bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cerebellar dysfunction in the mdx mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy: An electrophysiological and behavioural study
Authors: Prigogine Cynthia , Ruiz Javier Marquez , Cebolla Ana Maria , Deconinck Nicolas , Servais Laurent , Gailly Philippe , Dan Bernard , Cheron Guy
Published: October 2024

Patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) commonly show specific cognitive deficits in addition to a severe muscle impairment caused by the absence of dystrophin expression in skeletal muscle. These cognitive deficits have been related to the absence of dystrophin in specific regions of the central nervous system, notably cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs). Dystrophin has recently been involved in GABAA receptors clustering at postsynaptic densities, and its absence, by disrupting this clustering, leads to decreased inhibitory input to PC. We performed an in vivo electrophysiological study of the dystrophin‐deficient muscular dystrophy X‐linked (mdx) mouse model of DMD to compare PC firing and local field potential (LFP) in alert mdx and control C57Bl/10 mice. We found that the absence of dystrophin is associated with altered PC firing and the emergence of fast (~160–200 Hz) LFP oscillations in the cerebellar cortex of alert mdx mice. These abnormalities were not related to the disrupted expression of calcium‐binding proteins in cerebellar PC. We also demonstrate that cerebellar long‐term depression is altered in alert mdx mice. Finally, mdx mice displayed a force weakness, mild impairment of motor coordination and balance during behavioural tests. These findings demonstrate the existence of cerebellar dysfunction in mdx mice. A similar cerebellar dysfunction may contribute to the cognitive deficits observed in patients with DMD.
Prognostic impact of intracranial arteriosclerosis subtype after endovascular treatment for acute ischaemic stroke
Authors: Sierra‐Gómez Alicia , Ramos‐Araque María Esther , Luijten Sven P. R. , de Lera Alfonso Mercedes , Calleja Ana , Valle‐Peñacoba Gonzalo , Gómez‐Vicente Beatriz , Reyes Javier , Martínez‐Galdámez Mario , Galván Jorge , Schüller‐Arteaga Miguel , Sánchez Lorenzo Pérez , Bos Daniel , Arenillas Juan F.
Published: October 2024

Background and Purpose

The influence of intracranial arteriosclerosis (ICAR) on acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) prognosis is unclear. This study explored its impact, focusing on ICAR subtypes categorized by intracranial carotid artery calcification (ICAC) patterns: intimal or atherosclerotic versus internal elastic lamina calcification or non‐atherosclerotic. The aim was to determine their effect on AIS prognosis in patients undergoing endovascular treatment (EVT).

Methods

This prospective cohort study included consecutive AIS patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion undergoing EVT. ICAC, the hallmark of ICAR, was assessed using non‐contrast computed tomography to quantify volume and establish the predominant ICAR subtype. The primary outcome was long‐term functional outcome, measured by the 90‐day modified Rankin Scale score. Secondary outcomes included first‐pass effect, revascularization degree, symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage and 24‐h infarct volume. Multivariate‐adjusted linear and logistic regression models were used to assess the association of ICAC volume and subtype with these outcomes.

Results

From January 2021 to February 2022, 181 patients were included, of whom 172 (95%) had ICAC. Internal elastic lamina calcification was the predominant subtype in 103 (57%), intimal in 52 (29%) and mixed in 17 (9%). The intimal or atherosclerotic ICAC pattern was linked to poorer functional outcomes (adjusted odds ratio 2.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10–4.09), decreased first‐pass effect probability (adjusted odds ratio 0.42, 95% CI 0.21–0.84) and higher infarct volume (adjusted β value 22.11, 95% CI 0.55–43.67).

Conclusions

A predominant intimal ICAC subtype, linked to underlying atherosclerosis, correlated with larger infarct volume and poorer 90‐day functional outcomes in EVT‐treated AIS patients. Intracranial atherosclerosis appears to be a relevant factor hampering clinical benefits post‐EVT.
Novel fungal placentitis with megaallantoic and megaamniotic vesicles in a mare
Authors: Wittorff A. , Carr K. , Narayanan S. , Cino‐Ozuna A. G. , Snider T. A. , Kelley D. , Holyoak G. R.
Published: October 2024

This case describes a mare with fungal placentitis of a novel aetiology with megaallantoic and megaamniotic vesicles in a late gestation pregnancy and subsequent fetal death. Management of the case revealed decreased fetal movement apparently due to the vesicles' large size. Pathological investigation of the fetal membranes and fetus showed severe fungal placentitis by Curvularia and Bipolaris spp., both saprophytic fungi never previously described in literature as aetiologic agents of placentitis in mares. Full consequence of the vesicles' relation to the placentitis and involvement in fetal death have yet to be determined or completely understood.
Contextual embedded text summarizer system: A hybrid approach
Authors: Kherwa Pooja , Arora Jyoti , Sharma Tripti , Gupta Deepali , Juneja Sapna , Muhammad Ghulam , Nauman Ali
Published: October 2024

