bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From Morphology to Therapeutic Strategies: Exploring New Applications of Ultrasound for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy Diagnosis and Management
Authors: Jiang Yanfeng , Liu Xiatian , Jiang Zhenzhen
Published: September 2024

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a common complication of diabetes that can result in severe lower limb pain and amputation. Early detection and treatment of DPN are vital, but this condition is often missed due to a lack of symptoms and the insensitivity of testing methods. This article reviews various ultrasound imaging modalities in the direct and indirect evaluation of peripheral neuropathy. Moreover, how ultrasound‐related therapeutic strategies are playing a role in clinical treatment is discussed. Finally, the application of innovative methodologies in the diagnosis of DPN, including ultrasound attenuation, photoacoustic imaging, and artificial intelligence, is described.
MicroRNA‐223 alleviates inflammatory response in renal ischemia‐reperfusion injury by targeting NLRP3
Authors: Ye Jun , Tang Xiaoli , Li Ming , Liao Yutian , Zeng Yiqian , Tang Furong , Qiu Eryue
Published: September 2024

We investigated the potential correlation between miR‐223 and NAcHT, LRR, and PYd domain‐containing protein 3 (NLRP3) in the context of renal ischemia‐reperfusion injury (RIRI), which is a leading cause of acute renal failure with significant mortality rates. Additionally, miR‐223 has been implicated in renal inflammation, further highlighting its relevance to this study. C57BL/6 male mice were used as RIRI models. After successful modeling, pathological examinations and serum creatinine and miR‐223 levels were tested. Pro‐inflammatory cytokine (IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐8, NLPR3, TLR4) expression was detected in mice by western blot (kidney tissue) and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (serum). HK‐2 cells were used for in vitro experiments. A hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) model was used, and miR‐223 and pro‐inflammatory cytokine levels were detected using PCR and western blot assays, respectively. A dual‐luciferase reporter assay was conducted to confirm the binding of miR‐223 to NLPR3. Next, NLRP3 was knocked down to determine whether the anti‐inflammatory function of miR‐223 is dependent on NLRP3. MiR‐223 expression was lower in RIRI mice than in the sham operation group. The level of miR‐223 negatively correlated with serum creatinine levels and the severity of tubule injury. Increased proinflammatory cytokine levels in RIRI mice were observed. In vitro, miR‐223 alleviated the inflammatory response in H/R treated cells by inhibiting proinflammatory cytokines. Dual‐luciferase reporter and western blot assays confirmed the binding of miR‐223 to NLRP3. NLRP3 knockdown reversed the anti‐inflammatory effects of miR‐223 in HK‐2 cells. MiR‐223 plays an anti‐inflammatory role in RIRI by targeting NLRP3 to repress pro‐inflammatory factors.
DOJ: Kentucky in violation of ADA for lack of community‐based services
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: September 2024

Kentucky has failed to provide adequate community‐based services to prevent the hospitalization of adults with serious mental illness, resulting in unnecessary segregation in psychiatric hospitals in the Louisville/Jefferson County metro area, according to a new report released last month by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
The release of GLP‐1 from gut L cells is inhibited by low extracellular pH
Authors: Garbutt Philippa , Cyranka Malgorzata , Michl Johanna , Maejima Yuko , Vedovato Natascia , Shimomura Kenju , Swietach Pawel , de Wet Heidi
Published: September 2024

Objective

The intestinal luminal pH profile varies from stomach to rectum and becomes disrupted in diseases. However, little is known about the pH dependence of incretin hormone secretion, with most in vitro studies having failed to consider this modulatory factor or having used nonphysiological buffer systems. Here, we report the extracellular pH (pHe) dependence of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) exocytosis from L cells.

Methods

The pHe dependence of GLP‐1 release from GLUTag cells and murine ex vivo primary gut cultures was detected by ELISA. GLP‐1 release was measured over a range of pHe under a physiological (CO2/HCO3−) buffering regime and in its absence (HEPES buffer). The relationship between intracellular pH (pHi) and pHe was mapped given that at least some component of pH sensitivity is likely to be intracellular.

Results

GLP‐1 secretion from L cells was pHe‐dependent and stimulated under alkaline conditions. In the absence of glucose or extracellular calcium, secretion remained at a pHe‐insensitive baseline. pHi followed changes in pHe, but the relationship was offset to more alkaline levels in the absence of CO2/HCO3− buffer and became shallower if [Cl−] changes that normally accompany [HCO3−] changes were compensated iso‐osmotically with gluconate.

Conclusions

GLP‐1 secretion is sensitive to pHe and the buffer present. Exploiting this mechanism therapeutically may benefit patients with obesity.
Extreme temperature influence on low velocity impact damage and residual flexural properties of CFRP
Authors: Bavasso Irene , Sergi Claudia , Ferrante Luca , Pawlik Marzena , Lu Yiling , Lampani Luca , Tirillò Jacopo , Sarasini Fabrizio
Published: September 2024

In this work, the behavior of carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites (CFRPs) interleaved with electrospun veils under low velocity impact (LVI) conditions and extreme environmental temperatures was investigated. 2/2 twill carbon fiber/epoxy laminates were subjected to LVI at three energy levels (10, 20, and 30 J), and three temperatures (−50°C, room temperature, and 100°C). Two interleaved configurations were explored (six veils placed symmetrically with respect to the middle plane of the laminate and with respect to the external layers of the laminate). Particularly at room temperature and up to 20 J, nanofibrous interlayers effectively reduced localized deformation (by about 13.0%) and delamination (by about 12.2%) when positioned in the outer ply interleaved configuration compared to the reference laminate. At 100°C, this effect is maintained at 10 J, preventing an increase in the delaminated area. At −50°C and 10 J, the promotion of delamination prevented back surface fiber failure. Regarding post‐impact flexural properties, the presence of nanoveils ensured superior mechanical properties compared to the corresponding reference laminate impacted at the same conditions, demonstrating their efficacy in enhancing the damage tolerance of the overall laminate.

