Search Results (49)

Scientific creativity depends not only on what learners know but also on how knowledge is organized, yet evidence in scientific domains remains limited. Across two experiments, we examined whether knowledge structures predict scientific divergent thinking and whether knowledge form shapes creativity through its effects on these structures. Undergraduate students completed the Scientific Divergent Application Task (SDAT), which requires generating novel applications based on learned scientific principles. In Pilot Experiment (n = 39), semantic memory networks constructed from participants’ knowledge representations revealed that network connectivity and efficiency were positively associated with better SDAT performance, whereas recall accuracy was unrelated. In Experiment 2 (n = 126), holding informational content constant, knowledge forms significantly influenced performance: both associative and schematic knowledge promoted scientific divergent thinking more effectively than case-based knowledge, whereas schematic knowledge further demonstrated advantages in originality and knowledge network connectivity and efficiency. These findings suggest that knowledge organization, rather than retention alone, underlies individual differences in scientific creativity, and that schematic presentation may support creative application by fostering more efficient knowledge structures. Full article

How did a school of Daoist internal alchemy flourish in the Ming and Qing dynasties without formal ordination, institutional affiliation, or a lineage of disciples? This paper challenges the conventional paradigms of Daoist transmission by examining the case of Lu Xixing 陸西星 (1520–1606), the founder of the Eastern Lineage (Dongpai 東派). Drawing on newly unearthed sources, including local gazetteers, Lu’s poetry collection Kouyin manlu 鷇音漫錄, a long-hidden manuscript Sanzang zhenquan 三藏真詮, and original fieldwork materials, this paper reveals that Lu’s multifaceted interactions with the local gentry class fostered what I term “gentry alchemy”. This gentry alchemy provided an alternative “covert” pathway for the transmission of the Eastern Lineage, operating outside formal Daoist institutions through patronage networks. The paper examines three mechanisms of gentry support: funding publications, engaging in intellectual exchanges, and providing access to elite political networks. It then analyzes motivations behind gentry patronage, including state religious policy, the perceived orthodoxy of Lu’s spirit-written revelations, and his innovative visualization of alchemical theory. The paper argues that gentry alchemy emerged from the demographic pressures that drove disenfranchised literati to convert scholarly capital into religious authority. This configuration was characterized by four features: Confucian-Daoist synthesis, the Neo-Confucian schematization and demystification of alchemical knowledge, promotion of dual cultivation (xingming shuangxiu 性命雙修), and the substitution of revelatory authority grounded in spirit-writing for the institutional authority of master-disciple lineages. Finally, the paper elaborates on the functions of gentry alchemy, showing how it offered literati both spiritual refuge and political capital, marked elite status, and shaped local society through temple construction and village lectures. The Eastern Lineage thus exemplifies a mode of alchemical transmission embedded not in monastic institutions but in the textual and social fabric of gentry life. This case illuminates both the spiritual world of Ming literati and the structural transformations of Chinese religion in late imperial China. Full article

Although self-administered antigen tests are widely available, anatomical knowledge of nasal anatomy in the general population is limited. Cerebrospinal fluid leakage has been reported in multiple cases following damage to the roof of the nasal cavity due to accidental penetration of the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone. Methods: Images of anatomical prosections used for teaching in the Dissection Room of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Barcelona were obtained to illustrate the viable pathway to the nasopharynx through the inferior meatus, below the inferior turbinate. Screenshots from publicly available videos produced by the author demonstrating perpendicular swab insertion were analyzed, and multiethnic illustrative images were taken from staff volunteers. Publicly available instructions for patients included in the first eight nasal antigen tests for self-diagnosis authorized in Spain in 2021 were reviewed. Results: Most of the initially authorized antigen tests (all but one) still recommended in 2025 a vertical swab insertion. However, successful insertion into the inferior meatus towards the nasopharynx can be achieved with a perpendicular approach. A schematic illustration for free use is provided. Conclusion: Swab instructions should indicate an insertion perpendicular to the face to access the inferior meatus safely and reduce the risk of injury to the ethmoidal cells. Full article

The development of systems for the identification of elasmobranchs, including sharks and rays, is crucial for biodiversity conservation and fisheries management, as they represent one of the most threatened marine taxa. This challenge is constrained by data scarcity and the high morphological similarity among species, which limits the applicability of traditional supervised models trained on specific datasets. In this work, we propose an informed zero-shot learning approach that integrates external expert knowledge into the inference process, leveraging the multimodal CLIP framework. The methodology incorporates three main sources of knowledge: detailed text descriptions provided by specialists, schematic illustrations highlighting distinctive morphological traits, and the taxonomic hierarchy that organizes species at different levels. Based on these resources, we design a pipeline for prompt extraction and validation, taxonomy-aware classification strategies, and enriched embeddings through a prototype-guided attention mechanism. The results show significant improvements in CLIP’s discriminative capacity in a complex problem characterized by high inter-class similarity and the absence of annotated examples, demonstrating the value of integrating domain knowledge into methodology development and providing a framework adaptable to other problems with similar constraints. Full article