Selecting crucial sentences from a document is a pivotal task in automatic text summarization systems. Abstractive summarization involves rephrasing key content through advanced natural language techniques, generating a concise, new text conveying critical information. Conversely, extractive summarization reproduces important material from the original text. In the proposed method, a hybrid ensemble approach combines BERTsum for extractive summarization and Longformer2Roberta for abstractive summarization for generating a contextual semantic rich summary for a huge collection of text. These proposed system‐generated summaries were evaluated against reference summaries using the ROUGE package at three rouge levels (Rouge‐1, Rouge‐2, and Rouge‐L). The Proposed contextual embedded hybrid text summarization model has shown significant performance improvement in multiple levels of Rouge score and word mover distance (WMD) of generated summary with a reference summary. The proposed hybrid model demonstrates superior performance over existing state‐of‐the‐art summarizing models on three distinct datasets CNN dataset, WikiSum, and Gigaword dataset. The proposed hybrid model as a text summarizer involves leveraging its capabilities to process longer sequences of text with domain‐specific contextual summaries. This transformers‐based text summarization model has great potential in developing expert systems in various research domains such as health decision support systems, the education sector, customer support chatbots, financial analysis investment recommendations, and financial assistance.
The Effect of Knowledge Sharing on Innovative Work Behaviour at Higher Education Institutions
Authors: Kim Juhee , Prempeh Agyemang Amofa , Addai Emmanuel Kyeremeh , Wargo Elizabeth
Published: October 2024

This study delves into the impact of knowledge sharing on innovative work behaviour within higher education institutions in Ghana, utilising data gathered from 285 participants. Employing a quantitative approach and utilising a descriptive‐correlational research design, this research reveals a consistently high level of innovative work behaviour. All dimensions of innovative work behaviour, including idea promotion, idea generation, and idea implementation, received notably high scores. Likewise, the sub‐components of knowledge sharing, namely the community of practice, organisational communication, personal interaction, and written contribution, were rated as high within these institutions. The study establishes a significant positive correlation between knowledge sharing and innovative work behaviour (β = 0.88, p = 0.00). The study advocates for promoting knowledge‐sharing mechanisms within higher education institutions, fostering an environment that facilitates seamless knowledge exchange amongst all members.
Racial attitudes and perceptions of police misconduct: The case for racial empathy
Authors: Baranauskas Andrew J.
Published: October 2024

This study examines the association between racial attitudes and perceptions of police misconduct in the US, focusing on racial empathy as a form of positive racial sentiment that may work alongside racial resentment to shape public views on police bias and use of force. Using data from the 2020 American National Election Studies (ANES) time series survey, an exploratory factor analysis demonstrates that racial empathy and racial resentment are distinct constructs. Multivariate regression analyses indicate that respondents with racial empathy are more likely to believe that police treat white people better than they treat Black people and that police frequently use more force than necessary. Respondents with racial resentment are less likely to believe these perceptions. Racial empathy is a racial attitude that can shape attitudes towards crime and justice. Future research should consider racial empathy in investigating ways that racial attitudes shape public opinion on crime and justice policy.
Experimental study on mechanical and thermal insulation properties of a geopolymer‐based fireproof sandwich panel
Authors: Pei Rui , Hua Luqing , Zhao Hu , Wang Xin , Li Shiyang , Wu Zhishen
Published: October 2024

This work created a fireproof sandwich structure in which the face sheets were made of expanded vermiculite and expanded perlite‐filled geopolymer composites and embedded basalt fiber mats and the core material was rock wool in designing the lightweight and cost‐effective fire‐resistant structure for steel bridges with excellent retardant and heat‐insulating performance. The effects of adding 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% expanded vermiculite and expanded perlite to the geopolymer on mechanical properties and the thermal conductivity were investigated to obtain the optimized material mixtures for preparing the face‐sheets material of the sandwich panel. Then, the fireproof sandwich structures were fabricated and exposed to 800°C for 3 h to study the structural integrity, backfire side temperature, and mass loss ratio. The results indicated that adding 10 wt% expanded vermiculite and 10 wt% expanded perlite to the geopolymer achieved the retention of compressive strength of 66.5% after being exposed to 800°C, and the geopolymer mixtures showed a low thermal conductivity of 0.1942 W/(mK). The TOPSIS evaluation analysis reveals that the proposed fireproof sandwich panel had the highest integrated performance considering the structural weight, insulation properties, and cost. The findings of this work may provide some insights into fireproof and insulating applications in bridge engineering.
Superior energy storage performance in NaNbO3‐based lead‐free ceramics under low electric field
Authors: Liu Kun , Peng Ping , Lv Zhongqian , Nie Hengchang , Wang Genshui
Published: October 2024

