bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gene therapy for neurotransmitter‐related disorders
Authors: Chu Wing Sum , Ng Joanne , Waddington Simon N. , Kurian Manju A.
Published: January 2024

Inborn errors of neurotransmitter (NT) metabolism are a group of rare, heterogenous diseases with predominant neurological features, such as movement disorders, autonomic dysfunction, and developmental delay. Clinical overlap with other disorders has led to delayed diagnosis and treatment, and some conditions are refractory to oral pharmacotherapies. Gene therapies have been developed and translated to clinics for paediatric inborn errors of metabolism, with 38 interventional clinical trials ongoing to date. Furthermore, efforts in restoring dopamine synthesis and neurotransmission through viral gene therapy have been developed for Parkinson's disease. Along with the recent European Medicines Agency (EMA) and Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) approval of an AAV2 gene supplementation therapy for AADC deficiency, promising efficacy and safety profiles can be achieved in this group of diseases. In this review, we present preclinical and clinical advances to address NT‐related diseases, and summarise potential challenges that require careful considerations for NT gene therapy studies.
Impact of neoadjuvant therapy on nodal harvest in clinical stage III rectal cancer: Establishing optimum cut‐offs by disease response
Authors: Wehrle Chase J. , Woo Kimberly , Chang Jenny , Gamaleldin Maysoon , DeHaan Reece , Dahdaleh Fadi , Felder Seth , Rosen David R. , Champagne Bradley , Steele Scott R. , Naffouje Samer A.
Published: January 2024

Introduction

A minimum lymph node harvest (LNH) of 12 is the current standard for appropriate nodal staging in resectable rectal cancer. However, the rise of neoadjuvant chemoradiation (NCRT) and total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT) has been associated with decreasing number of LNH. We hypothesize that as tumor response to neoadjuvant therapy increases, the optimum for LNH to achieve appropriate nodal staging should decrease.

Methods

Patients with clinical stage III rectal adenocarcinoma who underwent NCRT/TNT followed by resection were identified from the National Cancer Database. A JoinPoint regression analysis was used to determine the LNH for each tumor regression grade (TRG) category beyond which the rate of positive nodes does not significantly change.

Results

Thirteen thousand four hundred and twenty‐six patients met inclusion criteria. Of these, 2406 (17.9%) achieved TRG 0 or ypT0 and 8210 (61.2%) achieved ypN0. Collectively, 2043 patients (15.2%) were reported to have a pathologic complete response (ypT0 ypN0). Positive pathologic nodes were found in 15%, 23%, 31%, 54%, and 53% as ypT stage increased from ypT0 to ypT4, respectively. Similarly, ypN+ rates were 15%, 36%, 41%, and 55% in TRG 0–3. No JoinPoint was identified for TRG 0, whereas inflection points were found at 6–10 nodes for TRG1 (p = 0.002) and TRG 2 (p = 0.016), and at 11–15 nodes for TRG 3.

Conclusion

The benchmark of retrieving 12 nodes in resectable stage III rectal cancer is not consistently achieved after NCRT/TNT. We demonstrate that the LNH requirement to establish accurate pathologic nodal staging can vary depending on the tumor response to neoadjuvant therapies.
Featured Front Cover
Authors: Yu Limin , Li Yangbing , Luo Guangjie , Ge Guanghui , Zhang Han , Tang Fang , Yu Meng
Published: January 2024

The cover image is based on the Research Article Spatiotemporal evolution and driving mechanism of slope cultivated land in karst mountainous areas of Southwest China—A case study of Puding County, Guizhou Province by Limin Yu et al., https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.4936.

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Adapting peer review for the future: Digital disruptions and trust in peer review
Authors: Calamur Harini , Ghosh Roohi
Published: January 2024

Key points

Academia is undergoing transformation with rapid technological advancements, global collaboration, and the rise of AI.

Maintaining research integrity is paramount in the face of new challenges and opportunities.

The peer review process, vital for research integrity, is strained due to the high volume of academic papers.

Cactus Communication's (CACTUS) global survey during Peer Review Week 2022 gathered insights from 685 participants on research integrity and peer review.

Survey participants emphasized the importance of peer review in detecting various issues, including plagiarism and questionable research practices.

Actions taken in response to integrity concerns varied, with some participants seeking guidance from colleagues or informing journal editors.

Digital innovations, especially AI‐driven tools, promise to revolutionize peer review processes, from manuscript screening to reviewer selection and evaluation.

AI tools like Chat GPT can aid authors in improving writing quality and assist reviewers in generating detailed feedback.

Concerns about data privacy and the need for a balance between human expertise and AI assistance are raised in the context of peer review.

AI plagiarism detection tool scan complement human efforts, providing an additional layer of scrutiny.

Increased digital innovation allows for flexible review formats, international collaboration, and heightened transparency in the review process.

The integration of AI into peer review holds the potential to enhance efficiency and objectivity but raises concerns about bias and transparency.

Guidelines, bias mitigation measures, accountability mechanisms, and ongoing training are essential for the responsible use of AI in peer review.

Encouraging peer review systems to embrace innovation and ethical AI is crucial for adapting to changing dynamics while upholding core principles of research integrity.
Role of conventional MD staging in modern era of hydrops MR imaging
Authors: Yan Hong‐Yu , Young Yi‐Ho
Published: January 2024

Objective/Hypothesis

This study correlated stage of Meniere's disease (MD) with MR imaging of endolymphatic hydrops (EH) to assess the role of MD staging in modern era.

