bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design for Emergencies
Authors: De Angelis Chiara
Published: December 2023

The recent health crisis and the phenomena linked to environmental upheavals have aroused great interest in the theme of emergency and the need to systematise it.

The “Design for Emergency”, not yet well defined and in continuous evolution within the scientific discipline of Design, is today at the centre of the cultural debate to find a more precise definition, limits and possibilities, good practices and necessary interdisciplinary relations.

After an initial introduction to the topic, the essay intends to define and discuss, through selected case studies, the design’s contribution within critical contexts, through the reinterpretation of two terms, the “cycle” and the “wave”, discussed in the essay “Designing in the Post-COVID Era” (2021) by M. Bianchini, P. Bolzan and S. Maffei [1].

The two terms, used by the authors to describe a range of phenomena, would influence differently the actions, methods and design strategies aimed at developing innovative and effective solutions and products to cope with emergency conditions.
The Physical Model as an Evolution of the Design Process: From the “Capostipite” to the Finished Product
Authors: Di Stefano Alessandro , Paciotti Davide
Published: December 2023

The physical contact with the material, the giving of form while simultaneously verifying material consistency, curvature, and three-dimensionality, is an indispensable component of the designer's personal process in shaping the object to be produced. The physical model is the tool that has enabled designers to develop and validate their projects for successful industrial production. The paper explores the role of the physical model as a design tool and its contemporary evolution. It has, through the influence of increasingly advanced digital tools, acquired various functionalities, radically transforming the prototyping process. The model has increasingly become virtual from physical by means of more computational parametric and generative modelling software. With the evolution of rapid prototyping technologies into rapid additive manufacturing technologies, there is a shift from verification model to finished product, with performance characteristics comparable to an industrially manufactured object. This investigation made it possible to explain the main stages of change in the prototyping process in three graphics, where the constant shift from physical to digital can be seen. From a time-consuming process caused by making physical models mainly by manual work, to a short and digital process, making the main verification steps virtual.
Aesthetics of Design for Social Innovation. Pathways for a Dialogue with Everyday Aesthetics
Authors: De Rosa Annalinda , Galluzzo Laura
Published: December 2023

The paper presents “ADESSO - Aesthetics of Design for Social Innovation”, foundational research that aims at investigating the sensorial insights and the aesthetic experience related to services, relationships, environments, communication strategies, and spaces within Design for Social Innovation approaches, highlighting the impact on processes and outcomes.

As Design for Social Innovation deals with all that design branches can do to promote and support social changes towards social and environmental sustainability, such processes are usually typified by a strong dematerialization of the design object itself: they own a relational and dialogical perspective. As the object itself of the design process has constantly been expanded, mainly towards its intangibility, the focus on the value generated by the experience of artefacts and places has found its area of investigation. Also, a decreased authorship has progressively turned the designer’s role into participatory-design-led practices. Indeed, Design Aesthetics has mainly dealt with product design and the related sensorial involvements, and no specific studies have so far included Design for Social Innovation.

Focusing on these three principal axes of change for design research, ADESSO starts by investigating the aesthetic experience generated throughout sustainable and participative cases, stressing the importance of differential contributions to the whole process.
Design for Behavior Change in Design Education. A Case Study
Authors: Pillan Margherita
Published: December 2023

Addressing design education programs according to the goals for sustainable development indicated by the ONU Agenda 2030 requires the update of contents and methodologies. The paper deals with why design theories for behavior change (DfBC) should be considered in design education at the university level, with a particular focus on service and interaction design. It also reports, as a case study, the results of including DfBC in a UX Design course, where students were engaged in the design of solutions aimed at supporting change of behaviors for sustainability. The experiment shows the potential of these theories as valuable educational content; it also enlights the need to develop further ethical discussion on the use of brain sciences in design.
Beyond Visualisation Data as Raw Material for Uncoded Experiences
Authors: Calogero Lucilla
Published: December 2023

In the context of our evolving data-driven society, controlling the current abundance of data and the resulting flow of information does not circumscribe actions from disciplinary boundaries. Many recent theories factually underline this fact contributing significantly to the definition of valuable tools, methodologies, and processes. Numerous cross-disciplinary contributions support an ever-expanding field of knowledge in its many applications, the benefits of which are evident from an economic, social and cultural perspective. Furthermore, they seem to reveal the potential of a material transformation of data: re-materialising data, giving it physical shape and staging it in public spaces to create more emphatic relationships. This plastic experience would make people feel the data, not just watch and observe it. The paper proposes an analytical framework, helpful in exploring the opportunities offered by data design: what technological innovations make the development of new data communication languages possible? What spatial dimension does the experience provide? What value, what meaning do they bring? The framework offered here intends to be a thinking tool and inspire renewed data interaction design practices. A better understanding of what interaction in data design is, and how it can enrich the quality of interaction in data-informed product-service systems which empower those who use them. The goal is to open up the dialogue amongst parties interested in making the human explicit in the data ecosystem.
Space as a Narrative Interface. Phygital Interactive Storytelling in the Field of Cultural Heritage
Authors: Bollini Letizia
Published: December 2023

The paper explores the evolution of interaction design and digital communication – with a focus on the phygital space and the enhancement of people experience – both from the theoretical as well as a design point of view, based on a phenomenological and critical mapping of recent and paradigmatic case studies. In doing that, it introduces, presents, and discuss the possible role played by the phygital space as a narrative device exploring possible combinatons – space, narrationa and technologies – of space-based, multimodal storytelling mediated by blended experiences and devices.
Objects Between Material Culture and Visual Culture
Authors: La Fortuna Loredana
Published: December 2023

What happens to a squeezer, a coffee maker, a corkscrew, when they leave the kitchen and become part of a film set? What happens when material culture is transformed into visual culture? What new roles, meanings and connections to the subject, do objects find themselves constructing in the content continuum of virtual media?

