bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long‐term changes in soil carbon and nitrogen fractions in switchgrass, native grasses, and no‐till corn bioenergy production systems
Authors: Perry Sophie , Falvo Grant , Mosier Samantha , Robertson G. Philip
Published: July 2023

Cellulosic bioenergy is a primary land‐based climate mitigation strategy, with soil carbon (C) storage and nitrogen (N) conservation as important mitigation elements. Here, we present 13 years of soil C and N change under three cellulosic cropping systems: monoculture switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), a five native grasses polyculture, and no‐till corn (Zea mays L.). Soil C and N fractions were measured four times over 12 years. Bulk soil C in the 0–25 cm depth at the end of the study period ranged from 28.4 (± 1.4 se) Mg C ha−1 in no‐till corn, to 30.8 (± 1.4) Mg C ha−1 in switchgrass, and to 34.8 (± 1.4) Mg C ha−1 in native grasses. Mineral‐associated organic matter (MAOM) ranged from 60% to 90% and particulate organic matter (POM) from 10% to 40% of total soil C. Over 12 years, total C as well as both C fractions persisted under no‐till corn and switchgrass and increased under native grasses. In contrast, POM N stocks decreased 33% to 45% across systems, whereas MAOM N decreased only in no‐till corn and by less than 13%. Declining POM N stocks likely reflect pre‐establishment land use, which included alfalfa and manure in earlier rotations. Root production and large soil aggregate formation explained 69% (p < 0.001) and 36% (p = 0.024) of total soil C change, respectively, and 60% (p = 0.020) and 41% (p = 0.023) of soil N change, demonstrating the importance of belowground productivity and soil aggregates for producing and protecting soil C and conserving soil N. Differences between switchgrass and native grasses also indicate a dependence on plant diversity. Soil C and N benefits of bioenergy crops depend strongly on root productivity and pre‐establishment land use.
Core‐Shell Structured hybrid with Photo‐triggered Antibacterial activity for Enhancing Skin Regeneration
Authors: Zhang Bin , Gao Feng , Li Xiaotong , Yuan Jingsong , Bian Weiwei , Zhai Xiaofei , Chu Lichao , Zhao Chunzhen , Zhou Baolong
Published: July 2023

Open wounds infected by bacteria are gearing increasing attention whose treatment are complicated by the appearance of multidrug‐resistant bacteria. Photothermal therapy, kill bacteria through the photothermal conversion, has been extensively studied. Whereas, the high cost and low yield of the active ingredients have limited its widespread use. To address this challenge, the template assisted coating strategy was adopted to prepare a biocompatible photothermal agent, where the hybrid was prepared via in situ copolymerization of 5,10,15,20‐tetrakis(4‐ethynylphenyl)‐21H,23H‐porphine (Por) on the surface of ZIF‐8 template. The introduction of ZIF‐8 in the inner of the hybrid, could not only lower the cost of photosensitizer (i. e., the porphyrin), but also maintain the activity of photosensitizer (PS) finely, which could be used directly as the antimicrobial dressing. In vitro experiments validated the as‐prepared hybrid presents high‐efficiency PTT antibacterial activity. Meanwhile, in vivo chronic wound‐healing experiments on mice verified the as‐synthesized hybrid also delivers excellent anti‐infection and tissue remodeling activities. This work highlights the potential of low‐cost hybrid‐based multifunctional biomaterials in the treatment of skin injuries in clinical settings.
Synthesis and Biological Activities of Novel 1H‐Imidazo[4,5‐b]pyridine Derivatives
Authors: Jebamani Jesurajan , Jayachamarajapura Praneshm Shubha , Shivalingappa Jayadev , Narayanarao Manjunatha , Pasha Mussuvir , Pawar Chandrakant
Published: July 2023

We describe herein an efficient method for synthesizing novel 7‐aryl‐1H‐imidazo[4,5‐b]pyridines 4(a–j) via photocatalytic C(sp2)−C(sp2) cross coupling reaction under mild conditions. We have developed a photocatalytic approach for the synthesis of imidazo[4,5‐b]pyridines with simple reaction steps and good yields. The compounds 4(a–j) were evaluated for antimicrobial activity and showed average to good efficacy against the tested microorganisms. Particularly, compounds 4 b and 4 d exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against both antibacterial and antifungal strains.
Correlating Stokes Shift with Huang‐Rhys Parameter for Diatomic Molecules: Effects of Finite Temperature, Anharmonicity and Breakdown of Franck‐Condon Approximation
Authors: Mitra Subho , De Arijit Kumar
Published: July 2023

In order to compute optical absorption and fluorescence spectra, the harmonic oscillator model for molecular vibrations under Franck‐Condon approximation for optical transition at absolute zero temperature is often considered for ease of numerical simulation, which never truly reproduce the experimental spectra. In this article, we show how systematic introduction of realistic situation, i. e., anharmonicity of vibrations, thermalization and non‐adiabatic transition leading to failure of Franck‐Condon approximation plays a colossal role in determining the spectral shape of a model diatomic molecule. In particular, we investigate how the Huang‐Rhys parameter, describing the relative positioning of the ground and excited electronic surfaces, is correlated with the Stokes shift, considering both right‐ and left‐shifted potential wells, which is crucial to estimate changes in molecular length‐scale from experimentally determined quantities. Further, the result for iodine is shown to have excellent agreement with experimental absorption spectrum. These findings are promised to bring insights into origin of spectral shapes in complex polyatomic molecules.
Gold Nanoparticle‐Carrying T Cells for the Combined Immuno‐Photothermal Therapy
Authors: Kim HyeMi , Baek Yujin , Ha Taeyong , Choi Doowon , Lee Woo Jin , Cho Yongbum , Park Jeehun , Kim Sungjee , Doh Junsang
Published: July 2023

