bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Infertility and treatment‐seeking practices among females and males with sickle cell disease in the Sickle Cell Disease Implementation Consortium registry
Authors: Stevenson Eleanor , Tanabe Paula , Knisely Mitchell , Masese Rita , Bulgin Dominique , Preiss Liliana , Hankins Jane S. , King Allison A. , Gordeuk Victor , Shah Nirmish
Published: April 2023

Objective

To describe the prevalence of infertility and infertility treatment seeking among people enrolled in the Sickle Cell Disease Implementation Consortium (SCDIC) registry and identify sociodemographic and clinical correlates of infertility.

Design

Cross‐sectional.

Participants

The study population included 2108 women and men (≥18 years of age) enrolled in the SCDIC registry who completed the fertility questionnaire.

Results

All participants who completed the infertility‐specific questions were included in the analysis (1224 females; 884 males). Of these, 16.9% of males and 23.7% of females reported infertility, in contrast to rates in the general population (12% of males; 11% of females). Only 22.8% of this subgroup had sought a fertility consultation; of these, 41% received infertility testing and 58% received advice, yet only a few received specific treatment: ovulation medication (19.1%), fallopian tubal surgery (4.8%), other female treatment (17.5%), varicocelectomy (8.1%), or other male treatment (10.8%). Increasing age, employment status, and interaction between gender and single marital status are associated with reported infertility. We did not observe differences between groups relative to sickle cell disease (SCD) genotype, a broad category of self‐reported hydroxyurea use any time during life, type of medical insurance, income, or education.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine self‐reported identification of and treatment for infertility among a large sample of people with SCD. These findings suggest that (a) infertility occurs at a higher rate, but fertility care treatment seeking is less frequent than in the general public; and (b) sociodemographic and clinical differences between individuals who report experiencing infertility and those who do not did not emerge in this study.
Proteome profiling highlights mechanisms underlying pigment and tocopherol accumulation in red and black rice seeds
Authors: Gupta Ravi , Min Cheol Woo , Jung Ju‐Young , Ham Tae‐Ho , Jeon Jong‐Seong , Cho Lae‐Hyeon , Kwon Soon Wook , Kim Sun Tae
Published: April 2023

Rice is a major component of the human diet and feeds more than 50 million people across the globe. We previously developed two pigmented rice cultivars, Super‐hongmi (red seeds) and Super‐jami (black seeds), that are highly rich in antioxidants and exhibit high levels of radical scavenging activities. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the accumulation of pigments and different antioxidants in these rice cultivars remains largely elusive. Here, we report the proteome profiles of mature Super‐hongmi and Super‐jami seeds, and compared them with the Hopum (white seeds) using a label‐free quantitative proteomics approach. This approach led to the identification of 5127 rice seed proteins of which 1628 showed significant changes in the pigmented rice cultivar(s). The list of significantly modulated proteins included a phytoene desaturase (PDS3) which suggested accumulation of ζ‐carotene in red seeds while the black seeds seem to accumulate more of anthocyanins because of the higher abundance of dihydroflavonol 4‐reductase. Moreover, proteins associated with lignin and tocopherol biosynthesis were highly increased in both red and black cultivars. Taken together, these data report the seed proteome of three different colored rice seeds and identify novel components associated with pigment accumulation in rice.
An Outlook into the Magnetic and Magnetocaloric Properties of Cr1.3Fe0.7O3
Authors: Murugan Kowsalya , Govindaraj Prakash , Ayyasamy Sakunthala , Selvaraj Paulraj , Venugopal Kathirvel
Published: April 2023

Herein, the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of Cr1.3Fe0.7O3 particles are presented. The structural and oxidation states of the samples are confirmed from the X‐ray diffraction and X‐ray photoemission spectroscopy measurements. In addition, the thermomagnetization experiments reveal the coexistence of two spin reorientation, Morin transition, as well as Néel temperature below 300 K. Such complex magnetic behavior of the system can be ascribed to the metal–ligand–metal interaction caused both by Cr3+ and Fe3+ magnetic ions. The maximum magnetic entropy change estimated from the isothermal magnetization measurements is 0.056 J kg−1 K−1 at 41 K for an external magnetic‐field change of 70 kOe.
Gate‐Tunable van der Waals Photodiodes with an Ultrahigh Peak‐to‐Valley Current Ratio
Authors: Zubair Muhammad , Wang Hailu , Zhao Qixiao , Kang Mengyang , Xia Mengjia , Luo Min , Dong Yi , Duan Shikun , Dai Fuxing , Wei Wenrui , Li Yunhai , Wang Jinjin , Li Tangxin , Fang Yongzheng , Liu Yufeng , Xie Runzhang , Fu Xiao , Dong Lixin , Miao Jinshui
Published: April 2023

Photodetectors and imagers based on 2D layered materials are currently subject to a rapidly expanding application space, with an increasing demand for cost‐effective and lightweight devices. However, the underlying carrier transport across the 2D homo‐ or heterojunction channel driven by the external electric field, like a gate or drain bias, is still unclear. Here, a visible‐near infrared photodetector based on van der Waals stacked molybdenum telluride (MoTe2) and black phosphorus (BP) is reported. The type‐I and type‐II band alignment can be tuned by the gate and drain voltage combined showing a dynamic modulation of the conduction polarity and negative differential transconductance. The heterojunction devices show a good photoresponse to light illumination ranging from 520–2000 nm. The built‐in potential at the MoTe2/BP interface can efficiently separate photoexcited electron–hole pairs with a high responsivity of 290 mA W−1, an external quantum efficiency of 70%, and a fast photoresponse of 78 µs under zero bias.
Bubble‐Based Microrobots with Rapid Circular Motions for Epithelial Pinning and Drug Delivery
Authors: Lee Jin Gyun , Raj Ritu R. , Thome Cooper P. , Day Nicole B. , Martinez Payton , Bottenus Nick , Gupta Ankur , Wyatt Shields C.
Published: April 2023

