bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
X-ray Insights into Fluid Flow During Rock Failures: Nonlinear Modeling of Fluid Flow Through Fractures with Varied Roughness
Authors: Sun Huan , Long Qijian , Ye Zhenni , Liu Hao , Meng Zimin
Published: March 2024

Fluid flow and evolution mechanisms in fractured rocks are fundamental tasks in engineering fields such as geohazards prediction, geothermal resource exploitation, oil and gas exploitation, and geological sequestration of carbon dioxide. This study employed an enhanced X-ray imaging digital radiography to investigate nonlinear flow model of fluid through different roughness fractures. The X-ray images of fluid flow during rock failure were analyzed using a multi-threshold segmentation method applied to the X-ray absorption dose. The result show that a proposed nonlinear flow equation considers the joint roughness coefficient and the uniaxial compressive strength of the jointed rock, enabling a better understanding of the nonlinear flow behavior in fractured rock masses. This modeling approach has important theoretical and practical implications. By accounting for key factors influencing fluid flow behavior, it can help guide monitoring efforts to support early warning of fractured rock mass instability. Additionally, a more mechanistic understanding of flow processes may inform strategies to prevent engineering geological hazards.
Left-invariant distributions diffeomorphic to flat distributions
Authors: Golo Sebastiano Nicolussi , Ottazzi Alessandro
Published: March 2024

For a stratified groupG, we construct a class of Lie groups endowed with a left-invariant distribution locally diffeomorphic to the flat distribution ofG. Vice versa, we show that all Lie groups with a left-invariant distribution that is locally diffeomorphic to the flat distribution ofGbelong to the class we constructed, if the Lie algebra ofGhas finite Tanaka prolongation.
Arithmetic N-gram: an efficient data compression technique
Authors: Hassan Ali , Javed Sadaf , Hussain Sajjad , Ahmad Rizwan , Qazi Shams
Published: March 2024

Due to the increase in the growth of data in this era of the digital world and limited resources, there is a need for more efficient data compression techniques for storing and transmitting data. Data compression can significantly reduce the amount of storage space and transmission time to store and transmit given data. More specifically, text compression has got more attention for effectively managing and processing data due to the increased use of the internet, digital devices, data transfer, etc. Over the years, various algorithms have been used for text compression such as Huffman coding, Lempel-Ziv-Welch (LZW) coding, arithmetic coding, etc. However, these methods have a limited compression ratio specifically for data storage applications where a considerable amount of data must be compressed to use storage resources efficiently. They consider individual characters to compress data. It can be more advantageous to consider words or sequences of words rather than individual characters to get a better compression ratio. Compressing individual characters results in a sizeable compressed representation due to their less repetition and structure in the data. In this paper, we proposed the ArthNgram model, in which the N-gram language model coupled with arithmetic coding is used to compress data more efficiently for data storage applications. The performance of the proposed model is evaluated based on compression ratio and compression speed. Results show that the proposed model performs better than traditional techniques.
Corneal biomechanics and diagnostics: a review﻿
Authors: Komninou Maria Angeliki , Seiler Theo G. , Enzmann Volker
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Corneal biomechanics is an emerging field and the interest into physical and biological interrelations in the anterior part of the eye has significantly increased during the past years. There are many factors that determine corneal biomechanics such as hormonal fluctuations, hydration and environmental factors. Other factors that can affect the corneas are the age, the intraocular pressure and the central corneal thickness. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the factors affecting corneal biomechanics and the recent advancements in non-destructive, in vivo measurement techniques for early detection and improved management of corneal diseases.

Methods

Until recently, corneal biomechanics could not be directly assessed in humans and were instead inferred from geometrical cornea analysis and ex vivo biomechanical testing. The current research has made strides in studying and creating non-destructive and contactless techniques to measure the biomechanical properties of the cornea in vivo.

Results

Research has indicated that altered corneal biomechanics contribute to diseases such as keratoconus and glaucoma. The identification of pathological corneas through the new measurement techniques is imperative for preventing postoperative complications.

Conclusions

Identification of pathological corneas is crucial for the prevention of postoperative complications. Therefore, a better understanding of corneal biomechanics will lead to earlier diagnosis of ectatic disorders, improve current refractive surgeries and allow for a better postoperative treatment.
Complexity of Chemical Emissions Increases Concurrently with Sexual Maturity in Heliconius Butterflies
Authors: Cama Bruna , Heaton Karl , Thomas-Oates Jane , Schulz Stefan , Dasmahapatra Kanchon K.
Published: March 2024