Study Design

Retrospective study.

Methods

Fifty‐four MD patients (60 ears) underwent an inner ear test battery and were further confirmed by MR imaging. Sixty MD ears were divided into stages I–IV, and hydrops MR images at each stage were compared.

Results

Hydrops MRI demonstrated that EH at the cochlea with respective Grades 0/I/II were 3/7/1 ears for stage I, 0/5/3 ears for stage II, 1/6/26 ears for stage III and 0/2/6 ears for stage IV. Significant relationship was not identified between MD stage and grades of cochlear hydrops. Similarly, no significant relationship was shown between MD stage and grades of vestibular (saccular/utricular) hydrops. The optimal cutoff value of four‐tone average for predicting severe type (Grade II–III) cochlear/vestibular EH was 48 dB, which was within the stage III. Hence, prevalence of severe type (Grade II) cochlear EH in stages III (79%) and IV (75%) was significantly higher than stages I (9%) and II (38%). Similarly, severe type saccular/utricular EH in stages III (64%) and IV (75%) also showed significantly higher than stages I (18%) and II (25%).

Conclusion

Although conventional MD staging fails to correlate with the grades of EH on hydrops MRI, late‐stage MD may indicate heightened EH severity in the cochlea and vestibule.

Level of Evidence

4.
The futile creatine cycle and the synthesis of fatty acids in inguinal white adipose tissue from growing rats, submitted to a hypoprotein‐hyperglycidic diet for 15 days
Authors: Allebrandt Neto Edgar Willibaldo , Rondon e Silva Jadyellen , Santos Stephanie Figueiredo , de França Lemes Suélem Aparecida , Kawashita Nair Honda , Peron Pereira Mayara
Published: January 2024

The low‐protein, high‐carbohydrate (LPHC) diet administered to growing rats soon after weaning, for 15 days, promoted an increase in energy expenditure by uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in interscapular brown adipose tissue, and also due to the occurrence of the browning process in the perirenal white adipose tissue (periWAT). However, we believe that inguinal white adipose tissue (ingWAT) may also contribute to energy expenditure through other mechanisms. Therefore, the aim of this work is to investigate the presence of the futile creatine cycle, and the origin of lipids in ingWAT, since that tissue showed an increase in the lipids content in rats submitted to the LPHC diet for 15 days. We observed increases in creatine kinase and alkaline phosphatase activity in ingWAT, of the LPHC animals. The mitochondrial Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide reduced/nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide oxidized ratio is lower in ingWAT of LPHC animals. In the LPHC animals treated with β‐guanidinopropionic acid, the extracellular uptake of creatine in ingWAT was lower, as was the rectal temperature. Regarding lipid metabolism, we observed that in ingWAT, lipolysis in vitro when stimulated with noradrenaline is lower, and there were no changes in baseline levels. In addition, increases in the activity of enzymes were also observed: malic, glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase, and ATP‐citrate lyase, in addition to an increase in the PPARγ content. The results show the occurrence of the futile creatine cycle in ingWAT, and that the increase in the relative mass may be due to an increase in de novo fatty acid synthesis.
Development of BDNF/NGF/IKVAV Peptide Modified and Gold Nanoparticle Conductive PCL/PLGA Nerve Guidance Conduit for Regeneration of the Rat Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Ozcicek Ilyas , Aysit Nese , Balcikanli Zeynep , Ayturk Nilufer Ulas , Aydeger Asel , Baydas Gulsena , Aydin Mehmet Serif , Altintas Esra , Erim Umit Can
Published: January 2024

Spinal cord injuries are very common worldwide, leading to permanent nerve function loss with devastating effects in the affected patients. The challenges and inadequate results in the current clinical treatments are leading scientists to innovative neural regenerative research. Advances in nanoscience and neural tissue engineering have opened new avenues for spinal cord injury (SCI) treatment. In order for designed nerve guidance conduit (NGC) to be functionally useful, it must have ideal scaffold properties and topographic features that promote the linear orientation of damaged axons. In this study, it is aimed to develop channeled polycaprolactone (PCL)/Poly‐D,L‐lactic‐co‐glycolic acid (PLGA) hybrid film scaffolds, modify their surfaces by IKVAV pentapeptide/gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) or polypyrrole (PPy) and investigate the behavior of motor neurons on the designed scaffold surfaces in vitro under static/bioreactor conditions. Their potential to promote neural regeneration after implantation into the rat SCI by shaping the film scaffolds modified with neural factors into a tubular form is also examined. It is shown that channeled groups decorated with AuNPs highly promote neurite orientation under bioreactor conditions and also the developed optimal NGC (PCL/PLGA G1‐IKVAV/BDNF/NGF‐AuNP50) highly regenerates SCI. The results indicate that the designed scaffold can be an ideal candidate for spinal cord regeneration.
Ring‐Opening Metathesis Polymerization‐Derived Poly(dicyclopentadiene)/Fiber Composites Using Latent Pre‐Catalysts
Authors: Kordes Benjamin R. , Mourgas Georgios , Steinmann Mark , Schneck Tanja , Elser Iris , Buchmeiser Michael R.
Published: January 2024