Remotely powered microrobots are proposed as next‐generation vehicles for drug delivery. However, most microrobots swim with linear trajectories and lack the capacity to robustly adhere to soft tissues. This limits their ability to navigate complex biological environments and sustainably release drugs at target sites. In this work, bubble‐based microrobots with complex geometries are shown to efficiently swim with non‐linear trajectories in a mouse bladder, robustly pin to the epithelium, and slowly release therapeutic drugs. The asymmetric fins on the exterior bodies of the microrobots induce a rapid rotational component to their swimming motions of up to ≈150 body lengths per second. Due to their fast speeds and sharp fins, the microrobots can mechanically pin themselves to the bladder epithelium and endure shear stresses commensurate with urination. Dexamethasone, a small molecule drug used for inflammatory diseases, is encapsulated within the polymeric bodies of the microrobots. The sustained release of the drug is shown to temper inflammation in a manner that surpasses the performance of free drug controls. This system provides a potential strategy to use microrobots to efficiently navigate large volumes, pin at soft tissue boundaries, and release drugs over several days for a range of diseases.
Magnetic Microsphere Scaffold‐Based Soft Microbots for Targeted Mesenchymal Stem Cell Delivery
Authors: Tian Yuan , Han Wei , Yeung King Lun
Published: April 2023

A soft microbot assembled from individual magnetic microsphere scaffold (MMS) beads carrying mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) is navigated under magnetic actuation, where an oscillating field induces mechanical flexion to propel the microbot toward the target site. A seven‐bead microbot attained a top translational speed of 205.6 µm s−1 (0.068 body length s−1) under 10 mT and 2 Hz field oscillation. The shallow flexion angle (10–24.5°) allows precision movements required to navigate narrow spaces. Upon arrival at the target site, the MMS beads unload their MSC cargo following exposure to a phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) solution, mimicking the extracellular fluid's sodium concentration. The released stem cells have excellent viability and vitality, promoting rapid healing (i.e., 83.2% vs 49%) in a scratch‐wound assay. When paired with minimally invasive surgical methods, such as laparoscopy and endoscopic surgery, the microbot can provide precise stem cell delivery to hard‐to‐reach injury sites in the body to promote healing. Moreover, the microbot is designed to be highly versatile, with individual MMS beads customizable for cargoes of live cells, biomolecules, bionanomaterials, and pharmaceutical compounds for various therapeutic requirements.
Production of biopolymer polyhydroxybutyrate from coconut coir hydrolysate: Characterization and optimization study
Authors: Kasilingam Nagajothi , A. G. Murugesan
Published: April 2023

Polyhydroxybutyrates (PHBs) are produced by microorganisms. PHBs are chosen as biodegradable plastic alternatives due to their rapid degradability under natural circumstances. In this study, the isolation and identification of PHB‐producing organisms by Sudan black, fermentation, solvent extraction, and characterization of purified PHB are all discussed in detail. Serratia sp. was employed to produce PHB biopolymer from lignocellulose waste coconut coir and a response surface software tool was used to optimize it. PHB characterization, FTIR (1730 cm−1 C = O stretch), TGA (268.53°C), and DTA (276.67°C) results.  Sudan Black B stain was employed for the pre‐screening of these vital bacteria that produced intracellular granules of PHB. The best optimized parameters are used during the fermentation process, including 20 g/L coconut coir hydrolysate, pH 7, 30°C temperature, 1.5 g/L peptone, and 48 h. The optimization of the response surface methodology yields a high biomass output of 9.34 g/L, PHB yield of 5.48 g/L, and dry cell weight of 58.67%. The ANOVA findings, F and R2 value of biomass (10.04 and 0.9036) and PHB (23.33 and 0.9561). The results show that employing coconut coir as a feedstock allows for the enhanced production of PHB.
Math and Picture Books: Story, Math Anxiety, and Building Joy
Authors: Kruger Mollie Welsh , Enriquez Grace
Published: April 2023

This column focuses on the joy of story as it shines toward mathematics. We explore how reading aloud picture books brings math closer to the joy present in the story experience, helping to alleviate math anxiety and strengthen students’ learning identities.
Hadronic light-by-light scattering contribution to the muon g − 2 from lattice QCD: semi-analytical calculation of the QED kernel
Authors: Asmussen Nils , Chao En-Hung , Gérardin Antoine , Green Jeremy R. , Hudspith Renwick J. , Meyer Harvey B. , Nyffeler Andreas
Published: April 2023