Pheromone communication is widespread among animals. Since it is often involved in mate choice, pheromone production is often tightly controlled. Although male sex pheromones (MSPs) and anti-aphrodisiacs have been studied in some Heliconius butterfly species, little is known about the factors affecting their production and release in these long-lived butterflies. Here, we investigate the effect of post-eclosion age on chemical blends from pheromone-emitting tissues in Heliconius atthis and Heliconius charithonia, exhibiting respectively free-mating and pupal-mating strategies that are hypothesised to differently affect the timing of their pheromone emissions. We focus on two different tissues: the wing androconia, responsible for MSPs used in courtship, and the genital tip, the production site for anti-aphrodisiac pheromones that affect post-mating behaviour. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometric analysis of tissue extracts from virgin males and females of both species from day 0 to 8 post-eclosion demonstrates the following. Some ubiquitous fatty acid precursors are already detectable at day 0. The complexity of the chemical blends increases with age regardless of tissue or sex. No obvious difference in the time course of blend production was evident between the two species, but female tissues in H. charithonia were more affected by age than in H. atthis. We suggest that compounds unique to male androconia and genitals and whose amount increases with age are potential candidates for future investigation into their roles as pheromones. While this analysis revealed some of the complexity in Heliconius chemical ecology, the effects of other factors, such as the time of day, remain unknown.
Causes, consequences and health impacts of gentrification in the Global North: a conceptual framework
Authors: Cole Helen V. S. , Vásquez-Vera Hugo , Triguero-Mas Margarita , Sánchez Anna Fernández , Oliveras Laura , Carrere Juli , Aviñó Constanza Jacques , Mehdipanah Roshanak
Published: March 2024

We aimed to create a theoretical framework to understand how neighborhood gentrification may impact urban health and health equity, taking into account perspectives and evidence from multiple disciplines. In addition to reviewing the literature and harnessing our own experience and expertise, we elicited input from researchers, activists and professionals from multiple fields using an eDelphi process, determined the agreements and disagreements between respondents on the causes, consequences, and health impacts of gentrification. Respondents agreed that neighborhood gentrification has important implications for mental health and on many of the causes and consequences of gentrification but reached less agreement on the pathways by which gentrification may affect health and the specific health outcomes that may be affected. Finally, we generated an evidence-informed conceptual framework taking into account the input from the eDelphi process. Here we present this conceptual framework for understanding the relationship between gentrification and health and discuss a future research agenda for this emerging theme in public health research.
Handling Sudoku puzzles with irregular learning cellular automata
Authors: Chatzinikolaou Theodoros Panagiotis , Karamani Rafailia-Eleni , Fyrigos Iosif-Angelos , Sirakoulis Georgios Ch.
Published: March 2024

The use of Cellular Automata (CA) in combination with Learning Automata (LA) has demonstrated effectiveness in handling hard-to-be-solved problems. Due to their capacity to learn and adapt, as well as their inherent parallelism, they can expedite the problem-solving process for a range of problems, such as challenging logic puzzles. One such puzzle is Sudoku, which poses a combinatorial optimization challenge of great difficulty and complexity. In this study, a Sudoku puzzle was represented as an Irregular Learning Cellular Automaton (ILCA), using a reward and penalty algorithm to resolve it. Simulations for an amount of 400 puzzles were performed, while the results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm operates effectively, highlighting the concurrent and learning capabilities of the ILCA structure. Furthermore, two different performance enhancement methods are investigated, namely learning rates method and selective probability reset rule, which are able to increase the initial performance by $$26.8\%$$

26.8
%

and to achieve an overall $$99.3\%$$

99.3
%

resolution rate.
Remimazolam Attenuates LPS-Derived Cognitive Dysfunction via Subdiaphragmatic Vagus Nerve Target α7nAChR-Mediated Nrf2/HO-1 Signal Pathway
Authors: Zhou Zhan , Yang Ying , Wei Yi , Xie Yubo
Published: March 2024

Sepsis-induced neuroinflammation is significantly associated with sepsis-related brain dysfunction. Remimazolam is a novel ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine anesthetic with multiple organ protective effects. However, it is unknown whether remimazolam can ameliorate LPS-induced brain impairment. In this study, Lipopolysaccharide (5 mg/kg, LPS) severely impaired Sprague-Dawley rats spatial learning ability, memory, and cognitive function. However, remimazolam treatment showed a protective effect on LPS-induced cognitive dysfunction. Remimazolam partly reversed LPS-induced splenomegaly, decreased serum cytokine expression, suppressed hippocampal M1 microglial activation, and mitigated oxidative stress injury and neuroinflammation. Electroacupuncture (EA) or PNU282987 treatment improved LPS-induced cognitive dysfunction and also significantly inhibited neuroinflammation and systemic inflammation. However, MLA, ML385, or subdiaphragmatic vagus nerve (SDV) treatment abolished the protective effects of remimazolam. Further mechanistic studies showed that remimazolam induces protective effects by activating subdiaphragmatic vagus nerve target α7nAChR-mediated Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. These results demonstrate that remimazolam can up-regulate α7nAChR, Cyto-Nrf2, HO-1, and cognitive-related (CREB, BDNF, PSD95) protein expressions, suppress M1 microglia, ameliorate neuroinflammation or systemic inflammation, and reverse cognitive dysfunction. Therefore, this study provides insight into a new therapeutic target for the treatment of sepsis-induced cerebral dysfunction.