NaNbO3 (NN)‐based materials have attracted widespread attention due to their advanced energy storage performance and eco‐friendliness. However, achieving high recoverable energy storage densities (Wrec) and efficiency (η) typically requires ultrahigh electric fields (E > 300 kV/cm), which can limit practical use. In this work, we present a synergistic strategy that employs the ferroelectric material Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3 (BNT) to augment the Pmax and the linear material Bi0.2Sr0.7TiO3 (BST) to optimize the P–E loops. Furthermore, a two‐step sintering process is implemented to preserve high Pmax values under lower electric field. As a result, ternary (1−x)(0.90NN‐0.10BNT)‐xBST was successfully prepared, achieving a high Wrec of 5.1 J/cm3 and a η of 85% in x = 0.20 samples at a low electric field of 290 kV/cm. Moreover, the x = 0.20 samples showed good frequency stability (1–200 Hz) and temperature stability (27°C–100°C). These results provide guidance for the development of ceramics with high energy storage properties under low electric fields.
Effect of shared decision‐making model on the management of diabetes high‐risk groups
Authors: Wang Qiu‐shi , Yue Xiao‐dong , Ma Yan , Zhou Zhi‐guang , Li Fen , Zhang Yi‐ling , Duan Wei‐yu
Published: October 2024

Objective

A shared decision‐making (SDM) model‐based intervention programme was implemented for a population at high risk for diabetes to explore its effectiveness in intervening with blood glucose levels in this population.

Methods

One hundred residents were selected according to the principle of voluntary participation and divided into the intervention group (n = 50) and the control group (n = 50) by using multistage cluster sampling. The control group received only brief diabetes knowledge education through a disease brochure issued by the hospital; the intervention group implemented a SDM model based on large classroom and individualised education for 4 months. Univariate analysis and generalised estimating equation fitting model were used to analyse the effect of intervention on blood glucose parameters in the study subjects.

Results

Univariate analysis showed that after 4 months of intervention, fasting blood glucose was lower in the intervention group than in the control group (5.57 ± 0.56 vs. 6.07 ± 0.77, F = 45.721, p < 0.001); glycosylated hemoglobin was lower in the intervention group than in the control group (5.91 ± 0.28 vs. 6.02 ± 0.24, F = 25.998, p < 0.001), decreased by 0.26% in the intervention group and increased by 0.01% in the control group. One‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin in the intervention group decreased to different extents from baseline. The generalised estimation equation was fitted with the intervention programme, gender, hypertension, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, age, waist circumference, body mass index, baseline fasting blood glucose, and baseline glycosylated hemoglobin as independent variables, and fasting blood glucose and baseline glycosylated hemoglobin as dependent variables. Results showed that compared with the control group, fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin levels were significantly different between the two groups (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Applying an intervention programme based on SDM model to people at high risk of diabetes can improve patients' adherence to self‐management and establish a good lifestyle, thus contributing to their good glycemic control.
Impact of text message reminders on immunosuppressive medication adherence among kidney transplant recipients: A randomized controlled study
Authors: Erdal Kübra , Karazeybek Ebru
Published: October 2024

Background

One of the most common problems encountered in transplant patients is nonadherence with immunosuppressive drugs, one of the most important reasons for graft rejection.

Objective

The study aimed to assess the impact of text message reminders on medication adherence among kidney transplant recipients.

Design

A randomized controlled trial.

Participants

The study was conducted from January to October 2021. This study included a total of 100 patients receiving a kidney transplant, 50 in the intervention group and 50 in the control group.

Measurements

Patients in the intervention group were sent text message reminders four times a day during the 6th–9th months after transplantation. Control patients received no such intervention. Tacrolimus concentrations in the bloodstream were monitored for all participants through measurements taken at Months 7, 8 and 9. Data collection tools included Sociodemographic Form and Immunosuppressive Medication Adherence Scale.

Results

Patients were homogeneously distributed among the groups. Sending daily text message reminders to transplant recipients caused an independent positive effect on medication adherence scale scores at the end of the study. Mean pretest medication adherence score of all patients was 45.18 ± 4.22 and posttest score was 47.4 ± 3.6. The intervention group exhibited a significantly higher mean posttest adherence score compared to controls, with values of 48.68 ± 2.58 and 45.62 ± 4.42, respectively (p < 0.001). Findings demonstrated a substantial improvement in the final medication adherence scores of transplant patients when they received daily Short Message Service reminders, acting as an independent factor (β = 0.356, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Sending text message reminders to kidney transplant recipients is a statistically and clinically effective intervention to improve immunosuppressive medication adherence.
Circulating lipoprotein(a) in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Nikoli Aikaterini , Orfanidou Myrsini , Goulas Antonis , Goulis Dimitrios G. , Polyzos Stergios A.
Published: October 2024

Background and Aim

Although nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] are associated with cardiovascular diseases, existing data on Lp(a) in NAFLD are conflicting. The aim of this systematic review and meta‐analysis was to summarize and compare data on circulating Lp(a) between NAFLD patients and non‐NAFLD controls.

Methods

A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library. This meta‐analysis included 18 studies containing data on 74 691 individuals (20 220 patients with NAFLD and 54 471 controls).

Results

Circulating Lp(a) was similar between patients with NAFLD and controls (standardized mean difference [SMD] 0.09; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] −0.21, 0.38). The heterogeneity among studies was high (I2 = 100%); no publication bias was detected (Egger's test P = 0.941). However, in subgroup analysis, Lp(a) was lower in NAFLD patients than controls, when Lp(a) was measured with nephelometry (SMD ‐0.26; 95% CI ‐0.46, −0.06), but not turbidimetry; this analysis also resulted in mild reduction of heterogeneity within the subgroup of nephelometry (I2 = 87%). The sensitivity analyses, based on the exclusion of studies with Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale score ≤6 (n = 5), studies in which liver biopsy was used for NAFLD diagnosis (n = 4) or studies that adopted the criteria of metabolic dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease (n = 2), and meta‐regression analysis did not explain the high heterogeneity among studies.