Abstract

Hadronic light-by-light scattering is one of the virtual processes that causes the gyromagnetic factor g of the muon to deviate from the value of two predicted by Dirac’s theory. This process makes one of the largest contributions to the uncertainty of the Standard Model prediction for the muon (g − 2). Lattice QCD allows for a first-principles approach to computing this non-perturbative effect. In order to avoid power-law finite-size artifacts generated by virtual photons in lattice simulations, we follow a coordinate-space approach involving a weighted integral over the vertices of the QCD four-point function of the electromagnetic current carried by the quarks. Here we present in detail the semi-analytical calculation of the QED part of the amplitude, employing position-space perturbation theory in continuous, infinite four-dimensional Euclidean space. We also provide some useful information about a computer code for the numerical implementation of our approach that has been made public at https://github.com/RJHudspith/KQED.
Heavy neutral leptons at beam dump experiments of future lepton colliders
Authors: Giffin Pierce , Gori Stefania , Tsai Yu-Dai , Tuckler Douglas
Published: April 2023

Abstract

A new beam dump experiment that utilizes the beam of future high energy electron-positron colliders could be an excellent avenue to search for dark sector particles due to its unprecedented high energy and intensity. We consider heavy neutral leptons (HNLs) as a specific example to demonstrate the sensitivity of searches for dark sector particles at future electron-positron collider beam dump experiments. This includes the study of the reach at the International Linear Collider (ILC), the Cool Copper Collider (C3), and the Compact Linear Collider (CLIC). We comprehensively examine the HNL production and detector acceptance at these electron beam dump experiments. We show that these experiments will probe regions of HNL parameter space, not yet probed by past experiments, as well as by future approved experiments. Our study also motivates a more detailed analysis of heavy meson productions in high-energy electron-nucleon collisions in thick targets.
Umfrage zur Untersuchung von Gewaltbetroffenen unter Ärztinnen und Ärzten unter Berücksichtigung einer durch Medizinstudierende bearbeiteten Hausaufgabe
Authors: Walz Cleo , Schwarz Clara-Sophie , Elsner Katrin , Jannermann Mareike , Germerott Tanja
Published: April 2023

Einleitung

Gemäß dem „Gesetz für den Schutz vor Masern und zur Stärkung der Impfprävention“ sollen flächendeckende Angebote zur Versorgung von Personen nach körperlicher und sexualisierter Gewalt geschaffen werden. Die vorliegende Studie untersucht die Versorgungssituation von Gewaltbetroffenen in medizinischen Einrichtungen und die Umsetzung des theoretischen Wissens von Medizinstudierenden in die Praxis hinsichtlich forensisch relevanter Aspekte, um Verbesserungsansätze zu erarbeiten.

Methode

In der ersten Studiengruppe erfolgte eine onlinebasierte Umfrage des ärztlichen Personals in Kliniken und Praxen zum praktischen Umgang mit Gewaltbetroffenen und bestehenden Unsicherheiten. In der zweiten Studiengruppe wurde eine zu dieser Thematik von Medizinstudierenden bearbeitete Hausaufgabe ausgewertet. Neben der deskriptiven statistischen Auswertung in beiden Gruppen wurden in der ersten Studiengruppe Hypothesentests durchgeführt, um Unterschiede zwischen erfahrenen und unerfahrenen Untersuchenden festzustellen.

Ergebnisse

Von den befragten Ärztinnen und Ärzten (n = 94) dokumentieren 81,9 % Verletzungen schriftlich, 63,8 % fertigen Fotografien an und 43,6 % entnehmen fallabhängig Blut- und Urinproben. Lediglich 8,5 % führen eine Spurensicherung durch. Unsicherheiten bestehen im Erkennen und Ansprechen von Gewaltfolgen, in der gerichtsverwertbaren Beweissicherung und rechtlichen Aspekten. Es wurden Fortbildungen, rechtsmedizinische Beratung und Dokumentationshilfen als Unterstützung gefordert. Die Auswertung der Medizinstudierenden (n = 190) ergab Unsicherheiten insbesondere in der Spurensicherung und der Interpretation der Verletzungen.

Diskussion

Derzeit bestehen eklatante Lücken in der Versorgung von Gewaltbetroffenen in medizinischen Einrichtungen. Die Ergebnisse unterstreichen, dass Unterstützungsbedarf hinsichtlich forensischer Standards und weniger bezüglich der allgemeinen medizinischen Versorgung von Gewaltbetroffenen besteht. Das Fachgebiet Rechtsmedizin verfügt in diesen Bereichen über die notwendige Expertise. Um die politischen Bestrebungen unter Einhaltung geforderter Standards umzusetzen, wäre die Etablierung spezialisierter Einrichtungen mit zentralen Kooperationen zur Rechtsmedizin ein sinnvoller Versorgungsansatz. Ferner können verbindliche Leitlinien und eine intensive Einbindung der Thematik im Medizinstudium die ärztliche Handlungssicherheit verbessern.
Neutrally- and stably-stratified boundary layers adjustments to a step change in surface roughness
Authors: Ding Shan-Shan , Placidi Marco , Carpentieri Matteo , Robins Alan
Published: April 2023

In this work, we study the development of the internal boundary layer (IBL) induced by a surface roughness discontinuity, where the downstream surface has a roughness length greater than that upstream. The work is carried out in the EnFlo meteorological wind tunnel, at the University of Surrey, in both thermally neutral and stable cases with varying degrees of stability. For the neutrally-stratified boundary layer, the IBL development in the log-law region shows good agreement with the diffusion model proposed by Panofsky and Dutton (Atmospheric turbulence, Wiley, New York, 1984) provided that a modified origin condition is introduced and its growth rate is dictated by a constant diffusion term. However, the model over-predicts the growth of the IBL in the outer layer, where the IBL depth grows slowly with fetch following a power function with exponent n being 0.61 (whereas the original model prescribes $$n\approx 0.8$$

n
≈
0.8

). For the stably-stratified boundary layers, n is found to further reduce as the bulk Richardson number, $$\textrm{Ri}_\textrm{b}$$

Ri
b

, increases. The analysis of the top region of the IBL shows that the slow growth rate is due to a combination of the decay of the diffusion term and a significantly negative mean wall-normal velocity, which transports fluid elements towards the wall. Considering these two effects, a modified diffusion model is proposed which well captures the growth of the IBL for both neutrally and stably-stratified boundary layers.

