bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ageing and Reserves
Authors: Ihle Andreas , Gouveia Élvio R. , Gouveia Bruna R. , Orsholits Dan , Kliegel Matthias
Published: January 2023

In this chapter we elaborate on our conceptual view on vulnerability being the result of insufficient reserve build-up across the life course in various domains (e.g., cognitive reserve and relational reserve). Specifically, we propose that certain individuals are more vulnerable (than other, less vulnerable individuals) to impairments in human functioning because of insufficient reserves accumulated over their life course, which consequently exposes those individuals to greater difficulty to deal with threatening situations in old age in order to offset or prevent negative outcomes. To illustrate our novel perspective with empirical examples, we focus on cognitive and relational reserve domains and their role for cognitive health and well-being as aging outcomes. First, we elaborate on the build-up of these reserve domains across the life course, with a special focus on inter-individual differences in the pathways of reserve accumulation. Second, we concentrate on the role of reserves for human functioning in different groups of vulnerable individuals in old age. Third, we elaborate on the interplay of different reserve domains and their potential joint effects on aging outcomes. Finally, we conclude with an outlook for future research.
On the Sociohistorical Construction of Social and Economic Reserves Across the Life Course and on Their Use in Old Age
Authors: Oris Michel , Baeriswyl Marie , Duvoisin Aline , Gabriel Rainer , Girardin Myriam , Henke Julia , Masotti Barbara , Tholomier Aude , Widmer Eric
Published: January 2023

Coherently with the life course perspective that studies individual life trajectories embedded in sociohistorical changes, this chapter offers a synthesis on the long-term dynamics of vulnerabilities in old age that are associated with a deficit of reserves. In a first time, we investigate how economic, social and health reserves have been unevenly constructed across long lives. The impact of social stratification in the early stage of life, the institutionalization of the life courses and the process of accumulating (dis)advantages are confronted. In a second time, we show how the results of those life course dynamics, the unequal distribution of reserves older adults have to cope with aging, changed during the last 40 years. Undeniable progresses also resulted in new inequalities, or the accentuation of older ones. Third, challenging the classical perspectives of political economy of ageing and social gerontology, we show that depletion is not a linear process but that social inequalities and life accidents play a role. Moreover, coping mechanisms are considered since they tend to be based on reserves’ activation while preserving a level of reserves, for further ageing challenges.
Combining Data Collection Modes in Longitudinal Studies
Authors: Roberts Caroline , Voorpostel Marieke
Published: January 2023

Technological advances over the past two decades have substantially changed the range of data collection methods available to survey researchers. Web-based surveys have gained in popularity as increasing Internet penetration rates improve their coverage potential for general population research. Nevertheless, they still systematically exclude certain subgroups—e.g., those without Internet access or those less able (or motivated) to complete a survey questionnaire on their own. A popular solution to this problem is to use other modes of data collection for those who cannot participate online. However, whilemixed modesurveys can be effective at reducing selection errors, measurements obtained from different modes may not be comparable, particularly when it comes to sensitive topics. The fact that measurement and selection errors are confounded poses challenges for researchers analysing mixed mode data, and in a longitudinal setting, has implications for studying changes over time. In this chapter, we discuss these challenges in the context of longitudinal studies designed to measure indicators of vulnerability, and illustrate them with a synthesis of findings from our own research relating to (1) the effects of combining modes on response rates and therepresentativenessof survey samples and (2) effects formeasurementcomparability.
Positive and Negative Spillover Effects: Managing Multiple Goals in Middle Adulthood
Authors: Schüttengruber Victoria , Krings Franciska , Freund Alexandra M.
Published: January 2023

Both in the research literature as well as in popular media, the topic of “work-life” balance receives much attention, particularly for the age group of middle-aged adults. There is evidence for both, positive and negative spillover effects across life domains. This chapter provides a theoretical and empirical overview of the different types of inter-domain relationships, concepts of boundary management, and models of spillover effects on health and well-being. Adopting a lifespan perspective, we review the literature on spillover effects by focusing on multiple goal pursuit in the life domains of work, family, and leisure in middle adulthood. During this “rush hour” of life, middle-aged adults face the challenge of managing their scarce resources (e.g., time, energy) in order to achieve a successful “work-life balance.” Accordingly, we present empirical studies addressing the interplay between goal pursuit, boundary management, inter-domain conflict and facilitation, as well as spill- and crossover effects at the work-family interface. In addition, this chapter considers both exhaustion and recovery as key outcomes of spillover effects across life domains and highlights recommendations for boundary management in middle adulthood. Finally, this chapter outlines promising routes for future research on spillover effects between work, family, and leisure.
Wash-in leptogenesis after axion inflation
Authors: Domcke Valerie , Kamada Kohei , Mukaida Kyohei , Schmitz Kai , Yamada Masaki
Published: January 2023