Cancer immunotherapy is a promising therapy to treat cancer patients with minimal toxicity, but only a small fraction of patients responded to it as a monotherapy. In this study, a strategy to boost therapeutic efficacy by combining an immunotherapy based on ex vivo expanded tumor‐reactive T cells is devised, or adoptive cell therapy (ACT), with photothermal therapy (PTT). Smart gold nanoparticles (sAuNPs), which aggregates to form gold nanoclusters in the cells, are loaded into T cells, and their photothermal effects within T cells are confirmed. When transferred into tumor‐bearing mice, large number of sAuNP‐carrying T cells successfully infiltrate into tumor tissues and exert anti‐tumor activity to suspend tumor growth, but over time tumor cells evade and regrow. Of note, ≈20% of injected doses of sAuNPs are deposited in tumor tissues, suggesting T cells are an efficient nanoparticle tumor delivery vehicle. When T cells no longer control tumor growth, PTT is performed to further eliminate tumors. In this manner, ACT and PTT are temporally coupled, and the combined immuno‐photothermal treatment demonstrated significantly greater therapeutic efficacy than the monotherapy.
A New Family of Layered Metal‐Organic Semiconductors: Cu/V‐Organophosphonates
Authors: Tholen Patrik , Wagner Lukas , Ruthes Jean G. A. , Siemensmeyer Konrad , Beglau Thi Hai Yen , Muth Dominik , Zorlu Yunus , Okutan Mustafa , Goldschmidt Jan Christoph , Janiak Christoph , Presser Volker , Yavuzçetin Özgür , Yücesan Gündoğ
Published: July 2023

Herein, we report the design and synthesis of a layered redox‐active, antiferromagnetic metal organic semiconductor crystals with the chemical formula [Cu(H2O)2V(µ‐O)(PPA)2] (where PPA is phenylphosphonate). The crystal structure of [Cu(H2O)2V(µ‐O)(PPA)2] shows that the metal phosphonate layers are separated by phenyl groups of the phenyl phosphonate linker. Tauc plotting of diffuse reflectance spectra indicates that [Cu(H2O)2V(µ‐O)(PPA)2] has an indirect band gap of 2.19 eV. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra indicate a complex landscape of energy states with PL peaks at 1.8 and 2.2 eV. [Cu(H2O)2V(µ‐O)(PPA)2] has estimated hybrid ionic and electronic conductivity values between 0.13 and 0.6 S m−1. Temperature‐dependent magnetization measurements show that [Cu(H2O)2V(µ‐O)(PPA)2] exhibits short range antiferromagnetic order between Cu(II) and V(IV) ions. [Cu(H2O)2V(µ‐O)(PPA)2] is also photoluminescent with photoluminescence quantum yield of 0.02%. [Cu(H2O)2V(µ‐O)(PPA)2] shows high electrochemical, and thermal stability.
Light‐controlled switchable underwater adhesive
Authors: Yang Song , Ma Yanfei , Qin Chenxi , Zhang Zhizhi , Yu Jianqing , Pei Xiaowei , Yu Bo , Sheng Wenbo , Zhou Feng , Liu Weimin
Published: July 2023

Despite extensive efforts in designing and preparing switchable underwater adhesives, it is not easy to regulate the underwater adhesion strength locally and remotely. Here, we design and synthesize photoreversible copolymer of poly[dopamine methacrylamide‐co‐methoxyethyl‐acrylate‐co‐7‐(2‐methacryloyloxyethoxy)‐4‐methylcoumarin]. Due to the dynamic formation and breaking of chemical crosslinking networks within the smart adhesives, the material shows widely tunable adhesion strength from ∼150 to ∼450 kPa and long‐range reversible maneuverability under orthogonal 254 and 365 nm ultraviolet light stimulation via the coumarin dimerization and cycloreversion. Moreover, the adhesive exhibits good circulation performance and stability in an acid–base environment. It also demonstrated that the bolt can be coated with the smart adhesive material for on‐demand bonding. This design principle opens the door to the development of remotely controllable high‐performance smart underwater adhesives.
Multi‐Responsive Afterglows from Aqueous Processable Amorphous Polysaccharide Films
Authors: Ren Chunguang , Wang Zhengshuo , Ou Hanlin , Wang Tianjie , Zhao Zhipeng , Wei Yuting , Yuan Hua , Tan Yeqiang , Yuan Wang Zhang
Published: July 2023

Polymer‐based room‐temperature phosphorescence (RTP) materials, especially polysaccharide‐based RTP materials, earn sustained attention in the fields of anti‐counterfeiting, data encryption, and optoelectronics owing to their green regeneration, flexibility, and transparency. However, those with both ultralong phosphorescence lifetime and excitation wavelength‐dependent afterglow are rarely reported. Herein, a kind of amorphous RTP material with ultralong lifetime of up to 2.52 s is fabricated by covalently bonding sodium alginate (SA) with arylboronic acid in the aqueous phase. The resulting polymer film exhibits distinguished RTP performance with excitation‐dependent emissions from cyan to green. Specifically, by co‐doping with other fluorescent dyes, further regulation of the afterglow color from cyan to yellowish‐green and near‐white can be achieved through triplet‐to‐singlet Förster resonance energy transfer. In addition, the water‐sensitive properties of hydrogen bonds endow the RTP property of SA‐based materials with water/heat‐responsive characteristics. On account of the color‐tunable and stimuli‐responsive afterglows, these smart materials are successfully applied in data encryption and anti‐counterfeiting.
A unified nonlocal method for capturing discontinuous and multi‐physical behaviors of quasi‐brittle materials
Authors: Yu Haitao , Chen Xizhuo , Sun Yuqi , Hu Xiaokun
Published: July 2023