Conclusions

Overall, circulating Lp(a) was similar between NAFLD patients and non‐NAFLD controls; however, patients with NAFLD had lower circulating Lp(a) compared with controls, when Lp(a) was measured with nephelometry. These results should be cautiously interpreted, because of the high heterogeneity among studies.
Financial Sophistication and Consumer Spending
Authors: JØRRING ADAM TEJS
Published: October 2024

Using detailed account‐level data, this paper explores how financial sophistication affects consumers' spending responses to changes in income. I document that, controlling for liquidity, financially unsophisticated consumers display significant spending responses to predictable decreases in their disposable income. Furthermore, they have lower savings rates, fewer liquid savings, and higher debt‐to‐income ratios, leaving them more exposed to income shocks. Robustness tests, supported by anecdotal survey evidence, indicate that these results are driven by some consumers' lack of financial sophistication and their consequent failure to understand their financial contracts, rather than by random idiosyncratic shocks, rational liquidity management, or optimal inattention.
Melatonin Inhibits ET‐1 Production to Break Crosstalk Between Prostate Cancer and Bone Cells: Implication for Osteoblastic Bone Metastasis Treatment
Authors: Lin Liang‐Wei , Lin Tien‐Huang , Swain Sanskruti , Fang Jen‐Kai , Guo Jeng‐Hung , Yang Shun‐Fa , Tang Chih‐Hsin
Published: October 2024

Bone metastasis is the primary cause of death among patients with advanced prostate cancer (PCa). PCa tends to spread to bones and acquire the bone‐like phenotype, causing osteoblastic bone metastasis. Unfortunately, there is no effective treatment for this condition. However, melatonin, which regulates our circadian rhythm, has been found to have anti‐tumor properties. It has yet to be established whether it is effective in treating osteoblastic PCa metastasis. Our findings show that melatonin inhibits the production of endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) in osteoblastic PCa cells, suppressing osteoblast differentiation. Clinical results indicate that bone metastatic PCa patients have higher levels of ET‐1 compared to nonmetastatic PCa patients. Furthermore, melatonin‐induced miR‐let‐7f‐5p inhibits ET‐1‐promoted osteoblast differentiation in osteoblastic PCa. Melatonin also suppresses the property of osteomimicry in osteoblastic PCa cells. Importantly, in the intratibia injection PCa metastasis model, melatonin decreased osteoblastic PCa tumor growth, inhibiting ET‐1 production and osteoblast differentiation in vivo. Taken together, melatonin inhibits osteoblastic PCa‐regulated osteoblastogenesis by reducing ET‐1 production through upregulation of miR‐let‐7f‐5p, while suppressing the property of osteomimicry in osteoblastic PCa. Melatonin therapy could be a promising approach to treating bone metastasis in osteoblastic PCa.
Gene Expression Shifts in Emperor Penguin Adaptation to the Extreme Antarctic Environment
Authors: Paris Josephine R. , Nitta Fernandes Flávia A. , Pirri Federica , Greco Samuele , Gerdol Marco , Pallavicini Alberto , Benoiste Marine , Cornec Clément , Zane Lorenzo , Haas Brian , Le Bohec Céline , Trucchi Emiliano
Published: October 2024

Gene expression can accelerate ecological divergence by rapidly tweaking the response of an organism to novel environments, with more divergent environments exerting stronger selection and supposedly, requiring faster adaptive responses. Organisms adapted to extreme environments provide ideal systems to test this hypothesis, particularly when compared to related species with milder ecological niches. The Emperor penguin (Aptenodytes forsteri) is the only endothermic vertebrate breeding in the harsh Antarctic winter, in stark contrast with the less cold‐adapted sister species, the King penguin (A. patagonicus). Assembling the first de novo transcriptomes and analysing multi‐tissue (brain, kidney, liver, muscle, skin) RNA‐Seq data from natural populations of both species, we quantified the shifts in tissue‐enhanced genes, co‐expression gene networks, and differentially expressed genes characterising Emperor penguin adaptation to the extreme Antarctic. Our analyses revealed the crucial role played by muscle and liver in temperature homeostasis, fasting, and whole‐body energy metabolism (glucose/insulin regulation, lipid metabolism, fatty acid beta‐oxidation, and blood coagulation). Repatterning at the regulatory level appears as more important in the brain of the Emperor penguin, showing the lowest signature of differential gene expression, but the largest co‐expression gene network shift. Nevertheless, over‐expressed genes related to mTOR signalling in the brain and the liver support their central role in cold and fasting responses. Besides contributing to understanding the genetics underlying complex traits, like body energy reservoir management, our results provide a first insight into the role of gene expression in adaptation to one of the most extreme environmental conditions endured by an endotherm.
When I say … social responsiveness
Authors: Hansen Anthea , van Schalkwyk Susan Camille , Jacobs Cecilia
Published: October 2024

