Development of an Analysis Process to Assess the Quality of Research Knowledge Graphs

This thesis proposes a novel approach for assessing the quality objectively of knowledge graphs, with a particular focus on the Open Research Knowledge Graph (ORKG). The ORKG is a community-driven open platform that aims to make research contributions more discoverable, accessible, and reusable. As a critical component of modern information systems, knowledge graphs enable effective data integration, discovery, and retrieval. However, assessing the quality of these graphs is challenging, given their complexity and heterogeneity. The main problem addressed in this thesis is to develop an approach to assess the quality of knowledge graphs, with a particular emphasis on completeness and accuracy, in the context of the ORKG. The proposed approach is based on a set of quality measures that evaluate different aspects of completeness and accuracy, and it leverages the Knowledge Graph Maturity Model (KGMM) as a framework for assessing the maturity level of the ORKG. The solution is evaluated empirically using a set of ORKG curation grants, and the observed results demonstrate that the proposed approach can effectively identify gaps in completeness and accuracy, and provide a comprehensive assessment of the quality of the ORKG. This assessment can help the ORKG community to prioritize curation efforts and improve the quality of the ORKG. Overall, this thesis contributes to the field of knowledge graph quality assessment by proposing a comprehensive approach for assessing the quality of knowledge graphs, and demonstrating its effectiveness in the context of the ORKG. The proposed approach has the potential to be applied to other knowledge graphs, enabling better data integration, discovery, and retrieval in various domains.In dieser Arbeit wird ein neuartiger Ansatz zur objektiven Bewertung der Qualität von Wissensgraphen vorgeschlagen, wobei der Schwerpunkt auf dem Open Research Knowledge Graph (ORKG) liegt. Der ORKG ist eine von der Gemeinschaft betriebene offene Plattform, die darauf abzielt, Forschungsbeiträge besser auffindbar, zugänglich und wiederverwendbar zu machen. Wissensgraphen sind ein wichtiger Bestandteil moderner Informationssysteme und ermöglichen eine effektive Datenintegration, -suche und -abfrage. Die Bewertung der Qualität dieser Graphen ist jedoch angesichts ihrer Komplexität und Heterogenität eine Herausforderung. Das Hauptproblem, das in dieser Arbeit behandelt wird, ist die Entwicklung eines Ansatzes zur Bewertung der Qualität von Wissensgraphen, mit besonderem Schwerpunkt auf Vollständigkeit und Genauigkeit, im Kontext des ORKG. Der vorgeschlagene Ansatz basiert auf einer Reihe von Qualitätsmaßstäben, die verschiedene Aspekte der Vollständigkeit und Genauigkeit bewerten, und er nutzt das Knowledge Graph Maturity Model (KGMM) als Rahmen für die Bewertung des Reifegrads des ORKG. Die Lösung wird empirisch anhand einer Reihe von ORKG-Kuratoren evaluiert. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass der vorgeschlagene Ansatz effektiv Lücken in der Vollständigkeit und Genauigkeit identifizieren kann und eine umfassende Bewertung der Qualität des ORKG ermöglicht. Diese Bewertung kann der ORKG-Gemeinschaft helfen, Prioritäten bei der Kuratierung zu setzen und die Qualität des ORKG zu verbessern. Insgesamt leistet diese Arbeit einen Beitrag zur Bewertung der Qualität von Wissensgraphen, indem sie einen umfassenden Ansatz zur Bewertung der Qualität von Wissensgraphen vorschlägt und dessen Wirksamkeit im Kontext des ORKG demonstriert. Der vorgeschlagene Ansatz hat das Potenzial, auf andere Wissensgraphen angewendet zu werden, um eine bessere Datenintegration, -suche und -abfrage in verschiedenen Bereichen zu ermöglichen

Viral overexpression of RPRD2 in mouse nucleus accumbens induces anxiety-like behavior and regulates genes associated with microtubule transport

Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental illness in the United States with many individuals underdiagnosed and undertreated (Anxiety & Depression Association of America, 2021; Bandelow et al., 2017). While stress is a known risk factor for developing anxiety disorders, there is emerging evidence that biological variability in the expression of key proteins in the brain may contribute to regulating an organism’s stress-related behaviors. Earlier work from our laboratory identified a protein, called Regulation of Nuclear Pre-mRNA Domain Containing 2 (RPRD2), that was differentially expressed in the brain of mice stratified in terms of their phenotypic response to chronic stress (Hamilton et al., 2020). RPRD2 protein was elevated in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) of stress resilient animals–mice that display fewer behavioral abnormalities and more successful adaptation to stressors–and is predicted to play a significant role in gene transcription (Hamilton et al., 2020; Sjöstedt et al., 2020). In a cohort of mice exposed to chronic social defeat stress (CSDS), this protein was revealed as differentially expressed in the ventral hippocampus, medial prefrontal cortex, and NAc, of which RPRD2 was the top most affected protein in the NAc (Hamilton et al., 2020). More specifically, previously published reports suggest that RPRD2 functions to modulate RNA polymerase II activity by dephosphorylating serines at position 5 of the carboxyl-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II (Sjöstedt et al., 2020). Due to the correlation between RPRD2 and stress-induced behavioral adaptations in laboratory rodents, I aim to build upon this data and decipher this protein’s influence on stress-related behavior, mechanism of action in the NAc, and any potential impact it may have on medium spiny neuron (MSN) morphology, the major neuron functional unit in the NAc. In order to expand upon the work conducted by Hamilton et al., I first exposed mice to a period of CSDS and conducted behavioral tests to determine the extent to which elevated levels of RPRD2 in the NAc impacted behavior. Following a period of CSDS, male mice with viral overexpression of RPRD2 spent less time in the open arms of an Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) test, a paradigm that quantifies anxiety-like behavior; however, no difference was observed with a Social Interaction test or thigmotaxis analysis–the tendency of mice to remain close to the walls (Bailey & Crawley, 2009; Kraeuter et al., 2019; Rodgers & Dalvi, 1987). These findings support the conclusion that viral overexpression of RPRD2 specifically impacts anxiety-like behavior, rather than social behavior–another behavioral domain known to be sensitive to chronic stress. I then began to inquire about not only RPRD2’s behavioral impact, but also RPRD2’s molecular impact in the NAc. It was previously reported that RPRD proteins recruit deacetylases of lysine residues at position 7–specifically, HDAC1–which in turn allows RPRD to decrease phosphorylation of serines at position 5 of the carboxyl-terminus domain of RNA Polymerase II (Ali et al., 2019). Because RNA polymerase II facilitates transcription, I examined RPRD2’s impact on its Phospho Serine 5 levels via Western blots in order to explore its particular role in transcription. Although no significant correlation was found, tissue samples from mice virally overexpressed with RPRD2 revealed a downward trend in RNA Polymerase II Phospho Serine 5 levels (normalized to β-actin). This led me to further inquire about the exact downstream mechanistic impact of this protein and its regulation of transcription within the NAc. We performed RNA sequencing to determine the gene loci regulated by viral over-expression of RPRD2 in the NAc. RPRD2 overexpression was correlated with upregulated genes canonically enriched in fibroblast cell-types and associated with downregulated genes enriched in ependymal cell-types. Following a gene ontology analysis performed on the significantly regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the RNA sequencing data, microtubule-based movement was the biological process most significantly associated with RPRD2 downregulated transcripts. Due to this finding, more research is needed regarding the impact of viral overexpression of RPRD2 on downregulating microtubule transport within RPRD2 expressing cells in the NAc. Furthermore, previous studies have shown decreased strength of NAc synapses of mice expressing depression-like behavior following CSDS (Bagot et al., 2015; LeGates et al., 2018). Thus, enhancing activity in MSNs may result in resilient behavior; contrastingly, diminishing MSNs may result in anxiety-like behavior following CSDS (Francis & Lobo, 2017). To test this, I observed the contribution of viral overexpression of RPRD2 on medium spiny neuron morphology. Based on observation, there appeared to be less dendritic branching in neurons virally overexpressed with RPRD2; however, a Sholl analysis must be conducted in the future in order to solidify this observation. Overall, I hypothesize that viral overexpression of RPRD2 in the NAc regulates anxiety-like behavior by decreasing RNA polymerase II-mediated transcriptional activity, which consequently impacts medium spiny neuron morphology in the NAc. In synthesizing my research, I will describe my comprehensive knowledge of RPRD2 and its relationship to chronic stress and anxiety, as well as a description of the materials and methods used to demonstrate the effects of RPRD2 in the NAc. I will then describe the results collected and discuss its potential ramifications in understanding the molecular drivers of neuropsychiatric syndromes. The results of this study can help to better understand how RPRD2 serves as a link between chronic stress and behavioral responses, and the mechanistic role of RPRD2 in the NAc. In the future, I hope this data can facilitate studies dedicated to targeting RPRD2 in order to develop effective pharmacotherapies for those with anxiety disorders