A unified nonlocal method (UNM) is developed to simulate discontinuous and multi‐physical coupling dynamic behaviors for quasi‐brittle materials. In the proposed method, unified nonlocal momentum equations and constitutive laws are proposed to capture the nonlocal fluid transport effect and loading‐rate effect of quasi‐brittle materials. A general multiscale framework, which couples the proposed nonlocal method and the finite element method (FEM), is presented to accelerate the computational efficiency. The effectiveness and accuracy of this method are verified by comparing its results with experimental observations. Numerical examples show that the proposed model can well simulate the discontinuous and multi‐physical behaviors of quasi‐brittle materials, which can serve an effective numerical method for the simulation of engineering problems such as failure of concrete structures.
Understanding the salt overly sensitive pathway in Prunus: Identification and characterization of NHX, CIPK, and CBL genes
Authors: Acharya Biswa R. , Zhao Chaoyang , Reyes Lorenso Antonio Rodriguez , Ferreira Jorge F. S. , Sandhu Devinder
Published: July 2023

Salinity is a major abiotic stress factor that can significantly impact crop growth, and productivity. In response to salt stress, the plant Salt Overly Sensitive (SOS) signaling pathway regulates the homeostasis of intracellular sodium ion concentration. The SOS1, SOS2, and SOS3 genes play critical roles in the SOS pathway, which belongs to the members of Na+/H+ exchanger (NHX), CBL‐interacting protein kinase (CIPK), and calcineurin B‐like (CBL) gene families, respectively. In this study, we performed genome‐wide identifications and phylogenetic analyses of NHX, CIPK, and CBL genes in six Rosaceae species: Prunus persica, Prunus dulcis, Prunus mume, Prunus armeniaca, Pyrus ussuriensis × Pyrus communis, and Rosa chinensis. NHX, CIPK, and CBL genes of Arabidopsis thaliana were used as controls for phylogenetic analyses. Our analysis revealed the lineage‐specific and adaptive evolutions of Rosaceae genes. Our observations indicated the existence of two primary classes of CIPK genes: those that are intron‐rich and those that are intron‐less. Intron‐rich CIPKs in Rosaceae and Arabidopsis can be traced back to algae CIPKs and CIPKs found in early plants, suggesting that intron‐less CIPKs evolved from their intron‐rich counterparts. This study identified one gene for each member of the SOS signaling pathway in P. persica: PpSOS1, PpSOS2, and PpSOS3. Gene expression analyses indicated that all three genes of P. persica were expressed in roots and leaves. Yeast two‐hybrid‐based protein–protein interaction analyses revealed a direct interaction between PpSOS3 and PpSOS2; and between PpSOS2 and PpSOS1C‐terminus region. Our findings indicate that the SOS signaling pathway is highly conserved in P. persica.
Sustainable recovery in small businesses: Analysis of sustainable practices and the goals for sustainable development
Authors: Avila Lucas Veiga , Avila Andressa Germann , Kieling Debora Londero , Cavalcante Diego Marques , Lima Clayton Dos Santos
Published: July 2023

This article aims to present the analysis of sustainability practices and the objectives of sustainable development and recovery in small businesses carried out through survey research. The work was based on the understanding of how the theme applies to the objectives of sustainability in small businesses, using the application of a questionnaire in 24 social enterprises of the agribusiness industry in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), present at the largest Fair of Cooperativism in Latin America. The research was exploratory with an approach classified as descriptive, quantitative, and a data survey of 24 valid samples. As a result of the research, it was found that small businesses are focused on the recovery of sustainability, presenting results with significant advances in practical actions of more sustainable and innovative management and with greater cooperation among enterprises. The research makes explicit the possibility of expanding the sample, analyzing small businesses in other regions of the State of Rio Grande do Sul and of the country, with the survey of future research on the theme and case studies in small businesses, expanding the source of evidence to allow a more practical and critical view. Since this is an unprecedented study, the research sought to present to the scientific community the importance of what is currently being produced on the subject, by presenting the innovative and relevant result of the analysis of sustainable recovery in small businesses and sustainable practices.
Dietary strategies in non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease patients: From evidence to daily clinical practice, a systematic review
Authors: Hadefi Alia , Arvanitakis Marianna , Trépo Eric , Zelber‐Sagi Shira
Published: July 2023

Lifestyle modification comprising calorie restriction (CR) and increased physical activity enabling weight loss is the first‐line of treatment for non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, CR alone is not optimal and evidence suggests that dietary pattern and composition are also critical in NAFLD management. Accordingly, high consumption of red and processed meat, saturated fat, added sugar, and sweetened beverages are associated with an increased risk of developing NAFLD and hepatocellular carcinoma, while other foods and compounds such as fish, olive oil, and polyphenols are, in contrast, beneficial for metabolic disorders. Therefore, several dietary interventions have been studied in order to determine which strategy would be the most beneficial for NAFLD. The evidence regarding the effectiveness of different dietary interventions such as low carbohydrate/low‐fat diet, time‐restricted eating diet, CR, and the well‐studied Mediterranean diet is summarized.
Paroxysmal atrioventricular block in a mixed‐breed dog
Authors: Bastos Pessoa Rebecca , Dayoub Gonçalves Vinícius
Published: July 2023