The preparation of basalt and S‐glass fiber‐reinforced poly(dicyclopentadiene) via ring‐opening metathesis polymerization using a thermally latent pre‐catalyst, that is, Mo(N‐3,5‐Me2‐C6H3)(= CH‐(2‐MeO‐C6H4))(IMes)(OTf)2 (1, IMes = 1,3‐dimesitylimidazol‐2‐ylidene; OTf = SO3CF3) is reported. Complementarily, the non‐latent first‐generation Grubbs initiator RuCl2(PPh3)2(CHPh) (2) is used. 2 can be rendered latent by the addition of ppm amounts of triphenylphosphine (PPh3). Both 1 and 2/PPh3 allow the realization of thermally latent single‐component systems with sufficient pot life that do not require pre‐mixing of the individual components shortly before use. The prepared fiber matrix composites are characterized in terms of mechanical, thermal, and chemical stability.
The FOXO1/G6PC axis promotes gastric cancer progression and mediates 5‐fluorouracil resistance by targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway
Authors: Han Anna , Liu Taorui , Du Pan , Wang Mengying , Liu Jiajing , Chen Liyan
Published: January 2024

Gastric cancer (GC) is a prevalent malignancy of the digestive system. Distant metastasis and chemotherapy resistance are the crucial obstacles to prognosis in GC. Recent research has discovered that the glucose‐6‐phosphatase catalytic subunit (G6PC) plays an important role in tumor malignant development. However, little evidence has highlighted its role in GC. Herein, through a comprehensive analysis including profiling of tissue samples and functional validation in vivo and in vitro, we identify G6PC as a crucial factor in GC tumorigenesis. Importantly, we found that the FOXO1/G6PC axis could accelerate GC cell proliferation, metastasis, and 5‐Fluorouracil (5‐FU) resistance by targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, implicating that as a prospective therapeutic approach in GC.
Solid‐phase peptide synthesis in 384‐well plates
Authors: Schüttel Mischa , Will Edward , Sangouard Gontran , Zarda Anne , Habeshian Sevan , Nielsen Alexander L. , Heinis Christian
Published: January 2024

Newer solid‐phase peptide synthesis and release strategies enable the production of short peptides with high purity, allowing direct screening for desired bioactivity without prior chromatographic purification. However, the maximum number of peptides that can currently be synthesized per microplate reactor is 96, allowing the parallel synthesis of 384 peptides in modern devices that have space for 4 microplate reactors. To synthesize larger numbers of peptides, we modified a commercially available peptide synthesizer to enable the production of peptides in 384‐well plates, which allows the synthesis of 1,536 peptides in one run (4 × 384 peptides). We report new hardware components and customized software that allowed for the synthesis of 1,536 short peptides in good quantity (average > 0.5 μmol), at high concentration (average > 10 mM), and decent purity without purification (average > 80%). The high‐throughput peptide synthesis, which we developed with peptide drug development in mind, may be widely used for peptide library synthesis and screening, antibody epitope scanning, epitope mimetic development, or protease/kinase substrate screening.
Lifestyle choices among women with breast cancer in the United States
Authors: Michel Chloé , Sovinsky Michelle , Stern Steven
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Breast cancer is a common form of cancer for women. The goal of this research was to estimate how a breast cancer diagnosis affects a woman's decisions about smoking, alcohol use, and exercise.

Methods

Using data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics on breast cancer diagnosis and lifestyle choices, we estimated how being diagnosed influences smoking, drinking, and exercising habits for more than 8000 women over the period 1999–2011.

Results

Controlling for unobserved heterogeneity, persistence in behaviors, and correlation across behaviors, we found that the impact of a diagnosis had a different effect on smoking, drinking, and exercising behaviors. Furthermore, the impact depended upon the recency of the diagnosis. Recently diagnosed women exercised and smoked less—an average woman in our sample reduced exercise by 19% and smoking by 1%. However, women with breast cancer did not change their drinking habits relative to healthy women.

Conclusions

A diagnosis of breast cancer impacts lifestyle choices. Women who were diagnosed with breast cancer in the last 5 years exercised and smoked less but did not change their alcohol consumption after a breast cancer diagnosis regardless of when the diagnosis was made. Our approach provides insight into what extent women who are faced with negative information about life expectancy take this into consideration when deciding to engage in risky behaviors that might further affect their survival. Whether to engage in physical activity, drink alcohol, or smoke are choices associated with how to live.
Toward Ultrahigh‐Rate Energy Storage of 3000 mV s−1 in Hollow Carbon: From Methodology to Surface‐to‐Bulk Synergy Insights
Authors: Sun Mingming , Guo Wei , Zhang Hepeng , Zhang Qiuyu
Published: January 2024

