bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Instructional practices for secondary social studies teachers: Describing a curricular program designed to improve language, content knowledge and literacy outcomes for emergent bilinguals
Authors: Hogan Erin , Fishstrom Sarah , Andress Tim T. , Martinez Leticia , Vaughn Sharon
Published: September 2024

This article describes a curricular program for use in middle school social studies classrooms that supports the development of emergent bilinguals' language, literacy skills, and acquisition of content knowledge. The program leverages four supports found to be impactful for emergent bilinguals: 1) foregrounding content to increase students' readiness to learn language through content instruction; 2) making meaningful and relevant connections to students' cultural and linguistic backgrounds in complex disciplinary texts and activities; 3) engaging students in discussions and collaborations through heterogeneous teams that include students with a variety of linguistic proficiencies; and 4) using formative assessment to increase feedback and instructional responsiveness. The article presents illustrative examples of how these supports were embedded within a unit on ancient Greece and offers guidance on how middle school social studies teachers can incorporate supports in their units.
Temporoorbital pulse rate can be obtained in ball pythons (Python regius) of any size and age and agrees with heart rate
Authors: Ito Mio , Levitskiy Alexander A. , Di Girolamo Nicola
Published: September 2024

Background

Currently, a standardised technique to obtain pulse rate in reptiles is lacking. We evaluated the feasibility of obtaining a temporoorbital pulse rate in ball pythons of various ages and sizes and whether it agreed with the heart rate.

Methods

Heart rate and pulse rate were recorded in 40 ball pythons (Python regius) weighing between 0.05 and 2.2 kg using a standard veterinary ultrasonic Doppler flow detector. The temporoorbital pulse rate was obtained on the dorsal aspect of the head at the level of the temporoorbital artery. Each measurement was performed in a randomised fashion by two operators, who were blinded to each other's results.

Results

Pulse rate and heart rate were successfully obtained for all snakes. The median heart rate was 60 beats per minute (bpm) (range 48‒88 bpm), and the median pulse rate was 60 bpm (range 48‒88 bpm). The mean difference between the pulse rate and heart rate was 1.2 beats (95% limits of agreement: ‒10.6 to 13.0). When pulse rate and heart rate were measured at the same time, they were synchronous.

Limitations

Only healthy snakes were included.

Conclusions

Temporoorbital pulse rates can be easily obtained in ball pythons of any size. This novel method to assess peripheral pulse allows for a more complete cardiovascular evaluation in this species.
Artificial intelligence for climate prediction of extremes: State of the art, challenges, and future perspectives
Authors: Materia Stefano , García Lluís Palma , van Straaten Chiem , O Sungmin , Mamalakis Antonios , Cavicchia Leone , Coumou Dim , de Luca Paolo , Kretschmer Marlene , Donat Markus
Published: September 2024

Extreme events such as heat waves and cold spells, droughts, heavy rain, and storms are particularly challenging to predict accurately due to their rarity and chaotic nature, and because of model limitations. However, recent studies have shown that there might be systemic predictability that is not being leveraged, whose exploitation could meet the need for reliable predictions of aggregated extreme weather measures on timescales from weeks to decades ahead. Recently, numerous studies have been devoted to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to study predictability and make climate predictions. AI techniques have shown great potential to improve the prediction of extreme events and uncover their links to large‐scale and local drivers. Machine and deep learning have been explored to enhance prediction, while causal discovery and explainable AI have been tested to improve our understanding of the processes underlying predictability. Hybrid predictions combining AI, which can reveal unknown spatiotemporal connections from data, with climate models that provide the theoretical foundation and interpretability of the physical world, have shown that improving prediction skills of extremes on climate‐relevant timescales is possible. However, numerous challenges persist in various aspects, including data curation, model uncertainty, generalizability, reproducibility of methods, and workflows. This review aims at overviewing achievements and challenges in the use of AI techniques to improve the prediction of extremes at the subseasonal to decadal timescale. A few best practices are identified to increase trust in these novel techniques, and future perspectives are envisaged for further scientific development.

This article is categorized under:

Climate Models and Modeling > Knowledge Generation with Models

The Social Status of Climate Change Knowledge > Climate Science and Decision Making
The Significance of Symbolic Logic for Scientific Education
Authors: Platzer André
Published: September 2024

This invited paper is a passionate pitch for the significance of logic in scientific education. Logic helps focus on the essential core to identify the foundations of ideas and provides corresponding longevity with the resulting approach to new and old problems. Logic operates symbolically, where each part has a precise meaning and the meaning of the whole is compositional, so a simple function of the meaning of the pieces. This compositionality in the meaning of logical operators is the basis for compositionality in reasoning about logical operators. Both semantic and deductive compositionalities help explain what happens in reasoning. The correctness-critical core of an idea or an algorithm is often expressible eloquently and particularly concisely in logic. The opinions voiced in this paper are influenced by the author’s teaching of courses on cyber-physical systems, constructive logic, compiler design, programming language semantics, and imperative programming principles. In each of those courses, different aspects of logic come up for different purposes to elucidate significant ideas particularly clearly. While there is a bias of the thoughts in this paper toward computer science, some courses have been heavily frequented by students from other majors so that some transfer of the thoughts to other science and engineering disciplines is plausible.
Teaching Through Practice: Advanced Static Analysis with LiSA
Authors: Negrini Luca , Arceri Vincenzo , Olivieri Luca , Cortesi Agostino , Ferrara Pietro
Published: September 2024