Highlights

Electrospun veils were interleaved in 20 layers of 2/2 twill carbon/epoxy laminate.

Three configurations were tested under LVI at 10 J, 20 J, 30 J, and −50°C, RT, and 100°C.

Observed damage modes include delamination, indentation, and back surface fiber cracks.

Veils symmetrically placed in external layers limit delamination at 20 J (RT) and 10 J (100°C).

Electrospun veils enhanced CFRP bending and residual post‐impact properties at RT and 100°C.
Detecting and Dating Early Non‐live Pregnancy Outcomes: Generation of a Novel Pregnancy Algorithm From Norwegian Linked Health Registries
Authors: Nordeng Hedvig , Lupattelli Angela , Engjom Hilde M. , van Gelder Marleen M. H. J.
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Pregnancies ending before gestational week 12 are common but not notified to the Medical Birth Registry of Norway. Our goal was to develop an algorithm that more completely detects and dates all possible pregnancy outcomes (i.e., miscarriages, elective terminations, ectopic pregnancies, molar pregnancies, stillbirths, and live births) by using diagnostic codes from primary and secondary care registries to complement information from the birth registry.

Methods

We used nationwide linked registry data between 2008 and 2018 in a hierarchical manner: We developed the UiO pregnancy algorithm to arrive at unique pregnancy outcomes, considering codes within 56 days as the same event. To estimate the gestational age of pregnancy outcomes identified in the primary and secondary care registries, we inferred the median gestational age of pregnancy markers (45 ICD‐10 codes and 9 ICPC‐2 codes) from pregnancies registered in the medical birth registry. When no pregnancy markers were available, we assigned outcome‐specific gestational age estimates. The performance of the algorithm was assessed by blinded clinicians.

Results

Using only the medical birth registry, we identified 649 703 pregnancies, including 1369 (0.2%) miscarriages and 3058 (0.5%) elective terminations. With the new algorithm, we detected 859 449 pregnancies, including 642 712 live‐births (74.8%), 112 257 miscarriages (13.1%), 94 664 elective terminations (11.0%), 6429 ectopic pregnancies (0.7%), 2564 stillbirths (0.3%), and 823 molar pregnancies (0.1%). The median gestational age was 10+1 weeks (IQR 10+0–12+2) for miscarriages and 8+0 weeks (IQR 8+0–9+6) for elective terminations. Gestational age could be inferred using pregnancy markers for 66.3% of miscarriages and 47.2% of elective terminations.

Conclusion

The UiO pregnancy algorithm improved the detection and dating of early non‐live pregnancy outcomes that would have gone unnoticed if relying solely on the medical birth registry information.
One‐step electrosynthesis of a nanocomposite of functionalized graphene and polypyrrole for enhanced room‐temperature nitrogen oxide sensing
Authors: Guettiche Djamil , Mekki Ahmed , Debiemme‐Chouvy Catherine , Simon Nathalie , Sayah Zakaria Bekkar Djelloul , Tighilt Fatma‐Zohra , Touijine Sabri , Mansri Omar
Published: September 2024

Due to the numerous challenges related to selectivity, sensitivity, stability, and operation at standard room temperature, improving the environmental detection of nitrogen oxide presents a considerable defy in the development of novel promising structures in chemical detection. In this study, a new series of p‐type heterojunction nanocomposites based on electrodeposited polypyrrole (PPy) doped with n‐dodecylbenzene sulphonate and either reduced graphene oxide (PPy/RedGO) or reduced graphene oxide functionalized using aryl 4‐carboxybenzene diazonium salt (PPy/RedGO‐arylCOOH) was synthetized using a one‐step chronoamperometric process. The influence of functionalized graphene incorporation on the structural, morphological, and sensory performances of the PPy film was investigated. Its sensitivity and reactivity to NO2 sensing were studied. The structural data confirms that PPy/RedGO‐arylCOOH film is a homogeneous nanocomposite with improved crystalline ordering. It shows optimal NO2 sensing properties compared to the PPy/RedGO composite in terms of sensitivity (0.87 ppm−1), detection limit (2 ppm), response time of 29 s, recovery time of 40 s and reproducibility at room temperature.
Preparation of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) conjugated polymer brush films from amine‐terminated surfaces
Authors: Armendarez Olivia J. , Parizek Grace C. , Augustine Ruth J. , Silver Evan J. , Kaz Tristan A. , Campbell Kaylee A. , Diaz Isabella P. , Mantripragada Shobha , Geil Robert D. , Flagg Sadie M. , Augustine Brian H. , Lundin Pamela M.
Published: September 2024