Graphical Abstract
Disaster risk management, climate change adaptation and the role of spatial and urban planning: evidence from European case studies
Authors: Farinós-Dasí Joaquín , Pinazo-Dallenbach Pablo , Peiró Sánchez-Manjavacas Enrique , Rodríguez-Bernal Diana Catalina
Published: March 2024

This paper advances knowledge and understanding of the relationships between risk management, climate change adaptation and spatial planning as good territorial governance practices. The aim is to present evidence on how risks and their management are progressively being integrated into national planning systems in order to reduce territorial vulnerability and costs related to natural events in the European context. This paper is based on the ESPON-TITAN project which focuses mainly on flood events that occurred in Rotterdam, Prague, the Po river basin, Pori, Andalucia, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Dresden and the Alpine region. The paper reviews the literature and planning instruments applied in the selected case studies, as well as interviews with key stakeholders and decision makers. The results confirm the hypothesis that traditional disaster management is evolving towards Disaster Risk Management, clearly recognizing that Climate Change modifies and increases threats. Data on the consequences of natural disasters support the desirability of a proactive rather than a reactive approach, highlighting the crucial role of planning. The resulting governance is more "functional" than "territorial", leaving room for further advances and innovations such as territorial and multi-risk perspective, partnerships and civil society participation, and soft versus traditional hard or engineering solutions.
Testing the predictive ability of a karst subsidence susceptibility map made thirty years ago in the central Ebro Basin (Zaragoza, Spain)
Authors: Gracia-Abadías Javier , Simón José L. , Soriano M. Asunción , Salvador Tomás
Published: March 2024

Karst subsidence has caused damage in numerous buildings and infrastructures in the surroundings of Zaragoza city since the early 1970s, when rapid urbanization of the area begun. A detailed survey carried out in 1991 allowed recognizing and mapping damages in an industrial district, and elaborating a susceptibility or spatial hazard map based on (i) the observed presence of active alluvial dolines, and (ii) spatial distribution of factors controlling their development, according to a hazard model based on both spatial analysis and laboratory experimental simulation. The predictive ability of such spatial hazard map is now tested, thirty years later, by a new detailed field survey carried out in 2021 covering almost the same area. The results allow mapping of the total present-day damage and, using GIS tools, also a residual map of areas newly damaged since 1991. After comparing those maps with the hazard zonation proposed in 1991, we conclude that: (i) the predictive ability of the latter is good in overall; (ii) the areas of highest subsidence hazard have a probability in the range of 19–38% of suffering damage over a 30-year period, while this probability systematically decreases up to about 7% for the lowest hazard areas; (iii) the average rate of occurrence of new damage within the overall study zone has remained quite uniform around 0.5% in area per year. Incorporating such calculations of temporal probability of occurrence associated to each hazard category allows the original susceptibility map to approach a hazard s.s. map, providing annual probabilities of occurrence between ~ 0.6 to 1.3% and ~ 0.3% for the distinct hazard zones.
Arginine inhibits the arginine biosynthesis rate-limiting enzyme and leads to the accumulation of intracellular aspartate in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803
Authors: Katayama Noriaki , Osanai Takashi
Published: March 2024

Cyanobacteria are oxygen-evolving photosynthetic prokaryotes that affect the global carbon and nitrogen turnover. Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (Synechocystis 6803) is a model cyanobacterium that has been widely studied and can utilize and uptake various nitrogen sources and amino acids from the outer environment and media. l-arginine is a nitrogen-rich amino acid used as a nitrogen reservoir in Synechocystis 6803, and its biosynthesis is strictly regulated by feedback inhibition. Argininosuccinate synthetase (ArgG; EC 6.3.4.5) is the rate-limiting enzyme in arginine biosynthesis and catalyzes the condensation of citrulline and aspartate using ATP to produce argininosuccinate, which is converted to l-arginine and fumarate through argininosuccinate lyase (ArgH). We performed a biochemical analysis of Synechocystis 6803 ArgG (SyArgG) and obtained a Synechocystis 6803 mutant overexpressing SyArgG and ArgH of Synechocystis 6803 (SyArgH). The specific activity of SyArgG was lower than that of other arginine biosynthesis enzymes and SyArgG was inhibited by arginine, especially among amino acids and organic acids. Both arginine biosynthesis enzyme-overexpressing strains grew faster than the wild-type Synechocystis 6803. Based on previous reports and our results, we suggest that SyArgG is the rate-limiting enzyme in the arginine biosynthesis pathway in cyanobacteria and that arginine biosynthesis enzymes are similarly regulated by arginine in this cyanobacterium. Our results contribute to elucidating the regulation of arginine biosynthesis during nitrogen metabolism.
From Text to Meaning: Unpacking the Semiotics of Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights
Authors: Baldi Giorgia
Published: March 2024