Nowadays, ready-to-use libraries and code generation are often used to streamline and speed up the software development process. The resulting programs are thus a collection of different modules that cooperate: proving their safety and reliability is increasingly complex, requiring sound formal techniques, such as static program analysis. However, while teaching static analysis to master’s or PhD students, the predominant focus on theoretical concepts often leaves limited space for students to engage with the practical aspects of implementing static analyses and is limited to developing elementary ones. In this paper, we show how the infrastructure offered by LiSA can be exploited to learn how to implement advanced static analyses, such as string and relational numerical analyses, just focusing on their distinctive aspects. This would help to narrow the gap between theoretical and practical contents in static analysis courses, bringing the learning experience beyond the rudimentary implementation of static analyses to more sophisticated applications.
Inverse Design and Boundary Controllability for the Chromatography System
Authors: Coclite Giuseppe Maria , De Nitti Nicola , Donadello Carlotta , Peru Florian
Published: September 2024

We consider the prototypical example of the $$2\times 2$$

2
×
2

liquid chromatography system and characterize the set of initial data leading to a given attainable profile at $$t=T$$

t
=
T

. For profiles that are not attainable at time T, we study a non-smooth optimization problem: recovering the initial data that lead as close as possible to the target in the $$L^2$$

L
2

-norm. We then study the system on a bounded domain and use a boundary control to steer its dynamics to a given trajectory. Finally, we implement a suitable finite volumes scheme to illustrate these results and show its numerical convergence. Minor modifications of our arguments apply to the Keyfitz–Kranzer system.
Das Bardet-Biedl-Syndrom
Authors: Cetiner M. , Pape L. , König J. , Oh J. , v. Schnurbein J. , Wiegand S. , Grüters A. , Kühnen P.
Published: September 2024

Hintergrund

Das Bardet-Biedl-Syndrom (BBS) ist eine seltene Multisystemerkrankung, die durch Varianten von derzeit 26 bekannten Genen verursacht wird. Abhängig von der Ausprägung der unterschiedlichen Symptome wird die Diagnose oft erst spät gestellt. Die Versorgung der Patientinnen und Patienten erfolgt durch (pädiatrische) Endokrinologen und Nephrologen sowie Ophthalmologen. Eines der häufigsten Symptome stellt die Adipositas dar, die das Risiko einer Langzeitmorbidität aufgrund der metabolischen und kardiovaskulären Folgeerkrankungen hat.

Fragestellung

Dieser Artikel hat das Ziel, die wichtigsten Grundlagen zu Pathogenese, Diagnose und Therapie des Bardet-Biedl-Syndroms zu vermitteln.

Material und Methode

Basierend auf einer umfassenden Darstellung der Literatur und aktueller Studienergebnisse werden die neuesten Erkenntnisse zur Versorgung der Patienten:innen dargestellt.

Ergebnisse

In der Behandlung der Nierenbeteiligung des BBS kann eine Nierenersatztherapie, die für die Morbidität und Mortalität von entscheidender Bedeutung ist, notwendig werden. Netzhautdegeneration, endokrine Störungen, Entwicklungsretardierung und andere Symptome müssen multidisziplinär betreut werden. Aufgrund neuer Untersuchungen ist bekannt, dass der Pathomechanismus der Adipositas beim Bardet-Biedl-Syndrom auf ein fehlendes Sättigungsgefühl durch Störung der hypothalamischen Appetitregulation zurückzuführen ist und eine ausgeprägte Hyperphagie bedingt.

Die jetzt mögliche zielgerichtete Therapie der Adipositas mit einem Melanokortin-4(MC4)-Rezeptoragonisten kann im Falle eines Ansprechens zu einer deutlichen Verbesserung der Stoffwechselfunktionen und damit zu einer Verbesserung der gesundheitlichen Prognose und Lebensqualität der Betroffenen führen.

Schlussfolgerungen

Aufgrund der multisystemischen Beteiligung beim BBS ist eine interdisziplinäre Betreuung notwendig. Die neue Therapieoption der Adipositas mit einem MC4R-Agonisten sollte unter entsprechender Qualitätssicherung durchgeführt werden.
Automatic hyperparameter tuning of topology optimization algorithms using surrogate optimization
Authors: Ha Dat , Carstensen Josephine
Published: September 2024

This paper presents a new approach that automates the tuning process in topology optimization of parameters that are traditionally defined by the user. The new method draws inspiration from hyperparameter optimization in machine learning. A new design problem is formulated where the topology optimization hyperparameters are defined as design variables and the problem is solved by surrogate optimization. The new design problem is nested, such that a topology optimization problem is solved as an inner problem. To encourage the identification of high-performing solutions while limiting the computational resource requirements, the outer objective function is defined as the original objective combined with penalization for intermediate densities and deviations from the prescribed material consumption. The contribution is demonstrated on density-based topology optimization with various hyperparameters and objectives, including compliance minimization, compliant mechanism design, and buckling load factor maximization. Consistent performance is observed across all tested examples. For a simple two hyperparameter case, the new framework is shown to reduce amount of times a topology optimization algorithm is executed by 90% without notably sacrificing the objective compared to a rigorous manual grid search.
INet for network integration
Authors: Policastro Valeria , Magnani Matteo , Angelini Claudia , Carissimo Annamaria
Published: September 2024