Graphical abstract
Sparse polynomial prediction
Authors: Maruri-Aguilar Hugo , Wynn Henry
Published: April 2023

In numerical analysis, sparse grids are point configurations used in stochastic finite element approximation, numerical integration and interpolation. This paper is concerned with the construction of polynomial interpolator models in sparse grids. Our proposal stems from the fact that a sparse grid is an echelon design with a hierarchical structure that identifies a single model. We then formulate the model and show that it can be written using inclusion–exclusion formulæ. At this point, we deploy efficient methodologies from the algebraic literature that can simplify considerably the computations. The methodology uses Betti numbers to reduce the number of terms in the inclusion–exclusion while achieving the same result as with exhaustive formulæ.
A systematic overview of dental methods for age assessment in living individuals: from traditional to artificial intelligence-based approaches
Authors: Vila-Blanco Nicolás , Varas-Quintana Paulina , Tomás Inmaculada , Carreira María J.
Published: April 2023

Dental radiographies have been used for many decades for estimating the chronological age, with a view to forensic identification, migration flow control, or assessment of dental development, among others. This study aims to analyse the current application of chronological age estimation methods from dental X-ray images in the last 6 years, involving a search for works in the Scopus and PubMed databases. Exclusion criteria were applied to discard off-topic studies and experiments which are not compliant with a minimum quality standard. The studies were grouped according to the applied methodology, the estimation target, and the age cohort used to evaluate the estimation performance. A set of performance metrics was used to ensure good comparability between the different proposed methodologies. A total of 613 unique studies were retrieved, of which 286 were selected according to the inclusion criteria. Notable tendencies to overestimation and underestimation were observed in some manual approaches for numeric age estimation, being especially notable in the case of Demirjian (overestimation) and Cameriere (underestimation). On the other hand, the automatic approaches based on deep learning techniques are scarcer, with only 17 studies published in this regard, but they showed a more balanced behaviour, with no tendency to overestimation or underestimation. From the analysis of the results, it can be concluded that traditional methods have been evaluated in a wide variety of population samples, ensuring good applicability in different ethnicities. On the other hand, fully automated methods were a turning point in terms of performance, cost, and adaptability to new populations.
Computed tomography micromotion analysis in the follow-up of patients with surgically treated pelvic fractures: a prospective clinical study
Authors: Lundin Natalie , Olivecrona Henrik , Bakhshayesh Peyman , Gordon Murkes Lena , Enocson Anders
Published: April 2023

Purpose

High-energy pelvic fractures are complex injuries often requiring surgical treatment. Different radiological methods exist to evaluate the reduction and healing process postoperatively but with certain limitations. The aim of this study was to evaluate Computed Tomography Micromotion Analysis (CTMA) in a clinical setting for follow-up of surgically treated pelvic fracture patients.

Methods

10 patients surgically treated for a pelvic fracture were included and prospectively followed with Computed Tomography (CT) at 0, 6, 12 and 52 weeks postoperatively. CTMA was used to measure postoperative translation and rotation of the pelvic fracture during the 52 weeks follow-up. Clinical outcomes were collected through the questionnaires EQ-5D index score and Majeed score.

Results

10 patients were included with mean age (± SD, min–max) 52 (16, 31–80) years and 70% (n = 7) were males. The median (IQR, min–max) global translation from 0 to 52 weeks was 6.0 (4.6, 1.4–12.6) millimeters and median global rotation was 2.6 (2.4, 0.7–4.7) degrees. The general trend was a larger translation between 0 and 6 weeks postoperatively compared to 6–12 and 12–52 weeks. For the clinical outcomes, the general trend was that all patients started from high scores which decreased in the first postoperative follow-up and recovered to different extent during the study period.

Conclusion

CTMA was successfully used in the follow-up of surgically treated pelvic fracture patients. Movement in the pelvic fractures after surgical fixation was largest between 0 and 6 weeks.
Gaussian active learning on multi-resolution arbitrary polynomial chaos emulator: concept for bias correction, assessment of surrogate reliability and its application to the carbon dioxide benchmark
Authors: Kohlhaas Rebecca , Kröker Ilja , Oladyshkin Sergey , Nowak Wolfgang
Published: April 2023