A Constructivist Grounded Theory Study of Counselors\u27 Preparedness to Counsel Refugees

A gap exists in the current literature on the training needs of professional counselors so they can meet the increasing demand for counseling services among refugee populations. The purpose of this constructivist, grounded theory study was to explore the perceptions of professional counselors related to their preparedness to demonstrate multicultural competence when counseling refugees. A constructivist grounded theory approach following Charmaz\u27s principles guided the investigation into perceptions of professional counselors towards counseling with refugee clients. The author conducted a qualitative demographic form, individual interviews, and a focus group with professional counselors who had experience working with refugees. Sample included 21 licensed professional counselors who had experience working with at least one refugee client. Utilizing a thematic data analysis on the qualitative data, the main themes outlined in this comprehensive theory included contexts, challenges, competencies, and professional development. The study may contribute to positive social change through increasing access to mental health services for refugee populations who currently underuse the services

The Impact of Strategic Leadership on the Employees' Creativity Atprivate Hospitals in Palestine: a Case Study

Purpose: The aim of this research is to investigate the effect of strategic leadership on the employees' creativity at private hospitals in Nablus in Palestine. The study problem is the lack of the number of studies concerning the same topic in the private sector in Palestine. Thus, it was essential to conduct a new study about this topic.   Theoretical Framework:  It is taken out of the topics of strategic leadership and employees' creativity. This framework aims at providing understanding on how this strategic leadershipeffects on the employees' creativity in their work place.   Methodology: The required information and some certain specific data have been collected via e-mails and social media. A scale was adopted from a sample of 30 respondents through online and social media. The methodof thisstudyisquantitative, andthe respondents' answers werediscussed and analyzed by applyingSPSS statistical program.   Results: Thefindingsofthetopicshowedthatthereare positive relationships between the employees' creativity and the strategic leadership in their work place.   Research Implications: The study investigates the impact of strategic leadership and the employees' creativity inside their organizations. The results of this study are helpful for the new researchers who would like to conduct more studies regarding the same topic in private or public sectors in Palestinian cities. It added more contributions to the field of this topic.   Originality: This research is considered a positive attempt to reinforce the importance of strategic leadership in private sector institutions in order to discover the actual effect of strategic leadership on the employees' creativity and their performance.

The Importance of Hydration in Wound Healing: Reinvigorating the clinical perspective

Balancing skin hydration levels is important as any disruption in skin integrity will result in disturbance of the dermal water balance. The discovery that a moist wound healing environment actively supports the healing response when compared to a dry environment highlights the importance of water and good hydration levels for optimal wound healing. The benefits of “wet” or “hyper-hydrated” wound healing appears to offer benefits that are similar to those offered by moist wound healing over wounds healing in a dry environment. This suggests that the presence of free water itself during wound healing may not be detrimental to healing but that any adverse effects of wound fluid on tissues is more likely related to the biological components contained within chronic wound exudate (e.g. elevated protease levels). Appropriate dressings applied to wounds must be able to absorb not only the exudate but also retain this excess fluid together with its protease solutes while concurrently preventing desiccation. This is particularly important in the case of chronic wounds where peri-wound skin barrier properties are compromised and there is increased permeation across the injured skin barrier. This review discusses the importance of appropriate levels of hydration in skin with a particular focus on the need for optimal hydration levels for effective healing

Sonochemical degradation of azithromycin in aqueous solution

Background: The presence of pharmaceutical substances and their residual in water resources is an important environmental concern. Azithromycin, an antibiotic that is used for the treatment of infectious diseases, is a pollutant agent in the wastewater. The aim of this study was to investigate azithromycin degradation in aqueous solution through ultrasonic process in the presence of zinc oxide nanoparticles as catalysts. Methods: Sonocatalytic experiments were performed at variable conditions including pH (3- 8), temperature (20-60°C), time (3-21 minutes), catalyst dosage (0.25-2 g/L), hydrogen peroxide concentration (15-100 mg/L) and initial azithromycin concentration (10-100 mg/L). Results: The optimum values for pH (3), temperature (40°C), time (15 minutes), catalyst dosage (1 g/L), H2O2 concentration (50 mg/L) and initial azithromycin concentration (20 mg/L) were determined. The highest degradation efficiency of 98.4% was achieved after 15 minutes of ultrasonic irradiation under optimum condition. Conclusion: According to the results, ultrasonic irradiation is able to degrade azithromycin. In addition, ZnO and hydroxyl radical can successfully accelerate the reaction process in the shortest possible time. Keywords: Azithromycin, Catalysis, Wastewater, Ultrasonic