An 11‐year‐old female mixed‐breed dog was presented with syncopal episodes occurring up to 10 times a day for 3 months. The owner reported events lasting for approximately 15 s, during which the dog would fall into lateral recumbency, have muscle tremors and show intense salivation. After the event, the animal was disorientated for a few seconds before full recovery. A surface electrocardiogram was obtained, during which an episode of syncope occurred, with a paroxysmal atrioventricular block lasting 10.5 s. The event was characterised as an intrinsic pause‐dependent paroxysmal atrioventricular block associated with cardiogenic syncope type 1E. The dog received aminophylline 10 mg/kg every 8 hours and the frequency of syncopal episodes decreased until it died of non‐cardiac causes 3 months later. There is little information on paroxysmal atrioventricular blocks in dogs, and further electrocardiographic event characterisation may the influence choice of therapy in individual cases.
Partition functions of non-Lagrangian theories from the holomorphic anomaly
Authors: Fucito Francesco , Grassi Alba , Morales Jose Francisco , Savelli Raffaele
Published: July 2023

Abstract

The computation of the partition function in certain quantum field theories, such as those of the Argyres-Douglas or Minahan-Nemeschansky type, is problematic due to the lack of a Lagrangian description. In this paper, we use the holomorphic anomaly equation to derive the gravitational corrections to the prepotential of such theories at rank one by deforming them from the conformal point. In the conformal limit, we find a general formula for the partition function as a sum of hypergeometric functions. We show explicit results for the round sphere and the Nekrasov-Shatashvili phases of the Ω background. The first case is relevant for the derivation of extremal correlators in flat space, whereas the second one has interesting applications for the study of anharmonic oscillators.
A singular perturbation problem for mean field games of acceleration: application to mean field games of control
Authors: Mendico Cristian
Published: July 2023

The singular perturbation of mean field game systems arising from minimization problems with control of acceleration is addressed, that is, we analyze the behavior of solutions as the acceleration costs vanishes. In this setting, the Hamiltonian fails to be strictly convex and coercive w.r.t. the momentum variable and, so, the classical results for Tonelli Hamiltonian systems cannot be applied. However, we show that the limit system is of MFG type in two different cases: we first study the convergence to the classical MFG system and, then, by a finer analysis of the Euler–Lagrange flow associated with the control of acceleration, we prove the convergence to a class of MFG systems, known as, MFG of control.
Beurling-Type Density Criteria for System Identification
Authors: Aubel Céline , Bölcskei Helmut , Vlačić Verner
Published: July 2023

This paper addresses the problem of identifying a linear time-varying (LTV) system characterized by a (possibly infinite) discrete set of delay-Doppler shifts without a lattice (or other “geometry-discretizing”) constraint on the support set. Concretely, we show that a class of such LTV systems is identifiable whenever the upper uniform Beurling density of the delay-Doppler support sets, measured “uniformly over the class”, is strictly less than 1/2. The proof of this result reveals an interesting relation between LTV system identification and interpolation in the Bargmann-Fock space. Moreover, we show that the density condition we obtain is also necessary for classes of systems invariant under time-frequency shifts and closed under a natural topology on the support sets. We furthermore find that identifiability guarantees robust recovery of the delay-Doppler support set, as well as the weights of the individual delay-Doppler shifts, both in the sense of asymptotically vanishing reconstruction error for vanishing measurement error.
Multiple, eruptive epitheloide Hämangiome der Kopfhaut
Authors: Mihalceanu Silvia , Schäfer Sarah , Mentzel Thomas , Toberer Ferdinand
Published: July 2023

Das epitheloide Hämangiom ist eine benigne vaskuläre Neoplasie mit einem charakteristischen histologischen und immunhistochemischen Muster, insbesondere gekennzeichnet durch ein lymphozytäres Entzündungsinfiltrat mit beigemengten Eosinophilen und eine FOS-B-Expression. Die Abklärung der Diagnose ist von besonderem Stellenwert, da differenzialdiagnostisch auch maligne epitheloidzellig differenzierte vaskuläre Tumoren infrage kommen. Wir präsentieren eine Patientin mit multiplen epitheloiden Hämangiomen der Kopfhaut, begleitet von starken Schmerzen und Juckreiz. Die lange Vorgeschichte mit multiplen Therapieversuchen verdeutlicht den oft begrenzten Erfolg der aktuell zur Verfügung stehenden Behandlungsmodalitäten.
Expansivity and Periodicity in Algebraic Subshifts
Authors: Kari Jarkko
Published: July 2023

A d-dimensional configuration $$c:\mathbb {Z}^d\longrightarrow A$$

c
:

Z

d

⟶
A

is a coloring of the d-dimensional infinite grid by elements of a finite alphabet $$A\subseteq \mathbb {Z}$$

A
⊆
Z

. The configuration c has an annihilator if a non-trivial linear combination of finitely many translations of c is the zero configuration. Writing c as a d-variate formal power series, the annihilator is conveniently expressed as a d-variate Laurent polynomial f whose formal product with c is the zero power series. More generally, if the formal product is a strongly periodic configuration, we call the polynomial f a periodizer of c. A common annihilator (periodizer) of a set of configurations is called an annihilator (periodizer, respectively) of the set. In particular, we consider annihilators and periodizers of d-dimensional subshifts, that is, sets of configurations defined by disallowing some local patterns. We show that a $$(d-1)$$