This paper attempts to answer, albeit partially, these questions by using a specific case study, namely the analysis of the presence of some of the most famous Italian design objects, the kitchen objects by Alessi, within the American filmography of the last twenty years.

The ultimate aim is to reason in terms of meaning and narrativity according to the methods proposed by sociosemiotics and cultural studies, in order to identify new characteristics and functions that design can perform within an experiential context that is already dominant: the world of images.
Conversation Design for Raising Awareness on the Responsible Use of the Internet
Authors: Filippi Mauro , Di Dio Salvatore , Schillaci Domenico , Malorni Stefano , Scuderi Angelo , Guzzo Sabrina
Published: December 2023

The rapid process of digital transformation and servitization experienced on a global scale in recent decades, further accelerated by the pandemic crisis, has radically altered the life experience of societies, with technological innovations leading to the emergence of new ethical and legal challenges. The issue of digital literacy and the acquisition of basic skills for responsible use of the internet has become one of the most urgent prerogatives in international government programs to address psychosocial phenomena such as those related to online grooming, cyberbullying, cybersuicide, cyber racing, or online scamming. The proposed work introduces the use of participatory game design as an empowerment tool for young students. The case study of the NetWalking project, developed by an interdisciplinary team of practitioners and researchers in several secondary schools in the city of Palermo (Italy), describes the experimentation of co-design activities of an edugame with a conversational interface (chatbot), which exploits the logic of nonlinear storytelling to actively engage students in playful learning activities, contributing to the development of hard skills (STEM) and soft skills (self-assessment, teamwork and information management).
Vorgehensweise: Methodologie und Methode
Authors: Ruther Lilo
Published: December 2023

Schon die im vorausgehenden Kapitel skizzierte Datenerhebung impliziert methodologische und methodische Vorentscheidungen. Das gilt erst recht für die Aufbereitung und Auswertung der erhobenen Daten. Daher geht es im Folgenden um allgemeine methodologische und konkrete methodische Fragen und Entscheidungen, die bei der Umsetzung der Untersuchung eine wichtige Rolle gespielt haben.
Thematisches Feld Natur
Authors: Ruther Lilo
Published: December 2023

Im Folgenden werde ich den Positionierungsdimensionen folgend das Selbstbild, die Aufgaben, die Agency und die Deutungsmuster im thematischen Feld Natur rekonstruieren. Es werden unterschiedliche Datentypen (Prospekt, Interview und teilnehmende Beobachtungen) analysiert. Bei dem Bestattungsverein für Frauen zeigt sich auf allen vier Positionierungsdimensionen eine starke Orientierung an dem thematischen Feld Natur. Daher widme ich diesem Fall von Ritualleitung in diesem Kapitel besondere Aufmerksamkeit.
Thematisches Feld Ritual
Authors: Ruther Lilo
Published: December 2023

Im Folgenden rekonstruiere ich das Positionierungsspektrum innerhalb des thematischen Feldes Ritual, indem ich den Ritualbegriff der Ritualleitenden untersuche, der sich aus ihrer Verwendung der Wörter «Ritual» und «rituell» in verschiedenen Zusammenhängen ergibt. Ausserdem beziehe ich mich auf Äusserungen, innerhalb derer unmittelbar auf weitverbreitete Ritualtheorien zurückgegriffen wird (rites des passage; Theorien von Lebensübergängen), indem z. B. von «Übergang» oder «Transformation» die Rede ist. In den Thematisierungen popularisierter Ritualtheorien, die sich in meinen Daten finden, spiegelt sich eine Reflexion etischer Ritualbegriffe und deren Verhältnis zu anderen Konzepten.
Problem and Project-Based Learning at Aalborg
Authors: Habbal Fawwaz , Kolmos Anette , Hadgraft Roger G. , Holgaard Jette Egelund , Reda Kamar
Published: December 2023

Aalborg University has grown out of a certain educational mindset based on reform pedagogy and German critical theory back in the 1970s. Aalborg University has developed problem and project based learning as the core principles for education at a systemic level. In this chapter, the history and contemporary principles and the educational practices are presented.
Studios Reshape Engineering Curricula at UTS
Authors: Habbal Fawwaz , Kolmos Anette , Hadgraft Roger G. , Holgaard Jette Egelund , Reda Kamar
Published: December 2023