Despite great efforts on economical and functionalized carbon materials, their scalable applications are still restricted by the unsatisfying energy storage capability under high‐rate conditions. Herein, theoretical and methodological insights for surface‐to‐bulk engineering of multi‐heteroatom‐doped hollow porous carbon (HDPC), with subtly designed Zn(OH)F nanoarrays as the template are presented. This fine‐tuned HDPC delivers an ultrahigh‐rate energy storage capability even at a scan rate of 3000 mV s−1 (fully charged within 0.34 s). It preserves a superior capacitance of 234 F g−1 at a super‐large current density of 100 A g−1 and showcases an ultralong cycling life without capacitance decay after 50 000 cycles. Through dynamic and theoretical analysis, the key role of in situ surface‐modified heteroatoms and defects in decreasing the K+‐adsorption/diffusion energy barrier is clarified, which cooperates with the porous conductive highways toward enhanced surface‐to‐bulk activity and kinetics. In situ Raman aids in visualizing the reversibly dynamic adsorption/releasing of the electrolyte ions on the tailored carbon structure during the charge/discharge process. The potential of the design concept is further evidenced by the enhanced performances in water‐in‐salt electrolytes. This surface‐to‐bulk nanotechnology opens the path for developing high‐performance energy materials to better meet the practical requirements in the future.
Printable Single‐Ion Polymer Nanoparticle Electrolytes for Lithium Batteries
Authors: Gallastegui Antonela , Del Olmo Rafael , Criado‐Gonzalez Miryam , Leiza Jose Ramon , Forsyth Maria , Mecerreyes David
Published: January 2024

New material solutions are searched for the manufacturing and safety of current batteries. Herein, an extrusion printable polymer separator for lithium batteries based on single‐ion polymer electrolytes is presented. The polymer electrolytes are based on methacrylic polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) functionalized with a lithium sulfonamide group combined with different organic plasticizers such as sulfolane and carbonates. The synthesis of the polymer NPs is carried out by emulsion copolymerization of methyl methacrylate and lithium sulfonamide methacrylate in the presence of a crosslinker, resulting in particle sizes of less than 30 nm, as shown by electron microscopy. Then polymer electrolytes are prepared by mixing polymer NPs with varying lithium sulfonamide content and different plasticizers such as carbonates and sulfolane. The polymer electrolytes show ionic conductivities between 2.9 × 10−4 and 2.3 × 10−5 S cm−1 at 85 °C with the highest values for the small‐sized NPs with the highest lithium content. As a proof‐of‐concept application, layer‐by‐layer printing of a sulfolane‐based polymer electrolyte is evaluated via direct ink writing directly onto classic battery electrodes. The electrochemical characterization of the printed solid electrolyte indicates favorable properties, ionic conductivity, lithium transfer number, electrochemical stability window, and cyclability in lithium symmetrical cells, to be used in lithium batteries.
Multi-objective optimization of FSW variables on joint properties of AA5754 aluminum alloy using Taguchi approach and grey relational analysis
Authors: Abdelhady Saleh S. , Elbadawi Rehab E. , Zoalfakar Said H.
Published: January 2024

Friction stir welding (FSW) processing of the joint is a technique to improve the quality of the weld. The present research employed the friction stir welding technique to butt-weld AA5754 plates, whereby the joints of every weld case were identified based on their tensile strength, hardness, and impact toughness. The plates were joined by varying the rotational speeds, welding speeds, and tool tilt angles. A multi-objective optimization Taguchi’s design of experiments approach and grey relational analysis (GRA) were used in this study to assess the combined effects of the process variables. The developed models are evaluated for sufficiency, and then the most significant parameters are determined using the analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results of the ANOVA showed that the rotational speed has a maximum contribution of 55.24%, 59%, and 46.27% in obtaining the optimal values of tensile strength, hardness, and impact toughness, respectively. It was found that formability and mechanical behaviors increased with increasing tilt angle for the tilt angle range examined in the current study. The two methods provide the same results, and the optimal conditions are a rotational speed of 1000 rpm, a welding speed of 60 mm/min, and a tilt angle of 2.5°. The optimal values for tensile strength, hardness, and impact toughness, respectively, were found to be 136 MPa, 85.25 HV, and 13 J. Significant implications for the welding industry may arise from the highly favorable outcomes in terms of microstructure and mechanical attributes.
Distribution of antibiotic resistance genes and their pathogen hosts in duck farm environments in south-east coastal China
Authors: Liu Kaidi , Wang Minge , Zhang Yin , Fang Chang , Zhang Rongmin , Fang Liangxing , Sun Jian , Liu Yahong , Liao Xiaoping
Published: January 2024

Livestock farms are major reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) that are discharged into the environment. However, the abundance, diversity, and transmission of ARGs in duck farms and its impact on surrounding environments remain to be further explored. Therefore, the characteristics of ARGs and their bacterial hosts from duck farms and surrounding environment were investigated by using metagenomic sequencing. Eighteen ARG types which consist of 823 subtypes were identified and the majority conferred resistance to multidrug, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, chloramphenicols, MLS, and sulfonamides. The floR gene was the most abundant subtype, followed by sul1, tetM, sul2, and tetL. ARG abundance in fecal sample was significantly higher than soil and water sample. Our results also lead to a hypothesis that Shandong province have been the most contaminated by ARGs from duck farm compared with other four provinces. PcoA results showed that the composition of ARG subtypes in water and soil samples was similar, but there were significant differences between water and feces samples. However, the composition of ARG subtypes were similar between samples from five provinces. Bacterial hosts of ARG subtypes were taxonomically assigned to eight phyla that were dominated by the Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria. In addition, some human bacterial pathogens could be enriched in duck feces, including Enterococcus faecium, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Staphylococcus aureus, and even serve as the carrier of ARGs. The combined results indicate that a comprehensive overview of the diversity and abundance of ARGs, and strong association between ARGs and bacterial community shift proposed, and benefit effective measures to improve safety of antibiotics use in livestock and poultry farming.