Surrogate models are widely used to improve the computational efficiency in various geophysical simulation problems by reducing the number of model runs. Conventional one-layer surrogate representations are based on global (e.g. polynomial chaos expansion, PCE) or on local kernels (e.g., Gaussian process emulator, GPE). Global representations omit some details, while local kernels require more model runs. The existing multi-resolution PCE is a promising hybrid: it is a global representation with local refinement. However, it can not (yet) estimate the uncertainty of the resulting surrogate, which techniques like the GPE can do. We propose to join multi-resolution PCE and GPE s into a joint surrogate framework to get the best out of both worlds. By doing so, we correct the surrogate bias and assess the remaining uncertainty of the surrogate itself. The resulting multi-resolution emulator offers a pathway for several active learning strategies to improve the surrogate at acceptable computational costs, compared to the existing PCE-kriging approach it adds the multi-resolution aspect. We analyze the performance of a multi-resolution emulator and a plain GPE using didactic test cases and a CO2 benchmark, that is representative of many alike problems in the geosciences. Both approaches show similar improvements during the active learning, but our multi-resolution emulator leads to much more stable results than the GPE. Overall, our suggested emulator can be seen as a generalization of multi-resolution PCE and GPE concepts that offers the possibility for active learning.
Closing the knowledge gap on the composition of the asbestos bodies
Authors: Bardelli F. , Giacobbe C. , Ballirano P. , Borelli V. , Di Benedetto F. , Montegrossi G. , Bellis D. , Pacella A.
Published: April 2023

Asbestos bodies (AB) form in the lungs as a result of a biomineralization process initiated by the alveolar macrophages in the attempt to remove asbestos. During this process, organic and inorganic material deposit on the foreign fibers forming a Fe-rich coating. The AB start to form in months, thus quickly becoming the actual interface between asbestos and the lung tissue. Therefore, revealing their composition, and, in particular, the chemical form of Fe, which is the major component of the AB, is essential to assess their possible role in the pathogenesis of asbestos-related diseases. In this work we report the result of the first x-ray diffraction measurements performed on single AB embedded in the lung tissue samples of former asbestos plant workers. The combination with x-ray absorption spectroscopy data allowed to unambiguously reveal that Fe is present in the AB in the form of two Fe-oxy(hydroxides): ferrihydrite and goethite. The presence of goethite, which can be explained in terms of the transformation of ferrihydrite (a metastable phase) due to the acidic conditions induced by the alveolar macrophages in their attempt to phagocytose the fibers, has toxicological implications that are discussed in the paper.
Heat Flow in a Periodically Forced, Thermostatted Chain II
Authors: Komorowski Tomasz , Lebowitz Joel L. , Olla Stefano
Published: April 2023

We derive a macroscopic heat equation for the temperature of a pinned harmonic chain subject to a periodic force at its right side and in contact with a heat bath at its left side. The microscopic dynamics in the bulk is given by the Hamiltonian equation of motion plus a reversal of the velocity of a particle occurring independently for each particle at exponential times, with rate $$\gamma $$
γ
. The latter produces a finite heat conductivity. Starting with an initial probability distribution for a chain of n particles we compute the current and the local temperature given by the expected value of the local energy. Scaling space and time diffusively yields, in the $$n\rightarrow +\infty $$

n
→
+
∞

limit, the heat equation for the macroscopic temperature profile T(t, u),  $$t>0$$

t
>
0

, $$u \in [0,1]$$

u
∈
[
0
,
1
]

. It is to be solved for initial conditions T(0, u) and specified $$T(t,0)=T_-$$

T

(
t
,
0
)

=

T
-

, the temperature of the left heat reservoir and a fixed heat flux J, entering the system at $$u=1$$

u
=
1

. |J| equals the work done by the periodic force which is computed explicitly for each n.
The dynamics of esports crowdfunding campaign success: a social exchange perspective
Authors: Xue Hanhan , Du James , Pizzo Anthony D. , Baker Bradley J. , Henry Thomas E. , Yan Grace , Watanabe Nicholas M.
Published: April 2023

Esports—a professionalized, commercialized, and spectatorial form of video game competition—is a burgeoning industrial sector that has relied on entrepreneurial community support and multi-platform media distribution modalities to catalyze its growth. In particular, the esports industry is increasingly turning towards grassroots crowdfunding to gain access to financial resources that can be used to facilitate tournament prizes. However, what remains unclear is which factors contribute to grassroots esports crowdfunding campaigns’ success. We used social exchange theory to identify important social and economic attributes that may influence the outcomes of esports crowdfunding projects. For methods, we scraped crowdfunding data from Matcherino using Octoparse 8. A total of 14,497 esports crowdfunding projects were analyzed by using multiple regression analysis, as well as robustness checks that were estimated through machine learning techniques. We find that equal distribution of prize rewards, the endorsement of big brand sponsors, and genres of games significantly influence the success of esports crowdfunding. This contributes to our theoretical understanding of 1) the process of esports crowdfunding campaigns as a complex mechanism that incorporates financial incentives and social values, 2) esports as an emerging industry that is institutionalizing, 3) the heterogeneity of genre-based community, and 4) the importance of distributive justice of prize rewards for organizing grassroots esports tournaments and events. Furthermore, we discussed methodological implications regarding the use of econometrics approach and machine learning for future crowdfunding and esports research as well as managerial implications for esports entrepreneurs, esports teams and organizations, and sponsors and investors in terms of developing strategies tailored to the dynamics of esports communities.
A semi-automated robotic system for percutaneous interventions
Authors: Siegfarth Marius , Lutz Raffael , Iseke Nils-Christian , Moviglia Javier , Sadi Fabian , Stallkamp Jan
Published: April 2023

Purpose

A robotic assistive device is developed for needle-based percutaneous interventions. The aim is a hybrid system using both manual and actuated robotic operation in order to obtain a device that has a large workspace but can still fit in the gantry opening of a CT scanner. This will enable physicians to perform precise and time-efficient CT-guided percutaneous interventions. The concept of the mechanics and software of the device is presented in this work.