Abstract

CP violation and the violation of baryon-minus-lepton number B−L do not necessarily have to occur simultaneously in order to accomplish successful leptogenesis. Instead, it suffices if new CP-violating interactions at high energies result in primordial charge asymmetries, which are then reprocessed into a nonvanishing B−L asymmetry by right-handed neutrinos (RHNs) at lower energies. In this paper, we study this novel mechanism known as wash-in leptogenesis, utilizing axion inflation as the source of high-scale CP violation. We specifically consider axion inflation coupled to the Standard Model hypercharge sector, which results in the dual production of hypermagnetic helicity and fermionic charge asymmetries. Although the survival of these charges is endangered by sphaleron processes, magnetic diffusion, and the chiral plasma instability, we find a large range of viable scenarios. We consistently account for RHN flavor effects and coherence among the Standard Model lepton flavors across a wide range of RHN masses. We find a lower bound of 105···9 GeV on the mass of the lightest RHN involved in wash-in leptogenesis, depending on the onset of turbulence in the chiral plasma and the Hubble scale of inflation. Our model is representative of a broader class of new leptogenesis scenarios and suggests interesting observational signatures with regard to intergalactic magnetic fields, primordial black holes, and gravitational waves.
The minus sign in the first law of de Sitter horizons
Authors: Banihashemi Batoul , Jacobson Ted , Svesko Andrew , Visser Manus
Published: January 2023

Abstract

Due to a well-known, but curious, minus sign in the Gibbons-Hawking first law for the static patch of de Sitter space, the entropy of the cosmological horizon is reduced by the addition of Killing energy. This minus sign raises the puzzling question how the thermodynamics of the static patch should be understood. We argue the confusion arises because of a mistaken interpretation of the matter Killing energy as the total internal energy, and resolve the puzzle by introducing a system boundary at which a proper thermodynamic ensemble can be specified. When this boundary shrinks to zero size the total internal energy of the ensemble (the Brown-York energy) vanishes, as does its variation. Part of this vanishing variation is thermalized, captured by the horizon entropy variation, and part is the matter contribution, which may or may not be thermalized. If the matter is in global equilibrium at the de Sitter temperature, the first law becomes the statement that the generalized entropy is stationary.
Safety of Surgery Among Asymptomatic SARS‐CoV‐2 PCR‐Positive Patients: A Single‐Center Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Aydın Ozlem , Ergen Pınar , Vahaboglu Haluk
Published: January 2023

Background

Screening with SARS‐CoV‐2 PCR tests is recommended for all patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia, and elective surgery is deferred for positive patients. This study evaluated the outcomes of asymptomatic PCR‐positive patients who underwent general anesthesia and surgery.

Methods

Patient data were collected from the hospital records of patients who underwent surgery between January 2021 and May 2022. Asymptomatic patients with a positive PCR test between 7 days before and 5 days after surgery were compared with controls. The cases were propensity score‐matched with a 1:2 ratio to the controls. All‐cause in‐hospital mortality was the primary outcome of the study.

Results

A total of 217 asymptomatic PCR‐positive patients were matched to 434 controls. In multivariate analysis, PCR‐positive test results were not associated with mortality (log(OR) (95%CIs), p; 0.86 (− 0.13, 1.9), 0.09). Age and ASA score (>3) were the most significant risk factors associated with mortality.

Conclusion

This study found that surgery among asymptomatic PCR‐positive patients was not associated with increased mortality.
A systematic procedure for incorporating separable static heterogeneity into compartmental epidemic models
Authors: Diekmann Odo , Inaba Hisashi
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we show how to modify a compartmental epidemic model, without changing the dimension, such that separable static heterogeneity is taken into account. The derivation is based on the Kermack–McKendrick renewal equation.
Mutation-based, short-term “neoadjuvant” treatment allows resectability in stage IVB and C anaplastic thyroid cancer
Authors: Maurer Elisabeth , Eilsberger F. , Wächter S. , Riera Knorrenschild J. , Pehl A. , Holzer K. , Neubauer A. , Luster M. , Bartsch D. K.
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Few available data indicate that a mutation-based “neoadjuvant” therapy in advanced anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) might convert an initially unresectable primary tumor to resectable and optimize local tumor control. We evaluated a preoperative short-term “neoadjuvant” therapy with a BRAF-directed therapy or, in case of BRAF non-mutated tumors, an mKI/checkpoint inhibitor combination in three patients with ATC stage IVB and C.

Methods

In the context of preoperative diagnostics, immunohistochemistry (IHC) assessment and genetic analysis was started as soon as possible. The antiangiogenetic therapy with lenvatinib was immediately after diagnosis of ATC started as bridging therapy. In case of a BRAF-mutated ATC, a combination therapy of dabrafenib and trametinib, in case of BRAF-wildtype ATC a combination of pembrolizumab and lenvatinib was given for 4 weeks. If re-staging has shown a significant therapy response due to a decrease in size of > 50%, surgical resection was reconsidered. A primary tumor resection was performed first. As a second step, limited distant metastasis have been resected approximately 4 weeks after thyroid surgery. After postoperative recovery, the targeted systemic therapy was continued.

Patients

Two patients presented with BRAF-wildtype ATC stage IVC, one with BRAF-mutated ATC stage IVB. All patients were evaluated by surgery, nuclear medicine and oncology upon diagnosis of ATC.