Traditional engineering education struggles to bridge the theory–practice gap in the Industry 4.0 era, as static 2D schematics inadequately convey complex spatial relationships. While advanced visualization tools exist, their adoption is frequently hindered by requirements for specialized hardware and software, limiting accessibility. This study details the development and evaluation of a novel, web-based Digital Twin framework designed for accessible, intuitive e-learning that requires no client-side installation. The framework, centered on a high-fidelity 3D model of a historic radial engine, was assessed through a qualitative pilot case study with seven engineering professionals. Data was collected via a “think-aloud” protocol and a mixed-methods survey with a Likert scale and open-ended questions. Findings revealed an overwhelmingly positive reception; quantitative data showed high mean scores for usability, educational impact, and professional training potential (M > 4.2). Qualitative analysis confirmed the framework’s success in enhancing spatial understanding via features like dynamic cross-sections, improving the efficiency of accessing integrated documentation, and demonstrating high value as an onboarding tool. This work provides strong preliminary evidence that an accessible, web-based Digital Twin is a powerful and scalable solution for technical education that significantly enhances spatial comprehension and knowledge transfer. Full article

This Technical Note presents the design and implementation of a low-cost modular growth chamber developed to keep mother plants under controlled environmental conditions for vegetative propagation. The system was conceived as an accessible alternative to expensive commercial equipment, offering reproducibility and adaptability for small-scale and research-based cultivation. The proposed chamber integrates thermal insulation, LED lighting, forced ventilation through the implementation of extractors, a recirculating irrigation system with double filtration, and a sensor-based environmental monitoring platform operated via an Arduino UNO microcontroller. The design features a removable tray that serves as a support for the mother plant, an observation window covered by a movable dark acrylic that prevents the passage of external light, and a vertical structure that facilitates optimal space utilization and ergonomic access. Functionality was conducted using a Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni mother plant maintained for 30 days under monitored conditions. Environmental parameters—temperature, relative humidity, and illuminance—were recorded continuously. The plant showed vegetative development through new shoot emergence and the growth in height of the plant, and despite a loss in foliage expansion, it confirmed the chamber’s capacity to support sustained growth. Although no statistical replication or control group was included in this preliminary evaluation, the system demonstrates technical feasibility and practical utility. This chamber provides a replicable platform for future experimentation and propagation studies. Complete technical specifications, schematics, and component lists are provided to enable replication and further development by other researchers. The growth chamber design aligns with the goals of open-source agricultural innovation and supports knowledge transfer in controlled-environment plant propagation technologies. Full article

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a key immunoregulatory cytokine with a dual role in the host response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. While essential for granuloma formation, macrophage activation, and containment of latent infection, TNF can also contribute to tissue damage and immune pathology. This review systematically analyzes over 300 peer-reviewed studies published between 1980 and 2024, highlighting the molecular and cellular mechanisms of TNF action in tuberculosis (TB). Particular attention is given to TNF receptor signaling pathways, the balance between protective and pathological immune responses, and the modulation of TNF activity during anti-TNF therapy in patients with autoimmune diseases. We discuss how different TNF inhibitors vary in their capacity to interfere with host defense mechanisms, with monoclonal antibodies carrying a higher reactivation risk than receptor-based agents. To enhance conceptual clarity, we provide newly developed schematic representations that integrate current knowledge on TNF-driven immune dynamics, including its interaction with other cytokines, effects on granuloma stability, and role in intracellular bacterial control. Understanding the pleiotropic functions of TNF in tuberculosis pathogenesis is crucial for developing safe immunomodulatory strategies and optimizing the clinical management of patients at risk of latent TB reactivation. Full article