As identified earlier, engineering curricula must develop three categories of skills and knowledge—(i) design and problem solving in complex, sociotechnical situations, (ii) the technical knowledge to support the design process, and (iii) the interpersonal skills to support engineering team processes. Traditional curricula, based on teaching the technical knowledge and skills, under-deliver developing the design and interpersonal skill sets. Studios are a place where all three categories of skills can be developed.
Application of image analysis and machine learning for the assessment of grape (Vitis L.) berry behavior under different storage conditions
Authors: Ropelewska Ewa , Noutfia Younes
Published: December 2023

Fresh grapes are characterized by a short shelf life and are often subjected to quality losses during post-harvest storage. The quality assessment of grapes using image analysis may be a useful approach using non-destructive methods. This study aimed to compare the effect of different storage methods on the grape image texture parameters of the fruit outer structure. Grape bunches were stored for 4 weeks using 3 storage methods ( – 18 °C, + 4 °C, and room temperature) and then were subjected subsequently to image acquisition using a flatbed scanner and image processing. The models for the classification of fresh and stored grapes were built based on selected image textures using traditional machine learning algorithms. The fresh grapes and stored fruit samples (for 4 weeks) in the freezer, in the refrigerator and in the room were classified with an overall accuracy reaching 96% for a model based on selected texture parameters from images in color channels R, G, B, L, a, and b built using Random Forest algorithm. Among the individual color channels, the carried-out classification for the R color channel produced the highest overall accuracies of up to 92.5% for Random Forest. As a result, this study proposed an innovative approach combining image analysis and traditional machine learning to assess changes in the outer structure of grape berries caused by different storage conditions.
Complete Minimal Logarithmic Energy Asymptotics for Points in a Compact Interval: A Consequence of the Discriminant of Jacobi Polynomials
Authors: Brauchart J. S.
Published: December 2023

The electrostatic interpretation of zeros of Jacobi polynomials, due to Stieltjes and Schur, enables us to obtain the complete asymptotic expansion as$$n \rightarrow \infty $$n→∞of the minimal logarithmic potential energy ofnpoint charges restricted to move in the interval$$[-1,1]$$[-1,1]in the presence of an external field generated by endpoint charges. By the same methods, we determine the complete asymptotic expansion as$$N \rightarrow \infty $$N→∞of the logarithmic energy$$\sum _{j\ne k} \log (1/| x_j - x_k |)$$∑j≠klog(1/|xj-xk|)of Fekete points, which, by definition, maximize the product of all mutual distances$$\prod _{j\ne k} | x_j - x_k |$$∏j≠k|xj-xk|ofNpoints in$$[-1,1]$$[-1,1]. The results for other compact intervals differ only in the quadratic and linear term of the asymptotics. Explicit formulas and their asymptotics follow from the discriminant, leading coefficient, and special values at$$\pm 1$$±1of Jacobi polynomials. For all these quantities we derive complete Poincaré-type asymptotics.
Optimal vitamin D supplement dosage for improving insulin resistance in children and adolescents with overweight/obesity: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Authors: Zhu Linlian , Li Shan , Zhong Lijuan , Xu Shiping , Zhu Hongbin
Published: December 2023

Purpose

We conducted a network meta-analysis which aims to evaluate the comparative efficacy of different supplementation dosages of vitamin D on cardiometabolic and bone-metabolic indicators as well as insulin resistance in children and adolescents with overweight/obesity.

Methods

Eligible studies published before December 10, 2022 were retrieved from PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Mean difference and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to express pooled estimates. Network meta-analysis of multiple doses, including low (< 1000 IU/day, LDS), medium (1000–2000 IU/day, MDS), high (2000–4000 IU/day, HDS), and extremely high (> 4000 IU/day, EHDS) dosage strategy, was conducted using STATA/MP 14.0.

Results

Our network meta-analysis of 15 RCTs suggested that, compared with placebo and LDS, EHDS was increased 25-(OH)-D, with a pooled MD of 8.65 (95% CI 4.72–12.58) and 7.66 (95% CI 0.91–14.41), respectively. Meanwhile, EHDS also decreased ho meostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (MD: − 0.74; 95% CI: − 1.45 to − 0.04) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (MD: − 18.99; 95% CI − 21.60 to − 16.38), and EHDS was also better than LDS (MD: − 18.47; 95% CI − 20.66 to − 16.28) and MDS (MD: − 19.69; 95% CI − 22.17 to − 17.21) in decreasing CRP. Ranking probability suggested that EHDS ranked best for increasing 25-(OH)-D, and decreasing HOMA-IR and CRP, with a probability of 86.1%, 83.1%, and 76.6%, respectively.

Conclusions

The results of our network meta-analysis suggest that EHDS may be the best strategy for vitamin D supplementation to reduce inflammatory responses as well as improve insulin resistance in children and adolescents with overweight/obesity.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42023387775.
A citizen science report—Tiger mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus) in allotment gardens in Graz, Styria, Austria
Authors: Reichl Julia , Prossegger Christina , Eichholzer Bernhard , Plauder Pamina , Unterköfler Maria Sophia , Bakran-Lebl Karin , Indra Alexander , Fuehrer Hans-Peter
Published: December 2023