Results

In all three cases, the “neoadjuvant” therapy induced a dramatic response and led to local resectability in primarily non-resectable ATC stage IVB or C. We have chosen for the first time a short-term “neoadjuvant” treatment period to reduce the risk of bleeding and/or fistula due to potential rapid tumor shrinkage. The results of surgery after only short-term “neoadjuvant” therapy showed two R0 und one R1 resections. Postoperative histopathological findings confirmed an extent of tumor necrosis or regressive fibrotic tissue between 60 and > 95% in our patients.

Conclusions

A short-term mutation-based “neoadjuvant” therapy can achieve local resectability in initially unresectable ATC stage IVB or C. A neoadjuvant treatment period of about 4 weeks seems to show similar response as a treatment duration of at least 3 months.
Habitual exercise influences carotid artery strain and strain rate, but not cognitive function in healthy middle-aged females
Authors: Campbell Amy K. , Beaumont Alexander J. , Hayes Lawrence , Herbert Peter , Gardner David , Ritchie Louise , Sculthorpe Nicholas
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Aging females are at risk of declining vascular and cognitive function. Exercise can augment both factors independently; however, the influence of exercise on their interdependence is less clearly understood. Ultrasound speckle tracking is a sensitive novel measure of arterial aging but has not previously been used in middle-aged females. We aimed to elucidate the potential interactions between vascular and cognitive variables in active aging females.

Methods

Twelve active (56 ± 5 years; $${\dot{\mathrm{V}}\mathrm{O}}_{2\mathrm{peak}}$$

V
˙

O

2
peak

: 34.5 ± 6.1 ml.kg.min−1) and 13 inactive (57 ± 4 years; 22.8 ± 2.6 ml.kg.min−1) healthy middle-aged females were included. Ultrasound speckle tracking assessed short-axis common carotid artery (CCA) compliance via peak circumferential strain (PCS) and strain rate (PSR) at rest, during, and after 3-min isometric handgrip exercise. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery was assessed using ultrasound. Cognitive function was measured using Verbal Fluency, Trail Making, Stroop, and Digit Span tests.

Results

PCS (P = 0.003) and PSR (P = 0.004), were higher in the active cohort. FMD was similar between groups (P > 0.05). Minimal differences in cognitive function existed between groups, although the inactive group performed better in one test of animal Verbal Fluency (P < 0.01). No associations were observed between PCS, PSR, or FMD with cognitive function (all P > 0.05).

Conclusion

This is the first study to assess PCS and PSR in middle-aged females and demonstrates that active middle-aged females exhibit a superior carotid artery profile compared to their inactive counterparts. However, PCS and PSR of the carotid artery may not be linked with cognitive function in middle-aged females.
Solid State Material Driven Turbine to Reduce Segregation during Bunker Filling
Authors: Denzel Michael , Prenner Michael , Sifferlinger Nikolaus A.
Published: January 2023

For most applications and their following processes, an evenly distributed bunker outflow is desired in terms of particle size. Various discrete element simulations were performed to analyze the current state of an existing bunker used for storage of blast furnace sinter, which is simply filled with a discharging belt conveyor. Great segregation effects could be determined, which are mainly caused by the filling method and further intensified by the core flow effect and bunker geometry.

Several concepts and devices to reduce segregation in bunkers were evaluated using DEM. The particle size distributions at the bunker outflow were each compared with the current state without a device. A solid state material driven turbine is presented, which reduces segregation effects during bunker filling and leads to a significant improvement during the discharge. The results show a more evenly distributed bunker outflow in terms of particle size.

As sinter is a very abrasive material, the wear at the turbine has also been evaluated. Furthermore, the power output in this case and the potential of energy recovery were investigated, which could be of interest in many other applications.

Additionally, the particle degradation at the solid state material driven turbine is evaluated in this case. A newly developed breakage model for DEM is used. The model is based on the particle replacement method, combined with the voronoi tessellation algorithm and breakage probabilities to achieve a high accuracy in terms of fragment size distribution.
Pre-pregnancy body surface area and risk for gestational diabetes mellitus
Authors: Holopainen Lotta S. , Tähtinen Hanna H. , Gissler Mika , Korhonen Päivi E. , Ekblad Mikael O.
Published: January 2023

Aims

To evaluate the effect of the pre-pregnancy body surface area (BSA) on the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Methods

The study population consisted of all primiparous women with singleton pregnancies (n = 328,892) without previously diagnosed diabetes or chronic hypertension in Finland between 2006 and 2019. The information on GDM, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results, and maternal backgrounds was derived from the Finnish Medical Birth Register. The pre-pregnancy BSA was calculated by using the Mosteller formula. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between BSA and GDM/ OGTT separately by the body mass index groups.