Methods

The approach is a semi-automated robotic assistive device, which combines manual and robotic positioning to reduce the number and size of necessary motors. The system consists of a manual rough positioning unit, a robotic fine positioning unit and an optical needle tracking unit. The resulting system has eight degrees of freedom, of which four are manual, which comprise encoders to monitor the position of each axis. The remaining four axes are actuated axes for fine positioning of the needle. Cameras are attached to the mechanical structure for 3D tracking of the needle pose. The software is based on open-source software, mainly ROS2 as robotic middleware, Moveit2 for trajectory calculation and 3D Slicer for needle path planning.

Results

The communication between the components was successfully tested with a clinical CT scanner. In a first experiment, four needle insertions were planned and the deviation of the actual needle path from the planned path was measured. The mean deviation from the needle path to the target point was 21.9 mm, which is mainly caused both by translational deviation (15.4 mm) and angular deviation (6.8°) of the needle holder. The optical tracking system was able to detect the needle position with a mean deviation of 3.9 mm.

Conclusion

The first validation of the system was successful which proves that the proposed concept for both the hardware and software is feasible. In a next step, an automatic position correction based on the optical tracking system will be integrated, which is expected to significantly improve the system accuracy.
Synthesis and Fabrication of Graphite/WO3 Nanocomposite-Based Screen-Printed Flexible Humidity Sensor
Authors: Saquib Mohammad , Shiraj Shazneen , Nayak Ramakrishna , Nirmale Aditya , Selvakumar M.
Published: April 2023

The resistive type of graphite/WO3 nanocomposite-based humidity sensor is fabricated through screen printing on a flexible polyethylene terephthalate substrate. Three different nanocomposite-based humidity sensors have been fabricated and analyzed for their humidity-sensing characteristics. The structure elucidation of the nanocomposite was carried out using x-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. By exposing the printed humidity sensor to relative humidity ranging from 11% to 97% at room temperature, its capabilities were studied. The relative resistance, sensitivity, dynamic response, and hysteresis were determined for all three devices, and they showed maximum responses towards relative humidity changes with the highest sensitivity of ≈ 60.8% and excellent hysteresis curves (maximum change of ≈ 1%). The screen-printed flexible humidity sensor exhibited less than a 5% change in the internal electrical resistance when subjected to various bending angles.
Current Concerns About Gender-Affirming Therapy in Adolescents
Authors: Levine Stephen B. , Abbruzzese E.
Published: April 2023

Purpose of Review

Results of long-term studies of adult transgender populations failed to demonstrate convincing improvements in mental health, and some studies suggest that there are treatment-associated harms. The purpose of this review is to clarify concerns about the rapid proliferation of hormonal and surgical care for the record numbers of youth declaring transgender identities and seeking gender reassignment procedures.

Recent Findings

Systematic reviews of evidence conducted by public health authorities in Finland, Sweden, and England concluded that the risk/benefit ratio of youth gender transition ranges from unknown to unfavorable. As a result, there has been a shift from “gender-affirmative care,” which prioritizes access to medical interventions, to a more conservative approach that addresses psychiatric comorbidities and psychotherapeutically explores the developmental etiology of the trans identity. Debate about the safety and efficacy of “gender-affirming care” in the USA is only recently emerging.

The question, “Do the benefits of youth gender transitions outweigh the risks of harm?” remains unanswered because of a paucity of follow-up data. The conclusions of the systematic reviews of evidence for adolescents are consistent with long-term adult studies, which failed to show credible improvements in mental health and suggested a pattern of treatment-associated harms. Three recent papers examined the studies that underpin the practice of youth gender transition and found the research to be deeply flawed. Evidence does not support the notion that “affirmative care” of today’s adolescents is net beneficial. Questions about how to best care for the rapidly growing numbers of gender-dysphoric youth generated an intensity of divisiveness within and outside of medicine rarely seen with other clinical uncertainties. Because the future well-being of young patients and their families is at stake, the field must stop relying on social justice arguments and return to the time-honored principles of evidence-based medicine.
Antimony Potassium Tartrate Stabilizes Wide-Bandgap Perovskites for Inverted 4-T All-Perovskite Tandem Solar Cells with Efficiencies over 26%
Authors: Hu Xuzhi , Li Jiashuai , Wang Chen , Cui Hongsen , Liu Yongjie , Zhou Shun , Guan Hongling , Ke Weijun , Tao Chen , Fang Guojia
Published: April 2023

Wide-bandgap (WBG) perovskites have been attracting much attention because of their immense potential as a front light-absorber for tandem solar cells. However, WBG perovskite solar cells (PSCs) generally exhibit undesired large open-circuit voltage (VOC) loss due to light-induced phase segregation and severe non-radiative recombination loss. Herein, antimony potassium tartrate (APTA) is added to perovskite precursor as a multifunctional additive that not only coordinates with unbonded lead but also inhibits the migration of halogen in perovskite, which results in suppressed non-radiative recombination, inhibited phase segregation and better band energy alignment. Therefore, a APTA auxiliary WBG PSC with a champion photoelectric conversion efficiency of 20.35% and less hysteresis is presented. They maintain 80% of their initial efficiencies under 100 mW cm−2 white light illumination in nitrogen after 1,000 h. Furthermore, by combining a semi-transparent WBG perovskite front cell with a narrow-bandgap tin–lead PSC, a perovskite/perovskite four-terminal tandem solar cell with an efficiency over 26% is achieved. Our work provides a feasible approach for the fabrication of efficient tandem solar cells."Image missing"
The Hroswitha Club and the Impact of Women Book Collectors
Authors: Ozment Kate
Published: April 2023