Key points

• ARG distribution was widespread in the duck farms and surroundings environment

• ARG abundance on the duck farms was significantly higher than in soil and water

• Human bacterial pathogens may serve as the vectors for ARGs
Positive selection and functional diversification of transcription factor Cmr1 homologs in Alternaria
Authors: Qiu Chaodong , Liu Zhenyu
Published: January 2024

Transcription factor Cmr1 (Colletotrichum melanin regulation 1) and its homologs in several plant fungal pathogens are the regulators of the 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene (DHN)-melanin biosynthesis pathway and have evolved functional diversification in morphology and pathogenicity. The fungal genus Alternaria comprises the group of “black fungi” that are rich in DHN-melanin in the primary cell wall and septa of the conidia. Some Alternaria species cause many economically important plant diseases worldwide. However, the evolution and function of Cmr1 homologs in Alternaria remain poorly understood. Here, we identified a total of forty-two Cmr1 homologs from forty-two Alternaria spp. and all contained one additional diverse fungal specific transcription factor motif. Phylogenetic analysis indicated the division of these homologs into five major clades and three branches. Dated phylogeny showed the A and D clades diverged latest and earliest, respectively. Molecular evolutionary analyses revealed that three amino acid sites of Cmr1 homologs in Alternaria were the targets of positive selection. Asmr1, the homolog of Cmr1 in the potato early blight pathogen, Alternaria solani was amplified and displayed the sequence conservation at the amino acid level in different A. solani isolates. Asmr1 was further confirmed to have the transcriptional activation activity and was upregulated during the early stage of potato infection. Deletion of asmr1 led to the decreased melanin content and pathogenicity, deformed conidial morphology, and responses to cell wall and fungicide stresses in A. solani. These results suggest positive selection and functional divergence have played a role in the evolution of Cmr1 homologs in Alternaria.

Key points

• Cmr1 homologs were under positive selection in Alternaria species

• Asmr1 is a functional transcription factor, involved in spore development, melanin biosynthesis, pathogenicity, and responses to cell wall and fungicide stresses in A. solani

• Cmr1 might be used as a potential taxonomic marker of the genus Alternaria
Spirituelle Interventionen in der multimodalen Schmerztherapie
Authors: Kieselbach Kristin , Frede Ursula
Published: January 2024

Verstehen wir chronischen Schmerz nicht nur als Krankheit, sondern zugleich als existenzielle Krise, erscheint eine Berücksichtigung spiritueller Aspekte im Behandlungsprozess als ebenso folgerichtig wie sinnvoll. Spiritualität wird als Oberbegriff für alle Aktivitäten und Erfahrungen verstanden, die dem Leben des Menschen Sinn und Bedeutung verleihen – unabhängig von seiner religiösen Zugehörigkeit. Bislang wurden spirituelle Aspekte therapeutisch hauptsächlich im palliativen Kontext berücksichtigt. Aktuellen umfragebasierten Erhebungen bei Schmerzerkrankten zufolge führt die Einbeziehung der spirituellen Thematik in die Therapie zu einer Verbesserung von Lebensqualität und Schmerztoleranz und wird überdies von den Betroffenen explizit gewünscht. Eine konsequente Erweiterung multimodaler Behandlungsansätze im Sinne eines biopsychosozial-spirituellen Konzepts wurde bislang noch nicht umgesetzt. Relevant für die praktische Umsetzung sind v. a. folgende Grundhaltungen und Verhaltensweisen: Offenheit für spirituelle Themen und Authentizität, Erhebung der spirituellen Anamnese, Zuhören, Standhalten, Aktivierung von Werten, Rückgriff auf Motive aus Religion, Mythologie und Kunst. Die fachliche Zuständigkeit betrifft generell alle Behandler, kann aber auch qualifizierte Fachpersonen für einen spezialisierten Beistand erfordern. Die Integration einer authentischen spirituellen Begleitung in die multimodale Schmerztherapie soll über eine Ressourcenaktivierung und die Identifikation belastender spiritueller Überzeugungen dazu beitragen, Selbstwert- und Identitätserleben der Betroffenen zu stabilisieren. Die detaillierte Integration und die Untersuchung der Effizienz spiritueller Interventionen in der multimodalen Schmerztherapie bedürfen weiterer Untersuchungen.
Multimodal Fusion of Brain Imaging Data: Methods and Applications
Authors: Luo Na , Shi Weiyang , Yang Zhengyi , Song Ming , Jiang Tianzi
Published: January 2024