(
d
-
1
)

-dimensional linear subspace $$S\subseteq \mathbb {R}^d$$

S
⊆

R

d

is expansive for a subshift if the subshift has a periodizer whose support contains exactly one element of S. As a subshift is known to be finite if all $$(d-1)$$

(
d
-
1
)

-dimensional subspaces are expansive, we obtain a simple necessary condition on the periodizers that guarantees finiteness of a subshift or, equivalently, strong periodicity of a configuration. We provide examples in terms of tilings of $$\mathbb {Z}^d$$

Z

d

by translations of a single tile.
Anti-tumor effect of avadomide in gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Nishi Hidemi , Gotoh Kunihito , Tomimaru Yoshito , Kobayashi Shogo , Sasaki Kazuki , Iwagami Yoshifumi , Yamada Daisaku , Akita Hirofumi , Asaoka Tadafumi , Noda Takehiro , Takahashi Hidenori , Tanemura Masahiro , Doki Yuichiro , Eguchi Hidetoshi
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Although gemcitabine-based chemotherapy is most recommended for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), its effectiveness is limited because of drug resistance. Given thalidomide’s anti-tumor effects in solid tumors, we investigated the effect of avadomide, a novel thalidomide analog, on PDAC and explored its anti-tumor mechanisms.

Methods

PDAC cell lines, including gemcitabine-resistant (GR) clones derived from MiaPaCa2 cells, were used to evaluate the effects of avadomide. An annexin V assay, a cell cycle assay, and western blot analysis were performed to explain the mechanism of avadomide as an anti-tumor reagent. Moreover, we investigated the anti-tumor effect on tumor growth using a subcutaneous xenograft murine model.

Results

Avadomide showed anti-tumor effects in human PDAC cell lines. The proportion of apoptotic cells and G0/G1 phase cells after avadomide treatment increased, especially in the GR PDAC clones. Western blot analysis also showed the induction of the apoptotic pathway by inhibiting the NF-κB process and G1 phase cell cycle arrest. The xenograft murine model revealed that the proportion of viable cells in the avadomide-treated group was lower than that in the untreated group.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that avadomide could be a novel therapeutic option to overcome gemcitabine resistance in patients with PDAC.
Mobile Signaling Peptides: Secret Molecular Messengers with a Mighty Role in Plant Life
Authors: Pandita Deepu , Bhat Javaid Akhter , Wani Shabir Hussain , ElSayed Abdelaleim Ismail , Nawaz Ghazala , Mukherjee Soumya , Reyes Vincent P. , Kumar Anuj , Shen Qiufang , Ganie Showkat Ahmad , Siddique Kadambot H. M.
Published: July 2023

Adaptive mechanisms for unfavorable environments have evolved in plants for thousands of generations, primarily in the form of endogenous chemical signals and the coordination of physiological processes. Signaling peptides (SPs) are diverse molecular messengers in various stress responses which have been identified in different plant families. SPs are recognized by the membrane-localized receptors and co-receptors, leading to downstream signaling for various plant responses. Progress in in silico analysis, along with other factors, has increased our understanding of the signaling peptide-mediated regulatory mechanisms underlying the entire plant life cycle. SPs mediate both long-distance (root-to-shoot-to-root) and local cell–cell communication via vascular system to communicate and coordinate with plant organs at distant locations. During abiotic stress, SPs inside plant cells perceive stress signals and transfer information at short and long physiological ranges through the signal transduction pathway, causing stress-responsive gene expression. SPs interact with pathogens and mediate cell-to-cell communication via signaling pathways. There are intriguing relationships between phytohormones and the secondary signaling cascades which are mediated by SPs. During biotic or abiotic stress, different peptides trigger jasmonic acid, ethylene, and ABA signaling, involving several secondary messengers. These messengers mediate the stress response via shared signaling components of ROS, Ca2+, and MAPKs, and they modify the gene expression for different phytohormones. In this review, we highlight current knowledge on the role of signaling peptides in plant adaptation, growth, and development. We aim to analyze the SP-receptor interactions and the significance of crosstalk between a few sample SPs and phytohormones. Potential directions on how scientists can use this information for crop improvement are also suggested.
Integrated genetic analyses of immunodeficiency-associated Epstein-Barr virus- (EBV) positive primary CNS lymphomas
Authors: Kaulen Leon D. , Denisova Evgeniya , Hinz Felix , Hai Ling , Friedel Dennis , Henegariu Octavian , Hoffmann Dirk C. , Ito Jakob , Kourtesakis Alexandros , Lehnert Pascal , Doubrovinskaia Sofia , Karschnia Philipp , von Baumgarten Louisa , Kessler Tobias , Baehring Joachim M. , Brors Benedikt , Sahm Felix , Wick Wolfgang
Published: July 2023