Hansen et al. grapple with the term "socially responsiveness" to contend that HPE should prioritize questioning the causes of health inequity with a view to transforming systems into socially just spaces.
Yvonne Loriod and the Practice of Analytical Memory
Authors: Asimov Peter , Murray Christopher Brent
Published: October 2024

The usefulness of music analysis in memorisation is well attested in music‐performance scholarship, even though the methods and processes of analytical memorisation are rarely documented and difficult to assess, especially in a historical perspective. The newly accessible working papers of Yvonne Loriod (1924–2010), a pianist renowned for her phenomenal musical memory, contain a corpus of small, handwritten aide‐mémoires (which she called pense‐bêtes) that offer an exemplary opportunity to study memorisation processes from a documentary perspective. Rather than detracting from Loriod's reputation as a memoriser, the pense‐bêtes contribute to our understanding of the personal music‐analytical strategies that facilitated her expert memory. We begin by reading Loriod's pense‐bêtes as evidence of a performer negotiating the social and analytical challenges of memorisation, asking what these private documents reveal about a modernist performance culture in which memorisation was conceived as a precondition of mastery. Next, we examine the pense‐bêtes as instances of performers’ analysis tailored to memory‐related issues, first with examples showing how Loriod navigated ‘dangerous passages’ by devising schematic solutions in score annotations and pense‐bêtes. We then proceed to three extended case studies featuring full formal reductions of works by Mozart and Messiaen. Considering these documents as serious instances of music‐analytical thought productively and empirically expands our understanding of the scope of performer's analysis: they complement and enrich existing analytical readings, underline the role of analysis as a practice integral to modernist musical performance and suggest new pathways for understanding the cognitive processes involved in apprehending complex forms.
Impact of social distancing policy on pediatric emergency ophthalmic severity during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic
Authors: Woo Hyung Kyoo , Chung Seung Ah , Jeon Hyelynn , Park Bumhee , Kim Jung Heon
Published: October 2024

Background

We investigated the impact of social distancing policies (SDPs) on ophthalmic severity in children who underwent emergency ophthalmic referrals during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic period.

Methods

We reviewed all children with ophthalmic referrals in a single academic hospital emergency department during the period from February 2017 to December 2019 (prepandemic) or February 2020 to December 2022 (pandemic). Baseline features, diagnosis‐based severity, and outcomes were compared between the two periods. The Government Response Stringency Index (GRSI), which ranges from 0 to 100, was used as a surrogate for the intensity of SDPs during the pandemic. Poisson regression was used to quantify the association of the GRSI with the severity.

Results

Among 1074 children with ophthalmic referrals, 437 (40.7%) visited during the pandemic. This was 31.4% lower than that during the prepandemic period. In numbers, pandemic‐related declines were more modest in high severity than in medium‐to‐low severity (35.1% vs. 55.0%), and for injury than for illness (28.5% vs. 36.1%). In percentages, high severity increased from 63.3% to 71.3% (p = 0.016). The hospitalization rate increased from 1.7% to 3.9% (p = 0.029). For every 10‐point increase in GRSI, there was a 20.0% decrease in high severity (95% confidence interval, 5%–30%).

Conclusions

This study shows an inverse association of SDPs with ophthalmic severity and an increase in severe cases along with consistent flow of injury cases, amid the overall decline in eye‐related visits to the emergency department during the pandemic period.
Pollinator diversity of the food‐deceptive orchids in southern Italy
Authors: Carlomagno F. , Lanzino M. , Mendicino F. , Bonacci T. , Pellegrino G.
Published: October 2024

The orchid family is renowned for its enormous diversity in pollination biology. Many orchid species use deception to attract pollinators, and the main strategy in terrestrial orchids is food deception. Food‐deceptive orchids usually show a low number of pollinator visitations, making field observations of pollinators difficult.

In this study visual census, pollinator capture and molecular analysis of pollinaria found on caught insects allowed us to obtain information on species composition of orchid pollinators.

A total of 321 insects were caught; most specimens were hymenopterans (Apis mellifera, Bombus ruderatus and Eucera rufa) and coleopterans (Tropinota hirta and T. squalida). The identity of species to which pollinaria found on the insect's body belonged was confirmed by molecular analysis. Moreover, some individuals of Billaea lata (Tachinidae, Diptera) were captured and photographed with the pollinaria on their head.

Two new and important results emerged clearly in this work: a dipteran, Billaea lata, pollinator of Anacamptis pyramidalis, and two beetles in the genus Tropinota are pollinators of Orchis italica. Our results confirm that generalized food‐deceptive orchids of the genera Orchis and Anacamptis show weak pollinator specificity.
Indigenous Perspectives on Dismantling the Legacies of Settler Colonialism in Rural Sociology☆
Authors: Carroll Clint , Curley Andrew , Martinez Doreen E. , Schneider Lindsey , Strube Johann
Published: October 2024