When collecting several data sets and heterogeneous data types on a given phenomenon of interest, the individual analysis of each data set will provide only a particular view of such phenomenon. Instead, integrating all the data may widen and deepen the results, offering a better view of the entire system. In the context of network integration, we propose the algorithm. assumes a similar network structure, representing latent variables in different network layers of the same system. Therefore, by combining individual edge weights and topological network structures, first constructs a that represents the shared information underneath the different layers to provide a global view of the entities that play a fundamental role in the phenomenon of interest. Then, it derives a for each layer containing peculiar information of the single data type not present in all the others. We demonstrated good performance with our method through simulated data and detected new insights by analyzing biological and sociological datasets.
Two-Year Outcomes of Prostatic Artery Embolization for Symptomatic Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: An International, Multicenter, Prospective Study
Authors: Sapoval Marc R. , Bhatia Shivank , Déan Carole , Rampoldi Antonio , Carnevale Francisco César , Bent Clare , Tapping Charles R. , Bongiovanni Simone , Taylor Jeremy , Brower Jayson S. , Rush Michael , McWilliams Justin P. , Little Mark W. ,   the PROstate Study Investigators, Pellerin Olivier , Barbosa Fabiane , Borghei Peyman , Gin Greg E. , Uchio Edward , Plotnik Adam N. , Briggs James H. , MacDonald Andrew , Tummala Srini , Shah Hemendra Navinchandra , Kably Issam M. , Pereira Keith , Katrivesis James , Ng Keng Lim , Vaheesan Kirubahara , Behdad Mina , MacGill Sarah , Crosbie Sarah , Gavrila Madita , Anthony Susan , Quezada Lia , Aleman Ricardo , Ferguson Cynthia Toot , Ahmed-Timms Far , Edwards Alexandra
Published: September 2024

Purpose

To describe clinical outcomes among patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) 24 months following prostatic artery embolization (PAE).

Materials and Methods

This was an international, multicenter, prospective trial of males with BPH with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) or acute urinary retention (AUR) treated with PAE. The primary outcome was the 12 month change in the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) for patients referred for bothersome LUTS, or urinary catheter independence for patients treated for AUR. Secondary outcome measures included changes in IPSS at 3 and 24 months, changes in quality of life (QoL), changes in the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) questionnaire, technical success rate, and adverse events (AEs). Data were summarized using descriptive statistics.

Results

Four hundred seventy-eight consecutive patients underwent PAE (bothersome LUTS: N = 405; AUR: N = 73), mean age was 70 years. For patients treated for bothersome LUTS, mean total IPSS at baseline was 21.8 and decreased to 9.3, 10.6, and 11.2 at 3, 12, and 24 months following PAE, respectively (all p < 0.001); QoL at baseline was 4.7 and decreased to 2.0, 2.1, and 2.3 at 3, 12, and 24 months, respectively (all p < 0.001). The mean SHIM score at baseline and 12 months following PAE was 13.8 and 13.9, respectively. Of the 73 patients treated for AUR, 48 (65.8%) had their indwelling catheter removed within 3 months of PAE and remained catheter free at 24 months. Fifty-five patients (11.5%) experienced ≥ 1 AE and 10 (2.1%) experienced a serious AE.

Conclusion

PAE is a safe and effective treatment for symptomatic BPH and LUTS.

Level of Evidence Level 3

Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03527589.

Graphical Abstract
Longitudinal associations between vitamin D status and biomarkers of inflammation in a pan-European cohort of children and adolescents
Authors: Wolters Maike , Foraita Ronja , Moreno Luis A. , Molnár Dénes , Russo Paola , Tornaritis Michael , De Henauw Stefaan , Lissner Lauren , Veidebaum Toomas , Winter Theresa , Marron Manuela , Nagrani Rajini ,   IDEFICS and I.Family consortia
Published: September 2024

Purpose

To investigate longitudinal associations between the vitamin D status and inflammatory markers in children and adolescents.

Methods

Children from eight European countries from the IDEFICS/I.Family cohort with repeated measurements were included in this study. A linear mixed-effect model was used to model the association of serum 25(OH)D as independent variable and z-scores of inflammatory markers [CRP, cytokines, adipokines, combined inflammation score] as dependent variables, where one level accounts for differences between individuals and the other for changes over age within individuals.