Immunodeficiency-associated primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) represents a distinct clinicopathological entity, which is typically Epstein-Barr virus-positive (EBV+) and carries an inferior prognosis. Genetic alterations that characterize EBV-related CNS lymphomagenesis remain unclear precluding molecular classification and targeted therapies. In this study, a comprehensive genetic analysis of 22 EBV+ PCNSL, therefore, integrated clinical and pathological information with exome and RNA sequencing (RNASeq) data. EBV+ PCNSL with germline controls carried a median of 55 protein-coding single nucleotide variants (SNVs; range 24–217) and 2 insertions/deletions (range 0–22). Genetic landscape was largely shaped by aberrant somatic hypermutation with a median of 41.01% (range 31.79–53.49%) of SNVs mapping to its target motifs. Tumors lacked established SNVs (MYD88, CD79B, PIM1) and copy number variants (CDKN2A, HLA loss) driving EBV− PCNSL. Instead, EBV+ PCNSL were characterized by SOCS1 mutations (26%), predicted to disinhibit JAK/STAT signaling, and mutually exclusive gain-of-function NOTCH pathway SNVs (26%). Copy number gains were enriched on 11q23.3, a locus directly targeted for chromosomal aberrations by EBV, that includes SIK3 known to protect from cytotoxic T-cell responses. Losses covered 5q31.2 (STING), critical for sensing viral DNA, and 17q11 (NF1). Unsupervised clustering of RNASeq data revealed two distinct transcriptional groups, that shared strong expression of CD70 and IL1R2, previously linked to tolerogenic tumor microenvironments. Correspondingly, deconvolution of bulk RNASeq data revealed elevated M2-macrophage, T-regulatory cell, mast cell and monocyte fractions in EBV+ PCNSL. In addition to novel insights into the pathobiology of EBV+ PCNSL, the data provide the rationale for the exploration of targeted therapies including JAK-, NOTCH- and CD70-directed approaches.
Inferior mesenteric artery ligation level in rectal cancer surgery: still no answer—a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Cirocchi Roberto , Marchetti Francesco , Mari Giulio , Bagolini Francesco , Cavaliere Davide , Avenia Stefano , Anania Gabriele , Tebala Giovanni , Donini Annibale , Davies Richard Justin , Fingerhut Abe
Published: July 2023

Objective

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to summarize the current scientific evidence regarding the impact of the level of inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) ligation on post-operative and oncological outcomes in rectal cancer surgery.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review of the literature up to 06 September 2022. Included were RCTs that compared patients who underwent high (HL) vs. anterior (LL) IMA ligation for resection of rectal cancer. The literature search was performed on Medline/PubMed, Scopus, and the Web of Science without any language restrictions. The primary endpoint was overall anastomotic leakage (AL). Secondary endpoints were oncological outcomes, intraoperative complications, urogenital functional outcomes, and length of hospital stay.

Results

Eleven RCTs (1331 patients) were included. The overall rate of AL was lower in the LL group, but the difference was not statistically significant (RR 1.43, 95% CI 0.95 to 2.96). The overall number of harvested lymph nodes was higher in the LL group, but the difference was not statistically significant (MD 0.93, 95% CI − 2.21 to 0.34). The number of lymph nodes harvested was assessed in 256 patients, and all had a laparoscopic procedure. The number of lymph nodes was higher when LL was associated with lymphadenectomy of the vascular root than when IMA was ligated at its origin, but there the difference was not statistically significant (MD − 0.37, 95% CI − 1.00 to 0.26). Overall survival at 5 years was slightly better in the LL group, but the difference was not statistically significant (RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.05). Disease-free survival at 5 years was higher in the LL group, but the difference was not statistically significant (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.89 to 1.04).

Conclusions

There is no evidence to support HL or LL according to results in terms of AL or oncologic outcome. Moreover, there is not enough evidence to determine the impact of the level of IMA ligation on functional outcomes. The level of IMA ligation should be chosen case by case based on expected functional and oncological outcomes.
Einsatzbereiche und Grundlagen für die 4. Reinigungsstufe in Österreich
Authors: Schaar Heidemarie , Krampe Jörg , Kreuzinger Norbert
Published: July 2023

Der Kommissionsvorschlag für die kommunale Abwasserrichtlinie schreibt die Implementierung einer 4. Reinigungsstufe vor, wenn bestimmte Kriterien erfüllt sind. Dementsprechend müssen große Kläranlagen (≥ 100.000 EW) sowie Anlagen ≥ 10.000 EW, die in spurenstoffempfindliche Gebiete einleiten, ausgebaut werden, um eine 80 %ige Entfernung, gemittelt über mindestens sechs Indikatorsubstanzen zu erreichen. Schätzungen für Österreich reichen von 93 bis 278 auszurüstende Kläranlagen. 278 ist eine Maximalbetrachtung ohne vorherige Risikobewertung und unter Annahme der neu vorgeschlagenen Umweltqualitätsnormen. Sowohl die Ozonung als auch die Aktivkohlebehandlung sind geeignet, um die Mindestanforderungen zu erreichen. Die spezifischen jährlichen Kosten können anhand einer einfachen Funktion grob abgeschätzt werden und liegen bei 16, 8 und 4 €/EW/a für Anlagen mit 10.000, 50.000 oder 200.000 EWAusbau. Die Wechselwirkung mit anderen EU-Rechtsvorschriften und aktuellen Themen der Abwasserreinigung birgt sowohl Synergien, wie z. B. eine solide Grundlage für die weitere Aufbereitung zur Wasserwiederverwendung für die landwirtschaftliche Bewässerung, als auch Herausforderungen, z. B. für die neu vorgeschlagenen strengeren Umweltqualitätsnormen für per- und polyfluorierte Alkylsubstanzen.
Discussion of a variant of eccentric drives utilizing rolling elements
Authors: Fritsch S. , Landler S. , Otto M. , Vogel-Heuser B. , Zimmermann M. , Stahl K.
Published: July 2023

In this paper a variant of eccentric drives will be described, which uses rolling elements instead of an eccentric gear. These rolling elements are constrained by a concentric carrier allowing for radial movement and are moved by an eccentric crank. They mesh with a gear geometry that translates their radial movement into tangential movement and constrains their position. Multiple offset eccentricities may be used with the same gear to reduce occurring forces. Such a drive may prove easier to manufacture than currently used eccentric drives, but the characteristics are not yet fully researched.