The Hroswitha Club was a group of women book collectors who met from 1944–2004 in the Eastern United States. Despite the fame of individual members like Henrietta Bartlett or Mary Hyde Eccles, there is no sustained study of the Club's work and legacy. This Element makes this history broadly accessible and focuses on how members shared knowledge and expertise and provided a space for legitimacy and self-growth in a period where women's access to formal education and academic institutions was limited. By making this network visible through an examination of archival records, library catalogs, and pamphlets, this project positions the Club as a case study for a more thorough examination of the ways that intersectional identities can make visible or obscure whose intellect, money, and resources have shaped the study of rare books in the United States.
The 1789 Christmas Eve collision of the HMS Guardian with an iceberg in the southwest Indian Ocean
Authors: Martin Seelye
Published: April 2023

In the evening of 24 December 1789, 2100 km southeast of Cape Town and after encountering three icebergs, the HMS Guardian under Captain Edward Riou collided with the submerged foot of a large iceberg. Despite severe damage to the ship and its abandonment by many of its crew and passengers, Riou sailed the hulk back to Cape Town, arriving on 22 February 1790. From present-day research and field studies, the formation of the foot in the collision is consistent with the above-freezing seawater temperatures inferred from Riou's commentary. Further, the observed 60 m iceberg height suggests that it calved from the Filchner Ice Shelf in the Weddell Sea. Comparison of the positions of Riou's icebergs with historic sightings, satellite observations and iceberg drift and fracture models also shows that they originated in the Weddell Sea and that their likelihood of occurrence in the collision region is small.
The Feral Animal Question: Implications for Recognizing Europe's First Farmers
Authors: Gron Kurt J.
Published: April 2023

The presence of domestic animals is a key feature of the Neolithic. Their earliest presence in archaeological contexts across the European continent is often interpreted as reflecting farming practices. However, domestic animals often escape, survive, and become feral. Using the comparative example of colonial North America, this article's aim is to illustrate what happens when livestock are introduced to a new, continental temperate environment. Taking a dual historical and archaeological perspective, the author reiterates and elaborates on the suggestion that feral animals were almost certainly a feature of the European Neolithization process.
Legal theory in search of social transformation
Authors: Kampourakis Ioannis
Published: April 2023

Inspired by the contributions of Poul Kjaer and Kerry Rittich to this Special Issue, this article extends the reflection on the role and potential of law for social transformation. More specifically, I attempt to build on a revised framing of the constitutive role of law to draw the contours of a transformative instrumentalism, where law functions as an instrument for the articulation of political and social objectives. My account shifts the attention from transformative law’s form to its content, based on the premise that engagement with ‘political’ economy necessarily entails an engagement with the substantive standards that shape social relations of production and define the nature and extent of exploitation. Yet, I argue that the endorsement of law’s constitutive function and the turn to law’s content need not lead to the kind of instrumentalism that exhausts itself in particular policy reforms or prescriptions to assume control over processes of legal coding. Relying on a tentatively redrawn conception of the constitutive role of law that draws from both legal institutionalism and Marxist perspectives, I suggest that instrumentalism may instead be transformative by prioritising material ends, leaving open the question of the concrete legal and institutional forms that will materialise them. The directions of such transformative instrumentalism involve an element of ‘mobilisational democracy’ against the insulation of the economy from democratic control; reforms generative of collective subjects and centres of democratic power (‘non-reformist reforms’); and a focus on the planning and coordinating function of law among diverse – but united in their objective – legal rationales and institutional forms.
In search of a European economic imaginary of competition: fifty years of the Commission’s annual reports
Authors: Brook Or
Published: April 2023

The term ‘competition’ is a core notion for social and economic thinking and the organisation of markets. Nevertheless, this paper shows that there is no single acceptable economic imaginary ascribed to the notion in Europe. The search for the meaning of competition is an ongoing journey, from the EU’s very inception 60 years ago to the present day, which is inherently tied to the objectives, scope, and boundaries of EU (competition) law and to socio-economic transformations.

The paper first reviews the history of the notion in both common-usage language and in legal-economic thinking. It exposes the emergence of three parallel, partly conflicting, imaginaries influencing the notion in EU competition law: Keynesian, ordoliberal, and neoliberal. After demonstrating that no single imaginary was adopted by EU primary, secondary, or soft laws, it applies Critical Discourse Analysis to the Commission’s annual reports on competition (1971–2020) in search for the meaning of competition. The paper reveals that the notion of competition had acquired one meaning in ‘hard’ contexts of the enforcement (scope of the prohibition of competition; exceptions or justifications for allowing otherwise anti-competitive behaviour), and another meaning in ‘softer’ contexts (mandates of the competition rules, and to a lesser extent – selection of enforcement priorities). While the ‘hard’ contexts have experienced a transformation from Keynesian and ordoliberal imaginary of competition to a neoliberal notion; the ‘soft’ contexts still invoke a broader notion reflecting influences from all three theories.