Results

A lower BSA predicted an increased risk for GDM and pathological OGTT among the underweight (b = − 2.69, SE = 0.25, p < 0.001; b = − 2.66, SE = 0.23, p < 0.001, respectively) pregnant women, and normal weight (b = − 0.30, SE = 0.10, p = 0.002; b = − 0.67, SE = 0.09, p < 0.001, respectively) pregnant women; and pathological OGTT among the overweight (b = − 0.31, SE = 0.10, p = 0.001) pregnant women. Within the obese class II or greater, a higher BSA predicted a higher risk for GDM (b = 0.74, SE = 0.12, p < 0.001) and pathological OGTT (b = 0.79, SE = 0.13, p < 0.001). Maternal smoking predicted a significantly higher risk of GDM and pathological OGTTs in almost all body mass index groups.

Conclusion

This study showed that in comparison with women with a higher BSA, underweight, and normal weight pregnant women with a smaller BSA may be more susceptible to GDM and have a pathological OGTT.
Carnosine increases insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and reduces methylglyoxal-modified proteins in type-2 diabetic human skeletal muscle cells
Authors: Matthews Joseph J. , Turner Mark D. , Santos Livia , Elliott-Sale Kirsty J. , Sale Craig
Published: January 2023

Type-2 diabetes (T2D) is characterised by a dysregulation of metabolism, including skeletal muscle insulin resistance, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress. Reactive species, such as methylglyoxal (MGO) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), positively associate with T2D disease severity and can directly interfere with insulin signalling and glucose uptake in skeletal muscle by modifying cellular proteins. The multifunctional dipeptide carnosine, and its rate-limiting precursor β-alanine, have recently been shown to improve glycaemic control in humans and rodents with diabetes. However, the precise mechanisms are unclear and research in human skeletal muscle is limited. Herein, we present novel findings in primary human T2D and lean healthy control (LHC) skeletal muscle cells. Cells were differentiated to myotubes, and treated with 10 mM carnosine, 10 mM β-alanine, or control for 4-days. T2D cells had reduced ATP-linked and maximal respiration compared with LHC cells (p = 0.016 and p = 0.005). Treatment with 10 mM carnosine significantly increased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in T2D cells (p = 0.047); with no effect in LHC cells. Insulin-stimulation increased MGO-modified proteins in T2D cells by 47%; treatment with carnosine attenuated this increase to 9.7% (p = 0.011). There was no effect treatment on cell viability or expression of other proteins. These findings suggest that the beneficial effects of carnosine on glycaemic control may be explained by its scavenging actions in human skeletal muscle.
Requirements management in DevOps environments: a multivocal mapping study
Authors: Hernández Rogelio , Moros Begoña , Nicolás Joaquín
Published: January 2023

Attention is currently being focused on DevOps, which aims to reduce software development time by means of close collaboration between the development and operations areas. However, little effort has been made to determine the role of requirements management in DevOps. The objective of this study is to help both researchers and practitioners by providing an overview of the best practices regarding requirements engineering in DevOps and identifying which areas still need to be investigated. A multivocal mapping study has, therefore, been carried out in order to study which methodologies, techniques and tools are used to support requirements management in DevOps environments. After applying the review protocol, 37 papers from formal literature and 14 references from grey literature were selected for analysis. The general conclusions obtained after analysing these papers were that, within DevOps, more attention should be paid to: (1) the reuse of requirements in order to identify systems and software artefacts that can serve as a basis for the specification of new projects; (2) the communication of requirements between the different areas of an organisation and the stakeholders of a project; (3) the traceability of requirements in order to identify the relationship with other requirements, artefacts, tasks and processes; (4) non-functional requirements in order to identify the requirements of the operations area in the early phases of a project; and finally (5) specific requirements tools that should be seamlessly integrated into the DevOps toolchain. All these issues must be considered without ignoring the agile and continuous practices of development, operations and business teams. More effort must also be made to validate new methodologies in industry so as to assess and determine their strengths and weaknesses.
Spatial adaptive graph convolutional network for skeleton-based action recognition
Authors: Zhu Qilin , Deng Hongmin
Published: January 2023

In recent years, great achievements have been made in graph convolutional network (GCN) for non-Euclidean spatial data feature extraction, especially the skeleton-based feature extraction. However, the fixed graph structure determined by the fixed adjacency matrix usually causes the problems such as the weak spatial modeling ability, the unsatisfactory generalization performance, the excessively large number of model parameters, and so on. In this paper, a spatially adaptive residual graph convolutional network (SARGCN) is proposed for action recognition based on skeleton feature extraction. Firstly, the uniform and fixed topology is not required in our graph. Secondly, a learnable parameter matrix is added to the GCN operation, which can enhance the model’s capabilities of feature extraction and generalization, while reducing the number of parameters. Therefore, compared with the several existing models mentioned in this paper, the least number of parameters are used in our model while ensuring the comparable recognition accuracy. Finally, inspired by the ResNet architecture, a residual connection is introduced in GCN to obtain higher accuracy at lower computational costs and learning difficulties. Extensive experimental on two large-scale datasets results validate the effectiveness of our proposed approach, namely NTU RGB+D 60 and NTU RGB+D 120.
Growing Up in the Great Recession: The Effects of Three Dimensions of Economic Well-being on Child Behavioral Difficulties from Ages 3 to 17
Authors: Gibbons Ryan Alberto , Sprong Stefanie , Chzhen Yekaterina
Published: January 2023