Results

A total of 1,582 children were included in the study. In the adjusted model, 25(OH)D levels were positively associated with adiponectin (β = 0.11 [95% CI 0.07; 0.16]) and negatively with the inflammation score (β = − 0.24 [95% CI − 0.40; − 0.08]) indicating that the adiponectin z-score increased by 0.11 units and the inflammation score decreased by 0.24 units per 12.5 nmol/l increase in 25(OH)D. In children with overweight or obesity, only a positive association between 25(OH)D and IP-10 was observed while in children with normal weight adiponectin was positively and the inflammation score was negatively associated. Associations of vitamin D with adiponectin and the inflammation score were stronger in girls than in boys and a positive association with TNF-α was observed only in girls.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that an increase in vitamin D concentrations may help to regulate inflammatory biomarkers. However, it seems to be no benefit of a better vitamin D status in children with overweight/obesity unless their weight is managed to achieve an improved inflammatory marker status.
Correlation between mammal track abundance and Forest Landscape Integrity Index validates actual forest ecological integrity
Authors: Malcangi Francesca , Lindén Andreas , Sundell Janne , Loehr John
Published: September 2024

Human disturbance compromises the ecological integrity of forests, negatively affecting associated species. Assessing the impact of forest integrity on biodiversity is complex due to the interplay of various human activities, ecological factors, and their interactions. Current large-scale indices assess forest integrity but often lack a direct connection to the biotic environment. We tested the effectiveness of the global Forest Landscape Integrity Index (FLII) in evaluating aspects of anthropogenic forest degradation on the biotic community. We analyzed the relationship between changes in the ecological integrity of Finnish forests and variations in mammal species abundance, using the number of tracks from 17 different species collected during the winter seasons between 2016 and 2020 in south-central Finland. Beyond the FLII, we analyzed forest and canopy cover to enhance the accuracy of habitat preference assessments. We found that the FLII captures the varying degrees of forest integrity, as reflected by the correlation between the abundance of winter tracks and the FLII for most mammals. Species that were positively associated with forest integrity were all native to the boreal forest, while mammals that adapt well to human-disturbed environments including two invasive species were more common in lower FLII forests. Significant differences in habitat preferences were also observed in relation to forest and canopy cover, revealing additional nuances that the FLII alone did not capture. This study demonstrates that the FLII, when combined with a comprehensive dataset and supplemented with region-specific factors, can assess species' adaptability to human-modified forests, aiding in the development of conservation strategies.
Clothing and Outdoor Thermal Comfort (OTC) in tourist environments: a case study from Porto (Portugal)
Authors: Lopes Hélder Silva , Remoaldo Paula C. , Ribeiro Vítor , Martín-Vide Javier , Ribeiro Inácio
Published: September 2024

This study focuses on assessing tourists' perception of bioclimatic comfort in the urban context of Porto, Portugal, specifically in the areas of Avenida dos Aliados and Praça da Liberdade. The study examines the relationship between meteorological conditions, tourists' clothing choices, and their physical activity levels. The study integrates microclimatic measurements and questionnaire surveys carried out during the summers of 2019 and 2020, and the winter of 2019-2020. A comprehensive questionnaire following international standards was administered to a representative sample of 563 tourists. The results show significant variations in mean air temperature (AT), wind speed (Wχ), relative humidity (RH), global radiation (GRAD), and total mean radiant temperature (TMRT) over the study periods. The assessment of Outdoor Thermal Comfort (OTC) is based on ASHRAE 55 standards, using the Thermal Sensation Vote (TSV) scale and the tourists' opinions on their thermal preferences. Clothing choices are found to be influenced by AT, with tourists choosing lighter clothing in warmer conditions. Gender and age differences in clothing insulation (Icl) are identified, suggesting potential differences in OTC perception. AT varied significantly, with an inflection point in clothing choices at 21.7°C and a correlation between AT and reduction in clothing layers (r2 = 0.846; p < 0.05). The study also observes seasonal variations in physical activity levels of tourists, with higher activity levels in summer due to milder weather (110.0 W·m⁻2). More thermally comfortable environments tend to promote a sense of well-being among visitors, which directly affects their satisfaction during their stay in the city. When tourists feel comfortable with the thermal conditions of the urban environment, they are more likely to explore and enjoy local attractions for longer periods of time, thereby enhancing their cultural and leisure experiences. Women tend to wear fewer layers of clothing than men in summer, reflecting potential differences in OTC perception. Results align with previous studies, indicating the impact of clothing insulation of individual subject (Icl) on OTC varies across locations and cultures. Cultural factors influence clothing preferences and thermal tolerance, emphasizing the need for nuanced considerations in understanding OTC perceptions. The study provides to the understanding of the OTC of tourists in the city of Porto, but also offers relevant contributions for improving the visitor experience and sustainable development, namely in other geographical contexts. The major contribution of this research lies in the comparative analysis of Icl and OTC between tourists, based on physical measurements and questionnaire surveys conducted in summer and winter, providing valuable insights for tourist spot design.
Signal amplification in molecular sensing by imprinted polymers
Authors: Chen Mingli , Li Haiyan , Xue Xiaoting , Tan Fang , Ye Lei
Published: September 2024

In the field of sensing, the development of sensors with high sensitivity, accuracy, selectivity, sustainability, simplicity, and low cost remains a key focus. Over the past decades, optical and electrochemical sensors based on molecular imprinting techniques have garnered significant attention due to the above advantages. Molecular imprinting technology utilizes molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) to mimic the specific recognition capabilities of enzymes or antibodies for target molecules. Recently, MIP-based sensors rooting in signal amplification techniques have been employed to enhance molecular detection level and the quantitative ability for environmental pollutants, biomolecules, therapeutic compounds, bacteria, and viruses. The signal amplification techniques involved in MIP-based sensors mainly cover nucleic acid chain amplification, enzyme-catalyzed cascade, introduction of high-performance nanomaterials, and rapid chemical reactions. The amplified analytical signals are centered around electrochemical, fluorescence, colorimetric, and surface-enhanced Raman techniques, which can effectively realize the determination of some low-abundance targets in biological samples. This review highlights the recent advancements of electrochemical/optical sensors based on molecular imprinting integrated with various signal amplification strategies and their dedication to the study of trace biomolecules. Finally, future research directions on developing multidimensional output signals of MIP-based sensors and introducing multiple signal amplification strategies are proposed.