Through an analysis of the European Court of Human Rights’ decisions concerning the practice of veiling, this article problematises the semiotics-architectural structure of article 9 of the European Convention of Human Rights (Freedom of thought, conscience and religion), questioning which representation of the human and the female subject is recognised and therefore protected by secular/liberal and Human Rights law. It argues that the semiotics-architectural structure of article 9, which is based on the distinction between faith and its manifestation, not only relies on a particular ontological understanding of the religious subject as well as a specific notion of religion, but it also reveals a distinct relationship between the individual and sovereign power through the division between the public and the private spheres. In light of this, the western debate surrounding the women’s veiling overlooks how liberal secularism perceives and defines the religious and legal gendered subject in the modern world, and how this understanding is embedded in and reproduced through the law, which emerges as an instrument for regulating minority religious communities.
Enhancing big data analytics deployment: uncovering stakeholder dynamics and balancing salience in project roles
Authors: Jensen Maria Hoffmann , Kadenic Maja Due
Published: March 2024

Deployment constitutes a pivotal aspect of data science projects, such as big data analytics (BDA). A comprehensive definition of successful deployment necessitates the integration of perspectives from both the project stakeholders and the end-users. However, adequate consideration of project stakeholders remains notably absent within the broader view of project deployment. This paper investigates the role of stakeholders in the deployment of BDA projects by applying an ethnographic research design throughout a 12-month period within a large multinational organization. The study employs critical systems heuristics concepts to identify stakeholder roles, which are subsequently classified and analyzed according to the salience model. The empirical findings point towards the missing link between the technical and the business aspects of a BDA project. The organizational function and product management, (capable of comprehending both the technical and business dimensions) must undertake a highly salient stakeholder role to effectively guide the project toward the successful deployment. Additionally, this role will be able to identify the exact beneficiaries, thus enabling them to increase their salience and their interests to resonate across the spectrum of project stakeholders. This study advances the knowledge and understanding of BDA deployment through the lens of a stakeholder perspective and systems thinking. It uncovers the necessary resources by mapping the social roles of a project and assessing their salience. Balancing role-based salience contributes to successful BDA project deployment.
Lowering the cost of quantum comparator circuits
Authors: Donaire Laura M. , Ortega Gloria , Garzón Ester M. , Orts Francisco
Published: March 2024

Quantum comparators hold substantial significance in the scientific community as fundamental components in a wide array of algorithms. In this research, we present an innovative approach where we explore the realm of comparator circuits, specifically focussing on three distinct circuit designs present in the literature. These circuits are notable for their use of T-gates, which have gained significant attention in circuit design due to their ability to enable the utilisation of error-correcting codes. However, it is important to note that T-gates come at a considerable computational cost. One of the key contributions of our work is the optimisation of the quantum gates used within these circuits. We articulate the proposed circuits employing Clifford+T gates, facilitating error correction code implementation. Additionally, we minimise T-gate usage, thereby reducing computational costs and fortifying circuit robustness against errors and environmental disturbances-essential for mitigating the effects of internal and external noise. Our methodology employs a bottom-up examination of comparator circuits, initiating with a detailed study of their gates. Subsequently, we systematically dissect the functions of these gates, thereby advancing towards a comprehensive understanding of the circuit’s overall functionality. This meticulous examination forms the foundation of our research, enabling us to identify areas where optimisations can be made to improve their performance.
Inquiry, reasoning and the normativity of logic
Authors: van Remmen Maximilian
Published: March 2024

According to the traditional view in the philosophy of logic facts of logic bear normative authority regarding how one ought to reason. Usually this is to mean that the relation of logical consequence between statements has some special relevance for how one’s beliefs should cohere. However, as I will argue in this article, this is just one way in which logic is normative for reasoning. For one thing, belief is not the only kind of mental state involved in reasoning. Besides adopting and revising beliefs, rational agents pose and resolve questions. For another thing, the consequence relation of classical logic can be conservatively extended such that it includes logical relations between questions as well. Therefore, there is an argument to be made that not only the inference of new beliefs from extant beliefs but also the process of raising additional questions falls under the normative authority of logic. Accordingly, a nuanced account of the normativity of logic presents itself, which convincingly deals with problems such as clutter-avoidance and the paradox of the preface.
One-Shot Neural Face Reenactment via Finding Directions in GAN’s Latent Space
Authors: Bounareli Stella , Tzelepis Christos , Argyriou Vasileios , Patras Ioannis , Tzimiropoulos Georgios
Published: March 2024

In this paper, we present our framework for neural face/head reenactment whose goal is to transfer the 3D head orientation and expression of a target face to a source face. Previous methods focus on learning embedding networks for identity and head pose/expression disentanglement which proves to be a rather hard task, degrading the quality of the generated images. We take a different approach, bypassing the training of such networks, by using (fine-tuned) pre-trained GANs which have been shown capable of producing high-quality facial images. Because GANs are characterized by weak controllability, the core of our approach is a method to discover which directions in latent GAN space are responsible for controlling head pose and expression variations. We present a simple pipeline to learn such directions with the aid of a 3D shape model which, by construction, inherently captures disentangled directions for head pose, identity, and expression. Moreover, we show that by embedding real images in the GAN latent space, our method can be successfully used for the reenactment of real-world faces. Our method features several favorable properties including using a single source image (one-shot) and enabling cross-person reenactment. Extensive qualitative and quantitative results show that our approach typically produces reenacted faces of notably higher quality than those produced by state-of-the-art methods for the standard benchmarks of VoxCeleb1 & 2.
Quality methods in virtual and augmented reality with a focus on education: a systematic literature review
Authors: Karcher Amelie , Arnold Dominik , Kuhlenkötter Bernd
Published: March 2024

