’an, a 50 mm XPS insulation layer minimizes total life-cycle cost while reducing annual building energy consumption by approximately 23–24% compared with the uninsulated reference case. This experimentally calibrated framework provides practical and policy-relevant guidance for insulation design and retrofit strategies in cold and dry regions. Full article

This study presents the design, implementation, and experimental validation of an integrated fastening monitoring platform for vehicle ground equipment, aimed at supporting structural maintenance and operational safety. Rather than introducing a fundamentally new sensing principle, the work focuses on the system-level integration and verification of existing sensing, communication, and control technologies for reliable bolt loosening detection and torque-controlled pneumatic fastening. The proposed platform consists of a Smart Control Gateway (SCG), a Signal Transducer Socket (STS), and a Smart Washer Set (SWS), incorporating smart nuts and clamping-force sensing washers for M50 and M35 bolts. Sub-GHz wireless RF communication and wired RS-485 transmission are employed to provide scalable and robust connectivity among system components. The SCG hardware and firmware are fully implemented and verified, enabling continuous acquisition and transmission of fastening-state data. Experimental evaluations include functional verification, mechanical integration tests, and durability assessments. The smart washers demonstrate stable sensing performance over 100 assembly and disassembly cycles without observable degradation. The STS is validated through 200,000 impact cycles under intermittent loading conditions (3 s impact, 3 s pause), confirming its suitability for repeated industrial operation. Real-time data transmission tests verify the system’s capability to detect bolt loosening events induced by vibration or external interference. The results indicate that the proposed platform provides a practical and reliable solution for fastening-state monitoring in safety-relevant ground equipment. This work contributes validated engineering evidence for deploying integrated smart fastening systems in industrial maintenance applications and establishes a foundation for future studies on environmental robustness, false-alarm characterization, and real-time performance guarantees. Full article

Incorporating STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) into early childhood education has been associated with children’s holistic development. STEM education not only enhances critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, and other 21st-century skills but also contributes significantly to cognitive growth, emotional regulation, and social abilities. Within the early childhood context, the use of play and toys emerges as a natural and powerful medium for introducing STEM concepts in developmentally appropriate and engaging ways. Play and toys have a prominent role, and previous studies have provided strong evidence on their educational benefits. Toys enhanced with technological characteristics (Technology-Enhanced Toys—TETs), such as coding and interactive toys, are increasingly being viewed as cultural tools that mediate learning and nurture cognitive and collaborative skills among young learners. However, the impact TETs have on young children’s STEM learning remains largely unexplored. This qualitative observational study, grounded in a socio-cultural perspective, explored how 37 children aged 3 to 4 years in four early childhood settings in Greece exhibited STEM-related behaviours during free play with technology-enhanced toys. Data were collected through systematic video recordings and written observations over a three-month period that involved interacting with various TETs, such as Bee-Bot, Coko Robot, a remote-controlled dog, and others. Results indicate that playing with TETs enhanced problem-solving, computational thinking, and collaboration, thus affirming the positive influence of digital technology and the potential of TETs to enrich early STEM education. Implications for equity, the importance of teachers’ professional development in effectively integrating TETs into early childhood curricula and the need for further research will also be discussed. Full article

Background: Pectus excavatum (PE) is the most common congenital chest wall deformity, affecting approximately 1 in 400 live births. Although familial clustering supports a genetic contribution, the molecular basis of PE remains poorly defined. This systematic review synthesizes existing evidence on genetic variants associated with PE to guide future genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses. Methods: A comprehensive systematic search was conducted across all electronic databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and arXiv, from inception to November 2025. Nine studies met the inclusion criteria. The search strategy utilized the terms “pectus excavatum”, “genetic variants”, “SNPs”, and “GWAS”, combined with Boolean operators. Eligible studies reported genetic associations, family-based analyses, or mechanistic investigations. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale was used to assess study quality. Results: No population-level GWAS of isolated PE was identified. Fourteen genetic loci were reported across diverse study designs, including family-based exome sequencing (REST, SMAD4, COL5A1, COL5A2), case reports (COL1A1, COL27A1, NF1, BICD2, PTPN11), candidate gene analyses (ACAN), mouse models (GPR126, GAL3ST4), and linkage analysis implicating chromosome 18q. These genes converge on four key biological pathways: extracellular matrix and collagen metabolism, TGF-β/BMP signaling, cartilage development, and transcriptional regulation. Importantly, none of the included studies reported SNP-level effect sizes, allele frequencies, or odds ratios, precluding construction of valid MR instruments. Conclusions: Current genetic evidence for PE is largely derived from rare variants and family-based studies, with no population-level GWAS available. This critical gap limits causal inference, underscoring the urgent need for large-scale international GWAS to identify common variants and clarify the genetic architecture of PE. Full article

This study analyzes the observed patterns of Generative Artificial Intelligence (Generative AI) use by students in higher education through the lens of the sociotechnical systems (STS) theory, focusing on the academic subsystem. The empirical basis is a survey of 2083 students (3686 responses) from seven countries in Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Central Africa. Based on these data, two proxy indicators are proposed: A₁, reflecting the overall academic use of Generative AI and A₂, characterizing the use of Generative AI in a research context. The results show that Generative AI is widely incorporated into students’ academic activities (A₁ = 79.06%), while research-oriented use remains less common (A₂ = 46.66%) and varies significantly across subsamples. A joint analysis of A₁ and A₂, visualized as a zoned space A₁–A₂, reveals different configurations of academic practices: from a predominance of routine educational use to a more pronounced focus on research tasks. Cross-country comparisons show that in certain contexts (e.g., Kazakhstan and one of the Ukrainian subsamples), Generative AI is more often used in a research context, while in other cases, its use remains predominantly educational and routine. In this sense, the results indicate that Generative AI is beginning to fulfill the role of an emerging student research assistant in students’ academic life: technology has already become a familiar tool for completing educational tasks, but its use in supporting research activities remains fragmented. The proposed model and proxy indicators allow us to describe and compare current configurations of Generative AI use in the academic subsystem. The obtained results provide a basis for further research aimed at a deeper understanding of the factors determining the inclusion of Generative AI in student research practice, as well as for the development of management approaches regarding its use in higher education. Full article