Empirical research into the relationship between economic well-being and child outcomes has been limited by its cross-sectional nature, or its narrow focus on predominantly financial aspects of economic well-being. This article attempts to overcome these shortcomings by using data from the Growing Up in Ireland Cohort98 (age: 9–17; N = 5,748; female: 51.4%) and Cohort08 studies (age: 3–9 years; N = 7,208; female: 49.8%), which cover a period of large macroeconomic fluctuation (2007–2017). This fluctuation makes a robust fixed effects analysis feasible, allowing for economic well-being effects to be isolated by controlling for all time-invariant confounders. The article uses three different measures of economic well-being (subjective financial strain, material deprivation, income) to explore how distinct forms of economic well-being affect child behavior. The results suggest that household income is not related to behavioral difficulties, whereas subjective financial strain is predictive of externalized behavioral difficulties in adolescent boys. Material deprivation is predictive of externalized behavioral difficulties in adolescent boys and internalized behavioral difficulties in younger boys, but has no effect on girls’ behavioral outcomes. The findings indicate that the relationship between economic well-being and child behavioral outcomes is complex, and requires multi-dimensional measures of economic well-being to accurately ascertain the different effects.
Designed to abuse? Deepfakes and the non-consensual diffusion of intimate images
Authors: Viola Marco , Voto Cristina
Published: January 2023

The illicit diffusion of intimate photographs or videos intended for private use is a troubling phenomenon known as the diffusion of Non-Consensual Intimate Images (NCII). Recently, it has been feared that the spread of deepfake technology, which allows users to fabricate fake intimate images or videos that are indistinguishable from genuine ones, may dramatically extend the scope of NCII. In the present essay, we counter this pessimistic view, arguing for qualified optimism instead. We hypothesize that the growing diffusion of deepfakes will end up disrupting the status that makes our visual experience of photographic images and videos epistemically and affectively special; and that once divested of this status, NCII will lose much of their allure in the eye of the perpetrators, probably resulting in diminished diffusion. We conclude by offering some caveats and drawing some implications to better understand, and ultimately better counter, this phenomenon.
Degradation of the Endocrine-Disrupting Compound Triadimenol Using Photo-Fenton Reaction System and Experimental Design
Authors: Gkorgkolia Christina , Fytianos Konstantinos
Published: January 2023

In the present report, the oxidative degradation of an endocrine-disrupting compound triadimenol has been investigated using the photo-Fenton reaction. Different reaction conditions that affected the degradation kinetics were examined including the iron (Fe2+) ions and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentrations, the initial concentration of triadimefon, and the type of iron salt. The degradation rates proved to be strongly influenced by the above parameters. The reaction conditions in terms of Fe2+ and H2O2 concentrations were systematically studied and optimized using an experimental design through central composite design. The kinetics of the process can be characterized as pseudo-first-order. As iron and hydrogen peroxide concentrations increase, the degradation rate of triadimenol accelerates and complete degradation can be achieved after a short time of illumination. The effectiveness of the five different iron salts on the degradation performance were also investigated. Experiments with longer time illumination can lead to complete mineralization and detoxification of triadimenol solutions. The properties of the proposed oxidative degradation scheme make it a promising candidate for wastewater treatment.
Advancing “Autonomous” sensing and prediction of the subsurface environment: a review and exploration of the challenges for soil and groundwater contamination
Authors: Davis Greg B. , Rayner John L. , Donn Michael J.
Published: January 2023

Can we hope for autonomous (self-contained in situ) sensing of subsurface soil and groundwater pollutants to satisfy relevant regulatory criteria? Global advances in sensors, communications, digital technologies, and computational capacity offer this potential. Here we review past efforts to advance subsurface investigation techniques and technologies, and computational efforts to create a digital twin (representation) of subsurface processes. In the context of the potential to link measurement and sensing to a digital twin computation platform, we outline five criteria that might make it possible. Significant advances in sensors based on passive measurement devices are proposed. As an example of what might be achievable, using the five criteria, we describe the deployment of online real-time sensors and simulations for a case study of a petroleum site where natural source zone depletion (NSZD) is underway as a potential biodegradation management option, and where a high-quality conceptual site model is available. Multiple sensors targeting parameters (major gases and temperature influenced by soil moisture) relevant to the subsurface NSZD biodegradation processes are shown to offer the potential to map subsurface processes spatially and temporally and provide continuous estimates of degradation rates for management decisions, constrained by a computational platform of the key processes. Current limitations and gaps in technologies and knowledge are highlighted specific to the case study. More generally, additional key advances required to achieve autonomous sensing of subsurface soil and groundwater pollutants are outlined.
Review of Case Reports on Adverse Events Related to Pre-workout Supplements Containing Synephrine
Authors: de Jonge M. L. L. , Kieviet L. C. , Sierts M. , Egberink L. B. , van der Heyden M. A. G.
Published: January 2023