Graphical abstract
Effect of residual alkali level in softwood kraft cooking
Authors: Brännvall Elisabet , Norberg Lars , Karlström Katarina
Published: September 2024

The hypothesis was that low residual alkali after cooking would cause lignin re-precipitation during washing and in turn affect the subsequent oxygen delignification stage negatively. To test the hypothesis, kraft cooks were performed in lab-scale to different residual alkali levels, ranging from 5 to 15 g/L and the pulps were subjected to washing with either water or 0.1 M NaOH and then oxygen delignified. The results show that even at low residual alkali and washing with water, the pH in the liquor after washing was above 11 which is sufficiently high to keep lignin in solution. No effect of residual alkali level was observed on the performance of the oxygen delignification stage.
Arctic copepod copper sensitivity and comparison with Antarctic and temperate copepods
Authors: Heuschele Jan , Dinh Khuong V. , Lode Torben , Jager Tjalling , Borgå Katrine
Published: September 2024

The ongoing global climate crisis increases temperatures in polar regions faster and with greater magnitude than elsewhere. The decline of Arctic sea ice opens up new passages, eventually leading to higher anthropogenic activities such as shipping, fishing, and mining. Climate change and anthropogenic activities will increase contaminant transport from temperate to Arctic regions. The shipping industry uses copper as an antifouling coating. Copper is an essential element but becomes toxic at excess concentrations, and its use may inadvertently affect non-target organisms such as copepods. Copper affects copepods by lowering reproductive output, prolonging developmental time, and causing increased mortality. As data on copper sensitivity of polar copepods at low temperatures are rare, we conducted onboard survival experiments with the Arctic region’s most common copepod species (Calanus finmarchicus, C. glacialis, C. hyperboreus). Acute survival tests were done for up to 8 days on individuals in 70 ml bottles at 1 °C with nominal copper concentrations ranging from 3 to 480 μg L−1. We used a reduced General Unified Threshold model for Survival (GUTS) to analyse the data, and placed our results in the context of the few published copper sensitivity data of the Antarctic and temperate copepod species at low temperatures. The sensitivity of Cu exposure was similar between the three Calanus species. However, a model comparison suggests that the tested C. glacialis population is less sensitive than the other two species in our experiments. Compared to published data, the three Arctic species appear slightly less sensitive to copper compared to their Antarctic counterparts but more compared to their temperate ones. Our literature search revealed only a few available studies on the copper sensitivity of polar copepods. In the future, this species group will be exposed to more pollutants, which warrants more studies to predict potential risks, especially given possible interactions with environmental factors.
Drivers of the taxonomic and functional structuring of aquatic and terrestrial floodplain bird communities
Authors: Ónodi Gábor , Czeglédi István , Erős Tibor
Published: September 2024

Context

There has been a limited amount of research which comparatively examines the local and landscape scale ecological determinants of the community structure of both riparian and aquatic bird communities in floodplain ecosystems.

Objectives

Here, we quantified the contribution of local habitat structure, land cover and spatial configuration of the sampling sites to the taxonomical and functional structuring of aquatic and terrestrial bird communities in a relatively intact floodplain of the river Danube, Hungary.

Methods

We used the relative abundance of species and foraging guilds as response variables in partial redundancy analyses to determine the relative importance of each variable group.

Results

Local-scale characteristics of the water bodies proved to be less influential than land cover and spatial variables both for aquatic and terrestrial birds and both for taxonomic and foraging guild structures. Purely spatial variables were important determinants, besides purely environmental and the shared proportion of variation explained by environmental and spatial variables. The predictability of community structuring generally increased towards the lowest land cover measurement scales (i.e., 500, 250 or 125 m radius buffers). Different land cover types contributed at each scale, and their importance depended on aquatic vs terrestrial communities.