With the goal of developing a unified approach for implementation of training for quality methods—with the help of innovative assistance systems—the current state of research is determined within the scope of this work. These quality methods include Quality Management Systems such as Lean Management and Six Sigma. A systematic literature search is conducted to determine the current state of research on Augmented and Virtual Reality data glasses, which are considered here as innovative assistance systems. This search extends without restriction to the date of data collection at the beginning of the year 2022, as Augmented and Virtual Reality data glasses are considered to be particularly immersive technologies. Based on the databases Scopus and Web of Science, an extended systematic literature review was used for the research. By answering the research question and classifying the implemented research work, an overview of the current state of virtual and augmented reality research will be given. This makes it clear that further research is needed, especially with regard to the training of quality methods, to develop specific models and action guidelines.
Efficient numerical implementation of limit equilibrium method for stability analysis of unsaturated soil slopes using Gaussian integral
Authors: Ouyang Weihang , Liu Siwei , Liu Kai , Yin Jianhua
Published: March 2024

Unsaturated soil is widely distributed around the world but less considered in design due to the absence of a convenient analysis method in practice. The Morgenstern–Price (MP) method incorporating the extended Mohr–Coulomb shear strength equation provides a reliable approach to evaluate slope stability in such conditions. However, this method is time-consuming due to the need for a tedious trial-and-error process in determining the scaling factor, which involves complex iterations during each trial. Furthermore, since the relatively complicated nature of unsaturated soil, a dense slice division is necessary to obtain reliable results, making the analysis even more cumbersome. In this paper, an improved MP method for unsaturated soil slope stability analysis is presented, which eliminates the need for a dense slice mesh by employing only a few strategically placed Gauss points along the slip surface. Moreover, the trial-and-error process for determining the scaling factor with the corresponding complex iterations is replaced by an efficient search algorithm with a more concise iteration process, resulting in a more convenient implementation of the proposed method. Extensive examples are provided to validate the effectiveness of the proposed improved MP method, indicating its potential as an accurate and efficient analysis method for unsaturated soil slopes in practical application and relative study involving repetitive analyses.
Cross-sectional angle prediction of lipid-rich and calcified tissue on computed tomography angiography images
Authors: Zhang Xiaotong , Broersen Alexander , Sokooti Hessam , Ramasamy Anantharaman , Kitslaar Pieter , Parasa Ramya , Karaduman Medeni , Mohammed Amear Souded Ali Jan , Bourantas Christos V. , Dijkstra Jouke
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The assessment of vulnerable plaque characteristics and distribution is important to stratify cardiovascular risk in a patient. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) offers a promising alternative to invasive imaging but is limited by the fact that the range of Hounsfield units (HU) in lipid-rich areas overlaps with the HU range in fibrotic tissue and that the HU range of calcified plaques overlaps with the contrast within the contrast-filled lumen. This paper is to investigate whether lipid-rich and calcified plaques can be detected more accurately on cross-sectional CTA images using deep learning methodology.

Methods

Two deep learning (DL) approaches are proposed, a 2.5D Dense U-Net and 2.5D Mask-RCNN, which separately perform the cross-sectional plaque detection in the Cartesian and polar domain. The spread-out view is used to evaluate and show the prediction result of the plaque regions. The accuracy and F1-score are calculated on a lesion level for the DL and conventional plaque detection methods.

Results

For the lipid-rich plaques, the median and mean values of the F1-score calculated by the two proposed DL methods on 91 lesions were approximately 6 and 3 times higher than those of the conventional method. For the calcified plaques, the F1-score of the proposed methods was comparable to those of the conventional method. The median F1-score of the Dense U-Net-based method was 3% higher than that of the conventional method.

Conclusion

The two methods proposed in this paper contribute to finer cross-sectional predictions of lipid-rich and calcified plaques compared to studies focusing only on longitudinal prediction. The angular prediction performance of the proposed methods outperforms the convincing conventional method for lipid-rich plaque and is comparable for calcified plaque.
Empowering citizens for the energy transition: facilitating role change through real-world experiments
Authors: Trenks Helena , Bögel Paula Maria
Published: March 2024

Empowering citizens to take on new, more active roles is a central element in a successful energy transition. Yet, models that allow direct involvement and prosumer practices on the part of individuals are still not widely implemented. Real-world labs offer a supportive environment for citizens to experiment with new roles, allowing them to test transition processes within a protected niche. This study investigates the development of an empowering role change in the context of the real-world experiment “Your Balcony Network—Energy Creates Community”. The experiment serves as a case study to offer a better understanding of how real-world labs can support citizens toward an empowering role change that actively and positively affects the energy transition. In a mixed-method, longitudinal study, we first identify indicators of citizens’ role change in the energy transition and analyze their development in the course of the experiment’s first year. Second, we studied the role-changing process, identifying key mechanisms of change and contextual factors that accompanied and supported the role-changing process. Building on the “Embedded Agency Perspective” as our analytical framework, we applied a process perspective, empirically investigating how participants’ roles changed through taking part in the experiment. Our findings support the conclusion that real-world experiments can foster empowering role change among citizens, especially emphasizing the importance of real-world labs as places for experimentation, learning by experience, and networking. The study thus also contributes to the discourse about the impact of real-world labs.
Daytime sleepiness in patients with untreated restless legs syndrome
Authors: Eich Anna-Lena , Ottersbach Julia , Geisler Peter , Hajak Göran , Wetter Thomas C , Popp Roland F. J.
Published: March 2024