Aedes albopictus, the Asian tiger mosquito, is an invasive species not native to Europe. Due to its ability to transmit pathogens, such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses, Ae. albopictus is considered a major health threat. In Austria, it was first reported in 2012 in the Western province of Tyrol and was documented in the metropolitan area of Vienna in 2020, demonstrating its ability to colonize urban areas. In July 2021, a garden owner from Graz, Styria, Austria, contacted experts because of the possible presence of tiger mosquitoes in an allotment garden complex. Accordingly, citizen scientists collected adult mosquitoes and set up ovitraps. Adults and eggs were sent to the laboratory for morphological examination and molecular DNA barcoding within the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene. In total, 217 eggs of Ae. albopictus were found at the allotment garden as well as at a second location in the city of Graz. In addition, 14 adult Ae. albopictus specimens, of which 7 were molecularly identified as an identical haplotype, were collected at the allotment garden. With its mild climate and numerous parks and gardens, Graz provides the perfect environment for reproduction of tropical/subtropical alien Aedes mosquitoes. The presence of eggs and adult specimens in the current study period indicates that Ae. albopictus is already breeding in Graz. However, monitoring efforts need to be continued to determine whether stable populations of Ae. albopictus can survive there.
Lab-on-chip technologies for space research — current trends and prospects
Authors: Krakos Agnieszka
Published: December 2023

The in-depth analysis concerning application of microfluidic instruments for space biology research is presented. The article focuses on recently investigated key scientific fields, i.e., lab-on-chips applied to the biomedical studies performed in the (1) International Space Station and (2) CubeSat nanosatellites. The paper presents also the lab-on-chip devices that were fabricated with a view to future space biology research and to those that to date have been solely been tested under Earth laboratory conditions and/or simulated microgravity environments. NASA and ESA conceptual mission plans for future are also mentioned, concerning for instance “tissue chips” and the ESA-SPHEROIDS campaign. The paper ends with final conclusions and future perspectives regarding lab-on-chip application in the space biology sector and its impact on novel biomedical and pharmaceutical strategies.

Graphical Abstract
Reframing stigma in Tourette syndrome: an updated scoping review
Authors: Pring Kelly , Malli Melina , Hardy Brandy W. , Rapp Stephen R. , Storch Eric A. , Mink Jonathan W. , Martindale Jaclyn M.
Published: December 2023

Persistent tic disorders (PTD) such as Tourette’s syndrome (TS) are common childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorders. Stigmatization of individuals with these disorders remains an ongoing problem. The purpose of this scoping review is to serve as an updated review of the research regarding stigmatization in youth with PTD since the publication of the original systematic review about this topic in 2016. The electronic databases Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, PsycINFO, and CINAHL were searched. Of the 4751 initial articles screened after removing duplications, 47 studies met the inclusion criteria. The studies were examined under the social–ecological stigmatization model, which helps categorize stigmatization into individual, interpersonal, community, and structural levels and serves as a broader definition of stigmatization than the previous systematic review. On the individual level, youth with PTD had lower self-esteem than peers, often leading to fear of future stigmatization, avoidant behaviors, and self-stigmatization. They also experienced higher rates of bullying and other forms of abuse than peers at the interpersonal level. At the community level, youth with PTD faced discriminatory environments in school and work and limited availability of community services and healthcare access. At the structural level, knowledge about PTD was limited in the general population, often about the limited portrayals of PTD in the media. We hope that the broader scope of this review serves to help inform future efforts to decrease the stigmatization faced by this group.
Quantification of hydrogen bond energy based on equations using spectroscopic, structural, QTAIM-based, and NBO-based descriptors which calibrated by the molecular tailoring approach
Authors: Afonin Andrei V. , Rusinska-Roszak Danuta
Published: December 2023

Context

Hydrogen bonds critically influence the structure and properties of both organic molecules and biomolecules, as well as supramolecular assemblies. For this reason, the development and elaboration of methods for quantitative assessment of hydrogen bond energy is an urgent challenge. In this study, using a large series of hydroxycarbonyl aliphatic compounds with the O‒H···O = C intramolecular hydrogen bond, a bank of hydrogen bond descriptors was created, including spectroscopic, structural, QTAIM-based, and NBO-based parameters. It was shown that the O‒H vibration frequency, OH chemical shift as the spectroscopic descriptors, the O···H hydrogen bond length, O···O distance, and O‒H covalent bond length as the structural descriptors, the electron density and its Laplacian, electron potential energy density in the hydrogen bond critical point, the electron density at the ring critical point as the QTAIM-based descriptors change in a correlated manner. The same correlation is found in change of the charge transfer energy through a hydrogen bond, the occupancy of the O‒H bond antibonding orbital, the Wiberg indices of the O···H hydrogen bond, and the O‒H covalent bond, as well as the polarization of the O‒H bond, which are the NBO-based descriptors. It was also recognized that the specified descriptors from the spectroscopic, structural, QTAIM-based, and NBO-based categories are functionally related to the values of intramolecular hydrogen bond energy, quantified via the molecular tailoring approach. This allowed one to obtain a system of equations for quantitative estimation of intramolecular hydrogen bond energy based on the spectroscopic, structural, QTAIM, and NBO descriptors, which makes such quantification more dependable and reliable.