Conclusions

These results indicate the relatively strong response of floodplain bird communities to land cover and spatial configuration. They also suggest that dispersal dynamics and mass-effect mechanisms are critically important for understanding the structuring of floodplain bird communities, and should therefore be considered by conservation management strategies.
Nonlinear mathematical modeling of frequency-temperature dependent viscoelastic materials for tire applications
Authors: Sakhnevych Aleksandr , Maglione Raffaele , Suero Raffaele , Mallozzi Lina
Published: September 2024

Understanding and accurately reproducing the realistic response of rubber materials to external stimuli is a crucial research topic that involves all the engineering fields and beyond where these materials are used. This study introduces an innovative nonlinear fractional derivative generalized Maxwell model designed to effectively capture and replicate the experimental behavior of viscoelastic materials. The proposed model addresses the limitations observed in conventional fractional models, providing greater versatility which makes it more suitable for describing the intricate behavior of polymeric materials. Through rigorous mathematical validation, the proposed model demonstrates coherence with the underlying physics of the viscoelastic behavior. To address the identification procedure, the pole-zero formulation is adopted, employing a multi-objective optimization to obtain the optimum, able to replicate the dynamic moduli trends. Satisfying results have been validated over a wide dataset of 10 different materials, demonstrating an extended capability of adapting to different variations than classical widely-used fractional models. Furthermore, the model has proven to be valid even employing a reduced amount of experimental data limited only to low, high-frequency plateaus and around the glass transition temperature, which could be fundamental for optimizing resources in experimental investigations.
Modeling the Effects of Policies that Restrict Tobacco Retail Outlets on Prenatal Smoke Exposure and Perinatal Health Care Utilization
Authors: Boyle Joseph , Barsell D. Jeremy , Zhang Junfeng Jim , Oliver Jason A. , McClernon F. Joseph , Dahman Bassam , Hoyo Cathrine , Fuemmeler Bernard F. , Wheeler David C.
Published: September 2024

Tobacco retail outlet (TRO) density has been associated with increased cotinine levels in pregnant persons and their children. As such, the higher densities of TROs may represent higher levels of active smoking during pregnancy. The purpose of this study is to simulate the reduction in cotinine (a biomarker of smoke exposure) and health care utilization that could occur in pregnant persons under enactment of several candidate TRO reduction policy recommendations. Using existing retail outlet data from the state of North Carolina and from the Newborn Epigenetic Study (NEST), the present study created hypothetical policy-informed datasets of TROs that a) limited the number of TROs to the same density as the 2014 San Francisco (SF) policy (Policy 1), b) set the minimum distance to 500 feet between TROs from a school and from other TROs (Policy 2), c) restricted the types of TROs to exclude pharmacies (Policy 3), and d) a combination of Policies 1–3 (Policy 4). We estimated the effects of each policy individually and in a separate model with their combined effects in terms of the reduction on cotinine levels and health care utilization, as measured by number of visits to the emergency department (ED). We found that the hypothetical policies were likely to be effective in reducing maternal cotinine and ED visits, with the majority of the mothers in the dataset demonstrating reductions in these outcomes after implementation of the policies. We found that Policy 1 led to moderate reductions in TRO exposure for the majority of the sample as well as stratified by race/ethnicity. Additionally, Policy 4 had slightly larger estimated effects than Policy 1, but could be more onerous to implement in practice. Overall, we identified evidence supporting the efficacy of TRO reduction strategies that could impact smoke exposure during pregnancy in our diverse sample in North Carolina.
Health-related quality of life and caregiver burden of pediatric patients with inborn errors of metabolism in Japan using EQ-5D-Y, PedsQL, and J-ZBI
Authors: Konomura Keiko , Numakura Chikahiko , Nakamura-Utsunomiya Akari , Hoshino Eri , Tajima Go , Kobayashi Hironori , Nakamura Kimitoshi , Shimozawa Nobuyuki , Bo Ryosuke , Shiroiwa Takeru , Shigematsu Yosuke , Fukuda Takashi
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) are known with poor long-term health concerns; however, the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and the burden placed on families remain unclear. This study investigated the self- and proxy-reported HRQoL of pediatric patients with IEM with or without developmental disabilities and the burden placed on their caregivers.

Methods

Patients with IEM aged 8–15 years and their caregivers were asked to respond to the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), EuroQoL five-dimension questionnaire for younger populations (EQ-5D-Y), and Japanese version of the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (J-ZBI). We compared EQ-5D-Y scores with matched EQ-5D-Y population norms. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for self and proxy HRQoL scores of those without developmental disabilities were calculated. Correlation coefficients of HRQoL proxy responses with J-ZBI score were estimated.

Results

We included 66 patients with IEM (mean age, 11.5 years; males, 41.2%) in the study. The mean (± standard deviation) EQ-5D-Y scores without and with developmental disabilities were 0.957 (± 0.071) and 0.821 (± 0.175), respectively. The EQ-5D-Y scores significantly increased compared with the reference values (p < 0.01, effect size = 0.337). The ICC values were 0.331 and 0.477 for the EQ-5D-Y and PedsQL scores, respectively. HRQoL proxy scores had strong negative correlations with J-ZBI scores.