The use of pre-workout supplements has become increasingly popular, including the use of supplements containing synephrine. Synephrine might stimulate weight loss and improve sports performance by its proposed adrenergic properties. However, with its increasing popularity, numerous cases of adverse events related to synephrine use have been reported. This study provides a comprehensive overview and analysis of current case reports related to the supplemental use of synephrine. The scientific literature on cases of adverse events related to synephrine intake was collected through August 2021 using Pubmed and Google Scholar and subsequently reviewed and analysed. We obtained 30 case reports describing a total of 35 patients who suffered from medical complaints following use of synephrine-containing supplements. The patients most often presented with chest pain, palpitations, syncope and dizziness. Commonly raised diagnoses were ischaemic heart disease, cardiac arrhythmias and cerebrovascular disease. Five patients were left disabled or remained on medication at last follow-up. We here show an association between the use of pre-workout supplements containing synephrine and adverse events, mainly related to the cardiovascular system. However, we cannot exclude a role of possible confounding factors such as caffeine. Thus, the use of pre-workout supplements containing synephrine may lead to serious adverse health events, and therefore, caution is needed.
Atypical monkeypox presentation in a previously vaccinated MSM HIV-positive adult
Authors: Crosato Verena , Degli Antoni Melania , Izzo Ilaria , Cerini Carlo , Pennati Francesca , Gulletta Maurizio , Odolini Silvia , Tomasoni Lina Rachele , Matteelli Alberto , Castelli Francesco
Published: January 2023

The outbreak of monkeypox virus (MPXV) in non-endemic countries is an international public health emergency, and the diversity in manifestations poses challenges for early diagnosis and isolation. We describe an atypical case of monkeypox (MPX) in a 46-year-old homosexual male living with HIV. He reported 1-day duration fever, a lesion on his chin that, over a period of 18 days, had gradually enlarged and ulcerated. Biopsy examination performed at an external centre revealed pyoderma gangrenosum, unconfirmed at a subsequent biopsy. When he reported to our hospital outpatients’ clinic the chin lesion had a diameter of 5 × 5 cm, necrotic margins and ulcerated base and signs of superinfection. He was admitted for further investigations. Three swabs collected from pharynx, skin and chin lesion resulted positive for MPXV. He had a favourable clinical course and was discharged soon after. Pending the achievement of optimal vaccination coverage in at-risk groups, early identification and isolation of infectious patients represent the cornerstones of the containment strategy. Atypical cases of MPX manifestations are not uncommon, particularly in patients with HIV infection. A high level of suspicion should be maintained to identify infectious cases at an early stage and avoid further spread of the infection.
The Pervasiveness of Ensemble Perception
Authors: Corbett Jennifer E. , Utochkin Igor , Hochstein Shaul
Published: January 2023

This Element outlines the recent understanding of ensemble representations in perception in a holistic way aimed to engage the general audience, novel and expert alike. The Element highlights the ubiquitous nature of this summary process, paving the way for a discussion of the theoretical and cortical underpinnings, and why ensemble encoding should be considered a basic, inherently necessary component of human perception. Following an overview of the topic, including a brief history of the field, the Element introduces overarching themes and a corresponding outline of the present work.
Acts of Aid
Authors: Marcussen Eleonor
Published: January 2023

This socio-political history on the aftermath of the 1934 Bihar–Nepal earthquake explores disaster aid, relief, and reconstruction and the questions they give rise to about class, communities and inequality. The book traces disaster responses across the twentieth century in order to demonstrate how they were embedded in political processes transcending the event of the earthquake. Aid, relief and reconstruction mirrored political agendas and ideas that articulated both changes and continuities by the colonial state, civil society and international organisations. The impact of the earthquake and aid in its wake varied widely according to social groups, ethnicity and gender in the aftermath. By studying the effects of the earthquake on communities directly affected and society, the author argues that we can come closer to an understanding of the role political, social and cultural factors held in shaping resilience to natural disasters. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
The age of acquisition effect in processing second language words and its relationship with the age of acquisition of the first language
Authors: Wang Jue , Liang Lijuan , Chen Baoguo
Published: January 2023

The present study investigated the age of acquisition (AoA) effect in processing second language (L2) words and how it is related to the AoA of the corresponding first language (L1) words. We adopted a lexical decision task in three experiments. The filler words were orthographically illegal in Experiment 1 to elicit more word form processing, while Experiment 2 used legal fillers to shift the bias toward semantic processing. In Experiment 3, we used a larger amount of stimuli containing more longer words with legal fillers. Our results showed that L2 AoA has a weak effect at the orthographical processing level and a stable effect at the semantic processing level. The L1 AoA modulates the L2 AoA effect at the semantic processing level, which is more likely to appear in long words. These results suggest that it is important to take bilingual representation and activation into consideration to explain the L2 AoA effect.
Cytochrome P450 geneCYP6BQ8mediates terpinen-4-ol susceptibility in the red flour beetle,Tribolium castaneum(Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)
Authors: Gao Shanshan , Guo Xinlong , Liu Shumei , Li Siying , Zhang Jiahao , Xue Shuang , Tang Qingbo , Zhang Kunpeng , Li Ruimin
Published: January 2023