Methods

To obtain the spectroscopic descriptors, the vibrational spectra and shielding constants were calculated using the GIAO method. Structural descriptors were obtained for the equilibrium geometry of molecules, calculated at the MP2(FC)/6–311 +  + (2d,2p) level using the Gaussian 09 program. The QTAIM-based descriptors were calculated using the AIMAll program within the framework of the quantum theory “Atoms in Molecules.” The NBO-based descriptors were calculated using the NBO 3.1 program implemented into Gaussian 09. To quantify the energy of intramolecular hydrogen bonds, molecular fragmentation was used within the molecular tailoring approach.
The influence of viscose fibre properties on the absorbency of feminine hygiene tampons: the pivotal role of cross-sectional geometry
Authors: Harter T. , Wagner A. , Wolfbauer A. , Bernt I. , Mautner A. , Kriechbaum M. , Nevosad A. , Hirn U.
Published: December 2023

Feminine hygiene products, used by millions of women worldwide on a daily basis, come in various forms. Among them, tampons are a prominent type that aims to absorb menstrual blood directly in the vagina. However, the underlying mechanisms governing liquid absorption in tampons have received limited research attention and remain poorly understood. This study aims to investigate these mechanisms by examining the two main types of viscose fibres used in tampons and their effects when employed in tampon production. The sole distinction between the fibre types lies in their geometric shape—round or trilobal—while all other fibre parameters remain constant. To explore these mechanisms, tampon proxies made from these fibres were created and subjected to tests measuring liquid absorption. In addition, a novel method employing infrared thermography was utilized to infer the stored energy within the compressed tampon. Furthermore, individual fibres were characterised for chemical composition, surface properties, fine structure, liquid interaction, mechanical parameters, and friction behaviour. The results revealed that trilobal fibres exhibited higher tampon absorbency compared to their round counterparts, despite sharing similar chemical composition and comparable mechanical characteristics. This disparity can be attributed to the greater specific surface area of trilobal fibres, leading to enhanced liquid uptake through fibre swelling. However, single fibre swelling only accounted for a minor fraction of the total liquid absorbency of a tampon. The most influential fibre parameter was the geometric shape, as trilobal fibres facilitated the construction and maintenance of a bulkier network with increased available volume for liquid absorption.

Graphic abstract
A simple way to integrate distributed storage into a wholesale electricity market
Authors: Lamadrid Alberto J. , Lu Hao , Mount Timothy D.
Published: December 2023

Current plans to decarbonize the electric supply system imply that the generation from wind and solar sources will grow substantially. This growth will increase the uncertainty of system operations due to the inherent variability of these renewable sources, and as a result, more reserve capacity will be required to provide the ramping (flexibility) needed for reliable operations. This paper assumes that all of the increased uncertainty comes from wind farms on the grid, and it shows how distributed storage managed locally by aggregators can provide the ramping needed without introducing a separate market for flexibility. This can be accomplished when the aggregators minimize the expected daily cost of the energy purchased from the grid for their customers by submitting optimal bids into the wholesale market with high and low price thresholds for discharging and charging the storage. This model is illustrated using a stochastic multi-period security constrained optimal power flow together with realistic data for a reduction of the network in the Northeast Power Coordinating Council region of the United States. The results show that the bidding strategy for distributed storage provides ramping to the grid just as effectively as storage managed by a system operator.
A virus from Aspergillus cibarius with features of alpha- and betachrysoviruses
Authors: Lutz Tobias , Langer Gitta Jutta , Heinze Cornelia
Published: December 2023

From the ascomycete Aspergillus cibarius strain NW-FVA 2590, which was originally isolated from a root, associated with stem collar necrosis of Fraxinus excelsior L., a novel virus was isolated and characterized. Its genome is encoded on three monocistronic dsRNA segments ranging from 3683 bp (dsRNA 1) over 3093 (dsRNA 2) to 2902 bp (dsRNA 3), which are packed in isometric particles of around 35 nm. While the viral RdRp (P1) is encoded on segment 1, protein sequencing showed that two more structural proteins are present which are translated from dsRNA 2 (P2) and dsRNA 3 (P3) and possibly form the viral capsid. Additionally, P2 and P3 may undergo posttranslational modifications since the detected proteins bands deviated from the calculated sizes. Due to its phylogenetic position, the novel virus was grouped in the family of Chrysoviridae and was tentatively denominated as Aspergillus cibarius chrysovirus 1 (AcCV1). Due to its composition, biological properties and phylogenetic position, distant from the genera Alphachrysovirus and Betachrysovirus, we suggest to position AcCV1 in a proposed genus “Gammachrysovirus”.
Intracellular iron accumulation facilitates mycobacterial infection in old mouse macrophages
Authors: Kotey Stephen K. , Tan Xuejuan , Fleming Owen , Kasiraju Ramakrishnama Raju , Dagnell Audrey L. , Van Pelt Kyle N. , Rogers Janet , Hartson Steven D. , Thadathil Nidheesh , Selvarani Ramasamy , Ranjit Rojina , Logan Sreemathi , Deepa Sathyaseelan S. , Richardson Arlan , Cheng Yong
Published: December 2023