Rural Sociology has failed to incorporate Settler‐colonialism and Indigenous theory in studying rural social relations. This presents a serious gap in the discipline's conceptualization of land as the foundation of social reproduction. Indigenous theory provides rich insights about humans' relations among themselves and with the more‐than‐human that inform our understanding of Settler colonialism as a driver of social formation, and human–environmental interactions more generally. This paper, written by four Indigenous environmental social scientists and one Settler rural sociologist, invites the discipline to engage Indigeneity and Settler colonialism in methodologically, theoretically, and ethically appropriate ways.
Characterisation of the Novel HLA‐DRB1*16:79 Allele Using Short‐ and Long‐Read Sequencing Technologies
Authors: Andrade Gabriela , Cunha Mayara , Vianna Romulo , Porto Luís Cristóvão , Secco Danielle
Published: October 2024

The novel HLA‐DRB1*16:79 allele, first described in an individual from Brazil.
The potential benefits of extra screening for glycated haemoglobin, total cholesterol and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol on donor health management and retention
Authors: Liu Wen‐Jie , Chen Yun‐Yuan , Chen Jen‐Wei , Lin Chih‐Hung , Wei Sheng‐Tang , Hou Sheng‐Mou
Published: October 2024

Background and Objectives

An extra health screening, including glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC) and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C), was initiated for regular donors aged over 40 in Taiwan in November 2015. This study aimed to determine its benefits on donor health management and retention.

Materials and Methods

A stratified random mail survey was conducted among donors who received HbA1c, TC and LDL‐C screening between November 2015 and June 2017 to investigate their awareness of the screening, medical histories and post‐screening behaviours. Their subsequent screening results and donation records from 3 years before and after the initial screening were obtained up to December 2021.

Results

In total, 2070 donors participated in the mail survey, with participation rates ranging 15.7%–23.2% across study groups. The screening newly detected hyperglycaemia in 1.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2%–2.0%) and hyperlipidaemia in 1.0% (95% CI: 0.7%–1.4%) of participants, with 42.7% (95% CI: 40.3%–45.2%) of participants unaware of the screening. Participants with initially abnormal or borderline TC or LDL‐C results showed significant decreases in the subsequent screening (all p values<0.05). No difference was found in participants' awareness of the screening. However, those who sought medical consultation or made specific lifestyle changes tended to show greater improvements. Awareness of the screening was associated with increased whole blood donations and donated units.

Conclusion

The extra health screening has limited benefits for donor health management without additional interventions, but it may motivate donors to donate more frequently. Raising donors' awareness of the screening is also crucial to maximize its benefits.
Comparison of computed tomography findings between perianal tumors originating from the anal sacs and perianal glands in dogs
Authors: Jeong Jeongyun , Goh Jinhyong , Nam Chaemin , Kim Namyul , Kim Jaehwan , Eom Kidong
Published: October 2024

Tumors originating from the anal sacs and perianal glands are common tumors of the perianal region. However, differentiation of perianal tumors based on CT findings remains challenging because perianal tumors can show overlapping CT characteristics. Therefore, this retrospective, multi‐institutional study aimed to identify the CT findings that can differentiate between tumors originating from the anal sacs and perianal glands in canines. Twenty dogs were included, with nine apocrine gland anal sac adenocarcinomas (AGASACAs), six perianal gland adenomas, three perianal gland carcinomas, and two perianal gland epitheliomas. The tumor CT features included the tumor growth pattern, tumor shape, cystic changes within the tumor, contrast enhancement pattern, displacement of the anus, and identification of the anal sacs. The prevalences of suspected metastatic lymphadenopathy of the iliosacral lymph centers and lung metastases were evaluated. The tumor volumes and values normalized to body weight were also assessed. The tumor growth patterns differed significantly between AGASACAs and perianal gland tumors. AGASACAs mostly showed unilateral growth, whereas perianal gland tumors mostly exhibited bilateral growth. CT features, except for the tumor growth pattern, failed to show significant differences between tumors arising from the anal sacs and those arising from the perianal glands. Although histopathological diagnosis remains the gold standard, this study's findings suggest that CT analysis of tumor growth patterns may help differentiate AGASACAs from perianal gland tumors.
Hidden in the plains: Two new extra‐andean species of Euathlus (Mygalomorphae, Theraphosidae) from Argentina with comments on their sexual behaviour
Authors: Allegue Maite , Ferretti Nelson
Published: October 2024

Two new species of Euathlus (Verhandlungen der Kaiserlich‐Königlichen Zoologisch‐Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien, 1875, 25, 125) from Argentina are described. Euathlus ameghinoi sp. n. and Euathlus ventus sp. n. are the first records for the Patagonian Steppe. Here we used mitochondrial DNA (cox1) to perform the first molecular phylogeny of some representatives of the genus. In addition, we present the first description of the sexual behaviour of the genus. Both molecular and cladistic morphological analysis showed the genus Euathlus as monophyletic, and new species were recovered as sister groups. New species show new morphological variations of typical characters for the genus (e.g. tibial apophyses and palpal organs).
Wave Reformer Channel Shape Design for Enhanced Hydrogen Pyrolysis
Authors: Madiot G. , Tüchler S. , Akbari P. , Copeland C. D.
Published: October 2024