Conjugated polymer brush (CPB) films are more robust and exhibit more vertically aligned polymer chains than their spun‐cast analogs. We prepare CPB films of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) by coupling an amine‐terminated surface (ATS) formed from (3‐aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) on Si/SiO2 to 4‐bromobenzoic acid using standard, inexpensive peptide coupling reagents. The resulting terminal bromobenzene is reacted with Pd(PtBu3)2 and immersed in the monomer solution. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, spectroscopic ellipsometry and static water contact angle measurements confirm the surface chemistry at each stage of P3HT CPB preparation. Atomic force microscopy(AFM) and UV–vis spectrophotometry indicate that the CPB films prepared by this method exhibit similar morphology and optical properties to those produced from other methods of poly(3‐alkylthiophene) CPB film preparation. Variations of the standard approach, such as using a pre‐synthesized silane counterpart or with (11‐aminoundecyl)triethoxysilane, show comparable film morphologies by AFM. This method is used to produce the first CPB film of poly(3‐dodecylthiophene), showing its utility for exploring CPB films of more sterically demanding polymers. Peptide coupling is used to prepare an analogous functionalized thiol for initiating P3HT CPB film growth from Au surfaces, and microcontact printing with this thiol allows preparation of the first patterned CPB film of P3HT.
Diagnosis and treatment of ADHD in pediatric patients during the first year of elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor
Authors: Pasley Kimberly , Dell Mary Lynn , May Anne
Published: September 2024

Background

With elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor (ETI), children with cystic fibrosis (CwCF) are living healthier lives with a focus on typical developmental issues such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This paper characterizes CwCF with ADHD within the first year of ETI treatment.

Methods

This retrospective, observational analysis examines a subgroup of CwCF participating in a longitudinal study obtaining prospective data regarding the impact of ETI on mental health. All participants started on ETI were offered enrollment, with rolling enrollment as younger children became eligible. Clinical data regarding CF symptoms, mental health diagnoses, medications, changes in mental health symptoms and BMI were collected via chart review.

Results

Before ETI, ADHD diagnoses were identified in 21 children; an additional 3 were diagnosed within the first year. Eleven children were treated with ADHD medication at ETI initiation; nine children did not use ADHD medication during the study period. In the 1‐year follow‐up, four children started ADHD medication. Of the 11 who started ETI on ADHD medication, five increased doses, three changed medications and/or decreased dose, and one discontinued medication. Two children experienced no changes to their treatment.

Conclusion

Most CwCF on ADHD medication underwent changes in dosing and/or medication after ETI initiation. Several children were diagnosed with ADHD after starting ETI. The role of ETI in these recent diagnoses and treatment plans is unclear. Given the prevalence of pediatric ADHD diagnoses and the medication changes that were needed by this population, additional research is warranted to clarify the relationship between ETI and ADHD in CwCF.
Complete removal of a ruptured pulmonary hydatid cyst during conscious sedation bronchoscopy: A case report and literature review
Authors: Wen Kevin Ziyi , Lim Ricky Tanujaya , Dimitri Andrew , Noonan Lisa , Williamson Jonathan
Published: September 2024

The complete removal of a pulmonary hydatid cyst by bronchoscopy occurs rarely in clinical practice. We describe a 22‐year‐old male originally from Lebanon, with suspected hydatid cyst rupture on computed tomography chest after experiencing sudden onset fevers and cough whilst taking empiric anthelmintic therapy. Bronchoscopy revealed white gelatinous material in the posterior segment of the left lower lobe. The complete membranes of a hydatid cyst were removed with grasping forceps. Histologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of echinococcosis.
Room Temperature Single‐Component Organic Multiferroics with Large Magnetoelectric Coupling: Proficient Approach for Stray‐Magnetic Field Harvesting
Authors: Deepak  , Saini Dalip , Naskar Sudip , Mandal Dipankar , Roy Raj Kumar
Published: September 2024

Magnetoelectric materials are highly desirable for technological applications due to their ability to produce electricity under a magnetic field. Among the various types of magnetoelectric materials studied, their organic counterparts provide an opportunity to develop solution‐processable, flexible, lightweight, and wearable electronic devices. However, there is a rare choice of solution‐processable, flexible, lightweight magnetoelectric materials which has tremendous technological interest. A supramolecular scaffold with precisely positioned structure‐forming and functional units (electrical dipoles and magnetic spins) is designed so that self‐assembly results in functional unit organization. Structure‐forming segments allow these scaffolds to self‐assemble into hierarchically ordered structures in nonpolar solvents, creating nanofibrous organogel networks. In particular, the xerogel derived from this organogel exhibits the highest magnetoelectric coupling coefficient (αME ≈ 216 mV Oe−1 cm−1) reported to date for organic materials. This is even greater than commonly envisioned composite materials made of piezoelectric polymers and inorganic magnets. This single‐component organic multiferroic material displays ferroelectricity (Tc ≈ 46 °C) and paramagnetic behavior at room temperature. With this, it is demonstrated that the possibilities of effectively harvesting stray magnetic fields that are copiously available in the surroundings and wasted otherwise.
Empirical Confirmation of Theoretical Predictions for Amorphous H/VO4 Cathodes: Advancing Durability and Efficiency in Zinc‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Zhang Yu , Wang Zhiwen , Ye Hang , Wei Mengdong , Gu Yaoyu , Qu Shaojie , Wang Yang , Hu Kuan , Zhao Junqi , Liu Chunsheng , Jia Dianzeng , Lin He
Published: September 2024