Aging has a significant impact on the immune system, leading to a gradual decline in immune function and changes in the body’s ability to respond to bacterial infections. Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), also known as atypical mycobacteria or environmental mycobacteria, are commonly found in soil, water, and various environmental sources. While many NTM species are considered opportunistic pathogens, some can cause significant infections, particularly in individuals with compromised immune systems, such as older individuals. When mycobacteria enter the body, macrophages are among the first immune cells to encounter them and attempt to engulf mycobacteria through a process called phagocytosis. Some NTM species, including Mycobacterium avium (M. avium) can survive and replicate within macrophages. However, little is known about the interaction between NTM and macrophages in older individuals. In this study, we investigated the response of bone marrow–derived macrophage (BMMs) isolated from young (5 months) and old (25 months) mice to M. avium serotype 4, one of the main NTM species in patients with pulmonary NTM diseases. Our results demonstrated that BMMs from old mice have an increased level of intracellular iron and are more susceptible to M. avium serotype 4 infection compared to BMMs from young mice. The whole-cell proteomic analysis indicated a dysregulated expression of iron homeostasis–associated proteins in old BMMs regardless of mycobacterial infection. Deferoxamine, an iron chelator, significantly rescued mycobacterial killing and phagolysosome maturation in BMMs from old mice. Therefore, our data for the first time indicate that an intracellular iron accumulation improves NTM survival within macrophages from old mice and suggest a potential application of iron-chelating drugs as a host-directed therapy for pulmonary NTM infection in older individuals.
Presenilin2 D439A Mutation Induces Dysfunction of Mitochondrial Fusion/Fission Dynamics and Abnormal Regulation of GTPase Activity
Authors: Gao Chenhao , Shang Junkui , Sun Zhengyu , Xia Mingrong , Gao Dandan , Sun Ruihua , Li Wei , Wang Fengyu , Zhang Jiewen
Published: December 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-related progressive neurodegenerative disease, and approximately 10% of AD cases are early-onset familial AD (EOFAD), which is mainly linked to point mutations in genes encoding presenilins (PS1 and PS2). Mutations in PS2 are extremely rare and have not received enough attention. Recently, studies have found that Rho GTPase activity is closely related to the pathogenesis of AD. In this study, we used transcriptome sequencing in PS2 siRNA-transfected SH-SY5Y cells and found a group of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to the regulation of GTPase activity. Among those DEGs, the most significantly downregulated was Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor 5 (ARHGEF5). GTPase activity in PS2 siRNA-transfected cells was significantly decreased. Then, we found that the expression of ARHGEF5 and the GTPase activity of Mitochondrial Rho GTPase 2 (Miro2) in PS2 D439A mutant SH-SY5Y cells were significantly decreased. We found for the first time that PS2 can bind to Miro2, and the PS2 D439A mutation reduced the binding between PS2 and Miro2, reduced the expression of Miro2, and resulted in an imbalance in mitochondrial fusion/fission dynamics. In conclusion, PS2 gene knockdown may participate in the pathogenesis of AD through the regulation of GTPase activity. The imbalance in mitochondrial dynamics mediated by the PS2 D439A mutation through regulation of the expression and GTPase activity of Miro2 may be a potential pathogenic mechanism of AD.
Accuracy of small area mortality prediction methods: evidence from Poland
Authors: Orwat-Acedańska Agnieszka
Published: December 2023

We investigate the forecasting accuracy of several simple methods for predicting mortality in small regional areas in Poland. We focus on methods that scale country-level forecasts appropriately and, therefore, can be used by official statistical agencies to improve population projections. We examine data from 379 sub-NUTS-3 districts in Poland for the period 2006–2019, divided into three subperiods. The first period is treated as the training sample and the latter two the testing subperiods. The mortality surface method delivers the most accurate forecasts of the mortality profiles whereas using the district-level standardized mortality rates (SMR) calculated for several broad age groups to scale the country-level mortality forecasts gives the best life expectancy at birth predictions. The latter approach is far better than using the NUTS-2-based standardized mortality rate (SMR), as practiced by the Polish statistical agency. For single age-groups predictions, the SMR-based methods deliver relatively accurate forecasts for young cohorts, but their forecasting accuracy deteriorates significantly with age.
Evaluation of the Versatility of a Traffic Anomaly Detection Method during Heavy Rainfall
Authors: Kawasaki Yosuke , Hirata Kensuke , Ootake Hiroshi
Published: December 2023

During heavy rains, traffic monitoring is limited, as the affected areas are monitored by reporting and patrolling. In this study, a method for detecting traffic anomalies during heavy rainfall events was established, and a model that uses probe vehicle data to detect traffic anomalies during a disaster (an event in which vehicles make U-turns in front of a damaged area) was proposed. In addition, a parameter calibration method was developed for the model using past disaster-related data. The generalizability of the calibrated model was evaluated by applying it to other disasters. According to the results, the proposed model exhibited good generalizability.
Saccade Induced Retrieval Enhancement, Handedness & the Retrieval of Central & Peripheral Details in Eyewitness Memory
Authors: Parker Andrew , Parkin Adam , Dagnall Neil
Published: December 2023