A wave reformer utilizes shock-wave heating resulting from pressure exchange between a driver and a driven (reactant gas) to initiate a thermal decomposition reaction. Although widely applicable to many reactions, this paper will focus on the thermal pyrolysis of methane to produce hydrogen and solid (black) carbon. It uses wave rotor technology that has been applied to other applications but developed specifically here for high-temperature pyrolysis by New Wave Hydrogen, Inc. (NWH). This research uses a quasi-two-dimensional (Q2D) model implemented in ansysfluent to study the influence of new channel design features on the unsteady flow field and performance characteristics of the wave reformer. The primary objective of the work is to investigate the impact of variable area channel design on peak temperature (a proxy for thermal pyrolysis), which has received limited attention in existing literature. The model numerically solves the three-dimensional (3D), compressible, and unsteady Navier–Stokes equations, employing the k–ω SST turbulence model for closure. Additionally, it utilizes a cell-centered approach coupled to multispecies transport equations and a one-step finite-rate chemistry model. The channel's curvature is controlled with sigmoid functions to ensure a smooth area transition along the channel. The Q2D results reveal that as the fluid traverses the converging channel, its temperature increases due to the rising internal energy, necessary for enhancing hydrogen yields. However, an over-reduction in channel cross section results in a decrease in the driven mass flow rate, subsequently lowering the mass flow ratio. This work shows that, above a given threshold, there is a significant benefit to implementing converging channel designs in wave reformers for enhanced shock heating.
Integrated System Modal and Mistuning Identification for Integrally Bladed Rotors
Authors: Beck Joseph A. , Brown Jeffrey M. , Gillaugh Daniel L.
Published: October 2024

The safety of integrally bladed rotors is often assessed through bench-level vibration tests to measure amplification factors and back-out sector frequency deviations via mistuning identification (ID) algorithms. This process is usually composed of two separate steps. First, a system ID step is completed to identify system modal data. Then, these data are input into mistuning ID algorithms. Errors in identified modal data will then propagate to produce errors in the system's predicted mistuning. Obtaining robust mistuning estimates then requires larger quantities of accurate modal data. This effort seeks to attain accurate mistuning data by coupling the system and mistuning ID steps into a more parallel, versus serial, process that is capable of identifying many system modes. An iterative polyreference-least squares complex frequency-domain (P-LSCF) algorithm finds modal data, and a mistuning ID algorithm obtains mistuning data at each iteration. An outlier detection method is proposed to remove spurious modes that cause erroneous mistuning results. Then, a weighted, least-squares regression approach is employed to remove the impact of sector-specific outlier data. This method reduces errors in identified mistuning parameters from the fundamental mistuning model ID algorithm. Furthermore, the approaches eliminate the need for users to determine true versus spurious system modes in each iteration of the P-LSCF algorithm, thus removing ambiguity. The developed approaches are tested on simulated and bench-top test data. Results show the efficacy of the developed approaches and their ability to account for uncertainty in mistuning parameters.
Numerical Modeling of a Primary Heat Exchanger in sCO2 Power Cycles for Thermal Energy Storage Systems
Authors: Guille Alexandre , Mohankumar Malini Bangalore , Unger Sebastian , Hampel Uwe
Published: October 2024

Renewable energy sources are the key for long-term decarbonization of energy. However, the intermittent nature of renewables does not always meet the energy demand in the electrical grid. Thus, electrical heated thermal energy storage systems (TES) coupled with sCO2 power cycles are investigated at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf as a possible solution to balance this mismatch. In this study, a printed circuit heat exchanger (PCHE) is considered as candidate for the 1 MW primary heat exchanger, given the mechanical challenge induced by drastic pressure difference between the hot fluid of the TES and the cold fluid of the power cycle. The present work consists of two parts, one elaborates a one-dimensional (1D) model in order to optimize the PCHE regarding the pump power required to compensate the pressure loss. It was found that the hot fluid coming from the TES accounts for 80% of the total pump power after optimization because of its low density and its high mass flow rate. Furthermore, three-dimensional simulations by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) were done and compared to the results from the 1D model to ensure its validity. It was observed that the results from the 1D model and the CFD simulations are consistent, with a slight potential deviation in the calculation of the pressure profile.
Temperature Margin Calculation During Finite Element Creep Simulations
Authors: Day William David , O'Nora Nathan , Gordon Ali P.
Published: October 2024

Creep deformation in turbomachinery applications is a highly nonlinear phenomenon where ±15 °C may halve or double the average rupture life. Even in well-controlled laboratory conditions, this stochastic nature means that identical tests may differ by a factor of two. Analysts using implicit finite element user creep subroutines may not appreciate the uncertainty of their solution, or the design changes required to account for uncertainty in either the boundary conditions or the solution itself. Designing to a maximum strain limit does not consider the sudden acceleration of tertiary creep rates. Applying a time factor may extend the simulation time by multiple factors. This paper presents a methodology where two estimations of creep damage are made in parallel to the creep simulation at actual operating temperatures. These two estimations consider the predicted change in stress relaxation, at higher or lower temperatures, to estimate the temperature change required to reach the onset of creep, at any given node in the model, and at any given time in the analysis. This margin calculation is expanded to consider the uncertainty in creep prediction. A time-based scatter factor is incorporated into the temperature margin calculation to provide a minimum temperature margin that includes model uncertainty. The analyst can also consider the uncertainty of the temperature prediction and boundary conditions to produce a robust creep prediction in a real-world simulation. The methodology is validated through the finite element analysis (FEA) of example cases and applied to a creep-limited second stage turbine blade.
Residual Stress Optimization for Manufacturing of a Nozzle Guide Vane in Mar-M-509 by Laser Powder Bed Fusion
Authors: Lani Sébastien , Pardhi Yogiraj , Ghasemi Hossein , Reinert Felix , Burn Andreas , Soothill Charles
Published: October 2024