Advancing cathode materials is crucial for the broader application of aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs) in energy storage systems. This study presents amorphous H/VO4 (HVO), a novel cathode material engineered by substituting H+ for Mg2+ in Mg2VO4 (MgVO), designed to enhance performance of ZIBs. Initial exploration of MgVO through ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed a favorable Mg2+ and Zn2+ exchange mechanism. This mechanism notably reduces electrostatic interactions and facilitates ion diffusion within the host lattice. Building upon these findings, in this work, theoretical calculations analysis indicated that amorphous HVO offers a higher diffusion coefficient for Zn2+ ions and fewer electrostatic interactions compared to its crystalline MgVO precursor. Subsequent empirical validation is achieved by synthesizing amorphous HVO using a rapid ion‐exchange process, effectively replacing Mg2+ with H+ ions. The synthesized amorphous HVO demonstrated 100% capacity retention after 18000 cycles at a current density of 2 A g−1 and exhibited exceptional rate performance. These findings underscore the significant potential of HVO cathodes to enhance the durability and efficiency of aqueous ZIBs, positioning them as promising candidates for future energy storage technologies.
Bidirectional Inhibiting Interfacial Ion Migration in the Inorganic Hole Transport Layer for Perovskite Light‐Emitting Diodes
Authors: Pan Lunyao , Zeng Xiankan , Qu Yuanxiao , Mu Maolin , Yang Shiyu , Chen Yongjian , Li Chenglong , Dai Linzhu , Tao Li , Xin Hongqiang , Li Wen , Yang Weiqing
Published: September 2024

Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) is strong candidate for hole transport in perovskite light emitting diodes (PeLEDs) due to their cost‐effectiveness, deep highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO), and high hole mobility. However, its inherent polymetallic ions usually deteriorate the quality of the perovskite emission layer (EML) affecting device performance. In this study, a bidirectional anchoring strategy is proposed by adding 15‐crown‐5 ether (15C5) into CZTS hole transport layer (HTL) to suppress the reaction between HTL and EML. The 15C5 molecule interacts with Cu+, Zn2+ and Sn2+ cations forming host–guest complexes to impede their migration, which is elucidated by density functional theory calculations. Additionally, 15C5 can neutralize lead (Pb) defects by the abundant oxygen (O) and high electronegative cavities to reduce the nonradiative recombination of FAPbBr3 film. This bidirectional anchoring strategy effectively improves hole charge transport efficiency and suppresses nonradiative recombination at the HTL/EML interface. As a result, the optimized PeLEDs present a 3.5 times peak external quantum efficiency (EQE) from 3.12% to 11.08% and the maximum luminance (Lmax) increased from 24495 to 50584 cd m−2. These findings offer innovative insights into addressing the metal ion migration issue commonly observed in inorganic HTLs.
Seismic performance of joint between steel H‐beam and rectangular concrete‐filled hot‐rolled‐steel tubular column
Authors: Wang Hanqin , Jiang Qing , Huang Zhipeng , Huang Junqi , Chong Xun
Published: September 2024

In this paper, a new connection between the H‐beam and rectangular concrete‐filled hot‐rolled‐steel tubular column (CFHRSTC) was proposed to prevent the steel beam‐column joint protruded from the inside wall in residential buildings. The quasi‐static test and finite element analysis were conducted on four new joints to study the influence of the haunch stiffener configuration, internal steel plate thickness, and axial force on the failure mode, load‐carrying capacity, ductility, energy dissipating capacity, and stiffness degradation of the joint. The results revealed that the hysteretic curve of every joint was full. The damage to the joint was concentrated in the H‐beam, and the CFHRSTC remained elastic. The joint configuration could realize a weak beam‐strong column and joint core connection. Using the haunch stiffener on two sides of the H‐beam flange could effectively optimize load transfer at the end of the H‐beam and joint core. As the axial force increased, the ultimate load‐carrying capacity and ductility gradually decreased. Reducing the thickness of the internal steel plate did not significantly influence the seismic performance of the joint. Compared with the use of cover plate joints, the use of haunch stiffeners can effectively enhance the seismic performance of joints.
Study of People's Behavior on the Implementation of Air Pollution Mitigation Program in Surabaya, Indonesia
Authors: Irsyada Widya Sagita , Gustinasari Kiki , Hermana Joni
Published: September 2024

The effectiveness of the air pollution mitigation program implementation to reduce CO2 emissions in Surabaya, Indonesia, has not been recognized because there are no studies on the influence of people's behavior toward air pollution mitigation programs yet. Thus, this research examined the influence of people's behavior toward the air pollution mitigation program to calculate the effectiveness of the mitigation program on CO2 reduction and assess the most effective air pollution mitigation program. The research was conducted based on a questionnaire survey of 100 respondents from 31 sub‐districts in Surabaya. Mitigation programs studied were liquid petroleum gas (LPG) conversion, biodiesel conversion, car‐free day, P and P system (emission test and vehicle periodic maintenance), composting, and reduction of plastic usage. The correlation analysis method was used to analyze the data. Based on the results of the analysis, LPG was the most influential program that affected people's behavior because it was mostly implemented by 92% of respondents. The CO2 emission was reduced to 66.38% by implementing the air pollution mitigation program. The most effective mitigation program was the P and P system.
Transdisziplinäre Experimentierräume als Forschungsstrategien in der Mobilitätswende
Authors: Haus Juliane
Published: September 2024