Cytochrome P450 proteins (CYPs) in insects can encode various detoxification enzymes and catabolize heterologous substances, conferring tolerance to insecticides. This study describes the identification of a P450 gene (CYP6BQ8) fromTribolium castaneum(Herbst) and investigation of its spatiotemporal expression profile and potential role in the detoxification of terpinen-4-ol, a component of plant essential oils. The developmental expression profile showed thatTcCYP6BQ8expression was relatively higher in early- and late-larval stages ofT. castaneumcompared with other developmental stages. Tissue expression profiles showed thatTcCYP6BQ8was mainly expressed in the head and integument of both larvae and adults. The expression profiling ofTcCYP6BQ8in developmental stages and tissues is closely related to the detoxification of heterologous substances.TcCYP6BQ8expression was significantly induced after exposure to terpinen-4-ol, and RNA interference againstTcCYP6BQ8increased terpinen-4-ol-induced larval mortality from 47.78 to 66.67%. This indicates thatTcCYP6BQ8may be involved inT. castaneum's metabolism of terpinen-4-ol. Correlation investigation between theCYP6BQ8gene and terpinen-4-ol resistance inT. castaneumrevealed that theTcCYP6BQ8gene was one of the factors behindT. castaneum's resistance to terpinen-4-ol. This discovery may provide a new theoretical foundation for future regulation ofT. castaneum.
‘The Black Pit:’ Power and Pitfalls of Digital FDI and Cross-Border Data Flows
Authors: Chaisse Julien
Published: January 2023

In today's data-driven economy, data have been dubbed as the new oil. Hence, a close relationship is shared between the increasing amounts of international investments and the increasing volumes of cross-border data flows. The aim of this article is to discuss the legal aspects of the new data paradigm in the international economy and place this discussion in the larger framework of globalization and the Liberal International Order. The central thesis of the article revolves around the crucial role played by domestic laws in the fragmentation of international investment law. The article further discusses the interplay between national and international legal landscapes and how the changing nature of the Liberal International Order is affecting the flow of data across borders. In this context, it also discusses the issues that are presented by a lack of any comprehensive international framework governing Cross-Border Data Flows. The need to update existing agreements and laws in order to factor in digital investment is also highlighted.
The Right to Hospitality in International Economic Law: Domestic Investment Laws and the Right to Invest
Authors: Dimitropoulos Georgios
Published: January 2023

Under the Liberal International Order (LIO) of the post-WWII years, foreign investment protection was meant to be granted by international law and institutions. But current economic de-globalization is giving way to institutional and legal de-globalization. Domestic laws relating to foreign investment, especially in the form of Domestic Investment Laws, are taking over International Investment Agreements as the standard means of regulating cross-border trade and investment flows. The article compares substantive and procedural standards of investor protection in international and domestic investment law, as well as old and new Domestic Investment Laws, with a focus on non-discrimination and dispute settlement. The move to domestic law in IEL does not always signify a trend for most states to isolate themselves from the international economy. Rather, it is often an effort to achieve similar ends as those of the LIO but using different means. The article discusses an alternative political economy framework for an international (economic) law of ends, the cornerstone of which is the right to hospitality.
Consistent Pattern of Rainfall Asymmetry in Binary Tropical Cyclones
Authors: Liu Hao‐Yan , Gu Jian‐Feng , Wang Yuqing
Published: January 2023

The rainfall distribution in a tropical cyclone (TC) is affected by many factors/processes. Most of previous studies have focused on individual TCs. Little is known about the rainfall distribution in binary TCs. This study examines the rainfall distribution in binary TCs over the western North Pacific based on the observational data. When two TCs become nearby, the asymmetric component of rainfall shows an increasing trend with rainfall significantly suppressed in Quadrant IV of the TC located to the west when orienting the two TCs in the west‐east direction. The suppression becomes remarkable once the separation distance between the two TCs is within about 2,050 km. Furthermore, the convective activity in one TC is related to the deep‐layer vertical wind shear (VWS) from its companion. Rainfall is enhanced downshear‐left in a TC, consistent with a single TC embedded in an environmental VWS as found in previous studies.
Quantitative Evaluation of the Competing Effects of Wastewater Disposal and Hydraulic Fracturing on Causing Induced Earthquakes: A Case Study of an M3.1 Earthquake Sequence in Western Canada
Authors: Wang Bei , Kao Honn , Yu Hongyu , Visser Ryan , Verdecchia Alessandro
Published: January 2023