This paper delves into the potential of additive manufacturing (AM) technologies, focusing on the utilization of laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) to optimize the manufacturing process for Mar-M-509, a cobalt-based superalloy, in aeroderivative industrial gas turbine nozzle guide vanes. While Mar-M-509 offers exceptional properties for high-temperature applications, the rapid cooling rates inherent in LPBF introduce significant residual stresses, leading to poor success rates below 50%. The study systematically addresses this challenge by proposing a comprehensive methodology to optimize LPBF parameters. By fine-tuning processing conditions, including elevating the powder bed and build chamber temperatures, the research achieved notable reductions in residual stresses by up to 55%. Computational simulations played a pivotal role in predicting deformations and thermal signatures, enabling proactive adjustments to process conditions, ultimately enhancing part quality and process reliability. Validation through successful printing with a yield exceeding 75% underscores the effectiveness of this approach. Moreover, the study suggests the broader applicability of these optimization strategies beyond Mar-M-509, paving the way for advancements in AM techniques across diverse materials and industrial sectors. This research not only presents a robust solution for mitigating residual stresses in LPBF-produced components but also showcases a proactive methodology that promises significant implications for additive manufacturing's future advancements and applicability.
Origami-Inspired Collapsible Structures for Small Rotorcraft Collision Resilience and Landing
Authors: Chang Andrew L. , Munoz Ivonne , Sanchez Christopher , Sanchez IV Leopoldo , Lee Christopher L.
Published: October 2024

This article reports on the design, fabrication, and testing of flexible, collapsible structures inspired by origami and kirigami that can be used to protect small rotorcraft from collision impacts and to serve as landing gear. Twenty structures created from variations of Pako Pako, Magic Ball, and Herringbone fold patterns were laser cut from cardstock and evaluated experimentally. Some of the Pako Pako structures were designed to have graduated mechanical stiffness. An empirical procedure based on acceleration measurements has been developed that enables quantitative evaluation of each structure based on the characterization parameters of peak acceleration, peak velocity, translational kinetic energy, impact duration, mass, and mechanical stiffness. Structures were mounted onto the front of a radio-controlled (RC) car and driven on a linear test track into a rigid wall. Accelerations measured during the collisions were numerically integrated to determine velocities over the impact and collapse/compression of the structures. Flight tests conducted with small RC quadcopters demonstrated that the collapsible structures could successfully be used to mitigate collisions, enough to enable the quadcopters to continue flying after a direct impact and to land indoors or on outdoor terrain with varying slopes and surfaces. Based on trade-off comparisons between the evaluative metrics of the cases studied, conical Pako Pako structures with uniform stiffness are shown to be the most effective for collision resilience and landing.
REVIEW: Nonlinear shear rheometry: Brief history, recent progress, and challenges
Authors: Costanzo Salvatore , Parisi Daniele , Schweizer Thomas , Vlassopoulos Dimitris
Published: October 2024

High-shear rate rotational rheometry provides access to the fast nonlinear dynamics of soft materials and, particularly, their shear stress (exhibiting shear thinning and/or thickening) as well as the first and second normal stress differences, along with their time-dependent behavior. These material functions are valuable for understanding a material's processing performance and constitutive behavior and, hence, for designing new materials with desired rheology. However, their accurate measurement has been one of the most formidable challenges in rheometry. Here, we provide an overview of the different approaches used, along with their merits and drawbacks, while we discuss practical guidelines for the implementation of measurement protocols. We focus on the development and use of cone-partitioned plate fixtures, which have been shown to provide reliable data over a wide range of Weissenberg numbers, when properly used. Furthermore, this review presents selected applications and results from recent developments, identifies operating measurement windows, discusses new capabilities and open problems, and, finally, it provides perspectives for further developments.
Multicore memristor from electrically readable nanoscopic racetracks
Authors: Jeon Jae-Chun , Migliorini Andrea , Yoon Jiho , Jeong Jaewoo , Parkin Stuart S. P.
Published: October 2024

The manipulation and detection of mobile domain walls in nanoscopic magnetic wires underlies the development of multibit memories. The studies of such domain walls have focused on macroscopic wires that allow for optical detection by using magneto-optic effects. In this study, we demonstrated the electrical tracking with a spatial resolution of better than 40 nm of multiple mobile domain walls in nanoscopic racetracks, using a set of anomalous Hall detectors integrated into the racetracks. Electrical time-series signals from the Hall detectors allow for the static and dynamic phase space visualization of the dynamics of a domain wall or multiple domain walls that can be described by a multicore memristor model. The domain wall dynamics and stochasticity can be controlled in racetracks even to deep submicron dimensions.