The adoption rate of battery electric vehicles (EVs) is rapidly increasing. Electric vehicles differ significantly from conventional internal combustion engine vehicles and vary widely across different manufacturers. Emergency responders (ERs) and recovery personnel may have less experience with EVs and lack timely access to critical information such as the extent of the stranded energy present, high-voltage safety hazards, and post-crash handling procedures in a user-friendly manner. This paper presents a software/hardware interactive tool named Electric Vehicle Information for Incident Response Solutions (EVIRS) to aid in the quick access to emergency response and recovery information. The current prototype of EVIRS identifies EVs using the VIN or Make, Model, and Year, and offers several useful features for ERs and recovery personnel. These features include integration and easy access to emergency response procedures tailored to an identified EV, vehicle structural schematics, the quick identification of battery pack specifications, and more. For EVs that are not severely damaged, EVIRS can perform calculations to estimate stranded energy in the EV’s battery and discharge time for various power loads using either EV dashboard information or operational data accessed through the CAN interface. Knowledge of this information may be helpful in the post-crash handling, management, and storage of an EV. The functionality and accuracy of EVIRS were demonstrated through laboratory tests using a 2021 Ford Mach-E and associated data acquisition system. The results indicated that when the remaining driving range was used as an input, EVIRS was able to estimate the pack voltage with an error of less than 3 V. Conversely, when pack voltage was used as an input, the estimated state of charge (SOC) error was less than 5% within the range of 30–90% SOC. Additionally, other features, such as retrieving emergency response guides for identified EVs and accessing lessons learned from archived incidents, have been successfully demonstrated through EVIRS for quick access. EVIRS can be a valuable tool for emergency responders and recovery personnel, both in action and during offline training, by providing crucial information related to assessing EV/battery safety risks, appropriate handling, de-energizing, transport, and storage in an integrated and user-friendly manner. Full article

We have developed SWA: SoftWare for Analog design automation. Its commands can describe analog and mixed-signal (AMS) layouts and schematics to replace the graphic editor with a program reflecting the knowledge of design experts. Also, it is able to utilize variables to parameterize schematics and layouts to fulfill design needs. We programmed a 10b 1 GS/s DAC using SWA with 8.3 K lines of code, which is about 1/10 compared with conventional programs. The programmed DAC is configurable with multiple voltages and multiple resolutions from 4 to 12 bits. The DAC schematic and layout generation with DRC and LVS SWA API can be finished in about 1 min. Full article

On schematic metro maps, high-quality label placement is helpful to passengers performing route planning and orientation tasks. It has been reported that the artificial neural network (ANN) has the potential to place labels with learned labeling knowledge. However, the previous ANN-based method only considered the effects of station points and their connected edges. Indeed, unconnected but surrounding features (points, edges, and labels) also significantly affect the quality of label placement. To address this, we have proposed an improved method. The relations between label positions and both connected and surrounding features are first modeled based on labeling natural intelligence (i.e., the experience, knowledge, and rules of labeling established by cartographers). Then, ANN is employed to learn such relations. Quantitative evaluations show that our method reaches lower percentages of label–point overlap (0.00%), label–edge overlap (4.12%), and label–label overlap (20.58%) compared to the benchmark (4.17%, 14.29%, and 35.11%, respectively). On the other hand, our method effectively avoids ambiguous labels and ensures labels from the same line are placed on the same side. Qualitative evaluations show that approximately 75% of users prefer our results. This novel method has the potential to advance the automated generation of schematic metro maps. Full article

Several theoretical and applied studies are concerned with the topics of geological heritage management and geoconservation. The diversity of natural and anthropic scenarios into which geological heritage is inserted, as well as its troublesome management, make these topics challenging for scientific discussion. However, on the other hand, these topics highlight the complexity of a theoretical schematization of approaches and procedures, as well as of the practical application of theoretical assumptions. This paper concerns a practical application of a case study in geoconservation actions, which begins with the identification and the basic description of a site of multicultural interest (characterized by the coexistence of geo and non-geo aspects); subsequently, the needs and aims of the potential end users and stakeholders are analyzed. Finally, several geoconservation actions, differentiated according to end user and stakeholder goals, are proposed. The chosen area includes the Craco ghost town in southern Italy. It is a characteristic, evocative place, where it is possible to observe natural and anthropic contexts. The Craco ghost town is also nationally and internationally renowned, since some movie productions have been set there (such as some scenes in Mel Gibson’s The Passion of Christ movie). In this area, the abBandono vErsus riGenerazIoNe (BEGIN) Project (ROP ERDF Basilicata 2014–2020 interregional and transnational cooperation projects) aims to develop an operative, unequivocal, and multi-layered procedure focused on sustainable management, disseminating knowledge and enhancing and using the cultural context of abandoned sites as an attractive force for tourist purposes. Full article

Myocarditis is a polymorphic and potentially life-threatening disease characterized by a large variability in clinical presentation and prognosis. Within the broad spectrum of etiology, eosinophilic myocarditis represents a rare condition characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the myocardium, usually associated with peripheral eosinophilia. Albeit uncommon, eosinophilic myocarditis could be potentially life-threatening, ranging from mild asymptomatic disease to multifocal widespread infiltrates associated with myocardial necrosis, thrombotic complications, and endomyocardial fibrosis. Moreover, it could progress to dilated cardiomyopathy, resulting in a poor prognosis. The leading causes of eosinophilic myocarditis are hypersensitivity reactions, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, cancer, hyper-eosinophilic syndrome variants, and infections. A thorough evaluation and accurate diagnosis are crucial to identifying the underlying cause and defining the appropriate therapeutic strategy. On these bases, this comprehensive review aims to summarize the current knowledge on eosinophilic myocarditis, providing a schematic and practical approach to diagnosing, evaluating, and treating eosinophilic myocarditis. Full article