Background

Restless legs syndrome (RLS), a disorder characterized by an urge to move one’s legs during sleep or rest, leads to impaired sleep quality. Many patients with RLS report increased daytime sleepiness, but this has seldom been the focus of clinical research. The current study empirically investigated the prevalence and severity of daytime sleepiness in RLS.

Methods

This prospective study included 29 newly diagnosed treatment-naïve patients with RLS and 31 healthy controls and assessed standardized subjective (tiredness symptom scale [TSS], Stanford Sleepiness Scale [SSS], Epworth Sleepiness Scale [ESS]), cognitive (psychomotor vigilance task [PVT], Mackworth Clock Test [MCT]), and physiological measures (pupillary unrest index [PUI]). RLS symptom severity was assessed, and the effects of RLS on general health aspects and subjective sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) were compared to control data.

Results

Patients had moderate to severe RLS with significant negative effects on general health, quality of life, and sleep quality. Patients with RLS showed more subjective daytime sleepiness (ESS) and current sleepiness (TSS, SSS) than controls. The objective performance of patients in sustained attention tasks (P VT, MCT) was significantly worse than that of controls. Additionally, patients showed higher PUI scores.

Conclusion

In the present study, RLS was associated with markedly impaired subjective sleep quality and with subjectively and objectively increased daytime sleepiness. Since daytime sleepiness can be a major factor leading to compromised quality of life, assessing and treating sleepiness should be incorporated into standard diagnostics and treatment.
Update on Dosing and Fractionation for Neoadjuvant Radiotherapy for Localized Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Authors: Roohani Siyer , Wiltink Lisette M. , Kaul David , Spałek Mateusz Jacek , Haas Rick L.
Published: March 2024

Opinion statement

Neoadjuvant radiotherapy (RT) over 5–6 weeks with daily doses of 1.8–2.0 Gy to a total dose of 50–50.4 Gy is standard of care for localized high-grade soft tissue sarcomas (STS) of the extremities and trunk wall. One exception is myxoid liposarcomas where the phase II DOREMY trial applying a preoperative dose of 36 Gy in 2 Gy fractions (3–4 weeks treatment) has achieved excellent local control rates of 100% after a median follow-up of 25 months.

Hypofractionated preoperative RT has been investigated in a number of phase II single-arm studies suggesting that daily doses of 2.75–8 Gy over 1–3 weeks can achieve similar oncological outcomes to conventional neoadjuvant RT. Prospective data with direct head-to-head comparison to conventional neoadjuvant RT investigating oncological outcomes and toxicity profiles is eagerly awaited.

For the entire group of retroperitoneal sarcomas, RT is not the standard of care. The randomized multi-center STRASS trial did not find a benefit in abdominal recurrence-free survival by the addition of preoperative RT. However, for the largest histological subgroup of well-differentiated and grades I and II dedifferentiated liposarcomas, the STRASS trial and the post-hoc propensity-matched STREXIT analysis have identified a possible benefit in survival by preoperative RT. These patients deserve to be informed about the pros and cons of preoperative RT while the longer follow-up data from the STRASS trial is awaited.
On the Psychodynamics of Wearing a Headscarf Among Young Muslim Women Living in Germany—New Heterogeneous Poles of Subjectivity
Authors: Barth Lena , Wacker Kostja , Yurddas Necip , Kaiser Paul , Tuncel-Langbehn Gonca , Ruettner Barbara , Goetzmann Lutz
Published: March 2024

The wearing of a headscarf and the veiling especially of the female face or the whole body is a universal phenomenon that occurs in different eras and in different regions and cultures. Today, wearing a headscarf has become a symbol of Islam, especially in Western countries, and is often met with Islamophobic rejection. In our study, using a qualitative interview, we questioned 25 young Muslim women of Turkish origin (between 18 and 25 years old, n = 25) living in Germany about their reasons for wearing or not wearing a headscarf and their experiences on account of this decision. The majority (n = 16) of the predominantly academically educated female participants do not wear a headscarf, primarily for reasons of female attractiveness, an internalized religiosity, and as an expression of the disintegration of the family hierarchy. All female respondents (n = 7) from families with divorced parents do not wear headscarves, while for the other female respondents (n = 9) who do not wear headscarves, the family seems to have a more liberal mindset. Reasons for wearing a headscarf are especially a religious attachment to Islam, fashionable self-confidence, and the wish to combine Western emancipation with the traditional dress code (in the form of a hybrid identity). These findings are considered against the background of a psychoanalytic reading of the Quranic suras on veiling (according to F. Benslama) and the Lacanian dialectic of the imaginary and symbolic phallus. The diversity of personal reasons can be described with the concept of a heterogeneous subjectivity, which arises from the clash of Western secular and Turkish-Islamic notions.
Flare phenomenon visualized by 99mTc-bone scintigraphy has prognostic value for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer
Authors: Zhang Xue , Nakajima Kenichi , Mizokami Atsushi , Horikoshi Hiroyuki , Nishimoto Koshiro , Hashine Katsuyoshi , Matsuyama Hideyasu , Takahashi Satoru , Wakabayashi Hiroshi , Kinuya Seigo
Published: March 2024