The components and the working principle of such a drive will be described, and consistent names for the components will be established in this paper. Using these the movement of the rolling elements and the resulting gear geometry will be mathematically described. The forces on a singular rolling element will be derived. An overview of and comparison with related drive mechanisms will be given to aid in the classification of this drive. Different variations of this drive will be discussed, including the choice of rolling elements, whether to use an external or internal gear, and whether a direction-reversing or non-direction-reversing drive is advantageous.
Gear skiving with minimum twist errors
Authors: Hilligardt Andreas , Schulze Volker
Published: July 2023

Over the last 15 years, gear skiving has established itself as a highly productive gear cutting process for the production of internal gears and gears with near interference contours. As with all processes with crossed axes, gear skiving generally results in a pronounced natural twist when gears with lead crowning or other flank modifications are produced. In practical applications, the unintended profile angle changes over the tooth width resulting from the twist leading to unwanted contact patterns and unfavorable NVH behavior. In this work, a contact line-based method for tool profile calculation for gear skiving is developed based on conical-screw gear theory. The relationship between contact line and natural twist errors is worked out. The process and tool design strategies for minimizing the twist are elaborated and finally, an adaptive process kinematics for low-twist error gear skiving is presented.
What impacts learning effectiveness of a mobile learning app focused on first-year students?
Authors: Johannsen Florian , Knipp Martin , Loy Thomas , Mirbabaie Milad , Möllmann Nicholas R. J. , Voshaar Johannes , Zimmermann Jochen
Published: July 2023

In recent years, the application of digital technologies for learning purposes is increasingly discussed as smartphones have become an integral part of students’ everyday life. These technologies are particularly promising in the so-called “transition-in” phase of the student lifecycle when first-year students start to develop a student identity and integrate into the university environment. At that stage, most premature dropouts are observed, presumably due to a lack of self-organization or self-responsibility. Considering this, a mobile app to tackle insufficient student experiences, support learning strategies, and foster self-organization in the “transition-in” phase was developed. The research at hand proposes a generalizable success model for mobile apps with a focus on first-year students, which is based on theIS success model(Delone and McLean in Inf Syst Res 3(1):60–95, 1992) and analyzes those factors that influence student satisfaction with such an app, the intention to reuse the app, and—foremost—students’ learning effectiveness. The results indicate that learning effectiveness is determined both by the perceived user satisfaction and users’ intention to reuse, which are particularly influenced by perceived enjoyment but also system and information quality. Finally, design principles are derived to develop similar mobile solutions.
Quantifying quality of class-conditional generative models in time series domain
Authors: Koochali Alireza , Walch Maria , Thota Sankrutyayan , Schichtel Peter , Dengel Andreas , Ahmed Sheraz
Published: July 2023

Despite recent breakthroughs in the domain of implicit generative models, the task of evaluating these models remains a challenging task. With no single metric to assess overall performance, various existing metrics only offer partial information. This issue is further compounded for unintuitive data types such as time series, where manual inspection is infeasible. This deficiency hinders the confident application of modern implicit generative models on time series data. To alleviate this problem, we propose two new metrics, the InceptionTime Score (ITS) and the Fréchet InceptionTime Distance (FITD), to assess the quality of class-conditional generative models on time series data. We conduct extensive experiments on 80 different datasets to study the discriminative capabilities of proposed metrics alongside two existing evaluation metrics: Train on Synthetic Test on Real (TSTR) and Train on Real Test on Synthetic (TRTS). Our evaluations reveal that the proposed assessment evaluation metrics, i.e., ITS and FITD in combination with TSTR, can accurately assess class-conditional generative model performance and detect common issues in implicit generative models. Our findings suggest that the proposed evaluation framework can be a valuable tool for confidently applying modern implicit generative models in time series analysis.
Experimental Investigation into the Drag Performance of Chevron-Shaped Protrusions in Wall-Bounded Turbulence
Authors: Carrasco Grau Julio , van Campenhout Olaf W. G. , Hartog Friso H. , van Nesselrooij Michiel , Baars Woutijn J. , Schrijer Ferdinand F. J.
Published: July 2023

Chevron-shaped protrusions have been proposed in the literature for turbulent skin friction reduction. However, there is no consensus on the performance of this passive flow control technique; both an increase and a decrease in drag have been observed in previous studies. There is also no experimental evidence to support the working mechanism behind the drag reduction effect that has been postulated in the literature. In this study, direct force measurements were used to replicate experiments from the literature and, in addition, were used to test new array configurations to characterise the effect of individual design parameters on drag performance. A total of 23 different protrusion configurations were investigated in a turbulent boundary layer flow. In addition to the integral force measurements, particle image velocimetry was used to measure wall-parallel velocity fields in order to extract the statistical sizing and energy of the near-wall cycle turbulence. All configurations increased the drag between 2% and 10% for a friction Reynolds number of 1700. The drag reduction reported in the literature could not be replicated; however, these findings agreed with an experimental and numerical study that reported drag increase. The trend observed in the low-speed streak spacing from the PIV experiments was consistent with that observed in the balance data. Nevertheless, no evidence was found to support the working mechanism proposed in the literature. These results cast doubt on the proposed drag reduction potential of chevron-shaped protrusions. In the authors’ view, the results of this study strengthen previous conclusions regarding their minor increase in drag. Future studies to further approach a consensus are proposed.
Electrohydrodynamic convection instabilities observed in suspensions of cellulose nanocrystals
Authors: Frka-Petesic Bruno , Jean Bruno , Heux Laurent
Published: July 2023