Previous studies mainly attribute injection‐induced earthquakes (IIE) to hydraulic fracturing (HF) operations in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (WCSB), whereas the role of wastewater disposal (WD) has been largely overlooked. One particular reason is that HF operations usually exhibit a clearer spatiotemporal relationship to IIE than WD. However, ignoring the effects from WD when investigating the seismogenisis of IIE in the WCSB may not be appropriate, especially when both types of injection activities are present in the vicinity of the epicentral area. Here, we conduct a case study on an M3.1 earthquake sequence located in the WCSB that can be spatiotemporally correlated with both active HF and WD operations. We first build an enhanced catalog consisting of 256 events to delineate the relationship between the occurrence of IIE and injection history. We then investigate the source parameters of the mainshock in detail. Finally, we build a numerical model to calculate the Coulomb stress change caused by each type of injections on the two nodal planes of the derived focal mechanism. The result suggests that the M3.1 event probably occurred on a near‐horizontal nodal plane. In addition, the pore pressure diffusion from WD and the poroelastic stress transfer from HF could work collaboratively to cause an IIE. Therefore, stress perturbation caused by long‐term WD should also be considered in the seismogenic process of an IIE, especially when both active HF and WD are in the immediate vicinity of the IIE.
Experimental Weathering of Rocks and Minerals at Venus Conditions in the Glenn Extreme Environments Rig (GEER)
Authors: Santos Alison R. , Gilmore Martha S. , Greenwood James P. , Nakley Leah M. , Phillips Kyle , Kremic Tibor , Lopez Xavier
Published: January 2023

We report two experiments using 13 mineral and rock samples exposed to a complex synthetic Venus atmosphere composed of nine gases for durations of 30 and 11 days conducted using the NASA Glenn Extreme Environments Rig (GEER). Examination of our run products using a scanning electron microscope equipped with an energy dispersive spectrometer reveals secondary minerals predominantly formed from reactions of Fe and Ca in the solid samples with sulfur in the atmospheric gas, results largely predicted in the literature, and indicating that such reactions between rocks and the atmosphere at the Venus surface may occur rapidly. Samples that displayed larger degrees of reaction include calcite (forming Ca‐sulfate), Fe‐Ti oxide (forming an Fe,S phase), biotite (forming an Fe,S phase), chalcopyrite (forming a new Cu,Fe‐sulfide and a Ag,Cl phase), and Mid‐Ocean Ridge Basalt glass (forming a Ca‐ and S‐bearing phase, Fe‐ and S‐bearing phase, and an Fe‐oxide); pyrite was observed to be stable in our 30‐day experiment. These reactions indicate that thefS2of the experiments was above or at the high end of what is thermodynamically predicted for the Venus surface. Apatite, feldspars, actinolite, and quartz did not change in this time frame. The presence of multiple S species in the GEER atmosphere may explain the dissimilarities to the style of reactions seen in previous experiments with simpler gas mixtures.
Endoscopic findings in the upper gastrointestinal tract in patients with Crohn’s disease are common, highly specific, and associated with chronic gastritis
Authors: Graca-Pakulska Katarzyna , Błogowski Wojciech , Zawada Iwona , Deskur Anna , Dąbkowski Krzysztof , Urasińska Elżbieta , Starzyńska Teresa
Published: January 2023

Crohn’s disease (CD) may affect the entire gastrointestinal tract including its upper part. However, this aspect is poorly addressed in scientific literature and considered a rare finding. Here we aimed to prospectively investigate the prevalence, characteristics and clinical significance of upper gastrointestinal tract involvement in patients with CD, with particular focus on stomach bamboo joint-like appearance (BJA), Helicobacterpylori status and presence of microscopic changes. 375 prospectively recruited patients were included. In CD patients the prevalence of gastric and duodenal, but not esophageal, mucosal lesions, such as gastric mucosal inflammation, duodenal edema, ulcerations, and duodenal bulb deformation was significantly higher (at least p < 0.01 for all). Similar results were found when only H.pylori negative individuals were analyzed. Moreover, BJA of the stomach and in case of H.pylori negative patients also duodenal bulb deformation were detected exclusively in CD patients. Presence of BJA lesion was not significantly associated with neither duration of the disease nor use/history of biologic treatment. Despite absence of H.pylori infection microscopic features of chronic gastritis were found in almost all (93.5%) patients, and in 31% of controls (p < 0.00001). Our analysis outlines that upper gastrointestinal tract involvement in CD is a very common event and frequently manifests with a highly specific BJA lesion. Furthermore, our study reveals that in almost all CD patients features of H.pylori negative gastritis are present.
Optimising remanufacturing decision-making using the bees algorithm in product digital twins
Authors: Kerin Mairi , Hartono Natalia , Pham D. T.
Published: January 2023

Remanufacturing is widely recognised as a key contributor to the circular economy (CE) as it extends the in-use life of products, but its synergy with Industry 4.0 (I4.0) has received little attention when compared to manufacturing. An agglomeration of I4.0 technologies and methodologies is reflected in the emerging digital twin (DT) concept, which has been identified as a life-extending enabler. This article captures the design and demonstration of a DT model that optimises remanufacturing planning using data from different instances in a product’s life cycle. The model uses a neural network for remaining useful life predictions and the Bees Algorithm for decision making within a DT. The model is validated using a real case study. The findings support the idea that intelligent tools within a DT can enhance decision-making if they have visibility and access to the product’s current status and reliable remanufacturing process information.