Objective

This study aimed to determine the prognostic value of the flare phenomenon in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) using the bone scan index (BSI) derived from 99mTc-methylenediphosphonate (MDP) bone scintigraphy images.

Methods

We categorized 72 patients from the PROSTAT-BSI registry with mCRPC who were followed-up for 2 years after starting docetaxel chemotherapy to groups based on pre-chemotherapy BSI values of < 1, 1–4, and > 4. We assessed the effects of the flare phenomenon (defined as a > 10% increase in the BSI within 3 months of starting chemotherapy, followed by > 10% improvement within the next 3 months) on survival using Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox proportional hazard analyses.

Results

The flare phenomenon was found in 26 (36%) of the 72 patients. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and hemoglobin (Hb) levels steadily increased, then deteriorated in patients with and without flare, respectively. Elevated BSI and PSA values at 3 months after starting therapy and the absence of abiraterone or/and enzalutamide therapy led to poor 2-year overall survival (OS) in the group without flare. In contrast, no influence was noticeable in the group with flare. The results of multivariable analyses that included only factors associated with PSA and BSI showed that increased baseline BSI (hazard ratio [HR], 1.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04–1.86; P = 0.023) and PSA (HR, 7.15; 95% CI 2.13–24.04; P = 0.0015) values could be independent risk factors for patients with mCRPC without flare. However, these factors lost significance during flare. The risk for all-cause death was significantly higher among patients with BSI > 4 without, than with flare. The results of univariable analyses indicated that flare positively impacted survival (HR, 0.24; 95% CI 0.06‒0.91; P = 0.035). Multivariable analysis did not identify any factors that could predict outcomes.

Conclusion

Favorable prognosis, with fewer disturbances from other factors such as the use of abiraterone or/and enzalutamide, PSA changes, and BSI, was attainable in cases when the mCRPC patient demonstrated flare phenomenon. Follow-up bone scintigraphy at least every 3 months could help to determine the prognosis of patients with bone metastasis of mCRPC.
Influence of the Keystone Grazer, Sesarma reticulatum, on the Hydrology and Organic Matter Cycling in Salt Marshes of the Southeastern USA
Authors: Morrison Elise S. , Bianchi Thomas S. , Kenney William F. , Brenner Mark , Prince Kimberly , Williams Sydney , Ortals Collin , Cordero Orlando , Crotty Sinéad M. , Angelini Christine
Published: March 2024

In salt marshes of the Southeastern USA, purple marsh crabs (Sesarma reticulatum), hereafter Sesarma, aggregate in grazing and burrowing fronts at the heads of tidal creeks, accelerating creek incision into marsh platforms. We explored the effects of this keystone grazer and sediment engineer on salt marsh sediment accumulation, hydrology, and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) turnover using radionuclides (210Pb and 7Be), total hydrolyzable amino acids (THAA), and C and N stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) in sediment from paired Sesarma-grazed and un-grazed creeks. Sesarma-grazed-creek sediments exhibited greater bioturbation and tidal inundation compared to sediments in un-grazed creeks, as indicated by larger 210Pb and 7Be inventories. Total organic carbon (TOC) to total nitrogen (TN) weight ratios (C:N) were higher and δ15N values were lower in grazed-creek sediments than in un-grazed-creek sediments, suggesting Sesarma remove and assimilate N in their tissues, and excrete N with lower δ15N values into sediments. In support of this inference, the percent total carbon (TC) and percent TOC declined by nearly half, percent TN decreased by ~ 80%, and the C:N ratio exhibited a ~ threefold increase between Sesarma fore-gut and hind-gut contents. An estimated 91% of Sesarma’s diet was derived from Spartina alterniflora, the region’s dominant salt marsh plant. We found that, as Sesarma grazing fronts progress across marsh landscapes, they enhance the decay of Spartina-derived organic matter and prolong marsh tidal inundation. These findings highlight the need to better account for the effects of keystone grazers and sediment engineers, like Sesarma, in estimates of the stability and size of blue C stores in coastal wetlands.
Point-of-Care Capillary Compared to Venous Bilirubin Measurement in Neonates
Authors: Rallis Dimitrios , Baltogianni Maria , Maragoudaki Elena , Tseklazi Paschalina , Kapetaniou Konstantina , Giapros Vasileios
Published: March 2024