Cellulose nanocrystals are slender, negatively charged nanoparticles that spontaneously form a cholesteric liquid crystal in aqueous suspension above a critical concentration. When they are suspended in apolar solvents such as toluene using surfactants, the application of an AC electric field leads to the reorientation and then distortion of the cholesteric order until the cholesteric structure completely unwinds into a nematic-like order, typically above 0.4–0.6 kV/cm at 1kHz. In this work, we show that at much higher electric fields ($$\ge$$
≥
4.6 kV/cm at 1 kHz) the sample develops a periodic pattern that varies with the field amplitude. We ascribed this pattern to electrohydrodynamic convection instabilities. These instabilities usually present complex regimes varying with the field, the voltage, the frequency and the geometry. However, the typical geometry where these instabilities were most documented across the literature differs from the geometry used in this work. This work concludes with possible future experimental investigations to clarify the exact regime of instability responsible for these observations.
Global sensitivity analysis using multi-resolution polynomial chaos expansion for coupled Stokes–Darcy flow problems
Authors: Kröker Ilja , Oladyshkin Sergey , Rybak Iryna
Published: July 2023

Determination of relevant model parameters is crucial for accurate mathematical modelling and efficient numerical simulation of a wide spectrum of applications in geosciences. The conventional method of choice is the global sensitivity analysis (GSA). Unfortunately, at least the classical Monte-Carlo based GSA requires a high number of model runs. Response surfaces based techniques, e.g. arbitrary Polynomial Chaos (aPC) expansion, can reduce computational effort, however, they suffer from the Gibbs phenomena and high hardware requirements for higher accuracy. We introduce GSA for arbitrary Multi-Resolution Polynomial Chaos (aMR-PC) which is a localized aPC based data-driven polynomial discretization. The aMR-PC allows to reduce the Gibbs phenomena by construction and to achieve higher accuracy by means of localization also for lower polynomial degrees. We apply these techniques to perform the sensitivity analysis for the Stokes–Darcy problem which describes fluid flow in coupled free-flow and porous-medium systems. We consider the Stokes equations in the free-flow region, Darcy’s law in the porous-medium domain and the classical interface conditions across the fluid–porous interface including the conservation of mass, the balance of normal forces and the Beavers–Joseph condition for the tangential velocity. This coupled problem formulation contains four uncertain parameters: the exact location of the interface, the permeability, the Beavers–Joseph slip coefficient and the uncertainty in the boundary conditions. We carry out the sensitivity analysis of the coupled model with respect to these parameters using the Sobol indices on the aMR-PC expansion and conduct the corresponding numerical simulations.
Transformative education for sustainable development: A faculty perspective
Authors: O’Grady Michael
Published: July 2023

Transformative learning focuses on stimulating a radical reassessment of worldviews on the part of students. Such learning outcomes resonate with practitioners concerned with education for sustainable development. However, research on applying transformative learning within higher education for sustainable development is limited. Thus, the objective of this study is to obtain a deeper understanding of what is happening at the institutional level. The research question guiding this study asks what the experience of faculty who harness transformative learning when teaching sustainability topics is. Results indicate that the successful adoption of transformative learning in sustainability programs within higher education is realistic. Participants prioritized critical thinking and analysis as these were deemed attainable within the prevailing operational constraints. Moreover, participants were obliged to reassess their professional roles; this exercise was considered a crucial determinant of success. Their traditional role as the expert in the classroom was exchanged for one emphasizing co-learning and co-creation of knowledge. On a personal level, participants were compelled to examine their values, behaviors, and worldviews comprehensively.
Understanding the role of coronary artery revascularization in patients with left ventricular dysfunction and multivessel disease
Authors: Acerbo Vincenzo , Cesaro Arturo , Scherillo Gianmaria , Signore Giovanni , Rotolo Francesco Paolo , De Michele Gianantonio , Scialla Francesco , Raucci Giuseppe , Panico Domenico , Fimiani Fabio , Moscarella Elisabetta , Gragnano Felice , Calabrò Paolo
Published: July 2023

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common cause of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Advances and innovations in medical therapy have been shown to play a crucial role in improving the prognosis of patients with CAD and HFrEF; however, mortality rate in these patients remains high, and the role of surgical and/or percutaneous revascularization strategy is still debated. The Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure (STICH) trial and the Revascularization for Ischemic Ventricular Dysfunction (REVIVED) trial have attempted to provide an answer to this issue. Nevertheless, the results of these two trials have generated further uncertainties. Their findings do not provide a definitive answer about the ideal clinical phenotype for surgical or percutaneous coronary revascularization and dispute the historical dogma on myocardial viability and the theory of myocardial hibernation, raising new questions about the proper selection of patients who are candidates for coronary revascularization. The aim of this review is to provide an overview on the actual available evidence of coronary artery revascularization in patients with CAD and left ventricular dysfunction and to suggest new insights on the proper selection and management strategies in this high-risk clinical setting.