Transdisziplinäre Forschungsformate, allen voran Reallabore, die gezielt weitere gesellschaftliche Akteursgruppen aus Politik, Verwaltung, Wirtschaft und Zivilgesellschaft einbeziehen, gewinnen stetig an Bedeutung. Ihr entscheidendes Potenzial liegt in der ko-produktiven Generierung von Ziel- und Transformationswissen durch die lösungsorientierte Zusammenarbeit heterogener Akteure. Transdisziplinäre Experimentierräume sind eine spezifische Form von Reallaboren, die Orte hervorbringen, an denen Alternativen erlebt und erprobt werden können. Sie produzieren empirische Anstöße für Irritationen tradierter Handlungsroutinen, schaffen neue Möglichkeits- und Erfahrungsräume und machen Konfliktarenen analysierbar. Sie bieten dabei vielfältige Chancen für einen bi-direktionalen Wissenstransfer zwischen Wissenschaft und Praxis. Kommunen bilden die Orte der Umsetzung von Experimentierräumen im Mobilitätsbereich. Die Betrachtung zentraler Rahmenbedingungen in Kommunen (z. B. rechtliche Handlungsspielräume und Ressourcen), erlaubt ein tieferes Verständnis für Herausforderungen und Potenziale der transdisziplinären Zusammenarbeit. Experimentierräume schaffen hierbei nicht nur empirische Zugänge zu relevanten Forschungsthemen, sondern geben zugleich vielfältige Anstöße für eine kritische Reflexion der Rolle von Wissenschaft bei der Bewältigung der anstehenden Transformationsherausforderungen.
Summary and Policy Recommendations
Authors: Hardman Frank
Published: September 2024

A common trend emerging from the four country case studies has been the need to broaden the focus of educational development in rural communities from improving access to improving the quality of education and that teachers are at the heart of such improvements. While all four case studies show significant gains have been made in improving access to education in developing countries since the launch of Education for All (EFA), there remain significant challenges for improving the quality of education once the students are in the schools, particularly in rural areas.
Antileukaemic rescue by dose-dense donor-lymphocyte infusions in T-PLL after allogeneic stem cell transplantation – a case report
Authors: Späth Christian , Neumann Thomas , Krüger William H.
Published: September 2024

T-Cell Prolymphocytic Leukaemia (T-PLL) is an aggressive disease with a poor prognosis and only curable by allogeneic stem cell transplantation. We describe the case of a male suffering from T-PLL. Therapy was alemtuzumab followed by an allograft from an unrelated donor. T-PLL relapsed after allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Discontinuation of immunosuppression had no effected and three increasing doses of donor lymphocytes were given within one month. The patient developed acute GvHD of the lover (grade III). GvHD was successfully treated by steroids and ruxolitinib and graft-versus-leukaemia effects induced a complete remission of T-PLL. 18,5 months after transplantation the patient is well and alive without GvHD under immunosuppression with ruxolitinib. Flow cytometry of peripheral blood was negative for residual leukemic cells.
The impact of weather anomalies on violence in the coastal mid-latitudes: a cross-national comparison
Authors: Breetzke Gregory , Corcoran Jonathan
Published: September 2024

Cross-national studies examining the relationship between weather and crime are rare. Reasons are manifold but include the differences in countries due to geographical, climatic, and seasonal variations. In contrast in this study we examine the causal impact of temperature and rainfall anomalies on violent crime in locations located in two comparable geographic zones: Khayelitsha (in South Africa) and Ipswich (in Australia). We use ANOVA and Tukey’s tests to identify statistical meaningful differences (if any) in the impact of these weather anomalies on crime alongside the use of visualisations capturing the anomalous weather-violence relationship in these two contexts. Results show some similarities but also notable differences between locations which we attribute to their inherent socio-demographic differences which we expand upon. We conclude by highlighting the benefits of cross-national crime research, and motivate for its increased application in future research of this nature.
Organizational Life Cycle Assessment of a wildlife park in northern Germany
Authors: Kunert Josephine , Bach Vanessa , Spey Ina-Kathrin , Finkbeiner Matthias
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Organizational Life Cycle Assessment (O-LCA) quantifies environmental impacts and identifies key environmental hotspots within a company’s value chain. Assessment of environmental impacts from animals has been carried out for livestock production, pet keeping, and hunting. One not yet considered application relates to touristic activities that involve animal husbandry, such as zoos or animal parks. Thus, the aim of this paper is to conduct the first O-LCA for a wildlife park and identify related hotspots.

Method

O-LCA was applied in the context of a wildlife park in northern Germany from a cradle-to-gate perspective for the reference period of 2022 considering the impact categories climate change (GWP), acidification (AP), eutrophication (EP), and photochemical ozone formation (POCP). The number of visitors (437,049 people) and animals of 16 different animal groups (787 animals of more than 100 species (e.g., wolves and birds)) was set as reference flow as the organizations’ activities are focused on tourism and animal species conservation. Information on animal feed, litter, suppliers, and transportation was derived from the animal care department's data, complemented by interviews with park experts and analysis of relevant documents and invoices.

Results and discussion

The organization had emissions of around 3,176 t CO2-eq. (GWP), 15 t SO2-eq. (AP), 6.5 t PO43- eq. (EP), and 7.2 t NOX-eq. (POCP) in 2022. Transportation of visitors being the main hotspot across all impact categories (e.g., 57.5% of GWP). Methane from ruminant respiration additionally accounts for 16 t CO2-eq. (0.5% of total GWP). For AP and EP, feed and food for Animal Care show high impacts with 23–27%, respectively. The lowest impacts show Electricity & Heat and End of Life of waste generated on site with around 1–8%. Carrying out a sensitivity analysis for the main hotspot transportation of visitors shows a 40% potential reduction for GWP, when visitors from Hamburg (90%) would use public transport exclusively.