Conclusion

The HRQoL of patients with IEM without developmental disabilities in our study was similar to that of the general Japanese population. The HRQoL of patients with IEM with developmental disabilities was low and associated with a tendency towards an increased burden of care.
Proportionality in Its Place: Weighted Internal Deliberation
Authors: Tanasoca Ana
Published: September 2024

According to a well-known principle in democratic theory, all those whose interests are affected by a decision should have a say in it. ‘How much of a say?’ is the next question. One answer is the Proportionality Principle, according to which ‘people should have a say in a decision proportionally to the extent that their interests are affected by it’. It is often suggested that this principle should be implemented through weighted voting. This article considers an alternative: weighting as part of internal deliberation before the casting of votes. Instead of weighting votes as we count them, we could apply the Principle to the more fundamental process by which citizens form their judgements about how to vote. This alternative approach conceives of citizens as fulfilling dual roles: first, asclaim-makersadvancing claims about what the collective decision should be, basedinter aliaon how it impacts their own interests, and, second, asadjudicatorstaking into account everyone’s claim by weighing it proportionally to the degree each claimant is affected by the collective decision. I examine the democratic and epistemic strengths of this alternative as well as its weaknesses, compared to the more standard way of implementing the Proportionality Principle via weighted voting.
Effect of Water on Wear of DLC Coatings in High Temperature and Pressurized Ethanol
Authors: Tokoroyama T. , Horikawa S. , Mimata J. , Umehara N. , Murashima M.
Published: September 2024

The friction and wear characteristics of a-C:H:Si and a-C:H coatings in an ethanol environment at 120 °C and 10 MPa focusing on the effects of water and dissolved oxygen in ethanol were investigated. The friction tests were conducted using an autoclave chamber, with gases (oxygen or nitrogen) and ethanol–water mixtures (0 and 6 vol.%). The wear acceleration of a-C:H:Si took place when it slid in ethanol with 6 vol.% water and pressurized by oxygen, thus the specific wear rate was the highest, approximately 1.8 × 10−7 mm3/Nm. The reason of this wear acceleration was assumed the effect of hardness reduction due to oxidation of the a-C:H:Si, so the O/C ratio by AES and the hardness of topmost surface by AFM nano-scratch were investigated. As a result, the higher O/C ratio showed higher specific wear rate due to the hardness reduction from 13.3 to 6.0 GPa. These findings highlight the role of water and dissolved oxygen in accelerating wear of a-C:H:Si coatings.

Graphical abstract
Factors affecting the MICP stabilization of washed recycled sands derived from demolition wastes
Authors: Fouladi Amir Sina , Arulrajah Arul , Chu Jian , Zhou Annan , Horpibulsuk Suksun
Published: September 2024

Microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) is recognized as an eco-friendly approach in biological chemistry, offering significant potential for enhancing soil engineering properties. This study investigates the viability of MICP for stabilizing washed recycled sands (RS) sourced from construction and demolition wastes, offering significant potential for enhancing soil engineering properties and aligning this research study with sustainable waste management practices. Through meticulously designed laboratory experiments, this research examined the micro and macro biomineralization processes to assess the feasibility and factors influencing RS stabilization. The experimental setup evaluates the impact of cementation media concentration, ambient temperature, treatment cycles, and curing time on MICP-treated RS efficiency. The findings indicate that the optimal MICP conditions can be found at a cementation media concentration of 0.5 mol/L, an ambient temperature of 30 °C, and furthermore, up to 12 treatment cycles can significantly enhance the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of RS to 724 kPa. In addition, extending the curing time results in a 28% increase in UCS compared to the initial strength of MICP-stabilized RS. Analyses via scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction provide insights into the microstructural and mineralogical transformations that aid the biostabilization of RS. This research underscores the effectiveness of MICP-treated RS for usage as a geomaterial, emphasizing its environmental and practical benefits and furthermore advocates the sustainable usage of MICP for the biostabilization of RS for construction activities.
Novel Control Factor for Tensile Strength and Solidification Cracking in Partially Solidified Al–Mn–Cu Alloy Based on Campbell’s Model with Fe-Rich Intermetallic Compounds
Authors: Nagata Yoshihiro , Nakagawa Ryohei , Kumaki Takumi , Matsushita Akira , Yaguchi Kenichi , Sakamoto Toshio , Orio Kanta , Okimura Yasuhiko , Okane Toshimitsu , Muhammad Khairi Faiz , Yoshida Makoto
Published: September 2024

In this study, the effect of the Fe-rich intermetallic compound phases (IMC) on the solidification cracking susceptibility (Hot Tearing Susceptibility, HTS) of the Al–Mn–Cu alloy and the associated controlling factors were investigated. Using the Al–1.15Mn–1.0Cu–0.5Si–0.08Ti–0.016B–0.15Fe and Al–1.15Mn–1.0Cu–0.5Si–0.08Ti–0.016B–0.4Fe alloys, the HTS and mechanical properties in the partially solidified state were experimentally obtained. As a result, the HTS decreased with the increasing Fe contents. In addition, the tensile strength of the alloys in the partially solidified state (σmax) increased with the increasing Fe contents. The fraction of solid cohesion considering the Fe-rich IMC phase (fsc IMC) based on the Campbell’s model (fsc Campbell) is proposed as the controlling factor of σmax. The fsc Campbell, which simulates the two-phases model of the α-Al and liquid phases, did not consistently demonstrate the dependence of σmax on fsc Campbell for the two alloys (σmax = f(fsc Campbell)). However, when employing the fsc IMC, which incorporates the Fe-rich IMC phase in a three-phases model, a consistent correlation is observed between fsc IMC and σmax for the two alloys (σmax = f(fsc IMC)). Therefore, it is suggested that the controlling factor influencing the change in σmax with the Fe content should be the fsc IMC. Additionally, the bonding of primary α-Al phase together with Fe-rich IMC phase that is crystallized at the grain boundary will increase σmax, contributing to the reduction of HTS.
From net importer to global leader: understanding the drivers of Spain’s meat export growth since the 1960s
Authors: Delgado Pablo , Pinilla Vicente , Belloc Ignacio
Published: September 2024