Neuroimaging data typically include multiple modalities, such as structural or functional magnetic resonance imaging, diffusion tensor imaging, and positron emission tomography, which provide multiple views for observing and analyzing the brain. To leverage the complementary representations of different modalities, multimodal fusion is consequently needed to dig out both inter-modality and intra-modality information. With the exploited rich information, it is becoming popular to combine multiple modality data to explore the structural and functional characteristics of the brain in both health and disease status. In this paper, we first review a wide spectrum of advanced machine learning methodologies for fusing multimodal brain imaging data, broadly categorized into unsupervised and supervised learning strategies. Followed by this, some representative applications are discussed, including how they help to understand the brain arealization, how they improve the prediction of behavioral phenotypes and brain aging, and how they accelerate the biomarker exploration of brain diseases. Finally, we discuss some exciting emerging trends and important future directions. Collectively, we intend to offer a comprehensive overview of brain imaging fusion methods and their successful applications, along with the challenges imposed by multi-scale and big data, which arises an urgent demand on developing new models and platforms.
Development of a Diffusion Bonding Route for Joining Oxide-Dispersion-Strengthened (ODS) Steels for Nuclear Applications
Authors: Leo José Rodolpho de Oliveira , Fitzpatrick Michael E.
Published: January 2024

Oxide-dispersion-strengthened (ODS) steels are candidate materials for components in current and future nuclear power plants. One of the issues with using ODS steels is the difficulty of joining them without loss of mechanical performance. In this study, austenitic ODS 316L stainless steel was diffusion-bonded to Inconel 718 superalloy. Having optimized the bonding conditions, a number of samples were made at 1200 °C with a bonding time of 1 hour and pressure of 10 MPa. Preliminary mechanical and microstructural analyses indicated the formation of a sound joint interface, despite slight grain growth in the ODS 316L. A post-bonding thermo-mechanical treatment (TMT) was conducted to refine and restore the microstructure of the ODS 316L. Comparative TEM investigations of the parent ODS alloy and the bonded samples (with and without TMT) along with statistical analyses showed that the Y–Ti–O oxide size distribution remains unaffected by the bonding and complementary TMT cycles, indicating stability of such particles even at very high temperatures and suitability of the devised route for joining the ODS 316L steel.
Theoretical Investigation of Spherical Bubble Dynamics in High Mach Number Regimes
Authors: Han Lingxi , Yan Shuai , Li Shuai
Published: January 2024

The compressibility of fluids has a profound influence on oscillating bubble dynamics, as characterized by the Mach number. However, current theoretical frameworks for bubbles, whether at the first or second order of the Mach number, are primarily confined to scenarios characterized by weak compressibility. Thus, a critical need to elucidate the precise range of applicability for both first- and second-order bubble theories arises. Herein, we investigate the suitability and constraints of bubble theories with different orders through a comparative analysis involving experimental data and numerical simulations. The focal point of our investigation encompasses theories such as the Rayleigh–Plesset, Keller, Herring, and second-order bubble equations. Furthermore, the impact of parameters inherent in the second-order equations is examined. For spherical oscillating bubble dynamics in a free field, our findings reveal that the first- and second-order bubble theories are applicable when Ma⩽0.3 and 0.4, respectively. For a single sonoluminescence bubble, we define an instantaneous Mach number, Mai. The second-order theory shows abnormal sensibility when Mai is high, which is negligible when Mai⩽0.4. The results of this study can serve as a valuable reference for studying compressible bubble dynamics.
COVID-19 and Bone Loss: A Review of Risk Factors, Mechanisms, and Future Directions
Authors: Creecy Amy , Awosanya Olatundun D. , Harris Alexander , Qiao Xian , Ozanne Marie , Toepp Angela J. , Kacena Melissa A. , McCune Thomas
Published: January 2024

Purpose of Review

SARS-CoV-2 drove the catastrophic global phenomenon of the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in a multitude of systemic health issues, including bone loss. The purpose of this review is to summarize recent findings related to bone loss and potential mechanisms.

Recent Findings

The early clinical evidence indicates an increase in vertebral fractures, hypocalcemia, vitamin D deficiencies, and a loss in BMD among COVID-19 patients. Additionally, lower BMD is associated with more severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. Preclinical models have shown bone loss and increased osteoclastogenesis. The bone loss associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection could be the result of many factors that directly affect the bone such as higher inflammation, activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, recruitment of Th17 cells, the hypoxic environment, and changes in RANKL/OPG signaling. Additionally, SARS-CoV-2 infection can exert indirect effects on the skeleton, as mechanical unloading may occur with severe disease (e.g., bed rest) or with BMI loss and muscle wasting that has also been shown to occur with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Muscle wasting can also cause systemic issues that may influence the bone. Medications used to treat SARS-CoV-2 infection also have a negative effect on the bone. Lastly, SARS-CoV-2 infection may also worsen conditions such as diabetes and negatively affect kidney function, all of which could contribute to bone loss and increased fracture risk.

SARS-CoV-2 can negatively affect the bone through multiple direct and indirect mechanisms. Future work will be needed to determine what patient populations are at risk of COVID-19-related increases in fracture risk, the mechanisms behind bone loss, and therapeutic options. This review article is part of a series of multiple manuscripts designed to determine the utility of using artificial intelligence for writing scientific reviews.
Process parameters and their effect on metal transfer in gas metal arc welding: a driving force perspective
Authors: Sato Yuriko , Ogino Yosuke , Sano Tomokazu
Published: January 2024