Conclusion

This paper is the first to apply O-LCA to a wildlife park, identifying environmental hotspots and filling a gap in the assessment of tourism-related impacts on animals. This study pioneers the application of O-LCA to wildlife parks, identifying environmental hotspots in a tourism context. By analyzing multiple impact categories and park operations, we have gained a comprehensive understanding of the environmental footprint of wildlife parks.
Optical bullets with cross-spatio dispersion and multiplicative white noise
Authors: Mirzazadeh Mohammad , Biswas Anjan , Yildirim Yakup , Veni S. Saravana
Published: September 2024

The current work addresses optical bullets with spatio-dispersive effects, in addition to chromatic dispersion along the three orthogonal directions, in presence of multiplicative white noise. Four integration approaches collectively yield a full spectrum of optical solitons. It was observed that the effect of white noise stays confined to the phase component of the bullets.
SCSHM benchmark study on bridge in-service structural monitoring
Authors: Limongelli Maria Pina , Thomson Doug , Alampalli Sreenivas , Mufti Aftab , Schumacher Thomas , Martinelli Luca , Lasri Othmane , Shenton Harry , Chen Genda , Noori Mohammad , Raeisi Farnaz , Silik Ahmed , Dang Ji , Hoemsen Ray , Li Hui , Lu Naiwei , Ni Yi-Qing , Smith Ian , Wu Zhishen
Published: September 2024

The mission of the Society of Civil Structural Health Monitoring (SCSHM, previously known as ISHMII) is to advance the understanding and application of structural monitoring methodologies for the management of civil infrastructure systems. To enable comparative and contrasting studies of various monitoring issues and technologies, the SCSHM Committee on Data-Enhanced Infrastructures Management (DEIMC) identified the need for benchmark problems in the areas of bridge and building structural monitoring. This article reports and briefly discusses the first benchmark study on in-service structural monitoring of bridges that was developed in collaboration with the University of Manitoba, and presents the structure details, study goals, data made available to the engineering community, and other relevant details. This paper has been submitted to the JCSHM as the outcome of the work of the DEIMC Committee of the SCSHM. However, since JCSHM does not publish at present papers without original experimental and or field monitoring components, data from this work cannot be used for publications in JCSHM.
On the Sources of Discrepancies Between Grain Size Measurements
Authors: Evans K. S. , Timberlake D. M. , Tyagi P. , Miller V. M. , Payton E. J.
Published: September 2024

Accurate quantification of grain size in polycrystals is extraordinarily important for quality assurance and the development of structure-property relationships, as grain size affects nearly all engineering properties of structural alloys, from strength and fatigue life to corrosion resistance and thermal conductivity. Despite nearly a century of the existence of standards for measuring grain size, issues persist in obtaining consistent grain size measurements across several techniques. Of particular interest is comparing optical microscopy or scanning electron microscopy on an etched surface with mapping of crystal orientations using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). In this work, discrepancies between methods in the ASTM E 112 and ASTM E 2627 standards are explored through simulated measurements on synthetic microstructures. It is concluded that a small but systematic discrepancy exists between planimetric and lineal intercept-based approaches, and a new empirical relationship between the ASTM grain size number G and lineal intercepts is proposed.
Explainable depression symptom detection in social media
Authors: Bao Eliseo , Pérez Anxo , Parapar Javier
Published: September 2024

Users of social platforms often perceive these sites as supportive spaces to post about their mental health issues. Those conversations contain important traces about individuals’ health risks. Recently, researchers have exploited this online information to construct mental health detection models, which aim to identify users at risk on platforms like Twitter, Reddit or Facebook. Most of these models are focused on achieving good classification results, ignoring the explainability and interpretability of the decisions. Recent research has pointed out the importance of using clinical markers, such as the use of symptoms, to improve trust in the computational models by health professionals. In this paper, we introduce transformer-based architectures designed to detect and explain the appearance of depressive symptom markers in user-generated content from social media. We present two approaches: (i) train a model to classify, and another one to explain the classifier’s decision separately and (ii) unify the two tasks simultaneously within a single model. Additionally, for this latter manner, we also investigated the performance of recent conversational Large Language Models (LLMs) utilizing both in-context learning and finetuning. Our models provide natural language explanations, aligning with validated symptoms, thus enabling clinicians to interpret the decisions more effectively. We evaluate our approaches using recent symptom-focused datasets, using both offline metrics and expert-in-the-loop evaluations to assess the quality of our models’ explanations. Our findings demonstrate that it is possible to achieve good classification results while generating interpretable symptom-based explanations.
Towards an understanding of physical activity-induced post-exertional malaise: Insights into microvascular alterations and immunometabolic interactions in post-COVID condition and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome
Authors: Haunhorst Simon , Dudziak Diana , Scheibenbogen Carmen , Seifert Martina , Sotzny Franziska , Finke Carsten , Behrends Uta , Aden Konrad , Schreiber Stefan , Brockmann Dirk , Burggraf Paul , Bloch Wilhelm , Ellert Claudia , Ramoji Anuradha , Popp Juergen , Reuken Philipp , Walter Martin , Stallmach Andreas , Puta Christian
Published: September 2024

Background

A considerable number of patients who contracted SARS-CoV-2 are affected by persistent multi-systemic symptoms, referred to as Post-COVID Condition (PCC). Post-exertional malaise (PEM) has been recognized as one of the most frequent manifestations of PCC and is a diagnostic criterion of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Yet, its underlying pathomechanisms remain poorly elucidated.