Finally, the paper argues that although the lack of a clear definition for competition undoubtedly raises challenges relating to the rule of law, legal certainty, and uniformity, its ambiguity also serves as a powerful tool in safeguarding the durability and legitimacy of competition as an economic imaginary. It allows tailoring the notion of competition to changing legal, economic, and social conditions without a Treaty amendment.
Contracts scholarship beyond Materialisierung
Authors: Caruso Daniela
Published: April 2023

This comment aims to show how Klaus Eller's paper on ‘The Political Economy of Tenancy Contract Law’1 raises the stakes of private law scholarship and contributes to the larger project of remodeling legal institutions in a progressive direction. The comment starts by contextualising the rapid spread of the Law and Political Economy (LPE) movement; illustrates through examples the generative impact of LPE on contemporary contracts scholarship; and highlights two strands of Eller’s original contribution to such literature: a welcome reflection on the value and limits of Materialisierung, and a radical widening of the private law inquiry to include institutional dimensions of legal reform. The point of fostering such new directions is not to ditch the very logic of private law and its endogenous mechanisms of justice, which are still essential to progressive legal work. What is no longer tenable is to keep seeking socially oriented solutions exclusively within the private law arsenal of possibilities, even when it has become obvious that only a synergic approach can produce accurate diagnoses of – and perhaps cures for – the structural predicaments of the market economy.
Six wave interaction equations in finite-depth gravity waves with surface tension
Authors: Ablowitz Mark J. , Luo Xu-Dan , Musslimani Ziad H.
Published: April 2023

Three wave resonant triad interactions in two space and one time dimensions form a well-known system of first-order quadratically nonlinear evolution equations that arise in many areas of physics. In deep water waves, they were first derived by Simmons in 1969 and later shown to be exactly solvable by Ablowitz & Haberman in 1975. Specifically, integrability was established by introducing a system of six wave interactions whose symmetry reduction leads to the well-known three wave equations. Here, it is shown that the six wave interaction and classical three wave equations satisfying triad resonance conditions in finite-depth gravity waves can be derived from the non-local integro-differential formulation of the free surface gravity wave equation with surface tension. These quadratically nonlinear six wave interaction equations and their reductions to the classical and non-local complex as well as real reverse space–time three wave interaction equations are integrable. Limits to infinite and shallow water depth are also discussed.
REDD1 deletion and treadmill running increase liver hepcidin and gluconeogenic enzymes in male mice
Authors: Barney David E. , Gordon Bradley S. , Hennigar Stephen R.
Published: April 2023

The iron-regulatory hormone hepcidin is transcriptionally up-regulated by gluconeogenic signals. Recent evidence suggeststhat increases in circulating hepcidin may decrease dietary iron absorption following prolonged exercise, however evidence is limited on whether gluconeogenic signals contribute to post-exercise increases in hepcidin. Mice with genetic knockout of regulated in development and DNA response-1 (REDD1) display greater glycogen depletion following exercise, possibly indicating greater gluconeogenesis. The objective of the present study was to determine liver hepcidin, markers of gluconeogenesis and iron metabolism in REDD1 knockout and wild-type mice following prolonged exercise. Twelve-week-old male REDD1 knockout and wild-type mice were randomised to rest or 60 min treadmill running with 1, 3 or 6 h recovery (n = 5–8/genotype/group). Liver gene expression of hepcidin (Hamp) and gluconeogenic enzymes (Ppargc1a, Creb3l3, Pck1, Pygl) were determined by qRT-PCR. Effects of genotype, exercise and their interaction were assessed by two-way ANOVAs with Tukey's post-hoc tests, and Pearson correlations were used to assess the relationships between Hamp and study outcomes. Liver Hamp increased 1- and 4-fold at 3 and 6 h post-exercise, compared to rest (P-adjusted < 0⋅009 for all), and was 50% greater in REDD1 knockout compared to wild-type mice (P = 0⋅0015). Liver Ppargc1a, Creb3l3 and Pck1 increased with treadmill running (P < 0⋅0001 for all), and liver Ppargc1a, Pck1 and Pygl were greater with REDD1 deletion (P < 0⋅02 for all). Liver Hamp was positively correlated with liver Creb3l3 (R = 0⋅62, P < 0⋅0001) and Pck1 (R = 0⋅44, P = 0⋅0014). In conclusion, REDD1 deletion and prolonged treadmill running increased liver Hamp and gluconeogenic regulators of Hamp, suggesting gluconeogenic signalling of hepcidin with prolonged exercise.
Editing and Printing the Arabic Book: Perspectives from South Asia
Authors: Baig Sohaib
Published: April 2023

In the first decades of the nineteenth century, British Calcutta stood as one of the most important cities in the world for the editing, printing, and selling of Arabic books. Before the famous Bulaq Press in Cairo was established in 1820, from 1801–19, European Orientalists and Indian munshis (scribes and clerks) and maulvis (Arabic, mawlanas), alongside one Yemeni scholar, had already printed 22 Arabic titles in movable type—many for the first time—at Fort William College in Calcutta (alongside 18 in Persian and 24 in Sanskrit).1 By 1831, a published “List of Oriental Works for Sale at the Government Education Depository, near the Hindu College, Potoldanga, Calcutta,” advertised 27 Arabic, 31 Sanskrit, 36 English, 16 Hindi and Urdu, 30 Persian, and 29 Bengali books.2 Far from a marginal undertaking, Arabic books represented a sizeable proportion of printing in Bengal at the beginning of the nineteenth century.