Two experiments are presented that investigated the effects of horizontal saccadic eye movements and handedness on eyewitness memory for central and peripheral information. In both experiments, participants viewed a short video depicting a bank robbery and episodic memory was tested after a short delay. Experiment 1 used recognition memory and found an interaction between eye movement, handedness and type of information recalled. This indicated that eye movements enhanced memory to a greater extent for peripheral information for individuals classified as consistently handed. Experiment 2 used free-recall and found eye movement enhancement effects of similar magnitude for central and peripheral items. A similar pattern of eye movement effects was observed for both consistent and inconsistent-handed individuals. Inconsistent handers also had superior memory overall. The results are discussed in terms of theoretical accounts of eye movement effects and implications for the enhancement of eyewitness memory.
Review on mechanical and functional properties of refractory high-entropy alloy films by magnetron sputtering
Authors: El Garah Mohamed , Soubane Driss , Sanchette Frederic
Published: December 2023

Refractory high-entropy films (RHEFs), as multi-component materials, have garnered significant attention due to their potential use in high-temperature applications. RHEFs are endowed with unique microstructural and functional properties due to the use of refractory elements. In this review, we examine the recent state of research on RHEFs deposited by the magnetron sputtering technique. The microstructure of RHEFs has been analyzed/explored and the mechanical properties as well as the main hardening mechanisms of these films are discussed. Furthermore, functional properties such as resistance to corrosion and wear, electrical and irradiation performances, and high-temperature oxidation were evaluated. RHEFs can meet market demand in the field of engineering materials. However, many challenges, such as low ductility at room temperature, remain to be overcome. This review provides an overview of the strengths and weaknesses of RHEFs produced using magnetron sputtering.
Safety practices and occupational hazards of the additive manufacturing of high entropy alloys
Authors: Modupeola Dada , Popoola Patricia
Published: December 2023

Additive manufacturing (AM), often known as 3D printing, is becoming more popular in contemporary sectors for product development, prototyping, and the production of complicated, precise components. This technique provides benefits such as shorter production cycles, lower tooling costs, waste reduction, simpler customization, and new distribution options. AM has been applied in automotive, aerospace, medical devices, construction, and biomedical applications. High-entropy alloys (HEAs) are gaining research interest in materials science and engineering due to their multiple principal elements and potential for numerous compositions. These alloys present fundamental issues that challenge conventional theories, models, and methods. Recent studies in HEAs address phase formation, novel properties, and structural and functional potential, making HEAs promising candidates for several applications. Layer-by-layer construction of intricate structures using high-entropy alloys requires melting metal powders with lasers or other heat sources. However, AM in high-entropy alloys poses unique safety issues. This review's ultimate goal is to raise awareness of the occupational hazards associated with additive manufacturing and provide practical solutions for safe and efficient operations. It serves as an interesting call to action for employers, workers, and regulators to prioritize safety practices in the growing field of additive manufacturing of high-entropy alloys, ultimately leading to a safer and more sustainable workplace.
Develop quantitative FRET (qFRET) technology as a high-throughput universal assay platform for basic quantitative biomedical and translational research and development
Authors: Liao Jiayu
Published: December 2023

Protein–protein interactions and enzyme-catalyzed reactions are the fundamental processes in life, and the quantification and manipulation, kinetics determination, and ether activation or inhibition of these processes are critical for fully understanding physiological processes and discovering new medicine. Various methodologies and technologies have been developed to determine the parameters of these biological and medical processes. However, due to the extreme complexity of these processes, current methods and technologies can only determine one or a few parameters. The recent development of quantitative Förster resonance energy transfer (qFRET) methodology combined with technology aims to establish a high-throughput assay platform to determine protein interaction affinity, enzymatic kinetics, high-throughput screening, and pharmacological parameters using one assay platform. The FRET assay is widely used in biological and biomedical research in vitro and in vivo and provides high-sensitivity measurement in real time. Extensive efforts have been made to develop the FRET assay into a quantitative assay to determine protein–protein interaction affinity and enzymatic kinetics in the past. However, the progress has been challenging due to complicated FRET signal analysis and translational hurdles. The recent qFRET analysis utilizes cross-wavelength correlation coefficiency to dissect the sensitized FRET signal from the total fluorescence signal, which then is used for various biochemical and pharmacological parameter determination, such as KD, Kcat, KM, Ki, IC50, and product inhibition kinetics parameters. The qFRET-based biochemical and pharmacological parameter assays and qFRET-based screenings are conducted in 384-well plates in a high-throughput assay mode. Therefore, the qFRET assay platform can provide a universal high-throughput assay platform for future large-scale protein characterizations and therapeutics development.

Graphical Abstract
Big Mantle Wedge and Intraplate Volcanism in Alaska: Insight From Anisotropic Tomography
Authors: Liang Xuran , Zhao Dapeng , Hua Yuanyuan , Xu Yi‐Gang
Published: December 2023