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease highlighted by the presence of multiple tumor variants and the basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) is considered to be the most aggressive variant with limited therapeutics and a poor prognosis. Though the absence of detectable protein and hormonal receptors as biomarkers hinders early detection, the integration of genomic and transcriptomic profiling led to the identification of additional variants in BLBC. The high-throughput analysis of tissue-specific micro-ribonucleic acids (microRNAs/miRNAs) that are deemed to have a significant role in the development of breast cancer also displayed distinct expression profiles in each subtype of breast cancer and thus emerged to be a robust approach for the precise characterization of the BLBC subtypes. The classification schematic of breast cancer is still a fluid entity that continues to evolve alongside technological advancement, and the transcriptomic profiling of tissue-specific microRNAs is projected to aid in the substratification and diagnosis of the BLBC tumor subtype. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on breast tumor classification, aim to collect comprehensive evidence based on the microRNA expression profiles, and explore their potential as prospective biomarkers of BLBC. Full article

Engineering education is critical for the creation of a more sustainable world, and engineering education accreditation has become the current trend for reform in higher education worldwide. Traditional replication experiment-based teaching cannot meet the standards of engineering education accreditation, and integrating the ideas of engineering education accreditation into experimental teaching is an important aspect of practical teaching. Taking fluoride evolution simulation during water–rock interactions under the effect of seawater intrusion as an example, an exploratory experiment was designed with the idea of engineering education accreditation. The experiment concluded that leached fluoride increases with increasing ratios of seawater and brine water, NaCl levels, and NaHCO₃ levels, but with decreasing CaCl₂ levels, which confirms that seawater intrusion deeply affects fluoride evolution. The saturation index and Fourier Transform Infrared analyses indicate that Ca²⁺ restriction and exchange of F with O–H and Si–O–Si are responsible for fluoride leaching. The experiment was characterized by deeper theory, logicality, and openness, and was also multi-schematic and exploratory. Therefore, it is an ideal subject matter to develop an exploratory experiment. A reasonable teaching link was designed to integrate the ideas of engineering education accreditation. Students were required to creatively and personally devise an experimental design and an expansion to the experiment based on the given databases and other relevant literature and to cooperate and discuss in groups. The experiment not only integrates basic knowledge of water–rock interactions, but also cultivates the awareness of and ability to analyze and solve problems, innovative thinking, scientific literacy, and teamwork. Meanwhile, the experiment effectively supports the graduate requirements of various subjects, including Design/Development Solutions, Research, Applying Modern Tools, Individual and Teams, and Communication. Full article

The current paper presents part of a broader, large-scale study regarding inclusive education and educational leadership in Greece that highlights the decisive role that school principals’ values play into shaping inclusive education. Its proposed theoretical model, based on extensive bibliographical research, explores the relationships between values, and knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and practices regarding the education of disabled students, highlighting that school principals’ values influence their beliefs and attitudes, and by extension their inclusive practices. Thus, the current paper presents a large-scale research on the proposed theoretical model with a representative sample of Greek primary and secondary education school principals. The data were collected with a composite questionnaire adapted and validated for the Greek context, which was electronically administered to a sample of 582 school principals from 334 primary and 248 secondary schools. The results of a hierarchical multiple regression analysis and a pathway analysis were interpreted based on the strength and direction of the relationships between the examined variables, as well as their significance. The hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that school principals’ knowledge and beliefs regarding the education of disabled students, and to a lesser extent their values, predicted whether school principals implement practices regarding the education of said students in their school units. However, school principals’ values were indeed the strongest predictive factor for their attitudes towards the education of disabled students and along with their knowledge, play a catalytic role in shaping their beliefs, attitudes and by extension, their practices regarding the education of disabled students. The pathway analysis confirmed the schematic representation of the regression relationships between the examined variables which showed that the theoretical model captures the predictive relationships among the variables, identifies potential causal pathways and showcases their decisive role in inclusive educational leadership. In short, the theoretical model demonstrates a very good fit to the research data coming in agreement with the results from both statistical analyses. Thus, it outlines a consistent and coherent outcome, which highlights multiple relationships between the variables, but primarily the multilayered effect of values in the case of inclusive educational leadership. Full article