Purpose and methods

In this review, we describe current evidence indicating that key pathophysiological features of PCC and ME/CFS are involved in physical activity-induced PEM.

Results

Upon physical activity, affected patients exhibit a reduced systemic oxygen extraction and oxidative phosphorylation capacity. Accumulating evidence suggests that these are mediated by dysfunctions in mitochondrial capacities and microcirculation that are maintained by latent immune activation, conjointly impairing peripheral bioenergetics. Aggravating deficits in tissue perfusion and oxygen utilization during activities cause exertional intolerance that are frequently accompanied by tachycardia, dyspnea, early cessation of activity and elicit downstream metabolic effects. The accumulation of molecules such as lactate, reactive oxygen species or prostaglandins might trigger local and systemic immune activation. Subsequent intensification of bioenergetic inflexibilities, muscular ionic disturbances and modulation of central nervous system functions can lead to an exacerbation of existing pathologies and symptoms.
Influence of different beam shapes on melt pool geometry of single melt tracks on IN718
Authors: Stoll Thomas , Prudlik Robin , Birg Markus , Wudy Katrin
Published: September 2024

The application of beam shaping is gaining more attention in additive technologies like Powder Bed Fusion of Metals using a laser-based system (PBF-LB/M). The paper at hand gives an insight in the application of three different laser beam shapes (a state-of-the-art Gaussian beam profile, a ring-core distribution 80/20, and an inversely calculated beam shape, based on a homogeneous melt pool temperature distribution in the conduction welding mode) producing single melt tracks on bare IN718 plates without powder. Executed investigations show a distinct difference concerning the generated melt pool dimensions, process windows, as well as solidification orientation. With the application of beam shaping, the avoidance of the keyhole mode with a more homogeneous temperature distribution in the melt pool delivers wider melt tracks, less process faults like balling, deep penetration of the laser (keyholing), protrusion and depression of the solidified melt pool, as well as a convenient process window with respect to part quality and process speed. The melt pool can be enlarged to a width of about 800 µm without any detectable process faults and a very flat penetration with the usage of beam diameters of 750–790 µm.
Averting older adults' memory function decline via meaningful activities: a follow-up longitudinal study
Authors: Akaida Shoma , Tabira Takayuki , Tateishi Mana , Shiratsuchi Daijo , Shimokihara Suguru , Kuratsu Ryota , Akasaki Yoshihiko , Hidaka Yuma , Makizako Hyuma
Published: September 2024

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of satisfaction with meaningful activities and their performance on the memory function among community-dwelling older adults 3 years later.

Methods

A longitudinal analysis was conducted on 288 community-dwelling older adults aged 65 years and more who had completed the survey in 2019 and 2022 as participants in the Tarumizu Study. Meaningful activities were assessed in 2019 using the Aid for Decision-Making in Occupation Choice for activities. Satisfaction with and performance of meaningful activities were assessed, and the bottom 25% were classified into two groups: low satisfaction and low performance. Memory function was assessed using the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology-Functional Assessment Tool in 2019 and 2022. Changes in memory function over 3 years were analyzed by satisfaction and performance of meaningful activities.

Results

Two-way analysis of variance with group (satisfaction with and performance of meaningful activities) and time (2019 and 2022) as factors showed no statistically significant group-time interaction for memory in the satisfaction with meaningful activities group (F = 1.4, p = 0.24). Meanwhile, a statistically significant group-time interaction was observed for memory in the meaningful activity performance group, indicating that high performance of meaningful activities may play a protective role against memory decline (F = 7.4, p = 0.007).

Conclusion

Higher performance of meaningful activities may protect against age-related changes in memory. A careful assessment of meaningful activities, and engagement that enhances performance may be useful in designing health support against memory decline.
Einflussfaktoren auf die Diagnosekompetenz (angehender) Lehrkräfte – ein systematisches Literaturreview
Authors: Wagner Luisa
Published: September 2024

Für einen differenzierenden Unterricht, der sich den Lernvoraussetzungen und dem -fortschritt der Schüler*innen anpasst, ist die adäquate Einschätzung ihrer Kompetenzen eine grundlegende Voraussetzung. Um diese Einschätzung vorzunehmen und somit der Heterogenität der Schüler*innen Rechnung zu tragen, stellt die Diagnosekompetenz der Lehrkräfte eine wichtige Grundlage dar. Es handelt sich also um eine bedeutsame Facette professioneller Kompetenz. Welche Merkmale der Beurteiler*innen sowie Schüler*innen diese beeinflussen, ist in der bisherigen Forschung allerdings noch nicht klar. Zwar widmen sich mittlerweile vielfältige Studien diesem Thema, sie kommen jedoch zu unterschiedlichen Ergebnissen und systematische Betrachtungen wurden bisher kaum durchgeführt. Daher wird in diesem Beitrag ein systematisches Literaturreview vorgestellt, das einerseits die Ergebnisse der 31 einbezogenen Veröffentlichungen (aus Deutschland) vorstellt und anhand derer ableitet, welche Faktoren möglicherweise im Zusammenhang mit der Diagnosekompetenz stehen. Andererseits wird durch die Beurteilung der Forschungsdesigns noch einmal die Notwendigkeit weiterer systematischer Untersuchungen mit hohem Evidenzgrad unterstrichen.
Pulsar classification: comparing quantum convolutional neural networks and quantum support vector machines
Authors: Slabbert Donovan , Lourens Matt , Petruccione Francesco
Published: September 2024