We aimed to evaluate the agreement between the point-of-care (POC) capillary bilirubin measurement with POC venous samples and the reference laboratory measurement. We conducted a prospective comparative study, including neonates  ≥ 34 weeks of gestational age, and ≥ 72 h of age. The agreement between POC (Calmark Neo-Bilirubin, Sommargatan, Karlstad, Sweden) capillary, POC venous, and laboratory venous bilirubin was examined with the Bland–Altman plot and the Passing-Bablok regression analyses. The mean bilirubin was 13.54 (2.79) mg/dL in the POC capillary samples, 13.45 (2.69) mg/dL in the POC venous samples, and 12.68 (2.33) mg/dL in reference samples. Bland–Altman plots showed optimal agreement between the POC capillary and venous methods, and with the reference venous method. The bias between the POC capillary and venous methods was 0.094 [levels of agreement (− 3.118)− 3.306], between the POC capillary and the reference venous methods 0.865 [levels of agreement (− 2.283)− 4.014], and between the POC venous and the reference venous methods 0.771 [levels of agreement (− 1.814)− 3.357]. The POC capillary and venous bilirubin levels were in optimal agreement with each other, and with the reference venous measurements, supporting the POC Calmark Neo-Bilirubin capillary measurement as an alternative for a less-invasive, more rapid evaluation of bilirubin.
Scoping review of kindergarten research involving the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) in Mainland China
Authors: Gao Xiaozi , Li Echo , Bautista Alfredo , Lee Kerry , Sun Jin
Published: March 2024

Like many countries, Mainland China is committed to improving process quality in kindergartens (children aged 3 to 6), specifically the quality of teacher–child interactions. The Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS; Pianta, 2008, in Classroom Assessment Scoring System™: Manual K-3, Paul H Brookes Publishing, Baltimore) is a widely used tool to assess and potentially improve interactional quality. While CLASS has been increasingly used by researchers in China, much of the literature has been published in the Chinese language and, thus, is inaccessible to international readers. To overcome this barrier, this scoping review analyzes existing empirical research involving CLASS in Chinese kindergartens. Publications in English and Chinese were considered. Fifty-five peer-reviewed articles published between 2008 and 2023 were included. Most studies were conducted in public kindergartens in urban areas and developed regions of China, adopting quantitative research designs with relatively small sample sizes. We identified six different types of research purposes. Many of the available studies did not follow established CLASS procedures. We conclude that the evidence available for enhancing teacher–child interactional quality and supporting policy reforms in China remains somewhat weak. We encourage Chinese researchers and policymakers to implement CLASS in large-scale teacher performance evaluations and professional development studies.
New Oscillation Criteria for Higher Order Nonlinear Dynamic Equations
Authors: Grace Said R. , Chhatria G. N.
Published: March 2024

This paper deals with some new criteria for the oscillation of higher-order nonlinear dynamic equations with mixed deviating arguments. The purpose of the present paper is the linearization of the equation under consideration. Specifically, we will infer the oscillation of the studied equation from its linear form and establish new oscillation criteria by comparing it with first-order equations whose oscillatory behaviour is known. The obtained results are new, improve, and correlate many of the known oscillation criteria appearing in the literature. The results are illustrated by two examples.
GALNT2 targeted by miR-139-5p promotes proliferation of clear cell renal cell carcinoma via inhibition of LATS2 activation
Authors: Yi Haisheng , Liu Lingyun , Zhang Jingshun , Guo Kaimin , Cao Yin , Sun Penghao , Wang Hongliang
Published: March 2024

Polypeptide N-Acetylgalactosaminyltransferase (GALNTs) are critical enzymes that initiate mucin type-O glycosylation, and are closely associated with the occurrence and development of multiple cancers. However, the significance of GALNT2 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) progression remains largely undetermined. Based on public multi-omics analysis, GALNT2 was strongly elevated in ccRCC versus adjoining nontumor tissues, and it displayed a relationship with poor overall survival (OS) of ccRCC patients. In addition, GALNT2 over-expression accelerated proliferation of renal cancer cell (RCC) lines. In contrast, GALNT2 knockdown using shRNAs suppressed cell proliferation, and this was rescued by LATS2 knockdown. Similarly, GALNT2 deficiency enhanced p-LATS2/LATS2 expression. LATS2 is activated by phosphorylation (p-LATS2) and, in turn, phosphorylate the downstream substrate protein YAP. Phosphorylated YAP (p-YAP) stimulated its degradation and cytoplasmic retention, as it was unable to translocate to the nucleus. This resulted in reduced cell proliferation. Subsequently, we explored the upstream miRNAs of GALNT2. Using dual luciferase reporter assay, we revealed that miR-139-5p interacted with the 3ʹ UTR of GALNT2. Low miR-139-5p expression was associated with worse ccRCC patient outcome. Based on our experiments, miR-139-5p overexpression inhibited RCC proliferation, and this phenotype was rescued by GALNT2 overexpression. Given these evidences, the miR-139-5p-GALNT2-LATS2 axis is critical for RCC proliferation, and it is an excellent candidate for a new therapeutic target in ccRCC.