In gas metal arc welding (GMAW), the optimization of process parameters and the control of metal transfer is pivotal for achieving superior welding outcomes. This study meticulously examines the roles of core process parameters in metal transfer: wire extension and arc geometry, which includes arc length and inter-cathode distance. Using a unique MIG-based non-transferred arc system with symmetrically arranged tungsten cathodes we have achieved distinct control over wire feed rate and arc geometry, independent of the arc current. We investigate the interplay of these parameters and their consequential influence on the driving forces governing metal transfer. While increasing the wire extension enhanced inertial forces, it did not lead to consistent transitions in the metal transfer modes. In contrast, adjusting arc length and inter-cathode distance effectively controlled the electromagnetic force acting on molten droplets, as quantified by the arc spread angle $$\theta$$
θ
. Notably, an increase in the arc spread angle resulted in the elongation of molten droplets. This study clarifies the fundamental relationships between driving forces and process parameters in GMAW. Additionally, it introduces a more advanced evaluation model for electromagnetic force and offers a comprehensive strategy for refining welding control techniques.
Microfluidic model of the alternative vasculature in neuroblastoma
Authors: Villasante Aranzazu , Lopez-Martinez Maria Jose , Quiñonero Gema , Garcia-Lizarribar Andrea , Peng Xiaofeng , Samitier Josep
Published: January 2024

Neuroblastoma (NB) is a highly vascularized pediatric tumor arising from undifferentiated neural crest cells early in life, exhibiting both traditional endothelial-cell-driven vasculature and an intriguing alternative vasculature. The alternative vasculature can arise from cancer cells undergoing transdifferentiation into tumor-derived endothelial cells (TEC), a trait associated with drug resistance and tumor relapse. The lack of effective treatments targeting NB vasculature primarily arises from the challenge of establishing predictive in vitro models that faithfully replicate the alternative vasculature phenomenon. In this study, we aim to recreate the intricate vascular system of NB in an in vitro context, encompassing both types of vascularization, by developing a novel neuroblastoma-on-a-chip model. We designed a collagen I/fibrin-based hydrogel closely mirroring NB’s physiological composition and tumor stiffness. This biomaterial created a supportive environment for the viability of NB and endothelial cells. Implementing a physiological shear stress value, aligned with the observed range in arteries and capillaries, within the microfluidic chip facilitated the successful development of vessel-like structures and triggered transdifferentiation of NB cells into TECs. The vascularized neuroblastoma-on-a-chip model introduced here presents a promising and complementary strategy to animal-based research with a significant capacity for delving into NB tumor biology and vascular targeting therapy.
An urban-scale spatiotemporal optimization of rooftop photovoltaic charging of electric vehicles
Authors: Ji Nanfan , Zhu Rui , Huang Ziyi , You Linlin
Published: January 2024

Solar photovoltaic (PV) farming is increasingly being used to power electric vehicles (EVs). Although many studies have developed dynamic EV charging prediction and scheduling models, few of them have coupled rooftop PV electricity generation with the spatiotemporal EV charging demands at an urban scale. Thus, this study develops a research framework containing three interconnected modules to investigate the feasibility of EV charging powered by rooftop PVs. The framework is constructed by the statistics of time serial EV charging demands at each station, the planning of rooftop PV installations associated with all charging stations, and the development of a dynamic dispatching algorithm to transmit surplus electricity from one station to another. The algorithm can maximize the overall balance between supply and demand, maximize the total PV electricity generation while minimising the total PV area, minimize the number of PV charging stations used as the suppliers for dynamic dispatch, and minimize the total electricity transmission distance between stations given the same power supply. The experiment utilizes a complete EV charging dataset containing 5574 charging piles with more than 9.7 million records in June and July in Guangzhou, China. The results show that rooftop PVs can supply more than 90% of the charging demand. The results encourage and inspire us to generalize and promote such a solution in other cities. Future work can refine the algorithm by adapting different PV sizes into various charging stations to further improve the electricity generation capability and the dynamic dispatching efficiency.
Gendering Public and Private International Law: Transversal Legal Histories of the State, Market, and the Family through Women's Private Property Rights
Authors: McKenna Miriam Bak , Arvidsson Matilda
Published: January 2024

This essay takes up Karen Knop's challenge to reconstruct the oft-made distinction between private and public law by engaging private international law (PrIL) as a “lost side of international law.”1 To do so we interrogate the changing fortunes (literally) of women's private property rights in the long nineteenth century—a period characterized by the divestment and reinstatement of gendered rights in national law—focusing on the Nordics, Europe more broadly, and the Colonial world. Following Knop and other feminist legal scholars, and by engaging with questions of what Mariana Valverde calls “scale,”2 we bring women's property rights in conversation with international law. In doing so, we point to sites of engagement where the politico-economic structures of international law are lived, negotiated, reconfigured, and made real.3 We use scale to frame and inform our analysis bringing attention to how the “small” (micro) economics and politics of everyday life, women's labor, and gendered legal concerns, underpin and are an intrinsic part of the “large-scale” structures of international law. “All scales shifts,” Mariana Valverde notes, meaning that such “processes . . . br[ing] certain phenomena into focus that had previously been blurred or pushed to the background.”4 Recovering matters of women's history and everyday life, which, as Knop has argued are often “hiding in plain sight,” with a focus on women's property rights, brings to the fore the critical relationship between family/household, market, and the state, and the fundamental role international law has played in implementing a specific economic vision through the organization of gendered power relations.
Labour code, location, and migration
Authors: Nguyen Dung Kieu , Nguyen Diep Ngoc , Dao Son The , Phan Trang
Published: January 2024