Well-known quantum machine learning techniques, specifically quantum kernel-assisted support vector machines (QSVMs) and quantum convolutional neural networks (QCNNs), are applied to the binary classification of pulsars. In this comparative study, it is illustrated with simulations that both quantum methods successfully achieve effective classification of the HTRU-2 data set that connects pulsar class labels to eight separate features. While QCNNs are superior in terms of training and prediction speed compared to QSVMs, the preference shifts toward QSVMs when the present noisy NISQ-era devices are incorporated into the comparison. QSVMs demonstrate superior overall performance compared to QCNNs when assessed using binary classification performance metrics. Classical methods are implemented to serve as a benchmark for comparison with the quantum approaches.
Prime editing enables precise genome modification of a Populus hybrid
Authors: Zou Jinpeng , Li Yuhong , Wang Kejian , Wang Chun , Zhuo Renying
Published: September 2024

CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing has been extensively employed in the breeding and genetic improvement of trees, yet precise editing remains challenging in these species. Prime editing (PE), a revolutionary technology for precise editing, allows for arbitrary base substitutions and the insertion/deletion of small fragments. In this study, we focused on the model tree poplar 84K (Populus alba × P. glandulosa). We used the 2 × 35S promoter to express a fusion protein of spCas9 nickase (nCas9) and engineered Moloney murine leukemia virus (MMLV), and the Arabidopsis thaliana AtU6 promoter to express an engineered PE guide RNA (epegRNA) and Nick gRNA, pioneering the establishment of the Prime Editor 3 (PE3) system in dicot poplar. Single-base substitutions, multiple-base substitutions, and small-fragment insertions/deletions were edited into three endogenous target genes. The desired edits were identified in hygromycin-resistant (transformed) calli at seven out of nine target sites, with an average editing efficiency ranging from 0.1 to 3.6%. Furthermore, stable T0 plants contained the desired edits at four out of nine targets, with editing efficiencies ranging from 3.6 to 22.2%. Establishment of the PE3 system provides a powerful tool for the precise modification of the poplar genome.
Connecting with the community: Perceptions of a community tour
Authors: Jones Christopher , Reilly Kandice , Peacock Brian , Denizard-Thompson Nancy , Walters-Stewart Alicia , McDowell Leslie Doroski , Valente Jessica , Aguilar Aylin A. , Lischke Michael , Montez Kimberly
Published: September 2024

Introduction:

This study explores the transformative effects of the Community Plunge, an educational program at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine (WFUSOM), on healthcare delivery, community engagement, and trainee perspectives. It addresses the broader context of health outcomes, where clinical care only accounts for 20%, emphasizing the critical role of social determinants of health (SDOH) and individual behaviors in the remaining 80%.

Methods:

WFUSOM’s Community Plunge, established in 2002, involves a guided tour of the community, discussions with residents, and debriefing sessions. Qualitative interviews with 20 clinicians were conducted to extract key themes and insights.

Results:

The study identified several key outcomes. First, participants gained crucial insights into the community’s history, structural challenges, and prevalent SDOH, enhancing their understanding of the diverse patient populations they serve. Second, the program positively influenced clinician attitudes, fostering empathy, reducing paternalism, and promoting holistic patient care. Third, participants expressed a desire for increased community involvement and reported career trajectory changes toward advocacy and volunteerism. However, challenges such as time constraints were acknowledged.

Conclusions:

The study advocates for collaborative efforts to enhance the program’s impact, including proactive measures to ensure respectful engagement during community tours. It positions the Community Plunge as an innovative, scalable, and transformative strategy for experiential SDOH exposure, crucial for the evolving social consciousness of healthcare learners.
On the local -Bound of the Eisenstein series
Authors: Jana Subhajit , Kamber Amitay
Published: September 2024

We study the growth of the local

$L^2$

-norms of the unitary Eisenstein series for reductive groups over number fields, in terms of their parameters. We derive a poly-logarithmic bound on an average, for a large class of reductive groups. The method is based on Arthur’s development of the spectral side of the trace formula, and ideas of Finis, Lapid and Müller.

As applications of our method, we prove the optimal lifting property for

$\mathrm {SL}_n(\mathbb {Z}/q\mathbb {Z})$

for square-free q, as well as the Sarnak–Xue [52] counting property for the principal congruence subgroup of

$\mathrm {SL}_n(\mathbb {Z})$

of square-free level. This makes the recent results of Assing–Blomer [8] unconditional.
THE NARRATIVES OF CICERO'S EPISTVLAE AD QVINTVM FRATREM: CAREER, REPUBLIC AND THE EPISTVLAE AD ATTICVM
Authors: Losito Laura
Published: September 2024

The narrative and design of Cicero's overlooked collection of letters to his brother Quintus (henceforth, QFr.) demand investigation. Within each book, the constituent letters delineate the trajectory of Cicero's life, transitioning from his political prominence to his increasing irrelevance. This narrative unfolds not only within the micro-narratives of individual books but also across the macro-narrative of the entire collection. Containing only letters from Cicero to Quintus dated between 60/59–54 and featuring a notable resemblance to the Epistulae ad Atticum (henceforth, Att.) Books 2–4, QFr., it can be argued, functions as both a ‘microcosm’ of Att. and its supplement. This article addresses these issues and argues that QFr. deserves a place alongside the ‘major’ Ciceronian collections.