How has Spain transitioned from historically having a relatively low meat production and being a net importer of meat in 1990 to becoming the world’s leading exporter of pork in 2020? This is the research question we aim to address in this article. In our quest for an answer, we constructed a gravity model to examine the determinants of Spanish meat exports. We posit that a significant surge in domestic meat consumption since the 1960s led to substantial economies of scale in the sector, rendering it highly competitive by the 1980s. Consequently, when Spain joined the European Union and liberalized the sector, it was sufficiently competitive to conquer international markets. In other words, we aim to study how a Home Market Effect has occurred in Spain and how it has been reinforced by the European Union adhesion. Ultimately, this high competitiveness has allowed Spain to capitalize on China’s demand for pork in recent years.
The dysregulation of mitochondrial homeostasis–related genes could be involved in the decrease of mtDNA copy number in systemic lupus erythematosus patients
Authors: De Benedittis Giada , Latini Andrea , Morgante Chiara , Perricone Carlo , Ceccarelli Fulvia , Novelli Giuseppe , Novelli Lucia , Ciccacci Cinzia , Borgiani Paola
Published: September 2024

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic multifactorial autoimmune disease. It is now widely demonstrated that oxidative stress (OS) plays an important role in the modulation of the pathogenesis of this disease. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is highly vulnerable to OS and it is known a decrease of mtDNA copy number in SLE patients. However, to date, it has not been investigated if this decrease is associated with a dysregulation of mitochondrial homeostasis genes. Our aim is to evaluate the amount of mtDNA copy number and the expression of the genes more involved in the mitochondrial homeostasis pathways, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of SLE patients and healthy controls. We analysed the amount of mtDNA in PBMCs of 72 SLE patients and 61 healthy controls by qPCR. Then, we investigated the expression variability of TFAM and SIRT1 (biogenesis), MFN1 and MFF (fusion/fission) and PRKN2 (mitophagy) genes in a subgroup of SLE patients and healthy controls. Interestingly, we have observed a highly significant decrease in mtDNA copies in SLE patients compared to healthy controls (P < 0.0001). In addition, we have shown that the expression levels of SIRT1, MFN1 and PRKN2 genes were significantly decreased in SLE patients with respect to healthy controls (P = 0.00001 for SIRT1, P = 0.0150 for MFN1 and P = 0.0009 for PRKN2). Lastly, we have reported a positive correlation between PRKN2 expression level and mtDNA copy number (P = 0.019, r = 0.475). In conclusion, our data confirm the impairment of mtDNA copy number in the disease and show for the first time a dysregulation of the mitochondrial homeostasis genes. These results could provide additional support to the important role of mitochondria in SLE development.
Well Yes, but Actually No! Perceptions of Colombian Informal Workers About Venezuelan Immigration
Authors: Alizadeh Afrouzi Omid
Published: September 2024

This study explores the perceptions of Colombian sex workers, street vendors, and taxi drivers regarding Venezuelan immigration, its media coverage, and relevant NGO initiatives. Drawing on threat–benefit theory and mediated intergroup contact, short semi-structured and informal interviews were employed as the primary methodology. Findings showcase nuanced attitudes toward immigration, encompassing pros and cons. Informal workers faced downsides in job market, security, public services, housing, and conjugal relationships, yet acknowledged positive attitudes thanks to arrival of educated and cost-effective workforce, contribution to lifestyle, and perspective-taking. Views on media discourse and NGOs were mixed. Implications of results are discussed.
Sensory processing sensitivity, transliminality, and boundary-thinness as predictors of anomalous experiences, beliefs, and abilities
Authors: Roxburgh Elizabeth C. , Vernon David , Schofield Malcolm B.
Published: September 2024

Individual differences are among the most studied correlates of anomalous experiences and beliefs (AEs), but few have focussed on personality measures specifically defined by sensitivity. Of interest in this study is the personality trait of Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS), characterised by aesthetic sensitivity, being easily overwhelmed by internal and external stimuli, emotional reactivity and empathy, and deeper processing. An online survey investigated the relationship between SPS, and other personality constructs, in part, defined by sensitivity (transliminality and boundary-thinness) with anomalous experiences, beliefs, and abilities. Two hundred participants (mean age = 32.23; 151 females, 41 males, 6 non-binary and 2 preferred not to say) completed the Revised Transliminality Scale, the Boundary Questionnaire Short-Form, the Highly Sensitive Person Scale - Brief Version (measuring SPS), the Anomalous Experiences Inventory, and open-ended questions on SPS and AEs. There were significant and positive correlations between all four variables. Both transliminality and boundary thinness positively predicted anomalous beliefs with transliminality being the stronger, however, only transliminality predicted anomalous experiences and abilities. The findings suggest a relationship between SPS and anomalous experience and belief, but this is mediated by transliminality and boundary thinness.