We determine high‐resolution tomographic models of isotropic P‐wave velocity (Vp) and tilting‐axis anisotropy of the Alaska subduction zone using a large number of local and teleseismic data recorded at many portable and permanent network stations in and around Alaska. We find a flat high‐Vp slab in the mantle transition zone (410–670 km depths) beneath western Alaska, which is connected with the subducting Pacific slab at 0–410 km depths, suggesting that a big mantle wedge has formed under western Alaska. Our tilting‐axis anisotropy model reveals complex mantle flows in the asthenosphere. Corner flow in the mantle wedge above the subducting Pacific slab and toroidal flow in the big mantle wedge are revealed, which may cause the Cenozoic intraplate volcanoes in western Alaska and the Bering Sea. In central Alaska, the mantle wedge beneath the Denali volcanic gap is characterized by high‐Vp and subhorizontal fast velocity directions normal to the volcanic arc, which may reflect a remnant of the subducted Yakutat slab. In SE Alaska, the shallow subduction of the Wrangell slab is visible above 150 km depth, and hot mantle upwelling through the Wrangell‐Yakutat slab gap may contribute to the Wrangell volcanic field.
Segmented Up‐Bending of the Arabian Continental Plate Revealed by Pn Attenuation Tomography
Authors: Yang Geng , Chen Ling , Zhao Lian‐Feng , Xie Xiao‐Bi , Yao Zhen‐Xing
Published: December 2023

The Zagros orogen in the Iranian Plateau serves as a natural laboratory for studying the tectonic evolution of the transition from oceanic subduction to continental collision. Various observations from both geology and geophysics show that deep oceanic slabs may have detached one after another from the Arabian continental margin, forming a complex plate front beneath the Zagros orogen. However, where slab detachment occurred and how slab detachment affects shallower continental underthrusting remain poorly understood. The mechanism behind the complex post‐collision magmatism remains elusive. While the uppermost mantle is often considered the heart of the mantle lid, its rheological variations can provide insights into the underlying thermal structure. Here, we construct a high‐resolution Pn‐wave attenuation model for the uppermost mantle beneath the Iranian Plateau and surrounding areas using a newly compiled data set and constrain the lithospheric structure by combining the Lg‐wave attenuation within the crust. Weak Pn‐wave attenuation outlines the boundary of the Arabian Plate near the Moho discontinuity, extending further in the direction of underthrusting in the northwestern and southeastern regions. This is likely due to the up‐bending and underplating of the Arabian lithosphere following the cessation of slab pull. The overlying crusts in northwestern and southeastern Zagros thickened under the compressive force from plate underplating. The correlations among the surface Miocene‐Quaternary volcanism, strong Lg attenuation in the crust and strong Pn attenuation in the uppermost mantle suggest that asthenospheric materials escaped from slab windows and further intruded into the upper mantle and crust to feed the post‐collision volcanoes.
Targeting serine/glycine metabolism improves radiotherapy response in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Sánchez-Castillo Anaís , Heylen Elien , Hounjet Judith , Savelkouls Kim G. , Lieuwes Natasja G. , Biemans Rianne , Dubois Ludwig J. , Reynders Kobe , Rouschop Kasper M. , Vaes Rianne D. W. , De Keersmaecker Kim , Lambrecht Maarten , Hendriks Lizza E. L. , De Ruysscher Dirk K. M. , Vooijs Marc , Kampen Kim R.
Published: December 2023

Background

Lung cancer is the most lethal cancer, and 85% of cases are classified as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Metabolic rewiring is a cancer hallmark that causes treatment resistance, and lacks insights into serine/glycine pathway adaptations upon radiotherapy.

Methods

We analyzed radiotherapy responses using mass-spectrometry-based metabolomics in NSCLC patient’s plasma and cell lines. Efficacy of serine/glycine conversion inhibitor sertraline with radiotherapy was investigated by proliferation, clonogenic and spheroid assays, and in vivo using a serine/glycine dependent NSCLC mouse model by assessment of tumor growth, metabolite and cytokine levels, and immune signatures.

Results

Serine/glycine pathway metabolites were significantly consumed in response to radiotherapy in NSCLC patients and cell models. Combining sertraline with radiotherapy impaired NSCLC proliferation, clonogenicity and stem cell self-renewal capacity. In vivo, NSCLC tumor growth was reduced solely in the sertraline plus radiotherapy combination treatment group. Tumor weights linked to systemic serine/glycine pathway metabolite levels, and were inhibited in the combination therapy group. Interestingly, combination therapy reshaped the tumor microenvironment via cytokines associated with natural killer cells, supported by eradication of immune checkpoint galectin-1 and elevated granzyme B levels.

Conclusion

Our findings highlight that targeting serine/glycine metabolism using sertraline restricts cancer cell recovery from radiotherapy and provides tumor control through immunomodulation in NSCLC.
On-site portable detection of gaseous methyl iodide using an electrochemical method
Authors: Yang Xiao-Lan , Zhu Qiu-Hong , Zhang Guo-Hao , Fu Jie , Wang Shuang-Long , Ma Lijian , Qin Song , Tao Guo-Hong , He Ling
Published: December 2023

An electrochemical device for portable on-site detection of gaseous CH3I based on the poly(1-vinylimidazole) film (PVIm-F) was reported with a significant selectivity and a low detection limit.
Applications of noisy quantum computing and quantum error mitigation to “adamantaneland”: a benchmarking study for quantum chemistry
Authors: Prasad Viki Kumar , Cheng Freeman , Fekl Ulrich , Jacobsen Hans-Arno
Published: December 2023

Modeling isomers of C10H16 and carbocationic rearrangements of C10H15+ using the variational quantum eigensolver algorithm and quantum state tomography correction.