The introduction of the 2012 Labour Code is considered ‘groundbreaking’ in industrial relations in Vietnam. However, knowledge about the effects of this law is still minimal. This study provides the first evidence of the impacts of the law on worker outcomes, disaggregated by location and migration status. The Vietnam Labour Force Survey is used as the primary dataset. Both difference-in-differences and fixed-effect models are applied in the investigation. The estimated results show a relationship between the introduction of the law and the labour supply of contracted workers in urban areas, especially long-term migrant workers. Furthermore, income for these long-term migrant contract workers was affected significantly by the introduction of the law. A link between the law and health insurance participation was also found among non-migrant contracted workers in urban areas. We also perform estimations using a short panel sample and find notable results. The study likewise reveals disadvantages of rural workers compared to urban workers in terms of earnings, and of short-term migrants compared to other workers, in terms of labour supply.
Fear Generalization and Mnemonic Injustice
Authors: Trakas Marina , Puddifoot Katherine
Published: January 2024

This paper focuses on how experiences of trauma can lead to generalized fear of people, objects and places that are similar or contextually or conceptually related to those that produced the initial fear, causing epistemic, affective and practical harms to those who are unduly feared and those who are intimates of the victim of trauma. We argue that cases of fear generalization that bring harm to other people constitute examples of injustice closely akin to testimonial injustice, specifically, mnemonic injustice. Mnemonic injustice is a label that has been introduced to capture how injustice can occur via the operation of human memory systems when stereotypes shape what is remembered. Here we argue that injustices can also occur via memory systems when trauma leads to a generalized fear. We also argue that this calls for a reformulation of the notion of mnemonic injustice.
Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer in intertemporal choice
Authors: Burghoorn Floor , Heuvelmans Vivian R. , Scheres Anouk , Roelofs Karin , Figner Bernd
Published: January 2024

We often forego a larger future reward in order to obtain a smaller reward immediately, known as impatient intertemporal choice. The current study investigated the role of Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer (PIT) as a mechanism contributing to impatient intertemporal choice, following a theoretical framework proposing that cues associated with immediate gratification trigger a Pavlovian approach response, interfering with goal-directed (instrumental) inhibitory behavior. We developed a paradigm in which participants first learned to make instrumental go/no-go responses in order to win rewards and avoid punishments. Next, they learned the associations between Pavlovian cues and rewards varying in amount and delay. Finally, we tested whether these (task-irrelevant) cues exerted transfer effects by influencing instrumental actions while participants again completed the go/no-go task. Across two experiments, Pavlovian cues associated with larger (versus smaller) and immediate (versus delayed) rewards were evaluated more positively, reflecting the successful acquisition of Pavlovian cue–outcome associations. These findings replicated the previously reported classical transfer effect of reward amount on instrumental behavior, as large (versus smaller) cues increased instrumental approach. In contrast, we found no evidence for the hypothesized transfer effects for reward delay, contrary to the proposed role of PIT in impatient intertemporal choice. These results suggest that although both reward amount and delay were important in the evaluation of cues, only the amount associated with cues influenced instrumental choice. We provide concrete suggestions for future studies, addressing instrumental outcome identity, competition between cue–amount and cue–delay associations, and individual differences in response to Pavlovian cues.
Status between Law and Religion: Introduction
Authors: Lubin Timothy
Published: January 2024

The juridical status of persons nowadays tends to be discussed only in narrow contexts: civic status (citizen, alien, and various visa statuses), marital status, penal status, employment status, religious or ethnic status within colonial and postcolonial states, status of the fetus, corporate personal status, and so on. In the century and a half since Henry Maine’s 1861 treatise, Ancient Law, in which he discerned a general movement from status to contract in progressive societies, broad discussions of status as a general feature of law are few, so a renewed comprehensive approach to the issue remains a desideratum. This symposium, which has its origins in an interdisciplinary conference held in November 2019 at Washington and Lee University School of Law, is a step in that direction. The articles and essay gathered here illuminate the multifarious ways in which juridical status of persons overlaps with religious conceptions of persona and status. They provide grounds for seeing the religious component as distinctive because of the uniquely privileged authority attributed to divinely mandated status distinctions and the urgency of claims to religious rights. They also show how a juridical status can straddle law and religion, and how legal institutions handle such hybrid forms of status.
Narratives in numbers: Sociotechnical storytelling with self-tracking
Authors: Lyall Ben
Published: January 2024

This paper explores self-tracking as a social practice with significant relationships to human memory. The history of data and memory is fraught with a concern that specifics of qualia are subjugated to datafication. Yet, historical perspectives linking paper diaries and digital tracking show that rich accounts can be preserved in media. Cognisant of both perspectives, this paper argues that rather than delegating reflection to algorithms, users engage critically. Using original research data, this paper demonstrates how users unite the sociotechnical affordances of devices, data visualisations, and personal narratives to communicate memory in mediated forms. In doing so, they bridge semantic and autobiographic memory, combining subjectivity and objectivity. A datafied narration of everyday life emerges, affirming unique and vital stories. Often directed toward future goals, the mnemonic value of self-tracking in the present is overlooked. Yet whether recalling unfortunate accidents, sporting success, work, holidays, or illness experiences, participants use data as a scaffold to build stories and affirm identity. This paper asserts that memory and storytelling is an essential anchor for practices of digital self-tracking.